"Well I should head over to the temple and bring Yuri back here." Conrad said.

Gwendal just nodded as Conrad threw a look at Yozak meaning for him to follow. Being childhood friends with him made it easier to just give a look or phrase and get its true meaning across.

Conrad didn't say a word only leading them to the barn. First it was so that Conrad could start saddling his horse and second to make sure there were no prying eyes and ears to listen in on their conversation.

"All right you've had your fun now. So tell me why did Heika choose now to do this ceremony? How did he even learn about this ceremony anyway? Last time he asked how to break it I told him to ask Gunter. I can't believe Gunter would tell him about any ceremony… especially one so old few even remember it exists. When you mentioned how the ceremony went it wasn't till you told Wolfram cut his hand that he even remembered the ceremony."

"I told you and Lord von Voltaire the truth Heika and Geika never told me why now."

Conrad glared at him, "But I bet you have an idea don't you?"

At that Yozak grinned, "Ah, but I'd think you should know more than I do why he decided to do this? As for how he found out about the switching ceremony, I would guess it was Geika since he when I arrived he was the one that was setting up. Bocchan was waiting outside for me."

"So you're saying this was Geika's idea?"

Yozak shrugged, "I told you I didn't ask. I only agreed to help out. And before you get all panicky about Bocchan's being outside the temple he was by the gates and even if someone did somehow know he was up there or had seen him the temple guards would have protected him."

Conrad sighed, Yozak knew him too well. He had no trouble accepting responsibility for the breakup of his little brothers' engagement. If he had known this when he saw Wolfram yelling and throwing fireballs he'd have gladly let Wolfram throw one of said fireballs at him.

Yozak could read Conrad like a book. "It's not your fault you know."

Conrad sighed, "It is, though. Yuri was only seeking comfort. He was still trying to accept what we all believed at the time to be a permanent loss of his maryokou and the kiss was his way of looking for reassurance and I took advantage of that. I'm not worthy of Yuri I never have been."

"Did he tell you that?"

"…"

When Conrad ignored him Yozak growled, "I asked if he told you that that kiss meant nothing more to him than a way to look for reassurance as he's been in some tight spots before where he's need comforting but yet I don't recall you ever mentioning kissing him before."

Conrad could see Yozak wasn't going to let this drop, "No, he didn't, I told him what I just told you."

"What did he say?"

"He said that he was the one who kissed me and that he'd had random thoughts here and there as to what it must be like to kiss me."

"Wow, so he's been thinking of this for a while now has he."

"Yozak…"

"Listen I know you don't think your worthy and all like that but you've got to stop putting yourself down. Bocchan chose to do this. Whether the idea was his or Geika's it doesn't matter."

"It does matter. I'm sure if we went and did the Blood and Fire Ceremony and explained things they'll understand and then Heika can get back together with Wolfram"

"It wouldn't go that smoothly and you know it! Let me ask you something. In all the times you've seen Bocchan and Lord von Bielefeld together have you ever once seen Heika look at Lord von Bielefeld with anything more than close friendship."

Conrad sighed, "He's just shy and unsure."

"If Heika loves Lord von Bielefeld so much then why hasn't he picked a date yet? Lord von Bielefeld has hinted at least once or twice about them getting married and yet Bocchan has shown no interest in rushing to the altar. Has Bocchan ever asked Lord von Bielefeld to go on a date with him? Has anyone ever seen them kiss? If Bocchan loves Lord von Bielefeld so much then why when he's accused of cheating doesn't he just tell him he's not and he loves him and open his arms up to him rather than running from him."

"You're making assumptions. And he runs because of Wolfram's bad temper."

" If he were asked to sit for one of Lord von Bielefeld's paintings and you were to say offer sword practice, which do you think he'd do?"

Conrad frowned, "That's not proof of anything, anyone who has been forced to sit for one of Wolfram's paintings would be begging to get out as soon as possible."

"Well if he's trying to skip out on paperwork who's the first person he runs too? It's not Lord von Bielefeld or me or Geika or anyone else, no it's you, always you! When he arrives from his world you are the person he wants to see first and foremost."

