[[A/N: Sorry guys, this fanfic was updated very slow. The plot bunny escaped me, and I had a hard time catching it back! Hope you enjoy this chapter!]]
Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Kyo Kara Maoh!
In the Royal Chamber. Night time…
A pair of eyes were still wide open. Yuuri couldn't sleep after the days event. His husband had already slept, clad in the usual pink nightie. But for him, he could not sleep yet. His mission is in constant danger! Lord Laran seems too determined, a fine young man he was indeed, but no, he can't let his daughter leave him! Never!
Already he had thought of potential partners in his mission. The candidates included Shinou, Murata, and Anissina. But quickly he saw the problem.
Shinou is a very mischievous king, but he doubted that he would want to obey Yuuri's orders. He would want to torture Laran all by himself, leaving Yuuri out. No, no. Shinou's out of the list.
Then there was Murata. Oh no, now he remembered. Murata is currently on his own mission. It was supposed to be a secret one, but the maids somehow found out about it! Being the gossipy fan girls, they just couldn't bare to keep the secret all to themselves. In one day, the news that His Eminence Ken Murata was dating the 800 year old priestess Ulrike had spread to the entire kingdom.
So that only leaves him with… Anissina, the Lady of Horrors. Yes, Anissina would be a great candidate! For a few minutes Yuuri smiled his usual goofy smile. Happy that for once Anissina could really help him with her in…(his brows furrowed)..ven…(eyes wide)..tions (gasp). [A/N: read in slow motion]
'Oh man'
Now he realizes that there's a slight problem to this. Anissina, in order to run her experiments needs magic. Gwendal and Günter is patrolling the borders for another 2 days, that means.. no supply of magic. What if, what if Anissina decides to take his magical energy?! Although getting rid of Laran is top priority, he couldn't risk his own life! What if he died? Then Laran and Greta would marry without him! Noooo!!! Anissina out of the list!
Then, who would be his partner? An answer to the question was a kick on the ribs from Wolfram.
'I forgot! There's still Wolfram!'
He couldn't sacrifice Wolfram's magic energy. But he could turn Wolfram into his partner!
A malicious smile spread across Yuuri's face, leaving no trace of the innocence Günter had always praised.
"Wolf, Wolf, hey, wake up" said Yuuri, while prodding his husband on the cheek.
"Huh?! What do you think you're doing wimp?!" growled Wolfram throwing a pillow to Yuuri's face. But Yuuri dodged it expertly, having practice dodging Wolframs 'attacks' for years now.
"Sorry, Wolf. Calm down, okay? There's something important that I need to tell you!"
Finally the fiery blond stopped throwing the pillows, his green orbs pasted to Yuuri.
"What's more important than having my sleep?!"
"Did you notice that Greta is getting further from us?"
"And what does that mean?!"
"I mean, she's spending so much time with her soon-to-be-fiancé. Don't you think?"
"What nonsense!"
"Then why did she refuse your offer to have a picnic on the garden a few days ago? And the time when you offered her to go shopping with you! And not to mention that time when you offered her to go on a trip to visit Beatrix, her best friend!"
"It was because she had to be with Laran!"
"That-is-exactly-what-I-meant! Laran is, is, stealing your daughter, our daughter!"
"No!"
"Yes! When they're officially engaged, we won't even have time to have 'family time'! No more shopping together, drinking tea together, and other stuff that we always do with her! She's always going to be with Laran, Wolf!"
Wolfram went pale. Now that Yuuri had mentioned it, Greta was avoiding her. No, no, this can't be!
"What are we going to do Yuuri?! Our daughter is going to leave us!"
"Leave it to me Wolf. Leave it to me…"
***
Second day of the task…
Laran was already prepared for the task that was going to come this morning, just like yesterday. He polished his sword, thinking that the second task will actually be something like saving Greta. How wrong he was.
A carrier pigeon entered the high windows, dropping the letter on Laran's lap.
Your second task will take place in the Blood Pledge Castle. Apparently, the rare bearbees has came back and needs assistance in making their way into their hibernation house. Make sure they safely arrive in the house, as they are also mine and Wolfram's children. So, that means they're Greta's siblings. One false move, and you'll break Greta's heart and..you wouldn't want to know what Wolfram and I would do.
