Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Inexorable Flow ❯ Part 15 ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maou! - It belongs to its respective owners. This fan fiction is not a commercial project, and I'm not making any money from writing it.

Warnings: Yaoi (male x male), Yuuri x Wolfram. Some other pairings. Angst. Adult topics.

A/N 1: Age: Yuuri - 43. Wolfram…let's say he is about the same age as Yuuri just a little older. Lakarde - 10.

 

Inexorable Flow

 

by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by Melisenda

 

Part 15

 

“Lakarde!”

 

On his way to the dining-room, Yuuri turned around to see Heseren approaching the youngest von Bielefeld. Waiting for his mother to catch up with him, the ten-year-old stopped in the middle of the corridor. Even seen from a distance, from Heseren's posture, Yuuri could see that the woman was beside herself with anger.

 

“Lakarde!” Heseren scolded after catching up to her son. “I was told that you stole the Great Sage's sword!”

 

“He doesn't even know how to use it anyway.”

 

Heseren went red with fury at her son's calm response. It was pointless to talk to Lakarde. “I'll talk to your father,” she spat out through gritted teeth, turning on her heel to head in the opposite direction. She missed the reaction on Lakarde's face, while Yuuri could see a clear look of fear imprinted on it.

 

“Mom! I did not steal it! Aledora was pestering me. Chasing me around with it, so I just took it! Just so he stopped!” Lakarde spilled in one go. “It's in my room now. I'll take it back right after dinner,” he added.

 

Heseren turned around. The red had seeped from her face. “One day your smart mouth will get you into trouble,” she muttered. “Alright, I'll talk to the Great Sage and his son.”

 

“Don't tell Fa...” Not finishing the sentence, Lakarde frowned. He noticed Yuuri standing at the door leading to the dining-room and watching the little scene. It didn't matter what he said. Everything was going to be reported to Wolfram anyway.

 

Giving Yuuri a dark look, the boy nodded curtly to his mother, then passed her and intended to go back the way he had come.

 

“Don't even think about skipping dinner,” Heseren warned him.

 

His face one big frown, Lakarde changed his direction and headed towards the dining-room. He followed Yuuri in then took his usual place at the table, directly opposite Yuuri. His father was not here yet, and, in complete silence, Lakarde leaned gloomily into his chair.

 

Yuuri watched Lakarde from the corner of his eye. Lakarde looked tiny in that huge chair. But it was obvious that the skinny body was going to fill out with the coming years; the shoulders would widen, arms become stronger, legs firmer, but probably he would never be tall, just like his father never was.

 

Yuuri knew why Lakarde had not told his mother the truth right away - he had been angry with his mother for thinking that he could steal something. Lakarde could have a sharp tongue once crossed. Up until he was five years old, Lakarde was very much like any other child Yuuri had seen on Earth. He was curious and bubbled with joy at every new thing or detail. When Lakarde got older, the difference became much sharper. In addition, the jump that happened half a year ago was quite sudden and very visible. Lakarde began to act reserved around people and became a quiet kid. The change was so sharp that Yuuri had been worried that it might be some sort of mental illness. He had wanted to take Lakarde to Earth to see a good psychologist, but then Wolfram told him that very likely it was just puberty.

 

Lakarde's character was rather different from his father's. His wide green eyes looked at everyone with a neutral expression. But sometimes his actions or absently expressed opinions showed that his passivity had nothing to do with shyness or hesitancy. Even with the obvious differences in their behavior, Lakarde still was very similar to his father in the way his mind worked - it was sharp and calculating.

 

Lakarde seemed not to ever care about other people's opinions, but the one whom he adored and always looked up to was his father. As he grew and became more reserved, it wasn't that noticeable. But to anyone observing Lakarde it was obvious that he craved any warm word, any affectionate look or touch from Wolfram. The usually passive emerald eyes would shine with delight after receiving any kind of attention.

 

Things had really gotten awkward when the boy got older. Not interested in playing with other children and living neither with his father nor his mother, but rather with an entire household of grown-ups, Lakarde had grown up in different surroundings than usual. There were times when Yuuri would get a feeling that they were rivals for Wolfram's attention. Sometimes Lakarde seemed to want to turn things into some sort of sick competition. Yuuri presumed that the kid saw him as a hindrance to his father and mother. If not for him, Lakarde would have a normal family.

