Author's Note: Hiyah! Thanks to all who read my fanfic and those who reviewed it… Thank you also for those who put this story in their favorite story list and story alert… I'm sorry for the slow update but I'm apparently sick at the moment and I've been coughing every two minutes… But don't worry! I'll try to update as soon as possible! I'll be using POVs for the meantime but I'll be using the normal POV sometime as well… I think the characters are OOC in this chapter so please bear with me! Well… Hope you enjoy the chapter! Note… The italics are flashbacks but Yuuri's thoughts at the same time as well… The thoughts are only important things involving Wolfram… They came from different chapters so don't put them all together, it won't make sense and it'll just make you confused.

Chapter 7 Promise

Flashback

Yuuri's POV

I was listening to everything Conrad was instructing but it was still difficult to keep everything in my mind. It was weird at the beginning when I held the sword my godfather had lent to me. The blade was slim and long, it frightened me a little because I always thought of it as a weapon. By the looks of Conrad's face, he noticed that I wasn't comfortable with the object. He went closer and put his two hands on my shoulders and told me to imagine the blade as a baseball bat. I smiled at him because I did what he suggested and it made me feel a lot better. He smiled back and at the corner of my eye, I saw Wolfram glaring at me. I pretended that I didn't see him and continued to listen to Conrad. After a while of practicing, which was tiring, I was able to wield a sword. The only problem was if I could defend myself while attacking. I was absorbed in my thoughts when I heard a shriek from a female, it happened to be the principal.

I immediately ran to where she was and gasped on the sight I was seeing. Lying on Ms. Celi's lap was her youngest son unconscious, it made me panic. I couldn't describe the feeling that was present and I didn't understand why I was panicking. Of course Wolfram was a friend of mine, my best friend apparently, but I was panicking as if my girlfriend was going to die! I shook my head to bring back my senses and did the only thing I could think of, I carried the blonde boy in my arms and ran to the nurse's clinic. I knew it looked weird holding Wolfram in my arms as if he were my wife but it was more faster like this and besides, he wasn't that heavy. I was running like a maniac and yelled the head nurse's name, which was Julia, when I was getting closer to the clinic. She instantly ran outside and ordered me to place Wolfram on one of the beds. I followed her inside and placed my friend on a bed not far away. I was going to stay but Julia insisted that I went outside.

I exited the room and sat in one of the chairs nearby which was close to the clinic. I waited patiently for any news of the emerald eyed student but the nurse didn't come outside. I panicked, even in my mind I did! My world was shattering into pieces. I didn't know what to do! I prayed to Shinou that nothing serious would happen to Wolfram since he became a close friend even though we may argue. It's true I only met him early this morning but it feels like I knew him for years! I sighed and waited again until a tall blonde woman came running towards me, it was Ms. Celi. She sat down beside me to my right and looked at me with worried emerald eyes. I looked down with a sad expression, this made me feel guilty for some reason. She put her left hand on my shoulder and told me to calm down. I faced her so that I could apologize but she interrupted and shook her head telling me that there was no need to as if she could read my mind.

"There's no reason for you to apologize Yuuri" she told me. Her love and care resembled my mother's.

"I just…" I started but resisted since tears were dropping on my face.

"Yuuri… It would hurt him if you cried." she said pulling me closer into a hug, a motherly one.

I let the tears flow, I couldn't conceal them any longer. I admitted it, Wolfram was right, I was a wimp. I didn't know the reason why he fainted but I didn't care, he was in a bad state. When I carried him, he was burning hot and his face was all sweaty. I feared that it was all my fault this happened. I had hurt him earlier after Chemistry and I got caught up with my thoughts that I ignored him without even knowing it. I tightened my embrace which startled the principal but she still comforted me. It was weird. It felt like I was really in the arms of my mother. She released me after a few minutes and stared at me with eyes of a worried mother. I smiled at her before I tried to rub the tears away. I gazed at her afterwards and the image of Wolfram suddenly entered my mind. He was smiling and it was nice, it made me feel warm. I never saw him like that.

I was going to smile back but suddenly, the boy's expression changed. He was crying and it seemed that he was hurt inside. I frowned and tried to reach for him but he was walking away. I ran as fast as I could but I couldn't seem to move. Afraid of the sight I was seeing, I screamed Wolfram's name out loud. The sight of the crying boy disappeared when I heard his mother, who was currently shaking me, call my name. I removed her hands away from my shoulders and informed her I was alright. She smiled but raised one of her eyebrows afterwards and I knew why. I blushed and listened to her laugh, I hated it when I embarrassed myself in front of others. I wanted to laugh as well but I remembered the sight I saw in my mind earlier. I stood up and faced her seriously.

