Bgal's Journal

I hate y'all for tempting me to do this....

2008-07-03T13:11:48Z

Pick a fandom (or two) and I'll tell you:

1. The first character I fell in love with.
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now.
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't.
4. The character I love that everyone else hates.
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer.
6. The character I would shag anytime.
7. The character I'd want to be like.
8. The character I'd slap.
9. A pairing that I love.
10. A pairing that I hate.

I'll imagine what's happening...

2008-07-02T01:32:51Z

Hoo boy I'm not *even* going to click to read that discussion in the Kyou Kara Maou community. No sir. I can't.

FIC: Full of Smoke - Chapter III

2008-06-25T16:49:30Z

Title: Full of Smoke
Author: Batty_Gal a.k.a Tetra26
Rating: T+
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou
Pairing: Wolfram x Yuuri, barely.
Word Count: 5000+ for all three chapters.
Fic Type: 3 chapters
Genre: Tragedy; Angst; Drama; Character Death
Summary: Sometimes, the one who finds it hardest to forgive you is yourself. Tragedy; character deaths; angst. Wolfram-centric. Wolfram x Yuuri, if you squint – with bifocals on.

Full of Smoke

by Tetra26 a.k.a Batty Gal on LJ

Summary – Sometimes, the one who finds it hardest to forgive you is yourself. Tragedy; character deaths; angst.Wolfram-centric. Wolfram x Yuuri, if you squint – with bifocals on.

Chapter III of III

The two men stared at each other for quite some time. Neither of them could figure out a way to break their sixteen-year silence to one another.

Wolfram was terrified. Not of any physical violence that the man might do to him, but of the rejection that he expected to come. Even with Shinou hinting that the Maou had forgiven him for murdering his best friend, he was afraid that all of this was still a trick.

Yuuri was equally terrified. He had wanted, for so many years, to find Wolfram – to tell him that he had forgiven him. To ask forgiveness for his violent actions in return. But he had heard the whispers about Wolfram's mental state, and was afraid that going to him would make him worse off.

Wolfram decided to speak first. After all, he had nothing to lose – he had already lost everything. He still couldn't bring himself to believe that Shinou hadn't been the one tricking him, but he didn't think things could get any worse than they had been for the past sixteen years.

“Yuuri, I'm sorry. For everything,” he said. “I know what I did was unforgivable...”

“I forgave you years ago, Wolfram. Can you forgive me?”

Wolfram was more surprised at hearing Yuuri ask him for forgiveness than hearing that the other man had forgiven him. “Forgive you? Why would I need to forgive you? You did nothing wrong...”

“Wolfram, I almost killed you.”

“But you were right to...”

“No. I reacted the same way you did, without knowing the whole truth of the matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is, I probably wouldn't have done that had I known the reason behind what happened. I simply ran to the commotion, took in the scene, and reacted. I didn't know that you only did it because you thought Murata was raping her.”

Wolfram was shocked. He had always thought that the Maou had did that to him even knowing the reason why he had killed the Sage. “That doesn't change that I'm a murderer though,” he said, bitterly.

“It doesn't change that you killed him, but you aren't a murderer. If I had come across a scene like that and assumed my daughter was being raped, I would have probably done the same thing as you – regardless of who it was.”

Yuuri's words resonated throughout Wolfram's mind, and the sixteen-year wall of anguish he had built inside of him started to crumble.

“So once again, I ask. Do you forgive me?” Yuuri said, and smiled at him.

“Like I said, there's nothing to forgive – but yes, I...”

Suddenly, Wolfram screamed as sharp pains went through his head. His mind started to replay the events from that unfortunate day. The murder; the attack; the physical recovery; the first time he had a meltdown afterwards; the “treatment” for his mental problems; his first and only suicide attempt; “Shinou's” taunts; all of it came back to him.

Wolfram's vision of Yuuri faded out, and he collapsed to the floor.

“Did you really think it would be that easy?” Shinou's amused voice rang in Wolfram's ears.

Wolfram couldn't open his eyes, he couldn't move, he didn't even know where he was – he was simply in darkness.

“Did you? Answer me. Did you really think you could go back to Shin Makoku, and would be forgiven for your murderous act?”

Wolfram couldn't say anything. He simply listened to the familiar, taunting voice that had harassed him daily for sixteen years.

“Do you really think what just happened was real?”

Wolfram didn't know what to think. Had the entire thing been fake? Everything had seemed so very real, he found it hard to believe it wasn't. How could that have not been Greta's body in that casket? How could that have not been Conrart's arms that wrapped him into a hug? How could that have not been Yuuri in front of him, forgiving him?

“You really are delusional.”

Wolfram tried to move his mouth to speak, but nothing could come out.

“Those people hate you there.”

Those people? Why would Shinou refer to them as those people when he's one of them? And why was his voice starting to sound so strange?

“They don't want you back here,” Shinou's voice cracked, weirdly.

Here? But didn't he just say there? Wolfram was even more confused. Where was he? Back at the manor? In the shrine? In the castle? Or in the hospital again, perhaps?

“You don't belong here,” the voice said, sounding nothing like Shinou

Wolfram was beginning to understand what was going on.

“I don't belong here,” his voice said, only he wasn't the one who used it.

So Shinou had been telling the truth! This had never been his work – it had always been Wolfram's own doing. Always.

“They can't forgive me,” his voice said, sadly.

“They already have,” Wolfram said, finally managing to speak up. “I'm the only one who couldn't forgive me.”

Wolfram felt himself losing lucidity again, and whatever piece of him that had played such trickery on himself spoke up, one last time.

“Until now.”

“What did you do to him?” Walterona von Bielefeld demanded of the Maou. “Don't you understand how messed up he is? Hasn't he been through enough?”

“I didn't do anything to him! We were talking, and all of a sudden he screamed, held his head, and passed out!” the worried man said.

“What did you say to him?”

“I didn't say anything bad, I just asked him to forgive me.”

Walterona stopped dead in his pacing. “You what?”

“I asked him to forgive me,” Yuuri repeated.

“And that's all you said?”

“Yes, other than telling him I had already forgiven him when he apologized to me.”

Walterona closed his eyes and sighed. “I guess even that was too much for him. I knew I shouldn't have allowed him to come here.”

Yuuri looked over to where Wolfram lay, still unconscious. “Please tell me, what's wrong with him?”

Walterona opened his eyes and shot a look at the Maou. He wanted to say something insulting to him, he wanted to tell the other man that he was what was wrong with Wolfram.

But he couldn't bring himself to do it. The other man was looking at his nephew with such an intense sadness that his heart started to break for him. He sighed, and decided to give the Maou a truthful answer.

“Sometimes, he goes into this sort of state – where nothing, and no one, can reach him. He has never told anyone what happens when he's like that, but from his screaming and whimpering at times – I can tell it's due to what happened all those years ago.”

Walterona watched as Yuuri's face crumpled up, and saw the tears forming in the other man's eyes.

“I have never forgiven myself for that,” the man said, his voice lower than normal. “I almost killed him. I wanted to kill him.”

It was then that Walterona realized that he was no longer talking to the regular Maou. He was talking to the other form of him, even though his looks didn't change. He stepped backwards, nervous about what the other man might do.

“Did you know, I would have killed him if he hadn't begged me to die? Do you understand? I thought I would punish him worse by making him live, since he wanted to die.”

The tears that had formed in the Maou's eyes spilled. “You know, I had told him right before that event that I had a surprise for him. Did you know what it was?”

Walterona shook his head. He was simply stunned by hearing the other man's side of things, and was still worried.

The Maou walked over and sat in a chair beside the bed Wolfram lay in. He took one of his hands, and ran it through the other man's blond locks.

“I was going to finally confess to him that night. That I loved him,” the man said sadly. “Amazing how things never go the way you want them to.”

The shocked Walterona silently continued to look on as the Maou continued to look down at his nephew, the tears still streaming down his face.

For the first time in sixteen years, he began to regret shutting Wolfram off from everyone else.

Three days after he collapsed in the shrine, Wolfram was set to leave Blood Pledge Castle.

“Are you sure you're well enough to leave?” Gwendal asked in a worried voice.

“I'm better now, seriously,” Wolfram said.

“You can stay and rest here as long as you need to,” Conrart said.

“I'm good. Besides, Uncle needs to leave. I don't want to hold him up.”

“Wolfram, promise me... don't be a stranger this time,” Yuuri said.

Wolfram smiled warmly at the Maou. “I won't.”

“Wolfram, I'm ready!” his uncle called out from in front of the carriage.

“Well, this is goodbye. For now,” he said, and smiled at the other men.

He took his time to hug each man, and wished them well. He then bowed to them, and went to get into the carriage.

He waved goodbye, and continued to watch them until they were out of sight.

After about ten minutes of silence, his uncle spoke up.

“You know, you could have stayed,” his uncle grumbled.

Wolfram was slightly shocked at what he said.

“I mean, it seems to me that it was good for you. Besides, you could have reconciled even more with your brothers and the Maou.”

Wolfram was simply amazed that his uncle, who had notoriously stressed that he shouldn't have anything to do with Blood Pledge Castle again over the years, was saying this to him. He supposed it was his begrudging way of apologizing for having done so.

“I want to take things slow, Uncle,” he said, truthfully. “It's too soon for me to go back. I still need to come to terms with a few more things, and I think it would be good for all of us to get to know each other all over again. Especially since we're all different people now.”

His uncle grunted his agreement, and stared at Wolfram, his arms crossed.

Wolfram crossed his own arms, and looked at the other man intently. “Now about those letters that Greta sent that you didn't give to me...” he said, slyly.

