Dying to Live

Yuuri sat up in the bed, sweat pouring and breathing heavily. Wolfram flailed around but remained deep asleep. Yuuri felt the blood rushing in his ears as he stood and walked to the window. Looking out he could not see the moon. The night was black as pitch and Yuuri was uneasy. His heart hammered and beat an odd rhythm. Then his brain centered on one thing.

“Murata.” Yuuri whispered as he threw on black sweat pants and a black wife beater. Grabbing a sweatshirt, Yuuri ran to the fountain. It began to swirl, turning around Yuuri spotted Gunter sitting on a bench in the shadows. “Protect them Gunter.”

“As you wish, Heika.” Gunter replied formally. Yuuri nodded, stepped into the water and fell.

Gunter watched his king disappear and continued his night sky watching. There was nothing to see but Gunter still looked anyway. When he felt a familiar presence, he did not bother to speak.

“Why are you sitting out in the dark?” Gwendal asked leaning against a pillar behind him. Gunter chose not to answer. “Gunter is there something wrong?”

“If we are to be married don’t you think that any major secrets we have should be exposed so there are no surprises.” Gunter commented to the starless sky.

“Your mood is as dark as the clouds tonight.” Gwendal responded walking over to the bench where Gunter sat. Sitting down heavily Gwendal was surprised when Gunter stood up.

“Gwendal think very carefully before you respond to the question I am going to ask you." Gunter took a deep calming breath. “Before we are married is there anything you have to tell me?”

“Is there something you want to tell me?” Gwendal retorted stoically his mouth drawing down more.

“Gwendal you know about my failures, my success, and my entire life story.” Gunter spoke falling to his knees beside the bench where Gwendal sat, his frown deepening. “Gwendal, please if there is something you haven’t told me that is important I want you to tell me now.”

“What do you want me to say?” Gwendal responded testily rubbing his stomach as the child shifted. “You speak as though you know something but you won’t accuse me of not telling you by omission or otherwise.”

“Why are you avoiding the question?” Gunter’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“Why are you pressuring me to answer?” Gwendal shouted drawing the attention of the guards and the few people running about, one of which was Franc. “Wait I know why…” Gwendal stood pacing away from the kneeling Gunter. “You already know the answer to that question. Isn’t that the first lesson your family taught you.”

“This isn’t about me or what my family taught me.” Gunter spoke coldly as he smoothly stood. “It is about you and we together are…do you want us to be a family?” Gwendal was silent. “You know what I have tried Gwendal. You have this wall surrounding you and I manage to take down portions of it for moments at a time without you rebuilding but the minute I leave the walls are back. I need a door Gwendal I can’t keep going through solid brick.” Gunter rubbed his eyes before walking away.

“Where are you going?” Gwendal demanded his eyes flashing dangerously.

“For the moment I think it is better that we don’t speak.” Gunter retorted.

“No you don’t get to decide that.” Gwendal protested his jaw clenching a flutter going through his stomach. “You can’t just play the family card or we are going to be happy forever after we are married it isn’t like that.”

“I don’t care what you have to say right now, Gwendal I am tired. Keep your walls but when you think you can make a door to let me in occasionally let me know.” Gunter walked away from his pregnant fiancé and felt as though his heart was breaking. Behind him for the first time in a long time the brick wall fell but it was not from a battering ram, it was from tears.


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“Coach I thought you said the team was coming over.” Murata protested as Hisao ran a hand up his leg. Murata and Hisao had been chatting and flirting for well over two hours. The atmosphere just kept getting heavier with sexual tension.

“The game was cancelled.” Hisao shrugged continuing to feel up the slightly embarrassed sage. “Besides you were coming to help me clean. Exactly how do you plan on cleaning when your pants are so tight you could barely walk in them, let alone bend?”

“I bend very well thank you.” Murata pouted enjoying the word play between him Hisao. “Not that I want you to know about that or anything.” Murata blushed unsure of himself. A familiar pulse of energy made itself known in Murata’s head and he frowned not sure who it was.

“Now don’t frown so, I like you anyway you chose to bend for me.” Hisao replied smoothing a hand down Murata’s backside.

“I just remembered I have something to do.” Murata commented and mentally swore recognizing the energy.

“Well my door is always open.” Hisao sighed flopping back into his chair and eyeing Murata longingly.

“I will see you later.” Murata smiled, winking as he walked out of Hisao’s house. Running around to the neighbor’s backyard, Murata approached the pool, reached out and helped Yuri out.

“Murata are you okay?” Yuuri asked eyeing his friend.

“Fine why do you ask?” Murata inquired stepping back from Yuuri.

“Murata is there something you aren’t telling me.” Yuuri’s eyes narrowed taking in Murata’s skintight t-shirt and even tighter jeans. Murata began to lead him back to the street declining from answering.

“Yuuri welcome back.” Shori called walking out of the shadows in a black leather bomber jacket and dark wash jeans.

“What are you doing here?” Yuuri asked greeting his brother with a raised eyebrow.

“I was in the neighborhood.” Shori responded his tone tight. “You and I have some things to discuss, little brother.”

“Yuuri’s brother I don’t think this is the time for a serious talk.” Murata spoke up for the first time.

“Stuff it Sage.” Shori snapped hostilely. “My car is this way.” Shori turned in made his way back to his car, leaving the stunned boys to catch up.

“What is eating him?” Yuuri asked Murata who had not processed the fact that spastic and exuberant Shori had just snapped at him in such a hostile way. Yuuri shrugged at the speechless sage and followed his brother. Yuuri guessed that Bob had assigned him to watch Murata. Yuuri was curious for an explanation of why he felt that Murata was in danger but by all appearances, nothing was wrong. Yuuri began to whistle as he walked and shivered lightly as a cool breeze hit his drenched form.

Hisao watched Yuuri through his red curtained window. Hisao smiled at Yuuri’s confident stride and then their eyes rested on Murata. “What a fun conquest this will be.” Hisao thought feeling the faint stiffening of his loins at the thought of what he could do to Murata. “I raped a king and a general. Soon I will get a sage. Maybe I will keep him around for a while. He could be entertaining.” Hisao’s thoughts drifted back and forth for a while but he could not quite figure out what to do with Murata.

Hisao let his eyes travel beyond the two boys to the man standing in the shadows, the streetlamp’s light glaring off his glasses. Hisao inhaled sharply and felt his skin begin to prickle. Hisao knew danger when he saw it and something about the man standing in the shadows made him feel as though someone was walking over his grave. When the man looked up seeming to stare through the curtains into his soul, Hisao decided now would be a good time to go to bed. His bed was safer than his window.

Shori watched as the shadow moved away from the window. He continued walking listening to Yuuri whistle a tune as if he had not a care in the world. “How can he just go on like nothings happened” Shori mentally shrieked his head spinning around with all the different scenarios. He had to concentrate hard not to snap at either of the two boys as they joined him in the car.

Turning on the engine, he briefly met eyes with Murata in the rearview mirror. Murata raised his eyebrow challengingly and Shori narrowed his eyes. It was always a battle of wills between him and Murata. This time Murata would not stand a chance. Shori pealed out of the parking lot and Murata swore as he was thrown around in the backseat before he put his seatbelt on. Shori took some satisfaction from that at least.

Review please…
For those who are curious, my beta is threatening to quit, she is a die hard Gwendal and Gunter fan. The thought of them breaking up doesn't sit well apparently...I don't know how I feel about it yet anyway.