Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten ❯ And things start to crack ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: Kyou Kara Maou does not belong to me and I make no money from this work of fanfiction at all, and no infringement was meant, nor insult.

Pairings: Wolfram and Yuuri, others mentioned

Spoilers: Up through episode 57.

A/N: If I have an mpreg, it will occur after this- as in, a sequel. In fact, what I may do is turn one of them female for a while. It would be another story for shit and giggles. However, this story is turning into a drama fairly soon. Beware CLAMP influence, as it is strong in a lot of my writing. That will show up later. Let me explain my opinion on the Maou vs. Yuuri. I think they are basically the same person. The Maou makes these incredibly crazy, nonsensical speeches which I believe only a teenage boy brought up on manga would make. And that’s all I want to say about that at this time. Thanks for all the reviews, you people make my day. Takes place vaguely after episode 50, meaning it mixes up events after that. Pretend episodes 54 and 55 happened just… with amnesia!Wolfram.

Conrad watched from the sidelines as Wolfram walked Yuuri’s horse Ao (Blue) around the courtyard, and felt a pang of…

He didn’t want to call it jealousy. Yet recently it seemed that Yuuri had been choosing Wolfram for activities he usually would have chosen Conrad for- from baseball to working on guiding his horse around the courtyard while he practiced his waving technique.

The soldier didn’t like how it felt. Yuuri had been so dependent on him since the beginning, for comfort and reassurance… Was this what it felt like to watch a child grow up? He wished the other answer, the feeling of two lovers growing apart, did not present itself so readily. He and Julia had not been lovers. He also knew the thought had probably never crossed Yuuri’s mind.

“Why do I have to do this, Wolfram?” Yuuri asked, his voice a soft whine from the past hour of being on Ao’s back. Conrad could only imagine how much his rear and back ached; the king was not a natural rider.

“Because tonight is Gunter’s party for the arriving dignitaries, and there will be a parade afterwards. As Maou, you can’t go embarrassing yourself by falling off your horse. It’s not like I can ride behind you.”

Conrad watched as he flushed and stammered, then smiled brightly.

“Flurin-san will be visiting, won’t she? The party is to celebrate the alliance…”

Wolfram frowned. “Who is she? Is she someone I should know?” The young man’s face was furious for a moment before the rage bled away, leaving him dazed.

Conrad had mixed feelings about the memory loss; he felt bad that Wolfram had forgotten about his affection for Yuuri, but Yuuri was strangled less often.

“She is a noble from Caloria. It was recently liberated from Small Shimaron,” Conrad spoke up, walking over and interrupting Wolfram’s blank moment. “She aided us during a very difficult time several months ago. You made her acquaintance; however, we can reintroduce you.”

Wolfram fidgeted from his post at Ao’s reins. “She’s pretty?” He steadfastly refused to look at the Maou’s face.

Conrad winced. No matter what happened to his memory, Wolfram was still horribly insecure.

“Yes,” Yuuri said thoughtlessly, and Conrad coughed.

“Heika,” someone interrupted, and all heads turned to look at- then away from- the brightly shining head of Hristo Cruyff of Cabalcade.   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~  

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Heika?” the eldest son of the Cabalcade’s king said, replacing his wig. Wolfram wanted to hide behind Ao so he wouldn’t have to look at Yuuri smiling so brightly at this man and his daughter.

Was this Flurin someone who Yuuri liked? He was definitely jealous- she was apparently very high ranked, and Wolfram was only the third son. He didn’t even have his rank as a noble anymore, not really. They had let him keep his father’s name, but his father was a second son as well and…

Wolfram swallowed the lump in his throat. Greta was walking towards the daughter of Hristo Cruyff. Beatrice? That was her name, and he felt a smile tug at his lips seeing the bouquet in her hands.

The two girls approached each other warily as Yuuri made introductions.

Pride filled Wolfram’s chest as he saw Greta give the girl the flowers… And saw Greta blush and smile. He raised an eyebrow… He didn’t know if Yuuri realized his daughter was likely to develop a crush on her new friend, but Wolfram had that inkling…

Not that Beatrice would be a bad match, by any stretch of the imagination.

