Chapter Text
"You're sure they got the whole message?" Yuuri asked with a frown, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He looked over his shoulder at Bastian who was trailing behind them, his koala in a headlock and his attention straying to every flower and pebble along the garden path.
"Based on Shori's reply I'd have to say yes," Murata answered with a grin. "You really do worry too much. Between you and your brother, dimensional travel is almost a public highway around here."
"Yeah, Wolfram says that too," Yuuri said, pausing his steps just long enough for Bastian to catch up to them before falling into step beside Murata. "Did he say when they'd get here?"
Murata shook his head. “No, and I really can't stay at the castle long. Ulrike is watching the portal but I should really be there to act as a guide when it opens. Don't worry about your brother, I'm sure he'll be fine on his own."
"I just wish I could get away to go get them myself," Yuuri sighed. "But I don't think I should take Bastian to Earth right away and I don't want to leave him here. Not to mention the fact that we still have half a dozen refugees looking for their families. I made them a promise, I don’t want it to look like I’m not trying to help.”
"You need to let Shori do this anyway," Murata pointed out. "You're not going to be able to go home as often, that means your family needs to be able to come here."
"I never asked how your parents are holding up under all this," Yuuri said with a frown, stopping to let Bastian catch up again.
Murata gave him an uncomfortable look. “To be honest; not quite as well as yours. Mom’s been angry ever since I said I wouldn’t be attending university. She says that now that my task is finished here I should return to my real life. Dad says that they never agreed to give me up completely."
"Murata... I'm sorry," Yuuri gripped his arm, his brow furrowed in worry. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"I never wanted to give the wrong impression," Murata said with a sigh. "I know they really do love me, but it can't have escaped your notice that I've spent more time with your family than I have with my own."
Yuuri nodded, rolling his shoulders in a shrug. “I’m not that dense. I just didn't want to say anything because, well..."
"I've always got on well with my father," Murata admitted. “But the truth is he travels so much for work and I’ve always been a model student. I can’t imagine what we could have possibly managed to fight about.”
Yuuri grimaced, pausing to run his hand over Bastian’s head before continuing on. He could count the conversations he’d had with Mr. Murata on one hand. They’d all been extremely cordial, Hero Murata was very pleased to have his son so well regarded by the Demon King. Yuuri supposed most parents would be pleased that someone powerful and influential was fond of their child, he just hadn’t become used to the fact that he was an enviable figure of respect.
“Mom,” Murata let out a huff of a breath, his shoulders sagging. "I’m not completely sure, but I don’t think Dad even told her what he really was until after I was already conceived. She’s more than a little resentful and I think she felt pressured into agreeing." Yuuri couldn't imagine a lie like that sitting well with Murata's severely practical mother. He knew his own father had confessed his heritage from the beginning. To listen to his mother, she'd found it exciting. Mrs. Murata definitely wasn’t that enamored of excitement.
"I know we've never really talked about this before," Murata said, looking at him with guarded eyes. "But Shinou and I recently... renewed our prior relationship."
A wide smile bloomed on Yuuri's face. "I'm so happy for you," he declared, hardly able to contain his enthusiasm. "I mean, I know you've always said it was complicated but even I can see how important you are to each other."
"I've decided not to tell my parents," Murata said. Yuuri blinked at him.
"Because they... wouldn't approve?" Yuuri asked uncomfortably, pausing to glance back at Bastian who was trailing behind again.
"Mother wouldn't," Murata said with a sigh. "Which my father was quick to point out when I discussed it with him some time ago. Deep down I suppose it has more to do with the fact that it would be my declaration of separation from my life on earth. I can't bring my parents here the way you can, the culture shock would be too much for Mom, and I can't make Shinou a part of my life there. I have to choose one or the other."
"And you've chosen," Yuuri stated and The Sage nodded a bit sadly in reply. Yuuri looked over his shoulder at Bastian who was now intently watching a small bug he'd found in one of the flowerbeds. "If it's even the slightest consolation to you at all, if I was forced to make the same choice, I'd choose Wolfram."
"I know you would," Murata said with a smile. "In a way it helped me choose. Your mom and dad would want you to choose Wolfram. And that made me feel less guilty about my own choice."
"They would, wouldn't they?" Yuuri said with a sad smile. Murata nodded.
