AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hey there! It's been a very long time since my last update. Anyway, here it is. Again, I'm sorry that it took a while. Life happened. To the new readers, thank you for checking out this fic and I hope it grows on you. To those who have read this fic before, you've waited so long for this - I hope that this chapter is worth it. (I seriously really hope so.) Lately, I've just been hanging round twitter. I decided to write some other fics too. Anyway, this is it. Leave a review and let me know what you think. Happy reading!

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Thoughts will be in italics.

Example: Thoughts

Speech will also be in italics but will start and end with " " marks.

Example: "Speech"

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Slender fangs that glistened in the dark were his only admonishment before it sliced fluidly through his skin and tore his flesh. Murata inhales sharply, teeth sinking easily into his bottom lip, his mouth quickly filling with the awful taste of metal and grass.

He flings his head back in agony at the heightening pain ravaging his entire being, the soft pitter-patter of rain dancing on his face offered no solace. His mouth opened and closed on empty air. Through it all, there was only one thing that remained - Wolfram.

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Lilac eyes grew wide in distress. The double black resembled a mangled rag doll on the ground. His blood stained the soft wet earth beneath him crimson.

"Geika!" Gunter wailed, sprinting forward senselessly - but before he can get any further Gwendal took hold of him and forcefully dragged him back.

"Are you going out of your fucking mind?!" The dark haired noble exploded, tightening his grip on his arm. "There's a barrier around them!"

The adviser only responded with a cold glare and yanked his arm away angrily.

"Gunter, listen to me!" Gwendal pleaded as the wind picked up, but Gunter was far too agitated and refused to hear him out.

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Lying on the ground, Murata could smell not only the earth but also the rain as it fell around him. An intense burning sensation arose on his side. He clamped a hand over it to stop his blood from trickling out but it was futile. The sticky warm liquid leaking out through the gaps of his trembling fingers was a bitter realization that left a disappointing taste in his mouth.

Somewhere in the distance he could faintly make out someone screaming, slowly turning his head to the direction of the sound, he was able to make out Gunter's form with Gwendal lagging not too far behind. Instinctively, he clutched his chest and after drawing a ragged breath, he coughed out some blood. This wasn't how he had wanted to go but by the look of things, he'd end up a goner without having done much of anything at all.

His vision started to falter. His lids grew heavy as well. He could feel himself getting weary, his breath growing more labored than the last. To him it was an all too familiar feeling - death, that is. He felt like swearing, knowing well-enough that he didn't have time left for bitter realizations and could-have-been's. Lids fluttering shut, a lone tear rolled down his temple.

In life I was never able to hold you in my arms, in death – I shall carve your sigh in my soul and hold you in my heart.

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A startling bright flash illuminated the sky revealing portentous mammatus clouds hanging threateningly overhead. It was followed soon after by a growl of thunder. Gunter and Gwendal froze on the spot.

The sky collapsed unleashing all its anguish and rainwater fell around them like liquid ice. It was succeeded by an eerie hollow stillness. Gwendal blinked and wiped away the frigid rainwater sliding down his face, behind him he heard someone take a ragged breath.

Another flash of lightning and Gunter's eyes widened, mouth parting open. "Wal…torana?"

The fair haired noble collapsed on the ground, his golden hair matted with mud. Gwendal fell to his knees and quickly gathered him in his arms.

"Let go." Waltorana weakly argued, pushing the taller man away. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not!" Gwendal yelled, startling him.

Blue eyes widened as a pair of strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him close. The very sensation of it was something that he had pushed in the very back of his mind long ago.

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Surrounded by hollow darkness, he found the silence to be deafening.

** "Trying to make me feel better?"

Murata's eyes snapped open.

"And what if I am?" He heard himself reply coyly.

"You absolutely suck at it." He could almost see it, the bishounen's trademark half-smirk at the end of those words.

Wolfram, where are you?

"Thank you, for being there, even now." **

Wolfram's voice sounded faint – distant, as if he was going somewhere out of his reach.

Don't go! He pleaded. Please!

But there was no response.

Wolfram?! Wolfram!

Desperately, he took short shallow breaths and clawed at his hammering chest.

I can't die! Not now!

He heard thunder crash above him followed by a bright flash of light that seemed to split the darkness.

