Author's note: This was previously the story 'Surviving Till Shin Makoku' but I couldn't sleep so I spent 12am to 3am brainstorming. And I've decided to turn this into a trilogy. Due the fact that chapter one is so long, I decided to separate it into 2 or maybe 3 (yes it's that long) diff uploads. The bottom a/n will appear after the chapter is finish (as it should be).

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Kyou Kara Maou or its characters. But the OC and Plot are mine… xD sliver lining…

Chapter 1

A dainty little girl, looking no more than six years old, stood alone in a beautiful garden where flowers of every color you could imagine could be seen. Butterflies danced from flower to flower as bees sang. Morning dew clung to the petals of the flowers.

Her frilly violet dress swayed lightly in the warm morning breeze as she strolled through the efflorescing blossoms. As a particularly strong breeze blew, she reached up to try to hold her shoulder length hair in place.

"Ysabel!"

The girl turned at the sound of her name. Immediately, her face lit up and a warm smile spread across her bow-like lips.

"Ysabel!" a little boy called out as he ran to where she stood. His age seemed to be akin with hers as well. His attire was brown, matching the color of his short hair. In his fist, he clutched a small pink box.

The girl giggled, then raised her hand up and waved. "Conrad!"

"Surprise!" he said as he offered the pink box with out-stretched hands. "Happy 12th Birthday."

Black eyes regarded brown ones as Ysabel accepted the gift. She lifted the cap of the gift box and when she saw what resided within, she was on seventh heaven. She gasped and said, "Thank you, Conrad, it's so beautiful!"

Conrad plucked the pendant out of the box. Then, out of his pocket, he took out a length of black ribbon. After attaching the string to the pendant, he motioned for her to turn around. She did so and Conrad tied the necklace in place.

"Now the ribbon matches your hair and eyes," he said with a certain amount of glee. Ysabel turned back to face his childhood friend. "Thank you," she said again as she fingered the pewter pendent.

All of a sudden, her mood changed as she grabbed Conrad's wrist with her tiny hand and ran towards the castle. "Come on, let's go see Lord Weller and Her Majesty."

Conrad raised his eyebrow as he kept up with her no problem. Not looking back, she added, "Then we can show off my new necklace to everyone."

They both laughed openly, all the time under the watchful eyes of a grey haired youth.

That night, the stars winked endlessly as a pair of children sat by a fountain. A brown stallion and a grey mare stood not five feet away.

The moon cast a blanket of its silvery glow on those below. A girl and a boy sat closely together as they pointed at the night sky. Then, suddenly, a flash of white shot across the stars. The children gasped. "A shooting star!" Ysabel exclaimed. "Now, we get to make a promise that will last forever."

Conrad and Ysabel thought for awhile, Ysabel said, "I know." She hoped onto the feet and turned her gaze upwards once more. "Let's make a promise," she started. "That we'll always be inseparable best friends."

Conrad came to stand beside her. As he too looked up, he added, "forever. Promise?"

Ysabel gave an enthusiastic nod. "Promise," she agreed.

After an hour or so, Conrad broke the silence. "We better get back," he said. "Our parents would get worried if we disappeared for too long a time."

Ysabel smiled. "You mean like your 12th birthday?" she mused innocently.

Conrad face spilt into a grin. "That was two years ago."

Ysabel slid down from the fountain with Conrad's help. "Doesn't mean it didn't happen," she teased. "Anyway, I'm not afraid. If I'm in any trouble, my knight will come."

Conrad was mildly shocked from the last statement and when he found his voice again, he nodded and confirmed, "Yeah."

Then, as Ysabel was about to mount her mare, there was a rustle in the bushes. Six black-clad men stepped out into the open, swords in hand.

Conrad drew his own sword and urged Ysabel behind him. "Ysabel, make a run for it." It wasn't Conrad who said that though. Both children turned to see a grey haired youth drawing out his sword beside them.

"Gwendal," both children muttered.

"Go!" Gwendal said as the six men advanced.

Ysabel mounted her mare like a master and gave the reins a quick whip and with a neigh, her mare started off at a gallop.

"You should run too," Gwendal said to younger brother as they both engaged the intruders.

Before Conrad could reply, a scream diverted their attention. A seventh intruder landed right in front of the fleeing girl. Frightened, Ysabel's horse neighed and threw her off her saddle. The seventh intruder encircled his arms around Ysabel's waist and began to run out the main gates where seven black horses stood waiting.

"Their after Ysabel!" Both lads cried.

