Disclaimer: I do not own KKM!

A/N: I should be updating OOM but I got inspired by this amazing fic in Code Geass so I wrote this. It has a similar base to that fic but the plot is different. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Meetings

The second time he saw the Br- Ahem Wolfram, he slapped Yuri.

Really hard.

It didn't look like he was stopping at that either when he proceeded to throw things at him.

Books.

Expensive china.

Slippers (From where did those come from?!)

Knife (Which Yuri managed to dodge only through sheer luck.)

Anything he could get his hands on really.

And after exhausting himself, he proceeded to give the dirtiest look Yuri had ever seen anyone give anybody. It was the kind of look that conveyed the urge of harming certain appendages that would prevent child birthing.

With that Wolfram pivoted on his heel and stormed out of the room.

"Well," Prince Conrart started cheerfully, with his usual gentle smile in place,"that went much better than I hoped to expect."

The gentle smile on his face was starting to creep Yuri out.

"Your highness, I… ah… don't think…"

"He must like you," Prince Conrart stated still smiling that same creepy (according to Yuri at least) smile. What made it more creepy was that there was tea dripping from his clothes (the Brat did have quite a good aim) but he didn't seem to notice.

Really. Yuri was tempted to point his finger at the knife that was sticking out of the wall behind him and ask,'If that is how he says 'I like you' I'd hate to see how he says 'I hate you'.'

But he did have more common sense than that so he kept his mouth shut.

The only thing worse than the man's puns was his ignorance.

This was not what he had set out for.

OooO

"Are you sure you want to leave Yuu-chan? You can stay here and help me take care of the shop. You will regret leaving later!"

He groaned.

Okay, so maybe he would regret it later, but he definitely wouldn't regret it in the next ten minutes and that was good enough for him right now. And even if he did regret it for the rest of his life, living with regret was better than living with his family for any longer.

Well.

They might be his family but it didn't change the fact that they were ann- difficult to live with.

Turning around, he folded his arms. "Shouri, I don't want to be a stay here anymore. I want to go and see the world myself."

Shouri frowned.

Shouri, being the eldest of the Shibuya family, had been raised, groomed, and guided to be a suitable heir capable of continuing the long, noble lineage of shopkeepers. Yuri thought that it suited his brother who could make even the most reluctant of people to buy the most expensive things in their shop.

So he really didn't think his presence was necessary here.

Running out in his usual robes, he tugged on Yuri's arm stubbornly, arguing, "What will I do without you when you're gone?"

Translation: I won't have anyone to gush over.

Yuri sighed, shrugging. "I don't know. Gush over the new assistant?"

"But… nobody else bear- I mean appreciate it like you!"

Well, that much was true.

He might have borne all of the looking down to being the real small brother but no other person would agree at being treated like a 5 year old girl. At first he had argued and thrown tantrums whenever Shouri became over bearing but by the time he was twelve he simply accepted whatever would happen to him. Now that he was eighteen he was heading out the door forever.

To Yuri, forever seemed like such a long time. So when he thought about it, he started to get second thoughts. The Shibuyas was, after all, his family- no matter how crazy and dysfunctional. But it was time for him to stop being coddled by them, he reasoned, and therefore must leave them forever.

And away from Shouri forever.

And when he thought about that, forever didn't quite seem long enough.

"There's a nice boy out there who will agree to being treated as a girl on day-to-day basis without any complaints."

Shouri pouted. "But Yuu-chan~" he whined. And then his face split in a smirk- an evil one-, as if he had just thought of the world's greatest idea.

"Mother and Father will be angry!" he threatened, folding his arms and leaning against the door.

"And that's why I'm leaving in the dead of night."

"And you think they wouldnt come searching for you tomorrow?"

"I will be too far gone by that time and I am counting on you in stopping them from doing anything stupid."

Sighing, Shouri continued to frown in dismay. "Where will you go?"

"I don't know. I hear Shin Makuko is nice this time of year."

At that Shouri's expression changed.

It was horrifying how such a grown up and normally mature man like Shouri wad able to imitate the Kicked Puppy Look so perfectly. And even if it did look funny on a man like him, it never failed to persuade Yuri.

