Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Working out the Paradox ❯ Part 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Hello, Serena 1985,

Thank you for your kind words. Well, as said, I myself don't know what will happen between Yuuri and wolfram so your guess is as good as mine.

Updates…well, they will come, although probably not as fast as you and I wished…

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Kyotau Kara Maou! I'm not making any money.

Warnings: Yaoi (male x male), Yuuri x Wolfram.

Summary: Ehhh… I think the title should speak for itself. The main goal of this fic is to make a completely straight guy fall in love with a boy… Will I reach that goal? - I don't know that yet.

 

A/N 1: I hate Greta; she is nonexistent in this story, and Yuuri has never adopted her.

A/N 2: beta-read by punkin02. Check out her gallery on y!Gallery: http://yaoi.y-gallery.net/user/punkin02/

 

Working out the Paradox

 

by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com)

 

Part 4

 

The evening found five men standing in the balcony that led from Gunter's chambers. The men admired the view bellow them, the whole city seen like it was put on someone's palm. It was quiet, the sky already dark, the candles and torches breaking through the darkness. The breeze ruffled their hair and brought the smell of recent rain.

 

Conrad closed his eyes and inhaled a lungful. He loved these calm evenings. They had all worked hard and risked their lives to achieve this peace.

 

Conrad turned to Yuuri who stood a bit farther and was talking with Shori. He noticed a glass of wine in Yuuri's hand. Lately that glass rested in Yuuri's hand more frequently than Conrad would have liked.

 

Conrad waited until they seemed to finish their conversation, then walked over. “So how was the trip, Your Majesty?” he asked.

 

“It's “Yuuri”,” Yuuri sighed. “Well, except getting soaked through and Wolfram getting sun burnt, it was great.”

 

Conrad sighed. It was always like this with Wolfram. Wolfram was fair-skinned and had to avoid direct sun. Despite this, Wolfram didn't feel the measure or simply forgot and usually ended up all red like a boiled crayfish.

 

“I'm glad you two had fun,” Conrad nodded. He knew that despite getting sun burnt, Wolfram must have liked spending his time with Yuuri. He usually did, despite getting his wings chipped and burned, after all.

 

“I'm sorry I didn't see His Majesty out as I had promised,” he apologized after Shori, Gwendal and Gunter went back into the room to refill their glasses and left them alone.

 

Yuuri nodded - before they went to the lake, Wolfram had explained to him that the watch had reported a band of thieves terrorizing a village farther in the east, and that Conrad had gone to deal with the matter. After asking Conrad about the incident, Yuuri got to know that one of Conrad's men was killed while they tried to arrest the band. Yuuri didn't need to ask what happened to the band after that. He presumed that after seeing their comrade die, the soldiers had killed them all. This was the justice how people understood it here. He had seen it not once. Conrad probably didn't give an order, but he didn't try to stop them either.

 

Conrad watched Yuuri's darkened face. He suspected what Yuuri was thinking about. Yuuri had his opinion on this matter. He was surprised when Yuuri's following words had nothing to do with the current topic.

 

“Why was I allowed to be engaged to Wolfram at all?” Yuuri asked.

 

“What do you mean? You slapped him on his left cheek…” Conrad looked at him, confused.

 

Yuuri shook his head. “Not that. I mean a successor to the throne. Two males are quite a hinder to that,” he put his two index fingers together then drew them back and repeated the gesture.

 

Conrad broke into a sweat. He fought to keep himself from blushing. He couldn't believe that Yuuri was thinking of that and less that he was illustrating that. Conrad ruffled through his hair nervously. “Well, as the soul is being transferred into a random newborn, there's no necessity in you having an heir… And if something happened we have Cecilie, Gwendal and Gunter… I believe His Majesty Himself set his signature giving them the right to overtake the throne at any critical moment…”

 

Yuuri scratched his head. “Yeah, I suppose…”

 

“Yuuri, are you looking for an excuse to break the engagement with Wolfram?” Conrad asked.

 

The tone and the fact that Conrad used his given name, made Yuuri feel even worse. He faltered before answering, then nodded. He leaned on the parapet and sighed, “You know, when Elisabeth came I was uplifted. I thought everything would solve itself: Wolfram would finally be happy, and I would be able to breathe more freely.

