Anthology – Alternate Universe

Genre: Romance, AU

Pairings: YuurixWolfram, YuurixOC, WolframxOC

Warnings: Slash. Sexual innuendos and some improbable scenarios of the type that might possibly happen in a novel or a manga, but not very likely in real life.

Summary: Yuuri's getting married. And Wolfram's invited.

~o0o~

SOMEONE LIKE YOU

(Part 2 of 4)

~o0o~

Chapter 3: Of Arrivals and Reunions

~o0o~

Yuuri Shibuya

"He's here?"

I clutched the receiver tightly and asked the receptionist to kindly verify the name of the guest who was waiting in the lobby. We were in the hotel, in the middle of a dinner party thrown by Reiko's parents, when I received a call from the concierge saying that there was someone downstairs who was asking for me. At the sound of that someone's name, my heart rate rose like crazy, like I had just run a marathon in under twenty seconds.

"Certainly sir," said the receptionist, and after a muffled conversation with somebody else on the other end, the man's voice returned and said, "It really is Wolfram von Bielefeld, Shibuya-san. He says he lost his invitation, but he claims to know you. Shall I send him up?"

I didn't know what to feel. For days now – and even way before that, if I were to be honest with myself – I'd been trying to prepare myself for this encounter. I'd been asking myself what I'd do once I see Wolfram again. I'd concocted several scenarios about what he'd say or do once he sees me again. I'd milked my imagination dry for the things I'd say in return…the things I'd do…

I didn't want to make any mistakes.

But now that the prospect of seeing Wolfram again was more real than ever, I could feel all the words I'd rehearsed melting into the air. I could almost hear my brain shriveling into nothing inside my skull. I'd never been able to rely on that part of my body with things like these. Stupid, useless thing.

"Shall I send him up?" repeated the receptionist, and I began nodding mutely before I realized that the man couldn't see me.

"Y-yes," I said, flustered. "Please send him up." I ended the call before I realized what I'd just done. Shori, Murata, my parents, Reiko, Reiko's parents and relatives, other-guests-whose-names-I-couldn't-remember…everyone was here! Did I even tell my parents that I'd invited Wolfram? Oh crap—I didn't tell Mom! She'd surely…

The thought of my mother's reaction at seeing Wolfram again sent me fumbling for the phone. Damn it! I didn't know the concierge's local number. What about the operator…?

I was losing it. At the far end of the room, I could see the elevator lights changing, as it indicated that someone was ascending from one floor to the next. Dear god, was he here already? I dropped the receiver clumsily back to its cradle, not knowing what to do next. I wanted to go and stand by the elevator, greet Wolfram with a cool, easy smile, and…and…

'And what?!' I screamed at myself. I couldn't hug him, could I? Or couldn't I? The elevator light changed once more and it took something as simple as that to transform my mind state from 'panicking-but-could-still-hold-it-in' to 'totally-freaking-out.' Now I didn't know what to do.

"Yuu-chan?" Reiko was beside me, although I had no idea how she had came to be there. I knew I had left her back at our table. I turned, almost mechanically towards her, taking her hand and squeezing it tightly.

"I love you," I told her, and for a frightening moment, I didn't know who I was trying to reassure by saying that all of a sudden.

She laughed and said jestingly, "If you're going to have that face on our wedding day, I might change my mind about marrying you."

I stared at her dumbly, and then I started to laugh too. Suddenly, I remembered why I loved this girl so much and why I wanted to marry her. Reiko was so…so easy to be with. For a girl, she wasn't terribly emotional or demanding, not so possessive or domineering, and throughout the time that we've been together, she had, not even once, tried to tie me down. Being with her wasn't as…constricting…as being with Wolfram had been. With Reiko, I get the feeling that I was as free as I could ever be.

I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.

Immediately, I relaxed, and smiling, I told my fiancée, "My friend is coming. You remember the one I told you about?" I shied away from telling her that I've had an intimate relationship with said friend. That would take a separate amount of courage, and I needed all the reserve I currently have to get through what was to take place in the next minutes. Wolfram was at least right about one thing: I was – and perhaps always would be – a wimp. I began to get nervous again, but thankfully, I still have my wits about me.

"He's here," I added. "Wolfram's here."

"He is?" Reiko asked with interest. "Well, let's go meet him, shall we?" She tugged at my hand and I followed. "I've been dying to finally get to know him."

"Get to know who?" Shori asked, meeting us halfway. Murata was right beside him.

"Wolfram," I mouthed.

"He's here?" Murata said, surprised.

"Who's here?" Dad asked, overhearing my friend's exclamation. Mom was hovering over his shoulder, and I had to suppress a groan of frustration.

"Wolfram," Shori muttered, the name inflected so delicately, as though he had just said something so undesirable.

"Wolf-chan's here?" my mother squealed.

I was starting to lose it again.

Ding!

From across the hall, I heard the elevator stop, its doors automatically sliding open. I realized then that I was holding my breath, and I exhaled loudly. It seemed like I wasn't the only one who was doing it. Shori and Murata – even Dad – looked blue in the face, like they were hardly even breathing at all.

A second ticked by, the elevator came to halt, and then a blond someone stepped into the room. He had arrived. He had returned.

Wolfram.

My first reaction was similar to what I felt before, when I first laid eyes on him, nearly a lifetime ago – a mishmash of admiration, insecurity, and jealousy. Three years had done nothing to change the utter perfection of Wolfram's features. If anything else, the years had even made him more stunning than ever, so much so that even as I looked at him, I thought – as I had thought a million times when we were still together – that he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, or would ever see, in my entire life. I noticed he had let his hair grow a little bit, with fringes of blond hair strewn haphazardly over his dark green eyes. He was in a sapphire-blue jacket, a color I'd always loved seeing him in, and I wondered – even as I forced myself not to think about it – if he'd worn those clothes for me...

I immediately felt horrible for thinking that way. Surely Wolfram was already seeing someone. Maybe he was already engaged himself. Maybe even married. Surely I wasn't the only one who had moved on…

I hitched a smile on my face and held tightly onto Reiko's hand. "W-Wolfram…" I started to say. I meant to say a greeting of some sort, like "Long time no see" or "Welcome back," but my ever-excitable mother beat me to it.

"Welcome back, Wolf-chan!" she said without even giving me time to say anything, flinging her arms around Wolfram's neck in the same breath. "We missed you!"

Wolfram seemed frozen for a second, but then his hands moved, and he returned my mother's hug in a gentle, almost sad, gesture. "It's nice to see you again, Ma—" he paused and changed track at top speed, "—Miko-san…"

I felt an overpowering and unexpected bout of misery. I was sure Wolfram had been about to say "Mama," a term of endearment that Mom had always forced Shori and me to use. We never did, of course. Wolfram was the only one who humored her – until now, that is.

"Mama," Reiko said, "Let him breathe." Then she glanced at me. "Will you introduce us?"