 

Yuuri also knew that Lakarde did not get along with his grandfather. He didn't know why, but there was always friction between the two. It was obvious that Lakarde's grandfather loved the boy and always tried to earn his grandson's love and respect. The coldness with which Lakarde would answer to all of those attempts disheartened his grandfather, threw the people around them off and made them uncomfortable. Lakarde had never been a very social child, but because of his good upbringing he usually wouldn't make his feelings so clear and definite. That made Yuuri think that what Lakarde felt was more than dislike.

 

“Hey,” Wolfram said, entering the room. He cast a look across the dining-room. “Where are the others?”

 

“Grandmother is away with some random moneybags,” Lakarde said. “Anissina is experimenting on Gwendal and Gunter. Conrad and Yozak are still having their honeymoon. In the stables. Very likely.”

 

“I'll ask you to show more respect to your elders,” Wolfram said, passing Lakarde. He leaned down to Yuuri who could see that his husband could hardly keep himself from laughing. The blond gave Yuuri a quick peck on his lips.

 

“But essentially, your deductions are correct,” Wolfram said, turning back to his son and seating himself at Yuuri's right. He chuckled at the way Lakarde's face cleared up immediately. “So, how was your day?”

 

Lakarde cast a quick look at the king, but the man said nothing. “It was the usual,” Lakarde said.

 

“Really?” Wolfram drawled. “I heard a rumor of someone hitting someone else on his head with a sword handle. And then that second someone took the sword and hid it somewhere. And then there was such a ruckus that…”

 

“I'll take the sword back right after dinner and apologize for taking it without the Great Sage's permission.”

 

“Good boy. Does your head hurt?”

 

“No.”

 

“Good. Let's eat.”

 

“Yes, Father.”

 

What Lakarde liked the most was that his father was very quick with trivial matters like these and, unlike his mother, never paid them much attention. He heaved a sigh of relief and dug into his meal.

 

XXXXX

 

Heseren watched her son rummaging about under his bed, then he pulled out a sheathed sword. She wondered what other treasures Lakarde had under there then decided just to leave it alone.

 

“So this is the one?” she asked.

 

“Yes,” Lakarde nodded.

 

“Looks very plain,” she commented, seating herself at the table. She looked through the books and notebooks on Lakarde's desk. “Have you done your assignments?”

 

“Mom, you stopped asking me about this since I was six years old. I always do my work. Sooner or later.”

 

“Right.”

 

Heseren watched her son leave his room.

 

She was not that sure what to think about Lakarde and Wolfram's relationship. It seemed to be a bit odd to her. It was obvious that Lakarde loved and respected Wolfram, even as the boy feared his father's anger and disappointing him. Sometimes though, Lakarde's love for his father seemed more like worshiping. The boy listened to Wolfram's every word. He never objected to or disobeyed his father. That aside, she knew that outside the family it was quite common for Lakarde to get into conflicts with servants, courtiers or other children. Murata's wives had complained more than once that Lakarde was getting into fights with their sons.

 

It seemed to her that Wolfram was too cold to Lakarde. She knew that Wolfram adored his son. The thing was... Wolfram was afraid of spoiling him and tried to make him as self-sufficient as possible. Wolfram was overdoing it though. She had tried talking to him, but Wolfram didn't think that there was anything wrong with the way he was bringing up his son. She wasn't sure that it was wrong either. Her father was an old ass who beat and humiliated his wife and used to slap his daughter around. In comparison to that, Wolfram was a saint, even if he had quite a lot of shortcomings.

 

XXXXX

 

Yuuri was walking down the corridor. He had business with Murata. Usually he would have sent for the man but it was evening already, so he decided to pay him a visit. He passed the door leading to Heseren's chambers, then suddenly stopped as he saw a huge plate attached to Lakarde's door. He looked at it closer.

 

DO NOT ENTER! TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT.

 

The word “SHOT” was crossed out and above it “FRIED” was written instead.

 

Yuuri stared at the door as if struck by lightning. Then, laughing, he continued on. He knocked on Murata's door. It was opened and he entered the room. After discussing the latest news from his recent visit to Earth, Yuuri asked Murata about that plate.

 

“Oh, I brought Lakarde a souvenir from my last visit to Earth,” Murata said, grinning. “He improved it to his unique taste.”

 

“It seems that he does have a sense of humor,” Yuuri chuckled.