King Yuuri Shibuya
The 27th Maoh
He thought the note ended on 'The 27th Maoh', but there was some more writing below it.
Added note by Lord Wolfram Von Bielefeld:
You have an added task to take bearbee excrement. It is a very precious thing, so you better take lots and lots of it before they enter their cocoon. Make sure to take a pair of gloves with you, and probably a mask or something. The excrement's smell is…pretty harsh.
Lord Wolfram Von Bielefeld
The Royal Consort
For a minute, Laran sat on his bed and goggled at his new tasks. Now there was no use of polishing his sword.
***
Third day of the task..
The aftermath of the second task was hideous. Taking care of the bearbees were not easy of course (their constant 'buzzing' was annoying him) but collecting 'excrement'?! Now that was another thing. He nearly fainted because of the smell, it was a miracle he could come out of the house alive. Another hour in the house, he would probably be dead.
But of course he didn't complain. He was a determined young man. And he will face any task his soon-to-be-in-laws throw at him!
He didn't think that yesterdays 'smell' torture would continue today though.
Your third task will take place in Lord Wolfram's leisure room. Come after breakfast, and make sure you be there in time. This task will be as simple as standing (Laran cast a curious look at this).
King Yuuri Shibuya
The 27th Maoh
And that was it. There was no 'additional' note, just the information on where the task would take place. Which was, very creepy.
In the leisure room…
"Tilt you're head a little Yuuri, yeah, like that, to the right. Yes, that's a good pose."
Wolfram was wearing his painting smock and artist red hat, giving his all to paint a beautiful picture of Yuuri and..Laran.
Yuuri was smiling broadly, holding (gripping actually) Laran's shoulder a little tighter than it should be. Laran was…trying very hard to maintain a smile while restraining himself to pinch his nose.
'What paint is Lord Wolfram using?!'
This was a very simple task, like it said in the note. As simple as standing! Yuuri was unaffected by the bearbee paint after years of practice being Wolfram's model. Knowing that Laran was a complete newbie and would probably faint or at least puke, they made Wolfram's hobby to paint into a task.
What they didn't count into their plans were the fact that Laran's will to marry Greta was far too big, he survived the task to the last stroke of Wolfram's paint brush.
This was not what the Royal Couple had expected. Time to plan the fourth task!
***
Fourth day of the task…
It was the already the fourth day of the task. Laran was getting impatient. As soon as the carrier pigeon dropped the letter, he read the note hurriedly.
Your fourth task is 'learning knitting with Lord Gwendal Von Voltaire'. You should be grateful, Lord Von Voltaire is a very busy man. And in his tight schedule he has time to teach you. (the dot was dotted so ferociously it tore a little hole on the note) This lesson is very important, because Greta loves cute plushies.
King Yuuri Shibuya
The 27th Maoh
Knitting? This time the task is learning to knit?! The King is mad!
Little did he know that the Royal Consort had played a very big part in convincing his brother, that Laran should knit. At the mention of Greta's happiness, the proud Lord Gwendal had no other complaints and agreed to teach Laran.
***
Fifth day of the task…
Laran thought that yesterdays task would at least be 'fun'. But what he found was Lord Gwendal told him to knit a 'huge' bearbee plushy. He had to repeat making the plushies if it wasn't big enough, there was a wrong stitch (even one, he did this twice), the nose was lopsided, etc. At the end of the task, Gwendal's office was littered with fifteen plushies, the biggest among them perched on Gwendal's desk.
While he was staring at his swollen fingers, the carrier pigeon once again came through the window, delivering the days task.
Your fifth task will take place on the baseball field of the Great Demon Kingdom. I am challenging you on a game of baseball. Be prepared for it. This sport is not for the faint hearted. Greta would not be watching. So don't get your hopes up high.
King Yuuri Shibuya
The 27th Maoh
The sentence 'Greta would not be watching', somehow depleted half of Laran's energy. After the first task, Greta was forbidden to meet Laran face to face, King Yuuri had said that it was part of the task. Still, it had been hard to stay away from Greta these past few days. His love was the only thing that kept him from breaking down.
With half of his energy and swollen hands, he took off for the baseball field.
