Edited and Reposted: Finally Found
Finally Found
A Kyô kara maô! Fan fiction
Disclaimer: Kyô kara maô! is not mine.
Only the plot belongs to me.
^_^
CHAPTER I
Lament to the White Horse
Like black ants in a bird’s eye view, the people in black clothes gathered at the rear of the Demon Kingdom. Everyone was moving as if they were not in reality instead in a drama being played in slow motion. Sadness and grief painted on each and every faces. The women, more like gliding than walking were like fairies scattering pixie dusts in the form of yellow flowers named after the person who was the reason for such a heartbreaking episode of all their days. A melancholy hymn was resonating from a crowd in cloaks settled at the right back side.
Such a day was never expected to come to a place like the Demon Kingdom; a place that has undergone much turbulence but always managed to carry on happy, serene and prosperous.
Nevertheless, everything was certain. And indeed, a funeral was happening.
Yuri had not yet dressed. His necktie still loosed, his wool blend topcoat unbuttoned and his polo tucked out. He looked like a drunken man sitting curtly on his majestic bed. Why do they bother dressing seriously? It’s no use. He thought.
Someone was knocking on the door. It was Conrad. Yuri just looked at the door and did not respond.
“Your Highness, everything is all set. We are ready when you are,” Conrad spoke.
Hearing no answer, Conrad slowly opened the door. He went in and halted before Yuri. He laid out his hand to urge the younger man to stand. Yuri looked up at Conrad and was disconcerted to see a deeply aggrieved-looking brother.
“Yuri. Come. He’s waiting.”
Yuri remained stiff. Something in Conrad’s words struck him harder in the heart. He’s waiting.
With Conrad’s help, he managed to stand. He let Conrad take him away from the bed filled with memories. Then Conrad gestured for Yuri to fix himself first. Repulsively, the king obeyed. Greta was outside the room and run to hug Yuri as soon as she saw him. Yuri embraced her tightly and he felt from her the same sorrow in an instant.
Yuri stood and turned to Conrad.
“Thank you, Conrad. From here, I shall walk with Greta.”
“Alright.”
As they descended the stairs that lead to the back door of the palace, Yuri could already hear the chanting from the outside. It was very solemn and significant, making him feel even worse. It spoke of an angel that has ascended, a yellow flower easily swept by the wind, a candle that illuminated fiercely but was put out in a sudden and a white horse that has gone away too soon.
Yuri looked back at Conrad and tightened his grasp on Greta’s hand. This is it. The doors opened and the early sunlight blinded them at once. Yuri saw a view he had seen before but only once. The Garden of Honor was more like a valley bordered by trees giving a clear view of the nearby mountains.
In honor of the king’s arrival, the soldiers aligned in parallel ranks had drawn their swords and raised it high. Yuri, Greta and Conrad walked between them. Yuri could feel the weight of the stares of those present. At the center of the square where the line of the soldiers ended, a stained glass coffin beside by a mound of flowers rested. A sharp cut seared in Yuri’s heart at the sight of it. Greta’s hand began to shudder as well. When Yuri reached the end of the line, the soldiers put their swords down in unison and turned to face the direction of the coffin.
Finally, Yuri saw him… his beautiful Wolfram lying inside the very lavish coffin forged by magic. Wolfram wore a golden gown made of silk embroidered with detailed ornaments and laces. His fairly long blond hair was tied by fresh vines with minute white flowers. His face was still the same, very arresting and juvenile. It is as if he was merely sleeping.
As Yuri stared at the coffin, his mind began to race again with the same thoughts he had before. Wolfram’s heart had stopped before… during the time of our battle with Shou shou, what if this was the same case? What if Wolfram only needs Anissina’s machine and a faithful time to wait for his heart to beat again?
Yuri suddenly turned around looking for Anissina in the big crowd. Conrad and the others were taken aback. Anissina’s jet pink hair made it easy for Yuri to locate her by the eyes. But what Yuri saw quickly buried his hopes down. For the first time since he met this iron-willed woman, he saw her actually crying. If Anissina had ideas, she’d probably have announced it. But ever since Wolfram died, Anissina had been quiet.
