Forgotten XII
Disclaimer: Kyou Kara Maou does not belong to me and I make no money from this work of fanfiction at all.
Pairings: Wolfram and Yuuri, others mentioned
A/N: Things should start moving from here. I think after this, three more chapters. Then I may write the mpreg, and after that, write a more serious story. Thank you all for your reviews. I hope you've enjoyed yourselves. Beware gratuitous Japanese usage (Small things: Heika, -chan, Hahaue and Chichiue). I use them because I either think they sound nicer or else because I feel they imply things English does not convey as easily.
I'm also going to go out on a limb on who the other two keys are. Its going to be purely made up, because I have no proof at all if this is the case.
Bob, Maou of Earth, sipped a shot of whiskey while staring at his computer screen, thinking about what he would like to send in his latest email to Shori.
Events in Shin Makoku would be speeding by while Shori had to watch on the sidelines. There was no other choice in this matter; for the boxes to ultimately be destroyed; there was truly only one course of action that could be taken. He had no idea of the Original King's strategy would work, but in the end, it might be the only way.
He was glad he had gotten to meet Yuuri as an adult. He was truly a person who could become a great leader of men. The questions he had asked had finally settled in his mind why Shinou had not destroyed the soul of the Sovereign. If he had been given the same choice, he doubted he could destroy the boy either.
Yuuri carried one of the many bundles of souvenirs his mother had sent his friends to his bedroom. To his back, Wolfram was doing the same, following about two steps behind.
He stopped in front of his door. Wolfram was going on, intent on carrying his batch of knickknacks to his own room.
The king had given this a lot of thought, thought that had often accompanied blushes, mutters and the occasional wince, but he had settled it in his mind.
"Hey, Wolfram. Where are you going?"
The blond soldier paused and turned to him. "To my room. I need to put these away. Why? Do you need some help?" His face was softly bemused.
The king swallowed.
"But you're going past it," Yuuri said, nodding to his own bedroom door.
Wolfram was still puzzled. "Past it?"
Yuuri blushed. "Your room, I mean." He leaned on to the door and pushed it open with his weight, and gestured with his chin.
Wolfram's puzzled expression turned into a brilliant smile. "You really want me to?"
Yuuri nodded, and nearly fell over with the force of Wolfram's joy. Yuuri thought there probably would have been a hug and a kiss (and maybe more) involved, if they hadn't been carrying presents. Yet just seeing Wolfram smiling like a buffoon- a broad, childish expression of pure delight, not that haughty frown he used to sport- made it worth it. Who cared if he lost his spleen at night?
Gunter was off wailing something in the distance, and Yuuri sighed. Soon they would get back to their normal lives: signing papers, training troops and what not, and everything would be fine.
With Wolfram there, he wondered, briefly, about the future. They were trying to find a place to put the many gifts.
"Why did your mother send so many things?"
"Its tradition to give presents to people when they leave," Yuuri began. "And plus… my mom just likes giving presents…"
Wolfram began asking some general questions about his world- questions Yuuri had fun answering.
Watching Wolfram out of the corner of his eye, Yuuri thought about some of his own problems with customs here… and then frowned.
He had fallen in love with Wolfram. Truly, madly, stupidly and passionately. Perhaps… perhaps now was a good time to give Wolfram another slap on the cheek?
His face turned red.
"Hey, Wolfram?"
"Yes, Yuuri?" Wolfram said, looking up. He had found a place in the bottom of the wardrobe and was stacking things, absently patting a plush toy on the head.
Yuuri felt his courage leave him. It was one thing to be in love with Wolfram… but to propose, on purpose? He- he wasn't sixteen yet! Besides-
He had all the time in the world. As a demon, he could live hundreds of years…
Suddenly that thought made him very happy. Yes; he could propose to Wolfram later. Do it properly with a romantic setting, and with both worlds' customs…
He could wait.
Murata stood before the four boxes. They seemed so innocent, sitting within a protective barrier blessed by Shinou himself.
