Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: I don't own this anime.

Conrad marched swiftly down the stone hallway, his steps echoing in the distance. Around him people parted quickly, recognizing his no-nonsense expression as serious business. Wherever the soldier was going it was of the most importance.

Taking a left down an unmarked corridor, Conrad stopped to salute the two guards standing stiffly at that entrance of his older brother's office. The two men quickly returned the gesture and stood at ease, letting him through. Conrad took a careful breath and tried to gather his racing thoughts as he rapped his knuckles against the harsh wood of the door. A moment later a gruff voice answered in return.

The young Halfling took this as his prompt and pushed the door open, entering the office.

The room was spacious, as were most of the rooms of Blood-pledge castle, but lacked overt decoration coming across as very Spartan in nature. The walls were lined with tall heavy bookshelves, all perfectly categorized and completely dust free, courtesy of the obsessive maids. There was a weathered conference table placed strategically in the middle room lined with maps and other official looking documents. This room was used for military business only and had seen more than enough of its share of cut-throat tactics over the years.

Gwendal himself was seated behind his desk crouched over what look like a rather tedious set of paperwork, more than likely caused by the King's new set of problems. Sunlight poured in behind him from a large window, cutting the military general into a rather imposing figure.

Conrad gulped as he nervously rearranged the statement in his slightly frantic mind, trying to find the easiest way to explain this normally stoic sibling.

Gwendal sighed as he put his quill on the on the desktop reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose. He could feel a migraine starting to roll behind his eyes. He had a feeling he wasn't going to be happy with his brother's news.

Conrad watched his elder brother carefully, noting that he seemed to have a few more wrinkles forming on his forehead. Unfortunately for Gwendal he was about to receive a few more.

"It seems we have a problem…" Conrad remarked sternly, he paused for a moment, "a problem with Wolfram".

Gwendal froze and calmly lifted his gaze. His eyes were hard. It had been a long while since he encountered that distinct tone from his younger brother.

"Explain" he stated.

A group of small earthquakes were reported later that day.

Wolfram felt as though he lost at sea, riding the waves of his desire. A shiver crawled done his back as Dark Yuri pressed him flush against the side of the tub. The phantom of the boy he loved buried his face in the warm skin of Wolfram's neck taking a deep breath, savoring the other's scent.

He inclined his head to look at the prince and gave him a lazy smile.

"You drive me crazy you know" he whispered trailing his eyes to a plump pair of lips.

Wolfram wasn't quite sure what to make of this. The wimp Yuri he could deal with, but this man was an entirely new experience. He placed a hand between their bodies' and tried to push the other away gently.

"Don't tease me" he panted "Yuri please… just don't"

Dark Yuri took the hand placed on his chest and brought it forward placing a kiss on Wolfram's outstretched palm. It was a brush of the lips, a gentle gesture that sent Wolfram's thoughts in to a dizzy spiral.

"Yuri"

The dark figure held the hand he kissed and marveled at the feel of it. It looked delicate, yet was rough with the calluses of a soldier. Wolfram was not a fragile man. He may have a waifish figure and a beautiful face, but aside from these misleading characteristics, everything else about him was strong. He had been through war, had seen his loved ones walk into battle and not return. This young man had already experienced what would have been an entire military career for a human on earth, and had the strength of body and mind to prove it.

Yuri, the boy that Wolfram was enamored with at any rate, knew this but could never could come to turn with it. He saw Wolfram as someone his own age, someone who was on his same level of experience and maturity. Subconsciously, however, he understood it was a lie, and this terrified him. Wolfram was the only person in this castle that didn't treat him like a naïve child that needed to be humored. He treated him like an equal, someone who could take the burn of his criticisms; Wolfram was someone who was honest with him all the way. He was never distant or cold with anything. He still retained a powerful magnanimity and openness even after everyone else was struck politely frigid.

It was terrifying to think someone could retain that level of strength, but it struck Yuri with awe.

