Maoh, A Day Late

by Kyogre

Complete. Yuri arrives in the other world late, and the race for the Boxes has already begun. How will his path change, with the man who should have been his strongest supporter already gone? And what was the reason behind his late arrival?

12. II-10 What is strength V

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Title: Maoh, A Day Late

Summary: Yuri arrives in the other world late, and the race for the Boxes has already begun.

Notes: Yuri trusts people, and Nicola comes one step closer to getting her man back.

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Part II, Chapter 10

What is strength (V)

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"A man of the Demon Tribe never runs!" Wolfram hissed, scowling viciously at Yuri's back as they made their way to the Cavalcade representative's lodgings. "I refuse to just just because Big Cimaron's soldiers have arrived!"

"We're not going to run away," Yuri replied absently, focused instead of counting the streets and making the right turns.

"So we're not just going to ask the Cavalcade people for help crossing over the border," Murata muttered. "I knew it."

"I didn't want Mister Fanfan to worry about us, so that's what I told him," Yuri said. "He might have tried to stop us too, since he probably promised Miss Celi to look after us. And this way, he won't get in trouble either."

Turning again, he came to a stop in front of the inn Fanberlain had said the Cavalcade representative was staying at. Before he could head in, Wolfram dragged him back into the shadowed alley. The sun had barely begun to rise, still hidden behind the buildings, and the streets remained damp and cool.

"Then what's the plan?" Wolfram demanded. "Stop rushing off without explaining anything!"

Murata nodded in agreement. "I can guess... but you should still explain things before doing them, Shibuya. At least that way we'll have a little more time to figure out how to deal with fall out," he said, pushing up his glasses. "And you never know. We might even have something useful to add."

Yuri nodded sheepishly. "Right. We're going to ask Mr. Heathcrife to get the Box, take it over the border to Cavalcade and then to the Demon Kingdom," he summarized, with perfect seriousness.

For a moment, both his companions simply stared in silence. Then, the dam broke. "We WHAT?!" Wolfram demanded, before Yuri shushed him. "We're going to trust a human to take the Box to the Demon Kingdom? That's insane! What's to stop him from keeping it for himself?"

"Well, nothing," Yuri said honestly. "But I think we can trust him. He seemed very honest about wanting to stop the Boxes from being used."

Murata looked thoughtful. "Cavalcade isn't much bigger than Francia, though it's better positioned and wealthier," he mused. "They can see how much strain having a Box placed on Francia, so they probably won't keep it for themselves. Assuming that they'll give it to the Demon Kingdom is a bit of a stretch though."

"I'm telling you, I think we can trust him," Yuri insisted. "I don't think we have any better options anyway."

Wolfram still looked furious, but Murata only sighed. "Fine. But what'll we be doing then? Any reason why you told Lord Von Bielefelt not to bother with his disguise?" Indeed, Yuri had told Wolfram not to bother with the dress and scarf. Fanberlain had even returned Wolfram's sword to him before they departed.

"We'll be the ones convincing Big Cimaron that the Demon Kingdom is here and taking the Box," Yuri said. "We'll say that we're just one group and that our allies have already stolen the Box."

"So we're a distraction," Murata commented dryly. "Shibuya, that's a terrible plan. I can't let you do that."

"What? Why not?" Yuri wondered, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Because you're the Demon King," Murata said. "It's too dangerous for you to make yourself known here. Francia isn't going to help us, and Fanberlain won't be able to do much either. There's little chance that we'll be able to get away after announcing ourselves like that. We'll be killed or captured. I can't allow that to happen to you."

Yuri looked ready to protest, but Wolfram spoke first.

"There's no need for either of you for this," he said. His hand tightened around his sword, and he almost appeared to be shaking. "I'll go. He'll recognize me, for sure. It'll be enough." Wolfram nodded slowly. "Yes, this is the best way. This is why I came here..."

"Forget it! I'm not letting you go alone!" Yuri declared. He and Wolfram matched glares, neither willing to back down.

"This has nothing to do with you," Wolfram hissed. "This is... this is something I have to do."

"A family matter," Murata put in, nodding.

"That's right!" Wolfram agreed hotly. Realizing what he had admitted, he winced.

Yuri looked between the two uncomprehendingly. Keeping his gaze on Wolfram, Murata explained, "The Key used at Caloria belonged to Wolfram's relative."

"The arm?" Yuri said, his brow furrowing.

"My brother," Wolfram admitted quietly, his voice full of bitterness.

"He went missing after the Key was taken from him," Murata continued, though even he felt unwilling to baldly say what had occurred. "But Lord Von Crist saw him in Svelera, with Big Cimaron troops, I assume. That's what Nicola's story said."

