Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Working out the Paradox ❯ Part 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Hello, Kaibas_Briseis,

Thanks for the review!

 

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

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

Summary: So, I wonder what the story is really about… We all know the goal and we all hope that I'm getting to it. But…actually I haven't written about anything so far, hahaha Just surroundings, behavior, feelings and stuff, nothing serious going on. I wonder how I manage to write 5 chapters about nothing…

 

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

A/N 2: big thanks to achillona for the idea of pins and cufflinks! I love you, woman!

A/N 3: 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 5

 

“You owe ten bucks,” the green-haired maid held out her palm for the blond one.

 

“Ten bucks?!” the blonde gasped. “I thought we had bet on five! Besides, I'm not going to pay! How was I supposed to know that…”

 

“The other five are mine. A bet is a bet! You lost, you pay!” the red-haired maid interrupted them. She lowered the tub with dry clothes to the ground and brushed sweat off her forehead. Deciding to take a short break before ironing them, she went to the stove to make some tea for three of them.

 

“It's not fair!” the blonde protested. “I was sure His Majesty would kiss His Highness!”

 

“Well, you were wrong,” the redhead busied herself with firewood and matches, and didn't hear the door opening. “I feel sorry for His Highness, but it was clear that His Majesty wouldn't kiss Wolfram von Bielefeld,” she blew to start the fire faster, not noticing that all the sound ceased in the kitchen.

 

“It's a miracle that His Majesty danced with him at all,” she continued then put the teakettle on. “Anyone lemon, strawberry or raspberry tea?” she turned around. Her eyes went round. “Ehhhhh Ehhhh, Your Highness,” she bowed quickly.

 

“I'd chop you in half or burn you to crisp,” Wolfram hissed, furiously. “But actually I wanted to ask if, you lot, have anything for a hangover,” the fireball in his right hand faded away.

 

The blonde came round first. “Although, I'm sure that Gisela would have something better, there is pickle from the cucumbers in the vault. Should I bring it?”

 

Wolfram nodded. “Gisela is having a hangover herself,” he muttered mournfully. “So much for her special remedies,” he snickered while going to the table to sit down. He supported his hurting head.

 

“And you'll be punished,” Wolfram pointed at the redhead after her friend had ran off to get the pot. “I don't know what it will be yet... But as you are perfectly informed that I didn't get kissed, you do realize that I'm in a very bad mood today, ne? Be prepared,” he said to the pale maid while rubbing his temples.

 

“Yes, Your Highness!” she bowed again. “I'm very sorry!”

 

“Sorry my ass,” Wolfram pressed a metal cup to his forehead to at least take some of the pain off. “If not for my mother, I'd have fired all three of you a long time ago!”

 

The maids started shivering. It was one of the worst temper tantrums their prince had ever had. When the prince started cursing it meant trouble.

 

“I want pork in Mekial sauce for dinner. And put some fresh flowers in my room. And no pink! And I want a new set of pajamas. No, three of them. And I want a new mattress in my room. And change the wallpapers in my room into something bluer. And I want a glass of apple juice each morning. And...” Wolfram winced when thinking made his head hurt. “And I'll think of something more later. I'll turn your life into hell. I promise,” he glared, clutching his head.

 

“Yes, Your Highness!” the two of them bowed again.

 

The door behind them creaked and the blonde appeared from behind them. She hurried to the table then quickly found a mug and filled it. “Your Highness,” she bowed, holding out the mug.

 

Wolfram grabbed the mug, closed his eyes, held his breath and downed it in three big gulps. “Disgusting,” he frowned after swallowing everything.

 

The maid filled the mug again. Taking the mug with him, Wolfram stood up. “Okay, so I'll go think of something more for you to do, and you can start working. If I catch you spying again, you lot, will clean the stables for a year. Understood?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness!”

 

XXXXX

 

“I hope it's at least a good morning for you,” Wolfram entered Yuuri's chamber. He was sipping from his mug. “My head is killing me. And those three bitches,” he clenched his fist. “I'm soo gonna hand their asses to them!”

 

From his seat at the table, Yuuri blinked at Wolfram. “Don't curse. And are you talking about those maids?”

 

Wolfram walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. “Yeah,” he sipped the pickle then rubbed his bursting forehead.

 

“Ah, fine. You have my permission,” Yuuri ruffled through his dark hair. “Do something nasty,” he went back to reading the documents on his table. “I was thinking that you could help me out. This seems to be written in some dialect. I don't understand a thing,” he poked at the paper on the table. “But seeing how you feel...”

