Hey it's ElisiansBane here with another Kyou Kara Maou story. I'm on a roll aren't I? This one is inspired by the Masters of Horror series on HBO. If you're a horror fan like me then you'll like this series.

Primary characters: Yuuri. Wolfram and Adelbert.

Rating M; For violence, and graphic sex (nonconsensual). I will place specific ratings for each appropriate chapter, mostly towards the end.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. I do own the third season, which I just like better than the other seasons.

Summary: After the tragic death of Yuuri, Wolfram is forced to find a new spouse. He goes against this by enacting a law that allows him to remain single for the rest of his life. But on the way back from the ritual the law entails, he is attacked by thieves and rescued by none other than Adelbert. But is Adelbert really looking out for his safety?

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Prologue

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The expression on Gisela's face was one of uncharacteristic dread as she walked out of the king's bedroom.

Wolfram stood, back against the wall picking at his nails in a futile attempt to keep his mind off the inevitable. He normally would have trained his face into a perfect mask of boredom. But this time, he could not, not with what was happening - ending, inside that room from which the grim healer had just emerged.

He was flanked by his older brothers. They too, were trying their damnedest to hide the growing sorrow and panic that clawed at their insides, threatening to tear lose and cause all sorts of mayhem in the wake of what was to come.

"Lord Bielefeld," she called quietly.

The three princes looked up at her and Gisela's heart broke when she saw the identical expressions of sadness and helplessness that were so unusual for the battle-and-world-hardened warriors that stood before her, wishing, praying, and hoping that it would not be. That it could not be.

Their king was dying.

She looked steadily at the youngest prince, undoubtedly the most distraught of the three. He was dressed decently, but for those who knew the particular prince, he had dressed in a hurry. His pants were crinkled into his boots instead of folded, his uniform had two open buttons at the top and he was not wearing his cravat or the blue beads that held it together. His hair was slightly disheveled probably from worried fingers constantly pulling and running through it. His face was pale and sullen, his once bright green eyes were dull and glazed and had dark circles beneath them. He looked a mess, inside and out.

Gisela arbitrarily cleared her throat. "He wants to see you now."

"Just me?" The forlorn man asked, eyes glistening.

"Just you," she nodded.

Wolfram looked to his brothers for guidance, but they only gently pushed him towards the door. He slowly walked past Gisela and she courteously opened the heavy oak door for him.

He was taken aback by the strong smell of medicines and clean laundry that engulfed him as he walked to the bed. The room was dark, lit by only a few candles and the roaring fireplace that made the room unbearably hot and stuffy.

Yuuri was propped up by a huge mound of pillows, too weak to hold himself upright, the heavy blankets were pulled onto his lap and he was holding a tea cup and slowly sipping whatever concoction Gisela had given him.

He looked so different than what he had been. A vibrant, energetic, cheerful and kind young man with every promise the future could hold for him. So much potential, now reduced to a thin weak form doomed to a life in bed, forced to wait for the end and nothing to be done to stop it.

He looked so frail lying there, so pale that his black hair made a painful contrast from his skin.

Wolfram walked as if in a trance, part of him still denying that this was Yuuri, his strong bright fiancé, wasting away on the bed.

How could this have happened? How did one go from the peak of health to a sickly wraith in only a few weeks? How could such a common illness be the reason for so much suffering?

He had Valley Fever, Gisela had told them weeks ago, a common childhood illness among demons, akin to the common cold and a natural, expected part of growing up and once the person had it, the rarely ever got it again. It was almost never fatal.

Except for Yuuri, whose body had never experienced the common diseases of Shin Makoku and thus did not have a natural defense against the virus. His body did not know how to combat the sickness that ravaged his immune system and left it in shreds, left their king in intense myalgia, fever, delusions and nausea.

The disease had hit so suddenly, Yuuri was fine a few weeks ago, but then he began to complain of a headache that would not go away, then he became tired easily and then his health deteriorated from there at a pace that left even Gisela shocked.

They had tried everything, every medicine, magic and treatment they could think of to save their beloved king, but it no avail. They poked and prodded and administered until Yuuri himself had had enough and told them to leave him in peace.

Waves of guilt ebbed against Wolfram's psyche, he had Valley Fever in his seventies, Gwendal had it, Conrad had it, Gunter had it, even Gisela had it. To them, it was no big deal, a week in bed and plenty of liquids and that was it.

Did Yuuri get it from him? Did he get it from Gwendal or Conrad? They were no longer victims but carriers of the illness, it still existed inside them, but it could be passed on to someone with a weak immune system like Yuuri.

