Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Working out the Paradox ❯ Part 12 ( Chapter 12 )

Hello Serena1985,

Thanks for your review! Would their reuniting get some problems solved…? Well, I don't really think so, more likely create more of them, hahaha

 

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 think I already have.

 

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 12

 

Deep down in the pitch, Yuuri continued to stare at Wolfram on top of him. His mind couldn't comprehend that. It seemed that Wolfram's wasn't able either - the blond was staring back at Yuuri with the same lost look on his face.

 

Finally, still holding the fireball in his palm, Wolfram slid off Yuuri and stood up.

 

“I don't get it…” Wolfram muttered while Yuuri was getting to his feet. “How…?” His gaze slid down Yuuri's dripping wet coat. “How…?” He just shook his head in disbelief.

 

Yuuri, in turn, tried to figure out if he was hallucinating; he had hit his head pretty hard while falling. Or maybe that reached even further - very likely, he and the other three were already in the village, sleeping somewhere in the barn, and he was simply having a dream. Though, this was quite different from what he was used to dreaming lately…

 

As the new shock wore off, Yuuri's teeth presumed their clattering. He staggered to his feet. No, it couldn't be a dream - he was unbelievably cold and hurt in plenty of places he had hit while falling off the slope.

 

“Are you hurt? Did anything break? Are you okay? Yuuri? Yuuri!” Concerned, Wolfram shook Yuuri by his shoulders as that simply continued to stare at him.

 

Yuuri blinked slowly. Once, twice, thrice. “I'm… I think that I'm more or less fine…” he finally managed to answer after Wolfram shook him once again. “Wolfram…?” he exhaled the breath he had been holding for quite some time. Of their own accord, his hands clung to the blond's wet coat lapels. Suddenly, an unbelievable relief washed over Yuuri. “That's really you…” he muttered, dropping his forehead onto Wolfram's chest. He felt like laughing. He raised his head to look at Wolfram's with mud smeared face again.

 

Wolfram unconsciously answered the smile that had stretched on Yuuri's lips. Then he looked up at the sky above their heads that was quickly darkening. “We need to get out of here,” he said.

 

Yuuri simply gazed at the fireball in Wolfram's right hand. “I don't think we can climb up - it's pretty high and slippery; we are lucky not to have our necks twisted after rolling off the slope. I could rise us up with some element - water, earth or wind - but for some reason my head feels dizzy and I can't pull on any power…”

 

Wolfram's gaze returned to Yuuri's dirty face to take him in worriedly. “Can you stand?” he asked Yuuri after a pause.

 

Yuuri looked at Wolfram in confusion. Only then did he realize that he was still holding on Wolfram's coat lapels. He nodded and let go of them, straightening himself and felt Wolfram's hand wrapping quickly around his arm when his step wasn't that firm. He could feel himself shaking in cold, his teeth not setting together for a moment.

 

“It's okay; Kyota saw me fall, he'll bring someone,” Wolfram assured Yuuri, though the nervousness around the edge of the voice told Yuuri that his fiancé was trying to calm down as much himself as Yuuri.

 

Yuuri leaned on Wolfram's side to keep his balance better. “I'm fine. Just a little dizzy.” He raised his head to find the blond looking around frantically. “It's seems like a cave or something, both ends undermined. I think we should go a bit further, find some lee to dry off…” Yuuri said.

 

“Undermined?” Wolfram turned his head back to Yuuri, concern marking his face. “I think we have to get out of here, and as soon as possible.” The fire in his left hand flared higher and he turned to the dark tunnel on his left. His hold on Yuuri's arm became firmer, and he started dragging the king together with himself.

 

“What's the rush?” Yuuri muttered under his breath, falling into a quick step behind Wolfram. “I don't think it's very wise to move away from the spot we have fallen into…” But before Wolfram could talk, Yuuri heard a soft whispering somewhere far behind their backs. His eyes widening, Yuuri pushed on Wolfram's back with his both hands. “Faster!”

 

But it didn't matter how fast they ran, the murmur was getting closer to them. After several seconds the only thing Yuuri was able to feel and hear was his own mad heartbeat, his heavy breathing and Wolfram's hand, tugging him to go faster. Dark spots were dancing against his eyes, and he felt weak. All this was surreal: it was as if he were watching himself from aside, running through the dark tunnel, the cold forgotten, the fire in Wolfram's left hand being buffeted about then again flaring higher, leaving a sparkling trail behind the two of them. This couldn't be happening. It simply…wasn't real. There couldn't be water chasing them, he couldn't be running from death, and there couldn't be Wolfram running together with him. Wolfram…

 

Yuuri cursed as he tripped on something, nearly pulling Wolfram down together with himself. He almost fell again, forward this time, as the blond yanked him up and continued dragging him after himself. His feet stumbling, but finally catching up, Yuuri soon fell into the run again.

