Chapter 4: Always the moon

by Jonathan Coulton. God, I love this guy 3

Warning: A little lime is waiting for you!

Gwendal sat next to him, lost in thought, and though he didn't say anything, the mere physical presence of the man was increasing the flustered feeling in Yuri's belly. Judged by his current state, this journey would get more stressful day by day if he had to constantly fight his feelings or play them down.

Hours had passed since that incident and the sun was standing high in the sky by now. Their dialog hadn't become that personal again, though they had exchanged stories they had experienced, opinions, discussions – no politics, which Yuri was thankful for. However, he felt something was still bugging the general.

And he should be right. After a short lunch, they had sat down at that place at the bow of the ship again where they had spent the whole morning. When Gwendal took a long gaze into the sky before taking the word, Yuri was sure that something was up with him.

„If I may ask you something very personal, then we are even, right?"

„It doesn't matter if we are even or not. You can always ask me anyway," the king looked at his companion, who still stared into space. Gwendal looked tensed.

„Well, I wondered... if you ever had a girlfriend..." He cleared his throat, obviously slightly uncomfortable.

Yuri's eyes snapped open, first because of that surprising question and second because he never saw Gwendal that way – he was always the cool one, self-confident and never let anything show if it threw him off balance. But the answer to that question wasn't that hard or embarrassing.

„No, I never had, in fact. Like I always said, on earth I'm not looking special at all, I'm just an average student. There had never been a girl that asked me for a date or that seemed interested enough in me that I would find the courage to ask her... And here in Shin Makoku, never. I don't want to know what Wolfram would do to her."

Gwendal didn't respond.

The sea was quiet and the wind was blowing sharp. That way, they were making great progress, the miles flowing by under the planks of the ship. At least that was what the captain said. Not that Yuri had any knowledge about sailing at all.

He went to sleep that day, both happy and deeply troubled.

Gwendal had blown out the last candle as Yuri came to think about the recent happenings of the day. Of course, he was happy – because he was in love, with a very special person, so how couldn't he be happy. He relished that feeling, enjoyed it with every breath he took and with every look at Gwendal. And being aware of that only made it more joyful. Not that it made the days to come any easier, it rather had the opposite effect.

That was what bothered him. How he should handle his feelings, how should he be able to look into his general's eyes and still stay formally, especially with the meeting coming up...

Staring through the window into the shining moon, who had become his loyal companion throughout those sleepless nights, he fell into restless, uneasy sleep.

Yuri looked around the gigantic entrance hall of Small Shimaron's castle. Luxurious and expensive paintings, carpets, statues... everywhere. Though he had been there before, it still stunned him once again.

They had arrived in King Saralegui's country in the afternoon, thanks to the strong wind. The trip by carriage to the castle took another hour. By now, the early evening began to fall down on the castle.

A butler came down the stairs to greet them with a deep bow. „Welcome, Yuri-heika. King Saralegui would be happy to welcome you in person, so please follow me."

Gwendal didn't leave his side as they walked down several hallways, until they reached the throne room, where Small Shimaron's king already waited for them.

„Yuri!" he shouted blissfully. „Welcome and thank you for attending our meeting tomorrow. It's a great pleasure that you already arrived today. Please make yourself at home."

„Thank you also very much, Sara," Yuri answered, smiling all over his face. „It's always nice to meet you again."

„Well, as I see, you only brought one companion with you?"

„Yes, and I think you already know Sir von Voltaire?"

At the mention of his name, Gwendal bowed politely, his eyes shut.

„Of course I do. I expected you to travel with a larger squad so I reserved an adequate apartment for all of you. If it's that way, I could offer you a much more luxurious and appropriate accommodation. The butler will show you. He will also grant you every wish you have, just ask him. Otherwise, see you tomorrow," the blond king smiled friendly.

„Thank you very much, I'm looking forward to meeting you tomorrow, then." Yuri still smiled when he turned around and followed the butler with Gwendal.

