This Complicated Relationship

A Kyou Kara Maoh Story:
This Complicated Relationship,
by Vanessa S. Quest
Pairings: (Non-Con) Adelbert x Yuri, Conrad/Yuri. Ratings: Violence, Sexuality, Nudity, all the fun stuff, kids! (M) A/N: I could give a synopsis, especially as this is raking in oh, 26 pages of solid text, 12,474 words of story bliss, or I could be completely evil because word isn’t formatting this nicely for me. Enjoy!

i.

Yuri had appeared in human territory that was not known to Shin Makoku as an ally. So, as Yuri had appeared from the fountain in the town square in his ever-black school uniform, black hair and eyes unobstructed and clearly visible, it was equally visible how quickly the situation was turning sour.

He couldn’t believe it- torches, pitchforks, machetes, even rocks… one or two of the towns people actually brandished proper swords as well, as if that really mattered as he faced the mob, no, at the time what seemed to matter most was how fast he could manage to run. However, that was slowly leaving his central focus as the sounds of a trotting horse caught his ear.

A rock was thrown from some faceless member of the mob, hitting him in his left shoulder causing him to stumble. A singular arm reached around his waist and hoisted him over the saddle, lying belly-down, before kicking the horse into a full-out gallop heading away from the town, and mob respectively.

Yuri’s stomach hurt, as did his shoulder, but all the same he was grateful. He finally was allowed to slip off the horse somewhere in a forest he had never seen the likes of before. Sure, it had rocks that protruded from the ground, moss, ground-flora, trees, vines, even the typical running water noises, but it all felt different. Yuri turned around to thank his savior and then ask where, exactly, were they…?

As his eyes started to travel up the rather tall, silent traveler he started, “Anou, arigatou, you really saved me! Ah, do you know where we are…?” After a few moments his eyes finally found the face of the tall, built giant, “Eh!? Adelbert?”

Now, he was truly confused. Sure, he had figured out it hadn’t been Conrad, for many reasons really- one, the rock hit him, two, he hadn’t heard his name or even that annoying ‘heika’, three, Conrad would never have made him ride in that wretched position, and four, that wasn’t even Conrad’s horse. However, just because it wasn’t Conrad didn’t mean he thought it would be someone outside of the Shin Makoku military… Yuri noticed how Adelbert seemed snider than usual making him feel a bit uneasy.

As if to compound the uneasiness, no one was around, he had no weapon (well, not like that would help against Adelbert…), and worst of all- no Conrad! He shied away from Adelbert, backing away from him unconsciously, “Ah… ha… ha, so what brings you to… here?” Yuri asked, strangely nervous. Having no idea where he was must have been getting to him if he was this anxious, right?

Suddenly he felt the heaviness of Adelbert’s arm as the tall man pressed Yuri down with one hand. His eyes, Yuri noticed, they were like those of a man possessed! Yuri honestly thought for a moment that Adelbert was about to choke him when he saw that same hand travel to his neck, instead, he was shocked to feel Adelbert unbuttoning his uniform jacket--?! Yuri gulped, “What are you doi--”

His words were cut off by a forceful set of lips crushing his own. Yuri’s eyes went wide, the corners etched with moist pre-tears. Oh, he knew where this was going, and that terrified him! Enough so that his survival mechanisms were kicking in, pinned under the giant’s weight he squirmed and wriggled until Adelbert struck him in the head, making him a touch hazy.

Yuri shivered as Adelbert threw off his top and under shirts, those same shivers felt like thousands of little seizures as Adelbert started to undo Yuri’s pants.

“Don’t do this, Adelbert! Please don’t do this to me!” Yuri screamed, this time Adelbert grabbed the leather strap from Julia’s blue pendant. Clutching it tightly, he pulled it to beside Yuri’s left ear against the ground, choking him. As Yuri gasped, struggling for air, Adelbert pulled down Yuri’s pants.

Yuri began to whisper something weakly, “Conrad… help me…” Adelbert curled the leather shortening the length of the cord that went across Yuri’s neck even more. Drool collected at the edges of Yuri’s mouth, as Yuri’s black orbs glazed over, Adelbert loosened his grasp freeing his hands to secure Yuri’s with the youth’s own belt behind the tree leaving Yuri in a very prone position. He pulled his own hardening member from his pants.

Approaching Yuri, he forced the young man’s mouth open by pulling on his jaw using the saliva to lubricate himself. He noticed how Yuri’s eyes were regaining focus just as he pulled out, Yuri appeared to be dry-heaving as Adelbert thought to himself, as he smiled sickly, how he had wanted a live audience with the obnoxious brat. That brat, he seriously pissed him off! How dare he be so much like Julia? Worse still to choose Conrad over him, and so easily… No, this was his way to find out if that were really the truth or if the brat would instinctively know how to be his.

Inwardly, he already knew the answer to that, and how this was merely an act of desperation and self-hatred- degradation, all the same, he’d make him his, if just this once. It was all the ability he had.

He raised Yuri’s leg over his head, holding his thigh right before the knee.
Letting his tongue dribble his excess saliva onto Yuri’s tight sphincter, he then shoved one of his meaty fingers inside, burrowing into the warm recesses. Yuri pleaded for him to stop before it was too late, Adelbert audibly scoffed, didn’t that idiot know they had passed that point a long time ago?

He slid another finger in, ripping another scream from the pained youth, scissoring, he increased the width of the hole moderately enough to be able to proceed. After all, he knew he was working on only so much time, anyway. Before that brat’s retainer would arrive, he already heard the horse at the edge of the horizon; he didn’t have much time at all.

This was hardly about enjoying it though, no, this was about destruction, revenge at Shinou, fate, himself… maybe even Julia.

Crushing his lips against Yuri’s he opened his mouth, tongue dancing around Yuri’s tight lips as he thrust inward. Most of Yuri’s scream was swallowed by Adelbert’s hungry mouth and tongue, his tongue now roaming over Yuri’s soft cavity; weakly opposed by his own tongue further muffling Yuri’s pained sounds in his hypocrite’s kiss.

He pulled out of the kiss to give him a better angle to ram the fragile flesh. Yuri began panting and wincing with each move, grind, thrust and buck, he quietly started to gasp out in his wispy pants, “Conrad… save me…” each time Adelbert’s massive shaft pummeled him, pushing up further and deeper.

He couldn’t take it! He was being torn in two, he smelt blood, he questioned himself if only as a way to divide himself from the pain, where the blood was coming from? From his wrists that he had been pulling as hard as he could tolerate to slip from behind the tree? No? Then maybe from his face or mouth? His ass? Oh right, that part wasn’t even a question more so a statement of a fact.

All the same, as Adelbert began to increase his pace to ‘I ULTRA Hate You’ speed, Yuri’s stomach began retching, had he been ripped up even to there? It felt like that was a possibility. The retching seemed to be in time with his thrusts making it feel like the vomit would come with Adelbert, when finally Yuri produced a small bit of bile-strong vomit.

As it raced up his esophagus, he heard a distinct, “YUURI!” He choked back on some of the vomit making him begin to hack and cough fiercely.

Adelbert put a hand back on the leather strap to resume choking him, apparently unhappy for the distraction. Just before dumping his full load he pulled out, releasing on Yuri’s clothing, he chose Yuri’s shirt to conveniently wipe himself down with before tucking himself back in. He approached his horse, mounting it.

Conrad, now twenty paces from Yuri saw how he stared upward into the sky with a hollowed look.

He drew his sword knowing he couldn’t truly begin to process Yuri until Adelbert were dead by his hand or chose to retreat, to be killed by Conrad at a slightly later time.
Adelbert drew his sword and touched it to Yuri’s exposed chest who was far too fragile to move on his own, let alone act with any defiance to defend himself. Conrad raised his sword to Adelbert’s level, though Adelbert didn’t seem to care. The sword slid to his neck, slipping underneath a leather cord. He ghosted the blade over Yuri’s collar bone, the necklace dragging at the blade’s edge back to his chest.

