Chapter 6

Yuri inhaled the fresh, cold winter air. He totally loved it. The white, fluffy snow covering the landscape and all around him everything was so quiet and peaceful. And his friends were with him. He felt like a little boy in elementary school as they entered the castle's garden.

The black-haired boy took a look at his companions and grinned. Conrad, Murata and Yozak were all clothed in thick furry jackets, bobble hats and gloves. The sight made him giggle, they were never seen like this. Or, at least, very rarely.

„So, at first you have to show us what a 'snowman' is, heika," Yozak winked at him.

„Okay, just wait a minute..."

Yuri ran around, shaping a snowball in his hands and rolling it around until it became a suitable base for a snowman.

„But that's... uhm, a ball?" Conrad objected, though rather amused.

„Just wait!" Murata hauled up another, smaller, snow ball on top of the first one, which he had made in the meantime.

Yuri was again off for the third one, quickly applying it.

„So, where's the bag I brought?" he asked, looking at Murata, who handed it to him quickly.

Yuri sticked in two coals as eyes, a carrot for a nose, and topped the snowman's head with an old pot. Then he used two branches sticked to the side of the second ball like arms.

„Done!" he smiled happily like a little boy.

Yozak and Conrad obviously found this very amusing. The two men were laughing loud at the king's efforts, when a small snowball burst at Conrad's chest. Now it was for Murata to laugh merrily before running away to hide behind the next tree.

All of them got this as an invitation for a snowball match, and quickly everybody took cover behind a bush, tree or anything else that was around, tossing snowballs at the others.

Yuri threw a snowball at Murata before rolling himself behind some bushes next to his former cover. He got another snowball thrown at him by Murata, so he tried to avoid it by leaping to the farther left edge of the bushes. He quickly shaped three new balls and looked for the others. They were obviously working on their stock, nobody could be seen. As he looked around the other corner, the boy noticed that Conrad had used the hedge to cover himself. He turned his back at Yuri.

What about jumping him and rubbing snow into his face? he thought, smirking. Oh no, he couldn't do something that mean. And getting snow rubbed onto your face actually hurt. Taking the advantage of surprise and tackling him into the snow? Yuri giggled, slowly and quietly making his way towards the brown-haired soldier, who still didn't see him.

But the moment he launched himself at the other one, Conrad seemed to have heard something - most likely his steps in the heavy snow - and turned around, just to be smashed into the snow by the boy.

Yuri realized he lay on his captain's chest, and the latter held him at his waist to balance his weight. He chuckled, once again he had accidentally made his way into Conrad's arms. But he couldn't help enjoying it, he was so glad that he was back in Shin Makoku, back at Conrad's side... so he just slid his hands under the soldier's shoulders, squeezed him tightly and rested his head at the taller one's chest.

He felt Conrad's warm breath on his face and his strong arms wrapping around his small waist, holding him close.

„I'm so happy that you're back," the brown-haired man whispered. But that didn't seem intended. More like his voice had left him.

„Me too," he answered smiling, cuddling into the man's chest. He didn't want to let go, and it looked like Conrad didn't either.

Conrad couldn't believe he was holding Yuri in his arms.

And the king even obviously even enjoyed it. That was too wonderful to be true. But he was also well aware that they couldn't lie like this for too long, because of the cold snow and the others, who were waiting for them. Nonetheless, he wanted to cuddle with Yuri all day – and night – like this.

He quickly lifted his upper body, still holding Yuri with one hand around the boy's waist, smiling lovingly at him.

„We got a match to win, Yuri," he said, trying not to sound too sad. Then he realized he had called him by his name, unintentionally.

The boy smiled brightly, the black orbs of his eyes sparkling, as he leaped to his feet, grabbing one of the remaining snowballs. Just in time, Conrad thought. He really had a hard time resisting to kiss Yuri right here. Again.

Sleeping alone in the big bed in the royal bedchamber was strange enough for Yuri. But the memory of sitting here, cradled in Conrad's arms while being kissed by him didn't help either. He longed for someone to share the bed with him, but Wolfram and Greta were away. He couldn't sleep.

So Conrad gives me sleepless nights again, he thought. If I could lie in his arms like this afternoon, I would be asleep immediately. But that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Wolfram would be back in a few days, watching every single one of his steps.

And that meant, Yuri had to think of a way to handle the fact that he loved someone who was not his fiancé. He liked Wolfram, and he didn't want to break his heart. But the blonde wasn't someone whom talking to reasonably would be possible. He was always hot-tempered, possessive and very jealous. Yuri sighed heavily.

He couldn't live with this lie any longer. It was a farce, and it had been from the very beginning. He should have stopped this engagement long ago, before it got that far. Wolfram had feelings for him, and he knew that all to well. But Yuri himself was the bad guy in this relationship. He would have to break Wolfram's heart, because he loved someone else. Of course that would be painful, but he mustn't tell him that, especially not that this certain someone was no one else than his own brother.

Yuri realized that his relationship to Wolfram had gotten complicated over the last years. The blonde started to get increasingly clingy and was bratty as always. He couldn't stand his immature manners any more. They simply didn't fit each other. It was hard to realize, but Wolfram had to, as well.

The problem was how to make him see that.

Early that morning, Conrad was standing again in front of Yuri's bedroom door. Morning jogs again. He looked forward to spending time with Yuri, as always.

