The 3 Acts of KKM

by Animeimaginationgrl

8 years have passed with Yuuri Shibuya as Maoh and things suddenly get busy for he and the gang. Separated into 3 different Acts (Arcs), follow the Shin Makoku clan as they go through an array of events, ranging from meeting new friends, a wedding & so many conflicts! Yuuram, slight SaaYuram others, rated for later chapters and profanity. Better and more complete SUMMARIES inside.

4. Act I, Chapter IV

*The 3 Acts of KKM: The Prince of Taurogo*

"That is a pretty horse Kasey." Yuuri commented as he and Kasey rode side by side.

The prince looked down at his red chestnut stallion. He was pretty much all red except for the white diamond on his forehead and the four nearly identical white stockings on his legs. "Oh thank you. His name is Eser." Kasey looked to his left and smiled at Yuuri, his hair which was tied back in a high ponytail flicking across his shoulder as he did so. "And since we're on the topic, your horse—Ao was it?—is a pretty horse as well."

"Thanks! He's pretty great too."

"I bet. He seems so calm and happy to be with you."

While the two conversed on their horses, riding directly behind them Murata and Wolfram watched their interaction. The blonde lord leaned over towards Murata. "What do you think? Is the prince truly legit?"

The double black pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. "He seems so but I wouldn't know. I didn't even meet Shibuya until junior high school and even at that point we never talked with each other. In fact it wasn't until he saved me from some bullies when we really first became friends."

"Hmm… the prince seems to be very attuned to his surrounding and can easily read people… like another certain someone we know…" Wolfram whispered the last part before using just the corners of his eyes to glance behind him to stare at Sara who was riding behind Conrad, Riscard and Gunter who were all riding behind Murata and himself.

"True but I don't think he's as manipulative." Murata whispered back. "If anything, Prince Kasey truly seems to be an all-around great and level-headed guy, despite the fact he seems to enjoy to cuss a lot but hey—to each their own."

Behind them Gunter turned towards Riscard, who was riding in the middle of the trio on his bay colored mare. "Do you enjoy working for His Highness?"

Riscard glanced at Gunter, shocked at the sudden conversation topic (it was basically quiet from their line back) but smiled nonetheless. "To be honest His Highness, despite how prepared he is to become the king of our kingdom, is really a big child. For the most part he likes to play jokes and games and sees our trip here as a vacation. But yes, I enjoy working under him. There is never a dull moment around him that's for sure."

"That sounds familiar." Conrad (who was in a baseball uniform) spoke up then which caused both Riscard and Gunter to turn their attention onto the half-Mazoku. "Our Maoh was—and sometimes is—the same way. He would always get us into trouble just so he can do what he thought was right."

Riscard nodded. "That is how His Highness is. As I told the prince earlier, I bet that since the Maoh had looked up to him when they were children that His Highness rubbed off on your Maoh."

"That would certainty make sense." Conrad smiled. "But I think that he was always like this."

The prince's protector nodded once more. "Yes that is another possibility is it? Maybe even perhaps your Maoh rubbed off on His Highness?"

Gunter this time nodded with a slight chuckle. "Who knows? We didn't even know them at the time… not even you, Conrad, were there on Earth during His Majesty's fifth year." With that Riscard glanced at the other half-Mazoku and in turn only received a smile.

Behind the trio was Sara and Berius, who were only watching and hearing as much as the conversations as possible that were before them. Sara kept a trained eye on the front line of their little caravan, watching intently how Yuuri and Kasey were now riding silently beside each other; their last conversation ended, and was now seemingly basking in each other's presence. The Shimaron king's grip tightened on his horse's reigns as the jealously seeped through into his outer appearance. Berius watched his young king from the corner of his eye. He would never say it aloud but he knew that his king's interest in the Maoh would lead him to destitution in some way, shape, or form and there wasn't anything he could do to help Sara. Whenever he did try to pull his king away from this unhealthy and unprofitable interest in the Maoh, Sara would dive back in and refuse to escape from it. Berius held back a sigh and turned his gaze before him as he too began to watch Yuuri and Kasey before them.

