Author's Note: This story is a particular favourite now! I really am finding the rhythm of it. Though unfortunately this part marks the half way point of this story 3 I can't believe I've been able to update it so quickly!

Disclaimer: Own Yuki, Connor, Conlan and the names for Shinou and the Great Wiseman.

THANKYOU FOR THE REVIEWS!

Covenant Castle, The Great Demon Kingdom

Yuuri stood before the mirror, gazing at his own reflection, his fingers rubbing absently over his face, unable to help but feel the cold clamminess that clung to him like a second skin. Swallowing hard, he stared hard into his own eyes searching for something, anything of the man who had been so long trapped within his body. What must it be like to be used like that? What must it have cost Yurikito Shibuya to give up his very life for this future only to find out what he had protected had been lost so long before.

"I don't blame you for feeling angry." His voice was soft as he gazed into the mirror, sitting on a chair before it and desperately hoping that Yurikito might just answer him. "I would too if something were to happen to Conrart." He had been angry with Shinou over forcing Conrart into working for Big Cimaron. "I think I can understand a little of what you must have felt."

"Do you truly think you understand, Yuuri?"

The dark haired boy jerked almost right out of his skin at the appearance of a man standing to one side of his chair, their gazes meeting in the mirror. The man was strikingly beautiful, long raven waves of hair spilling down across slender shoulders, his dark irises cat-like and intense, the man's clothes however were a cross between historical Japanese fashion and that of the Great Demon Kingdom. It made him almost smile when he realised the man's feet were bare, toes almost seeming to curl into the soft rug.

Yuuri's head turned, gazing up over his shoulder, but finding the space the man occupied empty. It was disconcerting, though he was extremely grateful over the fact that Yurikito had answered him. However, the dull emptiness within Yuuri continued, a part of him still feeling like it was missing. "I want to."

"I love him, Yuuri. I loved him more than my own life. I would have done anything to protect him... and I did. I surrendered my very soul to ensure that he lived on. I had Alaric's promise."

"Alaric?"

"I guess most people know him as Shinou." A wry smile touched Yuki's lips, before fading away again, one ghostly hand lightly resting against Yuuri's shoulder and squeezing lightly, even though Yuuri could feel nothing of the motion. "But to me, I knew him as Alaric Thessien, though I only knew him after his death. I trusted him, he was the one that allowed me to crossover between worlds those first few times before I decided to stay. I served him when he had need of my services when time permitted. I had no reason to believe he would allow Connor to die like that."

"What happened to you? How did you end up... inside of me?" Yuuri lightly pressed a hand over his heart, feeling it race beneath his palm.

"Alaric said that he required someone to guard the soul of a future Maou that if I was willing... I could give up my own life and surrender my soul for that purpose in exchange for him using my own life force to keep Connor alive. He had been badly wounded in an attack on our home... the healer was too far away... and blood... there was so much blood everywhere..." Obsidian eyes closed tightly, shuddering at the memory of Connor's blood staining his hands and face, streaking the walls of where he had found his wounded lover slumped against their favourite tree. "I am not a healer. However, my magic is strong and considering I was born on Earth, my magic could work in human territories as well as it does on Demon Tribe land... Alaric came to us... I was desperate."

"God." Yuuri swallowed around the lump that was forming in the back of his throat, staring into the pale face of the man who had given up his very life and soul for the one he loved. "So... all my powers... all the magic..." All those times he had faced off against the evil that had attacked his friends and family. "It... it wasn't mine."

"Part of it was. The healing part... the cleansing part, that magic remains with your soul. Julia's gifts are yours still. The rest... was mine. You were the pure soul that was needed to defeat the Originators, my soul isn't pure... I live with so many regrets." A single tear streaked down the man's face, dropping onto the floor. "I long for a man who died... four thousand years ago."

"I thought I saw someone like him."

Yurikito turned to gaze down at Yuuri, shock appearing on those usually stoic features. "What do you mean?"

"I..." Yuuri flushed sharply over the fact that he had accidentally ended up pressed against Conrart's younger half-brother thinking it was his protector. "Conrart's brother... Conlan. He... I realised it wasn't Conrart because of the scars on his hands... When I saw his face..."

