A/N: im terribly sorry for the long wait. You see, when I realized that my greatest story was nearing its end, I got very depressed and stopped writing. Then, one night an idea for a sequel came to me! Now my spark is back. Also, see if you can guess where this song is from.
Chapter 19
.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
Yuuri stood upon the hill overlooking Big Shimaron's magnificent capital city. Behind him his undead army moaned and swayed on their feet. They were hungry. Hungry for human blood. But they couldn't have their meal just yet. Somewhere within this metropolis his Wolfram was hidden, perhaps against his will. Many times he had called out to his lover with his mind. There had been no answer. He needed his Wolfram. Together they had a mission. Together they had to unite the world under Mazoku control.
And so Yuuri would wait...
.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
Ralph sat on his horse. The sky was in the first phase of dawn and the sun had just risen beyond the hills. A look of worry remained drawn upon Ralph's pretty features as the man stared off into the trees.
To his right and left stood two guards. They had long since given up trying to soothe their ruler's unease. Instead they watched over their captive: the long lost heir to the Kaliope estate, Laurence Kaliope. He had turned traitor, dressed in the clothes of the enemy. None of them wanted anything to do with him. He would be returned to the castle to await his execution.
"What is taking them so long?" demanded Ralph impatiently, "They've been searching all night,"
"Your highness, we are doing everything we can to find your son, I assure you."
"Then get your asses in there as well!" ordered Ralph. "I'll watch the prisoner."
"Your highness-"
"NOW!" The two soldiers galloped off into the trees. Leaving Ralph and Laurence alone in the dark clearing.
For a while, nothing was said. It was too awkward. What was left for them to say? It had been so long and they had taken different paths.
"There not gonna find him." said Laurence, "He is with our leader. He has a roll to fulfill."
"And what could that possibly be?" snarled Ralph. "For god's sake, he's only a boy."
"You were his age when we were married," spoke Laurence softly. He approached Ralph, chains clinking around his ankles, and put a hand on the blond's thigh.
"It was arranged. It's not like I had a choice," Ralph huffed.
"No," agreed Laurence with a low chuckle, "But you liked me right? A little?" his hand slid up Ralph's thigh slowly, "Especially on our wedding night. You certainly liked me then."
Ralph's face turned a nice shade of pink and he pushed the offending hand away. "I'm the Prince Consort of this country and I will not allow such dirty things to be said to my face."
Ralph let out and indignant shriek as he was suddenly pulled off of his mount. The horse spooked and ran to a safe distance where it began to graze. Lawrence pinned Ralph's hands above his head and wedged himself between the blonde's legs. Ralph gave up fighting immediately. Tears welled in his eyes.
"I missed you so much," he whispered. Lawrence's chains clinked as he released his husband's hands. He stroked Ralph's cheek softly and wiped the tears from his face. He sighed.
"When I was traveling I met your cousin," began Lawrence. "Clueless and pregnant, he hadn't any idea how to survive on his own, but I took him under my wing."
"Why?" said Ralph.
"Because he reminded me so much of you," answered Lawrence, "And for a while I actually had hope that I would see you again," he chuckled and jingled his chains, "I didn't think I would have to die to see you though."
Ralph didn't say anything for a long time. He continued to stare at his husband. Finally, he whispered something incoherent.
"What?"
"Do it to me." Ralph commanded.
"Thought you'd never ask."
.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
Snow began to fall lightly from the grey sky that hung over Big Shimaron. The city was quiet. People hurried by in small groups, eager to find shelter from the frigid wind.
Two Mazoku walked briskly up the steps of the royal palace of the human king. Not many Mazoku would dare to make such a move, but these people were on the verge of desperation.
Suddenly one of the Mazoku stopped in his tracks. A shiver went through his body and his eyes went wide. The other Mazoku turned around.
"Wolfram..." he began. When Wolfram didn't respond, he shouted over the howling wind, "WOLFRAM!" Two eyes turned to him. One was green. One was red. They were sad and lonely; the eyes of a broken man.
"Murata...I cant..." began Wolfram, his breath was visible in the frozen air, "He..He...is calling for me. I can't ignore it any longer." He turned around, ready to start running, but Murata caught his hand.
"No Wolfram, you must endure. I will not allow you to succumb to the curse." Murata took out a necklace from his pocket. Hoseki stones served as its glittering beads. He held it up to Wolfram. "I didn't want to have to do this..." he lowered Wolfram's hood and placed the necklace around that pale neck. Immediately, Wolframs eyelids fluttered and he collapsed into Murata's arms. Murata carried Wolfram up the remaining steps.
