"Yo!" Striped Neko said cheerfully, greeting the small group of readers actually willing to give Gunter/Yuuri a chance. What an interesting day it has been…it started with my roommate and I having morning coffee on the front porch. He said, out of the blue, "In a fight between Gwendal and Amagumo, who wins?" I replied, "Gwendal. Amagumo only has the strings and guns, Gwendal has Maryoku." He returns with, "Ok, Chrno, Abel Nightroad, and Yozak. Who really looks better in a dress…?" I said, "Yozak, but nothing in gold or it will clash with his hair." He stopped for a minute, took a sip of coffee, and said…"If I had a Guyver suit, I'd rule them all." Um, no one in this conversation is younger than 24 and one of us is a good bit older. However, that little conversation gave me some inspiration on this chapter, I'm sure you'll see where it is. Well, as usual, I still don't own the Maou…although I really want to. I have loved all your reviews and I'm very thankful you take the time to let me know what you're thinking. You're a pretty tough crowd though…I'm trying to update as fast as I can…but my fingers only go so fast! Hehe, so, without further ado…Part four. See you at the bottom of the page…
The Twelfth Treasure of Shin Makoku:
…The terrors of the imagination, the dark, unspeakable creatures that haunt every mazoku child's dreams, all exist in the deep of the forest. Shadows that mask the evil-intentioned, malevolent eyes watching from underbrush, all send the smaller, more easily frightened creatures running for their bolt holes. It was in this place, then, that the beautiful demon lord found himself adrift and alone. Looking toward the sun, feeling the warmth of the rays, he made a silent wish and settled down to wait. The demon-king had visited him in a dream, and said he was coming…
Part Three: If the choice is between tears or laughter, Laugh. The tears come on their own.
I betcha five dollars I'm the only fool who'd climb up a string for you. And need I say, I can't break away, you control every little thing I do. I used to be your swinger, til you wrapped me round your finger, just like a yo-yo—The Osmonds
Oooh baby, gimme one more chance (to show you that I love you), won't you please let me…back in your heart—The Jackson Five
You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals, so let's do it like they do on the discovery channel—The Bloodhound Gang
Conrad Weller had lived a long time and seen many things. He had seen both war and peace. He had been given charge of a soul and delivered it to the family on a far away world who would be entrusted with raising Shin Makoku's future king. He had seen births, deaths, and every stage of life in-between, but in all his long years of life, the half-mazoku had never seen anything like this. When Yuuri had gone into the tent the night before, he had been a tired, but hopeful teenager. However, in the morning light, Conrad took one look at the Maou—his tangled hair, matted with what he highly suspected was blood, the dirt on his face, streaked with what had to be tear-tracks, his lips swollen and…kiss stung…? No dream caused such physical results, and there was no way the king could have passed either himself or Yozak in the night. The soldier dropped the kettle he'd been holding and rushed to the young man's side.
"Heika?" He questioned, running his hands over the boy's slim frame, seeking the wounds that would explain the smears of blood on his skin and clothes.
"Yuuri, Nazukeoya—and I'm fine, I'm not hurt. But, Gunter's in trouble and we have to go right now."
"What the hell?" Yozak exclaimed as he came back into the camp, dropping the firewood he'd been carrying and instantly mimicking Conrad's actions. "Young Master…what in Shinou's name happened to you?"
"Stop fussing with me," Yuuri said, shoving at the four hands now prodding him. "I said, I'm fine. You're not listening—Gunter is in danger and we have to get to him right now. I'll explain on the way."
"But, Yuuri, how do you know this?" Conrad asked, bewildered.
"Because I saw him last night, Conrad. He was in a terrible battle, and I think he's alive, and he's waiting for me. We have to get to him, now…and we can't wait. Forget breakfast or whatever you were doing—we're leaving now."
Conrad was stunned by the air of authority surrounding the young maou, the strength of command in his voice. He saw Yozak, without even thinking, begin to hurriedly pack up the camp. This didn't seem like the Yuuri he knew—his young Maou usually apologized all over himself whenever he made a request, and he hardly ever gave an order. It was enough for Conrad to recognize the boy's worry, but he couldn't move until certain of his questions were answered.
"Yuuri," he tried again. "I believe you and we'll go right away, but you need to dress first anyway—you can't ride in bare feet. Can't you please, though, tell me what's happened to you? You're covered in…blood? Where did you go last night? How did you slip past me? And where is Gunter—did you see him?"
"I did," the king answered, shifting from one foot to the other. "But I saw him in my dreams, I'll explain more about that on the way. This isn't my blood. I'm not hurt, Conrad, I told you that. It's Gunter's and probably some sort of inky stuff from those creatures he was fighting. He is to the west, he told me to tell you to go west of the Singing Forest, and follow the river—but I don't know the name of the river."
"It's the Greyfelde," Yozak said as he broke down the king's tent. "Hurry up and change, kiddo. If we need to move, we need to move."
"But, Yuuri," Conrad rasped out, frustrated. "How could you have seen Gunter? Were you..dreaming?"
"Do I look like I was dreaming?" The boy asked, staring at him as though he'd sprouted wings. "Here, look—does this prove what I'm saying?"
Conrad looked at Yuuri's open hand. In the palm, glinting in the morning sun, was a pair of glasses—Gunter's glasses. For some reason, that tangible bit of glass and metal was enough to move Conrad to action. He shook himself out of his troubled thoughts and began to pack up his own horse. Yozak divided bread and cheese—food that could be eaten while riding, and the young Maou grabbed his boots and a fresh shirt. It took only a few minutes for them to finish their preparations, then they were on their way, riding to the northwest again, at a steady rate. Conrad explained to Yuuri that it was essential to warm the horses up before they pushed their mounts into a more grueling pace.
