Disclaimer : I do not own Kyou Kara Maou, in any way shape or form. No money is made from this. It is purely Fanfictional fun. Any additional characters were created for entertainment and have no ties with the real and living whatsoever.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 1

Murata… Where in the seventh layers of hell are you?! Yuri screamed in his head, panicking. He was close to tearing his hair out in distress.

Yuri Shibuya, the twenty-seventh King of Shin Makoku was having a very bad day. Actually, it started out just fine. But after that, it quickly spiraled out of control.

And it all because of his own stupidity.

He had been in practice and they were discussing team strategy for the next game. They had a productive exercise and had jokes and chats with the other baseball members. While they were talking, a topic was brought up, and that is where the problem starts. Thanks to his lack of convincing respond, he had landed himself in a predicament. Big time.

Yuri's mood soured and darkened further when he still failed to locate The Wiseman of Double Black; his advisor and best friend. He had sent for him the moment he sat foot back in Shin Makoku. He had waited impatiently and when he didn't show, he had gone looking; searching the grounds, the library, Murata's room; he even send a messenger to the temple in case he was there, and that has been – more or less – an hour ago!

Yuri was on his way to the maid quarters to inquire there when he was waylaid by Yozak. "Your Majesty," Yozak greeted him with a grin. "Is there a problem? You seem tensed."

Yuri smiled, strained. "I'm looking for Murata. Have you seen him?"

"His Eminence is currently patrolling the town with Lord Von Belefield. He should be back later," Yozak told him.

Yuri's eyes widened and he cussed. "How come nobody told me that?" Yuri grumbled, scowling.

"Maybe because they don't know. His Eminence and Little Lord Brat didn't exactly have a retinue with them," Yozak supplied. From the way that the young King seems to be in a foul mood, Yozak wondered if he should feel sorry on whoever it is that cross him, or should he take cover?

Yuri slumped on the benched heavily, groaning exasperatedly and was covering his eyes.

"Perhaps I can be of assistant?" Yozak offered, as he leaned casually against the wall. "You seem troubled."

"I don't think you could help me, Yozak. No offense to you, of course," said Yuri rubbing his face tiredly. "I'm in need of an advice from the Wiseman himself. It's a matter related to Earth."

"It can't be that bad?" asked Yozak with his head tilted to the side, puzzled.

"I might have made it worst," Yuri told him warily.

"Why not ask Gunter or Gwendal? Maybe they can help?" Yozak pondered, looking thoughtful. When he saw Yuri's quirked eyebrow, he quickly added, "Hypothetically, of course."

"It'll be easier if they understand Earth's society better. Plus, Gwendal probably neck deep in paperwork and I don't want to add more to his trouble. With Gunter…. Well, his eccentric behavior will not help me at all and I don't want to be hug to death," said Yuri, sweat dropped.

"Then, I can only think of one person that can help you," said Yozak, smirking. "The Captain."

Yuri stiffened, his eyes widened as he stare off ahead, anxiously. Yuri sat frozen for a time before he bit his bottom lips, uneasy."I… er," Yuri cleared his throat nervously. "I'll seek him out later. After I have a word with Murata."

"Up to you, then," said Yozak, shrugging nonchalantly.

Yuri hummed, his mind occupied, then, he saw the back that Yozak was carrying. "You're heading out?"

"Just a small task," Yozak admitted.

"I see. Well, if you happen to pass by Murata, have him see me immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

. . . . . . . .

A knock sound on the door and it opened a moment after, revealing the person that Yuri has been searching.

"What's up, Shibuya?" asked Murata, closing the door behind him. "You wanted to see me?"

He had been on his way back with Wolfram when they passed by Yozak, who informed him that Yuri has been searching the whole castle for him.

Yuri was seated behind his desk, signing paperwork that he had taken over his portion from Gwendal. Yuri slowly put his pen down, folded his hands as he raised his head, staring straight at Murata.

"As a Coach of the baseball team," said Yuri seriously. "I hereby decreed that as team manager, you are not to miss or skip any meetings or practices in the future. Do you know how unruly the team was without you?" Yuri told him deadpanned.

Murata's jaw dropped."You've been turning the castle over because of that?" said Murata, shocked. "Have you any idea how antsy everybody is?"

