A/N: Sorry for my long absence. Real life got in the way. It really sucks how it tends to do that, ne? If I could I would just live in my own fantasy world for the rest of my days. This time I want to ask a favor of all of my reviewers. If you could, please tell me…tell the world why you like this site. What do you like about it? Why is it a good thing to write fanfiction?

To my anons:

Papapapuffy- Don't count Ralph out just yet.

Kindness in a can- lol. I won't die. Not until I finish this fanfiction.

Silver- I can see the suspense is killing you. So many possibilities…

Emina- Yes I've really warped Yuuri's personality for this fic. Without a little angst and aggression, I can't really see Yuuri as seme.

Orangepink- glad that I was able to satisfy you. Sorry it took so long.

Arlensienta-21- lol. Unfortunately, my drawing skills aren't that great. That is why I'm stuck writing fanfiction

No Name- Something is wrong with all of us. Don't ever let them try to fix you.

Chapter 15

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Time stood still.

Moonlight crept into the window of the royal chambers. A disgruntled king sat upon its stone sill, pensive, black eyes drinking in the eerie blue light.

Wolfram watched the man from the bed, his green irises wide with unease. The sun was still hours away from rising and it seemed that neither man was willing to waste the remaining darkness in blissful slumber. There were too many thoughts, too many issues that created an invisible barrier of silence between them.

Wolfram sat up and let the silk sheets slide off his slim frame. He wanted nothing more than to ease his king's troubles, and yet he himself was the cause of them. The blonde prince crept slowly to the window and locked eyes with his husband.

"I can't stay with you," said Wolfram.

"We both knew that," responded Yuuri, "There are things…that must be done."

"Will you take care of my child? Love him as your own?"

Yuuri grunted and turned his eyes back out the window. Wolfram was unsure if that was a "yes" but Yuuri was his only option. Wolfram cautiously sat down next to his husband. He had a feeling Yuuri was hiding something from him but it wouldn't be right for him to ask. Not after retaining all of his own secrets.

Instead, Wolfram reached out and took hold of the collar of Yuuri's shirt. The king snarled and grabbed the thin wrist before it could reach his buttons.

"You want to see?" he asked darkly, "You really want to see, Wolfram?"

"I've already seen your ugliness," replied Wolfram, "Months of frustration and failures have ruined you, or rather, the man I once knew." Yuuri held his gaze for a moment, then slowly released his husband's bruised wrist. Wolfram's hands were steady as they unbuttoned and pulled back the black shirt. He winced after a few minutes of looking upon the repulsive discoloration.

"This is…a curse?" whispered Wolfram, his brow furrowing in concern, "Yuuri, it's all over your chest! You must see Ulrike right away! A curse like this can…can kill you…" he trailed off. Everything made sense now. This curse was the true enemy. It heightened all of Yuuri's negative emotions and smothered all his good ones. It explained Yuuri's abusiveness…his sudden bloodlust and desire for war.

Wolfram wanted to cry. Yuuri was hurt in many ways. History…was repeating.

"This is my problem, Wolfram. I can take care of it myself," the king answered shortly, after noticing Wolfram's expression. His black eyes, previously occupied observing the dark courtyard, had turned to Wolfram once again. They swept over his body, his legs, his arms. Wolfram would have been doing the same at this point, if not for the ivy like curse staining his beloved's skin. The prince crawled onto the window sill and into his husband's warm embrace. Outside, a bird began to chirp softly. A few minutes later, it was joined by its mate and their songs made perfect harmony.

"I promised to wake with the morning birds," Wolfram said quietly.

"They are owls," Yuuri replied with conviction, beginning to kiss the blonde's neck. Wolfram let out a sigh and disentangled himself. His clothes, lying in a heap on the floor, were ripped and bloody. They were ruined. When he looked up, he noticed Yuuri had gone into his closet and taken something out. They were black clothes. Ornate with fancy buttons and lace, complete with shoulder tassels. It was a traditional outfit for one wedded to the Maoh. Yuuri held them up with an expressionless gaze.

"Wear these. Tonight, and tonight only, you are my husband once again," said Yuuri. After a moment, Wolfram nodded, decidedly. He took the garments from Yuuri, his hands closing firmly on the expensive material. He dressed quickly and stood tall.

"I will clear my name," he announced, "When that day comes, I will return for good and take my rightful place beside you." Wolfram returned to the window and put one foot on the sill. He looked back at his beloved Yuuri. "Until then…take care of Shinou."

He leaped out the window before Yuuri could say anything. The king walked over, put his hands on the sill, and peered into the morning greyness. He saw nothing.

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

A dense fog hovered low to the ground as Wolfram ran silently through the courtyard. Most of the castle's occupants were still asleep, and Wolfram's goal was to make it out before he was noticed by anyone.

Murata's carriage was gone. He must have decided to leave the party early. He had said earlier that his only reason in coming was to drop off Wolfram…and get drunk, and perhaps get a glimpse of the baby while at the party.

The stables were unguarded, strangely enough, and Wolfram wondered if it would be a crime to steal one's own horse. He darted behind the hay bales and from there, into the barn. It was dark inside. Ao noticed him first and let out a snort. Wolfram shushed him and continued down the aisle.

"Hold it right there, ni-sama."

Through the darkness, Wolfram could make out a silhouette. His feet stopped. Ralph stood a few yards ahead, his back to Wolfram. He was shirtless and bandages covered his torso.

