GAH. Sorry guys. Short chapter. I'm sorry but I promise the next chapter will be better. But you know, the plot has to move forward. More action and violence and shit next chapter.
Also, on a note, I should let you know that I forgot how to spell her name, so I'm writing it in her full name now which is Cecilie. I think it was like Celi or something but Cecilie feels more appropriate. I apologize.
Hope you guys review. I love you all. You know that right?
Chapter 10
Trap
"What do you mean Yu-chan's been kidnapped?" Shouri shouted in worried.
Murat seemed unfazed by Shouri's reaction to the news. Actually, it was more on the lines that he expected him to blow up this way, after all, this was his little brother. However, he knew that he would have to be exceptional and figure out a way to calm down Shibuya's older brother.
"Relax, Yuri's only been gone about two days. We'll find him." Murata explained.
"Two whole days! And you're not even worried about that? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Shouri rambled on.
Murata sighed. "We did not expect that Shibuya would be so well hidden. It seems more and more twists are coming up at every moment. Its been difficult tracking him."
"So, you're saying you've lost all sign of my little brother?" Shouri asked.
"We have not lost all sign of him, but if you look at it that way, then yes, we have. As far as I know from the last time I've checked in, Shibuya's whereabouts are a mystery." Murata replied.
Shouri stopped pacing around his bedroom and kept his hands on his head, his back turned to Murata as he stared out at the full moon outside his window. Murata watched him intently. He knew that Shouri was hurting at the news of his little brother's disappearance. They have been close since childhood, so the thought of your family being held against their will by an unknown person, who no doubt plans to exploit Yuri for whatever he wants out of the young king, is a terrifying thought.
"If that's the case. Then you'll need my help right?" Shouri finally spoke.
Murata crossed his arms over his chest. It was a tempting offer. It was true. Whether the demons of Shin Makoku would admit or not, the needed the help of the Earth Maou. However, what was it worth to them, if Shouri were to be captured as well? It was a risky move.
"I don't have control over who we send out to find Shibuya. However, I can speak for the others when I say that your power and intuition just may be the key to helping us find him." Murata replied.
Shouri ran a hand through his black hair and then placed his hands on to the windowsill. "When you do plan to head back to Shin Makoku?" Shouri asked.
"In one hour. As soon as I finish explaining to Shibuya's parents." Murata answered.
Shouri turned to face the wise man reincarnate. "Don't bother. They don't need to know because it only adds more stress to them since they will know that they can't do anything to help. I don't want them to go through that."
"Keep them oblivious to the fact that their son may not come back alive at all." Murata pressed on.
"Don't you dare say that. My little brother is a powerful half demon and Maou to the demon kingdom, there's no way in hell he's falling that easy." Shouri hissed.
"Yes, but you have to remember this." Murata pushed his glasses up his nose before continuing. "Shibuya has the non-violent way of solving things. Which is great. However, in this kind of situation, not fighting back could cost him."
A knock at the door caused Murata to hush himself. Shouri looked over as well.
"Shou-chan. Ken-chan. I have a letter from the other world. It came up from the tub not that long ago. Would you like me to read it?" Jennifer said informatively as she walked into the dark room.
Murata walked over to her, a smile on his face, a fake one to keep her oblivious. "Thats alright mama-san, I'll take it."
Jennifer handed Murata the letter in the bottle but then pouted. "Ken-chan, I can at least listen right? I want to know how Yu-chan is doing?"
Murata looked over at Shouri from the corner of his eye. He needed a bit of help getting out of the trap of a mother's love and worry. Shouri caught on after a moment and took his mother by the arm and started her off towards the door.
"That would be a pleasure, however, I smell something burning don't you?" Shouri said.
Jennifer tensed before quickly making her way out of the room and into the hall. "Oh no. I forgot the curry."
The two teens stood quiet for a moment, listening to Jennifer's footsteps escape farther and farther away from the room before shutting the door completely. Murata looked down at the note in the bottle. It must be important for Shinou to have to waste what little power he has left, to bring it all the way here and in such a rush as well.
