Genuine- No matter how much you feel for someone, it means nothing if not conveyed...

Chapter 7:

Dinner was silent. An awkward tension held in the air as the people at the table glance back and forth between the king and his fiance from the sides of their eyes. Everyone was confused as to what happened. The mood in the air was rather dense as Yuuri chewed on his food mechanically, not once trying to bring up a comment. Conrad could almost guess that this was because of something that happened between the couple and sighed. The royal couple has yet to reach the point where both can live without fighting everyday. He looked at Wolfram, who seems to be playing with his food, not caring that he is affecting the world with his sour mood. He glanced at Yuuri again, who would blush whenever Conrad caught him sneaking peeks at Wolfram. An eyebrow raised and a thought followed in his mind: something's different.

He observed again and noticed that Wolfram had a faint pink in his cheeks, something that he had only seen when Yuuri did something good to him. His occasional pauses of thoughts and blushing again just proved Conrad's theory further. Wolfram also avoided looking into Yuuri's eyes, as though...

Embarrassed? Is that what it is?

It seems like Yuuri had finally told Wolfram the words he desired most. Conrad smiled in silent euphoria and wished in his heart all the best to the couple. After all, blushing and awkward silences are all part of the newlywed package.

If Wolfram had his voice back, he would be making a fuss by now, just to cover up his embarrassment.

"Yuuri papa, are you ok? Why is your face all red?" Greta looked at her papa with face full of innocent worry while Yuuri blushed even more.

"Ehh... W-what are you talking about G-greta! Papa's completely f-fine!"

Greta doubt the stuttering of words were any assurance to anyone that he was fine. But since her own papa insisted...

Wolfram couldn't help but smirk at the wimpy king. He still did not know of what to think of the afternoon's kiss, and tried not to think about it, for fear of hoping too much. Yuuri is a wimp after all and might just be showing sympathy to him.

Wolfram wished that he had his voice back. If he has his voice back, the first thing he would do is to give Yuuri a firm scolding, for being a wimp, for over worrying himself when he didn't need to.

But now, his voice is gone, possibly forever, and that thought scares him the most. What would people think of a mute fiance? Yuuri will surely be humiliated by the masses and it's going to be all his fault. The nobles are probably going to make a fuss about his state soon and urge Yuuri to reconsider another bride. Wolfram felt his fist clench. He can't allow some God knows who woman to take his place! He'll rather die than see Yuuri with another person as his wife. But given his state now, Wolfram felt that he had no right to demand for his place as the king's fiance. After all, who had heard of a mute as Queen of the Demon Kingdom? Even Wolfram felt that it was too preposterous a thought. He must get his voice back, to be beside Yuuri...

Wolfram's reverie was broken when the door of the dining hall suddenly sprang open.

"King Yuuri! We have something of utmost urgency to report to you!" The foot soldier dropped to his knees immediately and said. Yuuri snapped to attention, eyes suddenly serious.

"Must it be now," his eyes shifted to Greta before glancing back. "let's go to the throne room, Conrad, Gwendal, Gunter come with me" -another glance- " Wolfram you too."

Without another word, Yuuri step out of his seat and made his way out of the dining hall, with his loyal subjects behind him. It's always at times like this that Wolfram was reminded that Yuuri was not the wimp he usually was but rather the Maou, King of the mighty Demon Kingdom.

Yuuri plopped down rather gracelessly onto the throne, before ushering the foot soldier nearer. "Please talk now. What is it that is so urgent?"

The foot soldier seemed to take a deep breath before he spoke- " Your majesty, we found a pair of body outside the gates of the castle. The corpse most likely belong to the assassins sent after your majesty and sir Bielefield judging from the clothes and weapons found on them. Why they were there and how they'd ended up at the gates are still unknown. The soldiers are currently investigating now and awaiting upon your further orders."

Yuuri was indeed shocked at the news, hands fisted on the arms of his seat, face frowning with tension. Those people who caused Wolfram so much misery are now dead. What is going on? Who killed them? What is their motive? What could they possibly gain from this cruel cruel act? Yuuri felt his control of the justice within him slip and anger was practically rolling off him... till he felt a small grip on his shoulder. His dark eyes glanced up to face emerald green. Yuuri relaxed.