"O-of course," I said, although I didn't know how to do just that. My mother had finally released Wolfram, and I began again, "W-Wolfram—"

Wolfram smiled and I lost my train of thought. "Hello Yuuri," he said warmly. Then before I could react, he approached me and placed a cold hand on my cheek. The smile turned into a roguish smirk. "You haven't changed."

I couldn't understand what he meant by that, and without waiting for me to say anything more, without even turning to acknowledge the other people around us, Wolfram leaned forward and placed his arms around me. I could feel the warmth of his cheek against my neck. I could smell a faint trace of lavender from the soap he'd used on his skin. I could see the glint of something silver amidst the golden hue of his hair. My senses were full of him.

And yet at the same time, I could feel Reiko's hand on mine – gentle and warm – like the whole of her. From the corner of my eyes, I saw her smiling at me.

It was so surreal. Even as Wolfram clung to me with a shadow of the passion that he had always had inside, Reiko quietly held my hand, a serene, tangible presence beside me. My past and my present, I thought with unexpected sentimentality.

"Wolfram," I tried for the third time, the words flowing out more easily, "I'm so glad you came." And indeed, I was.

Wolfram pulled back then, and regarded me with an expression that I couldn't quite identify. He let go of me completely, shaking his head, just like he always did when he thought I was being childish or naïve. Then in a tone that was completely different from what he'd used earlier, he repeated softly, "You haven't changed."

~o0o~

Wolfram von Bielefeld

It was all part of a petty quest for revenge, but Yuuri took even that bit of satisfaction from me. The wimp had not changed one bit.

I was the vindictive kind; I knew that. I had been so infuriated at the wimp's nerve to invite me to his wedding that I had sworn I would get even once I see him again. When we did finally meet after three years, I smiled as though everything was okay between us, touched him and hugged him as if I was not feeling so out of place. I wanted him to fidget and squirm in discomfort right in front of his family and friends, right in front of his wife-to-be.

Like I said – petty revenge.

But as usual, Yuuri quickly managed to turn the tables on me – without even knowing that he did – and in the end, I could only shake my head in exasperation. I let the wimp go and smiled – a genuine smile this time, or at least as genuine as I could make it given the situation – and repeated, "You haven't changed."

Yuuri looked puzzled. He blinked a few times, like he did not know what to say next. But then the girl beside him, the one who had been holding his hand the entire time, tapped him lightly on the shoulder, and Yuuri seemed to come to his senses.

"Oh yeah…umm…Reiko, this is Wolfram." Yuuri turned to me. "Wolfram, this is Reiko…"

Reiko, huh? I refrained from looking at the girl from head to toe, so I took in all I could of her appearance from one angle. She is pretty, I'll give her that, with her dark brown, shoulder-length hair and bangs that came neatly just above her large, expressive eyes…but she did not look like anything else either. Not intelligent, or talented, or anything special. Hers was a face I had seen so many times before. Just pretty much…ordinary. I cherished that thought for a few seconds before I realized how sarcastic and bitter I was becoming over this entire thing. I had three years to sort my feelings. 'Move on, man!' I scolded myself.

"I've heard so much about you," the bride told me, her voice a grating soprano, much like Miko-san's. "I've been dying to meet you, Wolf-chan."

The use of such a familiar term made me shift uneasily. I stared at Yuuri's fiancée in her sweet pastel-colored evening dress, taking in her equally saccharine smile, not knowing how to respond. There was none of the sense of protectiveness or resentment that I would normally associate with a bride who had just met her groom's ex-lover, and I wondered whether Yuuri had gathered up the nerve to tell her who I had been in his life. Maybe not, I guessed. Why would she agree to have me here if that were the case, right?

"My name is Reiko," she continued, extending her Yuuri-free hand. "Nice to meet you."

I shook it, trying to reconfigure my face into a gracious smile. "Nice to meet you, too."

Her smile broadened. "All the other girls kept teasing me about being upstaged by the bridesmaids, but now…" – she gave me a sly look – "I guess I should be more worried about being upstaged by the best man."

It took me a full minute to absorb that. Nobody told me that I had to play a part in the ceremony. I arched one eyebrow at Yuuri and echoed, "The best man?"

Yuuri's jaw had dropped open, and he was staring at his fiancée with mingled shock and puzzlement. "Reiko? What…?"

"He would look good in the entourage, wouldn't he?" the girl asked sweetly. She gave me another appraising look. "Besides, he's too beautiful to be ignored."

Yuuri flushed and determinedly avoided my gaze. "Er…excuse us."

He pulled his fiancée away and started to whisper something in her ears. He must be so agitated that he did not realize that his voice was still discernible, or maybe my ears were just trained really hard on what he was saying, but even from that distance, I was able to follow their conversation.

"Reiko," Yuuri was saying, "we already have a best man."

"Oh, we can always have two, right? I'm sure Ken-chan wouldn't mind."

Ken-chan. I cringed. Murata Ken grinned at me; I smiled back uncertainly.

"But you know," Yuuri's voice came again, "I can't possibly ask him…"

Reiko blinked innocently. "Well, ask him now. I'm sure he'd say yes, right?"

"I…" Yuuri looked back at me warily, almost afraid. I shrugged half-heartedly. "It's not really his thing, you know…"

"What's not his thing?"

"Er…weddings."

Reiko puckered her lips childishly. "But he's your best friend…"

"Y-yeah…" said Yuuri, one arm rising to scratch the back of his head – a gesture that was almost always an indication that he was near his breaking point. He was also starting to stutter. "B-but…y-you see…Wolf is a-also my…I mean he was my…"

'I'm also his ex,' I supplied inside my head, willing the wimp to say the same words out loud. But of course, sheer willpower had no effect whatsoever. I sighed. Typical Yuuri. I guessed right all along. The wimp had not told his blushing bride about our rocky, abruptly-terminated relationship. Surprisingly enough, the foremost feeling I had at Yuuri's cover-up was relief. I need not have worried about the awkwardness of dealing with the bride after all. Reiko obviously did not have a clue about who I was or what I had once shared with her husband-to-be.

'Better leave it that way,' I decided.

"Wolf-chan." Miko-san held my hand, drawing my attention away from the arguing couple. "You can share a table with us. You missed dinner but we could probably go somewhere after this."

"R-right …"

"Where are you staying by the way?" Miko-san went on. "Oh, I wish Cheri didn't sell that house next door. You could have come back and we'd be neighbors again! Just like old times!"

"Er…maybe…" I wanted to tell her that there was no going back to the "old times" but I was distracted. Yuuri was still with his fiancée. His posture was one of immense hesitation, and I knew at once that he was not planning to tell his bride the truth. At least not tonight. Maybe not ever.

Reiko was whining. "Yuu-chan, please~! You have to ask him. He'd look really perfect in the entourage…so please~?"

Yuuri looked like he had eaten a lemon. "I-I'll see what I can do…"

It was infuriating. It sounded like Yuuri would do just about anything to make her happy.