"What does the letter say?" Shouri asked.
Murata grabbed hold of the bottle and replied, "One way to find out." He raised the bottle up and then crashed it against the computer chair. Glass flew across the room and onto the floor below. Shouri just stared at Murata with a look of disbelief.
"Why the hell did you do that?" Shouri shouted.
"The cork was too far into the bottle, no doubt from one of the messengers rushing to get the message to us, so unless you had a wine opener, it would have been impossible to open it with my bare hands." Murata explained.
Shouri was going to counter about the fact that he got glass everywhere in his room, however, he let it slide as he knew that message was no doubt important.
"Well, then who's it from? What does it say?" Shouri asked.
Murata unrolled the message and began to read it over. He was silent for a few moments, reading over every word carefully and 's black eyes widen as he continued to read. His fingers clenching tighter around the piece of paper.
"Well?" Shouri asked again.
"Its gotten worse, however, I can't say that this was unexpected." Murata replied.
"Explain?" Shouri asked.
Murata rolled up the message and placed it down on the bed. "Its Wolfram. He was caught while out investigating with Saralegui."
"You mean that pretty blonde king from the human countries. I should have known. You can never trust that guy." Shouri shouted.
Murata rolled his eyes. "Saralegui is not our colaprete. Saralegui is our allie. He wants to find Shibuya just as much as we do. Why would he be the one to have captured him and what would be the point of capturing Wolfram as well?"
Shouri crossed his arms over his chest. "He's always been after my little brother. I'm not blind. He wants to be with my brother and he knows he can't have him because he's engaged. He probably kidnapped Wolfram to kill him so that the engagement will be off more permanently."
Murata sighed. "As elaborate as that sounds, Saralegui has sworn, in oath, that he is not apart of this scheme and we have solid proof that he is not. So, please stop fighting this. The more time we waste arguing, the more time the others are looking for Shibuya and Wolfram."
Shouri took a deep breath to calm himself. "Alright. Then lets go. But we have to make up something in case mom asks us about the letter."
"Whatever you say, Shibuya's older brother." Murata replied.
As the two left Shouri's bedroom and down the stairs towards the bathroom, Jennifer hid behind the archway connecting the front room and the kitchen. She then heard the splash of water and knew it was safe to come out. She then raced up the stairs to her son's room. She stepped inside the dark room, grabbed the letter and began to read it over.
As she read the letter, she had tears rolling down her face. "Oh Yu-chan, Wolf-chan, if only there was some way-"
Jennifer felt her knees give out and she collapsed onto the floor, the letter held close to her chest as she sobbed. Her husband was not close behind as she heard her cries and came up to check on her. When he saw her the way she was, his arms were immediately wrapped around her frame and he held her close.
As Gwendal stood on the deck of his ship, the breeze hitting his skin, his hands were held behind his back. Gwendal has kept this boat ashore since they set out, no one rests until they made it to the human lands.
It was late out as of now. The skies were dark and the stars lit the sky helping guide the ships through the sea.
"Lord Gwendal, we've received another carrier dove from King Saralegui."
Gwendal turned around as one of his crew members walked over to him, message in hand. Gwendal took the message from him and looked it over.
Lord Gwendal,
I hate to inform you of this as I know that no doubt you are already nearing the human shores, but I ask that you please turn around, head back to Shin Makoku and begin searching the human countries there. We lack footmen which means we must send whoever we can, anywhere, at anytime. King Yuri could be in the human countries of the demon kingdom, you are the only ones left I trust to search that area.
I hate to do this as it is an inconvenience, but I hope you listen to me well and search as hard as you can and I hope that you're search is successful. I ask that you send a dove as soon as you hear anything.
Saralegui.
Gwendal crushed the note between his fingers and growled. He stepped down from the deck and headed to the captain's port. He was not happy right now. To be sent on false orders to the human countries and then being asked to turn back, it was a waste of his time.
"What would you like me to do sir?"
Gwendal gave the man a death glare which kept the man quiet. Gwendal was no longer in the mood.
