PURE

Chapter 3

Yuri clutched one of the throw-pillows as he sat on the couch with his legs crossed, intently watching the second half of the film Gone With The Wind. The current scene's effects on him were apparent, despite his best efforts to conceal them.

"Can't we ever forget that day at Twelve Oaks?"

"Just think I could ever forget it, have you forgotten it? Can you honestly say you don't love me?"

"No, I…I don't love you."

"It's a lie!"

Yuri felt Scarlett's frustration and tightened his grip on the pillow.

"Even if it is a lie, do you think that I could go off and leave Melanie and the baby? Break Melanie's heart? Scarlett, are you mad? You couldn't leave your father and the girls…!"

"I could leave them, I'm sick of them, I'm tired of them!"

"Yes, you're sick and tired, that's why you're talking this way. You've carried the load for all of us. But from now on, I'm going to be more help to you, I promise."

"There's only one way you can help me. Take me away! There's nothing to keep us here!"

"Nothing…nothing except honor. Please Scarlett, please dear, you mustn't cry. Please, my brave dear, you mustn't…"

"You love me, you do love me…"

"No, don't, don't!"

"You love me!"

"We won't do this, I tell you, we won't do it. It won't happen again, I'm going to take Melanie and the baby and go."

"Just say you love me."

"All right, I'll say it. I love your courage and your stubbornness. I love them so much that a moment ago I could have forgotten the best wife a man ever had. But Scarlett, I'm not going to forget her!"

"Then there's nothing left for me. Nothing to fight for. Nothing to live for."

"Yes, there is something. Something you love better than me, though you may not know it…Tara."

Yuri finally averted his gaze from the television as the character named Ashley indicated how important the land of Tara is to Scarlett by grabbing a handful of soil and giving it to her.

Yuri threw the pillow on the couch with just a bit more force than necessary, suddenly feeling ridiculous. He reached for the DVD player's remote and pressed the button with the square sign on it, but just before it stopped playing, he heard the heroine utter another line.

"Yes, I…I still have this. You needn't go. I won't have you all starve simply because I threw myself at your head. It won't happen again."

The young adult froze and felt desperate.

Conrart may be extremely devoted to his duties, but he doesn't have someone like Melanie. He isn't betrothed. So I don't see any reason for him to worry about being seen as a disgrace.

He paused and sighed. Why did he reject me, then?

Wait. Doesn't he, really? I mean when I think about the face he made right after I told him about how I feel, I…I can't say I'm sure he doesn't…

Perhaps he thinks I might end up neglecting my responsibilities?

Yuri imagined Conrart telling him, "Yes, there is something. Something you love better than me, though you may not know it…the country."

He shuddered at the thought.

No, no, that can't be it. Conrad trusts me. He's shown it countless times!

Yuri shook his head violently and took a deep breath.

Ah, damn it! This isn't going anywhere!

He then looked at the DVD player remote he had been holding and pressed the "Power" button, not bothering to retrieve the second disc of the film from the player. He grabbed the television's remote and turned that off as well, before rearranging the pillows on the couch. Finally, he picked up the now empty bowl of potato chips from the table and headed to the kitchen.

"Man, what an emotionally explosive movie," he said. I guess it's about time for me to head back, too, he thought. Exposed, he felt.

***

Conrart sighed as he looked out the window of his sensible room. It had been three weeks since Yuri left the Demon Kingdom and it worried him, despite Ken Murata's reassuring words. He was confident that the young king wouldn't do anything to hurt himself, but the idea that he may be depressed didn't appeal to him either.

Yuri…

The brunette soldier swallowed hard, suddenly feeling uncomfortable as images of a hesitant Yuri filled his mind. He sighed again.

The possibility of him being seen idle was close to nonexistent because of duties which he always gladly attended to. As such, he rarely had the time to entertain naughty thoughts or indulge in self-pleasuring activities. But now, alone in his room with thoughts of Yuri and his obligations temporarily forgotten, he simply could not help himself. He had his own needs, after all.

Slowly, he unbuttoned his trousers and began to caress what was beneath the underwear. A soft moan escaped his lips and he shivered. Different scenarios that he thought might produce a similar feeling played in his mind, one by one. This went on for several minutes until he was forced out of his little day dream by a knock.

With a slightly visible scowl that nevertheless looked uncharacteristic, he redid his trousers and proceeded to open the door. There, stood Dorcas.

"What is it?" Conrart asked plainly.

Dorcas noticed the subtle hint of annoyance and took two steps back before giving an apologetic look.

"P-Pardon the intrusion, Sir Weller, but Lord von Voltaire asked me to tell you that you're needed at the Original King's temple…"

Conrart merely raised his left eyebrow, which only made the younger soldier feel weak with intimidation. He scratched his head nervously.

