~.~.~
Title: Maoh, A Day Late
Summary: Yuri arrives in the other world late, and the race for the Boxes has already begun.
Notes: Yuri and company stay in a dungeon and then make a quick getaway.
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Part II, Chapter 12
So long
~.~.~
It was late in the evening when Wolfram's brother descended into the dungeon. As always, he dismissed the guard and made his way down to Yuri and Murata's cell.
"Hi, Conrad," Yuri greeted him, waving through the bars. He had demanded the man's name on his first visit to their cell, which had prompted a rather strange look from him. Yuri supposed it would seem odd to travel with Wolfram and not even know his brother's name, especially since he was also the son of the previous Demon Queen.
Yuri had also completely failed to pronounce it, which "Conrad" had borne patiently.
"Good evening," Conrart replied courteously. "How are you doing?" It was the same thing he asked every time he came to check on them.
"Bored," Yuri said honestly. Glancing over his shoulder, he scowled at Murata's sleeping figure. "And abandoned. But I suppose there are only so many times you can play Shiritori before it gets old." 'Not to mention he keeps winning,' Yuri sulked. 'I should've paid more attention in language class.'
"I'm not familiar with that game," Conrart said, smiling placidly. He carefully didn't ask what it entailed. After he walked in on Yuri and Murata playing a very improvised version of Twister, for which neither could explain the rules, and the fiasco that was trying to explain how Rock-Paper-Scissors worked, Conrart had probably decided he was better off not knowing.
"It's fine," Yuri said, with reasonable good humor. "It's nice of you to come by every day. There's nothing to do, so it's sort of the highlight of my day."
"It's my duty as the leader of the Big Cimaron troops here," Corart replied. He had said that before too, and Murata had explained to Yuri that he was likely making sure the guards didn't get any ideas about doing something to the prisoners without his approval.
It made Yuri smile. "You're worried about your brother, right?" Yuri decided. Conrart made no comment, maintaining the same bland expression. "How's Wolfram doing? You visit him before us, right?"
"He's alright, though the esoteric stones are making him weak and a little nauseous." His expression shifted into a faint frown. "He was feeling so sick today he even didn't curse me out."
"Wow, seasick on land. That's tough," Yuri said, though he wasn't quite as sorry as he probably should have been. "At least he's too miserable to be bored. Let's see... on the boat, I think there was this tea that Miss Celi made to help him feel better. It was from these little purple flowers, like this..." He made a shape with his fingers. "He'd probably like it if you got him some."
"I don't think he would accept anything from me," Conrart said quietly, his expression still mild despite admitting what must have been at least a little hurtful.
Yuri opened his mouth to protest, then thought better of it. "...He might not. But you won't know unless you try!" he hurried to add. "And I think he'll appreciate it, even if he won't act like it. Wolfram came all this way, on this dangerous mission, just to meet you! I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't be happy that their brother cares about them."
Conrart smiled, so faintly that Yuri almost thought was a trick of the light. It was probably the first honest smile Yuri had seen from him, but... it didn't look happy at all. It was bittersweet at best and pained.
After a moment, even that hint of a smile slipped off Conrart's face as he looked at Yuri with something like puzzlement or confusion. "Actually, this time there is something else I need to tell you," he said, watching Yuri carefully. "King Belar is coming here. He will arrive in a few days. At that time, all of you will all be presented to him, so he can personally pass judgment upon you."
"What kind of guy is he, Belar?" Yuri wondered. 'Oh man, I hope I don't lose it like I did with Maxine,' he thought. 'Although maybe that would actually be for the best... It might be our only way out.'
"...He is the ruler of Big Cimaron," Conrart said neutrally.
"You don't sound very excited," Yuri noted. "Or all that respectful. You don't really like him at all, do you? So why are you following him? Or... are you just pretending to follow him for now?" Yuri's eyes narrowed, watching Conrart's unchanging poker face. "What are you really doing?"
"Please do not accuse me of disloyalty. What you are suggesting is tantamount to treason and carries a capital punishment in Big Cimaron," Conrart said. But even Yuri noted that he didn't deny anything.
"Is it really worth it? Whatever it is you're doing, you don't look happy at all," Yuri continued, pressing close to the bars and peering at the man on the other side.
"I would die for my cause," Conrart answered quietly, stepping back further into the shadows.
"It must be very important to you," Yuri murmured, "even more important than coming home..."
"Some things are worth dying for."