'I wonder what sport baseball is? Does it involve dangerous creatures? Or I have to duel with His Majesty?...' and so on. These thoughts accompanied him until he came to the field, one very professional looking one just like on Earth.
Yuuri was already in the field with Wolfram. They were both sporting blue and white baseball uniforms, an exact copy of Yuuri's baseball uniform when he was at high school. Except that it said 'The Great Demon Kingdom' with the Maoh's emblem on it.
"Your Majesty, Lord Von Bielefeld," greeted Laran bowing deeply in respect.
"Okay, lets start! Go change with these first (at this, Yuuri shoved a pair of baseball uniform and helmet into Laran's hands) then come back here."
Laran, with a curious look towards the clothes and walked quietly to the changing room. After dressing and wearing his helmet (he found the clothes fit him perfectly) he walked back to the fields, finding Yuuri swinging a baseball bat. Of course to Laran's eyes, His Majesty was swinging an odd looking piece of wood.
"So, Laran, I'm going to explain the rules of this sport. I'm what you call the batter, and my task is to hit the balls that Wolfram throws me. And you, Laran, is the catcher. Catch every single ball that I hit, or you're off the game. I mean, you lose the chance to court Greta," explained Yuuri.
Wolfram was smirking beside him, a baseball in his hand.
"I'll certainly catch every ball Your Majesty."
"We'll see. Now here's your glove. Put it on your hand, and take you're position."
Obediently Laran took his position, not far from the Royal Couple.
"Here I go!" said Wolfram, throwing the ball to Yuuri so fast that Laran could only see a white blotch, hurling towards His Majesty and…WHAM! It was a homerun! Laran ran for dear life towards the ball and made a spectacular jump, the ball safely in his hand. Not long after that, he heard another WHAM! And another WHAM! And another, oh, another there…
So that was how the fifth task went. Making Laran run backwards, forwards, to the left, right, diagonally, zigzag, just to capture the ball that would decide his fate. The task lasted for two hours, and by the end of the task, Yuuri and Wolfram was so mad to Laran that didn't fail to capture even one ball. And Laran, with swollen hands and feet, was glad he still had the chance to court Greta.
In the Lab of the Lady of Horrors
"What a surprise Heika, Wolfram, for you both to be in my lab. What may I help you?" said Anissina, her blue eyes glinting which made Yuuri and Wolfram hold each other's hands tight.
"Err, do you happen to have an experiment that could, you know..err…" Yuuri tried to find the other words for 'kick Laran out of the castle and stop him from courting my daughter'. But Anissina got there first.
"Teach Laran a lesson Heika? I have the right experiment to do just the thing! Let me present you with 'Lets-see-how-determined-you-are-kun'! It is a simulated 'game' I copied, yes, I know what a 'game' is Heika (she said this after seeing Yuuri's surprised face) from the game that His Eminence gave me. The game's goal is to defeat enemies that harm the princess. Doesn't that suit the occasion Heika? I even made the princesses face just like Greta's! Plus, I have already stored magical energy in the device!"
This was more than Yuuri and Wolfram could ever ask for. Without a warning, the Royal Couple both hugged Anissina, glad that for once, she could actually help without sacrificing someone.
***
Sixth day of the task…
A flutter of wings, and a soft 'plop' of the note that once again fell on his lap. Laran opened the note, carefully reading the message.
Your sixth task is to finish the obstacles Lady Anissina has set up. Your goal is to rescue Greta (now there's some rescuing!) but of course it's not the real Greta (he sighed at this) just a hologram, which I'm sure you don't know a clue of what a 'hologram' is. Anyways, just get prepared and go down to the east of the castle grounds.
Oh yes, nearly forgot, make sure you bring your sword and luck. You need lots of them.
King Yuuri Shibuya
The 27th Maoh
And what a surprise did Laran find on the east castle grounds. A big maze was set up out of nowhere, in which the middle of the giganteous maze, a big tower erupted that had a small window on the top of the tower. There, his Greta was waving to him. But then he remembered that it wasn't Greta. What was it that His Majesty mentioned? A, a hloram? Hoglram? Oh, forget it, his task was to save Greta, and holdram or not, he will do it!