"You won't change your mind?"

Gosh, Yuri never noticed how remarkably green that bush over there was.

"Absolutely not."

Sighing, Shouri frowned, then huffed, then folded his arms, and then he stepped forward to give him a quick hug. "Well, if I can't talk you out of it, I'll at least have to wish you good luck. Take care of yourself, Yuri."

Yuri smiled daring to look back at him."Thanks, I will. You take care of yourself too. I won't be here to take care of any problem you get yourself into."

Smiling, Shouri simply waved good-bye.

Turning on his heel, Yuri Shibuya left his home of 18 years for the road. When he reached the end of the dirt path where it forked off, he turned back to take a good look at Shibuya manor one last time. Shouri was still on the doorstep, arms folded, watching him leave forever.

Smiling to himself, Yuri decided that maybe forever wouldn't actually be forever after all.

OooO

"How much further is it?"

"Once we cross these mountains we'll be home, your highness."

He grumbled audibly. And quite loudly. "Can't these stupid horses go any faster?"

Wolfram von Bielefeld was known for many things and patience was definitely not one of them.

"The horses need to go at a steady pace or they'll tire, your highness."

Gegen Huber was also known for many things among which unworldly patience was included.

"I'm sore all over, Hube! Why did we have to go all this way to meet that stupid airhead princess anyway?"

With amazing (rather unworldly) patience, Hube gave his young charge a placating smile. "Prince Wolfram, that princess just happens to be your future wife. Please pay her the proper respect even if we're not in her company."

Wolfram glared out the window viciously. "She's an idiot. If she wants to my hand in marriage so badly she should be coming to see me."

Holding a hand over his mouth, Huber suppressed a laugh. There was a ring of truth to the prince's words.

Princess Elizabeth wasn't renowned for impressive intelligence, after all. She was known more for her beauty and grace.

"Prince Wolfram, please don't make me repeat myself."

He pouted, appropriately subdued.

"Well… she is." Folding his arms, Wolfram turned back to face Huber. "Besides, she's got a face like a stuck up—ACK!"

The prince's words were cut off as the carriage heaved, suddenly starting to shake with increased speed. The horses outside neighed and as the driver could be heard urging them on faster. Wolfram tumbled forward into Hube's waiting arms.

Setting the young man right in the seat next to him, Hube dipped his head outside the window. "Driver! What's the meaning of this?"

"My Lord! Bandits!"

OooO

The closest town to the Shibuya estate was a friendly little town and just about everyone knew who he was—the son of the shopkeepers (and owners) of Miko and Shouma Shibuya.

After walking the five miles to the town, Yuri spent the remainder of the night at the inn and was able to get a horse, sword, supplies along with some advice from an old lady-

(How do you expect to find a nice noble lady or princess to marry looking like you're homeless?)

(Well, technically, I am homeless now.)

(Yes, but she doesn't need to know that.)

—he set off mid-morning for the mountainous trails that would lead him to Shin Makuko.

He had only been to Shin Makuko once, when he was four, and that was only because his family, had been invited to the prince's birthday party. (Yuri felt it funny that the Prince for who the birthday party was being held was the only one not present.)

His black hair had attracted quite a bit of attention but after talking to him most of the nobles deemed him as peasant minded.

Other than that one time, he had never been past these mountains or this familiar countryside.

And then he heard rumbling.

Halting his horse, Yuri frowned, listening closely as it steadily got louder and louder. When he realized it was coming from behind him, he turned back to see—

"Get out of the way, wimp!"

Eyes widening, Yuri quickly moved as he was told to avoid being run over and watched as the elegant carriage careened past him, causing his heavy travelling cloak to flutter slightly. Only a little ways behind him, Yuri saw a group of several men on horseback wearing some weird seals and viridian cloaks giving chase.

After connecting the coat of arms on the carriage and the royal seals on the men, Yuri's mind connected the dots quickly (for once) and he sprung into action, urging his horse into a gallop while he brandished his sword.

(It had taken him years to learn how to use a sword. And even now he was not all that good with it.)

By the time Yuri caught up with them they had already started to board the carriage. One of the men was hanging on the side of the carriage and with his bad luck he fell when the carriage took a sharp left turn.

