Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Working out the Paradox ❯ Part 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou 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: Yep, I know nothing of war and about tactics, so you can laugh yourself to death while reading this fic. And of course, like always, I'll accept any suggestion of how to improve the chapter. Well, and if my ignorance still pisses you off…just go ahead and flame me - I know you are right, anyway - the truth isn't something I'm afraid of.

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 7

 

Feeling like he'd been sitting in a cinema and watching a movie, Yuuri followed the events around him: the army was still moving, the cavalry still approaching, Wolfram's fireballs were not accurate enough to hit them, and Gwendal's earthquakes were also failing to keep them away.

 

Conrad urged his horse to Yuuri. “Your Majesty, Wolfram is right - it's too dangerous here, you should come back to…” Conrad trailed off when Yuuri's eyes set afire in anger at his words. Conrad turned his horse around and rode back to Wolfram's side.

 

Wolfram launched the last fireball and tossed the nearest horseman off the saddle. He summoned a fire lion and sent it into the approaching cavalry. Screams and horror followed, the men being swallowed alive by the fire, others reeling in panic.

 

Wolfram drew his sword to meet the rest of the men who had survived the attack of the beast. They were almost here. The first man who launched at Wolfram was blocked by Gwendal and quickly taken care of by getting his throat slit and tossed off the horse.

 

Yuuri gagged at the sight. But it only became worse, Conrad, Wolfram and their soldiers meeting the rest of the cavalry. His own bodyguards had surrounded him in a tight circle.

 

The sounds of swords clashing, shouts, screams, the trample of hooves were overflowing the air. Yuuri drew his sword and urged his horse back as the ring of his bodyguards was breached. But he needn't have worried - Wolfram's sword found a way into the back of the man's armor. Wolfram drew his sword back and turned to his left side to block a blade that was intending to take his head off. Yuuri watched one of his own bodyguards come to Wolfram's aid

 

“Retreat!” the general shouted.

 

Yuuri turned his head to Gwendal, but his questions were answered as a shower of arrows fell on them - they were already within reach of the shots. Yuuri's hair stood on end as his bodyguard, who had been standing only a meter away from him, fell off the horse with an arrow protruding from his chest.

 

Panicking, Yuuri urged his horse back, but out of the corner of his eye he caught an arrow piercing Wolfram, the blonde swaying in the saddle. Yuuri's eyes blinked several times until he got out of the trance. It's only his shoulder, only his shoulder, Yuuri chanted in his head, almost feeling sick with worry.

 

“Yuuri, you idiot!” Wolfram screamed, riding up to the king who was just sitting on his horse, frozen, the bodyguards torn between surrounding the king again or simply tugging him off the horse and throwing him over one of theirs.

 

“Move, now! Get away from here!” Wolfram smacked Yuuri who was just staring at him.

 

As if in slow motion, Yuuri heard Wolfram yelp then saw him slide off the saddle and fall to the ground. Another arrow reached its target. Yuuri's glassy eyes stared at the unconscious body on the trampled grass, at the tightly pressed blonde's lips and his closed eyes, at a red thin streamlet appearing from behind Wolfram's back.

 

Nobody knew for sure what happened later. It was like the earth had exploded, the ground shook and the bolts of lightning started splitting the suddenly dark sky.

 

When Conrad, Gwendal and the rest of the soldiers had finally caught up with the situation and turned their horses back, it was already over, the stench of burnt flesh and death being carried by the angered winds over the place.

 

Yuuri sheathed Morgif and turned to the men who had just approached him and were temporarily rooted to the ground in shock. Yuuri's blazing eyes fell on Wolfram then came back to the men. “Stop staring and do something before he dies!” he snarled at Conrad who overcame his stupor and hurried to his brother.

 

Wolfram blinked his eyes open as Conrad shook him by the shoulders. His blurry sight concentrated on his two brothers who were gazing at him in worry.

 

“Ow! Ow! Damn, don't… Ow!” Wolfram shouted while Gwendal was checking his wounds. “Fuck, don't… Ow! Let go of me!” Wolfram squirmed in pain.

 

“Those are minor wounds; his left shoulder and a scratched side. He's fine, just a bit disoriented,” Gwendal informed Yuuri. “It seems he had lost his consciousness after hitting his head on that stone,” he motioned at a small bloodied stone next to Wolfram's head.

 

Yuuri cast a look at Wolfram. His burning gaze made Wolfram's breath hitch and his emerald eyes widen. Yuuri turned away and jumped onto his horse. He nudged the horse towards the castle.