"How is it that you were able to see Gunter, Yuuri?" Conrad asked again.
"One of the gifts he left for me, a couple of years ago now, was a small vial of the Von Kleist philter. I have taken a small amount over the past two nights, and have been able to see Gunter in my dreams in that way. He explained to me last night, though, that it's a bit more complicated than that."
"What do you mean, Heika? What's the Von Kleist philter?" Yozak asked.
"Well, Ulrike-sama said it was like the Von Wincott poison, except, well, it's not poison—it is just something developed by the Von Kleists, a family spell, if you see what I mean? But, Gunter used a small bit of his own soul to make it, and when I used it, we connected together. He said it's like he's a part of me, in a small way—I don't really understand, and time was running short, then, because after that I heard Yozak calling me to wake up."
Conrad tried to wrap his mind around what Yuuri was saying. His soul had mingled with Gunter's…and he was speaking about it so casually, as though it was something he did every day. But why would Gunter allow such a thing to happen. Conrad didn't know a great deal about the Von Kleist family history, they were a private family. He knew bits and pieces—that Gunter had at one time had an older brother and sister, that he had another younger brother and sister who maintained the Von Kleist lands while the head of the family had been serving the maou in his capacity as adjutant. Beyond that, he knew very little.
"I took the potion without talking with Gunter about it first. He was pretty upset about that." Yuuri continued.
"I bet he was, considering how powerful it is," Yozak chimed in. "What else did Gunter say, Kiddo?"
"Well, he was attacked by these creatures that he called shadow-wraiths. He said that they could scent Von Kleist blood and they're related to the family in some way. I think that's why he was so upset, really. He said that because I'd taken the potion the creatures would be able to scent me, and he said they'd mark me as a Von Kleist. It was dark when he was fighting, and I don't know if the creatures can move in the day, but that is why we have to get to him fast. I guess it could be dangerous for both of us now—and he told me to tell you guys."
"Shadow-wraiths?" Conrad repeated, anger beginning to build in his chest. That Gunter would have given Yuuri something that could put his king in danger seemed completely at odds with the older mazoku's character. There had probably been some sort of protection Gunter could have used had Yuuri discussed it with him first, but Yuuri had just acted on what he thought was right—as usual. "Shadow-wraiths!" He shouted, his temper finally getting the better of him. "That would have been nice information before we started, Yuuri! That's it…Yozak, turn around, we're taking his majesty back to the castle."
Yuuri leveled a look of shocked disbelief at him. "What are you talking about? I didn't tell you all this so we could just abandon Gunter. He's waiting for me, and I'm going! He's hurt, Conrad—really hurt, and I will not leave him to die."
"I highly doubt Gunter would want you in danger, Yuuri. You're telling me that he fought with some kind of creature in a battle that severely injured him, and now those creatures can target you? Absolutely no way are you taking another step further. I am your protector, Yuuri. Gunter himself raised me to be your sword and shield—I know his skills as well as anyone and for something to have injured him so severely…"
Conrad broke off, unable and unwilling to confess his own self-doubts. Fear, something he thought he'd left behind, clutched at his throat. The idea of Yuuri in danger from which he could not protect the king was more than the soldier could stomach.
"I trust you," Yuuri said, simply, his temper seeming to evaporate. "I know it's dangerous, but, we can't leave him, Conrad, please. If it were you, I wouldn't dream of going back—don't ask me to give up on him."
"I'll go," Yozak volunteered. "Taichou, if you want to take his majesty back to Blood Pledge Castle, I will continue on—"
"I said no!" the maou ground out, interrupting the spy's sentence. "You are not expendable, Yozak so don't even think about it. We are all going, and together we are going to bring Gunter home. None of you are replaceable to me—I need you all, I love you all. I need your help, and I'm counting on you both, but I won't be separated from you. So let's just stop talking about this and work together."
Before Conrad could answer, Yuuri spurred Ao to a gallop. He had no choice but turn his own horse toward the king and give chase. He shook his head, cursing under his breath. He loved the Maou, and he always would…but sometimes the boy really did give his heart palpitations—and not of the romantic kind.
--O.o.O—
Wolfram Von Bielefeld was a beautiful mazoku, of that there could be no argument. Blessed with the aristocratic features of his mother, and her shining blonde locks, the young soldier was the ideal image of youth and beauty—at least he had been until Shibuya Yuuri came swirling into his life. Suddenly, without any warning at all, the undisputed sex symbol of Shin Makoku found himself running a distant second to an ignorant, self-effacing, and foolish human boy who just happened to have black hair and black eyes. It had almost been too much to bear. His bad temper and jealous nature had come to the forefront almost immediately, causing him to goad the idiot pretender to the throne into a duel. And, of course, the slap that had gone down in history. He had thought to win the duel without any effort at all, but in his first altercation of many with the young boy who would be king, he discovered that Yuuri had a sneaky way of turning the tables when it suited him. He had been shamed, embarrassed and insulted by the way he had been forced to fight. It galled him to see his own brothers lining up on the side of the king—well, he'd expected it from Weller, of course, being a dirty half-breed anyway, but Gwendal…that had certainly been a betrayal. Still, he had managed to turn the entire situation to his advantage. He hadn't been sure, of course, that the new Maou wouldn't immediately rescind his offer of marriage—in fact the custom itself seemed to stun the boy. But, the Maou hadn't and over the years what began as a way to punish the human boy for his foolishness became, at first, a way to save face.
