Zafira: Thanks, and here's the continuation you wanted.

SweetHeaven: Eldara's hair got remodeled according to Wolfram's newest fashion sense. If they go to spar once again, Eldara might lose his hair altogether. I think he's smart enough not to try that again.

We'll get back to the condoms in one of the further chapters. You'll see your answers :)

Of course Wolfram has thought of having sex with Yuuri. I'm certain he's had enough fantasies to masturbate to.

Wolfram mentioned himself and Eldara as an item at the breakfast table because he's drawing a line that is not to be overstepped neither by Gunter nor others. His sex life is his own and he won't tolerate others interfering. He appreciates the concern, but that's it. It's going to be a bit different with Gwendal, haha Wolfram never wants to disappoint him and is fearful of his reaction.

The Baristas… Now it's the matter of principle for Eldara. He won't let them get what they want. Yes, Eldara lied to Wolfram about Sharp Ronny, he lied about quite many things, but Wolfram can presume most of them. Sharp Ronny is a pirate and was given a choice of life and death, either to work for Eldara or die. They've got a deal on which territories and objects are "accessible" and which are not. In short, Ronny is Eldara's lapdog now. If something happens, like Sharp Ronny getting caught, Eldara will deny all relations, of course.

raywolf shibelt: Oh yes, more drama for sure, more sex too XD

Guest: Wolfram will find his happiness. Either with Eldara or Yuuri or someone else, but he will discover what it means to be loved.

0.o.0.o.0

Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maou! – It belongs to its respective owners. This fan fiction is not a commercial project, and I'm not making any money from writing it.

Warnings: yaoi (male x male), violence, swearing, angst, drama. Wolfram-centric, out of character, original character.

Summary: With Yuuri's upcoming birthday, Wolfram makes his decision. Where will it lead him and what is to become of them? Should eventually be Yuuri x Wolfram.

A/N 1: Yuuri – 18 years old. Wolfram – 21. Eldara – 32. Halea – 20. Athara – 18.

A/N 2: Greta doesn't exist.

A/N 3: European/American/Japanese standards all at once depending on the plot requirements.

A/N 4: A tendency to ignore the anime/manga and supplement the story with my own imagined facts.

A/N 5: Season III is not taken into consideration, except for the fact that Wolfram's uncle exists.

A/N 6: The umlaut in Gunter's name is a bother.

A/N 7: This chapter contains a sexy scene. To comply with FanFiction net's policy, I cut it. If you want to read the scene, go to AdultFanFiction org or ArchiveofOurOwn org.

Bloom

by chayron (lttomb yahoo com), beta-read by bishie82

Part 28

Eldara left his study and climbed upstairs to see how Wolfram was doing. The nagging feeling that there was something off with the blond had only been intensifying. When he reached the second floor, his suspicions were confirmed. Wolfram was sitting on the sofa near the banister, with his back to the first floor and was staring at a large palm tree in front of him. Wolfram wasn't known to be interested in plants and the look in his eyes was blank, brooding. Salt was sitting on Wolfram's knees purring, while the blond was stroking him absently. The duke wondered when the two became such good friends.

After having witnessed Wolfram's unusual aloofness during breakfast and lunch, Eldara had been subjected to speculations about its cause. Was Wolfram uneasy after having woken up alone? Surely the blond wasn't so sensitive. Or had he made the mistake of being too forward? But surely no man would react like that to oral sex. Or was it actually the opposite, and he had been too considerate, which in turn made him come across as a patronizing oaf?

Wolfram started in surprise and turned his head when the sofa dipped. Without a word of warning, the duke was suddenly sitting next to him. The cat opened one eye and closed it again, enjoying the warmth coming from the palm stroking his fur.

"What's bothering you?" Eldara asked the blond straightforwardly. Frowning, Wolfram gave him a confused look, which made Eldara elaborate his question. "You're… Well… You seem somehow uneasy?"

The uncertainty on Wolfram's face was replaced by hesitance. He shook his head. "It's not really that. It's…" Embarrassed, he averted his eyes from Eldara's. "Really, I'm fine." He shook his head again. "This is…"

"Did I do something you didn't like the previous night?"

