The Truth Beyond the Reflection

Chapter 12: The Price of Freedom

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.

I started typing this right after I finished typing 11 because I had freetime..but not exactly sure how long this wll take. This story is coming to a close, so pretty much, all I have to do is wrap everything up. I don't plan on taking too long to do that. I have this big problem with inconstancies (in my novel…one of the characters changed her hair color 3 times before I caught it!), so I usually like to work with oneshots…this was intended as one, but the direction it ended up going off in is totally different than what I had initially planned…I kinda like it though. Hee hee. This is a Wolfram chapter!

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I'm finally going home! The thought rang throughout my head. I almost felt like dancing...jumping for joy! If only my head and body didn't ache so much. All I really wanted to do right now was to get back home and go to sleep in my own bed…I was so tired! But, I had to stay awake as the sun was starting to set. I had my hands wrapped around the hilt of my sword as we waited. My hands were starting to cramp and go numb.

"Wolfram-kyo…" I glanced over at Morgif. He looked worried. I gave him a weak smile. I knew he wouldn't buy it though. He was much to good at picking up on a person's weariness. I suppose that's one of the things that made him such a good warrior.

"Maybe it would be better if you rest a little…I will take care of protecting you until the time comes…" Morgif gave me a comforting smile. Damn him! He still reminded me too much of my world…but, I was going to see it soon…I smiled at the thought.

"I'm fine," I said, but I sat down on the bank anyways. I never let my grip up on the sword though. We were right near where the portal was shortly to appear…I wasn't about to let myself relax. I remembered too well what had happened last time I was here…

"It's coming soon…" Morgif was intently watching the sky-wall. I nodded slightly and followed his gaze. I could see the flicker of light start to form. Soon, it would be reflecting much more and fully. I turned away and stared down at my feet. I could barely tell they were mine! So muddy and bloody…the hurt like crazy. I couldn't wait to get home and rest.

Suddenly, Morgif's hand moved to his sword. In an instant, he was on his feet. I was slower than him, especially with the pain clouding my movements, but I was quick to follow his example. Something must be coming.

"Stay back!" Morgif gestured with his arm. I frowned but took a step behind him. I was hurting so much right now that it really didn't matter. Arguing right now was pointless. I just wanted to get home in one piece! But, the moment Morgif needed help, I would step in…whether he liked it or not.

The water started to bubble and I could smell something rancid. I moved to cover my nose with a hand while the other one stayed fast to my sword. I gagged against the stench, "What….is it?"

"At night time…darker creatures come out. It is not very safe to be around here. These things must be retchas…they are pretty much like slime-covered zombies…they are not dead, but they are not really alive either. They cannot think for themselves. All they can do is hunger for blood…" Morgif frowned. I gagged again. These things sure smelled like they were dead and rotting! I watched as the slowly started to climb out of swamp. They were…hideous!

It was hard to make out much of the retchas because they were covered in mud…but they had a sharp fin that protruded from their backs, breaking through the muddy slime. I could see the tiny red orbs in their heads that I assumed were eyes. And, I could make out very dirty and broken-looking teeth…they still looked sharp though. I took a step back.

I watched as Morgif went to battle with them. The retcha were pretty slow and really didn't pay much heed to the warnings they were given. As Morgif slashed apart their comrades, they would simply climb atop his dead body and continue forward…trying to get at us. My hands were shaking. I slowly brought my hand back down to my sword so that I would have a good grip. Though these things weren't strong at all, there were a lot of them.

"Wolfram-kyo, the portal!" Morgif shouted over the groans of the retcha. I glance dup to see that the portal had fully formed. Dammit! How was I going to get over there? I moved to Morgif's side and slashed at a retcha coming towards me. It fell apart like paper.

"What are these things weak against? We need them out of here so I can get to the portal…they are blocking my way!" I shouted towards him. Morgif frowned at me. For a moment, the only sound was our swords and the retchas' coarse groans.

