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Determination	By : kre8tive Category: +G to L > Kyou Kara Maou Views: 4388 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own kyou kara maou nor do i gain anything from this story

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Disclaimer: I do not own Kyo Kara Maou. I only own the 1$ I have left that wasn't used on overpriced gas, and it's going to the dollar menu. Oh wait, tax…

Chapter 11 – Maou's Mirrors

Murata leaned against the castle walls by the front gate, one was foot placed against the wall and a hand on his chin. He looked onwards at the situation that pledged the castle. The fight between the invading ninjas and Shin Makoku men was becoming a weary one. The battle had quieted some, like the in the eye of a storm. One wave of battle already passed, and now a space of calmness preserved until another wave began. Murata was at odds about what course of action to suggest, for nothing seemed too grand of an option right now.

Conrad, Gunter, Gwendal, Yozak, and the soldiers were all more than battle weary. Among the fighting a few minutes ago, arrows were sent flying in order to provide a quick escape relief for the soldiers as they were getting themselves killed by the ninjas more than capturing them. Despite the ally causalities, it was a reasonable call as everyone had pulled back to regroup while the ninjas had simply sliced any oncoming arrow aimed toward them as if it was measly child's play. Afterwards, the ninjas merely huddled back up and stared down the army of men in mock defiance.

They didn't seem the least bit tired.

Murata tried coming up with some sort of plan, any kind of strategy that would be beneficial to them, but to no avail. The ninjas were remarkable skilled and agile in which the only soldiers who faired best against them right now, Gunter, Gwendal, Conrad, and Yozak, were already given out of stamina. Also Yuuri and Wolfram were apparently down for now, after what had happened...

Murata turned his head towards the spot in the courtyard where his trump card, and at this rate, their only card, was and hoped he would come back soon and put a stop to this because, as wise as he was, even the Great Sage did not have all the answers.

The once friendly courtyard was starting to turn into a bloodbath in one night.

Yuuri couldn't see.

His world was pitch-black. He couldn't see what was happening around him. He couldn't see Murata or Wolfram or the soldiers or the ninjas that invaded. Everything was dark around him except for a single yellow spotlight from an unknown source shining down on him.

He couldn't hear anything anymore. The cries of the men fighting the ninjas were gone, the shouts and rants of 'protect the Maou' were no more, and the scream that sounded so despairingly painful to his ears had disappeared. Everything disappeared.

It was like the time the Shoshu had taken over Shinou, and Yuuri was trapped inside himself.

The pain that had shot throughout his body was gone. Physically he felt numb, and he felt light. There was no pain, there was no hurt, no real happiness or joy, no euphoric feelings nor any real feeling whatsoever. It was as if he was standing in a desert neutral zone.

All he knew was the light, which was actually peaceful to say the least, cutting him off from the rest of the world into a state of mental, physical, and emotion ease. He didn't know what this place was, but it was as if it invited him, begged him to stay there. To not go back to where trouble brewed and lives were in danger, to stay where he could be completely at rest forever. Yuuri could accept this place and the idyllic light for what it was and stayed. It seemed friendly, warm, and beckoning.

But he knew, and felt, that something was wrong.

Yuuri had no idea what happened, or how he even got there, to this world of blissful blackness, bathing in its soothing light. He wasn't even sure what the last thing he remembered was.

As soon as he tried to remember what happened but couldn't, Yuuri was more than sure that something was definitely wrong. His neutral state of emotion began to dissolve to one of loneliness, sadness, confusion, and above all, anger. As if far away in the distance, he heard a voice saying something to him, but he couldn't make out the words. The light that shined on him grew stronger, encouraging him to ignore and forget the feelings that suddenly appeared.

Yuuri started to relax, doing as the light suggested until he heard the voice again, although he still couldn't make out the words. It was louder and definitely feminine. Hearing the voice brought the feelings Yuuri experienced back and they were stronger also.

He didn't know why he was feeling like this, or what was going on. Why couldn't Yuuri just let the light coax him back into peacefulness like it wanted? And like he wanted? It would make things seem so much better, as if all he had to do was forget everything and everyone and all of his problems would just go away. The only thing was it just felt so wrong to follow it right now, like it was too early to follow the light.

Now Yuuri heard the voice again, but this time he understood a couple of words, as if someone were whispering them to him:

"…Go Back…"

Go Back? Yuuri didn't want to go back. To go back would be to face the responsibilities of being the Maou, to have to take on the responsibility for the fate of the country once again. He had had reservations about being the Demon King before, but even though he had accepted it, it had proven to be much more challenging of a task than he thought. When he first entered this world at 15, it was brand new filled with different ideals and fantasies, along with harsh realities. And now, even at 18, there are things that still confuse and frighten him, and not all of them were life-threatening.

