The Heat of the Moment

disclaimer- i do not own any of the characters to Kyo Kara Maoh neither do i make money from this story. all rights and whatnots belong solely to the original creator.

Chapter 37

Once the commotion had settled down and all the guests were escorted back to their rooms. Eric along with Gwendal, Conrad, Gunter, The Great Sage, Corwyn, and Josak were in Eric's study discussing the situation. While Wolfram was taken to his room by Lady Cecilie and Gisela after the blonde broke down into a fit of tears after watching Drakko disappear with not only his son but his fiance as well.

"There's nothing to discuss," snapped Gwendal. "We go to this Drakko's home and we take His Majesty by force."

"You can't just waltz into Dragoon," said Corwyn. "That place is a death trap if you don't know how to travel the land. Plus, at night, there are very dangerous creatures that roam the land."

"It doesn't matter," said Conrad. "We have to rescue Yuuri from that man before he does something to him."

"That Count Drakko is insane if he thinks we will not come to rescue His Majesty," said Gunter.

"Besides wanting the throne to Shin Makoku what other possible reason would they want with Shibuya?" asked the Great wise man of legend. Everyone turned to the double black sage. "I believe that they want something else from him. Am I right, Majesty?" They turned their attention to the silver hair king.

Eric sighed. He did not think that Drakko would be so stupid as to go after the demon king of Shin Makoku. He always thought the man wanted Wolfram. He even has a feeling that it was the Count and his chevaliers that started the fire and killed Ellis.

"I'm sure you heard from Derrick that Drakko and his people are vampires," said Eric.

"He did mention it," said Gwendal. "Is that what this is about? They want his blood?"

"If only it was that simple," said Corwyn.

"What do you mean?" asked Conrad.

"They are vampires in a way," said Gunnar looking distress. "But it is not blood they take from their victims. What they take is their magic."

"WHAT!" shouted the others.

"Yes. According to our ancestors, two years after they arrived here people started to come up missing. Several days later, they would show up dead. The healer at the time said that he could see no reason why the victims that had gone missing would show up dead."

"I don't understand what that has to do with what is happening now," said Gunter frowning. "It could have been wild animals dragging them off into the woods."

Eric shook his head in the negative. "When they found the missing people. There wasn't a mark on them." He clasped his hands together and rested them on his desk. "So, the wild animal theory was tossed out immediatedly."

"But you do know what it was that killed them," said Murata.

Eric looked up at Corwyn and nodded his head.

"What I am about to tell you no one but Eric, my brother and Gunnar knows. Drakko had kidnapped humans as well to be his servants. One of those that were taken was one of my ancestors," said Corwyn. "He was held as a captive for over a month before he was able to escape and with it he also took Drakko's personal journal. The chevaliers hunted the boy mercilessly but he was able to escape and told the king what he had witnessed."

"What did he see?" asked Murata.

"Count Drakko and his chevaliers were using some sort of ceremony that sucked out the very elemental magic of their demon captives," said Corwyn. "It seems that they not only uses the stolen magic to extend their lives and keep themselves young for centuries. They can also use it to strengthen their own magic. The stronger the magic wielder is, the stronger they will become."

"This is like a bad dream," said Josak.

"So, the ones your ancestors met and the ones today . . .," said Gwendal.

"Are the same men," said Gunnar.

"Shinou preserve us," said Conrad in horror. "And there is no one as powerful as Yuuri. He even surpasses Shinou in power."

"I take that back. A bad dream is too lenient of a word. This is turning into a nightmare," said Josak wrapping his arms around his husband.

"We have to rescue his majesty before they began this accursed ceremony," said Gunter in a panic.

"Very well," said Eric. "We will help you. After all, he was under my protection when he was taken. I will not let Drakko get away with this."

"I'm coming too," said a voice coming from the direction of the door. Everyone turned to see Wolfram standing in the doorway. Gisela and Lady Celi were standing beside him.

