Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Working out the Paradox ❯ Part 14 ( Chapter 14 )

 

Hello Serena1985,

Well yeah, mostly it's Wolfram's fault but who had pushed him into that, anyway? Oh, this wasn't the fight of the century - that one is still coming (despite how banal it sounds - stay tuned for the next chapter, hahaha)

 

Hello Asaka_Sama,

Well, I believe that Christmas present for my readers is just to come. Can't tell much about all Kyou Kara Maou! lovers, just about the ones who read this fic ^_~

 

Hello Amine and shourin_not_sign_in,

Thanks for the reviews, and here's some more for you :D

 

 

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 will.

 

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 14

 

Yuuri was still boiling inside after leaving Wolfram to sleep in his room. Wolfram throwing such accusations at him! -Bringing him over to the Earth, almost drowning him, sneering at Wolfram… He had not done that! True, he was angry with Wolfram, but… To tell the truth, he was more scared than angry. Just when he had finally realized that his feelings seemed to really run deeper than those of friendship, just when he had finally started untangling himself from that chaotic mass of thoughts that he had been in since he had started having those dreams and when…

 

“Is everything okay?” Yuuri's father asked.

 

Yuuri looked up at the end of the steps where his father stood, giving him a concerned look. Yuuri nodded slowly. He climbed downstairs and turned to the kitchen-living-room where his mother was finishing preparing dinner.

 

“He's just tired and in a bad mood,” Yuuri said while passing his father. “It will be all better in the morning.” He was also trying to convince himself of that. Yuuri turned around at the silence that had followed his words and saw his father giving a meaningful look to his mother.

 

“No, it's okay, you two don't need to change your plans,” Yuuri shook his head. “We'll be fine.”

 

“Are you sure? We are going away very early in the morning. It's not really… I haven't even greeted Wolfram… Does he feel okay? What will you do if he gets ill?”

 

Yuuri plopped down onto the mauve sofa. He leaned tiredly into it. “Just go,” he waved with his hand in the air. “He'll understand. Besides, this time he can't speak our language, nor can he understand what you say, so if something happens you won't be able to help anyway. I'll just call an ambulance if something's wrong with him…”

 

Yuuri's father sat down on the armchair opposite the sofa. “Why is that? The previous time…”

 

“This time it's different - somehow I've accidentally dragged him with myself here,” Yuuri explained. He scowled mentally at himself. It had really been an accident, but he could presume why it happened - his anger had been explosive and it probably had somehow reacted with his water element and triggered the transportation.

 

“I see…”

 

Despite that he just wanted to sink deeper into the sofa and simply lie down for some time, Yuuri forced himself to stand up. “I'll just take a shower and then be back for dinner,” he sighed before going to the bathroom.

 

Yuuri was quick with rubbing the stinky mass into his hair then sat down on the edge of the bathtub to wait for it to reach and strangle all of those disgusting bugs in his hair. He'd have been very malevolent, but his attention wasn't on that - he was thinking about his spat with Wolfram. They were both tired, and Wolfram's temper was getting the best of him. He was afraid it all might not work out tomorrow as he was hoping.

 

XXXXX

 

Before going to sleep, Yuuri went to check on Wolfram. He was quite worried about the blond. Wolfram didn't seem to be well, and he was afraid that it might be more than the tiredness and change of air. He thought that it might be because of Wolfram keeping his body temperature raised or getting cold after almost drowning… Really, there were more reasons than he wanted them to be.

 

Yuuri opened the door softly. Wolfram's back was turned to him, the blond wrapped into the sheets to his waist, the T-shirt rolled up, Wolfram's upper half almost bare. Yuuri's eyes immediately set on the prince's back where the usually smooth and healthy skin was colored in bruises and scratches that Wolfram had probably gotten from falling off the slope and getting tossed to and fro in that stream and from falling onto the ground from that bubble.

 

He had seen the injuries earlier and intended to treat them after they'd washed in that lake, but then they got sucked in. Later, Wolfram's weird and hostile behavior towards him didn't really encourage him to touch the blond.

 

Yuuri tiptoed to the bed and squatted down beside it onto a small red rug. The blond hair was still damp, the pillow, underneath Wolfram's head, with a wide spread darker spot on it. Wolfram was really begging for an illness.