 

“Yeah, he shows it once in a while, but one can never be sure if it's humor or it's what he really thinks. Wolfram used to be like that.”

 

“Hm? Seriously?” Yuuri wondered. “I think they are quite different.”

 

Murata grinned mischievously.

 

XXXXX

 

“Oh, by the way,” Yuuri added after stretching out in the bed. He sighed contently at the way the cool sheets engulfed his somewhat feverish body. He thought that he might have caught something while staying on Earth for a few days.

 

“Hmm?” Wolfram hummed. He was sitting on the bed, buttoning his pajama top.

 

“Have you seen your son's door?”

 

“Oh yeah. The door. I found it quite interesting.”

 

“You know, I'm not so worried about Lakarde anymore,” Yuuri said. “It's a typical thing any teenager would do. It seems it's really puberty after all.”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Doesn't it bother you at all?” Yuuri wondered.

 

“Why should it? I was a very boring teenager. I hope at least my son will have fun during his puberty.”

 

Yuuri's face reddened with contained laughter. “If one calls getting drunk and riding on a fire lion while yelling `Bet on me winning! My lion is the fastest!' boring…” he could not suppress his laughter anymore.

 

“Who the hell told you?” Wolfram demanded, his face flushed with embarrassment.

 

“And then they chased you throughout the entire countryside for about an hour!” Yuuri roared with laughter. “Obviously it was Kyota's idea, but the poor thing passed out five minutes after getting on his fire lion. But you, though… Hahaha, no Wolfram, you were no model teenager! Don't give me that shit! Hahaha!”

 

“That damn Conrad!”

 

“I don't know about Conrad, but this I heard from Murata,” Yuuri could not stop laughing. “It seems that it has become a well-known story.” He reached for Wolfram who was still blushing and pulled him backwards into the bedding to playfully tackle him. “I had no idea you were so wild back then.” Cuddling close, Yuuri put his head onto Wolfram's chest. He played with the buttons on the blond's top. His expression started turning more serious.

 

“To spend over twenty-five years with the same person and still be in love…” he muttered. “Amazing.”

 

A little disturbed, Wolfram ruffled through his husband's dark hair. “I hope this is a cordial declaration of undying love, instead of the beginning of a speech leading to a very unpleasant topic.”

 

“The first one.” Yuuri felt his husband relax. The king thought that maybe they really lacked those declarations if, as soon as he made one, Wolfram turned suspicious. Was Wolfram waiting for something like this to happen? Sliding his hand over the blond's side, Yuuri lifted his head to look at his husband.

 

“Hm?”

 

Yuuri shook his head. “No, nothing.” Then he blushed faintly. “I was just thinking that I'm really happy. I don't think I have anything more I could ask from life.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Wolfram's careful “oh” meant he was not sure what to say or whether he was supposed to answer at all. Wolfram was no good with sentimental topics like this. Yuuri sighed. Before meeting Wolfram he had always presumed that gay men had an easier time showing their emotions than non-gay men. Wolfram's inability to deal with topics like these proved his theory was wrong. Usually Wolfram ended up stuttering through his tries to express himself. Although most of the time, afraid to say something stupid, he just silently listened. Wolfram could be blatant when it came to possessiveness and their rights to each other, but as soon as it required putting his feelings into words, he would become too self-conscious, start blushing and just mumble random words. That was alright, though.

 

“I know you're happy, too, aren't you?”

 

Wolfram nodded. He really was. There were always ups and downs, but he thought his life a successful one. He wrapped his arms around Yuuri's shoulders. “I really made the right choice,” Wolfram chuckled. He sometimes wondered (usually when he and Yuuri had a spat) how it would have turned out if he had married Kyota or someone else. He always reached the conclusion that, with Kyota, he would have been divorced at least ten times already. The man would have just driven him mad. This thought would cool Wolfram down and make him less interested in continuing to fight and more interested in making up.

 

“Yuuri?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Let's have sex.”

 

“I though you were tired?”

 

“Well, I've just thought that I quite like you.”

 

Yuuri chuckled. “Seriously? It took nearly thirty years for you to realize that?”

 

Wolfram did not bother to reply. With his hands buried in Yuuri's hair, he pulled Yuuri's head down to place a kiss on his husband's lips. Soon the kiss became heated, deepening, engulfing both of them in a passionate daze.