Wolfram grew restless at the strange silence, his embarrassment painting his face red. He shifted his arm awkwardly and carefully extracted his hand from the loose grasp. Turning his head down, he glared into the sweltering waters around him.

Dark Yuri allowed this, watching the other intensely.

"You're amazing" he whispered quietly, firmly, startling Wolfram.

The Prince snapped his gaze forward meeting Dark Yuri's. His entire being bloomed with shock at the blunt admission, his racing thoughts jumbling together, as his mind came to a stop.

No one had ever told him he was amazing.

"Wha…"

Dark Yuri continued on.

"I could never tell you, but I should have…we should have" he uttered, shrugging in the direction of his lighter half. "You're fearless, you protect me, and you have so much more experience than I do, but not once have you ever treated me like I was anything less than myself". He stopped for a moment then sighed.

"Do you know what it's like having your existence forced away" he questioned, cupping Wolframs face. He marveled at the feel of smooth skin. "You mean so much to me on so many levels, it's scary, and I can't even express it to you. You make me feel brave and like a coward, and I have never grown more at ease with another person, but I fight with myself over you constantly". Dark Yuri brushed a tendril of blond hair away, twisting it behind the other boy's ear.

Wolfram frowned at this.

"That doesn't make any sense" he replied confusion winning the war against his other clashing emotions. "Why do you fight yourself?

The question hung in the air unanswered, until finally Dark Yuri shook his head.

"I don't know" he sighed "You have to ask the other one."

They watched each other for a moment and silence twined together with the steam settling over the couple.

Dark Yuri's voice tore through the haze like a hammer shattering glass.

"I can't take it anymore".

With that he lurched forward and sealed his mouth over Wolfram's in a searing kiss.

Wolfram gasped as his mouth was plundered, snarling as his teeth clinked painfully with Yuri's. He wanted to stop, wanted to throw the other boy off him, but this was Yuri. The boy he had dedicated himself too. After going so long ignored by him he couldn't force himself to give up this attention. So his protest died, burning away on his lips.

They kissed fervently then, pushing all their frustrations and feeling into the movement, smashing lip and tongue together in a clumsy display of abandon.

Wolfram groaned and pressed forward into the embrace. He wrapped his arms securely around the other tangling agile fingers into soft hair. Dark Yuri returned the contact holding the prince firmly at the hips bringing the other up to sit on the edge of the bath. He attacked his neck, moaning into the skin as Wolfram hooked his legs around him bringing them together flush.

Dark Yuri grunted at the contact and pushed Wolfram forward, trapping him against the warm stone floor as he climb from the bath.

He trailed a line of bites and kisses from the tender skin of his neck over his chest, marring the flesh with love bites. Taking the time to suck and nip at sensitive nipples.

Wolfram stared up at the top of the baths from his position. He held tightly to the black hair of Dark Yuri's head, arching into the sensation. The ceiling was obscured by the mist; he could only make out hazy shapes in the distance. It was like he was looking up from the sea floor, rolling with the weightlessness of the tides, and crashing against his subconscious. Whatever control he had he relinquished. He didn't care anymore the water could take him.

Dark Yuri crawled back to stare into delirious green eyes. He groaned at each breathless whimper that flowed between them.

"Wolf-"

Before he could comprehend what was happening, he was forcefully pulled away.

"EUREAKA!"

A group of frazzled maids froze mid-step as a frantically sobbing Gunter came rushing past. His hair was a tangled mess, and he smelt faintly of burnt flesh.

Anissina calmly strolled after the frantic man, grinning ear-to-ear as she accosted the small group of women. The confused maids simply nodded in return, as the inventor moved past them walking with purpose in the general direction of Lord Gwendal's head-corridors.

After exchanging looks between each other the women quickly rushed forward, following Anissina.

If this wasn't an insentient for gossip, then nothing was.

Said Lord was still fuming at his desk when he was once again rudely interrupted, glaring as Anissina practically kicked the door open.

"Must you always be so loud" he snarled.

