Kyou Kara Maou Fan Fiction ❯ Working out the Paradox ❯ Part 20 ( Chapter 20 )

Hello Serena1985,

Yup, it appears they can't even have sex that easily! Exactly - new meaning to safe sex, hahaha Well, seriously, the idea is eerie and I can imagine you felt weird while reading that scene. And Shori summing up that entire nonsense pretty well… Well, what can I say…just felt like writing it…

 

Hello newdkidt,

Thanks for the encouraging review!

 

Hello HopelesslyEscaflowne,

It's so nice to hear that I kept up with your hopes through almost entire fic. Thank you for all the nice compliments. Well, yes I can't really understand authors who write 500-2000 words chapters. One can't really get into it. Sure one can do that, but he has to be really experienced to catch the reader's attention in that case.

I hope you'll further find their relationship and its development believable. I am not that sure if I really managed to show Yuuri's change of mind that believable, but I was really trying.

The big brother should always support the little one ^_~ Yuuri is lucky to have a brother like Shori.

Well, Wolfram will never like Earth too much.

There are 21 chapter of this, so the most things will start wrapping up already now. I hope you'll like the way it solves itself out. If not - there will be a sequel after all, heh I just wonder if it will quench or induce your distress in case you won't like the ending of WOTP.

 

 

 

 

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 was to make a completely straight guy fall in love with a boy.

 

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

A/N 2: HikariShiroki drew a picture of Kyota and Wolfram (it's not a sex scene, so the ones who hate Kyota could also simply see what he looks like). The work is really that of a good quality and I highly recommend seeing it. She has also promised to color it later: http://yaoi.y-gallery.net/view/258023/

 

Working out the Paradox

 

by chayron (lttomb@yahoo.com), beta-read by Redmarshin

 

Part 20

 

Wolfram blinked his eyes open. It took him several minutes to orient himself in the surroundings: he was in bed, someone - naturally Yuuri - was scooped behind him, he was still on Earth and it was morning. From the depths of his vague memories swam out yesterday's events. He winced and hid his face in the pillow - he was ashamed of his own stupidity. If not for Yuuri breaking through the chaos and pain, he'd be dead by now. He could still hear that voice inside his head, the voice which like a silver thread held him above the haze and guided him back into life again. He owed Yuuri a big one.

 

Wolfram shifted to stretch his numbed arms and legs. He stifled a yawn then turned around to face Yuuri.

 

“How do you feel?” Yuuri rubbed his sleepy eyes.

 

“It's okay. I'm fine,” Wolfram gave him a sheepish smile. “I suppose you worked a lot of healing majutsu on me or I'd be feeling really crappy right now otherwise, wouldn't I…?

 

“Yes, it was quite some. In the end, my head hurt like a bitch,” Yuuri nodded. “You know, I was actually thinking about leaving you like that, but Shori said that if I didn't heal you, he would do it… The traitor.” Yuuri's eyes turned stern. “Wolfram, if you ever do something stupid like this again, I'll decapitate you. If you stay alive, that is.”

 

Wolfram squirmed uncomfortably. “I'm sorry. I really thought it wouldn't work. I wasn't able to use any power here, anyway… I didn't think…”

 

Yuuri shook his head. “I didn't understand much about all this stuff. All this “swapping of powers” is very confusing…”

 

Wolfram's brows furrowed in puzzlement. “You….you mean you didn't know?”

 

“Wolfram, if I had known, I wouldn't have let you do it - you have almost killed yourself, moron!”

 

“I said I didn't mean that!” Wolfram sat up in the bed, annoyed.

 

“Fine. Now explain everything normally to me that I wouldn't let you do anything stupid next time,” Yuuri said, also sitting up.

 

A flash of emerald shot from under the thick circles of eyelashes at Yuuri, but Wolfram didn't protest orally. “What do you want to know?”

 

“Just start from the very beginning. I remember that Shori said that originally it was supposed to be the protection for the weaker in the pair.” Yuuri deliberately didn't say “female” but even then Wolfram glared at him.

 

“Sort of. The protection for the one who doesn't have that much power as his or her partner.” Wolfram leaned on the headboard. He had noticed that Yuuri had undressed him, leaving him only in his boxers that actually also belonged to Yuuri. Wolfram tugged the cover onto himself. Yuuri let him and leaned next to him on the headboard so that their shoulders touched. Wolfram realized that by that small gesture Yuuri was trying to apologize for any unnecessary stress he had caused and that at the same time it was a message of affection. But it only made Wolfram feel even guiltier and angrier with himself for his idiotic mistake.