 

Not touching the skin, Yuuri raised his hands over Wolfram's back. Slowly, not to rouse Wolfram, he pushed the T-shirt up even more and started spreading the healing majutsu over the bruised back. The warmth wafting from the bruised skin made Yuuri's hands tremble a little.

 

After a couple of minutes, Wolfram shifted, turning more to his side, subconsciously exposing his back to the pleasant treatment. Yuuri smiled to himself, his gaze lifting to Wolfram's back of the head, his hands finally stopping to shake. He could still feel that smell from the medicine Wolfram had used, though his own head stank much worse than Wolfram's. Still keeping his left palm over Wolfram's back, he reached out to stroke the blond locks.

 

It was soft. And still damp.

 

Yuuri's hand froze entangled in the locks as Wolfram muttered something in his sleep and shifted, his back pressing against Yuuri's left palm, Wolfram curling a bit into himself. Yuuri's eyes widened, the seeping warmth of air against Yuuri's palm now turning into a suddenly significant heat. But as Wolfram didn't wake, Yuuri relaxed and stroked the blond locks again. The heat from Wolfram's back somehow made its way to Yuuri's cheeks to spread there.

 

“Kyota…”

 

Yuuri's breath stuck in his throat. Wolfram shifted again, and Yuuri saw that his fingers were clenching the blond's hair in a fist. He let go of it. His gaze came back to his left hand resting on Wolfram's back that had somehow turned into scorching lava. He retracted his palm.

 

Yuuri waited until Wolfram sank back into the deeper sleep then finished spreading the healing majutsu, walked over to the door, opened it and then slammed it shut behind himself with such force that all the glasses jingled in the house. He perfectly knew he was behaving like an immature idiot, but that didn't make him feel any better or worse.

 

Wolfram jolted in the bed, his head rising quickly to look around the room. Not noticing anything out of the order - the noises in the house and street not being different from the usual ones - he settled back under the covers and fell asleep again.

 

Without a word, Yuuri climbed downstairs and passed his father whose questioning gaze was fixed on him. He went into the kitchen-living-room, opened the fridge, took out a pack of juice from the door-shelf, slammed the door shut, found a clean glass, poured some for himself and, pushing his chair noisily to the table, sat down. In three seconds he downed the glass down, pushed the screeching chair back, stood up, walked over to the fridge, put the juice back, slammed the door shut and started climbing back upstairs to Shori's room.

 

“Goodnight,” he said already at the top of the stairs. “Have a safe journey. Call when you get there,” Yuuri added before going into Shori's room.

 

With his clothes on, Yuuri plopped with his back onto the freshly made bed and closed his eyes. Heaving a deep sigh, he opened his eyes to glare at the ceiling. He was really angry with Wolfram, so angry and pissed that he was almost boiling. But it was the most ridiculous thing why he felt like that - it was because he felt frustrated and betrayed. And because he felt betrayed, he also felt hurt. Another, even more ridiculous thing was that it was his own fault: constantly, day after day he was telling Wolfram that there couldn't be anything between them, and that he had to stop chasing him. So, Wolfram stopped. And slept with Kyota instead.

 

But then… Did he really…did he really understand himself what he felt? After waking up in that hollow tree and hearing Wolfram's soft breathing above him, he felt… He wasn't even sure what he felt - there had been such a rush of various feelings: calmness, gratefulness, trust, friendship, love, joy, - everything stringing into a tight and warm ball of feeling in his chest. Then he had been sure and determined that he would never let go of Wolfram again. But then confusion and indecision set in again. Had he been and was he really…jealous or was that just…anger that Kyota and Wolfram ignored him as a king?

 

Yuuri glared at the ceiling hard. Okay, he liked Wolfram and realized that Wolfram was dearer to him than he had presumed earlier. But…was he sure that he…wanted…their relationship to take that turn? Several months ago the thought of touching another guy was unsettling and weird…and…and it still was. Was he sure that he… wanted Wolfram?

 

And…and while he was trying to figure it all out, Kyota wasn't wasting time. And being hard pressed on time didn't help any.

 

Yuuri rolled over onto his stomach. “I'm sooo screwed…” he muttered into the sheets.

 

XXXXX

 

Wolfram got up late. When he padded into the kitchen-living-room, it was past eleven. Yuuri was watching the television; something was moving in the screen, the non-understandable language spilling from it.

