"Shibuya, listen to us, you not doing any one any good by making rash decisions. Let Gwendal handle this. Stay here and wait, we will find him."
"Don't you dare tell me stay here too. I can't just sit around and wait for answers. I will find him myself."
"What makes you think you can find Wolfram when Gwendal and Conrad couldn't do it? Come on Shibuya be reasonable. Calm down and think about it. Wolfram will not die so easily especially when he has you to come back to."
"I don't care, I need to find him, get out of my way."
"Sorry Shibuya this is for your own good."
"Yuuri, it hurts, why are you not here. Why didn't you save me? Why did you let me die? It's dark and cold. Help me Yuuri, I don't want to die. This all your fault, you let me die. You said you'll save me no matter what."
Yuuri bolted up from his bed, cold sweat running down his neck. Yuuri breathing was raged.
No, Wolfram is safe; he is not hurt. Wolfram is alive.
A loud knock on the door only made Yuuri's panic attack worsened.
"Heika, Wolfram's came back safe and sound."
Immediately the black hair king bolted from his bed and ran out the door.
"Where is he, Gunter."
"He's in Gwendal's study."
Without any hesitation, Yuuri headed toward Gwendal's study. Yuuri flung open the door without bothering to knock. Frantically looking around he quickly spotted the blond. Almost pushing Conrad out of the way, Yuuri embraced the blond in a bone-crushing hug. Tears of relief sprang up to the black orbs. Yuuri didn't care who saw him at the moment; he was just relieved to see the blond alive. Yuuri slowly pushed himself off the blond to look him over any injuries. Turning him around to examine the blond further, Wolfram took the examination from Yuuri in stride; he made no effort in stopping his king. When Yuuri was finally satisfied that the blond for the most part was unharmed, he pulled the blond in a softer embrace.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again" whispered Yuuri into the blonde's ears.
Conrad, Gwendal and Gunter waited patiently for their king to complete his inspection on the blond. When Yuuri finally released Wolfram from his embrace, Gwendal finally was able to ask the blond what happened on his patrol.
"There were reports of human and Mazoku skirmishes on the southern end of our borders. We rode to the skirmish area but found no traces of fighting. They came out of nowhere. My troops and I was sorely outnumbered. My only option was to order a hasty retreat. I order my troops to split into two groups in order to distract the pursuers. But for unknown, the entire enemy squad only pursued my group. We got lucky and lost them in the canyon. In order to avoid being found, we hid in various caves and abandon homes. We traveled by night only, slowly making our way back to the castle. We have to be extra careful not give away our position. It was a slow and arduous process, but managed somehow to avoid all their pursuits."
"Do you have any idea who ambushed you?"
"No, Gwendal."
"Very well, you can retire for the night."
With a slight nod, Wolfram headed toward his room with Yuuri right behind. Wolfram opened the door to his bedchamber and step inside. Wolfram turned to close the door only to be greeted with Yuuri's pleading black orbs. Wolfram knew that Yuuri was worried about him but it was inappropriate for his king to be in his bedchamber.
'Heika, I'm fine, please return to your bedchamber."
Wolfram closed the door behind him. Yuuri remain outside the blonde's bedchamber. After several anxiety riddle days and nights, the blond desperately needed his rest. The blond tossed and turned in his bed unable to find sleep that his body desperately desired. He could hear Yuuri walking back and forth on the stone tile, sometimes even knocking on the wooden door when he was leaning on it. Wolfram was not going to get any sleep if this continued on. Wolfram got out of bed and opened the door and dragged the black hair king in. Wolfram made a motion for Yuuri to take the bed. Wolfram was going to sleep on the floor. Instead Yuuri took a hold of Wolfram's wrist and dragged both of them to the bed. Wolfram did not have the strength to protest the action.
"Wolfram, I was so scared something happened to you. Please don't scare me like that again. I won't be able to take it. When you came back I was so relieved. I just wanted to be close to you, that is why I followed you. Even when you close the door on me, I couldn't leave. I thought if I didn't know where you were at I would lose you again."
"Ssshhh, Heika. I'm back and I'm safe. Relax Heika; close your eyes and go to sleep. Forget all your troubles for tonight."
Yuuri pulled the blond closer to him. Wolfram has missed this feeling. Feeling Yuuri's strong arms around him; feeling the heat created by their bodies being so close to each other. Wolfram still loved Yuuri and he knew that Yuuri loved him, but he will not take the chance of getting hurt again. Until Yuuri is able to tell Adelinda what he truly wants, and resolve the burning question of why he can't be intimate with the blond, there will be a chance that Yuuri will break Wolfram's heart again. Wolfram will not risk it. But for tonight, he will let Yuuri embrace him like before because they both needed to be comforted and Yuuri needed to know that he was safe and sound.