 

Yuuri grunted softly as Wolfram's hands slid over his back and down to grab at his ass and squeeze. Their tongues clashed and battled, then Yuuri raised his head to catch his breath. Wolfram's palms slid back up to his shoulder-blades, as he began nipping softly on the corners of Yuuri's lips.

 

With the back of his hand, Yuuri brushed over his husband's temple and the blond hair. He could feel heat wafting off the flushed cheeks. Wolfram's pupils were already dilated, green irises hardly visible.

 

“It seems you really do like me…” Yuuri grinned down at him. He nipped playfully on the blond's nose. “Gh!” Yuuri gasped suddenly as Wolfram's hand snuck in between their stomachs to grasp him.

 

“It seems that I'm also fancied,” Wolfram purred, kneading Yuuri's hardening length through the pajama bottoms. “Especially here.”

 

Yuuri moaned at the ministrations. “I fully agree,” he gasped out, lowering his head to softly graze on the blond's chin and neck.

 

Wolfram purred at the pleasant attention. He let go of Yuuri's member to push his pajama bottoms down. As he could not reach far, Yuuri rolled off him to finish the task. He let the discarded cloth slip onto the carpet next to the bed. The underwear followed. Then he crawled back to Wolfram and they kissed continuously while caressing each other. Yuuri started fumbling with the blond's pajama top.

 

Yuuri was soon done with the buttons, and the top of Wolfram's pajama fell open. Yuuri's palms slid over the smooth chest. Wolfram hummed softly as Yuuri's palms grazed over his nipples. “Hmgmm…”

 

The blond reached out to his husband's pajama top to unbutton it. He shivered in pleasure when Yuuri leaned down and their bare chests came flush. He could feel Yuuri hard and throbbing against his thigh. Then Yuuri withdrew to work Wolfram's pajama bottoms off. He tossed the piece of cloth somewhere behind him and slid his body in between the blond's thighs. Kisses fell on the blond's chest then the trail moved south. After a few moments Yuuri straightened back up again.

 

“Pass me some lubricant.”

 

Wolfram moaned softly as the words were accompanied by Yuuri's hand slipping between his thighs. The fingertips brushed over his opening, applying nearly enough pressure to breach him.

 

“Yuuri, I'm still somewhat sore from this morning,” Wolfram muttered softly, biting back another moan while the fingertips were suggestively circling around his anus.

 

“Hmm…” Yuuri hummed, pressing his lips to the blond's length. His tongue snuck out to taste the droplet that had accumulated on the tip. “What to do..?” Yuuri raised his eyes to look at the blond. Wolfram's cock twitched when their gazes met.

 

“Mm?” Yuuri purred questioningly when the blond sat up. He let himself be pushed down onto his back. He answered the kiss that Wolfram pressed to his lips. Then the blond turned around and crawled down Yuuri's body. Getting the picture, Yuuri turned onto his side. Wolfram was shorter and it was more comfortable when they did this turned on their sides.

 

Yuuri moaned softly when Wolfram took him into his palm and stroked a few times. He felt Wolfram's wet tongue flick across the head and, involuntarily, his hips pushed forward.

 

Intending to give as good as he was getting, Yuuri leaned in to plant kisses along the jutting length, then took the tip in his mouth. The administrations on his own cock stopped for a second as Wolfram tensed in pleasure, then they continued.

 

The room soon was filled with the sounds of slurping, gasping and panting. Yuuri released Wolfram's cock from his mouth, then sucked on his index finger. Once covered with saliva, he slid his hand behind Wolfram then pushed the digit into him.

 

“Mgh!”

 

Wolfram pulled away and hips bucked forward in reaction, and Yuuri nearly choked. As the wave of unexpected pleasure passed, Wolfram continued to suck and lick on his husband. His hips now were following the rhythm Yuuri's fingers inside him set up. He was getting closer and closer with every stroke and lick.

 

“Yuuri,” Wolfram panted after pulling away a minute later, “slow down or…ahh…I'm go…ohh…”

 

There was not a chance that Yuuri could answer him while Wolfram's cock was down his throat. He just hummed and sucked harder, picking up the pace. He felt Wolfram tensing around his fingers, the blond's cock engorged and throbbing in his mouth and then Wolfram let go. He grunted something mindless and then was coming.