Yuri smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

Murata sighed. He went over to the sofa and sit down, his eyebrow raised. "So what's going on with the team?" asked Murata puzzled.

"Nothing much where baseball is concern," Yuri told him warily, causing Murata's eyebrows to rise higher. "It's just… without the manager present they've become too chatty. I…. might have landed myself into trouble," Yuri shamefully admitted.

"Is it that bad that you can't get out of it on your own?" Murata teased good naturally.

Yuri stared at Murata expressionless.

Murata rolled his eyes. "Alright… what happened?" he inquired.

"Well…."

Flashback

"Guys, come on, lay off. If I do that my girlfriend would be piss at me," said one of their members, pouting. The whole team laughed at his expense and Yuri chuckled. It was common knowledge among them that that particular member adored his girlfriend. Some might say he worship the ground she walks on. They couldn't help teasing him about it though. They were hanging out once practice was over and they were talking about famous bands, musician, and artist.

"Dude, at least you have a cute, sweet girlfriend," another member bemoaned. "Some of us are not so lucky."

"Speaking of Girlfriends… Hey Coach, you got a girlfriend?" asked Lee, one of the baseball team members, and the team's catcher.

Yuri froze as all the conversation around him was silenced. He slowly looked around each member one by one and felt like a deer caught under the headlights. And by the looks of it, every member was curious.

And that caused him to have a dilemma.

Yuri vaguely remembered a conversation he had with Murata about what is acceptable in the eyes of their society, back when he was still accidently engaged to Wolfram. According to Murata, being in a relationship with another male was not widely accepted, and not openly acknowledge. Murata had advised that he doesn't flaunt it as it can be dangerous for the person involved. It's best to let it remain a secret or hush-hush since there are those in their society might not take kindly to out of the norm people. It was best if it wasn't mentioned.

Since it was a direct question, Yuri doesn't know how to divert the attention from himself. Should he lie?

"Er… yeah," said Yuri dryly. Sort off, Yuri inwardly thought to himself.

"What?!" his teammates exclaimed in shocked. They all stared at him wide eyed and jaw slacked. "Damn Coach! How come you never told us? Is she pretty? How old is she?" most of them badgered him, asking various yet same questions at the same time.

Did I say she? Yuri inwardly winced. "What… you didn't believe that I am capable of having a bo- er girlfriend?"

All of the nodded while some of them mumbled "We thought you're still too innocent to be in a relationship."

Yuri's jaw dropped at that and he frowned. "Guys, really? I feel insulted here," Can't they give him a credit?

"Who is she?" asked Lee, smirking. He leaned closer and asked conspiratorially. "Is she hot? Tell us!"

Yuri eyes narrowed and he frowned deeper. There is a look in Lee's eyes that makes him wary. The rest all nodded in agreement with Lee.

More to the point… what's he going to do?

Maybe he could…. A little white lie won't harm anyone, right? They just want her description so that should be easy enough.

Yuri cleared his throat, loosening up his shirt at the neck. He suddenly felt hot and uncomfortable.

"Oh, She's hot alright. Prettiest one I've ever seen," Yuri told them straightforward, grinning lopsidedly. What he just said didn't do his lover justice. His lover was more than words can describe. Yuri's eyes shut as he reminisced. Behind his eyelids, he saw his beloved in all his glory; the way he ride his horse, the way he wield his sword, the way he pitched a ball at him. "The way she moves, the way she does things in earnest; it never fail to make my heart flutter."

His teammates hollered and wolf whistles in excitement.

"Is she a student? How did you guys met?"

Yuri grinned and he suddenly looked smug. "Student? Oh no-no, I'll never go for little girls," Yuri paused, knowing they are getting hooked. "She's older, in her early twenties," Yuri chuckled at their gob-smacked expression.

"Older woman? You're joking!"

"Nope," said Yuri boldly. "She works with my brother. My family has close friendship with the CEO and my dad is one of the CEO's most trusted associates. We met through one of the company functions."

One of the member, Nick; one of the pitchers, whistle in awed. "Not bad, dude. Didn't know you had it in you."

Yuri eyed them all smirking proudly.

"Sounds too good to be true," Lee suddenly spoke up. His eyes had that odd glint and never once left Yuri. "I think you should introduce her to us."

