"I'm so tired. For a minute there, I thought this day would never end," Yuri says to Wolfram while changing his regal clothes into his favorite sleepwear.

Sitting at the windowsill Wolfram, on the other hand just keeps looking at Yuri silently, still wears the wedding gown.

Yuri turns to look at Wolfram as he asks, "What's the matter? How come you're still wearing that awful dress?" Wolfram frowns at Yuri's thoughtless comment; however remains silent since he has more important things in his mind.

Oblivious to Wolfram's changing expression, Yuri continues, "I thank you for indulging my mother's fantasies. You see, she always wanted to have a girl, but she only had me and Shori. You don't have to wear it any longer." Yuri hushes as he sees Wolfram's brooding demeanor. "Don't tell me Wolfram, you're a cross dresser like Yozak."

"Yuri, why did you decide to marry me? I understand you wanting to renew our engagement. You made it very clear last night during your monologue… but…" Then turning away trying to rein in the tears that threaten to spill, he continues, "Why marriage? You said it too last night, you were not ready to get married."

Yuri's jaw drops to the floor while he wages what would be the best answer. On one hand, he knows honesty is the best way to start any kind of relationship; however, he has seen Wolfram's spirit come back to life. Those glaring emeralds that could reach inside Yuri's soul, the passion emanating from Wolfram's face and body every time he feels threatened by the presence of other females or handsome men fussing around Yuri. The things he missed most about Wolfram are back and he knows it is a result of the terrible events (namely, the stupid wedding) that transpired today. On the other hand, Yuri understands that if he does not want to lose them again, he must lie to Wolfram. Yuri grins as he passes his hands nervously through his raven hair. Wolfram clenches his jaw while his hands form fists on top of his lap. The tears are on the brink to fall down his hot and reddening cheeks while he gazes down the palace grounds. Outside, the warm breeze rustles the still flowers and trees, and the full moon illuminates the night.

"So, you were listening. I thought for sure you were dead asleep." Yuri decides to stall for time while his brain rakes for a good answer.

"I always listen to you, Yuri." Wolfram answers with a controlled and measured voice, still not looking at Yuri.

The last thing he wants is to let his passionate spirit take over. He has promised himself that even if Yuri broke his heart again with a hurtful answer he would not explode. He has seen a few glimpses of Yuri's deep love for him written all over his face during this, the happiest of days; however, Wolfram has seen, too, Yuri's conflicted spirit. It is like one part of Yuri is completely head over heels for Wolfram, but then the other half of Yuri despises himself for the exact same feelings. After a few more deep breaths, Wolfram is able to rein in the tears as his body begins to relax while his hands are no longer curled into fists; although, he grits his teeth, so as not to lose his resolution.

Yuri stands at one side of the bed staring at Wolfram's still figure. Then, puffing some air, he turns away and slides into the covers as he answers, "I'm beat. It was a tiresome day. So, if you don't mind, why we don't discuss this on another time?" Yuri pulls the covers over his head to hide. "Like about twenty-years from now? Geez! I'm really a wimp."

Wolfram turns around and faces Yuri as he is covering from head to toe. "Wimp! Why aren't you honest for once? You can be honest and forthright with everyone else, but why not with us?" Standing up from his spot, Wolfram walks towards the bed as he glares at the cowering Yuri. Then he voices, "It's important to me. I want to know now, Yuri"

Yuri feels his whole body tremble at Wolfram's chilly voice. "I guess there is no going around this one, Wolfram!" Bringing down the covers, he turns to face the towering Wolfram. "At least, you still are glaring. Anger is good." Yuri releases another puff of air, and he slowly sits down at the edge of the bed. Then, he looks up to stare back at Wolfram while asking, "Why is important? Can we just leave it alone? We are married now. End of the discussion."

