The Consummate Oath
part twoIt wasn’t the being wet that annoyed Wolfram as they walked down the sidewalk towards the Shibuya home. It played a part, he wouldn’t deny that, but on the whole it was little more than a nuisance to drip as they walked, sloshing about in a soaked uniform under the beige cloak he’d pulled from the sack. However, the fierce chill in the wind that made his face burn with irritation: that was truly insufferable. Despite the warm dry layer over them, with their wet hair and clothes still clinging to their skin, the older three shivered as they walked. Greta had a warm change of clothes on her body under her cloak, but her hair still hung wet against her face. She walked behind her parents, Yuri and Wolfram standing side by side to block the wind from her as they pushed on in spite of awkward stares; Murata hung back to be sure at least someone had an eye on the young girl.
It had been Yuri’s idea to surprise his family and therefore his fault they were made to walk, wet and cold, to his home. Wolfram made a note not to let him forget that for some time, lest he pull a stunt like this again. No surprise was worth the aggravation and discomfort he was putting them through.
It was not a long walk, but it was made infinitely longer by the conditions they walked in. When the cheerful home stood before them, though, no power in the world could have stopped them from clamoring inside even without the decency of a knock. With certainty and eagerness they plowed through the entry way, remembering only out of habit to remove their shoes as the door closed behind them and they stood shivering inside.
“That was the worst idea you have ever had,” Wolfram managed around chattering teeth, deciding now was as good a time to shove it in his face as any.
Yuri smiled apologetically at him, lowering the hood of his cloak. His lips had a tint of blue to them and his jaw trembled as well. “Sorry. This is the last time I’ll ask you to do this. I promise I’ll work on a plan so next time we visit Earth, we end up here.”
Wolfram nodded as a woman’s voice called out to them.
“Sho-chan, is that you?”
A subtle warmth came to Yuri’s face at the sound of his mother’s voice. Breaking through the numbness of his senses, he could smell the spices of her cooking permeating the home. Christmas carols were already playing faintly in the background. He took a deep breath, enjoying the peaceful moment, before calling back to her. “It’s Yuri. I’m home.”
From there, it became a chaotic chain of events that left Wolfram, Greta and Murata speechless as they drew back with a start. Sprinting faster than any of them thought a person capable of, Shibuya Miko rounded on her son in a fury of worried and near hysterical questions for which she left no time for answering.
Yuri smiled embarrassedly, trying to shrug off her affectionate pinching and swats with her spoon that served only to put her at ease and punish him. “I’m fine, mom. I’m sorry. I know I was gone a long time. Everything’s okay, though. See? I’ve still got all my arms and legs.”
“Call me Mama, Yu-chan!” Miko reprimanded him. “You didn’t say goodbye or anything! Don’t you care about how much you worry your poor mama?”
“Of course I care. I was just really busy, though. I’m the Maou and I have certain responsibilities and then there were some personal matters.... I’ll explain all the details later, I promise.” Yuri held up his hands to dissuade her from pursuing her physical attacks.
Miko pouted at him, arms crossed over her chest. “You had better.” She turned to the other three and, as though they had not been privy to her conversation with her son, put on a beaming smile and addressed them warmly. “Thank you all for taking such good care of my Yu-chan when he’s away. Who did he bring with him this time? Oh, Wol-chan! Is that you under there?” she asked, peering into their hooded faces.
Wolfram pulled the hood of his cloak back, his blonde hair sticking to his face in ringlets. “I would never allow him to leave me behind, Mother. I apologize for our appearance.”
She squealed in delight and held his face between her hands. “You look so beautiful, Wol-chan! I’m so happy to see you again! Will you be staying long enough this time to go shopping with me? And Ken-chan? Oh, your family has been worried sick about you! You’re as bad as Yu-chan!”
Murata smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry, Mama-san. I didn’t realize we’d be gone so long. Mind if I call home?”
Miko shooed him off towards the phone, looking cross though her demeanor would not allow the expression to stay. “Boys are terrible. They grow up and they don’t think about their poor dear mamas anymore.”
Wolfram smiled a bit at her, putting his hand on his daughter’s shoulders. “Boys where I’m from are much more respectful to their mothers. I will make sure Yuri does not impart his bad habits on our children.”
“Wolfram.” Yuri frowned at him. His mother was bad enough but being ganged up on by the two of them was more than he appreciated.
“Are you going to introduce her to your family or must I?”
Miko blinked and looked between the two and then to the smaller figure under the cloak whose hand was grasping at Wolfram’s side. “This is someone new.”
Wolfram nodded, eyeing Yuri reproachfully. His fiancé nodded, swallowing hard as he stepped forward. “Mama...this is Greta. She’s...our daughter.”
“Daughter?”
Greta pulled her hood down then unlaced the front, handing the cloak to her father before curtseying to the older woman. “I’m very pleased to meet you.”
Miko’s eyes were as large and glittery as stars. “Daughter?”
