Disclaimer: I do not own KKM and it's characters. Nor do I make money from my stories.
Many thanks to my beta kagomegirl2004 for the hard work.
I have to apologize for updating so late, but the work and doctors were really hectic and stressful. Many thanks to everyone who left a comment (I love them all), added story to favorites or story alerts. It means a lot to me. Thank you!
Chapter 4 – Getting used to you
It had been four months since Yuuri proposed to Wolfram in front of the ten nobles, and ever since then, no one seemed to have the time to even eat. Wolfram had not seen Yuuri very often during the past few months. The only time they ever saw each other was in the late evening before they crawled into bed, and they were always so tired that they were asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. There was no energy for talking before sleep.
Every day was the same. In the morning they would wake up, go to breakfast and then go after their respective duties. Then lunch and duties again. And throughout the day they had to attend Lady Cheri, Gunter and others for their wedding preparations.
"Your Excelency." The dark haired soldier that had spoken received no reply. "Lord von Bielefeld." No reaction again. "Lord Wolfram." He touched his commander's shoulder gently.
"Ah. Wilfried." Wolfram snapped out of his daydream when the other touched him. "I'm sorry. What is it?"
"Only that Gabriel just about killed Florian," Wolfram's second in command said with a light smirk.
"What do you mean?" Wolfram looked to the rest of his men with wide eyes. Sure enough, the fair haired Florian was being supported by the brown haired Gabriel. The taller soldier was supporting the slightly smaller soldier on their way to the castle infirmary.
"Do not worry, Florian will be alright. Gabriel stopped himself just in time. It's just a scratch." Wilfried patted Wolfram on the shoulder and retrieved his hand. The blond relaxed with a smile. "You seem really out of it lately. Is everything alright?" His young dark haired friend asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Wolfram sighed. "Just the wedding preparations are a bit tiring. My mother is like an avalanche. She can't be slowed, much less stopped, when she aims for something."
"Well, you certainly had to get that from someone." Wilfried laughed at his captain's complaining.
Wolfram shot him a death glare. "If you weren't a fire wielder, I would have burnt your ass for that, Wilfried."
"I'm surprised you didn't try it anyway," chuckled the other soldier kindly.
"Too tired, I guess," Wolfram admitted. But when his eyes met those of his second, they both smiled wholeheartedly. "We should go and make sure Gabriel hasn't hurt Florian more." Wolfram smirked.
Wolfram cared for Florian maybe more then he should, but he had known him since he was a young child, barely forty five years old. His parents had died in the war. Wolfram no longer remembered if it was at the beginning or at the end of the war. It didn't matter. On one of his reliefs in Bielefeld lands, he saw the young sad boy, dressed in servant clothes, and became friends with him. Wolfram didn't make friends easily, especially at that time. The war had not been easy on anyone. But he liked Florian immediately. He felt of use again and it took away his thoughts about the horrors from his service on the battlefield. His only other friend was Wilfried, the son of a soldier at Bielefeld castle a year or so older. Wolfram treasured his new friend. He and Wilfried helped the young orphaned boy as much as they could. Through the years they took away the boy's loneliness, taught him sword play, and just spent time with him whenever they returned to the Bielefeld domain.
"Actually, I would be more concerned for Gabriel. If he tries something, that little fire breathing dragon will break his nose again. And not even his water element is going to help him." Wilfried chuckled trough his palm.
"You're right." Wolfram motioned to the rest of his men. "That's all for today. You're dismissed." And with Wilfried by his side, the young prince headed for the castle's infirmary.
***Yuuram***
That day, Yuuri finished his work early and decided to find Wolfram and spend some quality time with him—maybe with Greta too, if she was finished with her studies already. They could take their horses and stretch their muscles a bit. He was stretching his pained wrist, cramped from writing, on his way to the training grounds, where he was sure his fiery fiance could be found.
"Your Majesty."
Yuuri jumped a foot off the ground. "Oh my God." He breathed deeply. "Conrad, if you keep doing that, you're going to give me heart attack one of these days. It would be easier if you had Maryoku." Yuuri mumbled the last sentence, and the tall brunette almost didn't hear it.
"My deepest apologies, Yo—"
"Don't you dare to finish it like that," Yuuri warned.
