SAPPHIRE WATER, RUBY FIRE
Author's Note:
New chapter…. This one is OOC and strange. Don't say I haven't warned you, folks! Contain some silly humor and all pairings (YuuRam, OuRam, Conrad x Greta). Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own KKM.
CHAPTER 6: PROTECTION
He was back in a dream, and he knew it. Unlike his previous dream, his surroundings were dark, haunting, a sign of death in a living world. His eyes narrowed in alert.
He knew where he was.
"Come out here and face me, Shin'ou," he growled, balling his fists and let his majutsu stream to his fists, making them glow bright blue in the middle of darkness. Power he had, and power he would use. A fight with the Original King would be a good exercise.
A figure materialized in front of him, and he found his power growing weak with each feature that came clearer in front of his very eyes. He could not deny it, no matter how hard he wished, that Shin'ou and Wolfram were two people alike. The same arrogant eyes, deep, demanding. The vulnerability and loneliness the two hid inside. They were a pair of lone wolves. The exact golden locks, soft in the wind. The pale skin, so pale that it looked as if glowing in its own light. The same tone that portrayed the look in their eyes. The same triumphant smirk. If only Shin'ou's eyes were emerald instead of amethyst and he had been younger, the Maou felt sure he would call Shin'ou as Wolfram instead.
Shin'ou gave him a casual smirk, and he frowned. "Don't play around with me, Shin'ou," he thundered, the power surging back into his whole form. "What do you want now? It has to be damn important that forces you to visit me in a dream."
Shin'ou sighed, staring at the Maou straight in the eyes. "This is about your mission," he said, the ancient voice smooth yet somehow sending shivers down one's spine. A playful frown appeared on the blonde's brows. "I don't mind if you start to have feelings to my darling descendant, since it will cause your actions to be more natural, yet if you plan to stop my plan, that is I cannot allow."
The Maou hissed. "As casual as ever, aren't you?" he spat. "Both of them do not deserve the alternative."
Shin'ou smirked, the smirk he hated so much, he loathed with all his heart. This man….
"Then make sure that you succeed in putting those two together," Shin'ou whispered into his ear, leaning closer. "They say that strong means power. To me, strong means loved. Wolfram loves Yuuri, and surely I can easily take the young King's body if only you do not originate from there, hmm?" A chuckle. The Maou's body went rigid, his cat-like pupils tense and burning with hatred, hunger for avenge. "Some of your power is still left in Yuuri's body, and neither of us could dispel it. Therefore, it is hardly a chance for me to gain Yuuri."
The Maou averted his gaze, eyes shadowed beneath his dark bangs. He knew it, knew what was coming, yet simply could not bear to hear it now. No, not in a time like this….
"Your power left in Yuuri is in the form of a barrier. I decided to turn to Wolfram. Wolfram is loved by Yuuri, yet our young King simply has not realized it yet. It is your job to make Yuuri realize that he loves Wolfram, by getting him jealous. In return, you asked me a favor. A body, you say. A body apart from Yuuri. And I granted it, hmm?"
The torture was inevitable. He growled warningly, yet Shin'ou smirked, and he was left in his bitterness, standing there, drawing blood from his own fists that were clenched oh so tightly on his sides, so tightly that red liquid dripped from them like water from a faucet.
"I need something from you, and you need something from me. Simple bargain, really. Without my help, you cannot gain a body of your own." A feral glint passed in Shin'ou's eyes. "Then I found out that Yuuri's barrier can be broken, if the boy releases his whole power, that is. It is even a more powerful power than love, fuelled with hatred of losing someone the most precious to him. More risky than simply gaining Wolfram's body, yet if you fail…, I am willing to take the risk."
The Maou sent him a look that could kill, his whole figure glowing brightly, far brighter than ever. Hatred…. It clouded his thoughts, driving him to the edge, ready to launch his whole power on the man in front of him. But he knew, knew that the figure in front of him was a mere spirit. Could not be wounded. "If you dare to hurt Wolfram…," he hissed, venom dripping from every word. "If you dare to harm him…."
Shin'ou gave another hearty chuckle. "Such power you have…. A poor thing you have set up a barrier around yourself. Clever," Shin'ou said, smirking at the Maou. "But, my friend, I believe you are the one who will kill him if you fail. That is written on our bargain, isn't it?" A scroll appeared between them, before vanishing, a mere illusion it was.
"You tricked me into that blood-pact!"
"You are the one who weren't careful enough. Goodbye, my friend, and don't fail."
With that, the Original King faded into thin air.
XXX
He could feel his frown deepened, and he massaged his temple slowly. He sighed. He had enough of this.
It was amazing how such a simple meeting could turn into a complicated bickering.