"Inform the other members on board, tell them that we're heading back." Gwendal ordered.
"Y-Yes sir." The man quickly headed off.
Gwendal grabbed the handle of the captain's port and slid it open. The captain of the ship looked over his shoulder at Gwendal as he stepped in.
"Ah Sir Gwendal, happy to report that we should be nearing the human countries-"
"Turn around." Gwendal ordered.
The captain fell silent. "I beg your pardon."
"Turn this ship around now. We're heading back to Shin Makoku."
"But Sir, what about King Yuri?"
"Change of plans. Saralegui wants us to start searching the human countries of the demon kingdom. Don't fight with me, just turn around and do it fast." Gwendal explained.
The captain sighed and did as he was told and began to turn the ship around. Doing so was dangerous as it meant the ship would lean and everyone and everything would tip along with it. But, he had no choice as he was only following orders.
Gwendal left the captain alone to do his job and headed back onto the ship deck. He hoped that after all of this, Saralegui was right and his highness was indeed in the human countries of Shin Makoku.
As he stood on deck once more, Gwendal saw something coming into view. He held the handle of his blade as it neared closer. It was another vessel. A large vessel.
"What should we do sir? Its still too far to identify."
"Stay down. Don't do anything until its identified. Stay down unless I give the order." Gwendal replied.
"Sir."
Gwendal moved closer to the end of the boat, he kept his eye on the vessel coming by. It was rare for boats to be out at this time of night, especially ones that large.
"Lord Gwendal, the image is clearing. I may be able to identify who's vessel it is." A shout from above said informatively.
"Yoohoo, Gwendal dear." A feminine voice all too familiar to Gwendal called out to him.
Gwendal waved a hand to his subordinate. "No need. The need for identification is not needed." Gwendal shouted.
As the ships grew closer towards each other, Gwendal saw her smiling at him.
"Mother. What are you doing out here at this time of night?" Gwendal asked.
Lady Cecilie moved her hair away from her face and smiled at her son. "I wanted to get back to Shin Makoku as soon as possible. I've been hearing all kinds of rumors about King Yuri. Gwendal, please tell me they're all lies."
Gwendal lowered his head. "I'm afraid I cannot."
"So Yuri truly has been kidnapped?" Lady Cecilie said.
"Yes. And I'm afraid Wolfram was captured soon after as well." Gwendal replied.
Lady Cecilie held a hand over her heart. Her face stricken with pain. "Poor Wolf. We must find him and Yuri soon. Who knows what is going on with them as we speak."
"No mother, I ask that you go back to the castle and wait it out. I promise we'll have-"
"NO. Wolfram is my son and I want to help. Do not forget that I was once a powerful demon queen Gwendal. I will help if I want to. Do you understand?" Lady Cecilie shouted.
Silence.
Gwendal sighed. "Very well."
Lady Cecilie looked back at her captain. "Take the boat to port yourself. I'll go with Gwendal."
"Yes Lady Cecilie."
Gwendal helped his mother on board of ship and they watched as her own love ship took off towards Shin Makoku. She turned to face her son.
"Let's go Gwendal. Wolf and Yuri need us."
Saralegui looked out the window of the Inn that they were staying in for the night. His eyes wandered to everything and everything that was around. He watched the people walking. The tree leaves bristling. He could hear the faint sound of the bell above the Inn building chiming its loudest.
It must be midnight.
He kept his fists clenched on the windowsill as he stared out. He was alone in this room so no one could tell him what he can and cannot do.
He bit his lip. He was angry. He was beyond angry. He was frustrated. He was frustrated that time seemed to have slipped away from him so quickly. That his time of searching for Yuri and Wolfram had been put on hold because of the sun's fall and the risen moon.
He wanted nothing more than to continue his quest. To be damned with the moon and dark night sky. To be damned his need for rest. To be damned. To be damned. To be damned.
He does not want to rest until he finds King Yuri and Wolfram. He does not want to do anything that is a necessity to him. To sit back and relax, while his allies are no doubt being tortured, he found that sickening.