"... Continue with the investigations. And have a proper burial for the bodies. ... Increase the number of guards and heighten the security in the city. The safety of our people is the most important." Yuuri commanded, hoping to sound as firm as he could be. He was reassured by another grip on his shoulder and allowed himself to be more at ease. "Thank you for your report. If there's nothing else, you may go back to your post." The king gave a weary smile to the seasoned soldier, who immediately bowed and hurried off to convey the king's orders.

Yuuri gave out a sigh of exasperation. Something is happening, someone out there wanted to seek him out, to possibly harm him or worse, the people around him. He reached to his shoulders and gave the pale hand resting here a firm squeeze. He will not allow such harm to befall on those he love, ever again.

"There is someone out there who is targeting me. I want everyone of you to be careful. Do not let your guard down even if for a moment. We'll get to the bottom of this and when we do I swear-" he choked, too furious to continue. Yuuri realized he was shaking, a familiar rise of heat coursing through him, power surging within.

Then, he felt another squeeze on his shoulders and turn to see Wolfram staring at him with worried eyes, mouth opening to say something but nothing came out. He saw the look of shock and realization he had seen many times before on the blonds face this past few days when Wolfram once again realize he cannot speak. The face of shock turn into a rueful smile as Wolfram extracted his hand from his shoulder.

Wolfram felt a hole in his heart grew as no words came out of his mouth again. Even when he wish to say a few words to soothe his beloved, he couldn't. Helplessness filled him to the brim again as he let his arm fall like a weight beside him. He had never seen Yuuri this furious before and yet he cannot help him in the slightest.

Suddenly, he felt a tug on his arm, followed by a pull towards the throne. Gasping, Wolfram stumbled and fall straight into the waiting arms of Yuuri, onto his lap. Startled, Wolfram turned to look at his king, meeting Yuuri's jet black eyes. -What?- Wolfram mouthed in surprise. The arms around his waist tightened as he felt Yuuri leaned against his wounded back tenderly, seeming to caress his back. Wolfram blushed at their intimate position, not failing to register the shock on the others' faces.

"I swear-" he heard Yuuri began in a shaking voice, "I'll never let any harm befall upon you again, Wolf." The sentence came out almost like a whisper meant for Wolfram and only Wolfram to hear. Wolfram felt a tug on his heart as he heard Yuuri's promise to him, almost tearing up when he heard the concern and genuine raw feeling of what seemed like love in Yuuri's voice. He could only remain on his beloved's lap, struggling not to let out even a sniffle or sob.

"Your majesty, it's ok. We're all here, as your most loyal subjects, to help you. Nothing will happen to Wolfram if we can help it." Conrad reassured the young King, letting out a sigh of relief when he felt Yuuri's anger dissimilate. The others gave a nod of assurance too to ease their King's worry.

Yuuri just tightened his arms around Wolfram, feeling as though Wolfram can only be safe there. Even though Yuuri knew he was getting out of line and overreacting, he cannot help but grow agitated at the thought that the mastermind of all these fiasco is still at wide and on the loose. Heck, he could even be right beside him and Yuuri won't even recognize him as the criminal and perpetrator.

Who am I to be kidding? He could be in this room for all I know.

There were so little that they know about their mysterious enemy. And the sooner they found out who's behind this blasphemy, the better. Perhaps Wolfram would be able to get his revenge when they find them, and knowing Wolfram, Yuuri was sure that the blond will give them the hell they deserved.

"Thanks. If there's nothing else, I'll be retiring to my room for today." Without waiting for a reply, Yuuri stood up and made his way out of the throne room, pulling Wolfram along with him.

As the large majestic door fell shut behind the king, his subjects stood silently in the throne room, tension and unease looming in the air where the young King has just been...

"S-since when was his Majesty... With Wolfram... They... What!" Gunter broke the ice as he started wailing about how his majesty was growing up too quickly and that the spoilt brat will do more harm than good to him and so on so forth. Conrad gave a knowing smile while Gwendal just sighed lethargically, looking towards his younger brother for an explanation.

"So?"

"So what brother?"

"How long has it been since they got together in that way?" Gwendal spat out in an almost over protective tone, whole Gunter gasped and wailed again.

"I only guessed that something was on today. What makes you think I might have any idea?" Conrad grinned, his devilishly good looks shining in an impish glow.

"Considering you are always around his majesty, I thought you would know best." A thin line formed on Gwendal's lips, a sign that the older man was getting annoyed.

" But I'm not his babysitter, and have no right to interfere into his majesty's private life..."

Silence.

"But its about time isn't it?" Conrad smirked again.

