Forgotten X

Disclaimer: Kyou Kara Maou does not belong to me and I make no money from this work of fanfiction at all.

Pairing: Wolfram and Yuuri, others mentioned.

A/N: I was hit by a mutant plot bunny this afternoon that started gnawing off bits of me. So… Sequels are planned now. God, this story has put a straw to my ear and is slurping it out brain juice. I hope I can finish. I'm sorry to disappoint the seme!Yuuri fans. And Murata is not a traitor in anything- I'm confused as to how that reviewer figured that… But thank you for reviewing anyways. You guys rock.

AU version of episode 58- I'll be incorporating bits of the original story line as best I can but for the most part, think of this is a divergent story line now- because my Japanese apparently sucks.

Yuuri barely stirred from his perch in the hard chair, and almost regretted giving the bed to Wolfram.

Almost, because Wolfram was sprawled out and hopelessly entangled in the blanket; if they had shared the small bed…

They wouldn't have gotten any sleep at all.

He felt a deep seated need to start the buggy dance for several reasons. He had admitted to Wolfram, another guy, he wanted to have sex with him. Not only that, he had meant it completely. Even crazier, he was considering it when after fifteen years of life he had wanted something more than baseball.

Geeze… he had liked being groped.

Then he thought of how Wolfram had phrased it. 'Making love' sounded a lot better than 'sex', or any of the cruder terms he'd heard in the locker rooms at school.

How could someone look so care free when he was sleeping? Yuuri knew how Wolfram slept…

He most definitely did not want to wake up hurting for the wrong reasons.

'Did I just think that?' he asked himself.

'You did.'

'Ah, nuts.'

Wolfram may have been a hard sleeper- but he came instantly awake when he heard the unmistakable screams and cries of combat.

That useless sword of Yuuri's- the great Morgif- was moaning and whining, and that was a pretty good indication something was wrong. Grabbing his own sword, Wolfram glanced at Yuuri. The king was coming around slowly but snapped alert after a loud crash.

Without a word, the two boys looked at each other, and headed for the door. Wolfram made sure to keep Yuuri behind him.

Chaos ruled the night. Aldebert was already outside, taking stock of the situation.

"What are those things? Monsters?" Wolfram yelled as a terrified shudder ran though him. That didn't matter; Yuuri was with him and he could not let him get hurt.

"No. Whatever they are, they are using Majyutsu. Can't you feel it?"

"All I feel is evil," the blond whispered, drawing his sword.

White specters, roughly dog shaped were rampaging through the small settlement ranging in size from a cow to a house. Arrows flew through them. It seemed hand to hand was the best method- direct blows could dispel them, before the next one lunged.

The stench of evil in the gloom nearly made him gag. No end was in sight. There was nothing but monster after monster, everything lousy with them.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Yuuri standing behind a tree. His mouth was gaping in disbelief. Wolfram was glad he was in a halfway secure place… Aldebert and he were barely able to hold the monsters back.

Screams. All he could hear were the screams of the fallen. The monsters kept coming no matter how bravely they fought.

The largest of the beasts roared- and Wolfram had a breath to grab Yuuri and cover him with his body. Aldebert threw himself over Yuuri as well, buffeting them against the massive wind that blasted over the encampment.

Now even the strongest of Aldebert's people were down and most of the buildings were rubble.

"Stop!

Wolfram wanted to stop Yuuri as he walked out to face the largest beast, but Yuuri had changed. His hair had lengthened, growing wild, and power flowed off him to crash against Wolfram's senses.

Three water dragons formed to challenge the pale monsters.

"I don't know who you are, but you will be punished for what you have done," Yuuri growled, his voice low.

The white beasts flung themselves at the water dragon- and they could not shake them.

"Yuuri's power isn't enough?" Wolfram said, disbelieving. Somehow he'd believed, deep down, there wasn't anything Yuuri could not do.

Then he noticed that Morgif was glowing. Maybe there was still hope.

Aldebert had managed to get hold of a Houseki, and thrust it into the hilt of his sword, causing it to glow red and throwing the power out like a bludgeon. Red washed across the monsters and the dragons… To no effect.

"Dammit," Wolfram whispered. He was helpless. His could not fight these beasts, could not save… anyone…

Falling to his knees a flashback hit him at that moment- of seeing Yuuri down, bleeding-

Gone in a heartbeat, but Yuuri had clenched his hands on his sword.

"I'm telling you to withdraw. Now, shadows be gone," the wild figure hissed, eyes narrowing, and Morgif glowed in counter to Yuuri's dark tone.

The wind stopped.

"Why? Why did you go quiet?" Yuuri asked in confusion. His dragons evaporated with the white monsters, and the king wobbled before changing back into the form of the boy Wolfram loved.

"Yuuri- Yuuri!"