„A double-bed?" Yuri looked shocked. His gaze flickered immediately at the tall, dark-haired man at his side, who seemed to be surprised as well. One of his eyebrows had risen suspiciously. He also eyed the boy curiously.

„We could check if it's just two single beds put together, so we could pull them apart..." the older one suggested. „Or we ask for another suite."

Yuri closed his eyes - he didn't know if he should be happy or on guard. That will be a couple of endearing nights for sure.

„No, never mind. I think we are grown-up enough that everyone can sleep on his side of the bed, right?" the boy looked up to Gwendal. „I mean, it's just you and me, so it's fine."

„If you're down with it, then I will be, too," the mazoku answered and sat down on the desk in front of the window, while Yuri began to unpack his trunk.

„What are you doing, if I may ask?"

„Just sending a pigeon to Blood Pledge Castle that we arrived and everything went well."

Inwardly, the turn of events – and of their sleeping place – made Yuri as hopeful and as joyful as he never had dared to dream of.

Yuri seriously wondered how he was supposed to sleep like this. The moon was shining through the window and that was the only light that fell into the room. Gwendal lay beside him, in a cute pajama Yuri remembered having bought for his birthday a few years ago – and his restrained embarrassment and altogether amusement as he saw the print. Small bunnies covered the dark-blue fabric. When he had noticed that, he couldn't suppress giggling and Gwendal had given him an strange look. But he seemed to now the reason for Yuri's chuckle.

With a short „Good Night" they had gone to bed, each one on his side, as he had suggested. Somehow, he regretted having said that. Though, at that moment, everything else would have seemed inappropriate.

Gwendal didn't snore, like Wolfram did. But that couldn't be the reason that disturbed his sleep. The peaceful look on Gwendal's face couldn't soothe him down either, though it looked unfamiliar soft, almost cute at this very moment. Yuri smiled suddenly. This was the best way to spend a sleepless night, at least. To watch the man he was in love with sleep.

His heart almost skipped a beat, when the latter opened his eyes. He didn't look surprised to find Yuri fully awake, though. All Gwendal did - and that startled the boy the most - was lifting up his blanket with his upper arm, his lips torn to the hint of a smile invitingly.

Whatever the reason was, Yuri didn't care. He robbed on his side into Gwendal's open arms, snuggling into his chest. It wasn't the soft, small, round body of a girl he had always hoped to cuddle with some day, it was a broad, muscular torso, but it was cozy and warm and he felt well protected there. This was a place he didn't want to fall asleep. He wanted to enjoy this moment forever.

As Yuri opened his eyes, he noticed various things. First, the sun shone warm through the windows, dipping the room into a wonderful orange light. Second, he felt deeply relaxed and so – well, not-tired at all, a sensation he had almost forgot how it felt. Third, a heavy arm was laying around his waist, while his legs were entangled underneath a third one. The owner of said arm and leg on the other hand was looking into his eyes now, a small, barely notable smile on his lips.

„Good morning, heika," Gwendal whispered, his voice as deep as usual, but also uncommon soft.

„Good morning," he managed to answer, ignoring his painfully loud beating heart, „and it's Yuri, Sir von Voltaire."

He felt the man shifting slightly in his place. „Anyway, have you slept well?" he asked after a short pause.

„I did, actually," Yuri wondered as he looked at the bright sunlight. „Why didn't you wake me at sunrise like always?"

„You slept so save and sound, I didn't dare to wake you. You haven't slept that well over the past few days. Am I right?"

The last question was just a rhetorical one, but the boy nodded anyway. Then another thought stroke his mind. If he's awake since the break of dawn and didn't wake me, that means he... watched me sleeping all morning. His heart jumped to an even higher pace as Yuri tried to hide his upcoming blush by burying his face to the man's chest.

