Chapter 2 – Break Me

„Break Me" is by The Irresponsibles. Btw the title song of The Spoony Experiment. Love you, Spoony :3

Well, I think it gets very clear in this chapter which couple this fic will feature (if that hasn't been the case with the first one already). This is also kind of going out to Striped Neko and that wonderful fanfic of her, „Return to Me" - which I SO wait for to be continued! Pretty please? :

Since that day, Gwendal visited Anissina's laboratory every afternoon for tea. Their usual teatime with Gunter got completely lost, which Yuri was pretty annoyed of.

Not that he didn't enjoy having tea with Gunter alone, but without Gwendal, something was definitely missing. The grumpy, silent demon just belonged to their company. Instead, Anissina came every day to pick him up. Yuri had a hard time not to look angrier at her from day to day.

And his own reaction scared him. He had never hated Anissina, but her behavior was suspicious in his eyes. The king wondered if she was up to something, though he couldn't guess the least what that might be.

As for this day, she hadn't been here yet. But Gwendal constantly looked up from his desk to listen for footsteps. Yuri noticed the way he stared out the window way too often and that the pile of „hard" work became bigger and bigger. He had figured out the way the general sorted out his work well enough by now.

Yuri didn't dare to speak to him about that, though. Who was he anyway to object to something that... harmless, in the end?

From the corner of his eyes he watched Gwendal taking another paper from the „easy" pile, reading it while massaging the bridge of his nose with his right hand.

Suddenly, the dark-haired mazoku's eyes looked at him. The king turned his head quickly back at his own work, but Gwendal must have noticed his gaze for sure. He felt his face getting hot and he knew he was blushing right now. What was up with him, by Shinou?

Yuri tried to hide his face behind his palm, which he seemingly used to support his head, when he heard the general clearing his throat.

„Heika, I think we got at least one problem solved."

The young man looked up from his desk, eyeing Gwendal irritatedly, who stared onto the piece of paper he was holding in his hand. „What do you mean?"

The older one's indigo eyes finally found their way to his own again, causing a strange new sensation in his stomach. „I received an invitation for Wolfram to his uncle Waltorana's birthday party. It's exactly at the same day of your meeting in Small Shimaron."

„Ah, I see. So he won't be able to accompany me anyway," he answered, somehow relieved, hoping that his face had gained its normal color in the meantime.

„Exactly. The hard part will be to tell him that, but I think I will handle that-" he was interrupted by the clicking sound of the door latch.

Anissina stepped into the room. „Tea?" she smiled, looking at Gwendal.

Yuri tried hard to not roll his eyes. And failed after the two had left the room.

Yuri couldn't get any sleep that night. Restlessly, he had been rolling from one side to the other for hours, trying not to wake Wolfram. He still didn't know what was up with him.

The boy knew it was jealousy that bothered him. He was jealous of Anissina - though he didn't know why. He had no reason and no right to feel like this. Gwendal was neither his boyfriend nor his fiancé. His fiancé was Wolfram, who slept at his side right now, snoring as always.

Yuri turned over again to look at the blond. The way he lay across the bed was ridiculous as always and his pink sleeping gown did the rest. Blond strands of hair were falling into his face, covering his closed eyes. The young king chuckled silently at the funny sight.

But his mind darkened immediately as he thought about Gwendal again. Did Anissina try to get him back? To start over again with their relationship? And why, for Shinou's sake, was he bothered by that so much?

Suddenly, Wolfram opened his eyes and noticed Yuri's gaze. Yawning, he asked the black-haired boy sleepily: „What's up with you? Can't you sleep?"

„Nope," Yuri answered quietly. He had rested his hands behind his head by now, laying on his back. "Sorry for waking you."

The blond turned over to lay on his belly and threw one arm around his fiancé in the process. „No problem, just come and sleep," he said, pulling Yuri close in his half-asleep state.

The latter was stunned. That was also new to him, feeling Wolfram's warm, slender body against his, but the embrace was too tight to escape it. So he just surrendered, wrapped his upper arm around the other man's waist and buried his head in the fluffy blond hair.

Yuri felt the mazoku's hand running through his hair, which was kind of calming him down.

It felt good to have someone who cared about him. And that way, he finally fell asleep.

The next day, Anissina didn't come to Gwendal's office, which thoroughly surprised Yuri.

On the other hand, the older mazoku was completely flustered all day, looking at the door every few minutes. The king felt his stomach burn at the question, why he was so eager about this. Just a week ago, he would have been grateful if she would have left him alone.

He just rubbed his eyes with both hands, still tired of the almost sleepless night, as Gwendal addressed him.

„Your trip to Small Shimaron will start the day after tomorrow, just to remind you."

Yuri startled. „What? So early? I thought it was..." he started to count the days.

„You'll need at least four days to get there. Two by carriage, two by ship."

„Oh. Okay, but-"

The door bursted open as Conrad hurried into the room. „Sorry for disturbing you. Brother, we've got a problem."

„What's up?"

