From Here To Eternity:
{ Chapter I } { Chapter II } { Chapter III }
Chapter I :
She watched him from beneath long lashes, her green eyes following each movement he made with interest, pride and yet a tinge of sadness. It really was amazing to see how much he had ‘changed’ over the years. His uncanny resemblance to Shinou, the Original King, was becoming more evident and the faint lines around his eyes, a solemn reminder of how studious and more serious he had become.
She sighed softly to herself at the cause of those lines, her gaze drifting to his lips which were currently set in a firm line of intense concentration. When was the last time she saw him smile? A real genuine smile and not one forced out of protocol or necessity - weeks, months or years ago? She watched him run lean fingers through his shock of fair hair, a soft sound of exasperation escaping his lips as he turned to the next page of the large book he had been reading for sometime now.
Before the large glass windows, where the mid-afternoon sun shone through, her youngest son’s profile was that of a man sure of himself, confident in his abilities and able to make the decisions that would shape his country. He had grown up to be a strong and capable soldier, now leading over a thousand men who looked up to him for guidance and leadership. Oh, if only his real father could see him now, to see what kind of a son he had grown up to become, wouldn’t he be so proud?
His loss, she thought bitterly. She longed to reach out to caress that stern visage gently, to kiss away those worries that filled his brow and to let him know that she’d always be here even though things hadn’t turned out the way he had hoped. However, it took her almost a full minute to realize that she was now staring directly into his eyes which were the same shade as hers. There was an undeniable look of surprise on his features before the slow but faint hues of pink dusted his cheeks.
“Mother,” he gasped, finally able to find his voice – a voice which had grown stronger over the years and no longer resembled the near petulant whine of his youth. “What…how long have you been here?!”
She laughed softly and waved her hands a little. “Long enough,” she replied walking further into the room to place her hands upon his shoulders. She leaned close to put a tender kiss on his cheek, but winced inwardly as he turned his face away a little as if embarrassed to be doing such a thing at this age.
Ah, how you have grown, my dearest Wolfram. You no longer need me that much is true.
“I didn’t want to disturb you,” she continued, walking away from him to move towards the window. She looked out to the quiet courtyards, hiding the small smile of pain at his unconscious rejection. “You looked so busy…like you always are these days.”
He made another low sound of impatience, not looking at her as he replied quietly. “I’ve had to deal with the recent uprisings in Big Shimaron, mother, you know that. Gwendal and Conrad aren’t around and all responsibility has fallen upon my shoulders.”
“But it’s not too much to ask for you to join me for dinner every once in a while, is it? We live in the same castle and I hardly get to see you.”
“Mother…” he began but looked up to see the slight slump of her shoulders. He felt something hard tug within his chest and he realized with faint alarm that it was a feeling of intense guilt. He knew he had been avoiding her all this time, a part of him still blaming her for the way things had turned out.
If only…
He shook his head, kicking himself inwardly for even thinking in such a way. This wasn’t the time for regrets and besides it wasn’t really her fault. She had only done what she thought was best. How was she to know that things would turn out this way? With a soft sigh, he rose to his feet and walked up to her, placing firm but strong hands on her slender shoulders to pull her within a loose embrace. She felt horribly thin against him and as she trembled and began to sob quietly against his chest, he was made even more aware of how time and age were slowly catching up to her.
She was still beautiful, there was no doubt about that and from a distance one would believe that she was still the same vivacious, life-loving Maou. However, one had to only come closer still to see the lines of age and weariness around her eyes and mouth, to see that the once thick flaxen locks of spun gold were beginning to show tiny strands of gray. Her laughter these days were filled with sadness and a hollow melancholy sound that sometimes sent shivers down his spine. Perhaps a part of him still longed for the days when she could light up a room with just her presence. Nowadays he was lucky if he could sense her coming down the hallway. She was too quiet within the castle – so ‘alone’ it was almost creepy.
“Do you hate me?” she asked with a soft sniffle. “I know you do…deep down inside, don’t you?”
“Mother…”
“I know you do!” she said vehemently, lifting her tear-filled gaze to meet his handsome features. “It was all my fault! I shouldn’t have said…”
“Mother, it’s all in the past,” he scolded gently, brushing away her tears with a finger. “I cannot continue to live in self-pity and sorrow. I have to move on, just like he has.”