"Gisela, I thought you were going to give him something," said Gwendal.

"I tried Your Excellency but he refused to let me give him anything," said Gisela.

"Wolfram, you know that . . . if Yuu fights us . . . we would . . ." Conrad looked away. He could not look his brother in the eyes and tell him that they would have to kill his son in order to save Yuuri.

"I know. You would have to . . . to kill him." Wolfram looked at them as tears fell from his eyes. "This is my punishment for not heeding Ellis' words. Ellis pleaded and begged me several times to take Yuu to Yuuri. Even when he was dying, Ellis pleaded with me then. He warned me that something terrible would happen if I did not let Yuu meet his father, and he was right. This is my fault. I should have listened. I take full responsibility for Yuu's behavior."

"Now is not the time to be casting blame," said Murata. "We have to rescue Shibuya."

"We have until midnight," said Gunnar. "According to the journal, that is the only time Drakko will be able to do that ceremony."

"We need to hurry," said Wolfram. "There's only two hours left till midnight."

xxxxx

Once Drakkko and his people made it back to the castle, he ordered his men to prepare for an attack. He knew that Eric and the others would not be sitting around on their hands. They will try to rescue Shin Makoku's demon king. Gustav grabbed their prize and slung the unconscious king over his shoulder.

They walked into the palace as the guards rushed back and forth preparing for battle. Yuu walked behind the older men and began to wonder if what he did was right. Suddenly he felt a tingling going up his right arm. He grabbed his arm squeezing it gently but the tingle continued.

"Is something wrong, Yuu?" asked Drakko turning his head slightly to look over his shoulder at the boy.

"No, nothing's wrong," said Yuu still clutching his arm.

"Very well, let's get him to the chamber." Drakko turned his attention back to his chevaliers. "That drug won't keep him out for long." They went into Drakko's study. On the bookshelf near the window, Nikolas pulled out a book about the history of the demon tribe. It triggered a secret mechanism causing the bookshelf to swing outward revealing stairs going downward.

They made their way down the spiraling staircase. the gloominess was only broken by the lit torches that hung in their sconces. Once they made it to the bottom, the room was well lit with some of Derrick's light invention. It was the first time Yuu has been in this room. He stared around the huge room with an arched ceiling. against the walls were several shelves with bottles of herbs and powders on them. There was a small table beneath the shelf that had bowls and cups on it. But what really got his attention was a five-point star with the names of the four elements circling the star carved in the floor. In the center of the star was a large, stone table with straps embedded into it. Carved in the table were the symbols of the four elements. For reasons he could not phantom, he did not like the look of the table. It made the hairs at the nape of his neck stand on end.

Gustav laid Yuuri on the table. The brown hair chevalier strapped down each of the double black's wrists and then moved to put the straps around each of Yuuri's ankles.

Drakko laughed. "Thanks to Yuu, I now possess the power to take over the world."

"What!" Yuu looked at the man as though he had gone insane. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about this wonderfully delicious meal that you have handed me," said Drakko smiling. "Poor Yuu, even now, you're still such a fool." He grabbed the boy by the hair painfully. "This ceremony I am about to perform will suck your daddy dry of all his magic. Once I have taken all his power. Yuuri Shibuya, 27th demon king of Shin Makoku will die."

Yuu eyes widened in shock. "No, that's not what I wanted. I just wanted him to feel all the pain and suffering that my father had to go through. I do not want him to die."

"Well, lucky for me, I don't give a damn as to what you want." Drakko yanked the boy's head back. "Did you actually think I cared about your petty anger. I could see in your eyes that your anger was only on the surface. All he would have to do was shower you with the love and affection that you crave, and you would, in time, forgive him. You see Yuu. I have known all along that you would betray me in the end."

"I haven't . . ." But before you could say anything more Drakko tore the sleeve of his shirt off revealing the serpents coiling around the dagger. But it had changed. Yuu watched in wide-eyed horror, as the two serpents were no longer around the dagger. The serpents were slowly creeping up his arm. "What is the meaning of this?" He looked up at the older man.

