Chapter 1

Yuri woke up to find a green haired girl with matching green eyes hovering over her. So, it's not a dream, she thought as she sat up. "You're finally awake," the girl said, "Father has been worried about you." "Father?" Yuri asked, a little confused. "Sumimasen, your majesty," green-eyes said pleasantly, "My name is Gisela, Gunter von Khrist is my father." It then that Yuri remembered what had happened within the past few days, in exception of the days that she was unconscious.

A few days ago, she was a regular school girl. Now she was the Queen of Shin Makoku, a demon kingdom of an alternated world. She looked up to find her fiancé looking sheepishly at her, most likely because of the incident that had happened before she lost consciousness.

Three days before...

"Branwen!" someone called her. Yuri turned her dark haired head around, smiled and waved. "Murata," she called back. Murata, like her, and almost everyone else around her, had black hair and eyes. Yuri and Murata have been best friends ever since they were in primary school. She was rather happy as this day was her violin recital... and yet watching young children play baseball she felt a slight pang in her heart. She was thinking of the times she had enjoyed playing the ball game as a young girl. She had a special memory of her father, one which he took her to a pitcher's field and had her catch the ball from a pro pitcher. "Were you afraid?" Shoma had asked, little Yuri shook her head, "You're now able to catch the pro's pitch," he told her.

She now stood in front of her best friend, wearing long sleeved collared white blouse, a black ribbon tied around the collar, with a black vest, and long black trousers with soft shoes. "You were really good in there," Murata praised. Yuri smiled.

Murata, like everybody, relaxed every time Yuri smiled. She was often happy, and thankfully this was one of the times. "When you smile," Murata thought to himself, "You bring eternal sunshine to the world." He was among many who thought her to be beautiful as well.

Indeed Yuri was a beautiful girl. Her raven black hair was gracefully pulled back in a braid, and her black eyes shone with emotions – often happy. Her willowy figure was an envy of many girls. Her grace and manners reflected and shone beyond her beauty. Earning her the nickname, 'Branwen' by friends, which meant 'beautiful raven'. And was loved by everyone who knew her, in exception of those who got on the wrong side of her. She was polite and caring to her friends. The problem was, though this did not pose to be a problem to her, she was smart, rather like a tomboy. She dressed with a feminine air, she was often active with her school and her hobbies.

Murata was her good friend. Likely the only one she could trust. Despite everything she possessed in grace and beauty, she was not exactly popular in school, particularly because she was not taken much into boys. When her classmates ask her to get a boyfriend, Yuri just explained that she did not need one. Murata was there for her when no one else was.

"Why don't we walk by the park river?" she asked, "Mum might like you to come and have some curry."

"That sounds nice," said Murata.

When they arrived at the river Yuri felt something crawl up her spine. That usually happened when something bad was about to happen. Yuri looked around the park, but there was no one she could find that was looking at her and Murata. I'm probably just being paranoid, Yuri thought to herself. Remembering the incident in the baseball field, the only one who understood how she felt about it was Murata. They continued talking when Yuri slipped and fell back into the river. Instead of landing on the mud, Yuri felt herself falling and falling, her violin case still slung on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw something round and black.

"Why is there a black hole?" she thought to herself, "I've read about this in books but..." Yuri then found herself facing the sky. Her violin case beside her. "Is this a dream?" she wondered aloud. A voice interrupted her thoughts. She sat up to find a young woman staring frantically at her and shouting in a language unknown to her.

Yuri stood up and walked closer.

"Excuse me," she said, as politely as she could, "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're saying." The woman dropped her basket of apples and ran away. "That was weird," Yuri told herself. Then she heard a gallop of hooves. Dust gathered, making Yuri cough slightly.

A man's voice talked to her in that same strange language. Yuri looked up and saw what she thought was a knight in shining amour. Dreadfully handsome. Blond hair, blue eyes and a deep cleft on his chin. He spoke to her in the strange language again then stopped as he noticed the small girl looking up at him in confusion. He jumped of his horse and said two word which Yuri took to mean "Hold still" before he placed his hands over her ears.

A skull splitting headache overrode her curiosity of what he was doing. Yuri felt as if her head was torn apart and squeeze at the same time. Then it was all over. Yuri held her dizzy head as she looked up to the man whom she know considered a knight in shining armour.

"Better?" he asked.

"Uh..." she said uncertain, "Much, thank you."

"Good," he said, "At least you'll understand my words as you die!"

"What?" she exclaimed.

"Yuri!" another voice called. For some reason or another, she knew that voice. It was like a distant echo at the back of her mind. She looked and saw another horse coming their way. A tall man with brown hair and eyes was riding straight towards them.

The next thing she knew, there was a sudden clash of of swords between him and the blond. "Hah," the blond exclaimed, "Why are you here, Weller?"

"My reasons are not to be said," that man called Weller said quietly. As he removed his and hit the blond again. The blond fell to the ground and looked at Yuri and snarled, "Next time you won't be so lucky, double black brat!" With that he climbed onto his horse and rode off to a distance. For some reason Yuri had a feeling he had seen the blond once before as well. But where?

Weller rode around as she stared to the direction the blond knight fled.

"Come on!" he said holding out his hand to her. Something told Yuri that she could trust this man. So she accepted the hand as he hoisted her onto his horse. She grabbed onto his shoulder tightly as he drove the horse away from the sight. She kept quiet as Weller drove for the next half hour. As they rode, Yuri thought about what noticed many things about the man before her.

