The Truth Beyond the Reflection

Chapter 11: A Shining Light

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.

Sorry about the uber long wait time this time around! I've been so busy…even though it's summer. Heh. My scanlation group picked up the series MAR so I've had to spend all my time trying to catch up on that…but I started on AKT 119 or so and I'm on AKT 135…and there are 160 out today. Saa…I'll get here eventually! And, to add to that…I got my first commission! Yay! But, it's been taking a toll out of my freetime. Usually, I write a chapter first and THEN type it up, but this one only has a little written and I want to get it done, so I'll just type it directly and make changes as I go. This is a Conrad chapter! Again, sorry for the wait!

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"Pull a little harder!" I ordered. Günter whined as if he were going to protest, but he did as I asked without saying a word. The mirror bounced over the doorframe and slowly slid into the room. It was much easier to move the mirror once it was inside; we slid it across the red carpet to the corner of the room.

"Are you sure this will work?" Günter asked for what had to be at least the tenth time! He was such a worry-wert. I sighed and shook my head.

"Of course, I grinned reassuringly. There was still a part of me that doubted whether that was true or not though. It almost seemed…too easy. I was sure there was going to be something that would prove more difficult than expected. But, for now…all I could do was trust in Wolfram.

I stepped back from the mirror and examined its pristine surface. I could see my reflection staring back at me. It was amazing to think this mirror was actually a portal at night. I frowned slightly. Of course, even after hearing Wolfram and Morgif's explanation of where the portal led to…I still wasn't so sure. I didn't really believe that Wolfram understood either.

"So, now what?" Günter walked up to stand beside me. I glanced over at him and shrugged.

"According to Morgif…the changeling will have to break the mirror soon if it wants to stay in this realm permanently. Otherwise, it will be pulled back. Unfortunately, even if that happens, Wolfram will not be able to get out. He will be trapped inside forever, unless another exchange happens. So, we make sure that this room is left open for easy access, and we make sure the changeling knows. Then, so we don't attract unwanted attention, only I will stand in here and guard, but from a hidden spot. Since the changeling will probably make its move during nighttime, it will be easy for me to find a shadow to hide in. Then I wait for Morgif to give the signal….and I push that changeling through and pull Wolfram out…" I sighed and rubbed my head. It still seemed too easy to me! I think Günter shared my doubts, but I wasn't about to let him know that. Though…on a slightly humorous note, I don't ever remember seeing his eyebrows that puckered! It didn't suit him at all!

"What if it doesn't work? What if we are being tricked!" Günter flailed his arms about. I sighed and pretended to ignore him as I adjusted the mirror. That didn't stop his wailing in the background though. I whipped around and gave him a hard stare.

"We have to believe it will work! And, as far as Morgif goes…" I let my stare soften a little, "don't think that hasn't crossed my mind as well. I just haven't been able to find a reason he would want to deceive us. What could he gain? Besides, he's been helping Yuuri all this time, and now Wolfram! If he wanted to betray us…he could have done it much earlier on. So, those mustn't be his intentions."

Günter looked like he was going to protest more, but at that moment, the door swung open allowing both a maid and Yuuri into the room. I sighed softly and rubbed my head again. I had been avoiding Yuuri as much as possible, giving him excuses of a heavy workload (which by any means wasn't a lie! This whole Wolfram situation really has required me to do a lot of work!) to get out of playing baseball with him. I had heard he had managed to get Gwendal and Günter to play with him once…but he still would rather have Wolfram and myself with him. It was getting harder and harder to keep him away from the changeling!

If it had been hard to notice before, it was definitely obvious now. Yuuri really had strong feelings for Wolfram, and they were different from the feelings he had for me, or anyone else in this world for that matter. I had seen him worked up quite a few times, but never quite like this. He was going crazy without being able to see his fiancé. Of course, I don't think it helped any that the only person he felt he could confide in was so busy all the time…I could tell he was getting suspicious. I was actually rather jealous of my little brother…

"Excuse me, sirs," the maid bowed her head. Yuuri stood silent behind her, a big grin spread across his face.

