{ Chapter I } { Chapter II } { Chapter III }
Chapter III :
As soon as he pushed the large doors open, the once loud room fell into a dead silence as they all turned to acknowledge his presence. Many of the nobles and servants bowed at the sight of the Prince, whose piercing green eyes seemed to blaze as if questioning their reason for celebration.
Cheri stood up slowly from her chair, a hand going to her throat as if afraid of Wolfram’s wrath, but she noticed that her son was barely paying any attention to her. His gaze was now transfixed on the beautiful dark-haired woman, who was cradling a rather chubby baby within her arms. There was no mistaking the heritage of that child. With its dark hair and eyes, it was no doubt Yuuri’s offspring and the woman holding onto him was his mother.
Akiko…
Their eyes met across the room and Wolfram felt his heartbeat quicken at the undeniable plea and yet determination in her eyes. Why would she look that way? Was she afraid of him? She must have been told the story of his relationship with Yuuri, hence the guilt she must feel. Wolfram would have gloated if it wasn’t for the sight of the tall man who had walked up to stand beside her.
The Prince felt time come to a standstill and the world stop spinning. The air rushed out of his lungs, causing him to give a small sound akin to a whimper, as he stared at the man who would have been his King in every sense of the word. Like himself, Yuuri had grown and changed over the years as well. He was now beginning to take on the features of the real demon king, with his shaggy dark locks and strong but angular shaped jaw. Although his eyes would never be as ‘evil’ as his darker side, there was no denying that look of kindness and yet naivety which made Yuuri so endearing to everyone he met.
The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife and neither man knew what to do or say for time seemed to mock them, daring them to finish off what they had started years ago. It was Yuuri who eventually took a step forward to smile almost shyly at his one-time fiancé.
“Wolfram,” he began, flushing in embarrassment at how high his voice had sounded. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Wolfram. I’m glad you could make it tonight. It’s…it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” This time, it was a rich baritone voice akin to that of the Maou within him.
He held out his hand for a handshake and the blond somehow managed to tear his gaze away from those mesmerizing dark eyes to stare at the offered appendage. His brows furrowed, his heart pounding faster and harder with a million and one different emotions ranging from anger to pain to slight confusion.
Ignore it. Don’t shake it. Just ignore him and…
Suddenly, the baby began to wail – a loud and petulant sound that grated on Wolfram’s nerves. He couldn’t remember the last time he had to listen to such a sound and the fact that it was from this baby…
“He must
be hungry,” Yuuri was saying as he moved closer to relieve his wife of the
burden. Wolfram watched with a growing ache in his heart as Yuuri muttered soft,
soothing words to the child. He could still remember how horrible Yuuri’s child
rearing skills had been in the past. Apparently, he had learned a thing or two
about it since then. However, it wasn’t fair. No matter how one looked at it,
that should have been their baby! Not…not…!
“Lord Wolfram,” came the soft voice that had him blinking in surprise as Akiko curtsied before him. She was dressed in a beautiful silver and lace ball gown which made her look even more beautiful. Wolfram could easily see why Yuuri would have fallen for a woman like her and he hated to admit that he could sense no malice from the new Queen.
“I thank you for accepting us into your castle,” she said softly, her cheeks flushing with color. “Perhaps I could ask you for a dance? I’ve heard so much about you from Yuuri and I insisted that our baby be named after the bravest soldier in all of Shin Makoku.”
Wolfram could feel his cheeks heat up at the compliment and he lifted his gaze to glare at Yuuri, wondering just what kind of tales he must have fed to his human wife. The Maou could only shrug lightly while looking quite sheepish as he gave a small nod of approval.
I have to hate her! Wolfram thought, forcing himself to look at her again. I must hate her for taking him away from me!
And yet…he found himself bowing, reaching for her gloved hand and leading her to the dance floor. There seemed to be an audible sigh of relief from the rest of the guests and with a clap of her hands, Cheri asked for the band to strike up another lively tune and as they danced, she talked and talked and talked. It was as if she knew that there was a restless spirit within the Prince and she did all she could to ease his troubles. She told him about her childhood and how she had come to meet Yuuri. She told Wolfram how stunned she had been at the news of his royal status and the kind of life he led over here. She knew that Yuuri loved his people and would have done anything for them, but what had really bothered the young King was what his fiancé, Wolfram, would think of his decision.
“He didn’t want to hurt you,” she said quietly, staring into the beautiful green eyes before her. “You had both developed a close friendship and he was sure it would break your heart if he told you about me. I wanted to come here to see you for myself, to let you know that I would be willing to do anything to come to a compromise.” She stopped and placed a hand against his chest. “I know that you still resent me and maybe Yuuri as well but Wolfram, I only wish that you’ll see how much you still mean to him. He still values your friendship and will want to continue that way. However, he said that you parted ways rather bitterly. So please,” she pulled away to curtsey again – even lower this time and without lifting her head she continued quietly but firmly. “Please forgive him and be his friend again. It would make him so very happy and fill the void I’ve been unable to achieve so far.”