The light told him this was his chance to be free. He wouldn't be plagued by the stress of having to make difficult decisions anymore, burdened with the choices and idealistic sacrifices it took to try and keep the country from going to war. He didn't believe he was the right one to be the Demon King anyway, there were plenty of people that could do a better job than him. Gwendal was good at politics and stuff, Gunter knew all about the land and its rules, Wolfram was loyal, & even Conrad was friendlier and a much better swordsman than he'd ever be. Whatever this light was, it told him that all he had to do was let go of everything, and he wouldn't have to worry about it anymore.

"…No…Yuuri… Must Return…"

The voice was louder and clearer this time, and sounded so familiar. For some reason, every time it spoke, it made Yuuri's emotions heighten and the influence of the light weaken.

His fist clenched and teeth gritted, his anger had increased to the point Yuuri felt like he was seething, yet he didn't know why. He didn't know why he was so mad, yet sad at the same time. The light that bathed him was dimming due to the increasing volume of the voice, its shine disbanding in the darkness. As the light grew weaker, so did his chance of becoming free and following the light. He started to feel so lonely, as if no one could reach him.

As if no one was there for him.

As if no one could be there for him.

Yuuri balled up with his arms around his legs as the light faded away completely, his strong emotions going to the point of even bringing tears to his eyes.

Yuuri could barely see himself in the blackness. He was cold, nearly freezing, and still so confused. He knew he was angry because he was sad about something, and the cool blackness that engulfed him did nothing to comfort him, making Yuuri feel lonely to the point of being scared, more scared than he'd ever been in his life. He felt tears slide their way down his cheeks furiously as he was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions that surged through him.

Yuuri shuddered as there was nothing around him but layered darkness.

Suddenly, Yuuri felt a warm hand on his shoulder. The touch sent a shock throughout Yuuri that surprisingly calmed him. His flow of tears stopped as he was able to calm down, feeling a presence behind him that comforted him, warming him and taking the chill away. He heard the voice again, no longer a whisper and now easily recognizable.

"Be Brave Yuuri. Have faith in yourself. Not just for you, but for everyone that supports you too. You are strong. You can't let everyone down, they would be sad without you. There are still important things you must do."

Immediately Yuuri stood and turned around to face Susanna Julia von Wincott's ghostly figure, or rather himself from a previous life.

"But, how can I-" Yuuri started, but was shushed by Julia's pale finger's on his lips. He wanted to ask Julia what was going on, ask her to help him understand what was happening, but her touch was so angelic that it made Yuuri comply without question.

She smiled softly at him. "You'll know what to do. At times should you find yourself astray, doubtful, or with a lack of inspiration, look into the mirrors that show you for yourself. Do not worry, you will know what mirrors I speak of soon. Place trust, devotion, love, and your life into those mirrors and the heart they possess. If you do, then clarity shall always befall you. But you must first save those mirrors Yuuri, for if you don't, you shall lose that most precious to you forever."

Mirrors? That most precious? Yuuri was more than confused, but Julia smiled again and removed her fingers from Yuuri's lips and comfortingly hugged him. A light sensation began to churn and spread throughout his body, a blue Maou glow emitted from him.

Yuuri felt heavier and was starting to be able to hear another voice. The strength of his emotions was still strong, though he still had no idea why they were. But even so, Yuuri knew he was leaving this dark place, whatever it was, and returning to reality.

Julia pulled away and started to fade away right before him. "Remember my words Yuuri. Follow your heart and believe in yourself. Only you can make things right, the right way…" Her voice faded away even though her lips moved, and she had said something else, but Yuuri couldn't make out what it was.

Everything around Yuuri became a bright haze of Maou blue. Yuuri wanted to say something to Julia, but in a flash, the blackness along with Julia and her soft, tender smile was gone.

Conrad once again found himself standing beside his friends and family in a showdown against the seemingly inhumane intruders, glaring them down from his position a couple of yards away. While Yuuri's powers would be a great and wonderfully handy asset to have at the moment, Yuuri and Wolfram were out of it, leaving the fight up to him and the soldiers. The Sage had not shouted anything, meaning as far as he knew, there was no plan but to keep fighting.

This pause in the battle, with one side glaring at the other, was building his anxiety.

"We cannot keep this up forever." Gunter huffed from Conrad's far left. The once perfectly groomed man was exhausted with frazzled hair, cuts, and tired limbs.

"We have no choice. Unless anyone comes up with a plan, or these guys decide to be uncharacteristically nice and decide to leave after slaughtering us like sheep, then it's all we can do for now." Yozak said. He wasn't in much better condition. Being the weaker one out of him, Conrad, Gunter, and Gwendal, he struggled the most to keep up. He had bruises throughout his body from where he'd hit the ground hard and kept moving to avoid strikes and where he'd been hit by random swings.

"Gwendal? Conrad? If either of you can snap out of it and help think of something, then now would be the time to do so while we have time." Gunter stated. All four had their swords ready in a defense stance prepared for any attack, eyes trained on the ninjas watching for any movement, which has been next to none so far. Gwendal and Conrad said nothing.