"Oh," Wolfram said realizing that the duke had taken this the wrong way. "No, no," he said waving his hands, trying to allay Eldara's concerns. "You didn't. It's that…" His look then fell over the guards standing further down the corridor. They certainly couldn't hear them when they were talking so softly, but it bothered Wolfram nonetheless. "Umm… Let's go to my room," he suggested motioning at the stationed guards. He tried to lift Salt off his lap, but the cat sank his claws into Wolfram's trousers and growled in protest. Wolfram grunted in pain and pushed him off his lap none too gently. He stood up and started walking towards his room.

"I'm sorry, it's really not you," Wolfram apologized again when they were in the room. He frowned at the way his words sounded. "Umm… It's…" lost, Wolfram trailed off. He felt confused and embarrassed. He didn't know if he should tell Eldara what it was about, when he himself couldn't exactly understand it.

There was something helpless about Wolfram, and Eldara thought that maybe he shouldn't have asked. It was ridiculously hilarious indeed, the way he felt bothered about Wolfram. Von Sedera would die laughing if he saw him now.

"It's alright," Eldara said when the younger male still couldn't find the words to express himself. "If it's not something I can change, then it's…" He faltered at the soft laughter that escaped Wolfram. There was some bitterness there, and he waited.

With a sigh, Wolfram flopped onto his bed. "You've already changed that," he explained his outburst to the other man, who was standing in front of him and looking at him with confusion. "It doesn't matter, really. I just realized how truly pathetic my engagement to Yuuri was. I think this made me…sad."

"Ahh…" the duke drawled, enlightened. He had finally grasped the end of the thread leading to the problem, but it was obvious that he should have presumed what it was all about. "Was it only a political move, the engagement?" Eldara asked even though he knew that it wasn't that. Wolfram wouldn't be reacting so sensitively in that case. He just needed to make the blond talk.

"No. I loved him," Wolfram said honestly. "I probably still do. Our engagement was a farce, though. It was just a misunderstanding when he slapped my left cheek."

"Oh." Eldara was surprised. There had been various rumors floating about, but he hadn't expected this particular one to be true - this had seemed to be the most unlikely one.

"It might have worked out actually," Wolfram continued. "I got used to the thought of the engagement. But I'm a man, and he… He had a problem with that. With him I always felt as if I lacked something, as if there was something wrong with me. I mean there had to be a reason why he never responded. The simple fact was, however, that I, a man, disgusted him. The very thought of being with me appalled him. The entire time I felt so…so…"

The blond never finished the sentence, but he didn't have to. The words that flashed in the duke's mind were "useless", "dirty", "desperate" and a few others. Wolfram's droning voice had been clear, but it was only the surface. He wanted to assure Wolfram that none of them was true, but that might only make the younger male break down in front of him. Besides, Wolfram knew that, and he wasn't telling him this to receive his pity, he just wanted understanding. Thus, Eldara stayed quiet, waiting for the younger man to collect himself.

Wolfram was relieved when there was a knock on the door and someone asked for the duke. He watched Eldara walk towards the door. The blond had never intended to share his experiences and thoughts with Eldara. And now, he was feeling rather shocked and embarrassed that he had just poured everything out in this manner. Despite this, he wasn't regretting having told Eldara everything because there was also the feeling of relief.

The blond could barely keep himself from blushing when the duke left the door, and walked back to him. Eldara held out a small leather bag with an attached note on the rope keeping the bag tied. He shook it, as if it were a prize to be coveted by Wolfram.

"Now you will have to dance or sing to get this," he told Wolfram lazily lying on the bed.

"What's in there?" Wolfram wondered. Then his eyes brightened with realization. "Oh, oh! Could it be my new signet ring?"

The duke nodded. "Yes, and I still don't hear you singing or dancing."

Wolfram chuckled. "If you did, you would start begging me to stop."

"Now that's a lie. I don't know about your singing abilities, but you are a passable dancer."

"Yes, 'passable' is the keyword here," Wolfram said, laughing while sitting on the bed and getting ready to stand up to get the pouch. "You, however, forgot to add 'hardly' to that." He reached out for the bag, but the duke moved his hand away.

The younger man stood up from the bed and tried to take the bag again. However, Eldara stepped away, moving it out of his reach.

"We are about the same height," the blond noted, amused.

Wolfram advanced closer, and the duke hid it behind his back and, when Wolfram leaned in, their bodies came flush. His hand slid over the older man's arm to get the bag with the ring. However, Eldara maneuvered the bag out of the blond's reach again by transferring it to his other hand, making Wolfram wind his arms around the older man in an attempt to capture it.