 

“It works both ways, the swapping. If we were in Shin Makoku, you would also have gotten some of my power. But I'm not sure who of us has more power in controlling fire element. I suppose it's you who has more of it - even if I'm more skilled at controlling it.” Any other time he'd have emphasized that but he had accepted the fact that he had royally screwed up and Yuuri was the one to save his life, so he just bit his tongue. “So I'd probably end up being the one absorbing your power…”

 

Yuuri nodded. That much he could understand. “But how can it be that you can get the power and then use it even without the contract? I didn't think it's possible - one always has to make a contract first before being able to use one or another element…”

 

“In this case, you are the one having the contract and letting me borrow the power - whatever I do with that power is with your knowledge. While I'm summoning any of the elements, you are the one through whom the contact with them is established - if you are near me and want to forbid the contact - your elements will always listen to you instead of me. Although, after letting the other person use the same power he has contract with, you can't take it back or forbid using it - it becomes a part of the person and the person will use that power until he exhausts it completely. For example, you can't control your to me given power with which you summon your fire element. You've supplied me with more power and I'll use it until it uses up without you managing to control it.”

 

Yuuri ruffled through his dark hair. “But I wasn't really able to control that power in your body. The water element responded well, but I was damn glad that you've managed to deal with the rest of them on your own - they didn't really listen to me.”

 

“It's because I wasn't allowed to use any of the elements on Earth. It was locked in my body and when it was finally freed, it was almost too late - they almost tore me apart, the damage my body and mental state sustained threw the entire process off. Besides…” Wolfram blushed and squirmed uncomfortably. “Actually no wielders of different elements ever swap so much power at once. It would have been almost as nasty as it was here if it had happened in Shin Makoku, only that you'd have been able to control the excess of power in my body and simply absorb it back or remove it…”

 

Yuuri observed Wolfram's flushed face. “You mean we will have to be careful and stuff until you get used to controlling the other three elements?”

 

Wolfram nodded. “Yeah. Only the wielders of the same element or the ones whose power is hardly developed have no trouble with that…”

 

“But the swapped power is exhaustive?” Yuuri asked just to be sure. “Like rechargeable?”

 

Wolfram thought for a moment. “Rechargeable? Yes, one could say that.”

 

Yuuri smiled. “Then I think we'll be recharging it constantly.”

 

Wolfram spluttered. If that was Yuuri's way to make the tension disappear then it really…worked. He felt himself respond to Yuuri's smiling face, his own sheepish smile appearing.

 

“Gods, I'm so glad it everything ended up well,” Yuuri sighed, tugging Wolfram to him, wrapping his arms around Wolfram's neck and laying his head on the blond's shoulder. He inhaled Wolfram's scent deeply. It was comforting, warm, young and distinctive, specific only to Wolfram. He had no idea what he would do if Wolfram died. Almost losing Wolfram had scared him out of his mind.

 

As if sensing Yuuri's thoughts, the prince ruffled Yuuri's messy hair. “I'm really sorry.”

 

XXXXX

 

After taking a shower they went into the kitchen. As Yuuri had thrown everything away there was no food left. There was one small dish with ramen but that was not enough for both of them. Yuuri rummaged through the fridge for some time further and then decided simply to order a pizza.

 

While waiting for pizza to arrive they made some sandwiches and tea and sat down. Through a brim of his steaming mug Yuuri watched Wolfram sipping on his own tea and wondered if their mornings would become like this from now on. It was strange a bit, really. It was not that he had never had breakfast together with Wolfram, actually there had been plenty of similar breakfasts but now it felt all different. Somehow… Yes, as he had told Wolfram, he wasn't used to this. But he was unbelievably glad to have something like this.

 

Wolfram jumped in his seat again as there a doorbell rang through the rooms. This time he managed to do without spilling his tea. Yuuri got up and went to open the door. But instead of so awaited pizza he saw Murata's grinning face.

 

“Hey.” Murata waved at him. He held out a bundle of clothes for Yuuri.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

From the bundle that appeared to be two wrapped up coats, Yuuri's eyes shifted to Murata's side where Kyota was standing. Kyota was wearing something similar to Murata's school uniform. It was a white shirt, dark green jacket and trousers of the same color. He was also wearing a black tie.

 

“Hey,” Yuuri answered finally. Immediately, he felt that there was something off with Kyota, the man emanating such hostile vibes that they were almost choking. Kyota suddenly snuck right past him and Yuuri didn't even have time to say anything or stop him.

 

“Wolfram!” Kyota shouted when he was already in the corridor. “Wolfram, are you here?!”

 

“Kyota…?” Wolfram appeared from behind the corner.

 

Before Wolfram could make another step further he was grabbed in a fierce hug.

 

“Gods, Wolfram,” almost faint with relief, Kyota pressed Wolfram's head to his shoulder, “you scared me so much! Wolfram…” He kissed the blond back of the head. “I was so worried something has happened to you… I thought that you might have even died…” Shakily, he ran his hand through those thick locks. He knew he was crushing the life out of Wolfram but wasn't able to let go.

