Courted Dangers, part 4 by Vanessa S. Quest
Yuuri closed his eyes to concentrate, hoping he would be able to pull everything off after he had made such a production about it. He knew what Conrad was saying was for what he thought was in Yuuri's best interest, if anything it is in his best interest, but Yuuri also knew he'd never forgive himself for any of the soldiers that died while he did nothing.
That --was not an option.
He always assumed a good leader was someone who would be willing to sacrifice it all for those he served, besides, what good was a king without a kingdom? Yuuri opened his eyes, he felt ready to begin as Conrad's warm brown eyes were burning his image onto them.
"Conrad…?" Yuuri asked, uncertain of the feeling he saw reflecting in them. He realized that those were eyes of war, Conrad truly was developing a strategy. However, this was still a foreign view for Yuuri, as Conrad always seemed to know what he was doing, or at least roll with the tide. He was always trying to show Yuuri warmth, but this look… well, it was different.
"No matter what state things are in, if you feel too fatigued to go on, stop. Yuuri, I mean this."
Yuuri had heard from Gisela once how Julia had died. She used up all of her magical energy, sacrificing herself for the lives of those injured soldiers, soldiers that could have been Conrads and Yozaks, he knew how she had to have felt, but could he truly make that promise to Conrad?
"…" Yuuri's eyes turned serious, if he could hold off from using the Maoh's powers until absolutely necessary, he could lengthen his usefulness, but the question was whether that would be beneficial or wasteful.
He knew he'd try for himself, just surrendering over to his maoh self that he did not completely understand didn't seem right. He had to grow as a king, as a maoh into that maoh. That was the feeling Yuuri had. "I'll do my best, I hope that's enough."
Conrad seemed to take that as agreement to the terms as he led the surge from the treasure room toward the Southern wing.
The eerie silence was sickening. The sound was death and dying, Yuuri felt his own energies rising with adrenalin, as if trying to jump the gun and start healing everyone, but he knew that would not be effective. No, saving only a few was not enough. He needed to save them all, all of them, attackers included. They had reasons, they had families, sure he might not know what or who, but they had to exist!
Gwendel approached Conrad after spotting Gunter and Yuuri with him. He rubbed the brow of his nose, he knew this was coming, just in time to join his ever-growing eye twitch. "What are you doing? Get him to a safe area!"
"No." Yuuri's voice held a firmness that took Gwendel back, had the young man been glowing he'd have understood, but as it were, this was still the 'child' version of their maoh, most certainly not the all-powerful magic-wielder, no, this was a weak, stubborn, naïve child who held that tone.
Gwendel wondered if Yuuri somehow managed to grow more than he had caught on in his past few visits and absences from Shin Madoku, but recalling earlier, he just couldn't see it.
"We have a plan to drive them out. If we use the bone-tribe as well as a portion of our units, we can push them from the East and North into the Courtyard, Yozak will have Wolfram's units mobilize after they finish off anyone fooled by the ruse to then double back to the West Wing."
Gunter added, "I can have a set of our best magic-users line the towers and castle walls to act as snipers."
"And I'll press into the Courtyard, Conrad will be my guard." Yuuri added, with a fierce voice, relaying the command.
"And only Conrad?" Gwendel mentioned, slightly peevish that so much pressure would be put on his younger brother. Yuuri may not realize how many people it was, but they did. To lose both would be horrific, not as though losing only one would be better. "This is foolish. If this is the best you can do, go back to a safe--"
"I will do more than enough. Conrad will be my personal guard, the troops will surge to pinch in leaving more than enough man-power if it comes to that." Yuuri mumbled in more of his usual tone, "Heh, 'if' it comes to that… But I believe I can do it, I believe I can help. Don't you believe in me yet? Or is it only the maoh that you answer to…?"
"Your majesty, you are the maoh." Conrad said, putting his hand on Yuuri's shoulder, "That doesn't change how Gwendel feels for you, he doesn't want anything to happen to you, in any form you're in."
