The Gift

What is this? Why is this happening to me?

It had all started last night while in the baths. Or no…not really. It had started much earlier than that.

His body was beginning to act…funny.

This isn’t like me. This isn’t like me at all! What’s happening to me?!

He had assumed he was coming down with a fever. That would explain the reason for this sudden ‘hot flashes’ he seemed to have whenever that boy’s name was mentioned. It was like a burning sensation that usually began from his toes. It coiled like a restless snake all the way into the pit of his stomach, but not before causing that very private area between his legs to grow ridiculously hard. Sometimes the sensation would be so painful, he would have to make an excuse to leave the room if in the presence of others. A long and very cold shower usually helped to ease the ache, but instead it still left him feeling oddly…listless.

He tried to test his theory - wondering if he really was getting sick. He stood before the mirror of his bedroom and began to recant the names of every member of the royal palace but to his chagrin he felt nothing at all! Where was the prickly sensation of heat within his chest and stomach? How come his face didn’t feel as if it was about to burst with embarrassment? How come those things only happened when…?

A light knock on the door broke him out of his reverie and answering quickly, Gunter poked his head in to announce quite enthusiastically.

“His Majesty is back, Lord Wolfram. Prepare yourself for the evening dinner.”

And just like that, the young soldier was left to stare at the closed door with his heartbeat quickening at an alarming rate. His mouth felt dry – incredibly dry. He licked his lips and forced moisture into them. He realized that he was beginning to tremble – his entire body shaking with the force of the name that hadn’t even been uttered. It was just his image. It was just the very thought of the King that was making him feel this way! He had always known it but had tried his best to deny it all the same.

He fell to his bed with a weak groan and curled up into a fetal position. He couldn’t meet the other boy like this. He would have to compose himself quickly if he had any hope of not showing his emotions so blatantly.

Oh sweet Kami…help me…

“Wolfram!”

He sat upright – green eyes now wide with panic and surprise as they met the smiling visage of the very boy in his thoughts. King Yuuri stood within his doorway, still dressed in that familiar black school uniform of his and looking quite pleased with himself.

The blond tried to force himself to feel irritated and angry at the interruption, but how was he to do so when deep down inside there was the undeniable feeling of pleasure at seeing his fiancé again. He had not seen the King in about two months. Two long months of parading the hallways with boredom – shamefully finding himself peeking into Yuuri’s bedroom when no one else was around. He had even gone as far as secretly practicing that game called baseball which the dark-haired boy seemed to like so much.

“I brought you something this time, Wolfram,” the boy was saying as he walked into the room, while closing the door shut behind him.

Don’t…don’t come any closer…

“It’s a surprise,” Yuuri said with a laugh even though his cheeks seemed to be red with embarrassment. “I didn’t know what to get for you since Conrad told me it was going to be your birthday soon, so I…got you this.”

The blond could barely say a word – although so much needed to be said. He could only gape helplessly as Yuuri sat down beside him. His birthday? His birthday was in two months! But he didn’t have the mind to tell Yuuri otherwise. He wanted to see what this human had brought for him.

“Are you ready, Wolfram?” came the soft question as the dark haired boy reached into his pocket to bring out the…

Ball?!

And to make it worse, the round object looked old and worn and not pleasant at all to look at. Wolfram gave a inward sigh of disappointment before asking a bit coolly. “And just what is this supposed to be?”

“It’s a baseball…”

“I know it’s a baseball,” Wolfram retorted impatiently, his feeling of hurt and disappointment growing by the second. He turned his head away with a light snort. “Why are you giving me this old thing? It’s dirty and unsightly! So take it away from me!”

It was Yuuri’s turn to feel hurt as he held the small white object tightly in his hand. “It’s not just any baseball, Wolfram,” he muttered softly. “This was the very first ball that I hit out of the park for a homerun. It means…a lot to me and I just thought…”

Wolfram heard the bed dip slightly and he knew that Yuuri had gotten up. He turned to face the boy, ready to give him a piece of his mind again only to gasp softly as he noticed the look of pain on Yuuri’s visage.

My heart…it…burns…

“But you’re right,” Yuuri added quickly with a light but shaky laugh. “I should have gotten you something better. I didn’t really think this baseball would mean much to you anyway. I’ll just go back now…”

“Don’t!” Wolfram cried out as he made an attempt to reach Yuuri, but to his chagrin, his fingers only managed to get a hold of the King’s shirt and the accompanying ripping sound caused both boys to blink at each other in confusion. Wolfram gaped at the chunk of black material in his hand, while Yuuri gasped in disbelief at his now exposed torso.

“Eh…sorry?” the blond said a bit sheepishly as he held up the tattered cloth to the other boy. “I didn’t mean to…”

“Forget it,” Yuuri grumbled as he began to make his way out of the room.

“I want it.”

The King stopped and raised a brow. Without turning around, he asked with a small smirk. “You want what?”

Wolfram could feel his cheeks burn as he lowered his gaze and mumbled softly. “The gift. You say it means something to you and so…”

“I’m not going to give something so precious to me away to someone who doesn’t care about it,” Yuuri replied with a wave of his hand. “So don’t worry, I’ll just take it back to…ow!”

He hadn’t even noticed Wolfram move and the next thing he knew, he was rubbing his aching head where he had been hit. The ball was now in the soldier’s hand and Yuuri felt a slow warmth of pleasure within his heart as he realized that Wolfram was actually going to take it. He really hadn’t known what to kind of a gift to buy for the stubborn blond but to know that his simple idea was at least appreciated, meant the world to him.

“I know it’s not much but…”

“Idiot!” came the mumbled retort as Wolfram did his best to hide his blushing visage. “If the King likes it, I’m supposed to like it too. So if it means so much to you then it’s going to be guarded with my life. Understood?”

Yuuri figured that it was Wolfram’s way of saying ‘thank you’ and so he left it at that – but not before giving a cheeky grin and leaning close to plant a firm kiss on the red-hued cheek of his fiancé.

“I understand, Wolfram,” he replied with a warm smile as he reached for the blond’s hand to grasp it tightly. “Now, let’s go and eat! I’m starved!”

What…what is this that I feel? Wolfram thought with a small yelp of surprise as his overzealous partner tugged him out of the room. He tried to fight the smile that threatened to come to his features as he stared at their clasped hands. The coil of warmth was spreading much more rapidly now and for some reason, it made him feel incredibly shy and yet very pleased.

Whatever sensation this is…I never want to let go of it…ever…

~Owari~