 

“I have just fucking annihilated an army for you,” the king threw over his shoulder before riding away.

 

XXXXX

 

Conrad sat down on a chair at Wolfram's bed side. Wolfram had just recently woken up, and had his meal and Conrad wanted to question him. Wolfram had been brought to Gisela who had put him to sleep then pulled the arrows out and disinfected the wounds.

 

“Hey,” Conrad greeted his brother. “How do you feel?”

 

Wolfram tried to sit up and winced in pain. “Bad and even worse,” he whined.

 

Conrad just sighed. “Stay put. Gisela said that you would heal in no time. None of the wounds are serious.”

 

Wolfram glared at his brother but stopped in his attempts on sitting up. Resigned, he put his head back onto the pillow.

 

“How is Yuu…the king?” Wolfram asked. Yuuri had gotten him worried when he saw him last. And he hadn't dropped from his “all mighty and crazed king” mode after everything was finished, no, Yuuri hadn't fainted like usual. That in itself was disturbing - Yuuri had learned to control his power. And Yuuri was angry with him. Because of him Yuuri had been forced to do what he did - to kill. Yuuri, who had never hurt a fly, who hated using force, had destroyed the entire army…

 

Wolfram groaned and closed his eyes in horror. He could only imagine how Yuuri was feeling at the moment.

 

Conrad ruffled through his brown hair. “Yuuri seems to be a bit…depressed…off,” he admitted, knowing perfectly well that Wolfram would start blaming himself for this. “Wolfram, I wanted to ask you about the whole thing.”

 

Wolfram nodded. He opened his eyes to look at his brother. “I was bathing,” he started. “After that I went to the shore and to my horse and wanted to dress. The next thing I saw were two camouflage wearing soldiers in front of me. They were obviously scouts. They must have seen me and waited until I had enough and came to the shore on my own. As my uniform was fastened on the back of my horse they must have decided that I was just a random Mazoku kid; you know that Humans are easily confused by my younger appearance and rarely take me seriously. At first they only wanted to tie me up but then rendered to killing.

 

“After that I dressed in one of their uniforms and followed their footprints. You can imagine my surprise when I walked into an army. You know that the ones from Farington are of dark complexion, so the uniform I was wearing didn't help a bit. They recognized me immediately, and I was chased after that in the forest for half of the day until I managed to get rid of most and lose the rest. You know the rest,” Wolfram finished.

 

Conrad looked at Wolfram after a pause. “I'm angry with you, Wolfram. How could you simply leave the castle, without your bodyguards, without telling anything to anyone? You are not a brat anymore. How could you have pulled a stunt like this? It's all good and well when it ends well, but…” he just shook his head reclining into the chair.

 

“I'm sorry,” Wolfram said.

 

“No “sorries” will help. You'd better make sure this doesn't happen again,” Conrad told him.

 

Wolfram nodded. “How are things with Farington?” he asked.

 

“The kingdom of Farington surrendered; there was nothing they could do after their main army had been destroyed. The rest of them simply fled and now our soldiers are hunting them down all over the country. Gwendal and Gunter are busy sending over soldiers, and politicians; organizing a new government in Farington and making new treaties with Farington's neighbors…” Conrad related.

 

“So far so good…” Wolfram drawled. “Now no one will ever think about attacking us.” He frowned slightly. “But that had cost Yuuri dearly…”

 

“It had been his choice after all…” Conrad said.

 

XXXXX

 

Yuuri looked at the other side of the huge bed. It was empty. It was the third day after coming back to Shin Makoku that he was sleeping alone.

 

Yuuri let out a deep sigh and fell back onto his pillows. Each time he closed his eyes, the scenes from the field replayed itself. He didn't have nightmares. He was probably too worn out to have them. He was sure that the events would catch up with his heavy mind. But it wasn't that right now.

 

It had been different this time. Something had snapped inside him as usual, but this time he was able to feel and see, think and take measures. His senses had been muddled, but he knew perfectly what he had been doing. He consciously did what he did.

 

And there he was, back in the castle, in his chambers, in his bed, like nothing had happened. If not for the never-ending run of feet behind the heavy doors, if not for the scared glances at his side, hushed voices and people turning into wallpaper when he passed, if not for the empty bed, he could easily think he had never done anything.

