When Your Wish Is Granted

Chapter 5

Shori fidgeted his calloused hands. He had known that this day would come, but when he finally faced it, his conscience was pretty disturbed.

He hadn't ever thought that a date could be this complicated. First of all, he switched bodies with an ex-prince of Shin Makoku. Second, there was a Maou's adviser who played a match maker. He wouldn't have cared much if he had been in his own body. Third, those two previous causes made engaging the chosen girl in a date become more difficult than just engaging others in casual conversation.

To be honest, he hadn't made any preparations for the date. Of what he would talk about, or the topics. He was too busy seeking ways to get back to his own body. Shori kept reminding himself that Conrad and Gisela had known each other for a long time. Conrad should have known a lot about the healer. It would be weird, Shori thought, if he asked many questions.

"Your Excellency, " the green haired Mazoku's voice filled with concern. "Are you alright?"

Was he alright? Shori was absolutely far from being alright. He forced a smile, shaking his head a little. "I'm fine, Gisela."

Gunter's daughter wasn't convinced by the answer. She sensed something amiss beneath the smiling visage. Immediately she noticed the jittery in the brown eyes. And looked up at the twins of honey pools, she saw blaze that normally wouldn't exist there, for as long as she had known the soldier.

Somehow Gisela felt like she had ever seen those eyes before, though right at that moment she couldn't remember when and where they had been.

"Honestly I never knew that my father would come up with this idea, Lord Conrad," she spoke softly. "Moreover, I also knew that you wouldn't get over Julia."

Shori sharply stared at her. "I beg your pardon?" Realization swept over him, of what Conrad had told him about his true feelings towards the late lady. "No, it's not like that," Shori objected immediately. "My feelings were.. pure. We're just good friends," the future Maou of earth recited.

"I see," the young Mazoku slightly nodded.

Definitely love affairs were not Shori's expertise. Back on earth he had some close female friends, but that's all. No one of them held special place inside his heart. There were times he thought girls were just nuisance, along with their loud mouths, demanding attentions and all.

Geez, Shori unconsciously pulled his dark brown hair. What would Conrad do if he were in his position? It seemed like his brother's godfather was more capable in handling this affair.

But, Shori sternly told himself, it would be humiliating for the Von Kleist lady if he just left her and ruined the date. He might be cold in appearance, but as a man, he also possessed some soft spots. Embarrassing, or even humiliating a woman was the last thing he ever wanted. He would never forgive himself if there was a woman felt those bad feelings because of his conduct.

Gisela blinked her beautiful eyes in confusion. This was the first time she saw the Lutenberg Warrior openly showed his emotions. Did she see frustration across those eyes? She trailed the hand that swept through the hair. Was Lord Conrad nervous?

"Perhaps the date shouldn't take place," Gisela voiced her opinion after watching the tan man fidgeting for some time. "As much as I respect you, Your Excellency, I don't want us to be awkward the next time we meet because of this."

Shori mentally blamed himself. "No, Gisela," he quickly replied. "It's been my honor to spend this evening with you."

Gisela tilted her green head. Shori groggily drank the orange juice in front of him. The evening was warm, but strangely he felt cold and shivered.

"For me," Gisela said slowly, observing the brunette before him. "It looks like something is bothering you."

Shori stared at her uncomfortably. "Really? Ehem," he coughed sheepishly. Sometimes women noticed everything too much for his liking. Dealing with them could be the hardest task he ever had.

"It does," the healer continued. "You are always serene, Your Excellency. Frankly now I can say that you are not yourself."

Gasp was uttered out of Shori's lips. "I am alright, Gisela. You concern too much," Shori knew the objection was pathetically lame. He wanted to smack his head (Conrad's head actually. It wouldn't hurt if he really did, as long as Conrad didn't know it).

"If it is about the date.."

"No, no," Shori cut off frantically. Now he wanted to kick himself. "It's not about the date. Don't be that guilty looking, please," Shori gulped nervously. "It's about something else that has nothing to do with you. Trust me," he convinced the green-eyed-Mazoku.

