The Truth Beyond the Reflection

Chapter 8: Shadow of a Doubt

By Sanzaki Kojika

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the Kyou Kara MaOh! Characters. I do however, own everything "beyond the reflection." Heh. WARNING: There IS Yaoi in here. YxW and vice versa. I guess you could say hints of CxY, too.

The funniest thing is…this story was originally meant to be a really short story that had Yuuram in it. Now, it WILL eventually get into the more heavy Yuuram, but so far it's all implied stuff O.o Odd how stories change once you right them, ne? I'm warning you know that since I once again have a proofreader for my novel (still don't have any proofers for my fics so live with it XP ), I will be focusing my time to that instead of this. But, that doesn't mean this will be dead. Probably just long updates is all. You guys were lucky on this one cause chp 8 is relatively short, and I only have a little time on my compy today so I'm not doing my usual translate one of four project jobs. But now I'm just rambling…Oh! This is from Conrad's point-of-view, by the way.

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The last day of the long week was finally nearing its close. As each day passed, it was getting harder and harder to convince Yuuri that nothing was out of the ordinary. The whole situation was really starting to bother him. He had even almost gone as far as admit that he missed having a certain blonde sleeping beside him in his bed.

Everyday, Yuuri had pounded me with questions. Where was Wolfram? Was he okay? Was he sick? The same questions that plagued my own troubled mind. I felt a pinch of jealousy in my heart, but I tried hard to ignore it. Right now, all that mattered was getting the real Wolfram back safe and sound.

Every night, I had made my way to the treasury with the hope of seeing my little brother again. But, each time, he failed to appear. I was becoming so worried that I could hardly hide my own fears from Yuuri anymore. If only he'd stop badgering me! Then, maybe, I could work some things out. I seriously doubted that though.

"Conrad!" Damn, Yuuri had found me. That was probably the only time I had ever not been fond of Yuuri's appearance. I turned around and gave him the biggest smile I could force. My head was throbbing.

"What is it?" He stared at me for a moment. His eyebrows were cocked up. Was something funny? He looked confused and slightly amused at the same time.

"What are you doing?" he asked. I blinked at him.

"What do you mean?" He frowned at me slightly.

"Hello! You've been pacing in front of the treasury for almost an hour now! And, this isn't the first time this week you've done that!" he waved his arms about wildly. I glanced over at one of the guards and the guard nodded his head in agreement.

"Oh." I really didn't have an explanation for that one. I hadn't even realized myself that I was pacing. If only Wolfram would make contact again!

"And, it's not just you either. Everyone has been acting strange. There are guards in front of Wolfram's room even! Just what is going on?" Yuuri narrowed his eyes. I stopped pacing and stared at him.

"Er, well…it's been a bad week." That was the best I could come up with. I really wasn't up to dealing with him right now. Why did he always have to come and search me out…?

Conrad! I grinned like a fool and pranced over to the treasury door.

"Oi! Conrad? What's wrong? You didn't answer me-!" I left Yuuri wailing behind me. The guard, of course, stopped him at the door. I had already flown through the doors.

I tripped over boxes and stumbled through the darkness, but I didn't care. Wolfram was finally calling me! Maybe he had some good news. I could really use it.

As I neared the mirror, I started to slow. I had expected to hear a moan or two from Morgif. Odd. He remained silent. Sleeping maybe? The glow of the mirror cast its eerie light onto the boxes that surrounded it. I stopped just before the ring of light.

I smiled when I saw my little brother. He was dirty and haggard, his negligee was beyond repair, and it was hard to find a part of him that wasn't bandaged. I was amazed he still had any life left in him.

"It's good to see you again," I said and I meant it, truly and deeply. Right now, I wanted nothing more than to hold my little brother in my arms. He smiled slightly, the most forced smile I had ever seen.

"Yeah…" Wolfram almost whispered his agreement. I could hear a rustle behind hi, but he didn't see bothered. A good sign? Had he found help? Or a bad sign? Was he going crazy?

"We have identified the beast…" We? I wanted to ask, but Wolfram didn't give me a chance to, "and here's what I need you to do…" My eyes left Wolfram for a moment as the rustle behind him grew louder.

Slowly, a handsome young man stood up and placed his hand on Wolfram's shoulder. Usually Wolfram would have batted it away, but instead, he just glanced back slightly. He really was hurting. "Wolfram-kyo, please rest. I can take care of this…"

"But…!" Wolfram protested as the man gently moved him out of the mirror's face. Then, the man came back and stared at me briefly. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Who are you…?" I cocked an eyebrow. Wolfram didn't seem to be in any type of danger, but still…an older brother always worried.

"Do not fear. I am the Mazoku sword, Morgif. I shall explain everything to you…" And suddenly I thought I knew why the sword Morgif had fallen silent that night…

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Outside of the treasury, Yuuri paced the lonely halls of the castle. Something was going on, and he'd make sure he found out what it was. After all, he was positive it had something to do with his fiancé. There was no way he could just sit idly by…

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Translation notes:

Oi: Hey (sometimes my brain stops thinking in English…)

Wolfram-kyo: Lord Wolfram

Mazoku: monster (rawr)

Another chapter finished! Yay! And, it's only…12:30 am…yeah…I'll go to bed now I think XD Chp 9 is started. Don't I get out of writer's block fast? I hardly ever get it even XD I usually have some ideas of some sort that I can work with. Anyways…thank you guys for all the reviews and etc! This is my biggest fanfic (as far as fanbase goes) yet, so I'm excited. Thanks tons!