The two girls were called away with the promise of sweets, taking each other’s hands and running off.

“Hey, Conrad? Think I can quit early? I have to go greet the ambassadors later and I want a bath…”

Wolfram wallowed in inadequacy. After all, his older brother was a better swordsman, he didn’t look as girly, and he was more intelligent…

He was helping Yuuri off his horse- when his left arm twitched, letting the king fall.

“Yuuri!” Wolfram yelped, acting instinctively to catch him- and nearly missed, falling on his ass in the dirt, with Yuuri on top of him. “What the hell is wrong with you, Chisa Aniue?” Wolfram tried to snap, but it came out as a grunt. Yuuri was in his arms and for some reason all was right with the world.

Conrad knelt. “I’m sorry- Heika, are you all right?”

“I’m all right. What happened?” Yuuri asked, confused. Yet he didn’t move from his seat. In fact, he was blushing. It was then that Wolfram realized where one of his hands had landed on the inside of Yuuri’s thigh.

There was a brief scramble as they both sprang to their feet, got tangled in each other, and Wolfram fell on his behind again. Yuuri meeped a moment before grabbing Wolfram and hauled him to his feet.

Wolfram flushed in embarrassment, before turning to his brother. He had gripped his arm- his left arm- for a moment, a look of shock and surprise covering his features.

“Conrad?” Wolfram blinked at his brother. There was something very wrong.

“Its nothing,” Conrad smiled. “I think I’ve got butterfingers today.”

Wolfram’s forehead wrinkled a bit at the strange phrase, but Yuuri was apparently appeased. “Ah, take it easy okay?”

Wolfram blew back some of his bangs. “You’re too nice…”

Yuuri blinked. “Huh?” He paled, and Wolfram peered at him.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Uh, when you said that just now…”

Wolfram shrugged self consciously. “I have no reason to question Heika, but… You’re just too nice.” He could feel his brother’s eyes on him. “It’s why everyone loves you.”

There was a moment of silence, and Wolfram wished he was brave enough to lift his eyes to see Yuuri’s expression. All he heard was a muffled squeak.

“IhavelessonsneedbathBYE!”

Turning to Conrad, Wolfram blinked at his brother.

“Was it something I said?” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~  

As much as Wolfram enjoyed Yuuri’s company, practicing etiquette when he didn’t have was akin to having his fingers broken outside of sword practice; it was painful and nothing worthwhile was learned. Teaching Greta was also out- she was playing with her new friend and he privately thought this was a good thing. The little girl needed an influence other than men in her life… and his mother and Anissina were hardly the best examples…

He shrugged it off. He had a few free hours until that night’s party… He could always visit his horse.

The prince had a number of habits he rarely talked about. The pink nightgown (for when it was too cold to sleep nude), playing the piano, and talking to his horse were a few of them. So that was what he did.

His lovely palomino trotted over, and he put his hand on her cheek. She nuzzled his chest as he petted her nose, and she tried to find any treats he might have on him.

“I think I may be falling for our king” he murmured to her, when she had found the apple he’d hidden in his pocket. He continued whispering his confusion and problems into her ear which she cocked towards him, like she was listening.

For a while he kept talking to her, happy to be able to have someone’s ear that wasn’t a potential romantic rival or the object of his affections.

Then his hand stopped. He had to…

Blinking, he looked around. Someone was calling his name.

“Yuuri?” Wolfram turned around. “What’s going on? Why are you yelling?” he asked, confused.

“What’s going on? I should be asking you that!” Yuuri, Wolfram noticed, was panting and was wearing his dress uniform. “What are you doing out here? Where were you going? Why wouldn’t you answer me?”

“Where was I… going?” Baffled, Wolfram turned wide eyes to look around. Somehow he had gotten out on the road outside of the city… He was within spitting distance of the palace of the Original King.

“I… I had to go home.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~  

Silence reigned as the two boys wandered back to Blood Pledge Castle. Yuuri looked out at Wolfram from the corner of his eye, noting the confused, thoughtful expression that lingered on his face.

He didn’t think this had anything to do with his “illness”. Though that ruled out any plausible explanation he could think of.

