[Fic] [Round 44] Title: Unseen, Rating: G
Author/Artist: ladyseishou
Characters/Pairings: Yuuri, Conrad, Julia (mentioned)
Word Count: 623
Rating: G
Warnings: none save excessive sentiment
Theme/Prompt being used: Conrad, Yuuri, Julia: Unseen, suggested by poisonangel7
Note to moderator: I am a new member to the community and this is my first posting (actually my first ever KKM fic). Please forgive me if I have done something incorrectly. I promise to do better next time!
Unseen
Sometimes when the light was just so, the sun rising over the distant mist veiled hills, Conrad thought that he could see something of Julia in Yuuri. Watching his youthful king stretch long limbs before their morning run, his face bright and excited as a child's as he waved to the kotsuhizoku flying overhead, Conrad decided he might be hard pressed to say exactly what it was...
Yuuri’s smile?
Conrad considered this as Yuuri's expression turned inward and gentle, the king leaning down to touch several blooming flowers in the royal garden: "Beautiful Wolfram" and "Conrad-Stands-upon-the-Earth." Just so had Julia loved these same soft scents and touches, hers the same enchanted smile.
The newest, the delicate blossom his lady mother had named "Filled with Yuuri's Naiveté" was still tightly budded, waiting for the warmth of the mid-day sun. Dew still clung to its leaves like jewels. Yuuri touched this too and tasted it from his finger.
And sighed.
Conrad immediately moved to his side.
"Majesty?"
The boy shook his head as if shaking off cobweb dreams and turned to cast a rueful look on Conrad, tempered by easy humor. "Conrad. How many times now?"
Conrad nodded, properly chastised. "Yuuri."
“You are, after all, the one who named me.” His king smiled again and this time it was Yuuri that lent his whole regard to the king's knight, his look as sharp as the sword at Conrad's side.
"I don’t have much time this morning,” he explained. “Gwendal wants me to go over village tax records and grain tables before court. And that’s if Günter doesn't find me first."
"Let me guess," Conrad ventured. "Lord von Christ wishes to review the greetings protocol for the ambassadors from Facelina." The half-demon, half-elemental people were expected to attend court that afternoon. Conrad itched his right ear while pulling on his left then awkwardly rotated his hips in an exaggerated clockwise movement. It was a poor imitation of the elaborate ritual necessary to avoid insult of a strong yet temperamental ally.
Yuuri laughed.
Conrad smiled, reminded again of Julia. And while Yuuri's grinning chuckle was nothing like Julia's musical expression of delight, there was a similarity in the way that both fully gave themselves to the moment, thoughtless of self, without reservation.
Just as they did everything.
Until there was nothing left to give.
"Conrad?" Yuuri's warm hand was on his arm, his eyes worriedly searching Conrad's face.
Conrad recalled once more the promise made to Shibuya Shoma, Yuuri’s father: to keep that part of him, his long, sad history, hidden away from Yuuri. He relaxed his own hand, discovering that his dark thoughts led him unknowingly to take hold of the hilt of his sword.
He turned a smiling face to his king.
"Perhaps we should start then," he said, nodding toward the open road that led from the castle, their favorite path for their morning run.
The king nodded, truly smiling, accepting Conrad’s words, pressing no further. He turned and started an easy jog, meant to warm muscle. Conrad watched a moment as Yuuri ran toward the rising sun, his lithe form silhouetted against the shell-pink sky. Conrad could almost imagine it was Julia that ran ahead, fearless, turning to wave at him, calling him.
"Conrad!"
"Yes, your majes... Yuuri!"
Yuuri was fast, a natural runner, but Conrad had a longer stride. Running now at his king's shoulder, he thought again of Yuuri's smile, his laugh, his manner. Like Julia and at the same time, not.
But perhaps it was exactly that - something unseen, untouched, pure and shining - Julia's soul and now Yuuri's - their soul that Conrad found familiar, recognized and loved. Something he would protect and watch over.