Gwendel looked at Conrad with short eyes, he could hardly just send Yuuri to certain death and Yuuri seemed most capable in that specific form, as the maoh. Therefore, if anything, he was more worried for Yuuri than he would have to be had the black-haired youth simply transformed. "I answer to the twenty-seventh maoh of Shin Madoku, Shibuya Yuuri, Your Majesty."
Yuuri smiled, "Thank you. Then we should get started while we still have the upper hand… if you can call this that."
After what seemed like a grueling eternity, the loyal Madoku army had been able to push the invaders away from the periphery and toward the courtyard after a mere thirty-seven minutes. The bone tribe had acted with phenomenal strength, far out-lasting the fading energy of the invading horde.
Yuuri stepped forward into the courtyard at the first sounds of elemental attacks. Whether it had been Gunter's men or the roaming sorcerer-assassin would have made little difference.
Concentrating, Yuuri set up a watery shield spiraling around quickly as a ring rose up to knee level, enhanced by a growing wind. Focusing his eyes on his hands, he envisioned capsules of water, throwing them at the fiery attacks the enemy users were slinging about.
It seemed to Conrad as though the soldiers were still confused as to whether this had been the maoh's work or 'Yuuri's' as some dared to start approaching. A part of Conrad understood how Yuuri wanted to stand on his own, but another part wondered if now was really the appropriate time and stage.
As he continually observed Yuuri and his enemies it dawned on him what Yuuri was really doing. He was weakening the near-exhausted soldiers with his lower-level powers, soon he would transform in a burst… and then after his collapse, they'd have to make their tactical advance.
Yuuri knew he was near his limits when his water shield only partially deflected an attack by the sorcerer, the wind attack managed to slide Yuuri toward the epicenter of their own counter-attack.
Eyes closed, he could hear his heartbeat, the drops of water falling to the ground, everything with clarity, even Conrad's frantic call, "YUURI!"
In that instance, his eyes opened with cat-like slits, the air around him glowing a fantastic blue as water itself decided to raise from the ground to dance for their maoh. Hands of mud stretched out from the dirt clutching at the soldiers' feet and ankles.
As the hands began to reach out further, forming thousands of arms, they reached higher, pulling down the legs of the intruders. Pelting them with rain, Yuuri addressed them.
"For you to come here, attacking when unprovoked, harming those that you have walked among and betraying their trust is simply unforgiveable. I normally do not like to spill blood but you leave me no choice! Justice, be done!"
Water dragons arose among the mud hands, spinning themselves around the bodies of the soldiers, pulling them all waste deep into the courtyard.
The sorcerer, using fire and metal-based magic threw a magma attack over the courtyard, allowing it to rain down.
The Maoh created a massive water umbrella, shielding the courtyard from the damage as the sorcerer leapt through aiming himself for Yuuri's throat.
Conrad sliced into the air as the sorcerer used an air attack to propel himself outward, his body just barely avoiding the blade, his cloak not so lucky. The maoh's cat-like eyes caught eyes with the sorcerer, his pupils turned to thin slivers as his power-level flickered then rose.
At that moment, Conrad knew what Yuuri was starting to do—he was going into his reserves. The brunette realized the gravity of the situation, the sorcerer was trying to do this… He was doing anything and everything to bring down the maoh, but he seemed to know far too much to be just anyone…
Then the maoh did something amazing, something Conrad had never seen before, and frankly would prefer never to see again, as it was rather horrific.
The sorcerer had extended his weapons from three separate places, simultaneously, to Conrad's horror, Conrad had managed to displace two, but the third moved at an angle even he could not reach to in time.
That was when he saw it… That was when he saw the thing penetrate through the Maoh's body, then reflect outward, straight back into the sorcerer.