For the first time that afternoon he’d figured out that Wolfram was complimenting him when he said that Yuuri was too nice. It was a left-handed compliment, yet still, a compliment. He had finally started to figure out Wolfram’s personality, if just the edges. All the things he complained about… Yuuri being cute, Yuuri being too nice, too easy to believe in others… They were things he admired. He just couldn’t say so outright.

Yuuri wished the other man would just say what he thought. It would save him a lot in the way of headaches… Then again, Yuuri realized he had hardly been the most reassuring fiancé in existence. He barely even acknowledged it… Yet it had been of huge importance in Wolfram’s life.

“Wolfram?” he asked, after a little while. Wolfram was still deep in thought.

“Yes?”

“Do you paint?”

“No… Though Hahaue would often tell me stories.” Wolfram’s cheeks pinked. “I had thought it would be romantic to paint the person you loved…”

So that was it, Yuuri thought, with a feeling of triumph. Then he flushed because Wolfram at least had made an attempt… Failed as it was.

“Why do you think I’m too nice?” Maybe he could get a bit more insight into Wolfram’s (bizarre) mind?

Wolfram’s head shot up. “You just are.” His eyes were confused. “You want to believe in everyone, but during the war twenty years ago… If you did that, you got hurt. People died. The kindest of us died, no matter how hard people wanted to protect them. Like Julia.” Wolfram ran his fingers through his hair. “I did my best to learn more Majyutsu after she died. She’d been my teacher. She seemed to think I should try healing but… I wanted to learn to fight to help my brothers.”

Yuuri blinked at the idea that Wolfram had known Julia. He knew Wolfram had been around during the war, but…

I knew Wolfram when I was… Julia…

Wolfram remembered Julia- but he didn’t remember Yuuri. Somehow that was so unfair.

“When Julia died, I think the best in us died too,” Wolfram’s tone was distant. “We had all wanted to believe in her hope, even the ones of us that had thought she was nothing but a dreamer.”

Yuuri watched Wolfram out of the corner of his eye. The other seemed far older than he should have been.

“It’s scary, meeting someone like that again. We all want to cling to your hope, even if we know it’s fragile. If we lost you, I don’t think anyone could bear it.” Wolfram stopped and turned to him, gently taking the young king’s hand.

Yuuri held his breath.

“You are too nice, and too kind.” Wolfram’s green eyes were glassy. “The last person I knew like that… She was beautiful and untouchable, like a statue. But you’re here and-“

Wolfram dropped his hand and turned away. Yuuri could see his ears bright pink… And Yuuri gently put his hand on his shoulder.

“I’m not going to leave you, Wolfram,” Yuuri whispered, tugging him close. “I’ll always come back. I promise.”

The moment, and the words, held a weight that Yuuri didn’t understand. When Wolfram twisted in his arms to wrap his own around Yuuri’s waist, he didn’t fight it.

“I’m so glad you are you, Yuuri. Please, stay who you are. We need you.” His voice was barely audible. Yuuri remembered how proud Wolfram had been; and he wondered how much it cost him to say this.

Yuuri buried his face in Wolfram’s shoulder. The young man was so warm against him… He wanted to stay like this for hours.

It could never last… But now was the perfect opportunity…

“Um, Wolfram?” Yuuri asked, pulling back to look at him. Wolfram smiled back.

“Yes?”

Yuuri’s insides melted. Wolfram had such a beautiful, sweet smile. Why didn’t I ever try to get him to smile before?

Leaning in, he pressed their lips together for a brief, awkward kiss. He promptly pulled away and hunched his shoulders, waiting for whatever shrieking would happen next.

Nothing.

Yuuri cracked one eye open to see Wolfram staring at him… one hand pressed to his lips.

“K-ki-k-“

Yuuri flushed. “Um… that was my first kiss… I don’t know if you’ve had a kiss before so I’ll shut up- uh… I’m going now…”

Whirling in place, Yuuri took off in a march back to Blood Pledge Castle, leaving a sputtering (but very happy) Wolfram frozen in place behind him. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*  

Murata stood next to the tiny priestess of Shinou, eyes carefully blank as he looked at three of the four taboo boxes.