Wolfram could only stare at her lowered head, trying hard to muster up some form of resentment or bitterness at her rather pathetic attempts at reconciling he and Yuuri. Did she not know that it wasn’t proper decorum for a Queen to bow before someone lower in rank? It would have annoyed him on any other day but oh, how he hated to know that she had somehow managed to break down the walls and barriers he had carefully set up within his heart all these years.
“Please get up,” he finally muttered thickly, trying hard to match the wide smile of gratitude she threw at him. “I’ll…I’ll try to talk to him as you wish.”
For your sake.
“Oh, thank you!” she cried out in relief. “You have no idea how happy he’ll be.” She leaned close to place a quick kiss on his cheek before darting away quickly to get lost in the crowd. Wolfram felt his skin still tingling from her touch and fought the urge to wipe his cheek, but he had made a promise to her and he had to keep it whether he liked it or not.
And now to find that wimp.
He looked around the room, trying to pinpoint the familiar figure clad in black but after almost five minutes of fruitless searching, he was getting rather impatient and wanted to get back to the quiet confines of his office. He had no idea what had possessed him to listen to that woman anyway. This was all a trap set to…
“There he is, that idiot,” he muttered, noticing Yuuri stepping out of the doors which led to the patio. He opened his mouth to yell out his name but forced himself to remain silent, remembering that it was only a habit he had picked up in his younger days.
Not anymore, he thought with a heavy sigh as he walked into the cool evening to stare at the back of the Maou who was leaning over the balustrade and looking into the heavens. We’re full fledged adults now and he’s got a family to worry about.
“Ah, I’ve really missed this place,” Yuuri suddenly said, causing Wolfram to lift his gaze. He wasn’t even sure he had made a sound and as far as he could tell, there was no one else out here to disturb them.
“I had no idea things would have changed so much,” Yuuri continued, still not turning around to look at his companion. “See over there?! Someone’s even planted another tree in that corner!”
“The tree’s always been there, wimp,” Wolfram muttered beneath his breath. “You just never noticed as always.”
“Don’t call me wimp,” Yuuri replied as if already programmed to respond in such a way. But that made them fall silent as they realized they were still talking like in the old days. It was as if time had crumbled away and they were together again – just a naïve human King with a petulant soldier as his companion.
Wolfram looked away again, feeling his mouth getting dry with each passing second. This was a bad idea. A completely and totally bad idea. He didn’t know what to say or do! Things had changed and there was no going back!
“I’m sorry,” Yuuri suddenly said quietly as he lowered his head to stare at his hands.
“Don’t…” Wolfram began, already shaking his head fervently. Don’t say it! Don’t you dare say it again!
“But I am,” Yuuri said firmly, finally turning around to face the pale blond. His features suddenly looked weary and vulnerable – a look that the other man had never thought he’d get to see again.
“I felt so miserable when I went back to my world, Wolfram,” the Maou began slowly as he took a step forward. He winced inwardly as Wolfram stepped away, still shaking his head, clearly not wanting to hear this. But he gritted his teeth and forced himself to continue, knowing that he had kept this inside of him for too long to hold back any longer.
“For months…years even, I would still see the way you looked when you told me to get lost and never come back…”
“Don’t say it!” Wolfram whispered harshly, squeezing his eyes shut and lowering his head to stop the burning sting of tears behind his eyes. “Just…just let it go, Yuuri. It’s over. It’s over. It’s over.”
But to his horror, the tears he had locked away for so long refused to be held in check. He cursed himself inwardly as they fell, hot and fast, down his cheeks. Here he was a grown man, leader of over a thousand men, crying like a newborn babe in the arms of the one he had once loved and will love for as long as he lived.
Wait a minute…in the arms of…?
“Let go of me!” he said in harsh whisper as he began to struggle in Yuuri’s embrace. He hadn’t even heard the other man move and now he had to suffer being this close to him?! What made it even worse was how warm, good and right it felt to be in his arms. How many times had he longed to be with the King like this? How many sleepless nights and haunted days had he wished he could feel Yuuri’s strong arms around him?
Oh god…for oh, so long.
And yet, his pride wouldn’t let him enjoy this moment. “Yuuri…! Let go of me! If your wife sees us…!”