He fell… and he would not wake up.
"Yuuri- please be all right, Yuuri," Wolfram cried, softly shaking the boy he'd pulled into his lap. "Yuuri!"

The crying was useless, he knew. Looking around, he saw Aldebert, who had been standing stalk still with shock in his eyes.

The next several moments were a whirl of motion as Aldebert shook himself free and started gathering the wounded.

Wolfram should have helped… he should have left Yuuri to the care of people who were better at what they were doing, better protectors. Yet he didn't want to move, because he was afraid if he left, something might happen and… and…

"You can't die, you wimp," he whispered, stroking Yuuri's hair. "My Yuuri. Please…"

Yuuri awoke slowly, catching a glimpse of a familiar blue uniform, before sighing in relief. He could remember the chaos of earlier… He could remember releasing his Maryoku, though as always, what had happened was missing from his memory. He closed his eyes quickly.

"Stupid- what was that?" Wolfram said, his voice strangled.

He's doesn't remember me becoming the Maou before, Yuuri thought with a groan.

"I don't really have control over my Maryoku... And I do things," the king said, burying his face against Wolfram's uniform. The arms that were holding him up tightened.

"Usually I scare the pants off people, at least I've been told," he continued. He was afraid to see Wolfram's expression. "Though I've also walked on water, made trash into the Devil… Stopped one of the taboo boxes…"

"Dammit- I don't care how powerful you are- do you have any idea how scared I was?" Wolfram demanded. "You passed out and wouldn't wake up and you were cold."

"I don't do it on purpose! I just got really, really mad," Yuuri protested, and looked up to see the red face and wide eyes of his…

"Boyfriend," he muttered, touching Wolfram's face.

The anger/worry flicked to puzzlement.

"Er… where I'm from you call the person you like your boyfriend," Yuuri muttered, and tried to sit up. Tried to, because he got dizzy and fell against Wolfram's shoulder. Not that he really minded. Wolfram was warm and he smelled nice, even with the scent of ash and sweat on him.

Wolfram's hand carefully covered his, eyes wide, and Yuuri felt just a bit smug at being able to derail Wolfram so quickly.

He wondered if he should try to sit up again, but Wolfram had apparently decided to take matters into his own hands (again) and leaned down to brush their lips together.

Yuuri thought this was a much better use of their mouths, especially considering that Wolfram was taking this opportunity to pat him down for injuries- and he went from patting to groping very quickly.

Nope, no objections… Too bad their clothes were in the way, it would be so much nicer to have Wolfram's fingers on his skin instead of the fabric… Oooh, definitely there-

He'd sighed in pleasure when Wolfram's lips moved away from his mouth and over his chin, and to his neck just above that silly collar… His clothes were just too much in the way.

Then again, he wanted to touch back and Wolfram's skin was too covered, way too covered, and he should really start working on his stupid buttons and…

He could only imagine that it was the adrenaline and the aftereffects. If he'd objected when they'd had a bed, he really shouldn't be letting Wolfram lay him out backwards with one hand moving up underneath his shirt and-

"Shibuya, you do move fast, don't you?"

Yuuri froze, and he could feel Wolfram pause at the exact same moment. Together they turned to see that…

They had an audience. Arrayed before them were Yozak, who was grinning like a mad man and making a kissy face, Murata, with an evil smirk… and Conrad and Aldebert were both blushing, expressions bordering on horrified.

It then occurred to Yuuri that he was splayed out on the ground, underneath Wolfram whose hand was up his shirt with one knee between his legs, and he had double fistfuls of Wolfram's uniform, about to rip it off.

Murata started snickering.

With a shove, Yuuri pushed Wolfram away, blushing madly before sitting up and staring at his hands, eyes wide and sweating.

Wolfram indigently grunted, and Yuuri saw the flash of hurt on his face before he turned away… And Yuuri flushed.

He was embarrassed and relieved that they had come to rescue him, though right now that was really the last thing he wanted… because with a flash of insight he realized he had to take care of this situation quickly before he died of terminal blushes or Wolfram decided Yuuri really didn't love him and eloped with a bearbee.

Standing up he determinedly grabbed Wolfram's uniform and pulled him to his feet. He was still a bit shaky, but his grip on the other boy steadied him.

"If you're going to gawk we'll leave now," his voice broke about halfway through. "We were busy." Why did he have to keep squeaking?

"Ah, they're so cute," Yozak said, clasping his hands together. Murata was rolling on the dirt now. "Hey, Conrad? Did you ever give either of them the Talk?"

Yuuri felt his face start to flame but he kept his grip on Wolfram was just getting mad.

Finally it was Aldebert who broke the tension.

"I can understand that youngsters have urges," he said, after clearing his throat several times. "And while I cannot say I am happy to see any of you, you need to be briefed."