Wolfram's hands curl again into fists as his jaw hardens. His chilly voice still in command, "No, you're not getting out of this one so easy, Yuri. I accepted your marriage proposal the first time; although, I had just made it clear to my mother a few minutes before that I was not interested on a relationship with another male. However, as a Von Bielefeld I accepted you even when I clearly despise humans."

Pausing, to take control breaths, Wolfram continues, "I learned to love you with every minute I spent at your side. But, despite my devotion, you cast me aside like if I were a mere fly… You humiliate me… You dishonor my family's lineage making me your bodyguard, a disposable human-shield."

At this Yuri stands up in one smooth movement hushing Wolfram, "Wait it a minute! I did it only to keep you by my side. I knew if I didn't do anything, you would leave Covenant Castle. So, I had to stop you somehow."

"Why? So, you could murder me little by little parading in front of me all those human girls you are so fond of?" Wolfram fumes while he raises his forefinger pointing at Yuri.

Yuri stumbles back to the bed as he stutters, "No, I… I… We… we… Don't you get it Wolfram? You were, no… you're my best friend." Yuri regains his confidence as he gets up again to stand up to Wolfram's accusations.

"When I first set eyes on you, I thought you were the most beautiful and majestic person. I wanted to get to know you, to be friends with you. However…" Yuri now begins to pace the room as he continues, "In an instant, I find myself engaged to you, a man nevertheless. But, it did not stop there, not even five seconds had passed when we were supposed to face each other in a duel. All I wanted was to be friends with you, but, no, you had to go and be so vicious during your attack. So, I turned into this monster."

Yuri now is panting trying to control the rage that is building inside him, "Why is it that everything has to be so complicated between us, Wolfram?" Yuri has his feet planted on the floor while his knees are bent and his arms resting on them. He takes a few more breaths before he continues, "Put yourself in my place. While you grew up knowing that you belong to a noble class destined to rule, I spent my life being just a middle class kid whose only dream was to become a professional baseball player."

At this, Yuri straightens up and begins to pace again. "I was thrown into a world, I never heard of before. Sometimes, after three years, I still feel it is all but a dream. That, I'm delusional."

"Yuri!" Wolfram whispers as Yuri's words hit him with force, his jaw looseness and his hands open up while he slides sitting on the edge of the bed. "I actually never thought of that for a second."

Without losing a beat, Yuri continues, "I come from a world where being in love with another man is frowned upon. It may not be uncommon here in Shi Mazuko; however, people get killed for that back on Earth no matter how much people fight for human rights and equality. There is always something to fuel prejudice... I'm not perfect… either." Yuri sits slumping on the windowsill gazing into the night.

"Part of me wants you at my side always, that's why I made you my bodyguard. It was the only thing that made sense to me. I never meant to humiliate you or disrespect your family." After a pause and with a sigh, Yuri adds, "The other part of me wants to be normal. I'm a human male who is supposed to like girls… did you ever ask yourself why my mother insisted that you wear a dress? Or why my brother keeps referring to you as a female?"

Almost whispering, Yuri says, "Maybe it never crossed your mind to ask yourself since here in Shin Mazuko it is not uncommon for males to wear dresses. Your mother also makes you wear dresses sometimes. Mine use to dress me up as a little girl until I was of school age. Then, it was easier for her to accept that I was a boy and not a girl; although, that did not stop her from wanting to keep up the charade. However, that doesn't guarantee anyone that she would accept easily a relationship between two males. I love my mother. She is smart and sensitive despite her flightily behavior, but as I said before, prejudice exist everywhere."

Then, turning to look at Wolfram, Yuri bits his lips then slowly a small smile curls up adding, "Although, that's no excuse. I'm one to change prejudice. It is not something that you can do overnight." Sighing, Yuri continues, "You might be the better person since it seems that you've been able to overcome your prejudice against humans for the past eighty-some years in only three. It is one of the reasons I thought you were such a beautiful person. Everyone says that the purity of one's soul/spirit shines making you the person you reflect."