It sounded like a terrible echo of a nightmare he had never quite forgotten. It all sounded so stupidly familiar...
"That's wrong!" Yuri yelled suddenly, making the man on the other side of the bars flinch. "Some things might be worth staking your life on, but nothing is worth dying for!"
He gulped a deep breath, shaking with anger.
"Listen up!" Yuri barked, shoving one hand through the bars to point at the startled Conrart. "Let's make a promise, right now! I'll promise you one thing: no matter what, I'll be waiting for you at the Demon Kingdom! When you come back, I'll welcome you home! No matter what happens or how long it takes, we'll meet again there!"
For a moment, Conrart stood frozen, unable to do anything but stare at him in surprise. Swallowing, he finally pulled himself out of his shock and shook his head. "That's impossible," he said. "I can't go back. I've betrayed the Demon Kingdom."
"It doesn't matter! I definitely-," Yuri managed stop himself just in time. "The Demon King will definitely forgive you! He doesn't hold it against you at all. I know, he knows that you must have a reason, and he'll hear you out!"
Furious, Yuri had pressed himself flat against the bars and even stood on his toes to get closer to Conrart's eye level. At the sight of him so determined, Conrart couldn't help but smile a little.
"So you've met His Majesty," he mused quietly. "He sounds... like a fine king."
Caught off guard by the compliment, Yuri floundered.
"I'd like to ask you a favor," Conrart continued, his voice gentle. Stepping toward the bars, he reached into a hidden pocket on his uniform. "The next time you see him, please give this to His Majesty."
He held out a lovely blue stone that seemed to shine with its own radiance. The weight of it felt familiar in Yuri's hand as he accepted it.
"...You should give it to him yourself," Yuri muttered. "When you return."
But Conrart was already walking away. He didn't look back.
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Finally turning back to his cell, Yuri huffed.
"I can tell you're awake, Murata," he said, carefully tucking the pendant into the pocket of the jacket he'd gotten from Conrart after bitterly complaining about the cool dungeon air.
His friend smirked, sitting up smoothly. "Hey, I just wanted to give you two time alone," he mocked cheerfully. "You've really got a Stockholm-Lima thing going there. Almost Romeo-Juliet even."
Yuri scowled, plopping down on the cot beside him. "There's definitely something going on with him," he said. "I'm gonna find out what!"
"You're right," Murata agreed. "He all but told us that we'll have our best chance to escape soon - when we're all brought together before being taken to meet Belar," he explained, seeing Yuri's uncomprehending look. "And he's been very... solicitous. Not just with his brother, but with us too."
"It doesn't make any sense if he's really a traitor," Yuri said flatly. Murata sighed and thought it better not to argue with him. "So what's his deal? Is he getting blackmailed? He sure doesn't seem all that stoked about working for Belar. If anything..."
"If anything, he seems more loyal to the Demon King," Murata finished. "Like Wolfram said."
Sighing again, Yuri let himself fall back against the damp stone wall behind the cot. As he looked up at the dark ceiling, he wondered, "Would he have stayed... if I'd come earlier?"
"...There's no point in wondering about that, Shibuya," Murata said quietly. "Operating the gate between worlds isn't up to you, or even me. We did what we could, and we made it here. Frankly, that's already a miracle."
'The gate between worlds...' Yuri mused. The shadows across the ceiling looked almost like the bottom of the cove they had jumped into, both deeper and shallower than they appeared.
"Ah. I think I have an idea," Yuri said.
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By the time they were pulled out of their cells and Yuri saw Wolfram again, the young nobleman was barely able to stay on his feet. He listed alarmingly, even with his brother's steadying hand under his elbow. The fact that Wolfram didn't even try to pull away probably said more about his state than any reconciliation between the two.
They were taken to the courtyard again, where soldiers and servants were rushing about in a panic. The whole palace seemed to be in chaos, not only the Francian people, but even Big Cimaron's troops appearing nervous and scared. Only Conrart maintained the same air of calm as he turned to the guard who had brought up Yuri and Murata.
"Keep an eye on them while I greet the king at the harbor," he ordered quietly. Looking around, he added, "And try to keep out of everyone's way. Over here is fine."
Normally, Yuri would have been quite happy to linger in the shade, at the edge of the chaos, but their plan didn't really hinge on fewer people or even a chance to slip away unnoticed. He and Murata exchanged a glance, and Yuri shrugged. 'Might as well,' he thought.
"Let's all go greet him together," he said brightly, making even Conrart turn to regard him with some confusion.