Conrad and Aldebert glared at each other, before sending an equally powerful glare at Wolfram. A moment passed before it occurred to Yuuri why they would do that, and he wanted to deliver a Maou bitch slap to both of them.

He wasn't Julia, dammit. He cared about both of them as friends but- bloody hell.

"I think we had better go in before Yuuri has a fit," Murata said, finally regaining his composure.

It was another awkward moment as the two grown men realized that the teenager whose honor they both wanted to protect was a hairs breadth from handing their asses to them. If Wolfram was possessive…

They hadn't realized how bad Yuuri could be.

"Yuuri?" Wolfram said- and distracted him with a well placed hand on his backside.

"AcK!"

This time it was Yozak who cracked up, and the two old soldiers sweated.

"Let's go talk?" Yuuri's voice kept going higher, as he turned to his boyfriend, who just smiled angelically. Though he didn't make Wolfram move his hand.

Conrad had no idea what to feel when he had seen the two boys on the ground, Wolfram working on the skin of Yuuri's neck while Yuuri had been enthusiastically about to tear the uniform off his body.

First… shock. He'd known, intellectually, that Yuuri had begun to develop feelings for his little brother. Then jealousy; his bratty, effeminate little brother was doing with Julia what he had always longed to do.

Then he was shamed.

Julia was never his to begin with; even more so, he knew she had cared as much for von Graz. And even more to the point… She was not Yuuri. Wolfram had proven his worthiness. Why was he so disturbed?

Then he felt even more shamed. He had been so distracted by his feelings he had yet to ask about his little brother.

"It's good to see you all right, Wolfram," Conrad murmured to the younger man. "Mother was worried about you."

The younger man flushed, but kept a scowl on his face. "I'm perfectly all right. You didn't have to worry about- oomph!" he had lost all the air in his lung when Yuuri elbowed him.

He stared at his boyfriend in surprise, then grinned- and did something that made Yuuri squeak, yet again.

Conrad's eyebrow twitched.

They eventually assembled in one of the remaining buildings. Conrad was not sure what had happened, but whatever it was, he was relieved the two boys had survived. Though given what had happened, perhaps he should not be surprised? He had, more than once, disappeared with Yozak into some bushes…

He grimaced.

They had arrayed themselves around the table, listening to Aldebert as he began to describe the situation in Dai Shimaron. Belal was the apparent mind behind the kidnapping- for whatever reason. There had been no reason for it- yet there were reports of monsters in the capital and that Belal had sequestered himself in one of his more remote castles.

The Unification Wars went on.

Crack

Everyone looked up to see Yuuri standing at the end of the table, his expression one they had only seen when he had become the Maou.

"It all comes back to Belal, doesn't it? He wages wars, saying he wants to unify the world- all he's done is hurt everyone! For all the people he's hurt- we have to stop him."

"Heika," Conrad began. "Are you saying we should kill Belal?"

"No! But we have to do something to stop him! He's kidnapped Wolfram, he's terrorized this world- he's hurt people I call friend. Humans and Mazoku both!" Yuuri stated, determined.

Conrad wondered if he realized he'd put "kidnapped Wolfram" at the top of the list.

"I think he wants to deliver the Maou Bitch Slap of Justice on him," Murata commented. He seemed to be taking an unholy amount of amusement in this conversation.

"I- Murata, do you have to make it sound like that?" Yuuri said, deflating.

"Shibuya, I've heard stories about what you did in Svelera," Murata smirked, "And the giant mud bitch slap you delivered. If that does not count, what does? However, we most certainly cannot stop you. Are you are the Maou."

Yuuri stiffened, and nodded. "I need to do this."

Wolfram crossed his arms and leaned back. "Not without me you aren't."

After that, the meeting degenerated into the nuts and bolts of how they were going to get there, how they were going to attack, and exactly how Yuuri was going to pull off Operation: Bitch Slap of Justice (as Murata had the nerve to name the thing and Yozak agreed whole heartedly).

They eventually decided to retire for the night…

Conrad found himself perching some place near the boys' room so he could listen. He didn't care that a good lawyer could argue they were still engaged. He didn't really care that he had no business being there. He…

Sighing, he saw the door to their room crack open, and the two youths walked out, both holding towels.

He could just see the bath sex…

He followed them out with parental intent. The night was clear and quiet, and he hoped that they would get caught before he had to come in and pull Scary Big Brother…

"Please, leave them alone, Weller-kyo. You as well, Yozak, von Graz-kyo."

The Great Sage stood before them, like a living shadow that had split off from the night. Gone was the sarcastic teenager from before. All his eyes held behind his glasses were sadness.

What was even more surprising was that the boys had apparently adopted two other big brothers.