“Not until you forgive me,” Yuuri replied softly, as he let go of Wolfram’s waist only to cradle his wet cheeks gently within his hands. He smiled softly. “I would like to think I’ve grown up both physically and mentally after all these years, Wolfram. I know I’ve done some stupid things in the past…”
“…that’s an understatement,” Wolfram muttered, flushing darkly as Yuuri chuckled softly in response. Oh, but this was just torture. To be this close to him, to want him this much and yet to know that he couldn’t have him…it was just too much.
“But I think that deep down inside, I realized something I should have told you a long time ago...”
“And what would that be?” he asked, as he stared into Yuuri’s red-faced visage with faint amusement and yet growing hope.
“That I…” Yuuri’s cheeks grew even darker as he all but mumbled out the rest of his sentence. “That I like you more than I should. I think Akiko found that out the hard way.”
“How…what do you mean?”
Yuuri shook his head softly, refusing to tell Wolfram about the rather embarrassing incident. To tell the blond that he had screamed his name while in the arms of Akiko during a particularly steamy passionate session, was way too much information to disclose at this time.
“Just know that I’ve always cared about you, Wolfram,” he replied quietly. “I just want to be your friend again…if you’ll let me.”
“Why?” came barely audible question. “Why should I ever forgive you? You have no idea how miserable you made me, Yuuri. Do you think I would forget so easily? I’ve been here all this time…knowing I could have any noble woman that walked through those gates and yet…yet…I’m such a fool!”
“Not as big a fool as I have been,” Yuuri replied thickly. “But I fell in love with Akiko, Wolfram. I really did like her and wanted to be with her. And when I told her about you…she understood everything. It wasn’t easy at first but she came to accept it. As you well know she is human and can only live for so long. It will be a sad day for me when she goes, but we both know that day will happen eventually. To watch her die before me will be the most painful lesson yet but I am hoping that I’ll at least have my best friend at my side through it all.”
“You…you…” Wolfram felt that strange lump fill his throat again and he lowered his gaze, unable to stare into the brilliance of those dark eyes anymore. “You idiot,” he finally whispered. “You stupid, stupid idiotic wimp.”
“I know,” Yuuri replied softly as he placed a tender kiss – which shocked Wolfram to the core of his bones – on the blonde's forehead. “Once a wimp, always your wimp?”
Wolfram couldn’t help it even if he tried. Through his tears, he managed to laugh a little, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Ah, a laugh at last!” Yuuri clapped his hands as he released the Prince, laughing himself while taking a step backwards. “How I’ve missed that.”
“Liar,” Wolfram murmured, trying not to flush with pleasure at the statement. Taking a deep breath, he stood tall and tossed his head gently as the evening breeze brushed against his cool cheeks. “Well, I guess someone’s got to be around to keep you in line and besides, my namesake is going to need a much better role model than his useless wimp of a father. So consider me your personal bodyguard until I say it’s over. Got it?”
“Aww, I really thought you’d stop calling me wimp after all this time,” Yuuri said with a light pout but perked up as his name was heard.
“Ah, the woman calls,” Yuuri cried out as he noticed Akiko waving to him from inside the ball room. “So…I’ll talk to you later?” he asked almost shyly as if hoping the illusion of a renewed friendship wouldn’t shatter anytime soon.
Wolfram smiled softly and gave a small nod. “You know where my office is. My door will be open anytime.”
“Thank you, Wolfram,” Yuuri said with a sincerity that caused Wolfram’s cheeks to darken with color. He watched as his King was dragged to the dance floor and forced to dance to a beat that was a bit too fast for him. The soldier found himself stifling a giggle at Yuuri’s clumsiness, unable to believe that he was still capable of having such tendencies at this age.
“It’s good to see you laugh again,” came the quiet voice that had him turning around quickly.
“Mother,” he began, blushing darkly as she stood by a marble pillar. For a long time, they stared at each other, knowing that there was so much to say and yet neither knowing where to begin. Finally, Cheri walked up to him and lifted a hand to gently caress his wet cheek, her own eyes shimmering with tears of pride and relief.
“Finally,” she said softly. “Finally, you’ve let it all go, Wolfram. Now, you see why all your pain was for naught. As long as we are makoku, we’ll always have each other until the gods see it fit to take us away. You will always have Yuuri and somewhere deep down inside, you always knew that, didn’t you? And then again, you’ll have Akiko’s gift to both of you – a son or even more children to fill your future home with lots of love and happiness.”
Wolfram could only nod softly, his cheeks still burning with embarrassment as she held out her arms in silent invitation.
“Of course,” he replied softly, reaching out to pull her into a strong embrace that felt oh-so-right to him.
“Thank you, mother…” he whispered into her flaxen locks as they slowly began to move in time to the music. And as he lifted his gaze to the well-lit room before them, he met the intense dark eyes of his Maou, which were filled with silent promises of a future that they’d eventually be able to share…together.
~The End~
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