They acted as if they didn't even hear Gunter, both in their own minds at the moment. The attack from underground on Yuuri and Wolfram by the ninjas had gotten to them. Easily the ninjas were able to slip an attack on their Maou and their baby brother. If Yuuri hadn't done what he did, then things could have taken an even worse turn, however, nothing is certain. Try as they might to keep emotions aside from the fight, some things can't be hidden. Their desire to end this fight was clearly evident, and frustration only grew higher every time a man was killed or they took a careless hit from one of the ninjas.

As a military man and strategist, Gwendal had looked for any possible weakness that would be helpful during the fight. However he didn't find anything that would be useful enough for them to use. In all honestly he couldn't, he was too busy defending himself. He had numerous cuts and bruises that would remind him of this night and definitely take time to heal should he survive.

"I learned that of all of them, the biggest one is the slowest one, which usually is nothing new except for the fact he's too is fast and we can barely keep up with him." Yozak said.

Gunter nodded. "Agreed. Although it was difficult with all the fast paced movement, I could at least tell that each one of them have their own various style of fighting. To not be able to pinpoint exactly how they fight is indeed bothersome, but I-"

"Have you noticed that the smallest one is the only one not to have charged into battle yet? Any reason you think as to why that is? We know nothing of him, except for that he is their leader." Yozak interrupted.

Gunter shook his head. "I don't know, but to be the leader of this squad, he must have some formidable skills."

"True, but if we were able to get the upper hand on him, then as their leader-"

"We can finally make them surrender and answer to us." Gwendal finished. His tone held the unmistakable lingering of hatred and disgust. It didn't go unnoticed.

Gunter started to worry slightly. "It's highly risky. And Gwendal, Conrad, we can't afford to lose you two out here, don't let your hatred of them lead you to any rash decisions."

Gwendal scoffed. "I am a trained soldier, and that is the last thing I would do. I say do it."

Conrad stared ahead and said nothing.

"But how are we going to get past the other six?" Yozak asked.

Gwendal thought for a moment. "We'll have mine and Wolfram's men following behind us. They'll be expecting the same trick again, but a timed head on collision combined with their magic would serve as a good distraction to allow us to slip through to confront him.

"Are you sure about this Gwendal? There's a huge chance this will get us killed." Gunter warned.

"Do you have a different idea?"

Gunter couldn't think of anything. "Okay then." Gwendal said.

Yozak glanced towards Conrad. "What do you think of all of this?"

Conrad hadn't said anything. He was on high alert. While everyone else was coming up with a plan, Conrad noticed something seemingly odd about the group.

"Commander?"

"I've been staring and watching their every movement, and listening for any words said, and something's wrong. Look." Conrad said.

Not understanding what he was talking about, Gunter, Gwendal, and Yozak did as he said, but didn't notice it yet. "I'm not seeing anything." Gwendal said.

"Me neither." Yozak shook his head, confused.

"Look hard. Watch the one on the far left, and compare him to the other ones, and then compare this behavior to what we saw earlier."

Gwendal, Gunter, and Yozak squinted and marked every detail about the ninjas, who at first glance appeared to just be standing silently, staring right back at them. Of course, Gunter noticed first.

"Wait, you're right." Gunter nodded.

Even from their distance apart, he could tell that the ninja on the far left, who was Yama, chest rose and fell in small breathing patterns. The other six seemed to remain perfectly still, and quiet, which was strange because of how much they argued. There was hardly a time where one of them wasn't saying something earlier except for when they attacked…

Yozak and Gwendal noticed too right away.

"Shit! You're right, they're decoys." Yozak said, agitated.

Gwendal looked around cautiously. "Stay sharp everyone! Their fakes!" He yelled at the men. They heeded the warning and also started looking around.

Hearing that he'd been found out, Yama decided that it was time. He snapped his fingers and released his hold on the decoys standing beside him. The others six ninjas, or statues rather, dissolved right away into dirt and stone, and he was now the only real ninja present. Yama held his hands in front of him in a prayer gesture.

"Ugh. Where are they? When did they move?" Gunter muttered mostly to himself. Yozak gripped his sword tighter. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Yama was completely still for a moment, before balling his hands into fist and punching an impressive hole into the ground.

Right away and nearly simultaneously, the ninja Kane popped out of the ground from below directly in front of Gunter, only a few inches away. "Miss me much?" Kane said.

Not allowing for anytime for reaction, Kane delivered one of the mightiest uppercut punches he could muster to the jaw of a much surprised Gunter, sending the man reeling into the air about 15ft and landing with a bone cracking thud on the ground, unconscious.

"GUNTER!" Gwendal yelled. But before he could take a step, Yama punched the ground again sending up another ninja, this time Adrian, popping up in front of Gwendal, catching him off guard.