"Maybe not Shori," The Sage added. Yuuri flung his arm around his friend's shoulder with a laugh.
"I didn't want to be used by any of Shinou's enemies," Murata said. "So no one outside the Twelve ever knew... I'd like to keep it that way."
"Of course," Yuuri nodded in agreement. "It would be awfully hard to explain to anyone else, wouldn't it?" Murata laughed.
"I can barely explain it to you," he grinned.
"Come on Bastian," Yuuri called, smiling at the toddler as he jogged to catch up.
"I wanna go play," Bastian said, grasping a fistful of Yuuri’s pant leg.
"You're going to have to wait just a little bit," Yuuri answered, stroking his hair. "You can go play with your sister when she gets out of her lessons, she won't be long now."
"You and Murata could play with me," He suggested.
"I have to see Murata to the gate," Yuuri answered as they continued down the path. "He has to go back to the temple."
"But I wanna play," Bastian insisted, his bright blue eyes gazing up at the King as if he were in deepest misery. Yuuri cringed, this was even worse than Greta.
"Wolfram isn't getting any more of these, I don't care how he begs," Yuuri sighed, shaking his head as Murata laughed.
"The domestic life suits you," Murata observed, bending to sweep the boy onto his shoulders piggy-back. "I'll give you a ride to the gate, how will that be?" Bastian nodded happily.
"Had you... thought about a family?" Yuuri asked hesitantly.
"I've raised my children, I think." Murata shrugged, shifting Bastian on his back as they turned onto the path toward the gate. "Of course I wouldn't say 'never' but I've spent enough time as a parent that I think I'd like to try out the role of irresponsible uncle for a while."
"You can be my uncle!" Bastian declared, squeezing his neck happily.
"Maybe Uncle Ken will babysit," Yuuri said with an evil grin, earning a laugh from his friend.
"Take my advice, two at a time is plenty for anyone to look after," Murata said. "I've had a long policy of never having more small children than I have arms." Yuuri snickered as they left the garden, turning into the castle forecourt.
A surprised yelp met Yuuri's ears and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He would know his daughter's voice anywhere and he tensed in alarm, his gaze quickly darting over the castle forecourt. His eye caught movement off toward the stable yard and he gasped, he could just make out Greta, her sword drawn against an unknown, masked assailant.
"Stay back!" he ordered, violent anger bubbling up in his veins as he broke into a run, his hand automatically grasping hold of Morgif, drawing the Demon Sword. He threw his shield arm out, his aura enveloping him as he darted between his daughter and her attacker, a gust of wind erupting from his palm throwing the swordsman off balance.
"Greta run!" he commanded, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Find Wolfram!"
"Papa?" her voice seemed confused and his scowl deepened.
"Go!"
"It's nice to see you, Your Majesty," the unknown swordsman declared regaining their footing. A chill ran down Yuuri's spine and he dropped his hands with wide eyes.
"Elizabeth?" he asked in horror as she removed her fencing mask, gently tossing her honey hair. "What are you doing here?"
"She's teaching me to sword fight," Greta said as if that were obvious, blinking up at him in confusion as she removed her eye guards.
"Brother Wolfram said that you needed a female instructor," Elizabeth declared. "And after sparring with your daughter this afternoon I can certainly see why, you've allowed Lord Weller to be too soft with her. She has immense potential, you shouldn't squander it." Greta beamed happily, clutching her small sword.
"Elizabeth?" Yuuri asked again, she only gave him the same look Wolfram usually gave him when he was acting like an idiot.
"Um, Shibuya," Murata interrupted. Yuuri turned his head to find Bastian clinging to Murata's coat, tears running down his cheeks.
"Oh geeze!" he cringed, returning a complaining Morgif to his sheath and racing to the boy. "It's all right Bastian, everything's fine. I was just being dumb again."
"You're scary," the toddler hiccuped, his lip trembling.
"Oh Bastian, I'm sorry," Yuuri said miserably, gently prying him free of the Sage. "It's all right, really, I didn't mean to scare you. I thought Greta was in danger and I was trying to scare away the person who was fighting her. But it's okay, it's only Elizabeth, see?"
"I leave for ten minutes and I come back to this?" Wolfram asked with a scowl as he approached. "Yuuri what did you do?"
"He tried to kill Lady Elizabeth!" Greta said excitedly. "It was really neat!"