Yuuri awoke to find himself alone. Panicked stricken, Yuuri ran out of the room in search of the blond. The guards and maids look that the king with concern. Yuuri ran into to the dining area, no Wolfram, Yuuri ran to the courtyard, no Wolfram, Yuuri ran to the training grounds, no Wolfram.
Where is Wolfram, it couldn't be a dream. He was here. Where is he? Wolfram returned last night right. I am not imagining things.
Yuuri was in middle of a panic attack. He couldn't breathe; his body trembled uncontrollably. Droplets of sweat were running down his face. The world was closing around him. Yuuri fell to his knees clutching his stomach. The surrounding became hazy for the king. Before he lost consciousness, Yuuri could hear the concern voice of Conrad and the hazy features of a very concern looking blond in front of him.
"Gisela, what is wrong with Hieka?" the brown hair soldier asked.
"I check him thoroughly, there is nothing physically wrong with Heika. He is in perfect physical health.
"A healthy person does not lose consciousness for no reason. There must be something ailing Heika. You sure you thoroughly check him over?"
"Lord Bielefield, do not question my thoroughness. When I say there is nothing physically wrong with Heika, there is nothing physically wrong with Heika. I have a suspicion that it is something else. But Heika will need to wake up before I can confirm my diagnosis."
Not long after, Yuuri woke up. Immediately he started to scan the room for the missing blond.
"Conrad, where is Wolfram?"
Calm down Heika, Wolfram just stepped out for a bit.
"I need to see him. Please let me see him."
Yuuri was close to tears. Yuuri tried to get out of bed only to be stopped by Conrad. Yuuri body started to tremble again. Before long, his breathing became ragged. Conrad was getting really concern. Gisela was now completely sure about her diagnosis. Gisela opened the door, and the blond immediately walked in.
Yuuri jumped out of bed and embraced the blond almost knocking him over. Seeing the blond in front of him, Yuuri began to calm down. Yuuri thought all is right with the world with Wolfram snuggled securely in his arms. The blond couldn't get hurt this way.
Wolfram looked over to Gisela and then to Conrad. Both gave him a gentle smile and nodded. Gisela little experiment confirmed that Yuuri suffered a severe panic attack. The cause was Wolfram, more specifically when Yuuri awoke without Wolfram being near, the black hair king's psyche immediately assumed that something has happen to the blond. Only the blond can help Yuuri's psyche heal now. Conrad and Gisela left the two alone.
"As long as Wolfram is with him, he will be fine."
"I know Gisela. I hope this incident shows Wolfram how much Heika truly needs him."
While inside, Yuuri still had not release the hold on Wolfram. Seeing no other choice, Wolfram wiggled out of the king's embrace to Yuuri's dismay.
"Heika, you need a bath and some proper attire. You shouldn't be in your sleepwear this late in the day and with no shoes to boot."
Yuuri smiled coyly at the blond not even realizing he was running around the castle in his sleepwear looking for the blond. Wolfram shook his head at the king. The blond let out a sigh, and guided the black hair boy to the bath. Yuuri's usual black uniform was already laid out for him. Wolfram could feel the panic rising in Yuuri's when he was walking away from the black hair boy. Wolfram turned around immediately.
"Heika, I will not leave you, I will be right behind the screen. Once you are done, please let me know."
Yuuri shyly nodded to the blond. Yuuri did not like that the blond was not in sight, so as quickly as he could Yuuri washed his hair and scrubbed his body. Dawning on his uniform, Yuuri called out to the blond. The blond came out behind the screen. Wolfram couldn't believe what he saw, his hair was still dripping wet and his uniform was spotted with water. His king didn't even bother to wipe himself dry with the towel. Wolfram picked up the dry towel and tiptoed to dry off the king's hair. Once done Yuuri meet Wolfram's emerald orbs, Wolfram wanted to move away, but was locked into place by Yuuri's eyes. Yuuri slowly lowered his lips down toward the blonde's slightly parted lips, but at the last second Wolfram turned his head effectively stopping the kiss. Wolfram backed away, head still looking down, he didn't want to see the look on Yuuri's face.
"Heika, we are late for the briefing."
As Yuuri and Wolfram entered Gwendal's study, Yozak was on his way out.