 

Yuuri turned around to greet the coughing blond. He switched the TV off and stood up.

 

“Are you hungry?” he asked after coming up closer to Wolfram. “There are some buns and pancakes my mother left for us for breakfast. If you want something more filling, we could heat up some rice and chicken or pilaf or just go out to eat somewhere…”

 

Wolfram shook his head in denial. “No, I'm not hungry.”

 

“Two days without food and you are telling me you are not hungry?” Yuuri sighed. He frowned when Wolfram was caught in a coughing fit. “I said not to go to sleep with your head wet,” he muttered. “Sit down,” he motioned at the mauve sofa.

 

“Where are your parents?” Wolfram asked while Yuuri was hustling in the kitchen.

 

“Dad is on holiday. I mean, he doesn't need to go to work, so he and mom went to spend some time alone,” Yuuri explained while ransacking through the fridge. “Actually I'm very glad for them. It was long ago when they did something alone together.” Yuuri put the milk on the stove to boil.

 

“And your brother?” Wolfram asked, stifling a cough with his hand.

 

“He moved out to another place. Mom said she'd call him. So I expect he'll show up soon. She said he had changed his mobile phone number, so I can't really reach him…” Yuuri turned around to look at Wolfram through the partition separating the kitchen and the living-room. Wolfram was staring at the bookcase opposite him. He was still wearing the same clothes Yuuri had given to him to wear for the night, the wide washed-out T-shirt hanging loosely on his frame.

 

Yuuri didn't think Wolfram pretty anymore. “Pretty” didn't suit Wolfram. Wolfram was handsome. Even if more handsome than Yuuri had ever seen, Wolfram didn't look like one of those hybrids where one couldn't tell if it was a woman or a man and tried to guess by the voice. Wolfram's features were quite sharp, distinguishing him as a male from the first sight: high cheekbones, small pointy nose, the big sparkling but serious eyes, those full lips pressed together in a line most of the time.

 

The previous night Yuuri went to sleep late. Kyota or not, hickeys or not, willing or not, Wolfram was his fiancé, and he'd be damned if gave up without a fight. He wasn't all that sure yet, but he didn't want to make a mistake and miss his chance. True, he had been hysterically laughing for half an hour after deciding that - he couldn't believe he and Wolfram had almost traded places - and calling himself the biggest idiot in both worlds.

 

Wolfram started as Yuuri put a steaming mug in front of him. Yuuri sat down on the armchair that was next to the sofa. Wolfram looked at the mug with the white liquid churning in it. He could smell milk. He hated milk.

 

“What's that?” he asked Yuuri.

 

“Hot milk with honey,” Yuuri leaned back into the armchair. “It will help your throat.”

 

“I don't like milk.”

 

Yuuri sighed. “Well, then think of it as medicine and just drink it up.”

 

“I don't like milk,” Wolfram repeated, leaning away from the table and the mug.

 

Yuuri felt himself getting annoyed. “Just drink it. You have no documents, nothing. What do you think we'll do if you get seriously ill or something? How would I or my parents explain ourselves about you living with us?”

 

“It wasn't my idea to come over here!” Wolfram sneered.

 

“Neither was it mine!” Yuuri snapped. “Stop acting childish!”

 

“It's you who's childish! I'm not drinking this!” Wolfram glared at him, his defiant eyes burning into Yuuri's.

 

“Wolfram!” Yuuri growled. “Quit it and drink!”

 

“Fuck off!”

 

Wolfram quieted when Yuuri's eyes flashed. “Wolfram, you either drink it or…” Yuuri's voice from a shout dropped to a threatening whisper.

 

Wolfram reached out for the mug. Inhaling deep and holding his breath he drank the mug in several big gulps. Wolfram held out the empty mug for Yuuri who had reached his hand out for it, as suddenly Wolfram felt it all coming up. He was just in time to run to the sink and the disgusting liquid poured into it.

 

“God, Wolfram, I didn't think that…” Yuuri ran after Wolfram. He reached out for the blond.

 

“Don't touch me!” Wolfram heaved out. “Don't fucking touch me!” He shook Yuuri's hand off.

 

“I'm sorry Wolfram. I'm very sorry. I thought you just…” He stumbled as Wolfram shoved him away. His left side hitting the corner of a cupboard painfully, he was once again reminded that Wolfram was stronger than him. It probably had something to do with Wolfram being a full-blooded Mazoku.

