Live to Die

It had been three months since the Great Sage had brought Yuuri through the portal. Murata’s showing of power and moment of pure blood rage had already been written about as legend. The night of the occurrence and for weeks after, Murata camped out on the floor of Yuuri’s room. Yuuri joined him on the floor, while Wolfram huffily took the bed. Even after Murata had stopped sleeping on the floor, Yuuri remained.

“I’ll just end up there anyway.” Yuuri had laughed when Wolfram had angrily questioned him. Citing Wolfram’s wild sleeping habits as the reason for his continued inhabitance of the floor. Gwendal and Conrad had merely blinked at the quick response. The sage’s eyes had narrowed at the explanation. Gunter had his suspicions validated at the way Yuuri had looked mildly panicked at the thought of sharing a bed.

When Yuuri threw himself into his duties and learning of proper etiquette it was with a ferocity that stunned all. Gwendal had trouble keeping up with the sheer volume of work Yuuri got through. Conrad was steadily becoming unnerved by the savagery Yuuri showed while they practiced their military training. Gunter continued mentally acknowledging that he was right about his assumptions regarding Yuuri’s changed personality.

Gunter had experienced many things in his life. Gunter knew well what the cause could be for he himself had been through a similar situation. Gunter never would say what the events were that led up to his knowledge of drowning himself in work but it was of a severity that it had almost killed him

Yuuri thought he was safe from further questioning until Gunter pulled him into his office. Closing the door and sealing it from possible intrusion, Gunter sat in his chair and waited. Yuuri began to get nervous and paced the room anxiously. Being in a small space with another man was a problem.

“I’m sorry.” Gunter breathed quietly watching Yuuri stop pacing with his back to him. “Whoever did that to you will suffer for their actions.” Yuuri tensed all over at the pronouncement.

“I wondered when you would ask what happened.” Yuuri responded quietly. “Everyone else kept asking for weeks what was wrong. You who is the most spastic and extreme of the lot remained silent and watchful.”

“You underestimate me greatly.” Gunter said smoothly. “I am just responding to my surroundings. Something you use to do before three months ago. You don’t do it now and you have everyone worried. The severity of worry is such that no one is taking bets on what happened.”

“Murata overreacted.” Yuuri commented dryly clenching his wrists behind his back, while he faced away from Gunter.

“You didn’t react.” Gunter noted. “It is your complete lack of reaction that made me realize what could have happened. The same can be said for the Great Sage.”

“No one else can know.” Yuuri said turning his black gaze on Gunter.

“As you wish.” Gunter nodded. “Even though I would think you should tell the three brothers. Particularly your fiancée. What happened to you has happened to greater and lesser men. No one thinks any less of them because of it.”

“It is too personal of a matter for me to just tell them.” Yuuri retorted.

“They are going to be your family soon enough.” Gunter reminded him gently.

“Wolfram won’t want damaged goods.” Yuuri commented wearily. “It just occurred to me that I actually am a wimp and a cheater. I couldn’t stop him. Do you know why? I still have use of some of my powers when in the human world, so why couldn’t I stop him?”

“Yuuri…” Gunter reprimanded.

“No let me finish.” Yuuri demanded his eyes flashing as he looked at Gunter. “I am dirty now I’ll never be clean again. You act as if you know but you…” Yuuri stopped. Something in Gunter’s expression made him realize how Gunter had known.

“I am sorry.” Yuuri turned his back on Gunter again and considered his options. “I’ll tell them…” Yuuri paused thinking of a suitable and improbable solution. “I will tell them if you can best Gwendal in a duel.” Yuuri nodded at the likelihood of that happening. Yes, Gunter had trained Conrad but Conrad didn’t hold a candle to Gwendal when he was trying.

“Anything else.” Gunter asked his legs crossing as he leaned back in the chair. His lilac eyes heavy lidded as he observed Yuuri.

“You have to beat him fair and square. No cheating, no magic, just swords.” Yuuri made the rules. “Also if you lose you have to kiss him.” Yuuri barely stifled his merriment at the mental picture that presented itself.

“Done.” Gunter nodded his agreement. “My terms are as follows: You have one month after the battle is over to tell Conrad, Wolfram, Gwendal and the Sage. You may tell Conrad or Gwendal or the Sage and have who you selected tell the others. Wolfram you have to speak to yourself. Also you will have counseling to help you overcome the residual effects such an incident can have on oneself.”

“I am fine.” Yuuri commented sternly his eyes blazing ferociously, his head nodding from side to side. Yuuri blinked as he realized his body’s actions directly contradicted his words.

“Subconsciously you and I both know different.” Gunter commented. “If you want to delude everyone around you for a while longer fine but trying to delude yourself will not make you better.”