What a joke.
"I have no idea how you plan to do this, old friend," he said aloud. "You have all of them. Why? So that others could not get them? That doesn't matter; they're acting on their own."
Addressing the boxes themselves, he smiled coldly.
"I know you know me. After all, I helped seal you. I will not let you hurt Shibuya. He is a good man. His heart is stronger than anything you can unleash."
Nothing. Murata knew they could not answer, but in the back of his mind he could imagine the innocuous objects whispering to each other in the shadows. The light of the candles was barely enough to chase that darkness away.
Yet it felt like the shadows became thicker the closer to the boxes they came. Backing away, the once Great Sage called to his old friend, and did something he had not done in this life.
He prayed.
Wolfram grunted faintly when the mattress jolted.
"Yuuri?" he asked, cracking one eye open. His lover was sitting straight up, and pale as a sheet. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes. "What's wrong?"
Yuuri shook his head, but Wolfram could see the sweat on his face. "Nothing. It's nothing. Just a… dream. It's nothing but a dream."
Wolfram opened his mouth to say it had to have been some dream for him to be so disturbed- but Yuuri didn't look like he wanted to talk. Still… Wolfram decided some help was in order. They were alone and no one would see so…
Draping himself over Yuuri's shoulders, he nuzzled his lover's hair.
"Then forget about it. You're here, with me, and everything is all right."
"You're all right," the king whispered, putting his hand on Wolfram's. There was a pause before Yuuri twisted around, kissing Wolfram desperately.
"You're here," Yuuri kept whispering, hands moving over his skin. "You're alive, you're with me, and… and… you're here…"
Wolfram thought perhaps he should not ask as Yuuri rolled him over on to his back.
"Ah, Yuuri… everything is all right, love… I'm here. You promised you would always come back, remember?"
Yuuri was crying, and Wolfram pulled him to his chest. "You promised… and if you ever fall, I'll fall with you." He kissed the dark boy gently, who had buried his face in Wolfram's chest. "I promise you that."
They loved again, but it was still edged with a touch of the desperate, and Wolfram held Yuuri closely the rest of the night.
Something wasn't right. Yuuri hadn't been sleeping well since they found the last box. Perhaps tomorrow's surprise would be helpful.
"Flurin-san!" Yuuri exclaimed, thrilled to see the beautiful woman stepping off the boat. "Welcome to Shin Makoku!" he waved, and the lovely woman waved back.
"Heika! How have you been?" she called, then saw how close he was standing to Wolfram, and covered her mouth with her hand, giggling. "You're looking well!"
"Oh geeze- not you too!" he wailed. The buggy dance was looking like a good option right there. "You're a yaoi fan girl too?"
Flurin shook her head, eyes twinkling. "No, but seeing you in love, especially with someone who adores you… It's wonderful."
"Oh, Flurin-san!" someone interrupted- and everyone turned to see Celi-sama sauntering over.
"Celi-sama," the smaller woman curtsied elegantly- before she was abruptly introduced to the ex-queen's bosom.
"Oh, how have you been?"
Flurin's answer was muffled, before Celi let her go. "I've been well, though I do have that problem I discussed with you in that last letter…"
The blond bombshell giggled momentarily. "Well, we can get that fixed in a few months…"
"Problem?" Yuuri asked as Celi began directing their guest away- and was abruptly distracted as he was assaulted by an enthusiastic T-Zou.
"Um," Flurin began, blushing faintly. "Well, two reasons, actually…" Embarrassed, she turned away. "Well, I've just felt I should visit again. I was worried when you left… and…" She rubbed her arm absently. "It's a girl thing."
Yuuri backed off. He knew better than to get involved with 'girl things'. Besides, T-Zou was giving him a cow lick. Or was it a sheep lick?
"Hm. It seems I picked a strange time to arrive," someone else boomed- and everyone turned around, Gwendal and Conrad's hands immediately went for their weapons when they saw the newcomer.