"Halt!" shouted one of the guards. He and another guard crossed their spears, preventing the cloaked figures from taking another step. "State your name and business, stranger."
Murata lowered his hood, exposing himself to the icy gale. Black hair and black eyes greeted the unsuspecting soldiers. "My name is Murata Ken, Great Sage of the Mazoku Kingdom. I'm here seeking political asylum. Please allow me an audience with King Lanzhil. It is of the utmost importance."
.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
"So Great Sage of the Mazoku Kingdom, how does our food compare?" spoke Lanzhil after draining his glass of wine.
Murata set down his fork. He was slightly uncomfortable with dining with his enemy, but lifetimes of practice had taught him to remain calm.
"Spicy, as all human food is," replied Murata. Lanzhil laughed.
"Our lives are too short to go without some excitement," the king responded. "You still haven't told me what illness your friend is stricken with. Our healers may be able to help him if we only knew what it was."
"He'll be fine with some rest," spoke Murata untruthfully. He got the feeling that Lanzhil could sense that he was lying. He didn't care. He came for some answers. There was a long silence in which neither man spoke.
"Please, say what is on your mind. This atmosphere is beginning to get to me." said Lanzhil.
"Hmm..." pondered Murata. He hated to admit that he was a bit tipsy and the next words out of his mouth he was sure to regret in the morning. "Tell me, your highness, what reasons a country would have to incite a war."
Lanzhil stroked his chin for a moment as he thought over an answer. "Money, perhaps...power...land. Why don't you tell me, Great Sage, after all, this war was all your doing."
A cold silence followed. Murata narrowed his eyes. "And how could you possibly prove that?"
"I can prove it." came a voice. A woman stood in the doorway to the dining hall. She was beautiful, possibly the most beautiful human Murata had ever seen. However, instead of a dress she was clothed in armor; in the colors of Big Shimaron."
"Ah there you are. Sage, I'd like you to meet my chief strategist. Her name is Greta Shibuya." Lanzhil was smirking, perhaps hoping to see a reaction. Murata's voice remained chilly as he spoke.
"It's good to see you again, Princess."
"Dont," Greta snarled, "call me Princess. I no longer wish to be associated with the Mazoku Kingdom. Not after what King Yuuri has done, and especially not after what you have done."
"And what is it that I have done, Princess?"
Greta walked over to the table and slammed her fists down. A glass tipped. "You betrayed us all!" she cried, "It was a while before I finally understood everything, but I was there that night at the Kaliope estate. You were the one who hired STOPPE to do your bidding. You were the one to incite the war and send Wolfram to his disgrace. You used him. You used him to start your pathetic war. When the white crows stood in your way you used Wolfram again to kill them off. What I want to know is why? Why would you do such a thing to my family...to my country?"
Murata said nothing for a while. He watched the blood red wine spread slowly across the white tablecloth. "Do you want to know what lurks beyond the comfort and safety of these walls? Do you truly want to know?" said Murata in a low voice. "Something horrible. Something more terrifying than you could imagine. I did what I did to protect something precious to me. Selfish? Perhaps. I regret nothing."
"Just who is it that you were trying to protect?" asked Greta furiously.
"That would be me," someone's voice echoed from the hallway. There was a tapping of footsteps and soon another person was in the room. Murata's eyes slid up that slight body, pale skin and shining golden hair, and came to rest upon all-knowing blue eyes.
"No" whispered Murata.
"Yes" answered Shinou, "You thought you could shun me from the world. You thought you could keep me from fulfilling my duty. That is why you mobilized the humans: To fight the evil that was to come. Well I have news for you, my daikenja. My memories have been unlocked and it is time that I righted the mistakes that we have made."
"If I may ask," began Greta, "just what is your duty?"
"To end Yuuri's existence."
.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
Wolfram stared at his dark reflection in the hand mirror. A hand rose up to caress the cursed side of his face.
"Boku no Yuuri sagashiteteru
daiji no hana sagashiteru..."
There was a crash. The mirror had slipped from Wolfram's grasp and lay in sparkling shards upon the carpet.
"anata wa atari tashikameyo
daiji no hana sagashiteru."
Wolfram's weak voice echoed in the empty room. He tried once more, pulling with all his might at his hoseki collar, feeling the power of stones draining his energy. He rose like a ghost from the lavish bed and stumbled over to the window where the moonlight from the courtyard was spilling through.