"Yes!" Reiko cheered, leaning forward to place his arms around Yuuri's neck. "I love you, Yuu-chan!"

I quickly averted my gaze, and my eyes accidentally locked with Shori's. His face was stormy. I raised an eyebrow and grinned, knowing that it would only annoy him even more. I never did find out why he seemed to harbor so much animosity towards me. He disliked me as Yuuri's friend and disapproved of me as his little brother's lover, and I never understood why. Now however, his obvious disdain for me was justified. After all, I was the guy who nearly killed his precious little Yuu-chan. The fact that I was heartbroken over what happened would not get me a single iota of forgiveness from him. I had since stopped trying to gain his approval and had resorted to irritating him as best as I could. Even now, the habit was hard to break.

I smiled widely at Shori. He scowled in return.

"Where are you staying, Wolf-chan?" Miko-san repeated as she led me to a table near the front. Her husband, Shori, and Murata trailed silently behind us. "We've all booked rooms here for the night…you know…makes it easier to gather everyone for the ceremony. Maybe you could share a room with Yuu-chan—"

"Mom!" Shori admonished loudly. The thought of me and Yuuri in the same room obviously bothered him as much as it did me.

To my surprise, Miko-san looked faintly ashamed at her tactlessness. But an awkward moment was forestalled when an emcee called everyone back to their seats, announcing that a toast for the bride and groom was in order. I took my place beside Yuuri's mother. Yuuri and Reiko hastily returned to a table set upon a makeshift stage.

The next half hour passed in a blur. Forgetting her earlier indiscretion, Miko-san chattered happily beside me, asking what I had been up to for the past three years. Shoma-san seemed to be listening, but I could tell that he had something else in mind. Shori was never far behind, looming over me like a depressing shadow. Murata was also there, regarding me with a neutral smile. I returned their stares politely and answered all of their questions like a programmed machine.

Back at the stage, a series of unknown friends and relatives commandeered the microphone and told stories about Yuuri and Reiko's love for each other. One of their classmates from high school recounted how the couple first met, and how they saw each other again and fell in love during their class reunion. I felt a bitter taste in my mouth as I listened. Yuuri knew her when we were still together. He "fell" for her about a year after I left. A man, who looked incredibly like the bride, followed next and cracked jokes about the couple's impending honeymoon. The guests roared with laughter. Yuuri blushed, and his fiancée gave him an affectionate peck on the cheek.

I had braced myself for this, but still, the pain caught me unawares. My stomach twisted with distress and jealousy, and I wondered once again why I still harbored these irksome emotions. I wondered what I was trying to prove by being here right now. Beside me, Miko-san reached out to squeeze my hand. I tried to smile to reassure her, but I might have just looked embarrassed. I suddenly wished that I had my own mother with me, or at the very least, I wished I had waited for Conrad, so that we could have arrived together. I looked around. Where was Conrad anyway?

There was a round of applause, and with a start, I realized that we were nearly done with the night. Guests have started to stand up and mingle with one another, and looking around, I saw that I was practically set adrift a sea of strangers. I felt so displaced. I glanced around, forcing the uneasiness out of my head. I could not afford to look weak or vulnerable, but…what was I supposed to do now?

"Would you like a drink?"

The question came from a most unlikely source, and I looked up in surprise. Shori had grasped my shoulder quite firmly, a look of utmost displeasure carved into his face. I tried my best to look unruffled.

"Yes, thank you." I looked at Miko-san and her husband. "Would you care to join us?"

Shori answered for them, "They can't. They have to talk to Reiko's parents…right?"

I saw Shori share an imperceptible nod with his father. Shoma-san took his wife's elbow and started to steer her away. Miko-san did not protest, but she called out in an atypically tense voice, "Sho-chan…be nice, okay?"

Shori nodded impatiently.

I allowed myself to be led away once again, right into the bar at the far section of the room. As soon as we were well out of earshot, Shori turned to me.

"Why did you come?"

"You promised me a drink," I reminded him, avoiding the question. Shori complied and instructed the bartender to give me whatever I want. When we were both seated with a glass of wine in our hands, I said, "Don't worry, I'm not here to ruin anything for Yuuri."

"I find that hard to believe," Shori snorted. "You shouldn't have come, you know. I really thought you wouldn't."

I sipped my drink in silence, not bothering to comment.

"It's not too late," Shori persisted. "You can still go. Tell Yuuri that an urgent matter has come up at work. I'm sure he'd understand." He looked at me. "Just…just go. Please."

I mulled that over for a moment. That was certainly plausible, and may possibly be true. My phone had actually been ringing ceaselessly ever since my plane touched the tarmac, while I was settling in at the hotel, and even while I was making my way here. I had religiously ignored every call, but when it got to be too much, I just chucked the phone away. A large number of the calls were from my assistant. Some were from my uncle. The rest were from Damien.

I pushed them all out of my mind.

Shori stood up, abandoning his glass, indicating that he was done with me. "That's all I really have to say. Just let the past be. I won't ask you twice."

He walked away without a backward glance, and I was left alone to brood about my current situation. Shori was right. What the hell was I thinking? My eyes strayed towards Yuuri. Why did I come? What do I want to gain by abandoning my life and returning to this place? To him? I straightened up as another question hit me out of nowhere: Do I want Yuuri back?

I buried my face in my hands and groaned. 'Nice, Wolfram,' I scolded myself, 'Why don't you push the bride off the building while you're at it?' My gaze went to the girl beside Yuuri and all at once, the idea did not seem so bad at all. 'Something is wrong with me,' I decided after a second. Maybe I should go. I drank some more, draining my glass in a single gulp.

"Hey, you need another drink?" Murata plopped down on Shori's just-vacated seat, pointing at my empty glass. I looked at my new interrogator with resignation, but instead of another speech about my unwanted presence, Murata said simply, "It's on me."

I nodded, waiting for him to say something else. When he did nothing but order a drink for himself and sip it in silence, I asked, "Are you going to tell me to leave too?"

Murata smiled. "Is that what Shori told you?"

"Pretty much, yes."

"He must be shocked to see you here. Up until you came, he really didn't expect that you'd come. I certainly didn't."

"That was obvious," I remarked wryly. "Everyone seemed to be having a heart attack a while back." The scene appeared funnier in retrospect, and I laughed.

Murata laughed too, and then asked, "So why did you come?"

"I don't know," I admitted. I was still grinning for some reason. "I just felt that I needed to. Is that wrong?"

"Depends on what you wanted to accomplish."

Murata always had this irritating manner of not answering questions directly. I rolled my eyes at him and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Well…have you returned to take Shibuya back? Or are you just here to wish him well?"

It was easy to deny the former and agree to the latter, but finding the sincerity to do so was another thing entirely. I did not even have the option to fake it, considering who I was talking to. Murata was one perceptive bastard.

I downed the rest of my drink and signaled for another, buying some time before I would have to give an answer.

"So which is it?" Murata prodded when I still did not give a response.

