Fields of Hope

Summary: What hope does Wolfram ever have for Yuuri to choose him to love? It's rather dim, especially when he's up against some awfully gorgeous noblewomen of Shin Maroku. But one thing is for sure; being different has its perks. YuuRam ((They rock!))

Edited! Now at the whopping word count of 6'700 flat! Tell me if you like this version better.

Special thanks to Enzeru, an anonymous first reviewer of this fic.

Thank you all so much again!

The grand ball prepared as the welcoming of the new king, and the final declaration of peace through out the land, was nearing. It was only a few days preparations away, two to be exact. Changes in the palace grew apparent as the night for the grand ball was just around the corner. The vast hall slowly filled with a breathtaking assortment of flowers; lilies, 'Beautiful Wolfram', 'Conrad Stands Upon the Earth', 'Cecile's Passion', 'Gwendel's tense', roses, carnations, and much more in variety and quantity, decorations too leisurely came to embrace the magnificent arch of the hall's entrance. Vibrant cloths and tapestry carefully hung to frame the scenic view of the glorious French-arched windows. The hall is self was splendidly done as wonderfully created glass chandeliers sparkling with candle lights shone through its immense space. The garden, pretty as it was, its brilliance grew ten-fold as the Mazoku gardener laced the bushes, trees, grass and vines with blossoming flora using Maryoku, gather a bit of help from Anissina's 'Make-The-Palace-Beautiful-With-Blossoming-Flowers-That-Will-Compliment-The-Night-Air-And-Freshen-The-Morning-Breeze-Kun'.

"There so pretty!" Doria, the helper in the red attire gawked at the energetic feel the growing flowers on the vegetation were emitting.

Lazannia, the one in green, pulled her by her locks in haste. "True they are pretty, admire them later, Doria. We still have about a hundred table settings to arrange!"

The people's joy was also clear for the long awaited return of the new Maou; everyone was like busy buzzing bees as they too prepared for the ball. The wives and children were going back and forth to prepare to this festivity to which their king has joyously invited all of the town's folk, unlike previous Maous come to date. They were particularly haste to prepare their daughters in hope of the king choosing her as the queen to stand by his side.

"But mother! I do not wish to go, I wish to go back to the farms and help brother with his work, along with Gianna and Presia" A young Mazoku girl with unbelievably long auburn tresses flooding her back complained to her mother as she was suited for her gown.

"Nonsense child! With luck you might be the next queen to stand by his majesty." Her mother, an elderly woman with traces of beauty in her earlier years replied, inserting another pin into the thin fabric of her daughters gown.

"But mother! Please!" The girl insisted, her hips slightly, causing her mother to unintentionally stab the precious flesh of her daughter's side. "Ah"

"Enough, 'tis only for one night. You may go back to the field in the morn in you wish"

"Ow"

Noblemen, women and children from human countries too were bid to come and join the celebration at night. Invitations were to Big Shimaron, small, Shimaron, Caloria, Cabalcade, and spread even in the far rural regions of the human territories. Even them especially prepared there daughters in hope for the Maou to choose his queen amongst them. But to others, they simply took this occasion a chance to once again visit their Mazoku friends and see the sun-like smile of the Mazoku king.

"Hm…what dress would you like to wear Beatrice-chan?" Flurin asked the human princess as she carefully chose some of the other item of the princess' clothing to wear.

"The one with blue ribbons on it and a bow on the back!" The young princess said confidently after some thought.

"Okay then, the blue with the ribbon and bow at the back" Flurin said with a smile as she folded the said article of clothing and placed it in the princess's trunk.

A knock on the pine door gently came, silencing further conversation.

"Thank you for helping my daughter so much, Flurin-san. Normally she'd make a huge tantrum before we pack" Hirsto Cruyff said moving through the door with a gently smile upon his fine features.

"Daddy!" Beatrice pouted at her father, folding her arms in the process.

"It's a pleasure Cruyff-san. Beatrice wasn't very difficult" Flurin replied with a smile on her lips as well, securing the lock in place.