"Hey sourpuss." Adrian wasted no time before knocking Gwendal's sword away and roundhouse kicking Gwendal in the ribs.

Gwendal thought that he really understood pain, in the physical sense, from before in his years as a soldier on the front lines. However, a stab wound or slice or cut or bruise or anything else he's ever taken could never compare to the astronomical fiery sensation that was sent throughout his body that was bringing tears to his usual harsh sapphire eyes. As soon as he was kicked, Gwendal dropped backwards to the ground, screaming as loud as he could in agony and not being able to hold back because of the painful hit. It was automatic that at least four of his ribs were broken from that one kick. To even inhale a breath was a challenge.

Needless to say, Gwendal was down.

Yama punched the ground with both hands and up came Lyel in front of Yozak and Heather in front of Conrad, however, the two soldiers were ready for it and dodged backwards before either of the ninjas could do any damage.

Heather charged at Conrad, who was able to deflect her strike and counter it with one of his own. Heather jumped to the side and attempted to strike again, only to be blocked by Conrad. Heather was fast, but it seemed her swordsmanship wasn't quite on par with Conrad's just yet. It was a bit different for his orange-haired friend.

Yozak, already tired from battle, swerved and dived from swings directed at him. Even though all the ninjas were all fast and different, Yozak still figured that all of them swung their sword the same way, it was that thinking that kept him alive this far.

Unfortunately, that line of thinking didn't work for long. Yozak jumped back to put some distance between him and the ninja, and Lyel immediately charged when Yozak's feet touched the ground. Lyel thrusted his sword forward and Yozak jumped back again, but Lyel then planted his sword into the ground and used his forward momentum to lift himself using his sword as a base and give Yozak a swift hard-hitting kick to the face, knocking the man onto the ground. Before Yozak could recover, Lyel ran and kneeled beside him and gripped Yozak's neck tight with one hand, choking the soldier.

"Yozak!" Conrad shouted, but then turned to where he heard the last two ninjas pop up. With two last hits, Yama punched the ground and launched out Sai, right in front of Murata and Brookstone right beside where Murata's trump card was, in the middle of the crowd of soldiers. They didn't dare try anything. "Kane, Adrian, Brookstone, kill anyone that tries something." Sai yelled. He took out his sword in a flash and held it at Murata's neck to where he felt the cool edge of the blade against his skin. Sai looked in Conrad's direction. "Give up or he and your orange-haired friend dies." He yelled.

Conrad was definitely in one of the last situations he ever wanted to be. Gunter was knocked out, Gwendal was injured badly, Yozak was caught and the Great Sage fatally held hostage. He could attempt something, but he doubt he'd get farther than two steps before this ninja, the one who knocked out Gunter, and the one who put down Gwendal would get him, plus he ordered them to kill any soldier that moved.

Conrad lowered his head slightly as he jumped back from Heather, and dropped his sword. Heather walked over to him and kicked the sword away, then ordered him to sit beside Yozak, who could breathe now that Lyel let go of his neck. Yozak and Conrad sat on the ground with swords pointed at them.

Satisfied, Sai turned back towards Murata.

"Now, release to us the Demon King."

Yuuri's eyes shot open and he inhaled a large, sharp breathe, as if he had just come up for air after drowning in the ocean.

"Wait, Julia!"

But Julia was gone from sight. Yet Yuuri still felt angry, sad, lonely, and now even more so, confused, just as he did in the dark world.

He was lying on the ground on his back somewhere, dirt rubbing into his hair. When his eyes adjusted to the bright blue that nearly blinded him, Yuuri saw that he was trapped in what seemed to be a coffin-sized barrier, just maybe big enough for two small people. Even though he wasn't sure how he was doing it right then, Yuuri knew that the barrier came from his powers and it was protecting him, but it was so strong and thick that he couldn't see past it.

Yuuri was so caught off guard by the barrier that he didn't immediately noticed the person lying beside him.

"…Yuuri…" he heard, it was a very tired voice.

Yuuri turned his head left and saw Wolfram's eyes staring right back at him. For a moment, Yuuri was able to forget how he was feeling as he was glad to see the blond, smiling like he always did when first seeing Wolfram, but something seemed off. The way Wolfram's voice seemed so sad, and his emerald eyes held something that wasn't quite right. It seemed like Wolfram's eyes seemed tired also, and defeated, barely holding on.

"Wolf, what's going on?" Yuuri asked.

Wolfram half-smiled. "I'm glad you're okay."

Yuuri was still confused. He reached for Wolfram's hand. "Wolf, why are you-" Then he felt it, the cold touch of his fiancé's hand.

Immediately Yuuri was worried, because as a fire demon Wolfram's skin was never this naturally cool, unless in excessively cold temperature, and Yuuri didn't even feel the slightest chill in the air.