"Did you enjoy yourself last night?" the younger blonde continued in his mockingly smooth voice, "Tell me, did you suck his cock? Or did the two of you straight-out fuck."

Wolfram didn't take the bait. This morning, his concern was running deeper than his anger. "Ralph," began Wolfram slowly, "You shouldn't be out here, think of your injuries."

"Yes they were quite serious, I'm told. Poor Gisela spent all night on me. It makes me wonder why you didn't just finish the job," he answered maliciously. Wolfram took a step back. Perhaps he would leave on foot instead. He couldn't afford another royal scuffle.

"Ah, ah. Didn't I tell you not to move? You wouldn't want me to hurt him now would you?" Ralph finally turned around. In one arm, he held Shinou. In the other, he held a knife. Wolfram froze.

"You know," Ralph said calmly, "I've thought about this for a long time and I think I've finally discovered your secret,"

"Ralph, I-"

"His Majesty kicks you out, hires me in your place, and then, six months later, a baby shows up on the castle's doorstep. Suspicious, don't you think?" asked Ralph. Wolfram clamped his mouth shut as he stared at the knife pointed at his son.

"You were fucking someone else, weren't you?" Wolfram remained silent. "WEREN'T YOU?" Shinou, suddenly roused from his sleep, began to cry. The knife drew closer.

"NO! Please, Ralph! Don't do this!" Wolfram gasped, helpless, "He's only a baby!"

"So you do care about your little bastard, then." Ralph attempted to laugh, but it must have been too painful.

"You're right! You're right about everything," Wolfram admitted, "Now please put the knife away, you're scaring him."

Both of them stared at each other while Shinou cried in the background. Ralph had his answers. That was all he wanted. That was all he came for. He threw the knife away.

"You know something, cousin? You absolutely disgust me." He turned around and began rocking the baby back to sleep. "Take the fucking horse. You'll be back someday, I'm sure. Maybe then I'll have the skills needed to kill you," he paused for a moment. "And, out of the pure kindness of my heart, I will watch over this…er…thing. Only, only, because he is a Bielefeld, and Bielefelds need to be raised in the proper tradition…something you would know nothing about."

Wolfram didn't understand. Perhaps he couldn't believe what he had just heard. Ralph was…offering to raise Shinou in his absence? At least that was what Wolfram thought he was hearing. Ralph was tapping his foot impatiently now.

"Get going. I only want to see your ugly face for as long as I have to." Ralph said viciously. Wolfram shook himself out of his stupor and began to tack up his horse as quickly as possible. Once the bridle was on, he wasted no time swinging up into the saddle and with one last peak over his shoulder, rode swiftly out of the barn and galloped straight through the castle's mysteriously open gates.

A ways down the narrow forest road, Wolfram's horse balked and refused to move forward. There was a noise from within the brush. A chestnut horse appeared carrying a man in dressed all in black. He joined Wolfram on the main path, a smirk forming on his face.

"Have a fun night?" the Great Sage snickered, "Did Shibuya treat you well?"

Wolfram shrugged the man off and continued along the path, not questioning the sage's appearance. "So…where to?" Wolfram asked.

"The harbor," Murata answered, "There's a boat waiting for us there."

"To Big Shimaron?"

"Of course. We do have some crows to hunt, after all."

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

Ao stomped his hooves in anticipation. They were freshly shod; his coat was freshly brushed and the armor sat heavily on his body. He was an older horse. He knew the signs. It brought him back to his younger days.

He was going to battle.

"The troops are ready, Your Majesty," Conrad announced, "It is time to leave."

Yuuri nodded slowly and set his helmet on his head with a harsh shove. He eased Morgif into his sheath while staring at his majestic reflection in the mirror. He then turned to his most loyal subject. "Let us ride, Conrad."

Ao whinnied loudly upon seeing Yuuri. The gate stood open, ready for an army to set off. Suddenly, Yuuri felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned around and found himself buried within Cheri's generous bosom.

"Are you too much of a man now to say good-bye to your mother-in-law?" she whined, her eyes filling with tears.

"Perhaps," was Yuuri's answer. He extracted himself after a moment. Behind Cheri stood Ralph, a bundle of blankets in his arms. He seemed quite distraught and yet his Bielefeld pride still shone through while he held his chin high.

"And what of your husband?" the blonde asked. Yuuri stepped forward so that he could peek into the nest of blankets. Shinou was awake. His blue eyes were alert as he took in the outside world around him. He let out a squeal of delight when he noticed Yuuri. The king could not help but smile. In the few months that they had been together, he had grown very fond of the child who was not his own. Yuuri leaned down and placed a kiss on his son's nose. When he stood up again, he noticed Ralph wet his lips nervously.

"Kiss me," the blonde demanded.

Yuuri burst out into a fit of cruel laughter. "You wish." The boy looked heartbroken and Yuuri did not apologize. Instead he turned around and mounted his horse. They all stood, ready now…his soldiers and his family…waiting for their king's order.

Yuuri stared for a moment at Cheri, Ralph, and Shinou. They all had something in common. Wolfram's emotions, Wolfram's body, Wolfram's blood…

"But they are not Wolfram," the king reminded himself, "They are merely my perverse collection of things that are almost Wolfram."

Yuuri frowned. His spurs jammed into Ao's sides.

"MOVE OUT!"

.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.

A/N: Not much of a chapter, I suppose. Think of it more as a prelude into the second part of this story. Anyway remember to include in your review why you like fanfiction and yaoi.