 

Yuuri swallowed, frowning somewhat at the bitter taste. When the blond's cock stopped spurting in his mouth, and started to soften, he let it slip from his mouth. A few seconds later, he felt Wolfram's mouth sluggishly continuing the ministrations on his own still hard length.

 

It did not take long for Yuuri to also come. He arched back and pushed his hips forward as far as he was allowed. He felt Wolfram swallow around him, milking him until he was spent and sated. Giving a long content sigh, Yuuri rolled onto his back. After realizing that his head was on the opposite end from the pillows, he turned around and flopped next to Wolfram whose heavy head was already resting on one of them.

 

“You alright?”

 

“Uh-huh,” Wolfram hummed. His glassy eyes opened to give Yuuri a bleary look. “It's fine.” He shifted, snuggling to Yuuri's side. Then he raised his head. “If it ever came to an end…” Wolfram muttered, his gaze becoming clearer. “Promise me that we will just go our separate ways before we start hating each other; I'd never, ever want to hate you.”

 

Yuuri watched the emerald eyes for a moment, then nodded. He lifted his head to kiss Wolfram. “I promise.”

 

XXXXX

 

A circle of fire formed in one of the yards of a group of identical houses aligned along the road. Wolfram stepped out of it and it quickly vanished, leaving no traces of ever having been there. The blond, after looking around for curious neighbors, started walking towards the door of his and Yuuri's house. He took the keys from his pockets and unlocked the door. After entering a short corridor, decorated with bluish wallpaper, he left the key in the door and continued towards the kitchen. He plugged the fridge in and put a bag that he had brought with him into it.

 

Yuuri had caught the flu and, afraid of infecting the Mazoku and Human populations of Mearan, decided to stay on Earth. Wolfram agreed to that without argument, as he thought it a very sensible decision: the plagues that sometimes shook Shin Makoku and wiped out entire cities and villages often corresponded with people coming from other continents or planets.

 

Yuuri had already been staying at his parents for three days. It had nearly been three weeks in Shin Makoku, and missing his husband, Wolfram had decided to visit him. Wolfram could imagine that right now Yuuri was being pampered with chicken bullion, fruit and juice all day long. No matter how he tried, Wolfram had a very clear idea that he could never replace someone's mother, especially if she was able to cook like Yuuri's mother.

 

Wolfram went to look around in the house. Things were in the places he remembered putting them. The dust was cleaned, the only pot plant that they had (it was, in fact, a cactus) - watered. Once a month, Yuuri's mother would come and clean and check for disasters that might include leaking pipes and burglary. She also was the one who paid the bills when they were absent, which was nearly the entire time.

 

Wolfram climbed down from upstairs where he had checked the study and the bedroom. He went outside, to the garage where his bike and Yuuri's car were. The old bike started up smoothly and there was enough petrol for the trip to and from Ransui. Content, Wolfram killed the engine and came back into the kitchen to take the mushrooms from the bag that he had put into the fridge. It was the beginning of December on Earth while on Mearan it was still an early autumn, and Yuuri loved fried potatoes with mushrooms.

 

After finding a rucksack, Wolfram stored the mushrooms inside then hefted it onto his back. He locked the house again, pushed his bike outside the gate, put his helmet on and climbed on it. He started up the engine and drove off in the direction of Ransui where Yuuri's parents lived.

 

It took Wolfram about fifteen minutes to reach the suburbs, then he slowed down to the maximum allowed speed. It was peak rush hour and after maneuvering around the jammed cars for another half an hour, he finally reached his destination. He pulled over near the garage where he could see his father-in-law's car, who had already returned from work. Shortly, Wolfram wondered how Shoma explained his slowly aging body to his colleagues and superiors. Then he remembered Yuuri mentioning something about his father changing his workplace. Deciding that this problem would be solved without him, Wolfram climbed off the bike and, with his helmed under his arm, walked over to the door to ring the bell.

 

Shoma was the one to open the door. He grinned. “Hello. So Yuuri was right to say that he had heard your bike. C'mon in!”

 

“Good day,” Wolfram nodded, stepping in. Once inside, he slid his rucksack off his back and put it onto the floor in the corridor then started taking his shoes off. “So how is he?” He slipped his jacket off and hung it on the hook at the door.

