To Hold

I am so sorry for the wait everyone. I have been busy with university and stuff ... anywho, here is the seventh and last chapter to this story ... and most likely the longest chapter i have written ... just kind of happened. Anyways, i hope you enjoy it



Disclaimer: do not own ...



--Gwendal POV--



An up side, the king is now safe and has returned to his normal ‘state’. Down side, I am getting a lecture from Conrad of all people. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on ones point of view, the information I retained from his little speech was about how ‘foolish’ I was to go and confront the king in my state of health.

I watch as he head towards the King and my younger brother. Guess there is not much I can do now, well not in this state. Though I can hear the two arguing form here, it almost gives me a headache. Regardless of how loud the king can be, my brother can always be louder.



“Now is not the time to argue over that” I say while helped over by Nicola. Though why the child seems a need to hold my hand is beyond me, but I am too tired to argue. Why am I being helped by a woman?

‘Because saying ‘no’ to a woman is never a wise idea unless you can run away very fast …’ I shudder along with the voice …



“Their reinforcements will be here soon” and I do not wish to be here when it happens.

“Gwendal! Nicola and Jiruta too!” I almost stagger when I see the happiness on the young king’s face. Though I wonder if it is more for the other two than myself.



“Our forces are on their way here as well” of course Conrad would have thought a head, at least there are two of us thinking about the possible threat of retaliation.



A little talked, a reunion of mother and son and finding the other piece of the Mateki. It goes by as a blur. I guess I need rest more than I thought.



We are now riding our horses through the desert, with the women in the caravan. The king is once again riding with Conrad. I know I am frowning, but I can not help. I spent two days alone with him; eating, riding and sleeping more or else together. Yet, I knew reality would crash down, but I wished it would last a little longer then it did.



“Don’t you remember who your fiancé is?” my youngest brother whines, and yes he does whine. I almost forgot about that for just a little while. But the reality is that he belongs to my brother, at least until one of them calls it off, which I highly doubt my brother will. Either his pride will not allow it, or he really does care for Yuuri that way.



I am woken from my musing by sandbear shooting up in the air in front of us, and a bunch of humans riding horses behind us. I wonder which one would be better …



“The soldiers and I will defend here” is my quick response. We need to get the women, children and the king out of here. Conrad and Wolfram dealt with the bear before they can do it again.

“How can you say that with those wounds …” I feel touched by his concern, but ignore it. This little fantasy is over.



“What are you going to do?” why is the king getting off the horse? Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Can the king just stay out of trouble just once? But of course not, and then he would not be Yuuri. I move out of his way on his request. No idea what he is planning, but he is full of surprises. He is going to play the Maketi?

I can not help but watch his hips move as he plays the Maketi. It is not really my fault that he is swinging them in such a way.



‘Quite nimble isn’t he?’ For once, I agree with that little voice.



Clouds! The damn thing did work. And it appears that the army is not chasing us. All that we have left now is that sand bear and I voice this to the others.



“Now’s our chance. We have to do something about that bear in front of us”



“Hey! Commander!” Is that … oh for the love of god!



After finding out that one of our guards befriend the sand bear, how he did that I have no idea and in honesty I have no desire to find out. We follow him and his ‘pet’ bear underground avoiding any enemies. Though I could do without the dust and walking.



--Time Skip--



We are finally back home and safe. Though I guess I should not complain; a warm bath, proper bandages and a soft bed. I finally start to relax, even with Gisile in the room.



The door opens and he comes in. Is it so hard to wish for some peace around here? It is bad enough that I have to put everything that happened in the past three days into the back of my head, along with any desires I felt for him.



“Gwendal, how are you feeling?” he speaks quietly for a change, I guess without all the excitement around he becomes calmer.



“Your Majesty …”



I ignore their conversation, just wishing to be left alone. However, it does not seem to be happening.



“Gwendal, are the wounds that bad?” he leans forward to take a closer look, but I cover myself up … of course not out of embarrassment.



“It’s nothing serious” I reply quietly. The wounds are really not that serious, just numerous and annoying. Well, maybe they are somewhat serious, but no need to concern the king over my well being.



“Your Excellency, you mustn’t underestimate injuries” And she just had to ruin what I said and continuous so … “Moving around with three cracked ribs will only aggravate them”



There is no need to inform him of all of this. I almost want to yell at Gisile to shut up, but my self control is too tight to allow such outbursts.



“Three ribs?” he sounds amazed. Nevertheless, I have had worse and lived through it.



“He’ll be fine if he stays put for awhile. Sir vom Walde’s Maryoku should work well with my medical treatment. I will check on you later. Please excuse me” One down, now just one more left. I doubt he will be as easy to dismiss as she was.



Though it is almost nice to be alone with him again; a smile graces my lips. Well, since we are alone I might as well give him that. I hold up a kitty I did for him in orange. Nothing big, but since I was bed ridden and he gave me that dolphin I thought it was the least I could do.



“What’s this?”



“It’s a kitty” I do not understand why people have troubles identify what I have made. I wonder if I am really that bad.



“This is? But why a kitty …” I guess he has already forgotten.



“In return for that.” I look towards the dolphin on my sword. Even if I can not always be near him physically, I can have something that reminds me of him near me.



Though he looks startled, wonder if he thought I would throw it out, or part from it? Or maybe he doesn’t want the gift …



“If you don’t want it …” I turn away, not wishing to see disappointment or rejection in his eyes. Yet he surprises me again when he holds up the kitty and gives me a smile.



“It’s really cute!” I wonder if he knows how cute he is right now. Oh how I wish I could just hold him and not

let go.



“This raccoon is really cute” I feel my eye twitch, I just told him not even a minute a go it was a kitty.