"Masato Seigi? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"I've told you, Wolf! It mainly means justice!"
"I refuse!"
A dark chuckle emitted from the corner of the meeting room. He raised his head in the light of hope, finally finding someone that could restrain the two bickering teenagers. Conrad and Gunther had not been helping, one merely smiling while the other was rambling about Heika. "Wolfram, perhaps you could let the Maou talk," he snapped, glaring at his younger brother and the Heika.
The two teens sat down on their respective seats, still pouting. Damn, perhaps he should have taken an early pension instead.
Wolfram leaned toward the Maou, green eyes pleading. "Tell me you don't agree to that name," he said, tone still as demanding as ever. In the background, Yuuri shouted, "No fair!"
And, Heaven forbids it, the Maou simply shrugged casually.
Since when deciding a name for someone became so difficult?
Wolfram smiled in triumph. "See, he agreed with me!"
"How could shrugging means agreeing to you?!"
"SILENCE!" Gwendal thundered, finally unable to take any other from the King and his fiancée. "Be it Masato Seigi or Cat-Goes-Down-the-Hill von Dog-Chasing-Behind-It or Mr. Maou or Devil is Coming to the World or whatsoever, but for Shin'ou's sake, get out! This meeting is dismissed!"
In an instance, nobody was insight.
Humming a cheerful tune, Gwendal picked out his knitting project. 'Ah, this is what I call bliss….'
XXX
"Brother is surely in a bad mood today," Wolfram said, sighing heavily as he sat down at the edge of the Maou's bed. The latter simply closed the door behind him and gave a chuckle. "You look tired, little wolf," he commented, sitting next to the prince, stroking the smaller boy's hair, savoring the softness he found.
Wolfram pouted. "That wimp is always tiring me out," he reasoned feebly, shivering under the feather-like touches. He sensed him shivering, gave another hearty chuckle, and wrapped one arm around the blonde's narrow waist, earning an inevitable yelp.
Pulling the prince so that Wolfram was sitting on his lap, he murmured into the blonde's ear, "Is that so?" The blonde's hair was still soft as ever, and his presence alone soothed him, causing him to relax.
"Perhaps you can choose a name for me?" he whispered huskily, breathing into the mop of golden strands. 'Lavender and mint…,' he recognized the scent immediately. 'Mixed with jasmine and orchid…'
Wolfram shrugged, snuggling deeper into his torso. "I am thinking about a name, but it isn't that good…."
He kissed his forehead tenderly, drowning the rest of the blonde's words. "Anything, little wolf. Anything you choose. And we shall see," he said, smiling softly, ruffling the blonde's hair affectionately, warmly, giving his whole heart on his every action.
Not that Wolfram was supposed to know that.
"Seif…," Wolfram muttered hesitantly, not looking at the Maou in the eyes. "Seif Recht."
His eyes widened, just for a mere second. "Seif Recht…," he said slowly, testing the foreign name on his tongue. Foreign, but that did not mean that he did not like it. No, quite the opposite, in fact. He kissed Wolfram's cheek. "I like it, little wolf."
The blonde blushed, and the painful yearning throbbed in his heart. His grip on the blonde tightened slightly, and he swore inwardly.
'You will not get what you want, Shin'ou. I'll see to that, even though it costs me my own life.'
XXX
Yuuri found Wolfram already sleeping peacefully when he entered the King's chamber, the blonde's petite figure lying upon the bed sheets. The curtains ruffled in the night breeze, and the moon was shining in it's brightest that night, the glow basking the prince's pale features, causing him to look as if he was glowing in his own rays.
He simply could not stop the soft smile tugging on his lips.
He lied down next to Wolfram, one thousand and one questions running in his head. For instance: how could someone that was as violent as Wolfram look so peaceful at night?
However, is 'violent' truly the right word to describe Wolfram?
Finally Yuuri asked back, "How do you describe him, actually?"
The Maou turned at him, gaze suddenly mellow and…warm? "…Fragile," the Maou stated, voice low and husky. "He is stubborn, yet his heart is brittle. He hates his own vulnerability, thus he hides under the mask of a bad-tempered and spoilt prince. He acts strong, yet he cries out for affection. What do you say now, Shibuya?"
"What do I say?" Yuuri whispered, more to himself, voice strained, tone pained. What was the feeling he had whenever Wolfram was near? That mild desire, the need to protect the spoilt prince, the warmth he felt seeping through his whole body with every touch they shared, every moment they had together….
Opening his mouth slowly, hesitantly, Yuuri started to sing out a song his mother often sang while the family was gathering together. That soft melody, the lulling voice his mother had…. Somehow, the song always brought tears to his eyes and a small smile to his lips whenever he heard his mother sang it, the affection that radiated straight out from the cheerful woman with each word she sang.
