The second last instalment is up! I feel sad to end the story...but what can I do? I need to finish this so that I can concentrate on Stubborn Souls. Sigh. Anyway, thanks you guys for those great reviews. In a few days time, I'll post up the last chapter! Have fun!

I now realize that I've been a hassle to you, always getting into danger and you having to save me. So now, I've finally made a decision. I've decided to let you go. It hurts inside but I knew that this is for the best. I am grateful for the memory loss, at least you'll not feel the pain that I'm feeling inside. (Yuuri Shibuya)

Surreal Fate - Illusions of Love

Trials of Love : Speak My Name

Slowly and softly he closed the door before turning around. With his back against the door, he looked around. How strange to be alone. He would have thought at least a soldier or two would be loitering around. But no one was around. Mild pain still streaked through his body as he slowly straightened himself up. Using the cane that he once used, he began to search for anyone.

The sound of the cane knocking against the stone floor echoed throughout the hallway, making him wince each time. Where is everyone? More importantly, where is he?

He wandered around the castle, his eyes flitting from one object to another. But no matter how much he tried, he could not seem to remember the place. The others had told him to take his time but he was impatient. Countless times he had spent, going through every room and every space. But nothing came to mind. It was as though he had never been inside the castle before. He even began to wonder if he really did lived here.

"...take your time..." He glanced around but no one was there. A sound caught his attention and he followed the direction from where it was coming from. "...everything will reveal itself..just be strong and believe in yourself.."

On and on, the words whispered to him in that familiar voice. He turned around a corner and stopped short. The same hooded figure stood before him, motionless as he stared. "You." With a start, he watched the figure disappeared into a room. Coming back to his senses, he followed after the figure only to find he was alone in the room. He looked around and found that he was now in the king's room. And the memories began to flood over him like waterfall.

"Why can't you go and sleep in your own room? Don't you even have a room? Everytime I kick you out, you come back. And what's with that getup?"

"Yuuri! Are you flirting again! I swear, if i see you alone with someone other than me, I'm going to kill you!"

"Yuuri". His voice echoed in his ear as locks of black and golden slipped forward. Turning around, he glanced at the room. A frown marred his face as he brushed a hand through his hair. "I'm going to kill him for putting me through all this." His voice was soft and threatening but nothing was compared to what he was feeling inside. With a soft sigh, he smiled. For he remembered what the king had told him when he pretended to be Wolfe. And what that other boy had gone through.

He sat alone in the courtyard, watching the blue sky. He watched a couple of Kohis flew by and he let out a sigh. Serene peace seemed to be around him but inside, he felt anything but peaceful. He knew what he had to do and truly, he wished there was any other way. But no other solution came to mind. "It's for the best." He kept re-assuring himself with that one pitiful excuse.

He knew he shouldn't have let his mouth run wild. He knew he shouldn't have pushed him away. And he knew he should have just told him how he felt in the beginning. But nothing can change what they had went through. Nothing can change how he felt now, even though it was too late.

"...you could have him fall in love with you again..." He knew he could do that but-

He looked up at the sky again, remembering the words Wolfram had told him before. "You might not mind that people would not accept the bond between you and that other person but – what if that person that you are looking for really cares for you? Cares enough to deprive himself of that one love that he finally had found, only to realize that he has to throw it away the next minute?"

Not everyone would accept them. Especially when he was Maou. "If only I could turn back time. Back to before I slapped him."

With another sigh, he grabbed hold of the cane and pulled himself to his feet. Once again, he returned back to his search. This time, in a more dejected manner.

From afar, he watched the king removed himself from the courtyard and entered the castle. His eyes were still trained on the fleeting back of the king before a movement caught his attention. He turned and found Wolfram entering the courtyard. A smile appeared on his face as his eyes observed the knight.

Where could that idiot be? Everyone that he had talked to seemed to be clueless to where Yuuri was. His daughter swore that her other father was in the courtyard. Taking her word, he made his way towards the courtyard but no one was there.

With a frustrated sigh, he haphazardly ruffled his thick hair. A frown appeared and he tried to control his impatience. "That idiot." The growl came from deep within his throat as he glared around.

"Have you tried His Majesty's room?" He turned around to find Conrad standing a few feet away from him.

"Greta said that he's here."

"Well, he was here. I saw him leaving the courtyard not too long ago. I think he's went back to his room." With a short nod of thanks, Wolfram abruptly walked past his brother.

"This time I'm really going to kill him."

Returning back to the room, he found himself alone. Just as he was about to explode, a sound caught his attention. Turning around, he found himself staring into a pair of dejectedly surprised dark eyes.

"Wolfr-" He coughed, trying to get his emotions intact. "Wolfe." He glanced up at the other boy, trying to gauge his reaction. But the knight just stood there, motionless. "I know you can't remember anything and you must be thinking what kind of idiot babbles to someone he doesn't know. But-" He stopped short as he walked past the knight who watched his every movement.

"I've been doing a little thinking of my own. It's kind of good that you can't remember, at least it makes it easier for me to say this. I've realized what a burden I am to you. Every single time I'm in trouble, you're always there to save me. It's either you or Conrad. When you risked your life for me, it finally hit me. I want to protect you. No, I have to protect you. That is why I'm dissolving the engagement."

His back was to the other boy, his eyes trained on the clear sky. Somehow, he could not bring himself to turn around. He ached all over, this pain that he was feeling was not physical. So this was what heartache really felt. "I know this sounds crazy. I mean how in the world did you get engaged to an idiot like me, right? Or rather, how did we end up engaged? I know this must be a lot for you to tak-"

"Idiot!" A hand pulled him around before a sound echoed. But all he could do was stare in surprise at a very angry teary Wolfram. He saw tears running down the boy's face but he made no move to wipe them off. In stunned silence, he watched as Wolfram turned while he lifted a hand to his left cheek.

Tears just wouldn't stop flowing. And he made no move to wipe them. Not when his heart is breaking into millions of pieces. "That idiot." He sniffed and finally wiped his tears before turning around.

"You're really an idiot! A worthless wimp of an idiot! It doesn't matter if I'm at risk or not, as long as you're not. Everything I did, it's all out of my own free will. I came here to tell you that I've regained all of my memories. I even remember what you said when I was pretending to be Wolfe. But I see that you think differently." Amidst his teary vision, he saw the king lifted a hand to his reddened cheek in shock.

"You want to dissolve the engagement? Fine! See if I care! See if I care." His cry turned soft as he hastily wiped away the fresh tears. "See if I care." Was all he could say. "I never did know why I waste all my time on you. Why I feel this way about you? You want to throw my heart away? Fine! Then, we're through!"

The memories came flooding back. Mingling with the new ones we've created. And that is when I knew that you really, truly love me. Now, I don't care if I don't hear the words. Because now, in my heart, I know that you do. But, destiny must be punishing me. I hear the words slipped from your lips but my heart wouldn't believe it. You push me away, saying it is for the best. For who? (Wolfram von Bielefield)