"Yozak what brings you around the castle?"
"Oh just stopping by to check on my favorite royal couple. Looks like everything going well. I will be going now. See ya."
"Gwendal, what was Yozak doing here" asked the blond.
"Wolfram have you forgotten, Yozak on occasion comes back to the castle to inform me of what he observed outside our boarders. Now as for the ambushed, we still have no leads on whom the culprits are. My men are still looking for clues. Wolfram your patrol duties are suspended until we find out who is responsible for this."
"What! You can't do that. I refuse to hide away in the castle walls like a frighten animal. I demand to continue my patrols."
"You will not Lord Bielefield."
The two brothers glared at each other until Conrad step in.
"Wolfram, I believe you have more important duties to attend to."
With that, Wolfram conceded. Gisela had told him and Conrad earlier that Yuuri psyche is very fragile due to Wolfram's mishap. Wolfram was needed to help Yuuri through his emotional trauma.
Gwendal continued with various going on in Shin Makoku. Everyone except Yuuri was attentively listening. Yuuri was still thinking about how close he had come to kissing Wolfram. He wanted so desperately to feel his prince's soft pink lips on his again. To be able to taste, touch, and devour his prince. But in the end Wolfram pulled away from him.
"Heika, the briefing is over, we can go now."
"Oh, Ok."
"Gwendal, shouldn't we have told them what we found out?"
"Until we get further details, let's keep the information away from them."
Greta was finally able to spend some time alone with her two fathers. Even though she was the one doing most of the talking. For a 13 year old, she was incredible astute when it came to her to fathers. They may not be acting like normal, but she still knows that both cared for each other deeply. She is confident giving more time, their relationship can be mended.
After several hours together, it was time to retire to their prospective bed chambers.
"Good night, Greta"
"Good night."
Wolfram walked Yuuri to his room. The closer Wolfram got to Yuuri's room the more the memories of that night came flooding back to him. Wolfram remained as calm as he could, he didn't want to upset Yuuri. Yuuri's started to tremble just thinking about the blond leaving him alone in his bedchambers. It didn't go unnoticed to the blond.
"Good night, Heika. I will be here waiting for you when you wake up tomorrow."
Yuuri hesitantly walked into his bedchamber, and slowly closed the door. His anxiety attack was coming back; Yuuri had to mentally reassure himself that Wolfram said he will be waiting tomorrow for him. The black hair king readied himself for bed. Hours later, Yuuri tossed and turned unable to fall asleep. He then made up his mind. Yuuri grabbed his blanket and headed towards the blonde's bedchamber. Standing in front of the blonde's bedchamber door, Yuuri wanted to knock on the door so Wolfram would let him in, but another part of him didn't want to wake the blond. Yuuri decided to wrap himself in his blanket and sit beside the door. This was enough for Yuuri; he just wanted to be closer to the blond, making sure he was safe from harm.
Wolfram heart clenched just thinking about how timid Yuuri's face had looked when he left the king at his bedchamber earlier. He had never seen the boy looking so utterly frail. If he wasn't so stubborn Wolfram would have dragged the boy to his bedchamber to comfort him, instead he is helplessly staring at the darkness of his bedchamber. He will be fine, the blond thought to himself. He is the Maou after all. The blond for a split second thought he heard footsteps outside his chambers. Quickly squashing the nonsense, Wolfram tried to lull his body to sleep. It's so cold. Ok, Wolfram was not imagining that, someone was outside his bedchambers. Wolfram flung his blanket off of himself and headed towards the door. He opened his door and spotted his king wrapped in his blanket looking rather tired and cold.
"Heika, what are you doing here?"
Yuuri looked up at the blond with pleading eyes. Even this Wolfram couldn't help but crack.
"Come in, Heika. I will not be blamed for your own stupidity."
Needing no more encouragement, Yuuri pushed himself off the cold ground and walked directly to the bed, dropping his own blanket on the way. Wolfram knew this was wrong at so many levels yet so right as well. Yuuri settle himself in the bed and pleaded silently for Wolfram to join him. Wolfram reluctantly did so. Yes, it felt so right and so wrong at the same time.
Over the next few nights, the routine was the same. Wolfram accompanied Yuuri to his bedchamber doors. Unable to sleep, both boys laid awake, until Yuuri decides to walk over to Wolfram's bedchamber once again. Hearing footsteps outside, Wolfram opens the door. Without saying anything to each other, Yuuri would settle in the bed silently pleading with Wolfram to join him. In the end both boys fell asleep entwined in each other's arms.