The Heat of the Moment

Chapter 20

The next morning Dominique was awakened by the sun streaming in through the curtains of the balcony window. She sat up rubbing her eyes and looking around the strange room. This wasn't her room and she doesn't remember leaving home. She squinted her eyes taking in all the lovely antique furnishing and realized that she was inside the palace. Suddenly, the memory of what happened last night flashed across her mind. She lowered her head sighing and fought back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. She began to wonder where her beloved big broghter had run off to last night. The last thing she remembered was her daddy running after Yuu's father and Yuu becoming upset and leaving the party. She crawled over to the side of the enormous bed and got out. Lying over a chair was a dark green dress with ruffles around the hem and the cuff of the sleeves. This was the last dress her poppa bought for her before he died.

She immediately washed up and put her clothes on. She picked up the silver comb and raked it through her long lavender colored hair getting out the tangles. After she was dressed, she walked out of the room in search of her daddy. Instead of finding Wolfram, she ran into Esmeralda. The older woman was dressed in a long white flowing gown and her peach colored hair was in a loose braid that hung down her back.

"Well, I see you're finally up, little one," said Esmeralda smiling.

"I was looking for my daddy," said the girl. "Do you know where he is?"

"I believe he is still asleep." She lifted the girl in her arms. "Dominique, I need your help with something that is very important."

"Okay. What is it?"

"I am not going to lie to you." The elder woman sighed. "Last night, there was a fire in the forest behind your home. His majesty, Yuuri Shibuya, was able to put the flames out but . . ." She let the sentence run off.

Dominique scowled. "But what?"

"You see, we came upon what was the charred remains of your brother's clothing." Then she looked Dominique in the eyes. "Wolfram believes that Yuu is dead." Esmeralda held the child tightly as she felt the girl began to shake in her arms.

"No. He can't be . . ." Dominique's trembling became worse as she thought about never seeing her big brother again. Tears began to flow from her eyes as her small hand clutched onto the fabric over her heart.

Esmeralda calmed the child, wiping the tears from her eyes. "But I don't believe that your brother is dead."

Suddenly Dominique's trembling and her quiet sobbing stopped as she turned to her teacher. "You don't think he's dead."

"No, but I am not able to tell for sure. I need your help to find him."

"Okay, what do I have to do?"

Esmeralda led her to the conference room. All the windows were closed and the table and chairs were gone. In the center of the room were four lit candles sitting on the floor bathing the room in a soft glow. The candles were positioned around a powdery silver circle and written within the circle were the four elements. In the center of the circle was a huge eye. "Sit in the center of the eye," instructed Esmeralda.

Dominique did as told.

"Now I want you to concentrate. Try to find your brother."

Dominique sat down in a lotus position clasping her small hands together. Esmeralda copied the child's position and began chanting a spell. Suddenly the circle began glowing as Dominique's small form was engulfed by the light. Her mind went hurdling over the distance searching for the one mind that is so familiar to her own.

Dominique felt as though she has been searching for her brother for hours when it has only been a few minutes. She search near and far, over hills, valleys, fields and mountains, but still she could not find Yuu. Suddenly, she came to a halt. She was surrounded by darkness. "Yuu," she called out. No answer. "Yuu! Are you there?" But still there was no answer. She was about to awaken from her trance when her big brother's voice vibrated in the darkness.

"Ni-ni. Is that you?"

"Yes." She became excited as she looked around trying to find her brother. "It's me brother. Where are you? Why can't I see you? Are you hurt?"

"It's all right, Ni-ni. I am not hurt."

"Why can't I see you? I feel that you are in pain. Are you sure you are not hurt?" She walked around in the darkness trying to locate where her brother was hiding. "Esmeralda said that daddy thinks you are dead because they found what remained of your clothes after the forest fire was put out."

"I'm sorry if I made father worry. Please tell him that I am all right and that I won't be home for a while. But I will be coming back. I promise."

"You know I will." Dominique hated hearing her brother sound so sad. Reaching up into her hair, she grabbed a strand of hair and began twisting it around her finger in a nervous gesture. "But Yuu, what is happening to you? Why did you run away? Why did you leave me alone? You promised that you would always be here with me."

"I'm sorry Ni-ni but I have to do this. I have to make sure you and father are safe from that man."

"Who?" she asked puzzled. "You mean your other father?"

"Don't say that!" The anger in his voice caused the darkness to ripple around her. "He is not my father. I don't know who he is and I do not want to know him."