„Yozak just sent a carrier pigeon. One of the villages at the border is under attack by a gang of bandits. I have to cope with that matter personally for various reasons, but I hope that I will be back tomorrow. If I depart now, I will be back in time to travel with his majesty to Small Shimaron."

„No problem, I think I don't have to give you any advice for this. Just take a pigeon with you, in case you don't make it in time, okay?"

„I will. See you tomorrow then, hopefully." He bowed slightly, smiled at Yuri one last time and left the room.

„Good luck and take care!" the king managed to shout after him in time before he closed the door.

„Thank you, I will-" he could hear Conrad's answer, before the door was tightly shut again.

Yuri looked bothered and irritated at Gwendal. „What are we doing if he doesn't make it in time?"

„Then I will accompany you as your bodyguard."

Yuri slept better the following night - maybe also because of Wolfram playing his teddy bear again - though he missed the morning jog with Conrad. As he ran alone through the courtyard, he hoped that the soldier would come back today.

After bathing and having breakfast with Gunter, Wolfram and Gwendal, he entered the latter's office to finish the remaining work before he had to leave tomorrow. Luckily, it wasn't much.

He tried to focus thoroughly on his work and not bother himself by Gwendal's presence, though the dark-haired demon still looked way too often at the door, just like waiting for it to be opened every minute. Strangely, Yuri was well too aware of the handsome man's movements and gazes, well too aware of how handsome he truly was, when he stared concentrated onto a paper while taking notes in his bold, typical handwriting. He shook his head inwardly at that last thought, feeling silly.

That way the morning flew by in no time and after lunch, Yuri was supposed to have a few last lessons with Gunter before his departure the next day.

However, the white-haired adjutant looked ill. He was paler than usual and deep blue shadows were laying under his eyes. He coughed, which also didn't sound too healthy.

„Are you alright, Gunter?" the king asked his teacher worriedly.

„Not so much," the counselor responded. „I feel sick and I think I have a temperature."

Yuri stepped towards him to lay his right hand onto the tall man's head. „You're glowing! You should go and see Gisela. Or, wait, I'll call her to look after you."

He turned on his heel, but Gunter quickly held him at his sleeve.

„But if you do, then I won't be able to travel with you to Small Shimaron tomorrow..."

Yuri could see the tears welling up in the other one's eyes. He took a deep breath. „But it's neither helpful for me nor helping you if you're ill and have to accompany me. A carriage or ship isn't the right place for you to get healthy again. And what if it gets worse? It's okay, believe me. You should not risk your own health for me - I know, you would, but I don't want that - so stay here to recover, okay?"

"You're as wise and caring as always, heika," Gunter sighed, finally letting go of the boy's sleeve. „Okay then..."

Gwendal stood at his friend's bed, watching him sleep. Yuri eyed him carefully from the other side of the room.

When the dark-haired man turned around and waved at him, the king followed him silently outside.

The general sighed heavily. „I can't let him go to Small Shimaron like this."

„I know," Yuri nodded and swallowed heavily. Though he was nervous, he dared to ask the question that he was concerned about all the time. „Will you come with me instead?" He felt his heart do an unusual jump.

„Yes, I will. Now I hope that Conrad will come home today, or else-"

He was cut off by a messenger who ran along the hallway. „His majesty! Excellency!" he shouted.

Both of them looked surprised at the boy as he pulled out a small piece of paper. „His Excellency Lord von Bielefeld wanted me to give you this. It just arrived by a pigeon."

Yuri knew this was no good sign. He immediately noticed Gwendal's usual wrinkle getting deeper as he unfolded it. The tall man held it low enough for the young king to read it as well.

„Brother,

I can't come home today, there is so much to be done here. I hope you can accompany Yuri instead of me. Gunter will be with you, so I think it will be alright.

Please protect him well and tell him I'm very sorry.

Conrad"

Gwendal reacted just by covering his eyes with his left hand. „Well, that's the way it is, then. We'll have to go all by ourselves."

„Don't worry, I think we are going to do this just as well," Yuri smiled encouragingly. He couldn't tell if he should be happy now or not. Of course he had hoped that Conrad would be able to be his bodyguard, as always, but the idea of going on a trip only with Gwendal... got him distracted again. He almost flinched when the older one spoke again.

„I think so, too, but the risk without a second protector for you is higher, that's the problem I've got with this arrangement. Anyway, I'll have to contact Yozak, let's see what he can do. You should go and pack your bags in the meantime."

Yuri nodded thoughtfully and went to his room as Gwendal parted with him to head to his office. A strange feeling was clutching his chest tightly. Somehow, he had hoped that Gwendal was a little happier to go on the trip with him.

But on the other hand, he was way too joyful himself.

Evening had fallen over Shin Makoku as King Yuri left the dinner table.

It felt empty in the huge room. Cherié and Greta were on a trip on their own, Conrad was away on his mission, and Gwendal... didn't show up. So didn't Anissina.

Only Wolfram had dinner with him.