As his blade retracted from under the necklace, Conrad happily assisted him in raising the blade’s edge from his master’s person with a fierce upward sweep, pushing it away from Yuri’s proximity.

Conrad became acutely aware of Yuri’s shallow breathing and heart that seemed to race as fast as a humming bird’s from his chest. He was quite literally tired of Adelbert fucking with his heika, his Yuri! He made another strike against Adelbert’s blade with the strength of Shin Makoku’s number one swordsman, drawing sparks.

Adelbert laughed, “Oh ho, so that’s YOUR answer is it?” He sheathed his own blade, holding the reins he steered his horse to rise upon two legs in order to turn with slight more protection as an unarmed man.

“Conrad…” Yuri said weakly, he seemed to have regained some semblance of hope now that his dashing knight Conrad was there.

It really pissed him off, done with being annoyed by the black-haired brat he readied to race off.

Conrad, through tightly grit teeth glared fiercely at Adelbert with the eyes of a Ruttenberg Lion, hissing out the words, “Explain yourself!”

Adelbert chuckled to himself, “Like I have to…” He looked back down at the scantily clad youth, “If that was really Julia… this wouldn’t have turned out this way. Well, I leave him to you, ja ne!”

The blond rode off, away from the village.

Conrad’s blood was at a boil but he knew Adelbert could, no, would HAVE to wait. He dismounted and rushed to Yuri’s side, “Yuri!”

Yuri was shivering uncontrollably, “Conrad, I want to go home…!”

Conrad cut the belt that had held Yuri to the tree. He supposed it was more stubbornness then any real strength left that drew Yuri into Conrad’s chest as he latched onto Conrad’s shirt, hands clutched unfeasibly tight to the fabric, he began to sob and wail, hiccupping on exhales before sucking in more air to start again.

The brown-haired man navigated his long coat off without separating physical contact from his nude sovereign, as soon as it was off his shoulders it was over Yuri’s, the long tail of the protective garb wrapped over Yuri’s leg as more of a blanket than anything else.
“Yuri-heika…” Conrad gently lifted him in his arms; he took note of how light the maoh felt in this state, with an unnatural lightness one could attribute to such a weakened body, almost as if the life-force that had spilt from him had took kilograms of weight from him.

“Itai, it hurts so much I could die, Conrad! …Itai…” The waterworks gushing down his face seemed to have picked up again. He had innately trusted Adelbert… for this to be the outcome, though, he didn’t know how to cope. Conrad brushed his onyx bangs from his teary eyes.

“I’m sorry… if only I had gotten there sooner…”

Yuri did something that absolutely shocked Conrad when he bit him in the chest… hard!
“Yuri!” He squinted one eye closed.

“Naze… naze wa… why did this happen…” Yuri was still shaking, violently.
Conrad pulled Yuri tighter, subconsciously, “This isn’t something that you can easily put reason to…” Conrad managed to seat Yuri side-saddle on his horse in front of him, “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop it! Damaru! I can’t take your apologies, anymore! You didn’t do this to me… HE did. Please Conrad, I need your strength, I love you… so please… stop it…” Yuri confessed, he wasn’t sure if it had just slipped or maybe he finally had the courage to say it, but he could hardly care about the awkwardness Conrad may have been feeling, he just knew how he felt for Conrad and how he was the only person who made him feel safe and secure-- anywhere-- and he had to monopolize that right now.

“Yuri…” Conrad put his hand on Yuri’s cheek and looked into the confused youth’s eyes, “You must not know what you’re saying, heika, you’re hysterical.”

Yuri jerked back, almost sliding off the saddle, instead Conrad’s strong arm steadied him.

“Stop it!” Yuri cried out indignantly, “Why are you saying that to me… I thought…” his voice became broken as he continued, “I thought… if anyone… you’d understand… not just brush me off…that you’d…” his head bowed and he became eerily silent, even stopping his outward sobs, though the tears still ran unconditionally.

“Yuri?”

He shook his head signaling his own silence. Conrad sighed inwardly but left Yuri to that silence, convincing himself that it was just a way for the younger man to cope- part of the healing process. Yes he was aware of his own bullshit.

ii.

Especially after two weeks of it.

He had thought it would be best for everyone had the two remained on such terms, until Yuri came to his senses at least, he had no idea it would reach so far as to extend to everyone. Though Yuri was hardly able to move around the grounds, he still refused to speak to anyone, he even avoided everyone with the exception of Conrad.

The only person allowed to be in his presence. Conrad was becoming unhinged, along with the entirety of the castle personnel. No, had it been him solely, Yuri would still have had someone. He had to admit to himself, this was not a part of the healing process, he was merely compounding the pain on Yuri, though, this also brought it’s own complications.

Rejection of the maoh would devastate Yuri, and be a lie to devastate Conrad himself; not rejecting the maoh would devastate Wolfram, his kid brother and Yuri’s true-faux-fiancé. And then, if he did say yes, then what? Wait until he questioned if it was just because he ordered it? He was at a constant disadvantage.

He heard the door slam and an indignant shout from Wolfram, ah yes, the consequence of anyone beside himself attempting to approach the maoh. Either a door-slam, indignant stare, or strange shaped-water making itself into a bit of a threatening gesture…

“Wolfram, what was that about?” Conrad asked, Wolfram grumbled angrily.

“I asked him to join us for dinner.”

“I see, I’ll bring him a tray then.” Conrad went toward the kitchen.

Most frightening of all was how the young man made himself unavailable from any attention, such as actually doing paperwork. Or studying. Yes, willingly, solo with Conrad as the only exception. He was actually ahead on both at the moment.
Having relayed that to Gunter and Gwendel had managed to shock and terrorize both, as that was so out of character.

Conrad brought the covered dishes to Yuri’s door. He tapped once, Yuri opened the door.
Upon seeing the only appreciated guest, he slid to the side and allowed Conrad entry.
Yuri sat on the bed and looked around the room indifferently, Conrad put the tray in front of Yuri who seemed surprised, though apathetic for someone who hadn’t eaten since lunch more than four hours ago.

Conrad had to be careful with choosing his words, however, he had wound up being disarmed by Yuri’s eyes as he stated, “Heika, I’ve brought your dinner…” As he was about to convey the menu, they flew past his head and slammed into the wall. Yuri’s eyes flashed dark from anger then crashed into a new emotion that he had hid since they had gotten back to Shin Makoku, sadness.

The brunette instantly knew his mistake, he had used ‘heika’ which, yes, usually was merely a reflex… but not out of tradition, no, it was a way to tease Yuri and actually make them act more familiar.

“Yuri!” All the same he was shocked, for Yuri to do something as childish as that… though he did supposed Yuri was still a child.

He watched as Yuri sank to his knees, bringing his hands to cover his face as he began to cry.

All Conrad could do was ask him to stand, “Yuri, please stand up.”

Yuri shook his head defiantly.

Conrad knelt beside him, “Yuri, please stand up.” Yuri wiped at his eyes to give a pained glare back at him. So, he outstretched his hand to Yuri.

Yuri’s trembling hand laid itself over Conrad’s. The gentle brown eyes kept watch of Yuri’s onyx ones as he helped him to his feet, he then tugged Yuri into a quick embrace upon impulse. “Yuri, please stop doing this to yourself.” He ran his fingers through Yuri’s hair as he continued to speak softly into his ear, “I know you hurt inside, but you were always able to open up before—that’s the only way you really work through things, let us, me, help you get through this. Please, speak to us.”

Yuri’s head sank, buried into Conrad’s chest his voice hesitated after so long a period of disuse, “…h… …how… …how can I… the only pe-person I thought-t could understand… and you turned me away without even telling me why… you must hate me, think that I’m disgusting, no, I AM disgusting, so why? What’s the point in opening up if no one there can understand it? Heh… Wolfram will-ll call me a ch- ch-cheater… and a wimp… it’s so frustrating… I can’t take this, I’d rather die…!”

