Disclaimer: Don't own Kyou Kara Maou so please don't sue.

A/N: Wow! I never expected that my story would be received so well! Thank you so much for your kind reviews!

Well, Wolfram will accustom Yuuri to his touches so that he doesn't freak out. Though even that would probably freak Yuuri out!

Chapter 3

To Throw Down the Gauntlet

"Ok", thought Yuuri, as he made his way to the tent that he was sharing with Wolfram, 'That was some reaction I got from Wolf'. This probably showed how much he had screwed things up between them. A reaction like that for just professing his affection for Wolf? Wow!

Yuuri blushed, thinking about the kiss. It was his first kiss after all. 'But it felt more like a tonsil excavation than a kiss', he thought wryly, nothing like what he had expected his first kiss to be like.

But Wolf had ended the kiss with such a sweet peck on his lips, trailing his tongue against his bottom lip, it had led to the eruption of such confusing thoughts in Yuuri, he had wanted to lean into Wolf and return the favour. Yuuri blushed harder, thinking about the audience they had had. He was somewhat traditional in his thinking, and didn't really feel all that comfortable doing such things in public.

But he had done something right for once, without screwing things up and he was feeling pretty good right now, mentally patting himself on the back. The thing was, he hadn't really thought about what they were going to do after he had performed the custom. He had been so excited about making Wolf happy that he hadn't really thought about where they would go from there. Maybe they should go on dates like how they did on Earth and get to know each other?

But the thing was, since Wolf always accompanied him everywhere he went, it was as if they had already gone on plenty of dates. Plus, if you spend almost all your waking and sleeping hours with someone, you certainly got to know them really well. He knew so many of Wolf's likes and dislikes. He knew that Wolf liked his tea very sweet and creamy, that he could only stomach dry toast in the morning, he liked to bathe in really hot water, that he really loved to stroll in Lady Cheri's gardens and look at the flowers though he torched anyone who teased him about it. He loved to paint, even though he sucked at it. He was so gentle with their daughter, a better father than he could ever be, considering his really short temper. He always took time off his schedule to spend time with her. And he was so warm during the cold nights, his own personal security blanket, but Yuuri was so scared to get close to him, afraid of the feelings that Wolf ignited in him, scared to admit to himself that he could be attracted to Wolf, his best friend, a boy, but he was Wolf. Sometimes he forgot that Wolf was a boy, he just felt, and it seemed so easy to indulge in those warm tingly feelings, those feelings of lo…

Wait. He was getting ahead of himself. He needed to examine these feelings before he made a decision. That's why he had slapped Wolf right? He needed to spend more time with Wolf. Maybe he should ask Wolfram's opinion about how they should proceed with their relationship. Wow! That's such a great idea! Wolf needed to have a say after all. It would be better if they were open about their feelings from now on, right? Wolf hid so much from him. He refused to show him what he truly felt most of the times as if he was scared of refusal and disappointment.

'But now things will change', resolved Yuuri, 'From now on, I am gonna give Wolf a chance', he thought, as a mischievous little wind pushed against his back and he reached the entrance to the tent.

He entered to find that it was dark inside. Too dark to see. "Hey Wolf?", asked Yuuri, feeling a bit apprehensive. He hated the dark. "You there?"

Suddenly he heard someone snapping their fingers and there was Wolf, sitting up in his sleeping bag, flames wreathing his hand. The lamps in the tent burst into life and the flame in Wolf's hand died. Wolf gave a small smirk and said, "Come to bed wimp".

'That's strange', thought Yuuri, 'Where is my sleeping bag? I see only one. '

"Umm, Wolf , where is my sleeping bag?" Was it just his imagination or did Wolf's smirk double in size?

"I gave yours to Eric. He found his had too many holes and since we are the only couple in camp I thought we could share one. You don't want that poor boy to freeze to death do you Yuuri?" Wow. I swear his smirk tripled in size!

"Of course not! That was nice of you Wolf. But, S…share the same sleeping bag? Umm… is it big enough for the both of us?" Oook, Is that a come hither look?

