Disclaimer: I do not own Kyo Kara Maou.

This is for rowen raven who asked for a story with Murata and for Colette who was uneasy about the ending for Live to Die. Take the two reviews, shake and here is the sequel. Enjoy!

Dying to Live

Murata had been on a mission for the last few months. The mission was simple really. While Yuuri's rape had not stopped him from moving on, it had effectively put Murata's life on hold. Murata became obsessed with finding Yuuri's rapist. Every thing in Murata's world had died away in pursuit of this defiler of Yuuri's body. Murata's cerebral outlook was in complete disarray at how Yuuri could move on.

Yuuri's wedding to Wolfram had not distracted Murata from his goal at all. He had gone as far as to ask Yuuri for the rapist's name but with horrible results. Murata's pride had taken a considerable beating after that misadventure. Murata's hair had not curled the same since Wolfram burned it. This had put Murata into a bit of quandary. He knew he would not be able to continue on his existence without closure and giving up was not his style.

This is how Murata Ken found himself following Yuuri's footsteps. Murata transferred to Yuuri's school and took the same classes. Murata even joined the exact same curricular activities. Even though Murata was embarrassed to admit that he did not have the talent to be on the baseball team, he was fully capable of being their manager/lackey. The coach had drolly told him that students did not make the team just because of their looks but their abilities. His abilities put him firmly on the managerial side of the sport.

Murata felt comfortable with the coach instantly and liked the brusque and calm way he handled things. Murata felt that the coach provided a certain level of ease to all his troubles. Murata and most of the players felt the coach was their best friend and a father figure of sorts. Murata felt more than a little admiration for the logical approach the coach demonstrated and often stayed after to help the coach with strategy.

Murata found himself spending more and more time in the coach's company. Now that Yuuri did not need to return to earth anymore, Murata had no one to interact with on many levels. Learning all he could about the sport of baseball appealed to his love of knowledge. Even though he was loathing admitting it, he was developing a small crush. Trying to become as indispensable to the coach as possible, gave him a purpose. If he went back to Shin Makoku, he would have a purpose but having to see Yuuri and remember his failure just hurt him. Murata was dying to live again and feel.

So on Earth Murata stayed; unaware that Yuuri was becoming more uneasy with Murata's seemingly innocuous presence on earth. After a conversation with Franc, Yuuri was sure that he had a slight understanding of how Murata was feeling but did not understand the feelings behind it. The only thing Yuuri truly cared about was that Murata was safe. As long as he stayed away from baseball, he would be fine. Yuuri had laughed at the thought of Murata attempting to play baseball or taking an interest. This however did not stop Yuuri from going to the trouble of contacting the Maou King on Earth, Bob, to ask him to keep an eye on Murata.

Shori got the assignment from Bob and would rather have pulled out his fingernails than watch Murata, but like the good heir apparent, he did it. Shori rolled his eyes as he watched Murata run around with a water bottle on the baseball field. It was obvious to him that Murata was trying to get the coach's attention. Shori had played that game when he had been younger and found that it only served to amuse the other party. Shori took note of the coach's appearance frowning at a spot on the coach's skin that looked out of place before his attention was drawn away.

"It's bad enough he is wearing those tight baseball pants." Shori mumbled as he sat behind the wheel of his car and observed the practice. "I did not just think he looked good." Shori slapped himself as Murata bent over to pick up something. "Okay I am not the only one staring."

Half of the baseball team was watching their manager run around picking up stray balls. The team was supposed to be in a huddle but in fact, most players positioned themselves to keep an eye on the much smaller boy's figure as he moved. Breathless, Murata finally finished his task and approached the huddle. The team yelled, hollered, and cheered finally ending with a group high five. The players happily dispersed from the field leaving the coach and Murata to finish clearing the field. Shori slid down in his seat and hated his job. Who knew a future Maou would have to learn how to follow people.

Murata was genuinely happy. Vaguely Murata remembered having felt happy at the beginning of his journey with Yuri to become an able leader. The Great Sage was a heavy burden that Murata carried in Shin Makaku. To the baseball team he was not the Great Sage, he was merely Murata Ken, the favored massager and water boy. Finishing the baseball field clean up he helped the coach lock away the equipment in its shed.

"Murata are you still going to come over to my house tomorrow and help me clean up for the boys coming over?" Coach Hisao inquired.

"Sure thing coach." Murata responded blushing as the coach laid a hand on his lower back in a friendly matter.

"I can even show you those exercises that will tighten you up some." Hisao continued giving Murata a pat on the backside before he continued on to the locker room.

Murata left behind flustered and slightly indecisive thought. "Technically, I am helping him clean so should I wear something provocative like I want something to happen or play coy by wearing something regular." Murata mused before yanking on his hair. "It's so hard being the pursuer." Marching into the locker room, he failed to notice Shori's presence now leaning against one of the gates. Shori was fuming.

"That guy is old enough to be his father." Shori scoffed kicking the gravel. "I bet Hisao isn't even his real name." Shori refused to examine his feelings of agitation over Murata, who never said his name but instead called him Yuuri's brother.

Shori stopped his kicking when a thought struck him. He had noticed the coach's skin seemed a little different. More the way a demon's skin would look than a human skin. Shori went back to his car and pulled out his computer. Quickly linking to Bob's database, he went looking for Hisao. Finding no matches for that name, he started to scan pictures of all the demons living on Earth and knew that he was in for a long night.

For future references, Hisao means long-lived man. You will get the reference shortly if you were paying attention in the first story. That is the only hint you are getting from me.