 

Clutching his bruised side, Yuuri watched Wolfram rinse his mouth then cringed when the angry emerald eyes snapped to him. Wolfram didn't say anything to him, just pushed past him and into the living-room. He turned around to glare at Yuuri who was following him.

 

“I also hate that thing you call orange juice, maybe try forcing it down too?” he sneered. He turned around but, before he could march out of the room, a hand caught him by his arm and he was spun around to face Yuuri. Wolfram wanted to push at Yuuri and snap again, but was stopped by the look on Yuuri's face. Yuuri was about to…cry.

 

“I'm sorry. I didn't… I thought you just… I'm very sorry, Wolfram,” Yuuri babbled. “I thought you were just being stubborn…difficult like usual,” Yuuri spilled while a stunned Wolfram was staring at him. “Had I known… I can't believe you think…”

 

Yuuri flung himself to Wolfram, and Wolfram stumbled, being even more surprised when he felt something hot drop onto his shoulder.

 

“I can't believe,” Yuuri sniffled, “that you think I did that on purpose… Wolfram, I…” Wolfram flinched as more scalding drops fell onto his shoulder. “To think that I'd want to…drown you… How can you possibly…? I just wanted what's the best… Honey and milk…” he groaned desperately into Wolfram's shoulder. “Wolfram…”

 

“Did you eat something old or something…?” Wolfram stared at Yuuri's top of the head on his shoulder. He brushed over the dark hair. “You do know I don't think that about you…” He sighed. “I know you didn't want to drown me… I was just…angry. A lot of things happened…” He watched the black head, then Yuuri looked up at him. While watching those dark watery eyes search his face, it struck Wolfram that he had seen Yuuri cry only one or two times. It had never been because of him, though. Yuuri was really messed up it seemed.

 

“This is stupid,” Wolfram, sighed, pushing Yuuri away from him. “Your greatest majesty, would you mind bringing those buns your mother left for us?” He couldn't help returning the smile that crossed Yuuri's features.

 

Wolfram didn't really want to eat, but when Yuuri seated him in the kitchen then ran to ransack through the cupboards then presented him with buns and then went off to make some tea, there was nothing he could do except eat. But after several nibbles on a bun he realized that he was really hungry, his appetite increasing with each bite taken. After finishing the second bun, he raised his eyes to see Yuuri's black head popping in and out of sight while he was hustling with the teakettle then Yuuri turned to him.

 

“Here, some juice for now,” Yuuri put a glass of apple juice in front of Wolfram. He sat down on the chair next to him. Wolfram could hear the microwave start humming; Yuuri was heating something.

 

“Thanks,” Wolfram nodded, taking the glass and gulping some of the juice down.

 

“And you said you were not hungry…” Yuuri drawled while looking at the only bun left on the plate.

 

Wolfram blushed. “Sorry. Do you want it?”

 

Yuuri chuckled and shook his head. “Nah, it's okay, have it. I have already eaten my breakfast.” He was glad that except coughing Wolfram seemed to be okay.

 

While Wolfram was finishing the last bun, Yuuri settled deep in thought. “When do you think they will send Murata here?” he asked after a minute.

 

Wolfram looked around for a napkin to wipe his fingers and lips clean. He nodded thankfully when Yuuri unhung a towel from a nearby hook and held out it for him.

 

“Considering that here the time is going faster than in Shin Makoku, it shouldn't be long,” Wolfram said while wiping his fingers. “It's hard to tell, though. The longest it would probably be is a week. It all depends on how they'd act - you fell into a ditch and were washed down by a stream. If they, I mean, Yozak and his friends, are clever enough and would accept the possibility of you getting sucked into this world, they'd send someone to the Blood Pledge Castle to inform them right away and send Murata over here to check. If they are not clever enough, they'll be looking for you in that forest forever.”

 

Yuuri stared at Wolfram. “You seem to have given some thought to this…” he muttered finally.

 

Wolfram shook his head in denial. “Not really. But I'm a strategist, Yuuri, and it's obvious.”

 

“Strategist…?” Yuuri wondered. “What do you mean?” He stood up and went to the kettle which had started whistling.

