Here is the chapter that so many have been waiting for. Now, whether it meets your expectations...that's another story.
Title: Into the Indefinite Sky
Author: S.P. Kathrine
Anime: Kyou Kara Maou
Genre: AU, Angst/Drama, Romance
Pairing: YuurixWolfram
Rating: M (R)
Chapter: Chapter 18 - 18of?
Warnings: Angst, Non-Consensual Sexual themes (referenced/implied), AU, OOC Wolfram, possibly OOC everyone else, Mpreg
Summary:
Wolf had spent his life believing that he was meant for servitude. His master was strict, and often cruel, but he never thought he could be anything more than what he was. One night changes everything and he is thrown into a world that he knows nothing about and given a life he never thought he could have. But a secret he keeps could only throw his life into further turmoil and not to mention the Demon King…
Chapter 18 - To the Very End
The meeting ended with Wolf spinning about and exiting the room, slamming the thick oak door with as much force as he could muster. Everyone stepped out of his way as he stormed through the halls towards his room, his anger and discontent permeating into the very air around him. Thankfully, the only people he encountered were servants and palace guards. He had no idea how he would react should he have met up with Conrad, Gisela, or-Great One forbid-Yuuri. At the time he had been so focused on getting away from Gwendal that he could not have been held accountable for anything he said to anyone.
He threw open his door and then slammed it shut behind him, removed his sword and dropped it to the ground, only to kick it across the floor to the other wall beneath the window. His teeth were clenched in anger, but he could not hold in the sounds coming from his throat. Any one would have believe he were a wild animal on the rampage-a conclusion not too far from the truth. He stepped farther into his room and started taking deep breaths, hoping to calm himself as much as possible. He set his hand on the small round table that he had been eating at the past few days and dug his short nails into the wood.
The feel of some small slivers breaking off into his fingers was not enough. It didn't help distract him from the intense emotions swirling inside of him like a bubbling cauldron ready to spill over. He wanted to go back to Gwendal's study and have it out with him all over again, although he knew that once Lord von Voltaire made a decision he was not one to change it easily. He couldn't do anything. He was trapped.
A loud howl of rage echoed about the room, a sound that he didn't recognize, though he knew it to be himself. With a harsh shove, he overturned the table and the dishes that had yet to be collected went tumbling to the floor, the brass and wood clanging loudly and breaking the spell of red that had fallen over Wolf's eyes.
He stared at the destruction he'd created-the mess akin to that left over by a small tornado. What's wrong with me? he suddenly could no longer find the anger that he'd felt only minutes before. I'm letting them win. I'm letting then take away my freedom and drive me insane at the same time. But that would all stop right now.
With calm reverence, he lifted the table and sat it back on its legs and picked the empty dishes up and returned them to the tabletop. He then reclaimed his sword, which he sat in its usual place at his bedside before going the closet and pulling out a leather bag that had one long strap to place diagonally from shoulder to waist and rope sewn into the material to tie it closed. It wasn't too large, but just the right size to fit enough items and clothing in and still have it weigh comfortably on his back. It had been a gift from Gisela. She herself had one that she used while traveling and had offered to find one to fit him should he decide to come along with her at one time or another.
After he retrieved the traveling pack, he went to the chest of drawers and wardrobe and searched through all of the clothing that had been purchased for him during his stay in Shin Makoku-most of which had been bought by Cheri-sama. Thankfully, he had been allowed to choose much of his own his own attire and found plenty that would suit his purpose, plain shirts and slacks or leggings that no one would pay any mind to on someone traveling down the road.
He packed a few changes of clothing and a brush. He had become to accustomed to having tangle-free hair to go without it.
I'll wait until their gone, after I've taken the potion. I'll be able to get food from the kitchens easy enough. The servant girls will think simply take it as one of the odd things I do that they always giggle about. I've have enough it with all of this; Shin Makoku, Yuuri, Gwendal, all of the responsibility. Let someone else play the slave, I'm going to be free.
His hands clenched in determination and he knew that this would be the only chance he had. And he still had another 'problem' to deal with. But soon all of his troubles would be over. Nothing was going to hold him back any longer. He just had to be patient enough not to run when there were still people who could catch him.
