Chapter 12

Thanks for the new reviews :D I'm very, very happy that you like my story. Please keep on reading! (And reviewing! ^^)

I'm so sorry that I haven't updated for a week, but I'm busy with stupid things like Just Dance 2, learning to play the guitar, work and stuff... yeah. Have mercy with me :) I'll try to update at least twice a week again!

Oh, and luukia: thanks for your review :D concerning the speech sentence marks, the first one is always at the bottom because I'm writing on a german keyboard ^^ I think there's an option for that somewhere, but I would have to search for it... Hope you enjoy reading anyway :)

Enough talking, here's a little chapter for all the GwendalXGunter-fans :D Like myself... *whistles*

Gunter hurried down the hallways with flattering robes and a deep-red face, caused by his fast pace. He was late. He had wanted to clear this an hour ago, but Yuri had completely stolen his time. Getting a nervous king into a suit isn't that easy, the white-haired counselor sighed to himself.

But quickly he had reached the door he intended to enter.

Gasping for air, he opened it and found himself in Gwendal's room, where the latter just finished dressing. Gunter traced the general in his gala uniform. He didn't wear it that often, and when he did, it was always just for very special events. He looks gorgeous, the white-haired mazoku couldn't help but think.

The man in front of him fondled at his sleeve. „Could you help me quickly, Gunter, I can't quite get the cuff links in here..." he mumbled, frowning as always.

„Sure," he answered and stepped to his friend, gripping his sleeve to clip the cuff link in. „Other hand," the counselor commanded after finishing, amused by the helpless look of the dark-haired mazoku.

The way their hands touched made Gunter whimper. It felt strange to him, touching the general like this. That was way too... intimidate than usual. Gwendal was simply an impressive person, that tall, dark, handsome person he was - even more in this suit. He felt his heart skip a beat. Since when did he come to think of...? He shook his head inwardly. Get your head clear.

„Done," he announced after clipping the second one in. „So, are you finished? We have to pick up Cherié-sama and Greta yet." They are already waiting for us for sure.

„Yeah, I'm done. You're going to pick up heika, right?" Gwendal didn't look at him, just straightened his sleeves.

Gunter nodded, a sad smile on his face. He had thought his crush for the king would be over once he realized that the young maou already had a man at his side. With an actual relationship. But he still felt strange about it, though he couldn't quite put his finger on the feeling bothering him.

A hand tapped his shoulder lightly.

As he looked up, his eyes locked with Gwendal's, and the dark-haired general's lips twitched upwards. „You're going to handle this. We will whitness a very happy day today. Please don't feel bad about anything, okay?"

The white-haired man nodded slowly. Could Gwendal read his mind or what? He surely is way more sensitive than he always pretends, but well – he also knows me long enough.

„You're right, I'm sorry," he cleared his throat, „But we have to go now. We're already late..."

They left the room, and Gunter couldn't turn off his eyes as Gwendal walked to the end of the hallway, where Cheriè's rooms were. Again, such a... weird moment. Shaking his head, he turned around to head to Yuri's room.

Yuri was finally dressed and nervous as hell as he heard a knock at his door. That had to be his teacher. He got to his feet, and noticed his knees were shaking.

Gunter stuck his head through the door frame. „Heika, are you ready?" He smiled indifferently. But the king knew him well enough to know what he went through right now. He looked right through Gunter's smile.

Sighing, he straightened his suit once again. With one last glance into the mirror, he flattened his hair also once again, and tried to hold his composure.

„It's fine," Gunter said, approaching him. „If you ask me, you look amazing, heika." He wrapped his arms around the young man like he wanted to say farewell. Yuri heard him sigh and tapped his shoulder.

„Thank you, Gunter," the black-haired boy smiled. „Shall we go?"

„Yes, let's go." With a sad smile on his face, the counselor let go of him and led him out of the room.

Yuri entered Shinou's temple with one last deep breath, pacing down the hall slowly. He took his time. Everybody living in the castle was assembled. Heads turned from everywhere as he walked down to Ulrike, who was standing at the front side of the temple building.

She nodded at him silently as he stood directly in front of her. He nodded back, signalizing that he was ready.

Then the music started playing a cheerful song, and the door opened once again to reveal Cherié, leading her second son down the hallway. The graceful pace really made them look like indeed – a queen and a prince. Yuri looked at his fiancé and thought he would melt away right there. Conrad looked stunningly gorgeous, wearing a classic white suit with a black chemise, which Yuri had insisted on, because he was wearing a simple black one with a white chemise – it had to be black for the maou, of course – and he smiled all over his face. Not his usual smile. It was that smile that only Yuri was given by him.

