A/N: God, will someone please just stop me from posting this rag? That's how I normally feel but this chapter actually turned out decent. After like two years without touching this fic, maybe I can actually make it into something readable.
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Chapter 7
Gwendal did not like people in his office.
It had always been this way, ever since he had started working in this room. He liked to think of it as his "private space" where he could have his peace and quiet, work efficiently, and, if he was lucky, get some knitting done. Unfortunately, his job required many visitors a day.
Gunter was first. He had drawn up the guest list for the royal wedding that would be taking place in a few weeks. It was…extensive. Gwendal wondered if there would even be enough room in the castle to house so many people. He found himself glad that he had put Gunter in charge of the whole wedding affair. It certainly seemed like a lot of hard work.
Yozak was next. He was leaving overseas for an assignment and came to complain to Gwendal that he didn't have sufficient funds. He left empty-handed. Gwendal, after all, wasn't known for his generosity.
Anissina came later with some monstrous contraption. Gwendal had his guards throw her out immediately. Honestly, why was it that he still kept a woman like her in the castle when she was a threat to humanity?
Gwendal's patience was already short when Wolfram entered the room.
"And?" demanded Gwendal. Wolfram, recognizing that his older brother was in a sour mood, stood up a little straighter.
"During my investigation of the northern providences, my unit and I found no new reports of suspicious people in black cloaks, nor any unregistered houryoku users. Even those in the human villages are unaware of this terrorist group."
"I see." Said Gwendal, deflating a bit. They had been trying to pick up the trail of the assassin sent to kill Fanbalen, but so far learned almost nothing. Gwendal looked back at his younger brother. His skin and uniform were dirty and he seemed exhausted and sore. Gwendal was almost sorry for what he was about to say.
"In two days you will leave and search for anyone with any connection to these "White Crows" in the cities west of Bielefield."
"Understood." Wolfram answered. Gwendal knew that he could have complained that he had already been sent on three consecutive missions. He could have argued that Yozak, or someone better trained in espionage take on this assignment. But Wolfram said nothing as he left the room. He was a soldier. They were at war.
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Gwendal was almost ready to retire to his knitting when his door was knocked on for the fifth time that day.
"Enter." He said. In stepped a young man wearing Wolfram's colors. Gwendal recognized him immediately. His name was Gordon and he was Wolfram's lieutenant. Gwendal sighed. "What do you want? Wolfram has already given his report."
"I wanted to talk to you about something else." His voice made Gwendal look up from the document that he was reading. Not many dared to use such a hostile tone with him.
"I'm listening." Replied Gwendal slowly.
"It's about my captain, Wolfram Von Bielefied. I think that it is time that you relieve him of active duty."
Gwendal blinked, wondering if he heard the man right. Was he that stupid? Did he really think that Gwendal would relegate his own brother?
"If you can submit sufficient evidence that he has in some way abused his power or compromised the missions, then your request may be considered." Gwendal replied almost lazily.
"You misunderstand me." The lieutenant said back. "The problem lies not with my captain, but with you and your complete disregard for his health."
"I am aware that your workload has been somewhat overwhelming lately but these things are important. Wolfram is strong. He can take it." Gwendal said. Gordon walked over to the desk and reached into his jacket. He pulled out a sheet of paper and slammed it down on Gwendal's desk.
"These are the signatures of the rest of Von Bielefied's special operations team. We all agree that continued field assignments may jeopardize the life of his unborn child." Now Gwendal was certain he must have heard wrong.
"What did you say?" Gwendal said, shocked. Gordon looked taken aback by Gwendal's expression.
"I-It became apparent ever since we first left the capital, Sir. We assumed that you knew." Gwendal was silent for a moment.
"Your grievance has been heard." Gwendal stated quietly.
"Thank you, Sir." The other man said and let himself out the door. When he was gone Gwendal stood up from his chair.
His knitting would have to wait.
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"Oh you two look so adorable!" Cheri exclaimed loudly as she stood back to admire their clothes. "I'll make sure that for your wedding you'll have the best clothes that money can buy." Yuuri let out a nervous laugh.
"Is that really necessary, Cheri-sama?" She didn't seem to be listening. She began hovering around Wolfram.
"This is a little tight on you, Wolfie. Perhaps they got the measurements wrong." Wolfram's silence made her pause. "What's wrong Wolf?" What's wrong? Such a simple question that always had a complicated answer.
"Nothing. The suit is beautiful, Mother." Wolfram stared at himself in the mirror. Not long ago he would have been proud to call the person reflected back himself, but now he could hardly recognize his features amidst the white ruffles. This was what he wanted, right? So then why did it feel so wrong?
Three heads turned when the noise of the door opening caught their attention. Gwendal entered the room with Conrad close behind him.
"We have to talk." He told Wolfram, fixing him with a piercing gaze. Wolfram averted his eyes.
"Now?" he muttered quietly, reluctant to give up his precious time with Yuuri. Gwendal's face was set in stone. There would be no argument.