"I promise… I promise I won't hurt him. Not after this." I said now facing a smiling Ms. Celi.

End of Flashback

"I'm sorry." I stated calmly but with a straight tone as well.

"What?" he questioned. His tone was softer than the usual one.

"I'm sorry… For everything I've done for the past few hours… I'm sorry for calling you a burden and for ignoring you… And I'm very sorry for hurting you…" I knew everyone was staring at me but it didn't matter. I looked at Wolfram who appeared to be looking down and hiding his face, it worried me.

I was about to see if he was feeling alright but his body was suddenly shaking and he was… laughing?!

"What's so funny?!" I asked in an angry voice. I couldn't help it, I hate people laughing at me.

"Hennachoko!" he yelled, it was the Japanese term for wimp.

"Don't call me that! And why are you laughing?! I'm here saying sorry and you reply by laughing?!" I replied with a harsher tone.

"What's there to apologize? I'm not a wimp like you! Don't underestimate me for a weakling!" he answered. It was criticism but it made me smile, he was back to normal.

"What's the smile for?" he asked with one of his eyebrows raised.

"You're back to normal aren't you?" he turned away, arms crossed, but I could see him blush. It made me smile more.

"Okay you two… Lovey dovey time is over." I heard from Murata's cousin, it made Wolfram blush more and me as well.

"Why would you think I would fall for that wimp, Ms. Yokoshima?!" he asked formally, I didn't know he was like this when he was angry.

"Why not? Love has no boundaries and Shibuya did say that he would be your boyfriend if he wanted to." Murata explained which supported his cousin's theory and made us blush more.

"That's not the point!" he yelled looking the other way, arms still crossed. I saw Murata laugh while Elizabeth and Kaishina were giggling.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this reunion of ours but I believe it's time to head back." Rukisu explained, he was his normal self as usual.

"Come to think of it Mr. Sanaki is right, visiting hours are over." the light blue haired nurse stated, it made me frown.

"What? Is it really time to leave?" I said, it surprised everyone especially Wolfram.

After a long moment of silence I realized what I had just said. I actually told everyone out loud that I wanted to stay here with Wolfram! Well I didn't actually say that but it's the same thing. I tried to look as innocent as possible but there was no such luck to avoid the stares of the people around me. I backed away from the bed where the blonde was sitting on, still facing everyone, and headed towards the door. I was about to open the door with my right hand but the door opened by itself which made me fall on the floor. The fall had hurt but I was too curious about the person who was at the door. Still on the ground, I turned my head to see my best friend's mother staring at me. She reacted quickly and approached me to say she was sorry for the incident. I told her that the apology wasn't necessary while she helped me stand up.

"I overheard the words of the people in the room especially yours." she began saying, her emerald eyes staring into my black ones, she looked serious.

"I have thought about it thoroughly and…" she still stared at me and it appeared like she was serious. It made me nervous.

"I have decided to excuse you from Conrad's class and your next period! For the meantime you will be staying here with my youngest son and you are to take care of him. I will be responsible for your lunch and anything you need." she explained, it made Wolfram and I gasp.

"Mother! What are you thinking? Why are you entrusting this wimp to accompany me?! I can take care of myself and if I need anything, Julia is here with me!" her son reacted quickly, it startled me and it hurt a little.

"Wolfram… I know that you're old enough to take care of myself but you're fragile and I worry about you. Your brothers are worried as well and-" she continued but got interrupted.

"Mother! Please!" I heard Wolfram shout, he had a cold tone in his voice. I didn't know what he was upset about but I knew it definitely had to do something with his past.

The room was quiet after Wolfram's words. No one knew exactly the contents of the conversation meant but everyone knew it was none of their business. I knew Wolfram had a rough time in the past but whatever it was, I'll make him forget. Even though it wasn't the right time to be happy, I thought it would make things better if I said something.

"I'll gladly take care of your son, Ms. Celi." I said in my normal voice while looking at the blonde student before I faced the principal. I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing with me or not but I thought I saw Wolfram glaring at me.

"Really? Then I'm entrusting him to you!" she stated in her usual cheerful tone. It made me smile but I just wish her youngest son had the cheerful attitude as she did.

"Mother… I don't think I remember allowing this boy to assist me." her son, who had his arms crossed while glaring at his mother and I, interrupted.

"Wolf-" she was about to talk but I raised my hand signaling her that I would take care of this.

"Wolfram Von Bielefeld." I said in a formal voice.

"What?" he asked still glaring at me.

"If I don't remember… You had said yourself that as your best friend, I had a responsibility to stay by your side at all times." he suddenly had a shocked facial expression mixed with annoyance on his face. We both knew I had him good.