He watched the other man's eyes widen in horror, and mentally egged himself on. It was going to be a long trip back to Bielefeld territories, and Wolfram intended to make his uncle squirm while trying to come up with excuses for his deception.

He may as well make someone else miserable besides himself, for once.

Author's notes: Whew, long one! I know it's sad in the beginning, and the ending isn't all that happy, but that's the way it came out. Poor Murata and Greta – cannon fodder for my plot. I promise to make it up to them soon.

Would you believe I came up with this plot while writing the lighthearted sequel to “1 Up”? WTF self? And, I ended up finishing this instead of finishing that because this wouldn't go away.

Anyhow, this was just me experimenting with a genre besides romance and sex (lol). I actually cried a few times while writing this (I killed Murata! How could I not cry?), and ended up not making it as tragic as I intended to. I guess I'm too much of a wimp after all, huh?

Oh yeah, that little song the children sang was just me making something up. It's probably nonsensical considering that whatever language they use, those particular words wouldn't rhyme with each other. Ye Olde Fail.

FIC: Full of Smoke - Chapter II

2008-06-25T16:49:18Z

Full of Smoke

by Tetra26 a.k.a Batty Gal on LJ

Summary – Sometimes, the one who finds it hardest to forgive you is yourself. Tragedy; character deaths; angst. Wolfram-centric. Wolfram x Yuuri, if you squint – with bifocals on.

Chapter II of III

Third Moon, Day 5, Year 8 of the 27th Maou

Wolfram von Bielefeld had just come back to Blood Pledge Castle from a visit to his Uncle Walterona in Bielefeld territories. He had collected a bunch of odds and ends, and had a special present for his daughter.

He had searched in her room, and had not found her. He asked around, and a guard mentioned that she had went towards the back section of the castle. He made his way towards that section to continue his search for her.

He had just rounded a corner when he heard a loud gasp and his daughter moan in what he thought was pain. Wolfram had been instantly alarmed, and had drawn his sword. He burst into the door that he had heard the sounds come from, and was shocked at what he saw.

He was on top of his daughter. Him, of all people. They were both naked, and in the act. Wolfram saw the tears in his daughter's eyes as she scrambled to get out from under the man, and assumed that she was being raped.

He acted.

His daughter's screamed words didn't register in his mind, and he attacked who he believed was his daughter's assailant. He didn't give a damn just who it was he was attacking, that someone had the nerve to force his daughter to do something she didn't want to do was enough grounds to kill him.

And he did.

He stood over the smoldering body as his daughter wrapped herself in a sheet and ran screaming for help. He was so very angry that he didn't give a damn what the fallout was, because he was still under the impression that his daughter had been violated.

As the others came and saw what he had done, he told them that he didn't regret killing someone who raped his daughter. And it was true, he didn't.

Until his daughter tearfully told him that she wasn't being raped.

Wolfram had stood in shock as her words hit him, and realized just what a terrible mistake he had made. He turned back to the man he had unjustly murdered, and stared down at his unrecognizable remains.

He stayed speechless as his inconsolable daughter pounded her hands against his chest, and proclaimed that he had just killed the man she loved – which was news to him.

She angrily looked at him and told him that she hated him, and would never forgive him for his crime.

He watched as Shinou appeared in front of the corpse, and looked at him with steel blue eyes. 'Your action this day is unforgivable,' he said, before fading out of view again.

He heard his brothers shout out behind him, but the words didn't make sense to him. He felt the air in the room change, and knew what was about to happen. He didn't even bother to turn around, and he closed his eyes to accept his Judgment from behind.

The pain that had shot through his body had been unbearable, and he had screamed until he couldn't anymore. He was lifted in mid-air, and he felt bones in his body shift and shatter without even having been touched. Both of his arms, his hands, his legs, his ribs, his ankles – broken.

Wolfram begged – not for his life, but for his death.

'I want you to live,' the one responsible for his punishment had said in an unusually cold voice. 'I want you to live and regret this day for the rest of your worthless, murderous, life.'

He was still semi-conscious when he was unceremoniously dropped to the ground, and the pain was immense. He heard the ruckus behind him, but couldn't make out the words. His daughter was sobbing, not for him, but for the man he had killed. Her declaration of hate for him had hurt him far worse than his punishment, and he knew that things would never be the same between them.

Or between him and everyone else.

His eyes focused on the Great Sage.

The still-smoking body of the other man was the last thing Wolfram saw before fading into the abyss.

Wolfram's mind was on its third replay by the time it came for the Maou to speak.

He had been trying so hard not to physically react to Shinou's assault on his mind that he missed much of the final eulogy from Greta's friends. It wasn't until he heard Yuuri's voice that he was able to fight back against Shinou and push him out of his mind temporarily.

He looked at the man that he hadn't seen in sixteen years. He listened to him speak of Greta's childhood, his life with her, and the things they had experienced with each other when she was growing up.

He noted that his name was never brought up, as if he hadn't shared that History with the two as well.

As the Maou got into the later years of her life, he listened intently. He hadn't been there for her in those years, and had always wondered what she was doing with her life – without him. When Yuuri was talking about Greta's courageousness in the face of disease, up until her dying day, sadness overcame him. He wondered how painful it had been for her in her last days.

Conrart had informed him that Greta had died of cancer, and had filled him in on how Greta had struggled with it, beat it temporarily, and gotten it again. Even with Earth treatment, there wasn't anything that could have been done for her, in the end.

It was during the Maou's discussion of the few weeks prior to her death that he looked towards the back of the room and locked eyes with Wolfram. Wolfram noted that his eyes widened and he stumbled on his words while looking at him, and the blond quickly put his head down.

He remembered the last conversation they had held between them, which was right before he went to find Greta on that unforgettable day. Yuuri had told him, after they had gotten back from the Bielefeld territories, that he had something to discuss with him later that night.

When Wolfram had curiously asked what it was about, Yuuri had smiled at him in his special way, and told him that it was a surprise.

He had always wondered what that surprise would have been.

After the funeral was finally over, Wolfram slipped out of the room, fully intending to leave before coming face to face with Yuuri.

On his way out, however, he found himself unable to leave the place – and instead being drawn towards another room in the shrine. He knew it was a part of Shinou's trickery that was taking him there, and wondered what the dead king had in store for him this time. He closed the door behind him, and leaned against it, awaiting the other man's appearance.

Immediately, right in front of his face, the ghostly figure appeared.

They looked into each other's eyes. Wolfram awaited the torture that the man would inflict on him this time, and braced himself in case it was enough to cause him to black out.

The dead king looked at him with a sad face, one that he didn't normally use when he came to taunt Wolfram. “Why do you keep doing this to yourself?”

Wolfram was confused. “Doing what to myself?”

“Torturing yourself.”

Wolfram couldn't believe what the other man was saying. “Torturing myself? You're the one that's...”

“I have done no such thing,” Shinou interrupted. “Your mind has done all of this to you.”

“What kind of trick is this? Are you telling me that it's been my mind, and not you, taunting me all these years? Replaying that day over and over again? Driving my mad?”

“Yes.”

Wolfram laughed. “Alright, if that's what you say! You and I both know that's a lie. Wasn't it you that said what I had done was unforgivable?”

“Even I say things heatedly. However, I haven't been the one torturing you. That's been your own psyche.”

“I don't believe you... how is this all in my mind? And why does it seem so real? Sixteen years of you tormenting me, and you are now saying it was me doing it all along, to myself? I simply can't believe that to be true.”

“Wolfram, I would never do something like that to you, regardless of what has happened.”

“I killed him. I killed your friend. Why wouldn't you do something like that to someone like me?”

“Because I know you wouldn't have done so had you not thought he was endangering your daughter.”

Wolfram closed his eyes. His mind reeled from what Shinou told him, and he simply couldn't believe it. “Why should I believe you? How do I know this isn't one of your games? I can't take it anymore.”

“Wolfram...”

“I Can't. Take. It. Any. More,” he said. “Don't you get it? I regret what I did. I've regretted it ever since I found out that I killed an innocent man. There's not a day that goes by that I don't remember what I did and hate myself for it. I have paid for my crime over, and over, and over again. I lost everything. My daughter. My reputation. My dignity. My love. I don't care if it's you, or my mind, but I can't live like this anymore!”

“Then stop doing this to yourself.”

Wolfram looked in disbelief at the ghostly figure, who had never looked more sincere at him. He wondered if the man was really telling him the truth about it not having been him doing those things all these years.

“If all of this is true, why are you – the real you – telling me this only now? Why not before?”

“The mind is a funny thing, Wolfram. I tried, but your mind managed to close itself completely off to me. You've always been strong-willed and stubborn, even in your current state.”

The dead king momentarily solidified, and placed his hands on Wolfram's shoulders.

“Wolfram, you have been forgiven. By me, by everyone who you cared about the most...”

“Greta never forgave me...”

“She did. When you get back to your uncle, ask him for the letters she had been sending you for the past nine years.”

“What?!” Wolfram asked, jumping away from Shinou's touch. He simply couldn't believe it – that Greta had sent him correspondence for nine years, and he hadn't known about it. He knew, if Shinou was telling him the truth, it was Walterona's way of protecting him. However, he fumed at the idea of him having missed out on the chance to reconcile with his daughter before her death.

“And she isn't the only one who has forgiven you, Wolfram. You shouldn't avoid the person you need to talk to the most.”

Wolfram instantly knew that Shinou was referring to the Maou. “I can't...”

The door opened behind Wolfram, and he turned around quickly. He stepped backwards when he saw it was Yuuri.

Wolfram looked around for an escape, but the only way out was that one door, which the Maou then closed.

“I'll leave you two to have the conversation that you should have had years ago,” Shinou said, and phased through the back wall.