 

“It's okay now, Kyota. It's okay,” Wolfram raised his smiling eyes to look at his friend. “Nothing has happened to me…”

 

“Oh, sweetheart…” Kyota pressed Wolfram to his chest again, strewing Wolfram's head and face with grateful kisses and Wolfram could feel Kyota's whole body trembling.

 

“I'm sorry for making you worry,” Wolfram smiled giving a sad smile, his fingers wringing Kyota's arms reassuringly.

 

Kyota brushed a lock out of emerald eyes. His embrace loosened but then he frowned suddenly. Carefully, with the tip of his thumb, he touched the faint bruise under Wolfram's eye. It was almost invisible already, but Kyota's eye had caught up on it. “Now tell me who did this to you…”

 

A bit alarmed, Wolfram shook his head. “Doesn't matter. It's just…” He suddenly realized the same that Yuuri realized as soon as he had set his eyes on Kyota: Kyota knew. Wolfram immediately tensed.

 

Kyota's burning eyes snapped to Yuuri who had been watching them with a quite displeased but at the same time disturbed look on his face. “Your Majesty, can I speak freely?”

 

Yuuri groaned mentally - he knew right away what was coming and Wolfram, trying to warn him, was shaking his head behind Kyota, his green eyes wide. It didn't matter though - he wasn't going to avoid Kyota.

 

“How could you have left him alone in that shop, you pathetic excuse of a fiancé?!” Kyota hissed as soon as Yuuri nodded. “You know he doesn't know the city and still you manage to lose him, asshole! And then you almost kill him! -What did you force him to do?! What the hell did you tell him to do?! How could you?! Do you have an ounce of responsibility, you fucker?! You can't…!”

 

Kyota staggered back when Wolfram backhanded him in the face. The loud thud ran through the room, Yuuri gasping then both Kyota and Yuuri staring at Wolfram.

 

“Watch your words when you are talking to your King! What the hell are you implying here?! I didn't do anything I didn't want!” Wolfram's eyes flashed at Kyota with emerald fury and annoyance. He went to stand at Yuuri's side. “I won't let you insult his honor - if you wish to go on further, you'll have to deal with me first.”

 

Kyota watched Wolfram for some time, his right cheek burning and tingling. It hadn't been a strong blow, it wasn't meant to be strong - it wasn't about it. - Wolfram had just canceled all of his prepositions, making his choice to stay with Yuuri.

 

Kyota bowed his head against Wolfram. “I respect your choice, Your Highness,” Kyota steeled his voice to prevent it from trembling in hurt. “Your friendship is too important to me to ruin it - I'll bear no grudge against you, Wolfram,” he gave a sad smile to Wolfram, at the same time glancing at Yuuri from the corner of his eye.

 

Yuuri held his breath at the flash of sapphire eyes directed at him - he had never seen so much hate and venom in one look. But he held the gaze and despite he was the first to lower his eyes from those dark blue pools filled with hatred, he knew he had won the war - Kyota wasn't dangerous anymore.

 

Wolfram moved to the side when Kyota turned to the door. Not saying a word, Kyota passed him and was gone. Murata glanced at Kyota's back then turned to look at Wolfram.

 

“I wonder which of them is hurting more…” Murata muttered under his breath. “So I suppose we'll be at my house. Call me after you decide what to do,” Murata said before going after Kyota.

 

For a long minute Yuuri stared at the door silently. He started as the doorbell rang again. Apprehensively, he went to open the door fully expecting Kyota punching his lamps to give his last message. But instead of that he met a delivery boy with a pizza in his hands.

 

Yuuri quickly found a tip and sent the boy off. Carrying the box in his hands he turned to Wolfram who was still standing at the door and leaning on the wall. “C'mon, let's finally have breakfast.”

 

Wolfram gave a long look to the box Yuuri was holding then shook his head. “I'm not hungry.” With that he went upstairs. Yuuri's eyes followed Wolfram until his back disappeared then Yuuri went into the kitchen-living-room and put the pizza onto the table. Several minutes passed while he was just sitting on the mauve sofa and staring at the white box then he got up and followed Wolfram.

 

Softly, without knocking, Yuuri opened the door; he knew that otherwise Wolfram would have probably sent him away. Wolfram was lying on his back in the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, his teeth biting on his lower lip.

 

Yuuri walked to the bed and sat down at Wolfram's side. When the blond didn't react, he lay down next to him. Wolfram turned to look at Yuuri, the green in his eyes shaking.

 

“He hates me now…” Wolfram whispered, shifting closer to Yuuri and snuggling to him.

 

Yuuri felt hot wetness seep into his shirt and reach his skin. It occurred to him that he had seen Wolfram cry only one time - then, when Wolfram thought that he was leaving Shin Makoku for good.