The way he lay there, in this protecting, cozy crook of that strong arm which felt like it was made just for him, he sensed his eyelids getting increasingly heavy again. This embrace was not comparable to those of Wolfram. The blond felt more like a girl in his arms, judged by his figure, and yet it was more like the hug of a friend than... well. This. And when Wolfram lay in his arms, Yuri had never experienced his heart racing as fast as now, or his morning wood aching so heavily between his legs. With the general's hand around his waist, holding him ever so close, it was the sweetest ache he had ever experienced. All he hoped was that Gwendal didn't notice it.

Drowsily, he murmured to the older mazoku: „May I sleep some more?"

„You can rest as long as you need today, Yuri," came the whispered answer, from very near to his ear. The sound of his name, spoken by this voice, sent shivers down the king's spine.

„Will you... uhm..."

„I'll stay here, if you want me to."

„I don't want you to, I beg you."

„Of course," Gwendal answered softly and pulled Yuri even closer. The boy thought he must die every second now, judged by his pulse. And as his head lay there on the man's chest and he heard that the latter's heart was also pounding faster than normal, he had the feeling his body would burst into thousand pieces right now. So Gwendal was excited too?

Still wondering what was going on and if he could sleep in his current state, he drifted off into the land of dreams again.

Blinking into the sun again, Yuri found himself still in his previous spot in Gwendal's arms.

He raised his hands to rub the sleep out of his eyes as he thought about the dream that he just had. And immediately he was thankful for his palms at that very spot to cover his blushing face. Dear God, that dream.

As he looked at the man who still held him due, his typical scent surrounding him, the images flew back to his mind.

Their lips crushed hard onto each other's, sharing a hot, longing kiss that contained so much passion and desire. A wet tongue slipping beneath his lips, circling with his own, making him moan into the other one's mouth. Gwendal's hands on his hips, on his back, on his neck, touching every sensitive part they could find - pulling his pants down, while the other one was sliding under his shirt, caressing his chest, nipples and upper belly. His own hands twitching urgently at the man's pajamas, unbuttoning the shirt to run over the strong body, waiting to feel more of the other one, just more. Sounds emerged from his throat that he never thought of being possible – the deep groan of lust, the frustrated moan when the other one's hand lost contact to his body and the blissful sigh when they found their way back onto the spot he wanted to be touched the most...

And what had happened then, Yuri didn't want to imagine, for he feared that Gwendal would finally notice his raging hard-on and deep-red face. He shouldn't get the wrong idea about this. 'Wrong idea'... there isn't anything to get wrong. The dream was pretty explicit in this point. The thought made him blush even deeper.

In order to calm down again, he tried to look at his companion, just to find him very asleep himself. He smiled. The expression in the general's face was deeply relaxed and as peaceful as it was never to be ssen. Just priceless.

Though the idea of doing those things in his dream in real life seemed pretty... appealing to Yuri. He quietly thanked Shinou that Gwendal wasn't awake.

However, a quick look out of the window told him that it almost had to be lunchtime by now. It was definitely time to get up. He had to wake the the general.

But when Yuri woke him, that meant that this would be the end of their... cuddling session for today.

Sighing, he decided that he couldn't prevent that anyway, so after snuggling one last time to the other one's broad chest, he began to poke Gwendal's shoulder lightly.

„Gwendal, it's time to stand up," he muttered, shaking the addressed one a little more.

The man's eyes snapped open immediately, alarmed. As he realized that it was just Yuri waking him, he calmed down again. „How late is it?" He yawned, an expression that the boy found unbelievably cute.

He giggled softly. „About lunchtime, I guess. I don't know how you are feeling, but as for me, I'm hungry."

„Then we should get some food." A strong, large hand was nuzzling through his hair, before the man got to his feet.

And Yuri breathed out slowly, assuaged that Gwendal hadn't noticed anything. Seemingly. Hopefully.

„There are still a few things we have to handle," the dark-haired mazoku said, scanning the papers in his hand.

„We do? I thought we talked about everything on the journey," Yuri responded, irritated.

„Yes, we did, but there are a few papers left that need to be signed. Of course we couldn't do this on the carriage."