Next chapter: Full of Smoke III

FIC: Full of Smoke - Chapter I

2008-06-25T16:49:03Z

Full of Smoke

by Tetra26 a.k.a Batty Gal on LJ

Summary – Sometimes, the one who finds it hardest to forgive you is yourself. Tragedy; character deaths; angst. Wolfram-centric. Wolfram x Yuuri, if you squint – with bifocals on.

Chapter I of III

Sixth Moon, Day 11, Year 24 of the 27th Maou

Six minutes away from the seventeenth hour of the day, death bells started to ring solemnly across Shin Makoku.

Their enchanting tone signaled a death in the royal family that came too early to that person's loved ones, but had been expected for the past year.

However, unlike the last death that occurred at Blood Pledge Castle, this one came naturally.

“Will you attend the funeral, sir?”

“I'm one of the Ten Nobles. It's obligatory.”

“Very well. When will you be leaving?”

“I'll leave the day before.”

“And your nephew?”

“I don't want him anywhere near that monster again," Walterona von Bielefeld forcefully said to his servant.

“Have you and Günter finished the preparations for the funeral?” Conrart asked.

“Almost. I sill have a few things to work out,” Gwendal said.

“Do you think he'll show up?”

“I doubt it. Walterona probably hasn't even told him about it – and you know that he rarely leaves that place or talks to anyone.”

The two men looked at each other, both knowing what the other was thinking about.

“Do you think we did the right thing? By staying here by the Maou's side after what happened with our brother?” Conrart quietly asked. It was a question that had haunted him for so many years.

“Honestly? I don't know. I don't think I'll ever know if this was right. I stayed here out of duty but, sometimes I wish I would have left right behind him.”

Conrart looked a little longer into Gwendal's eyes before lowering his own to the floor.

“So do I,” the sad-eyed man said. “So do I.”

In a not-so-crowded market in the Bielefeld territories, five children held hands, danced around in a circle, and sang:

'The Princess rests in her golden grave for now,
Grave-robbers will dig it up and steal it somehow,
Melt it down, into a crown, some bracelets and a ring,
And when the Prince dies they will do the same thing.'

“Great Shinou, what kind of morbid song is that!” a scandalized-looking man asked the merchant that was wrapping up his goods.

“Kids these days,” the merchant shrugged as he put his customer's items in the bag. “You would think they would have enough respect not to sing those things when a princess dies.”

“Wait, a princess died? Of which country?”

“You don't know? Buddy, what rock have you been living under? The Princess of Shin Makoku, of course!” the merchant said as he handed the man his bag. He went over to attend to his other customers.

The man stood there in shock, his already-fragile mind trying to take in the latest news.

The Princess of Shin Makoku was dead.

The girl who had held a special place in his heart for many years was dead.

Greta was dead.

The front door of the manor was violently closed behind one very upset mazoku.

“Uncle! Uncle where are you!” Wolfram von Bielefeld bellowed out.

“I'm right here, no need to yell,” his smooth-talking uncle said from the doorway of the lounge.

“Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me that she was dead?”

“I didn't want to upset you. Come, have a seat in the lounge with me.” Walterona looked over to his servant. “Get us some tea,” he said.

The two men went and sat down in the lounge. After calming himself down, Wolfram started to speak again.

“Why didn't you let me know? I can handle it.”

“Then why are you so upset?”

“Because I wished you would have told me instead of having to find it out in the market.”

Walterona sighed. “What were you doing in the market, anyhow? You could have sent a servant.”

“I just wanted to... get out, for once,” the dejected man said.

The two men paused as the servant brought in and served their tea. After a few moments, Wolfram spoke up again.

“I.. want to go to the funeral.”

Walterona almost choked on his tea. “What? You want to go to the funeral? Why?”

Wolfram looked down at the cup in his hands. “I think it might be good for... closure.”

“Closure? Of what? If anything, it will hurt you worse than it already has.”

“I don't think there's anything that can hurt me more than what has already happened,” the man said, softly. Like many times over the past sixteen years, his hands started to shake upon remembering it – and he put his cup down, just to be safe.

“Wolfram, going back there might trigger... that state again. I don't want to see you hospitalized again.”

“I won't be. As long as I take my medication, I should be alright.”

“Wolfram, it's still not a good idea...”

“Even after what happened between us, I haven't forgotten the times before that. She was still my daughter, regardless. I need to see.. I need to see for myself.”

“What happens when you see him? What then?”

The blond was silent. He really didn't know what would happen when he saw the one who almost destroyed him years ago.

“Let me deal with that when it comes.”

His uncle sighed again, in defeat. “Fine, you can go, but if you feel like you can't handle it, tell me and we'll leave. Immediately.”

Wolfram looked down at the body of the beautiful woman who had once been his daughter.

She had grown up to be so lovely and wonderful, and he had been so proud to have her by his side.

Until that miserable day.

Even now, looking at her lifeless body, he didn't fault her for what happened. He never did. He faulted himself for lashing out immediately at him, thinking that he was somehow violating his daughter. It hadn't even crossed his mind that she had been a willing participant that day.

After everything had been over and done, and he had known the truth, he temporarily lost his grip on reality. For many years, he faded in and out of hospitals – his mind terribly shattered and unable to cope with his surroundings.

And he still couldn't blame anyone other than himself – especially not her.

He still loved her. She was, after all, his daughter.

The fractured man made his way out of the viewing room.

“You've gotten so tall,” Conrart said to his youngest brother. “I could hardly believe it was you.”

“Yes, I guess I have grown some,” Wolfram said, and gave his brother a tentative smile.

“Have you been alright?” Gwendal asked, quietly.

“I'm alright. For now. I'm just taking it as it comes,” he said.

“I'm surprised you're here, but I'm happy to see you,” Günter said, and the other two men nodded their agreement.

“I'm happy to see you all again, too,” Wolfram said, truthfully.

The men stood around the circle, chatting until it was time to enter the shrine for the final part of the service.

As he entered the shrine, Wolfram felt a chill. He was wary of coming across Shinou, for he had more than had his share of him for the past sixteen years. The man had regularly shown up in his life, and hadn't failed to let it be known how he felt about the fire mazoku after what happened all those years ago.

Though Conrart tried to get him to go near the front, he declined and decided to stay in the back – away from as many prying eyes as possible. He was beyond sick of seeing them look at him in pity, as if they were expecting him to break down and cry and attempt to off himself in their presence.

Most importantly, he didn't want anyone to see him cringe as Shinou forced his mind to replay that terrible day from sixteen years ago.

Next Chapter: Full of Smoke II

First Meme Ever!

2008-06-24T22:26:35Z

1. Leave a comment saying you would like to be interviewed
2. I will then respond with 5 questions that quite possibly could be personal (or not, whatever mood I'm in)
3. Then update your LJ with the questions I've asked
4. Put these same rules (or something that resembles these rules) at the bottom of your questions
5. When people ask you to be interview them, you will ask them five questions.

From neocloud9

1) If you could pick one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be?
James Brown - The Payback (because I'm badass like that)

2) If you suddenly found yourself trapped in the 1920's, who would you want to hang out with?
Langston Hughes

3) Would you rather burn to death or die of hypothermia?
I hate heat, so hypothermia for the win?

4) Are you a night owl or a morning person?
Night Owl, I've always been that way too.

5) Which fictional character, if any, would you choose to represent your country of choice in the Olympics?
Batman, because he's one of the most physically adept non-powered Superheroes in fiction (which would make it fairer), plus he can do damn near everything

From mikagechan:

1.) What's something you like about yourself, and something you wish you could change?
I love my fingernails. I have nails that naturally grow long, just like my grandmother's did. I could stand to lose some weight, however -- if only so that I could find cheaper clothing (lol @ reason).

2.) If you could be any character in any fandom for a day, who would you want to be and why?
Wonder Woman, cause I would *love* to hand a few people their asses worldwide for harming children, which is my pet peeve.

3.) What character in any fandom would you most like to sleep with?? XD
Black Adam , cause any man who would fuck up an entire nation over the loss of the love of his life could get it.

4.) In school, did you ever cheat on a test?
Never in school, but I have cheated on an online test through distance learning (though I'm not sure that even qualifies as cheating).

5.) Who was your childhood hero??
Batman

Feel free to ask me questions as well as ask for questions.

FIC: 1 Up

2008-06-20T05:37:43Z

Title: 1 Up
Author: Batty_Gal a.k.a Tetra26
Rating: T+
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou
Pairing: Wolfram x Saralegui
Word Count:1701
Fic Type: Oneshot

1 Up
by Tetra26 a.k.a batty_gal on LJ

Summary: Saralegui implies to Wolfram that he's going to seduce Yuuri. Wolfram uses one of Shinou's tactics to make him squirm – with unexpected results and fallout.

A/N: This fic was brought to you by the letter “S” for “Shameless”, and today's usage of that word in a sentence is: “This is my shameless way of getting two pretty boys together – so if you're expecting something well-thought out with a wonderful plot, this isn't it.” In other words, it's not on par with my usual writing standards.

Wolfram von Bielefeld angrily grabbed the King of Small Shimeron by the shoulders and pressed him forcefully into the wall.

“I don't know what you're doing, or what you're planning, but stay away from my fiancé or else, 'pretty boy'.”

Saralegui, who seemed unfazed by the contact and the threat, smirked at the other man. “Interesting of you to insult me as a 'pretty boy' considering you're one yourself,” he quipped. “Anyhow, I'm not planning anything, so quit being so paranoid. My issues with your beloved Maou have already been resolved, for the most part.”

“Then why do you keep looking at him like that? As if you're plotting something?,” Wolfram asked, suspiciously.