Pulling his sword out, Yuri called out to them, "Hey! Leave them alone!"

The riders paid no heed— they didn't care about puny 18 year old screaming at top of their voices.

The carriage slammed one horseman against the side of the mountain, causing the man to fall off his horse.

And while the carriage lost one more pursuer, it also lost a wheel.

Upset by the balance, the carriage suddenly gave and came to a shuddering halt while the remaining riders circled the debris like sharks.

"Give it up, you can't run any longer!"

The driver had quickly surrendered as a sword was braced against his trembling throat. The remaining horsemen dismounted and brandished their swords.

Yuri followed suit a little further behind and came upon them cautiously.

Slowly, from the wrecked carriage, the door swung open and a man climbed out. Extracting his own sword from its sheath, he eyed the rest of the opponents.

The leader on the horse smirked. "Hand him over, Hube, and we'll let you go unharmed."

"Excuse the overly-used saying, gentlemen, but you'll have to get him over my dead body. You, boy, over there, are you with these dogs or are you loyal to Shin Makuko?"

The two nearest to Yuri turned to look over their shoulder at him—and when they did, the man lunged forward, plunging his sword into the gut of one of them clean through to the other side before pulling it out in the same motion and stepping back to engage with the other.

The man on the horse cursed and dismounted while the sound of ringing metal started to fill the air.

Rushing to his aid, Yuri started to help, fending off the attackers.

(He used his sword more like a baseball bat. He was very good at baseball yet dismal at actual attack)

The man dueled with others expertly. Kicking a man he didn't even blink as one of the pursuers fell of the high cliff. Yuri could hear the exho of the scream as the man fell to his death.

His grip over the sword automatically tightened.

Swords flashed and clashed, all the while Hube held his ground in front of the carriage. When only three attackers remained, both Yuri and Hube were panting for breath, back-to-back surrounded by dead bodies or incapacitated men.

(The only thing in Yuri's favor was that the pursuers seemed to have a very loose grip allowing him to swing his sword like a baseball bat and disarm the opponent.)

"You fight awfully well, young man," Hube commented.

Yuri resisted in returning back a smart ass comment and just said "I try."

As Yuri was fighting the next attacker, (Mama-san was right! Hitting at that spot makes them faint!), he heard a cry of pain. As Yuri whirled around to face the next opponent, his eyes widened as he saw blood pouring down from a nasty gash in Hube's sword arm as the man fell to one knee while the leader put a sword to his throat.

"You may be the captain of the guard in your country, Gegen Huber, but I'm the army general in mine."

"HUBE!"

Yuri's eyes quickly flickered over to the broken carriage and saw a light-haired boy roughly his age climbing out. But his attention was held by the other worldly kind of beauty that the boy held.

And enter the thought: Is he really a boy?

Hube hissed in pain, clutching his arm, but not relinquishing his grip on the sword. "Stay inside the carriage!"

The boy stopped halfway and seemed to debate on whether he should or should not do as he was told. "What do you want!?" he screamed at the man.

This boy was either very, very stupid or very, very brave. Yuri thought it was a combination of both.

There was only one of them now, but he held a hostage and that was enough.

"Wolfram! So good to see you. You're a reasonable sort, I'm sure. Hand yourself over to me and I will spare this man's life."

Wolfram swallowed. "I…"

"Don't do it!"

Stepping out of the carriage gingerly, the boy took a step forward. "I'll do as you say, just don't hurt him any more."

Eyes widening, Yuri moved into action, and, as an act of pure genius or sheer stupidity (although quite possibly both), he found himself detaining the boy with a blood-drenched sword at his throat.

(Many people argued that he had gotten those traits from a long lost ancestor from his mother's side.)

The leader glared hard at him through narrowed eyes.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me! Let him go or I kill your precious target! You only want him alive don't you? Besides, what good is he to me? Can you be so sure I wouldn't?"

In the silence that ensued, Yuri saw the man's face flush with rage. Only a few feet further in front of him, he could tell that Hube was as worried as the man with the sword at his throat.