 

Wolfram gave Yuuri's back a disbelieving look. “You are aware of the fact that one day I might become responsible for my county and its army, aren't you? Gwendal says that if I weren't that hot-headed, he'd make me his second-in-command... Though, I know he's joking and that he'd only make me his office-boy.” Wolfram rolled his eyes. “I know I still need much practice…”

 

Yuuri blinked at him. “I couldn't lead an army if my life depended on it,” he said finally. He continued pouring water into the mugs.

 

Wolfram nodded. “Yeah. It was quite…interesting when Farington attacked us, and you ordered us to stop killing them. I though they'd massacre us and then our people before you did anything... Thank gods, like Gwendal said, you yourself are a “one-man-army”,” Wolfram chuckled.

 

Yuuri didn't really have anything to say to that. Wolfram was right, of course. Yuuri put two steaming mugs onto the table and leaned deep into the sofa. “And what about Kyota? You didn't say anything about him…”

 

Wolfram frowned at the glass of apple juice he was finishing. “With Kyota it's easy: he'll get more men to search the ditch, and as soon as he and Yozak meet while combing for us, he'll know I might have ended up with you and he'll go to Blood Pledge Castle. If needed, he'll personally dunk the Great Sage into that fountain and no one will stop him.” Wolfram chuckled as the image appeared in his head. He wasn't that fond of Murata.

 

“He sounds to be a practical man…”

 

“Kyota is the lieutenant general of Delam army,” Wolfram patted Yuuri playfully on his head. “Although Delam is not that big of a county, it still requires quite some knowledge and skill to manage the soldiers. As a king, you should really know that.” He laughed at the look on Yuuri's face. “Well, he isn't that good with his sword, but there's hardly anyone in Shin Makoku who can rival him in wielding his element and mind. Well, other than Gwendal or Gunter,” he shrugged.

 

Wolfram took the steaming mug of hot tea in his hands and shook his head at Yuuri's quite gob-smacked face. “You don't really know what Kyota is capable of…” he shrugged, sighing. “You shouldn't take Kyota or me as your contemporaries - Humans always make that mistake. We do look the same age, but there's a difference after all. True, we mature slower but there are some nuances considering mental abilities… One can't compare us to grown-ups either for we still mostly act on a whim and add hormones and mood-swings and stuff, like most teenagers are doomed to be, but…” Wolfram shrugged not finishing. He raised his mug to sip the tea.

 

“I wonder how old you'd be in Earth years…” Yuuri said after a minute of having sipped his tea. “If one can convert it at all… You somehow counted my age…”

 

Wolfram shrugged again. “Conrad was the one to do the counting - he said something about being sixteen on Earth equaling reaching maturity on Shin Makoku… Besides, you are half-Mazoku, you mature different than Humans or us, full-blooded Mazoku. I don't think it's precise and that it really matters.”

 

“Well, it doesn't,” Yuuri shrugged too. “Hey, let's go somewhere?” he changed the subject. “You'd look around. I know some nice cafés. Hey, we could go to see some movie!” He frowned. “Nah, you wouldn't understand what's said… Pity. But still… It's no good staying in the house the entire time. And we need to buy you something for your throat. Right! You'll need to take your temperature, too. ”

 

Wolfram sighed. If Yuuri went to buy something, he'd have to go together with him. Even if Yuuri would let him, he had no wish to stay in the house alone. The prince jerked, and his head shot up at the loud sound that rang through the rooms.

 

“Shh… Calm down.” Yuuri got up from his chair. “It's only a doorbell. Must be Shori,” he said before going into the corridor.

 

Wolfram stood up to greet Shori when he entered the kitchen-living-room following Yuuri.

 

“Your Highness,” Shori answered the formal greeting, nodding. He sat down next to Wolfram. Shori looked at Yuuri. “Get me some tea, will you?” He motioned with his head at the kettle.

 

“Why don't you get it yourself? It's not like you are a guest or anything…” Yuuri muttered under his nose, walking to take the kettle and fill it up.

 

“I heard you two had it rough yesterday…?” Shori ignored his brother.

 

“Which part do you want to hear?” Yuuri interested. He turned the kettle on and came back to sit at the table. “I almost got struck by lightning, we fell off a damned slope, almost broke our necks then were washed out by a river, I almost died from a concussion, and Wolfram almost drowned. Did I forget anything?” he looked at Wolfram, snickering.

 

“Nope,” Wolfram shook his head, chuckling, but mentally adding several rows and spats between them Yuuri had left out.