"That's because I'm his protector and he looked to me to get him to safety when Shinou used to drop him in random places."

Yozak grinned, "Speaking of dropping, I don't recall any of the times I've witnessed Bocchan collapsing after using his maryokou did I ever see Lord von Bielefeld run over to him or making any special effort to try to catch him or even attempt to carry him. It is awfully convenient, how many of these things you can just overlook. How about almost always insisting you call him Yuri versus Heika; does he correct anyone else for being too formal?"

"No, I can't explain that but…"

"But nothing! You want more proof okay try this when everyone thought you'd betrayed us to go to Big Shimeron he was the only one to have faith. When his power got out of control in the arena, no one could get through to him! Lord von Bielefeld called out to him, I called out to him, and Geika even got close enough to hang on to him and pleaded with him to stop. He ignored us all. But you, all you did was call out his name and then as you said his name again he stared at you then said your name and suddenly he stopped. Why? Why after all you did to try to prove your betrayal did he stop simply because you called him?"

Conrad had often wondered that himself. He was happy Yuri had stopped he couldn't have lived with himself if by betraying the person who meant the most to him in this world had died. All because he believed this would help achieve Yuri's dream. If what he had tried to do for Yuri's sake had ended with him dying the same way Julia did he'd have never been the same. He had stopped smiling at the loss of Julia, but had regained it through meeting baby Yuri. If he had lost him he might not have been able to go on living.

Seeing Conrad lost in thought he continued, "You remember how on the return to Big Shimeron for the second time, when Geika instead you again pretend to be loyal to get close enough to find and hopefully rescue Heika. Then after using too much maryokou he collapsed you wrapped him up in your coat and carried him. Then later on the return ship ride home he was still wearing it, he never took it off. Say did you ever get it back?"

At that Conrad turned to hide his blush finishing the last adjustments to his saddle. If not for Yozak's constant barrage of questions he'd have been done by now! "No, but it doesn't matter, Heika said he didn't think I looked good in those clothes anyway."

At that Yozak blinked and his eyes went wide and got a big smile on his face, "Ah, he did, did he?" Yozak asked with interested. 'Maybe I should drug him more often. I'm missing out on all such juicy info here!'

Conrad refused to comment on that and claimed up on his horse.

When Murata had first commented on bringing his Big Shimmeron clothes with him just in case something happened he didn't like the idea. He wasn't even sure now why he had even kept them in the first place. After Shinou cleared his name, while waiting for Yuri to return, perhaps he felt that with Big Shimmeron still a threat that he might be force to wear them again someday. Beyond that he could see no other reason why he had worked on getting the blood stains out and patching up the arrow holes, but now seeing that by doing that he was able to use those clothes for good by saving Yuri this time rather than betraying him. Though it didn't help his heart any when seeing him in those clothes Yuri had stopped a few feet away rather than coming towards him, then to throw a knife in his heart when asked if he had come to rescue him. Then the knife cut even deeper when he drew his sword, and came towards him to cut his shackles. Where once the boy would have shown no fear, now despite his telling him he was there for him wearing those clothes on Geika's orders the boy feared him when he came towards him with his sword. By all outward appearances though you'd have never known how much that hurt him. No, he could never let Yuri know how much it pained him to know Yuri honestly feared he would hurt him.

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A/N: Hope those in the US got to see some fireworks this weekend! I technically got to see 3 and a half shows. The city just last year started doing firework shows, whereas before you always had to hope the Texas Rangers were playing and then wait till the game was over or drive all the way out to one of the lakes. I'm guessing with the 4th being on Sunday they chose to do the parade and fireworks on Saturday. They were good not spectacular but good. This time a new shopping center called Hilands opened up and planned a fireworks show. There is a school next to the entrance and a lot of people were sitting there. I assumed you had to be in the shopping center when it turned out that the school was the perfect place as that's where they fired them off as and we literally and figuratively had a front row seat and they were great! Best I had seen in a while. The reason I said 3 shows as from where we were sitting before the show we could see off in the distance more going off! Then after it was over a little later I spotted more in a different area and got to see them then a few others were set off a ways from it a little further away. It's weird how you could see them so clear from so far away.