The sorcerer dropped to the ground, unconscious. Immediately following, the Maoh, after transforming back into Yuuri's form, fell into Conrad's arms. Shocked beyond any words, Conrad scoured Yuuri's body for apparent wounds. After all—the attack went right through his side under his ribs, where his stomach would be.
Nothing. There wasn't a mark. Conrad was ecstatic that it was the case, but concerned as to how that was even possible.
Finally collecting enough of his senses, after ten seconds of sheer dread, Conrad scanned the area finding all the enemies incapacitated, but, as per Yuuri's norm, alive. He lifted Yuuri silently in his arms and proceeded toward the southern wing. He needed an explanation, now.
Gunter, as per his norm, came rushing down to gush compliments upon Yuuri the very second he was awake. Conrad captured Gunter's arm, wanting to know the bird's eye view of what that was. "Explain what to me, just happened on that last attack, Gunter."
Looking at Conrad, with a bit of confusion, replied, "What do you mean; his deflection? It was flawless, your majesty, it was an exquisite moment to be recorded forever into Shin Madoku history!"
"From the ground it appeared he was stabbed by the blade in the attack. You had a different vantage, I'll say this again, EXPLAIN."
"W… What!? No, of course he hadn't been. He used folded layers of water to reflect his image, none of the attack would have touched him, he was half a meter to the right from where they were aimed."
Conrad breathed in a sigh, "Is this the first time he's used that strategy, that technique that you've observed?"
"Ah, yes, from your angle you would never be able to tell… To my knowledge, yes, that was the first."
The brunette stole a page from Gwendel's book by rubbing his temples with an onset of a headache that was coming strong. "I'll take his majesty to my room, forgive me but I'll ask for you to have Yozak take lead of my men to assist with clean up while I tend to his majesty."
Conrad lifted Yuuri's light frame with both his arms and walked with a gentle pace back to his room.
He quickly laid Yuuri into his bed and dug out of his armoire a reserve blanket to set over the prone young man.
"Yuuri?" He asked softly, trying to coax the younger man to awaken.
Instead, his response was a muffled, "Nn." That was hardly the sign of consciousness he had hoped for. Although, Conrad decided he would eagerly accept any response that didn't sound of agonizing pain or a body weakened to the point of death as a very big plus.
He took Yuuri's left hand in both of his and wished he had the ability to heal as Yuuri did just by willing it.
He wondered if First Maoh Shinou was playing mind games with him when Yuuri stirred. No, his hand wasn't glowing, so that couldn't be it… Conrad deduced.
Yuuri's eyes flickered open and closed in a rapid succession before opening with full awareness to them, "Eh? Again, the room's different again!"
Conrad had to laugh at that, which had Yuuri whipping to face him at break-neck speed. "C…Conrad!" Yuuri blushed, but Conrad did not let go of the hand. How could he lose the only physical contact with Yuuri, the one that proved he was really there, really alive, really not dying, not run through…
"Please forgive me, but I can't make my hands open, they refuse to." Conrad locked his eyes with Yuuri's.
That warm, compassionate look was basked with sorrow, relief, and still something more Yuuri couldn't understand, it was a deep and complicated sensation he felt as it gently pressed into him, but he was just as guilty as Conrad, he wasn't able to turn his eyes from that longing look, nor was he able to pull away his left hand. He was merely only able to watch him reflect back from Conrad's eyes.
"Ah, I didn't go over my limit did I? I really tried not to… I mean it! Honest!"
Conrad cast his eyes downward towards Yuuri's shoulder then made a soft scoff before looking back at Yuuri relieved, the air seemed to lighten. "Of course not Yuuri, after all, you would never lie to me."
Yuuri blushed profusely, "Ah… um, ha… ha… ah…" He couldn't really think of what to say, he was totally disarmed and in a, albeit very comfortable, bizarre situation. He reflected inwardly about how happy this made him feel.