"Yuuri!" Wolfram scowled.
"Well why didn't you tell me you asked Elizabeth to train Greta?" Yuuri asked in exasperation. "I didn't even know she was in the castle! I think if we're going to turn our daughter into a weapon of mass destruction I should be notified!"
"She was only conducting an evaluation!" Wolfram snapped. "I was going to discuss her opinion with you tonight!"
"Weapon of mass destruction?" Elizabeth asked in bewilderment.
"He meant it as a compliment," Murata assured. "He's only ever said that about Lord Weller before." Elizabeth's smug smile only broadened.
"Why is my son crying?" Wolfram demanded.
"I think I startled him when I attacked Elizabeth," Yuuri admitted uneasily.
"This isn't one of your better days, is it?" Wolfram asked sourly. Yuuri only looked back at him helplessly as Bastian sobbed into his shoulder.
"Bastian," he rubbed the boy's back soothingly.
"I don't want the Great Hero!" the boy wailed. "I want my papa!" Yuuri froze in shock, his hand resting on Bastian's head. It was the first time the boy had used a familial name for either of them and Yuuri couldn't help the funny twisting feeling it gave him inside. Wolfram's expression softened and Yuuri noticed that both Elizabeth and Murata looked as if they were about to burst into laughter. Greta only looked up at him as if she were a little cross with him.
"It's all right Bastian," Wolfram crooned, stepping to Yuuri's side and tenderly kissing the boy's temple. "Yuuri thought there was a monster and he wanted to scare it away, that's all. You said that was his job, remember?" Bastian rubbed his nose on Yuuri's shoulder before looking at him with red eyes, his tiny shoulders shaking.
"You want the monsters to be scared don't you?" Wolfram continued, gently stroking his face. The toddler nodded uneasily and Yuuri kissed his cheek, snuggling him.
"I don't want you to be scared of me, Bastian," he said, his voice faltering. "I only meant to protect you and Greta, that's what a father is supposed to do, please don't be afraid."
"I think there's more than two monsters that's scared of you," Bastian's voice shook. Wolfram let out a laugh, kissing one pale cherub cheek.
"Did Yuuri tell you that?" he asked in amusement as the boy nodded. "Well he doesn't like to brag, but the only monsters that aren't afraid of him are the dumb ones."
"Wolfram!" Yuuri protested.
"Your papa will always do everything to keep you safe, sweetheart," Wolfram continued, feathering a kiss on his forehead. "You shouldn't be afraid, you should be proud." Bastian rubbed his face on his sleeve and Yuuri dried the last of his tears. Bastian looked into his eyes a moment before planting a kiss on his cheek and wrapping his arms around Yuuri's neck.
"I love you," he squeaked out. Yuuri gulped before squeezing him tightly.
"I love you too, Bastian," he said gently. He met Wolfram's gaze over the child's shoulder and the blond smiled back at him tenderly.
"Does this mean I can't practice with Elizabeth any more?" Greta asked morosely. Wolfram laughed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
"My love, when did you get so tall?" Wolfram questioned, squeezing her.
"Did you like practicing with Elizabeth?" Yuuri asked seriously. Greta nodded excitedly and he tried to hide his smile. "Well you need to ask her, of course, she's a very fine sword fighter and I won't impose on her other commitments."
"I'd be honored, Your Majesty," Elizabeth said, giving Greta a wink.
"Well, there's that then," Yuuri sighed. "Greta, do as Elizabeth tells you. Bastian, why don't you come with me while I see Uncle Ken off."
"Uncle Ken?" Wolfram asked in confusion as the snickering Sage passed him.
"I got adopted today," Murata answered impishly, catching up with the King.
“Best go get cleaned up, Greta," Wolfram said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “You can play before dinner while I work out your training schedule with Elizabeth." She gave him a squeeze around the middle, waving at Elizabeth before running off toward the castle. Wolfram watched her go a moment, his eye drifting to Yuuri. He let out a sigh, the faintest smile on his lips.
"And you were fussing over how he'd react," Elizabeth teased, leaning on his shoulder. Wolfram's cheeks colored.
"It'll be great having you at the castle more often," Wolfram said, his expression waffling between ecstatic and fearful.
"Don't worry," she elbowed him gently. "I won't hurt your precious double black." Wolfram smiled. It had actually gone a lot better than he'd thought.