Never leave Shin Makoku? he thought derisively. Let's see you stop me, Lord von Voltaire, when you're not even in the same world.
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He left the castle with Cheri-sama, Gisela, and Greta-the young girl upset that so many of the people she considered family, including her adopted father, were leaving and yet determined to put on the brave face. And yet before their departure, she had pulled Wolfram aside and asked if he would take her riding the next day, something that usually Conrad did. He had smiled at her and agreed to take her after lunch. To himself, he swore to make it as enjoyable an event as possible, because he would not be able to say goodbye to her before he left.
They had taken a carriage to the Palace of the Original King and Cheri-sama explained that Anissina had been working on an invention that would assist the Earth-goers on their journey. It was most likely the reason why she had gone to Gwendal's study that morning. Part of him-a very miniscule part-wished that she had stayed then, played the mediator between them. She was always good at keeping the Regent off balance…as well as every other man she'd ever encountered.
They entered the grand shrine room of the Palace and found that everyone else was already there. The guards-all women-were standing ready while the lower level priestesses were situated strategically around a wide platform. Yuuri, Murata, Conrad, and Gwendal were standing at the edge, tan-colored robes draped unflatteringly on their shoulders, reminding him of large sacks of flour or wheat.
"Papa Yuuri!" Greta exclaimed rushing forward to hug the Maou. He kneeled down, somewhat unsteady and allowed her to hug him tightly about the neck.
"I'm going to miss you," he told her, "but we'll be back in no time. So you listen to everyone and try not to get into too much trouble."
"But Papa Yuuri," she giggled, "I never get into trouble. Wolf even said once that I would make a better Maou than you! But I don't think that's true."
The raven-haired king looked up at him and he could feel the slight blush come over his face. It had been something he had said offhandedly, although he did believe that it had some basis, although he would never say it where Conrad, or particularly Günter could hear him.
"What?" the lavender-haired Mazoku stared at him with wide eyes. "How could you say such a thing? Heika is one of the most wonderful Maou's we've ever had!"
Yuuri gave a weakened laugh, his hand going to its ritualistic position at the back of his head. "Actually, Wolf's right," he turned back to his daughter and gave her a bright smile. "You would probably be a great Maou. Don't sell yourself short. Who knows what you'll be when you grow up, that's for you to decide, right?"
Don't lie to her, Yuuri, Wolf thought. You only become what someone else makes you into. Even you know that or else you wouldn't be Maou.
"Then I'll work really hard!" she told him. "And maybe I'll be Maou just like Papa Yuuri!"
Yuuri smiled at her and nodded, and Wolf knew that no one had the heart to tell her that her aspirations would never come to fruition. No Human would ever govern Shin Makoku, or at least no pure-blooded one. One thing that was consistent with all of the rulers had been that, while not all of them were the best suited for the job, each one had the Maryoku within them to back up their throne. Besides, from what he had been told by Günter, she had her own country to take care of when she came of age. Her life in Shin Makoku was temporary. Just like his.
"It's time," Murata spoke of from behind the boy-king and Greta pulled away, allowing him to get to his feet.
Ulrike came forward and gave a reverent bow, "All has been prepared, Heika."
Yuuri took on a serious look, "Let's do it."
"Conrad," Günter called to the Captain and handed over long cylindrical, waterproof case that looked as one an artist would hold a painting in, but actually carried the swords the men intended to use while they were on Earth. The chestnut-haired man took it with a grateful nod and let it drape at his side, the bottom scraping the ground with a light 'clink'.
The four men who were leaving stepped onto the platform and took the four pedestals that had been designated by slightly upraised marble. Yuuri turned around and Greta raised her hand to wave at him. He gave a small underhand one in return.
Gwendal was looking at him. Wolf could feel the eyes of the raven-haired Regent on him, even though he wasn't 'looking' at him. He in turn stared directly at him, eyes defiant and determined. When Gwendal did finally 'look' at him, his eyes held a small strain of something that Wolf could not understand.