"Scars? What did they look like?"

"They were burns... and there was a jagged one on his right palm."

"Connor had scars like those... from the village fire..." Scars that Yurikito loved to touch, feeling the roughness against the smooth skin of his face. "Think of his face."

"Huh?"

"Picture his face in your mind."

And Yuuri closed his eyes, visualising the man he had seen no more than an hour before.

"Yuuri, I need this body. If he is here and he does remember..." Yurikito's face paled sharply. "The Temple will not remain standing for long."

Yuuri nodded once, understanding the importance of that moment, but for the first time... feeling uneasy about the fact that another was within his own body.

But the time the man rose from the chair, long raven locks that pooled past his hips swept around his face, his features even more changed than they usually were in the transformation because this time Yurikito was in complete control. He was already out the door and running, his shoes being kicked off in frustration as he vaulted the second storey balcony to the scream of a maid, his long hair streaming behind him as he headed for the stables.

Dacauscas let out a surprised sound when Yuki cleared the horse's rump, easily riding bare back as he tugged the reins free of the man's hand, nudging the horse's sides. Voices rose behind him, but he didn't care as he urged the horse into a full out gallop, his heart pounding in his chest as he took the shortcut through the forest, easily navigating the familiar path between Castle and Temple. He only hoped that he wouldn't be too late in stopping Connor from unleashing his fury on Alaric if the spirit of his beloved did surface from within the man...

Ryndal House, Forests Near Covenant Castle, The Great Demon Kingdom [Past]

Laughter bubbled up from somewhere within Yurikito as he gazed down at Connor with amusement twinkling in his intense obsidian eyes, the sweet sound echoed across the cobbled courtyard of Connor's home. One bare foot swung playfully in open air, his head tipped to the side to gaze down at the man standing a good twenty feet below him, watching him with those intense shadow blue eyes. "Are you intent on seeing me shoed like one of your stallions, Connor?"

"This is a good boot." One large hand held up the piece of footwear that had dropped from the sky to scare several of the maids that had awoken that morning to a man in the large tree off to one side in the walled in courtyard of their home. "It fits you."

"I don't see the point of them." Toes wiggled in the man's direction, one scarred foot still swaying back and forth in playful teasing. "How am I suppose to climb wearing something so restrictive?"

"I still don't quite know how you got up there in the first place, Yurikito." Both chocolate brown brows lifted at his own statement in emphasis. "Why are you up there?"

"I like it up here." Yuki responded, though his obsidian eyes turned away from where Connor was standing below him to gaze out from his vantage point over the enclosing walls and along the winding path that lead towards the Chapel and the Castle visible above the forest treetops.

Connor know the moment those intense eyes started scanning the forest exactly why his beautiful Yuki was perched in that tree. He was protecting him, guarding his home against intruders and it warmed his heart to see how much Yuki cared about his home and maybe... about him too. He had brought the man home the night before, both of them having been too tired to do anything more than retire to bed as soon as they had arrived. Yuki had been gone before dawn, rising before the first rays of the sun to scout out the house and take up position to stand guard as Connor roused barely half an hour after Yuki.

"Have breakfast with me." Connor offered softly, one hand resting lightly against the bark of the tree, feeling the roughness of it tickle his still healing hand.

Yuki blinked in surprise at the offer, head tipping back towards Connor and immediately smiled as he caught the glimmer of sincerity in those blue eyes. No one had ever desired to dine with him, it was rare anyone ever bothered about him at all. They were so use to him being out amongst the forest trees... checking the borders, shoring up the barriers and wards. He had already set some around the house, ones that were practically invisible to most but ones he favoured for alerting him to any new presence entering or leaving the house.

"Yuki?"

"Coming!"

And he was soon easing himself to the ground, letting out a surprised sound when strong hands curled around his waist, easily lifting him and settling him the last few feet so he was settled once more on the ground. Gazing up at the taller man, he reached out to lightly rest his hand lightly over where the strong heart raced beneath his palm. It made him smile. Tipping his head up, he lightly brushed his lips against the stubbled jaw, feeling it rasp lightly against his mouth and he nuzzled it.