 

Wolfram sighed. He held out his hand. “Show it to me.” He took it when Yuuri approached him. “It's a request for permission to buy thirty more horses for our stables. Sign it,” he gave the paper back after reading it.

 

Yuuri nodded. “Thanks.” He came back to the table and sat down.

 

“It seems Gunter was pretty sloshed too, to let such trifle reach you instead of taking care of it himself,” Wolfram commented. He sipped the pickle again. “I'll send one of those accursed maids to him with the pickle. It seems to be helping.”

 

Wolfram put the mug onto the cupboard next to the bed, kicked his boots off and lay down on his back. It felt so much better than being upright. Yuuri's scent wafting from the soft covers seemed to work relaxingly, too. Wolfram inhaled deeper then yawned.

 

“And what gifts did you get?” Wolfram asked interested, rubbing his cheek against the cool covers.

 

“Oh, yeah,” Yuuri took a sheet from the table. “I got two carriages, three camels, four horses, ten swords, five holy books in languages I can't understand a word of,” he read. “I have also gotten eight ancient and very valuable pendulums. One lucky charm horseshoe - it's golden, by the way -, and other junk. In other words - nothing I can use, so I sent the damn stuff to auctioneers and said to distribute the gained money to orphanages and hospitals and stuff. It's my birthday after all, so let's make people happy,” he threw the paper back onto the table.

 

Wolfram nodded. “I see. I'm glad you did that,” he shrugged when a suspicious look crossed Yuuri's face. He wasn't going to argue with Yuuri about what he was doing with his gifts. “And what did Conrad, Gwendal and Gunter give to you?” he asked.

 

“Gwendal knitted me a huge bear, it's a bear-bee or maybe a koala,” he pointed at a huge toy that was standing or rather sitting in the right corner of the room. “Gunter…” Yuuri got up and walked over to the closet. He opened it and took a hanger with a cloth on it. “Here,” he showed it to Wolfram whose eyes became three times their size. “I don't know where your hentai friend got it, but I'm sooo throwing this thing into fire the first opportunity I have!” he shook the hanger with the outfit that consisted only of leather straps and metal rings.

 

Yuuri shrieked and let go of the hanger as it suddenly flared up.

 

Wolfram snapped his fingers to distinguish the fire. He walked over to the remnants of the outfit, leaped on it and jumped up and down several times to free his anger. “And no pickle for the pervert! Now, that that's taken care of…” he turned back to wide-eyed Yuuri. “And what did Conrad give to you?” Wolfram left the tatters of the evil rest in peace and walked back over to the bed. He lay down again.

 

Yuuri came back to his table and sat down. “He said he had formed another baseball team. He challenged me.” Yuuri raised his head to grin at Wolfram.

 

“A weird gift,” Wolfram looked at the ceiling. “But you seem to like it better than the others you got. He really knows you well.”

 

Wolfram sat up. “I have a gift for you as well,” he reached into his pocket to get a small packet. “But I suppose you'll send it to auctioneers, too,” he sighed, standing up and walking over to Yuuri. He put the packet on the table against Yuuri. “I just thought I'd give you something before we... Ah well, sadly I didn't know you were that selective about your gifts before ordering it...”

 

Yuuri took the package in his hands. “What is it?” he started unwrapping the paper.

 

“You'll see.”

 

Yuuri opened the small box. There were cufflinks and a pin for ascot. They were golden, encrusted with emeralds. Moved, Yuuri put the cover aside.

 

“It's the color of your eyes,” he said after taking the pin and turning it around between his fingers several times to observe it.

 

“It appears you know what color my eyes are after all,” Wolfram yawned disheveling his blond hair then combing it with his fingers again.

 

“Wolfram,” Yuuri raised his eyes from the pin to the prince. “Of course I know what color your eyes are. I also know that you can't live without a cup of tea before going to sleep and that you are grumpy as hell in the mornings,” he sighed. “Don't underestimate me so much. Thank you very much. It's a nice gift.”

 

“You don't need to pretend that you like it,” Wolfram said, walking over back to the bed and dropping into it.

 

“I'm not pretending. It's nice. The thought itself is nice.” Yuuri put the pin back into the box. He perfectly realized that the gift and the symbolism meant more to Wolfram than to him, but he was touched, too. Even if in a different way than Wolfram wanted, Wolfram was dear to him.