Conrad, with him, unharmed. Shin Madoku, safe even after all that happened. Wolfram, very far away, as was Greta, though the reasons to rejoice for that were slightly different. He was in CONRAD'S room, meaning hardly any unnecessary disruptions could possibly occur, and, while he often only admitted this to himself at night, on Earth, Conrad was his most favorite of all. He loves Conrad, and here he is, in this situation…
And is that look one of hunger? …It is, that's what it was! It was hunger… but for what? What was Conrad hungry for?
Yuuri looked back at Conrad's hands clasping his, "Conrad, may I ask… and you answer honestly no matter what, a personal question? I mean I understand if you don't want to but…"
"Of course, I would do anything for you, Yuuri."
"…Okay then, right…" Yuuri winced his eyes closed, this was incredibly awkward, he felt like all those 16 year old girls confessing to their upper-classmates their feelings for love. Yup, those girls who never gave him time of day, not like he really cared when there was Conrad. "Conrad, I… I was wondering, what is it that you desire? In your eyes, whenever I look into them, when we're talking I see this look of passion that I just can't place, and I was wondering… what that was. I mean, if it's too personal you don't have to answer it, I won't order you, but… that is… I just… want to know more about you, you're my favorite person… probably the reason I really kept coming back to Shin Madoku when everything was so hard."
Conrad looked down, "Ah, your majesty, I don't mean to sound impertinent, but that sounds like a love confession."
"SO WHAT IF IT DOES!" Yuuri blushed, "Er, I mean… I didn't mean to yell. I'm sorry… maybe we should just drop it? I don't want to offend you…"
"It's you. Whenever I speak with you, it's that passion you see." Conrad answered. Yuuri felt slightly gypped by that.
"What do you mean? You mean my reflection like if you talked to Gunter you'd see his, or if you look in the mirror yours? If you don't want to tell me what you want you don't have to… but don't just make up something… to lead me on about it."
"I think you've misunderstood, somewhere, Yuuri." Conrad released his left hand from gripping Yuuri's, instead using it to cup Yuuri's face before moving in to kiss Yuuri's full lips. "I mean what desire you see when you look in my eyes, what I desire more than anything is everything for and of you, Yuuri. I desire you." He pulled away, "You already know of course the complications that brings." He sighed and slid his back against the wall, his right hand still refusing to refute its hold to Yuuri.
Yuuri moved his right hand to cover his mouth, shocked. "…Really?"
"…"
"…You really… you mean you have feelings for me? You mean you think of me when you sleep and eat, that you feel lonely when I'm not around? Do you mean that?"
"Yes."
"…So you mean I'm not the only one who has been having the exact same feeling?" Yuuri touched his right hand to his chest, "…I… I think I might faint, Conrad." He took in a few deep breaths.
"Yuuri, please calm down and rest then, if you'd let me, I would like to watch over you as you slept in case you need anything."
Yuuri nodded his head three times in rapid succession, still trying to rein in his breathing.
Conrad watched as the pure, fragile Yuuri brought himself into an exhaustive sleep all the while wondering who that damnable sorcerer was, who he worked for, and his agenda. Even though he knew he didn't truly have the time to think about how to proceed with Yuuri and Wolfram's faux engagement, he couldn't say the thought didn't come to mind, nor did the thought of what Adelbert might say, or even Yuuri, someday, about whether this was for Julia or for Yuuri these feelings in his heart.
He knew, though. Julia was a ghost, a precious person, confidant and friend, and though those feelings of love might have developed given time, he hadn't been given that time. Even now, he knew he shouldn't have harbored those feelings, but even since the time of Yuuri's birth and the thoughts of having Julia back… Yuuri wasn't but was her, in his eyes though, it was no longer truly just Julia over-embossed Yuuri, nor was it really the other way around. Slowly, it had been Yuuri he had truly fallen in love with. That was where his heart rested, how was he going to explain this to his thick, stubborn little brother?
--To Be Continued-- by Vanessa S. Quest