 

“And I couldn't believe he chose me over her,” he shook his head in disbelief. “I thought: For gods' sake, how dense can one be?! How dense can one be to prefer me to that hot chick? Prefer me who cannot answer his feelings?” he threw his hands.

 

“I like Wolfram very much. He's passionate about everything he does, he's smart, strong, loyal… But he's a boy,” Yuuri looked at Conrad with an almost pleading look on his face.

 

Conrad looked back at him for some time then sighed. “You are thinking a lot about it lately, aren't you?” he leaned on the parapet next to Yuuri. Conrad's fingers tapped on the stone nervously. “Maybe… Wolfram is not only a boy… First of all he's a person… If you only tried…”

 

Yuuri raised his hand, shaking his head. “Conrad, forgive me that I'll be THAT blunt but…he has a dick!”

 

Conrad stared at him.

 

“I at least know how to use it!” Wolfram snickered, entering the balcony. He stood there his arms crossed.

 

Yuuri startled. His hands traveled quickly to his mouth, trying to shove the words back. He begged whatever was there up in the sky that Wolfram wouldn't have heard all of it. Even if Wolfram didn't show it, Yuuri knew that it had hurt him. He knew that each time he refused Wolfram, he was tearing Wolfram up. And he was sick of that feeling, of that guilt and of Wolfram's gritted teeth in silence. Wolfram was covering that up, but he would be blind if he didn't see the pain in Wolfram's eyes.

 

Conrad shifted uncomfortably, thinking frantically what to do to cover this up. Without a further word, Wolfram walked over to them and leaned on the parapet next to Conrad, leaving him as a shield between himself and Yuuri who was still silent, his guilty eyes set on the floor in front of him.

 

The three of them stood in complete silence. Conrad wondered why Wolfram had chosen to approach them and show that he had heard Yuuri talking. Usually Wolfram either ignored Yuuri's indifference to him or simply pretended and deluded himself that it was something else than indifference and Yuuri himself didn't understand what he felt.

 

Nobody dared break the silence, and it stopped only when Gunter, Shori and Gwendal came back. Yuuri and Conrad joined their conversation about two new countries that had recently joined Shin Makoku. It didn't escape anyone's attention that the atmosphere seemed to be oppressive and that Wolfram was silent most of the time, only speaking when asked about something. He leaned on the parapet and stared down at the town absentmindedly, his head supported by his hand.

 

XXXXX

 

Yuuri's gaze settled on Wolfram. He climbed into the bed and sat up next to the blonde who was plucking the threads from his bandages, quite a bunch of them already on the covers the new threads falling softly to join them.

 

“Wolfram?”

 

Wolfram started. His fingers faltered with the unnecessary action, and he raised his head. “Huh?”

 

Yuuri stayed silent. Actually he didn't know what he wanted to say. Nothing he wanted to say would have made Wolfram feel any better.

 

Yuuri scooped the heap of the threads off Wolfram's lap and threw them onto the cupboard. “I…I don't really know what to say…” he admitted after turning back to Wolfram. “Whatever you heard… I won't take my words back. I meant what I said. I neither meant it to sound insulting, nor were those insults… It's just the truth about how I feel…”

 

By the time Yuuri finished, Wolfram was picking the threads from his bandages again, his head lowered, his blonde hair covering his face.

 

“I know,” he said softly.

 

XXXXX

 

Yuuri walked down the corridor and into the hall where he was met by enthusiastic cheers and greetings. On his way to the throne, Yuuri observed the filled hall. People came from all over the country, including allied countries. The gathered were all nobility. Yuuri had heard that not all willing were able to get into this hall due to lack of space and security. All guests had been thoroughly searched and had their identity checked. He had never imagined he would become so popular.

 

While walking over the red carpet, having everyone bow to him, he felt like he was dreaming. He wondered if he would ever get used to the attention, to all this pomposity, to those stolen glances the giggling girls were taking at him. He had been informed that between them there were several princesses from the allied countries. The formal introduction would start later, but he was already curious. Cecilie had said that one of them was a real beauty.