She shook her head slowly and began to pound her fists against his broad chest, sobbing helplessly. “Then cry, Wolfram!” she pleaded, the tears falling faster. “Why won’t you let it all out?! Why do you insist on keeping it all inside and making me feel so much worse than ever before?! It’s okay to cry, Wolfram! You must!”
He bit his lower lip and turned his gaze to look out the window, hardly feeling her blows as he allowed her to vent out her frustrations.
No, mother, he thought with an inner smile of bitterness. I won’t cry anymore. I think I’ve just about done enough for the both of us, but you’ll never know.
“I have to get back to work, mother,” he said quietly instead, placing his hands upon her shoulders again to gently push her away from him. “I will join you for dinner tonight, okay? Now, please stop crying.”
But she couldn’t and she made no attempt to. She released herself from his embrace and wiped her cheeks as best she could. “Fine. I understand when I’m no longer needed.”
“Moth…”
“Hopefully, I will see you at dinner. But if you don’t show up, I will only attribute it to you being too busy…again.” She rose to her full height and for a brief moment, the splendor and majesty of the past was evident in her stature. She walked out of the room without a second look, leaving Wolfram to sink into his chair with a low groan. He suddenly felt drained and exhausted, as if he had been fighting a physical battle with his mother instead of an emotional one he had struggled not to get into for some time now.
You hate me, don’t you?
No. No, he didn’t hate her. How could he hate her? She was his mother after all.
Yes, but if she hadn’t talked him into it…he would still be here, wouldn’t he? You would still have a chance to be with him, wouldn’t you?
But it’s all his fault! He shouldn’t have been too weak! He shouldn’t have listened to all their advice! He should have stood his ground and said he would stay!
He groaned in misery and sank his hands into his hair, closing his eyes as the bitter memories of what seemed like a million years ago, came flooding to his mind. He could still remember it like it was yesterday – the surprise ‘visit’ from Yuuri from his world and how odd he had behaved the first few days. For his part, oblivious to everything, Wolfram had done his best to get the dark-haired ruler to pay more attention to him. There had been no war to deal with and hence relative peace had been achieved between humans and mazoku all across the land.
He couldn’t even tell me the news first, Wolfram thought with a bitter sneer. He couldn’t even look me in the eye to tell me anything. He played along with me, making me look like a fool when he…he…
He slammed a fist on the table, sending several sheets of paper flying into the air and to the floor in a soft whisper.
Yes, he had heard the news from his mother after all. She had looked grave when she called him into the crowded throne room. And as the words fell from her lips, he had grown colder and colder, until it felt as if his very insides were becoming chunks of pure ice.
/ He says he has found a girl in his other world that he really loves, Wolfram. He even brought a picture of her and would like to have our blessing since he wishes to marry her. I know this is hard for you, Wolfram, but Yuuri has begged us to let him do this. He really does have feelings for this girl and…/
What about me?! What about my feelings?! Don’t I have a right to feel disappointed and hurt too?!
…he didn’t want to tell you at first because he knew you’d be upset. I spoke to Ulrike and His Excellency (that fool Murata who claims to be the Great Sage) and even Gwendal, Gunter and Conrad think it’s a good idea to let him do as he wishes. He does say he’ll return to rule and perhaps will convince his future bride to remain here with him when they’ve settled down. So…Wolfram…will you let Yuuri go? I understand that you will need time to think this through…
Think? Think?! What was there to think about?! But then again…what had he done afterwards? Yelled? Screamed? Tried to kill Yuuri? He wasn’t sure anymore. The events that followed soon after were a blur to him and he didn’t care to remember it anyway.
But the pain…oh the pain he had suffered. Words could not even begin to describe it.
So a human girl had claimed his affections after all. It was only fitting that he spend the rest of his days with another human. It was like a curse in this blasted family. Why did mere humans have to infest it with their presence?
There was a light knock on the door, which caused him to lift his head slowly as if waking up from a light doze. Replying with a firm ‘enter’, Gunter stuck his head in carefully as if afraid of getting it chopped off since Wolfram’s temper was widely known already. It was a miracle the Royal Adviser didn’t look as if he was growing a day older. He still looked as young as the day Wolfram had first laid eyes on him as a baby.