Anissina simply flicked an eyebrow at the harsh welcome.

"Glad to see you in such a good mood" she quipped, then without a second lost her tone changed to that of the same maniacal excitement she got whenever she made some type of progress.

"I've got wonderful news Gwendal" she exclaimed "my scientific experimentation has finally yielded the answers to all of our pressing questions involving Hekia!"

She paused for a dramatic second allowing the other occupants of the room to bask in her glory. There was a muffled applause from behind the heavy chamber door, coming from the hands of a gaggle of nosy maids.

Gwendal could care less for theatrics all he wanted was a tall drink and this nightmare to be over with. He swore he could feel his forehead wrinkling in anticipation or was that stress? He really couldn't tell the difference anymore.

Deciding her eager fans had enough waiting she calmly produced a chart from what seemed like a rip in the space time continuum. Holding it up, she smiled down benevolently at Gwendal not unlike a teacher with a group of young children grabbing at her skirts.

"As you can obviously see from this chart"

Gwendal could not make heads or tails of that chart.

"Based on my calculations"

Frankly it looked like a cake recipe, or maybe even the last bill summarizing Wolfram's combined damages to the surrounding castle.

"If you take a look at figure A3"

No, Gwendal decided he would not look at figure A3.

"So in conclusion, it is impossible for science to put Yuri Heika back together"

Gwendal slammed his head onto his desk, and decided that a power much higher than him hated him.

Speaking of higher power…

Shindo materialized with little fanfare into his old Military tactics room, startling Anissina and causing Gwendal to once again slam his head onto his desk. A moment later a frazzled mage flew into the room glaring at his longtime friend.

"You could have waited?" he snapped, readjusting his glasses.

The old king paid him little attention flipping his blond hair back behind his shoulder, a trait that was eerily familiar to anyone who knew Wolfram.

"Time is of the essences my friend"

He gave the other an amused smirk and then turned to lazily consider the occupants of this room. Anissina had recovered quickly from the shock and was looking at the ancient king with an expression of reserved shock.

Shindo was fairly certain the maids were fighting over the coveted keyhole position if the muffled sounds of protest were any indication.

Gwendal was…well Gwendal had just given up on trying to seem dignified on any level and had been resolved to just sitting with his head down.

No thought was spared for poor Gunter.

And of course there was his beloved mage who simply looked pissed and ruffled. Shindo may have found it somewhat attractive if he didn't have more pressing matters on his hands.

"So…" he began, "I may have the answer to all of our questions"

This got everyone's attention and a feeling of relief slowly began to trickle into the hearts of all involved.

"It seems our Inventor is correct in her hypothesis, there is no way any outside force can reconstruct Yuri Hekia's psyche"

Then, just like a wayward dragon, everyone's hopes came crashing through the castle roof.

Predictably the ever weary Gwendal was the first to voice his protest.

"For the sake of all the highest Gods, is there nothing we can do?" He slammed his fist into the hard wood of his desk and seemed to make the room rattle with his frustration.

Shindo was not fazed by this display knowing the act was one of emotional exhaustion not true rage, besides the other would be foolish to challenge him, even in this ghostly form he was not to be trifled with.

"This is a matter that Yuri Heika must face alone. There is nothing we can do outside of allowing the two halves time to reconcile whatever differences are keeping them apart. Our little King has more than enough power to repair his broken mentality. It's simply a matter of getting the two sides to finally feel the need to rejoin with the other, and for that to happen they must be in agreement."

Gwendal sighed and slumped against the tall back of his chair rubbing his temples.

"Is there truly nothing we can do?"

Murata was the one answer finding his voice as his quick mind processed the news.

"The only thing we can do now is explain the change of events to the two Heikas and Wolfram, and of course keep them out of trouble. Conrad should be notified immediately, we are going to need as much damage control as possible. There is no doubt the news will have moved around the castle before we are given a chance to try and retain it, the staff will have made sure of that. Stranger things have happened to the monarchy and there is no reason to act as though this is permanent or any less problematic than half of the conflicts our beloved king gets into."