Yuri paled and his heart stops, or at the very least, dropped to the pit of his stomach. He began to sweat. "Sorry…. What?" Yuri asked baffled. This could not be happening. They did not just ask that of him. It's that a breach of his personal live?

"That's… not a bad idea," said Nick looking thoughtful. "No offense, Coach. But it does sound unbelievable. Why don't you bring her over some time?"

Yuri paled further. He was beginning to feel light headed. He licked his lips, feeling them so dry and cracking. "I don't think that's possible. She's working corporate. Her job is demanding and time consuming," Yuri tried to reasoned, hoping to deter them.

Unfortunately, that didn't work.

"All the more reason. At least we can see her if she's real," said Lee, smiling. But his smile was mocking.

Yuri's eyes darkened and his face was stoic. He finds himself suddenly getting angry. His fist clenched. "It's one thing to talk about it," said Yuri coldly. "It's another if you try to force me. You do realize you're poking your head on people's business right?"

Lee's hands rise in surrender. "We just want proof, unless you're lying." Lee declared daringly.

Yuri's eyes flashes, his lip's thinned. "Sorry, guys. But I really can't make any promises. Better not get your hopes up."

End Flashback.

"… And that's that," Yuri finished his story, tiredly.

They fell into a heavy silence. Both contemplate what happen next. "Honestly, I don't see what's going on here, Shibuya," Murata voiced out softly. "You didn't promise them or anything. You could just ignore and forget all about it."

"If only it was that easy," Yuri groaned. "Murata you know these team members longer than I have. Do you really think they're going to let something this exciting slide? They might persist."

"Put it off your mind for now," Murata told Yuri, firmly. "If it comes down to it, we'll worry about it then. At least you've created an alibi. That makes it easy at least."

Yuri nodded in agreement.

"Have you talked to him about this?"

Yuri perked up at the mention of him, but his smile dropped afterward. He suddenly felt a pang in his heart. "Nope. I don't dare saying anything to him. I won't know how to explain myself."

Murata blinked in surprised. Yuri always confided his problems to Lord Weller first. "Why not?"

"What do you mean Why?" Yuri snapped. "This is all about him after all. How can I tell Conrad that I told some friends that he is a woman?"

Murata immediately raise his hands, palms outwards like surrender, sweat dropped. "Chill, Shibuya. You probably worry too much. Remember, nothing might come out of this."

Yuri's frustration abated a little.

Seeing that Yuri successfully calm down, Murata breathed a relief sigh. Suddenly, his face turned towards the window, his expression unreadable as he gazed at the far beyond. "Why do I suddenly have this feeling that Shinou is up to something?" Murata murmured.

Yuri whined loudly before he lowered his head and hit his forehead to the desk. Clearly he had heard Murata's comment. "Great…. What now?" Yuri grumbled sarcastically. If Shinou is involved, it could go either way for him. And at times, that just mean a whole lot of trouble!

Murata sweat dropped and he chuckled anxiously at Yuri's predicament. He really can't blame Shibuya for acting the way he does. Shinou can be a bit of a handful at times. "Shibuya, why don't you find Lord Weller and take him to your bed? You look like you needed a distraction."

Yuri was instantly energetic. He sits up straight so fast, his eyes shines bright and had the delirious sappy smile on his face. "Hey, you're absolutely right. It's been a while since I got him naked. No wonder I'm all tensed. He was training with the soldiers when I passed by. He should be done by now. Good idea, Murata. Thanks!" with that Yuri metaphorically fly out the room.

He completely missed Murata, who had frozen like a solid statue, jaw dropped and wide eyed at his admission.

I know he is in relationship with Lord Weller, but I didn't think he would be this brazen and admits their sexual nature out right. I don't need to know or given the mental image of their love making! Murata exclaimed dismayed.

He took his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning.

Oh, who was he kidding? There are times that he accidently walked in on them kissing passionately in a secluded corner. Yuri didn't exactly parade his relationship with Lord Weller but he knew that Yuri was courting The Captain. Being the closest to Yuri, it was hard not to know every little detail about Yuri.

But really! He could do without the knowledge of how far their relationship had advanced.

Murata groaned again, irritated. He already starts counting the days until the court buzz with happenings and excitement again.


Read and Review please.

Elvina P.