"Yuu. Why do you hate him so much?"

"Why I hate him so much? I could go on forever but the number one reason is because he did nothing but hurt our father. All he ever wanted was that man to love him. And before the ink could dry on the papers that were signed to annull their engagement, that despicable wimp ran off and married some woman he only knew for a month." Yuu's voice was filled with disgust. "Even after the wonderful life dad gave him, our father still loved that bastard."

Dominique still could not understand her brother's rage. Sure, seeing Yuuri upset her but that was only because his presence upset her daddy and enraged Yuu. But from the little she was able to get from him, the demon king of Shin Makoku was a nice person. He even brought her that pretty doll and said that he loved their daddy. If he was a bad person, she would have been able to see it in his aura. But instead of the putrid black that would normal linger around a person with evil intents. what she saw was a soft blue glow that filled her with warmth. Then she thought of something.

"Yuu. Are you jealous?"

"Jealous!" She could hear him scoffing at such an idea. But for some reason Dominique believes that her brother was jealousy of his own father. Why? She hadn't a clue. "Me? Jealous! What would I be jealous of? I just hate to see father get hurt again while dealing with that man."

"You have nothing to worry about Yuu. I'm sure daddy's family will protect him from your father if he did anything to hurt daddy."

"Stop calling him my father!" Yuu snapped. "His family did nothing to help him the first time. What makes you think they will do anything now."

"Do you not want daddy to be happy with the one he loves?"

"Of course I want him to be happy. I just don't think his happiness lies with that deceitful, prejudice man."

"Oh Yuu," Dominique said sadly. "I'm scared for you. All this anger and rage inside of you is not good. It may make you do something you will regret."

"I doubt that very much." Then he sighed. "You have nothing to be scared of. I will not do anything foolish. Now, I have to go Ni-ni. But I want you to know that I am doing something very important. So, just tell father that I am all right and that I will come home as soon as I am finished."

"What are you doing?"

"I am doing something that is important to both you and father. And once I am through both of you will never be sad again. Good-bye little sister, tell father that I love him."

Dominique sighed as she felt their connection closing off. Taking another look around the darkness, she returned back to her body. Dominique eyes fluttered open as she stared into the face of her teacher.

"Well?" asked Esmeralda. "Did you find out anything?"

Dominique sighed and stood up. "Yes. Yuu is alive and well, but I could not sense where he was. All I could see or feel was darkness. He said he was doing something important and that when he returned daddy and I will never be sad again."

"Do you know what he meant by that?"

"No, but I have a sinking feeling that Yuu is treading on dangerous grounds," said the child.

"I, for one, hope you are wrong," said Esmeralda taking the girl's hand and walking out of the room.

'I hope I am wrong also.' Dominique tightened her hand around that of her teacher's hand.

xxxxx

Wolfram awakened to find himself wrapped in comforting warmth. Keeping his eyes closed the blonde laid there basking in the warm feelings that washed over his body. He hasn't felt this good in a very long time. Slowly, his eyes opened to find himself buried against a broad chest wrapped in black cloth. He could feel his heart thumping against his chest in excitement. Letting his eyes travel upward, he smiled as he stared into the softly snoring, sleeping face of his handsome fiance. Wolfram could feel the heat rush to his face as his eyes trailed along his beloved's soft, pouty lips. Yuuri's arms were wrapped loosely around him. Even after ten years, he noticed Yuuri still had this innocence in his face when he was asleep. Raising one hand, he gently stroked his fiance's cheek.

Then he remembered the events of last night. Yuu. His precious son was gone. He lowered his hand to cover his mouth holding back his painful sobs. His little Yuu was gone. Now there is nothing connecting him to Yuuri. He felt his heart break. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not hold back his heart wrenching sobs.

Yuuri immediately awakened to find his fiance crying. He tightened his arms around the blonde pulling him close and let Wolfram cry against his chest.

"I'm sorry Yuuri," he cried.

"Sorry? Why would you be sorry?"

"I failed in keeping your son safe." His sobs became loud and sorrowful. "Now you will never have the chance to get to know him. I'm so sorry Yuuri. It's my fault. It's all my fault." He continued to cry helplessly against his fiance.

"Don't say that," said Yuuri cupping the blonde's tear soaked face in his hands. "I don't blame you for anything. It's not your fault."

"But it is. If I hadn't made Yuu think I chose you over him . . ."

