DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE OR KYOU KARA MAOU!


Sorry for the wait! It's just that I did not know what to write and I also had to learn quite a lot as this is my last year of school. But finally a new chapter! I hope you like it (:

Oh and I think Yuri's kind of OOC at the end, I'm sorry for that, but I just had to write that part. I even had tears in my eyes while writing, but see for yourself (;

Also, big thanks for all the favorites and follows, I'm glad you like my story (you do like it, right?) (:


"speaking"

thinking

- flashback -


5 days before the 'War of the Best'

Yuri's POV

Two days went by since I decided to save a pirate I didn't even know just to prevent unnecessary sacrifices. Sounds like me, doesn't it?

I had a plan on how to save him, a very easy one. I planned to wait for the day of the execution and prevent the ship with Ace on board from sailing to Marineford. I thought it would be so easy, but I certainly didn't plan this!

I sighed as I looked at the white-haired marine in front of me. He raised his right eyebrow as he looked at me in disbelief.

"Tashigi… if I remember it correctly, we were told that he was the Maou, but isn't he supposed to have black hair and eyes?"

He sighed.

"Besides, he's just a teenager, he doesn't look like a king to me."

"It seems this was some kind of joke, Smoker-san." said a young blue-haired woman as she bowed as a sign of apology.

Smoker, as I now know, looked at her for a brief moment, before he looked at me again.

"If I find the person responsible for this, then…"

I didn't listen to the rest of their conversation. I sighed as I remembered what had happened.

Flashback -

I lay on the bed in my room and looked at the ceiling. It was my idea to save someone… a pirate … I don't know anything about… but to tell the truth I'm a bit scared, I mean I'm trying to prevent a war between one of the strongest pirates and people who hate Mazoku. I have the right to feel uneasy, even if it was my idea, don't you think?

"Everything all right, Yuri?" asked Wolfram who lay on the bed beside mine.

I sighed lightly.

"Yeah, I'm just thinking a bit"

I didn't look at him, because I know that I would tell him the truth if I did and I didn't want to talk right now.

I sighed again. It would be the best idea to rest for now.

"Goodnight Wolf." I say, but I don't get a response, he's already asleep. I slowly closed my eyes, but just as my mind began to drift away Conrad burst into the room.

"Yuri! We've got a problem! Hurry and get up!" he shouts.

"What is it?" I ask as I turn around and once again try to sleep, but Conrad wouldn't let me.

"You're in danger."

"What did you say?!" One would think it would be me who asked and jumped out of bed. To tell the truth I just sat up and blinked while Wolfram prepared to fight.

I yawned. I was still sleepy so my brain didn't work very well.

"Danger? Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"You wimp, you're still half asleep, wake up already!" Wolf shouted as he began to shake me.

"I'm awake… I'm awake… just let go, Wolf." I sighed.

"Okay, back to the problem. What kind of danger?"

Conrad looked at me.

"Someone must have seen you onboard this ship and informed the Navy. They came here to kill you, our king."

"What?!" Now I was really awake.

"How dare they-" Wolf began to say, before he collapsed on the floor. What did just … oh wait… I know what happened. We're still on a ship and Wolf gets sea-sick easily. Now count one and one together...

"Why would they..." I didn't finish the sentence as I already knew the answer. They hated us Mazoku. We were in great danger. I had to do something to get my friends out of here. I began to panic and… WHERE THE HELL IS MURATA IF YOU NEED HIM?!

Okay, Yuri, stay calm. It's not really a good sign if the leader panics while everyone else remains calm, is it? We need to get out of this. I need a plan… a plan… that's it! They want me, right? Only me.

I take a deep breath. Why can't I have one trip without anything happening?

"Conrad." I say.

"If I told you something… if I gave you an order, would you listen to me? Would you do what I told you? Would Wolf do so?"

Conrad looked at me, suspicion visible in his eyes. He probably knew where this was going.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Good."

I take another deep breath. I'm shaking… I'm scared, but I have to be brave. I have to at least let my friends escape.

