Hey guys, I'm really sorry that this chapter is super short. This was really all I could come up with. It's really short but it has a lot of emotion and I really liked it. I hope these chapters will start getting longer soon. With school, finding time and the mental power is hard, you know?

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy it.

Whispers in the Dark

Chapter 17

A Daughter's Tears

The air around the two was strong as they stared each other down. Murata held his arm from his crouching position in front of Wolfram. He hadn't realized that Wolfram's physical power was that strong. Even in his poor condition, his punch managed to cause a bit of damage to him, he could feel his cheek throbbing.

Something caught up the blonde as Murata could see the pain flashing through his emerald eyes as he collapsed onto his backside. He let out a scream as his legs and feet shook. He closed one of his eyes as he shakily reached a hand out for his feet, but hissed and pulled back instead.

Murata looked back at Wolfram's feet. The burns on his feet were bright red. The blisters almost throbbing. They were irritated that he was standing on them. They were in no condition to be walking around on.

"Lord Bielefeld, please stay seated. You're feet are in no condition to be-"

An angry row of flame was flung in his direction. Murata ducked for cover, raising his arms over his face. The fire burned into the walls, leaving a large singe mark. Murata removed his arms and looked back at his friend who was busy trying to use his power to try and heal his feet. His eyes, lifeless and dull, stared anxiously as he worked at it.

"Wolfram?!" Murata mumbled.

Wolfram's hands fisted up and slammed down onto the tiled floor. His magic wasn't strong enough to do anything to his burns. He was still too weak. Even at full power, it would take hours, maybe even days to heal completely.

He pulled himself up to his knees, using the bed as a support and looked around. He saw a pair of scissors and reached out for them. Murata saw this and got up from against the wall and ran over to stop him. However, they were already in his grasp. Wolfram pointed the blade at Murata who put his arms up in a sign of defense.

"Put those down. You don't want to do this." Murata said.

He tried to reach out for the small pair of scissors but Wolfram thrusted them at his hand and scratched the back of his hand. He pulled away instantaneously and shook his hand at the burning sensation of his flesh being cut.

"I guess you won't listen to me so easily. The poison has a strong hold on you."

Wolfram said nothing. He just glared at him.

"Does this mean that Shibuya will end up as you are? You were both hit by the poison. He may end up just like this."

Wolfram tightened his grip on the scissors at the mention of Yuri.

Murata looked back behind him. The doctors have yet to come by. What was taking them so long? Murata didn't know what else to say to stall the blonde.

"Put down the scissors and get back into bed. The doctors will be here soon."

Wolfram placed his left foot out in front of him and took a step closer. Murata took a step back.

Murata looked behind him again. He then looked in front of him, over at the bed. He saw the pillow on the bed and the thin white sheet and devised a plan quickly in his head. Murata pushed up his glasses and kicked up his foot, connecting with Wolfram's hands and the scissors. They flew from his grasp, skidding across the room. Wolfram made his way over slowly to the scissors and Murata ran over the bed. Turning around, Murata came face to face with Wolfram, inches from the blonde, who held the blade of the scissors to his chest. Murata sharpened his eyes at the blonde.

"Do you really think you can kill me?" Murata asked. Wolfram tightened his hold again. "Go for it." Wolfram plunged the scissors forward. Murata stumbled back. Wolfram looked down at the damage, only to see that his blade was stuck in the fabric of the large white pillow Murata had held in front of him. He tried to pull it out, but it was to no prevail.

Murata then yanked the sheet from off the bed and flung it over Wolfram's body. He then dropped the pillow and began to hold the sheet tightly around the blonde's frame. Wolfram fought back but to no prevail.

Murata placed Wolfram into a kneeling position and removed his black coat. After that, he removed the white sheet and bound the blonde's hands behind his back.

"You are to remain there."

"Murata!"

Murata turned back around to door to see Greta, out of breath and leaning against the door frame.

"Lady Greta!" Murata walked over her and helped her stand up. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay." She looked up at Murata. "I was with the doctors but I heard something fall and came to check on you. What happened? How's Wolfram?"

Murata looked back at Wolfram who sit with his arms tied up. Greta gasped in horror. "Wolfram, he put up quite a fight. This was the only way."

"Is-Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine before long. His feet may be in some bad shape though."

The sound of feet rushing over towards the room made Greta and Murata look up from their conversation.

The head nurse of the three that are on duty of taking care of Wolfram stepped up. "What's going on? What happened in here?"

"Wolfram is being overcome by the poison. You were supposed to have him tied down until Lord Von Wincott arrived here." Murata explained.