Gwendal just grunted and proceeded to leave the room while Gunter followed the poor man, gushing and whining about his love for his Majesty with melodramatic tears flowing like a torrent down his cheeks.

Conrad knew that in their hearts they were all secretly glad that Yuuri was finally giving Wolfram half the time, well... maybe Gunter was not that happy but as long as Yuuri was happy, he would be too... eventually.

Wolfram let out a silent squeak of surprise as he fell onto their bed. Once they made it to their room, Yuuri had pushed him to their bed, almost flinging him roughly. Wolfram pushed himself up by the elbows and turned to stare up at Yuuri, who was obviously not acting like himself. He felt Yuuri climbed in after him and held his breath when Yuuri kneeled over him. He was so close that Wolfram could almost feel his breath against his ear and shuddered when he felt them.

Yuuri didn't know what he was doing, but only know that he wanted Wolfram close to him, that feeling of his body against his was so foreign just yesterday but now, it feels right, feels so comfortable and at home.

"Wolf..." Yuuri nuzzled his nose against the blond's neck, inhaling in the scent that was so sweet and familiar, feeling the pulse thumping silently underneath the porcelain skin. "Wolf..." he cried, almost desperately, not knowing what he wanted, what he need. With Wolfram in his arms, he realized that he was afraid; afraid that Wolfram would get hurt again, afraid that whoever out there would bring harm to his Wolfram. His anxiety skyrocketed at the thought and it suddenly dawned on him: he cannot lose Wolfram! The unknown threat that lingered throughout the castle like a ghost haunts him because Wolfram was too precious to him. He cannot see him hurt once again. Is this what they call love? Yuuri gasped. The mere prospect of loosing Wolfram was pure agony, and his thoughts drifted back to their conversation in the garden that afternoon. It was mere hours ago when he came to terms with himself that he might actually be fond of the blond in a romantic way, but now, the thought of being in love comes so naturally that Yuuri was shocked that he didn't realize it earlier. The way his heart would lift and create flip-flops whenever he was within a hundred meters of Wolfram, the way his face would heat up whenever they share a bath together, the way his arms automatically reach out to touch him when chance allowed but retracting timidly every single time, and the crazy feeling of just wanting to stay behind in Shin Makoku with Wolfram instead of wanting to return home to his family when Soushi died. He was devastated at that time because more than anything, he thought that he would never be able to see the blond again, the tear streaked face being the last look he saw. Now, he would never let Wolfram go even if the world was against him. Because… he was in Love with Lord Wolfram von Bielefield, the most beautiful and angelic boy he had ever met. His arms weaved to form a cage around Wolfram, who was beneath him.

Wolfram froze for a few seconds, before timidly lacing his fingers through black strands of hair, pulling Yuuri a little closer. Wolfram had wanted this so much and now that Yuuri was giving it all to him, he just couldn't believe it, but for now, he would just have to be grateful of what Yuuri had given him.

The two boys just lay together on the bed, seeking comfort with their body against the other, silently thankful that the other was still alive.

Wolfram, as much as he was enjoying this, knew that he had to ask Yuuri what was wrong. And so he broke their embrace, reluctantly, and stared at Yuuri with expectant eyes. Yuuri stared back at the emerald eyes that lay below him, wanting nothing more than to drown in them forever.

-Why?- Wolfram mouthed, his palm raising to caress Yuuri's cheek, fingers burying through the black hair that adorned the side of his face messily.

"Why?..." Yuuri narrowed his eyes, concentrating on Wolfram's lips, trying hard to read them in the dark.

Wolfram gave a nod.

"Why what?"

-Why-did-you-...-are-you-ok?-

Yuuri frowned at the sudden change in Wolfram's question, but decided to ignore it.

"I'm fine. Just... So scared for you, for us... I-I can't ever, ever lose you again."

Wolfram huffed indignantly, eyes seeming to say that he can take care of himself.

"I know you're a capable soldier-" another huff. "-fine. A brilliant soldier," Yuuri rolled his eyes before continuing. "But you got hurt! Because of me. I don't want to see you hurt again... And we don't even have a single clue who the hell is behind this... Damnit all!" Yuuri cursed, his eyes black with fury, shoulders shaking and hands forming a fist beside Wolfram's head. "I can't lose you... Y-you mean too- too much to me..." He whispered wistfully, lacing his fingers through Wolfram's thin ones on his cheek, pulling them down to his chest.