 

It was so close now that he could feel cold whiff from behind him. He saw Wolfram turn his head around, the prince's eyes becoming wide with fear, his face ashen behind mud and dirt, the blond's hand squeezing his wrist in a crushing hold. And then the gust hit them, and the next second they were swallowed by cold water.

 

Yuuri was smashed into Wolfram's back, the sparse reserve of air being forced out of his lungs. They both were tossed forward with the wave that continued to stream further, annihilating everything in its way. Instinctively, Yuuri wrapped his other arm around Wolfram's waist not to let them be tossed and scrambled in separate directions. He closed his eyes.

 

“Don't let go of me,” Yuuri choked out the warning when Wolfram's grip on his wrist became lax in shock when the blond found himself in an air bubble.

 

Wolfram spluttered and coughed, trying to get the precious air in his lungs. He yelped as after opening his blurred eyes he saw a protruding rock just against himself. They hit it and buffeted off their bodies somehow not touching the rock, the waves catching them and carrying them further, making them bounce and shake, and cling to each other.

 

Wolfram didn't exactly comprehend what was happening. He stared, wide-eyed, at the dirty streaming water all around them, the rocks, logs and other things taking shape and form only while passing, barely missing them. He couldn't see a thing in that dirty mass stretching all around. In that deafeningly roaring and rattling expansion he was aware of Yuuri panting heavily against his neck. He didn't understand what was going on but he perfectly knew that Yuuri had something to do with it, and that Yuuri was barely holding it all together.

 

Suddenly, with a loud pop, they tore out of the water, flew for some time then hit the ground. Yuuri's hold slipped off Wolfram, and he rolled over several times on the wet grass until he hit a tree.

 

Shaking his head, Wolfram sat up then got to his feet and got out of the bush he had rolled into. A burst of flame in his hand lightened his surroundings, and the blond's eyes set on crouching Yuuri several meters away. He rushed to Yuuri's side to help him up, but Yuuri slumped back to the ground. Wolfram staggered back as Yuuri pushed him away.

 

Anxious, Wolfram watched Yuuri's heaving back while Yuuri was vomiting water and what was left of his lunch. The unnerving sounds lasted for several minutes until Yuuri's body calmed down, and Yuuri wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve and turned to look at Wolfram who seemed to be on fire while drying his clothes up.

 

“C'mon,” Wolfram grabbed Yuuri by his arm and hauled the dazed boy up. “Give me your coat and clothes.” As Yuuri only stared at Wolfram's mouth, clearly not comprehending the words, the blond simply began to undress the other boy. Yuuri's fickle eyes watched Wolfram fuss about him and when he was completely naked, Wolfram shrouded him in his dry coat, and started stripping himself.

 

“Damn, hang in there,” Wolfram caught Yuuri when the other boy started sinking to the ground. “Yuuri,” he shook him. “Don't even think of doing that to me! Yuuri! C'mon, don't do that!” Wolfram's voice lost the panicky note when Yuuri opened his eyes and tried to hold onto him. “It's okay, you'll be fine. Yuuri?” Wolfram was relieved to see Yuuri give a weak nod.

 

Wolfram finished stripping and dressed Yuuri in his dry clothes. Leaning the other boy on a nearby tree, he put on Yuuri's wet clothes and quickly dried them off. Then he again took still shaking in cold Yuuri by his arm and tugged forward. “C'mon, we need to find some lee.” The fire in his hand flared higher to lighten more space around them.

 

After about twenty minutes of them staggering through the wood, Wolfram supporting Yuuri by his shoulders who was on the verge of shutting down, they had finally found a hollow tree. Wolfram recognized the signs that were painted and carved into the bark just at the entrance - several decades ago the tree was used as a shrine for the War God.

 

Wolfram thought them very lucky to have found it - the tree was big enough to fit for them both and even to sleep in it. He led Yuuri inside and was glad to find that it was dry inside. He seated Yuuri on the ground and extinguished the fire, leaving only a thin streak burn in his palm.

 

“We'll spend the night here. In the morning we'll go look around and see where we are,” he said to Yuuri only to say something. The anxiety ate him only further when Yuuri didn't acknowledge that he at least had heard him. Yuuri was still shivering, his teeth chattering in cold.