After all, if he couldn't be the undisputed Beauty Queen of Shin Makoku, he could be on the arm of the one who was—and an engagement that brought the two of them together, well, that was something everyone wanted to see, right?
For his part, Wolfram had done everything he could to help educate and train the new Maou. He had tried to teach him manners, and instruct him in what things were kingly and what things were not, but no matter what effort he put forth, the young king still insisted on acting like a…commoner. He was free with his affections, made alliances with humans, prevented regular mazoku from practicing the long-standing tradition of annexing from the humans whatever lands they desired, and, perhaps worst of all, he refused to recognize that there was an established social hierarchy which needed to be followed. Wolfram had had to watch Yuuri like a hawk, and constantly be on guard against those who would have usurped his rightful place as the king's fiancé. He didn't understand why no one around him, especially his family, understood what a difficult position that had put him in. Didn't anyone understand what it was like for him to be engaged to a cheating wimp, a man without any respect for class or social status, a man whose closest friend was a dirty half-breed? It was often unbearable, even if the boy was the Maou.
Still, Wolfram had persevered and over a long time had, by his sheer will and determination, carved out a place for himself at the king's side. Yuuri had, even though he was still a cheating wimp, begun to understand some of what made the social circles of Shin Makoku go around, and while the king did not enjoy the parties and soirees that Wolfram planned, he at least attended them. The blonde prince considered all these things, and as he did so, he felt the anger begin to rise in him again. He had been through so much, suffered SO much, just to maintain his privileged status and the idea of becoming the laughing stock of their court was impossible for him to face. No, he would not accept that Yuuri wouldn't love him—because everyone loved him. That was the way it had always been. And there was no way he was going to let the Maou marry anyone else, either. He'd worked way too hard to be shut out now.
His plan was drastic, he knew that, but Yuuri had once quoted an earth dweller who said, "desperate times call for desperate measures." Normally, Wolfram ignored everything from earth culture, because it made no sense to him in context of Shin Makoku, but this phrase seemed to fit. He didn't want to have to take things this far, but since Gwendal had outright refused to help him, he had no choice. Taking one final, deep breath, Wolfram leaped into the fountain at Shinou's temple. He did not, of course, have magic enough of his own to travel between the worlds, but, thanks to Yuuri's benevolent parents, and over-protective older brother, Wolfram had an open invitation to visit his future in-laws. It hadn't taken much of an acting job to convince Ulrike-sama that he really needed to see them. She took sympathy on him, actually, thinking that he intended to tell them of the broken engagement himself.
As Wolfram broke through the surface of the water in the tiny bathtub at Yuuri's home, he found himself staring eye to eye with the forbidding face of Yuuri's older brother, Shori.
"Well, blonde prince. I thought you were meant to be engaged to my little brother. Would you like to explain why you're between my legs, then?"
Wolfram gasped and flushed with embarrassment. He was easily sixty years this man's senior and still the serious human had a way of making him feel like a fool. He shoved himself backwards, making a wave that spilled water out onto the tile floor. "I—I had no way of knowing you were bathing," he said, trying to regain his control. "I…I've come though because I need to speak to you."
"And…you want to speak to me while you're still between my legs in my bath? And you call my little brother a cheater."
Shibuya Shori's face was engraved with a scowl. Wolfram almost thought better of his plan, almost decided to give it up and tell the truth right there—but then, for some reason, the placid features of Gunter Von Kleist floated in front of his vision. No way. There was no way he was going to lose Yuuri to that mazoku especially. All those years of tears, hand-wringing and general weirdness were not going to end with a storybook wedding for the Maou and his teacher. No way.
"I'm really worried about Yuuri," Wolfram began, biting his lip and looking up at Shori from beneath lowered lashes. "I don't know how to tell you this, but…one of Yuuri's advisors has cast a spell over him. I don't know what's going on exactly, but Yuuri has broken our engagement and gone after this person. I think…I think he means to elope with Yuuri, or worse!"
"What?!" Shori shouted, launching himself up from the bath so quickly that Wolfram was splashed in the face with more water than he expected. He coughed and choked, but Shori paid him no attention.
"You're telling me that my Yu-chan is being…led down the garden path?"
"If that means he's being seduced by an older demon with nefarious designs, then, yes, that's what I'm saying," Wolfram spluttered.
"We'll see about that," Shori whispered, darkly. "Get out of the bath, prince Wolfram. We have a great deal to talk about."
By the time Wolfram had finished explaining, complete with a few dramatic pauses, the right number of heartbroken sobs, and strength-in-the-face-of-heartbreak sniffles, the situation as he saw it, Shori was ready to separate Gunter Von Kleist's head from his shoulders.
"I will accompany you back to your world." Yuuri's older brother said, his black eyes flashing. "I am shocked to hear that your elder brothers would so readily support this adjutant's plan. Especially Weller-kyo. I would like to speak with both of them, myself."
"I think it would be best to confront them at one time, don't you?"
The future Maou of earth considered this. "They are strong, and united as a front it may be difficult to convince them of the foolhardiness of this relationship. The only thing that matters to me, however, is Yuuri's safety—and his happiness. We will go in the morning, tonight, however, you may enjoy the hospitality of my home."
