The next morning -after Gunter had spent hours apologising and swooning over the new King- Gunter confronted Conrart in order to hear his report. He had been surprised by the fact the new King hadn't flinched when he had addressed him by his new tittle; Conrart had commented on how the new King was likely to behave and a general view on the land he grew up in before they had left to retrieve the King.
Finally spotting Conrart tending to organising the supplies, Gunter confronted him.
"Did you encounter any problems during your mission Conrart?"
"Von Grantz was there when I arrived." Admitted Conrart to his old instructor, amusement twinkled in those cinnamon eyes as he gazed at Yuri across the compound talking to one of his men with quiet pride. His platoon was made up of mostly half-breeds and humans, so he knew his men were very nervous about what the new Kings temperament would be like. "However, his Highness made it clear he did not wish for his company."
"How so?" inquired Gunter, before his head tilted in curiosity. As another question occurred to him, "It just occurred to me, why is he speaking the language of our part of the world?"
"From what I saw coming over the hill, he punched him quite hard." Conrart sighed as his amusement faded, rubbing a hand back through his hair after a moment, looking thoughtful. "As for the language barrier I can't be sure, but I think Von Grantz awakened the knowledge of a previous incarnation of his Majesty 's soul." The Temple Maiden had warned him it may be required considering the political climate with the humans right now. Conrart chuckled as he remembered something, "His Majesty was complaining quite a bit on our return about Von Grantz's creepy behaviour" as well as making him and the men endure his and Yozak's bickering when Yozak had decided to comment on his Highnesses small stature. The arguments had gotten quite ridiculous at one point, much to the amusement of the men with them. As Gunter let him be a moment later in order to attend to something else, Yuri approached. Resting his hand lightly against Conrart's uniform in an attempt to gain his attention.
Conrart gazed down at the hand that rested comfortably against his arm, fingers curling a little into his jacket and the dark eyes that watched his face for one long moment. It was rare that anyone willingly touched him like that, his status as a half-blood meaning that most still despised what he was. How many times had he felt his fingers being slapped away by his own younger brother, the sting of those words cutting at his heart? It was an odd feeling, but not an unpleasant one.
His smile turned less forced at the sensation as he gazed at his King.
"Do you require anything Sire?"
"No, just curious about this castle we're heading for." Admitted Yuri bashfully, "What's it like?"
Conrart thought on how to answer this; sadly he had more negative memories then positive ones associated with the castle they were heading for. "The castle sits atop a hill, overlooking the town below. The gardens are very beautiful." What else? "You will meet some very unique individuals."
"If you don't mind me asking sire, but did you know about this before? Why you're here?"
"Yes." Yuri stretched slightly, "I know I am to be the Demon King of this world."
"How?" he had been informed before leaving by Bob that the Shibuya's had wanted to raise Yuri like a normal child.
"Bob. There was an incident when I started kindergarten were I almost killed the other children with accidental magic. When it became obvious it wasn't a onetime thing Bob started training me."
"I see." There wasn't much else he could say; while rare, it wasn't unheard of for demon children to exhibit an affinity with an element while a child. It was normally celebrated as a sign of strong magic.
0-0
On the road to the castle, the group was forced to make frequent stops due to their young King being so unused to travel. Changing frequently, Yuri would ride with Conrart for the first few hours, and then he would change to riding with Yozak; Gunter was still a bit too excited just yet for it to be safe for Yuri o ride with him just yet. But -due to his inexperience with long rides and his normally active lifestyle- he couldn't stay still for too long -let alone on the horse- which was beginning to toll on Yozak's nerves; sure he never voiced the fact he was sore, but whenever he got saddled with the kid he was stuck with a near permanent hard-on because of the kids rubbing and he wasn't able to relieve himself for hours. Not only that, because of all this stopping and starting, a trip that would normally take a week was about to take four.
Strolling through camp Yozak contemplated what he knew and wanted; he knew he had to stay with the others, but it was tempting to just go on ahead of everyone. Back to the castle and safely away from the walking boner inducer!
"Yozak!" called Conrart, running to catch up with him from the officers tent.
"What is it Captain? Do you need little ol' me for something? Or is something wrong with the Kid?" asked Yozak with a smirk. Grinning in reply, what came out of his mouth...well, Yozak wasn't expecting it.
