CHAPTER III:
'How on earth did I end up with this situation????' Yuuri thought while he's sitting again inside the limo. All he knows was that he woke up that morning with a bad headache because he was up late last night reviewing for their exam. It seems to be just an ordinary day, well except for his aunt visiting but that could still be regarded as normal. And what's happening to him right now can never be aligned to his NORMAL daily routines.
When the car stopped in front of their house, Yuuri saw her mother poke her head before finally emerging to see who their unexpected visitors were,gasping in surprise to see her son,
"Yuuri? Why, you didn't mention you're going to invite some friends over." She said frowning at his son but flashed a smile at the 'unexpected visitors'.
"Uh yeah, sorry 'bout that mom. They're my friends, and they said they wanted to come see where I live and uhh.." but before he could find other words, a loud gasp was heard behind her mom, his aunt followed outside.
"Wolf-chan!?! Conrad! And ohhh" She then ran towards Yuuri's companion and started hugging them.
"Hahaue?" Wolfram looked at Jennifer with confusion written on his pretty face.
Jennifer paused when a sudden realization come to her, she then starts to back away but bump to her friend instead.
"Wolfram? Is she Grand mother Jennifer? Wow! She looked like Yuuri, they both have black hair and black eyes." Greta is now eyeing Jennifer with utmost interest, her eyes almost look like that of Annisina except of the colour of course.
"You know them Aunt Jennifer?" Yuuri asked his aunt cautiously. 'Did Wolfram just called my aunt hahaue? Don't tell me he's a prodigal son?' he shook his head of that thought because it's as impossible as saying that the earth revolve around the sun. Also what did Greta mean that I look like my aunt? Ahh.. This is getting weirder every minute.
Jennifer seemed like she hadn't heard Yuuri's question because her eyes settled at the young girl standing in front her. Her eyes grew wide,
"Don't tell me!, are you Greta?" Greta nodded, "Oh! Yuu-chan kept talking about you, he said I already have a cute, pretty, talented and bright granddaughter. Oh I should start shopping again, you can try some of Yuu-chan's dresses though if you like." She then hugged Greta tightly forgetting her worry a while ago.
Yuuri is now starting to doubt his senses for he didn't remember talking about Greta to her aunt and to put it exactly, she just met her about an hour ago! She looked at her mother to see if she is at least shocked at the conversations of these strange people but she looked calm and is she smiling?? Yuuri started chuckling at himself, he didn't notice he actually laugh out loud which earned him odd looks, 'Right! Just right! Now, I'm the one who's starting to look weird if not crazy at all.'
"Will someone please explain to me what on earth is happening here?" His question seemed to cause an invisible tension between his aunt and his companions.
Jennifer first looked at her friend, who just nodded as if in understanding,
"Why don't we go inside? We just finished cooking and Yuuri, go clean yourself so that we can now all seat to dinner." Her mother said looking a bit nervous which was odd because she is just like her aunt who seem to like talking.
Their dinner was quite spent with her aunt still babbling, which should be normal but its not, her babbling was rather of nervousness on something rather than her usual self. Her mother was just agreeing with her but she too was in somewhat same state as her aunt though she prefers to focus it on her plate. Their guests were also quiet, well, except to one cute/pretty/talented creature that was oblivious on what's happening around her and talking to her aunt about him, well he isn't sure if he's the one they're talking about because he definitely don't play baseball, do not play a hero and definitely not a wimp. They seem to be talking about that Maou in the manga.
After their somewhat awkward dinner, they settled themselves on their brightly lighted porch though Greta had met his cat on her tour to his room and preferred playing with him.
Yuuri blurted the questions that had been eating him for quite a while now before all the insanity that happened when they came to their house.
"Um, Conrad, you mentioned a while ago about Kyou Kara Maou and me being a Maou right?" He asked facing Conrad.
Her mother and aunt turned to him almost automatically then glanced at each other but chose to keep their mouth shut.
"Yes Yuuri, what about it?" Conrad answered although he thought he know where the question is going.
"I was just wondering how on earth did I become the Maou? I mean, I don't remember being sucked down on a toilet or being bullied in a park or meeting anyone of you," He paused at that because he swore he felt a surging heat on his right side but when he looked at the boy next to him, Wolfram is only glaring at him and there seemed to be no fire at all so he continued, "and one more thing, what do you mean your Heika found someone who has the same name as his?"
His aunt is now fidgeting uncomfortably on her seat. While his mother found her fingers rather interesting.
Conrad slightly smiled at his question, "Actually, all we have were theories on what had happened to you. But seeing Miko-sama here, we are but to cross some of those said theories. Also seeing you, I can say I really am facing our Yuuri Heika though there's uh…-- bit of changes of course.