The blond realized that he wanted this game to last longer. As if sensing his thoughts, the duke's mouth descended on his. The kiss was short and playful and turned into a series of soft pecks. Eldara still didn't give up the bag and Wolfram pushed against him, trying to make him move backwards, so that he could corner the older man against the opposite wall.

Eldara's back hit the wall, and there was no retreat. Wolfram's deft fingers closed around the bag in his hand. Eldara thought about resisting but then let the blond take it. The warmth wafting from the younger man's body was most enticing. Wolfram's emerald eyes were already hooded with lust. He loved how Wolfram's formerly suppressed sexuality was manifesting itself.

Eldara leaned in to press his mouth to the blond's again. He slipped his tongue in and set on mapping out Wolfram's mouth thoroughly. When he was finally done, he pulled away. The blond's eyes opened to give him a dazed look.

Having received all the agreement he needed, the blond tugged Eldara off the wall and started maneuvering them towards the bed. He lifted his right hand to toss the bag onto the bedside cabinet where it lay unopened and forgotten throughout the next twenty minutes.

To comply with FanFiction net's policy, I cut the following sexy scene. If you want to read it, go to AdultFanFiction org or ArchiveofOurOwn org.

They lay next to each other, enjoying the afterglow. Their bodies soon started cooling off and, in general, the two of them looked funny sprawled like that on the bed flashing their goods. Having the same thought, Eldara threw the cover over them.

Wolfram turned to him. "Do you always carry lubricant in your pocket?" he wondered with a grin.

"No, only when I expect to be blessed with your attention."

Wolfram rolled his eyes. "That's cheesy. Try something else."

"How about… I always keep it about me when there's someone around that I'm interested in?"

"That's more like it."

In a few minutes Wolfram sat up and reached out for the small leather bag on the bedside cabinet. He untied the laces and opened it. He upturned the bag and shook the ring out of it and into his palm. It was an exact replica of his old one that had saved his life. Wolfram had no doubts that the pirates would have killed him if not for the exclusive signet ring on his finger.

The blond opened the note attached to the bag. The message was in one of Kardera's dialects and Wolfram passed it to Eldara to read it for him. They were the usual greetings and salutations from the goldsmith. The blond put the signet ring on. It was neither too big nor too small, the exactly right size, but it somehow felt strange on his finger now. He held his hand out in front of him to evaluate the ring from afar. It wasn't the exact copy after all – this one had been made a little bigger to fit the current size of his fingers.

"It took time for me to get used to the feeling of it missing," he said. "Now I will have to get used to it being back again."

Next to him, Eldara offered a disinterested look to Wolfram's ring. He averted his eyes to look at the blond's tousled bed hair. It was attractive and he reached out to ruffle it, causing Wolfram to look at him questioningly. Eldara thought that he had never experienced love which would make a grown man cry - he knew Wolfram had. Many years ago he'd had a girl he had liked back at Military Academy. He had been…thirteen or fifteen? He could barely remember her name now. Wolfram's pure, platonic love was something sacred. A beautiful but very painful love. It was a blessing in itself that he hadn't experienced it.

Wolfram's stomach growled, and Eldara chuckled, his thoughts returning to more material things. It was about time for dinner. He buttoned his shirt then left the bed in search of his jacket and trousers. Wolfram was already done when he put on the last piece of his garments and stood at the door waiting for him.

"Your hair," the duke said with a grin. He watched Wolfram walk over to the wardrobe and take a look at himself. The blond's eyebrows rose and he started combing his hair with his fingers. "I almost want for von Christ to have seen this," Eldara commented.

Wolfram chuckled. "I'm certain, in your mind, there shouldn't be an 'almost' in that sentence. You like teasing him."

"Trrremendouslyyy," the duke said with a soft erotic purr.

The blond rolled his eyes. He decided that his hair looked as innocent as it could and moved away from the mirror.

There was still about fifteen minutes until dinner was served, but Wolfram took note that Gunter and his mother were not yet in attendance. They were probably getting ready for tomorrow's leave. Other people were already mingling about, sharing their daily experiences. Wolfram had noticed that recently Athara had always been present at meals. The birthday celebrations were, of course, a must. Though, the youngest von Ashira never missed a day after those. Wolfram often saw him talking with von Sarda. It was quite surprising, but it seemed that Athara liked his future brother-in-law immensely.