He never dreamed he'd be in the castle of the human king as a guest. Always he envisioned himself in this castle as a conqueror; as a hero. How disappointing.
He needed to get out. It was only a matter of time before Lanzhil saw his face and recognized him as the whore who killed his father. It was only a matter of time before Murata's little peace plan was in shambles. And it was only a matter of time before the curse would cause Wolfram to slip into madness.
The room was hot. Wolfram had long since smothered the fire burning in the fireplace and yet the air remained thick and unbreathable. Why was it so hot? Wolfram attempted to pry open the door to the balcony but it had been sealed shut with magic. He sank to his knees and stared hopelessly through the glass at the frozen world outside.
"Come to me, love. I need you." Yuuri's voice whispered sensually in his ear. A blush soon burned on Wolfram's cheeks. He shook his head roughly, dispelling the illusion.
"I...can't," Wolfram whimpered.
There was suddenly a knock on the door. Wolfram stood up. Who could possibly be disturbing him at this time of night? Wolfram felt the hoseki barrier around the room lift and the door creaked open. A pair of blue eyes stared at Wolfram through the darkness.
"A lovely voice you have...and an even lovelier face. So why, might I ask, did you destroy that which could reflect your beauty?"
Wolfram slowly bent down and picked up a shard of the broken mirror. He pricked his finger on the sharp point.
"I'm afraid...at this point...there is more beauty in death," Wolfram responded quietly. There was a flurry of movement. As Wolfram aimed the point of his tool at his throat, the shard was suddenly knocked from his hand.
"Don't be foolish! Wolfram Von Bielefeld."
Wolfram's eyes widened when he finally looked upon his guest. He sunk into a deep bow, his forehead touching the floor.
"Shinou-heika...please forgive me,"
"Rise Wolfram, you shall bow in my presence no longer. You may at one point have been my subject, but now you are my blood." He knelt on the floor next to Wolfram and took his face in his hands. "You were the one to give birth to this body, you were the one to give me new life, and for that you shall be rewarded."
"Please...I want to see my son," whispered Wolfram.
Shinou fixed him with a contemplative stare and sighed, "It has been a long time...perhaps too long. Be prepared if the boy should reject you." His eyelids fluttered and Wolfram caught the small body before he could hit the floor. The majestic presence of the Original King was gone from the room. The young boy stirred in Wolfram's arms. His eyes opened slowly and cleared as he took in the appearance of the man cradling him.
"Where am I?" began the boy, "Who are you?"
Wolfram bit back a sob. He reached a hand out to stroke his son's face but the boy shrank away from him, frightened. Wolfram looked down and retracted his arm, hiding the ugly curse from view once again. He stepped back so that only his good side remained in the light.
"I'm sorry you had to see that,"Wolfram responded, his eyes shifting to the floor. "It is a shame that this is the "me" that my son will remember."
Shinou's eyes widened, "Are you him? My real father?"
Wolfram could only nod. Silence stretched for a long time after that as Shinou seemed unsure of what to think.
"I know how you must feel...abandoned, betrayed," Wolfram turned his back on his son so that he would not see the tears forming in his eyes, "While I was pregnant I grew so attached to you. I couldn't wait to finally see your face. Now...well, it's been years and we never got to be the family that I always dreamed about." Wolfram stopped when he felt a hand on his back. He slowly turned around. Shinou was looking at him with his bright blue eyes and a smile...a smile that reminded Wolfram of Yuuri.
"We still can," the boy said. Wolfram found it hard to keep looking at that face. He turned away again.
"Can't you see that it's too late, Shinou?" Wolfram responded harshly. His fingers dug into the cursed side of his face, nails breaking the skin and forming crimson gashes. "Can't you see that I'm...I'm..." Wolfram hesitated and closed his eyes, "dying?" the last word was spoken in a whisper as though the man had been afraid of admitting it all along.
"Then I'll find a way to save you," Shinou declared. His expression had hardened as he took Wolfram's hand. "But first you have to leave. I think they mean to kill you."
.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
Greta pulled her cantering horse to a halt. The troops behind her followed suit. Greta narrowed her eyes as she watched the outline of her father disappear into the nighttime snowfall.
"General?" one of the soldiers questioned, "Shall we pursue him?"
"No," Greta answered, "He is already a dead man."
.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
Yay! Next chap: Yuuri and Wolf reunited...again...for good...probably