"What is it?" Günter gave her a bored look. She looked slightly taken aback, but she did not falter. She gave us a slight smile.

"Gwendal awaits your report. And, he says it is urgent that one of you come! There is something up, it would appear…" the maid averted her gaze to the floor. Yuuri looked like he wanted to press the issue, but before he could say anything, Günter crossed the floor and set his hand on the maid's shoulder.

"Alright, I'll go then. Thank you," Günter had regained his usual luster. He quickly hurried from the room. The maid bowed and after a moment, followed him out. I watched as she closed the door behind them. Great….now I was left alone with Yuuri. Usually, I wouldn't mind so much. But as I said, lately…it was getting harder and harder to keep this from him.

"Everyone's so busy anymore! And I don't even know why!" Yuuri complained. I grinned at him and chuckled slightly.

"It's always very busy, it's just that usually we are able to organize it better. This time though, we got hit with just a little more than we can handle. The little skirmishes that are springing up throughout the land, Mazoku vs. human…and with all the political nonsense going on while we are trying to write up treaties…this time of year is always bad for that. It gets especially busy when you add a new MaOh to the mix," I chuckled at him. He grinned back at me. Good. At least he was over his little mood. Hopefully he'd but that story for a while. Of course, it wasn't exactly a lie…we really did have some problems with those things, it was just that the mirror had taken our priority over much else considering it was happening within the walls of our home. We needed to protect out MaOh at all cost!

"Aw, but even Wolfram has been soo busy! He's spent most of his time locked up in the library! And he put guards outside to keep me out, too! Only Gwnedal has gone in to see him! It's no fair! I don't have anyone to play with! Not even Greta," Yuuri frowned. I was about to make a retort, but he waved his hand to stop me.

"Don't get me wrong; I do understand the importance of all this busywork! I've been doing some myself as well. I just gone done with being cooped up in Gwendal's office signing and working out treaties with him…so, I know how busy everyone is! Still, I don't think anyone should work this much without a little break for fun. And, none of you guys seem to be doing that. You're going to pop a blood vessels or something!"

"Yuuri…!" I couldn't hide my amusing. That boy always came up with the strangest ideas! But, he was right…a little break would probably do us all good. "It's good that you care for your people so much. But do not fret. We know are limits and what we are capable of. We do rest, just not in the same manner you do."

"Still," Yuuri folded his arms across his chest, "I wish you or Wolfram would get free enough to play some baseball with me, or even do some sword training! I don't feel right unless I'm getting some exercise!"

Before I could say anymore, the door flew open and Gwendal and Günter marched inside. Günter stopped beside the MaOh, but Gwendal continued over to me, barely giving Yuuri a glance. But of course, that was how Gwendal was after all. He didn't like to admit, even now, that he liked our new MaOh. But, everyone liked him. It couldn't be helped!

"The ambassadors from the embassy have arrived! You better go greet them! But as Gwendal has some unfinished business, I will accompany you along with the previous MaOh…" Günter wrapped his arm around Yuuri's shoulder. The look on his face was priceless.

"EH? She's coming with us?" Yuuri seemed aghast. But, I didn't blame him. It did seem odd for her to come out and meet with any ambassadors…but, we were short on people at the moment. And, this particular group of people happened to love my mother.

"It's a long story…" Günter didn't exactly look thrilled about it either. But it was hard not to blame him. My mother could be a bit of a handful. Still, almost everyone loved her, whether they admitted it or not. She was much like Yuuri in that way.

Gwendal and I stood in silence as we listened to Yuuri's dying protests as the two left the room. Günter barely stopped to shut the door behind him. After the sound of their footsteps faded away, I glanced over at Gwendal.

"What brings you here? Worried about the changeling examining our battle secrets and history in the library perhaps?" I cocked an eyebrow at him. Gwendal grunted slightly, his eyebrows furrowed as usual. Ah, I was right.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure he can actually read our language though…" I chuckled slightly. Gwendal shook his head.