(He really doubted he could hurt such a beauty of nature. His mother would never forgive him)

Finally, with a heavy sigh and a look around at his dead men, the man stepped away slowly before getting back on his horse, turning it back around. "I won't forget this," he spat out before galloping away.

Sighing, Yuri let go of the boy and let his shoulders slump in relief.

Hurriedly, the prince stumbled away from him and Hube rose to his feet. Pulling back a blood-stained glove, Hube grimaced before approaching Yuri.

"You have my thanks, young man," he said, holding out his hand for Yuri to shake.

"It was no pro—"

WHAM.

Yuri suddenly found himself on the ground, pain blooming in the side of his face. Blinking in comprehension, he slowly looked up Hube, who wore a calm look of cold anger.

"Pardon me, but never, never," he intoned, pausing for effect, "hold a blade to his throat ever again."

"I-I'm sorry," he stammered, at a loss for words.

(This was what he got for saving the life of someone. True that he had held a blade to the boys neck but did they really think he would kill?)

"It's fine, Hube. I'm fine. You owe this man your life. Can you imagine how furious mother would be if you died? You're her favourite, you know."

Hune smiled—albeit somewhat stiffly—eyes still on Yuri as he extended a hand to him. "Get up, boy. What's your name? I'll make sure to see you're rewarded handsomely for your help."

Taking the offered hand with some caution, Yuri was pulled to his feet. Carefully, he held a hand to his face, testing the tender cheek.

(He was half expecting another punch)

"Yuri Shibuya, sir."

Hube hummed in thought.

While assessing his wound, he found himself being appraised by the young man at Hube's side.

Looking up, he blinked at him, and then frowned. "What are you staring at?"

(Yuri, while normally very polite, was not in a very good mood now.)

Hube gave him a cold, discerning look. "You'll address my young lord with respect."

Not wanting another blow to the face, Yuri bit back the smart retort he had to that.

Wolfram folded his arms and frowned.

"I can't believe I was rescued by such a commoner,"he said with all the disdain in the world.

(And there went the illusion of the boy being an angel. He had the looks of an angel with the attitude of a brat)

What happened after that comment was made, earned Yuri another good punch as his lights effectively (ahem) went out.

OooO

"I won't take 'no' for an answer, Wolfram, you're getting one and that's that. This is the third time this has happened to you! Gisela had less trouble travelling!"

Wolfram slammed his hands on the desk in rage. "That's because Gisela is a literal demon!" he protested, "I don't want one! That's for princesses! What do you think I am?"

Leveling her son with stern violet, Celi frowned. "I think you are a prince of Shin Makuko in need of a knight protecting him who isn't mine. Even Anissina has less trouble with being assaulted than you."

"That's because Anissina can break a man in two! You have no idea the things she hides under those poofy skirts of hers!"

No, really, don't ask.

(Flashback: Gwendal, experiments, west wing of castle, snow, evil laughter)

Lady Celi ignored his comment. "The problem is that I need someone capable and smart."

There was a pregnant pause of silence as she looked around the room at the other Knights. While there was a cough to clear throats, everyone had looked away, careful not to make eye contact.

Wolfram fumed, but smirked to himself in silent satisfaction as he folded his arms obstinately.

It was a statistical fact that Wolfram was assailed more often than any other prince or princess of the kingdom.

Nobody wanted to be responsible for that.

"Your Majesty, if I may suggest someone?" Conrart inquired, clasping his hands neatly in front of him.

"Who?" she asked quickly, as if the opportunity would disappear the second it was acknowledged.

The second prince smiled.

OooO

Shin Makuko.

The royal capital of the Demon Empire. It held more wine, women, and wealth than any other city in the world. After waking up, stranded, with nothing but his horse, a black eye, and many more bruises for blows he didn't remember receiving, Yuri had merely saddled up and remarked from time to time just how amazing his first couple days away from his home was.

(He had gotten used to weird things like this.)

Now that he was standing at the gates of Shin Makuko, he found himself meaning every single word of it.

The guards at the gate conversed with each other and one of them hailed him as he rode up. "Excuse me, sir; by any chance are you Yuri Shibuya?"

Yuri blinked. "Ah… yes, that's me, why?"

"Your presence is required at the castle."

This should be good..

A/N: I hoped you liked it. review!