 

Yuuri reached out to stroke the blond locks. The soft hair felt wonderful between his fingers. “No, he doesn't. I'm the one he hates. It will be alright…” Yuuri wasn't sure what more he could say or do. Wolfram's tears felt hot against his skin and it hurt him to see Wolfram like that.

 

“I don't… I don't… He's the only friend I have, Yuuri… Even if we spent much time separate…I have always been looking forward to…”

 

Yuuri was stroking Wolfram's back soothingly while Wolfram was talking and hiccupping loudly. There was one thing that was bothering Yuuri. “I…I'm really an idiot for asking that right now but…are you sure you…” Yuuri squirmed uncomfortably and Wolfram raised his head to look at Yuuri's face. Without a second thought, Yuuri wiped Wolfram's tears away with his thumb. “Are you sure you chose right?”

 

Wolfram's brows furrowed in surprise and confusion. “What do you mean?” Alarmed, he stared at Yuuri. “Are you regretting it now?! Yuuri?!” His green, watery eyes lit up with affright.

 

“No! No,” Yuuri shook his head. “But…when I watched you two… I'm afraid I can't really give you… Kyota… He was right, you know - even it was mostly your own fault, because of my ignorance you have almost died. He really…is a strong personality… responsible, protective and…”

 

“…Patronizing, you mean?” Wolfram finished, shaking his head, a sad smile gracing his features. “That is exactly the reason why I can't be with him. I told him not once that until he stops thinking about me as about a porcelain doll there is no future for us. Sometimes he treats me like one would treat a woman; many people do - just stare at me and see only my pretty face. I hate that. Can't stand that.

 

“You on the other hand…” Wolfram looked at Yuuri. “I want to feel like a man, Yuuri, and I do feel like one with you. And… When you said…” Wolfram blushed faintly, “…that you realized that I was more of a man than you were… You know, I'll follow you to the end of the world for these words…”

 

Yuuri stared at Wolfram for several long seconds. “Oh…” he exhaled finally. It had never occurred to him that Wolfram had such big issues with that. “I…” Actually, he didn't know what to say. So he just smiled and leaned in to kiss Wolfram.

 

XXXXX

 

Yuuri could see that Wolfram couldn't wait to go back to Shin Makoku. Wolfram didn't say anything to him, but he was squirming non-stop, walking around and not finding any place comfortable. He was a little sad that Wolfram didn't seem to have gotten comfortable on Earth, but things were how they were. So in the end he decided not to wait for his parents to come back. He called Murata and said that they wanted to go back to Shin Makoku. He also said that he wanted to have a word with Murata.

 

Before Murata came, Yuuri had informed Shori about his plans to leave Earth. After twenty minutes Murata and Kyota were at the door, Yuuri let them in and led them into the living-room. Yuuri had been afraid of the unbearable atmosphere and cutting glares, but there was none of that. It seemed that Kyota had accepted Wolfram's choice even if it was very hard for him to do. He was aware of Kyota and Wolfram avoiding meeting each other's eyes. The two of them needed to talk and badly and he was going to even encourage that.

 

“Murata, I want to have a word with you,” Yuuri said. He motioned for Murata to follow him. He noticed Wolfram giving him a bit surprised look. Kyota simply ignored him.

 

“So what did you want to say?” Murata asked as they were settling in Yuuri's room comfortably. Murata chose a chair next to the table and Yuuri sat down onto the bed.

 

“How did Kyota know about everything that transpired on Earth?” Yuuri glared at him. “In future, I'll ask you to keep your mouth shut about my personal affairs. Kyota has no need to know them.”

 

“Ah.” Murata shrugged nonchalantly. “Got it. But, first of all, it wasn't me who told him - it was your brother. You see, before coming over to your house, we got a visit from Shori.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I don't know - when we came to Earth, he was already waiting for us. I suppose he knew where we will appear. So he fetched us to the city and on the way informed me about everything what happened.” Murata's voice grew serious. “Now between the two of us: he asked some advices - it seems yesterday was the first time he used some weird majutsu to control time in a chosen area and he was wondering about long lasting effects. He must have shifted time back or forward or simply created a gap and nobody noticed anything. I heard you had called an ambulance, so I suppose it came, saw nothing or found no one at home and went away. But don't be surprised to get a bill for a false alarm later…

 

“Actually I'm surprised that your brother is that far gone in creating his own majutsu, especially such a complex one. Despite you are at least four times more powerful than him, you have a great deal to catch up… the idea of you and at the same time our kingdom being inferior to any of other kings doesn't really settle well with me…

 

“Anyways, the two of us missed a small thing - we didn't know that Kyota had taken that translating apparatus constructed by Annissina. In other words - he screwed us.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Yes, don't ever underestimate Kyota.”

