MAIN PAIRING: Yuuri x Wolfram

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kyou Kara Maou! However, I do so claim the rights to the originality of this plot.

WARNING: No explicit slash scenes in this chapter, though there's going to be fluffy moments between our two favourite boys.

Let the romance begin!

Chapter One:

Letting out another yelp, Yuuri ducked as low as possible as fireballs flared past him above his head. His onyx eyes glanced at Wolfram a few paces away.

"That's enough, Wolfram!" he insisted and dodged another fireball. "Why are you doing this?"

"To see if you truly are worth being the Maou," replied the blonde. "If not, I will defeat you and take your place! Now stop dodging and fight!"

The raven-haired boy gritted his teeth at the response and rolled away from another blast of fire. Eyes narrowing, he flung an irate glare at Wolfram's uncle standing to the side with Murata and his retainers. 'This is ridiculous,' thought Yuuri. 'I know that Wolfram doesn't think that I'm unworthy of my title; he's only doing this in order to provoke me into using my maryoku so that he can show his uncle that I'm not weak and unable to control my powers.' He tightened a hand into a fist. 'I'm not going to let it continue like this. Absolutely no one has the right to manipulate Wolfram or I for their own satisfaction.'

With the decision made in his mind, Yuuri stood his ground, allowing his maryoku to leak out his body, enough to make him physically glow in soft, dancing flames of blue. Calmly, he raised a hand and made a slashing movement down, instantly destroying the fire lion charging towards him into billowing, hissing steam. "Stop it," he said softly, keeping his dark gaze on Wolfram.

The emerald-eyed young lord crouched lightly into position. "Make me. Come on, attack me!"

Yuuri lowered his arm and began walking towards the other slowly. "No, I can't do that," he said, shaking his head while still holding the blonde's gaze.

"And why not?" challenged Wolfram.

"It's quite simple." He smiled gently at him. "I don't want to hurt you, Wolfram."

At his words, Yuuri could see the instant flush spreading across the blonde's features, though he could tell that Wolfram was trying to suppress it.

Wolfram willed down the urge to blush for all he was worth at the softly spoken words Yuuri had uttered and steeled his resolve. This was for Yuuri's own good. He took a step back from the young king slowly approaching him. He was going to do everything in his power to make everyone see, especially his uncle, that the raven-haired boy was the only one suited for the title of Maou and no one else.

"Prepare yourself, Yuuri!" The blonde raised a palm into the air before him and incanted a spell. Immediately, three large, flaming lions leapt from his hand and charged at Yuuri with deafening roars.

Three water dragons rose from around Yuuri and lunged forward, wrapping themselves around the fire lions and enveloping them in a thick, film of water. With a slow blink of an eye, the young king evaporated the lions and continued his unhurried walk towards Wolfram. The water dragons slinked ahead of him and the blonde closed his eyes, bracing himself for impact. A moment later, forest green eyes snapped open in shock when two wet noses nudged against his right cheek and neck as something warm slithered lightly onto his shoulders with a content hiss.

"See? Even my maryoku does not want to harm you." Yuuri came to a halt before the blonde and a smile tugged his lips. He raised a hand and gently cupped the other's left cheek. "Please don't let others manipulate you, and through you, me, Wolfram," he said quietly. "You're much better than that."

"I-I…" Wolfram trailed off, unconsciously leaning into the touch. He dropped his eyes to the ground, looking away from the unusually piercing, black eyes. "I just wanted to help you," he added with a quiet murmur, only loud enough for Yuuri to hear. "I'm sorry."

"I know," came the simple reply. Yuuri felt a small smirk pull at the edges of his lips. Feeling decidedly playful, he continued, "And I'll forgive you for shooting fire at me if you give me a hug."

Wolfram's head snapped up to glance wide-eyed at the raven-haired boy. "What?" he managed to squeak.

"You're sorry for what you did, aren't you?"

The blonde slowly nodded.

"If so, give me a hug and I'll forgive you."