“I wonder how much time we have left,” he murmured. “The boxes are calling their keys. I’m lucky I was able to catch Sir Weller and Sir von Voltaire. They are both strong willed men… I doubt they would have given in without a fight but it might not matter…”

“All we can do is have faith that Shinou Heika is leading events as they should be,” Ulrike said, her pale eyes also fixed on the boxes.

Murata said nothing for a long moment. “Shinou might not be the only force at work here. I know he will do his best to shape things for his people… Yet,” he pushed his glasses up his nose. “Yet I have to wonder if he will be able to do what is necessary this time.”

Ulrike’s face was serene. “I believe in him.”

“He is not truly who I worry about.” His glare fixed on the boxes again. “I like Shibuya.” The boxes were so innocent, sitting there. “I will not allow you to do as you will again.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~  

The party that night was in full swing. Normally, Yuuri would have loved the chance to try all the new foods, to talk and chat with his friends, and see if he could find the courage to ask someone to dance. However, as Maou, he had to greet people; all of the people there. So here he was watching other people have fun while he had smile and wave mechanically.

“You know, he looks like bear bee,” Wolfram muttered behind his glass. He was looking at a particularly annoying noble who was trying to get Yuuri’s eye. Yuuri had to cover his mouth quickly to not laugh aloud.

He turned to his ex-fiancé, whose face was utterly straight.

“Ah, that game,” Conrad said, his face also straight. “It would be useful to teach that to Heika. That one looks something like a porcupine.” He nodded towards a man who had many strange spikes in his clothes.

Gwendal muttered something.

“What was that?”

“I thought he looked like a kitty.”

Yuuri felt his face twitch. “What are you all doing?”

“It’s a game mother taught us when we were children. It helped her cope with the often long events we had to deal with… And Wolfram found it was a miracle.” Gwendal’s tone was soft. “He was so hyperactive as a child we had trouble making him stay still.”

Yuuri looked at the blond man, who was casually sipping his drink. “The fun part is learning to keep a straight face through it. She looks like a sheep.” He nodded to a small woman who was dressed in poofy white. Yuuri fought to keep the hysterical giggles down.

They continued to make amusing comments while keeping straight faces, all the while Yuuri snickering internally.

“It’s been a long time, everyone,” called a familiar, sweet voice. Yuuri looked up and smiled broadly.

A few months, even a week ago, Yuuri would have gone dry in the mouth, or been totally oblivious to her. Now, he could appreciate that Flurin was a beautiful woman, with her turquoise hair twisted up and her elegant dress… He just thought Wolfram was more beautiful.

His face turned blue when he realized that. I’ve finally gone totally gay.

While Yuuri was having that revelation, he could hear- wait. Wolfram wasn’t saying anything at all. Oh hell.

“Wolfram, this is Flurin Gilbit of Caloria,” Yuuri said, taking his hand and squeezing it. He should have realized the other guy would get jealous. A little amnesia wasn’t going to change that.

“She’s our friend,” he said. “Even if you can’t remember her.”

“Your face is a bit sour, Heika,” the lady said, raising an eyebrow. “Are you not enjoying yourself?” She looked amused at the hand holding. Wolfram had gotten a little closer to Yuuri, and was projecting “MINE” in everyone’s direction.

Yuuri looked at Wolfram, who had suddenly flushed when he realized what he was doing and dropped his hand, off in another direction.

“How did we meet?” Wolfram asked, acting like nothing had happened, while his brothers and Flurin snickered.

“That is a long story involving a sheep, a box, the Great Sage and really big hole,” Yuuri said in total honesty. Wolfram turned to him, mouth gaping open.

Flurin smile prettily. “I take it a lot has happened since we last parted?”

“You have no idea,” Yuuri said, putting his hand on his head and rolling his eyes. Then he looked at Wolfram sheepishly, who was attempting to cross his arms and look like offended royalty… and Yuuri knew it meant he was hiding his insecurity again.

A flash of insight occurred, and he swallowed his nerves to take Wolfram’s hand again- and this time he kissed the palm gently.