 

Yuuri sighed. “Yes, that I already know. The two, Kyota and Wolfram, they are similar. They know what they want and it's only a matter of time before they get it… I'm lucky that Wolfram is no less stubborn than Kyota…”

 

Murata watched him silently. “One day Wolfram will become your greatest weapon,” he said then. “You'll be the shield and he'll be the sword of the kingdom. Don't let go of him and don't give him any pretext to leave you. He and Kyota, they will become vital to you one day.”

 

Surprised, Yuuri frowned at Murata but Murata only shrugged not explaining anything. “Was there anything else you wanted to say?” Murata asked instead.

 

Yuuri frowned even more but then nodded only; sometimes he really believed those rumors that Murata was having visions about future. “I wanted to ask you to teach me how to open the gates between the worlds.”

 

Murata thought a moment. “Are you sure you are able to control your power?”

 

“Well, just tell me how to do it and then we'll see.”

 

“Fine. We'll start practicing that and other things in Shin Makoku. I don't think you'd want to attract too much attention here, on Earth, do you?”

 

“No, I really don't. I think they'd throw several anti-tank bombs after seeing me doing all that stuff…”

 

“Oh yeah. Or would lock you up and run those nasty tests on you! Or would try to use you as a weapon against the other country! Or…”

 

“Murata. You sound overly happy…”

 

“Oh. Do I?” Murata mocked. “Then it's because Kyota has burnt my entire collection of porno!” He bristled. “The damn brat! It's your fault that I had to drag him around with me! He had almost burnt the entire house and then told me to fuck off when I said I'd throw him into a dungeon! I'm gonna punish him!”

 

Yuuri only shrugged. “How come he burnt it? He can't use his element on Earth…”

 

“Shori allowed him.”

 

“Why?!”

 

“He asked. For some reason it seems that your brother likes Kyota… Actually I saw them talking during your birthday…”

 

Yuuri only sighed. Kyota didn't seem to have problems with handling the situation or to be scared of Earth as Wolfram was. He could see enraged Kyota unleashing his frustration on Murata's precious magazines. Probably it pissed him off to see Murata leafing them calmly while Wolfram…

 

Yuuri groaned. This was giving him headache. “Fine. I'll buy you some magazines later.” Murata was someone he could always trust, always loyal to him and he could at least try to repay him, even if it was in a weird way. “Or better yet… Your mom is kinda strict, isn't she? My parents won't be at home for several more days - you can use my PC. I'm sure you'll find plenty of pretty pics in the Internet.”

 

“Does your PC have a DVD recording drive?”

 

“Yup.”

 

Murata seemed to be content. “Lovely.” He nodded.

 

“But don't get me any viruses.”

 

Murata rolled his eyes. “I can smell them a mile away…”

 

“Lucky you,” Yuuri sighed. “And me,” he added.

 

“So how long are we going to sit here?” Murata asked after three minutes of silence.

 

“Until Wolfram and Kyota solve it all between them.”

 

“Ah. Okay. So how was the sex?”

 

Yuuri choked on his saliva. “That's not your business,” he said after regaining his breath. Even if Murata was someone he could trust, he preferred to leave some things buried.

 

“Oh, c'mon! Even if you almost killed him, there had to be some very pleasurable moments before that…”

 

“Murata, are you gay or something?”

 

“Gay?” Murata blinked. “You still are a kid,” he rolled his eyes. “One can always enjoy good sex no matter the orientation… So how was it? Did he let you take him or was it the opposite?”

 

Yuuri painted bright red. Sometimes he forgot that in reality Murata had the experience of several hundred years' of man. It was only his body that was young. He glared at Murata. “My sexual life is none of your concern.”

 

“So he didn't give you any… Aww…” Murata laughed and ducked the pillow Yuuri had thrown at him.

 

Yuuri frowned at him. He caught the pillow that Murata had thrown back at him and pushed it back behind his head. “We haven't done that yet, not that it concerns you. Besides, I didn't know we had to be more careful.”

 

“Yuuri, you do know about condoms, right? That way your sperm really wouldn't get on him and there won't be any trouble.”

 

Yuuri flushed red again. “Murata, is there anything that would make you shut up?”

 

Murata only grinned. “Only my own harem…”

 

“There's no way you're getting that!”

 

“For some reason I knew that His Highness would say that…” Murata chuckled.

 

Yuuri shook his head and sighed. He knew that Murata was mostly teasing him but Murata's sex overdrive was a bit worrying. Although, Wolfram had said that Murata had always been this way… Poor thing.

 

Murata walked over to the door and pressed his ear to it. “At least they are not shouting at each other…” he said after listening for several seconds. “Wait…” He frowned. “They aren't shouting but they are quite noisy…” He turned to Yuuri. “Is that normal for Wolfram to pant like that?”

 

“I'll decapitate you for your jokes,” Yuuri said seriously.

 

Murata sighed and walked back to sit down onto the same chair. “You are no fun,” he complained. “But aren't you afraid that they might…get back together?”

