HAPPY BELATED ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVERYONE. Yes! This fic is officially one year old! (You feel old yet?) I wanted to post this yesterday but I just finished writing it and wanted to post it immediately after I finished. This chapter was such an emotional roller coaster for me. I hope you all enjoy it because I sure as hell did and now feel like crying.

Thank you Tumblr for giving me my inspiration for this chapter. Also, thank you for all of those who have reviewed, favorited and followed over the past year. You are all very appreciated and I love every single one of you for getting me this far. Let's hope this fic does not last another year. I hope to end it some point in 2015. That is the plan. We really are about half way finished. I hope you all stick with me until the end.

I love you all and I hope you enjoy.

Whispers in the Dark

Chapter 19

Full Moon

The cool winds of sunset washed over Greta's trembling frame as she sat against the outside walls of the clinic. With her face buried in her arms, she cried. Her tears showed no signs of stopping no matter how much she pleaded in her mind for them to. Every time she felt close to being fine, she would see the images.

Of Wolfram, his burns, his bandaged skin, the lost and soulless eyes. Of Yuri with bandage around his head and how he seemed to be off himself. Greta knew next to nothing about how badly Yuri is actually feeling because her father hid it rather well. However, she knew it was so much worse than he portrayed it to her.

Greta wanted to help. She wanted to make everyone feel better. Greta wanted to see everyone smiling and happy again. She wanted to have tea parties with her fathers again. She wanted to see the sunshine and the bone tribesman flying over head and talking to them. She wanted everything to go back to the way it was before all of this happened.

"Yuri..." She said to herself as she stared down at the ground beneath her feet. "Wolfram…" She lowered her face into her arms again and sat silently to herself. The wind began to pick up and she shivered involuntarily.

"Greta," Conrart placed his hand on her shoulder. He felt her trembling in his touch and rubbed her back. "You have nothing to worry about. His majesty will have recovered before long."

Greta looked up at Conrart. "What about Wolfram?"

"Wolfram is just the same. He will be alright." Conrart replied.

Greta could hear the uncertainty in Conrart's voice. She felt no better than she did before. She pulled her knees closer to her chest and began to think, a terrible decision she knew but that was all she could do. That was all the power she had in this.

"Things aren't going to get any better for a while, are they?" Greta asked.

She listened closely to Conrart's response. It was what he said next that would decide what she does next.

"It all depends on how fast his majesty and Wolfram recover. We also have a lot to do now that whoever did this is out there. I know you understand. We must work every ounce of our energy into finding this person. Don't you agree?" Conrart replied. He got down on his knees and sat down beside Greta.

Greta knew that Conrart was right. But, how could she be happy with that? She didn't want for Yuri and Wolfram to have to worry about this. Yuri and Wolfram had just come back from a very traumatic fight. Greta wanted them to be able to recover as best as they could.

"I promise. Things will get better." Conrart placed a hand on Greta's shoulder. Greta leaned her head on Conrart's chest and closed her eyes.

"I hope so." Greta mumbled.

Conrart placed his arm around the girl's small frame and held her close, shielding her from the cool breeze.

As the nurse walked into the room, Saralegui was asked vacate the room so the nurse could check over Yuri properly. Saralegui did not fight her on it and kindly excused himself.

Once he was out of the room, the nurse turned to face Yuri and bowed to him.

"I'm sorry about that. Ms. Gisela asked me to come by and check on you. I hope you don't me." She said nervously.

"Ah. No problem. It would be an honor to have a beautiful young lady checking up on me." Yuri replied.

The nurse blushed. "Your majesty." Her face was bright pink.

Yuri looked around the room. Being so used to Wolfram grabbing onto him and calling him a 'no good cheater' whenever he even talked to another person, especially those of the female variety, he expected the same now.

But he then remembered. He remembered what Saralegui had told him, how Wolfram is supposedly recovering. That he was fine.

Yuri didn't believe it. Saralegui wasn't there. He doesn't know what they saw. What they had to go through. Thinking back on it made Yuri sick to his stomach. It made his heart pound with worry.

The nurse noticed his accelerated heart beat as she checked his pulse.