"Hurry, the boat might leave us. Flurin-san, daddy, come on!"

While all around the land people hurried to make final arrangements for their destination to Shin Maroku, those inside the palace were in a rush to finish their preparations as well; the number of guards increased, the last of the vegetables were bought, the last of the table decorations were set, the last of the flowers carefully bloomed, and of course the sweeping, wiping and cleaning of the palace were made. However deep in the king's study their was a different problem that arose in the already tense situation.

"I HAVE TO WHAT!"

"HE HAS TO WHAT!"

Two simultaneous shouts were heard echoing from the palace, and even the birds in the near by forest agreed by flying away, coming from the king himself and his betrothed lips. Both didn't expect this, the untimely custom that would surely burn pangs of jealousy from the Maou's blonde betrothed.

Wolfram was the first to regain his composure, tossing the sun-like locks that came to cover his face as he headed towards Günter with blazing eyes and a vein coming from his pale temple. At this point not even the purple-haired pedophile dared to speak as he watched the soldier approach him. "What do you mean he has to dance with all the available maidens present?" He bellowed at the helpless adviser, clutching Gunter by his white robe and pulling the powerless man closer. "But…that'd take forever!" The king's claim was silently heard from the background.

"You didn't mention this before…besides-" The prince paused for a moment, glancing towards his so-called husband-to-be for a second "-…he has me" His barely audible mutter escaped his breathe as he let Gunter down on the ground with a painfully loud thud and looked at his fiancé with eyes burning with rage, as if daring the king to speak. The room was so hushed now, with the now setting sun turning the study a moody red.

"So what are you going to do Hennachoko?" He dangerously asked, looking at the demon king with such ferocity that could kill hundreds, throwing one of his hands to his side and the other in a tight fist on his side. Yuuri gulped, unconsciously fidgeting his black dress attire's collar, felling that the room was unexpectedly getting uncomfortably warm as he looked as his lover. They'd shared a kiss or two but Wolfram was still insecure about what the king felt for him. "Well…if it's a custom…then…" He tried to say slowly enough not to offend the blonde.

Wolfram had begun growing a popping vein on his forehead as he listened to his fiancé stammer. "Don't tell me you're going to do it!" He yelled angrily, tightening the fist of his right hand. Yuuri stopped his stammering and started fidgeting his black top. "Ano…I--"

"Hmph!" Wolfram crossed his arms, not even bothering to let the raven-haired boy answer him properly or at least try to explain his assessment. "If that's you're decision, then fine! I'm going to bed" He said moving to the door and slamming it behind him. Yuuri sighs as he watched yet another ornament fall of the wall of his study.

His gaze remained there for awhile then moving on to Gunter,sighing in the process. "Why must you only inform me of this custom two days before the celebration, Gunter?" 'I could have cooled that firey head of his if we had known earlier' He added silently standing to pick the fallen frame on the floor and going back to his desk, dropping onto the chair with fatigue. "Well Heika, We –I— was busy with the preparations for the ball and Anissina kept me up with her inventions. I would have informed you sooner if she had not kept me" Gunter apologized turning a sickly blue as he remembered the torture he was forced to endure. "Excuse me, he---" His sentence was cut short as he hurriedly fled for the nearest comport area.

Yuuri sighed. "Pray that I can cool off Wolfram's head before the party." 'I wouldn't want my koi not having a good time' with that thought the demon king walked out the study in search for his fiancé, leaving Gunter crying after him.

"Are you alright your majesty?" the ever so familiar voice of the man who gave Yuuri his name came from behind, as he looked upon the seemingly depressed Maou. "It's Yuuri, Konrad, Yuuri. You're the one who gave me my name remember?" Yuuri somehow managed to say with a slight smile as he stopped to lean against one of the palace's old stone walls fro support.

"Yuuri, then. Are you alright? You seem depressed."

