AN: First of all, I own neither Kyo Kara Maoh nor Valdemar. They both belong to the respective geniuses that created them. Secondly, this story has been bubbling in the back of my brain for a while and I figured it was time to let it see the light of day. It will be slow going because quite frankly I have no idea where I'm going with it, I just hope that it takes me somewhere wonderful. I hope you guys enjoy it! ~Neko-chibi

Lost

Prologue

Yuri Shibuya watched as his adopted daughter carefully instructed the palace maids which things to pack. At nearly thirty-two he could have easily passed for her younger brother instead of her father. She's getting old. He thought sadly to himself as she organized the three maids. In ten years people will think she's my mother instead of my sister.

"Silver for your thoughts, Love?" A familiar voice whispered in his ear. He turned to look at the blonde who had spoken. At 102 his full demon consort looked barely a year older than Yuri's own appearance of nineteen.

"Greta's human." The double black said as he waved for the blonde to follow him away from the room where the young woman could overhear them.

Wolfram frowned at him. "You knew that when you adopted her." He said softly.

The Maoh of the Demon Tribe shook his head with obvious melancholy. "I was fifteen when adopted Greta. I wasn't thinking that she was human; that she would age like a human. She's grown." He sighed. "She's a wife with a husband and a child. It isn't fair."

"She loves her life." The prince consort protested.

"But it isn't fair." The black haired ruler shook his head. "It's not fair that Linfred will bury her while he's still young, or that little Arvin will outlive his own mother by at least 200 years."

"Stop." Wolfram said holding up his hand. "Is this about Greta, or Jennifer?"

Yuri looked at the blonde who had come to know him so well. "Mom's turning fifty-seven next week." He said softly. "Last time I visited someone asked if I was her grandson."

"Oh." He was quiet for several moments. "Yuri, I can't change how time flows. No one can, not even you."

Before he could respond one of the maids from Greta's room came running, calling for them. "Oh, Majesty! Come quickly!" She crowed. "It's Lord Arvin! Hurry!"

Both men exploded into motion, running back the way they had come. At the two stumbled to a halt outside of their daughter's room they found her dancing around the room with the infant in her arms. "He spoke!" She exalted when she caught sight of them at her door. "He said 'Yuri', Papa!"

"What?" The dark king blinked.

"He said your name!" She laughed, moving to hug him. "Arvin's first word was 'Yuri'!"

"Oo-ee!" The baby burbled pointing to his grandfather with one chubby arm.

Yuri held out his arms for the child, his face beaming like Christmas. "Arvin, that's right. Yuri." He laughed.

Greta smiled wryly, looking at her parents. "Let's hope no one tells Linfred. He's trying to get Arvin to say 'Papa' for months."

Yuri laughed as the child babbled his name again. "I'm glad he said it before you left." He said making silly faces for the infant's benefit. "Imagine if he'd said it while the three of you were in Cavalcade! "

"Both kingdoms would have ceased to function until Yuri made it to Cavalcade." Wolfram teased his mate, glad that his dour mood had disappeared in the face of their grandson.

"Let's just hope he says 'Papa' next." Greta laughed joyfully.

The next day saw Greta and her small family aboard the Silver Lady, a ship reserved for the Demon's Maoh and his immediate family. The great ship had been a gift for the tribe from Greta's friends in Cavalcade, her black outline colored only by her great silver sails. She was the most recognizable ship on the ocean, making her one of the safest, for everyone knew that to attack the Maoh would bring no less than four kingdoms warring after you.

The Maoh, his consort, and his court all watched as the small family departed taking the heir to the throne for his first visit to their allies. It was a happy send off without a single mishap, a promising start to the long trip…

Three weeks after the departure, Yuri sat in his office carefully going over trade agreements with one of their less than willing allies when a soft knock interrupted his concentration. "Come in." He said, looking up as he set the document aside.

The tall pale man who entered kept his head down, carefully closing the door behind him with a soft 'snick'. For several heartbeats he stood with his back to his king, his shoulders bowed as he hunched in on himself.

"Günter?" Yuri frowned. The man was proud, rarely bowing in on himself like this. "Günter, what's wrong?"

"We've received word from Cimeron." The mas said heavily. "The Silver Lady has gone down."

"What? How?" The Maoh exhaled, his face draining of color. "How?"

"Lady Beatrice started looking when the ship didn't arrive on schedule. Cimeron confessed to finding the wreckage. They thought you were on board." The tall demon choked. "They claim the ship was attacked by pirates… they haven't found any survivors yet."

"Have they found... their bodies yet?" Yuri asked dreading the answer.

Günter shook his head fighting his emotions. "Linfred, Greta, and Arvin were thrown overboard in the attack." He whispered. "The pirates confessed to killing them." Yuri collapsed back into his chair. "I'm sorry, Majesty. Gwendal has informed Lady Ulrikё to search for Linfred and Arvin's souls. I wish… Greta was human, sire. I wish we could retrieve her soul for you as well…"

"Yes." The king muttered. "Has Wolfram been told yet?"

"Not yet, Sire." Günter shook his head. "We knew you would want to be the first to know."

"Thank you." He said apathetically. "Could you send for him? I… We need to be alone."

"Yes, Sire." Günter nodded.

"Günter." Yuri called softly as his old friend moved to leave. "I'm sorry. Linfred was your nephew… if you need anything just ask."

"Thank you, Majesty." The tall man smiled sadly.

"And tell Conrart I was those pirates brought to Blood Pledge for judgment." Günter nodded again, then departed.

A world away, the heir to the throne of the great Shin Makoku cried at his empty stomach. "Shut the brat up!" The large man who had bought him snarled, punctuating his words with a strike to the kitchen drudge saddled with the infant.

The scrawny girl winced as the blow landed. Cooing to the baby she held her grime covered hands over his mouth. "Quiet Oohee." She shushed as gently as she knew too. "Ye gotter be quiet." The child's cries grew louder as though he knew hers would be the last kind voice he heard for a long time.

Not a month later the drudge was dead, taking with her the final kindness left in the infant prince's world.