Wolfram nodded and accepted Shori's words with as much grace as a brokenhearted mazoku could muster. He told his tale of woe, embellishing it a little more at the dinner table, soaking in the sympathetic affection of Yuuri's parents. By the time he settled into the comfort of Yuuri's bed, dressed in Yuuri's strange pajamas, he was universally acknowledged in the Shibuya household as the wronged party. Gunter was the evil interloper, and it had only taken two helpings of Miko-san's delicious curry to prove to them that he had come to them as the last act of a man in love.
Smiling to himself, Wolfram closed his eyes and dreamed of his wedding to Yuuri…an event certain to cement his status in Shin Makoku. In his dreams, Gunter Von Kleist didn't even exist.
--O.o.O—
Once, not very long ago, Shibuya Yuuri had spent an afternoon with Gwendal Von Voltaire, reviewing the standing army of Shin Makoku. He had asked his somber general why it was that the military men of the country seemed so committed to their duties, as military service in the demon nation was not compulsory—nor were there standard career retirement dates. Once a soldier of Shin Makoku, always a soldier for the nation. Gwendal had explained, in his gruff way that the demon men were possessed of strong instincts that demanded they protect not only their families and loved ones, but their country as well.
"Humans have such short and brilliant lives," the general had said. "They have only a limited time to leave their mark upon the world, and it is understandable that this can lead them into making rash decisions. It is different for us, Heika. We are tied closely to the land, the very earth we walk upon, because it is that alone which outlasts our long lives. It is born in us, this need to defend those closest to us, because we have seen over generations how easily cultures, even civilizations can be destroyed. Full-blooded demons live for long centuries, Heika. Time means something different to us, I believe, and is not measured in moments, but in eons."
"It makes me wonder why I would be chosen to be the Maou," the young king had replied. "My mother is human, and my father is a mazoku, yes, but the mazoku of earth have been there for so long, and interbred with humans until our life spans are virtually the same. I want to be a good king, but I don't think I will live to see anything of what I'm trying to do come to pass."
"I could be killed in battle tomorrow, Heika." Gwendal had replied. "That fact in no way changes my need to care for those I love, and that which has been entrusted to me."
"Do you…do you think I have those instincts to?" The Maou had asked.
"I know you do," Gwendal had said, with complete assurance. "I have seen how you care for our people. I do not always agree with your policies, but I know the truth of your heart. You will understand better when you take a mate of your own. Our lives and loves change over time, that is normal, but that first bonding between two mazoku—the union from which new generations will spring forth, that is something unshakable to us. We are a faithful, steady race—even if we have many lovers and experiences over our lives. I have seen this in you, too—the way you care for our country with your love and your life."
"I still worry. I wouldn't know what to do without you, and Conrad, and Gunter—Yozak and Wolfram, too. I depend on your help."
"A mazoku cannot move a mountain on his own, but many mazoku move ranges one rock at a time," Gwendal had said, repeating the oft-used phrase Yuuri had come to equate with the human expression of no man is an island unto himself.
"You are a good king, Yuuri-heika." Gwendal said as if that ended all debate on the matter.
"Only as good as my court, in particular my general," Yuuri had replied, sincerely.
Yuuri recalled this conversation as he rode hell bent for leather toward the location where he felt Gunter to be. It was more than just simple affection that drove him to push himself harder with each passing mile. It was a need, welling deep within him, that urged him forward, demanded he press on despite his aching back and exhaustion. He had to see Gunter safe. He had to convince the man that his worth was more to him than all the treasure stored in Blood Pledge Castle. In his heart, Yuuri felt very much as though he was still just a raw kid from earth, but somewhere deeper still, in his very bones, or maybe even his blood, he knew that if he lost this one man to the darkness, then he would never be whole again.
"Kiddo," Yozak shouted. "Slow down! We're close now, I know, so we need to take care."
It took every ounce of willpower Yuuri had to acquiesce to what he knew was good counsel. All he really wanted to do was storm through the woods, find his missing advisor, and feel himself wrapped up in those strong arms again. He was determined to save his beautiful demon lord, but he need to be saved himself just as much. Maybe it was because they had connected with each other through the magic of the philter. Conrad would always be the Phintias to his Damon, but, Gunter was something more—something Yuuri had just begun to acknowledge in his own heart. And he couldn't bear the thought of not being able to discover just what that was.
The darkness was falling fast though, the sky turning cerulean first, then indigo, and now purpling with streaks of gold and pink—the last rays of the sun. Soon it would be too dark to see, and darker yet in this forest, and the slight tickling of the hairs on the back of his neck that had whispered to him throughout the day—warning him of danger—had begun to send a frisson of fear rippling through his spine. Gunter was without protection—he knew that much. He felt the malevolent eyes on him. He could sense the danger increasing as time marched forward. A glance at his companions let him know that while they could not name the feeling in the same way, they too were aware of something slowly coming awake, something ominous.
At his side, Morgif began to moan, rattling his scabbard until Yuuri was finally forced to ask his sword to be quiet. It was of no use, Morgif refused to be silenced. Breaking through a copse of trees, Yuuri gasped and pulled Ao to a halt.
"Conrad," he managed to say. "This is it…this is the place I saw in my dream last night. There's the river to the right, and this open place, was where those creatures were. See?"
"His Excellency's horse," Yozak said, drawing his sword. "You were right, Heika. Now, where do we go, do you remember?"
Yuuri turned Ao slowly in a circle, trying to remember. When Gunter had dragged him to the ground, and he finally saw this place and not the baseball field, the river had been to his left, south. The chains had dragged toward the East, because Gunter had been traveling west.
"We moved that way—through those trees," Yuuri said, suddenly, pointing. "There should be a hill a few meters away, Gunter is there, but his position if it is the same as I saw last night, is not safe."
