A/N: thanks to a special reviewer I decided to try and fix up this thing. Go on and take a read. It may fill the boredom until all the good kkm authors get off their asses and keep writing.

Things are gonna get pretty serious in these next few chaps

Disclaimer: don't own it

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Chapter 6

Wolfram entered the shrine's breakfast room late the next morning to find Murata seated alone at the table. Food had already been served, apparently, as it lay partially eaten and getting cold. Wolfram did not wait to be invited in. He simply sat down and pulled one of the plates toward him. As he ate, he noticed that Murata watching him closely.

"It's rude to stare," commented Wolfram after a few minutes of awkward silence. Murata merely raised his eyebrows.

"I'm curious," the sage began, "Do you normally stuff your face like so or is the reason because you are now eating for two?" Wolfram choked on his bacon.

"What?"

"I heard that you were ill this morning." Murata continued. "How long has that been going on?" Wolfram narrowed his eyes.

"What are you implying?"

"That you're pregnant."

"Ha! And T-zou loves manju ." Wolfram said and continued eating. Murata chuckled.

"Although it is a bit harder for male mazoku to conceive than females, I imagine that a fine, well-bred specimen such as yourself would have no trouble at all."

"I assure you, my good sage, that you are out of your mind."

"Perhaps, but tell me, how long has it been? Three months? You must have noticed some changes by now." Murata said, grinning slightly. Wolfram didn't respond. "But go on and keep yourself in denial if it makes you feel better." Wolfram clenched his spork.

"Ridiculous. How could I be pregnant?" He huffed. The sage laughed and leaned closer over the table.

"I find myself wondering the same thing knowing that Shibuya is still afraid of touching you." Wolfram stood up suddenly.

"How dare you accuse me of such a thing! I would never betray Yuuri like that!" Snarled Wolfram. It was time to end this conversation, lest they drift into even more dangerous waters. The more time one spends telling a lie, the more chances he has to screw up. Wolfram threw his napkin onto the table and walked over to the door.

"I'll be returning to the castle now." Said Wolfram.

"Then I will have a carriage prepared for you." Came Murata's voice. Wolfram stiffened for a moment but then his shoulders slumped slightly as he gave in.

"Fine."

"And Von Bielefield-kyo," Wolfram paused with his fingers on the door handle. "Do not worry. I shall keep your secret." Wolfram let himself out the door without saying anything. But he didn't need to. Murata got the message.

Wolfram walked down the hall with his fists clenched at his sides.

"Damn that sage." Wolfram muttered. "How much has he figured out? How is it that he is able to read me so easily?" Wolfram had known for a while now that he was pregnant but he had been thinking that he was doing a rather good job of hiding it. Not even Conrad had noticed anything yet.

He was suddenly aware of how loudly his footsteps were echoing and how the particular corridor that he had come across was completely silent. Wolfram wrapped his arms around himself and leaned against the wall. Why was lying like this becoming so hard for him? He couldn't keep this up forever, could he? Wolfram brought his hand up to his furrowed brow and attempted to smooth the wrinkles between his eyebrows.

"You can handle this." He whispered to himself. "You can fix this."

"Can you?" questioned a soft voice. Wolfram looked up sharply and gazed up and down the hall.

"Who is there?" he called.

"Who else?" the voice said from behind him. Wolfram spun around and found himself face to face with an impossibly handsome and majestic looking blond man.

"Sh-Shinou heika." Wolfram fell to his knees. "I thought you were…. Why are you…?" Shinou chuckled.

"Dead? I still am." He bent over so that he was level with Wolfram. "Are you surprised to see me?" Wolfram's eyes widened for a moment before he turned them away.

"No. You've come to haunt me, haven't you? Or punish me?"

"Now why would I need to do that?" Shinou laughed, but his eyes remained serious, as if he was expecting a confession. Wolfram bowed his head.

"Because I have done something unforgivable to Shin Makoku." Wolfram admitted in a horrified voice. Shinou cocked his head slightly.

"That remains yet to be seen. You made a choice. You did what you thought best at the time knowing that there would be major consequences either way. Who is to say if you were right?"

"But-"

"Besides," Shinou continued, "The one you should be seeking forgiveness from is not me but the current king of Shin Makoku."

"Yuuri." Wolfram closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. "Once he finds out about what I did or about the fact that I am carrying another man's child, there is no way that he will want to marry me." Shinou did not respond. He put a hand on Wolfram's shoulder and guided him to his feet. Wolfram felt the hand slide up his neck and force his head up so that he was looking into Shinou's deep blue eyes.

"Do you love him?"

"Yes." Breathed Wolfram. Shinou smiled.

"Then no matter what you may be forced to endure in the future, you will find a way to be with him." Shinou answered. A strange calmness came over Wolfram and his eyes became too heavy to hold and his limbs didn't seem to want to obey him any longer. Blackness took over his vision and his body went limp in Shinou's arms.

Shinou stood there for a moment. "You know, that last part applies to us as well." He remarked and turned around to face Murata, who stood at the end of the hall. The sage shifted so that his glasses reflected the light.

"Don't do it, Shinou. I know what you are thinking. There are other ways."

"None as easy as this."

"Stop. There needn't be another person in this world with power equal to Shibuya's and a mind that we cannot fully control."

"You worry too much"

"You are being selfish, Shinou." Warned Murata.

"AND YOU ARE NEVER SELFISH ENOUGH!" Cried Shinou. "Do you care for me or NOT? What is more precious to you, me or this world that I have built for you?" Murata did not answer. His heart was beating rapidly. Could it be from…excitement? He watched Shinou look carefully at the Bielefield boy.

"I promise that we will meet again, Daikenja."

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When Wolfram woke, it was to the noise of a busy city. He sat up in the carriage and looked out the small window. They were already on the road that would lead them to the castle. He must have been asleep for the entire ride.

They reached the castle grounds and pulled up to the front doors. At the top of the steps stood Yuuri, looking quite worn from standing in the baking sun in his black uniform. As Wolfram stepped out of the carriage, Yuuri descended the stairs. He noticed the dark circles under the king's eyes.

Yuuri pulled his fiancée into a fierce embrace.

"I was so worried about you, Wolfram. Fanbalen-san told us what happened and we were looking for you all night. We thought that something horrible might have happened to you." Yuuri let go of Wolfram and stepped back. Wolfram blushed and turned away so that Yuuri would not see.

"I can take care of myself, you know." He grumbled. Yuuri smiled faintly.

"I know." They stood there in the hot summer air for a moment without speaking, listening to the marching soldiers in the courtyard. Yuuri sighed. "Why don't we get out of the sun?" He began walking back up the steps. "You should probably go see Greta. She's been worried too." Yuuri stopped when he realized that Wolfram wasn't following him. He looked back. "Coming?"

Wolfram fell into step beside his king as they walked back into the castle together.

"Yuuri?"

"hm?"

"Let's get married."

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