At that, his godfather just smiled. "Right, Yuuri."
"That's better." Then the young king looked the soldier over thoroughly. "Did you want anything, Conrad, or did you just scare me half to death out of mere coincidence?"
"Lately, it's been almost impossible to catch you somewhere. Least of all by a mere coincidence. One would almost think you're trying to avoid my company."
"It's not like... Yeah. You just look like someone with something unpleasant on his mind," said Yuuri nervously. "So what is it, Conrad?"
"Can I speak with you in private?"
Yuuri sighed, but then nodded. From his godfather's face he could guess just what he wanted to discuss. Yuuri hadn't talked about his decision with Conrad since the night he had finalized the decision. Conrad had been informed about the wedding immediately after the meeting ended, but he felt he needed to explain it to his godfather more. He just didn't know how to do so.
They arrived at the Royal bedchambers a few minutes later. This was the nearest place that they could speak without being disturbed. Yuuri sat heavily in a comfortable chair and Conrad took the one across from it.
They both sat there silently for a few moments. Until at least Conrad spoke: "Why are you doing this?"
Yuuri looked him straight in the eyes. He knew that the most difficult of his friends to tell such a thing would have to be Conrad. That had been why he tried to avoid this conversation for so long. "Because I want to," said the young king calmly.
"You never seemed interested in boys."
"Wolfram is my friend." Yuuri decided that he won't try to convince his godfather that he wanted to marry Wolfram. Instead, he wanted Conrad to understand the motives behind his sudden desire to marry the brunette's little brother.
"Friends don't marry in your world," pointed out Conrad. Yuuri knew this won't be an easy task.
"In this world, they do. Besides, he's my best friend."
Conrad sighed at that. He knew his godson was a good person, and he loved Wolfram and the double-black equally. But he feared if one of them wasn't determined enough to go through with this, they would both end up miserable.
"Yuuri, you don't have to listen to the council. This decision is up to you . No one else can do it. It's your life, not theirs."
"But it's Wolfram's life, too. I don't want to hurt him anymore," argued the double black king heatedly.
"Wolfram is strong. He's a soldier, "I know it will take some time, but he will recover eventually." He felt low for this one, but he needed Yuuri to prove to him that he was prepared for this step. This was not some children's game; this was a decision that would affect Yuuri for the rest of his life.
"I know that, but it's not what I want."
"What do you mean?" Conrad didn't understand.
"When I became an adult on my sixteenth birthday, I decided not only to live as a Mazoku, but to became the Maou. I decided to live here and take this responsibility." Yuuri thought about what to say next. He desperately wanted his godfather to understand; to know he could take on his responsibilities, but that he cared too.
"I care for Wolfram deeply, Conrad. And I thought about it for a long time. I really want to marry him. I know it's not that kind of love. But I think..." He paused for a moment to make sure he was really ready to say these thoughts out loud. "I think, in time, I can be a good husband to him."
"What?" Conrad's tone almost sounded indignant.
Yuuri cringed. "Well, it's not like he's not attractive."
"Yuuri..." The taller brunette sighed defeated.
"It's true! I do think he's handsome. I think he's more attractive than all the women I've seen in my entire life," Yuuri muttered.
"But it doesn't change the fact that Wolfram is a man, Yuuri. Are you ready for that?"
"I know that. Really. It'll be all right."
"Yuuri, you're doing this because you don't want Wolfram to be humiliated, but what about you? I want you both to be happy and I'm not sure this is the right way."
"If you think I made this decision because I feel obligations towards Wolfram? It isn't like that. It was a more selfish reason than that."
"I don't understand."
"I know that if I put an end to our engagement, it will be social degradation for Wolfram. People would see him as a failure. After all these years of being a fiance to the Maou, he wasn't able to catch his heart. Yes Conrad, I know what they say and I don't like it. Because it's a lie! He was able to capture my heart. He became my best friend. He became very handsome and unselfish young man. People love him. And I fully trust him."
Yuuri sighed again and continued before his godfather had a chance to interrupt him. "And if you're wondering about that selfish reason I have, it's just that I can't imagine my life without his presence. Without his guidance. I just decided that I rather sacrifice a bit of happiness than lose Wolfram."