Why is he looking at me like that? he wondered. Does he want to apologize? Then he mentally snorted. Gwendal doesn't apologize for anything. He always stands by everything he says and does.
And so he simply turned his eyes away to stare back at Yuuri.
"We'll be back as soon as we can," the Maou was saying.
"It is all right Heika," Günter reassured him. "The kingdom is in the best of hands." He then placed a hand over his heart. "I only wish I could travel with Heika to his glorious homeland and see all of the places that he spent his youth."
Yuuri didn't seem to understand the full depth of Günter's devotion, and he only apologized and offered to take him to visit sometime in the future, if he was able. Wolf stared between the two and couldn't grasp how the Maou could possibly not realize that Günter was rather besotted with him, although the exact reason for that near obsession was lost to the blonde. Perhaps His Majesty was more oblivious to the workings of his close companions than he had originally thought.
"It is time to begin the ritual," Ulrike spoke, her voice sounding much older than it usually did. Everyone stepped back away from the platform and watched as the lower level priestesses knelt around the square altar.
"Remove the robes," Ulrike commanded.
What! Wolf's eyes widened as the four men began to undo the robes covering their bodies, now obviously naked underneath. He bent down and covered Greta's eyes so she would not have a chance to look at something that she was far too young to see. Yuuri seemed a little uncomfortable with removing the robe, but not to the point that he wouldn't do it. When the tan cloths finally fell to the ground, Wolf was thankfully greeted with the sight of the customary black underwear covering at least that much of the men's dignity.
And then the chanting began. It was soft and high-pitched at first, but slowly gained volume and depth, the words of the ancient Mazoku language that was no longer used by anyone but the priestesses themselves. With the increasing loudness and sudden pressure could be felt in the room, like sitting in a sauna sans the moisture and heat. It was building and with it, and bright blue light took shape, surrounding the altar and the four men as they stood incredibly still-at least incredible for Yuuri. The energy was brilliant, but did not blind although its brightness continued to grow until it suddenly enveloped the entire platform and it was impossible to see through.
Wolf covered his own eyes out of reflex and held Greta closer to him, unsure as to why his body felt ten times his normal weight. He felt tired and drained as well, like he had run for miles and never stopped until now. He wondered if anyone else felt as he did.
Suddenly the chanting stopped and the light disappeared into complete nothingness. He pressure was gone and his body felt light and his chest too filled with air. Wary, he pulled his arm back at the marble platform when Yuuri, Conrad, Murata, and Gwendal had once been. But now nothing was there. They were gone. The ritual had worked. For some reason, that knowledge left a strange emotion welling inside of him. He felt rejected.
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He lay on his bed, staring up into the lacing of the canopy. Unconsciously, a hand had traveled down and settled upon his still flat stomach, although to him it felt as if he could already feel the being growing within moving about. Gisela had assured him that such at thing was impossible in the first trimester. It was recorded that the average pregnancy of a male Mazoku usually lasted towards the tenth month rather than the eight/nine of their race's women.
There was also the problem of birth. The phenomena that was male pregnancy was almost a rarity this day and age of Shin Makoku, but before it had happened in abundance. One of the reason's why homosexual relationships were not frowned upon was back-dated to the ability for men to actually be able to provide an heir themselves. Unfortunately the one obstacle-and mystery-that no one had been yet able to discover an answer to was the reason why the men were able to carry the child to term, but didn't have the proper vaginal opening to actually give birth.
The anatomy of a Mazoku man able to carry a child and one that didn't had many differences, most of which he didn't like to think about. He was separated enough from those around him without having to think of all of the intricate physical contrasts. Rather than ponder much further into it, he just accepted what Günter had told him was public opinion. The strange biological ability was just a form of Mazoku evolution that had gone awry, just as it had been when their Maryoku had evolved into greater levels and their Elemental abilities. The Mazoku race was evolving constantly, it seemed, for most barely had enough Maryoku to generate static electricity, but more and more of the 'common' Mazoku were being born with higher levels of Maryoku. And then take in the fact that the noble 'pureblood' families had become intrinsically bonded to their Elemental Spirits. It was simply evolution.