The young king sighed and sat down at the desk, resting his head in his hand. Black strands of hair were falling into his eyes, reminding him that he hadn't got his hair cut for quite a while. It had gotten so long by now that it almost reached down onto his shoulders. He lifted his left palm to hold them back in order to not fall into his eyes and disturb him. Checking the first paper, Yuri reached for his pen to sign it.

„You should tie your hair together, that makes it much easier," Gwendal said out of nowhere, resulting in the boy turning his head at him, looking up.

The man's lips twitched, followed by a deep, rolling sound, which Yuri recognized as Gwendal's laughter. Hearing the always grim-looking demon laughing out loud was something very unfamiliar.

„What's so funny?" he asked, puzzled.

Gwendal still laughed quietly, covering his mouth with his hand. „Just... your hair..."

Yuri got to his feet and headed to the bathroom of their suite. It only needed one look to know what was up with him. His black, stubby hair was standing into all directions, attempting to escape his palm that had flattened it before. He looked like he had stuck his hand into a power socket. Giggling, the boy ran his hands through it to get it back down.

„Take this," the general suddenly stood beside him, offering a hair tie to him. „I always have a second one with me, you know."

Yuri looked surprised at the black tie. „But how should I-" he didn't finish the sentence, completely occupied by trying to gather his hair in a ponytail. He failed miserably, a few strands were always escaping him and he thought he just looked ridiculous.

In the mirror, he noticed Gwendal shaking his head. „Not like this... May I?"

„Uhm, of course," the boy handed the tie to him.

The tall man stepped behind him, grabbing his hair brush to gather Yuri's hair in a tail. He felt the soft strokes of the brush, which was led by Gwendal's strong hands gently through his hair. The touch of his digits burned like fire on his skin. He almost squirmed when one of the fingers accidentally came to rest behind his ear for a short time, making him realize that he apparently had a very sensitive spot there. Yuri had already closed his eyes so that he didn't have to look at the handsome man behind him in the mirror.

With a final, slightly stronger pull, he felt Gwendal let go of his head after a little while. The flustered feeling in his stomach was almost driving him chrazy by now. When Yuri opened his eyes again, he found himself with a short, stubby ponytail on the back of his head. It felt strange, as well as the view of himself in the mirror, but it looked pretty decent.

„See?" the general just asked, still amused.

Yuri laughed quietly. „Thank you, I think that's pretty handy on hot summer days and of course when I have to do paperwork..." He let his hand run over the tiny ponytail, fascinated by the brush-like feeling. And the gentle ways of the grim-looking demon who stood behind him.

The meeting was held in the evening and of course they were supposed to wear their gala uniforms for that event. The afternoon had flown by in no time, leaving them just an hour to get ready.

Yuri stepped out of the bathroom, freshly bathed and only clothed in a towel, to get dressed. Gwendal twitched at his collar, trying to get the white tie into place, just to pull it out again after another fruitless effort. He grumbled frustrated.

„Should I help you?" the boy offered, stepping towards the tall mazoku.

„If I may ask you, yes. Perhaps you manage to not let it look terrible."

The black-haired king tightened his towel, knotted it fast, before he reached upwards to take the tie. Gwendal bent down to him in order to let Yuri wrap it around his neck, which resulted in a half-way hug. The boy was getting nervous slowly as he tied the endings together and stuffed the fabric under the dark-green coat. A few twitches here and there and he tapped the general's chest softly right beneath the tie.

„Done," he announced smiling.

Gwendal turned to the mirror, examining the king's work. „Perfect, thank you."

„No problem," Yuri answered and turned around. Those little touches, just this little contact, filled his heart with hope. Was it justified, though? Yuri didn't know.

By Shinou, this man drives me crazy one day.

I'm sorry for the delay, I intended to update the story this evening, but I was too busy... with my guitar... .

Well, I hoped you enjoyed the chapter! I'm still struggling at some phrases, but I'm doing my best – I hope it's not to bad, but sometimes I just don't notice. I'm no native speaker after all, so please have mercy on me ^^'