The entire room went silent, and Yuuri wondered if he had somehow threatened Wolfram with death. After all, if a wedding proposal was a slap on the face and picking up a knife was duel-

Wolfram’s eyes were wide and soft, closing his hand carefully, gripping the memory of the kiss and pulling it to his chest.

Yuuri exhaled in relief, and then muttered to Conrad. “I didn’t just threaten his life, did I?”

“No. But you did make him very happy,” the soldier answered, though to Yuuri’s confusion he sounded sad.

An excited squeal came from a certain Sexy Ex-Queen, who had arrived in all her blond glory.

“Oh, Heika!” she glommed him. “You are so cute when you’re trying to be romantic- and, oh, hello Flurin-chan!” Celi fluttered over to the more delicate beauty. “Oh, it’s been so long since I last saw you!”

To Yuuri consternation, Flurin was blushing a bit as she greeted Celi.

That was all the thinking Yuuri got to do before Wolfram grabbed him and dragged him away. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~  

“Wolfram! I shouldn’t be leaving my own party!”

The other boy grinned. “You’re going to love this, I promise.”

For some reason Yuuri flushed. “Where are we going, Wolfram?”

Wolfram chuckled- before yanking him into a room with a large table. On it was a cake. Not just any cake, either.

“Ta da!” Two little girls leapt out from under the tablecloth, causing Yuuri to jump like the wimp he was.

“Yuuri, Greta and her new bestest friend Beatrice have made you a cake!” Greta clapped her hands. “That was why we couldn’t tell you earlier because it was a secret! We wanted to surprise you! It’s my very first cake, and Beatrice told me all about how in Cabalcade you make a special cake for your parents and since you and Wolfram are my fathers I wanted to make this for you!”

Wolfram blinked, but his mind skipped over the words “fathers” because it was one of those things he couldn’t remember. He remembered telling himself there was something he couldn’t remember but since he couldn’t remember what it was…

“Here is Greta, here is Beatrice," the two girls were pointing out the sugar and marzipan figures on the top. “Here is Gunter and Gwendal and Nicola and Yuuri and Wolfram…”

Yuuri was nearly in tears. “That is my girl! You are so sweet- my little girl’s first cake…”

Wolfram smiled as he watched the King’s antics. The man was so cute… His pressed his hand to his chest, the one Yuuri had kissed. It had surprised him to the point he’d been unable to think…

The cake was cut after being admired for a long time, and Yuuri rambling on how he wished he had something called a “camera” so he could always remember that moment.

Everyone had a piece with their little sugar self on it- and had a huge fork full.

“Itedakimasu!” They all caroled- then all hell broke loose.

They all dropped their cake, rushing to the window. Fires had broken out all over the city, and Yuuri and Wolfram tensed. The two little girls stared.

“What is that?” Greta whispered.

“We need to go find out what’s happening,” Wolfram stated, and both men turned around. They were surrounded. Figures, strangely identical with no eyes of their own, stood between them and escape. Yuuri, to his side, maneuvered between the girls and the interlopers.

“What the hell?” Wolfram growled, hand on his sword. He drew and smashed into the fighters. He fought to disable, not kill- but they went down.

“I guess they underestimated m-“ he started, but broke off when they all stood back up… without faces.

“Run, Yuuri! Get the girls and escape!” the soldier ordered- Yuuri hovering and tugging them to the exit, but not willing to abandon his special person just yet.

The dolls seemed content to surround Wolfram for the time being. In fact, bizarrely, they completely ignored the King. Wolfram had no time to note this when one attacked from behind. He slashed the puppet through- when they all dropped their fighting stances, extending their hands to-

The world stopped. The last thing he remembered was a voice yelling his name.

To be continued.

A/N: As it is, I can see two endings for this thing. One, the happy ending, will probably lead to the sequel which will involve offspring for the happy (cough) couple in some shape or form. The other has a tragic ending. I like the idea of a happy ending, personally. However, I am curious if anyone else has noticed where I’m going with this quite yet. Hint: Shinou’s got shit cooked up. The boxes are damn scary. Yuuri’s going to get his head messed with, and I don’t know if I want them to die virgins yet or not…