The sound of a slap reverberated through the room, Yuri held the right side of his face, eyes seeming to clear from a haze.

“Don’t ever say that again!” Conrad’s angry war-like eyes pierced through Yuri, the sadness amiss to the distraught teenager.

“C…Conrad…” He looked down, ashamed of himself, his cheek was bright red.

Conrad’s eyes softened as he touched his palm to where he had struck him, gently, partially apologetic. He’d say he was sorry for having to strike Yuri, but not for why he had to- he really did deserve it for wishing he was dead!

Yuri pulled back, “Ah, so you really do hate me, ne?” Yuri said quietly to himself. As Conrad had tried to capture Yuri into a warm embrace the dark-haired youth ducked under it, slipping free.

“I’m going to the baths. Don’t. Follow. Me.”

Conrad sighed as Yuri stormed off, though it was a bit of a slow-motion thing, as he could only walk so fast. He became lost in a thought for a few moments about how he was able to keep hurting Yuri so much when he really did truly love him. He only wished Yuri understood how well loved he was, by everyone, but especially by him.

One thing… ONE thing kept him from openly seducing Yuri- his little brother. Rank, meant nothing, being a half-blood? Oh, what a coincident, so was he. Age? Everything… they were nothing but excuses he used to justify why he shouldn’t fight Wolfram for Yuri. He felt vile, those horrible things Adelbert had forced onto Yuri, his subconscious had done to a more willing form of Yuri more nights than he could keep track of. Conrad twitched, falling from his reverie, he stepped up his pace to go and keep vigil over his ward.

As Conrad entered the bath he saw Yuri face down in the pooling waters, he rushed toward the downed youth, flipped him over and pulled him from the water.

Yuri began to cough ferociously, “YURI! What are you doing?!”

Yuri turned his head to spit out a mouthful of water, as his eyes tried to refocus on the floating orb of brown in front of him he murmured, “Tadaima… oh… it’s here still.” He closed his eyes, after trying to sit up and failing before lifting his head four centimeters from the ground, he asked in a meek voice, “I’m sorry, Conrad… I’m so tired, could you please help me back to my room…?”

Yuri woke up on a pile of soft pillows, Conrad, Gisela and Gunter flanking his sides.
“Heika…”

Yuri turned to face Conrad, who put his hand on Yuri’s face to the others’ confusion.

“Why didn’t it work? Why didn’t he send me back…?”

Conrad let off a long sigh. He had hoped there would be this sort of explanation; however, that did signal his need to fortify his guard of his heika in this desperate state.

Yuri let his eyes trail to spot a corner of a curtain across the way as he murmured, nearly incoherent, “I love you Conrad. I love you, so please don’t hate me, my heart can’t take it anymore.”

Conrad stroked Yuri’s cheek, comforting the distraught youth, “I could never hate you, Yuri.”

Yuri’s eyes moved from their isolated gaze up towards Conrad’s eyes, locking on to them, “Then why do you keep pushing me away?”

Conrad broke his eye-contact with Yuri to address Wolfram, standing in the door, fuming.
The black-haired youth took the silence for rejection. “Then why did you bother to stop me from leaving! I just can’t understand—I can’t take this anymore. Your signals are so mixed up, how can I? What am I to you? Am I really JUST Julia’s shadow!? No wonder Adelbert raped me, he just presumed his fiancée would have WANTED it!”

For the second time today, Yuri was slapped on his right cheek. Well, it was really more like he was slugged. He landed on the floor, tasting the iron in his mouth, a thin trail of red leaked from behind his lips.

Wolfram lowered his clenched fist. “You’re revolting, how dare you say such vulgar things! How do you even THINK you compare to Julia!?”

“Wolfram! Stop it, now!” Conrad spat, quickly changing subjects, he addressed Yuri with a far more gentle tone, “Yuri…” He helped the stunned young man back up.

“You know he’s right. Conrad, time takes away… but it doesn’t give back.” Yuri said dejectedly. He hated how he had become; he never was so dark before. His eyes moved toward Wolfram who had seemed ready to beat him that moment.

“That’s IT! This is over. We’re done. I’m calling off the engagement you wimpy cheater!” He felt livid, how dare Yuri just stand there in front of him, throwing himself at Wolfram’s older brother? Yuri was making pass after pass—if he thought about him so much he could just HAVE him then! With that he stormed out of the room.

Yuri’s eyes watered, he hung his head in defeat. Everything he was afraid to have happen, from opening up, it was all occurring. He had been right when he assumed Wolfram would think he… he shuddered. Yuri’s skin crawled, he felt cold and slimy with just the thought of Wolfram thinking he could have wanted to be penetrated… violated by Adelbert.

Conrad took hold of Yuri’s arm, preventing Yuri from turning away, “You’re wrong.” Conrad put his thumb over Yuri’s bruised lip, “You’re so horribly wrong, I can’t even figure out how you mixed things up so much in your head.”

Gisela and Gunter knew it was far past time for them to leave, none of these moments were meant to be publicly aired, intruded upon. So, Conrad waited for them to leave before continuing his address to Yuri.

Yuri just stood there mutely, unsure of what else he had messed up.

After the door closed quietly, Conrad pulled Yuri into an embrace, “Yuri… if you want to know the truth so badly, I’ll tell you. I love you, so deeply and completely… and I am NOT in love with Julia’s reincarnation, I am in love with Shibuya Yuri, the twenty-seventh Maoh of Shin Makoku, the kind young man who wants to bring peace to the world. The same young man that has been able to bring a smile to my face for the last 16 years, the same young man who let me have hope again. If I thought you would have allowed it, I would have left during these last few days to track down and execute that piece of shit Adelbert von Grantz that hurt you like this.”

He pulled Yuri closer before reverberating, “I love you, Yuri.”

“C- Conrad?” Yuri closed his eyes, his lips twisting into a small smile. He felt weak, his body trembling under Conrad’s strong arms. Yuri’s smile strengthened as his eyes found their way to meeting Conrad’s chocolate-espresso colored ones, “I’m so happy right now… I finally have your strong arms around me again… please, please don’t take those away from me, don’t turn me away ever again!”

Conrad smiled reassuringly, “Never. I’ll never let you get away again, I’ll find a way to make you mine and I won’t let go to share.” He smiled at the younger man, eyes squinting closed as he made such a strong resolution, “Understand?”

Yuri smiled, “Really?” He wasn’t sure if Conrad could really hold such strong feelings towards him, oh how he had dreamed it, but… he needed the affirmation to solidify his hold on this new truth.

“Really.”

Yuri arched his face upward towards Conrad’s, pressing his own tattered lips to Conrad’s, locking into a passionate, though weak, kiss. Conrad’s arms were still supporting the most of Yuri’s weight.

Black hair tucked under Conrad’s chin as Yuri buried his face into the knight’s chest. He began to sob violently, trying to force out the image of two weeks ago out of his head. He wanted to forgive, needed to, but gods did that hurt! To actually pardon so desperate of a man after he had been defiled…

He managed to cry himself into a deep sleep, warm in Conrad’s ever-present arms.

Julia appeared before him. Approaching him, she touched Yuri’s shoulders putting the two face to face. He couldn’t help but notice how she had the gentleness of a mother to her. Without speaking, her words still entered his mind.

‘Yuri, let go. Pain begets more pain if you harbor it. I’m so sorry it happened, but it is my sin- no, my sacrifice that drove him to it.’

“It’s… my fault…?” Yuri thought back to Julia, subsequently muttering it in his sleep.
Both Conrad to Yuri’s physical self, and Julia to his dream self amended him, “No, it was never your fault, you did nothing wrong.”

Julia continued as Conrad raked his fingers through Yuri’s hair.

‘But I was the one to cause him such deep pain… if you don’t let this go, the cycle will merely continue.’