Yuuri, who had been staring at his reflection in the tea, weakly lifted his head when Wolfram finally reached the side of the bed.

"Wolf." He rasped, smiling affectionately at his long time friend and recent lover.

"Yuuri," was all Wolfram could think of to say. "How are you feeling?"

"Like hell. But not as bad as before, I guess." The double black answered cheerfully.

They sat there for an awkward moment, neither really knowing what to say. Should they talk about the weather? State business? The first seemed too frivolous and shallow a subject and the latter held a promise of a recovery that would not come.

"And how are you?" Yuuri asked pleasantly.

"I-I…don't know. I'm worried and tired." Wolfram admitted. Really, he didn't have the energy to put on a stiff upper lip. It just seemed stupid.

"Are you scared?"

Wolfram looked at Yuuri, surprised at the unusual question. He looked into black eyes that held so much depth and understanding. Is this what the eyes of the dying looked like?

"Yes." He whispered brokenly.

"I know." Yuuri smiled gently, he reached for Wolfram's hand and the blonde obliged him, firmly grasping those clammy fingers into his own cool hands. "I'm scared too."

Wolfram stared at their entwined fingers. Yuuri's hands were so white and cold. His nails were neat and Wolfram wondered if Yuuri would ever get a manicure. Yuuri had pretty hands, strong hands. Strangely feminine but very masculine in their conduct.

"What did Gisela say?" Wolfram asked those fingers, even though he already knew the answer.

Yuuri's expression became very sad and the last vestiges of light in those dark orbs faded.

"There's nothing to do."

"There has to be!" Wolfram exclaimed, unable to hide his fear and grief any longer. "There just has to be! You can't give up, Yuuri. You just can't. There must be other treatments! Other doctors! Someone!"

Wolfram's voice broke on the last word and he fought to hide the sobs that threatened to tear from his mouth.

"Someone!" he choked.

Fighting back his own sadness, Yuuri reached for his blonde companion and pulled him into a gentle embrace, stroking his golden locks as he rested his cheek against his head.

That small gesture of comfort sent Wolfram over the edge, he broke down giving into his despair and clung to his beloved's thin form.

"It's going to be okay." Yuuri whispered against soft hair. "It's going to be okay."

"No it won't!" Wolfram wailed. "This can't happen! It isn't happening! I don't want you to-" He couldn't even bring himself to say that horrid word and instead sobbed into the cloth of Yuuri's nightclothes.

"I don't want to either, Wolf." Yuuri wheezed, it was becoming more difficult for him to hold back his own sobs. He never thought once in his life that he would succumb to illness during what should be the years of his prime. He was scared for himself, yes. But he was more scared for those he was leaving behind. Especially Wolfram.

"Yuuri, I'm begging you. Please hold on. Please fight it just a little longer. Maybe if we go to Earth they can help you. Just don't…..leave!" Wolfram whispered, he clung to Yuuri as if the younger man would dissolve away any second, never to be seen again.

Yuuri didn't answer. To answer would be to just repeat everything that had already been said. Yuuri was the only one who could travel between worlds. They needed his magic to cross dimensions safely. How could he travel to Earth or send someone when he was too weak to even sit up on his own?

They sat in silence. Only the sound of Wolfram's sobs broke the heavy quiet of the large room. Yuuri soon joined his fiancé, shedding tears of his own, allowing his fear and his grief to take over.

After a few minutes that seemed like hours, Yuuri dried his tears and gently pushed Wolfram away from him so that he could look into those glistening green eyes.

Cupping a wet chin with his hand, Yuuri gazed steadily into Wolfram's red, swollen eyes with gentle firmness.

"Wolfram." He said quietly. "There's something I need to give you."

Wolfram sniffed and wiped his tears away as Yuuri reached into the collar of his night shirt and pulled out his precious blue pendant.

"What is it?" Wolfram croaked, jumbled mind not quite registering the blue gem dangling in front of him.

"I want you to have this. To keep safe." Yuuri placed the jewel that had once belonged to his other self around Wolfram's neck.

Wolfram absently touched the cool stone that seemed to absorb the light around it.

"Why?"

Yuuri smiled wistfully. "As a reminder of me. Of our time together. I want you to keep the vision alive Wolfram. A world of peace and prosperity for demons and humans. I'm leaving that to you."

"Yuuri. I can't accept this. It means so much to you." He protested weakly. 'I don't need another reminder that you're leaving me.' he thought bitterly.

"You mean much more and I want you to have it." Yuuri said, smiling at him lovingly.

Wolfram wanted to rip it off and throw it across the room. He didn't want jewelry! He wanted Yuuri. He wanted his fiancé to get better. He wanted this to be a bad dream and he would wake up soon.

