These characters are not mine, but this story. So I can do whatever I want and no one can call the cops :P
So hello, its been a while. Life and procrastination has delayed the posting. But that's really no excuse.
Thanks to my reviewer who remained me that I have a chapter I should've posted months ago. Luckily the 4th chapter is already 3/4ths done. Remainders always help.
Sorry, and stay with me.
Yuuri had done as Wolfram suggested simply because he hadn't any better ideas. The calm that came over Yuuri from his meditation took the boy to a point of relaxation that he had not experienced for many weeks.
As he moved deeper into the mediation, Yuuri could sense something awaken inside of him. It was different from the other times that he had connected with his inner power, it didn't talk to him or rush up to overwhelm his consciousness. Instead, as he moved deeper into the darkness, the presence enthralled him like a dream or a memory he hadn't realized that he'd forgotten.
Its existence beckoned to him as it began to stir, as if it had been waiting for him for a long time. The familiarity was both comforting and frightening; it was a push and pull that left him frozen on the cusp of something great.
Whatever this creature was, it left Yuuri in awe, since even in its half awakened state he could feel the powerful energy that vibrated from its being. Eventually, Yuuri could feel the thing open its eyes with a gaze that seemed to pierce his soul and look through lifetimes that he couldn't remember living.
He could feel the power of that gaze as it seemed to look into him and found him wanting. Suddenly Yuuri recalled something about the dangers of tickling sleeping dragons and he began to pull away from those eyes that saw far too much.
As Yuuri was leaving that place, the presence finally spoke to him in a voice devoid of gender and coming from every cell in his body.
Do not fear me, I am yours to command. Just a little more and you will be ready.
The voice jolted Yuuri completely out of his mediation. "And then what," Yuuri said aloud to the voice in his head even knowing that the connection had been lost.
When Yuuri opened his eyes he first noticed that Wolfram's dark blond eyelashes were surprisingly long, and then of course he wondered why he was close enough to see them. It was then the Yuuri realized that Wolfram was staring intently at his mouth.
"Wolfram?"Is he…is Wolfram going to ki-
Yuuri couldn't finish the thought and instead waited for the blonde to respond. After a moment those long lashes didn't even blink; they merely lowered further to brush flushed cheeks.
It can't be that he's trying to…
Wolfram seemed to have heard him after all, because he abruptly pulled back. "Well, once you go into the trance, the power within will begin to reach out to you. You just have to grasp it."
Yuuri startled briefly at the comment has the niggling fear for the other presence stole over him again. However, Yuuri was not about to tell Wolfram of concerns that he couldn't even put into words, especially if they might incite Wolfram's into calling a 'whimp'.
"I thought I felt something. Maybe we can try again next time?" Yuuri hoped the smile he added would deter Wolfram from any further questions.
"Sure we will. Is something the matter, Yuuri?"
The concern on Wolfram's face shocked Yuuri, that had not been the reaction he expected for his failed attempt at maryoku. "No, why would there be?"
"You've just seemed a little off lately." Yuuri frowned. It always annoyed him when people were able to read him so easily; and he definitely did not want to have this conversation now and especially not with Wolfram.
"Shibuya! Lord von Bielefeld! I've been looking everywhere for you." Murata ran up to them with a boisterous wave.
Yuuri waved back, glad for the interruption he wanted to put that conversation off for just a bit longer. "Oi, Murata! What are you doing leaving the temple in this heat?"
"I wanted to see how your practice was going. And the temple maidens wanted me to fix a door or something and I decided that horse ride would be more weather appropriate." Murata gave what he must have thought of has charming smile, and Yuuri just grunted as he rose to shake his hand.
"I'll see you later Yuuri. Don't forget that Gwendal will want you back at some point, with his bowl."
Yuuri tried not to pout and failed miserably. Gwendal would definitely want to yell at him for his failed attempt, especially since he loaned him the bowl as a good luck charm. "I'll see you at dinner Wolfram."
Yuuri could tell from the stubborn set of Wolfram's mouth that the other boy wasn't going to let the topic go. "I'll see you later Yuuri. Don't forget that Gwendal will want you back at some point, with his bowl."
"I'll see you at dinner Wolfram." Yuuri sighed as Wolfram bowed and turned his back.
"Since when is riding a horse and taking a walk less exhausting then sitting in a cool temple fixing doors?"
"Who said anything about walking? I just want to find somewhere shady and sip lemonade. I thought you might also need a break." Murata was obviously a better friend than Yuuri gave him credit for; the Great Sage's timing was just too freakishly good though.
"Lemonade it is." Yuuri turned to seek out a maid only to see Doria running toward them with her sleeves rolled up and a jug of purple lemonade and two glasses. Yes, Yuuri really needed to appreciate his friend more.