Yuri thought inwardly, as if affirming with Julia he would give in to her whim, ‘So, I need to grant him absolution…’ he understood somehow that he was really doing this not because Adelbert’s actions were right, but because that was the only way Yuri could forgive him, and with his deliverance, Yuri could also be liberated from these hurtful feelings.

The rest of the night had gone by unfitted with any dreams. As his eyes flickered open softly, he realized he was being held in Conrad’s nurturing grip.

In as gentle of a tone he could, Yuri asked for Conrad to wake up, knowing that Conrad had probably been awake long before now, but merely had made himself comfortable in order to wait out until Yuri had emerged from his own sleep.

“Oi, Yuri? You should rest more, that was the first time you had gotten a good sleep for a while.” Conrad replied.

Yuri looked into Conrad’s warm eyes searching for the right words, “Conrad, I’m going to say something that I’ve thought through thoroughly, and I know you’ll disagree, but please just hear me out. I need audience with Gunter, Gwendel, and Yozak as well.”

Conrad cocked his scarred eyebrow but consented to the maoh’s wishes.

Once the others arrived, Yuri was seated in a chair in his bedchamber, still not able to stand or walk for long periods of time. He cleared his throat nervously.

“I’ve come to my decision on the matter with Adelbert von Grantz and his punishment; he is to be absolved for his crime. I can’t make you forgive him, but know that this is my stance, and the stance of Shin Makoku. I have forgiven his transgression against me. If any of you come across him you are to tell him I’ve forgiven him. That’s all I wanted to say, thanks.”

The others were awestruck. Gwendel recovered the quickest as he started in, “Absolutely not!”

Gunter, almost in a fury, added, “There is no way we can allow this!”

Conrad, nor Yozak, made a comment at first.

Gunter and Gwendel began cutting in about how being too lenient for something as harsh as this would simply be unacceptable.

After a pregnant pause, Conrad finally spoke, “Alright. I understand. Nevertheless, I will not allow him to approach you again. If he does it will be an executable offense, and I WILL take his life.”

Yuri laughed more nervously than relaxed, “Conrad, that might be taking it too far… though I don’t particularly mind if you keep him away for a while… aha, ha… ha…” The laughter was taxed.

Conrad was happy that Yuri’s forgiveness was not coupled with forgetting the whole ordeal.

“This is absurd! He raped you, in case you have forgotten.” Gwendel stated, harshly.

“Oh, I RECALL, but this isn’t a debate, this is my will and this will be done.”

Gunter seemed to ask Conrad with his eyes to reason with the maoh.

“Yuri-heika, don’t you think you should explain why?” Yozak added after noticing Conrad’s happy resolve to be finished with it, after all, he had what he needed- Yuri back to normal, and a license to kill Adelbert next time he saw him.

Yuri’s eyes flashed, “Ah, that is…” Yuri took in a breath and prepared his thoughts, as he had rehearsed, “What good is it to punish him, you know how he is already suffering, and pain will only beget more pain, anyway. What he did- it was horrible! I know that better than any of you, but that’s all the more reason for you to take weight in my words. I don’t want there to be any more pain. I don’t want it! I’m done with it.”

Gwendel and Gunter both bowed in defeat, regardless of how naïve he was, he wouldn’t back down on this… form of idiocy.

Conrad made the point to add in, for the rest of their sakes, “All the same, we are not as merciful as our beloved Maoh. He has absolution from this, but any future contravention will be grounds to kill him.” He put a firm hand on Yuri’s shoulder.

“I don’t know if I’d say that, per say, but I won’t just overlook things either.”

Conrad’s hand relaxed on Yuri’s shoulder. Yuri admired and loved Conrad’s protective nature, he wouldn’t want to have him any other way.

iii.

Conrad sat at Yuri’s bedside, after all, the young man was still on the mend, the damage done was rather remarkable given the rather limited amount of time the attack had lasted.
Sipping on a brandy-like liquor, Conrad had tried to chase out his own memories, after all Yuri was struggling with, as brave-faced as he was being, Conrad felt obligated to be even stronger for him.

He recalled how it all started, three weeks ago, as Ulrich’s urgent messenger pigeon reached him warning of Yuri’s danger. The note itself was very explanatory for such a small piece of parchment. Yuri would have been in a fatal accident if he stayed on Earth, so Shinou had quickly pulled him through a portal, however, because there was no time in really preparing the portal properly, it wound up just dumping him in human territory, and there, he was still in considerable danger. He was shocked that when he turned the note over it had more… especially as the paper was approximately 5 by 5 centimeters. It stated that Yuri wouldn’t be able to go home until they were able to transport him with someone else, who would have to save him near instantaneously, or he would be waiting it out in Shin Makoku for a few years. Conrad was, again, shocked at the length of the note, especially when all he needed to see was, “Yuri’s in danger in human territory…” and then the location.

Hardly to Conrad’s surprise, when he had gotten back with Yuri he had been summoned to a counsel with Ulrich where she apologized profusely for not having another way.

He remembered coming into the swarming town, the angry villagers seemed to have a strange sense of relief that took his charm and charisma an all of five minutes to find out why, along with the promise of a cheap room at an inn if he needed it.

That had gone rather well, he thought bitterly as he sipped again at the caramel fluid, he returned his view over Yuri’s resting form. They had told him of how a double-black demon had appeared not more than an hour before, terrorizing the town, then the heralding way in which a dashing blond knight had single-handedly captured the demon, riding out with the demon in-hand, kicking and screaming!

Hearing that had been quite bad for his health for a few reasons. A.) Because Adelbert had Yuri, B.) through kidnapping him, C.) with Conrad having no clue where he was, and D.) with no idea of just what motives Adelbert had.

Long ago, there had been some unspoken rule between the two, a gentleman’s agreement of sorts, that being how they were both so invested in Julia, they knew the other would never allow harm to come to her, that they would protect her if it even cost them their lives. True, they both had a strong dislike for the other, but at the same time a deep understanding, after all- the reason they hated each other was out of envy for what the other had with Julia, Adelbert was envious of how Julia felt for Conrad, and Conrad was envious of how Julia’s hand was promised to Adelbert. That same distaste for each other was a mark of great respect, and understanding, especially after the war…

Conrad squeezed Yuri’s fatigued hand in his, gently.

When Yuri had come to the world, Conrad’s portion of the agreement was ever-fixed, and once Adelbert had found out of Yuri’s connection with Julia, he had assumed the man had stepped up, himself. However, when the idea crossed his mind that maybe that agreement was forgone since Adelbert no longer had any ‘property rights’ Conrad quickly began to question the validity of Adelbert von Grantz’es virtue. Soon, the flood-gate of scenarios leading ‘til that point made him realize that it was more likely a case of ill-opportunity more than honor that had led Adelbert to act in Yuri’s best interest to this point in time.

That was when his blood truly went three degrees colder. He remembered pushing his horse to travel faster, to close the gap, in full-stride his steed brought him closer and closer, he saw from afar the unsettling estate of things. Yuri fully disrobed, bound, legs in the air, and that haunting scream.

Conrad took another drink to that, or to forget that, whichever, anything to settle down that horrific spirit.

When Conrad had finally had Yuri in arm’s reach what he saw was horrifying. The things that Adelbert had done to him… No, the others had no idea what Yuri had gone through, though Conrad could argue that he had. He merely chose to fold to Yuri’s will, after all he would do anything Yuri asked.

As his eyes trailed over Yuri’s body, now tossing slightly in his large bed, the wounds opened in Conrad’s mind. The ligature marks, and from the pendant Julia had always been so fond of no less! Adelbert had to have felt there was some significance in that as he had tortured Yuri that way. One of the few people who even gave a shit about that man and wished him any shred of happiness…

His eyes traced the still-healing wounds to Yuri’s wrists, self-inflicted escape wounds, Conrad could only imagine just how hard Yuri had to have been pulling in order for that leather belt to cut in that deep. He even wound up putting notches into the damnable thing by pulling it against the tree.

