Chapter IV

Two months later.

Murata Ken, recently appointed Yehak's manager, sits in a schnazzy new office sorting through the paperwork necessary for the organisation of "Yehak Live – Yehak in Concert!" – an eagerly awaited event for all Mazoku. All around him, a number of Maryoku Conveying Stuff Kuns (which are now nationwide in Shin Makoku, the citizens being constantly entertained by the "wonders" of the Yehak Channel) play infomercials for various Yehak Brand products such as the Yehak coin-sorter, amongst other pieces of inane merchandise. Presently, he rings a bell and his secretary enters the room.

"Hi babe!" he says with a cheesy businessman smile.

"My name is Miss Moneycoinoflittlevalue," the blonde woman replies with a stony face.

"That's a little hard to pronounce, I'll just call you "babe", unless you'd prefer "Sexy Queen"?" he says, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

She sighs and, ignoring his advances, continues: "What was it you wanted?"

"Oh…er…yes," Murata mumbles, adopting a business-like tone, "I wanted you to send this message by homing pigeon to the Yehak Orchestral Centre. We're adding Yehak's new song, "Conrad is All Around Me" to the bill for Yehak Live."

He hands her a sealed scroll.

"Well, if that's all, I'll be leaving then," Miss Moneycoinoflittlevalue replies nonchalantly.

She begins to walk towards the door.

"No! Don't leave!" Murata calls, "I…er…wanted to…show you something…"

She turns around and he points to a doll at the side of his desk, a perfect likeness of Yozak, except wearing his "Yehak" Zorro mask and a glittery purple disco suit and platforms.

"I have to show you the new Yehak Disco Doll. It's Maryoku powered and it plays three different songs: "Mysterious Conrad", "I Wanna Dance with Sir Weller" and "The Way Conrad Looks Tonight"," he says, turning on the doll, which begins to shimmy to exceedingly cheesy music.

Miss Moneycoinoflittlevalue sighs once more and says: "Look, Mr Murata or "Big Ken" as you told me to call you – these sexual advances you keep making are getting in the way of business. You call me in here ten times an hour to carry out inane errands and frankly, you're a nice young man, but I'm NOT INTERESTED!"

Murata attempts a pretence of shock, but fails badly. "Me coming on to you? Listen babe, you're the one who's been making the advances – you've wanted to land this playa ever since you started here…But who am I to disregard a lady's request? I'm willing to take this relationship further if you really want and you know you do! So, how about it? Come over here and sit on Big Ken's knee!"

"I'm leaving now," Miss Moneycoinoflittlevalue replies, turning once more to leave the room.

"No!" Murata cries, "You have to…er…bring me a new pen!"

"You have one right next to you," she replies.

Murata looks to his left and sees the pen, which he promptly throws out of the window.

"No I haven't – no pen here, shifty look, shifty look…"

"There's another pen in the top drawer of your desk – I'll be leaving now to have this message sent."

Murata sweeps his stationery and papers off his desk, leaps up onto it and lies with his head resting on his elbows in a swimwear model pose with his eyebrows raised suggestively.

"You know you want it!"

Miss Moneycoinoflittlevalue shakes her head and leaves the room without looking back.

"She'll be back," he says to himself.

He catches sight of his won reflection in the mirror across the room and gives himself a thumbs up, saying: "Score!"

Later that day.

Yozak enters the Maou's office to find Wolfram and Yuuri standing waiting for him, the latter looking very eager.

"You called for me?" Yozak asks, a note of despondence in his voice.

"Yes!" cries Yuuri, with an expectant look on his face.

Before he can say more, he is interrupted by Wolfram: "Yuuri I really don't think Yozak's interested in your suggestion. The concert's tonight and Yozak has to prepare for the speech he's going to make at the finale – if he actually says the words "I love you", Conrad might finally get the picture."

"No!" Yuuri continues, "This suggestion is too good to miss!"

"What is it?" Yozak asks.

"It's an idea for a new instrument for your line-up. Introducing the leg-xylophone!"

"What?"

Yozak looks suitably disconcerted as Yuuri pushes Wolfram into a nearby chair and produces Anissina's latest invention for the Yehak Campaign, The Maryoku Making Sound Louder Kun, which is basically a microphone but once again with some unnecessary sharp protrusions. He then sets the Kun down by Wolfram's knee and drums his fingers along Wolfram's thigh like beaters on a xylophone. A light tapping sound is heard from The Maryoku Making Sound Louder Kun. Wolfram shrugs at Yozak to show that he is equally bemused by his husband's behaviour.

"Er…that's great Yuuri, but the er…"leg-xylophone" doesn't really make any sound," Yozak says carefully.

Yuuri at once looks very hurt, saying "I thought it was a wonderful instrument,", clearly unaware of his lack of musical aptitude.

"Yuuri, Yozak's not saying he won't consider your instrument, he just has a lot on his mind right now," Wolfram says consolingly.

"Fine," Yuuri retorts, still sulking.

Wolfram sighs and rolls his eyes and continues: "Don't worry Yozak, I'm sure Conrad will get it this time. We'll be there for moral support too."

"Talking of the concert," Yuuri pipes up, forgetting his sulk and adopting an excited tone, "I've decided I like your matchy-matchy idea and got Gwendal to knit us both "I'M HIS" T-shirts to show our love!"

Yuuri produces two T-shirts from out of nowhere, with "I'M HIS" and arrows on them.

"Awww, you're so kawaii!" Wolfram replies, leaning over and Eskimo-kissing Yuuri.

Yozak looks pained.

Suddenly Conrad enters the room.

"Hi Yozak! Can I talk to you?" Conrad asks, looking slightly awkward.

"Yuuri, you…er…remember that thing we have to do?" Wolfram asks pointedly.

"What?" Yuuri asks, looking dazed.

Wolfram sighs and drags Yuuri out of the room by the wrist, calling behind him: "Yuuri has lots of paperwork to finish before the concert, which is in no way a lame cover-up to give you two time alone, shifty look, shifty look…"

The door closes and Conrad and Yozak are left alone. There is silence except for the sound of Günter, now a firm devotee of Yehak, singing "Knowing Me, Knowing Conrad" as he walks along the corridor.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Yozak asks.

"Yozak, I know those Yehak songs are about me and I know why. I've known all along, I just didn't want to acknowledge it. I know how you feel about me and I feel the same way. I've loved you for a long time Yozak…but I can't be with you. I'm not…over Julia…I have some things I have to deal with."

Conrad averts his eyes from Yozak. Both look pained.

"And I know, if I let myself get involved and it didn't work out, I could never forgive myself. I don't want to lose you," Conrad continues, close to tears.

"But…" Yozak says, but trails off when he fails to find words.

"No buts Yozak – no matter how much it hurts, we can't be together."

Conrad turns to leave, but quickly turns back again. He moves towards Yozak and kisses him quickly and passionately on the lips. He then breaks away and walks slowly out of the room, leaving Yozak looking distraught.

"Good luck with the concert. Goodbye…" Conrad calls as he leaves.

"I love you" Yozak says quietly, but just a little too late.