"May I know what it is, Sir?" Gisela inquired.

"No!" Shori replied quickly. His eye bulged. He regretted his quick reaction. That might arouse suspicion more to the beautiful woman before him.

Gisela started to worry. "You are obviously distracted. Whatever issue you are facing now really distracts you, doesn't it?"

Shori sighed heavily. Before he could stop himself, he said, "Actually, Gisela, I am not Conrad Weller."

Shock was plainly drawn on the young Mazoku's face.

***

A double black observed how the date was going on from a far. He adjusted his glasses. The vision which belonged to him now couldn't see clearly without the help of the glasses.

Conrad was anxious. He and Shori had tried so hard conducting research about The Fountain and finding ways to get back to their bodies, though they went to no avail, that they hadn't thought much about the date.

He had trusted Shori. The half Mazoku knew that Shori was brilliant. Yuuri's brother's aptitude was as excellent as Gwendal's. Conrad believed that Shori could handle everything, but somehow he hadn't considered the other side of Shori that perhaps had a trait with his brother's.

Gwendal was one the best commanders and he had proven that he could run the kingdom very well. In other words, Gwendal was more than a reliable person, only in a field he lacked of. That's romance. Gwendal couldn't deal issues that emerged from love affairs.

Once Shori had revealed the same major weakness. Conrad totally forgot about this. He mentally cursed himself. He watched Shori and Gisela helplessly.

***

"So," Gisela tried to absorb the information she just received. "It's Sir Conrad in your body, and vice versa. Is it?"

Shori nodded. He had agreed with Conrad that it's only both of them who knew about the secret. They wouldn't tell another living soul about it. And now Shori just broke the promise. He could keep it to others, but not to the daughter of his brother's adviser.

"I know it sounds weird, but that's it," Shori grimaced. He searched for the green eyes, trying to convince her.

Gisela returned the stare. Finally she could figure out the blaze of those eyes, the gestures that, as long as she knew, wouldn't be found in Lord Conrad Weller.

"But, Shori -sama," Gisela frowned with deep in thought. "Frankly speaking, this is the first time in my knowledge that a wish is granted by The Fountain. "

"Conrad also told me the same," Shori reiterated. He massaged his temple. "I'm sorry telling you this, Gisela. It's supposed to be a .. date."

Gisela gave a content smile. "It's more than a date, Shori-sama."

"The only ones who know about the switching bodies are Conrad, me and you."

Gisela's braid swished elegantly. "My lips are sealed," Gisela assured the young man. "I will help you find the ways, Shori-sama."

***

Shori let Conrad know about him spilling the bean to Gisela. The ex-prince was surprised, but didn't get mad at Shori. This was what Shori secretly amazed from him: that Conrad had lot of patience and always remained calm. The younger man had barely seen him lose control.

Instead, he calmed down Shori and said that the more number investigated The Fountain along with its history, the better they might attain the information and the faster they could get back to their own bodies.

Conrad had just left the chamber when Gwendal entered. Conrad and Shori had agreed that they would use the other's chambers until everything returned to normal. Suspicion would have risen if they had remained in their own chambers. Gossip and rumor were two things that they both strongly avoided. Those two might lead to some things that preventing them reaching the desperate goal.

Shori groaned inwardly as the dark haired Mazoku sat beside him. What's next?

"How was the date?" as expected from a man Shori had come to get along well, Gwendal straightly asked to the point.

"Erm, well," Shori put his hands on his lap, hiding it from the other, so that Gwendal didn't see them trembling in nervous.

"I don't understand Gunter sometimes," Gwendal rubbed his temple. "I never thought he would come with such idea." Gwendal referred the arrangement.

"Neither did I," Shori didn't lie. He knew very little about the lilac haired swordsman. He only knew that Gunter had pathetic fetish towards his brother, that Gunter was Conrad's tutor, and Yuuri's adviser. Shori didn't know more about Gunter's family other than his beloved daughter. In fact, those things were the only knowledge that the eighteen years old guy knew.