Then there were the marks and bruises on his face, a bluish tinge was still visible at the edge of his hairline, his lips were swollen and purpled, a cut on the inside of his mouth he had decided not to probe from whence it came.

The next state of affairs he knew would be what required the most time to recover from, one of which had been the pure psychological damage, whereas the last of his physical wounds- his torn-up ass and lower back, would be the other. True, it was hard to make the virgin-wounds for anal sex life-threatening, but it still could be done with some effort. Was there internal bleeding, rupturing? Had he been sodomized…? Conrad moved under the assumption that as this was a crime of opportunity, and that Adelbert had known just how little time he had, that those extensive sorts of injuries were unlikely. After all, why else in the woods, or with the horse so close by… Yuri had been ripped, though, badly.

He knew what that sort of pain was for a virgin when they were coupled with a well trained, loving partner, with proper lubrication, stretching, and care… as it were, what Yuri had to have felt was like pulling out a quill-tipped arrow, in jerky motions no less. No, when he made his full assessment he knew Yuri wouldn’t die from it, but he could see where the younger, inexperienced man could have gotten the impression.

Conrad had known there was no way to have carried Yuri back to Shin Makoku in that state, so, when he had finally gotten Yuri in a slightly-better-than-unbearable position sitting side-saddled on Conrad’s lap, it was decided that quite simply they would be staying in the town that had less than three hours ago tried to kill him.

Conrad noticed Yuri was having a good dream, as he was smiling in his sleep, he brushed the bangs out of his eyes.

Step one had been to hide Yuri under his coat, step two, to get a room in the inn. Step three required shopping for supplies, a change of clothes- loose clothes- for Yuri, hair dye, sunglasses, bandages, antiseptics, special herbal brews to treat for pain and induce sleep… food, and toiletries. By that point in the ordeal Yuri had been giving Conrad the silent treatment, and bad. Simultaneously, though, Yuri seemed to be too jumpy and upset to speak with anyone. Frankly, it was probably beneficial as far as keeping Yuri from blowing his own cover.

Conrad had taken on the role of interpreter to Yuri’s silent needs and demands. Every dish, drink, need for a break… Conrad saw to it without delay. He was so used to watching Yuri that Yuri had probably thought it was a form of telepathy that had kept Conrad so on-target. He even made sure to call him Yuri to keep the highly agitated youth at nerves end as calm as possible.

After three days of physically resting at the inn, Conrad trusted he could make the trek back with Yuri. All the same, he had doped Yuri up with enough sleeping and pain medicine to get him flying higher than half the dragons on Shin Makoku’s reserve. Yuri didn’t seem to complain for it, verbally or non. In fact, Yuri seemed to relax, very slightly, at his return.

It had hit Conrad on just how hard this all was for Yuri when he refused to even see Greta.

Conrad recalled how he had been the only one with free access to come or go around Yuri, which infuriated Wolfram to Conrad’s recollection.

He recalled on how badly it had gotten when Yuri had finally managed to get to a hallway near the courtyard, which took a substantial amount of doing on Yuri’s behalf—and Wolfram had tried to approach him, rebuking him for how cold he was being, as Wolfram’s insistence kept rising, Yuri’s patience plummeted until finally, Yuri transformed. He had hurdled Wolfram into the baths using his water dragons, and disappeared.

It had taken an hour for the Flying-Bone-Tribe to find Yuuri on the roof asleep, spent.

That was when Yuri switched tactics to avoid people by doing paperwork and studying.

Conrad placed his glass down, now content on just watching Yuri as he continued to sleep, he looked as though he would be waking up soon.

He supposed that the decision was based on Yuri’s severe boredom, and severe inability to do anything else. Yuri had no idea how near he came to killing two of his advisors from shock when Gunter and Gwendel had spotted him studying, reading and signing legislation. Gwendel had actually attempted to discourage the idea, justifying that Yuri shouldn’t be out of bed only to have the door slammed then locked on him. Conrad had seen how his older brother’s eyebrow was stuck perched up in annoyance the rest of the say.

He smiled to himself thinking about how much Gwendel must have wanted to call him a brat for that, but would be unable to- after all, the argument of how dare he do his work sort of fell short of ‘bratty behavior’ in context.

Yuri had unlocked the door an hour later when Gunter had insisted that he rescue Yuri from paperwork, and with one knock, Yuri unlocked the door and Conrad had ushered him back into the bed.

It seemed like it was so long ago that Yuri had acted like that, and yet not far enough into the past. After three weeks it was almost as if he made a full recovery, well, if one overlooked half of Yuri’s pleasant bullshit.

Most of the time, he’d have normal conversation on autopilot, he’d completely forget to contribute or listen for up to five minutes, zoning out only to snap out of it to add in irrelevant comments from other autopilot conversations like how for dinner he would like the color blue to go with the new décor in the soup made out of Greta’s favorite bedtime story chicken.

Of course, he’d laugh it off like it was a joke, then walk away to rest, leaving a wake of concerned advisors and castle staff.

Even some of that was merely an act he kept up to make people think the air was lightening up around him, though Conrad supposed some of that very same tactic was to trick himself.

As it were, most of the smiles were tacked on just so Yuri could keep moving forward. When he rested though, Conrad could see Yuri’s real state of mind. The black-hair youth had found a way to stop crying when he was awake, but when he slept he had no such control. He prided himself for being able to keep Yuri company when he cried, if even the maoh wasn’t aware of it. Conrad used that to convince himself that his selfish love, as he had so thought of it up until recently, was what was making Yuri cry and plead less and less each night.

He still saw the effects though, oh he still saw the slight limp, how his legs would wobble under his weight or how he’d breathe a string of, “Itai… itai… itai…” when going up the stairs or making jarring motions.

As the night-time sky was starting to finally ink the ground in darkness, Yozak rushed into Yuri’s room, startling Yuri awake and causing Conrad to reach for his sword with one arm, the other arm instinctively pushing Yuri back behind him, and to the bed.

“Captain!”

Conrad relaxed his sword, apparently Yozak had urgent news, Yuri seemed very startled at the sudden intrusion, Conrad attempted to excuse himself and Yozak from the room. “Yuri, pardon me, we’ll be just outside the door.”

Yuri’s eyes were watery, nerves were instantly frayed. He really hoped Yozak had a good reason for this!

Yozak seemed to think going outside of the door was a GREAT idea, even though he had been so hell-bent to find Conrad so quickly…

They went behind the door, though, truthfully Yuri went up to the door to listen, if only just to hear Conrad’s voice.

“Captain, this is horrible! I have information that Adelbert plans on striking the castle to kidnap Yuri-heika, and not for ransom.”

Yuri pulled the door open to gawk at Yozak, visibly trembling. “N… Nani? Eh! No way!” He began backing up into his room, Conrad looked at Yuri as he fumbled backward, he looked back to Yozak then back to Yuri, then back to Yozak.

“Yozak- when?!”

“Tonight, Captain. The plan is for tonight.”

Conrad heard a thump as Yuri hit the ground, clutching his stomach. “I’m going to be sick…”

iv.

As Conrad’s military fell into formation, Wolfram, Yozak and Conrad had returned to Yuri’s bedchamber. Gunter and Gwendel well into orchestrating tactics and strategies for the overall invasions on the borders and finding out any information they could from other grass networks.

“Yuri, we need to transport you to somewhere safer, less accessible.”

Yuri grabbed Conrad’s arm, not truly willing to be separated from the one stabilizing force in his life right now. “You’ll be my guard, won’t you…?”

Wolfram glared at him, “Of course he won’t. That would be the worst idea in the history of ever. Adelbert would seek out and attack Sir Weller with all his strength, being near him would be the same as putting a sign on you that read ‘take me’.”

Yuri looked at Wolfram horrified, particularly at that wording ‘take me’, he tightened his grip on Conrad’s arm, burying his face into Conrad’s side.