“It’s a kitty.” Is my flat reply.



“Yes a kitty …” he tapers off and stares at me. Not just a glance but one of those hard stares that looks deep into one’s soul. He has lost his smile, and has a look of concentration on his face.



I almost feel like squirming under his gaze because all of his attention is on me! Also, because I have never seen that look on him before, it makes him look older than he really is. But my pride makes me keep his gaze. Then just as suddenly as the look came it was gone, replaced by a smile. Not one of his big ones, but a small sincere smile. I have no doubt I have a look on confusion on my face, who wouldn’t?



He then slowly makes his way to my bed until he is standing right beside. I watch him wearily, not too sure what he is planning to do next. His actions have always been unpredictable. No amount of preparation would prepare me for this. Still keeping eye contact he slowly places a hand on my thigh for balance and lifts his leg onto my bed. Just as slowly, he straddles me with his legs! If I did not have a look of utter confusion I do now. The king is straddling me! Both his hands on my upper thigh!



I strain to keep my breathing even, but find it hard has the king moves up my legs until his whole body is only inches away from mine. I am not too sure if I want to run away, ask what he is doing or pull him closer.



“Your Majesty, what are you doing?” Guess opinion two wins …



He does not answer me and his smile vanishes again as he stares at me the second time with that look. He is searching for something in my eyes. I guess he found what he was looking, for his smiled return once more, but he does not break eye contact.



“It is Yuuri, not your Majesty.” He gives me a stern look.



“Fine, Yuuri, what might you be doing?” I have yet to move from my originally position on the bed; my hands lying limp beside me.



His smile grows a little bigger; I guess he really isn’t fond of that title. But that thought flies out of my head as my breath hitches in my throat as Yuuri places both of his hands on my chest so very lightly. Then I realize what he was doing before it was too late. I feel more weight on my chest as he leans forwards and gently places his lips on mine.



To simple put it, I am in heaven. True the kiss is not much, but it is everything to me! I feel him lean a little closer, and I have no idea when my eyes closed, yet I do not care. I know I should not be doing this, but all reason is out the window when he presses his lips a little firmer. I finally cave in; I lift my arms to loosely wrap around his waist, I do not hold him tightly in fear of scaring him off. Then I finally kiss him back. Though like I said before, it was nothing much, a mere meeting of lips, but it was enough.



He pulls away and a sigh escapes his mouth, or was it mine? It does not really matter too much at the moment. When I opened my eyes I was met with a slightly blushing Yuuri, but a happy one at that. He just seemed to glow, and I could not help but smile at him. I raise one hand up to his head and another to his back. I gently add pressure to his back until his flushed against, and then some to his head until he is resting on me.



A sigh escapes his lips name, and he wraps his arms around my waist. We just stay like this for awhile, enjoying each others presences.



--some time passes--



It is dark out when I open my eyes again. I guess we fell asleep. I pull him a little closer, afraid that I might lose him. Irrational, I know, but a fear that I can not shake. What might happen in the light of a good nap … he may decide he does not want me?



I am roused from my self doubting with the feel of soft lips against my neck, and hands ghosting over my chest. Then I feel him push against my chest, separating the two of us. Even though my hands are still around him, I feel cold.



“Gwendal …” there is hesitation in his words that makes me look up into this face. The fear is already seeping into my bones. I know I have no right to hold onto him, he is the king and my brother’s fiancé; unfortunately even that does not stop the sadness.



“Yes Yuuri?” I smile gently at him, maybe some of my doubt or sadness is showing, yet I am too tired to care.

“Do – do you think …” I can hear the frustration in his tone, though from what I am not entirely too sure.

“I like you!” he blurts out almost too fast for me to understand, but when I finally realized what he said my face splits into a smile. ‘He likes me!’ is all that is going through my mind.



“I like you too” I whisper back to him, in fear of ruining the moment; yet my worries where for not. His face breaks into one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen.



We sit there, staring at each in comfortable silence for awhile, neither of us wishing to move or speak. Until my rational side points out how long we have been together, and that someone must be looking for the young king. I let a sigh slip past my lips, and I see a worried look pass through the king’s eyes.



“You should head back to your chambers before someone comes looking for you and find you here” in my bed, sitting on my lap … I decided not to include that. I watch his face as he processes what I just said, and implied. The widening of his eyes is all the warning I get before …



“SHIT! Conrad, heck Wolfram would be worried sick about me! He is most likely tearing about the castle looking for me! Shit!” I could help myself but burst out laughing at the king’s reactions, and the image of Wolfram literally tearing the castle apart looking for him.



“That is not funny! You have any idea how much trouble I will get in when he finally finds me! Stop laughing!” He swats me over my head, which only makes me laugh harder. I can almost feel tears falling down my face. Maybe the stress from the last couple of days has finally caught up to me.



My laughed started to subside when I feel hands on my face gently lifting my head until I am looking at him again.



“Gwendal … are we … is this” he lets out a sigh of frustration. “Is there any thing beyond this?”

“If you want something to be.” is my neutral reply.



“And if I do?”



“Then who I am to deny you your wishes?” That comment earned me another hit over my head but I am too happy to care.



“Will we talk about this later? When I am not being hunted down by an angry blonde?”



“Promise”



--END--



And that is the end … I hope everyone has enjoyed this fic, I know I enjoyed writing it. Though the ending was a bitch to write -- spent so much time thinking about how to end it and then this came ... i thought it was suitable

There might be a sequal to this ... actually there is a high likelihood that there will be a sequal to this fic (though it will most likely not follow the anime like this one ... since i have not watched anything past episode 15ish).

And thank you to everyone who has reviewed! bows Heck, for everyone who has even read this fic! bows again