Wolfram seemed to want to say something, but nothing came out. Only tears teased the corner of his eyes, threatening to fall off soon. This was Yuuri, the same one who rejected him, the same one who said that he could never be with him, and yet, the same one who said that he meant everything to him, the same one who just caressed his face, kissed his lips and said that he will protect him.

-Why?-

"Why what Wolf?"

-Why-do-you-care-so-much-about-me?-

"How can I not? You've given me so much, and I've only given you hurt in return. How can I not care about you when you've been giving your everything to me?"

-I-don't-need-your-sympathy-...

"Sympathy? NO. I-I care about you so much, not because of sympathy, not because of guilt, not because of anything else but just because-" Yuuri sucked in a deep breath, "just because I love you so..."

Wolfram felt his eyes widened and head swooning. What did Yuuri just say? Did he hear wrong?

-What?-

"You heard it... I love you... Very much so... Wolf, I-I just do."

There were not signs of falsity in his tone, and Wolfram could feel that whatever Yuuri was saying now was real. He was not drunk, he was not saying this out of guilt, and he was not jesting either. So this is for real?

Tears that were once threatening to fall flowed down his eyes. He could not believe that Yuuri loves him. He was always prepared for the day when Yuuri would say he loved another and broke their engagement, prepared for the humiliation and social jeers. But he was not prepared to hear a confession that was meant for him, a confession that he thought could only hear in his dreams. He pinched himself, or rather, Yuuri's palm.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

This was real! Everything was real! He felt Yuuri wipe his tears away, carefully, tenderly, as though afraid to make any more contact than necessary. Was Yuuri being shy?

That was just freaking adorable.

Wolfram hurled an arm around Yuuri's neck, pulling him down as he crashed his lips against surprised ones. Yuuri let out a squeak of shock, and his knees giving in to the pull, crashing down towards Wolfram below. Wolfram gasped at the sudden weight, which was slightly uncomfortable but not so much that he was willing to let Yuuri go.

Their lips molded against each other's, Wolfram in pure bliss and Yuuri following his carnal desires, all his concerns about whether it was correct to kiss a boy flying through the window. Wolfram transcends beyond gender and no one can resist such a beautiful pure hearted blond. Yuuri began to press his lips against Wolfram's urgently, rekindling his passion from that afternoon, relishing in the soft feeling of his lips against his and the occasional timid flick of tongue. Wolfram, being the bolder of the two, soon find such lips-to-lips contact not that satisfying after a while and prodded at Yuuri's lips with his tongue, urging the young king to grant him access into his lovely cavern. Yuuri let out a small moan as he felt Wolfram's tongue slip boldly passed his lips, exploring his mouth without shame. Wolfram let his tongue wind around Yuuri's, tugging and sucking on it teasingly, drawing and releasing it, earning yet another moan from the boy, a louder one this time.

"Oh God Wolf!" Yuuri blushed from all the sensations he was feeling from the mind-blowing kiss, a familiar feeling pooling at his southern region. He was sure that his face was burning like a light bulb now. Even though he admitted that he love the blond, he was unsure of how far he was willing to go. Kissing was great, superbly awesome in fact, but going further than that to third base and hitting home, Yuuri wasn't sure he was ready for all that now.

"Wolf! A-Ah-As much as I-I love this… You g-gotta stop."

Wolfram froze, eye flooding with confusion, thinking that somehow after the kiss, the young king have changed his mind and was going to reject him again. Confusion soon changed to fury and hurt.

Yuuri saw the message in Wolfram's eyes and realized that Wolfram might take this the wrong way. "NO! No. I enjoyed that… kiss-" he blushed. "very much so… But I don't feel so ready for anything else. It's all happening so fast but please! I love you so much! Can we take this slow?" Yuuri was pleading almost desperately, afraid that Wolfram might just misunderstand him and hightailed to leave. He almost stopped breathing as he waited for Wolfram's reaction, still blushing crimson red.

After a hesitant nod from Wolfram, Yuuri let out a sigh of relief and gathered Wolfram in his arms, kissing him softly on the lips, whispering a "I love you" into the blond's ear, meaning every word he said.

Hey guys! I'm so sorry to neglect this story!But now i'm back and more than ready to write some more! I will be working on this story most of the time and since my vacation will be starting soon, i think i would have lots of time to work on this. Once again, sorry for not updating for half a year, was busy with my last year in secondary school! But now that i'm free of it, i can come back to you guys now!

As usual, reviews will be the best halloween treat! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, i had a lot of fun writing it!