"You are as ethereal as an angel is
Your eyes are as deep as the ocean
With fire sparkling within those depths
You are as fragile as a piece of glass is
The vulnerable side you conceal
Deep within your stubborn soul beneath
One look from you, one arrogant look
And I will go crazy on my spot
Tell me that this is not what they call love
'Cause I am still wondering whether it is true
That we two are meant together
Drop by drop, the tears from your eyes
Crystal liquid running down your cheeks
Sacred and silver, I wipe them away
Piece by piece, the laughter from your lips
Sweet as honey, warm as sunlight
Slowly, I start to laugh along with you
One look from you, one arrogant look
And I will go crazy on my spot
Tell me that this is not what they call love
'Cause I am still wondering whether it is true
That we two are meant together
Don't let go of me
I try to tell myself that I don't want you
But whatever this is, don't let go
I don't want this feeling to disappear
One look from you, one arrogant look
And I will go crazy on my spot
Tell me that this is not what they call love
'Cause I am still wondering whether it is true
That we two are meant together"
"Yuuri…."
The mumble caught his ears, and his heart gave a lurch. He whipped his head t the direction of the sleeping blonde, yet the latter was still fast asleep, lips parted slightly, a small smile playing on those same lips.
Sighing in unknown affection, even to himself, Yuuri wrapped his arms around Wolfram.
…I am still wondering whether it is true
That we two are meant together…
XXX
He was taking his round, checking that all the hallways were empty. His amber eyes, warm, concealing the alertness it held. Yuuri had just retreated to his own room, and he noted—amusedly—how in this late couple of days the King and his younger brother had gotten somewhat…closer.
Sure, the two still bickered and mocked each other as ever, but there was something different in Wolfram's eyes and Yuuri's eyes lately. Like…a soft understanding?
Whatever it was, he was glad that Heika finally could be able to see Wolfram in a new light, no matter how fragile the bond they shared.
Soft music interrupted the silence of the night, and he immediately recognized the soft song that drifted through the cold air of the Blood-Pledge Castle. A smile formed on his lips, accompanied by slight concern, considering how late it was already. He made his way toward the music room, where he knew someone would be sitting there, playing the grand piano.
The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, and there was a surprised shuffle, followed by a sudden stop of the music. The moon was shining through the windows just next to the piano, and suddenly he, Conrad Weller, found himself at loss of words.
There Greta sat, on the piano seat, wearing a thin pale cream dress, wide brown eyes staring at him. The pale light fell on her hair, those reddish brown strands now appearing silvery. Her cheeks were flushed from…embarrassment? Shyness? "Uncle Conrad!" she said, exhaling in relief. "I was surprised."
Conrad smiled and closed the door behind him. "It is late already, my Princess. Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" he asked gently, stepping toward the girl, who immediately blushed in response.
"I just feel like playing," Greta admitted, looking at Conrad with big, pleading eyes. "Hear me play, will you, Uncle? Please?"
Unable to resist, Conrad sighed and nodded, sitting next to her.
Her fingers danced, pressing the keys with no hesitation at all. He smiled, letting the melody lull him into a relaxed state. Gone was the tension of the day he had been bearing, replaced by genuine…peace? Warmth? Affection?
Love?
"One thousand and one words
Drifting through the air between us
Listen, do you hear it?
The moon is calling us softly, gently
One thousand and one words
Messages sent between us only
Listen, can you hear it?
The night breeze is whispering to us
Let's spend the night together
Until all the stars above are alight
And new dawn breaks far in the east
Let's take our time with the music
Stay here, don't go
Stay, and whisper our messages
One thousand and one words…
Unspoken wishes and dreams
The air is warm with affection
Can you feel it around us?
The comforting warmth next to you
Let's spend the night together
Until all the stars above are alight
And new dawn breaks far in the east
Let's take our time with the music
Stay here, don't go
Stay, and whisper our messages
One thousand and one words…
Stay here, don't go
Stay, and whisper our messages
One thousand and one words…"
Greta sighed, signaling that it was the end of the song. He snapped off his trance, warm eyes finding hers, nearly sorry for the need of going back to the reality.
What he saw in those chocolate orbs were tears.
"Greta?" he asked cautiously, genuine concern flooding from his very eyes. "Is there something wrong?"
The girl sniffed, before burying herself in his embrace. "Uncle Conrad…, I…. Actually, I…."
The rest of her words left him stunned on his spot.
XXX
There you go. Shin'ou's conversation with the Maou is the hardest and lamest part. So, critiques, please! See you in the next chapter!
Aqua Alta