"You go, I'll hold these off," Gwendal said.

Quick as a flash, Conrad mounted to pursuit the fleeing enemy. The gods smiled down upon them as Lord Weller and Lady von Spitzweg came out looking for their offsprings. As Conrad raced past them, he shouted, "Mother, Father, help!"

Conrad then returned his focus to chasing down the kidnapper. Behind him, he could hear his mother calling out to him and his father running to what he supposed was Ysabel's mare.

Conrad slowly closed the gap between him and the kidnapper. At the end of the road, were a gorge and then a sharp turn. If they kept up at this speed, they wouldn't be able the make the turn in time, Conrad knew. He fervently hoped that the kidnapper knew that as well.

"There it is," Conrad said under his breath as the gorge came into view. The enemy wasn't slowing and Conrad panicked. So, he unsheathed his sword and did the only thing he could think of: he pulled his sword passed his ear and threw it like a javelin.

He knew his aim was true when it hit the ground in front of the escaping enemy. It spooked the horse enough, but to Conrad's horror, it threw its rider and captive off the side of the gorge.

Then, Conrad seemed to fly right out of his saddle and seized Ysabel's wrist as they both fell towards the raging river below. Using his free right hand, he desperately tried to grab a hold of something solid. Finally, their descend stopped abruptly when Conrad took hold of a branch.

"I've got you," he said to the fearful little girl he held.

At that moment, the branch cracked and both children clung on for dear life. Conrad looked up at the side of the gorge, there was no way he could get both of them up. Their only hope was that someone would come and rescue them. He tried to put on a brave grin as he looked down at Ysabel but failed.

There was another crack of the branch. Unable to hold it in, Ysabel cried out. "The branch won't hold both of us!"

"Yes, it will!" Conrad shouted down. His joints felt afire and it was as if they were being pulled from their sockets, but he wouldn't let go.

Another crack answered Conrad. "We're going to fall!" Ysabel shouted.

"Then we'll fall together, as inseparable friends—forever. Remember?" Conrad managed to say as he strained to keep hold of his grip. He felt tears threatening to fall but he knew it wasn't because of the pain.

Ysabel shook her head. "Live…live for me." Conrad looked down at his childhood friend. His hair was now wet from perspiration.

"And Conrad?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for coming to my rescue. You really are my knight." She smiled. Tears ran freely down both of their cheeks. Then, she released her grasp on Conrad's wrist.

Perspiration made it difficult to keep hold and despite Conrad's best efforts, Ysabel's hand slipped out of his own.

"No!"

He watched in horror as his close friend and companion fell to her death. He hung on… he hung on… for what seemed an eternity, he hung on.

He didn't even feel his body being lifted up by his father's strong arms. Without a word, he buried himself into his mother's embrace and he continued to cry.

Then, the sky cried, everyone mourned.

Her alarm sounded. She flipped open her phone which ceased the ringing.

Sarah sat up in her bed. She was drenched in perspiration again. Ever since entering the week before her twenty-first birthday, she started having strange dreams. The dreams were always different but they all included the little boy and girl. She had to admit, the girl did look like a miniature her but she was quite certain she had never seen the boy in her life.

The pewter pendent… Sarah looked down and on her neck, was the exact same oval necklace the little boy gave the girl. The design was of a phoenix that looked like it was rising out of flames except that the flames were absent and flowers overlapped each other to form a border.

Sarah got out of bed and went into the shower. Turning on the water, she thought about her first dream.

Ysabel was sitting between two older people in a carriage.

"Where are we going, father?"

A man with a gentle face turned over to her and said, "To the capital of Shin Makoku and then to Blood Pledge Castle to present ourselves to the Maou."

"Why?"

Ysabel's mother cut in and said, "Why? To show off our beautiful daughter, that's why." She nuzzled her daughter.

Ysabel giggled.

Her father looked at his daughter and smiled fondly. "My, how much you've grown since we last came to New Makoku."

Ysabel cocked her head and asked, "I've been there before?"

"Of course, six years ago, for the Newborn's Ceremony."

"Newborn's Ceremony? Is that why we're here this time too?"

"Actually, yes, as one of the ten Aristocrats, we have to. It was inconvenient to travel with a baby, so your mother and I requested that we stopped going until you were fit for travel."

"And now, everyone's anxious to see how much you've grown," her mother added.

"Then, I'm excited to meet everyone too," Ysabel said happily. "How long before we get there?"

He motioned with his hand to the window. "Look out the window, we're here."