"Are you alright, your majesty? Your heart is beating quite rapidly." She asked as she held Yuri's wrist and felt the beat.

Yuri said nothing at first. He was thinking too much on Wolfram. On his daughter's reaction to seeing him. Yuri could see that she was fearful. She saw something that scared her. Scared her to wits end and Yuri wanted to know what that was, so he could help comfort her.

"Your majesty?" She asked again. She raised a hand to wave it in front of his face, to snap him out of his trance, but Yuri gently took hold of her wrist and stopped her with his left hand.

"I need a favor." Yuri asked. "Can you help me?"

The nurse nodded. "Yes your majesty. Of course."

Yuri looked around again before looking back at her. "I need to get out of this room. Can you find something that will help me get around?"

The nurse's eyes grew wide, softened and then looked away.

"You shouldn't be on your feet." She replied. Yuri was about to retort, but the nurse continued. "But I think I have something that you can use."

Yuri released his hold on her wrist and she grabbed a blood pressure gage.

"I'll finish up your vitals and then I'll help you. Is that okay?"

Yuri nodded. "Yeah."

The nurse smiled in content before placing the cuff around his arm and began to take his blood pressure.

Murata stepped out into the cool air of the early evening settling and couldn't help but think. There was a lot to process and little time to accommodate it properly. Murata was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed.

Yuri has been out of commission for days, if you count his time missing. The people need there king. Rumors and suspicion have already spread throughout the kingdom. Worry was spreading throughout as the people began to wonder if his majesty was ever going to return.

Murata knew that he would. He was alive and well. Nothing could stop him from ever going back. That is, unless something happens between now and then, which Murata pledged to never let happen. He was going to protect Yuri.

Murata looked up at the moon as it shined down on him. The moon reminded him so much of Yuri. He remembered when Yuri and Shouri brought out the moon from the pool water and began to toss it around. Yuri has even told him that he loved the full moon. How it shined, how it reminded him of his childhood, during happier times.

The full moon was a life raft to him. It made him happy to see it in the sky at night. It made him happy when he felt down.

Murata respected that. It was the same with him and the sun. The sun was meant for joy. When it was sunny, your day is automatically brightened. Murata always strives for that. He wanted to brighten people's day, even if it was just one person.

That one person was usually Miko. Miko enjoyed his presence. She accepted him as a member of the family. His own family rarely acknowledged his presence. That was why he spent most of his time with Yuri.

He felt like he was wanted. Even more now here in Shin Makoku where he was deemed as the reincarnate of the Great Wise Man.

He was happy here. But he was also happy at home, back on Earth.

A harsh and cold wind blew giving Murata a chill, he wrapped his arms around himself. When he heard the sound of the leaves rustling, even now after the wind has died down, he looked into the forest and the trees. He figured it was nothing, but something felt off. The air around him, suddenly felt….gut wrenching.

The door behind him opened again and Shouri stepped out, holding the door open. "They're looking for you." He didn't bother to state who it was that was searching for Murata, knowing that the one in question most likely had a good idea as to who it was.

Which he did!

"Ah, I'll be right there." Murata replied. He didn't move from his place, his feet never once making any move to leave his spot on the grass, back into the building. Shouri said nothing of it and stepped back inside, leaving Murata to himself.

Murata took one last look around before taking the handle to the door, pulling it towards himself and walked inside.

"Have you made preparations?" Saralegui asked as he held a cup of piping hot tea. It was white tea. He blew on it before taking a sip.

Gwendal, who sat across from Saralegui, folded his hands atop the table and answered. "Unfortunately, we have not. The Aristocrats voted in a 2 to 1 decision to withhold the search for this man for until both Yuri and Wolfram return to the palace."

"So, we must sit around and wait until the time is right!?" Saralegui restated to make sure what he has heard was correct.

Gwendal nodded, not happy that it came from his own lips as well. "We have no choice. As much as we all want to search and have this man detained, it's impossible to do so without knowing who he was or if he's even alive."

Saralegui placed his tea down onto the table and leaned back into the chair provided by the clinic. They were hard and uncomfortable.

"What else is there to do that does not have to involve Yuri?" Saralegui asked.