"Tell me!" I shouted at him again. But, I had a funny feeling I knew what the answer would be…

"They are weak against fire…" he sighed after a moment. Ha ha! I knew it…I smirked slightly. This would hurt a lot, but I didn't have much time! I had to get to the portal soon.

"Alright, we're moving in!" I ordered. Morgif looked like he was about to hesitate, but he followed after me as we pushed through the retchas. Their stench now surrounded me on all sides and it was hard to breath and concentrate. I slashed blindly, feeling my sword hit retcha after retcha. The portal still seemed so far away…

Morgif jumped in front of me and made a large slash in a circular fashion, clearing out most of the rethca near me. He glanced at me over his shoulder and I knew it was time. I took a deep breath and slowly held up a hand.

I could feel the magic forming at the fingertips and the pain was building with it. The memory of the pain was enough to have me already hurting! As the fire started to form, the pain became real…but I gritted my teeth and tried to concentrate hard on the task at hand. It seemed to take forever to get just a little fireball out.

"Now!" Morgif shouted out and I opened my eyes. I raised my hand up into the air and let out a scream as I released a wave of fire. It spread throughout the retcha, leaving me a clear path to the portal. Ignoring the pain, I started towards it.

"Wolfram-kyo!" I could hear Morgif at my heels. The world was spinning around me, but I kept moving forward. Oh...it hurt so much! I had no idea how I was still moving…but I could see the portal getting ever closer.

"Wolfram-kyo!" Morgif shouted again, this time, it got my attention though. A retcha lunged out at me and bit into my shoulder. I howled in pain and swung my fist into its face. Once I had knocked it back, I swung my sword at it and watched it fall away into the water.

"Wolfram-kyo! Are you alright?" Morgif was by my side. I gave him a weak smile and hurried to move ahead. He kept up with me, knocking away the retcha as they got closer. The fire magic had burned away far too quickly; my power was so damn weak in this world!

As I got to the portal, I clung to the wall and started pounding on it, "Conrad!" I could see his silhouette in the darkness. Suddenly, another figure moved into view. It was…me…I gasped and took a step back.

"What…?" I glanced over at Morgif, he was still busy with fighting off the retcha. I slashed at one to help him a little.

"The changeling!" Morgif reminded me and I nodded slightly. I had almost forgot about that…that he would look like me. I clung back to the portal and glared at him.

"Let me out of here, damn you!" I cursed at the changeling. He just smirked at me and folded his arms across his chest. He slowly moved to his hip, pulling off a hammer…oh no! He was going to smash it! What was Conrad doing?

"Conrad!" I screamed out again. Just as the changeling lifted the hammer over his head, Conrad charged out of the shadows and knocked the changeling to the floor. I watched the hammer fall harmless against the floor.

You…! The changeling hissed at him. I watched as the changeling pulled a sword from the other side of his belt and sent it swinging down at Conrad. Of course, Conrad was a brilliant swordsman, so he easily knocked it back. The two of them stood up and backed away from each other.

"Conrad! Hurry! What are you doing?" I screamed. A retcha grabbed at my foot. I kicked it away and slashed at it. I glanced over at Morgif to see that he had more than his share of retcha on him. This wasn't good…we weren't going to last for much longer! We had to get out of here soon…

Conrad flashed me a grin and circled the changeling. I watched as their swords clashed…oh no! The changeling was suddenly fighting…far too good! Was he mimicking Conrad's actions? I pounded on the portal.

"Conrad! Watch out!" I shouted as the changeling managed to nick Conrad on the cheek. Conrad narrowed his eyes at him and charged in again. This was not going good…I cursed silently.

I felt a sharp pain run up my leg as a retcha tried to bit onto it. I cursed at him and proceeded to pummel him with the hilt of my sword. I watched as he fell back and another one moved in to take his place. This was getting crazy!