 

Yuuri rolled his eyes. “They never were together in first place.” He shifted on the bed to get more comfortable then looked at the clock on the cabinet opposite him. Maybe he wouldn't have been that sure, but after the recent conversation with Wolfram he was absolutely reassured that there was nothing he could be worried about. He shrugged. “If nothing happened between him and Kyota by this time, it's highly unlikely that it will happen now.”

 

Murata leaned into the chair. “It's more or less logical, but you should know that passion is such a thing that hardly allows itself to be controlled…”

 

“Murata, what are you trying to do? -To make me doubt Wolfram? I trust him and if you don't stop it right now, I'll tell him all about your words - I doubt you'll have enough time to pray before he sends you to heaven or hell, depends on how big a pervert you are.” With a mild surprise Yuuri noticed that Murata squirmed but didn't say anything more. Murata really was not so bold near Wolfram. Yuuri stifled a chuckle - Murata's predictions were already turning against him.

 

They waited for ten minutes more then went downstairs. Wolfram and Kyota were sitting calmly at the kitchen table and sipping tea. Yuuri wondered which of them figured out how to make it. Yuuri cast an inquiring look at Wolfram. Wolfram gave him a feeble smile and nodded. Whatever happened between Wolfram and Kyota, it seemed that it was more or less fine.

 

Yuuri approached the table. “Murata said it's snowing in Shin Makoku. We'll have to take some warmer clothes. I arranged everything I had on the bed, just go and choose what you want.”

 

Unsure, Wolfram looked at Yuuri but then nodded and stood up, leaving Yuuri and Kyota at the table. Yuuri waited until Wolfram jogged upstairs then sighed and sat down opposite Kyota. Kyota's sapphire eyes met his.

 

“Okay,” Yuuri started. “I perfectly realize that we'll be rivals till the world ends or you fall in love with someone else, but I really don't want that this rivalry would get in the way of your and Wolfram's friendship. He really treasures it and it's very important to him. You are free to visit him any time, but yes, if smell some funny stuff, I'll deal with you.”

 

The sapphire in Kyota's eyes flashed dangerously, but then dimmed. “Fine,” he said. Yuuri waited for something more to come but Kyota lowered his eyes to his tea cup.

 

As that was everything that could be said, Yuuri stood up to make some tea for himself.

 

“Yuuri?”

 

“Umm?” Yuuri turned in the direction of Wolfram's voice as after several minutes Wolfram jogged downstairs. Yuuri's jaw abruptly hung open. He gaped at the white dress in Wolfram's hands. “W-W…” he stuttered.

 

“Yuuri…” The green in Wolfram's eyes was overflowing. “Yuuri…” he repeated again. “You didn't say you liked wearing these kinds of things!”

 

“W…where did you find it?!” Yuuri managed finally.

 

“Yuuri, I understand that I might have confused you with that idiotic nightie of mine, but you…it's a fucking wedding dress, Yuuri! A wedding dress!” Wolfram shouted.

 

“Wolfram, it's…” Yuuri waved his hands in front of him, hoping Wolfram would let him explain but the blond was too agitated to even make a pause.

 

“Do you also like wearing women's underwear?! Oh god, Yuuri…” Wolfram groaned, shaking the dress in his hand. “I didn't even suspect… What are we going to do now?! Have you had that itch for long? I hope we can cure it and…” Then Wolfram's eyes went wide again. “Or…or… It isn't for me is it…? You really… You really think that I'd dress this thing?! Even…even if it's for the wedding… Yuuri…” Wolfram hissed, his eyes narrowing to slits. “I'll kill you first, got it? I'll never ever dress in something like…”

 

Yuuri paled at the look Wolfram was giving him. “Burn it,” he stuttered, realizing that Murata was right - Wolfram could really be scary sometimes. “Simply burn it.”

 

The rest of Wolfram's tirade stuck. “Huh?”

 

“Wolfram, it was my mother's idea - she gave it to me for my birthday. My mom has always been dressing me as a girl. It lasted until I started going to school. It's my mom who has issues with that, not me. You can be calm - I don't like dresses.” Yuuri startled as the dress flared up suddenly. He sighed at Wolfram's malevolent but quite happy face. At least Wolfram was easy to appease and the topic was dropped safely.

 

After they had finally gathered all of their warmer clothing into the bags, barefooted like they all, Yuuri led them all into the garden, to the small children pool. Yuuri put the key under the colorfully painted stone next to the sliding door for Shori to find. Stripped to their underwear, giving each other amused looks and, Murata and Yuuri pressing two plastic bags to their chests, they climbed into the tiny pool.

 

Murata closed his eyes and concentrated. The three pairs of eyes set on Murata. Nothing was happening. Yuuri wiggled his toes in the water then shifted from one foot to another, sending waves over the diminutive pool. He already wanted to ask Murata what he was tarrying for but then the air around them rippled and then they were swallowed in a portal.