"Conrad. I order you and Wolf to stay here, no matter what happens to me, you do not interfere. You take the ship and head back to Shin Makoku, contact Murata. I hope he knows what to do. I will take care of this. Please… do as I say."

I swallow, but a slight grin appears on my face. I bet Gwendal would be proud… this was the first time I really acted like a king. Or is it selfish to let my friends escape? Is it selfish or brave to leave them behind in order to keep them safe?

"Yes, Yuri." Conrad finally says.

Yuri… He only calls me by my name when something bad is about to happen.

I'm sorry, Conrad, Wolfram, everyone. I leave the kingdom to you all. And Greta. I hope she won't be too sad.

I turn around and begin to walk towards the staircase. I smile lightly. I feel like I am walking towards hell. Will they even listen to me? When I tell them that I will go with them if they keep my friends safe. Will they do it? What will happen to me afterwards?

What will Mom do? How will she react when I don't come home? What about Dad and Shori?

I was so deep in thoughts that I did not realize that I was already on deck.

I look around, there's nobody here. Okay, that's not quite right. I mean… there's marines, but no one from our crew.

I clear my throat as I approach a tall man with white hair and a slightly smaller woman with dark blue hair.

"Excuse me. I would like to make a proposal."

Flashback end –

Smoker looks at me once again.

"Kid, you said that you're the Demon King, right? But it is kind of hard to believe that a powerful kingdom like Shin Makoku would make a mere teenager their king, don't you agree?"

It was more of a statement. It was not like he gave me the opportunity to say something else.

"I know that it might be hard to believe. You know I did not really choose to be the Maou. I was … kind of forced to take this position, but I came to really like it. It's up to you if you believe me or not, but I am telling the truth even you do not believe it, it IS the truth.

I told you already and I will say it again: I will go with you. I will neither try to escape nor try to harm you in some way, if you just promise me that everyone else on this ship will be left alone."

I try to seem confident and powerful, but… truth to be told I am so scared that I would really like to jump into the ocean and go home. But that would mean leaving everyone behind… betraying them… I can't do that.

"Prove it. Prove to me that you are the real deal and I will accept."

"And how do you think I could do that? Should I take off the wig?" I did so.

"Should I remove the contacts?" I did so. Although it was kind of hard as I was never good with them.

"Should I show you my power?" I did so.

"What else can I do?!"

I'm really desperate right now. I want to save everyone, but I can't make a deal if they do not believe me! Damn it!

"That's enough."

Damn it!

"Handcuff him."

Damn it!

"Bring him over to our ship. Then we leave.

You hear me, kid? I accept. We will take you, we will imprison you, but we will leave your subordinates alone… for now."

Dam- What? I look at Smoker surprised, but then I smile lightly. I do not protest as they cuff me and bring me on their ship. I let them guide me towards a cell. I let them lock me in. But… I do not really care that I can't escape from here. I'm not desperate or sad, I'm relieved and happy, or so I thought. Conrad, Wolf, Chérie, everyone… they will be safe.

"Thank you." I mutter as one of the soldiers locks the door.

"I'm so glad…"

What is this?

"… that my friends can return home safely and…"

A single tears runs down my cheek.

"… that they won't be harmed in any way."

Why am I crying?

"But…"

Why does my chest hurt suddenly?

"…I'm also sorry…"

If feels as if my heart is being torn apart.

"…that I can't be with you anymore."

What is it?

"Now that we are apart. Now that we probably won't see each other again…"

It is so painful.

"… just now after all this time…"

It feels like I lost something very important.

"… I realized…"

As if one half of me was missing. What is it? So many tears, so much pain. A face. I see a face. Who is it? Blonde hair, green eyes, male. My eyes widen as even more tears run down my face. I begin to sob.

"… how much I love Wolfram!"


Now it is getting interesting. Soon Yuri will meet Ace, will they become friends or enemies? How will Wolf react when he finds out what Yuri did? Stay tuned (;


Please review and tell me what you think! :D

Until next time