 

“Mom said she had heard Wolfram shouting at you, and you had been slamming doors after that,” Shori remarked calmly. He noticed the both boys tense up. A defensive spark appeared in Yuuri's eyes, and Shori knew right away that he wouldn't manage to get anything out of his brother. Wolfram only lowered his eyes to the table. If his king didn't speak, it was pointless to try to drag anything out of Wolfram.

 

“Listen, whatever mom said, it's none of your business. - We'll solve it all between us,” Yuuri said.

 

Shori just shrugged at him. “Well, it doesn't seem to me like your fiancé would try to cut you up… Where is Your sword, Your Highness, by the way?”

 

Wolfram's eyes rose to Shori again. “The strap got caught somewhere while I was rolling off the slope and broke. Now, the sword is probably lying somewhere on the bottom of the ditch, buried in the mud,” Wolfram said. He put his empty mug on the table. He felt elated - there was one more person besides Yuuri that he could understand and talk with. Even if Shori's questions weren't that pleasant, he didn't feel so stranded anymore.

 

“So what are your plans?” Shori looked at Yuuri.

 

“I think we'll go out somewhere. I thought about taking him to Grimun Shopping Centre. He should like it there,” Yuuri said, standing up to get the whistling kettle. He looked at Wolfram, and Wolfram only nodded resignedly.

 

Shori's brow rose but he didn't comment on anything. “Do you want me to go with you?”

 

Yuuri shook his head in denial. He started ransacking through the cupboards for mugs and tea. “Nah, we'll be fine. I'll call you if something happens. Oh, that reminds me…” He came back to the table with the kettle in his hand and reached out for his mobile phone lying farther on the table. “Mom said you've changed your number,” he looked at Shori expectantly.

 

Shori nodded and fished his phone out of his pocket. “Here,” he put the phone on the table after finding the number. “I still don't remember it myself.”

 

Yuuri came back to finish pouring the mug then made the tea and put it in front of Shori. He took the phone and started entering the number then raised his head to Wolfram. “Go take a shower, meanwhile I'll look for something for you to dress in.”

 

“He doesn't look that well…” Shori drawled after Wolfram left the table and went into the bathroom. “And he's coughing… Are you sure it's a good idea to take him out?”

 

Yuuri gave Shori a guilty look. “I forced him to drink milk…”

 

Confused, Shori shook his head. “What do you mean “forced”?” He took his mug to carefully sip the hot tea.

 

Yuuri rubbed his forehead. “Exactly what I said… Honey and milk… I just... He didn't want to drink, so I told him to stop acting up and drink it. And it just came right back up after he did. Gods,” Yuuri groaned, “it was horrible…”

 

“Jesus, Yuuri…” Shori's dark eyes set on Yuuri, and Yuuri cringed at Shori's disgusted look. “You know he has a weak stomach… You can't force people eat or drink when they don't want it… He's not a child. If he said no, you…” He just ruffled through his hair not finishing. “Or is it a part of your cunning plan of how to get him hate you instead of…? I don't think you really want to see what it's like to have a person like Wolfram hate you…”

 

Yuuri shook his head quickly to deny it. “No, I really thought he was just being difficult… I just wanted what's the best…”

 

“So now you want to repay him for that…” Shori said, reaching out to take the phone that Yuuri held out for him. He put it back into his jeans pocket.

 

Yuuri sighed, nodding. “We both need to relax, to simply… I hope he stops jumping at each sound in the street… He doesn't like it here…”

 

“Don't overdo with impressing him with our “civilization”. It might have the opposite effect,” Shori advised him. “Though, I think it already has…” Shori shrugged.

 

Yuuri nodded. He stood up. “Okay, I'll go to look for some clothes for Wolfram to dress in. Have a snack or something,” he said before going to the hall.

 

Yuuri passed the bathroom where the sounds of spraying water were heard and climbed upstairs to his room. Wolfram had made the bed, the coverlet perfect, without a crease - one wouldn't expect that from a guy used to the servants running after him in each step he took. There was no evidence left that Wolfram had slept in his room at all. Somehow that disappointed Yuuri.