"But…" Wolfram cut himself off when the raven-haired boy raised an eyebrow as he slightly opened his arms in invitation. Unable to deny the fact that he wanted to hug the other, Wolfram obeyed and stepped into his embrace, clutching at the taller boy. "I really am sorry, Yuuri," he whispered against a satin black-clad shoulder.

Yozak's eyes went wide as he stared at the scene playing out before him. "Hey, Conrad, am I really seeing this?"

Conrad's lips twitched, his brown eyes twinkling. "Yes, you are."

Yozak's mouth dropped open to match the hanging jaw Gunter was sporting beside him, utterly stricken speechless as Murata snickered quietly into his hand.

Wolfram's uncle watched with astonished eyes as the young king enfolded his nephew into his arms, cuddling the blonde closer to him.

He saw the young king smile down at the golden hair splayed on his shoulder and heard his soft reply, "You're forgiven."

The man blinked in surprise at the emotions radiating from the embracing pair. 'They really do feel for each other,' he mentally breathed. Valtrana sighed. He guessed that he would have to accept the raven-haired boy as the Maou after all; besides, the obvious control he displayed when he wielded his power and when he dealt with his nephew went a long way to soothe his fear that the young man would not be a good king—much less Wolfram's fiancé as well.

Wolfram allowed himself to relax marginally into the warm hug. Yuuri had been acting more and more affectionate with him ever since his welcomed return to Shin Makoku. He did not know why Yuuri was acting like this with him all of a sudden when before, the other had adamantly denied that they were engaged but the emerald-eyed beauty did not question it; instead, he allowed himself to relish the tender attention he was receiving from the raven-haired king.

After a while, Yuuri gave a soft squeeze and pulled back. Wolfram smiled up at him in response and sheathed his sword back into its scabbard as he turned to face his uncle from his spot beside Yuuri.

Yuuri looked intently at Lord von Voltaire. "Are you satisfied now?"

Valtrana held his silence.

"Why can't you accept and support Yuuri as the Maou as I do, uncle?" Wolfram spoke up. "There is no one else who is as fit for the title as he is!"

"Once more, let us officially settle this," called out a familiar, deep voice. All pairs of eyes shifted to see six high lords standing behind Gwendel. "We will once more hold a council of the ten royal families right here."

Valtrana started. "What?"

"With the return of His Majesty Yuuri, our previous vote of finding a successor is invalidated henceforth," stated Gwendel. "In which case, we will now bring up a new topic of discussion: the acknowledgement of King Yuuri's reign as our 27th Maou. Is there anyone who objects?"

Accepting silence met his inquiry. Gwendel cast a look over to Valtrana. "Lord von Voltaire, how about you?"

The man clenched his teeth but gave a sigh a moment later. "I too," he conceded, "have no objections."

"Lord von Voltaire."

Valtrana moved his head and met a pair of onyx orbs. He held back a shiver as those twin pools of inky shadows bore into him, as if scanning him. Then, Yuuri tilted his head in his direction. "Thank you."

As he turned to leave, the young king paused and shot a piercing glance over his shoulder. "Much as I welcome your decision to support me, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from manipulating Wolfram on your whims." Yuuri slipped an arm around the lithe waist of a surprised Wolfram and continued, "By trying to control Wolfram, you are attempting to manipulate me by default. Let it be known to you now, Lord von Voltaire, regardless of your position, I will not tolerate any more endeavors to manipulate us. I hope you are clear on that." He gave a small nod. "Good day."

Turning his head around to face forward once more, he led his small group away, his arm still settled around a lightly blushing—but uncomplaining—Wolfram.

000o000

Yuuri gave a slow blink when he opened the doors to his study and was greeted with the sight of looming piles of parchment stacked in countless piles on his desk. He stared at them in horror, his feet taking root into the stone floor.

"No way…" he breathed in disbelief, and then gave a low groan. "I'm going to be so busy for the next couple of days." With a reluctant sigh, he rolled up his sleeves and determinedly made his way over to the bureau.