In Yuuri's office…
"Daddy Yuuri! Are you out of your mind?! Laran nearly got killed back there!" Greta was glaring daggers at Yuuri who was cowering on his chair. Then, Greta turned her attention to Wolfram who had cold sweat trickling down his forehead. They had never seen Greta this mad before.
"And of all the people Papa Wolfram, I thought it was you who would support me! But no, I was wrong! You played along with Daddy Yuuri's childish schemes!"
Greta's face was red as a crab, her hands flailing everywhere. Yuuri and Wolfram tried to find a way to stop their daughter from hating them for the rest of her life!
"You can choose what the last task is!" they said both in unison, eager to stop her glare at them so violently.
At this, she stared curiously to her parents, hand on hips. "Really? This isn't some kind of silly joke both of you are playing on me?"
"Now now, Greta! Trust us! Now what would you like to do?" said Yuuri, his hand hugging Wolfram on the middle.
"A picnic!"
"A, a picnic? That's not a task!" protested Wolfram.
"I thought I could choose what I wanted to do?" she said, once again glaring at the Royal Couple.
"Okay, okay. But what is the task actually?" asked Yuuri.
"The task is to make sure I'm safe by the time we get back. Laran is supposed to protect me, right? But this one does not include Lady Anissina's experiments!"
Secretly, both men thought that the fun of torturing Laran has vanished. Now they knew how Anissina feels when her test subjects disappear…
***
Although his hands were still bandaged, Laran was ecstatic that His Majesty let Greta have her way. After six awfully torturing tasks, he was now allowed to meet Greta.
The Royal Family plus Laran was enjoying (at least Greta and Laran did) the view of the flower field that were blooming. At first, Conrad, Günter, and even Gwendal wanted to accompany them. But Greta insisted that Laran and both her fathers were enough protection.
That was where she went wrong. The family did not notice twenty pair of eyes were spying on them through a couple of tress in a forest nearby.
"Well well, His Majesty did not even bring his personal bodyguards. This makes it even easier for us. On my command, three, two, one!"
Twenty men wearing masks to cover half of their face ran towards the surprised family. Wolfram, Yuuri, and Laran took out their swords, closing in on Greta. Half of them drived Wolfram and Yuuri away from Greta and Laran.
"Laran! Protect Greta!" yelled Yuuri, ducking a blow that was directed to his head. Wolfram came just in time to stab Yuuri's attacker.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Laran yelled back, trading blow after blow with the rest of the attackers.
The Royal Couple thought that their aim was to capture Yuuri, this was a mistake. Their goal is to capture the princess. Laran was left to fight ten men on his own, while shielding Greta. But it was too much for him and the twenty men had a plan under their sleeves. One of them threw a small ball which exploded, clouding Laran with black smoke. The mysterious men found their means to grab Greta and escape. Before they could get to the forest, a blinding blue light stopped them in midtrack, finding the Maoh staring coldly towards them. Greta was flailing violently, kicking and screaming to be let go by one of the men that had hauled her on his shoulder.
"Fools that dare to attack the Royal Family, you have gone too far by kidnapping the princess! I have no intention to bring death, but you all leave me with no choice! Justice be done!"
Greta was surrounded by the blue maryoku power of Yuuri, while her kidnappers tried to run away. But there was no way out once the Maoh has delivered his justice. Big water dragons hurled towards them and everyone of the kidnappers got hurled in the storm caused by the dragons, into the forest.
Greta was safe in Wolfram's arms, shaking from the ordeal, while Laran was a few feet away from the Maoh soaked but still clutching his sword. What came next was unexpected.
"And you. The man who dare asks for the hand of the Maoh's daughter but can not save her from amateur bandits. How dare you risk her life! You have not qualified and failed this task miserably. And for that, for that.." the Maoh's head hung down and when he stared back at Laran, it had turned into Yuuri's eyes, glaring coldly to Laran.
"JUSTICE BE DONE!"
[[A/N: Yes, I left the chapter like that. A very big cliffhanger don't you think? What's going to happen to Laran? And what about Greta and Wolfram's reaction to Yuuri's action? Find out next in the final chapter! And I apologize if the baseball terms are wrong. Just point out to me if anything is wrong or need a grammar fix, I'll change it!]]