"No, it doesn't appear he can. But, he is learning and adapting to our world quickly. I think that is why he is researching so much in the library. He intends to make the stay permanent, and it would appear that he intends to spend more time around here, too. He's taken a liking to his new appearance and to the people it draws…particularly the MaOh. This could get dangerous if it lasts for much longer," Gwendal rubbed his forehead slightly. I nodded my head. He was right; we couldn't let the changeling get too comfortable. It would be better if we could convince it to peacefully return to his world, but I doubt that would happen. We had to make it hate this world at the same time as giving it a false sense of security so it would believe we knew nothing of its true nature and believed it was our brother. So far, that hadn't seemed to work well. But, leaving it with guards under the pretense of keeping it safe from harm was the only way to keep it away from Yuuri.

"I think it will act tonight," Gwendal said quietly. I whipped my head around to face him.

"Tonight? Why so soon! It still has time left!" I gasped. Gwendal shook his head and sighed. He walked away from me, and moved closer to the mirror. He stopped in front of it to gaze upon his reflection.

"All the preparations it has been making in this world…they seem to have lessened. I think it feels prepared enough to become the real Wolfram. So, it has to make sure nothing will stand in its way. The sooner it destroys the mirror and the proof, the better. So, I think it will act tonight, but this is purely speculation," Gwendal frowned. I could see his hardened expression through the mirror. I knew he was right…as much as I hated to admit it. We would have to act fast if we wanted to save our little brother.

"Alright, I'll be ready," I grinned. Gwendal nodded slightly. He slowly turned away from the mirror and stepped back.

"Good."

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The dead of night had fallen and the silence with it seemed impenetrable. The only sound was the hoarse breathing of the changeling and the sharp footsteps from the boots it had adorned. But, even the little noise and the lack thereof had the changeling on edge. This was it. The night when it would be finally free.

As the changeling moved down the hall, the absence of noise or guards…anything, was starting to rack on its nerves. That man who was supposedly his new form's older brother (though part of him reeked of human!) said that the mirror was no longer considered a threat, so they were moving it to a room where all could have access to it. Foolish mortals! The changeling had almost snickered. But now, as it walked down the hall towards it, it couldn't help but wonder if maybe it had been the one who would be duped.

Through the dim light illuminating the hall, the changeling could make out clearly the shape of the door it was looking for. One of the advantages a changeling had was good eyesight in the darkness. Most changelings lived their entire life in darkness, so it wasn't a new sensation. In fact, this changeling preferred the darkness.

The changeling hesitated outside the door for a moment. It pressed an ear against it and heard nothing. Once it was sure nothing was in there, it gave the door a light push, and the door slid open with a soft creak. The changeling slipped inside and hurriedly closed the door behind it. Though the creak in essence was barely audible, to it the creak seemed to ring throughout the hall. It didn't want to risk getting caught for such a foolish mistake. It paused against the door, breathing heavily, waiting for some movement to start up outside the door. But, nothing ever happened.

As the changeling moved across the room, it followed the light radiating from the mirror. Ah, the light that would soon vanish, leaving it free to roam about this world for eternity! Thankfully, the changeling had found a nice form to reside in, a beautiful yet powerful young Mazoku. Thing seemed to be working out for the best.

As the changeling neared the mirror, it caught a bright glint of light in the portal. Perhaps the blade of a sword…? But, it didn't have much time to think about it…

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Translation notes:

Mazoku: literally monster (evil tribe), but in this case it's used as a loose term like Youkai to specify a type of humanoid with the ability to use magic

MaOh: evil king…aka King of the Mazoku

Well, since my novel is entirely done except for rewriting stuff (I have like 7 proofreaders on it though only one is very far and active…), I have time to do stuff like this now XD. And, since I am no longer writing this out first, the next two chapters shouldn't be too far away. For one thing, I want to end this soon! I am hoping to only go to 13. I really am bad at keeping up long stories…heh. But, look forward to it! I was planning on sneaking in a Yuuri chapter…but if I do, it would have to be 13…cause 12 is definitely a Wolfram chapter…I think 13 will end up being so too.