Before Wolfram could finish his sentence, Yuuri sealed their lips together in a passionate, blistering kiss. Wolfram moaned as his lips opened to let Yuuri's tongue ravish the inside of his mouth. Wrapping his arm around Yuuri's neck, Wolfram buried his fingers into the soft black strains of his fiance's hair.

Yuuri pulled away breaking the kiss and looked into those wet emerald eyes. "No Wolf. You did not chose me over your children. You just wanted them to be as happy as you are and there is nothing wrong with that."

"That maybe true but my Yuu is gone." Hot salty tears fell from Wolfram's dull green eyes. "And I will never see him again."

"You can't fall apart now, Wolfram. You still have a beautiful little girl who will need you now more than ever."

"I know you're right but the pain in my heart is so bad." Pulling Yuuri's face close to his Wolfram kissed his fiance fiercely. "Please . . . Please . . . make love to me Yuuri."

Yuuri pulled the blonde close for a passion filled kissed that had Wolfram's mind spiraling out of control. The blonde moan as he felt cool hands slip under his shirt to gently stroke and pinch one nipple. But their lovemaking came to an end as they were once again interrupted.

Yuuri was just about to remove Wolfram's shirt when there was a knock at the door. He did not want to answer but the knocking continued. Yuuri sighed and got out of bed. Walking up to the door he jerked it opened to find a smiling Murata standing on the other side. "You better have a damn good reason for interrupting us."

"Oh, I do," smiled the Great Sage. "And I'll be able to tell you once you and Wolfram join us downstairs for breakfast."

"What are you up to, Ken?" Yuuri narrowed his eyes suspiciously at his friend.

"Nothing but making sure the two of you have that happy ending you both so rightfully deserve." Then he turned and walked away. "Hurry up Shibuya. It's very important."

Yuuri sighed. Sometimes he wondered about the other man. ‘Needs to go find himself a woman and settle down.’ He turned closing the door and watched as Wolfram slowly dragged himself off the bed.

Wolfram walked through the adjoining door to the large bathroom. Yuuri sighed and followed his fiance. In the center of the room was a huge oval shaped marble bathtub. It wasn't quite as huge as the one in Blood Pledge Castle but it was large enough to fit two families of four. He watched entranced as Wolfram removed his clothing and stepped into the steamy water. The blonde just sat in the tub with his head lowered. He made no effort to wipe the tears from his eyes.

Yuuri quickly removed his own clothes and sat down next to the blonde. "Wolf," said Yuuri placing his hand under Wolfram's chin and tilting his face up to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"I want my baby back," Wolfram cried as the tears fell like rain from his eyes. "I want my Yuu."

"I'm sorry Wolfram." Yuuri pulled his fiance into his arms holding him tight. "But everything will be all right. You just wait and see."

"No, it won't. Nothing will ever be the same again."

Yuuri just sat there and continued to hold his beloved and let him cry on his shoulder. He picked up a small sponge and began to bathe Wolfram. Once he was through with his fiance, Yuuri quickly cleaned himself off. Once they were finished, both stepped out of the tub and found some clean towels that were mysteriously placed on the bench. Yuuri had to admit that the servants here were just as quiet and quick as the ones back home. Picking up a towel, he first dried off Wolfram and then picked up another to dry himself off. Wrapping the towels around their waist, Yuuri led Wolfram back into the bedroom where a change of clothing was waiting for them.

Wolfram tossed the towel aside and began to get dressed. Yuuri walked up behind Wolfram and wrapped his arms around the blonde. "Are you feeling better now?"

"A little," Wolfram said pulling up his pants. "What about you?"

"I'll survive." Yuuri smiled sadly at the blonde.

Wolfram turned to face his love and felt his heart break at the look of sadness and lost in his eyes. He threw his arms around the double black and held him tight. "I'm sorry Yuuri. You-you never got the chance to know Yuu. You would have been so proud of him."

"Well, he had you to raise him. I couldn't ask for a better person to raise him." He tightened his arms around Wolfram. "But yes, I do wish I had gotten the chance to know him." The two continued to hold each other for a little while longer before Wolfram finally pulled away from him.

"Well, I guess we should hurry up and finish getting dressed."

Yuuri nodded his head tossing aside his towel and began putting on his clothes. When they were finished, Yuuri smiled at his fiancé as the blonde raked his fingers through his blonde tresses.

"Are you ready?"