 

The next second Yuuri found himself deep in ice-cold waters. His body went into shock, his right leg cramping immediately, pain lashing through him. Yuuri panicked. Forgetting all about the bag with clothes, he coughed and splashed in the freezing water, waving his hands about. When his lungs started to burn and seemed to scream from the lack of oxygen, he was beyond any reasoning. He thrashed and struggled to where he thought was the surface then finally broke through. Coughing his head off, water running down his nose and mouth, he floated above.

 

His eyes still blurry with water, he looked around for others. The freezing surface of the waters was calm, spreading to all sides as far as his eyes could see in the fleeting light of day. Finally starting to think clearly, he created an air bubble around himself then started gradually lowering the water level around the area he was at. Finally, sucking the last drops out of the sand, he dispersed the air bubble and set his foot onto the stony bottom where several fishes and plants were drying now. He raised his head to look at the water rippling above him.

 

“Wolfram!?” Yuuri shouted. Immediately he noticed that his voice coming through his in cold chattering teeth was not that louder than a whisper. He thought about summoning his fire element to warm up but as he wasn't that sure that he would be able to control his fire element while having to maintain the low sea level around him, refused the thought.

 

“Murata? Kyota! Where are you?!” Yuuri shouted again. The sand and stones slipping under his bare feet, he moved forward slowly. His leg still hurt but he didn't have time to be concerned. He walked until he saw something moving a bit farther on the left. A mop of blond hair soon was seen.

 

“Wolfram!” Yuuri shouted, immensely relieved to see the blond. He waved with his hands. “Wolfram! Over here!”

 

When Wolfram started running towards him, Yuuri once again was relieved to see that it seemed that nothing happened to the blond.

 

“Come here,” Wolfram tugged Yuuri to himself as soon as he ran up to Yuuri. Shivering in cold, his lips blue, Yuuri leaned into Wolfram as the blond summoned his fire element.

 

“I can't find anyone,” Yuuri grunted out. “We have to…”

 

Wolfram shook his head, cutting him off, “You are not going anywhere in the state that you are in,” his voice was serious and left no place for protesting. “I won't risk you fainting and that water collapsing on us again.” Wolfram threw the plastic bag to the ground. “Here, dress in these later. Found it floating about.”

 

Yuuri only nodded, shivering against Wolfram's hot body, the fire rising around them but only warming instead of burning. Yuuri sighed and buried his forehead in Wolfram's shoulder crook as the blond wrapped his arms around him to keep him warm.

 

Wolfram tightened his hold around him. He sighed, musing. “Well, Kyota is undoubtedly fine. I just hope he's with Great Sage, for that man is hopeless…”

 

Yuuri was still not used to Wolfram making vital calculations and taking decisions in critical situations and was a bit thrown off once again; they just showed Yuuri that, exactly as Wolfram had said earlier, there still was a gap between them after all. He had given some thought and doubted he'd have ever managed to come back if it was him left at that shop instead of Wolfram. In addition to that Wolfram managed to come back only in several hours.

 

“You are rather confident of Kyota…” Yuuri muttered. Although, he knew that Kyota was made of tough stuff.

 

“If I'm okay, he is double as okay,” Wolfram confirmed. He let go of Yuuri. “Dress now and we'll go look for others.”

 

With his stiff with cold fingers Yuuri fumbled with the bag. When Wolfram wordlessly took the bag from Yuuri he let him and simply watched Wolfram take the clothes out. He flung the shirt on that Wolfram reached for him from the bag then pulled on the sweatpants and put on the coat. Then he tried to button his shirt but his trembling fingers didn't listen to him.

 

“Let me,” Wolfram brushed Yuuri's hands off and buttoned the shirt himself. Then he buttoned the coat. Wolfram tugged Yuuri to lean at his side, flared the fire up and they went forward.

 

After a minute of walking, they saw an unclear blob in the distance. Both boys starting to run, Wolfram recognized Kyota's hair-color. Kyota was hunching over something, his back moving rhythmically. When Yuuri and Wolfram approached, it appeared that Kyota was straddling an unconscious Murata and doing artificial respiration.

 

Without a word, Wolfram quickly circled the two and kneeled at Murata's head. Kyota moved down Murata's body and as soon as Wolfram leaned down to pinch Murata's nose and breathed into Murata's mouth, he pushed five times on Murata's chest to stimulate the heart.

 

“You okay?” Kyota asked Wolfram while working.

 

“Yes,” Wolfram nodded before leaning down to breathe in again.

 

“His Majesty?”

 

“…Is fine,” Wolfram nodded. He splayed his other hand on Murata's chest and a soft green glow was seen. “Although, he was within a hair of hypothermia.” He leaned down to breathe in again.