Conrad placed a hand on Yuri’s shoulder pulling the latter back from his desperate thoughts. And as if he just got there, Yuri began to be aware of the sobbing and Lady Cheri’s hair-raising wail. He felt worse as Greta’s tears began to penetrate his attire, touching his skin.
The singing stopped and Ulrike started to speak.
“My dear friends, sisters, brothers, mazokus, soldiers and our ally humans… It has been a long mournful day. Though much as I would like to say to you all, first let us acknowledge the passing of an extraordinarily fine person… a bright young man who has been a courageous and fierce warrior, an honorable son, a dutiful brother, a steadfast colleague, a faithful partner and a loving and caring friend and family.”
After a few minutes, Ulrike had finally wrapped up her speech.
“Let us bear in mind Lord Wolfram’s death did not go in vain. As a warrior, yes it is most honorable to die in battle. But no great fighter could die more honorable than dying for those he loves. And Lord Wolfram did that. He didn’t die of childbirth. He died giving everything he had for those who are in need. His courage to fight, his sword to protect, and his heart to the one he loves. He left his old character so that he could make those he loves happy. He changed not only for himself…” Ulrike paused and looked at Yuri straight in the eye. “But for those who made his life worth living.”
Yuri felt a foreboding feeling swept his back upon the words. He felt so guilty and regrets were swarming even more in his mind...
“It doesn’t matter if he is a man or a woman. What matters is he/she is Wolfram… a young boy who made our heads hot sometimes for being a brat but a somebody that had inspired us with compassion and love.”
“We remember that, and we'll celebrate a person who was kind, fair, valiant and true… Someone who fought hard… right to the very end…”
Moments of serenity after the memorandum of Ulrike, the soldiers open the coffin and let the immediate family see Wolfram for the last time.
Yuri did not move as if his feet had been rooted underground. Conrad saw him and understood they had to go first. Lady Cecilie wept uncontrollably; she buried his son’s body into her arms, squeezing it in a manner the living Wolfram would scorn about.
Yuri went last after Lady Cecilie let go of Wolfram. He knelt and slowly reached out to touch Wolfram’s face. As if not expecting it, Yuri was surprised to feel that Wolfram’s skin became so cold and frail. After a moment or two, Yuri smiled sadly. He knew something was about to happen to him that he didn’t want anybody to see. Something he had been restraining was breaking out. So he hastened to kiss Wolfram’s forehead, stood up and signaled to Conrad he’s done.
I know I’ll see you again.
They stepped away from the coffin and the soldiers made a gesture with their swords drawn high in tribute for Wolfram before sealing it back. The group of singers began to sing another sad hymn of farewell as Ulrike was saying a prayer.
Many began weeping again and this time, Yuri noticed Gwendal’s eyes were also wet with tears. There was no escape; the truth was closing in on him. He couldn’t keep his heart in his sleeves any more.
A fire-made barrier emanated underneath Wolfram’s coffin covering it squarely. Then it slowly transformed itself into a marble stone finally concealing the coffin out of sight. Finally, Ulrike had cast a spell that instantly carved Wolfram’s name on it with an epitaph. Lady Cecilie cried even more and her two sons rushed to her aid at once.
A few minutes later, the people individually placed flowers on the marble tomb, extended their final sympathy to the royal family and bid farewell. When the crowd lessened, Yuri paced to the forest close by, ignoring the intent gazes of Conrad and everyone else. He needed a moment alone. He had been longing for it ever since he came back and met the tragedy. Greta was about to follow him, but Conrad told her to stay.
So Yuri Shibuya strode off into the forest that was beckoning him. Tears were starting to well from his eyes. The thought that Wolfram was dead was beginning to sink into him like sharp icy daggers. He was preventing it from hitting him entirely but his emotional defences were weakening. And for the first time since he first discovered Demon Kingdom, he felt so lonely and he cried his longest. He looked back and realized he had already gotten far, with only tree silhouettes visible behind him. Then he broke into a run. His tears were eternal and scorching, and they flutter with the wind. His emotions were going out of hand, affecting the weather. Heavy grey clouds started to form, obscuring the sunlit dawn. Eventually, the pouring rain followed. Yuri dropped on his knees unto the muddy soil. He could no longer recognize his tears from those of the heavens.
Somewhere in the castle, Murata was gazing outside the huge glass window.
“His lament made the heavens mourn.”