"Geika," Yozak began, speaking for the three adults. "Don't you think they should wait?"

Murata motioned for them to follow him, and he walked out into the dark. Conrad followed, after hesitating after the boys. One did not reject the words of the Great Sage.

"Let me tell you the start of a very long story," Murata said his eyes distant. "There were two young people. They were friends. Then one was accidentally given great power. This power was evil, yet the person who it had been given to was one of the most pure souls imaginable. It drove the one mad, and his friend was forced to stop him. It was later revealed that they did love each other… but in the brief span they knew each other, they could never have been together…before one destroyed the other. Those two souls are destined to find each other again, I think. I cannot understand Shinou's mind…" He stared out in the direction where Wolfram and Yuuri had gone. "I think he wanted to give them a chance. When two souls find each other after so long, they deserve to be happy, don't you think?"

"What are you talking about?" Aldebert summed up Conrad's feelings very well.

"I'm saying that you and Weller-kyo should let them be, because you don't have a legitimate claim." He laughed a bit. "They are both destined to break hearts, no matter where they go. No matter how often they are reborn. Though it's been a very long time since I saw Wolfram. They love each other in this life, and even if you wanted to consider the last one… I honestly think Julia would have found Wolfram, eventually. They would have ended in tragedy again… but it would have happened."

Conrad stared at Murata, incredulous.

"I would not envy either of them together. In the end, they always come to pain. I just hope they can find a happy ending this time."

The other men stood there in silence, wide eyed.

As for Conrad… he wondered why it seemed he was doomed to care about a person forever out of his reach. Julia had been betrothed to another, and now Yuuri… He adored his little brother, and the thought that the two people he loved most in this world should…

"Let's leave them be for now, all right?"

Murata wondered if there was a place where he could get drunk by himself.

He knew they would have a long journey in the morning, but he wanted a little extra help getting to sleep.

Even reliving a part of that story was unpleasant. Ironically, he could understand the feelings of the two men far better than…

"So, which one of them broke your heart, Geika?" drawled a familiar voice. Looking up, Murata smiled. He had yet to find a glass and was about to start taking swigs directly from the bottle.

Yozak found a seat next to him. "You didn't answer me. Which one broke your heart?"

"Ehhh… Well, it was a long time ago."

"Broken hearts really don't heal like that, Geika. And you're avoiding the question."

"It was a very long time ago when I loved him, Yozak." Murata eyed the bottle and took a swig. "Want some?"

"You aren't the type who would pine. He must have been something special back then. Or was he a he? I know that the kid had been Julia, but… Shibuya's not your type. Oh, I know you like him but," Yozak's eyebrow went up. "It was the brat?"

"Ah, yes. Wolfram. You know, he didn't tell me his name until after I'd known him for years- and even then he was dead drunk?"

That had been one hell of a big swig. Then again, perhaps he wanted to vent.

"No?" Yozak took the offered bottle. "You don't say?"

"I do say. You know what sucks even more? He was married. He never introduced me, never told me anything other than that he would never, under any circumstances, break his promise. I guess that was part of his charm." Murata took a massive gulp. "He was one hell of a guy… Then he up and left. Well, actually he was a couple hundred years old by then but… still… I didn't want to ever forget him, so I didn't mind remembering when I was reborn. Okay, well, now I'm regretting it."

"You're not making much sense," Yozak said, bemused. "Again."

"Nah… I just can't say much. People have to make their choices in the present, not clinging to the past." Murata could feel himself getting buzzed very quickly. It was an unfortunate side effect of this body's youth. "He hoped for the future. Dammit, Shinou- why the hell did you keep so many secrets from me?"

He stood up and stomped, throwing his own version of a buggy dance. "You had to let things go like this, didn't you? Why the hell didn't you tell me everything? It's not fair you bastard, I know you gave up a lot but son of a…" He dropped to the ground, slumped over before an astonished Yozak.

"Remembering was my price for my sin, Yozak. I just don't mind it, most of the time. There are others who paid prices for fighting fate. Far worse ones. I don't think he ever found his spouse again. I don't think he ever will, either."

Yozak put a hand on Murata's shoulder. "Come on. You need to get some sleep."

"I hope those two are happy for a little while, Yozak." Murata leaned against the other man, eyes dull. "They deserve it."

Yozak sighed. "If we deserved all the hell that happens to us, I'm not sure I like the implications," the cross dresser replied. "But you should go to bed. And I'm sure that whoever this person was, he'd want you to be happy again as well."

"I know he does."

To be continued.

A/N: I'm going to be skipping events that take place in the anime that I have no reason to change. So, most of the latter part of this episode will be skipped. I will write what the two boys did out taking a bath later and post it anywhere but FF.N. I hope this has sufficiently set up the angst and a bit of foreshadowing. If not, give me a club.