 

Yuuri could never forget the moment when they all thought that he would never come back to Shin Makoku. He was afraid then. He could still hear Wolfram's hoarse with tears voice calling out to him just before he was ready to jump into the portal. That voice had been tearing at his heart the entire time after he left. Maybe that's why he didn't have the nerve to call off the engagement. Wolfram was ecstatic when he came back. He had pitied Wolfram, hoping it would work out somehow, and yet it didn't.

 

Yuuri looked at the dozing Wolfram on his bed and sighed.

 

XXXXX

 

Shori was standing in Wolfram von Bielefeld's room, actually in the balcony behind it. Shori wanted to have a talk with his brother's fiancé. He had spent the whole day talking with Yuuri and Wolfram's brothers, and when the evening drew, he decided to face Wolfram finally.

 

Despite that Shori had been told that Wolfram should be soon back from the baths, he had already been waiting for about half an hour.

 

Shori's head rose at the sound of the door closing. He straightened and went in the direction of the room. His step faltered when he heard two voices, and then he stopped completely as a loud slap rang through the air. Slowly, Shori stuck his head from behind the curtain.

 

Wolfram rubbed his left cheek. He wasn't really angry with Kyota, he just couldn't feel angry with him. “I think it would be the fifth time already now that you've done that. But who's counting…” Wolfram soothed his burning cheek again.

 

“It's so that you wouldn't forget that I'm serious,” Kyota reached out his hand to Wolfram's face but Wolfram stepped away from him. “Just so you know that my proposal is always open to you.”

 

“Kyota…” Wolfram sighed. He was simply tired. His head still hurt and he was not in his best mood. He walked over to sit down on the chair that was standing next to the table, just a meter away from the curtain where Shori held his breath.

 

“One day you'll change your mind,” Kyota said, sitting down on Wolfram's table, in front of Wolfram. He shifted to get comfortable on the hard wooden surface.

 

“You sure are sure of yourself,” Wolfram shook his head.

 

“Well, that makes two of us,” Kyota said. “So one of us is wrong.”

 

Wolfram closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He started as he felt lips pressing to his. Fingers entangled into the hair at his nape, massaging, trying to get him relax.

 

Wolfram turned his head to the side, breaking the contact.

 

Kyota leaned away, with a quite worried look on his face. “Are you mad?” Kyota sounded anxiously as Wolfram hadn't said anything for a minute.

 

“No, but I'll break your nose if you try that again.”

 

Kyota nodded. “Understood.” He knew when Wolfram was serious. He lowered his head, but then it shot up back to Wolfram's face again, making the other male startle and lean away from him. “What the hell does he have that I don't?!” his sapphire eyes blazed with fury.

 

Wolfram groaned. He buried his fingers in his hair. “I said this before. It's not because of him. It's...”

 

“But you love him!”

 

“I do. But this doesn't have any influence on our…” Wolfram caught himself before he could say “relationship”, “…on this situation.”

 

Kyota finally took his frustration under control. “I'm sorry,” he apologized.

 

Wolfram just shook his head. “Go back home. It will be easier to us both. Stop torturing yourself, forget me, Kyota.”

 

Kyota gave Wolfram a bitter smile. He straightened, jumped off the table and walked over to Wolfram's bed then plopped onto it. “Then let me ask you why you are torturing yourself? Why aren't you letting him go?”

 

“I will. I already am,” Wolfram muttered. He leaned his elbows on the table and buried his fingers into his hair, his fingertips feeling warm against his scalp.

 

“I know that you are thinking pragmatically right now - you are a practical guy after all -, but it won't work,” Wolfram raised his head to look at Kyota who was watching him intently. “I can't make you happy, Kyota. You need someone worthy to respond to your feelings, to appreciate what you offer. You know what would it be called if I turned to you now? - Taking advantage. I still have some self-respect left.” He raised his hand as Kyota opened his mouth with a protest clearly written on his face. “Go home, Kyota.”

 

“Four years have passed, Wolfram,” Kyota's voice was firm. “Three years after I said I loved you. You perfectly know it's impossible to erase the person you love that easily. So don't tell me to forget you and all that bullshit. Don't treat me like an ill person. I am not asking for your pity. I never did. I'm going to fight for you, Wolfram, if you want me to or not. You know I won't give up so easily.”

 

“You are a fool, then,” Wolfram shrugged.

 

“Maybe,” Kyota nodded. “But one has to fight for things like this.”

 

“Too much of insistence may bring the opposite result. I'm afraid Yuuri has started hating me.”

 

“More help to reach the goal finally.”

 

Wolfram sighed. He reclined into the chair. “I see it's pointless.”