 

Kyota's eyes narrowed at the green light that was seeping from Wolfram's fingers. Although he knew it was necessary, he hated this manifestation of Yuuri's powers in Wolfram's body. He kept silent as Yuuri, after seeing and feeling Wolfram starting to use healing majutsu, finally came round and kneeled at Murata's side intending to help Wolfram.

 

“No,” Wolfram smacked Yuuri away. “If you lose control over the sea, we will all die.” He lowered his head again but then raised it as Murata suddenly began coughing. Kyota slid off Murata and helped Wolfram to turn him to the side.

 

A minute later, Kyota summoned his fire element and pulled still coughing Murata to his feet. He motioned with his head at Yuuri and Wolfram only nodded wordlessly. He stood up and went to Yuuri, tugging him close and flaring his power up, fire flashing brightly around him.

 

Yuuri shrugged his coat off, leaving only his shirt on and helped Kyota to put it on Murata then hurried back to Wolfram to warm up.

 

“It would be okay if you could tell where the water ends…” Wolfram muttered throwing his arm over Yuuri's shoulders to keep him warm. “Otherwise we might walk blindly for eternity here until we cross the damn sea… But you get dizzy while using several elements at once… And I don't have enough of your power to even summon earth element…”

 

Yuuri rubbed his forehead. “I think I can try using the same water element to feel for the end of this water body.”

 

“Are you sure you'll be able to control it?” Wolfram asked.

 

“No.”

 

Wolfram turned his head to Kyota who stood farther, listening to their conversation. The two of them were a well working team and he knew that Kyota was always the one having the best solutions.

 

“Your Majesty, how long will you be able to keep water out?” Kyota asked.

 

Yuuri thought for a moment. “Well, I think I can do for as long as we need. A day? Until I fall asleep? And what if we are in the middle of a sea? -It will take weeks to get out from here…”

 

Kyota nodded. “A tough one,” he sighed. “It's whether we risk it now or risk it later…”

 

Wolfram looked around in the stony, green grass and fish scattered field and his bare feet then raised his head to look at the water bubbling above them. “Let's vote - who is for moving forward?”

 

There was none.

 

“Who is for using water element to determine the borders of the sea?”

 

Three hands rose into the air, Murata still half-conscious, bundled up in Yuuri's coat and caught in a coughing fit, not interested in surroundings.

 

Yuuri nodded. He breathed in deeply several times then closed his eyes. He felt Wolfram squeeze his shoulder reassuringly. He was anxious - he was responsible for four lives right now and if he screwed up, they would all die. But Wolfram beside him was emanating professional calmness and it also was seeping into him and helped him to concentrate.

 

Wolfram's eyes fell on Yuuri's lengthening hair that spread over his shoulders. It happened rarely now, the change, but it seemed that while using much power he still went through it. It puzzled Wolfram - the original king didn't influence Yuuri anymore, so he couldn't understand that.

 

Seconds were passing slowly while Yuuri was working with his water element. Then his hair started shortening again and his eyes opened. He scratched the back of his head then looked at Wolfram.

 

“We all are idiots,” he said. “We are one kilometer away from the shore…”

 

“No…seriously…” Murata snickered. “We are gonna have a long talk, Your Majesty. About that power that I felt trying to copy me while I was summoning the portal…”

 

“Ehh…” Yuuri shifted uncomfortably. “I just… I really didn't think it would matter any… Guys, I'm really… I'm sorry… I just wanted to learn it. I really…”

 

“Huh?!” Wolfram blinked, smacking Yuuri on his head to shut him up; it didn't matter any now anyway. Any other time he'd have tried to strangle Yuuri for that, but after almost stupidly dying on Earth, all he could do was keep his mouth shut. “But I couldn't see land anywhere!”

 

“It's because there's snow everywhere,” Kyota caught up, not interested in Murata and Yuuri's banter, even if he was angry after realizing that it was Yuuri who had almost killed them all. Yuuri's lame excuses didn't interest him either. “Which way is it?”

 

Yuuri pointed at his left. “There.”

 

“Let's go.” Kyota lifted Murata easily off the ground and started carrying him in the direction Yuuri pointed.

 

“I'll change you later,” Wolfram said to Kyota's back.

 

“No need. He's light,” Kyota said not turning around.

 

“I'll see what you will think after several minutes,” Wolfram chuckled.

 

“Let go of me!” Murata glared up at Kyota's sapphire eyes.

 

“I don't think the Great Sage can catch up with us yet. Besides, the maids would be very sad if you froze off your wand of intelligence…”

 

“Huh?” Wolfram's confused eyes locked on half-naked Murata in Kyota's arms. What was that about maids? Murata painted bright red and stopped squirming instantly. But neither Kyota nor Murata explained anything. Wolfram looked at Yuuri, but Yuuri only shook his head.

 

TBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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