 

Yuuri could feel coldness wafting from behind him. Wolfram was following him, a bit fallen behind. He knew Wolfram wasn't happy about it all. And overall Wolfram's mood had dramatically decreased after overhearing him yesterday.

 

Yuuri sat down onto the throne, Wolfram drawing up on the right next to Yuuri, overlooking the hall with a bored expression on his face. The guards stationed themselves on the either side of Yuuri.

 

After an hour of introductions, bows, playing up to him, Yuuri wanted nothing more than to progress to the tables that were along the walls of the hall and were pilled up with various goods. Oh, he had gotten his opportunity to meet those princesses and other noble girls and women, but feeling Wolfram radiate the glacial frost on his right, was quick with greetings and smiles to each of them and motioning to for the next come .

 

Finally it was over and the music started playing, indicating the opening of the ball. People started flocking around the tables, taking the plates and filling them with various dishes. Yuuri left his throne, intermingling into the mass and went to the nearest table. Well, intermingling as much as he was able to intermingle with Wolfram, Conrad, and his bodyguards surrounding him.

 

After half an hour of nonstop smiling and nodding to all sides to reply the greetings and well wishes, Yuuri thought his neck would get paralyzed, and his face would turn into that of Cheshire cat. He was relieved when finally the dances started and people went to dance. The music was similar to that of classical he used to hear at home. To tell the truth, he had never liked it. He was more interested in rock and pop, and didn't exactly understand the greatness of a gamut of scraping violins, squeaking flutes and overly aggressive pianos.

 

Yuuri went back to his throne to admire the dancing pairs. Gunter had taught him the basics of several dances, but he couldn't really dance anything except the waltz. He was afraid he'd forget steps or mess something else up and make an ass of himself in front of the whole country. It was safer to sit on the throne than to dance.

 

After watching the dances for twenty minutes Yuuri noticed that Wolfram wasn't at his side. He looked around more intently and noticed Wolfram standing at one of the tables, with his glass filled. Wolfram was talking with some guy. The boy was a bit older than Wolfram and him, but not much. He seemed to be quite familiar with Wolfram. Yuuri tried to remember if he had ever seen the guy, but then decided that he hadn't - he would have remembered that quite exceptional dark blue hair that reached to the guy's waist.

 

XXXXX

 

Wolfram was sitting on the balcony, on the ground floor and listening to the music that was wafting through the open windows in the hall on the first floor where people were partying. He was bored out of his mind. He hated parties. And it didn't make it any better that Kyota Docharo was present. The guy was fun and nice and handsome and such, and he hadn't seen the guy for a good two years… but he had hoped he'd never see Kyota again.

 

Wolfram leaned comfortably on the bench and sipped his drink. He closed his eyes. Despite that he hated the hustle and shouldering in the crowd, he loved the music. The musicians were very good. He thought he could listen through the whole night. And he had also heard that later there were going to perform several well known singers and harpists.

 

“Did I say that you look fabulous today?”

 

Wolfram's eyes opened to see the blue-haired man standing at his side. A thought that he was quite drunk if he hadn't noticed the other walk over to him, crossed Wolfram's mind.

 

“Not yet,” Wolfram muttered, finishing the last drops of his wine. “Thanks.” Wolfram liked how he looked today too: instead of his usual blue uniform Wolfram was wearing a light green shirt and black trousers. The shirt and white friable ascot perfectly accompanied his eyes, and the trousers highlighted his narrow waist and hips. Although, the one for whom he was making the efforts didn't give a damn about his looks.

 

“May I?” Kyota sat down at Wolfram's side before he could have answered. He offered one of the wineglasses he had been carrying to Wolfram. “Bored?” he asked after Wolfram took one.

 

Wolfram nodded. He brought the glass to his lips to sip.

 

“Why aren't you dancing then?” Kyota leaned down into the bench too. “I remember you are quite a dancer…”

 

Wolfram shrugged.

 

“Maybe our new king doesn't know how to dance?” Kyota wondered. “It seems like it,” he chuckled after reading Wolfram's face. “I heard he isn't good with his sword either…”

 

“I advise you to restrain yourself from such remarks about our king or I might have to accuse you of treason,” Wolfram muttered, sipping the wine.