 

Kyota shrugged. “Yep. I think the worst thing is that we both are pretty similar and very stubborn.”

 

Kyota brushed over the embroidery on the cover. “I still remember our first kiss and how your scent was soaked into the covers I thought I was the happiest kid in the world,” he raised his head to look at Wolfram. “You are so cute when you blush,” he chuckled.

 

“Fuck you,” Wolfram muttered embarrassed. “You shouldn't cling to memories like that.”

 

“But those are very nice memories. The ones that make it worth living. Thanks for yesterday's kiss, by the way.”

 

Wolfram sat silently for awhile then nodded, agreeing. He too had such memories about his mother, Conrad, Gwendal, Kyota and Yuuri, he had many of them. Sometimes he regretted that he wasn't in love with Kyota - it would have made things so much easier, for both of them. But he would be a fool to say that to Kyota.

 

XXXXX

 

Shori puzzled in his head over what he should do now. He had been standing behind that curtain for more than an hour, his legs and back all stiff. Kyota had left, but Shori couldn't simply step out from behind the curtain and wave his hand in greeting.

 

Wolfram seemed to be preparing for sleep or something similar because Shori could hear the wardrobe screeching, the clothes rustling. Would he have to wait until Wolfram fell asleep?!

 

This was the stupidest situation ever.

 

Shori was relieved to no end when he heard the sounds of the door opening and then closing. Only then did he remember that Wolfram usually slept in Yuuri's chambers.

 

Shori walked over to the door carefully and opened it. He shut the door behind him tightly. He had no need to talk to Wolfram anymore - he heard more than enough and knew he had nothing to worry about - Yuuri was safe. Although, now he was worried not about Yuuri anymore.

 

XXXXX

 

Wolfram found Yuuri already asleep, the boy curled up under the covers, but his legs dangling bare from under them to get some cool air in the hot night.

 

Wolfram changed into his nightgown and lay down, facing Yuuri. It was probably the last time he and Yuuri would sleep in one bed. Tomorrow morning Yuuri was leaving for Earth, and Wolfram had no idea when he would see him again. Maybe after several days, maybe months. Yuuri, the dork, still wasn't sure what he would do after seeing his parents and celebrating his birthday, which left Wolfram in the dark.

 

But Yuuri was adorable when asleep, his face relaxed, his mouth a bit open, full lips thrust a little forward as if expecting a goodnight kiss.

 

It was a long while before Wolfram fell asleep.

 

XXXXX

 

The day came earlier than Wolfram would have liked. But at least he wasn't alone in the bed. Yuuri was awake too. The king was lying on his back, his thoughtful look cast somewhere at or beyond the window.

 

Wolfram yawned and shifted, trying to get blood flowing in his right arm.

 

“Morning.”

 

“Hey,” Yuuri nodded. He turned his head to Wolfram. “Didn't hear you when you came back yesterday,” he yawned, too.

 

“One of my friends is staying over, so we had much to remember,” Wolfram said.

 

“Ah, Kyota Docharo it seems?” Yuuri wondered.

 

Wolfram nodded. “Last time we saw each other was two years ago. I didn't realize how much I missed him.”

 

“I'm glad for you,” Yuuri smiled. “I haven't really seen any of your friends, and I think it's nice to know you have many people to care for you.”

 

Wolfram turned to his other side, facing away from Yuuri. “You don't need to feel guilty.”

 

Yuuri flustered, but then shook his head. “I don't think it's only that. I care for you, Wolfram. Not the way that you wish, but I do care.”

 

Wolfram didn't say anything for several minutes then turned back to face Yuuri. “I know. And…” but he didn't finish, just shook his head. Actually the fact that Yuuri liked him was only making things worse. It seemed there was such a tiny line between liked and loved and wanted. But Yuuri had proved to him that it was not a line - it appeared to be a thick wall of bricks, and hitting one's stubborn head on it didn't work.

 

“How long are you going to stay on Earth?” Wolfram asked after several minutes of silence.

 

Yuuri rolled onto his stomach and hugged his pillow. “I'm not sure. But yesterday I decided that I'd come back here and then take a break. Have no idea how long it will be. I just want to run away for awhile. And before you say anything - yeah, I know that I'm a silly and irresponsible wimp of a king. But I just feel like I would go mad if I stayed here longer.”

 

If Wolfram had any comments, he kept them to himself. He too rolled onto his stomach and snuggled his face into the pillow. He let out a long sigh. “I'm...” he cleared his voice to stop it from squeaking but then changed his mind and fell silent.