"Aldebert," Yuuri whispered, staring. The blond giant was standing, alone, amidst the many Mazoku, his expression grim. "What are you doing here?"
He opened his hands- and Yuuri realized he was unarmed. "I was called."
"You would have been," was the quiet reply from Murata, who had arrived a breath later. Flurin, Aldebert, Gwendal and Conrad turned to face him.
Yuuri blanked. "What are you talking about?"
"All four of them are keys, Yuuri," the Great Sage said softly. "All four of them are descendents of the people Shinou entrusted with the ability to unseal the box. Granted… Only Conrad was aware of it."
Silence blanketed the pier as the four named individuals looked at each other- Conrad giving his older brother an accusing glare.
"You knew," he whispered. Gwendal touched the left side of his head.
"I suspected. After what happened to Geigan Huber in Svelera, and recently… when we both felt we had to go to the Palace of the Original King… but I wasn't sure."
Conrad put his hand on Gwendal's shoulder. "I'm sorry."
The two others just stared- Aldebert rubbing the right side of his head while Flurin clenched her right fist.
"What does this mean?" Flurin finally said, after several more moments of silence. Her face was pinched. "I know… I've wanted to visit again since I left. Was it the boxes? Should we just leave?"
"No!" Yuuri was shaking his head emphatically. "I refuse to let four boxes rule our lives. You can all come to the castle and visit. Then you can go home if you want to. But I refuse to let something so evil ruin my happiness at being able to see my friends again."
Flurin smiled at Yuuri's words, and even Aldebert looked less… harsh, his face softening to the point where he was looked almost gentle.
"You're nuts, but if you really want to have some fun," Wolfram said, rubbing the back of his head. "Aldebert is still a- oh never mind. That never means anything to you and you need cheering up. Give him amnesty for the day and we can go on a picnic if he behaves…"
Yuuri turned and glommed Wolfram. "I knew you'd come around! Love everyone and they love you…"
Wolfram opened his mouth to protest, or say something about cheating, but then he shrugged and gave up. "Whatever makes you happy." He alone knew the nightmares that had been plaguing his lover. If this helped… Then he would gladly put up with some very strange characters for a little while.
Yuuri just smiled.
Aldebert had received more than his share of strange looks that day, but the meal went off without a hitch. Yuuri later insisted that their visitors spend the night…
Wolfram started to feel uneasy. "I know you're too nice, Yuuri," he said. It was late, and Gunter had managed to ambush Yuuri with some last minute paperwork. Wolfram had taken a seat on Yuuri's desk and was trying to coax Yuuri to bed.
"But… if they are the keys… is it really a good idea to keep them here? The boxes aren't that far away."
"They're my friends, Wolfram," Yuuri protested, then cracked a yawn. Wolfram had removed his jacket and was sitting there looking yummy. It wasn't fair that he had decided to be cranky.
"Your brothers are both keys," he pointed out.
Wolfram slid from his perch to start pacing, running his fingers through his hair. "You've not been well and you should go to bed. To sleep," he added on, wagging a finger. Yuuri pouted briefly and sighed.
"They're my friends, Wolfram," Yuuri repeated. "I just want them to get a good night's rest before they head out." Wolfram turned to face him.
Yuuri looked bad. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he was starting to slump forward on to his papers.
"That's it," Wolfram finally ordered. "I'm taking you to bed."
"Hey- I need to finish these!" Yuuri yelped, as Wolfram bodily pulled him out of his chair and yanked him down the hall.
"You have Gunter and Gwendal to do them! The king has to get sleep or he'll fall on his royal nose! People will say I've been keeping you up- and I can't let them say that if it's not true!" Wolfram declared, one arm around Yuuri's waist and still pulling.
They were almost to the bedroom when they caught sight of a lamp outside one of the windows.
"Who else would be up at this hour?" Yuuri asked, walking out of Wolfram's grip, making him nearly fall forward.