“Looking at someone is against the law now? I was uninformed of such a rule. Pity.”

Wolfram gripped the other man's shoulders harder, and was secretly delighted when Saralegui's face briefly flashed with pain. “I'm going to warn you one more time. If you do anything, I won't hesitate to kill you, if necessary.”

“I wonder what your beloved Maou would think if he heard you giving out death threats, Sir von Bielefeld. He probably wouldn't be too happy about it,” Saralegui responded.

“Stay away from him.”

“Why should I? He's opened his doors to me after everything I've done, why shouldn't I take advantage of that?”

“I don't trust you, not one bit.”

“Who cares? The Maou does, and his opinion is the only that matters here 'pretty boy'. Besides, I like him. I think he would make a wonderful husband.”

Wolfram was livid. The idea that Saralegui would even attempt to sway Yuuri his way made him see red. “He's my fiancé, so don't even try it!”

“Fiancé. Just fiancé. He's not your husband yet, and that makes him fair game as far as I'm concerned.”

“If you come on to him I swear...”

“What's so wrong, Sir von Bielefeld? Can't stand the idea of competition? If your beloved Maou loves you in return, there shouldn't be a problem here – he'll just ignore my advances. Or, could it be that you wish I was pursuing you instead?” Saralegui said in a teasing, seductive voice.

Wolfram, who was seething with blind rage over the idea of Yuuri and Saralegui together, was seconds away from sending Saralegui's pretty hair up in flames. However, a sinister idea came quickly into his mind – one that was more of a Shinou thing to do, as opposed to a Wolfram one.

Wolfram let the anger on his face fade, and gave Saralegui the most predatory look that he could muster up. He removed his hands from the other man's shoulders, and placed both of them up against the wall on each side of Saralegui's head.

He watched in amusement as Saralegui's normally smug face turned into one of confusion, and Wolfram decided to press his body closer to his. “Maybe that's exactly what I want, Your Majesty,” he said in a husky voice. He pointedly looked at Saralegui's lips through half-lidded eyes, hoping that it would imply that he was thinking about kissing them.

The normally composed Saralegui shrank as far against the wall as he possibly could. “Wha... what do you think you're doing?!”

“I've decided to drop the pretense of warning you away from the Maou, and have decided to be a little more open with my desire for you,” Wolfram said in his sexiest voice. He took one of his hands off the wall, and entangled his fingers in Saralegui's hair. “So, how about you forget about that wimp and take on a real man like me?”

“You... get away from me before I scream! This joke isn't funny at all, you understand?!” Saralegui hissed.

Seeing the normally cool Saralegui so flustered due to his seduction tease turned Wolfram on for real, and while he was slightly embarrassed by his state, he couldn't help but to use it to further his cause. He pressed his crotch against the other man. “Does it feel like I'm joking to you?”

Saralegui opened his mouth to scream for his guard, but Wolfram muffled the scream with a kiss. The king did his best to push Wolfram away, but the other man's lithe frame betrayed just how strong he truly was.

Wolfram deepening the kiss for the hell of it, and was surprised when the other man stopped fighting him and started to respond to his assault. He was even more shocked to find that he liked the feel of Saralegui's body against his, as well as the other blond's lips against his own. For several moments, the two made out against the wall, completely lost in their act and unaware of their surroundings.

“What is going on here!” a voice cried out.

Both men pulled away from each other quickly, and noticed that they had an audience of onlookers. Yuuri, Gwendal, Yozak, Beries, and others stared at the two men with various looks of shock, anger, amusement, jealousy and confusion.

Neither of the two could quickly come up with an explanation. Saralegui was simply speechless from both Wolfram's actions and being caught in the act – while Wolfram was trying to figure out how to explain to Yuuri and the others why it looked like he was ten seconds away from doing things with the King of Little Shimeron up against the wall.

“Just what were you doing to my little brother?” Gwendal asked, breaking the silence. The look of sheer fury on his face made more than a few people step backwards.

Saralegui snapped out of his daze. “Doing to him? Doing to him?! He was doing it to me!” he shrieked, indignant at the accusation. “Did you not see how he had me against that wall?”

“What did you do to him to make him do that to you?” Gwendal gritted out, his eyes narrowed.

“I didn't do anything at all! I didn't want this at all!”

“That's interesting, because it sure looked like you weren't being forced at all. You seemed to be enjoying it as much as he was,” Yozak said. He pointed towards Saralegui's crotch, where his arousal was obvious.

Saralegui blushed in embarrassment and anger as he rearranged his clothing, and turned to point towards Wolfram. “Tell them! Tell them what was happening here!”

Wolfram, who had been stunned silent throughout the entire exchange, felt guilty as he watched the infuriated and embarrassed Saralegui wait for his reply. A part of him actually wanted to speak up and defend the other man while the other part wanted to take advantage of the situation and make the young king look bad.

He remembered how Saralegui had taunted him about Yuuri, how the other man had implied that he planned to put the moves on his fiancé, and the smug look on his face when Wolfram got angry at his words.

The guilty side of him lost.

Wolfram blinked his eyes and shook his head, and put on his most confused face. “How did I get outside? And where did all of you people come from?” he asked, incredulously. “Is this a dream?”

Saralegui's mouth dropped open at Wolfram's act. He simply couldn't believe that the other blond had gotten him into such trouble and then pretended not to remember what he was doing to him.

“Saralegui, you promised me that you wouldn't manipulate my friends again,” Yuuri said. “Please, stop.”

“I didn't manipulate him! I had nothing to do with this! He was the one that pulled me aside. He was the one who assaulted me. He was the one who kissed me!” Saralegui, his suave composure long forgotten, shouted.

“Wolfram would never do that sort of thing on his own will,” Yuuri said, simply.

Saralegui was once again speechless, and saw no way to further explain the situation in a way that didn't make him look even more guilty. The young king knew he had been bested by Wolfram von Bielefeld, and knew that his reputation made the other man look completely innocent.

With his dignity in shreds, he saw no better choice than to exit the situation immediately. “Fine. Believe what you want to believe. Sir von Bielefeld and I know what really happened here, and that's all that counts, for now. Beries! Let's go, now!”

Wolfram didn't miss the angry glare that Saralegui shot him before stalking off, his guard close behind him. He had to restrain himself from smirking at the indignant man, and on the inside he was gleeful at his small victory over his self-appointed rival. He was certain that the other man would not let things end at that – especially after Wolfram had made him out to look like the villain. Regardless of the sneaky tactics that he anticipated the other man would pull, he looked forward to going up against him again.

In more ways than one.

Author's note: I push all responsibility for this fic on today's KKM chat session. I had already got the bright idea to write some Wolfram/Saralegui hotness, but after the show we discussed how no pairing was safe and this came to my mind. One wonders how Saralegui would get revenge on Wolfram, though...

I consider this a part of my own personal “Wolfram project”, in which the goal is to pair Wolfram with everyone, romantic or not. Look forward to a Wolfram x Murata fic soon, and I've started a Wolfram x Yozak one. Why yes, I am crazy and on crack... need you ask? O_o

On Fic Titles and Beta Reading

2008-06-17T00:37:33Z

So I had this lovely, wonderful title for my fic... until I changed my fic around completely. Now the title doesn't even remotely fit, and I can't name this massive thing! Someone, give me hints/clues as to how I can come up with a new title.

Also, I'm on the lookout for a Beta for my Wolfram x Murata fic. I'm almost finished, and since I'm going to go back and do more rewriting, may as well have the glaring errors corrected first.

R. Kelly Acquitted of All Charges...

2008-06-13T23:45:56Z

I don't think I've ever used my journal to vent my frustrations with Real Life happenings, but if I don't get this out, I'm going to explode.

Today, that sick child-raping fuck R. Kelly got off.

I am beyond pissed (not a very good word to use considering who we're talking about).

Yet another example of Justice not being served.

There was so much fuckery throughout this case, from it taking so long to go to trial to the VICTIM and some of her family members claiming it wasn't her on the tape.

We had a VIDEO people! A VIDEO! And it all came down to a mole? A mole that was POINTED OUT by the same man that dispelled that the tape could have been some tampered shit by saying that it would take someone 44+ years to make it look like it does.

Completely ridiculous.

It's times like this I wish that there was a real-life Punisher -- and I wish he'd show up at that bastard's house tonight and make it rain bullets down on his ass. Vigilantism for the win.

If he does this crap again, I hope he gets caught and I hope the PARENTS aren't easily swayed by money. I sincerely hope that someone's father or mother puts a big boot up his ass, or gives that bastard a dirt nap.

*sigh* I have a headache now. I'm so sick of people getting off when the evidence is THERE. Maybe I *should* go into law?

I'm glad I got rid of my R. Kelly CD's years ago. Something tells me I'd by having a bonfire right about now.

Anyhow, if you have kids, or even small siblings/relatives, hold them a little tighter tonight. Another predator has been given free reign for awhile. *sigh*

Why won't you work?!?!

2008-06-05T22:44:45Z

So, I got over that writer's block just to have another block.

I have a problem: I've written this long fic (Wolfram x Murata), up to chapter 12. The main plot comes to an end in chapter 8, and these extra chapters read more as a different story in the same "continuity" (which I didn't want to do).

I have three choices:

1) Cut out the extra chapters, and write an Epilogue with those extra chapters condensed down into it (or as oneshots).

2) Continue with the extra chapters under the same story, and risk readers losing interest (or going WTF?!) when the main plot ends.

3) Split the story in two.

The main plot doesn't resolve with the couple getting together. The extra chapters attempt to show the couple getting together (showing the romance essentially), but the main plot has already be solved. So, what would you do in this situation?

Boo-yah! Got over that block!