Drakko smiled sinisterly at the foolish boy. "This is not an insignia to mark you as a chevalier. This, my dear impulsive little fool is a curse.”

"A . . . curse."

"Of course. Did you really think I would make some spoiled little brat my chevalier." Drakko laughed. "That curse is triggered by betrayal. I knew you would betray me. This curse gets its power from what is inside the heart. You see Yuu. Although your head may have wanted to hurt your father. However your heart, on the the other hand did not. Those serpents will slowly move up your arm until they reach your heart. Once there they will devour your heart slowly killing you."

Large tears began to fall like rain from Yuu's dark eyes. Drakko was right. He was fool. A stupid, spoiled little fool. Now, not only will his double black father suffer but Wolfram will suffer most of all. Because it was his own son that destroyed his happiness. 'I'm sorry father.'

"But don't cry Yuu. You and your father will see each other again." Drakko yanked the boy's head back painfully. "Once I am through devouring your father's magic. My loyal, trusted chevaliers shall feast upon yours. You may not be as powerful as your father but you are still powerful in your own way. Not many can control two elements."

"I . . . I hate you," cried the boy.

"Yes, yes, I've seen your hatred Yuu. It's nothing for me to worry about." He sneered at the boy. "You don’t have what it takes to truly hate someone. I guess you get that from your daddy." Then Drakko threw him down to the floor. "But I can't have you interfering with my plans. Bring me my cat-o nine tails."

Siegmund went to a cabinet that Yuu did not notice. He opened it and took a leather whip with nine knotted strands hanging down. But there was something different about this nine tails. Yuu eyes widened in horror as he saw several tiny hooks embedded in the strands. "Wha-What are you going to do with that?"

"I'm going to do something that Wolfram should have done a long time ago." As Drakko raised the strap, Yuu raised his arms instictively protecting his face. The strap tore through the skin on his arms. Drakko hit him again but this time it ripped Yuu across his chest. The boy screamed in terrible pain as the Count brutally flogged him. The tiny hooks ripped through cloth and flesh. Yuu writhed and screamed in pain on the floor. He curled himself into a ball trying to protect his fragile body from his abuser but it was no good. Yuu screamed himself hoarse as Drakko continued to savagely beat him until the boy finally past out from the pain.

Drakko stared down at the bloody mess that was Yuu, pleased at his handiwork. Yuu's back was ripped and bleeding. His back looked as though he fought a lion and lost. Blood pooled beneath the unconscious body as the black serpents continued their journey. The curse was up to his shoulder joint.

"Let's go. We must prepare ourselves for the ceremony." Then Drakko and his chevaliers left Yuu and Yuuri in the room.

xxxxx

It only took Eric's men twenty minutes to get ready to ride. Once everyone was ready, they left for Dragoon. It was half an hour until midnight when they rode across Dragoon‘s border. It was a tedious ride as they had to inch along in the dark. Although the moon was out, its light was no help to them inside the dense forest.

"This is taking too long," said Josak agitated.

"I know and I'm sorry," said Eric. "But it's too dangerous. This is the only solid path we know of that you can follow safely. The other paths will lead you into the swamps or into the clutches of some hungry beasts.

Suddenly a shimmering light appeared before them. Everyone brought their horses to halt. They watched as the light took on a human form. "Yuu!" said Wolfram as he leaped off his horse running to the boy. With arms opened, they closed around nothing. Wolfram stared at the boy. "Yuu?"

"He's not really there," said Murata. "It's like an astral projection."

"A what?" said Corwyn.

"He's able to use his powers to project an image of himself."

The boy stood there staring into the eyes of his father. "I'm sorry father. I am . .. such a fool. I only . . . wanted to protect . . . you." Shimmering tears began to fall from the boy's eyes. "But instead . . . I'm the . . . one that . . . that hurt you the . . . most."