 

He hadn't seen Wolfram after that happening. He was ashamed to. He knew Wolfram was fine and recovering quickly. He was ashamed for the words he had said to Wolfram. He was ready to apologize to him any time, but it was clear that Wolfram didn't want to see him - if that first night Wolfram had to sleep in his own chambers, later he could have came back to sleep here, as he was used to. But Wolfram didn't. Neither did he come on this night.

 

That Wolfram started calling him “His Majesty” on the battlefield didn't disturb him, it had just felt weird. A battlefield was a place that left enough space only for ranks and obeying orders. Wolfram had started calling Gwendal, his own brother, “general” after all. But still, it had felt weird. He felt funny enough when Conrad used his title, but Wolfram…it was just… Well, yes, it did disturb him…he should finally admit that. The whole thing, the whole thing that had happened on the battlefield… It was just…

 

Yuuri glared at the ceiling.

 

Why the fuck did he feel more worried about Wolfram's feelings and Wolfram not coming over to sleep in his bed instead of being worried about the whole army he had sent to hell?!

 

“Ah crap, I'm fucked up,” Yuuri groaned, hiding his face between his hands.

 

XXXXX

 

Yuuri had been gathering his courage to visit Wolfram for almost half of the next day and when he finally had enough of it, he went to Wolfram's chambers. At least he had tried to. Just as he was near the door leading to Wolfram's room, a voice stopped him.

 

Yuuri blinked at Kyota Docharo who had suddenly blocked his way. Yuuri's bodyguards tensed up, more of them rushing into the corridor to surround their king.

 

“Your Majesty,” the blue-haired man bowed shortly, “can I speak freely to His Majesty?”

 

Yuuri nodded reluctantly. He could feel trouble brewing.

 

“You sonofabitch!” Kyota yelled after he had gotten the king's permission. “How could have you let Wolfram get injured?! And you call yourself a king?! You can't even call yourself a man! - You weren't even able to protect your damn fiancé!” he screamed at Yuuri's wide-eyed face.

 

“Kyota…you are very loud…”

 

Yuuri's and Kyota's heads turned to the door that led to Wolfram's chambers. They were open, Wolfram heavily leaning with his uninjured shoulder on the door. He was in his new blue pajamas, the bandages thick underneath them.

 

“Kyota, come here,” Wolfram muttered, motioning for the blue-haired man.

 

Kyota shot up to Wolfram who then let go of the door. “Kyota, it isn't wise making an enemy out of your king…” Wolfram whispered into Kyota's ear after the long-haired man leaned to him to support him and to help him walk over back into his chambers. “Not to mention that he's the most powerful man in the world…”

 

“Whatever,” Kyota hissed, seating Wolfram carefully onto the bed. He quickly squatted down in front of Wolfram. “I was worried sick - you know how the rumors get distorted. At first it was said that you were dead, then that you had lost your arm and other nonsense. I arrived as fast as I could!”

 

“I know you did,” Wolfram chuckled then winced at the pain in his right side. “Well, you see that I'm fine,” he smiled.

 

“You call that fine, Wolfram?” Kyota motioned at Wolfram's bandages and his burnt hair. “You had almost gotten killed!”

 

“But I didn't, so stop this nonsense,” Wolfram said, fidgeting, feeling Yuuri's heavy gaze on them from the doorway.

 

“You know this is not about that!” Kyota flared up. “If it were me, I…”

 

“…Would lock me in a golden cage, wouldn't you?” Wolfram snickered silently. “That's why, Kyota. That's why it doesn't work between us. I'm not a porcelain doll!”

 

Kyota opened his mouth, but then pressed his lips shut. Then he suddenly leaned to Wolfram's left ear. “It's only natural to want to protect a beloved.” He frowned. “Don't tell me that shit, Wolfram. You had been sick worried about that pathetic excuse of a fiancé,” he motioned with his head at Yuuri who still was lingering at the doorway, “hadn't you? Hadn't you wanted to simply take him off the field and run as fast as you could?” he leaned away to look at Wolfram's face. “I know all of your excuses, Wolfram von Bielefeld, they don't work on me,” he said after Wolfram lowered his eyes, not meeting Kyota's sapphire gaze.

 

Yuuri could feel anger gathering inside him. Kyota was manifestly ignoring his king, actually had just told him to go to hell and now was acting affectionate and familiar towards his fiancé right in front of him! After he had taken measures of instructing and punishing several soldiers, there were no such incidents like staring at Wolfram and drooling anymore. Maybe Wolfram was a little angry that now the servants and soldiers rather passed him making a circle, afraid to touch him, but it had worked. And now some guy who didn't even belong here, was deliberately acting like this to belittle the king's authority.