"I think I frighten the maids." Yuki looked down at his yukata and hakama, tugging lightly at it, before lifting his head to gaze back at the man who had brought him home. "I would probably frighten myself in daylight."

"I'll fix that after breakfast."

Temple Of The Great One, The Great Demon Kingdom

Shinou's head lifted abruptly as the doors to the inner Temple swung open with a soft creak. Every part of him stilling at the sight of a man he had not seen in four thousand years, his heart unable to help but warm at the sight. There was confusion in those intense indigo blue eyes, shadows of another man just beneath the surface, but it was clear Connor was struggling to rise, fighting his way free of the being he inhabited.

"You summoned me."

Ulrike came out from the shadows, her violet eyes widening at the sight of the warrior standing in the doorway, blade slowly beginning to slip free of its sheath. Long silvery hair pooled around her, she actually took a step back, knowing that in that moment she faced a predator.

"It has been a long time, Connor."

"Where is he?" The low growl rumbled out from the man's throat, eyes narrowing as Connor stepped forwards from within the shell of Conlanoch Weller.

"I... I no longer know where his soul resides."It was something Shinou was forced to admit, his fingers clenching and was actually unable to meet the eyes of his long time friend and protector knowing exactly what he had done to this man. "Connor... I want you to understand... I..."

"NO EXCUSES!" It was a roar from a deeply wounded soul. Fingers clenched painfully tight around the hilt of his sword, his booted feet echoing on the stone floor of the vast chambers. "None of your words, Alaric Thessein. We trusted you. I thought our friendship meant something to you. I would have walked through the lands of death if you had asked me, but taking Yuki..." His voice was ragged, the air within the room beginning to swirl slowly, making the lights flicker in response. "Taking his soul for your own purposes. He was everything to me. How could you make such a bargain with him? How could you betray me like that?"

"The future had need of him, of his strength." But it was a poor excuse, no matter how well it had turned out in the end, it did not extinguish the wrong that had been done. Shinou's features were soon etched with the deep guilt that he felt, the regret and sorrow knowing exactly what he had caused. "I saw no other way. I regret it... Connor, but this future... needed to happen. Please understand..." The blonde man winced, knowing that words failed him as did everything else against the anger of the man he had called friend.

"All I understand is that you manipulated the entire thing for your own gains."

"Connor."

"I am sorry, my Lady." Connor's eyes glittered unnaturally blue as his head turned towards Ulrike, his head bowing slightly as his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. "I ask that you leave this place and take all those inside with you."

"Shinou...?" Ulrike was uncertain what to make of it all, but was even more shocked when Alaric nodded.

"Go, Ulrike. His fury is most deserved."

She was soon hurrying out the door, taking the dazed guards with her, her voice echoing along the corridors, sending the Temple maids scattering outside into the gardens surrounding the Temple, uncertain and fearful of what would become of Shinou's Temple.

The wind howled out its fury and anger, ringing through the halls of the temple. The candles sputtered and died on a hiss, plunging the room into darkness, except for the faint glow of magic radiating out of Connor and Shinou. Connor's magic had only been born over time and exposure to his beloved, the overwhelming magic of Yurikito unlocking something dormant within and only surfaced now during the most darkest moments.

"How could you?" Those eyes were filled with a raw kind of pain, one that blazed right through to Connor's soul. "How could you take him from me when it was you who brought him into my life?"

Shinou could offer no true explanation for his actions other than he thought it had been necessary to ensure the future turned out the way he had envisioned it.

The walls themselves vibrated with the man's rage, his eyes flashing as the Boxes that stood across the dais actually rattled, the wood groaning in protest.

"Stop this." Ken Murata stood in the doorway, one hand lifted as energy began to surge in response. He was not about to let anyone attack Shinou, especially not when the man was surprisingly putting up no resistance against the intruder that had entered his sanctuary. "I will not let you destroy this place in your anger."