2008-05-31T23:20:42Z

So I managed to get over my writer's block, and managed to write 3 chapters in as many days. I'm on a roll! The best part: I didn't even have to write it out of sequence.

2 chapters and one Epilogue until the end. The fic ended up being more chapters than I planned, but once I got the idea after changing my main plot around some, I couldn't stop. I may be finished with this before July after all!

After I finish this, the only thing that will be left will be to do some quick editing, rewriting -- get it beta'd -- rewrite a little more, post it, and that's that. When I finish this and post it, I'm going back to work on my Detective Conan ongoing for awhile.

Why, mama, why???

2008-05-27T23:54:19Z

Seven chapters into my KKM Wolfram/Murata fic, and I'm stuck.

I had plotted the fic from beginning to end, but when I got to the 7th chapter, I decided I didn't like part of my "explanations" as to why one of the characters was acting weird. I managed to go back and change things, but the plans I had so carefully laid out are leaving me stuck at the conversation that two characters are supposed to have in the current chapter, and it's *maddening*.

I suppose I could move on to writing chapters 8/9 and the Epilogue because that plot hasn't changed, but I like doing things in a sequence! I may even write the oneshots I wanted to have about the series, but the conversation is *crucial* between the two because it's one character opening up about something he rarely discusses with *anyone* to the other character. (Don't want to give out spoilers, LOL, but KKM fans could probably guess it.)

I may go ahead and write the next chapter to my Detective Conan fic, and then come back, but I wanted this finished by July. ;_;

Congratulations California!

2008-05-16T01:39:12Z

It brought tears to my eyes when I read that California has legalized same-sex marriage.

I wish happiness to all of you who are going to take advantage of this wonderful event!

That's 2 states down, 48 to go.

And for all you haters out there, love is love.

FIC: Crushed

2008-04-21T14:28:33Z

Title: Crushed
Author: batty_gal
Rating: T
Fandom: KKM
Pairing: Onesided Wolfram x Gunter, Not-So-Onesided Wolfram x Yuuri
Word Count: 1835
Fic Type: Bang! Oneshot! Angsty.

Crushed

by Tetra26 a.k.a batty_gal

Summary: Wolfram recalls how his first crush began and ended as he falls into despair over his current one. Günter gives Wolfram renewed hope for the future as well as a resolution for the past. Onesided Wolfram x Günter, not-so-onesided Wolfram x Yuuri.

Though you couldn't pay him to admit it, Wolfram had always been fascinated by the man known as Günter von Christ. His tall, lithe frame, his expressive eyes, and his long hair had entranced Wolfram from the moment he laid eyes on the older gentleman – and, for Wolfram, it was “love” at first sight.

One of his fondest memories was of Günter saving him from being pecked to death by a huge bird he had offended due to plucking out one of its beautiful feathers. The older man had come running when he heard the young boy's screams, and when he saw the bird attacking and Wolfram bleeding, he had managed to grab the bird by its long neck and swing it from the boy so that Wolfram could get away.

The young boy had been amazed by Günter saving him, and had declared, while Gwendal wrapped his wounds, that he would marry Günter one day. The lavender-haired man, as well as Gwendal and Conrad, had a good laugh at those words, and when the blond boy stomped his foot and said he was serious they had laughed even harder.

That was the day he fell hard for the other man, and continued to insist to himself, for quite some time, that he would have Günter's love one day.

His love ambitions, however, were destroyed the first time Wolfram heard Günter refer to him as a “selfish loafer”. He had been listening in on a conversation between Günter and Gwendal, and when Gwendal had mentioned how Wolfram still refused to forgive Conrad after many years, Günter had remarked it was because he was a “selfish, annoying, spoiled brat loafer”.

Wolfram recalled how his first crush had been shattered with those words, and how hot the tears that stung his eyes were upon hearing that said about himself. For months after that, he couldn't eat nor sleep much. He was pretty sure it went unnoticed by everyone that he was down; his mother was busy fretting with royal matters, Conrad wasn't there at the time, and Gwendal was too busy to take notice as well. He was also pretty sure that Günter didn't notice, or if he did, Wolfram thought he didn't care.

It was after that when he became even more spiteful and hateful towards people, on purpose. He didn't want anyone close to him; after all, everyone he cared for seemed to not give a damn about his own feelings. His relationship with Günter regressed, and often he found himself purposely insulting and offending the other man just to get a rise out of him. Though Gwendal and Conrad raised their eyebrows at his antics a few times, they never called him on it or questioned why he had become so hostile towards the other man.

With time, the pain caused by Günter's words and rejection of Wolfram faded, but wasn't forgotten completely. As he grew older, those around him began to take notice of him more. There were plenty of times where he was accosted by various men and women and asked out, but he never accepted them. He wasn't interested. For awhile, he thought that he would never have feelings for someone else after his first crush had been crushed so badly.

Then, Yuuri showed up. Wolfram, still in his “keep-away-from-me” persona, managed to insult the boy enough that he accidentally proposed to him. Wolfram had been so very angry that the idiot dared to lay a hand on him, and was appalled at the idea that he may have to marry that person. He fully intended to kick his ass so bad that he'd take back the engagement, but the boy surprised him and bested him.

Wolfram was furious that he was beat, but bound by duty. Initially, he went along with the “engagement” just to annoy the other boy, who was obviously squicked by it. Before long, he found himself experiencing those same feelings that he used to have for Günter, but stronger.

And, just like Günter, Yuuri wasn't interested in him. The other boy couldn't fathom being with Wolfram just because of his gender, which pissed the blond off more than anything. The idea that what was between his legs was the only roadblock between him and happiness with the one he loved hurt him dearly. The constant rejections and denials of feelings for Wolfram by Yuuri finally took their toll, and he found himself regressing into being the standoffish person he was before Yuuri arrived.

So, he willed himself to stop looking Yuuri's way. It was easier for him than to see how the other boy refused to look at him the way Wolfram wanted him to. He also stopped hanging around and even sleeping with Yuuri, he could no longer stand being so close to the one he cared for without being able to touch him the way he desired to.

He was pretty sure that the people around him noticed the changes in him this time, but no one came to him to confront him about it and ask why. No one asked why he no longer went out of his way to get Yuuri to notice him. No one brought up how Yuuri's constant smiles at the women (and men) surrounding him no longer got a rise out of the blond. No one mentioned how Wolfram became quieter and withdrawn, how his already-small frame seemed to become even thinner, or how the young man no longer had any liveliness about him whatsoever.

He figured that someone would eventually confront him about it after his behavior continued for months, and he guessed it would be Conrad. His brother's worried looks had not gone unnoticed; Wolfram just pretended that he didn't see them.

What Wolfram did not expect, however, was Günter taking him by the wrist and gently pulling him into his office one day. Nor did he expect to be pulled into a hug, by Günter of all people! And he definitely wasn't expecting to hear the older man's whispered apologies to him for intentionally breaking his heart all those years ago.

Wolfram was beyond shocked at that confession, and when he questioned what Günter meant, he was surprised to learn that Günter knew he had been listening on that conversation years ago, and had used it as a chance to reject Wolfram's feelings for him harshly enough so that the other boy would forget him and move on.

He asked Günter why he wanted to make him feel that way in the first place. Günter told him that, back then, he had a thing for Gwendal. Yet, partially because of his younger brother's open adoration for Günter, Gwendal would brush off his advances lightly and tease him about Wolfram's intent on marrying him.

Günter mentioned that, at the time, he thought that if he dissuaded Wolfram's feelings for him so that he no longer liked him, Gwendal would take him more seriously. It had only partially worked, however. Wolfram's feelings went away, but Gwendal didn't change one bit and Günter ended up feeling bad for what he had done.

After Wolfram pondered what Günter said to him for a few moments, he asked why Günter was telling him all of this now. The older man smiled gently at him and told him that he had noticed how Wolfram had been behaving lately and how it reminded him of Wolfram's actions after he had said those harsh words, which let him know that Günter did indeed notice what happened to him. He told Wolfram that he didn't want him to become that person he was before Yuuri came, not after he had changed so much for the better.

Then, Günter said something that affected him even more than his confessions about that day so many years ago: he told Wolfram that his love for Yuuri wasn't as onesided as the blond man thought it was.

Wolfram's mouth hung open as Günter told him that whenever he wasn't looking at Yuuri, Yuuri was looking at him. He blinked in disbelief as Günter described how the young Maou was distracted by Wolfram's sudden withdrawal from him; how he often caught Yuuri sneaking around, following and watching Wolfram as he went about his day. Günter also mentioned that others had noticed this behavior as well, and how the various people within the castle had increased bets on there being a royal wedding within the year.

Wolfram, for the first time in months, tossed his head back and laughed. Günter gave him a worried look, but Wolfram patted his shoulder and told the older man that, thanks to him, he felt a lot better. He reassured Günter that he would be alright, even if Yuuri never returned his feelings. And he meant it.

Günter gave Wolfram one more once-over before pulling him into another hug. This time, the younger boy wrapped his arms around the older man and held on tightly. While they were still embracing, the door to Günter's office opened and Yuuri walked in.

Wolfram watched in amusement as the black-haired young man's eyes narrowed and mouth tightened at what he saw. He slowly pulled away from Günter's embrace. He nodded in Yuuri's general direction, winked at Günter, and thanked him with a (seductive) smile before brushing past Yuuri and walking out of the door.

Once out of the room, the blond man exhaled loudly and smiled to himself as he heard Yuuri question Günter loudly, in a suspiciously jealous-sounding voice, what that was all about. Thanks to Günter's honesty and him showing that he cared for Wolfram in his own way, it had made him feel better than he had been in months. Günter's truth and kind words had given Wolfram many things: relief that people did care about him; strength that he had forgotten he possessed; and resolutions about his past disappointments in life and love.