"Am I not right? Wolfram..?"

"… That is correct." he replied and looked the other way, I presumed he was still annoyed.

"Then it is automatically alright that I am to take care of you at the least." he was rolling his eyes, arms still crossed, was I annoying him that much?

"Do whatever you want!" he yelled glaring at me before he looked the other way.

"Then I will take care of Wolfram. Leave everything to me Ms. Celi." I stated with a smile.

Although I was only going to take care of her youngest son, she pulled me into a motherly hug and thanked me. When she let go, she gave one of her jolly smiles and went over to her son. The others stared at me and said their goodbyes. After her conversation with Wolfram, she escorted everyone back to the gym where my godfather, I guess, was worrying about me and if not, at least about his younger brother. The moment the door closed after they left, I felt nervous. I was alone with Wolfram, well almost that is. Julia, the head nurse, was still in the clinic. She was sitting down on a chair beside a desk that was near the door. I stared at Wolfram who was still looking the other way. I was still in the same place where I was standing earlier but I wasn't that far from the bed Wolfram was sitting in. I was going to speak when I heard the door open, and then closed. I turned around and the nurse was no where to be found, she had left.

I looked back at Wolfram who was startled when he heard the door. We were finally alone in the clinic and I could feel my heart beating slowly. I saw his cheeks change into a pinkish color but I ignored it for the meantime. I didn't know what I was feeling but I was surely confused about it. I thought about the situation I was in. Me… Wolfram… Alone… Was I nervous because I was in one room with him? Am I… In love with him? No! That can't be it! Wolfram was a boy! That couldn't possibly happen! I'm a guy and he is as well, it's not natural to be in love with the same gender! But… He was perfect! Those cute locks of blonde hair, his emerald green eyes, his slender figure and everything! Who couldn't fall in love with someone like that? Like Murata said, love has no boundaries. If I did love him, I wouldn't care if he was even my brother! But the question is… Do I love him?

Wolfram's POV

I was surprised when Julia left me and Yuuri alone in the room. Did she see through me again and notice that I had feelings for him? I gazed at Yuuri who was looking at me with those onyx black eyes of his, it made me blush. He was staring at me but he seemed to be in a different dimension at the moment. I was relieved he was in his thoughts but what exactly was he thinking at that time? I got suspicious on him and raised an eyebrow but he didn't notice. What the hell was he worrying about?! I got irritated because he said he was going to help me but here he is staring into space! I got off the bed and headed towards the mentally unconscious boy. I shook him but there was no response, something was bothering him. I tried yelling his name even insults but he didn't argue back. I began to feel annoyed again and twitched several times. This guy was getting on my nerves and I had reached my limit!

SLAP!

"Ouch! That hurts you know!" I heard him say and touch his swollen cheek. But for all I cared! It was his fault anyway for pissing me off in the first place!

"Shut up Hennachoko!" I yelled, I liked the Japanese term better than the English one. What was the difference anyway?

"What did I do this time?!" he shouted.

"Just get out and leave me alone!" I snarled. I didn't see his facial expression but I didn't care, he was irritating.

I headed for my bed and lied down. I pulled the blankets over my head to cover myself so he wouldn't disturb me further. I couldn't predict what he was doing but due to the footsteps coming my way, he was walking towards the bed I was lying in. The noises stopped after several seconds but I could hear him breathing above me and I knew he was staring at me. I felt him sit near my lying body which made me move away. I didn't want him falling and blaming me for it. At first, he was just sitting there but when I least expected it he grabbed the blankets and threw them aside. I was startled but I still faced the wall. I didn't want to see his face. It was quiet but I had a strange feeling something was going to happen. My hunch was correct as usual. He was attempting to put his hand on my shoulder but I got up in a sitting position and slapped his hand away before that happened. I didn't like being touched by others who weren't my family.

"Who do you think yo-" I was about to yell but seeing those sad black eyes of his stopped me.

"Do you despise my company that much?" he said in his normal voice but his locks of black hair were covering his face so I wasn't certain if he was alright.

"It's not that I de-"

Before I continued my statement, I got pulled into a tight embrace which I had no choice but to gladly receive. Even though we were only friends and had only met earlier this morning, he was an important person to me. But that didn't mean my suspicions for Yuuri was over. Yes, I admit… I was cautious towards him at the moment he stared at me. He wasn't himself just now at the clinic. He was acting like we were a couple for a while. Still… It had been a long time since I was being held in the arms of someone. It made me smile for some reason. I was resting my cheek on his shoulder while he was resting his head on mine. I never thought I could feel the warmth of another again. He ran his fingers through my blonde hair, it was pleasant. It made my troubles disappear. Somehow he made me feel better which was impossible for my family to do.