Connor let out a howl of anguish that sliced into the hearts of all those who heard the cry of someone who had lost his heart. The wind coiled tightly around his body where it had been compressed, his body shaking with his ragged emotions, his eyes fixed on Shinou. Though part of his magic had been subdued, the very walls were beginning to quake, fine trickles of dust beginning to slide down from the arching ceiling overhead. "Were we nothing but pawns to you?"

"You both have always been precious to me." Alaric whispered unable to prevent a tear sliding down between his fingers, body shaking and knowing and understanding a little of the other man's grief. For all that Yurikito existed within Yuuri, he was not alive in his own right. It was only matter of time before Yuki was rejected completely by Yuuri's body, the presence of two souls too much for one body to handle. Alaric Thessein feared the fact that he might not be able to catch the soul a second time, it might slip through his fingers and they would never find it again. For all he knew, Yuki could already had vanished from this world.

"Release him, Joachim."

Ken Murata jerked at the name he hadn't in over four thousand years, his eyes darting to the doorway to meet the burning hot gaze of Yurikito Shibuya, his long hair falling in silky waves down the length of his back, the ends been lightly tugged by the wind. His hand wavered and actually dropped at seeing in that face no hint of Yuuri, the boy having been pushed right back inside this time. What must it be like to feel like that? To have yourself forced into a small part of another's mind and only be allowed to surface when another allowed you to.

"...Yuki...?" The voice was broken and raspy, Connor's body trembling with the force of his emotions, before he almost staggered as his body was released. Wide shadowed blue eyes started at the familiar heart-stopping beauty that was his Yurikito, his heart racing at the sight. "Yuki... my beautiful..." His hand stretched out, reaching.

Suddenly the man was there flinging himself into Connor's arms, wrapping his own around the man's shoulders tightly, pulling him in close and sharing a desperate kiss between two beings that had been separated for four millennia. It was a beautiful thing. Connor's fingers coiling into the wild fall of raven hair, sweeping strands of it away from that precious face and brushing his lips over every inch, his heart squeezing at the sight.

"I love you." Yurikito breathed helplessly, staring into those beloved eyes.

"And I you, my Yuki. It shattered me to lose you."

Yurikito's expression suddenly paled, his face draining of all colour as his body began to shake. Fear burned brightly in his expression, his hands clutching at Connor's shirt, desperate to hold onto the man. "No...!"

"Yuki? What...?" And just as his joy crested at finally having his love returned to him, the dream fractured and collapsed. Yurikito Shibuya was wrenched painfully back from the surface, Yuuri's soul unable to bear being subdued like that any longer.

"Don't let go... Connor..." Tears were streaking down Yuki's face, his fingers holding onto Connor so tightly that he left bruises behind on the tawny skin. "CONNOR!"

Yuuri was suddenly there once more, blinking up at Connor with confused obsidian eyes, his grip instantly releasing the man who held him so tightly. Struggling slightly in that grip, he was released and he staggered backwards. "What... just happened?" A hand lifted to his head, which throbbed painfully in response. "What just... How did I...?" Confused eyes turned to Ken Murata, searching for an explanation.

"YUURI!" The doors slammed open as Conrart stood there in the doorway, staring at the scene before him with confusion flickering through his eyes, before he was darting forwards catching the swaying King against his chest, his blade having already cleared its sheath and was lifted towards his brother. "What is the meaning of this, Brother?"

A low laugh escaped Connor, something wounded and bitter. "And still, Alaric... you're taking everything from me." While he stared into the face of the man who had captured the heart of someone that contained the precious spirit of the one he loved.

The kiss had shocked Yuuri, the intensity of it still burned straight through his soul. The taste of another's mouth still lingered on his own, unlike anything that had come before. Some part of him revelled in the sensation, that possession, but his heart however craved for something entirely different. He could feel Conrart's entire vibrating with something akin to rage and something more, those cinnamon eyes burning fiercely as they pinned the man who looked so much like him in place.

"What do you think you are doing?" Conrart hissed, lips pressed together in a sharp line. "We welcome you into our home and this is how you respond to..."