Still pondering what was up, expecting the worst – though he wasn't able to name what that was – he went for the public bathroom. The hot water was always able to bring a relaxing effect to his tensed body.

This time, it didn't help. His mind was circling endlessly over the same thing again and again and he the lack of solutions frustrated the boy even more.

Half an hour later and without any new conclusion, Yuri left the tub to go to sleep. He hoped to sleep well, because he had to be fit the next day. After drying his wet skin and hair, he slipped into his warmed-up bathrobe and sighed blissfully. At least, his physical state had improved a bit.

When he left the bath to head for his rooms, he decided to take the way past Anissina's laboratory, just because he was curious. The king startled when he passed the closed door, obviously hearing a deep, male, very characteristic voice inside of that room. He didn't need to think about whom it belonged to. His assumptions had been right in the end.

Yuri realized he had stopped in front of the door, when he also recognized Gwendal's typical, slow but strong footsteps approaching the door. Shocked, he quickly ran to the end of the hallway, hiding behind the next corner. His chest was rising and falling rapidly as he tried to hold his composure in silence. It was hard to pant soundlessly.

He heard the creaking sound of a pushed-down door latch and an opening door, followed by the voices of Gwendal and Anissina getting increasingly loud with the lack of a barrier.

„Well then, I'll see you in about two weeks again, right?" she asked him.

„Yes, maybe it will be less than that." Yuri couldn't sense any feelings out of that sentence. Or at least he hoped so.

„Good night, Gwendal. Maybe we'll meet tomorrow at your departure for one last time. Otherwise, take care of yourself."

„Good night, and you take care too." Yuri expected to hear footsteps again, but it was just the rustling of fabric that reached his ears. With a quick glance around to check that nobody else was there, hoping that the shadow of this unlit corner of the hallway was covering him well, he risked to take a look around the edge of the wall.

What he saw made his heart skip a beat and at the same time racing at a way faster pace.

The general stood there and hugged Anissina tightly, both had their eyes completely shut as far as he could see from his observation point. A sharp pain pierced through his chest and Yuri felt tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't believe it. And why did it hurt so much to see that scene, which was just a hug, anyway?

As he saw the couple part, he tried to hide himself even more, tried to vanish into the shadows, but he couldn't turn his eyes off of them. Anissina looked into Gwendal's eyes expectingly. The latter just sighed and raised his right hand to stroke her cheek lightly.

Another pierce through Yuri's heart. He felt a hot tear running down his face, trailing the spot where Gwendal's hand had touched the red-haired women's face.

Yuri expected the worst, again, and prepared himself to see a kiss - but nothing happened. The dark-haired man took a step back and turned around, right in his direction. The king jumped into the shadow of a nearby statue again to hide.

He cursed himself for not running away at the very beginning of this. It wouldn't only have saved him from the pain he had to endure now, but also the risk of being caught by Gwendal. He just hoped that in the dim twilight of the hallway and in the shadow of the statue, the general wouldn't notice him.

The king could hear Anissina's door being closed again and the man's footsteps getting louder. His heart was beating painfully loud in his chest, making him think that it would reveal him.

But as Gwendal finally came around the corner, he immediately stopped to turn to Yuri's hide.

And then he heard that deep, guttural voice and he thought he had to die of shame that very moment.

„I know you're there, Yuri," it said. The latter just hoped for the ground to open up and swallow him. However, it didn't.

He couldn't respond, he just curled up against the base of the statue some more, until a strong hand was held in front of his eyes.

„Stand up, you're gonna catch a cold like this," Gwendal added frowning.

Yuri didn't want to be seen like this. Why had it turned out that wrong? Now he had to face the man that he had thought of day and night over the past few days after being caught at sneaking after him.

He felt so embarrassed. He couldn't look into those piercing, indigo eyes above him, which he knew were glancing worriedly at him right now.

He jumped to his feet to run away, raising his hand and whacking Gwendal's away in the process. But the man responded promptly, holding him back at his arm.

„Let me go!" Yuri cried under tears, which ran uncontrollably out of his now swollen, reddened eyes.

„Yuri, please look at me and tell me what's up-"

„No!"

„Yuri, please..." the softness in Gwendal's voice startled the boy, making him somehow melty inside, so he looked up. As the older one saw his tear-stained face, his eyes snapped open and he was too surprised to watch his hand holding Yuri's arm. The latter used the opportunity to wind it out of the other one's grip and ran to his bedroom quickly.

As he fell into his bed, he buried his head into the pillow. Wolfram was already asleep. He mustn't see him crying like that.

He felt broken inside. So what the hell was wrong with him?

That was actually the first idea I had for this fic. Not so hetero at all, but well, I didn't promise anything, right?

Wolfram gets his credit here, for a little bit, but writing his character is pretty hard for me. You will read from him later on, though.

But let's get Gwendal and Yuri on their way to Small Shimaron first ;)

I know I made Yuri a bit whiny and unstable here, but let's just blame his hormones. As for someone who's still in puberty, that's the best excuse ;)