"But I also think that it's time for you to move on," Gwendal stared straight to Shori's eyes. "It's been more than two decades, Conrad. More than enough to forget Julia and find somebody else."

Judging from the looks of his awkward tone, and the frown that creased his temple, it's pretty obvious that Cecilie's eldest son wanted to be anywhere else than sitting beside his, supposed to be, brother.

Shori only gazed at Conrad's brother. Was it just his imagination, or did he see a hint of concern dancing in those deep blue eyes? As well as being the eldest, Shori finally understood the truth beneath the cold layer Gwendal usually wore.

The grumpy soldier deeply cared for Conrad's wellbeing, Shori concluded. Gwendal might be scary and impassive, but there's more to him. He's not a heartless man.

Shori's face broke into a wide smile. "I'm okay, Gwendal. You don't need to worry about me," Shori widened the smile looking at the astonished face beside him. "I got over it years ago."

Mr. Ponytail was taken aback by the statement. Conrad was more open than him, but this was the first time his younger brother confessed such truth. He felt something warm slid down to his heart.

Gwendal regarded Dan Hiri Weller as the larger existence in his life, because he hated that man. But no matter he thought of the old Weller in repugnance, he could never do the same to his half brother.

Love affair was an issue that he would never pick up. At first, he was afraid of Conrad's reaction towards the date his long time friend had suggested. Moreover, seeing the shocking expression bluntly displayed on his usually-cheerful-faced-brother troubled the gray haired brother.

"Moreover," Shori added suddenly, as if just remembered about something. "It's you I concern most."

"Me?" Gwendal grunted. "What about me that worries you?" He looked perplexed but there was genuine curiosity in his eyes.

"You concern about my love life, and now it's my turn to do the same," Shori grinned, which the other man considered it as wicked. "Are you falling in love now? Come on, you can tell me!"

Gwendal's tan face covered in distress. "I'm not in love with anybody. That's why I won't tell you anything."

"Don't be so shy," Shori pushed farther, fully enjoyed watching Gwendal's dark face turn to scarlet. "You've lived longer than me, it's impossible that you never be in love even for once."

Gwendal dangerously glared at the brunette. "My minds are always occupied with other issues that are far more important than love affair. Besides," he grumbled, losing his restraint. "I must do the King's work every single second. How can I think about something else when there are mountains of paperwork in my desk?"

Shori felt guilty for the tall general. It couldn't be helped if the youth blood that streamed in his brother made him too energetic to sit down and do the workload. Shori reminded himself to ask Yuuri to thank Wolfram's eldest brother properly for the , erm, sincere helps.

In a flash movement, Gwendal thrust a stuffed knitting in front of Shori. In great surprise, the latter took it and observed it thoroughly. It resembled a bear with streaks of brown hair. It had a smiling face. In his life time, Shori had never known such creature, in fact, he couldn't tell whether it was a bear or panda. And he had a strong suspicion that the creature wasn't any of them.

"Thanks," Shori stroke its face. "The bear is cute," he praised heartily.

Gwendal coughed. "It's not a bear," he denied immediately. "It's you."

Shori gulped. Oh man!

"I thought you needed something to lift up your spirit. Perhaps it could help," Gwendal's face went pink.

Shori rubbed the stuffed-Conrad. Somehow the funny creature really lightened up his mood. Conrad and he didn't find the ways yet, and the switching bodies was still a secret, but knowing that there were people cared for them, it was more than enough to make Shori grateful. New spirit filled his insides. Surely he'd try harder.

Shori met Gwendal's cool eyes. "Thank you..."

A/N : It took ages for me to write an update. Many things happened recently. I got sick due to the accumulation of fatigue from attending a camping ground for three days, and the burden of workloads I should accomplish, last but not least, there were also occasions that needed my attention. But somehow I tried to update this story. I hate hanging something I've started. Please enjoy!