"There isn't much we can do. His majesty holds all of the pieces. As well as Wolfram, but he has yet to wake up from his little nap! So we have choice but to act solely along with his majesty!" Gwendal replied.

Saralegui stood up from the uncomfortable chair and held his arms behind his back. "There has to be something we can." He began to walk around the room. He needed to think, sitting around wasn't something he could do at the moment. "Have you sent anyone to check the rubble, search for any bodies?"

"It is happening as we speak. However, depending on the damage, the flames may have burned the bodies to the point of nonrecognition." Gwendal replied.

Saralegui growled and squeezed his clenched fists tighter. "Yuri." He mumbled to himself.

"I'm sure his majesty will be grateful that you're doing all you can." Conrart interveined as he saw Saralegui was getting upset.

Saralegui bit his lip and glared at nothing. The rage in those yellow eyes. "You don't understand. Yuri has done so much to help me. And yet, I have done nothing right to help him in return. I've only caused him more trouble. I must make things right with Yuri. That means getting this investigation moving. I will do something right for Yuri. I will help him as he has helped me."

"But you have helped his majesty!" Gunter interjected. Saralegui swung around to face him and Gunter flinched when he saw those yellow eyes of his, still filled with anger and frustration. "You were there to help his majesty when he was left unconscious. You used your power to wake him. I'm sure he was grateful."

Saralegui closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Inhaled. Exhaled. Opened his eyes again.

"Yuri is such a wonderful person. And an even greater king. He has helped others for such a short time and yet has done so many wonderful things. I have also been in power for a short time but have done little to change how my people see my country or respect the family name. Yuri is smart, kind, and brave. He has shown so much courage and I envy him for it. He is much more of a king than me." Saralegui placed a hand over his heart. It was pounding ecstatically. "That's why I must prove to him, as well as myself, that I can correct my mistakes from the past and help him by finding this horrible excuse of a human being and bring justice. Do you not agree, Sir Von Christ?"

Gunter was silent. He had his head bowed. Everyone waited for his answer. When he raised his head to answer Saralegui, he had a smile on his face. "Yes, I agree completely." Gunter stepped forward. "However, your majesty, you are a wonderful king. Your country is lucky to have someone as strong willed as you are. Small Cimaron is in good hands with you."

Saralegui felt pride in that statement.

"I'm glad that you feel that way, Sir von Christ, however, the statement still stands. Yuri needs help in this investigation. As well as Wolfram. Those two are going to need all of us to settle things." Saralegui replied.

"What are you planning?" Gwendal asked, standing up from his own chair at the table. "You aren't planning anything reckless, are you?"

Saralegui smiled and looked at Berius. "Not at all." He looked over his shoulder, his long blonde locks falling off his shoulder and down his back. He eyed Gwendal and everyone else around him. "But I will need all of your help in this."

Silence fell once again. No one knew that Sara was planning. The only one who knew...was Saralegui himself.

Conrart looked over at Murata, who has yet to speak a word the entire time. He placed a hand on the young teen's shoulder and gave him a look of concern.

"What do you think, your eminence?" Conrart asked.

Murata raised his head and looked around at everyone. He was once again at the center of attention. He was this countries guidance to making important decisions like this. He has gradually gotten used to it. However, the stress of making decisions hasn't change since day one.

He then directed his gaze towards Saralegui. His expression was neutral. Murata knew that Saralegui was most likely expecting him to agree to his terms. However, not even knowing what Saralegui had planned made that impossible.

"It would be foolish to go just on your word alone, accepting your terms to a plan that we know nothing about." Murata stated. Saralegui's gaze only tightened as Murata spoke. "Shibuya is the king of this country. All plans should be directed towards him. However, since you are king of your own country, I cannot force you to stand down. So, until we get more word on what you are planning, I don't think it would be wise to follow along with you."

Saralegui said nothing at first. The room was silent and the air was tense. Gunter bit into the handkerchief that he carries as he watched the stare down between Murata and King Saralegui.