Ysabel's father stood to her left and her mother at her left. Hand in hand, they approached the throne room. The herald at the door announced their arrival and a pair of guards opened the large double doors to bid them entry.

They walked in, proud as any noble. Inside, stood nine families, four to the right and an equal number to the left. In the middle, a woman dressed in black with blond curls sat on a throne. A man, in Ysabel's opinion, stood in an oversize cloak on her left. A teenager with grey hair, a little boy about Ysabel's age and a grown brown haired man stood to her right.

Gasps could be heard from servants and nobles alike as well as excited chatter as Ysabel and her parents walked down the long red carpet. When they finally came to stand in front of Her Majesty Cecilie von Spitzweg, Ysabel's father gave a deep bow while she and her mother curtsied effortlessly.

"It's been quite some time since you last visited, Lord Charles," Celi said formally. "We weren't even sure if you would come this year."

"My sincerest apologies, your majesty," Charles said with a grin. "May I have the pleasure introduce my lovely wife, Robyn and my daughter, Ysabel."

"It's good to finally see you again, Robby," Celi said, all form of formality gone.

Ysabel's sweatdrop. Lady Robyn laughed and said, "And for a second there, I thought your brother had finally taught you to at least be formal in court."

Stoffel shook his head dramatically, "Afraid not, Lady."

"You have blessed us all," Dan Hiri cut in. "It's also been awhile since a double black walked among our number." At this, everyone smile.

……

Later that day, Ysabel found herself in the garden again. As she absently walked through the flora, she bumped into someone and with a tiny 'oof', she landed on her backside.

Then, she saw a hand offering to help her up, her gaze followed until she saw his face. It was the young boy who stood beside the maou earlier that day.

"I'm sorry," he started. "Didn't see you there. You're Ysabel, aren't you?"

She nodded. "I'm Conrad," the boy continued as Ysabel took his hand. He heaved her to her feet. "Thank you," Ysabel smiled. After a pause, she fondly added, "Conrad."

Stepping out of the shower, Sarah wrapped herself in a towel. Opening her wardrobe, she thought of the second dream she had.

A year later, Ysabel gathered up the seem of her dress as ran down the corridors of her home and then down several flights of stairs.

Near the main doors, she saw her parents going out the main doors of the castle. Lord Charles held the door open for her and motioned for her to hurry. She was immediately off at a sprint.

Her parents walked calmly across the courtyard to their carriage to where a page waited patiently for his masters to board, but everything was just too painfully slow for Ysabel's taste. She practically pushed her parents into the carriage and jumped in after.

"Whoa there, my dear, aren't you full of energy today?" Lord Charles asked but the only reply he received was a mysterious smile from his daughter.

"Are we there yet?" Ysabel asked as she stuck her head out the window.

Lord Charles flashed a pleading look in his wife's direction. She merely smiled and said, "For the eleventh time in the last hour, no, dear."

Five minutes later, Ysabel tugged on her father's sleeve. "Are you sure we're not there yet?"

Charles smiled at his daughter. "Yes, dear, because we're here. And we can't be here and there at the same time now can we?"

Ysabel blinked. Robyn blinked. And for the first time in three hours, silence and tranquility graced the carriage. Charles let out a long sigh of relief as he sank further down into his seat.

The carriage screeched to a halt. Dust cloud flew as the driver pulled the reins of the horses, causing them to neigh. Lord Charles' face lit up as he announced, "We're here."

Ysabel immediately broke out of her trance and squealed in delight. The driver barely got clear of the door in time when Ysabel burst out of the carriage and rushed off and rounded the corner of the castle.

Robyn pulled he husband off to one side. Hands on her hips, she said, "That's wasn't very nice."

Ysabel stood on her tipped toes and used the hedge as support. She searched high and low the garden, but she couldn't find him.

Finally, she fell back on plan B. She walked up to the nearest person and tugged on his sleeve. When the soldier on duty looked down, she said, "Have you seen Conrad?"

The guard knelt down and said, "Last I heard, he was over at the stables. Do you want me to take you there?"

"That's okay, you don't have to," Ysabel shouted over her shoulder.

Ysabel found the stabling yards soon enough. She raced past people and occasionally stopped to respond to their greetings and receive pats on the head. Soon after, she found herself standing in the main stables.

She slowly walked deeper into the building. Near the end of the structure, she saw a young boy stroking a brown horse. She approached him.

She shyly tapped his shoulder. The youths exchanged smiles and Conrad said, "This is my horse."