"I don't- wait. That looks like…"
"That's Aldebert. He's with," Yuuri's eyes widened. "Flurin-san?"
Wolfram inhaled. "We've got to stop them, Yuuri."
"I'm sure its just nothing- we can go find out on our own," Yuuri answered, rubbing his eyes. "Let's go. Really- I'll still get plenty of sleep tonight, Wolfram." He smiled tiredly at his lover. Wolfram still looked worried.
"I've just got a really bad feeling about this," the blond man answered, but followed anyways. His maybe it was the late hour, or the chill in the air, but something was making his flesh crawl.
The young king trotted easily to the exit- but by the time they saddled their horses and were on their way after Yuuri's friends, they were far down the road.
Wolfram was getting nervous. Very nervous. Whatever was happening made him feel almost as nauseas as sea travel… He had to stop it, whatever was happening.
Then Yuuri kicked Ao into a gallop.
"Yuuri- wait!" This was bad. Somehow Wolfram felt he had to stop this, no matter what- but he was helpless to keep Yuuri from acting. Ao had a wind that night that his own horse did not, arriving at the Palace of the Original King and dismounting before Wolfram could catch up.
"It is hardly coincidence that we are all here," Conrad said, looking at his fellow keys, who had all assembled in the inner sanctum of Shinou-heika- without so much as being seen. "There is obviously something going on."
"Of course there is, Weller," Aldebert replied, pacing like a caged beast. "The problem is we had no choice in coming. I fought the compulsion all afternoon until it became unbearable. I woke up outside my door, fully dressed, and already walking here." Then he chuckled harshly. "It looks like there are a few things even your amazing Original King cannot stop…"
Gwendal looked like he might object, but shook his head. "Do you have any idea what we are waiting for? If we are simply to unleash the boxes, we could have done it by now."
"Perhaps there is another person missing?" Flurin commented. Her pretty face was dotted in sweat. "I want to leave. I've tried to leave- but every time I try to take a step my muscles lock up."
"All four of us are here." With a surge of will, Conrad turned to the great seal of the original king.
"Please- help us. None of us want to be the catalyst for destruction."
Gwendal sighed- before the doors burst open. Conrad's heart nearly stopped, in relief or fear, he didn't know.
"Heika!"
"Yuuri Heika!"
"Boya!"
"Yuuri!"
Four voices exclaimed in relief as the young Maou ran in, past the ring of candles that created the barrier protecting the boxes.
They promptly gutted out.
"Heika, what are you doing here?" Gwendal asked, tightly. "Never mind- get help. We cannot leave.
"You can't leave?" Yuuri asked. "Come on- I'll get you out of there…" He walked over.
Conrad stared at the expression on Yuuri's face. There was something wrong in how he moved; it was like watching a string puppet.
"Heika," he started, carefully. "Is Wolfram with you?" it seemed odd that the king's lover would not be there. To his chagrin, all of the keys were moving away from him… moving to what he had to believe were their own boxes.
He stood before The End of the Wind. Gwendal knelt, twitching, before the End of the Land, and Flurin was fighting her arm as it reached for the Mirror at the Bottom of the Sea. Aldebert was the only one still in his place, but his entire body convulsed with the effort.
"Maou-heika," the blond giant hissed. "Something's wrong here- and you have to get away. Now! Leave us-"
Yuuri's eyes were glazed over, as he turned to face Aldebert, head tilted to the side like he was listening.
"They aren't quiet anymore," the boy's tone was faint, distracted. He had not heard Aldebert. "They've been telling me things… in my sleep… they're louder now…"
"Bouya-"
"Yuuri-heika," Flurin cried, desperately fighting to turn her head. "Don't listen to them! They lie to you!"
"They showed me the past. They showed me that I… I hurt him… They showed me the way that had been prepared…"
Conrad tried to draw his sword. He could hear pounding outside the massive doors of the sanctum, shrieks and moans as someone fought to get inside.