I need to see Wolfram one more time…

It was then an agonizing chill spread through his being, emanating from deep within his bones. It invaded every single cell in his body making him ache acutely.

Anyone, please - I don't want to die!

The pain pulsing through his being felt like knives being driven in and out of his flesh, the cold dissipated, replaced by scorching heat. He could feel himself burning.

Nooooooooooo!

Burning until there was nothing left of him.

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A sudden odd crackling in the air interrupted the three men. It was followed by the feel of tiny sparks dancing across their wet supple skin. Gunter licked his lips nervously, he hasn't felt such a great surge of power in a while – it was terrifying enough to rival the Maoh's when enraged.

Bzz! *crack* Bzz! *crack*

Squinting hard against the merciless rain, he looked ahead and was able to make out the Sage. It's not possible.Gunter couldn't help but gasp. He had seen it with his own eyes, a pool of striking crimson was still clearly visible on the ground.

Lilac eyes watched the scene unfolding before him with a mixture of awe and abject horror. The young Sage stood in front of the water serpent, enveloped in a mass of pure crackling bright light. He felt his knees give out, What in Shinou's name is going on?

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Murata opened his eyes and was greeted with the sight of portentous clouds stirring above. Raising an arm towards the sky, he clenched and unclenched his bloodied fist.

He cast a sideway glance at the captive blond, the water dragon's tail was still tightly wound around him. The usual temperamental mazoku remained oblivious to his surroundings. His blank green eyes stared off into the distance.

"Let. Him. Go." He warned lowly and with cold unemotional eyes, he stared hard at the red eyed serpent that loomed in front of him.

The serpent snarled largely in response baring rows of razor sharp teeth. With a ferocious ground-shaking roar, it lunged towards him. Its watery form gleamed under the moonlight as it swung its head at him for the second time, mouth wide open.

The onlookers around him uniformly gasped. A frigid gust whipped through as thunder rumbled in the distance. A small smirk lifed the corners of his mouth, the onlookers froze – their fright rising as his devilish smirk widened.

Out of nowhere, a bright flash of lightning tore through the night sky and struck the watery serpent's nape. Letting out a horrific wail, it skidded on the muddy ground. Red eyes flashing angrily, it dropped Wolfram crassly on the ground. It wrapped its tail around a nearby tree, uprooted it and hurled it towards him.

The double black managed to dodge it in time when behind him he heard indiscernible yelling. Turning his head, his heart sank – the blond was lying face down on the wet grass, lips in a bluish hue, unmoving.

"Wolfram!"

He wanted nothing more than to run up to the blond and gather him in his arms but the enraged serpent was hot on his heels, snapping at him without a moments rest. Then out of the corner of his eyes, a pure black stallion appeared, atop was a cloaked lone rider. The pair breezed past him, the rider scooping the blond from the ground and galloping away into the woods.

Murata screamed in anguish, onlookers watched in utter shock as the crackling mass of maryoku enveloping him burst. With a final roar, the watery serpent froze into ice then shattered like glass.

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Gwendal shut his eyes just in time, as something sharp brushed past his cheek shallowly slashing it.

"Gwendal…" Waltorana quipped, staring up at him.

Gunter quickly stepped in front of the pair, sword unsheathed.

"Particles who dwell in the wind, hear me! Obey now this noble mazoku who summons you!"

Raising his sword into the air, he formed a sphere-like wind barrier around them.

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Murata ignored the sharp clear fragments that fell around him and without a moments rest he sprinted towards the woods where the blond was taken. The wet ground felt soft and slippery under his feet.

They shouldn't have gotten too far.

A buzzing noise started in his head as he continued to push forward.

"This way…" a voice encouraged, "This way…"

A rustling sound arose on his left. He turned and found a sheer dissipating silhouette.

"Wolfram!" He called out. "Wolfram!"

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could sense something unraveling.

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"Wolfram, where are you?" He asked through gritted teeth.

Breathing heavily he fell on his knees. Not now. Please…

He was crumbling, he could feel it.

Tired and weary, he could feel his tears rising and he didn't resist them this time.

"Wolfram!"

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CONRAD'S POV

OUTSKIRTS OF BIELEFELD

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The heavy downpour delayed their party from reaching Bielefeld's port. Along with some of his men, they took shelter under a huge tree with wide branches and thick foliage. In his mind, he mulled over Yozak's words.

