Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it took so long. I hope you will like it. So don't forget to review and let me know what you think.
And again many thanks to my wonderful beta: USxArthurxKirklandxUK formerly known as Ichigo-chanNya and Kagomegirl2004
Chapter 7 – Mornings and Evenings
When their excited mother closed the doors on them, Yuuri and Wolfram went to take care of their horses with Shori's invaluable help. Of course the big brother was being very helpful by standing aside and telling them what to do, as if they didn't know what their horses needed. Wolfram was almost afraid the scowl adorning Yuuri's face will became permanent.
"All done," sighed Yuuri as Wolfram set the second bucket of water on the ground. For the last time the king checked by look the now happily grazing horses, making sure they have everything they needed, which wasn't much actually. They left the doors to their garden shed open and moved most of the things that could be dangerous for the horses to the garage so Ao and Flawless could use the shed as a shelter if needed.
"All right." Shori clasped his hands together. "You two should get yourselves some dry clothes."
Yuuri and Wolfram shared an amused look before silently entering the house through the backyard doors. As soon as they entered, Miko was standing in front of them.
"Greta is already asleep in the guest room, so be quiet when going upstairs." Both boys nodded. "Would you two like something warm to drink? I have tea ready."
"Well, some tea sounds really good right now, ne Wolfram?" Yuuri turned to the blond enthusiastically.
"Yes, if it's not too much trouble, I would like some too, mama Jennifer."
"Sure dear, of course it's not a problem." She smiled at him brightly and cheerfully disappeared in kitchen.
"Come on, Wolf." Yuuri nudged at Wolfram's hand. "We should at least change into dry clothes." The blond just nodded and followed the black haired king up into Yuuri's room.
When the royal couple finally came down, they were clothed in Yuuri's fresh and dry clothes. Neither of them looked tired anymore. Instead they were chatting excitedly about something, which surely got Miko's attention. But what got her into schoolgirl mode was her youngest son's hand, which was unconsciously resting on the small of the blond's back. There certainly was something about them...call it mother's intuition – which will cause a few days insomnia, at least to her oldest son, if not to her husband too. She couldn't wait for the news.
Both boys seated themselves and the ever smiling Miko put two cups of tea in front of them.
"So," she began, while putting down her own cup and sitting between her husband and older son, so she could be at least within reach of either if anything not to their liking was said that night. "To what do we owe the unexpected visit?" Her brown eyes scanned both youngest again.
"Well," Yuuri begun slowly, carefully thinking trough words. "In short...we were attacked by some people while we were on holidays..." He paused, not knowing how to continue and meanwhile Shori looked like he was about to say something, but their mother beat him to it.
"Attacked?" she looked like she was about to have a heartattack. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Mother, calm down. And yes and no. Our horses," he mentioned towards himself and Wolfram by his side. "were the targets."
"Your horse," corrected Wolfram curtly, which earned him only meaningful stare from his king.
"Why would someone target horses?" Shori asked doubtfully.
"Because they are Mazoku horses. We're linked with them. They hurt them, they hurt us," explained Wolfram.
"Oh." it was the first thing that Shoma had said that night.
"What?" Everyone turned to him.
"Well, I know the Mazoku horses from stories my mother used to tell me before going to sleep when I was a child. I thought they were just that...a stories. But you say they really exist?"
"Yes father, Ao and Flawless are Mazoku horses. And we're connected to them," said Yuuri. "Anyway, Wolfram's horse was injured really bad," he continued calmly. "And that's why we're here and with our horses too."
"But Wolfram is a soldier, isn't he?" Shori lifted his eyebrows. "He shouldn't run from enemy for an injury that wasn't even his own. Am I not right?" he asked challengingly, but before Wolfram could explode, he continued. "Or is it that your subjects needed the Maou and his fiancé gone and out of immediate harms way so they could concentrate on capturing the attackers?" He knew from Yuuri's expression he hit the nail on the head. He couldn't help the smirk that found it's way on his face because of his little brother's unbelievable face. But Shori knew he was missing something... "What I don't get is why now all of a sudden? You both faced critical situations and attempts on your lives many times before. So...why send you to safety now?" A pause. "What aren't you telling us?"