"Wolfram, you're cold, and you're never this cold without a reason….Wolf?" All the emotions Yuuri had felt before were temporarily forgotten as the only thing Yuuri could concentrate on was Wolfram. Yuuri tried to sit up, but the size of the barrier wouldn't allow it and he banged his head. It was a tight fit in there, barely enough room for the two of them.

Yuuri snuggled up to Wolfram's side and started to wrap his hands around the boy, when he felt his answer to his questions on the left side of Wolfram's stomach, right were a large, blooded, deep stab wound was. Yuuri pulled his trembling fingers back in disbelief, staring at the blood stained on his fingers. Wolfram grimaced at the sight. "I'm sorry Yuuri."

Yuuri's horrified eyes went to Wolfram, then back to his fingers.

"I'm sorry Yuuri, his wounds are too deep for even me to heal." He heard the Maou say. In hearing the Maou's voice, just like in the bedroom, everything came rushing back to him in a moment's notice.

Heather had held Yuuri down on the ground in the courtyard by standing on him, disabling any sudden movement from the double black. Yuuri had looked up to see Brookstone with his sword raised against an unarmed Wolfram. "Noo! Run Wolfram!" Yuuri shouted.

In a panic, Yuuri struggled to get free, but had started doing so in vain. Brookstone, evil eyes gleaming against the torch lights, swung at Wolfram, but the blond dodged out of the way at the last split-second and came sprinting at Heather. "Get off him!"

Wolfram bodied Heather to the ground, her light, petite figure not standing up against his momentum, then kneeled and extended his hand to help Yuuri up.

"Yuuri! We got to g-AAAHHH!-" In a swift motion but with a slick, sickening sound that Yuuri will never forget, a sword pierced Wolfram through the stomach, spraying blood on Yuuri's face as the tip of the sword was only a few inches from his nose. Wolfram dropped onto the ground on his side.

Yuuri lied on the ground, eyes as wide and as horrified as possible. Behind Wolfram was Brookstone with a menacing glare to his eyes and fulfillment to his smirk, proud that his aim still remained true after throwing his sword into Wolfram like a spear. "That'll teach ya to turn ya back on me." He sneered.

At first time seemed to stand still to Yuuri, but when the sight of Wolfram's blood pooling on the ground registered, the Demon King lost control of himself as he let out a long scream of anguish that caught the attention of everyone on the courtyard as he released a mighty push of power that hurled everyone back except Wolfram that was within thirty feet. With his body strained and fatigued, the sudden use of excess power only sent shockwaves of pain throughout Yuuri's body that only intensified his hurt.

Afterwards, Yuuri's mind went blank and the next thing he knew, he was under what seemed to be a spotlight in a world blanketed with darkness that called Julia to talk with him.

Now he's under some barrier he didn't even remember creating with Wolfram whose slowly dying of a fatal wound.

"Yuuri," the Maou said, "After releasing power, your presence seemed to disappear, to a point which even I could not reach you. It was then that I took over from your subconscious and held us in this barrier. Even though healing Wolfram wasn't possible, our power still allowed for us to at least ease some of his pain. It just isn't enough to save him."

The anger, the sadness, the loneliness, the confusion, the fright, it was all because of what happened, and Yuuri didn't really need or care about an explanation as to where he disappeared to and why his emotions seemed overly-dramatic, all he knew was that Wolfram was dying. That alone could make anyone go crazy.

Yuuri grabbed Wolfram's hand tightly and sobbed against the blonds' shoulder. Right now he was happy that at least it was just him and Wolfram.

Yuuri's anger built up the more he sobbed, tears violently running away from his eyes. Forgetting the pain, Wolfram rolled onto his right side to place an arm around Yuuri, rubbing a small spot on Yuuri's back. This was definitely not how he pictured the end of his life to turn out, but nothing was predictable. He was dying, he knew that, but he decided that he needed to be strong for Yuuri.

"Ssh Yuuri, it's going to be alright. Everything's going to-"

"No it won't! Wolfram! Why didn't you just leave me?" Yuuri was sounding near-hysterical. Try as he did to think of a solution, to think of something he could do, anything he could do, nothing was coming to him.

Losing Wolfram like this was like discovering that his father, brother, and mother were brutally murdered trying to protect him from some random serial killer, and that his daughter was alive but dying fast unless he didn't something, in which he couldn't because he was chained and his powers had been stripped from him, leaving him to only watch her suffer slowly. A desperately tragic situation in which the same helpless concept applied to now.

Julia had said to believe in himself and follow his heart, but Yuuri couldn't think of anything to do at the moment, no matter how much his heart lead him to Wolfram and he believed he could do something.

She had said something about following some mirrors to find his answers whenever he was in trouble. Well, now was as good of a time as any to use them, but Julia never said what or where they were. Maybe he just wasn't listening hard enough? 'Damn!' Yuuri mentally cursed himself, not being able to completely function at the moment. 'Where the hell are those damn mirrors?'