The head nurse bowed in apology. "I'm sorry for this. We've had a busy night with our other patients and never got around to it. We apologize."

"It doesn't matter now. Just please, help my papa." Greta cried.

The other two nurses looked at each other before quickly deciding to head inside the room and over to Wolfram. Wolfram continued to struggle against Murata's jacket knot around his arms, but it was far too tight.

"We'll need the restraints. Can you get them for us?" One of the nurses called to their superior.

"Of course." She replied.

"That won't be necessary."

Shouri awoke to all the commotion going on outside. He sat up from the bed and looked around at the darkness. Hearing the voices of many outside his room, he got up from the bed and walked over to the door just a few feet from him.

At the door, Shouri opened it, letting the light pour inside. He held a hand over his eyes to block the light for a moment before lowering it and walking out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Once out of his room, Shouri walked down the hall to the source of all the noise. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew it was something big if there were this many doctors standing around.

"What's going on?" Shouri asked.

One of the doctors heard Shouri and stepped away to answer his question. "It would seem that Lord Wolfram is being controlled by the poison."

"What?"

"However, it will not be for much longer. I can assure you."

"How do you know that?"

The doctor looked back at the crowd. "Everything is going according to plan. We have just what we need in this very building." He looked back at Shouri. "Lord Wolfram shall be released in due time."

Shouri clenched his fists. "What do you mean by that? Just what do you have planned?"

"As Lord Gwendal requested. We will take care of his brother and yours as well. Do not fear."

Shouri looks away from the doctor and back at the crowd. He saw the crowd of people beginning to open up so that the blonde's room was accessible. He saw Gwendal, as well as someone he couldn't directly recognize with his face hidden in the crowd.

"It looks like Lord Gwendal has finally returned."

Shouri walked away from the doctor at his side and over to the crowd to get a better look at what was going on. When he reached the door frame, he was able to make out Gwendal hoisting Wolfram up by his arms so that he could stand up. The blonde cried out and Gwendal knew that he was in pain, but left him standing.

The man with the light blue hair stood in front of the blonde. Shouri narrowed down who it could be to Lord Von Wincott. Only those of the Wincott family could undo the poisons bonds.

He held a hand over the blonde's head, and with a smile he spoke. "Young soul, I no longer have any more use for you. You are free to rest."

A small translucent orb escaped from the small vase of flowers and sped towards the blonde. His soul that was retracted from his body and stored until his body could be inhabited once again. It reentered his body and the blonde's head dropped.

He passed out. His body was still in poor condition.

Gwendal picked his brother up and placed him back onto the bed. He saw for himself, for the first time, his brother's badly damaged body up close. He could see now that his burns were beginning to slowly heal thanks to the nurses care. He saw the scratches, the cuts, the scars. He saw it all. He felt his anger boiling inside of him. A want to get back at whoever did this. But that wasn't possible. At least not right now. Not when they knew next to nothing of who did it.

The only ones who knew who did it, were still unconscious.

"Thank you for this. His majesty would appreciate your doing this. However, I feel some trouble has been made because I pulled you away from everything at this ungodly hour. You have everyone's thanks in the this kingdom." Gwendal said.

Del Kierson von Wincott smiled at Gwendal. "It was no problem at all. When you told me of his majesty's condition, I knew I had to help him. No matter the hour. His majesty is important to us all." He looked down at his feet as he remember his sister. "I'll do anything for the harbor of my sister's pure soul. Yuri is a fine king. Anything I can do for him is an honor in itself."

"I understand what you mean. His majesty influences the best in all of us."

"That he does."

Gwendal looked back at his brother. As his chest rose and fell in his sleep.

"I'll be on my then. Tell King Yuri that I wish him well."

"Thank you again."

Del Kierson von Wincott nodded to Gwendal and made his leave. The doctors and the nurses all made way and he exited the clinic and headed back on his own.

Gwendal walked out next. He watched as the nurses and doctors finally began to disperse, heading back to their duties and leaving them be. Only the three nurses stayed to continue taking care of Wolfram. Gwendal was then confronted by Shouri.

"What the hell just happened? Is Wolfram...going to be alright now?" Shouri asked.

Gwendal looked back at the room. He sighed. "Yeah. Wolfram is doing fine now. He just needs some rest."

Shouri understood. But something was still bothering him. "What about my brother? I didn't see him go to Yuri's room before leaving."

"His majesty has already been taken care of."

"So, that's it then? We just...wait and hope for the best?"

"That's all we really can do. Once their conditions have improved, then we can return to Shin Makoku. Not any sooner. I want them alive by the time they get home."