"Everything will be all right baby," said Wolfram crying. "When we get to the castle, we are going to rescue you and your father."

Yuu grunted in pain as his form began to fade. "No, don't leave." Wolfram wanted to hug his son so badly but he knew that this was just an imagine of his child. Suddenly the ground to the left of them glowed a bright blue. The boy clutched a hand over his heart as he stared into the watery eyes of his father. "This path . . .is better. It will . . . It will lead . . . you directly . . . to the palace."

"Yuu."

"Please hurry, you haven't . . . much time," said Yuu as his form faded more. "Guards . . . will be w-waiting. Careful. Hurry, they . . . come." The boy's form shimmered and then he slowly disappeared.

Wolfram stared at the place his son stood.

"Wolfram," said Murata. "Come on, we have to hurry if we want to rescue them."

Wolfram straightened his back and wiped the tears from his eyes. "You're right." He hurried back to his horse and mounted the black beast. They turned their horses to the path and followed it.

xxxxx

Yuu slowly began to regain consciousness and groaned in pain. He flinched as his throat burned as though acid was in it. His back was still raw and bleeding. Upon moving, pain rippled through his body. He squeezed his eyes closed tightly as tears trickled down the corner.

"Yuu." He heard his name being called again. He opened his eyes to see that his other father was awake. "Yuu, can you hear me," said Yuuri. He was still groggy from the drug. "Yuu."

Yuu groaned and Yuuri sighed in relief. "I'm so glad that you are all right."

"Why?" moaned the boy hoarsely as his tears began to fall heavily. "Why are you worrying about my safety when I am the reason you are here." Yuu could not understand why Yuuri was still being so nice to him.

"Because you are my son," said Yuuri smiling as he stared up at the blurry arched ceiling.

"But I . . I . . ." Yuu started to say but could not get the words out.

"I know and it doesn't matter. Everyone makes mistake. I mean look at me. I made your father's heart hurt more times than I care to remember. Yet, he is willing to forgive me and put the past behind us so we can have a better future together." He turned his head but he could only get a glimpse of his son out of the corner of his eye. "If everyone never said they were sorry after making a mistake, this world would be in terrible shape. What is important, my son, is that we learn from our mistakes and make sure we never repeat them."

Yuu crawled over to the table. Every inch of his battered bloodied body screamed out in terrible pain. He reached one bloodied hand up to the table and pulled himself to his feet. The fog fell away as Yuuri eyes widened in shock at the state of his son. The boy's front looked as though a rabid cat had attacked him. He could just imagine what his back looked like.

"Yuu, what happened to you?" Yuuri stared at the bloody wounds.

"Punishment for being a fool." He was so tired and his throat was killing him. All Yuu wanted was to sleep.

But what caught Yuuri's eyes was the black snake like marks that seemed to be moving toward his son's heart.

"Yuu, what is that on your chest?" asked Yuuri. "It seems to be moving."

Yuu tried to hide the curse with what was left of this tattered clothing but there was no hiding the ugly curse. "It's a curse Drakko placed on me," said Yuu in a soft raspy tone. Yuuri's eyes widened in horror. "According to him, the curse is activate by what is truly in my heart." He smiled sadly at his father. "It seems that my heart has always known what my head refused to accept."

"And what's that?"

The boy leaned close to Yuuri's cheek and kissed it gently. Then he whispered in his ear. "That I love you, poppa."

Yuuri's heart burst with joy as tears fell from his eyes at hearing his son call him poppa. If he could move he would have hugged his son. "I love you also, my son. I always will no matter how many mistakes you may make."

Suddenly the sound of someone clapping echoed through the room. Yuu turned to the entrance to see Drakko and the others standing in the doorway. "You two are so sweet until I can feel my teeth rotting in my head."

"You creep!" spat Yuu angrily. He instantly regretted raising his voice as his throat burned like it was on fire.