“You two wait right here. I’m going to get some towels,” Yuri instructed to his royal family. No sooner did he try to turn around, though, this his mother wrapped her arms around his chest.
“I’m too young to be a grandmother! But a girl! A girl! Oh, Yu-chan, I’m so proud of you!” She kissed his cheek, bouncing with joy. “I want to hear all about it! Things must be so different in your other world! A girl! My Yu-chan had a girl!”
Yuri made a face. “You’re getting wet too now. Let me go so I can get them something to dry off with.”
“Dry off?” Miko looked back at the dripping hair matted to all their faces. “You’re all soaked to the bone!” she exclaimed. “Greta-chan, you must come with me. I’ll get you a nice cup of cocoa and dry your hair and oh, I have plenty of warmer dresses than that!”
Greta’s face was alight with joy. “Greta would love to go with Grandma!”
Miko took her hand and beamed with a mother’s glow. “Yu-chan, you and Wol-chan should go and take a nice warm bath or else you’ll catch your death. Just leave Greta to me.”
Before either could say a word, Miko had dashed away with their precious daughter in tow. The hostile takeover had devastated the opposition with its swift effectiveness.
Yuri looked on in defeat.
“Come on.” Wolfram hooked his arm with Yuri’s, pulling him away gently. “A hot bath sounds perfect about now.”
The king nodded, still looking in the direction of their departure. “I hope she realizes she can’t keep her.”
The soldier shook his head and dragged his fiancé to the bathroom. They helped each other peel off their wet things, running hot water in the tub. It was a tight fit but they managed to both fit, Yuri sitting between Wolfram’s legs as they lounged against one end of the tub. Breathing in the hot steam, feeling the hot water around them and the warmth of the other’s body made the deep chill melt away and replaced it with a sunny warmth uncommon for the season.
Yuri sighed deeply, letting his head lean back against Wolfram’s shoulder. He felt the golden tendrils paste themselves against his face, mingling with his dark bangs, making for a striking contrast just within his vision. He rested one arm on the outside of the tub while the other grasped his lover’s knee, running up and down his thigh innocently, watching rivers of water trail down his creamy skin. The echo of the dripping faucet as it splashed and made ripples along the surface was rhythmic and calming like their breath. Even as thoughts rampaged through Yuri’s mind, they seemed more distant in these close quarters.
Wolfram wrapped his arms around him, his lean muscular limbs lending strength to Yuri as he drew him closer to his own chest. “Why aren’t you happy?”
He paused for a moment, thinking through the warm fog of the bath. “I’m happy. Just...never mind.”
“Are you worried Mother will like Greta more than you?”
“No.” Yuri made a face, his nose scrunching up as though he smelled something foul. “I hope she’s okay though. My mom can be kind if intense.”
“So can Greta.” Wolfram kissed the side of his face. “You’re supposed to enjoy coming back here. If you don’t start acting like you’re happy I’m not letting you come back again, wimp.”
Yuri sighed again, shaking his head slightly.
“You’re not going to argue with me? Now I know something is wrong.” Wolfram cast a worried glance at his lover's face, tightening his grip around his frame.
Yuri frowned a little at him. “I said to forget it.”
“I can’t forget it if you keep sighing like that.”
“Shibuya?”
Yuri jumped as the bathroom door slid open, sitting up quickly to distance himself from Wolfram. “Murata! What are you doing?!”
Murata cocked his head at his friend’s outburst, coming into the room further to shut the door behind him. He had on a large pink robe, courtesy of Miko no doubt, with his hair wrapped in a towel and blue slippers on his feet “Mama-san said you and Wolfram were in the bath. I’m supposed to tell you that your brother’s home and dinner won’t be long.” He smiled deviously, his glasses shining in the light. “Oh, were you are Wolfram doing something in here? Have I interrupted?”
“Of course not!” Yuri exclaimed, his face and body burning with embarrassment. “We were just warming up.”
“Ooooh.”
“Murata!” Yuri quickly got out of the bath and pulled a fluffy blue towel around his waist. “You know what I meant! Lower your voice when you say things like that!”
Murata Ken smiled, scratching the back of his neck. “Alright. No need to freak out. You know I don’t care what the two of you do.”
“I know you> don’t.” He looked at the tubs remaining occupant, seeing the anger in the green eyes that glared back at him. Yuri’s heart sank. ”Wolfram, don’t take it so personally. I’m sorry.”
Wolfram shook his head and stood up, grabbing his own towel to cover himself. He left the room wordlessly, stepping past Murata and walking to Yuri’s bedroom to find a change of clothes. In the hallway, Shori watched him walk by, a strange expression on his face.
“Wolfram, wait!” Yuri rounded the corner to give chase but paused at the sight of his brother.
Shori looked at him for a moment then back in the direction Wolfram had gone, then back to his precious brother. “I thought you said you were relieved to be done with him and the engagement mess.”
Yuri’s eyes were large and frightened. “Things change, Shori. Don’t say things like that where he can hear you.”
His brother nodded, though he did not completely understand. “Alright, Yu-chan. Dinner’s ready. Papa will be home soon. It’s about time you decided to come home too, you know.”