"We can try to think of something that can let him stay other than marriage. Your order would definitely let him stay and most of the nobles won't oppose you."
"Yes, we can certainly do that. But staying here will destroy him. I know he would try to be my friend, to be here for me no matter what. But in the end, Conrad, he loves me. I know he does. And that's it. It speaks for everything. You can't change someone's feelings. It's not possible. And I know Wolfram's feelings are pure. I would rather spend the rest of my life with my best friend, the person I respect and care for, than see him broken. I would protect with my life, if need be. And I know he would do the same without second thought. He deserves that much."
Conrad looked at him stunned. "Yuuri... that's exactly what love is about."
"But love towards a friend and love towards a lover are different things," Yuuri's replied carefully.
"Maybe at the beginning; but with time, your lover becomes your best friend. That's how every relationship should work. The burning passion will die down after a few years, but what is more important is that you understand, trust, and respect each other. Everything else is a quickly passing emotion, which can change. But that deep love you spoke about, even though you don't know it, is what makes you believe in him no matter what. That's what's needed for a relationship to work."
Yuuri gave a deep sigh. He wasn't really convinced about what Conrad just said to him. He always wanted to fall madly in love with a beautiful girl and have a normal relationship with everything that came along with it. But now, he wasn't even sure if he will have a sexual relationship. He was sure it won't be with a girl anymore. But he didn't know if he will be strong enough to fulfill the wedding vow and actually have sex with Wolfram. While it was true that Wolfram was attractive, he was still a boy. Yuuri had just come to understand that convincing others was easier then convincing yourself.
"Thank you, Conrad," the king said at last.
"You're welcome, Yuuri. I just want you to know I care for the both of you. We all do. And we will help you, no matter what either of you decide."
"I know." Yuuri slowly stood up form his seat, which was a signal for Conrad to do the same. Yuuri reached the doors and reached for the handle, but before he opened the door, he turned back to Conrad.
"Before the Ten Nobles' Council started...do you know what Wolfram said to me, when I told him I want to marry him?"
Conrad only shook his head.
"He said: 'I refuse'."
Conrad's eyes widened. That hadn't been the response that he had expected.
"Most of the people would think he will jump at the opportunity to marry me. Even you did." Yuuri observed. "But...I wasn't surprised. I expected him to do that. That's why I told him beforehand, so he wouldn't say something like that in front of the nobles." Yuuri looked Conrad in the eyes. "I just wanted you to know that." And with that, he opened the doors and left. His trusted soldier right behind him, silent.
That was the moment Conrad realized that there was nothing to fear.
***Yuuram***
Yuuri and Conrad separated before the doors to the training area, which left Yuuri with his two personal soldiers. One was Mazoku, and the other only half. Conrad and Wolfram had decided that having only Mazoku as his personal guards would be careless, since they were weak against Horyoku. But to have only half demons would be pointless too, since magic users were useful and mostly stronger thanks to their Majutsu; and so Yuuri was, at every time of the day (or night), accompanied by a team of one full-blood and one half-blood.
When Yuuri arrived at Wolfram's squad's usual training area, he was met with the sight he didn't expect. The few soldiers that greeted him were hardly a quarter of the men serving under Wolfram.
"Where's everyone, Nickel?" He came to the two familiar brown haired soldiers.
They both stood up and saluted at the sight of their king. "Your Majesty," they said in unison.
"Relax you two." Yuuri smiled. "And tell me where everyone is. Where's Wolfram?"
"Lord von Bielefeld ended the training for today and dissolved us before he headed to infirmary." Answered Nickel.
"What? Wolfram!" Yuuri's eyes widened in fear as he imagined the worst case scenario of what could possibly have happened to his fiancé. Images of a sword running the blond trough flashed before his eyes. He turned and started running towards the infirmary, not hearing the two soldiers calling after him, trying to explain what actually happened.
***Yuuram***
Wolfram and Wilfried got to infirmary just in time to stop Florian from hitting Gabriel. Neither of them had to think twice about what had provoked this reaction from the younger man, because Gabriel's hand was still firmly pressed against Florian's backside.