If he could get to his sword, he could slice away this cursed limb he was given- he could get away and save Yuuri one last time-
Then Yuuri turned to the boxes, and Conrad felt himself irresistibly pulled to the End of the Wind.
"It is time," Yuuri's voice had lost it's warmth. "I cannot change my path. This is who I was, and who I am. Open the boxes."
The impossibility of the situation assaulted him. The soldier could see the disbelief and anger on Aldebert's face, and the despair on Flurin's. His brother stoically refused to show emotions as the boxes seemed to open of their own accord, to devour the ones who held the keys to their power.
"NO!"
Wolfram had seen Yuuri run into the divining room, the sanctum that held the boxes, and he went hysterical with fear.
He can't! I can't let him!
He didn't question where the sheer terror he felt came from; he acted, running as fast as he could, full tilt into the doors-
Crack!
He was repelled as soon as he came in contact, struck by black power edged in red.
"You can't! I won't let you!" The young man yowled, fists pounding against the dark force guarding the room. "Let me in! Let me in!"
His caterwauling finally attracted attention- the many priestesses who peopled the Palace had finally heard the commotion.
"Wolfram?"
He couldn't pay attention, his fingers scrambling to find some kind of purchase on the smooth barrier that kept him out. He couldn't allow this to happen. Not again; even if it had to happen, to know it was happening hurt so much- because he knew what would happen if it failed.
The Great Sage was there, pulling Wolfram's shoulders.
"What's going on? What are you…" Wolfram didn't turn to look, so he couldn't see the terror spasm over Murata's features.
"No…"
Falling to his knees, he realized he was helpless. Yuuri was beyond his reach. His soul would be lost and there was nothing…"I- I'll do anything," Wolfram pleaded. "Just… let me save Yuuri."
He could hear a voice murmur to him, from inside his heart and outside his ears. His eyes widened at the words, filling with terror, denial, then tears… and finally resolution.
"Shinou?" The Sage turned to the ancient portrait of the king. He could hear the edges of the Original King's whisper.
"Is there no other way?" Wolfram cried, throwing his hands upwards.
Silence.
"There is none." Wolfram got to his feet, squaring his shoulders.
Murata could hear the many maidens scrambling, gathering their defenses, creating wards and barriers to protect the surrounding countryside if the boxes should truly be unleashed.
It was a futile effort. Murata could tell they already had claimed their prize. He was only vaguely aware of Wolfram's ramblings as his worst nightmare came to pass.
"I understand the price then… and I accept."
"I will never be forgiven for what I am," Yuuri whispered, as the boxes opened. Conrad held back his shriek as his arm was thrust inside. It hurt. Yet the power did not flow through him- instead, it went directly to the one who had called it.
"I do no deserve to be forgiven."
The boy changed, becoming the demonic form Conrad was so used to when battling some seemingly insignificant injustice, or stopping a volcano. Yet he didn't stop. His hair continued to grow, flowing over his shoulders wildly, his eyes taking on a red tinge as the shadows of the boxes filled him.
"Who are you?" Aldebert snarled. Conrad found himself envying the other's stubborn will. He was wilting as something become apparent to him.
"Who am I? My dear Aldebert," he murmured, walking over, and tilting up the sweating man's face with a finger to his chin. "I am the Sovereign. Or you are you so stupid you couldn't guess?"
"Thank you, my friends, for allowing me to reawaken." The words were spoken in that familiar, raspy baritone, and Conrad wished that he could die. Somehow he had failed Julia… He had been too weak.
"However, a key without a lock is rather useless now, isn't it?" The man said, chuckling softly, turning to look at all four keys. "I suppose I should dispose of you now…"
Conrad was frozen as one hand lifted towards them, palm outwards, and began to glow. He didn't want to die like this- but this was the Ma- no. This was the Sovereign.
Shinou heika… will you truly allow us to die so…
He stared at Yuuri's hand, blinded as the blast raced towards them.