Most importantly, Günter had given him new hope for happiness in the future as well as a better outlook on life, and Wolfram remembered why he had liked the man so much in the first place. Günter was, and always would be, his savior.

A/N: Well, that's a wrap. This entire fic is inspired by my idea to take Wolfram and write a story with him and each of the main KKM characters. I'm pretty sure a similar challenge was on the KKM challenge community, but I fully intend to write ALL/most of them as opposed to picking one or two. Some of the pairings will be romantic, others will be friendship or family-based or even enemy-based.

FIC: Who's Topping Who?

2008-04-10T01:38:23Z

Title: Who's Topping Who
Author: batty_gal a.k.a Tetra26 on FF.net
Rating: M or NC-17
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou
Pairing: WolfYuu? YuuRam? Place Your Bets!
Word Count:1938
Fic Type: Oneshot

Who's Topping Who?
by Tetra26 a.k.a batty_gal on LJ

Summary: Yuuri assumed that, on his wedding night, he would be topping Wolfram. Wolfram, however, has other ideas. Who will top? Wolfram or Yuuri? Neither? Or Both? WolfYuu? YuuRam?

“Woah, woah, WOAH!” screamed out Yuuri to his new husband, Wolfram. “What do you think you're doing?!”

“I'm getting you ready, what the hell do you think?” Wolfram said, rolling his eyes. He continued to lightly massage some oil over the entrance to Yuuri's most private area with his fingers.

“Getting me ready for what?” Yuuri said, nervously.

“I'm getting you ready to put it in! I can't just ram it in there without preparing you, it'll hurt much worse...”

“Wait a minute! I thought I was the one that was going to do the 'putting it in',” Yuuri interrupted.

“Don't worry, I'll let you do me, too,” he said as he took Yuuri into his mouth.

Things were not going the way he imagined the first time with Wolfram would be. Yuuri had imagined that once they retired to their room after the wedding reception, they'd slowly remove each other's clothing. Then, they'd lay together, touching and kissing like they usually do, but not holding back anymore. Yuuri had imagined that they'd engage in a little foreplay before he claimed his husband fully.

What Yuuri didn't imagine, however, was that Wolfram would be doing the topping, not him. Logically, in Yuuri's mind, this wasn't right.

“Wolfram...” Yuuri started as he inched away from what his husband's fingers and mouth were doing to him. He tried to ignore what felt like shock waves running up his spine and groin due to the assault.

“What now?” Wolfram asked as he looked at Yuuri in exasperation. The sheer lust in his eyes almost made Yuuri want to let him continue what he was doing, but Yuuri's mind still wanted to be logical.

“Wolfram... I'm not going to bottom, you are,” Yuuri said.

His husband raised his left eyebrow. “I told you I'd let you do me, too...” he started, his hand inching back towards Yuuri's body.

“No... I mean, I'll never bottom,” Yuuri said. “I'm the man in this relationship.”

“Yuuri... we're both men,” Wolfram said as his eyes narrowed in confusion. “I fail to see what the problem is here.”

“No, no, no... what I mean is, because we're both men, one of us has to be like a woman here.”

“But there's no woman here, we're both men. You aren't making any sense.”

“What I'm trying to say is that the one who bottoms is considered to be like the woman of the relationship, and the one that tops is considered to be the man.”

“You still aren't making any sense, Yuuri...” Wolfram started. He took advantage of Yuuri's distracted state and placed his tongue where his fingers had been earlier.

“Wolf... WOLFRAM!” Yuuri half-hollered, half-whimpered out. The sensation of Wolfram's tongue lapping and swirling around his sensitive area made him lose track of what he was trying to explain, momentarily.

Wolfram let his eyes trail up to Yuuri's face. The other man had his eyes closed. He was flushed and trying his hardest to bite back his moans. That pleased Wolfram more than anything, and he used the opportunity to replace his tongue with his forefinger and pushed into Yuuri's body.

“No,” Yuuri cried out. He once again backed away from Wolfram's invasive hand

“What now?!” Wolfram asked. He was starting to get annoyed with the interruptions.

“I told you, I'm not the woman here!” Yuuri cried out.

“There's no woman here...” Wolfram started, again.

“Will you listen?!” Yuuri interrupted. “Even though we are both men, one of us has to be like a woman, and that person is not going to be me!”

“Why does one of us have to be a woman?”

“Because the one on the bottom is like the woman and the one on top is the man!”

Wolfram moved from his position between Yuuri's legs and flopped down beside him, facing him. He stared intently into his husband's eyes.

“Yuuri... We. Are. Both. Men,” he said, pointedly.

“I know that! But one of us has to be the woman during sex, and it's not going to be me!”

Wolfram looked at his husband like he'd grown another head. He was about to remind him again that they were both men until realization of what Yuuri was trying to say dawned on him.

“Just wait a damn minute! Are you saying that I am going to be like a woman to you? That's absurd!” he yelled at Yuuri.

“Why is it? You're the most feminine one, you're the beautiful one, and you're the smaller one. Therefore, you're the woman here, and you should bottom,” Yuuri stated.

Wolfram was offended. Yuuri had stopped their lovemaking due to more of his “Earth issues”. It had taken three years for Yuuri to start having any sort of romantic feelings for Wolfram due to those same issues, and two more for him to admit his feelings out loud.

After he had finally told Wolfram that he had feelings for him, their relationship had still progressed at a snail's pace. The furthest they had gone before tonight was bringing each other off with their hands. Yuuri had been so embarrassed after the first time they did it that he couldn't look Wolfram in the eye for almost a week. It probably would have been longer than that had Wolfram not gotten fed up one day, snatched Yuuri up by the collar, and dragged him to a secluded area outdoors of the castle. There, he stripped them both and got the other man so aroused with his kisses and touches that they did it in broad daylight.

There had been no problems after that with touching each other. Yuuri's embarrassment had quickly become overruled by the pleasurable feelings that Wolfram gave him, and often he would be the one to initiate a makeout session. Wolfram had been pleasantly surprised the first time Yuuri had pulled him into a embrace in the baths, kissing him and touching him freely. Still, when Wolfram imagined their first time, he thought that it would be him making love to Yuuri. He knew that Yuuri would be apprehensive in the beginning, but he didn't think it would be for such dumb reasons.

“What the hell does my stature or beauty have to do with anything? We love each other, don't we? Why can't I make love to you like I've always wanted to, now that I have you?” Wolfram asked in a husky voice.

Yuuri was so close to giving in. His husband's whole demeanor had changed, and he was slowly stroking himself while looking Yuuri over with unabashed lust. His eyes rested on Yuuri's manhood and he licked his lips. Wolfram smiled when it reacted by twitching.

Still, Yuuri couldn't throw his logic out of the window.

“It's just... how it is. The taller, more aggressive, and more manly boy takes the lead while the smaller, more feminine, and more passive boy submits...” he was interrupted by Wolfram's barking laugh.

“I'm sorry, Yuuri, but that's ridiculous! And, even if it wasn't, the only one of those categories you have me beat in is height. Therefore, according to the numbers, I should win this one anyhow,” he said, smugly. He placed his hand back on his husband, and started to run his fingers back down to his forbidden spot.

Yuuri inched away from him once again in protest. “What do you mean the only category I have you beat in is height! Granted, you are more aggressive than me, but you're more feminine so that's two in my favor!”

“Yuuri, how am I more feminine than you?” Wolfram asked with a smirk.

Yuuri looked at him incredulously. “You wear frilly things!”

“So? I'm still more manly than you,” he said.

“How are you more manly than me?”

“Let's see... I'm a better swordsman than you, I'm physically stronger than you, I've saved your life many more times than you have mine,” he rattled off a few more reasons as he positioned himself on top of his husband.

Yuuri looked up at Wolfram. He had made good points even though Yuuri didn't want to admit it. Still, he had no intentions of being the bottom.

“Wolfram, I am not like a woman!”

“Neither am I.”

“I'm a man.”

“So am I.”

“I'm not going to bottom.”

“Neither am I.”

“I'm going to top.”

“So am I.”

“Wolfram we both can't top, only one of us can top and – Oooooh what are you doing?!”

“Topping.”

OoOoOoO

Several painful (for Yuuri, initially) and pleasurable (for Wolfram, and then Yuuri) minutes later, Wolfram withdrew from his husband and rolled off of him with a sigh. They were both still slightly winded, and both had the beginnings of a sore throat due to shouting out in the throes of passion.

Once Wolfram caught his breath, he looked over to Yuuri, who was staring up at the ceiling with an unreadable expression on his face. “See, that wasn't so bad, was it?” he asked, hoarsely.

“No, it wasn't,” Yuuri said slowly, his expression still masked. Wolfram became worried at the tone of his voice.

“Yuuri, what's wrong? Did I not go slow enough? I tried to control myself as much as I could, but I lost it when you wrapped your legs around my waist...” he trailed off.

Yuuri blushed brightly at the thought of how quickly he had become willing to submit to his husband after the initial thrust. “Wolfram... I'm okay. It hurt a little in the beginning, but after that... words can't describe how good it felt.”

“So, what's wrong then?”

“Nothing... I just feel stupid is all,” Yuuri said with a sigh.

“Why do you feel stupid? You still aren't trying to buy into that 'the bottom is like a woman' crap, are you?” Wolfram asked.

“No, I just feel stupid for buying into it in the first place,” he said, truthfully.

Wolfram rolled his eyes. “Really, Yuuri... where did you get those ideas in the first place? The man who bottoms is like a woman? Seriously... that's insulting to not only those that enjoy being on the bottom, but to women as well,” he said.