I can't even give birth to this thing should I have even decided to keep it, he thought. This is why birthing should be left to women, not men. We're just not built for it.
He was not expected to be seen again until later that evening, seeing as Günter had allowed him the rest of the day to himself and Gisela and Cheri-sama would not be to get him until nearer to midnight. Greta had gone with Anissina, as the woman had promised to teach her the basics of writing her own stories, based on a young girl who was the traveling companion of a 'exotic' red-haired heroine. He expected that neither would come out of seclusion until dinnertime.
His plan had been to rest, take a long nap and wake in time to eat a later dinner in his room before it was time for him to take the potion. He wanted solitude to the point that he had even locked his door, something he did not normally do should Greta need something of him. But at that moment it was not one of his greater concerns.
Sleep was not quick in coming, and he spent at least an hour shifting in bed and trying to remain seated in his personal space at the edge of the immense mattress. He exhausted so much energy trying to drift off that he didn't even realize at which moment he did just that.
/ The crying was back, the screaming squeals of the desperate child surrounding him, an impenetrable cage. He spun around, searching, even though he knew he would never find where the cries were coming from. He never did.
He'd been having the dream more frequently, constantly revisiting the same foggy place where he knew he was not awake and yet could not bring himself out of the cycle. He knew it would continue until somehow he managed to forced himself awake.
Then the singing started.
"Little one, little one,
I'll protect you from harm.
Little one, little one,
I'll give you my arm.
To watch over you,
I'll give you my eye
Little one, little one,
Please don't cry.
Little one, little one,
I give you my soul, my life,
For you are my own,
For you I strive.
Little one, little one,
I'll give you all you need.
For in all in the world,
He gave you to me."
Slowly the lullaby died away into a simple hum that he could just barely hear, but the longer it continued, the more quiet the crying became. Until it stopped all together and suddenly a laugh rang out. A high gurgling noise that was filled with contentment. To Wolf, it was even worse than the crying itself. /
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He awoke gradually, shaking off the disorientation and rubbing the sleep dust from his eyes. Looking about, he realized it was far much later than he had intended and he would most likely not have a chance to eat before Cheri-sama and Gisela came for him. It's probably for the best take it on an empty stomach, he rationalized. It might cause adverse effects with the food.
Wolf stood, wincing at the slight stiffness in his shoulders and spine. He should not have fallen asleep in his uniform. With a grunt of irritation he began to disrobe and change into his night apparel. He had felt odd in the beginning when he had first taken to actually changing before he went to bed, as he had been so used to the open and airy pink gown he had been gifted by one of Hilde's daughters, but with time he became used to the pants and button-up shirts worn by the Mazoku. After he finished dressing, he washed his hands and face in the water basin, the routine of it causing him to start when he heard a knock at his door.
It's them, he knew and put on his slippers so that he could let the two women in. He undid the lock as quietly as possible, which was rather difficult seeing as it always creaking a little. Opening the door, he met two pairs of serene green eyes and opened the door farther to allow them entrance. They stepped into the room and Wolf noticed that Gisela was holding a large container in her hands. It was smaller than an average cooking pot, but the proper size for boiling a small sack of potatoes.
"Are you prepared?" Cheri-sama asked of him, her tone serious and her expression calm.
"Yes," he told her. I won't be able to run if I'm too busy throwing up every morning or early afternoon. I never know when the sickness will come upon me. And the deadline is fast approaching or already here. I can't wait any longer. My decision has been made.
"All right," she nodded and Gisela moved to his table, setting down the pot and lifting up the goblet he had eaten his lunch with to ask, "What was in this?"
"Only water," he replied.
"Very well," she returned. Lifting the lid from the pot, the room was suddenly filled with a strange aroma. It wasn't a horrid stench, or the strong saccharine scent of sweets. The smell was in between and yet very attractive. Like fine wine that had sat for a century before being opened.
"Don't worry about a harsh taste," Cher-sama told him. "The recipe was made to help women and men who were desperate, but the master who first brewed it also thought about that. The rumor is that it tastes like very juicy strawberries. And it had to chill for four hours so its cold."
At that moment he wouldn't have cared if it had tasted like drain water.