Seeing Yuuri in such distress, Wolfram tried to shush him again and talk him down. "Ssshh… it's not your fault Yuuri. And you know I couldn't leave you, I told you I'd always be there… to the end."

Yuuri let go of Wolfram's hand and wrapped his arms around Wolfram, holding him tight, making the soldier wince abit more, but choose to bare with it and not really complain. Yuuri looked back at Wolfram, his eyes red from crying. "I can't lose you Wolf, I can't. I just can't! I need you, Wolfram." It was all too real to Yuuri, as much as he wished he was just in a nightmare of some sort, the feel of holding Wolfram and the great pain he was feeling told him this was nothing but reality.

Wolfram could hardly miss all the anguish coming from Yuuri, and it was only enhanced through their bonding connection. It was that same connection that pretty much kept Wolfram from falling apart completely after Yuuri's episode in Gwendal's office. All he wanted then was for Yuuri to tell him everything was going to be alright, and that everything would go back to normal, if not even better.

True Wolfram thought he was leaving his king and his love prematurely, but if his sacrifice meant Yuuri's survival, he was happy to die in the line of duty as a soldier, as a father, and still, as a fiancé. He needed to tell Yuuri the words that he wanted to hear when he was like this back then. However, it seemed no easy task.

Wolfram stroked Yuuri's back in small gestures. "Yuuri, you're a wonderful Maou. You don't need me to hold you back all the time. You're going to-"

"Holding me back?" Yuuri's eye's opened wide in shock.

"Wolfram, you have never held me back, except for the times I needed it. You have always been there for me, and you have always been my rock, and you're still going to be. You just…just…you just have to get better is all. I can still heal you I think…"

"Yuuri, you've already tried healing me, Yuuri…" Yuuri ignored him as he held his hand out and tried in vain to heal the spot Wolfram was wounded in. A faint green light appeared that had no apparent affect.

"Yuuri…"

Yuuri ignored him again as he still persistently tried to heal Wolfram. 'Come on dammit!' He thought.

"YUURI!"

Wolfram grabbed Yuuri's hand and held it, then placed Yuuri's hand on his chest. "It's okay Yuuri. I'm okay with it."

"But I'm not!" Yuuri wailed, his grief-stricken face and heartfelt words making Wolfram lose his cool.

"I'M NOT OKAY WITH IT WOLF! I WILL NEVER BE OKAY WITH YOU DYING! NOT YOU! DON'T YOU GET IT?" Yuuri cupped Wolfram's stunned face and gazed as deep as he could into emerald eyes.

"I'd rather die myself than lose you. Remember Wolfram? If you fall, then we'd fall together, because I love you Wolfram. I love you more than anything on this planet or earth or the next over. Even though it took my stupid ass forever to admit it, I've always loved you. You and only you. I don't just love you, I'm in love with you. You belong with me, and I belong to you. And I'd give up everything to be with you. See? I'm not freakin okay with you dying! And it's all because I fell in love with you and your eyes that never judged me for being anyone other…than….me….." Yuuri's rambling voice trailed off and he looked away.

Wolfram's mouth hung open. The words that his ears always wanted to hear finally came, and it only took him dying on the ground for it to happen.

Regardless, he was truly happy that they finally came. Wolfram finally broke and let the tears he was trying to hold back escape. To have died a few moments ago while in a strong mental state of mind would have sufficed, but now it was too much. Yuuri loved him, he really, really loved him. Yuuri said that he was in love and that they belonged together. It was all too much, and while he was fine a few minutes ago, Wolfram couldn't help but silently curse whoever was responsible for taking him away from Yuuri's love, the love he had so desperately craved. Now Wolfram knew he really would like to live, to live beside Yuuri as he grew more and more into the greatest king Shin Makoku ever had. Yuuri looked at him and never judged Wolfram by his status or labels or reputation, but as a person, and Wolfram had loved him since, and now will continue to do so into the next life.

Yuuri couldn't make himself say anymore. The boy he'd given his soul to, literally, was dying in his arms.

Taking a deep breath, Yuuri looked back directly into Wolfram's eyes, and saw it.

He finally saw what the mirrors were that Julia was talking about.

Wolfram's eyes that only saw Yuuri for Yuuri and how great he was, that love him unconditionally, and provided unanimous support for whatever decision was made, were the mirrors that Julia told Yuuri to devote himself to. The reflection of himself that he saw in Wolfram's eyes was one that loved the boy in front of him.

"Not yet." Yuuri whispered, mainly to himself. His brain wasn't sure what was about to happen, but instinct and gut feeling took control. "It's not over yet."

He wasn't sure how, but Yuuri automatically knew what to do then, as if Wolfram's eyes implanted some instinct knowledge into him when he looked into them just then. He leaned to Wolfram ear, closed his eyes and whispered. "Wolfram, please, don't give up on me, on us, and die just yet. Please, fight for me. We're not through yet."