Jennifer shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She rather looked different, she should be asking a lot of questions by now but she seemed to have bitten her own tongue.
He was about to ask Conrad on what he meant about her aunt but he was distracted by a remark from some brat in sitting on his side.
"Yeah, a bit, I wonder where else did he have a piercing." Wolfram breathed staring at Yuuri or rather to his piercing.
"What? Hey if you are jealous, just say so, I can have you one you know." Yuuri said rather offensively.
"As if I'd do such thing as low as that, we nobles.." Wolfram was again cut by Gwendal whom Yuuri is now starting to consider his presence a blessing against a pretty devil, considering he is now simply looking at Yuuri not glaring at him.
"Well Heika, as Conrad was saying a while ago, all we have were theories. Mostly by the Great Sage and Ulrike but we still don't have proofs on them, but luckily, we found you at last and it seemed that our theories are to be proven right." Gunter interfered before the two started bickering again.
"So, what are these theories you're talking 'bout?" Yuuri asked them because it seemed that her mother and aunt, who are usually loud, lost their voices.
"We first start with the occurrence before the disappearance of Yuuri Heika, I hope you've finished reading Kyou Kara, Heika?"
Yuuri just nodded, he didn't want to speak and spoil the moment for he's curiosity is eating him though he wanted to protest with the "Heika" thing.
"Well, after Yuuri Heika came back to Shin Makoku, he started establishing peace among humans and mazokus. But facing reality, we really can't exactly do that, there would still be some who would seek war and would cause conflicts among others." Gunter looked at the boy in front of him, observing his reaction and he seemed satisfied for the boy slightly flinched looking somewhat disappointed. He then continued,
"There is a mysterious group being formed, we are still not certain if it's of human or mazoku, but they are plotting of starting a war to both races if not against His Highness, that's why we took on extra cautions for our Maou is so friendly and fond of everyone especially to his people. I still remember his words, he said that he will no longer doubt anyone, anymore." Gunter's eyes glinted of admiration while Conrad gazed at the floor and Wolfram's lip thinned at those words.
"But one day, he said that he had to go to earth to get something important, I said that at least one of us should accompany him but he assured us that it wouldn't take long." His eyes now loss its shine, "But it appears that it was our biggest mistake, we've waited hours until it became days then on the 4th day, Ulrike told us to go the temple. When we went their, she looked devastated, she said that she can no longer see Yuuri Heika's presence. It is puzzling because his presence is first slowly fading to shadows until it disappear unlike what happened before that it just disappeared (without the fading part). We've done our best to locate him but to no avail, but just a week ago, your presence suddenly appeared and that's what puzzled us more. We went here as soon as we can which was not easy for Shinou's spirit is no longer in Shin Makoku so it took Ulrike and the Great Sage days of meditation in order to send us here and ensure your safety back to Shin Makoku."
"Wait! Four years?" Yuuri was aghast.
"Ah, yes Your Highness, four years in Shin Makoku but here on Earth that would only make a few months." Conrad explained to him.
"Oh! Okay." He said looking thoughtful, 'That's kinda weird, guess I read the story but hadn't really took it seriously, his mother and her aunt were the only one shoving it to his face. Speaking of which, the two now looked stunned and only glancing at each other as if lost.
"Mom, Aunt, are you two okay?" He finally asked the two before concluding that they really did both loose the ability to speak.
They both gave a start before sighing.
"Hmm… but our theories still have many holes in it. And it seemed too much of a coincidence that His Highness and this boy do have the same name, same face and seeming relativity with Miko-sama." Gwendal finally spoke up which startled Yuuri.
Jennifer looked up with that statement before finally heaving a deep breath.
"Well, I think it's now our turn, right Yuki?" She said determination filled her face glancing at her friend.
"The right time had eventually come huh?" Yuki then nodded then looked up to Yuuri. She is somehow afraid on how her son would react but she had long prepared herself, if it's the only way to repay her friend.
Jennifer bowed her head, "Yuu-chan, sorry for keeping this from you for so long okay? We just thought that it's for your own safety though I know that we are not to decide since you are now a um.." She then looked up with her eyes watering, "But we do have what we call mother's intuition right? So I think I just followed it and… and…" She now looked lost. Yuki calmed her friend while whispering something to her which seemed to be helping for she is starting to relax.
"Yuuri, just remember that we both love you okay." Yuki smiled at the look she get from her son.
'Am I suppose to cry here? Why on earth are they being too dramatic? And in front of these guest at that.' Yuuri thought while his frown deepened and Gwendal can now look at him as his rival in wrinkle-as-many-wrinkles-you-have challenge.