"Do not think to reprimand me, Conrart Weller." Connor was still in control, his eyes alight with the flickers of magic that almost wanted to spill out of him in that moment. "You understand nothing of this!" His gaze dropped down to the boy curled protectively against Conrart's body, a sharp stab of jealousy and bitterness rising upwards knowing his beloved Yuki was trapped within. Every part of him railed against the fact that another was protecting the body of the one who held the soul of his lover.

"Conrart, what is going on here?" Gwendal, Wolfram and Gunter had followed after Conrart, wanting to know exactly why the fully transformed Maou had been riding on horseback away from the Castle at breakneck speeds. "The entire Temple is in an uproar."

"He didn't hurt you... did he Yuuri?" Conrart's arm curled a little more possessively around the waist of the younger man, his fingertips stroking lightly over the slender chest, feeling Yuuri's heart racing just beneath his palm. "What happened?"

"The Maou..." He corrected himself. "...Yurikito needed to stop Connor." His chin tipped towards the man who had held him so fiercely, held him like he was something precious and so beloved... the way Conrart was holding him right then. It was in that moment of realisation that Yuuri swallowed and flushed as he truly began to become truly aware of Conrart as a man, as someone more than an on object of his love. Heat ran up along his cheeks, burning him with its intensity. Yet, deep inside Yuuri could hear Yurikito screaming for release, desperate for what was now almost completely out of his reach.

Covenant Castle, The Great Demon Kingdom, [Past]

"Yuki..." Connor couldn't help but smile as he gazed down at his beautiful companion's bare feet. There was something adorable about that, seeing the man relax so easily around him, being the focus of those smiles.

"I wore the rest of it." The Samurai snorted with amusement, shifting slightly on the back of his mount, shifting the strange sword belt until it fit more comfortably against his side, feeling a touch awkward but grateful that he had been allowed to retain his weapons. "Maybe if you gave me a reason to wear them..." One brow arched in challenge.

"Maybe we'll have to discuss that at a later time."

Soon the castle gates loomed before them, their mounts slowing to a gentle walk as Yuki moved closer to Connor, his hand dropping to rest on the hilt of his katana, ready to cut down anyone that threatened Connor.

"Welcome Lord Weller." The guard greeted them, stepping up to bowed his head to the man who had been the protector to the Great One himself and regarded the second rider for a moment with suspicion before looking into those obsidian cat's eyes and stared in awe. "Welcome to Covenant Castle, my Lord." Bowing his head to Yurikito, he stepped aside, without another word. "Lord Von Wincott asked if you could spare him some of your time, Lord Weller as he requires your assistance in one of his projects."

Connor almost wanted to groan, before rubbing his fingers lightly back through the wild mass of his brown hair before his lips quirked slightly at Yuki's questioning glance. "My Uncle, who is quite fond of experiments that sometimes include me as a test subject."

Yuki chuckled softly at that, nodding slightly and they were soon making their way into the castle, the horses being dropped off at the stables, before they were heading within the stone castle that was quite a marvel to Yurikito.

Soon they were entering a vast space that was filled with odd pieces of metal and bubbling glass flasks of liquids and things that defied explanation bubbling within them. "Uncle?" Connor glanced back at Yurikito before attempting to hunt out his illusive uncle, Erhard Wincott. "I'll be just a moment Yuki. I apologise about this... I wanted to have you talk to Joachim, but it's best not to leave my uncle waiting when it comes to his ideas."

"Go on." Yuki watched as Connor disappeared and gave him a chance to investigate the rather interesting array of objects.

Dipping his head, he examined a small box crafted of metal. Touching it lightly with a fingertip, several tiny lights suddenly brightened along the side. Unable to help his own curiosity, he was soon lifting the box up in both hands carefully, not wanting to accidently drop it. It actually started to hum, tiny gears and components within springing to bright life at the presence of all the magic that practically soaked the air around him.