 

“Wolfram?”

 

“No, it's nothing,” Wolfram shook his head. He was afraid. He was afraid that Yuuri would simply forget him. He had already accepted the thought that Yuuri would never answer his feelings, but he at least wanted to take some part in Yuuri's heart. He was selfish, he knew that, but it didn't keep him from wanting that.

 

He could already feel that with each day Yuuri was distancing himself from him more and more. He was afraid that with time he would mean less and less to Yuuri until it would slowly progress to indifference and then to distaste.

 

Wolfram didn't know when he reached the point of Yuuri becoming so important to him. Had no idea how and why he let Yuuri become his weakness. True, he had always rather acted on the spur of the moment and had been hotheaded and impulsive. But why had he been so stupid to let a simple infatuation become more than he could handle?

 

It all had started rather playfully - he had just been amused to see Yuuri's reaction each time he approached Yuuri. But at some point this game had turned against him. Life was a bitch that tended to be ironic, after all. Maybe he had just been induced by Yuuri's lack of response. Maybe he thought it would be nice to have a challenge? Actually he doubted that - he probably had already been in love with Yuuri before starting to tease the younger man.

 

Whatever the reason was and however it started, he wasn't a masochist and didn't get a kick out of being constantly rejected. It had to end. Even if by this time it grew to be comfortably painful.

 

XXXXX

 

They all were gathered in the yard of the former shrine of the previous king. The fountain was still happily spraying and the heads that reminded of dragons or lions (Yuuri had never been sure about this one) were indifferent to the time and events flowing around them.

 

The blue rippling water in the octagonal pool looked inviting and offered coolness during the hot day, and Yuuri leaned down to submerge his hands. It was still hot, and he hoped that at least until he would be away the hot season would end.

 

From the sparkling water, Yuuri raised his head to look at Murata who leaned down too, to splash some water on his face, his glasses he put on one of lion/dragon heads.

 

Murata seemed to be discontent to have to go back to the Earth. Yuuri didn't wonder about that - he had heard that Murata was having a great time with the shrine maids. Actually he had heard that after losing its purpose, the shrine became more of a sluthouse than a shrine.

 

Some of the maids, instead of the previous king, turned to worship some gods, others who still had their families, went back to them, some found work in the city, and some of them stayed. He had Gunter report to him that the previous king's shrine had been turning into a place with foul reputation, Murata being happy about it and not wanting to move out.

 

Then Yuuri had nothing left only to give the order to drive the rest of the maids away and announce the shrine a residence of War God. Gunter said he could choose from several gods they had, but that only included the God of War, the God of Love and the God of Fertility. The country was poor on gods. As in several last weeks the shrine had endured more of loving than Yuuri could handle, he decided that the God of War was the most appropriate.

 

So Yuuri could understand that Murata was angry with him. Although, he couldn't say that he cared or worried. He was sure that Murata's reason for anger couldn't hinder their friendship.

 

“Don't worry about him,” Wolfram leaned to Yuuri's ear. “The Great Sage is well-known for his…mmm….sex overdrive. He'll find a new girl on the Earth and forget all about it.”

 

“Really?” Yuuri wondered. He straightened. “So he has always been like this? And I was already worried I made some mistake somewhere…”

 

Wolfram rolled his eyes. “In spite of how highly you think of yourself, you don't influence the sex drive of the kingdom. Well, only mine,” he couldn't help teasing. As expected, Yuuri flushed red.

 

“Shut up,” he muttered, nudging Wolfram on the shoulder. “You and my mother… You never know when to stop,” he murmured.

 

“Umm…” Wolfram blinked, not very sure if it was a good thing to be compared to one's mother. “You do love your mother, don't you?”

 

Yuuri just sighed. “Yes, I do, Wolfram, and no, I didn't mean to insult you. I just said that you should stop trying to make me feel uncomfortable.”

 

“You just look too cute when you blush,” Wolfram shook his head, smiling. “Come back soon,” he leaned to kiss Yuuri on his right cheek. “I'll miss you,” the playfulness in his eyes was replaced by the seriousness.

 

Yuuri nodded. “I promise I won't make you worry. Mom,” he added, grinning.

 

Wolfram chuckled. “Be sure to keep that promise. Or I'll skin you alive,” he added, too.

 

“Deal,” Yuuri nodded again. He turned to Shori and Murata who were already waiting for him. Yuuri climbed into the fountain. After five seconds his vision blurred and he felt sucked into the endless bottom of the octagonal fountain.

 

TBC