 

Wolfram took his coat off and spread it on the ground then he took the coat off Yuuri's shoulders. He lay on the coat and extinguished the fire completely. He reached out for Yuuri, pulled the other boy on himself squaring their bodies then, making sure there were no drafts, covered them both with the other coat. Wolfram wrapped his arms about Yuuri, raised his body temperature and felt Yuuri snuggle into him for more warmth. Wolfram wasn't all that sure if that wouldn't harm him, but hoped that two additional degrees wouldn't leave any long lasting effects.

 

“Yuuri? Yuuri?” Wolfram shook the other boy.

 

“Hm?” Yuuri wasn't aware of how relieved Wolfram was to hear him talk.

 

“How did it happen that you were in that pitch? Yuuri?” Wolfram shook Yuuri again as he didn't answer.

 

“I fell…off the horse…” Yuuri muttered drowsily.

 

“Was Yozak with you?”

 

“Uh-huh,” Yuuri nodded against Wolfram's chest.

 

“What happened to him?”

 

“He…”

 

Wolfram nudged Yuuri again as that started drowsing. “What happened to Yozak?”

 

“I don't know… He… He left sitting on his horse. His friends too…”

 

“His friends?”

 

“Yeah…that…Armano and Kadira…”

 

“Who are they? Yuuri,” Wolfram shook the other boy. “Who are they?”

 

“His friends… Yozak said they were brothers in arms or something…”

 

“When did you meet them?”

 

“Meet… Several days ago…three…four or maybe five…”

 

“What do they look like?”

 

“Wolfram, I really want to sleep…” Yuuri muttered somnolently.

 

“You have a concussion - you can't sleep or you might never wake up,” Wolfram's arms tightened around him. “So please, try not to fall asleep, okay?”

 

Yuuri nodded mutely against Wolfram's chest.

 

“So tell me how they look.”

 

“You are really warm…”

 

“Tell me what they look like.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Armano and Kadira… What do they look like?”

 

“Armano…” Yuuri let out a loud yawn. “With short brown hair… Tall…quite handsome…with brown hair…bulky…tall…”

 

“And Kadira?”

 

“Reminds of Gunter. Only his eyes… I can never tell what he's thinking. He's real quiet…and…a bit scary.”

 

“Yuuri,” Wolfram shook Yuuri when the other boy seemed to doze off again. “Isn't it…strange how we two happened to roll off the same slope?”

 

“Uh-huh… How…?”

 

“Kyota and I were returning from Kyota's grandmother. My horse spooked and threw me off and I rolled down the slope…”

 

“Funny…” Yuuri yawned.

 

“Funny?”

 

“Exactly the same happened to me…”

 

“Don't sleep,” Wolfram gave a good jerk to Yuuri after several seconds of silence. “Actually I wondered about that weird air bubble you created earlier. How were you able to do that?”

 

“I…” Yuuri stifled a yawn. “I am able to wield all four elements… I…”

 

Yuuri almost fell asleep again in that shocked pause that settled in the hollow of the tree. His daze cleared a bit when he felt Wolfram shift.

 

“Are you good at wielding fire?”

 

A tired smile tugged at Yuuri's lips. “I have burnt my coat… I tried to dry it. Like I saw you do it earlier… I burnt it… There was such a big hole…”

 

“So it was the air element you used to get us out of there… It seems you have more luck with air?”

 

“For some reason…the air… It is much easier to master… I think… Armano… He said the same.”

 

“And the earth element?”

 

“I haven't tried it yet… I just…feel that I can… God, I want to sleep so much…” Yuuri moaned, nuzzling his forehead on Wolfram's chest. “Ten minutes? It can't be…”

 

“I'll punch you for such talks.”

 

“You are…such a prick.”

 

“And you are such a wimp.”

 

Yuuri smiled happily and sighed against Wolfram's shirt. He tried to keep his eyes open but they just kept closing of their own.

 

Wolfram's voice calling to him and asking him all the possible things, while he drifted on and off, kept him up for several hours. He was unbelievably tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep. All he was aware of was the warmth and that voice breaking through the overwhelming daze. The air was getting colder and he snuggled closer into the warmth, burying his face in Wolfram's chest. Half asleep, half sober he almost purred when Wolfram shifted beneath him, and he fell into a more comfortable position. His mind catching up with an astray thought, he realized he shouldn't feel so, but nonetheless he felt warm, comfortable and relaxed.