Only to find, to his surprise, he was still alive. He blinked, several times, clearing away the spots in his vision only to find a body between himself and the one who wore Yuuri's face.
Wolfram?
His little brother's back was to him, chest heaving, his hand extended to mirror Sovereign's.
They all were alive. The keys were fine- a little worse for wear but fine- and the Sovereign seemed taken aback.
"You?"
Conrad felt much the same way, staring at his little brother's back. The blond youth straightened- and his back seemed straighter, not with arrogance but with the sure knowledge of his own strength. The dancing flame had been replaced by a mountain.
"Ah, I should have guessed," Yuuri/The Sovereign said, smirking a moment. "It has been a very long time, Old King."
"Yes, it has been," Wolfram rolled his shoulders, like he was feeling out his own body- a motion that seemed utterly bizarre to his older brother. "Leave Yuuri alone. He is no longer your toy."
"Ah, but he is mine. It was a cute trick… Defy the destiny set forth, and place yourself in the seal meant to hold me. Divide my powers and hope that the soul I claimed would not regain them. A foolish whim, Old King."
"No, not so foolish," Wolfram murmured- though Conrad was beginning to doubt it was his little brother speaking.
"You cannot save him," The Sovereign said, conversationally. There was a ruckus as several of the maidens, Ulrike, and the Great Sage thundered into the room.
"Yes, I will," Wolfram corrected, his tone infinitely gentle. "I will save Yuuri. You cannot keep what does not wish to be yours."
"A dreamer still? I would have thought four thousand years in that seal would have taught you otherwise."
"I learned from the best."
Wolfram began to glow- brilliant light flowing off him in waves. "Leave," he continued. "You cannot do any more damage- not in my place. Until the day to come, Sovereign," Wolfram stated, bowing slightly.
Mocking, the Sovereign returned it. "I await the day, Shinou Heika."
There was a generalized scurrying as the maidens ran to attend to the fallen keys, and the now empty vessels they had called the boxes.
Murata stared at the blond man who had fallen to his knees, shoulders slumped forward and his head bowed.
"Shinou-heika," he whispered, walking over to his old friend. The Sage had always thought it uncanny how similar Wolfram had looked to his King, but… There was truly no logical explanation. The Sovereign's words had been so sure. How had the old king been reincarnated- when his soul had truly been locked inside the Holy Seal of the Palace?
There had to be something he was missing.
"Yes, old friend?" Shinou murmured looking up to smile at Murata.
Why did his heart have to lurch all over again? It wasn't enough that Wolfram's eyes had gone from soft jade to clear blue. His tone was rougher- no longer the sweet singing voice Wolfram had, but a voice used to bellowing across a battle field. The old eyes in that young face seemed so familiar and so very wrong.
He swung his fist before he could even think.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Murata shrieked in his face- perversely enjoying the pain in his hand from finally having something to hit. "You could have stopped this! You could have done something more than let it happen!"
Shinou didn't resist when Murata pulled his fist around in a backhand, splitting his lip.
"Do you have any idea- this is Shibuya!"
A punch to the stomach followed.
"Why? Why, you old bastard?"
"Geika, please," Ulrike said. "Stop hurting Shinou Heika!"
Murata was beyond caring. He had stood and waited, and hoped, and now those hopes were gone.
"I went through life after life- the Watchman, to make sure this never happened and you fucked up events so that Yuuri would get eaten by those things again! Just like the first time!"
If Murata had been looking for a final line to cross- he had found it. Though his eyes were hidden by his hair, Murata could feel the heat coming off them, and he took a step back. There was no doubt in his mind who stood before them, wearing Wolfram's borrowed body.
"It was never my fault what happened," the Original King whispered, baring his teeth in a snarl. "I never allowed events to just unfold. People made their own choices," he whispered, grabbing Murata's shoulders. The Sage felt the blood drain from his face as he saw the damage he had done. Not just with his fists, but his words. Blood ran from a cut lip, his beautiful face was bruised, and there were tears in his eyes.
