Chapter 4
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Loud clangs could be heard as swords clashed against each other. Yuuri was being taught how to duel by Wolfram. Conrart, who was currently in charge of being the helmsman, was keeping an eye on them while giving small inputs wherever required.
With a smooth movement, Wolfram effortlessly unarmed Yuuri, who fell back on his butt. Grunting in dull pain, he whined "Come on, Wolf! It's been three hours now. Let's take a break."
"Not yet, you wimp! There has been absolutely NO improvement in these three hours."
Yuuri narrowed his eyes at the mention of what has lately become his unpleasant word- wimp. Before he could think up an angry retort though, Conrart deemed it the best moment to interfere.
"Wolfram, do not call Yuuri a wimp." He said, jumping down the stern deck.
"Yuuri, the reason Wolfram can unarm you so easily is because you are stretching your arms a lot. Here, give me the sword Wolfram."
Wolfram reluctantly handed him the sword.
"Now, defend yourself Yuuri." Saying so, Conrart attacked Yuuri. As they sparred, he kept giving tips to Yuuri.
"Here, Yuuri. See how you're unconsciously stretching your arms to keep me off. It hurts your ability to thrust and parry quickly."
Discerning Conrart's words, Yuuri brought his arms closer to himself.
"Good. Now bend your elbows and parry."
Yuuri's form now seemed considerably better. They sparred for five minutes before Yuuri called for a break again.
As Conrart collected the swords and went in to put them back, Yuuri looked around for Wolfram. Turning around, he spotted him sitting near the bowsprit with his back to him. Yuuri wondered what expression he had right then.
'I can't believe he could beat me with his left hand. He looks so slender; you wouldn't imagine him to pack such force in his movements. No wonder he easily stopped Adalbert's sword with his bare hand before it pierced him.'
"You know, Wolfram, I think Shinou is finally ready to let me go on missions. Why else would he ask you to train me?" Yuuri asked as he leisurely walked towards him.
Wolfram turned back and sat down casually. "Who knows what goes on in that idiot's head? Good for me, though. I don't need to do those petty jobs like mopping again."
Yuuri chuckled slightly, "My apologies, Your Excellency," he said, sitting down in front of him, "for hardening your soft hands." It rewarded him a slight jab in the ribs from Wolfram.
"Shut up, wimp."
"You know, I've observed that when you don't have any smart-alecky thing to retort with, you make others angry by calling them names."
"I do not, wi-" Yuuri guffawed as Wolfram shut his mouth.
"Now you look like a goldfish…" He said in between his laughs.
Wolfram's complexion was steadily turning scarlet. When Yuuri noticed, he immediately stopped laughing.
'He puts the red sun setting behind him to shame.' Yuuri thought admiringly.
Wolfram stole a glance at Yuuri. The sun had illuminated him. His dark hair flowed like a gentle sea. He lifted his hands to run his fingers through them.
'So soft…'
Yuuri looked surprised. They gazed each other's faces as if caught in a magical moment. The dipping sun silhouetted their bodies.
The sound of a fallen bucket accompanied by an expletive snapped them back to reality. Wolfram retracted his hand. Yuuri coughed and looked at what caused the noise.
"Yozak?"
"Oh, there you guys are. Cap'n informs that a storm is coming. You guys better get in soon. Kiddo, its best if you make dinner soon." He spoke to Yuuri.
"Okay.." Yuuri said reluctantly.
"Say, what were you both doing anyway?"
The said duo flushed.
"Nothing." Wolfram declared, getting up hastily. "Let me know when dinner is ready." He said in his most authoritative voice and stormed off.
"Eh? What's got him riled up?" Yozak asked looking at his retreating figure.
"Yozak…" Yuuri said grimly.
"Kiddo?"
"You idiot." He cursed and went in to make the said dinner, leaving behind a befuddled Yozak, scratching his head in confusion.
"Huh?"
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Another wave splashed against the ship, making it rock violently. Yuuri could make out Shinou's loud orders outside, trying to keep the ship afloat. Wolfram moaned again. Yuuri patted his back gently. His dinner was already out.
'Why didn't we get more roots for Wolf's seasickness?'
Wolfram's malaise took out all the color from his skin. He looked so sickly. Conrart had told him that Wolfram usually wore nightgowns to sleep.
'Maybe, he's uncomfortable in pajamas. Next time we make a stop, we should get some nightgowns.' He thought. It didn't even occur to him that it was a strange thing for a boy to wear. Yuuri had already gotten accustomed to this prince's idiosyncrasies.
Yuuri sat beside Wolfram until he was sure that the sunny-haired boy was fast asleep. When Wolfram gave out light snores, Yuuri gently wrapped him in two blankets so that he wouldn't feel cold. Satisfied with his work, he finally climbed up to his top spot in the bunk bed.
"Good night, Wolfram." He murmured and fell into deep sleep.
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'Hot…So hot.' Yuuri shifted restlessly. 'Wasn't it cold last night?' He blinked his eyes open and rubbed them lazily. Something soft was pressing against his back.
'Huh?' He turned around and came face to face to a sleeping Wolfram.
'What!?' Wolfram had spooned him.
'W-when did he come up?' Yuuri's mind was going blank. He fidgeted uneasily.
'Oh no, this can get bad.' He tried to break free of Wolfram's arms but that only made the latter hug him tighter.
"Yuuri…?" Wolfram asked drearily, blinking his eyes.
'This expression should be declared illegal!' Yuuri yelled in his mind, feeling Wolfram's soft breath on his ear. Things down were getting restless.
"Wolf! MakebreakfastSeeyoulater."
As Yuuri ran out the room like lighting, Wolfram smirked.
'So easy.' He chuckled.