Under her hands his shoulders were strong. And she had noticed how incredibly handsome he was. His brown eyes and brown hair were dark and fine. Tall, thin, but undoubtedly strong. She wondered if he was a prince. They arrived at a small cottage before she could ask any questions.

At the door of the cottage was a man with long silver hair and lavender eyes, he too was dreadfully handsome. Were I a silly girl, she thought to herself, I would have gone heads over heels with these guys. Silver Hair looked up to the two riders with wide eyes.

"Great Shinou," he exclaimed quietly, "Is this her?"

"Yes," Weller answered, as he helped her off the horse, "And a fine young lady she is too."

"I'm sorry," said Yuri politely, speaking for the first time since Weller rescued her from death, "I'm afraid, I'm a bit lost. Who are you people, and where am I?"

"Oh," said silver hair, bowing towards her, "How rude of me. We haven't been properly... You can understand our language?"

"Adelbert, found her before I did," explained Weller.

"The nerve of that exile!" exclaimed Silver Hair.

Exile? That blond man?

"Pardon me again," Silver Hair exclaimed. He put a hand on her shoulder then, and gestured her into the cottage, "Come warm yourself by the fire."

Over the next ten minutes, Yuri changed into an outfit which was similar to her recital clothing. Only it haed a skirt rather than a pair of trousers. "This is very nice and all," she said as she sat by the fire, "But I'm afraid I'm still lost."

"Allow us to introduce ourselves," said Weller, "I am Lord Conrart Weller, a soldier of a kingdom known as Shin Makoku. And this is my teacher, Lord Gunter von Khrist, one of the ten Nobles of Shin Makoku."

"Would it be all right if I call you Conrad instead?" Yuri asked Weller, "Until I can manage to call you by your real name?"

"That would be fine," said Weller, "You're not the first who has difficulties with my name."

"My name is Shibuya Yuri," she told them, "though my friends call me Branwen at times."

"Not surprisingly," she heard Conrad say to himself quietly with his lips moving.

She sat by the fire and listened patiently to Silver Hair and Weller explaining how she came to this world. A spirit, who reminded her of Jesus Christ in a certain way, was often referred as the Shinou was the one who brought her her to this world, a place near Shin Makoku, home of the Mazoku, which Gunter had stated how the Shinou chooses the next ruler...

"From now on," said Gunter, "You are our Queen. Our Maoh. Ruler of Shin Makoku."

Yuri sat there, stunned. Her? A ruler of a Kingdom?

"How can I?" Yuri asked, "And why?"

"It happens to be the will of the Great One," Conrad told her, "He's the one who brought you here from the other world."

"Can I trust you in this?"

"You did not hesitate in taking my hand as I saved you," he replied.

Next morning, Yuri allowed her long hair to be loose. Trying to look a bit more feminine, despite the hot discomfort. The riding skirt was black. She stepped outside of the cottage and was greeted by the dawning shining from behind Conrad who wore a brown uniform more formal and regal than the one he wore the day before. For some reason he looked more handsome at this position. Not just handsome but perfect.

Conrad looking at her direction and gestured to come, almost gasped as he found the beauty before him. A slight breeze played with her hair as she walked towards him, the dawning sun shining upon her skin eyes and hair. She was far more beautiful than he saw her last. As ironically as it sounded, he almost thought he was a seeing a goddess as he untied her horse. The feeling he had inside he knew was not one lust, but rather something else. But he could not place what.

"I'm afraid I know little about riding a horse," Yuri said as she approachedhim. "Don't worry, your highness," said Conrad offering his hand, "He's very gentle." He helped Yuri up the saddle and held her violin case in his arm.

"Are you ready?" Gunter called, already on his horse. Yuri nodded as Conrad mounted his horse. They had not travelled for more than two hours when they arrived in Shin Makoku and encounted a girl with a flask of a small cup of water. Your highness," a little girl said, "Please have some fresh water." Yuri looked towards Conrad who nodded.

"Thank you," she said and accepted the drink of water.

Beyond there was much cheering. Yuri learned from Gunter that those were the people of the capital, and that the last Maoh had retired a little over a month ago and that her brother Stoffel von Spitzberg was protecting throne as prince regent. She had noticed how Gunter had a bitter note note in his voice at the mention of Lord Spitzberg. As they reached the gates two men handed bouquets to her in welcome as the cheering went on.

"Oh," she gasped softly, accepting the bouquet, "Thank you. These are lovely." Suddenly, the horse reared, making her drop both bouquets. "Whoa!" she exclaimed as the horse broke into a gallop.

"Hold on tight, your Majesty!" Gunter yelled. Yuri, not trusting herself to speak, did as she was told. As she reached the castle grounds, the horse stopped, nearly throwing her off.

"You all right?" said a gruff voice.

She looked down to find a tall, and again handsome, stern looking man holding the reins of her horse. He had doubt in his deep blue eyes when he looked at her. Yuri shivered, but understood. It was not the first time someone had doubts about her, particularly because she was a girl. A very small girl for that matter. This man had long dark grey hair that was tied in a ponytail, and he looked as if he did not know the meaning of relaxation.

"Brother," said a voice, as Conrad helped her off her horse, "Has her majesty arrived?"

Yuri looked up to the source of the voice. She nearly gasped at the sight before her. A young man about her age was walking down the steps and meeting them. A wealth of gold fibres framed his youthful face and was decorated with beautiful green eyes. He was possibly the most beautiful boy she had ever seen.

"Whoa," she thought to herself, her heart thumping fast, "a pretty boy."

Author's note: Sorry it took so long. Had a bit of difficulty on how Yuri would react if he was a girl. Hope you like