Your brother…

Why? He wondered, specifically now that he is no longer engaged to their King.

A sudden clap of thunder disrupted his thoughts.

"Commander!" One of his men approached.

"What is it?" he responded mildly.

"A guard from Waltorana-kyo's estate is here."

"Waltorana-kyo's?" He glanced behind the young officer's shoulder in curiosity.

True enough a weary looking young man clad in his drenched and muddied Bielefeld military attire was being guided towards him by his men. Their eyes met and in that small fraction of a second, he knew that something had definitely gone terribly wrong.

"Commander, there's been a breach." His officer started for the second time, tone critical. "…Lord Waltorana's estate has just been attacked. And your brother…"

Brown eyes snapped back at the man in front of him. Conrad rarely loses his temper but now he bellows without a shred of control. "What happened to Wolfram?!" He demanded harshly, grabbing the startled officer.

"Wolfram-kaka…"

"What?! Tell me." Conrad flared.

"He's been abducted."

Conrad's blood ran cold.

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He wasn't sure how or when he had gotten on his horse but by the time he could think rationally, he found himself already galloping towards Waltorana's estate. The structure along with its turrets peeking out from behind the tall trees lined up in the horizon, resembled a menacing fortress. And it was, 'til now.

Edging closer, he was met with a strong gale. Conrad held on to the reins tightly, gripping them until his knuckles turned white.

"Commander!" Several of his men behind him called out but he paid them no heed. Slapping his horse's backside he sent it galloping once more.

"Gunter!" hopping off his horse, he made a mad dash towards the adviser kneeling on the ground, his back towards him. Gunter turned his head at the sound of his name being called and stood.

"Conrad?" Confusion was evident on Gunter's face. "But how…"

The brunet stopped dead at the sight of the adviser's muddy and blood soaked attire.

"Where's Aniue?" He demanded, a strange look in his eyes. "I need to see him!"

Noticing the pool of blood where they stood, Conrad winced and he took a step back.

No, it couldn't be. Blood. There was so much of it.

"Conrad, listen to me…" But it was too late. The younger man was already dashing towards Waltorana's estate.

"Conrad!" Gunter called out, desperately running after him. "Gwendal is not here!"

Conrad stopped in his tracks and turned to face him.

"He went after them! Into the woods…"

As soon as the words leave his lips, Conrad quickly called over his men.

"Conrad!" Gunter calls after him again, pure irritation in his tone. He jogs to meet the weary looking adviser half-way.

"Heika…" Gunter starts shakily, his voice turning hoarse. "Where is Heika?"

Conrad stiffened. He didn't answer but Gunter was able to pick up the slight change in his expression.

"Change of plans!" He hollers back at his men. "We're moving out! To the port!"

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GWENDAL'S POV

INTO THE WOODS.

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He took a step forward, careful as to not lose his footing on twisted upturned roots and the wet slippery ground. The heavy rain from earlier had made their search difficult, it had already washed away critical traces of his younger brother and the Sage. Still, Gwendal was an obstinate man of persistence – he'd turn the woods upside down if he had to, just to find them both.

"Kaka…" One of his men called out, running towards him. "There's something you need to see."

Less than a hundred yards away from where he was searching earlier, lay their first set of critical clues - a few deep hoof prints left on the soft earth and also some flaxen hair caught on some tall grass.

Gwendal bent over a bit to examine the locks closely, he was certain that they belonged to Wolfram. It was then that he noticed some sort of dark liquid oozing close to his boot from behind the tall grass. He took a step back and held his breath. It was blood – lots of it.

Gwendal felt something clutch his heart, he unsheathed his sword and started cutting away the grass. Behind it lay a distressing sight, a deep pool of crimson was on the ground. There were signs of a struggle having taken place there, with some of the trees and plants baring recent scorch marks. A torn piece of fabric was also found on a low branch, black – same as the cloaked rider's.

"Son of a…" Gwendal winced, unable to finish his words, a hand flying to his right eye.

"Kaka!" A few of his men called out. "Kaka!"

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EXTRA NOTES:

** I heard (and read) that hearing is the last sense to go for people that are in the process of dying and so I decided to use Wolfram's voice. This scene is basically an auditory flashback, of the library scene between Murata and Wolfram from TBMRW's chapter 6.

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Thank you so much, LISA (chase3136).

DISCLAIMER: KKM is NOT mine.

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