Murata had never seen Shinou Heika cry.
"I did all I could," he said, straightening and letting his Sage go. "And this was the last option. There was never any doubt that the boxes would reawaken, and break the seals. We knew they would come undone. And Yuuri had to be in the right place, in the right time. Otherwise events would unfold as they did. There is more at stake here than even you can understand, Sage."
"What?" Murata hated it when Shinou became cryptic.
"History. If things are not played out right- we never will defeat the Sovereign in the first place."
"Will you two turn and talk to us? What is going on?" Gwendal shouted in the background. Both men turned to face him. Murata walked over without hesitation, and his companion turned to do the same.
The many maidens scattered throughout the sanctum all stood- and knelt.
Gwendal's eyes went wide, staring at the kneeling women. Ulrike had joined their number as Murata and…
Shinou. Gwendal swallowed hard, and then went to one knee, bowing his head as the Original King, no matter whose body he wore…
"Please rise," Shinou said softly. Murata shivered. Even after all these years, and in the wrong body, Shinou could overwhelm him. His power had not diminished through all the long centuries.
Conrad and Flurin had followed suit when they had seen Gwendal's motion, and then rose.
"Are you going to listen to him, after all he's done?" Aldebert shouted. He alone had remained on his feet.
He was weaponless, but he tried to loom over the young man's body.
"What would you have had me do, Aldebert? Julia made her choice. She did it because she had the best chance of bringing peace- and I still believe that. I also believe had she not died when she had- you would be facing her now, instead of Yuuri. Could you truly have allowed White Julia the torment of destroying the world?"
Silence.
"What are you saying?" Conrad finally whispered. His eyes were huge.
"That this would have happened eventually, no matter what we could have done," Murata completed. "Had Julia not died when she had, it would have been likely she would have taken up the role as the Sovereign."
"No," Aldebert protested. "Not Julia."
"It doesn't matter now," Shinou said. "You can beat on this body all you want, but that doesn't change that we have only a short window in which to act. Everyone," he ordered, and all stood to listen. "Gwendal, take them all back to Blood Pledge Castle. The Great Sage and I will meet you there. The military needs to be informed, as do our allies. We cannot, and I repeat, cannot allow Yuuri to kill someone. He has to believe he is worth saving…"
Murata listened to the words that came so easy to the Original King. He had something planned, and for some reason that reassured Murata immensely.
"What are you trying to do this time?" he asked, stepping close to his old friend. "How did you manage to leave the seal?" Murata frowned, then put up his hand when Shinou tried to answer.
"No, let me guess… When Wolfram wanted you to heal Yuuri, and you took his Maryoku- you replaced it with a piece of your own. He'd do anything to save Yuuri, and you took advantage of that. Is that it?"
"That is hardly all of it, old friend," Shinou said, and Murata blinked at the hollow tone of his words.
"What will you do if you can't save Shibuya?"
Shinou said nothing, his eyes lowered to the floor.
"Will you kill him again?"
He had no answer, as Shinou strode quickly out of the room.
Shibuya Shori opened his email that night… His brother had not been seen in a day, and he was starting to get worried.
He guessed that for some reason he had not been able to return from Shin Makoku. That was something had had never occurred before.
Bob's email blinked at him, and Shori took a deep breath, feeling ill. Something told him this would not be good news.
"No," he whispered, and clicked off the browser window. "I'm not going to read it. Yuuri will come back. He promised."
With a steady hand, he turned off his monitor and got ready for bed.
To be continued.
A/N: I sincerely hope that I have not sacrificed much in the way of quality for writing this thing so quickly, but I want to make sure it gets written. I hope people have liked it, and I hope to be done in a couple more chapters.
Don't worry, I still have a happy ending planned. Just… um… angst on the way. And happy endings don't really last forever, either. Wolfram's going to pay a pretty hefty price for what he's done, and so will Yuuri. But I think it will turn out okay in the end. I'm sorry about the lemon- they take me a while to write.