"Mother, could you come with me for a moment? Your opinion is needed on something." Conrad said smoothly. Cheri looked sad, knowing she was being kicked out of an important conversation, but followed Conrad outside anyway.
Yuuri also began to walk away, assuming that this didn't pertain to him. Gwendal held out a hand to stop him.
"This has to do with you as well." Gwendal turned back to Wolfram. "So…" he began "Is there something that you would like to tell me?" His eyes were narrowed dangerously. Wolfram's heart sank. But Gwendal couldn't possibly know, could he?
"What are you talking about, Gwendal?"
"Don't play stupid." Gwendal said, almost disgusted. "You know what a sin it is to bed before marriage." The look of feigned innocence left Wolfram's face as his eyes darted nervously over to Yuuri.
"Aniue-"
"And now look what has occurred!" Gwendal continued, his voice rising. "To think I didn't have enough problems to deal with and now my younger brother has to go ahead and get himself pregnant." Wolfram felt the color rise to his face as he fought the increasing need to defend himself. Unfortunately, he knew that there was no stopping the approaching onslaught.
"It's not the end of the world." Wolfram said quietly, more to assure himself than anything else. Gwendal looked livid.
"As far you should be concerned, it may as well be!" Gwendal roared. "It might already be too late, but if this gets out, you can say goodbye ever showing your face in public again." He whirled around to face Yuuri.
"And you can say goodbye to foreign policy. Something like this is sure to damage your reputation, Your Majesty." Gwendal admonished vehemently. Yuuri blinked in surprise, not quite comprehending what was going on.
"How many months are you?" Gwendal demanded of Wolfram. Wolfram opened his mouth but no words came out. Gwendal took a hold of his shoulders. "Goddamnit Wolfram! Do you see why we had to have Mother leave the room? Imagine how disappointed she would be to know that her son ruined his life making the same stupid mistakes that she did!" Wolfram stared at the ground, trembling slightly, and willing the tears pricking at the edge of his vision to disappear.
"That's enough Gwendal." Came Yuuri's voice. He was angry. "I won't deny that you have every right to scold us, but I believe that you have taken it too far." He walked over to Wolfram and pulled him away from Gwendal.
"News like this, regardless of the situation, should be something to celebrate." Yuuri continued. "You can at least be happy for us and then get started on whatever you need to do to make sure that your family's reputation stays clean." A few moments of silence passed and then Gwendal sighed.
"The wedding will be moved up as soon as possible." He said and turned to walk out the room. "I'll tell Gunter to make the necessary changes and arrange to have the guests start arriving by the end of next week."
"Thank you, Gwendal." Yuuri replied, his face softening. The door shut and the room went quiet.
Wolfram stood there wrapped in Yuuri's arms, not daring to move for fear Yuuri would let go. A minute passed. Then two. Yuuri broke the silence.
"Wolfram." He said "I'm not very well informed about this kind of stuff, but I do know one thing." His black orbs flickered to the man he held gently. "You and I…have never had sex. Therefore, I don't see how this child could possibly be mine." Wolfram did not answer. His hands clung to Yuuri's jacket even tighter. He felt Yuuri's shoulders stiffen slightly. "Come with me, Wolfram. There is something I want to show you."
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It was evening and most of the castle had settled down for the night. Wolfram followed Yuuri down the hall and into the armory. From there he was led into a smaller chamber that he had never entered before.
"Why are we here?" Wolfram asked. Yuuri took out a key and began to unlock a large, metal case. Yuuri sighed.
"I just thought that since I now know the reason that you are marrying me, I would show you the reason that I am marrying you." The lock clicked and Yuuri opened the rusty door.
At first Wolfram recoiled because he thought he was looking at a corpse. Then he realized that he was looking at armor. A horrible, terrifying set of heavy mazoku armor. Black as midnight.
"Yuuri…"
"Do you like it? I had it made special. And once we are married, I will be wearing it into battle." Yuuri said darkly. Wolfram gasped.
"Why?" was all Wolfram could ask. Was Yuuri really saying this? No. The Yuuri that Wolfram knew hated war, hated fighting. It seemed impossible that a man like Yuuri would ever succumb to the demands of war; impossible that he would allow his innocent hands to be tainted by the blood of others for the mere goal of political domination. Perhaps he felt he had no choice but to turn himself into something evil in honor of a higher purpose. If that was the case, then they were both tainted now. There was no reversal, no cure.
"I had to grow up sometime, Wolfram. It was time for me to let go of my silly dreams." Yuuri clenched his fists at his sides. His voice shook. "And it's gonna save me a lot of pain too. All the pain and betrayal that comes with chasing after a foolish thing like peace." Yuuri gave one last sickened look at his wartime outfit before turning on his heel and walking out of the small chamber, leaving Wolfram all alone in the dark.
"What have I done?" whispered Wolfram.
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If think i should keep going, i would really appreciate a review. otherwise it might be another year before you see the next chap :)