Kasey was smiling to himself as he rode out towards the baseball diamond with his old childhood friend (one of which he thought he would never see again). All those years ago when he first met the to-be-Maoh (though he obviously didn't know it at that time) Kasey thought that this human could never be a big impact on his life. It's not that he hates the human race, because he truly didn't, it was the type of people humans were that pissed him off the most. Humans were those short-thinking, simple-minded, 'my way or the highway', beings that led his life to ruin (and still is). Their one-track hatred for things without even considering views from the opponent's side or even think about another's opinion really irks him and it isn't had to see why—but when they were children and this one double black, very adorable little boy (forced to wear dresses by his mother—again very adorable) came into his life, following him around everywhere due to a crush that wasn't concealed quite well just made Kasey fall in love (though it was just a case of puppy-love and nothing more).

But then his mother told him they were moving in with some family in a far off country back on Earth, young-Kasey's heart broke, even more so when he told his adorable little friend and he started to cry (of course by this time in their relationship Kasey revealed himself to be a boy and the two simply just became friends with one similar embarrassing memory).

A stray tear fell from Kasey's eye (the right one thank God—it would be embarrassing for him if Yuuri saw him cry). Kasey snickered to himself at his own wimpy-ness. He nonchalantly passed his hand on his face and rubbed the stray tear away. When he finally calmed down from his own mini-high, he realized how incredibly quiet their little caravan had become. Without glancing behind him, Kasey used his ears to see if there were in fact any conversations going on that maybe he couldn't hear from all the way in the front. Nope… nothing. Just breathing, horses walking and tack moving against bodies. Kasey straightened his back. As a man who is very uncomfortable with silence (when he lived on Earth he slept with a radio on all night just so he could sleep soundly, now he compensated for rigging one of those Japanese shishi-odoshi and fountain mix using materials he found around the castle) he just had to think of something to break this now becoming awkward (at least to him it was awkward) silence.

Then suddenly it hit him—like a baseball to the face. Kasey sighed softly to himself as he tried to remember the song. "Uh… how did it go?" He whispered to himself, his body slumping as he thought about it. When he finally remembered his body straightened again and with a big grin on his face he began to hum, at first softly but then more loudly as he became more confident in the lyrics and the way they form into the rhythm. At that point Yuuri turned his head as the humming became louder and the sounds became more and more familiar. It was at that point that the prince of Taurogo began to sing.

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I ever get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For its one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.

Yuuri grinned at the song and as Kasey began to sing it again, the Maoh joined in, the two voices now carrying the song all the way to the end of the caravan.

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I ever get back.

All the while as the prince and the Maoh smiled at each other as they sang, Murata urged his horse to join the front line and went to ride on Yuuri's free side where he too began to sing the baseball anthem.

Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For its one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.

"One more time?" Kasey asked the other two.

"Yeah!" The two double blacks answered in unison. The three took a deep breath and all together sung the song one last time as loudly as they could.

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I ever get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For its one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game!

The three laughed together at the finish of the song, each now having a new tie of friendship between them. "That was great! I haven't heard that song in years!" Yuuri sounded, truly happy to have heard that old song.

"It was great wasn't it Shibuya?" Murata asked with a grin on his face. "And let me just say, Kasey, you sing quite beautifully."

The prince giggled, rubbed the back of his head and blushed. "No… no, I-I really don't. It's just a hobby for me to be honest."

"No really. You could do that professionally."

"Oh, no—I just couldn't but thanks." Kasey blushed more, now mainly due to the embarrassment for blushing so madly in the first place but it was the first time he had been praised for his singing ability, though it really was just amateurish.

Yuuri grinned at his childhood friend. "No Murata's right Kasey. You sing so beautifully. I wouldn't mind if you sung me to sleep sometime."

Kasey laughed and was about to say something when the Maoh's fiancé pushed through between Yuuri and Kasey, quickly grabbing the demon king's ear. "If you wanted someone to sing you to sleep you could always ask me to do it!" Wolfram growled. "I, not only have great skill in painting, but I can sing too! I bet you didn't know your fiancé was so talented!"

"Wolf! Stop! It was a joke! W-Wolf—ow! That hurts!"

"Stop being such a wimp! Seriously! You're supposed to be the Great Demon King not some wimpy wimp!"

"OW! Come on!"

Kasey blinked wide-eyed at the scene before him, his blush gone and his giddiness from being praised before gone as well. He then chuckled and shook his head. "You two really are so adorable."

"Kasey! Don't encourage him!" Yuuri yelled before screaming in pain as Wolfram yanked his ear down. "OOOWW! Wolfram—damn it!"