Gwendel waved a hand at the parchments as his king seated himself and took a sheet from the top of one stack closest to him. "During your absence, I have gone through these documents and have already dealt with the less important ones. All of these here require the personal perusal of the Maou and either your official stamp of acceptance or refusal."

"I see." Yuuri looked up from the parchment in his hands to glance at him. "Gwendel, I truly appreciate the time you've invested in going through all these documents; however," the young king's shoulders straightened, "I would rather that you leave this particular task to me from now on."

The blue-eyed man stared blankly at him for a few long moments, his jaw unconsciously falling open in astonishment. Beside him, Conrad's eyebrow was lifted in surprise though he did not voice his own opinions on the matter. Wolfram, on the contrary, had no qualms in expressing his shocked thoughts.

"What are you talking about, Yuuri?" asked the emerald-eyed young lord. "You abhor paperwork!"

Yuuri flashed a quick smile at the blonde before he fixed his eyes back on Gwendal. "You already have so much to deal with, Gwendal, and while I am thankful for your help, I think it's high time for me to start bearing my own, rightful responsibilities that I should have taken on long ago." He paused in thought for a moment then continued, "What Lord von Voltaire had said is true. I need to start taking responsibility of my kingly duties. Therefore, I would also like for you to start including me in political gatherings." He ran a hand through his black hair with a sheepish grin. "I've been taking some diplomatic lessons from Shori—"

He was interrupted when Wolfram blurted out, "So that's how you so eloquently told my uncle off earlier this afternoon! I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one surprised by your reaction."

Gwendel, Conrad, and Yozak nodded in unison as Gunter heaved a dreamy sigh. "Oh…you were magnificent, Your Majesty!" he crooned.

Wolfram ignored the dazed-looking Gunter and asked, "But why did you start taking lessons from your brother?"

Yuuri raised an eyebrow and shot a slightly reprimanding look at the blonde. "I was getting to that part when someone decided to cut in," he scolded gently.

The emerald-eyed boy flushed a little. "Sorry," he muttered.

Yuuri grinned to indicate that he was forgiven and continued, "As I was saying before, I've been taking some diplomatic lessons from Shori after I blubbered like an awkward fool when Prince Charles came to visit him. I was horrified at my utter lack of diplomacy and I almost shattered the political relationship between Shori and Prince Charles with my idiocy.

"Let's just say that I have never seen Shori so angry with me before—actually, it was the first time I've seen him so enraged. That one experience also made me think back on my interactions with the officials here in Shin Makoku, and I realized just how many sticky situations you and Gunter had to solve to soothe insulted souls and to prevent unintentional wars.

"I've been so ignorant, and I admit that I still am. But I want to change that." Yuuri paused again and looked down at his hands, staring unseeingly at his upturned palms. "I know that I will be unable to fully shoulder everything so quickly, but with your guidance, I hope you will help me deal with my responsibilities bit by bit until I can stand firmly on my own two feet; especially now that I've decided to remain the Maou." He looked up then. "Would you be willing to guide me?"

Silenced reigned in the large study for several minutes. Then, Gwendel deliberately coughed into his fisted hand to close his opened jaw. The blue-eyed man raised his head and met the dark gaze of his ruler. He allowed a small smile to spread across his normally stern visage. "It would be my pleasure."

Yuuri smiled brightly back at him. He glanced at the others still standing stupefied in front of him. "Well then, if you all don't mind, I need to get started on these documents."

Getting the hint as the dismissal it was, his retainers smiled at him and bowed slightly, all of them turning to slowly make their way out of the study.

"Wolfram, wait for a minute please."

The blonde paused in his steps and swiveled on his heels to face Yuuri as the double doors to the study closed behind the others. The young king gestured at a seat in front of him. "Why don't you sit down? I have something I want to discuss with you."

A little unused to the formal tone the raven-haired boy was employing, Wolfram obeyed the request without another word. "What is it?"