"Take us to him, Yuuri," Conrad said quietly, his eyes scanning the tree-line. "But take care not to move too quickly. We must stay together."
Yuuri nodded, squeezing his thighs against Ao and moving forward at a slow walk. He could feel the hot breath of something evil on the wind. And, after last night, he knew exactly what it was.
It took much less time to reach Shin Makoku's tiniest cave that Yuuri remembered from his walk back from the river. Helps to have a horse, he thought absently, but his relief upon seeing the depression in the hillside almost made him sick to his stomach. He realized he'd been working on adrenaline all day, and he knew he wasn't finished yet, but, he dropped off of Ao's back with shaky legs and scrambled his way up the hill, not content to wait for Conrad or Yozak.
Sleeping there, face relaxed in a peaceful expression, was Gunter Von Kleist—waiting, it seemed, right where the young Maou had left him in his dreams.
--O.o.O—
Conrad couldn't afford to give Yuuri and Gunter his complete attention. He, too, could sense the gathering forces in the deep recesses of the forest. He was aware of the king, on his knees, shaking his former teacher, and calling to him.
"He won't wake up," Yuuri said, finally, worry plain in his voice.
Conrad glanced down, his heart clenching at the young man's tears. Had they really come so far for nothing, he wondered. But he didn't have the luxury of empathy at the moment. His primary focus and his first duty, always, were to the Maou's safety—at the expense of anyone else.
"Taichou, this place is indefensible. We have to move them, now."
He nodded. "Yozak's right, Yuuri. I don't know what's wrong with Gunter, but he is breathing and that's something. We're getting out of here. No arguments."
Yuuri scrambled back when Yozak approached him and lifted Gunter over his strong shoulder. "I'll carry him, Heika. You take his Excelleny's things?"
"O—ok." Yuuri gathered Gunter's sword, and other possessions.
Conrad helped the Maou add those items to his horse's load, then gave him a leg up.
"We're moving north," he whispered in the young man's ear. "I am unfamiliar with his area, so we're going to trust Yozak to lead us now. Be brave, Yuuri. We'll protect you—both of you."
The King's tears shone in the moonlight, tugging at Conrad's heart. He felt the strange swell in his heart and the desire to hold the boy in his arms as he had done countless times in the past, but he could not stop—and he knew the young man did not want his embrace at this moment. His arms could no longer replace the ones Yuuri wanted to feel most.
"Where are we going?" The king asked.
"There should be an abandoned millhouse just over this hill. We can make a stand there, if we reach it." Yozak murmured. "Travel quietly, Heika, and for Shinou's sake, shut Morgif up, if you can."
Conrad watched as Yuuri stroked Morgif's scabbard, a gesture of comfort. The demon sword had been restless for most of the day, but now seemed to be anxious to be taken in hand.
"Let's go," he said, keeping his horse close to the king, and his sword firmly in his grip.
The trip was nerve-wracking, even for a seasoned soldier such as Conrad. He would have felt differently, he was sure, if it was just Yozak and himself, but the added responsibility for his king…his Yuuri…weighed heavily. He tried telling himself that Yuuri belonged to all of Shin Makoku, and to lose the king would throw the country into chaos, but his heart knew better. He could not bring himself to imagine a life where he was not close to this young man, this gentle, loving soul who had more love inside of him than Conrad had ever thought possible. He felt the pain, sharp and cutting, when he watched Yuuri's eyes train onto Gunter's limp form and remain there, steadfastly watching the man who apparently meant the world to him.
"There it is," Yozak said, his voice barely more than a whisper on the wind. "Taichou, speed now."
Conrad spurred his own horse as he slapped Ao's flank with the flat of his sword. The animals raced across the open meadow at breakneck speed. Yuuri was holding Ao's mane, his knuckles shining white in the moonlight. As they neared the dilapidated building, Conrad heard the first of the wraiths begin to howl—a chilling sound—the note of promised death. He reined his horse to a halt, leaping off before the animals hooves came to a standstill. What would he give for a little of Wolfram's fire right now? But, he was a simple soldier, a half-breed mazoku with no magic, and his strength would have to sustain him.
Yuuri was on the ground, rushing to grab bags and throw them into the stone building. Morgif's moans had become bellows, whether of warning or anticipation, Conrad didn't know.
"Here they come," Yozak said, his voice darker than the night.
Conrad turned to see what looked like a solid mass of shadow moving across the moonlit meadow. How could he fight them all? Suddenly, he felt Yuuri shoulder past him. Before he could reach the king, the boy raised Morgif high over his head, then plunged the tip of his blade into the summer-softened earth. A feeling of electricity seemed to crackle in the air, and light sparked around them in brilliant beams. A barrier coalesced from the very air, swept out from the hilt of Morgif, and settling in a dome around the stone building, the horses and the four mazoku.
"H—Heika?" he asked, confused. Before the king could answer, the first of the wraiths hurled themselves through the air, met the barrier and were thrown off in a shower of sparks. Conrad heard pained snarls and howls of frustration from the shadow-creatures.
Yozak gave a low whistle, shook his head, and turned to Conrad, Gunter still laid across his saddle. "What the hell was that, Taichou?" he asked.
"I…I don't know." He turned to Yuuri. "Heika?"
"Yuuri, Conrad. Seriously, can you just remember it? And…I just did what Morgif told me to do."
"He talks to you?" Yozak asked, his brow drawn into a confused frown.
"Sometimes," Yuuri said, shrugging and staring at the barrier, just as surprised as Conrad apparently. "Mostly he just complains about not getting girls, though."