 

It was obvious that Kyota was more than a mere friend. No friend would look at Wolfram like that, no friend would be so attentive and gentle, no friend's hands would be so familiar with Wolfram's body, and no friend would brush that blond lock off Wolfram's forehead like Kyota did.

 

And Wolfram was accepting all of that attention, a bit flustered but smiling. They had also been talking about him, Kyota motioning at him, and Wolfram's emerald eyes meeting his uneasily.

 

Yuuri crossed his arms over his chest, closed the door and leaned demonstratively on it while trying to give off the coldest and most discontent vibes he was able to. He could understand that Kyota was worried about Wolfram, but hell…the man was crossing all boundaries, and he was not in the mood for games.

 

From the bed, where he sat, Wolfram's gaze fell on Yuuri again, taking in the king's pose. “Kyota, you'd better go,” the prince muttered softly. “He looks pissed. Loves me or not, he's the king, and you are behaving impudently… He might punish you…”

 

Kyota turned his head to give a dark look at Yuuri.

 

“Stop it, moron!” Wolfram jabbed Kyota in the ribs. “Go to Gunter and ask for accommodations then, if you want, you can visit me in the evening. But please, don't go messing around with Yuuri…”

 

“Fine,” Kyota threw his hands, giving up. “As you wish.” He stood up.

 

Wolfram shut his eyes and slapped himself on the forehead when Kyota snorted while passing Yuuri, and Yuuri threw the most cold look he was able to. No, really, like damn roosters!

 

Yuuri moved away from the door to let Kyota leave. He turned to the prince when the door closed behind the insolent guy. The king walked over to Wolfram's bed and sat down on the chair that stood next to the bed, just as Conrad left it a day ago.

 

Reclining into the chair and getting comfortable, Yuuri was hoping that the bastard wasn't going to challenge him over Wolfram because then he'd just use the opportunity to beat the crap out of Kyota, which Wolfram wouldn't like.

 

Yuuri seemed tired, Wolfram noticed. The king probably slept poorly. Wolfram had been afraid that Yuuri wouldn't manage to cope with the burden of guilt that fell on him and something might happen. He felt calmer now, after seeing Yuuri - it didn't seem that it was too bad.

 

“I'm sorry - he'll leave soon,” Wolfram sighed as the king was silent, just gazing at Wolfram's covers and the pale and delicate fingers that were grasping them.

 

“Don't apologize for him,” Yuuri said.

 

Silence settled again, fell like old foul smelling dust. It contaminated every surface it could reach, the bed, the clothes, a small bedside-cabinet at Wolfram's bed, the bluish wallpaper and several pictures, the heavy oak table, the fluffy carpet on the floor, and then it reached the skin and soaked into the bones, the increasing thickness of it soon making it hard to breathe.

 

“I understand that you are angry, and I'm sorry for the words I said then,” Yuuri finally moved the dust in the dead silence. “Nothing is your fault. Actually if not for you, they would have… things would have been much worse. I'm sorry,” Yuuri repeated. “It had been my choice. I have no right to blame you for that.”

 

Wolfram stared at Yuuri's tired face and his shaking hands then couldn't hold it anymore. Yuuri was worried about him, meanwhile Yuuri had so many other things to worry about… He knew Yuuri had tried to hold everything together inside him, but Yuuri was only human, like all of them.

 

Wincing in pain, gritting his teeth and shedding the tears he had refused to shed earlier, the prince moved to embrace Yuuri. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to do that. I'm sorry you had to live through that,” he cried for them both.

 

Yuuri sighed, snuggling his face in Wolfram's neck. “Nothing can be changed now. I'll live with that sin and the cries of those men for the rest of my life. Like you all do. I'll cope with that, Wolfram. You don't need to worry. It hurts, true, it hurts so much I can hardly breathe but people live with that. They cover that under such loud words like “duty”, “fate”, “necessity” and “fatherland”. But it's only killing all of that, Wolfram. Only…taking lives…” Yuuri sobbed suddenly, his self-control crumbling.

 

Wolfram felt hot scalding tears fall on his skin as Yuuri's body shook with sobs. He held Yuuri while they both cried. He had wanted to be strong for Yuuri, had wanted to be able to soothe Yuuri but now all he could feel was Yuuri's pain that overwhelmed his senses, and he felt incredibly stupid because of that. Felt stupid and angry at himself that he wasn't able to stop crying and was no use at all.