Yuri now hops down the windowsill and walks toward the bed, "As for why, I decided to marry you? I can tell you it was all a misunderstanding. I can even blame it on Shori; however, if truth be told, I'm not sure myself and I'm not ready to try to find the answer."

Wolfram feels the lump forming on his throat. He wants to speak, to say something to Yuri, but he cannot find his voice. There is a lot he must mull over. Yuri stands before Wolfram with his hands extend as he asks, "Wolfram, would you mind being my best friend… for now…? I know we're married and that since you love me you expect us to be lovers… after all you're my consort..."

Grinning, Yuri tries to hide his fear. "I don't want to lose you Wolfram, not now, not ever."

Wolfram freezes at Yuri's pleading voice still echoing in his mind. "Yuri!"

"Wolfram!" Yuri's body starts to shake. "Please, Wolfram! I'm begging you. Be my best friend for now."

Wolfram looks into Yuri's pleading eyes. He looks so vulnerable and Wolfram feels his stomach flipping then he suddenly stands up hurrying away from the room leaving Yuri inside with his hands extended. Once he reaches the hallway, he begins to throw up. Yuri on the other hand sees the disappearing figure of Wolfram behind the closing doors and his legs give way. He falls on his knees beside the bed as he buries his head under the covers trying to absorb the warm left by Wolfram's fleeting body. "I lost him! I lost him…"

Meanwhile, back at the Temple, Murata sits at his desk writing on his journal. "You've been my faithful companion for the past four thousand years. The only one who knows all my secrets." Then finishing, he locks it as usual, "How long you've been standing behind me?"

"Not long! You're getting careless if I'm able to sneak up on you so easily." The Great One now floats to be in front of the Great Sage.

"Maybe, I don't care enough to worry about you. Have you thought of that?" Murata looks straight into the azure eyes that have driven him crazy for the past hundreds of lifetimes.

Smiling with an air of arrogance, the Great One asks, "So, what are writing?"

"Nothing that concerns you, Shinou." At this, the Great Sage gets up from his seat and takes the thick, leather bound book to place it on the book case that forms part of the scarce furniture that decorates his private room here in Shin Mazuko. Yuri has offered to ask Gunter to decorate the room more lavishly; however, he refuses every time stating: "I like it the way it is. It suits me as the Great Sage, Shibuya."

"You're still angry about the wedding." The Great One follows Murata as he moves around the room getting ready to go to bed.

"It is not only about today, but your behavior since we've known each other." Murata sits at the age of his bed while the Great One floats mid-air just a few paces away.

"Honestly, I don't know what you mean. Wasn't I the founder of this place? Didn't I keep my promises about creating a better world for us here in Shin Mazuko? Haven't I done everything within my power to keep our dreams alive?"

"Yes, but at what cost?" Murata removes his glasses pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Whatever the cost, I think I have done an extraordinary job. I have the right to do as I please. After all, look at what I have accomplished." The Great One glides along the room as he continues, "Now, just because you've been my most brilliant strategist and pillar of strength never forget you serve me. I chose you to be by my side."

"How can I forget if you keep reminding me every so often?" Murata fixes his glasses again as he adds, "Shinou, you can only push people so far before they snap and try to strike back, or they break and you're left with a lifeless corpse nothing more than puppets."

"Are you threatening me?" The Great One now stands before the Great Sage while Murata remains sitting calmly on the edge of the bed.

"No, I'm not. I'm just reminding you that while you ask me to be by your side. I was the one who chose out of my free will to follow you."

The Great One decides to move away and turns his back on the Great Sage; however, Murata thinks it is time he and the Great One set some things straight.

"Why are you still here?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Yes, you do, but if you want to play dumb... Let's get it out in the open. Why haven't you moved on? You're no longer necessary to protect Shin Mazuko. Shibuya can do that. As a matter of fact, he has proven to be even an even better Maoh than what you could ever hope to be." Murata follows the Great One's every move since he is swirling around the room with furious movements.