Saralegui walked towards Murata, clenched fists at his side as he made his way over. Murata did not flinch. Did not cower in fear. He just raised his head. He did not make any motion to remove himself from the wall he was leaning on. Once Saralegui was inches apart from him, shoes practically touching, everyone held their breath.

That was until…

"You're right." Saralegui admitted. Everyone exhaled and tried to calm their beating hearts. Saralegui smiled lightly. "You should not be left in the dark. It was foolish of me to think I could gain your complete faith on words alone. An actual outspoken plan is in order." Saralegui bowed to the great wise man and then stood tall again. "I'll tell you everything. And if you still need more guidance, we can talk to Yuri."

"Shibuya is still recovering." Murata replied. "He doesn't need the extra stress."

Saralegui understood. "Very well."

Murata removed himself from the wall and made his way over to the table to take a seat. Saralegui followed in suit. They sat down at the table across from each other, the others stood around and watched from a distance.

"Please, explain your plan to us. We want to be able to help you, but we need to know the plan. Don't leave anything out." Murata said.

Saralegui nodded, placing his folded hands on the table.

They listened closely.

"Are you feeling alright, your majesty?"

Yuri smiled, eyes closed as he listened to the wheels rolling on the floor, the sound of his heart beat. He was grateful that this clinic had a spare wheelchair that he could use. There was no way he could walk just yet. Not with his stitches. And the pain that he was experiencing.

This almost wasn't possible. When he first got out of bed, he was dizzy, drowsy, and his stomach was doing somersaults in his stomach. The nurse was worried that she made the wrong choice and asked Yuri to get back in bed, but Yuri declined, saying that he was fine.

So, here he was, riding down the halls of the clinic, awaiting his destination.

"I'm alright. Thank you." Yuri replied.

The nurse smiled and continued their walk down the halls. This was a small clinic so it won't take long to get where they need to go. But with it bustling with other doctors, nurses, and patients, it gets a bit crowded. Yuri put on a face mask and a small blanket around his head that wrapped around his shoulders so that he wouldn't be recognized. He didn't want his people to worry that he was in this condition. Rather be deemed missing.

When they finally arrived at the room, Yuri felt himself growing nervous. He didn't know what it was he should expect.

But he swallowed his fears, took a deep breath and gave her the signal, telling her he was ready. The nurse opened the door to the dark room and pushed Yuri inside. The further inside, Yuri noticed that he couldn't see a lot of what Wolfram was going through. It was too dark to tell. But he could hear his heart.

That heartbeat that's gotten so used to hearing. It was comforting, knowing that it was still beating.

"You really are a tough guy, Wolfram." Yuri said to himself.

The nurse turned on the lights and the room was illuminated in fluorescent light. Yuri had to close his eyes for a moment to let his adjust before reopening them. What he saw made his stomach flip and his hands shake and clench into fists.

Wolfram. He was on his back. No shirt. A small blanket only covering his midsection. He was bound to the table with belts, holding down his arms and his legs. You could see the burns that littered his body, how they were red and blistered. He also had some bandages covering wounds. Was he struck by arrows as well, Yuri thought to himself.

"Wolfram…" Yuri said as he wheeled himself closer to the bed.

It was as if he was isolated in here. Bare and exposed, held down like a science experiment. Yuri didn't like it. Wolfram had more dignity than that. No one deserved that kind of treatment. Yuri took Wolfram's hand, carefully, and examined it. He saw the small blisters that covered his hand. He felt guilt take over his being as he remembered what happened back at the church.

He remember how careless he was. He was shot in the head with an arrow. He couldn't do anything about it. He almost died. That arrow was laced with poison. Wincott poison. If it hadn't been exorcised when it was, he probably would have been under the complete control of the Wincotts, wreaking havoc and causing destruction. He didn't want that. He was grateful that it was taken care of when it was.

But Wolfram. Wolfram was taken care of after he was. Did he have to suffer being taken control of? Being forced to move a certain way, despite telling yourself to stop. He hoped not. Wolfram's already been through so much. That was something else entirely, a suffering that no one can fix.

Yuri held Wolfram's hand tighter and softened his grip every so often, in fear that he was hurting him.