He was not weak. To be treated as he was now, he felt like that lonesome prince craving for affection and adventure, as he was when he was only a small child. He refused to go back to that time. That awful time when he was always alone, with no one but Berius but his side. He did not want that.
He had to find them. He had to. He refused to sit in this room until daybreak.
Saralegui removed himself from the window and briskly walked over to the chair by the desk. He grabbed his water pouch and filled it with fresh water and then strapped it onto his waist. Once it was secure to his being, he grabbed his sword and placed it in the correct compartment of its belt and that was placed on as well. Saralegui then grabbed his spectacles and placed them on.
He looked at himself in the mirror. He placed a hand over his face, his eyes. He always wondered why he wore these specific glasses. For as long as he could remember, having them on was a daily necessity and an absolute must. But as for why, he did not know. He did know that he felt more in control of his power with them on. Where they worn to control the stability of his power? Or was it all a mental statement of power?
Saralegui chose not to think on it any longer as he grabbed his cape and headed out the door. He made sure to place the key to his room under the mat.
Saralegui took a quick look around before walking over to the pen where the horses were being kept. He stepped inside and found his horse in the first stall to his left. He placed a hand atop its head and gave it a gentle pet. The horse let out a gentle "neigh" sound to Saralegui, as if it was concerned as to why he was out so late. Saralegui took hold of the reins and quickly lead the horse outside of the stables and quickly got on the horse. Once he was seated, he grabbed the reins and cracked the reins.
The horse quickly and speedily took off, away from the inn and onward to continue the search.
Shields. Swords. Esoteric stones. Bows and Arrows. All of it in tow.
Fear. Adrenaline. It ran through the veins of Wolfram and Yuri.
Yuri continued to look around the room at all of the armed men in their attacking positions. He knew that they were at a serious disadvantage. He knew he had to help protect Wolfram. He could feel that Wolfram's maryoku was low. Any more energy out of him, could cost him his life. Yuri didn't want to see that happen.
Wolfram bit his lip. He knew that he and Yuri were in trouble. He could no longer forge enough energy to create flame. He was completely useless right now. Dead weight. He hated that feeling. He didn't like being useless.
Yuri looked back at Wolfram. He could see the sadness in his eyes. He could see it as he clenched his fists.
"Wolfram. I need you to get back." Yuri spoke.
Wolfram looked back at Yuri. "Why?"
"Just go." Yuri shouted. At that moment. He let his maryoku go. He let all control go to the demon king inside of him. He let his body change. His hair once again growing longer. His eyes changing from large and innocent to cold and destructive. He felt his whole being change.
Wolfram held his arm up over his head. He watched as Yuri changed once again into the demon king. He couldn't believe that Yuri was able to succeed in doing so. He thought for sure that Belar would not allow it and shock him again, draining all of his energy.
"I will not be forced to stand around as those I care for are abused and neglected. For thee, I seek out justice." The demon king shouted.
"So, the demon king has made an unexpected appearance. I say, what brilliance has this day stowed upon me." Belar spoke highly.
The demon king narrowed his eyes. "Why do you say such things? Why does my presence bring such pleasure to you?"
Silence.
"You shall know soon enough, Maou." Belar said.
Wolfram didn't understand. Earlier in the day, Belar refused the demon king's presence, shocking Yuri, forcing him back. But now, now he is happy that the demon king is in his presence. Wolfram narrowed his own eyes this time.
Why? That question ran through his mind so many times. Spiraling. Why?
Unless-
"Yuri, look out." Wolfram cried. "It's a trap."
DAMN ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER *kicks myself* I hate cliffhangers. Its such a crappy cliffhanger too. But I promise. A lot more happens next chapter. Which means EPIC VIOLENCE.
Anyways, so yeah, Saralegui snuck off, Shouri AND Lady Cecilie are joining in on the search. Shit is getting real my friends.
Review my friends. You're reviews will help replenish Wolfram's energy and he can burn Belar's evil ass with it *smirks*