Wolfram took one last look at himself in the mirror. He sighed as he saw the puffiness around his eyes. He was not relishing the idea of going downstairs to tell Dominique that her brother will not be coming home ever. A heavy sighed slipped past his lips once again as he turned away from the mirror and nodded.

"Let's go," said Yuuri holding out a hand, smiling. Wolfram took the offered hand, and they walked out of the room.

xxxxx

As Yuuri and Wolfram walked into the room, everyone was seated around the breakfast table waiting for them to arrive.

"Daddy!" squealed a tiny female voice. Wolfram raised his head to see his daughter running toward him. He leaned down and lifted her into his arms.

"What's wrong daddy? Why do you look so sad?"

Wolfram smiled. He could hide nothing from his little witch. She seems to always know when he is sad. "I have some terrible news about your brother," he said sadly.

"Wolfram, before you say anything I have something to tell both of you," said Esmeralda. So Wolfram sat down placing Dominique on his lap while Yuuri took the seat beside him.

"Well, what is this important news that you had to tell both of us?" asked Yuuri.

"It's about last night when we found Yuu's clothing," said Esmeralda. "As you already know Wolfram, I am in-tuned to the four elements."

"In-tuned?" said Gunter frowning. "What do you mean?"

She turned to face the lavender hair demon advisor. "What I mean is that whenever a wielder is born or dies I can feel the vibrations of the elements. When a wielder is born, it feels like ripples on the surface of a pond. But when a wielder dies, it is like this awful crushing pain. Since Yuu is the son of the demon king and he controls two elements, his death should have hit me like a mountain falling on top of me." Then she turned her gaze to Wolfram. "But it didn't. I felt nothing."

Wolfram's eyes widened in hope as his grip tightened around his daughter. Everyone gasped in shock at her implication. Everyone except Yuuri.

"I don't understand," said the double black. "What has you not feeling anything has to do with Yuu?"

Suddenly Wolfram burst into tears. "Yuuri, you stupid wimp." The blonde demon turned to his startled fiance smiling through his tears. "What it means is that Yuu is alive. Our little boy is still alive." He wrapped one arm around Yuuri's shoulders and buried his face against Yuuri's neck crying.

Yuuri stared up at the peach hair woman with wide eyes. "Is this . . . true?"

Esmeralda nodded her head, "Dominique has already talked to him."

"You've talked to your brother," said Wolfram looking down at his daughter.

"Yes daddy," said the child.

"How is he? Was he hurt? Did he say where he was? Does he know . . . "

"Whoa," said Murata stopping Wolfram's tirade of questions. "Calm down Wolfram. Give her time to answer your questions." Then he looked over to the child. "Now, tell your daddy what you told us."

"Well, brother is all right. He isn't hurt. Although I could sense that he was tired but not in the bad kind of way. I think that maybe he was doing something that made him tired. Anyway, he wanted me to tell you that he is sorry for making you worry and that he loves you very much," said Dominique. "Then he said that he is doing something important and that when he gets back you and I will be safe."

"What could he possibly be talking about?" asked Conrad.

Dominique sighed. "He wants to keep me and daddy safe from you." She pointed to Yuuri.

"Me? But why?" Yuuri looked shocked. "All I want is to make things right between us."

"He seems to think you are a threat. He is filled with so much anger toward you and . . . " Dominique turned to face her uncles and the others. "And he doesn't trust any of you to keep daddy or me protected."

"Do you know where he is?" asked Wolfram.

"No. Wherever he is hiding, it is in a dark place. That was all I could sense of his surrounding. Darkness." Then she looked up at her father with watery violet eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to find out where Yuu is located."

"It's okay, sweetie. Knowing that your brother is still alive and well, is good enough for now." Wolfram kissed the top of her head. "He's alive and that makes me very happy."

xxxxx

Yuu lay on the ground panting heavily as sweat covers his thin body. His hands were sore and slightly burned from the strenuous training Count Drakko's chevaliers were putting him through. He tried to move his arms but they were like lead. He let his mind drift back to earlier that morning. He was doing had just finished some heavy exercises when he felt it, a tug on his mind. Closing his eyes, he smiled as he realized that it was his little sister.

"Ni-ni," he said still holding his smile. "Is that you?"

"Yes." He could hear the excitement in her voice and his smile widened. "It's me brothers. Where are you? Why can't I see you? Are you hurt?"


