Chapter 2

It was a sad day for Conrad Weller.

It was hard so wait at his door, wait for Yuri. He knew he had to say goodbye to the young king all too soon, and he didn't like the thought at all. Hard times were awaiting him. Every other time Yuri was sent back to earth, it happened before anybody could say or do anything about it. Knowing this could be their last morning jog for a long time was really taking his mood down. Conrad didn't want to be depressed, he wanted to have as much fun with Yuri as he could throughout those last days.

Every reaction of Yuri, every smile, everything he said Conrad tried to suck in like a sponge, cherishing and treasuring the thoughts in order to help him through the time when Yuri would be gone. He suppressed a sigh that was almost escaping his lips. Control yourself, he reminded himself. As always.

If there was a master of self-control, never letting anything show of his true feelings, then it was Sir Conrad Weller.

It must never, ever, be revealed that Yuri was more to him than just his king. That he wanted to be more than just his knight and protector. Conrad couldn't recap how long ago it started that he liked Yuri. That he began to like him way more than he should. But loving Yuri was very easy, his joyful manner, his constant smile, his kindness and forgiveness, the way he always trusted everybody, just – his way to handle things was unique. And so likeable.

It hurt to know that Yuri would never be his, that he never would have the right to claim him his own. Yuri had been engaged to his brother, Wolfram, for years now. Although it never seemed like the two boys would start to have a real relationship, apart from sharing the bedroom at night. But he could never see inside them or into that room at night, he didn't know what they were feeling for each other, and he had no right to interfere. And knowing that hurt so damn hard.

Yuri yawned as the sun was shining into their bedroom, stretching his arms and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, before he left the bed to get dressed. With one last glance at Wolfram and Greta still sleeping peacefully, he silently left the room for his jog with Conrad. The captain was already waiting for him beside the door.

„Good morning, heika," he slightly bowed towards the boy, smiling, but Yuri could easily notice that his smile was not reaching his eyes.

„Good morning, Conrad. And it's Yuri," he murmured sleepily.

„Yu-ri," Conrad answered, as always. I'm going to miss that, suddenly came to Yuri's mind. The way Conrad used to speak out his name, how he always emphasized the first syllable after being corrected on calling him "heika".

Quietly they jogged around the inner courtyard. Yuri was way to lost in thought to say anything. But Conrad would understand - he always did.

After a short bath they met again at the breakfast table, where Wolfram, Greta, Murata, Gunter and Gwendal were already waiting.

„What are you planning for today?" Gunter asked Yuri after some time.

„I really don't know," the maou responded, „maybe just a few little things to enjoy my last days here. I would be grateful if you release me of paperwork and lessons for the remaining time."

Gunter nodded understandingly. „Of course. We'll spare you out, so use the last days well."

„But I'd like to do some sword practice with you, if you don't mind," Conrad added, eyeing him from the side. „It's never to late for something like that."

„No, I don't mind at all," Yuri answered. Sword practice with Conrad isn't nearly as boring as lessons and paperwork.

„Use your feet more! Step backwards in time to block the thrust!" Conrad advised him while beating back with his sword in response to Yuri's first attack.

The latter didn't give up and tried a combination of various moves and attacks, though he knew the older man was having no problem blocking them. He wasn't good at using his sword and he would never be, and of course never a respectable combatant for Shin Makoku's best sword fighter facing him right now. He tried again, and again, but it seemed he couldn't even catch his teacher off guard. Yuri had no chance against Conrad, and he knew, but well – it was just practice.

„You got a pattern that is easy to figure out. Try some thing different from time to time," the brown-haired man added after the next moves.

Well, I already try to, Yuri thought desperately. But it's so difficult to do something you would be surprised about. He took a step forwards, wielding his sword over his head. A classic attack from the middle and onto the combatant's head. Conrad blocked it easily, again. Yuri tried breaking the guard by – unusual to what he did otherwise – perform the same attack again, though he had no space to put any power into this desperate move. Suddenly, he just saw the other man's sword moving towards him, and then everything turned black.

Conrad was so incredibly sorry. He hadn't been any more sorry in his whole life. He hadn't thought Yuri would use the same thrust again, and blocked it with way to many power in his move, not considering that it had to be weaker the second time. His sword had slipped from Morgif's blade and hit Yuri with the flat side at the side of his head. Conrad had managed to catch him before he hit the ground hard, but Yuri was unconscious in his arms.

Why didn't I take care? By Shinou, if anything happened to him, I could never forgive myself. He would never hurt his king. Never. And yet, this happened. Luckily it was only the flat side of the sword. I don't want to imagine what it would have been if it was the sharp one.

The soldier's face was stern as he lifted Yuri up into his arms to carry him to his room. The king needed rest, and hopefully he would recover soon. Conrad also hoped that nobody would see them this way. Again, he was lucky, and they reached the royal bedchamber without meeting anyone.

As he expected, it was empty. Neither Wolfram nor Greta were here. And just as he wanted to lie Yuri onto his bed, the boy opened his eyes again.