“Ah, Your Excellency,” he greeted with a warm smile. He looked rather excited about something and Wolfram wasn’t sure he was ready for any of Gunter’s whacky ideas. “I’m glad I caught you because…”
“DAAAAADDDY!!!!” Gunter was unceremoniously shoved aside as a figure of pure energy whizzed by him to jump into Wolfram’s arms nearly sending the blond toppling to the floor with her excitement.
“Gre…Greta?!” Wolfram cried out in shocked and rather pleasured surprise as he stared into the teenage girl’s bright eyes. “Oh my goodness! Greta! It’s been…!”
“I know, I know!” she replied laughing out loud and planting kisses all over his face. She stood up and twirled around for him, grinning widely as she displayed her new figure. “Well?! How do I look?!”
He could only gape in astonishment, unable to believe that this was the same Greta, who had sat on his lap to listen to stories when she was just a little girl. She had made the decision to follow Yuuri to his human world, even though she had cried for several nights at Wolfram’s choice not to follow. However, the years had been good to her – very good to her. She was now a teenage girl of about seventeen (human years) and had allowed her once short brown locks to grow much longer. It was now done in a ponytail that fell down her back and her slender figure could now boast of a relatively well-endowed chest, a small waist and slender hips that could attract any red-blooded male in the hunt for a companion. She was dressed in a pretty floral summer gown and since it was still wet, Wolfram could only deduce that she had just arrived from the other world.
“Well? Say something, daddy!” she urged with a pout, causing Wolfram to shake his head slowly, trying to clear his mind at the same time.
“You look amazing, Greta,” he finally said with a genuine smile of warmth, pulling her within his arms in another fierce hug. There was a different smell to her now. Beneath the sweet perfume was the undeniable scent of ‘that place’. He felt something thick in his throat and had the feeling he was going to break down in front of her. Even after all these years, she still regarded him as a father. That in itself was enough to make him happy.
“Welcome back, Greta,” he muttered thickly, lifting his gaze as he noticed Gunter waving at him in the background. “Is this what you wanted to tell me, Gunter?” he asked, trying to hide a smile as Greta spun around quickly.
“Oh no! Did I hurt you, Gunter?!” she squeaked in horror as she ran up to him to see if anything was damaged. “I didn’t see you standing there and…”
“Oh, it’s okay,” Gunter began, trying to stop the girl from crushing his already aching nose. He was going to have to put a bag of ice on it to stop the swelling. “But I did come here to tell you that Greta…”
“And daddy Yuuri and Mommy Akiko and Baby Wolfram are here too!” Greta finished with a wide grin, clapping her hands in delight at the same time.
Wolfram felt as if he had been knocked to the floor with a very large boulder even though he was still doing a good job of remaining standing.
Daddy Yuuri…Mommy Akiko…Baby…Wolfram?!
He called his baby Wolfram?! He dared to name that human after me?! How dare he?!
“Daddy?” Greta called out softly as she watched the gamut of expressions race across the blonde's visage. “Are you okay?”
He lifted haunted green eyes to stare into his daughter’s pale features and tried to muster a smile. “So…they are all here, huh? That’s…good.”
“It was a rough trip trying to get them all through the passage way, but Ulrike did a fine job and got us all here safe and sound, ne, Gunter?”
The Royal Adviser, who had been watching Wolfram all this time, nodded softly and trained a breathtaking smile on the young woman. “Indeed Ulrike did a fantastic job. But I think its best we leave your daddy for sometime, okay? Come, we must get you changed out of those clothes. You must be shivering in them.”
Greta looked like she was about to protest, but seeing something in Gunter’s eyes and looking back at her daddy’s troubled face, was enough to make her nod softly in understanding. She knew that both of her fathers had not left on very good terms and even on the return back here, Daddy Yuuri had been extremely nervous about it all. He had cancelled the journey several times already until Greta and Akiko had all but forced him to go through with it once and for all.
She ran up to place a tender kiss on Wolfram’s cheek, trying not to shiver at how cool his skin felt against her lips, before allowing Gunter to lead her out of the room quietly.
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