I glanced back at the scene before me just in time to watch Conrad finally get an upper hand and send the sword in the changeling's hand flying. As the changeling scurried to get it, Conrad jumped a top of him and knocked him to the floor. At least something was finally starting to look good…

Conrad grabbed the changeling's arms and folded them against the changeling's back. He finally had it restrained, but the changeling was still struggling. Conrad groaned and kicked it hard in the head. The changeling continued to struggle as hard though, as if the kick had no effect.

Conrad finally was able to get the changeling up right, and he dragged it towards the mirror. I could hear the thing hissing and snarling at Conrad…it even tried to bite him! The image of me it had taken on was starting to fade…I wasn't so sure if I wanted to see what was underneath it.

I've got him! Conrad shouted towards me. Morgif looked up and hurried over to my side. I could see a couple streaks of blood traveling down his face.

"Morgif…" I started to say, but he brushed him off.

"We have no time for that! Quickly now!" Morgif gave me a hard shove. I stumbled and nodded slightly. I slowly placed the palms of my hands against the portal. Conrad held the changeling upright and slowly grabbed its hands.

The changeling tried to break free and almost managed, but Conrad somehow managed to hold onto it and force it's hands onto the mirror's face. The changeling's face had contorted into a hideous rage. I took a deep breath and slowly moved closer to the portal. I could feel Morgif behind me giving me a small push. I glanced back at him and the retchas that had surrounded us.

"Morgif!" I shouted out as I started to slip through the portal. He gave me his warm smile and waved slightly. This would be the last I ever saw of him…I could feel the tears building in the corners of my eyes. I didn't want that…but I knew I couldn't stay there! Besides, I wanted to go home…I squinted my eyes and tried to avert my gaze…but it was hard…I could see the blurry image of him being overtaken by the retcha…and suddenly, everything was gone and I was staring at a mirror.

"Morgif…" I could feel the tears slipping over my cheeks. I fell to the ground, exhausted. I didn't even want to move. Conrad was quickly at my side.

"Wolfram!" I could feel his arms wrap around me, but I didn't struggle. It felt so good to be home…

"Welcome back…" he stroked the back of my head. I grabbed onto him and hugged him back.

"I'm home…!" I cried against him. It had never felt so god to say that! For a moment, we just sat there in silence, trapped in the warm embrace. Then slowly he let go and I backed off, a faint blush across my cheeks. I can't believe I just hugged him!

"Let's go get you fixed up…" Conrad helped me up. I nodded slightly. All I wanted to do right now was sleep! I think he could tell. He slowly walked me towards the door. My legs, me head…my whole body was aching. I felt sick.

Before we could reach the door, it suddenly flew open. A dark figure rushed inside and knocked me back as he wrapped his arms around me. We tumbled back into the mirror and I could hear it shatter on the floor behind me.

"Wolfram!" Yuuri cried into what was left of my negligee. I glared down at him.

"What?" It even hurt to glare. Gah…why did he have to act like this now…? As much as I liked it…it really hurt!

"I knew there was something up, but no one would tell me what! You haven't called me wimp in a while!" he whined. I tried to sit up and push him off of me, but it hurt too much to move. I sighed and let him remain with his arms around me.

"Wimp…" I muttered to him, and he gave me a big goofy grin. That idiot! But, I was pretty sure my face was bright red…

"Now, now, Yuuri…Wolfram needs his rest," Conrad came to my rescue. I had never liked returning home more before. Even though I was tired and barely functioning…I couldn't help but smile. But, I was plagued by thoughts of what had ever happened to Morgif…

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Translation notes:

Wolfram-kyo: Lord Wolfram

Um…yeah…that's all I got. I'll do one more chapter to wrap up things, but then I'll be done with this story…finally! MWA HA HA! So two chapters up in one night, not bad for meh, eh? I hate this chapter though... I can almost guarantee the last chapter of this will be up later this week most likely. I really want to see more Kyou…I was talking to a girl about it at Jafax last weekend and it sounds like there is so much fun stuff happening later! I wish I could download….stupid 56k modem!