 

And then the heavy night fell and, his thoughts starting to clear, he was still telling Wolfram about Yozak, about Armano and Kadira; about how the bridge was washed off; about that he was already going home, to Blood Pledge Castle; about how Armano bought him a new coat; told Wolfram about the louses in his hair; about how he got sick after eating at one tavern; related about Conrad and Yozak; said about how people became afraid of him after he had saved the men that had fallen in the river; about how it hurt him.

 

After an hour or so, when Yuuri himself started questioning Wolfram about what he had been doing while Yuuri was absent and how he had appeared near this country at all, Wolfram decided that the danger had passed. He fell asleep during Yuuri's second question.

 

XXXXX

 

It was something about ten o'clock in the morning when Yuuri woke up. His leisure rousing from his sleep turned into a startled recollection of what happened yesterday. His eyes shot open, and he found himself staring at Wolfram's chest. They were in the same hollow tree they were yesterday. It was half-light inside, the stream of light falling through the hole from outside. He could hear birds chirping and chattering in the wood, the trees sighing around them. Just above his head he could also hear Wolfram's soft breathing.

 

Closing his eyes again, Yuuri let himself relax. Everything was okay, and the two of them were safe. He was sure that Yozak and Kadira with Armano were also fine. The men must be looking for him in that ditch that had now turned into a river. What had happened there? - Had a dam burst somewhere? Or maybe simply a river broke its bank or washed a slope away?

 

Wolfram smelled of mud, sweat and there was also that distinctive scent of the perfume Wolfram always used mixed with Wolfram's own sweetish scent. They were lucky to be alive. He remembered himself running, Wolfram's fingers tightly wrapped around his arm, dragging him after himself. Wolfram saved his life. Not only by urging him to run, but by simply being by his side. He doubted he'd have found enough strength to call on air element if it were only him. Maybe he'd have, maybe he wouldn't. And then Wolfram kept him warm and safe, not letting him fall sleep.

 

Yuuri frowned realizing that Wolfram was warmer than he himself was. Did Wolfram have a fever? Yuuri opened his eyes and pressed his palm to Wolfram's dirty forehead. It wasn't too bad but Wolfram was really feverish.

 

Yuuri removed his hand as Wolfram shifted, muttering something. The blond's eyelashes fluttered and, with a start, his eyes concentrated on the muddy face above him. The events rushed back, and Wolfram found himself sitting up, Yuuri settling beside him.

 

“How do you feel?” Wolfram asked, after orienting himself in his surroundings.

 

“I'm fine,” Yuuri nodded. “But you seem to have a slight fever…”

 

Wolfram looked at him, still not quite awake. “Oh. No, it's nothing - I've just raised my body temperature.” Already while formulating the words he lowered the temperature by half of a degree.

 

“You can do that?” Yuuri wondered. “Isn't it dangerous?”

 

Wolfram shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I don't think two degrees would do much harm.” The blond turned to Yuuri. “Let me see your head.” They shifted towards the opening in the tree to get more light, and, gingerly, Wolfram examined Yuuri's head. He parted Yuuri's washed off and blood matted hair at the place Yuuri had winced when he had felt it.

 

“You have a nasty lump here,” Wolfram said. “And plenty of louses. Does it hurt?” he asked after Yuuri chuckled. He let go of Yuuri's head.

 

“Only when they bite me,” Yuuri chuckled again. He settled next to Wolfram. “No, not really.”

 

“Try not to make any sudden movements,” Wolfram advised him.

 

Yuuri leaned on Wolfram's side. “Thanks. I don't know what I'd have done without you…”

 

“…Died probably,” Wolfram agreed, suppressing a smile as they both knew that they both were lucky to have stumbled into each other. He shrugged Yuuri off himself and stood up. He leaned down to take one of the coats from the ground and put it on. “Nature calls,” Wolfram said before leaving the hollow.

 

Yuuri watched Wolfram's back until it disappeared then he yawned loudly, also stood up and stretched himself, his back cracking loudly. Everything was so much better in the morning. Now they simply had to find Yozak with those his two friends. Yuuri's brows wrinkled as he remembered Wolfram saying something about Kyota. He didn't remember much from yesterday, only separate pieces of information. But Wolfram had said something about Kyota. They had been traveling somewhere together or something.

 

Wolfram came back shortly, and Yuuri took his turn. After returning, he found Wolfram wrapped tightly in his coat, the blond shivering.

 

“It's okay,” Wolfram shook his head after Yuuri's concerned look given to him. “It's that after dropping the temperature to normal it seems to be much colder. I'll get used to it soon.”