"Now Yuu, that's no way to talk to the man that will help you take revenge," said Drakko smiling at the boy mockingly. He walked up to them and brushed a strand of black hair out of Yuuri's face. "Once I am through with the both of you, I shall take the beautiful Wolfram as my husband."

"You stay away from him," snarled Yuuri struggling in his restraints.

"You're crazy if you think my father would willingly marry you," Yuu said in disgust.

"Who said anything about him willingly going along with it." Drakko smiled sickening sweet at the boy. "I expect him to fight me all the way. I can't wait until the day I have that beautiful blonde spitfire in my bed. I have waited too long as it is. I had to watch day in and day out as he lived with that pitiful human. But finally, I was able to get rid of the pest."

"Get rid . . . What are you talking about?"

Drakko smiled viciously at the boy. "I'm talking about how it was my chevaliers who started that fire in Americus. And how it was I who snuffed out that human filth's life."

"You! You were the one that killed dad?" Yuu stared at the man with rage burning in those black eyes. "You bastard! I'll kill you!" Yuu launched himself at the Count. Drakko just grabbed the boy's flailing fists and shook him like a rage doll. Then he slapped Yuu so hard until the boy’s body slammed against the wall hitting his head. He slid down the wall holding his throbbing head as he slipped into unconsciousness once again.

"Yuu!" Yuuri called to his son but there was no answer. "Yuu!"

"There's no need in worrying about your useless son. He will not be harmed, for now. Come, we must began the ceremony."

Siegmund picked up a glass vial that had a sort of reddish mist inside it. He uncorked the vial and held it under Yuuri's nose. The double black tried to hold his breath but it was no use. He needed to breathe. He inhaled the red mist and slowly his eyes began to bleed black as he fell into a trance like state.

Suddenly Sigfrid walked into the room. "My master, King Eric and the others have arrived."

"So soon," said Nikolas. "I thought it would have taken them at least another twenty minutes before they made it. By then, it would have been too late."

"Doesn't matter," said Drakko. "It is time. I want you to go out their and hold them back for as long as you can."

"Understood," they said in unison. They walked out of the room.

xxxxx

When the small battalion of soldiers exited the forest, they were met by Drakko's soldiers. "We don't have time for this," snarled Gwendal.

"Then we just have to plow through them," said Conrad. He snapped his reins and the horse galloped out across the battlefield followed by Gwendal and the others. The two sides collided in a fierce battle. Conrad was showing the enemy soldiers why he was called the Lion of Lutenburg. He was fierce and unrelenting. His sword struck swift and true as the enemy fell at the end of his sword. Gwendal sent the earth shuddering beneath the feet of the enemy. Wolfram sent several fireballs at the enemy. His huge black stallion, Thunder, stomped any soldier that was fool enough to come near it to harm his master. The large hoof smashed the skull of a fallen enemy soldier. While he used his back feet to kick another in the chest cracking it.

Wolfram glanced at the creepy castle and anger filled his heart. His fiance and his baby was somewhere inside that evil, twisted building. His eyes narrowed as he saw four shapes emerge from the palace. As the figures got closer, he realized that it was Drakko's chevaliers coming to join in the battle.

"Wolfram," said Gwendal coming up alongside his brother. "You, the great sage, Corwyn and Eric go in and rescue His Majesty and your son."

"But what abut the battle?" asked Wolfram.

"Don't worry about them," said Conrad. "We will take care of them."

"Be careful," said Corwyn. "Drakko's chevaliers are very tricky."

"Understood," said Josak.

"Good luck," said Murata. He snapped his reins following Eric and Corwyn.

"You three better come out of this alive," said Wolfram following behind the others.

"You do the same, little brother," said Gwendal. Then the stoic man turned his attention back to the approaching chevaliers.

"Shall we teach these fools a lesson about messing with our king, captain," said Josak smiling at his husband and brother-in-law.

"That's a wonderful idea," said Conrad. The three men raised their swords and released their battle cry as they met their enemy head on.