Gisela dipped the goblet into the brew and lifted it out, using her hand to wipe away the excess dripping down the side of the glass.
"This is not meant to belittle your decision," she told him, "but are you absolutely sure that this is what you want? This is a choice that you can't take back."
He wasn't angry at her words, although the tension building in the room left him feeling slightly agitated. "I'm sure," he repeated. "This is the only choice I can make and I'm not afraid to make it."
Cheri-sama placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze. He didn't turn to look at her, for fear that she wouldn't suddenly decide to make her opinion known at that time. He didn't need the added pressure. Gisela extended the goblet and he reached out sliding his fingers over the cold surface before taking it into his hand.
He pulled it towards him, taking in the smell and the light-colored liquid that made it. The only light in his room came through the open curtains from the near full moon. He wasn't able to see what was in the brew, should any of it actually be recognizable. It was probably for the best that he didn't know.
I take this and I'll have a chance, he told himself. I'll be able to leave tomorrow without any hindrances. No one will hold me back any longer. I really will be free.
Without even bothering to take a breath, he lifted the goblet to his lips and drank down the fruity tonic as quickly as possible. Raspberries, came to mind rather than strawberries, and he didn't understand how anyone could mistake one for the other. But he didn't bother to think on it as he swallow down the last of it and forced the glass back into Gisela's hands.
"Oh Wolf!" Cheri-sama exclaimed, pulling him to her breasts and holding him closely. He allowed her to as he let the reality of his actions settle in.
I did it. I actually did it.
Cheri-sama led him to the bed and sat down with his upper body still in her arms, unwilling to release him. Gisela kneeled at the bedside, watching him closely for any reaction. Wolf waited as well.
For a few minutes nothing went on in the room save Cheri-sama's fingers running through his hair, gently combing out the tangles gathered in his sleep. They all waited, wondering when the effects would take place. Wolf silently pondered on how far into his system the brew would go before beginning its work. Did it have to be digested first? Would he wait hours? How long would it last? Why was his stomach cramping?
It came upon his suddenly, the spasms of pain that drew his hand to his abdomen and clenching into his shirt. It hurt and the pain was only getting worse. Cheri-sama stilled for a moment, but the tightened the arm she had wrapped about his shoulders and resumed her petting. Gisela leaned in closer.
"It's begun?" she asked him.
He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. She ran a hand inches above his stomach, using her Maryoku to assess what was going on inside of him.
"It's attacking the womb," she whispered, as if not meaning to say it aloud. It brought an image to his mind that he did not want to see. It was enough to simply ignore the sharp-
It was stabbing him. He took in a deep breath, but couldn't seem to get enough air into his lungs. His hand were wet with sweat and his entire body was trembling. A small whimper escaped his lips and he clenched his teeth to avoid another from doing the same. The pain was unbearable. Worse than when he was freed of the Binding.
"Wolf?" Gisela's voice was concerned. "Wolf tell me how bad the pain is. One being 'none' and Ten being 'very bad'."
Now that he was expected to speak, he couldn't find his voice. Instead another moan of distress was her answer.
Cheri-sama's voice was no longer calm. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"It's attacking him and the fetus, we waited too long," she said.
"No!" the blonde woman cried. "You have to do something!"
"I can't!"
"Please!"
"I can't!"
"You can! Just do it! He'll die!"
Theirs words were lost on Wolf, who was using all of his concentration to battle the horrific pain rippling through his body. He could barely remain conscious with the constant barrage of muscle spasms and his hands would no longer hold onto anything. He lay stiff, shaking in Cheri-sama's arms. Then he couldn't breathe. His throat was swelling closed, refusing to take in anymore air.
A strangled gasp was the last sound he made before everything started to fade.
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Yeah, I finally did it. Unfortunately, while moving my files to my new laptop from my old computer, the ITIS folder was deleted and I lost everything after this chapter. Goodbye CH19. So it may take a little longer to get anything up after this. I also noticed the formatting problems with the scene breaks. If this as been going on through the whole story, I apologize and wish I had noticed sooner. If something like this happens again, someone please inform me in a review so that I can fix it immediately.