 

“All snotty. Coughs and sneezes a lot. The usual.” Shoma turned to look, alerted by the soft steps that echoed from the other side of the corridor. It was warm in the house, but his son was in his sweatpants and a thick flannel shirt. His hair was a mess, indicating that his head had just been resting on a pillow. Yuuri also had a plaid over his shoulders which made him look like a varicolored mummy.

 

“Hey, Wolfram,” Yuuri greeted his husband in a hoarse voice. “Didn't I tell you not to visit me?”

 

Wolfram laughed. “Hardly walking and still reprimanding me… Go back to sleep.” He raised his rucksack from the floor and handed it out for his father-in-law. “I brought some mushrooms. Miko is good at cooking them.”

 

Taking the bag, Shoma chuckled at his son's disgruntled face. Turning back into the house, Yuuri's back disappeared back down the corridor he appeared from.

 

“My wife has gone to buy something for dinner,” Shoma said. “She should be back in an hour or two. With half of the store in her bags.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Wolfram followed his father-in-law through the living room where Yuuri had seated himself onto the couch. Once in the kitchen, Shoma lowered the bag onto the kitchen table then filled the kettle. “Yuuri, do you want some tea?” he called out.

 

“Yeah, thanks.”

 

Shoma saw how Wolfram looked around in the kitchen, then his eyes went towards the other part of the joint room. “Go to him. I'll take care of those mushrooms and the tea. He is very grumpy as of late.”

 

“I'm not grumpy,” Yuuri protested. “I'm just ill.”

 

Wolfram nodded and headed towards the couch where Yuuri had bundled himself up.

 

“You look good,” Yuuri said.

 

“And you look like hell,” Wolfram answered, leaning in to place a quick kiss on Yuuri's temple.

 

“Don't kiss me, moron,” Yuuri pushed him away. “Do you want to catch it?”

 

“If it were that contagious, I'd have gotten it long ago.”

 

“I wouldn't be so sure,” Yuuri muttered, sighing. Was Wolfram too stupid to understand that he might be endangering his life by exposing himself to possibly new microbes? Missing each other and stuff was fine and sweet, but that was not worth dying over.

 

Sighing, Yuuri stretched out, letting Wolfram sit down on the corner of the couch, near his head.

 

“Give me that pack of tissues,” Yuuri pointed at the table. “Ah, it's hell, real hell,” Yuuri groaned, after having blown his nose for about three minutes. They turned at the sound of the outside door opening in the corridor. Yuuri tossed the used tissue into the bin that had been readied by Wolfram in advance. “I'm not getting any better.”

 

“Oh, you men,” Miko's voice wafted, “so brave and undefeatable, but you always think you're on the verge of dying as soon as you catch the flu. Oh hello, Wolfram, dear!” she greeted enthusiastically after entering the kitchen-living room. She was energetically dragging at least five bags, and Wolfram jumped off the couch to help her.

 

“Damn, mom, what the hell did you buy? -An entire cow?”

 

“Oh, just this and that. There was beef on discount and then I found salmon. I also thought that this saddle of mutton looked very good and…”

 

Yuuri's ears closed to his mother's quick prattle. If nobody stopped her, she could go on and on about the bargains; her interests never changed. “Wolfram brought some fresh mushrooms,” he said. “Could you please fry some potatoes with them?”

 

“Sure thing, dear!” Miko nodded enthusiastically.

 

“I'll help peel potatoes,” Wolfram offered.

 

“Oh, sweetheart, my dear will do that,” Miko said, patting her husband on his back. “You two have probably missed each other.”

 

“I'd say he is missing his pillow more than me,” Wolfram said, pointing at Yuuri who was close to nodding off on the mauve couch. “I'll just bring him his tea, and let's leave him to rest. I'll help you with the food.”

 

Wolfram and Shoma undertook the task of peeling potatoes while Miko set a pot of water to boil and now was storing her newly bought food in the fridge and cupboards. She was done right when the water started boiling and she poured the prepared mushrooms into the pot. Then she went to wash the peeled potatoes and started to slice them. The three of them were done in ten minutes and Miko put a frying pan onto the stove, next to the boiling pot with mushrooms.

 

Seeing that the mindless labor was done and all what was left now was to actually make it taste nice, Wolfram left the kitchen and went to his husband who had been sleeping all this time. The empty mug stood on the table next to a few wrappings with pills. Wolfram stood watching Yuuri then decided not to wake him. He took the empty mug and carried it back into the kitchen, then returned and sat down at a small wooden table next to where Yuuri slept. In fact, Wolfram doubted Yuuri wanted to eat at all, and even if he did, he would probably not taste much.