This was truly the luckiest day of their life.

As Conrad and Cherié reached him, the former maou gave her son a kiss on the cheek and smiled at him lovingly before letting go of his hand and giving it to Yuri. The former queen looked at him as if she wanted to say: Take care of my son, I entrust him to you. Yuri was pretty sure she meant exactly that.

He smiled at his boyfriend as their hands and eyes met, before they both turned to Ulrike.

The small woman cleared her throat and took the word.

„Ladies and gentlemen, we have met today to celebrate the marriage of Sir Conrad Weller and his majesty, the twenty-seventh maou of Shin Makoku, Yuri Shibuya. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."

Silence.

„Then we will go on with the ceremony. His majesty the maou, Yuri Shibuya, will you have this man to be your wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

„Yes, I do," the king answered clearly and definitely.

„And you, Sir Conrad Weller, will you have this man to be your wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep yourself only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

„Yes, I will," Conrad nodded smiling.

„Then I declare you as married couple. You may now kiss each other."

Yuri felt pulled into his now husbands arms and he thought his heart must burst right now. He was so happy that he wouldn't find any words to describe it. He just kissed Conrad with all the love he had for him, and didn't even realize the cheering crowd around them.

Conrad was the center of his life, and he would always be. He thought he could fall in love with him again right in this moment. A feeling of pure happiness struck him, leaving a piercing pain in his heart.

As he finally pulled away from the man, he looked at his daughter Greta standing nearby.

„Greta?" he asked encouragingly.

The girl approached them, holding a white pillow in her hands, with two rings on it.

Yuri picked them up to show them to Conrad. „That's how a couple shows they're married on earth. The partners wear a similar ring on the left ring finger. I got those two for us – so may I ask for your hand?" He smiled at his husbands happy glare as he lifted his left hand.

The black-haired king held his hand while slipping the ring onto the ring finger. Then he gave the second ring to Conrad, lifting his own hand and watched the man slipping the ring over his finger.

It was amazing. To be finally married to the man he loved more than anything else in this world. He lifted Conrad's hand to his lips and kissed it softly. He was just grateful to be able to stand here. It was more than he ever hoped for.

The first dance of the party was of course for Conrad and Yuri alone, and the couple looked gorgeous together, so happy and focused on themselves, simply enjoying the other one's presence. They seemed like they didn't even notice all the people around them. Gunter wished them just the best - but yet, here he stood, in a corner of the dancing area, unsure about his own feelings.

It wasn't neither jealousy nor sadness, he just felt... weird. He couldn't really describe it, but he felt like it was an eternity ago that he had someone like that. Whom he could love, care for, crave for and look that lovingly at. He felt like no one was there who would fit at his side.

Yes, that was it. He felt lonely.

He had stared into the floor all the time, and just realized the pair of shoes standing in front of him. As he looked upwards, he could see Gwendal's usual frowning face, just with a worried look in his piercing blue eyes.

„What is bothering you, Gunter?" he asked softly. „You should not be so depressed on a day like this."

„I don't know," the white-haired counselor backed away, around the corner, so that nobody would be able to see them from the dancing stage, hoping that Gwendal wouldn't ask any further. Not that he didn't know anyway, Gunter was sure about that. But the dark-haired mazoku just continued eyeing him suspiciously.

He sighed, surrendering. „I think I'm just lonely."

„There are many people around you who care for you, don't worry," the younger mazoku answered in a low, soft voice, which was very uncommon for him.

Gunter looked into the general's eyes as the latter leaned forward, leaning one hand at the wall beside his head.

Gunter shivered. „I'm sorry about that, but I just can't help it. I don't like being so depressed on the king's wedding day, but-" his voice broke.

„I'm there if you need me, old friend," Gwendal simply responded, stepping closer to wrap his arms around the white-haired mazoku's shoulders.

And that made him feel a warm sensation around his heart. The younger one was really caring for him. To know that was very pleasant.

„Thank you," he whispered into Gwendal's ear before resting his head at the black-haired man's neck. Gunter closed his eyes, fully aware of the fragrance surrounding him.

He could get used to this.

As the general pulled back again, Gunter shivered at the mere closeness. He couldn't remember the last time someone was that close to him. The tension between the two men was, again, strange. As Gwendal blinked shortly, the white-haired mazoku almost thought he would...

No. Gwendal would never kiss him.

Please have mercy with me again as I don't know how exactly the wedding ceremony is held in proper english - I did my best, and a great big hug to my friend who helped very much with it :) *hugs*

A lot of POV changes here, I know, but I couldn't resist. And that little sidestory wants to be continued as well ^^