"Please put that..." Erhard Wincott stared in amazement at one of his projects working perfectly within the hands of a stranger as he appeared out from the door opposite of the way Connor had gone to search for him. "Wait... hold it..." Striding forwards, the taller man was unable to stop himself from examining the machine as it continued to do as it was meant to. "Amazing! Simply amazing. How did you get it to..." Vibrant indigo eyes widened as they met obsidian, blinking once in surprise.

"I apologise for touching this... creation. I was merely curious about its function." Yurikito Shibuya's brilliant smile had been swallowed up by the stoic mask of a man hardened by the world that had forged him. Though the moment Connor returned to the room, his gaze immediately sort him out, his lips twitching lightly, almost begging to be allowed to form a smile.

"Yuki." Connor was immediately by the man's side, one hand reaching out to carefully smooth back the sleek waves of black that curled around the man's face. Fingertips stroked against one cheek tenderly, unable to help himself the moment he was near to the man who held the other half of his soul. "May I introduce my Uncle, the older brother of my mother, Erhard Wincott. Uncle, this is Yurikito Shibuya."

"I have you to thank for my nephew's rescue, do I not?"

Yuki nodded once, reaching out to capture the man's hand and turn it so he could trace his lips along the length of the scars that crossed over the calloused skin.

"May I ask where it is you come from, Yurikito? Your name is likes none I've ever heard before and your accent..." Erhard considered Yuki for one long moment, studying the features of the man before him attempting to work out from which land a man like this hailed from.

"He's from the other side."

"But his speaks our language fluently."

"Shinou himself guided Yurikito to me through the barrier and gifted him with the ability to understand our language."

Erhard Wincott looked even more startled by the fact that it was Shinou whom had orchestrated this particular situation. "Shinou?" Before amusement coloured his expression as he watched the two men, almost wanting to grin at the clear and obvious attraction that burned between them like a living thing. "That does sound like his meddling."

Yuki couldn't help a soft laugh at that, lips quirking upwards as he leaned against Connor, soaking in the warmth of the man who had opened up his home and life to Yurikito without question.

"So you are human?"

Shaking his head, he straightened slightly. "I am a member of the Demon Tribe, both of my parents are from the Kuro Clan in service to the Earth's Maou, Edward."

"There are Demons on Earth?" That surprised Erhard more than he could admit, his relief however was short-lived when Yurikito shook his head slightly.

"We are descended from a member of the Demon Tribe of this world, Lord Christel who arrived in a place which is now known as Switzerland, or so the stories are told by Lord Edward."

"But..." Erhard blinked once, his heart in his eyes and the shimmer of grief flickering through his expression. "He left only a few weeks ago."

"My Lord... the Demon Tribe has been in existence for the better part of six centuries." Those obsidian eyes regarded the other man with confusion for a moment before rapidly beginning to work out exactly what was so deeply affecting the other man. A hand reached out to lightly squeeze the man's forearm, his head tipping back so that his eyes could meet those of Erhard Wincott. "My Lord, Christel Wincott was a man full of life, it is said he married his dear love Johanna. They are known also for their proclivity to procreate."

"Thank you." The man whispered softly, finding surprising comfort in those words and in the warm touch against his arm.

"I am glad that I could offer you something to ease you heart." Yurikito however withdrew his hand after a moment setting the box aside on a nearby table and shifted in to press fully against Connor, head resting back against the strong chest.

When arms slipped around Yuki, the man sighed softly and relaxed even more, unable to help his desire to settle into the strength of that embrace. It was only in those arms that he found any kind of peace and finally understood a little of why he never felt settled until he had found this man. A part of him had been missing, a vital part that now beat steadily within his chest.

Connor tightened his grip around Yurikito, unable to help the wash of awe and gratitude that filled him as his head dipped and his cheek rested on top of those silky raven locks that were tied back sharply away from that beautiful face. Lips ghosting against his temple, peace settled over his soul once more, happiness filling every inch of his body. His gaze met that of his uncle, their gazes locking and holding before Erhard offered them both a reassuring smile and nod of approval.

"Welcome to the Great Demon Kingdom, Yurikito Shibuya, welcome home."

Could you imagine Erhard and Annisina in the same place? LOL