 

“Shori said that he was going to visit Yuuri today.”

 

Wolfram raised his head to look at his father-in-law. “Really? It has been quite some time since I last saw him.”

 

“He seems to have gotten himself a new girlfriend. Women take much of one's time, you know,” Shoma sighed. “When Miko and I…”

 

“Ho-ho-ho, dear, I don't think that Wolfram is interested in that,” Miko giggled.

 

Wolfram blinked at her back while she was busying herself with preparing the salad. Actually, he was neither interested nor disinterested, instead, he found himself disturbed and unbalanced - the woman was nearly 64 years old, her husband meanwhile looked to be in his thirties.

 

Did they still have sex?

 

The thought was quite sudden, and, surprised at himself, Wolfram blinked at Miko's back again. Well, of course they did, he decided, even though, he had to fight the urge to turn his head and look at his father-in-law. But…how long was it going to…? She might live to be up to a hundred. As cold as the thought might be, at best, she would just die. A startling picture of Shoma taking care of an old wizened up granny in her bed, feeding her and changing diapers suddenly made Wolfram's stomach churn.

 

Was this going to happed to him and Yuuri?

 

Shoma looked at Wolfram who abruptly stood up. The blond excused himself and moved quickly to the bathroom.

 

Wolfram splashed his face with some water then took a look at himself in the mirror. He already looked nearly ten years younger than Yuuri. Sighing, Wolfram sat down on the edge of the tub. He had not given this much thought; with his lifespan of five hundred and Yuuri up to two hundred fifty or so, it had never seemed realistic that they would stay together for such a long time. It was just impossible. People got tired and bored with each other in less than a year, in less than a month, in less than a week.

 

The two of them had spent a long time together and they still loved each other, but in comparison to their lifespan…those were a mere twenty-five years of their life. At any given moment it might just end. He might fall in love with someone else, Yuuri might suddenly fall in love with someone else. Wolfram had always thought that it might end that way. Now seeing Yuuri's parents… Did Yuuri believe that they would stay together forever, until one of them died, just like his parents? Was Yuuri that naive, or was it him who was not in love enough with Yuuri, didn't have faith enough?

 

Wolfram ruffled through his hair. The thought suddenly made him feel guilty about not believing in eternal love and happy endings. He scratched his head. Yuuri was more of an optimist than he was. But, certainly, Yuuri had the same thoughts as him, the recent conversation showed that; the two of them were grown men - there was no space for soap bubbles.

 

And how was Shoma able to bear seeing his wife aging four times as fast as he was? How did Yuuri feel when he was around his parents? Was this why he so rarely visited them?

 

“Crap.”

 

Rubbing his forehead, Wolfram stood up. Useless, these thoughts were useless, because, in the end, they solved nothing - the flow of time was inexorable and undefeatable.

 

“How is Lakarde doing?” Miko asked after Wolfram had climbed downstairs and re-entered the kitchen-living room.

 

Wolfram flinched. Lakarde was another reason he sometimes felt guilty - the constant proof of his own stubbornness, betrayal and disregard of Yuuri's feelings. The way Lakarde had been born… children should not be born like that. Although… Lakarde was not an unwanted child. He had wanted and did love Lakarde, and that also made him feel guilty and torn.

 

“He's fine,” Wolfram said, taking a seat next to his father-in-law at a same small wooden table at the junction of the kitchen and the living room. “Although, he seemed somewhat upset that I did not bring him with me.”

 

“I'm sure that it was not “somewhat”.”

 

Wolfram looked across the table to the other side of the living-room where Yuuri was now awake and shifted on the couch. He sat up and reached out for the tissues on the glass table. He started blowing his nose.

 

“Well, I can't take him with me everywhere I go.”

 

Yuuri sighed. “I know that. It's that he… Never mind,” he waved it off, not finishing the thought. “He just needs to slap someone or be slapped on his left cheek. That entire gloomy atmosphere around him would dissipate at once. At least, it worked very refreshingly on my life.”

 

Wolfram rolled his eyes. For some reason, Yuuri was very fond of that ancient misunderstanding and did not ever miss a chance to bring it up and tease him about it, even though it was Yuuri himself who had slapped him.

 

“Feeling any better?”