Yuuri thought about it for a moment. “Yes... I guess it is.”

They both fell silent for a few minutes.

“Say... Wolfram?”

“Hrmm,” his husband grunted out. He was doing something, but Yuuri couldn't tell what it was.

“How did you come to the conclusion that you would top?” Yuuri asked.

“That's easy, I figured you'd be too much of a wimp to take control,” Wolfram teased. Yuuri was about to protest until Wolfram leaned over and kissed him. “Does it really matter who tops anyway?” Wolfram asked when they broke apart, minutes later.

Yuuri thought about it in the few moments that it took Wolfram to roll Yuuri on top of him and position his manhood at his entrance. Yuuri stared down at the beautiful man that he was married to.

“I guess it doesn't,” he said as he finally claimed his prized possession.

OoOoOoO

So, there it is! I got this idea after reading countless fics of Wolfram bottoming but never getting a chance to top, and finally having the seme/uke reasoning behind it explained and debunked by a friend who's a big Wolfram fan like me. Don't get me wrong, I like Yuuri topping too, but we need some variety in this fandom, folks!

FIC: Murata is the Devil

2008-04-03T03:25:13Z

Title: Murata is the Devil
Author: batty_gal ; known as Tetra26 on FF.NET
Rating: T
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou
Pairing: WolfYuu, with a side of others
Word Count: 3,627
Fic Genre: Humor (or Tragedy, depending on what the reader defines as Humor)
Fic Type: Bang! Er... Oneshot

Summary: Yuuri muses about the “potential relationships” that his friends could be having; Murata thinks he's an absolute idiot and decides to play Devil's Advocate to help Yuuri with his own “potential relationship” with Wolfram. Set over three years after the initial engagement between Wolfram and Yuuri. Pairings: Wolfyuu/Yuuram, and other couples mentioned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Murata is the Devil

oOoOoOo

Murata Ken walked down the long corridor of Blood Pledge Castle and turned the corner. He was surprised to see his friend, Shibuya Yuuri, looking down at the courtyard below with a scowl on his face.

He casually strode up to his friend and stood beside him. “Something wrong, Shibuya?” he asked.

“Um.. nothing is wrong. I was just lost in my own thoughts,” the young man said to his friend.

“Hmm... what are you thinking about? It seems whatever you're thinking about is bothering you a lot,” the Great Sage said to his friend.

Yuuri sighed, but the scowl didn't leave his face. “I was just wondering why people won't tell others what they truly feel around here.”

Murata looked at his friend with a questioning expression. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, several of our friends are obviously in love with each other, but none of them realizes that the other loves them back,” the young Maou said, and sighed again. “There are so many potential relationships that could be fulfilled if people would just speak up.”

Murata gave a strong sideways look at Yuuri. I know that he, of all people, is not saying this to me. This has to be a dream, the Great Sage thought to himself. He pinched himself hard to make sure.

“Ow!” he howled out.

“What's wrong, Murata?” Yuuri asked, giving his friend a concerned look.

“Oh nothing, I just stuck myself by mistake! Please, expand on what you were saying,” Murata replied, absentmindedly rubbing where he had pinched himself. So this isn't a dream. Shibuya really said that! Him, of all people! I'll play along though just to see what the hell has gotten into him, he thought.

“Well, for instance, take Gwendal,” the Maou said, pointing towards the sullen looking man leaning against a stone column down in the courtyard. “See how hard he's staring at Günter?” he asked as he pointed towards Günter, who was animatedly engaged in a conversation with Gisela. “The man has it bad for him!”

“Um...” Murata was cut off.

“I mean, every time Günter runs up to hug on me, Gwendal looks at me like he wants to destroy me,” the young man said as he visibly shuddered.

“Shibuya...” the Great Sage started again.

“And Günter? Even though he flails about all over me, I can tell that he has a thing for Gwendal as well.”

“But they...” Murata was again cut off.

“The other day, Gwendal was talking to one of the soldiers and actually smiled. I've never seen Günter frown so hard. I thought he was going to go over there and challenge the other man to a duel!”

“Shibuya...” Murata tried again, but failed to get the other man's attention.

“And look at Conrad and Yozak!” the Maou said, pointing towards the two men. They were chatting and smiling at each other in the courtyard. “Every time one of them turns away, the other gives them such a longing look...” Yuuri trailed off.

Murata sighed as Yuuri continued.

“And then there's Dakoskos and Gisela...” Yuuri started.

Murata listened as his friend rattled on, and came to the conclusion that while Yuuri was an idiot, he wasn't an absolute idiot. Sure, it took Yuuri forever to realize things that Murata had caught on to years ago, but at least he had finally started to open his eyes more and truly look at his surroundings. At least Yuuri had come to some conclusions, as late and incomplete as they may be.

Murata continued to listen as Yuuri launched into a tirade about Anissina and Doria's secret love for each other, and realized something about his friend. Yuuri had brought up several same-sex couples without going into how “wrong” he found that type of relationship to be. So, along the way towards this 'enlightenment' of his, he's finally gotten over his issues with homosexual love, the Great Sage thought as he started to smirk. Maybe there's hope for you yet, Shibuya.

“And Sangria and Lasagna were practically undressing each other with their eyes this morning!” the Maou exclaimed as he wrapped up his rant. “Man, I wish there was something I could do to bring them all together,” the young man said, sadly.

Murata once again looked over at his friend. Shibuya really looks concerned. He actually wants to see these people happy with one another, he thought. He was about to speak up and console his friend, but then looked down at the golden-haired young man below that was engaged in swordplay with one of his soldiers.

Wolfram... Shibuya didn't mention Wolfram at all, he thought. If he has come to these understandings about the others, maybe he realizes now how much Wolfram loves him. Could it be possible that he finally returns Wolfram's feelings, and his rant today is a reflection of that? Murata thought.

An idea to test that theory, a delightfully evil idea at that, came to Murata's mind. He looked over to his melancholy friend, and started to speak.

“And Wolfram? What about his 'potential relationship'?” Murata said, matter-of-factly.

“Wolfram? He isn't even serious about me,“ Yuuri said, offhandedly.

Damn, there goes half of that theory, thought Murata as he shook his head in disbelief. Yuuri immediately said what Murata hoped he wouldn't say. Yuuri, while coming to all of these “conclusions” about everyone else, still managed not to get it through his thick skull that Wolfram loves him. Still, he immediately assumed that's what I was referring to, so it would be a good idea to test the other half of that theory and see if he loves Wolfram, the Great Sage thought.

Murata decided to be really evil. “I wasn't talking about his potential relationship with you, Shibuya.” Murata was completely amused at the startled look that came across his friend's face.

“Then what 'potential relationship' were you referring to, Murata?” Yuuri asked in a tiny voice.

Murata felt gleeful at the tone of the other man's voice. Ooooh, I've got him right where I want him... I'm going to fully enjoy this! the Great Sage thought. He smiled at Yuuri innocently, and started to speak.

“What? In your assessments of all your other friends, you didn't observe Wolfram's potential relationship?” Murata had to prevent himself from laughing out loud at the indignant, suspicious look on Yuuri's face.

“What 'potential relationship' of Wolfram's?” Yuuri asked again, this time in a voice that sounded quite dangerous.

Murata knew he was risking potential harm, but that wouldn't stop him from being devilish at all. Ah, so Yuuri does have a thing for Wolfram! Time to push some buttons! he thought.

“Well... take a look at that soldier Wolfram is sparring with,” Murata said, as he pointed below towards Wolfram and a tall, young, coral-haired soldier with gray eyes. His timing couldn't have been better. The young soldier, at that moment, managed to parry one of Wolfram's more complex attacks, and Wolfram said something to him that made the young man blush and smile. Wolfram was also smiling back.

Murata saw Yuuri's mouth twitch downward, and noted that his fists were balled up tightly. He decided to continue his demonic assault on Yuuri's psyche.

“Every day, for the past week, Wolfram has devoted most of his training time to that young man,” he said in his most happy-and-innocent voice. “I have never seen Wolfram smile at anyone as much as he has smiled at that young man.” Murata intentionally failed to mention that Wolfram often smiles at any of his soldiers that he sees improving, not just that particular one. That Yuuri didn't know that small detail was his own fault for not observing Wolfram more, as far as the Great Sage was concerned.

Murata watched Yuuri looking intently at the young men below. They had taken a short break, and were drinking from their water skins. The young soldier said something to Wolfram that made him drop his skin, hold his stomach, and double over with laughter. Murata was amused at how well this was fitting in with his sinister plan, and once again had to prevent himself from laughing out loud as he watched Yuuri's face contort in badly concealed jealousy.

Murata decided to strike Yuuri out. “Ah... to be young and in love,” he said, wistfully.

Yuuri snapped his attention away from the two men and looked sharply at Murata. “What makes you think they're in love? After all, he's my fiancé,” the young man said, indignantly.

Strike one, thought the Great Sage. He actually referred to Wolfram as his fiancé! Time to go for strike two.

“Shibuya, since when do you take your engagement seriously?” Murata asked, innocently throwing out similar words that Yuuri had said about Wolfram's feelings for him earlier in their conversation.

“I didn't mean it like that!” Yuuri started to backpedal. He was blushing furiously.

Strike two, thought Murata. He knows he meant it like that or he wouldn't be blushing, plus he didn't even deny his engagement like he usually does.

“Then how did you mean it?” he asked.

“What I meant is, there's no way that Wolfram could be in love with that guy.”

Murata was amused at how Yuuri neglected to answer his question about taking his engagement seriously, but played along instead of pointing it out. “Why not, Yuuri?”