When Yuuri pulled back, Wolfram was confused, but noticed Yuuri started glowing green, along with the barrier, and when Yuuri opened his eyes again, they were an emerald color that nearly matched his. It was a dark contrast that stood out against Yuuri's dark, exotic features. Wolfram wasn't sure what was going to happen be he trusted Yuuri no matter what, and since this would be the 2nd time Yuuri changed eye colors, Wolfram paid close attention.

A tingling feeling stirred within Wolfram, as well as Yuuri, for the connection that bonded the two more than most was being put to work. Something had just told Yuuri that because he was willing to give up anything for Wolfram, and since his soul was a part of Wolfram, then the blond could not die yet.

"I love you Wolfram, and I give my life for yours." Yuuri said.

Then Yuuri leaned in and kissed Wolfram, a gentle touch that soon turned into a firm lock, once Wolfram recovered from the initial shock of being kissed. He closed his eyes and relished in the feel of the kiss, the feel of Yuuri's lips against. It brought pleasure that seemed to completely wash out his pain from the wound.

Wolfram couldn't take much more and needed air. He tried to pull back, but he couldn't. He tried again, and it was as if his lips were literally stuck to Yuuri's. He opened his eyes to see Yuuri's closed ones still kissing him. Wolfram couldn't breathe, he was feeling as though all of his breath and energy was being sucked right out of him. He began feeling very sleepy, fatigued to the point of nearly passing out, like being drugged. His eyes began to feel like dead weights. The pain he was feeling from the wound began to fizzle away also.

Wolfram felt Yuuri pull back from their kiss, his lips feeling air. Through Wolfram's dazed eyes he saw Yuuri staring down smiling softly at him. The overwhelming urge to close his eyes was winning against Wolfram's will.

Right before Wolfram's eyes shut and he caved to the persistent urge to sleep, he saw and heard Yuuri's lips move, saying something, but he just couldn't understand what.

"Give us Yuuri Heika." Sai demanded again of the Sage, grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer.

Even though there was a sword pressing into his neck at his was probably tempting death, Murata kept his cool and attempted to stay off the topic of Yuuri. It was hard trying to keep his composure though, a sword against the neck would definitely build any man's anxiety.

"Tell me, am I right in assuming that the little underground trick you just did and the one from before, was because of the ninja all the way over there, the one that kept punching the ground? Can all of you control earth elements or is it just him?" Sai didn't say anything. Murata didn't really expect him to.

Murata grinned. "I see, so anyway I've learned that at least three of your names are Kane, Adrian, and Brookstone. Won't you tell me yours? I mean, you're the leader, your name has to be the most important."

Still Sai didn't say anything. His cold grey eyes showed of annoyance. Murata simply switched topics again and asked questions to stall for time. Yuuri had been in his barrier this whole time after sending everyone flying, and Murata could only pray that he would come out soon, as in now.

"Sooo," Murata rambled on, "tell me about yourself. I see you're not much of the talking type, but judging from the feel I get from you, I'd say you're pretty young. All of these other ninjas here are pretty fast and skilled and strong, especially the biggest one. He knocked a full grown man nearly 15th into the air! A pretty amazing feet I'd say, and as their leader you're probably stronger than that, you can probably knock a man about 30 or 40 or maybe even 50ft into the air if you wanted to, that'll shatter any record, I mean, not that you have to try it on me or anything, hehe, I'm just a little ol Sage, not worth much anything, but if you knock that big guy that knocked my guy that probably couldn't knock any guy in the air, I bet-"

"Enough." Sai interrupted. Murata shut up immediately.

"I am no fool Sage, I know your tricks."

Murata shrugged, still smiling. "Tricks? I have no tricks, I am no magician you see. My sincerest apologies."

"You play dumb, stalling for time for that coward of a Maou who hides himself inside a barrier. We have easily taken down your commanders, your common men are no match for us, and I have you here by a sword. Do you really think it wise to pester me with annoying questions instead of giving me what I want?" Sai got real close to Murata's face to allow him to see the seriousness in his eyes as he pressed the sword slightly hard into Murata's skin.

Murata's smile disappeared and he gulped. He stopped talking momentarily, debating on what to do. He couldn't hold off this guy from doing anything much longer, otherwise he'd be joining Shinou after about 4,000 and some years. Suddenly he got a flicker of feeling in his chest, the flicker that let him know that it was his connection with Yuuri. For him to have felt something, Murata figured finally it was time. He kept his tone serious and looked at Sai with a straight face.

"Yes, you're right, my apologies. I know you've been wanting for me to say how much I like your clothes. I know you saw me looking at you as soon as you came into the courtyard…"

Sai grabbed Murata by his collar and yanked him up into the air with one arm. Murata found it a bit difficult to breathe in this position. "Relax, it was only a joke!"

