CHAPTER 3: Conferring with the Enemy

Author's Note: Yea, I'm impatient for reviews. So what?

Wolfram's Note: Why didn't anyone mention me? It's as if nobody enjoys reading about me. It's always Yuuri this, Yuuram that… and what in Shin Makoku is a Yuuram anyway?

Yuuri's Note: *blushes* Yuuram is the name given to *mumble mumble*

""We will not go to war so easily! I will hold a conference with their leader, and the ten nobles of Shin Makoku! We will solve this peacefully!"

Silence reigned in the castle.

"Yuuri, be reasonable!"

"Yuuri, see here!"

"Yuuri, you can't just-"

"Yuuri, please don't-"

"Yuuri!"

Clearly, they'd all found their voices and the long pocket of silence went out with a bang. Gwendal was chiding, Conradt and Yozak commanding, Gunter and Greta pleading. Only one voice was not raised against him. Wolfram still held on to Yuuri's hand, and now he spoke very softly.

"I agree with this wimp."

Immediately Yozak and Gunter began to protest, but Wolfram held out with hand to stop them.

"We cannot take these threats seriously. If we declare civil war, it will do nothing but scare the citizens and end many lives." He still spoke quietly, so that they all had to lean in to hear him. "What do you say, my king?"

Yuuri was stupefied. Finally, he said brightly, "Let's summon the leader of this—err, group—to Blood Pledge immediately! I have no doubt we can settle this peacefully!"

All those in the room nodded and began to leave. And as Conradt walked beside Yozak, the redhead muttered to his commander, "Besides, it's not like we can't just kill them here if things don't go our way. Right, commander?" And Conradt gave the smallest of nods, and grunted, "Hai."

The next day, Yuuri dressed in formal royal garb, and Wolfram helped him arrange his purple sash properly. The scepter he forgot where it was! But Wolf merely opened a drawer at the bottom of the bureau and pulled out the long golden rod.

"I took the liberty of going down to the treasure room and uncovering this for you, while you still slept." He shook his blonde head, and Yuuri's eyes glazed over for a second. He didn't catch the next three words Wolfram said.

"Yuuri! Hello? Wimp! Are you even listening to me?!?"

"Huh—yea! I'm listening."

"Good. What did I just ask you?"

"Ehhh… you got me there."

"I wanted to know if you were ready, you wimp!"

"Don't call me a wimp!"

Wolfram smirked; it was too golden an opportunity. As he turned for the door, swaying a little with each step, Yuuri shot out,

"Have you always walked like a girl, swinging your hips?" Now it was his turn to smirk. The Wolf turned red and turned his nose up.

"Come on, wimp!"

As they approached the round table, where the conference was to be held, Gwendal coached Yuuri on what to say. But Yuuri was only half-paying attention. Of course the negotiations were very important, but the light from the courtyard was reflecting off of Wolfram's hair…

"Yuuri, are you even listening to me?"

"What? Oh, gomenasai, Gwendal!"

"Hmph. As I said, we won't budge an inch. For their lives, they must hand over the weaponry they've stolen. If they don't wish to be banished or imprisoned, they must submit peacefully to our demands. Remember, Yuuri, you must— Yuuri!" For once again, Yuuri was distracted. This time, however, it wasn't the blonde von Bielefeld. A kitchen maid had run past them, carrying a basket of laundry and laughing as she went. Gwendal turned to reproach her, but Yuuri stopped him.

"She just reminded me what I'm fighting for today." And with this cryptic remark, he pushed open the doors to the throne room, and marched in with head held high.

Throughout the negotiations, Wolfram sat at Yuuri's right hand, while Conradt sat at his left. Beside Wolfram was Gwendal, and Yozak sat to Conradt's right. The rebel leader announced himself as the Black Sheep.

"What's this?" Yuuri asked, "Your mother named you Sheep?"

Black Sheep puffed up in indignation. "It is what my men call me! My real name is Daisaka Kume!"

"Oh, that's much better. My name is Shibuya Yuuri, and I've come to open up negotiations. Now, what is it you want of us?"

Daisaka Kume began a long list of riches, including Morgif and the boxes possessed by Shin Makoku, and when he'd finished after quite a while, and by the time he'd finished, Wolfram was gripping the table with white knuckles. His own sword had been named as part of the purchase price. Yuuri spoke in a calm voice.

"Why is it you want all these weapons? Weapons are not a gift in peace! One doesn't give a bomb for a birthday present!" No one laughed. Yuuri sighed. "I'm afraid I will have to decline every item on that list. I need Morgif, Wolfram needs his sword, as well as all the commanders you've listed, and the box is much too dangerous to let go of. Indeed, this is a definite no." He shook his head and paused for a moment. "Anything else you would like to ask?"

Black Sheep just smiled, his lip curling menacingly. "Just one question." He paused.

"And what is that, Daisaka Kume?"

"Do you know where your daughter is at this very moment?"

Yuuri was shaking on the inside as he answered confidently. "She is with my mother-in-law, the former Maou, and she is well-protected. Why do you ask?"

Again, that lip-curling smile. "It seems that is not true. Why don't you have one of your men go verify that?"

"Are you implying that you have kidnapped the Maou's daughter?" Gwendal growled. Yuuri almost felt sorry for Black Sheep, because Gwendal's hatred was one thing Yuuri ultimately feared. But this was no innocent bystander!

"Of course, we had to be assured of some—leverage—should things turn out badly." Now he turned away from Gwendal and spoke directly to Yuuri. "My dear Maou, it's not personal. It's only good business."

At this point, Yozak, who had stealthily slipped out of the room, came back in. He went immediately to Yuuri's side and whispered into his ear.

Yuuri sat back in his chair, and spoke hoarsely. "Conference will reconvene in two hours, after a slight break. Be here at ten o'clock, and do not leave the castle."

"Yes, my King." And the two rebel leaders left the room triumphantly.

"Greta, gone?"

"How could this happen?"

"How did they get to her?"

"Where did they take her?"

"What can we do?"

"Yuuri!"

Yuuri was far away. Finally, Wolfram gripped his hand. "We won't let them hurt her. We will hold a prisoner exchange; their lives for hers. We will get her back. Yuuri!" He whispered, but Yuuri took in every word. He gulped, and Wolf saw tears welling up in his black eyes. Conradt offered some advice. "Perhaps we should guarantee they do not leave, and send some spies after them, Heika?" Yuuri nodded his consent, and Conradt and Yozak left the room. Simultaneously, Gunter, Anissina, and Cherie-sama entered the room. Anissina was pulling Dorcas by the ear.

"Tell them what you saw!"

The soldier stood up straight as a rod and shouted nervously, "I was walking the horses around the gate when I heard a suspicious noise! Then I looked around the corner! Then I saw a suspicious carriage! Then—then I heard a child crying! Then I shouted, and the carriage drove away!"

Gwendal shouted at Dorcas, "Which way?? Which way did they go??"

"South, sir!"