Like No One Else, KKM, for stagesoflove
Title: Like No One Else
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou
Author: elsie21
Characters/pairing: Yuuri Shibuya/Wolfram von Bielefeld
Part 1: Will-o'-the-Wisp, Part 2: Quake, Part 3: Dance of the Flame, Part 4: A Real Shame
He'd been avoiding Wolfram lately. That wasn't a particularly new thing, because anytime Yuuri could manage to go anywhere without being constantly reminded of the folly he'd committed when he'd first set foot in Shin Makoku was a time when he could almost forget he and Wolfram still hadn't settled things regarding this engaged business.
While he didn't like to think the blame for the proposal was entirely his fault, the fact that Wolfram still believed they were going to be married - and he'd even gone as far as to tell Yuuri's mother - was no one's fault but his own. His mother had taken it surprisingly (and alarmingly) well, and now he had constant reminders of his "not available" status in two worlds.
It was hardly fair. He hadn't even had his first kiss and in all the impractical scenes he'd played in his head, where he'd been incredibly suave (and a good kisser to boot), never had he imagined another guy being involved in it.
He should have been firmer with Wolfram about the whole accidental mess, but he'd been unable to be the one to break it off. He just couldn't do that to Wolfram. He'd been naively confident that Wolfram had no desire to marry him, not after the outrage he'd shown after the slap and the whole duel, but things had changed in the blink of an eye after that, and while he might have thought Wolfram's jealousy was due to pride at first, he'd had reason enough to doubt that lately.
He really wished he could be mad at Ulrike for her involvement in turning Wolfram into an affectionate child with an iron grip, but he couldn't. He'd tried brushing off Wolfram's declaration of love, telling himself that it wasn't really Wolfram talking, but if he compared Wolfram's reaction to Günter's, there was no question that Ulrike hadn't created anything that hadn't been there before.
It had been a thoroughly depressing realization, but not nearly as depressing as the direction his own thoughts had taken lately.
Wolfram had washed his back before, but never like he had last night. Yuuri had never felt so on edge before - torn between pulling away and incurring Wolfram's wrath, and relaxing against Wolfram's chest and getting it over with. The feel of Wolfram's fingers, strong and slick with soap, over his chest, had made him lurch forward, and he'd dunked himself completely underwater, remaining submerged until he'd swum to the far end of the bath where he could climb out, safely away from Wolfram's hands and the heat of his body.
He tugged at his collar. It seemed a lot warmer out here, and he wished he'd worn something other than black.
Every time he heard a branch snap or a bird fly overhead, he'd whirl around, expecting to face Wolfram looking none too pleased with him. Even the shadows had him jumping, and finally he and Ao reached the baseball field.
He patted his horse's neck and dismounted. No one was there, but he could see a pile of crude gloves and bats in a wagon. Here was something Yuuri could understand, and he ran down to the baseball diamond, spreading his arms wide and turning in a circle.
It made him feel better than he had all week.
Yuuri picked up one of the balls. The stitches were spread wide apart and were uneven, but the leather was otherwise smooth and unblemished. Another ball was lying in one of the gloves, and in contrast to the one he held, it looked nearly as good as any he'd ever used on earth.
Either two different people had sewn them, or the same person had gotten much better over time. He tossed the ball up in the air and caught it a few times. It felt right, no matter what it looked like.
He tossed it up again, higher this time, and nearly lost sight of it with the sun in his eyes. His eyes watered as he stubbornly tried to find the tiny black dot heading back to the ground, and by the time he caught it everything looked like shadows and light.
Yet he still saw the silhouette of Wolfram astride his horse even before he heard the soft nickering. Only Wolfram would actually ride right onto the baseball diamond when it wasn't a matter of life or death.
Of course in Wolfram's case, it probably was. Yuuri's life if he was alone and untouched and his death if he'd done anything that suggested infidelity.
Wolfram's boots hit the ground at the same time and Yuuri blinked his eyes a few times in an attempt to alleviate the sudden dryness. "Hey," he said cheerfully. "I haven't seen you all day. Where have you been?"
It seemed to take him by surprise, but not enough that the wrinkles between his brow disappeared completely. If Yuuri didn't think of something fast, he was going to get an earful.
"Catch!"
The ball should have hit Wolfram in the head, but it smacked against his sword instead and fell harmlessly to the dirt. Yuuri stared down at it, at the uneven stitches that he saw used a mix of both red and blue thread. He'd not noticed it before.
Wolfram was already lecturing him, about going about unguarded and likely attempting some sort of assignation, but Yuuri was too busy studying the ball. He crouched down and picked it up, turning it one way or another. It was still a good ball, even if it didn't look like any of the ones he'd ever used. It was solid and could take a good hit, and probably most important of all, it had been made by someone here in Shin Makoku, just for him. They hadn't understood the game or the equipment but had still managed to give Yuuri one of the best gifts he'd ever had.
He tossed it up and caught it again, then stood up straight.
"Here, Wolfram," he said, catching his fiance's wrist and placing the ball firmly in his hand. "I want you to have this."
"And what am I supposed to do with this?" Wolfram scoffed, but Yuuri noticed that he didn't toss it aside.
Yuuri shrugged.
"Stupid wimp." Surprisingly, or perhaps not, that was all Wolfram said.
Wolfram led his horse up the hill to where Ao was waiting, and although he was back in his saddle before Yuuri, he didn't move. Because he'd been watching intently as Yuuri pull himself onto Ao's back, their eyes met the moment Yuuri was sitting up straight.
Yuuri looked over at the ball field and the pile of gloves again. It seemed that every day he was here, he learned a little bit more about Shin Makoku and its people. He looked back over at Wolfram, who looked windblown and yet somehow immaculate at the same time.
He leaned forward and scratched his horse between the ears. "And maybe myself, too, Ao," he murmured.
The ride back to the castle should have been one filled with accusations and insults, but it was companionably silent, and Yuuri found himself sneaking glances over at Wolfram. When he finally got caught, he grinned, and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing when Wolfram lifted his chin haughtily in return. Wolfram was like no one else Yuuri had ever known on earth. Yuuri wasn't ready to go any further that that with his speculation right now, but it was still only midday. Tonight, who knew.
The next time Wolfram caught him staring, his smile was a lot more thoughtful.