"I'm so sorry, Wolfram." Yuri apologized. He wasn't sure that Wolfram could even hear him. He hoped he could. He wanted Wolfram to hear this. "I'm sorry that I was so careless. Because of me, you're like this." Yuri's heart was racing a mile a minute. His breathing was unsteady as he tried to calm himself down. "If I had tried harder to protect you, especially when you needed me, maybe you wouldn't be like this."

The nurse walked over towards him and stood by his side. "I'm sorry to interrupt, your majesty, but you need to take these to help you with the pain." She took Yuri's free hand and placed two pills in the palm. Yuri looked down at them before popping the pills into his mouth. She handed him a cup of water and Yuri drank it all so that the taste was no longer there. She then excused herself and said that she would return in a little while.

This gave Yuri time with Wolfram.

Yuri placed Wolfram's limp hand to his forehead, leaning his elbows onto his hospital bed, and left it there. Yuri wanted nothing more than for Wolfram to wake up. He's seen Wolfram like this before, when he lost his key during the boxes fiasco. He remembers watching all life leave his eyes (not that there was much while being controlled by Shinou) as he fell to the ground. He remembered when it was announced that he had no pulse. He was technically dead.

But Yuri vowed to get the key back, so that Wolfram would wake up, open his eyes and see his daughter again. See his family. Live his life.

No one should have to die that way.

Several minutes have passed and it was only silence. The only sound that was heard was that of footsteps that belong to the doctors as they walked the halls. Yuri's eyes were beginning to droop, his head bobbed. He could feel his grip on Wolfram's hand loosening as he grew more and more tired. He leaned his head on his free arm and closed his eyes, still holding Wolfram's hand.

Sleep began to consume him and he fell into the darkness of sleep. He slept. And slept.

And he dreamed.

"Yuri…"

A voice that was soft, soothing, and light as air called out to Yuri. He felt a hand on his shoulder, it didn't even feel like it was there, but Yuri felt it. It felt cold. He opened his eyes slowly, tired and wanting sleep, it took him a moment to wake up and realize what was going on.

Like for instance that he was no longer in the hospital room. He was in his own dreamscape. He remembered this place. It was just like the space he was in when he met with his demon half, the real Demon King.

It was a dark blue color. Everything was blue. But the color was not dark enough to make the space a fearful place, but a calming shade of blue.

Yuri looked around in his space. It seemed to go on for miles and miles, no end in sight. His inner mind was endless. Yuri was never sure if that was good or bad.

Did he want to talk again? He hasn't spoken to the demon king since before he was kidnapped.

"Yuri…"

Yuri looked over his shoulder and turned himself around. Wolfram was standing behind him. He had a sad smile on his face, his eyes to the floor, refusing to meet his gaze. He was a mess. He had a white blanket wrapped around his body. You could see the burns on his body that peaks out from the blanket. The belts that kept him bound to the table lay at his sides, still wrapped around his wrists and his ankles.

Wolfram was beaten, burned, harassed, and cut, and yet he still stands. Yuri saw that as strength. But Wolfram needed time to heal.

"Wolfram…" Yuri stepped up and closer towards Wolfram. He watched Wolfram flinch and take a step back. Yuri stayed in his place and stood still. Wolfram lifted his head and looked at Yuri. He could see that Wolfram's eyes had sunken in. Those usual vibrant green eyes that showed so much passion and vigor were now only a shadow of what they used to be. Now dull, lifeless and filled with fear, as if you've been forced to live the same nightmare over and over again on an endless loop.

"How are you feeling, Wolfram?" Yuri asked. He already knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from Wolfram.

Wolfram said nothing, just pulled the blanket tighter around himself. When he was ready he replied, "I've been better." Which wasn't a complete lie. He has been better, a lot better. But that didn't explain what he was feeling now.

"Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it? You look really spooked." Yuri asked.

Wolfram shook his head, refusing his help. Yuri didn't know how to react. He didn't like seeing Wolfram this way. He wanted to help. "I want to handle this on my own."

"But Wolfram…" Yuri was going to complain but Wolfram's face and the painful expression made him stop.

"How is Greta? Have you seen her?" Wolfram asked.