Wolfram's shoulders were openly shaking, his expression hidden. "He might have been... half human, but... he was always loyal to the Demon Tribe. I have to find out..." He shook his head sharply. "No. I have to stop him. It's my duty as his brother."

Yuri wanted to say something, anything, but he couldn't find the words. His mind reeled from these revelations - Wolfram had another (half?) brother, his brother was a half-human, that's why Wolfram had been so angry, that's why Wolfram had wanted to come with them, Wolfram's brother was probably here...

Wait. "We don't even know if he's here," Yuri said. "What if he didn't come with the troops?"

"He's here. I know it," Wolfram insisted. "Gwendal thought he would be here too. That's why he ordered that spy to pull out. They served together, so he would be too recognizable."

"Well, you're not going alone," Yuri insisted back, crossing his arms. Glancing up at the gradually lightening sky, he shook his head. "We don't have time for this. Let's go."

Before either his companions could object, he stepped out the alley and stalked up to the inn entrance. Murata and Wolfram exchanged a look. 'If push comes to shove, we'll have to knock him out and hide until the worst of the danger passes,' Murata decided. 'He'll be furious, but... at least he'll be alive. Even Yuri's miraculous luck has limits.'

~.~.~

"Mr. Heathcrife! Mr. Heathcrife, are you there?" Yuri called out, knocking on the door the innkeeper had indicated. It opened almost as soon as his fist hit the wood, revealing the tall figure of Heathcrife's bodyguard.

The man's hand was on his sword, and his single eye darted over the group assembled in the corridor. When he caught sight of Wolfram, he froze, obviously caught completely by surprise. Wolfram's eyes narrowed and suspicion spread over his aristocratic features as he stared back.

"These are friends of mine," Yuri explained hurriedly. "We really need to talk to Mr. Heathcrife right now!"

Without waiting for a response, he crowded up to the man and herded him back into the room. Surprised both by Wolfram's appearance and Yuri's brazen disregard of the danger he still posed, the swordsman allowed himself to take several steps back and the three boys to enter after him.

"Oh dear, I didn't expect to see you again so soon, or so early," Heathcrife commented, appearing from deeper into the suite. He was missing his hat - and hair - but appeared otherwise composed. "What seems to be the matter?"

"Mr. Heathcrife, ships from Big Cimaron have arrived," Yuri began quickly, receiving a nod from the man. He had also heard, and it was clear from the wrinkles in his brow that he was also concerned. "We found out where the Box is. And we need you to get it and get it out of Francia."

Heathcrife's eyes widened and widened again as Yuri spoke. For a moment, he seemed frozen, then his expression turned thoughtful.

"How...? No, that's not important. I see. Yes, I see. With Big Cimaron in the city, getting the Box out by sea will be all but impossible. We can help you get it across the mountains to Cavalcade," he thought aloud, reaching up to run a hand across his smooth head. "I can do that. I know a pass or two from back in the day. We'll set out right away, before Big Cimaron can start locking down the city."

"The Box is in a ruined temple half a day's travel to the northeast," Yuri repeated what Lyla had told him. "Can you find it?"

"Yes, I know where that is," Heathcrife said absently, his mind occupied with calculating the best way out of the city. "It's boobytrapped, but they should be easy to disarm..."

Yuri paused, knowing the next part would be harder. "...After you get the Box, please take it to the Demon Kingdom."

Startled out of his thoughts, Heathcrife looked up. "The Demon Kingdom? Then, you're all...?"

"They're from the Demon Tribe," the swordsman said, speaking for the first time. His voice was low and hoarse. "I would not have expected the Demon Tribe to seek help from humans. The Demon Kingdom must have truly changed..."

Wolfram looked at him sharply, studying him with a piercing gaze.

"If you keep the Box, the same thing that happened her in Francia will happen in Cavalcade," Murata reasoned, drawing everyone's attention. He smiled. "We of the Demon Tribe have already retrieved one Box, from Caloria. Please entrust us with this one as well."

"I know it's asking a lot," Yuri said, turning pleading, sincere eyes toward Heathcrife, "but I swear to you that we won't use the Boxes. They must never be opened."

Placing his hands on Yuri's shoulders, Heathcrife smiled. "It's alright. I couldn't possibly doubt such a sincere young man. We will retrieve the Box and entrust it to the Demon Tribe," he promised firmly. Then, his eyes saddened. "However, it won't be so simple. Cavalcade shares a border with the Demon Kingdom, but I don't think we will be able to cross it. Tensions have been high recently, and troops have been stationed along the border. I'm afraid they might... ask questions later."