“It would be better to separate you from the captain for other reasons, boyo. For one, you’re hardly mobile, so if you’re somewhere very hard to reach that will make any attempts that much more difficult on any would-be abductors, and with Conrad free to move his men around, well, he’s the best defense for Adelbert.” Yozak stated, hoping to smooth out Wolfram’s frayed attempts of concern into a bit less horrifying foretelling.

Yuri’s arms relaxed from their death grip on Conrad’s, still wrapped around his. “Conrad?”

“Yuri, they both have very valid points. Adelbert will most likely seek me out first, and if he does not, I will no doubt seek him. You would be in far more danger, and your limited mobility would only compound the jeopardy to your well-being.”

“…” Yuri’s eyes seemed upset, after all, who was better to guard Yuri then his knight Conrad!

Seeming to read that, Conrad ventured, “Wolfram would be the perfect substitute in my absence as your personal guard.”

Yuri’s eyes went wide, Wolfram bowed his head once in agreement.

“You have a place in mind to bring him, after all, right?” Conrad mentioned, smiling slightly at his brother, after all- between his love for Yuri, his pride as a nobleman, skill, and knowledge of the grounds and Yuri… he was a far better candidate than Yozak who would be an asset wasted by removing from the front-line.

No, Wolfram was far better a choice, his skills for guarding were equal in worth to Yozak’s usefulness on the open ground.

“Paints.” Wolfram commented, it described it perfectly, Conrad nodded.

“Yozak, please help Wolfram escort Yuri to the summer estate’s doors. I would suggest going no closer, otherwise you might track the smell.”

“Ah, we wouldn’t want to give them any hints, ne? Okay Captain.”

Yuri’s eyes were still wide, not sure fully of what was going on, even as Conrad started to dress him in layers. He snapped out of his haze when he felt Morgif’s weight add to his hip.

“Eh?! Anou, Conrad… are you…”

“Yozak, Wolfram, why don’t you scout out a route that won’t draw any attention.” Conrad suggested, when the two left, Conrad returned his attention to Yuri.

“…Are you sure your brother won’t kill me?” He asked, slightly founded from his vantage point.

“Of course he won’t.” Conrad smiled at Yuri disarming him, oh he hoped Yuri would forgive him for this. Wolfram would keep Yuri put, and had something he had to say. Conrad owed it to his brother that he have this hashed out. “He is very loyal and dedicated to Shin Makoku, and you, Yuri.”

Yuri blanched before looking back at Conrad, locking eyes.

Oh he hoped Yuri wouldn’t be too angry for him for trapping him into that lengthy conversation.

“Alright, I believe you Conrad.” He sighed, “But… is it really a good idea? Not having you at my side… it makes me uneasy, you know.”

Conrad took Yuri’s hand in his, gently. “I know, and I’m sorry, but this really is the best course of actions. You can’t move freely, the front-line would be far too risky for you, but I must be at the front-line, no one else is qualified for it, not even Gwendel or Gunter. If there was another way, I’d be all for it, but I trust him. He won’t let you down. I promise.”

The brunette threw Yuri a smile laced with so much inner strength and confidence that it radiated what felt to Yuri with the brightness of a thousand suns. And really, who could disagree against a weapon that powerful?

Yuri was disarmed, “Alright.” He kissed Conrad on the lips. He smiled weakly as he pulled back, “I’m holding you to that.” He staggered toward the door to find Yozak waiting there patiently, instantly taking on the role of Yuri’s crutch.

The young man was escorted to the outer threshold of the summer estate before Yozak lowered Yuri’s arm from across Yozak’s shoulder, leaving Yuri to hobble on his own into the dark, dank place.

Wolfram took Yuri’s hand once the door was closed, blocking the door with debris. The place looked so dilapidated that no one should really be surprised if a support beam fell in front of the door, after all.

Using his fire magic, his hand gave off a soft ambience. “Don’t trip, I’m going to lower you to the bottom floor, near the old nest.”

Yuri nodded but seriously, he was really getting taxed. This was a lot more work than it looked like with the pain shooting across his back. He held up his hand as if asking for a break, “Have to stop… for a moment.” He panted in a breath of air, he was near a massive hole in the heart of the house between the double set of stairs.

“You’re almost there, Yuri. I just have to lower you down, then I’ll get you somewhere less visible.” Wolfram said.

Yuri noticed that when Wolfram spoke gently like this, he was really reminded of Conrad, in fact, it made him respect Wolfram to some degree. He just wished they could be friends after all this. The guilt of messing everything up was really hard on him, he could have been really good friends with Wolfram had he just known the rituals and customs… or listened to Conrad and taken it back. He sighed, which Wolfram seemed to take as a sign of pain.

“Can you sit down?”

Black eyes found green, “Oh, yeah… I should be able to.” He sat on the edge of the wooden boards where Wolfram suggested.

Wolfram grabbed one of Yuri’s arms, “Now slide off.”

Yuri’s eyes went wide, “Are you serious?” He looked down, it seemed so far down to jump. He decided to trust Conrad’s assessment and consented.

As he lowered himself, Wolfram grabbed his other arm, then lowered him roughly another 90cm further. “Do you see that spent webbing?”

Yuri looked at him, confused, “Yeah. Why?”

“Good. I’m going to let go, try to slide down it.”

“Eh?!” Yuri managed as Wolfram let go.

For the most part he slipped down the thing fairly well, until he landed on the floor, his back shot very angry signals at him, telling him he was a jerk and not his friend, that he had bad fashion sense, and other trash talk.

“Itai… itai… itai…” He chanted quietly, he turned to spot Wolfram.

“Are you okay?”

Rubbing his lower back with one hand, wincing, with the other he waved it off, after all, it was an inevitability. He noticed at that moment how Wolfram’s eyes looked concerned. If only that guy could just act more calm and rational like Conrad, his sanity would be fortified, though he supposed it was mean of him to expect Wolfram to be his brother, or even more like him, after all Wolfram was Wolfram.

The blond almost seemed to be a flight attendant the way he glided down the web as if it were an emergence evacuation slide. He even managed to not land ON Yuri, which, he was very thankful for.

Wolfram helped Yuri to his feet, though, Yuri didn’t feel that was very helpful at the moment as pain raked over him in crashing waves.

He guided Yuri behind a set of spent webs away from any openings before sitting him down in a set of shadows that actually had some cushioning other than fallen concrete and wood. Yuri just continued to watch Wolfram, wondering how it was that the blond was finally acting like a decent person.

“You really are a no-good cheat. If you cheat on my brother, even for me, I’ll feed you to a sand bear.” Wolfram said after feeling Yuri’s eyes on him for too long.

“…That’s not it. Wolfram, I was just thinking that you really, grew up… is that the right way to say it? It’s nice.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I hurt you, but I really do love Conrad.”

“I don’t want to hear it. It’s over, it never even started, and I knew it didn’t. It’s not a surprise to me, I just thought I could have won you over.” Wolfram explained, he put his sword in front of him, so he’d be able to draw it easily if necessary. “I want you to know I still love you, even if it’s as a platonic love. I plan to stay loyal to you. Really, what’s amazing is how Conrad fell for you more than you just falling for him. After all, you are a cheat and a wimp.”

Yuri growled, “I am not a cheat! I’m still a virgi--”

He froze, shoulders dropping he shook, well he supposed Wolfram got that point.
Wolfram put his hand on Yuri’s shoulder like a comrade, “I’m NOT talking about that, Yuri. I meant with Conrad. You don’t really see how much it shows, how much you love my brother. I can’t really be mad about it though. He loves you, you love him… and you’re totally too weak to take care of yourself, and he’s really strong, it makes sense.” He continued to tease.

Yuri lowered his face to his hands. “He’s not why we didn’t work.”

“I know. I just thought if there was no one else, I could trick you into thinking it did.”