"I don't know," I answered honestly, realizing that I must sound like a broken record.

Murata chortled. "Tough luck."

I tipped my glass to him. "Tell me about it."

We did not talk for a while. I let my eyes roam around the room, looking for familiar faces. I could see a lot of people glancing in my direction but I recognized nobody else. Unconsciously, my gaze went back to Yuuri and his fiancée. They were still together. The bride looked radiant. She was clinging to him, babbling merrily about something. Yuuri was listening with rapt fascination, hand still tightly entwined with hers.

He was smiling. He was happy. They both were.

Murata saw what I was looking at, and with an odd gleam in his eyes, he asked, "So what do you think about—?"

"—my replacement?" I finished with an ironic smile. I said dispassionately, "He's marrying his mother." Or a copy of Miko-san, I amended mentally, eyeing the couple.

Murata grinned. "You noticed that too?"

"It's obvious."

"Not to the others," he said with a chuckle.

I grinned back at him, permitting myself to appreciate the hilarity of the situation. It was funny, now that I had time to consider it, for Yuuri to go for someone who was the complete opposite of me, while I…I spent three years looking for someone like Yuuri…

I shook my head softly at myself. The pang of loneliness came, stronger than ever. I wanted to get away, to escape. I felt incredibly pathetic. What was I thinking, flying all the way here? I do not belong here. Tears stung my eyes but I held them in. Breaking down in front of Yuuri's friend, in front of Yuuri's family and guests, in full view of Yuuri himself, was not something that I wanted to do. I had too much pride for that.

"Ah…you've attracted attention." Murata sounded amused.

I glanced up and followed his line of vision. Three girls were ogling us, giggling loudly when our eyes met.

"Sangria, Doria, and Lasagna – Reiko's bridesmaids. Always on the look-out for a new face." Murata took another sip. "Brace yourself. They'll corner you when you're all alone. Hmm…I think they might actually be waiting for me to leave…"

"Then stay and talk," I ordered. I did not have the patience to deal with simpering bridesmaids. Not now, not ever. On the other hand, Murata's presence was, at the least, tolerable. We had never been close, but he had always been civil towards me, never hostile like Shori.

"I think I would be of better help if I distract them," he answered. He looked over my shoulder and gestured with his head. "Besides…I think somebody's about to throw a fit if I don't leave you alone now."

My heart thumped with anticipation. Was Yuuri watching me too? Was he looking at me from the corners of his eyes, wondering what to do with me? Second-guessing his own decision to marry somebody else now that I'd decided to return to his life?

It was all sheer guesswork bordering on delusion, but the mere idea that I was having as much effect on Yuuri as he was on me took some of my discomfort and pain away. I felt like myself again, and as easily as that, I felt some of my confidence returning, strengthening me, making me feel less like a fragile piece of glass that was on the verge of breaking into pieces. I was confused at this feeling. Then I reasoned to myself, if I was not the only one who was stuck in the past, if I was not the only one who was still hoping…then maybe…maybe it would be easier to…to…

I felt confused again. To do what exactly?

Murata stood up and gave me a vague smile. I was instantly reminded of our conversation a moment back.

"Depends on what you wanted to accomplish."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well…have you returned to take Shibuya back? Or are you just here to wish him well?"

Take Yuuri back. Or wish him well. Take Yuuri back. Or wish him well. Take Yuuri back. Or wish him well. Take Yuuri back…

'My god,' I thought, disgusted at myself for the thoughts and images that just flashed across my mind. Even as I sat there, waiting for Yuuri to get to me, I had already played a mental scenario where he and I confess our undying love for each other and end up eloping before his actual wedding day. I had already planned for it, with all the intent to act on it. Honestly, what was wrong with me?

I sat miserably, feeling more and more pathetic by the second, when Murata said something that made me glance up in surprise.

"You know him?"

"What?" I asked, uncomprehending.

"Him," he said with a significant twitch of an eyebrow. "He was staring at you the entire time."

"What?" I repeated. I thought he was mocking me, but then I turned to see what he was looking at and I reeled back in astonishment and disbelief. Someone was walking towards us, but it wasn't Yuuri. A pair of eyes stared calmly back at me, and they weren't Yuuri's. Someone glowered suspiciously at Murata, and. It. Wasn't. Yuuri.

I held my breath.

It was Damien.

~o0o~

Chapter 4: Of Arguments and Reconciliations

~o0o~

Wolfram von Bielefeld

It was Damien.

He was clad in a casual pair of jeans and a white jacket over a plain shirt. He looked so out of place, dressed down like that, but at the same time, he looked so…unpretentious. If anything else, his simplicity made everyone else around him look severely overdressed. There were flecks of something silver in his hair that twinkled slightly when they caught the light. Water, I realized after a second. He might have walked in the rain, just like I did. I blinked, just to make sure that I was not just seeing things. But he was still there, followed by several appreciative pairs of eyes as he made his way towards me.

I could hardly believe that he was here. This guy…he really was something.

"Wolfram," Murata said, "do you know him?"

"Y-yes," I choked out despite my astonishment. "He's a…a friend."

Murata took a look at my reaction, and as usual, seemed to have readily read between the lines. "I see. I better go then."

I nodded, not taking my eyes off the approaching man. Murata whispered a hasty goodbye and left. I took a moment to brace myself, just enough to face the ensuing confrontation, drawing strength from more swigs of alcohol. By the time Damien got to me, I felt a little dizzy.

"Hi," Damien said casually. "I've been trying to get in touch with you."

He sounded like I hadn't just ignored all of his calls, like I hadn't just crossed an entire continent to get away from him, like I hadn't allowed him to walk out of my apartment – out of my life – the last time we were together.

"Damien," I replied, both as a greeting and a question. "What are you…?"

"If you'd only bothered to answer my calls," he said, moving to take Murata's empty seat, "then you would have known that I arrived here a day after you did."

"You weren't invited," I said rather rudely.

"True," he conceded. Then he procured a pink envelope from his pocket, and tossed it in the counter right in front of me. "Doesn't mean that I couldn't get one."

I eyed the invitation warily, noticing that it was addressed to Conrad Weller. "Conrad's…? What's going on?"

"Your brother couldn't come, so he asked me to take his place."

My eyes narrowed. "Conrad? He never told me this."

"He tried to call you, but guess who's not answering the phone?"

I frowned, but I was surprised to find that I was not really as annoyed as I sounded. If I were to be honest with myself, Damien's presence here was more welcome than intrusive. Strangely enough, I felt calmer now that he was here. It was like having an ally amongst these people who hated my guts. Because despite his deception, I knew I could count on Damien to be on my side.

He was still scolding me for ignoring his calls, but I was no longer listening. I felt like bursting into laughter. It was just so funny. Mere seconds back, I had been indulging myself in an impossible flight of the imagination. Moments earlier, I had been so nervous that Yuuri was finally going to talk to me. Damien's presence placed everything into perspective. Now I could see how utterly ridiculous my thoughts had been. How impossible. I could no longer hold it in. I laughed, cutting off Damien's litany of the offenses that I should be sorry about.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing." I smiled and stood up. "Care for a walk? I need to breathe."