 

“Would you?” Kyota smiled.

 

“No,” Wolfram leaned his head on the ledge of the bench. Kyota had said the truth anyway.

 

Kyota waited for Wolfram to add something but the blonde was silent. “But I'll give him that,” Kyota said. “He has a great taste,” Kyota raised his glass to clink it softly with Wolfram's. “Snatched the greatest jewel of his kingdom from under my nose…”

 

“Quit it,” Wolfram scrunched his nose. “Neither am I a jewel, nor has he snatched me…” he scowled at his glass. That accidental slap had been far from snatching…

 

Kyota's sapphire eyes slid over Wolfram's figure that was illuminated by torches. The blonde looked just as stunning as he remembered. Kyota shifted closer and leaned in to bury his nose in Wolfram's hair just above his neck. He purred at the softness and smell of it.

 

“He doesn't love you,” Kyota murmured. “I have seen how you look at him, and how he looks at you. Was the engagement your idea?”

 

Wolfram shifted away from Kyota. “I don't think it's your business.”

 

“But it is,” Kyota protested. “You know how I feel about you,” he leaned over to Wolfram to press his lips to the blonde's neck. “I can give you everything, that silly kid can't…” Kyota breathed, his tongue darting out to taste the pale skin. He felt Wolfram shiver.

 

“Kyota…” Wolfram pushed the blue-haired man away and stood up. “Quit it.”

 

Kyota's hand shot to wrap around Wolfram's wrist to prevent him from leaving. “Why should I? -You seem to like it,” he tugged Wolfram back to him. The blonde lost his balance and landed in Kyota's lap, the blue-haired man's arm instantly wrapping around Wolfram's waist to keep him there. “Why do you need him? -The fool doesn't care about you…” his fingers tugged at Wolfram's shirt then slid through the gap he made by unbuttoning several buttons. He caressed Wolfram's skin. “Do you like him that much to follow him like a lost puppy?” He held Wolfram down as he struggled.

 

“Look who is talking!” Wolfram snorted, trying to look unaffected while those warm fingertips brushed various patterns over his skin. He jerked and bit his lip when one of the wandering digits dipped into his navel.

 

“True,” Kyota nodded, liking how responsive the blonde was this time. He put his head on the blonde's shoulder. “But I can make you happy; he isn't willing to even try.” He pressed his cheek to Wolfram's. He wondered if it was hot because of Wolfram's consumed liquid or the blonde was blushing. “Your nights must be lonely, Wolfram… You got worked up pretty fast…”

 

“Shut up,” Wolfram glared at the column in front of him. He blinked as the courtyard spun in his eyes and he was suddenly facing Kyota.

 

“Yes, shut up, Wolfram,” Kyota said before entangling his fingers into the hair at Wolfram's nape and pressing his lips to the blonde's. Wolfram stayed unresponsive for several seconds, then opened up. He teased Wolfram's lips with his tongue before plunging in. Wolfram tasted of wine. Sweet wine. Just like he remembered.

 

Kyota's hand slid to Wolfram's lap, and his excitement grew when the blonde moaned into his mouth.

 

They broke the kiss and stared at each other, panting. Kyota leaned to Wolfram's mouth again, but Wolfram turned his head to the side. He wiggled out from Kyota's lap.

 

“That's enough, Kyota. Taking advantage of a drunken man…” Wolfram shook his head, tsking. He leaned on a parapet, his gaze sliding over the courtyard. There were people walking, but he was sure that nobody would recognize him in this half-light.

 

Kyota leaned next to Wolfram. “You are too cruel, Wolfram. Showing me what I could have and then refusing to give it…”

 

And how does Yuuri endure me…? Wolfram wondered, shaking his head. “Stolen kisses don't work, Kyota,” he sighed. He ruffled through his hair to fix Kyota's disheveling. “It's not about Yuuri, you know that. We`ve talked about this many times.”

 

Kyota glared at the dark courtyard before him. “Why don't you love me, Wolfram?”

 

“Probably because of the same reason Yuuri doesn't love me,” Wolfram shrugged. “It's just how it is.”