„Conrad... what-... what happened?"

„Heika," his head dropped down, „I'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry. I don't know how I could ever make this up. I accidentally hit you with my sword during the training, and you were knocked out. Is everything okay? Are you hurt?" He sat down on the bed, his young king still in his arms. He didn't really want to let him go. His failure still gnawed at his conscience. Conrad had to assure that everything was okay.

„I'm fine, just a little dizzy," Yuri answered, resting his arm around Conrad's shoulder in order to balance his weight, while the latter sat down on the bed.

„Are you sure? Have you got a headache?"

Before the king could speak again, the captain noticed he was in trouble. His heart was racing, but not from his incredibly dangerous mistake, but because of the mere physical closeness to Yuri. The boy really got him goosebumps right now, looking that confused and so innocent cradled in his arms. He had always had a weakness for the young maou, more than was good for him, and he knew that well enough. Yuri got him flustered whenever he was around.

But hiding his feelings was second nature to Conrad. He had done that already with his feelings for Julia, and he did so with the ones for Yuri. It wasn't appropriate at all. There was no chance for him to ever win Yuri's heart, so he locked his pain inside, as always.

He had to swallow hard as Yuri, again, shook his head.

„God, Yuri, I'm so sorry..." He bowed his head again, feeling terrible.

„It's okay, nothing happened- Wait... you called me by my name, Conrad," the obviously surprised boy smiled all over his face. By Shinou, he is so cute, the soldier caught himself thinking. He's really getting me weak again. It isn't good if he's that near. Conrad was very proud of his always so controlled self, Yuri really was the only one to get him to drop that down at times. Times like this. This isn't good. Not at all. He got increasingly nervous.

Still, his head was bent down, once again overwhelmed by the king's kindness and forgiveness. He couldn't believe it. He could have seriously hurt him, and what was Yuri's answer? Just being happy about being called by his name. So typical for him, Conrad thought, eyes closed, smiling.

Suddenly, Yuri felt Conrad's lips on his own. He was stunned, speechless, unable to say or do anything. He couldn't believe this was truly happening right now. Maybe he had just lifted his head to high, he just wanted to say something to the soldier. But anyway, he had completely forgotten about it by now. The situation was overstraining him. It felt weird.

Yuri never got kissed before, except that one time by Wolfram, but that hadn't been a real kiss. Feeling Conrad so close above him felt unfamiliar, but not unpleasant, as their lips brushed against each other. He knew he should just lay his head back down on the man's arm, but somehow, he couldn't. His soldier's lips were soft, and the light scent of Conrad around him was strikingly awesome.

It only got worse for his conscious when Conrad in fact carefully moved his lips, kissing him softly, slowly, gently... almost lovingly. But he noticed quickly that Yuri wasn't responding at all, so he pulled away hastily, looking shocked at the boy in his arms.

It seemed like he couldn't believe what he had just done. They just stared at each other in disbelief for what seemed to be an endless moment. Conrad's eyes snapped wide open, terrified.

Neither of the both of them knew what to do, until Conrad lifted Yuri up, set him down on the bed and stepped towards the door at a fast pace.

As he reached it, he just turned around and bowed slightly.

„My apologies, heika, that was inappropriate. Please, forgive me," and with that, he was gone.

After Yuri stared for countless minutes at the closed door, he let himself fall back into the pillows. His thoughts were heavy and his mind confused. He sighed after licking his dry lips. Strangely enough, they still kind of tasted of Conrad's. The black-haired boy felt like starting to cry every second. He liked Conrad. A lot, in fact. He never thought of liking him that way, but either way he was so taken by surprise with this kiss that he didn't even have the chance to think about an reasonable way to react.

What will he think about me now? That I don't like him, despise him for what he'd done? Most likely, he's ashamed of himself, thinking this was all his fault. I even haven't got a clue how this happened, and he won't either. How can I look into his eyes anymore? I'll be blushing as soon as I face him. As always, he'll get it right away. Conrad knows me far too good. I can't hide anything from him. But I don't want him to feel terrible about it.

He rose his head and it came to his mind clearly. He didn't feel disgusted about being kissed by a man. In fact, I kind of... liked it. But maybe that was because it was Conrad, and not somebody else...

Anyway, I ruined everything. The most devastating way. He covered his face with both hands.

The rest of the day, he tried to distract himself, spent his time playing with Greta, avoiding every place Conrad could stumble over him. Successfully. I know him, he will try to avoid my ways as well as I try to avoid his.

Yuri just took all his courage to search for Murata, telling him that he wanted to go home tomorrow. He'd rather wanted to go right now, but somehow, he thought, it would be better if he slept another night here, to think the recent happenings over. So Conrad gives me sleepless nights now, Yuri thought, rather amused. And in a strange kind of way, very afraid of himself.

So, finally something is happening. And I think it's clear by now that this will be a ConradXYuri-fic. I so wish for them to get a happy end, but there are many difficulties to overcome. Review if you want to read what happens next :)