 

Yuuri shook his head. “I think it will last another four days or so. As usual.”

 

Wolfram stood up. “I'll make you some tea again; you need liquids.”

 

“Food is going to be done in a few minutes,” Miko announced.

 

Yuuri sighed. Even if he loved the dish, he did not feel hungry.

 

“You'll eat. At least a bit,” Wolfram said, after catching a glimpse of Yuuri's unwilling face.

 

Resigned, Yuuri unwrapped himself from the plaid and started tapping off in the direction of the toilet. “Two moms at once can kill one for sure,” he muttered under his breath.

 

Shori arrived when the rest of the family had nearly finished eating. Miko quickly produced another plate and the eldest son sat down with them at the table.

 

“Will you stay here or go back to Shin Makoku?” Shori asked Wolfram after they had finished eating and now were drinking their tea. Yuuri was nodding off again.

 

“Initially, I intended to stay for a few days, but now I see that all he needs is rest,” Wolfram answered, blowing on his hot tea. “I'll just drive back to our house and go back to Shin Makoku.”

 

“I can open a portal for you,” Shori offered.

 

“There's no need for that - I like riding my motorcycle. I don't get to very often.”

 

Shori chuckled. “So I heard.”

 

It was about nine in the evening when Wolfram headed back. The streets were almost empty and he got back faster than the trip out took. He pushed his bike into the garage, kicked down the stand and took his helmet and gloves off. He closed the garage door and started locking it, but as did, he heard something behind him. But before he could turn around something dark swept past his eyes and he felt a piece of cloth press to his mouth and nose. He only managed a gasp, his hands flailed around uselessly, and then everything went dark.

 

XXXXX

 

“What is he doing here?!”

 

The shrill voice almost exploded Wolfram's brain and his eyes flew open. Nauseated, he clutched at his pounding head.

 

“You… You!” a low hiss echoed again. “I can't believe this, you bastard! Why?! Why the hell is he here?! You promised me! I want no part in this, you hear me!?!”

 

The voice was familiar. With that, the urgent need to orient himself was born in the back of Wolfram's throbbing head. He tried to take in his surroundings, but everything was blurry. The dizziness, nausea and suddenness of it all robbed him of any coherent thought. Disbelief, a sense of danger and the necessity to act, all clamored for attention in his dazed brain. His ears seemed as if they were covered with something like cotton, sounds were off and hollow and his pulsing temples threatened to explode at any given moment. Through the excruciating pain and bewildering mist that had wrapped itself around his perceptions, he could heard vague sounds. He could not even tell from which part of the room the noise was coming from or whether it was in the room at all.

 

“What the fuck did you do to him?!”

 

“Calm down; those are just Esoteric Stones. They won't harm him.”

 

“No shit?! It seems to me that he's already been harmed enough! Why does he look as if he were in pain?!”

 

“Will you calm down? Nothing will happen to him. Hey, maybe you'd want to have fun while he's…”

 

A loud sound of something shattering accompanied the words.

 

“I've just bought that vase for you!”

 

“I won't take a part in this! Release him right now!”

 

“You know I can't do that.”

 

“You…bastard…”

 

“Wait…”

 

“You sonovabitch! You promised me!”

 

“And I'll keep my promise! -No harm will come to him!”

 

“Tell me how this is not harm!? I really hate you. I hate you so much I wanna gouge your eyes out!”

 

“Will you…”

 

“You lied to me! Damn it, you lied to me!”

 

The voices started fading and silence came. After some time, through the haze, Wolfram felt himself being moved. He had no idea how much time had passed. He wasn't sure if he had slept or simply passed out.

 

Something was pressed to Wolfram's lips. Water. His body reacted on his own, his lips falling open greedily. But then it was gone. He felt wetness, the water splash on his chest, and a loud voice shook the air, making his head throb terribly.

 

“What do you think you are doing?! Don't go near him!”

 

“You brought him here, so make sure he is taken care of, you bastard!”

 

“He'll snap your head off as soon as he comes round, you fool!”

 

There was a loud sound of something smashing.

 

“Don't throw things at me! Aren't you being too much!? You don't owe him a damn thing! He was the one to stuff your head with silly ideas!”

 

There was a loud but angry laugh heard then. “Oh, you know it wasn't like that. Hey! Keep your hands off me! Let go!”

 

“You are not to approach him!”

 

TBC