"As a matter of fact, there is. His majesty's tent has gotten a large hole in it during our travels. And as one of the soldiers with a water elemental affinity has told me, there is a heavy amount of rain on the way. So I'm putting him with you, is that alright?"
"What about you? Why can't he stay with you? You like him more than me!" complained Yozak loudly. Not liking this new turn of events. Where went his peaceful night's sleep?
"Can't. He was sharing his tent with Gunter, so he's now staying with me. Which means you've got Yuri' Conrart stopped. Pondering 'though...if you'd rather sleep with Gunter..."
Yozak sighed "No, no, no. I'll take the kid, don't worry." after all, most who knew the man, knew of the scholars sleeping habits. And well…clingy just wasn't his thing.
"Excellent! Then I'll go inform him of his new sleeping arrangements" turning to do just that, Conrart then proceeded to walk away with a happy bounce in his step. Well aware of Yozak's plight. He'd noticed Yuri seemed to take great joy in riling Yozak up.
Muttering to himself. Yozak knew he had things to do before his tent would fit another person. After all, he had brought 3 of his working dresses on this wonderful trip, and he needed to think of a way to prevent them being rumpled; Nobles had the ability to spot a wrinkle a mile away, if not a turncoat.
0-0
Later on that night -after Yuri had settled in and was now changing into his new blue PJ's- Yuri was oblivious to the fact that someone was approaching the tent…
Yozak was just getting back from stuffing his dresses into his captains bags, when he happened on a most surprising –and arousing- sight. Yuri had his ass in the air as he was trying to pull his pants up in the small tent. Offering a most...pleasurable view of how tight it was, and the royal underwear was defiantly not helping. Deciding to notify Yuri of his precents Yozak coughed, only for it to turn half way into a snicker at the brat's startled face.
"Young man, do you offer such a view to all your sleeping companions?" he asked teasingly, now grinning proudly at his newfound form of revenge.
Yuri squeaked indignity, turning to face a grinning Yozak "Oh hi ya Yozak, l a...wasn't expecting you to come back so early...uh..." Yuri, now blushed a lovely rosy red. Out of his depth now that he was quite latterly the one caught with his pants down.
Yozak laughed "Kiddo, I'm faster than l look". Looking around, Yozak found that his bed had been slept in. The kid properly took a nap...ha, this could be more fun than l first thought!
"Have a nice nap? Dinner will be ready in an hour" not waiting for a reply, Yozak turned and proceeded to the mess tent. Happily whistling a lively little tune alone the lines of 'My Good King Henry'. Leaving a very flustered Yuri in his wake to follow him once he'd pulled up his pants up.
0-0-0
As the trip slowly wore on to the halfway point, Yozak decided to pass the time by teasing Yuri. And if Conrart noticed, he said nothing.
When Yuri was in his saddle, Yozak would pass the time by tickling the back of Yuri's neck with his breath, or fondling, and pinching his hips or thighs. Doing so at length just to make Yuri blush or squeak in response. Yuri had tried using the evil wiggling trick again in retaliation, but when he just pressed himself tighter to acquire more friction…it probably didn't work as Yuri had originally planned. The only time Yuri ever got a break from Yozak was when Yuri was riding with Conrart…or when he was sleeping. Sometimes not even then.
Until one night, two weeks later, Conrart decided to confront Yozak about his bullying of sweet Yuri; a week was fine, but two was just chronic!
"...It's not nice. He's not used to this world yet, hell he's not even used to us yet!...' on, and on, and on. It appears Conrart has had enough of his antics with Yuri, but at this point, he couldn't help it. "So just tell me why! Yozak are you listening to me? Yozak!" snapped Conrart, Yozak thought Conrart sounded eerily like Gunter when he ranted.
"hahaha, but Conrart, it's been two weeks and you haven't said anything about it~" Yozak countered in his defence, before he added, a bit reluctantly "And besides even you've got to admit that he's pretty darn cute when he blushes and squeaks like that." Yozak blushed slightly, informing Conrart on just what was really going on with Yozak. But seeing that Yozak wasn't really aware of it himself yet, he decided to not mention it.
"Just let up on the teasing. Or there'll be hell to pay. Got it?" Conrart warned, wanting to go to bed now, and knowing that Yozak did too. It was late.
Yozak sighed "yea, yea. I hear ya". With that, Conrart walked away without another word. Yozak doing the same, if at a quicker pace; after all, Yuri was waiting.