He did the same. "It's too early to leave, don't you think?"

"I just need to clear my mind." Especially with the things I've been imagining, I added mentally. Then with a grin, I continued, "Besides, I was told that the bridesmaids have set their eyes on me."

"Oh? It must be really hard not to, you being so pretty and all."

"Speak for yourself," I responded slyly. "You've made quite an entrance there. The girls would be closing in on you before the night is over."

"So they think I'm good-looking?" Damien asked, shooting the bridesmaids a glance.

"Evidently," I answered, "or they wouldn't be swooning over you."

"Do you think I'm good-looking?"

I snorted. "Does it matter what I think?"

For a moment, his face grew serious. "It does, actually." Then he turned away, and to my bemusement, gave the bridesmaids a cheerful smile and a wave.

"What are you doing?"

"Waving," he said simply. "You should try it too."

I caught his arm and forced it down. "Stop that! They might think you're interested."

"I could be."

"No, you're not."

Damien examined my face and laughed. "Are you actually jealous?"

"You wish."

I began walking, dragging him along with me by the elbow. Damien followed obediently, smiling amiably at every person we met along the way. We reached the safety of one of the terraces before either of us spoke again. By that time, I was wondering why I was acting this way. Wasn't I furious at him for something? But now I see – it was hard to be mad at someone like Damien for very long. He was just too…nice. Or maybe it was just me.

"Where are you staying?" he asked me.

"You haven't found out yet?" I shot back. "And here I was thinking that you were supposed to be all-knowing."

"I didn't have time. And besides, I'd rather that you tell me yourself. Gives the impression that you want me to know. You could invite me over."

"And if I don't tell you?"

"I was hoping you would."

"And if I don't?" I insisted.

Damien glanced at me askance. "Is this a test?"

"It's a valid question," I said, "because honestly, you are this close" – I motioned with my thumb and forefinger – "to becoming a stalker. It's pathetic."

Pathetic. The very word seemed to mock me, and for the first time that night, the careful mask I had assembled to hide the pain and anxiety I feel deep within, started to fall apart. Pathetic. Come to think of it, I was not any different. Damien and I – we were both pathetic.

"Pathetic," I repeated, and much to my horror, there was a tremor of misery in my voice.

Damien did not reply immediately. I waited for him to berate me, or to defend himself against my accusation, but instead, he said, "You really are stupid."

"What?" I burst out, baffled at his response. Was he even listening to me?

Damien took advantage of my confusion and pulled me close, so that my head was resting on his chest. He held me in place with one arm slung across the small of my back, coming to a rest on my waist. His other hand found its way to my hair, stroking gently.

I blinked and looked up at him. "You know," I warned, "this sort of thing is not generally accepted here."

"What sort of thing?" He sounded innocent enough.

"This." I gestured to our position. My fingers moved to caress the hand that was on my waist. "This sort of thing."

"Oh." He gave me a quizzical look. "Is that why you and…and him…didn't work out?"

I stiffened at the question. Then I began to seriously consider it. "Yes. Partly at least. Yuuri cared too much about other people's opinions, I guess."

"But you stayed with him."

"I thought things would change. I thought he'd eventually grow up and get over it and accept…us…"

"But he didn't."

I nodded.

Damien went on, "You can't change things, Wolfram."

"I know," I whispered.

"He's getting married."

"I know."

"They might already be legally married," Damien continued. "You do realize that in most cases, an official marriage certificate is filed before the actual ceremony could take place?"

Of course I knew everything. I had researched everything I could about weddings in this country before I proposed to Yuuri all those years ago, even though I knew that we would not be able to get married in the legal sense. I repeated quietly, "I know."

Damien released a frustrated huff. "Then what are you doing here?"

It was maddening to have to answer that question all night long. Annoyed, I pushed him away. "I don't know," I replied heatedly. "Maybe I want to disrupt the wedding and steal my ex-boyfriend back."

"You don't mean that."

I wanted to agree. I wanted to tell him to take me away from there before I ended up doing something that I would regret later on, but the words would not come out. Out of nowhere, I remembered Damien's accusations, back in my apartment:

"It's Yuuri Shibuya! You've always been drawn to him!"

With a sinking feeling, I realized how true that statement was.

"Wolfram?" Damien said, trying to pull me back into his arms. "You didn't mean that, did you?"

I stepped away and said nothing. There was a moment of heavy silence. The happy chatter of the dinner guests floated from the hallway and filled in the void between us.

"Well then," Damien said after a while, and there was no mistaking the bitterness in his voice. His hands fell uselessly to his sides, clenching into tight fists. "It's lucky that I'm here to stop you from doing anything stupid."

I laughed. I realized vaguely that I had been laughing a lot tonight. Maybe I was already drunk. "What? Are you playing bodyguard again? So who's paying you to keep an eye on me tonight? Is it Conrad?"

I did not know why I said that. It was cruel and unnecessary, and I could see by the look on Damien's face that I had hurt him. I wanted to apologize but my pride would not let me say the words. I glared at him, thinking that I would be perfectly okay if he would just hit me, or if he would just say something hurtful at the very least.

"You're drunk," Damien said in a low tone, as though to rationalize what I had just said. "We should go."

His readiness to overlook whatever spiteful thing I might have done or said to him infuriated me. How dare he act like this? How dare he turn me into the bad guy? At that moment, I felt such an overwhelming explosion of rage towards him for being so damn understanding, and kind, and…and…perfect.

My voice was as icy as the wind that blew in from the street outside. "How much do I have to pay you for you to leave me alone?"

Damien held my eyes. I could see that my question shook him, but he quickly kept his emotions under control. However, when he spoke, his voice cracked slightly. "You…you really don't think much of me at all, do you?"

I did not answer.

"All those weeks that we were together…those do not matter to you at all, do they?"

I stared at him mutely.

Damien looked disgusted at my lack of response. He turned away. "I'm going for a walk. I'll see you later."

I glanced at him in surprise. Why would he still come back and see me after all the things I had said? I shook my head and fought down the guilt that threatened to eat away at my guts. I called out after him, pinning him in place, "You just don't know when to give up, do you?"

Damien half turned towards me and gave me a wry, joyless smile. "I could say the same for you."

And not for the first time, he spun around and left me alone, gaping after him like a fool.

~o0o~

Yuuri Shibuya

"You seem distracted, Yuu-chan," Reiko observed.

I gave a start. "Oh. I…um…what were you saying?"

"Are you worried about him?" She gestured towards the other end of the room, to the bar, where I'd been watching Wolfram talk to an odd assortment of people. Shori was first. Then Murata. Then there was that brown-haired guy in the white jacket. A stranger – to me at least. Wolfram seemed to know him.