"I see." Yozak said, clearly unable to think of anything else to say.
"We need to get inside," Conrad said, finally, watching two more wraiths test the strength of the barrier. "In case Morgif can't hold this all night, we need to be ready."
Conrad and Yozak worked together, the division of labor between them flowing easily without need of words. Soon, there was a fire blazing in the half-crumbled fireplace, the weaker points of the single room shored up, and the king's missing adjutant settled onto a bedroll near the fire.
"Why won't he wake up?" Yuuri muttered. The young king had planted himself at Gunter's side, moving his hands over the tall mazoku's body in gestures that were not overt, but certainly intimate. He smoothed Gunter's hair, running his fingers through the lavender tresses, working out the snarls and knots. He wiped his face, feathering his fingers over Gunter's lips, as if to feel his breath. Every so often, he would press his ear to the beautiful man's chest, obviously listening for his heartbeat. Each small action caused the crack in Conrad's heart to widen.
"Gunter, please…can't you hear me?" Yuuri said for what felt to Conrad like the millionth time. "Wake up, ok? I told you I would come and I did. I'm here now, Gunter. Please, open your eyes, ok? You don't have to talk, just…look at me."
"Maybe he can't wake up, Heika." Yozak said, from his place near the window. He was keeping watch on the wraiths.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, remember when he was affected by the Von Wincott poison? His body was in stasis, right?"
"That's true."
"Maybe it's the same now," the spy offered.
"What do you think, Conrad?" The king asked, turning to him.
The soldier cleared his throat. "I think that's a possibility. It would at least explain why he is not responding." He took a deep breath. "I also think you need to eat something, Yuuri. You need to keep your strength up, too."
"I'm not hungry," the young man said, inching even closer to his sleeping advisor. "I don't want to leave him."
Conrad brought the king a roll, some jerky, and the water skin. "Eat this anyway, Yuuri. The barrier is holding for now. You need to rest. Do you think Morgif will be able to hold them off if you're sleeping?"
Yuuri looked as though he would like to refuse the food, but he finally took the rations from Conrad's hands. "He's only drawing on a little of my maryoku. He's doing this himself. I can…feel him taking strength from the wraiths as they hit the barrier. If they figure that out, and stop testing him, I guess the barrier won't hold as long. It's better for us if they keep attacking."
Conrad nodded, realizing as if for the first time, that Yuuri had matured even more than he had thought. He spoke simply, still himself, but with a more stately air than Conrad remembered. He was the Maou—the Maou he was always meant to be. Conrad suddenly felt his world shift a little—since before Yuuri had been born, the soldier had protected him. Now, it was the king protecting them all.
"I'm going to try and reach him now," Yuuri said, after he finished eating.
Conrad knew what the younger man meant, and he didn't like it. "You really don't know what will happen, Yuuri. Gunter said, himself, that it was dangerous, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did—because I hadn't talked to him about it first. But, we're safe for now, right? Is the barrier holding, Yozak?"
"Aye, Kiddo. Holding well from the look of it."
"Then I'm going to try. Maybe something that I've done has caused this to happen to Gunter, but if I can find his…soul, maybe I can fix it."
"There's nothing I can say, is there?" Conrad asked, his gaze locked on the king's determined face.
"I have to try, Conrad. I just have to."
Resigned, Conrad helped Yuuri spread out his bedroll next to Gunter, then watched as the Maou kicked off his shoes and shrugged out of his jacket. The boy dug in his small sack, fished out a wrapped item, then revealed the bottle still mostly filled with liquid. Touching it to his lips, the king took a careful sip. He put it away before settling down into his covers.
"I'll probably just fall asleep," Yuuri said, sending Conrad one of his famous half-grins. Then the Maou of Shin Makoku rolled to his side, snuggled his cheek against Gunter Von Kleist's shoulder and wrapped an arm around the sleeping magician's waist.
Conrad didn't know if it was exhaustion or the potion that made Yuuri fall asleep so quickly, but whichever it was, it seemed as though the boy was slumbering almost before he finished his sentence.
"I'm really sorry, Conrad."
Yozak's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "For what?" he asked, looking at his lover.
"That you have to see it. It's not an easy thing to watch."
He knew exactly what Yozak meant. And no, it wasn't easy to watch the man you love choose another.
"Has it…Was it like this for you?"
"Sometimes," the handsome spy replied. "But, I always knew how you felt about him, even before he was born, so I guess it's different, too."
"I want him to be happy. I really do."
"Of course you do, and just because you also happen to want him to be happy with you isn't a crime, either."
Conrad turned away from the sleeping king and came to stand next to the tall, orange-haired man at the window. He watched the shadow creatures continue to circle the perimeter of the barrier—at least he watched the length of the barrier that was visible. Without really thinking about it, he slid his hand into Yozak's waiting grasp. He squeezed and felt his lover squeeze back. There was no need for words, between them there never had been.
--O.o.O—
The first thing Yuuri noticed was that there was no baseball field. He was standing in a corridor, in front of a tall, wooden door. It wasn't what he expected, but, then could he really ever have an expectation in a dream? Now was not the time to be faint of heart, though, he thought. So he raised his hand and knocked.
"Come in, Heika."
Yuuri opened the door and found himself in a large, comfortable bed chamber. Laying in the center of the bed, looking altogether too sexy, was Gunter. The tall man was on his side, his head supported by his hand and his long, beautiful hair pulled over his shoulder to drape over his chest. The bed was large, larger even than Yuuri's own bed at Blood Pledge Castle. The covers looked soft, the white fabric pooling around his adjutant's hips. Yuuri frowned, however, when he saw the two rusted chains running from beneath the covers, over the end of the bed, along the floor and out the open window.