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Yuuri was out on the deck gasping; breathing heavily, trying to calm down. When his heartbeat returned to normal, he finally noticed his surroundings. The ship was a mess.
'Shit! I forgot. How are the others?' He thought frantically. He rushed to Conrart's room first.
Knocking on the door, he opened it slowly "Conrart?"
He stopped abruptly. The image in front of him would probably be burned in his mind for the rest of his life.
"Sorry!" He whispered to the sleeping lovers and shut the door immediately.
'Yozak!?…at that position? Argh! Forget forget!' He rubbed his cheeks.
"You wimp, where did you go off to?"
"Ah, Wolf?! I-I thought you were sleeping?"
Wolfram looked at his flushed face. 'Wow, he's still bothered. I didn't think his reaction would be this extreme.'
Wolfram chuckled. "Oh Yuuri…" He said condescendingly.
"You knew!?" Yuuri asked incredulously.
"Obviously. A soldier's eye is always keen." Wolfram smirked.
"But…s-since when?"
"Ever since I boarded this ship." Wolfram replied proudly.
"They were together since THEN?" Yuuri's eyes were now almost popping out.
"Ye-wait, 'they'?" Wolfram asked, now confused.
"Yeah, Conrart and Yozak. Wait, who are you talking about?"
"Oh…them only. Yeah…"
'That Yozak… Looks like he finally scored.'
"How did you know?" Yuuri asked.
"Oh, Yozak once told me when he was drunk."
"Oh boy…this is a shock!"
"What is a shock?" Murata asked, shimmering in from, apparently, nowhere.
"Wah! Murata! Stop scaring me like that."
"Oh sorry Yuuri."
"How did it go last night?" Wolfram asked.
"Oh, it was rough! But we managed to keep this vessel up." Murata said. "Shinou looked so heroic giving out orders like that…" He added dreamily.
"Ahem." Yuuri coughed.
"Oh well Yuuri, you better make breakfast soon. These guys will be hungry once they wake up."
"Yea-" Yuuri paused midway when he saw a large falcon swoop down the deck.
"What the-"
Murata cocked his eyebrow and turned back to see what caught his friend's attention.
"Isn't that a royal messenger bird?" He asked Wolfram, who merely nodded in response.
"Well, in any case, it is trained to deliver and take back the message only from nobility. So go ahead, Bielefeld."
Wolfram's brow furrowed. 'He's allowing me to read the mail?'
Nevertheless, he went ahead and gently unlatched the small scroll from the bird's talon.
He opened it and looked at Murata again. Seeing no opposition, he read to himself.
Wolfram von Bielefeld,
A lot of rumors are coming up about the cook from Shin Makoku Kaizoku. Your new mission is to keep an eye on the cook and report to us at the end of two months.
Gwendal von Voltaire,
Royal Administrator.
Wolfram read the contents again. 'Yuuri?' he thought, perplexed.
Folding the letter, he reattached it to the falcon, which flew away immediately. When he turned back, Shinou was smiling cockily, standing along with Murata and Yuuri.
"What news does my sister send you?" he asked shrewdly.
"Oh nothing. She's planning to go on a Free Love Cruise, apparently." He bluffed.
"That is so like her." Shinou said knowingly.
"W-well, excuse me." Wolfram said, leaving soon.
"Um, I should make breakfast." Yuuri said, taking his leave too.
As both the boys disappeared from the deck, Murata stated calmly.
"You already know the letter's contents."
Shinou smiled. "You know me too well, my sage. Of course, nothing goes beyond my eyes on this ship."
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'It should be here, somewhere…' Wolfram thought, as he rummaged through the kitchen's cupboards. If he is to commit espionage on a ship, his health should be at its best. He must find the roots Yuuri gave him before. As he scoured through the kitchen, he found a black box.
'What is this?' He picked it up. Opening it silently, he checked what was inside.
'Jackpot.' He smiled satisfactorily. Taking a single root out, he chewed on it gingerly.
A moment later, he felt his strength return. No, in fact, he could feel it increase ten-fold. But before he could think about it, the ear-splitting noise began.
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"Wolfram! Wolfram! Hey, what happened? Open up!" Yuuri yelled, knocking on the door loudly. Gisela was beside him, trying to coax Wolfram too.
"Your Excellency. Please open the door. I will try to help you if you tell us what happened."
Still getting no reply, their cries got only louder. Conrart was called, as he understood his brother best amongst them, but to no avail. Yozak also joined in and threatened to break down the door, which finally got a furious cry from Wolfram.
"At last." Yuuri sighed. "Hey Wolf, open up."
"NO!" came the still stubborn reply.
"What is going on here?" An authoritative voice came from behind.
"Shinou/Cap'n!"
"Its Wolfram. Something happened to him. He's locked himself up in his room."
"Is that so?" Shinou stepped forward regally and rapped on the door, hard.
"Von Bielefeld, as this ship's Captain I command you to unlock this door right now."
Silence, followed by some rustling noise and finally a click was heard as the door was unlocked and opened slowly.
The heated questions on everyone's lips were stunned into silence when they saw the boy. Shinou smirked, "Well, isn't this convenient?"
Standing in front of them was Wolfram, looking scintillating.
His porcelain skin shone more radiantly. His green eyes looked like glittering jewels. His posture seemed majestic.
But more than anything, what shocked everyone, were the sharp, pointed elf ears.
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A/N: Elle Werner, Nickesha, BirdsOfFreedom, soulxspirit125, TSUNA AND THE DEMON, Raywolf Shibelt, chocovic-chu and anonymous, thank you for your reviews. I apologize for not updating within a week, as promised. I would love to hear what you think about this chapter. It will help me a lot! :)