"Y-yeah," I answered. "I think my brother had just given him the third degree. I'm not sure what he and Murata just talked about. And…" I hesitated, frowning as the stranger took a seat beside Wolfram. Wolfram laughed at something the guy just said. It was the first time since he arrived that his posture relaxed.

I felt irrationally annoyed. I was walking on eggshells the entire time, worried that I might be unintentionally hurting Wolfram with my actions, that just by inviting him to my wedding would be painful for him. I didn't realize that he had already moved on. That he was well enough to even bring a date.

Date. The very word seemed distasteful. And as I looked back at Wolfram with the white-jacket guy, I felt…cheated. I'd been so careful with my actions with Reiko, always considering how Wolfram would feel upon seeing me with someone else. I hadn't given a single thought to what I'd feel now that shoe was on the other foot. But I knew one thing for sure. Wolfram and White Jacket Guy together? I didn't like it.

"You're worried about him," Reiko stated.

"Yeah, I…"

I lost my train of thought again. From across the room, Wolfram stood to leave, beckoning White Jacket Guy to go with him. Some words were exchanged – maybe a joke of some kind – as the two glanced towards the other end of the room, both with amused expressions. I saw that they were staring at the bridesmaids. The guy waved at the girls, making them blush and giggle behind their hands. Then, as though he couldn't stand to see him flirting with them, Wolfram caught White Jacket Guy's arm and dragged him away. I had just enough time to feel confused at their behaviors before they both disappeared from view.

I stood up.

"Yuu-chan?"

"Er…Reiko, would you be okay on your own…?" I couldn't understand why I wanted to follow Wolfram and that guy so badly that I was willing to ditch my fiancée. I felt guilty when I took in Reiko's expression, but I squashed that feeling away.

"Sure," Reiko readily said. "I had the feeling that you wanted to talk to him anyway."

"I'll try to come back—"

"No, it's okay." Reiko gave me a reassuring smile. "In any case, it's getting pretty late. I think I'll call it a night."

"You're sure?"

She kissed me lightly on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow. Yuu-chan, I—"

She said something else, but I wasn't entirely listening. "Yes, tomorrow," I chimed. And then I was sprinting to catch up with Wolfram and his companion. Some people tried to stop me to wish me the best for the wedding ceremony tomorrow, but I passed them by without acknowledging their greetings. They could tell me after the wedding, I thought impatiently.

I could see Wolfram from a few meters away. I nearly ran towards him, but thankfully, common sense and rational thinking returned to me. What should I tell him? I hadn't even thought about that. Well, I knew I had to talk to him, preferably before the night was over, while I still have time, but I hadn't thought about confronting him without being prepared. Right now, I wasn't prepared. Then why did I run after him?

I realized the answer, and I groaned in shame. I went after him because I wanted to draw him away from that guy. I was a little jealous, and I knew I had no right to be.

'You're just not used to it,' I told myself. That was partly true. I'd never seen Wolfram with anybody else. He wasn't really that sociable to begin with, and when we became friends and eventually lovers, he had always had his eyes on me. I found his loyalty and devotion a bit too constricting at times, but after we broke up, I sort of missed it. Now that he seemed to have found somebody else, I didn't know what to feel.

I slowed down, no longer running, but still walking at a steady pace. Wolfram and White Jacket Guy turned a corner and went into one of the hotel's terraces, the one overlooking the gardens. I hesitated and thought of a way to barge into their conversation. Then something hit me. What if they weren't just talking? What if they're kissing beyond the curtains or…or…or…

I cursed myself. What do I care anyway? It wasn't any of my business what Wolfram does with anybody else. I was about to walk away, to catch up with Reiko and her parents, when the sound of raised voices stopped me dead on my tracks.

"…. leave me alone?"

My ears pricked with interest. That was unmistakably Wolfram's voice. There was a rustle, and then White Jacket Guy was there, saying, "I'm going for a walk. I'll see you later."

Hidden from view, I heard Wolfram again:

"You just don't know when to give up, do you?"

White Jacket Guy turned just so, and there was acid in his voice when he said, "I could say the same for you."

And he was gone. I looked around me. Nobody else seemed to have witnessed the altercation. I approached the terrace warily, knowing that Wolfram must be in a sour mood. He might need a friend – or something.

I peeked through the curtained space and whispered in the darkness. "Wolf?"

~o0o~

Wolfram von Bielefeld

"Wolf?"

I jumped at the voice. Yuuri! What was he doing here? He seemed embarrassed, and I instinctively knew that he had overheard my conversation with Damien. "Yuuri…" I frowned. "You heard us?"

Yuuri turned slightly red. "Yeah. Just the last part though."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Then my body tensed once more. Yuuri was here! In front of me! Waiting for something. Perhaps wanting to talk. But what should I tell him? Apologize for nearly killing him three years ago? Maybe wish him good luck for his wedding? Maybe say goodbye for good? Or maybe beg him to take me back?

"Thanks for coming, by the way," Yuuri said uneasily. He looked anxious. Well at least he was alone, without that girl clinging onto his arm.

That girl. For some reason, I remembered the conversation I had overheard earlier, between Yuuri and that girl, and the words 'best man' flashed in front of my eyes.

Oh no. If Yuuri was here to ask me on behalf of that girl, I might just do something stupid.

Yuuri licked his lips. "I…er…wanted to talk to you."

"We're talking."

"Wolf…" Yuuri pleaded. "I…we need to talk…just the two of us…"

It was the beginning of a talk that was at least three years too late. We never had this before I left the country. Even before Yuuri awoke from the third operation he had to undertake as a result of the accident, I was already on a plane to Berlin. I could not stand to look him in the eye. I could not stand to be in the same room as his brother, his parents, and his friends. I could not even stand to hear his voice. I left Japan and never looked back.

I smiled, just to ease the tension. "Then start talking."

Yuuri squirmed in discomfort. "Not here."

I nodded in understanding. Besides, this promised to be a very emotional confrontation. Privacy was a must.

I shrugged, steadying myself by holding onto the ledge. I was not feeling good at all. "Lead the way."

"Thank you," Yuuri replied, smiling tentatively. My heart fluttered and it was all I could do to stop myself from smiling back and flinging my arms around him and telling him how much I missed him. I caught myself just in time.

"This way," Yuuri said.

As I followed him away from there, I couldn't help but curse myself again for being so stupid.

~o0o~

Yuuri Shibuya

What did I want to tell him? I seemed to have forgotten the moment that we were alone. The fact that I led Wolfram into my hotel room did nothing to calm my nerves. It never occurred to me that being alone with him would be this uncomfortable, this…mortifying. As I looked at him, I felt as though I was looking at a stranger.

Wolfram examined the room and took a seat at the foot of the bed. I could tell that he also felt uneasy at our current location. Before we'd entered the room, he had raised his eyebrows at me and had asked in a surprised tone, "Here?"

When I explained that this was the only place inside the building that we can be assured of not being disturbed (or overheard), he nodded reluctantly and inquired, "But…wouldn't this be troublesome…I mean, with you and me alone inside…? What would people say?"