 

They stood silently, listening to the music wafting from above them then Kyota straightened. “I'll head back, then. You know I'll be waiting for you…”

 

Wolfram raised his head to look at him. “You might wait forever…”

 

“Yeah…” Kyota nodded, before bowing and walking away. “Conrad,” he greeted the man who appeared from the shadows of columns. “Still looking after your little brother…?”

 

“Of course…” Conrad nodded, politely. He turned to Wolfram when Kyota disappeared in the doorway. “What the hell have you been thinking, Wolfram?!” he demanded. While watching the two, at one moment, he was sure he would have to intervene. “What if somebody saw you? Do you realize what a scandal that would be?! I didn't think you were that stupid!”

 

Conrad walked over to Wolfram and, despite that there was nothing much left, took the glass away from him. It had been enough for Wolfram this evening. “Wolfram, won't you say anything?” Conrad glared at him.

 

Wolfram upturned his head to the dark sky. “He'll at least have a kiss to remember, and what do I have I… Hmm? You know he had never kissed me once…”

 

Conrad rubbed his forehead. He wanted to say that pitying himself won't make the matters better, but Wolfram knew that anyway. “Wolfram, you should go to your chambers. Sleep or read or whatever. I'm afraid you might do something stupid this evening,” he said.

 

Wolfram nodded. He pushed himself off the parapet and went towards the door. Conrad watched his brother's shaky steps then just shook his head and went back to the partying people.

 

XXXXX

 

“The ball is wonderful, Your Majesty,” the duchess of Volkswiese complimented Yuuri. “This evening is a huge success,” she said, after observing the hall with dancing, conversing and eating people.

 

“Thank you,” Yuuri nodded. “I'll commend the organizers.”

 

The duchess graced Yuuri with a charming smile. “Ah, but it's only His Majesty's merit that there are so many people from all over the kingdom and other countries here.”

 

Yuuri hated these kinds of conversations. “You are exaggerating…” he smiled back. Over the woman's shoulder he saw Wolfram entering the hall. He noticed that Wolfram's steps were quite heavy. Yuuri felt slightly disturbed.

 

Wolfram's emerald eyes fixed on Yuuri then slid to his right side where some woman was taking his place. Wolfram gritted his teeth in anger. His hope to finally make Yuuri love him had vanished, but nonetheless he couldn't fathom the thought of someone else at Yuuri's side. It made him mad.

 

Wolfram ploughed his way to Yuuri. Yuuri's face got a bit worried expression at Wolfram's determined look.

 

“Duchess of Volkswiese…umm…” Wolfram tried to remember the woman's name, but it was futile for his fuzzy mind. He decided that it wasn't important anyway. “Oh, just several minutes ago I saw a lost kid looking for his grandmother,” Wolfram stood at Yuuri's side, hooking his arm around the king's. “He looked a bit similar to the duchess…” he continued. “Maybe it's yours..?”

 

The duchess lightly blushed and shifted uncomfortably. “I don't have grandchildren,” she said softly. “Neither do I have children…”

 

Wolfram's emerald eyes widened. “Oh, I'm so sorry… You just look… I'm really sorry,” he hid his face in Yuuri's shoulder before he could start sniggering.

 

Wolfram grinned at the embarrassed woman's back as she excused herself and went back to intermingle with the crowd.

 

“What the hell is that?!” Yuuri hissed silently at Wolfram. “You behaved like a pig!”

 

“Really?” Wolfram raised his head from Yuuri's shoulder. “Then how would you call the one who is trying to steal my fiancé?” he breathed.

 

Yuuri scrunched his nose at the smell of alcohol in Wolfram's breath. “You are drunk,” he groaned. “Go to your chambers. Don't embarrass me here!”

 

“Umm…” Wolfram nudged Yuuri into the side then pressed to him. “You, you and you. And what about me? Let's go dancing, Yuuri?”

 

Yuuri groaned. “You know I can't dance… Besides you…”

 

“I know you can dance waltz,” Wolfram didn't let him finish. “Besides, I'm completely fine.” He tugged at Yuuri's arm. “Yuuri, just this once,” he asked. “Can't you at least give me one dance? Last dance before I let you go…hmm?” he leaned his head on Yuuri's shoulder. “Just to make a nice memory…”

 

Yuuri's brows furrowed in confusion. Was Wolfram talking what he was thinking about…? He decided not to take it serious - Wolfram was quite buzzed. He sighed as Wolfram almost clung onto his neck.

