For The Love Of Yuri

(For Erika) The Spot Where You Left

You left me here unable to say anything about the feelings I've been concealing. So until waiting is finally over and done, you'll still see me in this spot where you left me...

xxxxxx

Erika could only smile sadly at the sight of her brother finally reuniting with Wolfram after all the hardship that both had to go through just to be together again. Of course, she never thought that she'd be the instrument for that to happen.

"You're suppose to be happy for them. And yet, you look at them like you've lost something."

She knew that voice, but she could only show a sad smile for that. "I am happy for them. I mean, it's about time they let each other know their true feelings. Their love is one thing this kingdom needs to finally move on from the last war."

"But what about you?" Conrad couldn't help asking as he continued looking at the young woman still eyeing her happy brother. He noted something in her eyes ever since she entered the castle together with Yuri.

That question made her face Conrad who was looking at her intently. It was no surprise that it took her aback, though. Wait a minute. Why was he looking at her like that?

Not long after, the question fully registered in her mind and made her face the spot where she could see Wolfram and Yuri. "I don't have anymore right to find something selfishly for myself. All I could do right now is to help my brother rule our kingdom now that he decided to do it."

Conrad responded to that with a sigh. This girl could truly be stubborn when she wanted to. Just like Yuri.

"But have you ever reconsider? That perhaps, it's about time you forget about him and finally move on?"

But she didn't answer his question at all. She remained looking at the sun setting on the horizon with a sigh. To be honest, only a few people knew that this had been a daily habit of hers over the past year.

And at the moment, she had no intention of changing it. Not when she finally found a way to let go without actually hurting herself once again.

Once again, Conrad called for her attention that she chose not to ignore this time.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing to yourself right now?"

She nodded with a sad smile and looked out to the horizon once more. "I know. But as long as I'm not hurting myself anymore, I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"That's not the issue here."

"I know what you wanted to tell me. But it's my fault that I'm suffering like this. I'm regretting now because I never get to tell him how I really feel when he disappeared like that. You know, I keep on wondering what could've happen if I did that. Do you think he'll stay?"

At that point, Conrad chose not to say anything which she understood. No one knew the answer to that question, anyway. Only he knew the answer.

"I'll go back and face my brother again once I'm done here. You don't have to keep calling out for me like this."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded and smiled gratefully this time. "Yes."

She could see the hesitation in his eyes before turning around to leave her there. Nevertheless, she could only remain smiling gratefully towards him for abiding to her simple wish.

Perhaps it was foolish of her to stay like that and kept waiting for something that she was quite sure would never return to her side. To her life.

Even still...

"Why am I still waiting for you?" It was the question that never left her head all this time. A question that even though her heart had bravely answered, a part of her started to doubt that it truly had been the real reason she sought for.

Though perhaps one day, there would be one thing that might provide her what she needed. No matter what form it assume, she'd be the one to decide whether or not it was the answer that eluded her.

But at the moment, looking at the horizon was the balm she needed to soothe her aching and longing heart.

For now, she knew she could live with that.

xxxxxx

"Is there something wrong, Yuri?"

That question snapped the young king-to-be from his musings and faced the one who asked that question. It was only then that he realized he was still with Wolfram. The blond prince was now looking at him with worries.

"I'm sorry. There's nothing wrong. I just... couldn't help thinking about something."

"It seems to me you're getting too worried for Erika," Wolfram couldn't help commenting upon finally realizing the reason why Yuri suddenly stared at his sister looking almost aimlessly at the horizon.

But he, too, found it quite worrying to see the Castalian princess like that. This wasn't the Erika Shibuya he somehow knew.

"Well, she did a lot for me as my sister. I have every right to feel worried for her like this. But I also don't want her to know that I feel that way or she would throw a fit for doing that."

"Do you even have any idea why she was doing that?" Once again, Wolfram looked at the spot where he saw Erika. He frowned, however, at the sight of Conrad talking to the princess. Even from his position, he could tell that the conversation was something serious.

Yuri sighed and it took him a few moments before deciding to answer Wolfram's question. "The man she loved before... disappeared all of a sudden. Her biggest regret until now was that she never got to tell him her feelings that she had always kept in her heart. And from what Murata told me, that man... died just recently."

No doubt that the blond prince was surprised to hear that. He stared at the somber-looking Yuri with eyes opened wide. "Does she... know about it?"

Yuri shook his head litlessly, expressing his disappointment and the sadness he couldn't help feeling for his sister who still doesn't know that waiting was already futile.

"Is there anything we can do for her? I mean... I still owe her a lot for helping us all this way to make this happen. If it wasn't for her, I think I would've remained mulling over the things I should've done and the wrong things I thought about the two of you."

Of course, those words had not only surprised Yuri to an extent , but had also filled his heart with warmth. He never realized that this day would even come that Wolfram would ever think of doing something for Erika.

"Thank you, Wolfram. I really appreciate it that you're going to do this for her. But right now..." Yuri paused and eyed the sunset with a sigh. "I couldn't think of anything that could help her. I'm at a lost right now, if I have to be honest."

"Then let's think of a way together. You and your sister will stay here for a few more days before heading back to Castalia, right? Let's do something for her while you guys are still here," Wolfram suggested.

With all that, the only thing Yuri could do was to smile. Perhaps it was about time that he repay his sister for all the help she had done for him all this time.