"Uh, well," Yuuri stammered and brought up a hand to run it through his black locks. "Wolfram, y-you may have noticed that ever since I came back to Shin Makoku, I-I've been, well, um…"

Wolfram quirked an elegant brow lightly at the suddenly flushing king. With a small grin and a rising, answering blush on his own features, he decided to tease the other a bit. "I may have noticed what, Yuuri?"

"Well, um, you've probably noticed that I've been more, well…" Taking a fortifying, deep breath, Yuuri plunged forward, "that I'm a lot more affectionate with you?"

A light dusting of pink splashed across Wolfram's pale cheeks. "Yes."

Yuuri looked at him questioningly. "And haven't you wondered why?"

The blonde nodded slowly. "I have," he confirmed, then crossed his arms across his chest, a teasing glint appearing in twin emerald pools. "I've just been waiting for you to tell me why on your own."

"Oh." Yuuri looked down unseeingly at the parchment before him. He gritted his teeth. 'This is much harder than I thought,' he pondered with a mental grimace. He glanced at Wolfram from underneath his lashes and steeled his resolve. 'But I swore to myself that I would do this when I almost lost him. And I'm going to keep my vow.'

"Do you remember when Soushu was still at large and he stole your heart?"

Wolfram started at the sudden turn of topic. He squashed down the pang of disappointment rising up in him at the change of subject and nodded. "Yeah," he replied softly, images of the final battle flashing by in his head. "I do. Very clearly."

"So do I." The raven-haired boy was still staring down at his desk. "When Shinou reached into your chest and took out your heart right in front of my helpless eyes, I felt as if my own had stopped right there and then. When you collapsed, lying on the stone floor still and unresponsive, my breath froze in my lungs." The king's fingers slowly curled into his palms until his hands formed tightly clenched fists. "When Conrad placed two fingers on your throat to check your pulse, my own pulse felt like it had disappeared. When Cheri wailed in grief over your cold body, I wailed with her inside my head then I felt a rage so strong sweep through me, I had to force myself to stay in control, else I wipe everything out in that clearing. And when Anissina told us all that you were not dead after all, that you only needed your heart back to open your eyes again, what I felt—what I swore then was that when you woke up again, I would tell you." Yuuri rose from his seat and moved around his desk to stand beside the blonde's chair. He tucked a finger under Wolfram's chin and raised his head so that his fathomless, obsidian eyes could look into bright, emerald orbs.

Wolfram felt his breath catch in his throat at the emotions he found swirling in those dark depths staring down at him. "What, Yuuri? Tell me what?" he whispered, darting his tongue out to lick at his suddenly dry lips.

Black eyes dropped down to glance at the pink tongue before Yuuri dragged his gaze back up. His other hand reached up to cup a soft cheek and he leaned down to nuzzle Wolfram's other cheek. Taking a small step closer, he moved his head until his lips were by the blonde's ear. "I swore to tell you that I love you, Wolfram," he breathed. "I realized, after finally disregarding my constant self-denial, that I always have loved you."

The blonde froze, his eyes going impossibly wide. He shivered again as Yuuri's hot breath caressed his sensitive ears. "You what?" he squeaked incredulously.

The young king pulled back a bit, keeping his hand on the other's cheek as his other hand gently tugged Wolfram up to his feet. "You don't have to say anything in return for now, Wolfram. I know it may be hard for you to accept what I just confessed so suddenly but I swear that it's the truth," he said. An arm snaked around Wolfram's waist and pulled him close until the blonde was tucked into the crook of his body. "And I swear that I will do everything in my power to prove it to you. I will persist until you accept that my feelings for you are genuine and hopefully, you will return my sentiments. I don't want just the title of being your fiancé, Wolfram; I want to be your fiancé." Yuuri tightened his grip on the blonde. "Therefore, will you accept my offer to officially court you?"

Still feeling shell-shocked, Wolfram searched the dark gaze locked on him. "When did you start acting so mature, Yuuri? It's almost as if you're a completely different person," he whispered. 'Although I happen to like this side of Yuuri a lot too,' the blonde added silently in his mind.