"I ask you again. Why are you here? I think it is time for you to be reborn and move on." The swoosh caused by the Great One swirling is getting louder, the bluish light that emanates from his body is dangerously darkening into a crimson red. Some lose documents hit Murata's face and warm blood drips slowly from the paper cuts. The Great Sage wipes the oozing blood with the back of his hand then with his palm caresses his face to sooth the sting.

Finally, the Great One stops swirling while the heated red light still emanates from his body and stands in front of Murata again. He asks, "So, you really think that kid is better than me?"

"I'm sure he would do a better job protecting Shin Mazuko and would take the necessary steps to move our world into a different direction while preserving the peace. He certainly doesn't need you meddling in his business." Murata keeps his gaze firm on the blazing sapphires.

"That's not what I ask?"

"I'll answer once you answer my question. I think I, too, have done enough to keep your dreams alive to deserve straight answers." Murata's breathing is slow and rhythmic and his voice firm and even.

"You're changing."

"Yes, I am, Shinou. That's why I like Shibuya; he has that power over people. He has the power to inspire change in others. You had the power to make people follow you with no questions asked; however, he has the power to help others to change and to grow as individuals."

The Great One now turns away from the Great Sage and as he begins to disappear from his presence Murata adds, "So, you refuse to answer me… fine then… In this lifetime, I like Shibuya… And, who knows? Maybe, in my next, I'll be blessed and I'll be able to love again."

The Great One stops and faces the Great Sage, "You wouldn't dare."

"I already told you there is only so much people can take. There is only so much I'm willing to put up with." This time, Murata's voice lost a bit of the evenness, "I want an answer now. Shinou. Four thousand years is a long time to wait for someone."

"Ouch!" Yuri gets up while he nurses his head. "How in the world did I end up on the floor?"

Yuri's eyes are now open as he looks outside the window, "It seems it is going to be morning soon."

Then he readies to go back to bed when he notices the lump on the other side. Yuri now pulls the covers to see what it is when his heart skips a beat and he wipes his eyes with both his hands. He wants to make sure he is seeing right and it is not a dream. A grin begins to take over his face as he slowly gets into the bed. The curling figure of Wolfram sporting his beautiful pink negligee turns and pulls the covers closer while mumbling, "What's wrong wimp? It's too early. Get back to bed."

"Yes, it's too early, Wolfram."

"Shut up and let me sleep, wimp."

"Yes, I will shut up."

Yuri now tries to hold Wolfram when he opens his eyes, "What are you doing, wimp?"

"I'm holding you in my arms."

"Stop it! Just because I decided to be your best friend, it doesn't give you the right to touch me. You lecherous flirt."

"Whatever you say Wolfram?" Yuri's voice is giddy. He cannot believe his luck.

"I might be your consort to the eyes of the world but that doesn't mean I'm ready to be one. So keep your hands to yourself. And one more thing, you better not use this as an excuse to cheat on me. Because, if I find out that you are having sex with others, I'll cut your private parts with my sword."

Yuri flinches as he thinks of the pain of losing his private parts while the image of Mama Shibuya pops into his head, "Yuu-chan see just like I told you… All ends well…"

"For now."

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Kyo Kara Maoh! That totally and unashamedly appears on this fan fiction. They are the product of Tomo Takabayashi and Temari Matsumoto's wonderful imagination and art. However, the plot is totally my selfish desire to get some romantic thrills, which are only alluded to or implied, in their creative work.

Author's Notes: Once again, I want to give profuse thanks to HARPGO who has continued to offer to beta Yuri's Treasure for me. She did a wonderful work fixing the story and giving excellent comments and suggestions to make it more enjoyable; however, any more grammatical mistakes or errors are mine alone since I did some re-writing. I truly hope you enjoy this little take on Yuri's and Wolfram's blooming romance. I honestly hope they do end up together at the end of the show.