Yuri just blinked at Wolfram in complete confusion. “…”

Wolfram reached his hand toward Yuri’s cheek, “I just want you both to be happy. You’re two of the most important people in my life. And, I’m still Greta’s dad.”
Yuri laughed lightly, until Wolfram’s hand pushed hard on his face, over his eyes and pushed him down. His hand quickly covered Yuri’s mouth. Yuri’s heartbeat accelerated at a worrisome sense of déjà vu.

“Shh! I hear something!”

Yuri’s heart left his throat, he felt faint, and in fact, upon trying to sit up, he found he could not, nor could he particularly find enough air to make him stay awake.
“Yuri!” Wolfram whispered at the semi-conscious form.

Wolfram drew his sword silently.

“Julia, where are you!”

Yuri’s eyes were completely fogged over, “Adelbert…?” He mumbled weakly.

Wolfram couldn’t believe it, it was like he was possessed, not by the maoh… but, was this Julia?! The necklace was levitating, hovering at mid-chest as though the leather was tethering it to ground.

Where was Conrad! How could he just let Adelbert get this far onto the grounds?!
“…Torch the place.” As Adelbert left, a few heavy steps came in behind him, and the distinctive sounds of metal clashing could be heard, as could the crackle-sounds of a fire.

Yuri was glowing faintly.

Wolfram thought to himself as he started to see the glow of orangy-yellow how bad of a predicament they were in. He wouldn’t be able to get Yuri out easily, there’s a fire overhead, Adelbert and no-doubt Conrad outside the doors… and as if insult to injury, even if Yuri did wake up, he wouldn’t be able to help climb anyway!

His eyes fell back down to Yuri, wondering what he should do next, the webbing was highly flammable, so they couldn’t exactly use that to help…

Yuri’s eyes batted open then shot open fully, slit-pupils found focus quickly, he sat then stood up.

“…The Maoh?” Wolfram was in disbelief. As the maoh form began to rise, a watery bubble also took Wolfram upward, keeping him on his feet as he was brought a full two stories up. The fires being dowsed by the torrent rain, he deposited Wolfram on the earth as he began to approach the fighting Adelbert and Conrad.

Adelbert made another advance toward Conrad, this time the maoh pushed him back, also separating Conrad. As it stood, Adelbert was sporting the most of the wear from the battle.

The maoh, much to Conrad’s anger, was now in the exact opposite position he wanted, instead of Conrad between he and Adelbert, Conrad was behind Yuri as the black-haired maoh spoke to Adelbert.

“Adelbert, give this up. Take your supporters and leave. You have been absolved of your crime. You must release yourself from this pain.”

The bulky man glared, using his own earth magic put up a barrier to block the water’s path before charging through. The maoh pushed away the debris as well as the next of Adelbert’s attacks, while still keeping Conrad in check.

Once more he charged, and as he did, the maoh dropped his water shields completely, in time for Adelbert to reach through to grab his shoulder and shake him.

Black, slit eyes caught piercing blue ones.

“How can you say something so foolish! Do you know what I’ve done! Don’t you understand that, you stupid kid!”

He punched the Maoh across the face, which the maoh made no attempt to block. Adelbert made several more physical attacks trying to raise the maoh’s own defense mechanisms.
“You fool, you stupid, naïve, bratty child! Don’t you understand anything at all!” His eyes took focus as he drew a side dagger, the maoh retook his defensive stance then, pushing Adelbert back five meters before having a water dragon wrap around the arm holding the blade.

“Adelbert von Grantz, don’t you see what you are doing? Have you not realized that I have forgiven you, the one who is foolish is yourself, YOU are the one hurting yourself now.”
Von Grantz gritted his teeth, “You think I don’t know that?! But how can I just continue… you’re his now, aren’t you!” He glared at Conrad, who was still vying for his blade and the chance to slice down the giant ass.

“I am my own.” The black haired presence stated firmly, “I love all of the people and mazoku of this world, including you, and Wolfram, and yes, I am IN love with Conrad.”
Conrad looked at Yuri, his view softened only momentarily before going back to strict focus, the maoh allowed his grip on Conrad to relax, as he did, the brunette rushed to put distance between his beloved and his beloathed.

Adelbert continued to look at the dagger he held in his hand. Angrily, he clutched the handle, “That’s not acceptable to me.” He looked in the maoh’s eyes, “I don’t want a world where I have to share Julia.”

The maoh’s eyes softened, “I’m no longer Julia… haven’t you realized that, Adelbert…?”
The blade went flying through the air. Yuri’s eyes shot wide before collapsing back to his youthful form in a waking catatonia, Conrad laid Yuri back onto the ground before he glared at Adelbert.

“Leave now and I won’t kill you today.” Conrad mentioned through grinding teeth.

“Hmph, if you could have, you would have by now.” He lowered his head to look at Yuri once more, “When he wakes up tell him I’d rather atone then seek blind absolution.”
Conrad was ready to throw out several witty, cruel things, but really, Adelbert’s rank of relevance at the exact moment in a list of 1 to 100 was 100, 1 through 99 being strictly about Yuri.

He couldn’t believe it, the blade was wedged against the protective amulet so much that it had crimped the metal, the charm itself not even scratched. It was as though an invisible barrier had taken the brunt.

As Yuri’s eyes darted back and forth he recalled the last thing he had seen before checking out, it had been a fleeting glimpse of a bright white light, two very feminine arms reaching out from within the blue charm, embracing the blade, and then he saw blue. A blue more brilliant than the sky and water, then suddenly feeling so warm it could have been a fever, all washed away by looking up and seeing the most comforting shades of browns known to him. The colors matched perfectly to Conrad’s hair and eyes.

He blinked looking up at Conrad, “…Eh?” He let out a small groan. “I’m all achy now, how annoying.”

He giggled to himself as if he was completely relieved. “I somehow feel like everything just worked itself out.” Conrad looked deeply into Yuri’s eyes.

He thought to himself, only you would think that Yuri, but opted to just hold Yuri tighter to his chest. That had been terrifying to see. Conrad pulled back and kissed Yuri.

“Yuri, I love you.”

Yuri smiled slightly, still tired. He then touched the pendant Conrad had given him, “This pendant really is a charm.” He kissed it to his lips, “I’m sorry you had to be hurt like that, Julia.” He whispered to it.

His eyes met Conrad’s as the man gave him a look of utmost confusion, “She stopped the cycle, heh, I guess I couldn’t really take her place in putting an end to it.” Shaking his head, “No, no that wouldn’t make sense to you, sorry Conrad. It’s just that… only Julia could have reached Adelbert when he was like that. I think that’s why he did it… he was reaching out to her, and so he attacked me… but it didn’t bring her out, so he had to admit that nothing really would? Does that make sense?”

Looking at Conrad’s very confused features, or maybe it was more shocked face, Yuri corrected himself, “It doesn’t then. I guess it doesn’t really matter, though. All that matters was that he finally got his answer from her, the only way it could be delivered.”
Conrad grasped Yuri tight to his chest, “That meant through you? I don’t want you two passing notes ever again, then.”

Yuri smiled, so Conrad had understood what he was trying to say. “Ne, Conrad, I know I’ve told you I love you, and you’ve said it back… so I have a question.”

“Yes Yuri?”

He smiled at Conrad, and asked in the way only a teenaged-boy with no experience in romantic love could, “Would you go out with me… I mean, date me?”

Conrad laughed slightly amused, then coughed into his fist trying to cover his bemused smile. “Ah, of course, heika.”

Yuri growled after scrunching his face, lips pointed outwardly. “It’s Yu--!”

Conrad kissed him before he could finish his typical response, “You’re beautiful, Yuri.”

v.

Yuri looked at Conrad a bit confused as they stood before the temple, “Ah, I know you agreed to go on a date with me, but, is this really how it’s done here? Going to a temple?”

Black hair bobbed to the side as Yuri cocked his head, looking at Conrad in an impossibly cute pose.

“I like to think we could do something a bit different than normal customs, Heika.” Conrad said, he took hold of Yuri’s hand, then leaned over, tilting his neck downward to compensate for his height advantage, and kissed Yuri.