"Indeed. We shouldn't waste this chance to offer our salutations to the ruler of Big Cimaron himself," Murata added, pushing up his glasses.
Looking between them, Conrart smoothed his expression. Hopefully, he assumed they had some plan, which they did, more or less. Kind of. Wolfram simply glared suspiciously, too nauseous to even argue.
"I suppose so," Conrart finally said, his tone mild. Turning to the guard, he added, "Fetch the horses, and two extras for them." The soldier hesitated for a moment, but Conrart patiently explained, "It would take too long if they walked. The king does not wish to be kept waiting." Something about the words made the guard snap to attention and rush away as if he had been threatened.
At the gate, Murata mounted with almost annoying ease. Wasn't there anything he couldn't do? Yuri glared a little, as Conrart helped him up on the other horse. When he tried to do the same for Wolfram, the blonde glared, despite being still too weak to mount on his own and in the end having to accept Yuri's help.
"Keep a good hold on him, so he doesn't fall off," Conrart instructed.
"Sure," Yuri said.
"Fine," Wolfram replied at the same time.
The two exchanged a glare.
"Don't try something like running off," Conrart added, handing Yuri the reigns and moving to his own steed. His tone didn't sound much like a warning, and Wolfram watched him go with narrowed eyes.
"Hey, Yuri," Wolfram said quietly, leaning in closer to his companion, "this would actually be a good chance..."
"We've got a plan," Yuri said. 'Sorta.' "Now let me concentrate."
Closing his eyes, he focused on the feeling of the horse under him. It was... not entirely foreign. Thoughtlessly, his body moved, and the horse started forward, following docilely after Corart and Murata, the guard bringing up behind them.
"I thought you didn't know how to ride," Wolfram muttered.
"I guess it's another thing I kept," Yuri mused. "Like language..."
"Kept?" Wolfram repeated, his arms tightening around Yuri.
"...From my past life."
Wolfram's eyes widened, and he stared at Yuri in shock. He mouthed the words - past life - and his brows drew together as he tried to understand the full implications of what Yuri was saying. Not that Yuri seemed to realize what he had let slip. His eyes were still closed, and his breathing slow and steady. He almost appeared to be meditating, lost in thought.
"Yuri, what're you saying?" Wolfram hissed, finally finding his tongue. His grip on Yuri tightened suddenly, startling him. As Yuri jerked out of his daze, the horse jumped as well and, throwing its head, almost bolted.
Reacting with admirable speed, Wolfram reached around Yuri and grabbed hold of the reins. He managed to regain control before they could crash into Murata's horse, which edged away uneasily but remained mostly in position under the hand of its experienced rider.
"Sorry, minor accident," Yuri called out to Conrart, laughing awkwardly. The man's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing as he turned away and continued to lead them to the harbor. Shooting Wolfram a look over his shoulder, which Wolfram returned with narrowed eyes, Yuri let him keep the reins. This wasn't really the time to discuss things.
Yuri could already see the masts of the Big Cimaron ships, yellow flags flying. The same sort of chaos they had seen in the palace courtyard had overtaken the wharf, but the crowd, especially the soldiers, parted to allow Conrart through.
It didn't take them long to reach the water's edge.
A wide ramp had been lowered from one of the massive ships, docked parallel to the wharf. Cimaron soldiers lined the sides and created a living wall at the bottom, but they drew aside as Conrart approached, several coming to take their horses.
As he dismounted, Yuri's eyes were drawn up along its length, past the soldiers, servants and even what appeared to be courtiers, to rest upon the large gilded chair placed before the thick mast. Upon the ornate seat rested a man in equally lavish robes, with large rings glittering on his fingers. His expression was one of impatience and ill humor.
"King Belar," Conrart greeted, dropping to one knee. "You honor us with your presence."
"Yes, I'm sure this pathetic little country has never experienced such a momentous occasion," Belar drawled, pulling himself up out of his slump. "I fully intend to make sure this will be an occasion they never forget."
An unpleasant smirk spread across his face, sending an unwilling shiver down Yuri's spine. Something about the expression was terrifyingly familiar.
The moment passed as Belar's narrow eyes turned to rest on Conrart, his expression changing to a sneer. "But I am less than pleased about having to personally come all the way out here to deal with such a little matter. I expected you to be able to handle things, Lord Weller. This makes two times that you failed to acquire the Boxes. Perhaps I overestimated the your potential uses."