0-0-0
Checking on Yozak and Yuri in the morning held a rather cute surprise for Conrart; when he had peaked inside their tent, he found that the two were spooning together happily, and that Yozak's arms were tightly wrapped around Yuri.
They were so cute together. Conrart decided that everyone could use a rest day. So he declared for the soldiers to relax as he passed by the various tents of his men. leaving the two clingy bed-mates alone. Little did he know what had transpired the night before...unlike the nearby soldiers; who had heard everything. they would be using Conrart's rest day to reclaim the hours of sleep they'd missed last night.
0-Flash-Back-0
Sitting around the campfire, long after everyone else had gone to bed, Yuri shivered. But not from the cold he couldn't sleep. He sighed; he missed his home, missed his mom and her curry...missed -almost everyone- from back home really. But most of all, he felt kind of lonely here. Normally he had his friends with him when he had to go away for an extended time. While this wasn't his first time without, it never sat well with him.
0-0
Back in the tent Yuri and Yozak shared, Yozak was beginning to feel nervous. Yuri was later than normal; some nights he did seem to like to brood in private, but he was never gone this long before. Looking at the moon outside, Yozak frowned 'Everyone would have gone to bed by now.' he crawled out of the tent and stood up 'I better go see what's wrong.' With that, Yozak strolled down the lanes of tents, heading for the last big fire of the night; Yuri was bound to be there. Yozak reasoned; it was where everyone sat, ate and talked, till they were ready to go to bed when the other fires had been put to rest.
Coming to the end of the last lane, Yozak spotted Yuri just sitting on his own at the last fire of the night; looking very much like a little lost puppy with his cute little pout. Yozak blushed. Gwendal was the only male he knew with a bad cutesy fetish, but he had to admit he wasn't adverse to it ether; that's how he knew that Gwendal would both love and hate Yuri. He was just too cute...just the thought of it made Yozak grin, much like a predator grins when it see's prey...when he was contemplating catching his prey, that is. Yozak's grin spread even wider. The Kiddo was his prey; he just needed to catch him.
Yozak walked over to him and sat down, throwing a lazy arm around the young man's shoulder. Making Yuri tense in surprise and suspicion; despite being so close to the fire, Yuri was cold to the touch; Yozak knew some advanced water elementals skin temperature could react to their emotions, but Yuri wasn't even meant to know it existed just yet.
"What's wrong Kiddo? You don't look happy." asked Yozak, generally concerned for the youth before him. Yuri, looked up, "I'm just a little home sick, that all." he replied before then turned back to watch the fire, relaxing in Yozak's arms not long after as he became hypnotized by the flame. Yozak even found himself watching the fire at one point.
"Come back to the tent with me," grinning, Yozak continued "We'll spoon!" it had shocked him the first few mornings, mused Yozak, but he'd quickly gotten used to waking up like that.
"OK."
"What was that?" he inquired. Yozak wondered if he was starting to hear things in his 'old age'. He knew he wasn't that old, but maybe it started earlier in some?
"You don't want to?" asked Yuri while throwing Yozak a sheepish grin, which made the older man blush slightly at its cuteness.
"Huh no...WAIT yes, yes l do uhh...come on" getting up abruptly, Yozak took Yuri's hand and they walked back to their tent. Well, Yozak looked a bit more like he was marching.
Once inside, Yozak threw himself on Yuri. Quickly ravishing the boy with kisses and the most indecent of touches as he divested Yuri of his clothing, leaving him panting for air, "Yuri...are you ok with this? I can stop if you don't want to" asked Yozak nervously. He didn't want to push the boy too far too soon, his new king, but he didn't want to stop ether. But then he heard the best answer he could have hoped for; a breathless "No, please don't stop~" Not needing to be told twice, Yozak dived in; causing Yuri's cry's to echo through the whole camp. Making a lot of hardened solders blush and, depending on their proximity to the pair, squirm.
After one night, Yuri felt as if he'd been taken to pieces and reassembled. He found Yozak is both greedy and generous; he's thorough, and keeps a steady pace that can be comforting or maddening depending on his mood, but commands Yuri to yield to it either way. Which Yuri did, knowing better than to fight something that felt that good.
0-0-0
The rest of the trip continued in much the same fashion. With Yozak's teases, Yuri's cries, and Conrart's barely hidden amusement and the tired amused grumbles of the soldiers...