“…You really need to stop calling me that!” Yuri said, but he couldn’t help to blush a little, a smile ever-growing as he squeezed Conrad’s hand in response.

“Ah, yes, well we’ll see, Yuri, after all it is a habit of mine.” He thought to himself about just how adorable Yuri looked, it really was too much.

It wasn’t as if he could leave the situation as it was, though. “Let’s go.”

Conrad pulled Yuri into the temple. “Oi, Conrad, really what can we do here? I don’t understand. Come on, tell me what’s going on. Ne, explain Conrad, please!”

“I’m not going to ruin the surprise.” He smiled playfully, it really was enjoyable, the thought of surprising Yuri this way.

Yuri entered the temple grounds, both approached the fountain to sit and watch the waters, Yuri supposed it could be considered romantic to just take in a beautiful view but this didn’t seem like something really surprise-worthy. There had to be something else…

“Close your eyes, Yuri.” Conrad put his hand over Yuri’s eyes, he leaned in and kissed him, underneath his hand he felt Yuri’s eyelashes fall as a gentle tickle over his callused skin.

Yuri felt like he was falling forever in Conrad’s kiss, he felt as if he was being pulled into it and it felt wet… His eyes shot open as he was on his back, asphalt and gravel underneath him and over him, Conrad was looking down from on top of him.

He blinked, trying to understand just what exactly happened… His eyes shot back and forth taking in the scenery. He looked up into Conrad’s warm, stunning brown eyes.

Conrad had worn his ‘civilian’ garb, Yuri had been suspicious about that. Not like he didn’t love that blue undershirt, white dress shirt that he left unbuttoned, those sexy fitted charcoal colored pants. “Are you alright, Yuri?”

The brunette smiled at Yuri a bit too confidently, almost like he knew something.
He helped Yuri sit up just in time for someone from a slow-forming crowd to shout out, “Are you alright?!”

Yuri turned toward the direction of the buzzing voice, his eyes went wide, two cars had slammed into each other in the pedestrian walk-way no more than two feet from where he lay.

“Conrad!” Yuri’s mouth gaped open as if in complete disbelief.

The brunette knelt on one knee and extended his hand to help Yuri up. Yuri gave Conrad his hand instinctually as the older man pulled him to his feet as he also stood.

“Yes, Yuri?” His voice was angelic with how much innocence he was throwing Yuri’s way. It was suspicious. Too suspicious, then it dawned on Yuri.

“Wait a second, where are we?” Yuri said looking around.

Other people glanced his way, some wondering if he hit his head when he hit the ground, others seemed more interested on the people being pulled from the cars.

Yuri pulled Conrad’s sleeve suggesting they walk away from the scene of the accident.

“We’re back on Earth, Yuri.” Conrad smiled.

“…That was your surprise? We get to go on a date on Earth…” Yuri said, fairly discrete given his own amazement.

That warm, beautiful smile just confirmed it for him. Yuri pulled Conrad quickly to a more discrete-looking alley then the open street. He pulled Conrad into a full-contact embrace, the entire length of his torso pressed to Conrad’s, putting both hands on the sides of Conrad’s face as he pulled his head down with the brunette’s compliance, to kiss him passionately.

Conrad snaked his arms around the small of Yuri’s back, to tighten the embrace, grinding slightly more into Yuri as he deepened the kiss before they mutually pulled back to break it. Conrad gave Yuri a pleasant smile, “Ah, we should stop there for now.” He whispered, taking Yuri’s hand he escorted him from the alleyway.

“I suppose you’re right. Japan has a bit more shame then that kind of open displays of public affection. Though I can’t see us as having too much time to ourselves at my house, either.”

Conrad tapped Yuri’s nose, “I’m taking you on a date, not home, Yuri.” He whispered in Yuri’s ear, “I plan on keeping you all to myself for a little bit, and here’s the perfect place.”

Yuri smiled warmly, “Ah, actually… we should stop at home first. I should get changed if we’re going to go out…” Yuri thought to himself how it might look for someone Conrad’s age to walk around with Yuri in a school uniform, it looked suspicious… and just a bit shota.

“If you want, later we could do other things…” Conrad gave a slightly suggestive look that made Yuri turn very pink, he put the meaty part of his palm below his thumb over his mouth to cover his curious, interested smile.

“Ah ha, ha, so what did you want to do on our date?” Yuri said, slightly more relaxed.
“There are some things we can’t do in Shin Makoku that we can do here, like go to the movies, watch a ball game, eat ice cream…”

It seemed to dawn on Yuri before Conrad that he really doubted either of them had the money to necessarily do all of that at once. Conrad seemed to anticipate Yuri’s response as he took out his wallet.

Yuri cocked his head to the side, he’d seen Conrad with a coin purse, a wallet was a bit new. He didn’t know Shin Makoku had paper money… Conrad pulled out plastic. Yuri didn’t know Shin Makoku had that kind of currency…

He took out his credit/bank card. “Of course it’s my treat.”

“…Why… how…?” Yuri seemed shocked, no, he was shocked.

“I’ve been here before, Yuri. I understand how your currency system works. I wouldn’t just come unprepared or put a hardship on you.”

Yuri looked at him, a bit baffled, “Of course you wouldn’t…” He finished aloud accidentally, “…perfect people like you don’t make mistakes like that…”

He blushed at himself.

Conrad glanced away to give Yuri a moment to compose himself. “So, what would you like to do first?” He returned wearing a suave smile as he gracefully continued to seduce Yuri shamelessly. He’d waited this long, like he was going to just give ‘public-displays-of-affection’ a serious concern, he would just make sure he didn’t do anything to jeopardize Yuri’s social standings.

With that disregard in mind, he draped his arm around Yuri’s shoulder in a way that could be interpreted as playful or brotherly to outsiders, especially with the age difference and the freedom at which he gave it. No, most would misinterpret it completely, but the person under his arm knew exactly what that presence was.

Yuri closed his eyes and had an open-mouthed smile as he continued to gab with Conrad freely. It was like walking through the villages in Shin Makoku with Conrad, the way they could just freely converse.

After walking a ways, they were near a movie theatre. As if Yuri’s mind had finally stumbled into a brick wall, his legs made a grinding halt. He turned to face Conrad with a look of someone who just came to a realization. His smile fell into a parted set of lips, the corners neither raised nor lower. Eyes turned up to look at Conrad.

“…” Yuri’s eyes searched for Conrad’s instinctively, as if hoping they could communicate that need, that thought with him through just the look.

Which, of course, with Conrad it could. Conrad squeezed his shoulder and leaned down to his ear, softly he responded, “We’ll take as long as you need, Yuri. I’m not going to push you into anything you’re not ready to do.”

He let out a relaxed sigh, completely relieved. “Conrad, how do you… how do you do that?” He looked back at Conrad’s eyes, and there, he saw the answer as clearly as Conrad had read him. Because he could do it to, Yuri could also understand the thoughts Conrad conveyed.

That was the kind of closeness they had, so much so that the other was an extension. He kissed as far up as he could reach by stepping up on his own toes, leaving him to kiss Conrad’s neck. He returned the pressure back to the soles of his feet planting them on firm ground.

Camaraderie, solidarity, whatever the others tried to call it they always fell short, no. Understandings like this were something meant for people who truly had an implicit connection. Yuri laughed slightly as he thought the charming little thought which seemed to pass on to Conrad, as the brunette also chuckled softly.

Soul-mates, that was the connection others always tried to categorize, and always failed to grasp.

“I know we won’t get to stay long like this… so, let’s make sure not to waste a minute of it.”

Conrad squeezed Yuri close, as he ushered Yuri into the theatre, guiding him to the specific number the clerk had told him, “It’s not possible to do that. Every second with you is precious.”

Yuri blushed as they entered theatre 5, sitting toward the back corner, the two happily brought their bodies that much closer to each other.

The End.
by Vanessa S. Quest