Dawn

***A/N***
Okey-Dokey people, just wanted to say "Thank You" to everyione who's been knid enought to read this so far. And "Thank You" also to absolutly everyone who's been kind enough to review and comment. It really means a lot that you've stopped by. You guys ROCK!! So in appreciation, here's a little Christmas Eve goodness for you. I'll try and give a few more chappies later this week for you as well. May the holiday season keep you all happy, healthy, and reading!
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Yuri stopped breathing. He felt as if the world stopped moving in an instant. He’d heard Shori’s question, but there was no way he could answer it. At this moment he honestly didn’t know how to answer. It was something he hadn’t allowed himself to think about. He tried to breath and realized that his lungs were already full; he’d forgotten to let his last breath out after hearing Shori’s question.

“Yuri.” Shori prompted.

Yuri looked down at the duvet. Tracing the curving pattern of spirals and twists with his fingers he tried unwinding his own thoughts. He finally looked up and meet Shori’s gaze. “When I thought about never coming back here again, I couldn’t bear it.” He answered truthfully. “The thought of never coming home again and teasing you about your dumb dating sims or never having Mom follow me around insisting I call her ‘Mama’; I just couldn’t imagine my life without that.”

“So you came back for us?”

“In a way, I guess. Part of what made it bearable to be king in Shin Makoku was knowing that eventually I’d be coming back here, back home; where I didn’t have to be anybody but me, Shibuya Yuri.” He smiled wryly. “Shori, you know me. You’ve always known me. I’ve never been anyone special. I’m not popular, I’m not super smart, I’m not even the best baseball player I know.”

“I don’t understand. If-“

“But that’s who I was. Before I was ever flushed into their world that first time, that’s the Shibuya Yuri I was. I guess it didn’t dawn on me until I came back that last time that I’m not that same person. Shori I’ve traveled between worlds, taken over a kingdom, met dragons, fought my own advisors for peace, avoided war. Everything I’ve done, everything that’s happened since that first time. It’s changed me.”

“I knew when I left that everybody would be okay. I knew that they’d take care of everything just fine without me. I knew I’d miss them, but I knew I had to come home. I figured it would be just like stepping back in time, I’d be able to go back to just being the same old Yuri and things would turn out okay.”

“But they’re not okay.” Again Shori made it a statement not a question.

Yuri grimaced. “A few days ago I was standing in the hall waiting for Murata and overheard some girls talking. They were planning to humiliate an underclassman later in gym class in front of everyone in retaliation for him making a rude comment about one of the girls’ bookbag.” He shook his head and continued, “Do you realize I’ve initiated and established peace treaties between entire countries after bloodbaths?!?” How am I supposed to go back?”

Shori looked at the picture his brother made. He looked older somehow; more serious. He’d seen some of these changes in his brother when he’d returned from Shin Makoku with his entourage and they’d journeyed to Switzerland. He’d even seen some of these changes later and more recently. But right now as Yuri sat on the bed before him Shori acknowledged that for the first time he didn’t look at his brother and see the toddler he’d watched over.

“Shori,” Yuri continued, “I’m not sure I want to go back to the Yuri I was; even if I could. But at the same time I don’t know how to fit in as I am now.”

“Yuri.” Shori didn’t know what to say. He’d always wanted to be there to protect his younger brother; to be strong enough to take care of his sibling. He had no idea how to protect Yuri from this. It wasn’t a foe that he could fight or intimidate; it wasn’t a task that he could undertake in place of his brother. This was a decision that Yuri had made and was now having to live with.

“Are you completely certain that the gateway between the worlds is sealed?” he finally asked.

+++

Greta smiled at the man seated across from her in the carriage. The curtains were open letting light filter into the cabin. The jingle of reins and the clop of hooves as they beat against the road acting like a beat that accented the bounce and roll of the ride. Her bottom was a little sore from the hours already spent in the carriage but her excitement on the journey was so high she pushed her discomfort aside. “How far do you think we’ve traveled already Wolfram?” she asked.

“We passed the half way mark a few hours ago. We’ll be stopping for the evening at the inn that’s just up the road and then tomorrow after breakfast we’ll continue on.”

Greta gave him a exasperated look. “That’s not what I asked Wolfram.” She reminded him.

Wolfram grinned at her, he was finding it fun to tease Greta. “I know, but I thought you’d be more interested to know how much farther we still have to travel. Not how much we’ve already traveled.”

Greta brightened. “So we should arrive sometime tomorrow then?”

“Yes. Sometime around midday, if the weather holds. If we were on horse, we could probably make it there tonight. But with the carriages I think it would be better to stop and rest for the night.”

“Wait!” Greta practically vibrated with excitement at Wolfram’s admission. “Couldn’t we take the horses and ride ahead tonight then? The carriages could always catch up with us tomorrow when they get there; couldn’t they?”

At this Wolfram let a laugh escape before he reached up and knocked on the carriage trap to signal the driver to stop. “Okay then Greta, you win. We’ll ride, just try to keep up; neh?”

After they’d switched to the mounts and cantered ahead of the carriage and cart, Greta felt her spirits soar. It was amazing to her. All of the changes that had taken place over the past weeks. Beginning with that first conversation with Wolfram and everything that came after; it still seemed like a dream. For the first time in her life Greta was happy. She didn’t have to pretend that she was someone she wasn’t. Wolfram even sniped at her if she started to slip back into her ‘little girl’ act. It was sweet the way he did it. He never made her feel ashamed. Just by being there and listening or talking to her, she felt cared for. Like she mattered to someone just as she was. It was new, different; precious.

“Greta!” Wolfram’s voice shook her out of her reverie.

“Greta, follow me. There’s a path that cuts through here; we’ll miss the village but I think you’ll like it better.” He sent a mischievous grin to her as he urged his horse ahead to a break in the trees.

As she turned her horse to follow after him Greta thought she liked this Wolfram better than the Wolfram she’d first met when she’d come to Covenant Castle. This Wolfram smiled and laughed. She followed him through the trees to a small trail that cut through the countryside. It was narrow allowing only one horse at a time to travail it.

Greta was content to merely let her horse have its lead and follow Wolfram’s in front of her. This let Greta take her time and look around and enjoy the sights around her. The ground they traveled seemed smooth at first changing into slightly rocky terrain and gentle hills. As she followed Wolfram she enjoyed the warmth of the afternoon’s sun on her face. She closed her eyes and turned her chin up to the sky, seeing her body move with the gait of the horse beneath her. It felt good to know that they were so close to their destination. After traveling in the carriage for so long it was freeing to be out in the open heading towards their new home. The thought jerked Greta from her reverie. She sat forward in the saddle and blinked quickly looking around at the trail around her. She shook her head and found her eyes dropping to her hands as the rested before her on the reins.

It was their new home, she realized. Covenant Castle had been like a home for her while Yuri was there, and briefly it had begun to feel like a home with Wolfram even after Yuri’s leaving. Bu with the preparations for the peace council and then the hosting; all of the activity and changes had made the castle seem more like a residence and not a home. But this new place, this new castle that they were headed to; this was going to be a home. She knew that it was true. She knew that with whatever changes would be made or compromises ahead of them, she and Wolfram would make this place a home for themselves. She smiled to herself in this new knowledge.

“Greta? Greta, are you all right?”

Greta could feel the heat of her blush as it rushed over her face at Wolfram’s question.

“I-I’m fine Wolfram. Don’t worry about me. How far away are we now do you think?”

“That’s why I turned around. There’s an overlook up ahead and you can see the castle from the bluff. If you hurry you can still see it in the light.” Wolfram replied as he again turned his horse to lead Greta back towards the overhang.