A/N:

Hello everyone! It's been awhile but I'm back with chapter 5 of this errant tale! Thank you to cool-girl027 whose review prodded me to finally wrap up this chapter (which has been sitting and lazing about in my computer for the past couple of months, just waiting for me to finish it!)!

Like I've said in my profile, my interest in KKM and other fandoms have dwindled to almost-zilch but I promise to complete this story, no matter how long it takes!

So hugs to all those who have stuck around despite my inactivity for the looooooooooongest time! *cookies* to you all!

Onward ho!

"Now where were we," Yuuri asked smoothly. "Ah yes, you were in the middle of asking me for a vacation or something of that sort were you not?" Leaning his chin negligently against the palm of his hand, he stared at the blond and waited.

Wolfram blinked and swallowed hard. There was something odd about Yuuri's passive countenance that sent alarm bells jangling violently in his head. He narrowed his eyes and studied the face before him and a sense of self-preservation warned him to tread very, very cautiously.

"Er, yes Yuuri, I just thought a change of pace and environment would do me some good." He ended lamely.

"Ok then." Yuuri replied levelly.

"Eh? I beg your pardon?" Wolfram asked in surprise.

"I said, 'ok then'," the double black enunciated carefully, his expression still unreadable.

"You mean… I can go?" the ex-prince inquired hesitantly.

"Yes." Yuuri repeated softly, a small smile played about the corners of his lips as he took in Wolfram's apparent confusion.

"Oh," he ended on a flat note. Wolfram almost let out a hysterical laugh but managed to keep his composure. Once again the stupid wimp had managed to bring his hopes up and like a fool, he had almost believed him.

Thank God for time and experience, both had dulled his feelings to the point that Yuuri's casual agreement to his leaving seemed apathetic at best.

Again, Yuuri was just being Yuuri. His actions so far were nothing more than the usual impulsive behavior of their king. Wolfram closed his eyes briefly and let out a weary sigh.

I really do need a vacation after all this crap, he thought moodily.

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of dark eyes watched each flicker of emotion that crossed his pale face. Yuuri ached to see the sadness and resignation etched into Wolfram's visage.

He vowed he would make things right, he would prove to the blond that he meant what he had said in the woods— that Wolfram belonged with him, in his life and in his arms— and nothing would stop him.

Not even…

"Yuuri Heika!" an angry voice bellowed before his office doors came crashing open.

Both Yuuri and Wolfram jumped in shock and surprise at the unexpected intrusion.

Grey eyes glared accusingly at the double black. "What do you think you're doing, Heika?" Gwendal ground out furiously.

Taken aback, all he could do was stare blankly and mutter, "Eh? What's wrong Gwendal?"

Gwendal stalked towards the heavy desk and glowered at the wide-eyed king. "Enough of this foolishness!" he thundered, both hands slapping the mahogany surface with a resounding crack.

"You lost the right to meddle with Wolfram's life when you ended your engagement!" the normally stoic earth-wielder bit out through clenched teeth.

Yuuri was stunned by the venom he could see in the older man's eyes and almost gave in to panic. However, a quick look at the frozen and ashen appearance of his former betrothed bolstered his faltering resolve. The double black took a deep breath and addressed his over-wrought general.

"Gwendal," he stated coolly. "Let's get one thing straight, shall we— I," Yuuri said, pointing at himself, "Did. Not. End. My. Engagement, as you so eloquently put it." Each word was enunciated carefully and precisely. "In fact," he continued in a smooth voice, "I would even go as far as to say that I'm the aggrieved party in this whole debacle—being the jilted fiancé and all."

Ah. And there it was. Yuuri was sure he heard a distinctive squeak of outrage and he smothered the grin that threatened to split his face from ear to ear. The wan-like wraith in front of him was quickly morphing back into his fiery beloved.

"You… wimp!" Wolfram bellowed. "Aggrieved party my ass, you miserable cretin!"

The Demon King winced at Wolfram's choice of words but stood his ground and faced his raging friend calmly. "Why so angry, Wolf? Can't handle the truth when you hear it?" He mocked coldly.

"You know damn well why I left!" The blond prince shouted angrily. "I did it for your sake, you stupid king! You never would have ended our sham of an engagement— you're too cowardly to do so!" Emerald eyes blazed brightly from an all-too pale face.