"Well, you see. There is a really big event coming up in Shin Makoku. Everything needs to be perfect and we would just be in a way for Conrad and the others who are trying to capture the culprits before the event comes."
Shori was watching his little brother carefully and hit it just right. "What event?" he asked directly.
Yuuri looked his whole family over and ended with his eyes on Wolfram. He took the blond's hand into his own under the table for comfort. "A wedding." He looked back at the three from Earth and brought their joined hands above the table. "A Royal wedding, to be more precise."
An ears assaulting shriek cut trough the still silent atmosphere. But not Yuuri, nor Wolfram had their attention on the only woman above them. The Royal couple was watching both older males carefully as excited Miko shot from her seat and hung herself around their necks shouting some incomprehensible things. To Yuuri's and Wolfram's absolute horror something about a wedding dress was amongst them.
"Mom, please..." tried Yuuri, still watching his father and brother.
"Do you know which one will be wearing a wedding dress already?" was the first coherent thing that left her sprinting mouth.
"Yes," answered Yuuri calmly.
"Really?" Miko's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Which one?"
"Neither," came the uninterested reply without even one blink of an eye.
Miko's smile fell. "What? Why?" she whined. "Yuu-chan, you can't do this to your mother. Wol-chan you surely want to wed in beautiful wedding dress, don't you?" She looked to Wolfram hopefully.
"No. Not at all," replied Wolfram firmly.
"Mom, we already resolved this with Wolfram's mother. She had the same opinion as you" sighed Yuuri.
"Sure. Mothers know the best," the confident woman replied proudly.
"Ehm."
At that one interjection the engaged couple and Miko (but not Shori, he seemed still a bit stunned) redirected their attention to the men of the house. Yuuri's father – Shoma.
"Well, if I understand everything right, you two are getting married," he stated to his younger son and his long time fiancé.
"Yes, father," was Yuuri's simple reply.
"When did this happen?"
"We decided about four months ago."
"And the wedding is?"
"In six weeks."
"You know for four months and you never came to tell the good news to your dear mother?" said Miko, disappointed. "I would understand not telling your father and brother, but why not tell anything even to your poor mother?" she whined.
"Why wouldn't he want to tell me, his older brother?!" Shori was more then just indignant at his mother's implications, but otherwise let it go. He had something more important on his mind then his mother's foolishness. "They pushed you into it, didn't they?" he asked Yuuri firmly.
"What?"
"They pushed you into marrying him, didn't they?" he pressed more.
Wolfram just sat there not saying anything, not even arguing as Shori expected him to at his accusations. It was like he told Shori, he was right and Yuuri was really under pressure to marry the blond.
"No they didn't."
"Really? Your fiancé certainly doesn't seem to think so." Shori looked Wolfram over again.
"Hey! You better leave Wolfram out of this, Shori."
"Why? Because I'm right?"
"No!" Yuuri was about to put his older brother back to his seat. "Because it's quite the opposite." Shori's eyes went wide.
"What again?"
"It was me who insisted." Shori couldn't believe what he heard. His little brother what?
"You wouldn't willingly." The older Shibuya just couldn't believe his younger brother would willingly submit to marrying a man.
Yuuri shook his head with a sigh. "It was my decision, Shori. And we're going to get married. You should start to get used to it, because it's final."
Shori clearly wanted to say something, but Yuuri quickly cut him off.
"I thought you will be happy for us," said the young King, disappointed.
"Your brother is, he just needs some time to come to terms with his little brother finally spreading his wings," Miko tried to settle things.
"Mom, I spread my wings a long time ago. Way earlier then him."