He had been opposed to military action from the start, but Soddengard had placed a great deal of pressure on Cavalcade to support their arming and "defense."

'Is it really that bad?' Yuri wondered. 'Gwendal said everyone was preparing for war, but...'

Before he could despair, Heathcrife continued, "We can use one of my merchant vessels instead. We'll load the Box on in Cavalcade and sail to the Demon Kingdom. Under Hildyard's flag, we should be able to dock and at least make our case... as long as the situation hasn't deteriorated completely."

"They will hear you out, since you'll be accompanied by the young Lord Von Bielefelt," Heathcrife's bodyguard said quietly.

"Um, we're not coming with you," Yuri said, realizing he had left that out. "We'll be providing a distraction for the Big Cimaron troops."

Again, Heathcrife could only stare in surprise. He instantly realized the full implications - there would be nothing to hold him to his word. He would be free to do with the Box as he wished, but Yuri simply trusted him to do as promised. "My boy..." he began, only to run out of words. "My boy, you really are something else..."

"There's no need for that," the bodyguard said quietly. "Go with him. I will stay behind."

"No, it's got to be us," Yuri insisted.

"It's got to be me," Wolfram shot back. "You all should go."

"There's no time for this," Yuri said, refusing to back down. "We already decided we're staying."

"Who's this we?" Wolfram wondered.

"You should all go. I can't return to Demon Kingdom in any case," the swordsman said, irritation beginning to creep into his tone at their bickering. The next moment, he winced, realizing his mistake.

Turning away from Wolfram, Yuri looked at him in surprise, while Wolfram simply looked satisfied, as if his suspicions had all been confirmed.

"I thought so," he declared, his cold satisfaction tinged with disgust. "I thought it was you, Lord Gegenhuber Griesela."

The swordsman flinched, his head bowing under an invisible weight.

"You mean... Nicola's Hube?" Yuri wondered, staring at the man wide-eyed.

"Nicola?" Hube repeated, his gaze snapping to Yuri. "You've... seen her?"

"Sure. She's staying at Covenant Castle," Yuri replied, still staring at the man as a smile began to slowly form on his face. "She's really... um."

"Pregnant," Murata filled in, speaking up from where he had stepped back to observe.

Even through the mask, Hube looked stunned.

He hadn't known. After they had been separated, all he could do was hope that she had survived, that she would forget him and find happiness away from his cursed existence. To hear that Nicola had made her way to the Demon Kingdom and that she was with child...

Seizing the opportunity, Yuri insisted, "That's why you have to go. Nicola's waiting for you! And so is your child!"

"No... I can't go back," Hube said quietly, still reeling from the revelations.

"He's right. He was exiled, remember?" Wolfram said, turning away from the man, his anger and disgust clear.

"No, he wasn't. He was sent to look for the Demon Flute, and he found it. Gunter brought it back, so it's fine," Yuri said.

"And the Demon King even formally acknowledged its retrieval," Murata added. Seeing Yuri's look of surprise, he whispered, leaning in, "It was the other thing I had you sign, since you were so determined about having him return. Don't worry, no matter how stupid your ideas, we've got your back. We'll make it work."

Yuri beamed, and Murata couldn't help but return his smile. 'Nicola, I'm keeping my promise!' Yuri thought. No matter how tough the situation, things were looking up. But as his eyes darted toward Wolfram's brooding figure, Yuri had to wonder if their luck would hold.

~.~.~

I bought a large Japanese manga magazine recently, and it had a chapter of KKM in it. And what do you know, it's a chapter about the Ultimate Tournament. You know, the one where Conrart first reappears, as an enemy. Seems the manga is only that far. Of course, the scanalations are behind even that.

Honestly, the manga is a little weird to read. It has a lot more talking, which means more explanations of some things (like the fact that Nicola was nice to Hube, a Demon Tribesman, because her father's dead body and belongings were returned to her family by a Demon Tribesman years before). In general, I would say the manga probably sticks a little closer to the novels. Or at least that's my assumption.

What is really weird is the shipping aspect. There are some pretty strong Yuuram moments, probably directly from the aforementioned novels, but the artist clearly has a huge soft spot for Conrart. She keeps drawing these really loving shots of him looking super handsome, and also lots of scenes with him and Yuri that are... a bit fanservice-y. Like, I think Conrart all but hugs a naked Yuri at least twice and there's this really intimate dance scene on the ship...

Anyway, the manga's totally worth it just for the pretty artwork and the clothes everyone wears.

(I'll tell you about the other really weird thing next time.)

Also, guys, you need to review more, or I'll get completely unmotivated. As punishment, this is the only chapter you get this weekend.