"Gunter," Yuuri said, stepping into the room, and closing the door. "Are you all right?"
"I think so, Heika, yes." The beautiful man replied. "Shouldn't I be?"
Yuuri felt unaccountably warm, and shy. Seeing Gunter in such a position did strange things to his pulse, and his ability to think. He heard noises coming from outside—the sound of laughter and the high-pitched shrieking of children at play.
"Where is this?" he asked, by way of beginning a conversation.
"This is my room, Heika."
"I've been in your room at the Castle, Gunter. It doesn't look like this."
"This is my room in childhood home, Heika. I do not know why I am here, though."
"Who is that outside then?"
Gunter's smile was soft, nostalgic. "The children are my older brother and sister. The tall mazoku with them is my father. They are playing hide and seek—Greta tells me you know of this game on earth. I was going to join them, but I heard you calling for me. I ended up here, and I thought I would rest while I was waiting for you to come."
Yuuri crossed the room to look out the window. He could see two young mazoku children running across a carefully maintained lawn. He also saw a giant of a man, with a loving smile on his lips, appear from behind a tree at the edge of the lawn. His handsome face was more masculine than Gunter's but the family resemblance was unmistakable. Those beautiful amethyst eyes were the same as those belonging to the man staring at him now.
"I found you," Yuuri said, finally, leaving the window and turning back to Gunter. "You were where I left you last night, but I haven't been able to wake you."
"I'm tired, Heika. I remember trying to wake up. I tried very hard, but I just couldn't get back inside myself."
"Was it something I did?" Yuuri asked, suddenly frightened again.
"I don't know, but I don't think so. You healed me, in spirit and body, Heika. I think it more likely that I would have died had you not come. Where are we now? Are we safe?"
Yuuri nodded. "Conrad and Yozak are watching over us. The wraiths did come, but Morgif is holding a barrier. I came to find you, though, because I want you to come back to me—in life, Gunter. I want you near to me, always."
"You don't know what you're asking, Heika," the older mazoku said, his sad smile back in place.
"Yes, I do," Yuuri said, confused. "Unless…maybe you don't want me, Gunter?"
"Heika," Gunter's voice lowered, deepening into that soft, sexy growl that made Yuuri melt. "If you cannot see how I want you, then you must be blind."
Yuuri couldn't breathe. He didn't know how the tall man managed to do it, but in one instant he was fine, the next he was a quivering mass of confused feelings and aching desire. Blushing deeply, he reached up with shaky fingers and started to strip out of his shirt. He was embarrassed and uncertain, especially since Gunter's eyes never left him, but his tall advisor's expression quickly changed from mild interest to smoky heat. Yuuri had never dared to do anything like this before, but he tossed his shirt over the chair where Gunter's clothes were neatly folded. His pants followed, his underwear—everything until he stood, shivering slightly, but not with cold, under Gunter's steady gaze.
"You're shivering," Gunter whispered, holding his hand out to Yuuri. "Come here, and I'll warm you, Heika."
Yuuri was relieved to finally move. He reached for Gunter's hand, then crawled up onto the bed. It seemed so natural, to fold into Gunter's embrace, skin to skin. He met the beautiful man halfway, hungry for the kisses that were burned into his memory. Gunter didn't disappoint him, twining their fingers together, then rolling so that Yuuri was beneath him, their arms extended up above their heads—Yuuri's knuckles grazing the headboard. He felt Gunter's knee nudge his thighs, parting his legs. As Gunter's lips came down over his, Yuuri moved so that he cradled the beautiful man's hips with his thighs. He gave himself up to the sensual persuasion of the kiss—feeling lazy, almost drugged under the weight of his own desire. Gunter claimed his mouth, taking possession of him. Yuuri could do nothing more than grip Gunter's hand tighter and lean up to deepen the kiss, giving every part of himself freely to the mazoku who held his heart. The vision that was Gunter, his beauty and strength were etched in Yuuri's mind. The strength of the larger man's shoulders as he brought his chest down to graze against Yuuri's, his lips leaving his mouth and trailing down the young king's neck to suck against the pulse point at the base of his throat.
"Gunter, please," Yuuri moaned, feeling completely embarrassed and recklessly wanton at the same time.
"What do you want, Heika? Ask me anything…there's nothing I would ever deny you," his adjutant whispered against his skin.
"I want you," Yuuri gasped out, arching up against Gunter's body, craving contact with every inch of the man.
The bed jerked suddenly, distracting both of the men. Yuuri watched as one of the chains, dragged by its own weight, slipped out of the window.
"How strange," Gunter said, twisting his head to look over his shoulder. "Again, it appears one of the shackles has released."
"How are they…why are they attached to you? Have you figured that part out?" Yuuri asked.
"I think they are my fears, Heika, or something like that. The first released when you said you would never leave me, and I have always feared your rejection. This one released when you said you want me…and I have always feared you never would."
"Why would you think that?"
"There were others, of course, who stood first in your heart. I always knew that. But…" The demon broke off, his lovely eyes clouding over.
"But, what, Gunter?"
"You have seen me, now. You have seen the part of me that I've always tried so hard to hide from you. I've read in your earth's mythology…have you never heard of a berserker?"
"I…I know the word. Weren't they fierce warriors, who went sort of crazy."