"Thank you, Doria," Yuuri said as he took his first sips. The liquid was remarkably cold as it slid down his throat. He knew that it's Japanese custom to have hot drinks on hot days, but this was so much better.
Not that the summers in Tokyo were any better; it was merely the difference between broiling on cement in Shinagawa or baking on the grass in Shin Makoku. The grass was at least soft. It was times like this that he enjoyed being in Shin Makoku, sometimes though…
Do not fear me, I am yours to command. Just a little more and you will be ready.
Yes, then there were times when living in a land of fairytales could be a drawback-especially when the voices in your seemed to be omniscient (it was just obnoxious). This particular voice he had been hearing from the time he freed Janus. It spoke with not one voice, but many, as if a large group of people were speaking in perfect sync.
It was beyond creepy. Yes, creepy and obnoxious.
The changes that he was expected to undergo, scared Yuuri more than he often admitted to himself. He had the constant feeling that as the Maou, the people around him were always waiting for him to become someone else. Not only in the sense of waiting for him to grow into his role as King and adjust to this world, but to become an entirely different entity. And of course strange voices that seemed to herald those changes didn't help to calm his fears.
The voice only made it worse: what would happen to "Yuuri" when he was ready for whatever that that thing was taking about.
He never regretted becoming the Maou, but it was difficult not to wonder what it would be like if the most tasking problems he faced on a daily basis were passing his college exams and getting a girlfriend.
He would much prefer not to have to deal with the expectations of voices in his head or his well-meaning retainers.
"Perhaps we should've invited von Bielefeld. The two of you seem to getting along even better these days." Yuuri made a non-committal grunt in response. He was fairly certain that Wolfram would not have been comfortable having lunch with Murata, the blonde was still weary of the Great Sage. Not unlike Yuuri at times.
"So well in fact, it seems I interrupted quite the make out session," The Great Sage said with a wink.
Yuuri blinked in shock, then sputtered, "Just how long were you standing there watching you Perverted Sage!"
"Not long at all. It was just obvious that I missed something interesting." Yuuri was about to comment on the things Murata found "interesting" when his so called friend spoke again. "Of course, von Bielefeld would be a more hands-on teacher than you would be used to. How are your lessons coming?"
Yuuri was glad for the slight change in subject. He was aware that he and Wolfram were in some sort of stalemate: one was waiting for the other to make a move on their relationship in some direction. He told himself every day that his finance had decided to give up on his little crush because the insanely pretty, often cute, and occasionally cool Wolfram could have little interest in Yuuri romantically since he had gotten to know him better. Yuuri told himself every day that they were closer to being normal friends, until those days, like today, when he realized it might only be him who was thinking that way.
To lose a friend, or gain a boyfriend, was that the question?
It was not something he liked to think about, especially not on the days he was hearing voices and slow roasting in his garden with nothing but a half-full glass of lemonade for comfort. So he replied, "I'm still having trouble getting the magic to come whenever I want. Sometimes though I feel something… something that feels like power…like I'm holding back a river with toy blocks and it's just waiting to burst."
"Why are you bothering to hold it back? What is that you're afraid of Shibuya?" Yuuri could only frown, the answer to that question changed every week.
This week it seemed he was scared of the voices in his head and the thing that lay asleep. He was afraid that when it woke, when the dam broke, he would be completely swept away. "Maybe von Belfield can be of some help to you there too. Next time I'll be a bit slower about interrupting your 'training time'."
Yuuri was caught off guard by the statement, and the judicious use of air quotes by his now former best friend only made him sputter again. He did see that Wolfram was going to… "We weren't…Wolfram and I aren't…he really was helping me with training!" Yuuri didn't notice the errant tree stump through all of his emphatic flailing; instead, he went from being angry to falling out of the shade into a patch of sun.
"Well, Shibuya, the lemonade was not the best idea," Murata said nodding to the mess of purple mud that Yuuri was currently sprawled in. "I think it's time for a bath. Let's go Shibuya I can meet you in the baths after I get my clothes." Yuuri, had finally stood up and wiped himself off. The only thing worse than being sweaty, was being sweaty and dirty.
"Sure, I'll meet you there." The fall had allowed him to calm down a bit, but he didn't feel that he should leave the conversation quite like that. "And about Wolfram…" there was nothing that could be said to complete that sentence.
"Don't worry Shibuya. I'll wash your back for you in his place today." Yuuri began to sputter again, and he eventually would have responded if Murata hadn't already made it half-way to the castle.
He gave sigh, and handed Doria his empty glass on his way to the bath.