Florian was sitting on one of the infirmary beds beside Gabriel, turned so he that was facing him. When the older male's hand touched his ass, he turned and without thinking aimed for his face. That was the moment he saw his two superiors walk trough the infirmary doors and his hand stopped halfway through the strike, stunned. His cheeks turning light shade of pink.
"Woah! Careful there! You almost got yourself engaged just now!" said Wilfried with amused smile on his lips.
"What? No, that's just for nobles..." Protested the young soldier. His cheeks turning a shade darker.
"But Gabriel is a noble," stated Wolfram calmly. "And it would be up to him if he accepted your offer or not, had you finished the strike." Wolfram could see the scared eyes of his younger man, when he said that. It was so easy to forget Gabriel was a part of aristocracy with his behavior. He knew what Gabriel would have answered, if the slap happened. They all knew Gabriel had been trying to get into Florian's pants since the young promising fire wielder had been accepted into Wolfram's squad.
"And my little brother would surely accept." Now, another young man was staying between the doors. His eyes, the same blue-gray as his younger brother's, watching the scene with quiet amusement.
"Ernst!"
"What is it, little brother? You trying to seduce the poor boy again?"
Just then the loud pounding of running feet was heard, and a moment later the doors was opened roughly. "Wolfram! What happened? Are you all right?" All heads turned to the newcomer.
"Yuuri! What are you doing here?"
"Your Majesty!" Immediately, the four remaining soldiers, though caught off guard, saluted the king.
Yuuri quickly scanned all the faces that shouted his title. "Wilfried, Ernst, Gabriel, Florian." Yuuri motioned for them to relax. He was tempted to tell them not to be so formal with him, but he learned to accept some things in time. It was needed. He was the king and as such, he had to accept others treating him as such. But that didn't mean that they couldn't be more informal sometimes. Yuuri focused back to his fiance. "Wolfram, what happened? Are you injured?"
"What? Why would I be injured?" the blond would-be consort answered in plain confusion.
"You're not? You're sure?" Yuuri asked not understanding while coming nearer to the blond and looking him through for any injuries.
"Of course I'm sure, Yuuri." The double black could hear the slightly mocking tone in his answer.
"They told me you went to infirmary, so I thought..."
"And you immediately came to the conclusion I was injured," Wolfram stated, amused. Yuuri nodded, ashamed. "And you panicked and run straight to infirmary." Another nod.
Wolfram couldn't help the smile that started to appear on his lips while Yuuri's cheeks started to turn a very nice shade of red.
"You can relax, Yuuri. It was Florian who was hurt, not me." Wolfram stepped closer to his fiance and with one hand motioned to the injured Florian on bed while his other hand gently took the king's hand and reasuringly squeezed. To his surprise Yuuri squeezed back and Wofram's heart swelled with joy.
"What? Florian?" Yuuri turned to the young man quickly, still holding onto his fiance's hand. "How are you?"
"Ah haha. I'm all right, it's nothing serious, Your Highness. Lady Gisela already treated the injury and it's healing just fine."
"I'm glad to hear that," Yuuri said sincerely. Then he turned to his blonde prince. "How about we take our horses for a ride, Wolfram? They haven't been out for a while."
Wolfram looked at him, then to Florian and Gabriel. "All right. But you two better behave yourselves. I'm not going to solve any further injuries and sexual harassment. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir!" Gabriel and Florian stated in unison.
"Good." Wolfram turned to Wilfried and Ernst. "You two are coming with us, along with the two of Yuuri's guards. Go get the horses."
"Roger that." Wilfried saluted, and along with Ernst left the room to make the necessary arrangements so the king and his future consort could safely leave the castle.
"Yeah, and Gabriel..." Wolfram turned to the younger man. "...since it was Florian's turn at Royal bedchambers tonight, you're having the night watch in his stead," he stated before walking out of the infirmary with his fiancé and their companions.
***Yuuram***
"It's a shame Greta couldn't come with us." Wolfram sounded a bit disappointed as they rode side by side, their horses galloping at a swift pace along the dusty road. They were headed for their usual riding trail. It won't take them more then two hours. They wouldn't get too far from the castle, and they knew the road.
"Well, one of the maids said she's helping Annissina with something important," Yuuri mentioned. "I just hope it isn't anything dangerous," the king mumbled as an afterthought.
