Disclaimer: I have no rights over KKM. Comments, suggestions and constructive criticisms are welcomed.
Warning: Contains soft boy to boy love.
Chapter 2
After breakfast, Wolfram escorted Yuuri to Gunter's office. It was a task because Yuuri was still trying to get used to being blind, and he tripped a couple of times. But the blonde was quick to hold his king upright, muttering "wimp!" every time the double black boy lost his balance.
Gunter was already behind his desk when they arrived. He was surprised, however, to see his king. He didn't think the king would show up at his present state. But after seeing the look on the couple, especially the determination on Yuuri's, he stood up and smiled, reaching for a book from one of his shelves.
"Our lesson for today would be about your predecessors and what they have achieved in their time of reign."
Yuuri took his seat, smiling, Wolfram right next to him. "Please proceed, Gunter."
The discussion started with the previous Maou, the mother of his fiancé. Gunter discussed in full detail how Cheri lead Shin Makoku with her brother during the war. He retold the stories of their kings until they have traced back to Shinou, the Original King. But by the time they were still covering the eleventh Maou, he paused to look intently at his king. "Your Majesty might be exhausted from all these, perhaps we can end the lesson early today."
Yuuri didn't notice that he was just facing one direction, unmoving. It wasn't that much of a surprise that Gunter found him uninterested on the topic. But that wasn't the truth. "We still have time before I go to my office for the stack Gwendal has left for me to sign. Besides, I'm actually enjoying this lesson. Being blind has caused me to see your lesson quite vividly in my mind, like watching a movie." He felt Wolfram's hand on his shoulder and faced to the direction he imagined his fiancé would be. "I'm okay, Wolfram, really I am." Then he faced front again. "Please continue with the lesson, Gunter."
Tears formed at the corners of Gunter's eyes, and yet, he smiled warmly at his king. "Very well then, the eleventh Maou was also the…"
-------------
"That was a wonderful lesson, wasn't it, Wolfram?" Yuuri asked, holding onto his fiancé's hand for support, in case he tripped again.
Wolfram just grunted, unable to look at the other boy. It was hard because Yuuri is still enveloped in darkness. It's true that he likes it now, but what if he gets sick of it? What if he never gets to see the colorful world again?
They finally arrived in his office; Wolfram saw the small stack of papers on the desk. He grunted. Gwendal made it easy for Yuuri. The king wouldn't like that.
The blonde motioned Yuuri to the chair and let him face the desk. "How can you sign these if you can't see them?"
Yuuri didn't even hesitate in answering, "Just place my hand over the dotted line and I'll be okay." He smiled.
Wolfram reached for one document and did as the king instructed. However, Yuuri didn't immediately sign, "What's wrong?"
"Can you read it for me?"
"Gwendal wouldn't put them here if you still have to review them."
"I know that but it is still my responsibility to brief through any document that I will have my name on. It's just the ethical thing to do." He put down his pen and handed the paper to where he could hear Wolfram's voice. "Besides, I'd love to hear you speak in demon language."
Wolfram's neck turned pink and reached for the piece of paper. He then read the document in their language. Yuuri smiled at the sound of it, and the blonde's blush crept up to his face. He almost squeaked during the recitation.
Yuuri nodded after the document has been read and signed his name at the bottom. They had the same routine, document after document. There were instances, however, when Yuuri would ask what some words meant, since he has yet to master the language, and Wolfram would obligingly translate.
"Please read the next one, Wolfram."
The blonde looked at what they have accomplished, "That's all for today, Yuuri."
"I refuse to believe that; go ask for the other documents from Gwendal."
"He has taken over my duty in patrolling the borders."
Yuuri was unable to say anything to that. Suddenly smiling, he reached for Wolfram's hand, "Let's go to my next lesson with Conrad, then. But let's go to our room first to get Morgif."
-------------
"You still want to continue with the training, Your Majesty?" the half Mazoku asked, his signature smile upon his face.
"It's Yuuri, Conrad!" he smirked, but he knew his godfather was being polite. But he was the man who gave the name, why not use it?
"Very well, then. Draw your sword, Yuuri."
Yuuri obeyed, unsheathing his sword. Morgif's face distorted and moaned in the process; he was going to enjoy this training.
Conrad drew his sword and nodded to the blonde, who was standing behind their king. The blonde followed suit, and drew his own sword. The two brothers started circling around Yuuri, keeping a steady pace.
The older brother spoke. "Being blind is not an excuse for any soldier to not to fight during a battle. He still has his ears, his nose, his tongue and his skin. You must sharpen these senses."
Yuuri nodded, noting how the voice seems to be all around him.
"It's not going to be a simple task. It takes immense training. It especially takes discipline. You have to feel yourself one with the soil, the wind, the sun, the trees. They will aide you. It will be hard during battle because then you will here everything: sword against sword, sword against flesh. There will be screaming of victory, pain or frustration. You will here horses charging or coming down with their riders. You will feel fire, sweat. Smell it. Feel it. It crawls up on you, and holds you paralyzed. So you have to listen carefully, and move fast. In a battle however, you don't just fight, you defend yourself. You might have been impaired of your eyes, but you are still alive."
Yuuri shivered at some point during Conrad's retail of a life in battle. But he wants to learn. He is the king. He doesn't only rule, he defends and fights for his country, for his belief of this world.
"When you are ready, attack either me or Wolfram."
Yuuri prepared Morgif in an attacking position. He closed his eyes and listened to what the earth is telling him. He heard the sigh of the wind and the touch of the sun. A bird called from the east. He attacked, forcing his body forward, only to feel the air move around him. His fell on one knee, using Morgif as support. The sword groaned.
He breathed deeply, concentrating. His country needs him. His family here needs him. He needs this.
With a sudden surge of energy he lunged forward, hitting a body he knew was Wolfram's. The blonde fell on his buttocks, half stunned and half jovial that Yuuri achieved to hit him only on his second try. The king loomed over him, his eyes were still blank, but he was smiling.
Yuuri felt the flat of a blade on his shoulder, Conrad's voice near his ear. "Although my brothers and I have sworn upon Shinou that we'd protect you no matter what, I still advice you to not keep your guard down. Just because you were able to put one man down, doesn't mean there aren't any behind you. Enemies will always try to kill you, either out of duty or out of fear."
The king nodded and turned, slashing his sword against his godfather's. He smiled at the sound the contact produced. He stepped forward, slashing again and again; a beat he followed. He attacked from the top, to slash the sword back up. Conrad moved, effortlessly defending himself. He moved to confuse the direction Yuuri would have to strike next, but the king was quick to catch his direction. The king quickened two slashes, surprising the older man.
Conrad was not able to recover fast enough, Yuuri pushed him with his body. The older man smiled at the king's perseverance.
Yuuri reclaimed his footing, giving Conrad his back to block an attack from Wolfram. The blonde was again surprised. The wimp actually did it. Of course he didn't give that much force in the attack, but the fact that Yuuri faced him to block his attack, to actually know that he was behind…
The king was panting, but he was amazed even with himself. He decided to have Conrad train him in the same manner, every day. When he gets his sight back, he'll demand for a blindfold.
Conrad laughed. "I think that'll do for today. Good job."
Yuuri smiled, forgetting that he was facing Wolfram.
It was his smile. The blonde knew that it was this smile that made him fall deeper in love.
He blushed.