The prince broke out into laughter then, his hands clutching at his sides as he leaned forward on his horse, Eser below nickering in surprise at his rider's sudden outburst. In that moment Conrad moved his horse into a trot and stopped before the familiar hill. "We're here everyone." Conrad announced as he turned his horse to view the others who have now all snapped back into a more orderly crowd. "Now, who's ready to play some baseball?"

*The 3 Acts of KKM: The Prince of Taurogo*

"Wow you weren't kidding Yuuri." Kasey whistled then in amazement. "You really do have your own team here."

Before them the Shin Makoku Demons (yes, a very original name) was practicing their pitches and batting in preparation for their next game against the team of the Dueling Dragons (made up of the people who live in the village next to the dragon reserve). "Yes, was there any doubt at all?" Yuuri said as he placed his hands on his waist. "I said that I made baseball the national sport here didn't I?"

"Well yes but…"

Yuuri chuckled softly. "So anyways Kasey, you said you played baseball?"

"Yes I played as both pitcher and shortstop. Our team kind of liked to switch roles every once in a while so that no one really got bored of their position."

"Wow. Shortstop and pitcher. I just played as the catcher."

"Hey, catcher's not a bad spot either."

"Yeah, but, wow, pitcher huh? You must have some arm."

"Eh…" Kasey shrugged. "I suppose so… I'm probably rusty now."

"Well hey, what about we practice together for a bit and we can go over our secret codes since we're gonna be on the same team right?"

"Right."

"So yeah, let's do that." Yuuri smiled and then looked around for Conrad. When he found him he was with the team already, explaining what was going on today. "Hey Conrad!" Yuuri projected over the field. "We're gonna be on separate teams today! So find yourself a good catcher and work up some codes with him!"

"Will do Your Majesty!" Conrad yelled back at him with a wave of his arm before returning back to talking with the team.

"Don't call me—oh forget it." Yuuri muttered to himself. Kasey tilted his head at him in question. "Oh, uh, Conrad's my Godfather—it's kind of a long story but I don't like it when he calls me 'Your Majesty' or any variation of it 'cause I mean he's my Godfather, he gave me my name, you know?"

Kasey nodded his head. "Ah… yes, I know. I understand my friend." Kasey looked at the stands and saw that pretty much everyone that came with them in their caravan minus Yuuri, Conrad and himself were in them. "Isn't Murata, King Saralegi or your lovely fiancé going to play a little ball?"

Yuuri laughed and shook his head. "Murata was a part of our team but he never played, he was like an advisor, aid or some sort and Sara doesn't know the game. Well… I mentioned it to him once or twice throughout the years but he never seemed into it meanwhile Wolfram still doesn't get the rules of the game no matter how many times I go over them with him."

"Ah, I see." Kasey muttered before he grinned largely.

"What Kasey?' Yuuri asked him when he saw that grin.

"Oh I just realized that you didn't say anything when I called Wolfram your 'lovely fiancé'."

Yuuri, not really paying attention at that moment (his mind is on baseball) said… "Why of course I didn't. He is lovely and my fiancé so…" The prince covered his mouth with a hand and began to laugh behind it, eyeing his childhood friend with a mix of giddiness and playfulness, raising one eyebrow suggestively. That's when it clicked in the Maoh's head. "Oh shit." That's when Kasey broke into hysterical snickering and where Yuuri smacked him in the arm. "Not cool man… not cool."

"Oh but's it's so funny. Just look at that blush on your face."

"Shut up! Not a word out of you!"

"Yes Your Majesty."

"Don't call me that! You're my friend!"

"Yes Your Majesty."

"Oh my God!" Kasey broke into hysterics again as he watched his blushing and slightly fuming friend go all ballistic on him. While in the stands an also fuming Wolfram was held back by Murata and Gunter to prevent the Little Lord Brat from attacking both royal men who were having a good, joking time on the field together.

Conrad came up to them then with a smile on his face because let's face it, when Yuuri gets strung up like that it's always a hysterical sight. "I informed the team of what we are doing today and I've found a catcher Your Majesty."

"Oh… well who is it?"

"Hello Your Majesty~!" Came the call from behind them. When they all turned they came face to face with Josak in a baseball uniform with the sleeves ripped off and the bottom was a pleaded skort.