To that Miko just smiled.
But from today on, my son...your wings will spread for and shield your own family. Beginning today, it's forever.
***The King's Prince***
Bang!
Yuuri was startled awake roughly by his overprotective older brother. Again. It has been three days since they came to Earth and this was the third time Shori burst into his room to wake them up. Yuuri just couldn't stand the manner in which it was done. Yuuri was now seriously considering hurting the maniac in some very drastic way. Or he could lock the door, but that would be hardly satisfying at this point.
"Get out!" growled Yuuri and after Wolfram's example a moment ago, buried his head in his pillow. He felt Wolfram snuggle into his side. The blond was so warm against his body, it almost lulled him back to sleep. Almost.
"Awww! You two!" Shori grimaced. "Don't make me sick." He made a face as if he was about to throw up. "Wake up, you lazy brats!" Shori tried to pull off their blanket, but Wolfram was prepared for something like this and held it to himself hard enough.
"What part of GET OUT you didn't understand?!" Yuuri looked at his brother again.
"Stop cuddling together and get up."
"If we're making you so sick," Yuuri stared at the older male evilly while turning on his side facing Wolfram who just opened his deep green eyes and still dazedly stared at him, "you shouldn't watch us. He closed the distance that reminded between him and his fiancé and kissed the surprised blond.
Yuuri felt Wolfram stiffen at the sudden contact. But then the green eyes vanished behind long eyelashes and the boy he held in his arms kissed him back. Yuuri just didn't want to think about his brother anymore.
"Eeewww," grimaced Shori again, but this time he looked away feeling sorry for himself.
"What is happening in here?" This time Miko burst into the room. But she stopped the moment she saw the two making out on the bed. She was so surprised she almost...almost forgot to squeal in delight.
"Yaay!" was what finally separated the engaged couple.
"After you...finish," Miko almost purred the last word, "Breakfast is ready." She dragged Shori out of the room.
Yuuri sighed tiredly. "I don't want to face them. Ever." Wolfram turned in his arms and smiled shyly at him. His eyes now wide awake.
"Then don't." He fixed his fiance with his eyes. "Let's forget about them, at least for now." He pulled the now smiling Yuuri down for another good morning kiss, which somehow turned into their first little make out session. Yuuri just had to touch Wolfram's arms so gently, and Wolfram just had to tangle his fingers in Yuuri's hair that way.
"I'm going to lock the doors tonight," Yuuri whispered against Wolfram's parted lips and the blond laughed heartily as the two slowly separated again. "I hate to cut this short," Yuuri pulled his hand from Wolfram's cheek a bit and gently touched his lips with his thumb, "but we should probably go before they get any ideas," Yuuri finished a bit shakily, hoping Wolfram wouldn't notice what their little make out session did to him. He was honestly surprised himself, but wasn't prepared to share his discovery with his fiancé yet. It partially scared him back to his senses, before they got any further. For now he will blame it on his hormones. Yes, better that then to dwell on it right now, there will be better time for deep thoughts later.
Wolfram, meanwhile, got out of the bed and started to change. When Yuuri's eyes landed on the blond's porcelain skin, the king blushed deeply and quickly went to get his clothes, trying not to think about anything.
"Don't forget we're going to ride today," said Wolfram as he looked at Yuuri across his shoulder.
"Right, we shouldn't let Shori wait anymore."
The next day after their arrival, Shori arranged a meeting with the owner of a nearby horse farm, who was also coincidentally Shori's high school days friend. They had large pastures where they bred their horses and Yuuri and Wolfram immediately liked the place and the people that were taking care of the horses. Yuuri was very glad they did like this place, because he was not a fan of the idea that he had to explain to Wolfram and their horses that they had to load them into a big box on wheels and transport them because there were not enough places a horse could go.
When Shori's car passed trough the great wooden gate of the farm, the Earth Maou and Shori's friend were already waiting for them.