“Well, because... because... Wolfram still sleeps with me! If he really has feelings for someone else, he wouldn't still be sleeping with me.”

Ooh, he sounds sort of smug right there! Does he realize what he's saying and how it sounds? Murata thought. We'll see how smug he sounds when I strike him out, the Great Sage thought with glee.

Murata continued on. “Shibuya... he is still engaged to you. As long as he is engaged to you, he will do for you what a fiancé is expected to do,” he said in a serious voice. “It's kind of sad though... he's putting his all into being your fiancé and you aren't even serious about him.”

Yuuri looked shocked by the Great Sage's words. Murata decided to lay it on even thicker.

“I mean, have you seen the looks that Wolfram receive? Men, and women, openly drool over the man! He could have almost any person in this kingdom that he wanted, but because he's engaged to you he doesn't give them the time of day. That's pitiful too, considering that you don't even like him like that.”

Murata was enjoying his friend's discomfort too much, but even so he thought his words might actually help the other man act in breaking down the final barrier between him and Wolfram. Still, he couldn't help but to continue to enjoy himself before he stopped teasing Yuuri and started to dish out his “sagely advice”.

“I mean, he's the most beautiful boy I've ever seen,” he replied softly. For dramatic effect, he lightly put his right hand over his heart and looked down at Wolfram, wistfully. “If he wasn't engaged to you, I might have allowed myself to fully fall in love with him,” he said softly. It was a blatant lie. Murata had never been interested in Wolfram like that, but he noticed that it had the effect he was looking for as he turned to look at his friend. Strike three!

Yuuri was staring, open-mouthed and wide-eyed, with a horrified expression at him. “Murata...” he started to say.

“However, as long as you are engaged to Wolfram, no one will be crazy enough to act on their feelings for him,” he interrupted with a smile. “Not even that soldier... or me... or Alford... or Adelbert, or...”

“Alford? Adelbert? Them too?” Yuuri whined.

Murata allowed himself to lightly laugh out loud at Yuuri's exasperated facial expression. “I told you he was popular!” Those words were true, but neither Alford nor Adelbert had shown that much interest in Wolfram other than mentioning how beautiful the boy was. Murata just threw that in to make Yuuri jealous.

“But it's not really legit if he's just going through the motions of being engaged for honor,” the Maou said, softly.

Finally! The root of the problem, the Great Sage thought. So Shibuya has finally fallen for Wolfram, but he thinks that Wolfram only acts the way he does for honor and not because he truly loves him.

Murata decided, right then and there, that Yuuri was an absolute idiot after all. To stand and muse about the potential love affairs of others without realizing his own was beyond idiotic. He thought about withholding his “sagely advice” out of spite, but looking down at Wolfram again made him change his mind.

Wolfram... he thought. Murata had always pitied him due to Yuuri's constant rejections of his affection. It was obvious to everyone, except Yuuri, how much the blond man loved the Maou. Wolfram had waited on Yuuri for three years even though Yuuri had constantly claimed there would be nothing between them. Now that Murata knew that Yuuri finally returned Wolfram's love, and was sure what the last barrier between Wolfram and Yuuri was, he decided to end his game with Yuuri and attempt to bring them together.

“Shibuya, Wolfram has shown you how much he loves you plenty of times,” Murata said.

“How?” Yuuri asked, innocently.

Murata wanted to punch him in the face. How obtuse can he be? he thought.

“Well, Wolfram has put his life on the line for you countless of times...” he started.

“Only because I'm his king! Besides, he puts his life on the line for others as well, so that doesn't count,” the young man said, his voice unsure.

Murata tried again. “Shibuya, even though you yell at him about how it's wrong to love other men, he continues to dress in that ridiculous nightgown and sneak in your bed...”

“Wolfram says he does that to protect me, and I think he actually likes wearing that... thing,” Yuuri responded.

“Two years ago, I overheard Wolfram telling his mother that he wishes you could see beyond his gender, and love him for who he is. He also said, however, that as long as you were uncomfortable with his manliness he would do his best to downplay it -- even at the cost of his dignity.”

Yuuri looked shocked. “I.... I never knew that.” The young Maou looked down at Wolfram, who had resumed practicing with the soldier.

Murata decided to move in for the kill. “Shibuya... Wolfram loves you, and he thinks that you still refuse to return the feeling. You love him, and you think that he isn't really serious about you,” Yuuri started to squawk at the mention of him loving Wolfram, but Murata held his hand up. “Don't deny it anymore, and don't interrupt me this time!”

Murata glared at Yuuri, who shrank back and promptly closed his mouth. He continued. “Every last 'potential relationship' you've mentioned to me has elements of the relationship between you and Wolfram. Two people, who love each other and don't believe that the other returns their love. Two people, who get jealous when the other shows even the slightest interest in someone else. “Two people, who look longingly at the other when their back is turned. Now you said you wished there was something you could do for those people you mentioned earlier, how about you start by making a move on Wolfram and fulfilling your own 'potential relationship'? Perhaps then they'll follow your lead?”

There. He had dished out his “sagely advice”. He had done his good deed for the day. He started to walk off.

Before he could leave, Yuuri grabbed his arm. “But... what about that soldier that Wolfram is with? What if he has moved on because he thinks I still don't take him seriously?”

Murata rolled his eyes, but since the conversation had turned serious and he wanted Yuuri to take what he said to heart, he decided to confess.

“Shibuya... I was just pulling your chain. Wolfram smiles at all of his soldiers.”

“What do you mean he smiles at all of his soldiers?!” Yuuri blurted out.

Murata laughed. “Shibuya... I honestly was messing with you... Wolfram always smiles when he sees one of his soldiers improving.”

“But you said that he's been spending all week with that one...”

“He does that with all of his newer recruits. You really should observe your fiancé more. Besides, that soldier has a mate already. Do you see that silver-haired soldier over there glaring at Wolfram? That's his lover.”

“Then... what about Alford and Adelbert? What about their feelings for Wolfram... does he return them?”

“Absolute lies. Neither of them have expressed interest in Wolfram and vice versa.”

“What about... you?” the Maou asked, uncomfortably.

“I have no more interest in Wolfram as a potential love interest than I have in you as one,” the Great Sage replied.

“You wouldn't happen to actually be interested in...”

“Hell no.”

“Then why did you yank my chain so much?” Yuuri asked with a confused look on his face.

“To make you mad,” Murata simply replied.

“Why the hell would you do all that just to make me mad?! Yuuri practically hollered.

“Because you're an idiot, and because I was bored,” he said with an innocent smile. He found no need to let on that he wanted to help his friend more than anything. He also couldn't resist teasing Yuuri one last time.

Yuuri fumed. His outrage was clearly displayed on his face, and he started shaking. He had started to get anxious about Wolfram having feelings for someone else for nothing, all because Murata was bored and wanted to make fun of him. He clenched his fists, straightened up, and glared at the man that was supposed to be his friend.

“Murata... you are the Devil!” he said in his most indignant voice. Yuuri turned and stormed off.

Murata watched his friend stomp off and smiled, sinisterly. “I was aiming for the position of Devil's Advocate, not the Devil himself...but I'll accept that too,” he said, smirking. He heard someone behind him laugh lightly.

Murata chuckled and turned around. “I take it you were here the entire time and enjoyed the show, Shinou.”

“Indeed... I was particularly amused by his rant about the unfulfilled love lives of his friends,” Shinou said.

“So was I... I tried to tell him the truth about them, but he wouldn't let me edge a word in,” the Great Sage replied.

“I'd like to see his face when he finds out that Gwendal and Günter have actually been together for almost 10 years now...”

“Or that Conrad and Yozak have been lovers since the last war...”

“And Gisela and Dakoskos have been together for two years now...”

“While Anissina and Doria started seeing each other a few months ago...”

“And Sangria and Lasagna went out on their first date last week...”

Murata and Shinou looked at each other, shook their heads, and sighed.

“He really is an idiot,” they said, simultaneously.

oOoOoOo

The next day, Murata stood in the same spot where he and Yuuri had discussed Yuuri's relationship with Wolfram, among other things. He looked down and noticed how wide Wolfram's smile was that day as he worked with the soldier from the day before. He looked over to the left and observed Yuuri sitting on a bench watching the two young men practice with an equally wide smile on his face, and started to grin as well.

Ah, so maybe they finally confessed their love for each other, the Great Sage thought. That's one move in the right direction. He was about to move away from his spot until he saw Yuuri stand up.

Murata watched with a mix of shock and amusement as Yuuri limped across the courtyard towards the castle.

“Well I'll be damned,” he said out loud. He heard Shinou laugh heartily behind him.

Murata turned towards his confidant and narrowed his eyes. “You didn't have anything to do with this, did you?”

“No, not this time,” the man laughed. The two men looked at each other and laughed.

“Well, at least he finally got it,” Murata said as he looked away from Shinou and back down at Wolfram, who was watching his lover leave the courtyard with a look of sheer happiness.

“And even though he's an idiot, it didn't take him long to act on it after he got it, either,” Shinou replied.

The two men looked meaningfully at each other.

“Don't say it,” Shinou said.

“It took us over four thousand years...” Murata started.

“I was 'dead' for most of those,” the golden-haired man said.

“That's no excuse, you were aware of me and I of you,” the Great Sage remarked.

They both sighed.

“We really are idiots,” they said, together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that's it! My very first KKM fanfic, hooray! Hope you enjoyed reading it, I enjoyed writing it! The title comes from a saying that my friends and I often use when someone does something wonderfully evil that makes you laugh. “Blank is the Devil”, where Blank represents the person doing the wonderfully devilish deed. I'd appreciate any feedback, corrections, etc. that you all have to offer, thanks!