"He said he was…told by Lady Uririke that King Yuri will be returning soon. T-That's all I know, Sir."

Conrart closed his eyes. Thank goodness.

He looked at Dorcas, his dark expression, completely gone. "I understand. Tell them I'll be there soon."

"Very good, Sir," Dorcas said. Conrart closed the door.

How peculiar, he thought. He sighed and walked away.

Conrart mentally berated himself for even thinking of fooling around even if it was just for a few minutes. With his composure regained, he left the room.

***

There, that should do it.

Fully dressed, Yuri put his right foot on the bathtub after filling it with water. But just before he could soak the rest of his body, the bathroom door opened and in, stormed his brother.

"What are you doing?"

"What lame thing are YOU doing? Here, let me take off your clothes."

Shori grabbed the lower part of Yuri's shirt and tried to lift it, but the younger of the two yanked it away from his hold.

"I'm fine!"

"Oh, come, Yuri! You can't be seriously thinking about doing this with your clothes on! Just let me handle it. I'll do a thorough job, I promise!"

He put his right hand on Yuri's nape to keep him from backing away and he used his left hand to remove the shirt, but he ended up tracing his brother's smooth stomach.

"I said I'm fine! And I'm not playing some stupid baby game, you idiot! I'm just going back!"

Shori's mind was a chaos. Here was an opportunity to carry out his plan to seduce his brother, but now that Yuri's purpose had been made clear, he no longer had an excuse to stay close to the boy, let a lone try to remove his clothes.

Yuri may have matured over the years but he was still naïve in many ways. If Shori acted as though he just thought Yuri was just being silly, taking a bath with his clothes on, that was what Yuri would think. Shori was family, and it is to Yuri's credit and disadvantage that he believes it to be a good enough reason to trust someone completely.

Two, five, seven seconds. Shori sighed audibly, his thoughts finally coherent. Resorting to his bossy Big Brother act was how he was going to handle Yuri for now.

"Well, why didn't you SAY SO?" He emphasized the last two words and gently squeezed Yuri's right hip with his left hand.

Yuri inhaled deeply before releasing a mousy groan and Shori cursed inwardly as he tried to refrain from doing anything foolish.

"I would have, if it hadn't been for your stupid enthusiasm!"

They began to feel pressure on the water beneath them and knew that they were now being pulled to the Demon Kingdom. Before either of them could say anymore, they were gone.

***

Gwendal gritted his teeth and gave the approaching Dorcas a menacing look.

"Didn't I tell you to fetch Conrart?"

Dorcas stopped dead in his tracks and stood stiffly.

"I did, Your Excellency. He asked me to tell you that he'll be here soon."

Gwendal grunted, obviously dissatisfied. Dorcas sighed in relief as he lowered his head.

"DORCAS!!!"

He jumped at the sound of the familiar female voice calling his name. He turned around very slowly.

"If you have time to slack off, then help out with the lumber!"

"Y-Yes, Ma'am!"

He ran out the temple, and in his hurry he bumped into Wolfram, who was in an even fouler mood than usual.

"Get the hell out of my fucking way, or I'm gonna fucking destroy you, you hear?!?!?!"

"Y-Yes!"

"Wow, Gisella sure is working the men," said Ken, slightly amused.

"Yup," answered Yozak. "I was just there myself. It's proceeding well. I think they'll be done with the construction sooner than we expected."

"Awesome. I wonder what Shibuya will Say."

"About what?" asked Conrart, who just arrived.

"About time, you arrived." Gwendal stared at him icily.

Conrart smiled apologetically, explaining that he didn't waste any more time after he was told by Dorcas to come.

"Good, he should be arriving any minute. End this little game now."

Conrart didn't need to ask what he meant. He wasn't one to stall, after all.

That's what I had in mind. Well, let's just see.

"Tch, he better," interrupted Wolfram grumpily. "He can't even come up with a decent excuse to save his ass."

The brunette ignored the unpleasant remark. He had more pressing matters to think of, as he always told himself whenever he'd choose duty over the option to do something else.

Four more seconds passed and two heads appeared in the water.

Ken made a face. Uh-oh. I didn't anticipate this. Idiot, idiot, idiot!

Nevertheless, he was the first to welcome Yuri back.

"Yo, Shibuya. And Shibuya's older brother."

He was greeted by a nod and a smile.

Shori didn't respond, his eyes on Conrart.

Ken squinted. Hm. Well this should be interesting. I guess.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty," said Uririke as she bowed politely. Yuri nodded at her.

"What did you think you were doing, staying away for so long?! Have you no shame at all?! The whole country shivers with uneasiness at your prolonged absence, you pathetic excuse for a king!"

"Whoa, easy, Wolfram! I'm sorry! I was so…occupied that I forgot how five days in my world is equivalent to much more over here! Really, I'm sorry!"