The boy looked pretty sleepy as he walked outside the room.

„Morning, Conrad," he yawned. Maybe he hadn't slept too well.

„Good Morning, heika," he bowed slightly.

Yuri sighed, but he smiled. „It's Yuri."

„Yu-ri." He noticed the boy looked rather amused as he turned around.

While they were jogging around the inner courtyard, Conrad remembered what he wanted to tell Yuri.

„Yozak just told me that Wolfram sent a carrier pigeon this morning. He will be back by today's late afternoon."

He noticed Yuri whimpering at this, but the boy didn't say anything.

So Wolfram was coming back today. Yuri swallowed heavily. They just finished lunch and he still wasn't able to get to one clear thought. He was incredibly nervous. He knew that trouble lay ahead as soon as Wolfram would be back.

Yuri decided to leave the meeting room, but he couldn't find a place to rest, so he wandered the hallways, trying to sort his thoughts. He had to do this today, even though it was already way to late. It would be straining and pathetic, anything he said would be cruel. But he had to.

The king hadn't realized how fast the hours flew by, when he suddenly heard Murata's voice calling for him.

„Yuri!" he said, approaching the boy, „Wolfram is arriving in a few minutes. We'll be awaiting him at the gate. Will you come with me? The others are already there."

„Of course," Yuri nodded, following the Sage down the stairs. His gaze was unfocused. The time had come.

He stopped in the middle of the empty hallway and turned his head at his classmate, his gaze was serious. "You know what I have to do," he swallowed heavily.

Murata just nodded and patted his shoulder encouragingly with his right hand.

Wolfram was just entering the courtyard of the castle as Yuri and Murata stepped outside the gate. Gunter and Conrad were already there.

The blonde mazoku quickly noticed his fiancé at the stairs as he approached them. He jumped down his horse, running at the others.

Gunter took a step forward. „Welcome home, Lord von Bielefeld," he , greeted him formally.

„Thank you," the latter answered nodding at Gunter, but immediately looked back at Yuri. „Could anyone please tell me why I wasn't informed about your recurrence? You're my fiancé!" Oh fine, he's already angry again, Yuri thought sighing, restraining to roll his eyes. He should rather be happy that I'm back. But no, all he could do was complaining.

„I'm only here since yesterday!" he defended himself.

„But anyone could've told me, so I would have traveled home earlier," Wolfram snorted.

I can still do what I want, I am a free man, Yuri wanted to shout at him. Do I always have to justify myself?

It really was enough.

The mood got increasingly tensed between the king and his fiancé.

„Wolfram, we need to talk," Yuri announced firmly, looking directly into the blonde's eyes.

„Oh, we do?" he snapped back, throwing his head back. „What is it?"

Yuri looked at Murata, Gunter – and at last, but for the longest time, at Conrad. Is he... no, that can't... The soldier couldn't believe his presentiment.

Wolfram just rose an eyebrow, eyeing the king suspiciously.

„Wolfram," Yuri took one last breath. „We've been living with this lie for way too long now. I cannot stand it anymore. Therefore, I'm going to break up our engagement, now and here."

Said one just stared at him speechless. So was Conrad. He had guessed it, but that Yuri actually did it was incredibly surprising.

„You can't be serious!" Wolfram said after some time while Yuri was watching him carefully.

„I am."

„I won't accept that! I will never do!"

„You will have to."

„Forget it!"

„Listen," Yuri tried to explain, „I did never intend to hurt you, and you always helped me dealing with matters concerning the country and lots of other stuff. You always helped protecting me. I appreciate that and I don't want to miss it in the future. We are both grown-up men, Wolfram, and we should be able to deal with this. This engagement was, from the very beginning, a misunderstanding. I can't be engaged to someone I don't have any romantic feelings for. I'm very sorry, I never meant to raise your hopes for the wrong reasons."

Wolfram turned away, deeply hurt. He was trembling. „No one should have you, if I can't!" he unsheathed his sword, but Gunter quickly held his hand, pulling the weapon out of his grip. Wolfram was too surprised to prevent it.

„What are you doing?" he shouted at the white-haired counselor.

„You won't do his majesty any harm, Wolfram," Gunter responded firmly.

„So that's the way it is," he snapped back. „I can't believe you all are betraying me like this! Tell me, Yuri, who is she!" He was furious.

„She?" Yuri was surprised. He didn't figure out what the mazoku was up to.

„Yeah, the girl you're dating or in love with, whatever. The one you leave me for."

„I don't have any-"

„Don't lie to me!" Wolfram shouted angrily.

„I'm serious, there's no one! And I never lied or cheated on you!" Is an accidental kiss actually cheating? Conrad thought.

„Oh, you can pretend whatever you want. I'm out of here. The engagement is off! I will never forgive you that!"

With that, the blonde rushed to the door, entering the castle hastily. Murata immediately followed him, a mischievous grin on his face. He seems a little bit too cheerful at this.

„I'll look after him, don't worry," Murata said, running after Wolfram.

Conrad still stared at Yuri in surprise. There was the little bit of hope he had waited for.

One matter less to care about. I tried to write it accurate, hope it's not too OOC, I'm curious about your opinion on this.

I still wonder, if anybody even reads this... I mean, just one review up to now? :( Please make me happy and review!

Btw, I rewrote some parts of Chapter 4, Murata's POV. Check it out, it will be important in the following chapters :)