"Now, now wimp, I am sure there is plenty of space for the both of us. It would be better, I wouldn't be able to kick you in such a confined space. You would like that wouldn't you , Yuuri?" Holy crap! Definitely a come hither look! Eep! What do I do? What I do?

By then Wolf had become tired of his procrastination and he had stood up. 'Eek! He's naked! OMG! OMG!' He quickly turned his back to Wolf and screwed his eyes shut.

"Wimp" A sigh. "What are you doing?"

"Eep. Your naked, Wolf. Put some clothes on!"

Another sigh. "I am still wearing my underwear. You are such a hennachoko."

"I don't care. Put some clothes on. I am not sleeping with you all naked against me in the same bag!" OMG! It's a G-string for Shinou's sake! He might as well be wearing nothing!

"Don't have any."

"What!"

A growl of frustration. " I don't have any sleeping clothes, you stupid hennachoko! We are on patrol. You think I carry a wardrobe along with me? Now stop being such a baby and come to bed. Now."

A whimper. "But Wolf."

Yuuri could hear Wolfram sigh again and then take a deep breath to control his temper. This was moving too fast! First the kiss, now he wants him to sleep with him without any clothes on? No way! Then Wolf spoke in a quiet, measured voice. "Yuuri, You meant that slap today, right? Don't you trust me?"

Well put that way, Yuuri rushed to reassure Wolfram, "Of course I trust you Wolf and I meant, truly, but all this is so weird.."

He could hear the smirk in Wolf's voice when he spoke. "Of course its all weird for you Yuuri. You haven't been with anyone before me". The tone was dark, possessive.

"But don't worry, we are not having sex or anything. We are just sleeping together, that's all. Just as usual, ok? I give you my word on that. I will slow the pace okay? So you don't have to worry." A cajoling tone, used to soothe spooked animals.

"Now come here Yuuri."

Maybe he was overreacting. After all, didn't Wolfram promise all they were going to was sleep? He had promised himself that he would give this relationship a try, right? Wolf was just doing another soldier a turn, right? Okay, he could do this. He turned to face Wolfram, blushing bright red. Wow, Wolf was built! Not in that whole body builder, 'I can crush two walnut with just my thumb and fore-finger" way, but with that lithe and sleek "I can run for miles and still not be out of breath, ha ha you flabby suckers" kind of way. Of course he had seen Wolf naked many times, but this was the first time that he had really looked.

Okay the smirk was back. But thankfully Wolf didn't tease him about his gawking. He simply pulled him to the sleeping bag and they both got in. Yuuri was not going to remove his own clothes, come hell or high water. Wolfram had apparently realized that. He simply spooned with Yuuri and wrapped his arms around him, tangling his legs with Yuuri, his hot breath so soothing against the back of his neck.

Yuuri slowing relaxed and thought that this was the first time that Wolf had consciously held him in his arms. Usually he remained in his side of the bed and only started to flail and kick and invade his personal space once he fell asleep. He had never pressed the issue about cuddling with Yuuri before. 'Hmm. Strange. Why start now? And what did he mean by slowing the pace? Slow the pace of what exactly?' Yuuri was slowly lulled to sleep, he decided that he will think about all this tomorrow, when he wasn't feeling so tired. He was bushed after such an eventful day.

Both of them fell asleep, in each other's arms. Nothing stirred in the camp, not even the sentries posted to keep watch, expect for a tiny mischievous wind that entered the camp and caused the campfire to flare a little, shooting sparks. It slid under the tent of the betrothed and blew against the Maou's cheeks, cooling down the blush still lingering and causing him to turn in his fiance's arms and bury his face against the blonde's neck, winding himself tighter in his embrace, both body and soul seeking warmth.

It sounded like the very air was sniggering as sleep sang its soothing lullaby.

Sneak Peek:

Yuuri sat in his closet with his arms crossed, pouting.

"Hennachoko, come out of that closet this instant!"

"No!",shouted Yuuri, "Not till you return my pajamas."

Am ominous silence.

"Yuuri, I am losing patience. If you are not out of there by the time I finish counting till five, I will set that closet on fire."

"Now, 1…..,2….., 3…..,4…