There was a strange feeling in the room as the mage's words rang in the weary thoughts of all. The realization finally seemed to sink in that there really was nothing to be done but trust Yuri to get himself back together. This event was entirely in the young man's clumsy hands and a rising feeling of dread over took the entire conversation.

Shindo only shrugged.

Lord Capra smirked as he reconsidered the turn of event. One king embroiled in internal breakdown meant one exposed and emotionally exploitable fiancé. It wouldn't take much to get Wolfram to turn away from his beloved if he said the right words and provided hi services when it got to be just two much.

Besides who was Capra to break from tradition? Wasn't that how this entire festival business got started, his horny relative rolling into the bed of the first pretty woman he could get his hands on. Well he was no different aside from sleeping with men that is. He was a man of refined taste and Wolfram was just the perfect glass of wine to sample.

Besides you can't pick a flower any higher on the branch then the Kings consort. Maybe he could even get the other man to drop his squeaky clean love and go for someone who could really set his blood on fire.

If the boy was anything like his gorgeous mother he had to be insatiable and it was common knowledge that the boy-king was too impotent to lay a finger on that perfect body.

Capra, however, was young and ready and knew how to take the opportunities of life when they presented themselves.

All it took now was a little forceful persuasion.

Dark Yuri hit the floor with a thud and Light Yuri didn't hesitate to cock his fist forward with all the strength baseball would allow him.

There was a fierce crack as knuckles connected with jaw and then all hell broke loose.

There was a lot of shouting as both boys went tumbling into the steaming water limbs flailing and curses ringing as they exchanged blows with abandon.

The blush on Wolfram's face gave way to shock then concern as he quickly rushed over to break the rather vicious fight.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO" he thundered trying desperately to push his thin body between the clashing monarchs.

The two simply continued to try reaching forward but dropped down to verbal sparring as their physical blows became impossible.

"You perverted bastard!" Light Yuri screeched looking ready to start clawing at his other half. If Wolfram wasn't standing between him and his darker half he would have no problem breaking the other's nose.

"What the hell are you talking about?" the other returned taking a threating step forward.

Wolfram was having none of this and with a swift motion grabbed both of them by the ear and made his way to edge of the tub releasing them as he stepped out of the water, standing before them with the shameless nudity of a vengeful fire god.

"I don't care why you are fighting anymore" he sneered ignoring their gapping expressions "but you are never going to do so in my presence ever again." The glare Wolfram gifted them could have broken skulls.

"I could deal with your bickering, but I refuse to be caught in the middle of this emotional warfare! I'm your fiancé not your babysitter Yuri and this is simply too much to handle." Wolfram turned and began drying and dressing himself grumbling under his breath as he pulled on his boots.

Light Yuri seemed offended "But he was-"

The blond prince silenced the other with a look.

"I know very well what he was doing" he snapped, running his fingers through his hair. "I know more about what he was doing then I'm sure he knew what he was doing"

"Hey…"

"SHUT-UP"

Finally, he placed his sword at the proper position on his side then walked to the bath door.

"Where are you going" Dark Yuri cried looking for the entire world like a child lost in a crowd.

Wolfram sent the other a look that could have been described as desperate then sighed in resignation.

"I'm going to see if there has been any progress from Anissina" he answered and then turned around and looked at the fractured pieces of his king.

"You two need to decide together what relationship you want to have with me, because I will not be fought over like a toy."

Then without another word he left the room with the loud thud of the door.

I haven't updated in two years and I leave you with this…my God I'm ashamed of myself. A lot has happened since I picked this story back up. My Nephew was born, I'm in college now and I've jumped around tons of different fandoms. I know better than too make any more promises about this story, but I will be damned if I don't finish it before the world ends. Please give me some real feedback, besides basic grammar because frankly I think the tone of this piece has jumped miles compared to other works I've done. If you are still following this story…you might be insane or my potential wife. Nice seeing you all again.