Cecilie and Gunter appeared right as the dishes started flowing into the dining room. Gunter noticed the signet ring immediately and congratulated Wolfram. The entire dinner was spent discussing Cecilie and Gunter's return to Shin Makoku. Everyone hoped for good weather just as what the forecasts were promising.

After dinner Wolfram went to Gunter's room where they discussed further details of his stay. Von Christ was reluctant to leave. His main concern was Wolfram and Eldara's relationship, which had reached the heights of intimacy. He wished he could take Wolfram with him, away from Kardera. Wolfram knew what his thoughts were and he reassured Gunter that, if the weather was good, he would follow him in about a month, two at the latest. In truth, Wolfram wasn't certain about his plans. He enjoyed Eldara's company and was entertaining thoughts of prolonging his stay.

Soon Cecilie entered the room. Surprisingly, she had finished packing. While Gunter was walking to and fro in the room, sorting his things, she caught a moment to talk to Wolfram without von Christ interfering.

"I'm glad I had this opportunity to see you," she said while the two of them were sitting on the chaise lounge near the entrance to the room. "Who knows when the next time will be?"

"Don't be so dramatic, Mother," Wolfram said. "I'll be home in a few weeks, a month at most."

Cecilie shook her head laughing. "Don't think that he'll let go of you so easily. Besides, I don't think you are in a hurry to return home either."

Wolfram found that he couldn't say anything to that. He gave her a guilty smile and nodded. She was more perceptive than Gunter.

"It's fine, dear. Just enjoy the moment and take what you can. Eldara can be difficult, but he likes you and he will take good care of you."

Feeling awkward, Wolfram blushed. It felt strange to be discussing this with his mother.

"Gwendal won't like this," he said after a pause. "Gunter is already giving me a hard time. He will report everything to Gwendal."

Cecilie sighed. "And what of it? It's not like Gwendal can tell you what to do, just like Gunter or I can't. It's your life and your decision." She reached out to Wolfram's face and pinched his cheek lightly. "And no matter what everyone says, Eldara is a good match for you. Both of you can learn a thing or two from each other."

"Ugh, Mother," Wolfram muttered, embarrassed, rubbing his cheek to soothe the sting.

The next morning, they had breakfast earlier than usual. It was six in the morning and it was completely dark and cold behind the windows. Wolfram felt sleepy and nostalgic while sitting on the dining chair. Time had flown by so fast. It seemed that only yesterday he saw Gunter and his mother walking into the dining room to greet him, and yet a week had already passed and they were now leaving. Who knew when he would see them again? In general, everyone was high-spirited at the table – the latest news was that the winds were favorable and, further into the day, the sun was expected to show up.

After a satisfying breakfast, Cecilie and Gunter left to finish packing the last of their belongings. More than half an hour later, they went to the yard and, in a large party of about twenty people, set off towards home. The party passed the gate and headed down the hill towards the town.

There was a thin layer of snow covering the ground that reflected the light of torches carried by the guards riding on their horses. The air was becoming damp, which made it seem colder than it was. The hooves were trampling the snow turning it into a murky glop.

Gunter and Cecilie were in a carriage together with Halea, Athara, and von Sarda. The duke was astride a horse, having decided to keep Wolfram company; the blond still didn't trust himself in a rocking carriage. The blond was riding Rendar. He loved the calm mare and her soft gait. Yozak and Fajdal with a number of Wolfram's and Eldara's other guards, were riding close to the carriage. The duke's guards were led, as usual, by Karela.

Wolfram had only vague memories of the port. Mostly they were permeated with panic and intense cold. The booming sound of cannons, soldiers, and the beach strewn with injured and dead pirates' bodies still indistinctly lingered in his memory. He didn't even remember how he had been transported to the castle several kilometers away.

Moving slowly as they were, the party reached the harbor in about two hours. There were four ships in at the port. One of them was a trade ship, which was being unloaded. Men were carrying heavy trunks and sacks down the gangplanks and towards the warehouses nearby. Three other ships were waiting for Cecilie and Gunter. Two of them were warships, the third – a heavily loaded trade ship headed for Shin Makoku. Several guards could be seen patrolling the harbor while others were just standing by and leaning against the walls. At the sight of von Ashira, all of them straightened, saluting the passing men.

The sky was slowly brightening and Gunter with Cecilie and the few guards that had accompanied them from Shin Makoku boarded their ship without tarrying. Their luggage was carried after them and deposited into their respective cabins, the ropes were cut and, one by one, the ships set off.

TBC