"Really?" Ysabel gasped. "I haven't ridden one yet."

Conrad's face spilt into a grin as he held up a saddle. "You want to try?"

In no time at all, Ysabel was up in the saddle.

"That's right, just hold on tight to the reins," Conrad instructed. He led his horse by the bridle in small circles in the stable.

All of a sudden, Conrad's horse stopped in its tracks. A bumble bee had landed on its nose! The horse, spooked, tried to shake the bee off, which only resulted in getting stung.

Ysabel was thrown out of the saddle, but because she was holding the reins, she slipped down and landed beside the now bucking horse. Ysabel lay scared stiff on her back. She jammed her eyes closed as hard as she could and her hand shot up to cover her face, expecting the horse to run over her.

Ysabel opened her eyes in surprise when her body did not feel the expected force. Conrad was on all fours above her, using himself as a shield. "Conrad…"

Quickly, Conrad's right arm encircled her waist and half-carried half-dragged Ysabel away from the horse.

The horse had calmed by the time both children reached the far wall. Conrad leaned Ysabel against the wall and knelt before her. "Are you hurt?" he asked.

"I'm fine, but your shoulder…"

Conrad moved his right hand to his left shoulder. "It's nothing. Luckily," Conrad smiled as he continued. "It wasn't a direct hit."

Ysabel scooted over to see Conrad's wound. "Let me see that."

A gasp of pain escaped his lips when Ysabel applied only slight pressure on his left shoulder. "I think it's broken…" Ysabel said quietly. Her eyes were shining… It was all her fault… If she hadn't come looking for him…

As if reading her thoughts, Conrad smiled and said, "I'm glad you came,"

Tears were rolling down her cheeks, and suddenly, he felt warmth spread slowly through his shoulder. A green ball of light had erupted from Ysabel's palm, then after awhile, it slowly dimmed.

Conrad moved his shoulder around a few times, apart from being a bit stiff, it was as good as new. "It's completely healed, how did you do that?"

"Father says one is able to use Majutsu when one has the great desire to protect something," Ysabel replied.

Baffled by the reply, Conrad stood up and said, "Come on, we better get back to the ceremony."

Sarah pulled her blouse over her head. After thinking through dreams one and two, she still couldn't figure out what they meant or why she was having them. Maybe dream three would clear the fog a bit…

Ysabel sat down on the floor, watching Lord Weller and Conrad pressing attacks, exchanging parries and occasionally, dodges.

The Newborn's Ceremony had dragged on that morning, not that it wasn't interesting, they were pretty lights and everything, but Ysabel could practically recite everything Ulrike said from top to bottom.

After the ceremony was done, her parents had gone to see the maou, leaving her outside to play.

"Ysabel." Dan Hiri brought her out of her thoughts. He held out the hilt of one of the many training swords which were lying on the floor. "What do you say?"

Ysabel looked up and gave an unsure nod. She got onto her feet and brushed the back of her dress. Taking the hilt of the sword, she came to stand opposite Conrad. The sword, though light by all standards, felt heavy in her hand. "This one's a lot heavier than the one father got me," she noted aloud.

"Oh?" Dan Hiri looked genuinely surprised. "Charles taught you to handle a sword already? You're only eight."

Ysabel merely shrugged. She tightened her grip on the hilt and spread her weight equally between both legs.

"Now, let's take it slow," Dan Hiri started.

The children exchanged light blows while Dan Hiri coached and commented at the sidelines.

Their swords clashed together, each of them strained to keep their swords from falling to the other's force. Each took a step closer to each other so they might better their hold. Suddenly, Ysabel leaned in and brushed her lips lightly against Conrad's cheek.

Conrad, stunned at the unexpected course of action, failed to keep pressure on his sword. Ceasing the opportunity, Ysabel flicked her wrist and twisted the sword out of Conrad's hand, successfully disarming him and before anyone could fully processed what had happened, Ysabel held the tip of her sword inches away from Conrad's throat.

Ysabel was breathing hard. Then, her mood lightened. "I won!" she cried happily. "How was that, Lord Weller?" She looked over in Dan Hiri's direction.

Dan Hiri had an eye brow raised and his eyes were a little wide. "That," Dan Hiri began. "Was an interesting move."

"Oh that," Ysabel said sheepishly. "That's my secret move. I call it 'Camarade's Angel'. Like it?"

"It was…" Dan Hiri was at a lost for words.

"Effective," Conrad finished, sheathing his sword. All three of them laughed.