Gunter's eyes became sadder still. "That is the mythology. The reality is something a bit different. When I read about it in the books you gave me, I thought at first maybe it was the description of Mazoku who'd been in your world. I carry the curse for the Von Kleist family, Heika—and you've seen the evidence. Once my rage is loosed, I…won't stop until everything around me is laid waste."
"That's not true," Yuuri said, drawing his leg up over Gunter's hip, trying to ease that sad look with the reality of his feelings. "You did stop. When you kissed me, that time, it was harsh, but then you came back to me…the Gunter I recognized."
The man above him shook his head, lavender hair spilling over onto Yuuri's chest. "I would never hurt you, Heika, but that doesn't change who or what I am. When I was a child, I was shunned because of my temperament—my faults. I studied, and had books as companions instead of other children. As I grew, I came to understand that I could hold my…violence at bay by releasing my feelings before they became too much. That's why I cry, Heika, and moan and lament…I know you have hated my tears, but…where Gwendal knits to purify his soul…I cry to purify mine. I am not…worthy of your desire, but I am not a good demon, Heika…and I want you so much. I love you, and forgive me but I always have."
"Oh, Gunter," Yuuri whispered, reaching up with his free hand to trace the perfect lines of his face. "I didn't know before, but I do now. I…I love you. I've always loved you, I mean…but not like this. When you left I thought I'd lose my mind—all I've been able to think about is getting to you. How could you not know how I feel—you always know how I feel."
The final chain fell open, dragging across the stone floor until it, too, disappeared.
"Heika," Gunter said, pressing Yuuri's body into the bed with his greater weight, and moving his hips in a way Yuuri had never even dreamed of in his most erotic fantasies. "I cannot always see what is closest to me. I thought your heart lay in another direction. Are you sure…? How can you love me? I am…I am as much a monster as those wraiths you've seen."
"No," Yuuri said, dragging his lips over Gunter's throat, reveling in the older man's gasp. "No, you're not a monster. I don't understand everything yet, Gunter, but I know in my heart that you are my happiness. You don't want me to be sad, do you?"
"Never," the demon groaned as Yuuri continued to tease the sensitive flesh of his neck. "I only want you to be happy, Heika."
Yuuri felt, finally, that the time was right, and he sank his teeth into the flesh over Gunter's collarbone. The beautiful mazoku cried out in pain and pleasure.
"Then call me Yuuri, Gunter." Yuuri blushed at his own boldness, then whispered the request he'd wanted to make from the first time Gunter's lips had touched his. "Call me by my name and tell me you love me…please."
Gunter's eyes flashed violet, but they weren't sad at all. "I love you…Yuuri."
Something about his name on Gunter's lips unleashed a floodgate of emotion in Yuuri's chest. He couldn't get close enough to the man he loved to relieve the tension he felt. He squirmed and wriggled, but Gunter held him fast with his body.
"Easy, Yuuri," he said against his ear. "Slow down, my love. We have time yet."
Yuuri fell under the relentless pull of Gunter's kisses and the feeling of his body covering his own. He thought he was drowning, or maybe flying, he wasn't sure which…but he did know that he'd never been as aroused as he was at that moment, and feeling Gunter's body in the same state was driving him mad. Some part of him knew that when he woke up, back in his own skin, that he wouldn't be this comfortable, this open. He realized then, that this was his soul…he was experiencing his soul's desire, the love of the man holding him.
Light sparkled in his eyes, as Gunter's mouth latched over one of his nipples, his rough tongue lapping at Yuuri's skin and making him cry out with pleasure. His body shook in anticipation as Gunter's free hand slipped between their heated bodies to tease the soft skin on the inside of his thigh, and when Gunter's large, warm hand closed around Yuuri's erection, he saw, literally stars.
"Gunter, I want…please…" he gasped.
"Yes, Yuuri, Yes…" His lover promised.
Yuuri closed his eyes, his vision obscured by the bright flashes. Then he felt a strange shift in the air.
"NO!" he screamed as Gunter's body was ripped from his, as though a great hand had grabbed his lover's waist and yanked him backwards.
"Gunter!" He called, shouting his lover's name over and over again, but it was no use. Yuuri was naked, in a strange bed, and utterly alone.
And so did the demon-king find his missing courtier, and thought that all would be well. However, history teaches that it is never wise to anticipate a victory before the battle is in hand. Little did the demon lord and his liege know that their true quest was just beginning, for true love it seems, must be earned with blood and tears...
And there we have Chapter four. Before I write chapter five, I just want to touch on why I chose to write Gunter in this fashion. Before I started this fic, I watched several gunter-centric episodes again. If you take a look at his character, throughout, he does the "Heika!!" shuffle a lot, almost being portrayed as a caricature, rather than character, until something happens and he is called upon to either represent or protect the Maou. I think it is clear that Gunter has always had a strong measure of backbone—he did, after all, train Conrad. He has run the country, not on his own of course, but is often left in charge. The "Gunter goes west" arc shows a great deal of his valor, as does the initial episodes where he stands up to Gwendal. So, yes, there is no denying that Gunter is sweet-natured and sometimes a little silly, but that doesn't, in my mind, put him at cross purposes with being sexy and heroic, as well. And, that's it, then…oh, by the way, don't shoot me because of the cliffie—it's the right place to end this chapter. And, thanks so much for reading this far. I really do appreciate it. I won't probably be able to update until the middle of the week, thanks to school, but having written this chapter, I'm guessing three more at this length. Maybe more depending on Wolfram. So, thanks again, everyone—and I will answer reviews, asap. I'll be seeing you! Sn