"It's all right, Ni-ni. I am not hurt." He raised his arm that was strangely not heavy anymore and imagined himself stroking her hair comforting the child.


"Why can't I see you? I feel that you are in a pain. Esmeralda said that daddy thinks you are dead because they found what remained of your clothes after the forest fire was put out."

"I'm sorry if I made father worry. Please tell him that I am all right and that I won't be home for a while but I will be coming back. I promise." He gently moved his hand and imagined he was gently stroking her soft face.

"You know I will." He could hear the pain and sadness in her voice. "But
Yuu. What is happening to you? Why did you run away? Why did you leave me alone? You promised that you would always be there for me."


"I'm sorry Ni-ni but I have to do this. I have to make sure you and father are safe from that man."


"Who?" she was puzzled. "You mean your other father?"

"Don't say that!" he snapped letting his hand lower back to the ground. "He is not my father. I don't know who he is and I do not want to know him."

"Yuu. Why do you hate him so much?"

Yuu could hear the puzzlement in her voice. ‘She would never understand my reasons.’ All his life he had to watch his father hide behind a mask. He knew. He could see behind his father's mask of smiles and see the sadness in their beautiful depths. ‘They say the eyes are the window to the soul. If that’s the case then my father’s soul has been crying and slowly dying for the pass ten years.’ Yuu snorted. ‘Your soul has probably been dying every since you realised you loved that man.’ Then he returned his thoughts back to his sister.

"Why I hate him so much? I could go on forever but the number one reason is because he did nothing but hurt our father. All he ever wanted was that man to love him. ‘But instead of love what our father got was nothing but disgust and heartache.’ "And before the ink could dry on the papers that were signed to annull their engagement, that despicable wimp ran off and married some woman he only knew for a month." Yuu's voice was filled with disgust. "Even after the wonderful life dad gave him, our father still loved that bastard."

Yuu waited quietly for his sister to speak. It was a while before the girl spoke again, but what she said knocked him for a loop.

"Yuu. Are you jealous?"

It not only knocked him for a loop but his world began to sway. It was by far the craziest piece of nonsense his little sister has ever spouted from his mouth. He? Jealous? Of that fool. "Me? Jealous! What would I be jealous of? I just hate to see father get hurt again while dealing with that man."

"You have nothing to worry about Yuu. I'm sure his family will protect him if your father did anything to hurt daddy."

"Stop calling him my father!" Yuu snapped. "Anyway, his family did nothing to help him the first time. What makes you think they will do anything now."

"Do you not want daddy to be happy with someone he loves?"

"Of course I want him to be happy. I just don't think his happiness lies with that deceitful, prejudices man."

"Oh Yuu." It broke his heart to hear the sadness and worry in his little sister's voice. "I'm scared for you. All this anger and rage inside of you is not good. It may make you do something you will regret."

"I doubt that very much." Then he sighed. "I have to go Ni-ni. I am doing something very important. So just tell father that I am all right and that I will come home as soon as I am finished."

"What are you doing?"

"I am doing something that is important to both you and father. And once I am through both of you will never be sad again. Good-bye little sister, tell father that I love him."

Breaking his mental connection with his sister, Yuu sighed heavily and rested an arm across his eyes.

"What seems to be the problem, Yuu?" asked Gustav as he leaned over the boy.

"Nothing," he said sitting up. "What makes you think anything is wrong?"

"Well, you look as though you have lost your last friend."

Yuu sighed and then looked up at the older man. "Earlier this morning during my execrises, I had just finisihed saying good bye to my sister."

The older man frowned at the boy. Looking up at his instructor, Yuu knew what the man seemed upset about. "You needn't worry. I didn't tell her where I was."

The chevalier nodded his head and rest a hand on Yuu's shoulder. "It won't be for long." Gustav sat on the ground beside the boy. "I know you were already on the advance level of your training but with our help. You will become even stronger than the demon king of Shin Makoku."

"That is my main reason for coming with Count Drakko. I want to becoming stronger so my father don't ever have to worry about that man making him sad ever again."

"Well then, we don't have much time. According to Count Drakko the celebration to introduce Shin Makoku king and staff to the other aristocrats will take place in three months time," said Gustav. "So, we have until then to complete your training."

"Then let's get to it." Yuu jumped to his feet brushing the grass and dirt off of him. "The sooner we get started. the sooner I can return home and protect my family." Then Gustav got up also and they continued with Yuu's training.