"Why couldn't you just leave things well alone? I did everything in my power to free you and keep you completely blameless in all this," his words ran like water in the wake of his growing anger.

"Damn it! Isn't it enough that you've ripped my heart and soul to shreds… must you trample on my pride too— when it's all I have left?"

Wolfram glared at Yuuri with hate-filled eyes. "I despise you!"

Yuuri's eyes widened, at the outburst, looking like he'd been sucker-punched. The situation was spinning rapidly out of control and he had to do something before they both did or said something completely irreparable.

See what you have done, you ignorant child. A sibilant voice hissed in his head. See how your childishness has reduced this beautiful and proud man into this twisted and broken thing.

"No… no… no…" He whispered in horror. "I never meant to hurt you… Wolf… I," Yuuri said helplessly, staring at the bent figure before him. The depth of grief and despair emanating from Wolfram's form caused his heart to clench painfully. He reached out for the fire-wielder…

Only to have his hand swatted away viciously.

"Don't touch me!" Wolfram said harshly through clenched teeth, as a sharp pain gripped his chest.

All the rage, desperation and hopelessness that Wolfram had kept bottled inside came gushing forth in debilitating waves. He was breathing heavily with the effort to control his inner demons, and the tingling feeling in his fingertips alerted him to the fact that he could very well lose control of his element should his temper slip any further.

Agitated and confused by how his planned "surprise" was swiftly spiraling into a nightmare, all Yuuri could do was reach out wordlessly to the blond shaking uncontrollably before him.

"Wolf I…" he began again, only to be cut to the quick by cold, dead eyes.

"Just don't Yuuri… Don't." Wolfram repeated tonelessly. He breathed heavily, taking in a lungful of cool air, letting it wash over him in a soothing motion.

"Aniue," he began addressing his elder brother first. "Yuuri is right. I," Wolfram placed great emphasis on the word 'I' and continued, "ended our engagement— not him, so you cannot hold him accountable for this. So please, enough with all this unnecessary drama."

Gwendal's face was still pinched in a frown so the princeling moved closer and gently traced the furrow between his brothers' brows. "I don't need to be protected. I'm perfectly capable of accepting the consequences of my actions."

"And you," he murmured quietly, finally turning his attention to the demon king. "Let's not drag this on any more than we have to. You're finally free from the farce you've been forced to endure all this time," he let out an inelegant snort, "the least you could do is be thankful and accept it graciously, wimp."

If possible, Yuuri's wide eyes widened even further with each word that fell from the blond prince's lips. No, he thought in growing horror. This is wrong, this is all wrong!

Wolfram steeled himself against the haunted pools of obsidian that seemed to be reproaching him. If he wavered now, all the hurt and anguish he intentionally set himself up for would all be for naught. Yuuri deserved to be happy… and so did he. It was time to cut his losses and move on. It was just like Yuuri to be hesitant and adamantly against change— why his stubborn and perverse nature chose to rear its ugly head now of all times was beyond him, the fire-wielder thought tiredly.

"Yuuri Heika, it was an honor to be your fiancé and it's a memory that I will always look back on fondly" he began formally. "But let's not forget that our engagement was born from an accident, and not from any real desire on your, or even my part to be married."

Wolfram eyed the dark-haired males in front of him impassively. A grimace was etched on one face, while pained confusion was painted on the next. Digging deep into his core, he went on, "To avoid any misunderstandings about my actions, and with General von Voltaire as my witness— I, Wolfram von Bielefeld formally dissolve my engagement to our esteemed Maou, Yuuri Shibuya." Wolfram stated solemnly, his mouth twisted in a small smile as he took in the shocked visages of his former fiancé and older brother as he ended his statement with a low bow.

A fiery knot was beginning to uncoil in the pit of his belly and he needed to escape the suddenly stuffy confines of the room before he completely broke down. Unmindful of the dazed stupor his words had left the other two occupants of the room in, Wolfram turned on his heel and started walking towards the heavy doors.

"Oh, and Heika," Wolfram said glancing at the double-black over his shoulder.

Yuuri started at the sound of his name.

"I'll be taking that vacation after all."

Wolfram quickly left the room, leaving the stunned males to stare dumbly at the closed doors… even after the sound of his retreating foot-steps faded into silence.