Now.
And forever.
Characters/Pairings: Yuuri, Conrad, Julia (mentioned)
Word Count: 623
Rating: G
Warnings: none save excessive sentiment
Theme/Prompt being used: Conrad, Yuuri, Julia: Unseen, suggested by poisonangel7
Note to moderator: I am a new member to the community and this is my first posting (actually my first ever KKM fic). Please forgive me if I have done something incorrectly. I promise to do better next time!
Unseen
Sometimes when the light was just so, the sun rising over the distant mist veiled hills, Conrad thought that he could see something of Julia in Yuuri. Watching his youthful king stretch long limbs before their morning run, his face bright and excited as a child's as he waved to the kotsuhizoku flying overhead, Conrad decided he might be hard pressed to say exactly what it was...
Yuuri’s smile?
Conrad considered this as Yuuri's expression turned inward and gentle, the king leaning down to touch several blooming flowers in the royal garden: "Beautiful Wolfram" and "Conrad-Stands-upon-the-Earth." Just so had Julia loved these same soft scents and touches, hers the same enchanted smile.
The newest, the delicate blossom his lady mother had named "Filled with Yuuri's Naiveté" was still tightly budded, waiting for the warmth of the mid-day sun. Dew still clung to its leaves like jewels. Yuuri touched this too and tasted it from his finger.
And sighed.
Conrad immediately moved to his side.
"Majesty?"
The boy shook his head as if shaking off cobweb dreams and turned to cast a rueful look on Conrad, tempered by easy humor. "Conrad. How many times now?"
Conrad nodded, properly chastised. "Yuuri."
“You are, after all, the one who named me.” His king smiled again and this time it was Yuuri that lent his whole regard to the king's knight, his look as sharp as the sword at Conrad's side.
"I don’t have much time this morning,” he explained. “Gwendal wants me to go over village tax records and grain tables before court. And that’s if Günter doesn't find me first."
"Let me guess," Conrad ventured. "Lord von Christ wishes to review the greetings protocol for the ambassadors from Facelina." The half-demon, half-elemental people were expected to attend court that afternoon. Conrad itched his right ear while pulling on his left then awkwardly rotated his hips in an exaggerated clockwise movement. It was a poor imitation of the elaborate ritual necessary to avoid insult of a strong yet temperamental ally.
Yuuri laughed.
Conrad smiled, reminded again of Julia. And while Yuuri's grinning chuckle was nothing like Julia's musical expression of delight, there was a similarity in the way that both fully gave themselves to the moment, thoughtless of self, without reservation.
Just as they did everything.
Until there was nothing left to give.
"Conrad?" Yuuri's warm hand was on his arm, his eyes worriedly searching Conrad's face.
Conrad recalled once more the promise made to Shibuya Shoma, Yuuri’s father: to keep that part of him, his long, sad history, hidden away from Yuuri. He relaxed his own hand, discovering that his dark thoughts led him unknowingly to take hold of the hilt of his sword.
He turned a smiling face to his king.
"Perhaps we should start then," he said, nodding toward the open road that led from the castle, their favorite path for their morning run.
The king nodded, truly smiling, accepting Conrad’s words, pressing no further. He turned and started an easy jog, meant to warm muscle. Conrad watched a moment as Yuuri ran toward the rising sun, his lithe form silhouetted against the shell-pink sky. Conrad could almost imagine it was Julia that ran ahead, fearless, turning to wave at him, calling him.
"Conrad!"
"Yes, your majes... Yuuri!"
Yuuri was fast, a natural runner, but Conrad had a longer stride. Running now at his king's shoulder, he thought again of Yuuri's smile, his laugh, his manner. Like Julia and at the same time, not.
But perhaps it was exactly that - something unseen, untouched, pure and shining - Julia's soul and now Yuuri's - their soul that Conrad found familiar, recognized and loved. Something he would protect and watch over.
Now.
And forever.