"Hello Bob. Hello Misaki-kun," called Yuuri as soon as he got out of the car. Wolfram rolled his eyes at his fiancé's childish gesture.
"Hello to you too, Yuuri-heika." greeted the Earth Maou back, but more formally. "And Wolfram-kakka too."
"Your Majesty. Misaki-sama," greeted Wolfram with a respectful nod of his blond head.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to come to see you sooner," continued the older man. "But my work got in the way."
"I can relate to that," said Yuuri. His eyes and smile were filled with tenderhearted understanding.
"Ehm," Misaki suddenly cleared his throat and everyone looked at him. "I don't mean to sound mean, Shori, but I think you probably didn't introduced us properly last time." He looked pointedly at his friend.
"Um, well, I was not aware you knew Bob."
"Of course I know him, he's our Maou after all. Which brings out another question – how do YOU know him?"
"You're a Mazoku, Misaki?" Shori couldn't believe he didn't know this part of his friend.
"Yes, I am, but how do you..."
"Maybe I should explain then," started Bob. "Shori is my successor, Misaki. He's going to became the next Earth Maou when I retire."
"Oh, so you're a Mazoku too." Misaki turned to Shori again.
"I am half, my mother is a human." added Shori.
"All right, but why did Bob call your brother heika?"
"Because he is." Shori looked at Misaki carefully. "I will do my job properly this time. Misaki, this is my younger brother Yuuri, the 27th maou of Shin Makoku. " This is," he looked at Wolfram, "Lord Wolfram von Bielefeld, my brother's...eh...retainer."
How childish, thought Yuuri and Wolfram simultaneously.
Bob smirked, Yuuri rolled his eyes, and Wolfram scowled. But Yuuri registered the disappointment that marred Wolfram's face for a moment, though it was gone in a second and carefully replaced with a hard scowl. But Yuuri saw. He knew Wolfram was hurt by his brother still not accepting his status. Not accepting him. He couldn't do anything about his brother's foolishness, but he could do something for Wolfram to at least feel better he hoped.
"Yeah." He smiled and moved beside Wolf. Yuuri gently took his pale and cold hand into his and Wolfram immediately looked at him and smiled a small, but weak smile. "And my fiancé too."
Misaki's eyes widened and a small Oh escaped his lips.
"And I'm very glad Shori could arrange this meeting, because I wanted to officially invite you, Bob, as the Maou of Earth, to our wedding, held in six weeks time." Yuuri looked at Misaki and added politely: "And we would like for you to attend too, if you want."
Bob smiled as if he knew this all along. "I am honored to accept your invitation, Maou of Shin Makoku."
"I am honored to accept as well...Your Majesty." Misaki bowed deeply, but Yuuri had to stiffen a gasp and a shiver, because of an icily cold feeling running down his spine. Something about this situation seemed utterly wrong to the young king. But it passed as quickly as it came.
After a while, Yuuri forced a joyful "Great!" from his throat and slapped his hands together. "Now, as for why we are here." The young king looked at Wolfram. "We should go get our horses, before we run out of time, since we're supposed to go to the movie this afternoon with Greta."
"Yeah, about that..." Misaki said guiltily. "I'm afraid this could be a bit of a problem."
"What? Where are our horses?" snapped Wolfram. Yuuri, seeing his friend's distress, squeezed the blond's hand gently, but firmly to let him know he's still here to fight if need be.
"Well, last I've seen them, they were all right, they are always somewhere at the pastures, but they don't keep with other horses and won't come to any of my stuff. Last time I searched for them I had to ride a horse and I still looked for them for three hours. And they run as soon as they saw me."
"Oh." Wolfram visibly relaxed. "That won't be a problem." He looked to Yuuri then. "They know we're here. They're coming."
Yuuri had to shake down another bad feeling. Logically telling himself not to start being paranoid. That won't help anyone. But he still made a mental note to talk to Shinou tonight and tell him about everything. And everyone.