Yuri nodded slightly, his shoulders wilting. As Shori walked past him, he grabbed his arm tightly, demanding his attention. Their gaze met, Yuri’s black eyes full of fear, pleading to him with their honesty. “Don’t say anything to dad. Okay?”
Shori nodded hesitantly, pondering to himself the nature of these changes. As soon as his brother let go, he continued down to the kitchen.
Yuri quickly proceeded to his room, catching Wolfram hopping into a pair of jeans, his naked backside disappearing from view. “Wolfram...you’re not going to wear any underwear with those?”
Wolfram looked over at him then turned up his nose. “Your undergarments are bulky and uncomfortable.”
“So is getting your pubic hair tangled in the zipper. I’m sure I’ve got briefs around here. Gimme a second.” Yuri went to his drawer and started pulling out jockstraps and boxers to find something the blonde prince would be more comfortable in.
Wolfram watched him, fists planted on his hips. “Is this how it’s going to be, Yuri?”
Yuri didn’t look up, keeping himself occupied looking through his underwear drawer. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t ask me that. You’d been acting weird before the trip and now you’re jumping at shadows. Murata’s seen us in the bath together before and who cares if anyone else does, for that matter?”
“Can we talk about this later?”
Wolfram glared. “We’re alone. What’s wrong with now?”
“I’ve got enough to deal with right now without you hounding me, so could you please drop it?” Yuri snapped.
“You wouldn’t feel that you have so much to deal with if you bothered talking to me about things.” Wolfram pulled a T-shirt on over his head, the hot pink and yellow color clashing with Yuri’s mental image of his fiancé. No one had said the prince on the white horse moonlighted as a punk. Silently though, he wrapped a length of leather lacing around his upper arm. That was all Yuri needed to see to feel less lost.
“It’s already time to eat, alright?” The Maou stood up, abandoning his search in favor of getting dressed himself. He slipped on a pair of boxers then turned to his lover with a worried expression. “Let’s forget it for now. I love you. I don’t want to argue with you. Everything can wait till later. Please?”
Wolfram glared at him for a minute then nodded slowly. “Do not dishonor me with your actions.”
“I won’t. I’m sorry. Knee-jerk reaction.” Yuri walked over and kissed his lips, stroking his cheek with his knuckles as he pulled away. “I’m going to tell them about us properly, alright? So just don’t say anything yet. Let me handle this.”
“Why do you look so scared? This is your family. Your mother is more excited about our wedding than even I am.”
Yuri shook his head. “I know. She’s accepting of just about everything though. Just please leave this to me.”
Wolfram kissed him in reply.
Yuri quickly got dressed, wrapping his own engagement band around his arm over the loose sleeves of a t-shirt he pulled on. They walked out to the dinning area; the table was set with steaming rice and glazed beef already portioned out onto plates. One could smell it from anywhere in the home and the aroma was enticing to most and confusing to others. Greta looked at her plate and utensils with an amazed stare as she sat beside her grandmother, hair in pigtails and dressed in the frilliest pink dress Wolfram had ever seen.
She stood up when she saw her fathers coming and twirled around for them to see. “Do you like it? Mama said I can keep it!”
“Mama?” Yuri made a face at his mother, “You’re her grandmother, not her mom.”
“I don’t have a mother though so grandma said she will be Greta’s mama too!”
Yuri opened his mouth to protest but quickly closed it. “Alright. I give up.” He smiled and hugged his daughter before taking his seat at the table. “I’m glad you two are getting along so well.”
“Sho-chan! Aren’t you going to say anything about your brother’s adorable daughter?” Miko pouted at her oldest son. She'd even gone to the trouble of changing her own clothes to match Greta’s and he was still silent in his observations.
Shori shrugged, spearing a chunk of beef with his fork. “She is a very charming girl. We’ve met before.”
Miko’s pout proceeded to become more pitiful as she slumped in her seat. “You knew and you didn’t tell me? It’s not fair. Does Shoma know too?”
“Eh...no. Only Shori knew.” Yuri spoke quietly.
“Oh, Yu-chan, it’s like you have this whole other life you don’t want us to know about! First you don’t tell us about being the Maou, then about being engaged to Wol-chan and now about you having a daughter!” Miko sank deeper into her chair. “It’s not fair. I wanted to be there for so many things.”
Yuri nodded, speaking his apology in a near whisper. Wolfram watched his behavior with interest, not sure what to make of his sullen mood. Across from him, Murata sat looking calm and vigilant as always. It was almost unnerving how his fiancé’s friend could sit by and watch Yuri struggle and not feel obligated to help until he felt it was the time to act. A strategist for sure, but perhaps a bit heartless. Wolfram could not imagine sitting idly by and waiting for an opportunity to arrive. Being forced to do so was driving him mad. He could only hope Yuri would talk to him soon so they could move past whatever was pulling him down.
Under the table, he gave his leg a brief squeeze. Yuri returned the gesture.