"Ridicules," Sai muttered. "Brookstone! Start already." he called.

"Yeah I got you." Brookstone said. He turned towards the spot on the ground that was the little light blue force field. He lifted his sword and swung down on it hard. Brookstone didn't even make a scratch, but the barrier did turn green.

"I-ugh-wouldn't do that if I (choke) were you." Murata said as he struggled to get free. Sai ignored him and held him up high as far as his arm could reach, which only had Murata about a foot off the ground.

Conrad watched as Brookstone banged on the barrier again. He only hoped that something terrible wouldn't happen because of it, although he couldn't shake the feeling he had. Yozak knew Conrad well enough to know the worried look the brown-haired soldier had when he saw it. "Yeah, you're not the only one." Yozak said. Gwendal was a couple of feet away, holding his sides and trying not to pass out from pain.

Brookstone banged on the barrier once again and it did nothing. "I'm getting tired of this shit." He mumbled. The fact that the barrier didn't even crack yet was making him mad. He couldn't even see through to what was happening inside. "Does he think he can make a mockery of me with this stupid little bit of protection he calls a shield? I'll break this, and then I'll break him!" He lifted the heavy sword once again. "You can't make a fool out of me! Not Brookstone, one of the deadly seven Senka! YAH!" Brookstone brought down his sword one last time with all his might onto the barrier. The force of the impact knocked back every surrounding soldier within a few feet.

It became quiet all around. Murata even stopped struggling for a few minutes to observe if anything happened.

The barrier cracked, and began cracking all over. Brookstone pulled his sword back, a triumphant smile plaster wide across his face. "See I told ya! Can't nobody stand up to the Senka, me especially!" The barrier cracked and cracked until it finally shattered and little emerald pieces of it fell to the ground before disappearing.

On the ground was Yuuri and Wolfram. Wolfram was unconscious, suddenly overwhelmed with tiredness after his kiss with Yuuri. Yuuri was laying there propped on one elbow with a sad half-smile towards Wolfram. Yuuri looked up to see the soldiers and Brookstone staring back down at him expectantly. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the ninja. He turned back towards Wolfram and placed a light kiss on his forehead. "I have to go now, but I promise I won't stay gone." He whispered softly.

Yuuri stood up, somewhat grimacing, and focused on the ninja in front of him. "You were the one that speared Wolfram." He stated. His eyes were sharp and his tone had turned disturbing deadly.

Brookstone held his sword up. "So I was," he sneered, "what'cha gonna do 'bout it?"

Yuuri said nothing, and lowered his lead. Brookstone couldn't see Yuuri's eyes because of the dark shadows along his face and his black bangs that seemed to get slightly longer. "Aw, not gonna say anything are we?" Brookstone started to feel a few drops of water coming down on his head before it started raining heavily and thundering. The torches around the castle were put out by the water so a lot of the light was gone, but the sudden lightening flashes made brighter sparks of light to fill the courtyard more than the torches ever did.

"Eh? What all of this?" Brookstone was looking around.

Yuuri had put aside his anger while he was with Wolfram after he understood about the mirrors, but that didn't mean it wouldn't resurface. When he looked up again, Brookstone immediately noticed Yuuri's eyes had gone completely black, as black as oil. No pupils could be found in those dark, deathly eyes of his. Just seeing the ninja arose his anger to a point where it and his powers were terribly frightening yet under controlled at the moment, but the longer they were unleashed the harder it was to say how much longer they will still be in control.

"Yuuri, you must be careful. If you let rage take over, then we both may be lost behind our powers forever." The Maou warned. Yuuri ignored him and spoke to Brookstone.

"It's people like you that make it hard for me to keep my promises as Maou, to always protect and serve and help my people. People like you who cause pain and suffering to those around them, regardless of how important they are to someone else. But will I promise this to you," Yuuri paused, his adrenaline and anger building, "by the time I am finished, you, WILL know pain."

Ignorant of how powerful a pissed off Yuuri really was, Brookstone readied his sword in challenge. "Show me what you got."

Yuuri nodded. "As you wish…."

Aw yeah, Yuuri pissed off with Maou powers ready to take on the above average ninjas. But wait, isn't his powers still limited due to fatigue? Or did something happen to remedy that? What happened to Wolfram in the barrier? What did Yuuri do to him? Why are these mirrors so damn important? Why are Yuuri's eyes charcoal black and seem to change colors every other chapter? Will he be able to put a stop to the ninja while he's himself and not kill them, or will he become consumed by his powers and his rage and unleashed his might in a display of dominate and lethal power? Why do I always leave it at a cliffy?

All these questions and more answered in the next chapter! Thank you everyone for reading! Hope you enjoyed it!

Got a couple of emails after the last chapter. So far everyone was pleased and I hope I didn’t disappoint anyone in this one!

Next chapter to come soon, read and review, suggestions always welcomed.

Til next time! ~Kriter~
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Determination