Wolfram slowed his white stallion at that and looked at Yuuri, who just stopped his own horse to halt and was waiting for him to catch up, since now he was a bit ahead from the blond. Their four guards did the same, acknowledging the new pace, but still carefully watching their surroundings.
"She's an intelligent girl." Wolfram tried to calm his king a bit, but he wasn't so sure himself. He trusted Greta to be reasonable, but that doesn't mean he trusted Annissina with that too. "Sometimes I just fear she will turn out to be too much like that red-haired devil."
"Don't worry. She's clever enough not let yourself be swept to the wrong side," chuckled Yuuri, humor clearly in his voice.
Their guarding companions were staying at respectful distance form the two royals, watching their surroundings closely for any sign of danger. In front of the king and his fiancé rode Wilfried with Gerarth, the head of Yuuri's guard, and behind them were Ernst with the half demon Adrian.
"Wolfram," Yuuri said after some time. At their right was a small village, and from their position they could see the people running about and doing whatever they did every day. To Yuuri it seemed peaceful. He liked their shared rides trough his lands, to see ordinary people—his people. He discovered he couldn't imagine this world with cars, business clothes, telephones, briefcases and homework. He couldn't even imagine signing documents here with a ballpoint. Quills were good. Quills belonged. That was what made Shin Makoku, Shin Makoku. The ordinary things. And he wouldn't have it any other way. His land was perfect just the way it was. The working people, the working animals, the fields; to him, these things were irreplaceable. And deep down he knew this world was meant for him.
"What would you say, if we left for the White Manor?" Yuuri asked quietly.
"What? You want to leave right now?" the blond questioned in surprise.
"I think we deserve a break. The last few months were difficult," Yuuri said as if it explained everything.
"What a wimp," Wolfram muttered. After a pause, he spoke again: "So you don't have any second thoughts?"
"Of course not!" Yuuri looked at his blond friend, offended. "How can you think that?"
Wolfram just raised his brow at Yuuri's question, not finding it worth the verbal answer. "I don't think it's wise to leave now. The wedding is less then two months away and there is still a lot to do."
"Your mother and Gunter can continue with the preparations without us. Actually I think your mother will appreciate it, if we stop ruining her work all the time."
"And you sure you're okay with my mother planning our wedding without any surveillance?"
"Gunter and Gwendal will stay too."
"You have to be joking," said Wolfram, incredulous. Both he and Yuuri could hear the chuckle from the front. And as they looked up, they saw Wilfried's shoulders shaking a little.
"Is something funny?" Wolfram asked his second in command, but it wasn't as sharp as he intended it to be.
"No, Excellency. Not at all," replied Wilfried, but he couldn't contain his amusement fully.
"Ah! Wilfried!" Yuuri shouted as if he remembered something. Both Wilfried and Wolfram turned towards him. "How's Elein? She's pregnant for quite some time, isn't she?"
"Well, she's very lively for two years and seven months pregnant. Thank you for letting her stay with me at the castle. It's easier for me to take care of her."
"It's good to hear. You don't have to thank me. I'm glad I was able to help. How long until the child is born?"
"If everything goes well, it will be another fourteen months."
"Hah, so long. I admire your wife for going trough with this."
"What a wimp," Wolfram mumbled quietly while shaking his head. Blond locks dancing in waves around his pale face. By the chuckle from Wilfried and Gerarth it wasn't a wide guess they heard him. Not that he cared that much.
"It's not just her, Your Majesty. Many go trough pregnancy in order for our kind to survive." Wilfried smiled at his king. And Yuuri just answered in kind and shuddered sheepishly.
"Yeah, it's just... Human pregnancy only lasts for nine months and demons are pregnant for three years and nine months. I can't even begin to imagine something like that."
"It's nothing special to us. We're demons, we age five times slower then humans, it's only natural children take that much time to be born too." Replied Wolfram this time.
"We're almost back at Blood Pledge Castle, Your Majesty, Your Excellency," Gerarth pointed out.
"Good," replied Yuuri. "Wolf, first of all we're going to inform Gwendal about our leaving for the White manor."
Wolfram looked at him disbelievingly and whispered to himself while shaking his head disapprovingly. "Somehow I don't think it's going to go as smoothly as you're imagining."
-TBC-