"No, it's just…" Him voice trailed off as he heard the unmistakable sound of his daughter scream. "Greta!" He shouted his voice no longer the previous one filled with sadness, but the voice of a father worrying for his only daughter. With the speed of a cheetah and the sudden burst energy he ran towards the direction it came from. "Heika!" Konrad shouted after him, trying to catch up with his majesty.

"What happened, Greta!" He bellowed as he broke the door to his daughter's chambers with one kick afraid of the worst for his adopted child, but as soon as he did he was met with an abnormally animal shaped pillow in his face before his mind could register what he saw inside. "Get out Yuuri-otousan!" she shrieked throwing another animal shaped pillow. This time Yuuri was able to doge the foreign object, only to be pushed out as Anissina came in and closed the door. "Don't worry, heika, there is nothing to fear. Your daughter is safe" She said smiling as she closed the door with a devilish glint in her eye.

He had just heard his daughter shriek and he can't even do anything, thing was unacceptable for the Maou. "Let me in! What's happening! Greta! Anissina-san!" He roared banging on the door in the process, soon his hands became sore, turning swollen and red. "Heika, I think you should trust Anisinna-san. Please" Konrad stopped him from doing further damage on himself and the wooden mahogany door with the light weight of his hand on the king's shoulder. "But Konrad, Greta…" He trailed off as he saw Konrad smile gently at him. He turned to leave, giving a heartfelt sigh of relief

Night fall came quickly to the overly stressed castle to much of everyone's relief, soon it was time for Yuuri to retreat to his chambers for a well deserved rest. "I think I'll take a bath first" He thought a loud stretching his arms far above his head, stretching some aching muscles on his back, gathering his change of clothes from the drawer, her nonchalantly headed for the private bathing area reserved for the Maou only. Upon entering he closed the doors and let the warm heat of the area cover his body. He removed his clothing and slowly stepped into the water, easing his sore body to the water's temperature, closing his eyes in the process. "ah" he groaned moving deeper into the hot water, that soon loosened his stingy muscles.

The sound of someone going out of the water caused him to open his eyes again and turn around to look as the intruder, only to have his sight caught on a very wet and a very naked prince. It was a pity that the steam was blocking so much from his view. "Wolfram…" The young Mazoku prince immediately had a towel securely wrapped around his waist, water still dripping from the wet locks stinking to his face. He didn't even bother looking at the king; instead he swiftly finished dressing into his undeniably girlish night garb, while having his back turned to Yuuri. "Chotto matte…" the king tried to call out, but it was too late. The prince had already left the steamy hot bath with the towel used to dry his hair. .

After the incident in the bath, Yuuri quickly finished his bath as well, wanting to talk to the prince. He finished dressing and headed to the room he shared with his engaged without another moment to spare, silently praying to find the golden-haired prince there. But he wasn't when Yuuri finally did reach their room, he found it empty and the bed void of any sight of inhabitance, and the whole room just flowed with the aura of nothingness. "Wolfram, where are you?" He said thinking aloud again, but feeling too drowsy from all the events happening recently, his need to search for his fiancé was wiped clean from his head as he found himself drifting off to bed and unconsciously bringing the pillow closer as it still smelled of his fiancé's sweet scent. He also found himself searching for the nightly warmth from the blonde that radiates the entire bed at night. "Wolfram…"

In his own bedroom, not too far from the Maou's chambers, Wolfram too drifted off to his cold slumber in his own room, the one he previously stayed in before the whole engagement happened, hugging into one of his rarely used pillow, which too was covered with frilly pink, and breathe in deep and slowly. As the sandman finally sprinkled his dust on the Mazoku prince one word was uttered from those soft pink lips "Yuuri…"

Outside the moon was the only witness to the star-torn lovers, so desperately torn apart by fate, yet their souls constantly reaching out for each other, even if only in their dreams. And as the wind sings its soft melody for the flowers to dance with it, a particular flower found its way the lover's separate windowsills, the Phlox flower. Maybe it is destiny, that their souls are two halves, united as one.