"Wolfram…" he said in a soft voice.

Before I could reply my drowsiness took the best of me, I was just too tired to speak. Various things were making me aggressive and certain people had troubled me lately so you couldn't really blame me. I tried to keep myself awake but nothing could be done, I had already fallen asleep at the moment I was about to open my lips.

Yuuri's POV

I called the blonde's name out loud again but he didn't answer. I removed my head from his' and looked at the boy resting on my shoulder, he was fast asleep. Well no one could blame him. He was troubled lately about his older brother and probably was haunted by something from his past. Whatever it was, I'll be right by his side and I'll always be here to comfort him. I did make a promise to his mother and I keep my words. I rested my head again on his' and ran my fingers through his locks of blonde hair. I closed my eyes and couldn't help but to think about everything that happened to me for the past few hours.

"Well… From now on, Yuuri Shibuya, you will be my best friend."

"Fine! I'll be your best friend and I can even be your boy friend ifyou want!" the over reactive lower classman yelled.

"Yeah! I mean two guys?! A couple?! Never will that happen especially between me and that blonde brat! If ever there would be a slight possibility that he and I could be mates, then I would never thi-"

"I'm sorry for being a 'bratty burden' to you then!" Wolfram angrily said to the wimpy boy now hurrying back to their classroom.

"Look if you hated me so much you could've just told me from the very beginning than treating me like trash." Their classroom's president explained now replacing his expression with a glare before leaving.

"Oh my… His temper worsens every time a guy he gets attracted to declines his love for him and says that they rather be in love with a girl than with the same gender." The emerald eyed woman explained.

"Time… In time you'll realize the truth." She said interrupting Yuuri by blocking his lips with her pointing finger.

"There's no reason for you to apologize Yuuri" she told me. Her love and care resembled my mother's.

"Yuuri… It would hurt him if you cried." she said pulling me closer into a hug, a motherly one.

"I promise… I promise I won't hurt him. Not after this." I said now facing a smiling Ms. Celi.

"I promise… I won't leave you alone." I said holding him tightly in my arms.

"Mmmm… Did you say something Yuuri?" he said rubbing his eyes, I had woken him up but he was still in my arms.

"…This is unexpected." I heard someone say from the door. I removed my head again and let go of Wolfram and looked at the person who had spoke, it was Ms. Celi.

"I was just going to get my purse but…"

"I never thought you were into this kind of relationship Shibuya!" Murata said.

"It's not what you think!" I shouted forgetting that Wolfram was next to me.

"Then explain to us what exactly this is." the boy sitting beside me said, apparently he was twitching with his arms crossed.

"No! That's not it! I do like you!" I replied without thinking.

"What?" he asked blushing.

"So you two are really a couple!" I heard Kaishina squeal as if she was a yaoi fan girl.

"No! Wait! Uhhhh… What was the question again?" I stated, it was stupid of me to say but was it my fault I panicked?!

I saw Wolfram stand up still twitching, I was one hundred percent sure he was angry at me. He was looking down and I couldn't see his face because of his locks of hair. The room was silent for awhile but I had a feeling it would change. He looked up and glared at me, I couldn't do anything but look right back at him. His eyebrows were twitching and his hands had changed into fists. If no one was in the room, I'd be dead by now! I stood up and tried to put my hands on his shoulders but he pushed them away and slapped me… Again…

"How dare you embarrass me?! Hennachoko!" he yelled, I frowned ignoring the pain of my cheek.

"But Wolf-"

"No buts!" he interrupted before I could explain.

I didn't know what to do at that very moment. I didn't want to hurt Wolfram but there were people in the room! How was I supposed to comfort him in front of his mother and our friends? I did make a promise but… Sigh… I guess there's nothing else to do. A promise is a promise and I have to keep my word even if it embarrasses me. What was there to be embarrassed of anyway? Well that's not the point! Right now I have duty to do and I know only one thing that would calm this hostile boy. Arms that held him tightly…

"Yuuri..?" he questioned when I embraced him.

A/N: slapping herself again and again gah! I can't think of anything to write! Was this chapter alright? I'm thinking of rewriting it but if you guys insist its fine, I'll write the next one instead… I'm sorry that there was a yuuram moment before the duel but I couldn't help it! And besides don't you think this could be a boost for the "I've never been humiliated in my entire life part'? I'm also sorry that this chapter ended as yuuram but I assure you that the duel will still commence! Anyway please review! I don't mind any criticisms since I don't blame you guys! I'm running out of ideas lately so I really need some help and inspiration…