I blushed. "I told Reiko that I needed to talk to you. She…she wouldn't mind…"

"What about your brother?"

I blinked. "Shori? What…?" I trailed off, remembering that I saw him talking to my brother back at the hall. "Did Shori tell you anything? Did he do anything—?"

Wolfram waved a dismissive hand. "It doesn't matter. Let's just get this over with."

Then he led the way inside. I followed, feeling so out of my depth. How do you talk to someone who had been such a big piece of your life, but was no longer a part of it? How do you deal with a person that you had been in love with, but was now almost like a stranger to you? What do you talk about with a friend and a lover that you hadn't seen in three years?

I didn't know how to start and so I kept quiet. Wolfram did the same, eyes glued to his feet. Then at almost the same time, we both started to talk.

I began, "So, how have you been?"

Wolfram said, "So, are you going to ask me?"

Typical, I thought, for Wolfram to go direct to the point – although I didn't understand at first what point he was driving at – and for me to beat around the bush. I stared at him and asked, "What?"

"About being your second best man."

"Oh." I cringed inwardly.

It was hard to convince Reiko to let go of an idea once she had it firmly lodged in her mind. She had this vision of a Western-inspired wedding, and so I agreed to it. Now she had this mental picture of the perfect wedding entourage, and unfortunately, Wolfram had just become part of it. I stubbed my toes against the floor and cast my mind around for something to say.

In the end, all I could do was ask, "Er…do you want to?"

He threw the question back at me. "Do you want me to?"

I didn't, but you'd have to drag me to hell before I'd say something potentially offensive to his face. Instead, I told him in my best diplomatic tone, "If it would be inconvenient for you, then no."

"Fair enough," Wolfram said, giving me a knowing smile. He pondered over that for a moment before finally saying in a similar tactful voice, "I'd rather not do it, if that's fine with you. And Reiko-san, of course."

I winced at his tone. We sounded like two people who had just met each other for the first time, like two individuals who had never seen each other until today. I realized with a sinking feeling that it was nearly impossible to go back to what we once had as kids…to what we once had three years ago…

It was disappointing. I sort of missed the old Wolfram – the Wolfram who liked to tease me about being a wimp, the one who loved me unconditionally. That Wolfram was gone, and I had nobody but myself to blame. I'd pushed my friend away. I'd hurt the man who loved me beyond any chance of forgiveness – or at least I hope that it hadn't gone to that extreme.

"I'm sure Reiko will understand," I said carefully. "She's really…great."

"She seems to be a very reasonable person," Wolfram replied neutrally.

"Y-yeah, she is. You'll like her, if you get to know her. I-I mean if you want to…to get to know…her…" I finished lamely.

"Really?"

I nodded. "She loves me, Wolf."

"Tell me about her," Wolfram said, almost like an order, and against my better judgment, I began to talk. It was like a dam had broken inside me, and a flood of details and thoughts and feelings just burst free from my mouth. I told him how Reiko and I met. I told him about our first date. I told him that I feel free when I'm with her. I told him that I love her.

I was talking to Wolfram, my best friend. It was only a while later that I realized that Wolfram, my ex-boyfriend, was also somewhere in there, listening to every word I had just said. After my monologue, Wolfram didn't say anything. I looked at him, and he just looked right back, waiting. Finally, I couldn't stand it.

"Wolf…I…I'm really sorry…"

He scoffed, and for the first time, I thought I saw a fragment of the Wolfram I had grown up with in the gleam of his dark green eyes. "For what?"

I floundered for something to say. For what indeed? For hurting his feelings? For not being man enough to stand by him all those years ago? For breaking his heart? Wolfram was waiting for my answer, and staring him in the eyes at that moment, I began to appreciate how difficult it must be for him to be here right now. Why did I even ask him? Why did he even come?

"For everything." I paused, not knowing how to proceed. "I…I know that what I did was terrible. I just feel so bad that I didn't get to tell you three years ago. I really am sorry, and I'm happy that you came today…"

Wolfram stared at me, then he rolled his eyes and muttered, "This is stupid."

"Wolf…"

"You think I hate you?"

"You must have," I said reasonably, "I…I dumped you…"

"Of course." Wolfram crossed his arms. "Then you must hate me, too. I nearly killed you."

I frowned, remembering the accident and the argument that had led to it. "You couldn't really blame yourself for that, Wolf. I mean, you were drunk and if I hadn't made you mad in the first place—"

"That isn't an excuse."

"It was an accident," I stressed. "You didn't mean for it to happen—"

"Did I?" He sounded bitter. "I could have stopped the car. I had enough time to pull over—"

"You were drunk!"

"Not drunk enough," Wolfram contradicted, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "I knew what I was doing, Yuuri. I…I meant to kill you…to end everything…I wasn't going to let anyone else have you…I…I…"

I couldn't stand the look on his face. "Wolfram, stop! Stop it!"

"I nearly killed you. And it wasn't an accident. I know you know it."

I bowed my head and thought back to that night. I hadperhaps known that deep inside – it was difficult not to think otherwise whenever I remember Wolfram's face back then – but I couldn't really blame him for anything. It was unfair to blame him of anything when I deserved whatever I got.

"I deserved it," I said, giving voice to that vicious thought that appeared out of nowhere.

Wolfram shook his head fiercely. "You didn't."

"Wolf…" I wanted to touch him but I dared not for fear that he might not want me to.

He clenched his fists into tight balls and said softly, "I haven't forgotten. I haven't forgiven myself for that. It was my fault." He glared at me. "I'm the one who should apologize."

There was a moment of silence, in which we did nothing but stare at each other. Then I said slowly, "Why didn't you ever tell me how you felt? Back at the hospital, you never said anything. You…you just left. I woke up, and you weren't there anymore."

"I couldn't stand to see you like that."

I nodded in understanding. I suddenly realized that the hatred I remembered seeing on his face all those years ago might not have been directed at me. It was for himself. He hated himself for hurting me. I felt an unexpected outpouring of affection for him.

I smiled. "Wolfram…I don't hate you. I never did."

"Well, you should have," he said, and although he was scowling, his shoulders seemed to relax a little bit. He looked relieved.

"I knew that it was my fault. I shouldn't have led you on…"

The words were out before I realized what I'd just said. Wolfram recoiled, as though someone had struck him in the face. I bit my tongue, fearfully waiting for his reaction. But his face was shrouded in the darkness, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"I don't hate you either," he said after a pause. "I guess I shouldn't have…held on for so long…"

We stayed silent for minutes…hours…a hundred years – I didn't really care. I needed to do this. We needed to end this properly. Closure, I thought.

"Wolfram," I ventured, breaking the silence, "why did you come?"

He looked up, startled. Then amazingly, he started to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," he said. "It's just that you're not the first person to ask me that today, and my answer hasn't changed."

"What was your answer?" I asked curiously.