 

“Yuuri, please?” Wolfram pressed his forehead on Yuuri's shoulder. He shivered when Yuuri shook his head. “Am I that unpleasant to you that you can't even…? Do you hate me that much?!”

 

Yuuri felt panicky at the hysterical notes Wolfram's voice started taking. “Okay, okay… Wolfram, calm down,” Yuuri patted Wolfram awkwardly on his head. “We'll dance a bit, okay?” He wasn't sure what to do as Wolfram stayed pressed to him. Wolfram hiccupped, and Yuuri begged whatever gods there were that Wolfram wouldn't be crying.

 

“Can we go to the balcony?” Wolfram wondered. He raised his hazy eyes at Yuuri, and Yuuri felt relieved, seeing no tracks of tears. “Let's take several guards and…”

 

“I'm a host, Wolfram. It's my damn birthday party. I can't just leave…”

 

“Just for a bit,” Wolfram didn't give up. “One damn dance! Can't you even… Damn wimp! Gods, how I hate you!”

 

“Shhh!” Yuuri pressed Wolfram's face to his chest to shut him up. “Fine, fine. Let's go,” he tugged Wolfram towards the door. On his way he asked Conrad to talk to the musicians and ask for waltz.

 

Yuuri had been hoping that by the time they would reach the balcony Wolfram would change his mind or simply lose interest in dancing. That didn't happen, though, and Yuuri felt his back hit one of the columns, and Wolfram was pressing to him, his arm wrapped around his neck, his other taking Yuuri's and raising it into the air.

 

At first Yuuri faltered a bit but then wrapped his arm around Wolfram's back. Yuuri squirmed at the other boy's closeness and the feel of their hips meshing together then just gave in. Wolfram was right - he could humor his “fiancé” at least this once.

 

“Who is leading?” Yuuri blinked at Wolfram.

 

“And who do you think? You are the king, dammit,” Wolfram glared. They were already in the position that was clearly telling who was leading, and Yuuri still had to ask… But maybe it was because he had Yuuri's back pushed up to a column… “Umm…” Wolfram stepped back, leaving some space for Yuuri.

 

Yuuri listened to the music that was wafting from the first floor. He looked around and saw the guards staring at them. He sighed inwardly. Yes, they did look strange while simply standing like that. There were plenty of rumors about him and Wolfram in the castle, and this wasn't helping.

 

Wolfram rested his head on Yuuri's shoulder, and Yuuri just went with it. The first steps were awkward and unsure, but later it simply flowed. Wolfram was good at it. Actually it wasn't bad and that awkward like he thought it would be. It wasn't that different from dancing with a girl. And it was nice to feel Wolfram relax against him, the blonde blissfully sighing. Wolfram was right - he could at least give Wolfram this dance.

 

“Umm…” Yuuri drawled unsure after five minutes of the waltz. “Is it your sword or…?”

 

“It's “or”…” Wolfram nodded against Yuuri's shoulder.

 

Yuuri's step faltered a bit. His hips shied away from Wolfram's. He felt Wolfram sigh against his neck but the prince didn't say anything.

 

“I have a gift for you, too,” Wolfram said a bit later. “Though, I think I'll present it later.” He raised his head from Yuuri's shoulder to look at the king's face. “I wanted to talk to you, but I'm quite…” he sighed.

 

“Yeah,” Yuuri nodded. “It's the first time I have seen you drunk… Well, buzzed. Not that you are too…”

 

“Sorry.”

 

“Ah well,” Yuuri shrugged. “It's my birthday, and you are celebrating,” he grinned. “I don't think I have a right to complain.”

 

Wolfram sighed and lowered his head back onto Yuuri's shoulder. “It's not that I'm celebrating… I think it's the opposite… I thought… Ah, to hell with it!” Wolfram frowned. He raised his head again. “It just doesn't work, does it?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Things between us. They just don't work…”

 

Yuuri sighed. “Let's not talk about this right now. Just…enjoy the dance.”

 

“Okay,” Wolfram shrugged.

 

TBC