 

Yuuri crossed the room and went to the wardrobe. He opened the door and started looking through the shelves. Soon several T-shirts and shirts, three pairs of jeans and two pairs of trousers were lying on the nearby chair, and Yuuri dug further for socks and underwear. After finding what he wanted, Yuuri went downstairs again. Wolfram was already out from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, bare feet tapping against the floor while he was looking for a comb or a brush.

 

“Here,” Yuuri held out a comb for him. With his other hand he put green slippers next to Wolfram's feet. “Sorry for that, forgot completely…”

 

“Doesn't matter, I don't wear anything like that at home anyway…” Wolfram said after stepping into the slippers.

 

“The clothes are upstairs, in my room. I put them on the chair. Take anything you wish.” Yuuri's eyes saw Wolfram's back off when the blond started climbing upstairs, then Yuuri went to the kitchen-living-room where Shori was helping himself to rice and chicken that his mother left for Yuuri and Wolfram. Yuuri only sighed and sat up opposite Shori.

 

“There's some sauce for that in the fridge…” Yuuri said after giving Shori's plate a look. He leaned his head on his palm. “I'm using your room. I hope you don't mind…” he said.

 

Shori's brow rose at his brother. “Now I know why Wolfram is pissed…” he said after a pause.

 

Yuuri's chin rose from his palm to frown at his brother. “Actually it was his idea… Does he really look pissed?” he asked then.

 

Shori blinked at his brother's face where he could see several emotions mixing. Unbelievable… “And you are disappointed because…?”

 

Yuuri's eyes widened. “I'm not disappointed!” He put his hands on the table, agitated. He bristled at the curious look Shori was giving him. “I'm…just…worried about the atmosphere…”

 

“Yeah, and that's why you are red like a tomato…” Shori remarked, stuffing the last of his rice and fried chicken into his mouth. “Whatever. As long as you two don't try to kill each other, I don't care.”

 

Yuuri snickered, “I can't wait until you become the king of Earth… I can already imagine the negotiations and bargains with you… It would be either - “I don't care”, or “No way”, and we'd grow gray before reaching any possible compromise…”

 

Shori shrugged. “But don't you think it was a very wise strategic move to give that soul to you? Whatever disagreements we'd have, we'd never wage war against each other… No matter how cross the situation might be, we'd still have to find some solution besides that… Whoever decided to give that soul to you was an unbelievably wise man…”

 

“It was the original king, of course,” Yuuri said. “So you say that you were the one the current king of the Earth found first, and only then the original king of Shin Makoku set in motion to find his successor…? Hell, I thought it was the opposite…” He scratched his chin.

 

“I'm amazed the original king guessed right…” Yuuri wondered. “Actually, everyone knows that brothers kill brothers to get to the throne… I wonder if he knew that our family is kinda…normal in that aspect. I mean the upbringing…”

 

“He must have at least presumed, or otherwise would have risked having your throat slit by me…” Shori commented. Taking his dishes, he stood up and brought them to the sink.

 

The silence settled while Shori was washing the dishes, and Yuuri, deep in thought, stared at his hands, wondering about the weird conversation he had just had with his brother.

 

Yuuri's head rose at the sound of the door opening. Yuuri simply stared at Wolfram who entered the living-room. He had forgotten how good the blond looked in “normal” clothes…

 

“What?” Wolfram lowered his head to look at himself. “Did I put it on wrong or something?”

 

“Nope, everything is fine,” Shori chuckled, coming back to sit at the table. “The clothes look much better on His Highness than on Yuuri, so he's jealous, ne, Yuuri?” he elbowed his brother to get him out of the trance.

 

Wolfram and Yuuri were almost the same build, Wolfram being a little narrower at the waist, and Yuuri wondered how his old blue jeans could look so good on another person. And the sleeveless red shirt…he should start wearing that again. Wolfram's arms were toned with some muscle on them, as Yuuri was already ascertained of that fact many times. Wolfram was one of those people who looked delicate in clothing, but had much strength in reality.

 

Yuuri jerked in his chair as Shori kicked him in the shin underneath the table. Yuuri's eyes shot up to the pair of confused emerald ones. A soft blush spread over Yuuri's nose. Wolfram frowned at him then looked at himself once again.

 

“No, everything's fine,” Yuuri coughed. “I just choked on something…”

 

From Yuuri's left side, Shori gave his brother a searching look. He stood up. “Okay then. You two go to that shopping centre. Call me if need be,” he patted his phone in his pocket.

 

TBC