“Fine I agree to your terms. When will you challenge Gwendal?” Yuuri asked wondering how long he had to wait for the show of Gunter kissing Gwendal.

“He is out inspecting some of the troops now so let’s give them a show.” Gunter responded bounding to his feet with a smile. Yuuri couldn’t help himself he burst out laughing.

“You are looking forward to kissing him, I see.” Yuuri chuckled.

“It is unfortunate that you didn’t do your research in this case because then you would know that I will probably kiss the man either way.” Gunter retorted as they made their way to the training grounds. Yuuri looked at Gunter speculatively for a moment, getting an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

“Gunter you have been responding to things in a distinctly out of character way.” Yuuri observed as he watched the man beside him become increasingly focused on something.

“Yuuri I wasn’t always your advisor.” Gunter replied his eyes focusing inward to where he felt his power residing and beginning to burn. “So do you remember the ways in which a challenge can be issued?” Gunter slipped into teacher mode and waited for the responses.

“Besides the knife thing not really.” Yuuri responded curious to see what other way there was. Seemingly, out of nowhere Gunter produced a sword. Yuuri gulped. “That wasn’t there a moment ago.”

“This is my family’s sword. I haven’t used it in a long time and I am surprised it still recognizes me.” Gunter smiled at the weapon in his hands. Yuuri’s mouth hung open.

They had arrived at the field where a group of one hundred men were standing at attention. The field had a line of trees that separated it from the main fields of the castle. Yuuri and Gunter stopped in the section of the trees. Conrad stood to Gwendal’s right and Wolfram to his left as he addressed the group.

“Stay here. Watch and learn.” Gunter slipped back into teacher’s mode. “I want you to be able to observe and explain why you think the custom is the way it is.” Gunter slipped away from Yuuri’s side.

“As you all know, for the sake of our country we must always be prepared and on the look out for attacks.” Gwendal told the troops before him.

The feel of a sword flat slapping him soundly on the ass made him yelp. The troops in front of him gaped as they saw one of their commanders be blindsided by the hit. Wolfram and Conrad stood in shock as Gwendal turned around and saw the blindingly white smile of Gunter. Gwendal blinked at the man before he regained his composure and growled. “What is the meaning of this?”

Gunter’s response was simple and direct. “I am challenging you to a duel. As you are aware of the nature of such a challenge as this one I will make things simple. If I win then your ass is mine. If I lose you may exact a similar penalty or one of your own.”

Gwendal was speechless. No one challenged his authority or him for that matter. Gwendal’s mind struggled to remember exactly the parameters for this type of challenge. When Gwendal realized what the forfeit was if he declined without reason, he shuddered. Gwendal could not just let this go. “I accept your challenge but my penalty shall be that you are forbidden from entering my office without permission.”

“As you wish.” Gunter smiled sweetly. “Oh your majesty. Please come and explain the rules.”

“So this is just a training exercise then?” Wolfram demanded as Yuuri ran forward.

“Somehow I doubt that.” Conrad said in an undertone that only Wolfram could hear. “Soldiers dismissed.” He called knowing what was about to happen. The soldiers ran in different directions to gather more people and chairs.

“Your majesty if I can make a suggestion.” Murata arrived just as Yuuri was about to explain the rules. At his nod Murata continued, “It will make everyone’s life easier if we move to a more appropriate setting. Surely we will be gathering a large crowd once this gets out.”

“Too late.” Yuuri replied as every aristocrat within a twenty-mile radius appeared, on the outskirts of the clearing. Chairs were quickly set up and servants ran around getting people settled, so they themselves could watch the spectacle. Anissina handed him a voice amplifier. Yuuri called the rules out to the anxious crowd before going over to the sidelines where Wolfram and Conrad had saved him a seat. Murata was standing nearby.

Everyone waited with baited breath as Gwendal and Gunter turned and bowed to Yuuri. Both had swords in their hands ready to spill the necessary blood that the duel called for. They waited for the sign that they could begin. Ten minutes passed and nothing happened.

Yuuri couldn’t take the suspense any longer. “Go already!”

“You didn’t drop the handkerchief.” Conrad mumbled beside him.

“What handkerchief.” Yuuri asked his brow knit in consternation.

“This one.” Wolfram responded handing it to him.

“Now you tell me.” Yuuri snapped dropping it and watching as the wind carried it. Yuuri rolled both eyes as the two duelist’s eyes followed the motion of the handkerchief. For several minutes, the handkerchief kept itself poised just before it hit the ground. The teasing almost flirtatious movements of the handkerchief prompted Yuuri. “What is this foreplay?” Yuuri grumbled.

“How the hell do you know about that, cheater?” Wolfram bellowed turning on Yuuri.

“Shut up, it hit the ground.” Yuuri barked, his attention riveted on the two men whose movements were blurs. In the back of his head, the words stung him.