His dismissive, mocking tone of voice set Yuri's teeth on edge, but Murata's firm glare kept him in place. In front of them, Conrart remained bowed and expressionless. "My deepest apologies, King Belar," he said.
Belar continued as if he hadn't heard him. "Perhaps it's time to make use of you in the capacity I had always intended," he mused. Holding up on hand, he snapped his fingers. Soldiers sprang into action, scrambling across the ship to man the cargo crane. Slowly, something massive was lifted out of the hold.
Even under the tapestry wrapped around it, Yuri recognized the even square shape.
A Box.
"The End of the Wind?" Conrart wondered, even his expression showing shock as he tensed, watching the forbidden object move to Francian soil. "...Is it not dangerous to bring it here, outside the borders of Big Cimaron?"
"It can only be used outside Cimaron," Belar said coldly. "And it shall be used - here."
"In Francia?!" Yuri burst out.
"They will certainly never forget the day King Belar visited their pathetic little land, wouldn't you say?" Belar smirked. "This will be a suitable lesson to all those that think of standing against us."
"They didn't stand against you! We did! We took the Box from them by force!" Yuri yelled, only to be forced to his knees again.
"I don't care," Belar said, looking down at them from his throne. "Then it will be a lesson to you and your worthless countrymen. In fact, who's to say which Box caused the devastation? Perhaps... it was the wicked Demon Tribe who unleashed it in this poor, peaceful land."
He chuckled, ignoring Wolfram's snarl.
"If the Box is activated here, you will also be in danger," Conrart said, his voice steady again.
"Oh, I will watch from a safe distance," Belar assured him, his smirk growing. "I learned from the mistakes of those fools in Caloria. A select few loyal, trustworthy men will remain behind to open the Box. They are true patriots."
He gestured to the men surrounding him. Indeed, their uniforms were different, darker and more concealing. Their faces looked dead, despite the fervent light that shone in their eyes.
"And of course, you will be leading them, Lord Weller," Belar continued, amusement thick in his voice. "For the glory of Cimaron. Why, anything else would be... treasonous to even suggest."
Conrart did not even look surprised. He didn't look much of anything at all, his face becoming an expressionless mask. As he bowed his head, Yuri could see the desperate tension coiling through his body.
'We have to do something,' he thought, shooting a frantic look toward Murata.
His friend stepped forward, spreading his hands disarmingly. "If you use the Box here, you won't be able to use it again. Surely you know that," Murata said, his voice quiet but carrying with a hidden strength. "Both the Box and the Key used to open it will be lost. Can you really afford that?"
"Oh? But the Demon Kingdom retrieved the Box in Caloria," Belar pointed out in an almost bored tone, raising his eyebrows mockingly. "So it can be done."
"That was only possible with the power of the Demon King, and even he was pushed to his limits," Murata countered. As he ducked his head, his glasses glinted ominously. "His powers still haven't recovered."
Almost unnoticeably, Conrart's hand twitched, and his eyes darted toward Murata.
"Is that so?" Belar mused.
He leaned forward suddenly, peering down at the three Demon Tribesmen. Tension mounted, and Yuri's body felt like a drawn bowstring.
"Boy..." Belar said slowly. "Your eyes... are very black, aren't they?"
Time seemed to stop.
For a moment, Yuri's mind blanked. He couldn't understand what Belar meant. Only seeing Conrart's widening eyes he realized the hint hidden in the words - black. Double-black. From his place above them, Belar could clearly see where Murata's hair had grown out, showing black roots.
Belar thought Murata was the Demon King.
They couldn't stay there. They had to go.
Yuri snapped into action.
Thrusting one hand up, he sent his magic surging across the wharf. Every soldier stumbled as a blizzard of deep blue flowers engulfed them. It was only a blinding illusion, but the few seconds of freedom it bought them was all they need to jump to their feet, Yuri dragging Wolfram, who had been blinded as well.
It was only a few steps the water's edge. Clasping hands, Murata and Yuri gathered their magic. Without him holding it up, the illusion dispersed quickly, and Yuri could hear startled, angry order to pursue following behind them.
But it was too late. The three boys leapt off the edge into the harbor.
The moment they hit the water, they were gone.
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((There's a hilarious moment in the manga where Yuri completely fails to explain Rock-paper-scissors to Gwendal and Nicola. Anyway, I think it's entirely possible that Conrart wouldn't know about Shiritori, which is a Japanese word game.))
Okay, I forgive you all. Keep it up, reviewers~! :)