Kasey release one burst of laughter before he covered his mouth (because that was rude) and turned away muttering… "Oh my God… this place is too much…"

Yuuri only stared at Josak with that typical 'What the hell…?' look on his face. "Uh… hey Josak."

*The 3 Acts of KKM: The Prince of Taurogo*

"It's game time! Let's go!" A player yelled out as the first inning was going into motion.

It was the Maoh's team to play defense first so they were out in the field and Kasey was extremely nervous. Even with the short practice before the game, he still felt rusty at the game and could think only doomed thoughts.

"Bad omen! Bad omen!" A Bad Omen bird squawked above them.

Kasey heard the knoll of a distant dark bell sound in his head and he squatted on the ground to wallow in his own reek of fear. "Yo! Kasey!" Yuuri yelled from behind the first batter. "You okay?"

Kasey shot up onto his feet, smiled and gave the Maoh a thumbs up. "Sure!" Yuuri gave him a thumbs up back and Kasey groaned to himself. "Not…" He half whispered half groaned to himself. Kasey expelled a breath he didn't know he was holding and stretched to try to relax his muscles—without success. "What is up Kasimir?" The prince spoke to himself. "It's just baseball. Sure you haven't played in like ten years but it's the same as riding a bike."

Come to think of it… I haven't ridden a bike in eleven years.

"Bad omen!"

The prince returned to his squatting position. "There's that bell again…" He muttered pathetically to himself.

"Your Highness!" Riscard's voice reached the prince's ears. Kasey looked up and scanned the nearly empty stands to easily find his protector standing in the stands, his hands formed around his mouth so that his voice could project more. "Your Highness, do your best! Remember; you are where the wind in your heart originates from! Feel the wind! Let it help you Your Highness!"

Riscard… Kasey thought as he watched his protector sit down and those around him watch him with confused expressions. The prince was sure that everyone was looking at them (Riscard and himself) due to that outburst but the words in it made the prince feel so much better.

The prince sighed and stood once more, this time a bit more slowly as he tried to relax and feel the wind as advised. Then, when there was originally little to no wind, a gust of wind came from behind Kasey, blowing his hair before him. Kasey breathed slowly, to calm himself some more as the wind circled back and began to circulate around the prince's body. He bent to pick up at ball and hold it in his right hand, he now ready to start the game. Yuuri, seeing this signaled his friend to throw a fastball. Kasey nodded once and lifted his arms over his head before slowly bringing them down to position one. Exhaling the prince raised his left leg and within in the next moment pitched the ball, a gust of wind blowing from behind him at the same time causing the ball to rocket through the air and straight to Yuuri's catcher's glove.

The batter didn't even have a chance to swing.

"Well…" Yuuri chuckled out as he stood and threw the ball back to the prince. "Nice throw Kasey! Not bad for someone's who's supposed to be rusty don't you think?" He yelled out to him.

Kasey caught the ball in his gloved hand with a smile. "What are you talking about? My form was all off."

"What?!" The team sounded, completely skeptical of the prince.

"But it was so clean…" A player muttered.

"Did you see that ball fly? Wow." Another commented.

Josak whistled as he sat in the dugout next to Conrad. "The prince sure does have an arm. I believe it's even better than yours Conrad." He added nudging his friend with his elbow.

Conrad though was not smiling. The Maoh may not have noticed, and perhaps even the team didn't either, but the prince was no average half breed demon… he was a wind elemental.

"Strike two!"

*The 3 Acts of KKM: The Prince of Taurogo*

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Huh… kind of a short chapter compared to the others that I have written so far but I liked that ending so I decided to leave it as it was… though this chapter did have a few parts in them that were total lol-moments that even I had to laugh aloud for. For example the "lovely fiancé" part and the "Josak in a skort" part. Ha… good times…

Anyways if you don't know the name of the song used in this chapter is "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and I DO NOT OWN THAT SONG! Oh and it's the modern version of that song, the older versions have other verses to it and are actually kind of lame…

I felt kind of bad for Kasey when the game was starting there for a moment…. in fact it's another one of my favorite moments in this chapter… that and Riscard's lovely words of encouragement. Go Prince-Protector-Relationship moment! "Risimir" is what I shall call it! The combination of Riscard and Kasimir! Yes. *winks and thinks to self "I sure hope no one takes this too seriously…"*

Please review!