"I don't know," he said matter-of-factly.

"Huh?"

"I. Don't. Know." He threw his hands up in exasperation, and he looked suddenly agitated. "I don't know! I don't know if I want to stop your stupid wedding! I don't know if I want to take you back! I don't know if I want you to take me back! I just don't know!"

His outburst took me by surprise. I didn't have any inkling that he had these thoughts all along. I didn't know what to say to that. I opened and closed my mouth without uttering a single word. As Wolfram's words sunk in, I felt a very strong urge to run away. I was scared of what this conversation might lead to, of what feelings it might unearth.

The atmosphere inside the room had turned suffocating. I needed to breathe.

"I-I'll just…" I couldn't think of a suitable lie. "I…I need to get some air. I'll be back."

I turned to leave.

"Yuuri…"

I froze in place. I wanted him to stop talking. I was afraid of what he would say next, but I willed myself to stop being such a coward. "Y-yeah?"

"What went wrong with us?"

The question caught me off-guard. I already had a hand on the knob, but I slowly released it and turned around to face him. I shook my head.

"I don't know, Wolf…"

"Yuuri…"

The way he whispered my name made me feel oddly hot. I loosened my tie and tried to keep my breathing steady. Wolfram looked up, his eyes gleaming in the darkness, much like a cat's.

"You did love me, right?"

What sort of question was that? I swallowed hard. "Y-yeah…of course…"

Wolfram regarded me with a grave expression. "Then why couldn't you…accept me back then?"

What was I supposed to say? That I was an idiotic coward? Even if I knew that to be true, that didn't seem like a fair answer anymore.

I didn't say anything, but Wolfram pressed on, "Was it our families?"

"My mom loves you," I pointed out, which was actually a bit of an understatement. Mom worshipped him. Still does.

"Well, so does mine," said Wolfram, before adding with a slight sneer, "Your brother hates me though."

"Well, so does yours," I retorted.

"Gwendal does," Wolfram conceded, "but certainly not Conrad."

"Yeah, but I've only got one brother. What am I supposed to do?"

Unexpectedly, Wolfram laughed and let out that dear, familiar word in amusement. "Wimp."

I laughed too, the atmosphere lightening considerably, almost like ice melting. I stood uncertainly for a second beside the door before deciding that I couldn't run away from this again. I made my way to sit beside him.

Wolfram leaned towards me, resting his head on my shoulder, and I automatically put my arms around him. We sat companionably just like that, and for a second there, I felt like we were kids again. It was just like old times, during the countless afternoons that we had spent together, when we'd go wandering about town. We'd always end up in a park somewhere, seated on a bench, spending an entire hour talking about all sorts of things under the sun.

Life was simpler then…when games were just innocent diversions…when the words and touches we'd exchanged with one another meant nothing more than what they were…when love was something that was given freely, not some complicated feeling that you had to hide or be ashamed about.

But we grew up, and things changed.

"You smell good," Wolfram said unexpectedly. He brought his face nearer to mine, and I caught a strong whiff of alcohol from his breath.

"You're drunk, aren't you?" I held him back at arm's length to examine his face. I noticed for the first time that his cheeks were a dark shade of red, although I couldn't be sure if it was from the alcohol or from embarrassment. It must be a little bit of both. "How many glasses did you have exactly?"

"Not much." He let out an un-Wolfram-ish giggle and reached up to ruffle my hair. "Did I ever tell you that you look good in a tuxedo?"

"You are drunk," I told him nonchalantly, although I felt my face getting hot at that compliment. "You better go to sleep."

"Here?" He snorted. "Your brother would love that."

"Shori doesn't get to tell me what to do," I muttered under my breath.

"You don't get it, do you?" Wolfram laughed. "If you let me stay, I wouldn't just sleep…"

"H-huh?"

Wolfram shook his head but did not elaborate. Instead, he said. "Funny, isn't it? I thought I'd forgotten about you, but here I am again. Why do you still have this much effect on me?"

I couldn't think of anything to say to that. A moment later, I could hardly think of anything at all. Wolfram drew closer and our lips met for the briefest second. It was no more than a light peck, but a crushing wave of electricity flowed from my lips, to the rest of my body. I sat there, a bit stunned. I wanted to push him away, but the images that appeared inside my head were so very tempting…and yet I…I…

My body was on fire. Wolf's skin was so warm against mine.

Wolf pressed against me some more, sending a fresh wave of heat through my veins. Instinctively, as though my body was acting on memory, my arms moved, coming to a rest around his waist. I shifted to get a better position.

We kissed, and this time, I was the one who moved forward.

"I hate myself," Wolfram said when we parted.

"I'm sorry…" I worried my lip and added ruefully, "I shouldn't have asked you to come."

"Well, it's too late for that."

"You don't have to be there tomorrow…"

"Don't be silly. It's your wedding…"

The last word hung heavily in the air. I held him tightly, not knowing what else to do to make everything easier for both of us. "Wolf…"

He cut me off with another kiss, deeper and more intense than the last, and it was nearly enough to make me forget that we weren't lovers anymore. I doubt if you could even call us friends. I ignored the fire that was rapidly spreading through the rest of my body, held Wolf by the shoulders, and moved to push him away.

But Wolfram's voice stopped me.

"Don't. Please."

I froze. "Wolf…"

"I'm drunk," he reminded me with an unconvincing stab at a joke. "I seemed to have lost my manners. And my sense of decency."

I didn't know whether to laugh or tell him off. I settled by warning him, "You'll regret this when you're sober."

"Probably," he replied, "but I think I'll regret it even more if I don't do this now."

"Wolfram…I…I don't…"

I'm not sure what my face looked like then, but it must have been bad enough for Wolfram to back off and release me. I noticed that he was shaking a bit.

"I'm sorry," he muttered softly. "I…I just…I…" He shook his head – a blur of gold in the shadows. "I'm being stupid. I…I have to go."

It must have taken him a lot of self-control to say that. I stared at him for two or three seconds, before deciding that I couldn't let him leave. At least not like this.

I didn't budge. Neither did he.

"Stay if you want to," I told him quietly.

Wolfram's expression was hard to read, and when he pushed me to the bed and kissed me again, I didn't stop him.

A/N:

When I started this story, I had a very clear idea as to where I wanted it to go. However, when it came down to this part – always this part – I started to struggle. As with all stories, the events could go a lot of different directions, with the end result that you will inevitably have several different endings. We often ask ourselves 'What if?' and with this particular story, I found myself asking this question several times. I had hoped that leaving it the way it was and getting back to it later would eventually resolve these issues for me, but it did not happen. There were just too many possibilities that I couldn't ignore, so I decided NOT to ignore them. It is for this reason that there are two more chapters after this, perhaps enough to answer two 'What if?' questions…can you guess what those are? Hahaha.

And oh – somebody pointed this out in the review, I forgot to change the status of this story from complete to ongoing.

Anyway, thank you so much for the reviews and support. I hope you enjoyed reading this story.