 

Yuuri and Wolfram left the hollow. It wasn't raining anymore, the weather wasn't offering much warmth, but being better than yesterday. A corner of sun shyly glancing down at them was seen. A bit farther from them, a ditch half-filled with muddy water was seen. Now it was calm, not rushing, just floating.

 

Wolfram raised his head to look over the tops of the trees in which direction the sun was. Yuuri, not bothering with that, called on his earth element.

 

“There's a group of people to the north of us. I'm not sure who they are or what they are doing, but I think we should head there,” Yuuri said after several seconds.

 

Wolfram gave him a searching look. “Why didn't you ever tell me you are able to use all four elements?”

 

“I just recently got to know that myself. Besides, I can hardly control them. It's more like raw surges of useless power than anything.”

 

“Well, it seems to me you're dealing just fine,” Wolfram said before turning to go to north. “I just hope you know about the risk you are taking.”

 

Yuuri nodded. “Yes, Yozak warned me.” He followed Wolfram. “He said there had been some trouble with previous kings…”

 

Wolfram was silent for several seconds. “As no one was ever interested in telling me that,” he snorted, “I wouldn't know anything. But yes, there are enough of stories about people going mad. You know, had I know that, I doubt I'd have let you go roaming around the country that easily after you destroyed that army…”

 

“Yep, Yozak said that that's exactly why nobody told you…”

 

“Nice,” Wolfram scowled, swatting a twig out of his way. “So did you finally manage to find what you had been looking for?” he asked.

 

Yuuri thought for a moment. “I think I did,” he said. He found himself hoping and at the same time afraid that Wolfram would ask something, but Wolfram simply nodded and continued making his way through the bushes and trees.

 

“And how did you appear in that ditch?” Yuuri asked after a moment of silence. He could remember that Wolfram related to him about that but it was all mixed in his head. “You said something about you and Kyota visiting some grandmother or maybe I just dreamt that…”

 

“No, Kyota really took me together to visit his grandmother.”

 

“You left Blood Pledge Castle to visit Kyota's grandmother?” Yuuri asked, incredulous.

 

“No, I left the castle to… Well, I just wanted some activity. Besides, it was long ago when I visited Delam. I don't think you know, but Kyota has a brother, Arisu. He had been growing up together with us, and I also missed Katarina. She's such a fine woman,” Wolfram related, not noticing Yuuri's confused look. “And I'm quite used to Kyota's stepfather, Edohi, too. I think it was a wonderful idea to visit them all… I have missed them very much.”

 

“Was it Docharo's idea?”

 

Wolfram gave an affirmative nod. “And I'm really grateful for that. Look,” the prince pointed at their left side, where Yuuri saw something similar to a path, “it seems there's a river nearby. Let's follow the track.”

 

Yuuri agreed that it would be a good idea. He was thirsty and itching everywhere.

 

“Don't you think it was…well, maybe fate that we stumbled across each other like that?” Yuuri chuckled. “It's really weird.”

 

“You are too valuable to simply die,” Wolfram shrugged, after which Yuuri nearly fell over. “Whatever gods there are they must really like you. Though, I think that Kyota would have befitted better to get stuck with you.”

 

Yuuri couldn't think of anything else to say and just stayed silent until the animal tracks led them out into a clearing. The river wasn't wide here. Yuuri thought that it must be the same river he and Yozak had crossed over. But now he couldn't tell on which side of the river they were.

 

It wasn't that warm but they decided to wash themselves - neither of them had money and it wasn't clear how long they would have to wander through the forest.

 

Yuuri folded his clothes, put them on the grass farther from the bank and waded into the lake. Wolfram was already washing himself a bit farther on the left. Yuuri intended to begin his own washing procedure as his eyes suddenly swept back up Wolfram's bare back and up to his nape. What the…

 

“Wolfram?”

 

“Umm?”

 

“What the fuck is on your neck?”

 

Yuuri's way too composed voice and the added refined curse-word made Wolfram stiffen, then his head turned to Yuuri. Yuuri's intense gaze baffled Wolfram even more. He fumbled about on his neck, where Yuuri's eyes were locked on. Suddenly, Wolfram remembered.

 

“Oh…” Wolfram blushed brightly. His eyes cast somewhere at the water at Yuuri's waist, Wolfram rubbed his neck with his hand absentmindedly.

 

Yuuri's eyes rose from Wolfram's neck to his red face.

 

HICKEYS.

 

Those really were hickeys…

 

Surprised, Wolfram looked around as water around him started to bubble intensively. His wide eyes shot to Yuuri's dark ones but Wolfram only managed to let out a started yelp and was swallowed deep by the lake.

 

TBC