To accept this trinket would be to accept that Yuuri wasn't going to get better.

But he held it lovingly. To treat it as something less than sacred would be the greatest insult to Yuuri. And Wolfram would not have that. The necklace represented Yuuri, it represented his memory.

"Wolfram von Bielefeld." Yuuri's quiet steady voice cut into the blonde's thoughts. "Heir to the Bielefeld Family, son of the 26th demon king, honored soldier and fiancé to the 27th demon king, I hereby name you my successor, to carry on the vision and protect Shin Makoku and her people with your heart and life. Will you accept this?"

Wolfram stared in shock at his fiancé. He couldn't imagine anyone else but Yuuri ruling as king, he never wanted the role, he was content to remain at his lover's side, supporting him as he ruled the kingdom. He nearly protested but the look in Yuuri's eyes silenced him and after a moment of resolution, he answered, tears sprouting new.

"Y-yes, I do."

Yuuri's smile widened and he placed his hand over the blue stone and Wolfram's heart.

"Then take this pendant as a symbol of your new position and all who see it will know that I have chosen you," Yuuri touched the pendant. "And as a symbol of what we have together."

Tears running freely, Wolfram nodded his head. "I will cherish it always. Forever."

Yuuri smiled and kissed Wolfram's forehead. "Thank you, Wolfram."

They paused for a few minutes, just enjoying the other's presence. Wolfram nestled himself into Yuuri's arms and was slightly ashamed that he was the one being comforted when in reality he was supposed to do the comforting. But Yuuri didn't seem to mind and only held Wolfram tighter as they sat upon the bed they had shared for years.

"Ne, Wolfram?" Yuuri said after a time.

"Yes, Yuuri?" Wolfram looked up from his spot in Yuuri's embrace.

"Can you do something for me?" Yuuri asked timidly.

"Anything, Yuuri."

"Sleep with me tonight? Not anything sexual." He explained when Wolfram stared at him oddly. "Just….sleep in the same bed with me. I…could use the company."

"Gisela won't like it."

"I know," Yuuri said. "But just this once. You've already had the fever, so you shouldn't be at risk or anything," Yuuri looked at his fiancé earnestly. "Please?"

Wolfram brushed aside a sweat-soaked black lock of hair and placed a gentle kiss against Yuuri's soft dry lips. "Of course. Anything for you, Yuuri. Always."

Wolfram was given the most beautiful smile he had ever seen on the double black. Yuri leaned forward to kiss him again and he returned the gesture eagerly.

They poured everything into that kiss. Wolfram poured his desperation, loneliness, grief and guilt and Yuuri his sadness, peace and comfort. Their lips moved, touched and consoled as their hands caressed each other, memorizing each curve and plane, engraving it into their memories.

Slowly leaning back, Yuuri pulled Wolfram down with him onto the soft pillows. He held the blonde tightly in his arms as they entwined their bodies. With a practiced hand, he removed Wolfram's outer jacket, while the blonde kicked off his boots and trousers and soon he was clad only in his thin black underwear and undershirt. Wolfram tucked himself under the blankets and cuddled up to his lover, head on Yuuri's chest, listening to the weak heartbeat underneath his skin.

Yuuri kissed Wolfram's blonde hair and stroked him as he would a pet. His grip tightened when a sudden coughing fit overtook him, but Wolfram didn't flinch, he only held on tighter as well.

There were no words shared between them. Everything they had to say had been said already and they had been together long enough to know what the other was feeling without words being spoken.

They lay there silent for some time, both lost in their own thoughts. Sleep would not come close to them for to fall asleep meant to hand over control of the future to a force that neither of them could comprehend or implore to follow their own selfish desires. The sunset and the candles burned out plunging the room into the calm darkness of night. Those they left outside didn't see fit to bother them. These last moments were meant for the two lovers alone, to spend one last evening in each other's arms, loving and comforting, to ease the passing of one life to the next.

The dawn of the next morning was heralded by a heartbreaking wail that echoed through the vast halls of blood Pledge. Those who heard it said it was the most painful sound on the world, a sound of the deepest sadness and loss that struck to the core and left the heart empty.

When Conrad, Gwendal and Gunter opened the door they were met with a sobbing blonde, clinging and rocking the lifeless body of the 27th demon king.

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Elisian! Why is it that when you have a favorite character you kill them off or torture them?

Because I can.

I'm like that little three year old in a daycare that bites other kids as a sign of affection.

What do you guys think? Good? Bad? Really sad? Let me know by clicking the little button that says review!