***The King's Prince***
When they finally got home after the riding with Shori and Bob, then the rest of an afternoon and evening spent with Greta at the cinema and then just visiting all the beautiful sights of night-time Saitama, they were so tired, they went straight to prepare for bed.
"Hey, Wolfram." Shori decided to approach the blond after all; this was bugging him for a while and he wanted it out. They were currently alone in Yuuri's bedroom since Yuuri went to take a bath leaving the blond to ready himself for bed.
"Shori." The blond looked up and gave his future brother in law a puzzled look. Yuuri just left and he had thought the king only forgot something so he didn't pay the opening doors much attention. "Sorry, I didn't hear you knock." He stuffed the pants of his pajamas back under the covers, glad he didn't manage to undress himself for bed before Shori came in.
Shori didn't respond to his comment about not hearing the knocking, feeling a bit ashamed. Wolfram couldn't hear any knocking because the future Maoh of Earth somehow managed to forget about good manners. His only excuse being distracted with thoughts about what exactly he wanted to talk about with the blond aristocrat.
Shori sighed. "I know this will sound strange, but you're marrying my younger brother and I have the right to know." He decided to approach the problem directly. "You just seem a bit different from what I remember you acting from before. Little less a brat."
At that Wolfram's eyes narrowed, but his expression quickly changed from angry realization to amused realization. "Little less a brat, hm?" he repeated teasingly.
"You know what I mean, just answer the question." Shori was starting to think he was maybe wrong after all.
Wolfram was toying with the idea of letting the older man (by visage only) to struggle through this for a bit and play dumb, but then decided against it. He was tired and wanted to go to sleep as quickly as he could, this would just prolong his mostly desired meeting with an abnormally soft pillow.
"He blamed himself." Wolfram started by making eye contact with the other. "Yuuri blamed himself for what happened a year ago. I think partially, he still does. But he's not in depression about it anymore. What happened changed us all."
Yes, Shori remembered clearly the one time his little brother came back home, never spoke to anyone and withdrew to himself. He and their parents were scared. They didn't know what happened for two weeks – until Yuuri was prepared to talk about it. He told some of the story (Shori was sure it wasn't everything) to their mother, crying the whole time, and didn't leave Earth, a week later, in much better shape. But the next time he came back, it was like nothing happened. No one asked. No one knew. Old Yuuri was back and that was enough.
"I just never understood what was such a big deal about the whole situation." Shroi said sadly. "I understand it was hard for him to see his close friends hurt badly, but they didn't die..."
Wolfram looked carefully at his future brother in law. "What did Yuuri actually tell you?"
"Just that Conrad and Gunter were hurt and it was his fault. He said it was an assassination attempt at his life and they protected him."
Wolfram felt sad for Yuuri's brother. Of course he couldn't understand. Who was not there back then couldn't understand. Even though he knew Shori would understand at some level if told the truth. Because he was Yuuri's brother. He knew his principles. He knew what Yuuri valued the most. He was just not sure if it was his place to tell Yuuri's family the whole story.
"I don't know if Yuuri is ready to tell you everything, but you should try."
"Why won't you tell me?"
"It is not my place to tell."
"Why not? He will never tell me, if he didn't say anything till now."
"Maybe he just didn't want to bring it up. It is not something he wants to remember...ever. But that doesn't mean he won't talk about it if you ask him."
"This is ridiculous." Shori sighed exasperated. "All this secrecy because of a few injured soldiers."
"People died, Shori." came the sad answer from the now open doors behind Shori's back. Wolfram leaned over so he could see behind the large frame of the future maoh of Earth. Yuuri was standing in the doorway dressed only in his pants, a wet towel hanging from his shoulders. He closed the doors behind him and crossed the room to where they were standing. His eyes were sad when he sat himself on the bed with a sigh, but determined. It was time to talk. "And by my hand too."
-TBC-