Shouri stared at Gwendal for a moment for sighing. "You're right."

"If that's all you wanted to know, there's some business I need to take care of."

"Wait!"

Gwendal turned to face Shouri once again. Shouri clenched his fists at his side.

"Can I see my brother?"

Gwendal ran a hand over his forehead, a headache already beginning to form. "You have as any right as I do. Just make it brief. Too much stress can make his health deteriorate."

"I understand."

Gwendal walked away. Shouri left for Yuri's room.

Greta sat in the waiting room. Murata sat alongside her. They left the room as soon as Gwendal and Lord von Wincott arrived. They figured that they would need the space. Greta had her hands in her lap. She kept them clenched tight. She was so scared. She wanted her papa and her father to be awake and talking. She missed them. Their voices. Their warmth.

"Murata, do you think Wolfram is going to be okay?" Greta asked.

Murata smiled at Greta as best he could. "Yes! I'm sure he will be. He, as well as Shibuya."

Greta smiled and leaned into Murata's side. "When can we see them again? I want to see them, so badly. I want to go home, have tea and laugh again."

Murata put his arm around Greta and held her tight. "I think it might take some time before the laughing comes back. After all that's happened. I don't think anyone will be in the mood for a laugh."

Greta closed her eyes and tried her best not to cry. She wanted to stay strong for Yuri, but this was all becoming too much for her. She was so scared. Murata turned to face Greta and held her close so that her face was in his chest. Greta couldn't hold it in anymore. She cried. And cried. And cried as she remembered Wolfram's face as he tried to attack her. Murata ran his fingers through her hair, his chin on her shoulder as he tried to comfort her. A tear of his own ran down his face as he remember his best friend, how he laid on the sand, bloodied and mangled. Arrows puncturing his skin everywhere and anywhere. All the bloodshed that has happened, was a drop too many.

"What happened? Why are you crying?"

Greta pulled away from Murata to look up at Lady Cecile who has finally woken up to see what all the commotion was about. She didn't expect to see Greta crying.

"I just miss my papa." Greta replied, wiping her tears away.

Lady Cecile frowned and pulled Greta into a hug. "I miss Wolfram too. He'll wake up soon."

Greta wiped her eyes again and pulled her knees to her chest. Her heart ached painfully every time she thought of her fathers. The pain they were in. What would happen once they woke up. Nothing good came to mind.

"Greta," Greta looked up when she heard her name being called. She saw her uncle Shouri walking down the hall towards them. He had his hands at his sides. He had a smile on his face, yet his eyes were red and puffy like he's been crying. "Someone wants to see you."

Greta's eyes widened. Tears began to brim at them when she realized what he meant. She jumped down from the chair and raced over to her uncle. She hugged his legs and Shouri ruffled her hair.

"Are you sure he wants to see me? You're not lying, are you?" Greta asked.

"No. I'm positive." Shouri replied.

Greta's tears continued to fall and she grabbed Shouri's hand. "I'm ready."

Shouri then led her out of the waiting room and back to Yuri's recovery room. When they made it there, Shouri opened the door and the two walked inside. When Greta walked inside, she saw him. He was just lying there, his eyes staring out in front of him. He was sitting up. He was awake. He was alert.

He was alive!

Yuri looked over at her and everything inside of Greta broke down. Her tears streamed down her cheeks even faster. She tried to wipe them away, but to no prevail. Yuri smiled at her and he raised a hand weakly over at her. Greta noticed all of the bandages and felt her stomach flip flop. She walked slowly over towards him, wanting to embrace the moment that this was really happening.

"Y-Yuri?"

"Greta."

Greta couldn't contain it any longer and ran over towards Yuri's bed and wrapped her arms around his torso as light as she could. Yuri looked down at her with a bit of surprise. But that soon changed to a smile, and a few tears. He wrapped his heavily bandaged arms around her and held her close and tight.

"Yuri! Yuri!" She cried.

"I'm so happy to see you're beautiful face again, Greta. You're father missed you." Yuri said.

Greta pulled away from her father and looked at his face. She saw that he was crying. She saw his black eyes. But there was something missing in those black eyes.

"You, along with the others, were the reason I was able to stay strong. You gave me a reason to keep fighting."

Greta shook her head. "Don't say that, Yuri. I knew you would come home. I just knew you would. Papa Wolfram and Sara went looking for you. Everyone did. We were all so worried. And-"

Yuri brought her back into his embrace again and shushed her. "Thank you, for never giving up on me."

Greta squinted her eyes as more tears spilled. "Yuri!"

"I love you, Greta. My most precious daughter."

"I love you too, Yuri."