Yuri nodded. "Yeah. She was really happy to see that we were alive." Yuri answered, his voice soft to keep Wolfram at bay.

Wolfram seemed to appreciate that. He smiled at the thought of his daughter. "I'm glad that she was happy to see you."

Yuri was confused by that. "What do you mean? Greta said that she visited you before she visited me. She must have been thrilled to see you."

Wolfram looked away from Yuri, turning his back to him, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. "She did come to see me. I still hadn't woken up, but I knew she was there." He bowed his head even further, his whole body shaking. "I saw her when it happened."

Yuri gasped softly, almost inaudible. "When what happened? Wolfram. Talk to me!"

Wolfram had tears rolling down his cheeks as he remembered the look of terror on his daughter's face. As she backed into the wall and tried to stay out of his reach. He remembered how much fear was in her voice as she screamed for Murata.

He remembered Murata's look of fear, when he tried to kill the double black. But Murata kept his cool and made sure that everyone was kept safe. But Wolfram knew that he took damage, even if it was minimal. He hates that he hurt Murata. Even if he wasn't in control of his actions.

Yuri walked over towards the blonde, softly so that he wouldn't hear or notice him. He held out a hand and placed it on Wolfram's shoulder. Wolfram flinched hard, very noticeably, and Yuri tightened his hold. He was worried for Wolfram. He couldn't take closeness, let alone physical touch.

He doesn't know what happened to Wolfram in that room. But whatever it was, it was bad!

Yuri turned Wolfram around to face him. Wolfram refused to look at him. Yuri could see the tears as they rolled down his pale cheeks, and onto the floor. He used the back of his hand to wipe them away, soft and gently not to hurt his already damaged skin.

Wolfram wanted to pull away, back away from Yuri's gentle touch, but Yuri had a hold on his wrist to keep him planted where he was.

"Let me go." Wolfram mumbled as he tried to move around Yuri's hands. Yuri just opened his hands and used his thumb to wipe away the tears that continued to fall.

Shouri used to wipe his tears when he was little. It was comforting knowing that someone that care for you, was there in your time of need, to wipe your tears away. He thought it would do the same for Wolfram.

But it didn't seem to be working.

Yuri removed his hand from Wolfram's face and watched as the blonde took steps back away from him. He could see the fear in his stature, his frame, his eyes, his body.

Was Wolfram...afraid of him?

"Wolfram, what's wrong?" Yuri asked.

"I told you, it's nothing." Wolfram replied all too quickly.

"You're not fine. I can tell." Yuri said.

Wolfram placed his hands over his face, the blanket fell out of his grip and slid down his body, barely holding on as it laid against his shoulder. Yuri could see them.

Wolfram's scars.

Battle scars. Personal scars. Scars from their encounter with Belar. So many scars that littered his body.

"Wolfram….what happened?" Yuri asked as he gazed at his bare upper body.

Wolfram removed his hands from his face slowly as he realized he no longer had his blanket. He scurried to grab it at his face and wrapped it around his body again. But Yuri had already seen them.

"It's nothing." Wolfram said as he wrapped the thin white fabric around himself. "I've had these. Even before I met you."

Yuri walked over towards him and crouched down in front of Wolfram. He was lucky that in this dreamscape, his body is perfectly fine. If he was in his current condition, he wouldn't have been able to stand, let alone crouch. "Wolfram." Yuri placed his hands on Wolfram's shoulders and waited for the blonde to look up at him. When he didn't, he went on. "I don't care about your scars. But if some of those scars are from Belar, I have to know."

"You have scars, too? From Belar?" Wolfram said more as a statement than a question.

Yuri stayed silent for a moment before he sighed. "I do. A lot of them."

Wolfram leaned forward and laid his head on Yuri's chest and buried his face in his black uniform jacket. Yuri lowered his gaze towards Wolfram, watched as Wolfram cried. He could feel his shoulders shaking as he did. Yuri placed his arms around Wolfram in a way that he was practically cradling Wolfram's head, as if he was protecting him from the dangers of the world.

"I'm so sorry, Wolfram." Yuri said.

Wolfram didn't reply. He just leaned further into Yuri's embrace and broke down.