"Shut the hell up, you wimpy clown!"

"Very charming welcome, Wolfram," said Gwendal. He turned to Yuri. "Now, Your Majesty, it is just as he says. You position is such that you cannot just leave as you please without a word and come back whenever you feel like it. I trust you are well aware of that rule."

"I am," was Yuri's firm answer, but not without a sheepish grin. He continued. "I'm really sorry, but I'm here now. I promise it won't happen again."

"Excellent. Then you are also aware that the papers you are to sign have piled up? Those who sent them are getting anxious."

"Y-Yes, I suppose they would have, huh…"

Gwendal looked at him for a second.

"We worked on what we could, but a lot of them require your signature."

"That was very kind of you. I'll work on them after I get cleaned up."

Gwendal nodded.

Yuri's thoughts began to wander again. He was back, and it was only a matter of time before he and Conrart met somewhere in the castle.

What am I going to-

"Your Majesty!!!"

"Gunter…?"

"Oh, you're back! Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I am. Thanks, Gunter. It's nice to see you again."

"Oh, what a relief. I was starting to think you finally decided to leave for good, but that doesn't matter now. I'm glad you're back!"

"So am I," Yuri smiled half-heartedly, remembering the words of Gone With The Wind's heroine.

"I could leave them, I'm sick of them, I'm tired of them…!"

How very tempting.

Ken on the other hand, made a subtle gesture to Yozak and the red head nodded.

"Well, I suppose it's time for the young master to get all powdered up. How about I accompany you to the bath, eh, boyo?"

"Sounds good."

"Well, alrighty, then! Come on!"

"I think I'll join you!" said Gunter with his usual enthusiasm. Gwendal and Wolfram turned to leave and Gisella and Uririke excused themselves.

As he was dragged off by Yozak with Ken tailing them, he saw Conrart standing a few meters from the pond, staring at him.

Great. Now he's not even saying anything to me after I was gone for God knows how long.

The door closed with a loud thud. Conrart turned to look Shori in the eye.

"You want to talk to me, correct?"

Shori nodded. "Let's go."

Conrart let him lead the way. As they exited through the door, he bumped to an tired-looking dorcas.

"Oh, excuse me, Sir Weller, but have you seen Gis-"

He stopped when he saw the look on Conrart's face. He decided not to push it.

After the two men disappeared in the corner, Dorcas sighed for the third time that morning.

"What's with all of them today anyway? Why are they taking it all out on me…?"

He felt like crying.

To be Continued

***

Review Responses

Chintz Chairs: That's what I had in mind for Yuri in this fanfic. After all, Conrart can't do all the chasing. Heh heh.

takara94: I think I'll let the fanfic answer that question for you. :P

Sea Queen: Yeah, it can be a little disturbing. Still, Shori is intelligent enough. He'll know how to handle his feelings. He can either tell Yuri the truth or just keep it a secret. Either way, he'd never force Yuri. Not his super adorable, baby brother! *_*

jenni miko: You really think so? Thanks! Oh, Yuri doesn't smoke in this fanfic. He was just rubbing the stone floor with his shoes in annoyance in the first chapter. You know, like a mannerism. I just described it as similar to how someone might put off a cigarette that he or she just finished smoking. Sorry! ^_^

mnmonroe: I'm absolutely convinced that Yuri and Conrart like, (like, like, like!) each other. Those subtle gestures and that understanding look they would sometimes give each other prove that. Their relationship has a quiet dignity that is never present in the Wolfram/Yuri scenes.

pheecat: Oh my, thanks for your rich reviews! That REALLY made my day. =) Anyhow, I'm not very fond of Wolfram, but I suppose he does have his good points despite his bratty attitude. And no, he and Shori will not end up together. Heh heh. Ah, I'm so glad you liked Yuri's whiny thoughts in the first chapter. I can understand him though. If I remember correctly, he said in the anime that Conrart was perfect, and I agree with him. To learn that such a perfect man actually has some feelings for you, after you've just realized your own and to not be able to be with that man, well…it's frustrating. Haha. As for Shori, well, his feelings for Yuri was apparent in the anime, but not as much as Conrart's were. That, and I'm fond of him. So I guess there will be more of him in the next chapters. Tee-hee.

Ling-Ling1567: Well, here it is. I hope you liked it. ^_^

Raven Cactuar: I know. They make a gorgeous couple. (Sigh)

Sillvog: Nope, they're not up to something. Well, not in this chapter anyway. ;)

Miss Plague: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Here's the third chapter. I'll try work faster. =)

Well, here it is, everyone. Chapter 3. I'm sorry for the long wait. But you know how busy we can all be. Again, thanks for the reviews. I hope you keep them coming! ^_^