 

“You smell very nice…” Yuuri said after some time. He let go of Wolfram who chuckled at his words.

 

Wolfram wiped his tears then went back to the bed. They sat in silence of sniffling, embarrassed coughing and wiping tears for some time, but this time it was another kind of silence - the kind that enveloped one in warmth and felt comfortable.

 

“Do you still love me, Wolfram?” Yuuri asked.

 

Wolfram nodded. Yuuri nodded, too.

 

“I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, then. Now, never as before I need that. I'll think everything over,” Yuuri said then. “Kyota may stay,” he added. “He seems to be a fine guy,” the king chuckled. “I'm glad you have someone like him.”

 

Wolfram shrugged, smiling. “He can be a pain in the ass, though…”

 

Yuuri smiled, too. He wanted to say that it was always nice to have someone to worry about oneself, but then realized that it wasn't exactly true in this case: the way Wolfram worried about him always left him feeling guilty, and he supposed that it was the same between Kyota and Wolfram.

 

“Where's that horrible nightie of yours?” Yuuri asked instead. “Not that I'm missing it,” he waved his hands in front of him, “It's that I hardly remember you wearing anything different,” he motioned at Wolfram's new pajamas.

 

“Well, the nightie had a horrible accident…”

 

“Thank the gods,” Yuuri exhaled, relieved. “What accident?”

 

“I burnt it,” Wolfram grinned. “On a stick in the yard,” he added. “Was quite a sight! Gunter thought I went mad.”

 

“Ehh…” Yuuri blinked. He didn't think Gunter's thoughts strange. “But you liked that pinkie…”

 

Wolfram rolled his eyes. “I hated it. Couldn't stand the damn thing. But you seem to think about me only like some substitute for a woman, so I lowered myself even to that…” he admitted.

 

Yuuri stayed silent for some time then nodded. He didn't know what to add to the prince's words- everything Wolfram had said was true. Except for one thing, but now it wasn't time. He also understood another thing - Wolfram was sure that after returning to the castle, everything to do with the engagement would be over. And Wolfram was telling him about it, lifting that heavy burden off his shoulders and saying that he was ready to accept that.

 

XXXXX

 

The last couple of days flew past in a blink, and Yuuri found himself in the yard, sitting on a horse, Morgif at his side, both of them ready for the journey. He was also taking Yozak with him - the man was a treasure, perfectly adapting to any situation and knowing the country far and wide. They also took one horse for all their goods. Yuuri thought that it might attract unwanted attention from the thieves but he was also sure that he and Yozak were more than ready to deal with that.

 

Yuuri looked at the people who gathered to see him off. There was Kyota too, standing at Wolfram's side. The guy's gaze no more hostile towards him, but not that friendly either. Kyota was ready to fight until the end.

 

There was nervousness wafting from the entire group, only Wolfram radiating calmness. It appeared that in the end it was only Wolfram who fully understood him.

 

The blonde had almost recovered from his wounds and was freely moving around, his quick healing surprising everyone around. Yuuri wondered if that was because of the healing majutsu he spread over Wolfram's wound every opportunity he had.

 

Yuuri raised his head to look at the blonde's hair. Wolfram had considerably shortened his hair to get rid of the dark burnt places. But that didn't actually do anything to affect Wolfram's good looks; his emerald eyes were now seen better.

 

Biding his farewells, Yuuri ruffled through his own hair that had been dyed brown; he was also wearing brownish contact lenses. Promising to write messages, Yuuri waved and turned his horse towards the gate.

 

Wolfram gazed at Yuuri's back until he disappeared behind the gate. Yuuri had gone to look for some answers, to sort his feelings out… Yuuri was tired of this charade, tired of him weighing Yuuri down. And now with what happened with the army… Yuuri had many things to contemplate on.

 

Yuuri had always stressed the fact that they were both boys. Wolfram didn't understand that, he couldn't understand the problem in that. Yuuri had said many times that he liked him and that he was dear to him, but the fact was that Wolfram was a boy.

 

Wolfram gave the gate one last glance and started walking away.

 

Well, it was not like he was going to stop being a boy…so it was all said by that. He had been pursuing Yuuri long enough. He had no regrets about that - he had tried everything out, and Yuuri didn't react to anything.

 

Yuuri was riding down his own path, and he had to find his own.

 

TBC