Yuuri gently brushed a lock of spun gold from Wolfram's face. "I decided to grow up," he replied softly in return. "Will you accept my offer, Wolfram?"

The emerald-eyed boy closed his eyes, leaning into the soft touch. A beautiful smile began to bloom on his face. He opened his eyes again and said softly, but firmly, "Yes."

An answering smile swept across Yuuri's handsome features. "That's great!" he exclaimed happily. His eyes dropped to Wolfram's lips and the blonde felt his heart skip a beat when the taller boy raised his eyes to look back up into his green gaze. "Hey, Wolfram," Yuuri breathed as he slowly began to lean down. "May I kiss you?"

"It's a bit sudden," Wolfram replied, beginning to feel light-headed with Yuuri's close proximity, "but yes, you may."

Yuuri unhurriedly bridged the last distance separating them and gently, ever so gently, brushed his lips against Wolfram's. The blonde released a tiny whimper and reached up, wrapping his arms around the king's neck and pulling him down again for another kiss. Yuuri's breath hitched at the quiet moan tumbling out of the other's throat and without further ado, he deepened the kiss, a hand sweeping through golden locks to cup the nape of Wolfram's neck. He tilted the gorgeous blonde's head back and nibbled on a full, lower lip. Wolfram parted his lips with a sigh at the unspoken request, drawing Yuuri's questing tongue into his mouth. A pale hand moved up to tangle into soft, raven hair and Wolfram absentmindedly noted that the tresses were silky smooth to the touch.

Mapping the moist cavern of the blonde's mouth, Yuuri rumbled softly deep in his throat as Wolfram's sweet flavour hit his senses. 'He tastes like melted chocolate,' Yuuri thought dazedly and tugged Wolfram closer until he was completely pressed flushed up against him.

When the call for air could no longer be ignored, the king reluctantly slipped his tongue from Wolfram's welcoming mouth and gently parted their joined lips. Both were panting heavily by the time they drew apart and glazed emerald globes met equally dazed onyx orbs.

"Wow," softly breathed Wolfram after a few seconds of silence, broken only by their harsh breathing as he rested his head on Yuuri's chest.

Wrapping both arms securely around the stunning blonde, Yuuri pressed his cheek on top of Wolfram's. "Yes, it was," he agreed quietly, breathless as well.

Wolfram snuggled deeper into the taller boy's embrace and sighed contently. "I could easily get used to this."

"So could I."

After a long moment of comfortable silence, the blonde pulled back slightly and lightly pecked Yuuri's kiss-swollen lips, thrilling in the fact that he had done that to Yuuri and could do so again whenever he wanted now. "I better get going," he explained, brushing a strand of hair from the king's eyes. "I have some men I need to train and you need to get started on your documents. I'll see you soon, alright?"

Smiling tenderly down at the other in his arms, Yuuri nodded his agreement. "Alright." He released the blonde and watched him walk over to the double doors.

Wolfram paused with a hand on the handle and glanced back at the king still standing in the same spot looking back after him. "Thank you, Yuuri."

The raven-haired young man shook his head, his fathomless eyes dark with swirling emotions that the blonde could now identify as warm love—only for him. "No, thank you, Wolfram."

Wolfram smiled radiantly at him before closing the door quietly and gently behind him.

A/N: I had forgotten to mention in the prologue that Dawning Era of Awakening Light in Looming Darkness evidently takes place after the final battle with Soushu and that this story will lead off on a different path than the third season; however, I will be taking pinches from the third season here and there to keep this fanfiction connected to the original series.

I know that the relationship between Yuuri and Wolfram seems a little surreal with how fast it's picking up but for me, this makes the story much more interesting if the characters are aware of their feelings and are actually working to maintain their relationship instead of floundering their way until they kiss for the first time in the twentieth chapter (I really hate it when it takes really long for the characters to pull their heads out of their rear-ends and deal with the blatantly obvious raw, sexual tension between themselves). I hope you guys share the same opinion as I do!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well! Hope to see you in the next chapter!

Please kindly review!