Disclaimer: I don't own Kyo Kara Maoh…

Author's note: I made some revisions. Thanks for all those who includes me to their favorite author and my story in their alerts and favorites. Also thank you for the comment! PM me if you like to give me advices secretly or you just comment all you want, lol.

~o~

*## Start ##*

Juno returns home as what he calls it. It was long and rough journey that he traveled by horse then by foot. After making quick and rough turns deep in the forest he went inside a cave. Even though it was pitch black inside, he perfectly avoided all boulders big or small he passes. Then he sees the entrance of their home as there were two guards guarding it. The guards saw a human figure coming their way so they immediately sounded alarm. A group of soldiers came marching fast but when they recognized it was their captain they line up at the sides pave way to him. He reached the exit of the cave where an enormous creepy looking castle being repaired.

Years ago this place, it was an old rundown castle where most of its towers and roofs of buildings collapsed. Traces of what occurred in the place can be told easily as it was very obvious to tell. A great battle occurred to this place. So when Juno and his companions came to this place they had to repair it. Their leader who was Yuri's doppelganger once said to him.

"This place is where everything begun and where it will end. Once we revive this destroyed kingdom, we will rule over the worlds."

So with this purpose, they build armies of soldiers and hundreds of laborers rather slaves to rebuild the rundown castle. Juno doesn't take pity on these slaves even they die by torturous whips. Most of them were majokus after all and some were also humans who failed to support their army. He climbed up to the highest floor, reaching the room of his master. There was one boy guarding their master's door and immediately knock his door when he saw Juno. When he opened the door it was very dark. The thick curtains were close so the sun's rays won't get through the room. Only the light outside the door entered the room revealing Yuri's doppelgänger sitting on the emperor throne with head rest to one leg and the other at the ground.

"My Lord, Captain Juno has return" the servant said as Juno walks in.

Hearing Juno's name crack a nerve in his veins. He turns to gaze at his soldier and sees he's healthy and sturdy as before. Just by looking at him made his blood boil. It was because he did something unforgivable plus he didn't even return with the demon king. With his anger a big vase flies to Juno's direction and he immediately dodges it. Both he and the servant got surprised. Juno kneel one knee while bowing while the servant disappeared behind him.

"I'm sorry if I failed you, my Lord" he said aloud.

Yuri's doppelgänger stood from his chair and angry as he is, he walks in front of him. He grabbed Juno to his collar and tosses him in a side. Despite of the difference in physique Yuri's doppelgänger was stronger. Juno was in shock, he didn't thought he would be this angry to him.

"Juno! How dare you! I thought your loyalty belongs to me and mine alone!" he shouted angrily and he walks to Juno. Juno felt confused to what he meant,

"That's true, my loyalty is only yours," Juno replied immediately

"Liar!" he shouted at him slapping his face.

"I'm not lying" he replied

"Master Albert, that's enough," a woman shouted standing in the open door. Yuri's doppelgänger name is Albert as you can tell.

The woman looked older than the two and wore a black Chinese like dress with her violet long hair tied up. She walks to them.

"Master Albert, it's not his fault. It was me who ordered him to kill her." She said in a calm tone.

"This is none of your business, Madame Belle" Albert rudely mentioned in a low tone.

Albert, though he's the leader of the Human rebels he respected on Madame Belle, since she is their mother both him and Juno not biologically.

"It is. Stand up Captain Juno and come with me. We have many things to discuss." She said and ordered Juno to come with her. Juno was still confused to the subject but he couldn't be against to their mother.

"Whatever it is, I'm sorry, Albert." He said to Albert before him and their mother walk outside the room.

By then he was left in his room filled with darkness and loneliness.

# cuts #

Yuri, Wolfram, Conrad, Cecile, Adelbert, Annissina and VV were present at the Blood Pledge Castle. Yozak was out of town. Meanwhile, Gwendel and Gunter never came home from their meeting with the other nobles. It worried everyone a lot. They look for clues and answers to solve mysteries lurking in their minds but only to face more questions than answers. Silence surrounds the Blood Pledge Castle and everyone was serious in everything they do. Every soldier were on high alert, nobles, mayors, officials come in go in meeting King Yuri but only to face Cecile, and Adelbert. They had a regulation on who can meet Yuri and never let suspicious people talk to him as everyone became suspected to treachery. The proposed meeting was cancelled yesterday due to the interrogation Adelbert did to their enemies they've caught but will be done today.

Very early in the morning, he gets up from his bed and walks to the window. His mind is in confusion which leaves him unrest. There so many thoughts to ponder yet he couldn't even know where to start. He stares at the sun rising. Its rays radiate and lighten the entire place. The darkness enveloping the world gradually disappears in just few moments as it erases the fears and troubles people endure at night. Yuri felt envious to the sun. Envious to its ability to light everything and everywhere he goes. He wanted to erase the angst and depression everyone felt and light the way of the puzzle they're in.

Wolfram notices the empty space beside him and felt alone in the bed. He opens his eyes and saw Yuri wasn't at his side. He woke up finding him staring far outside the window. He felt sad and jealous at the same time. His concern for what troubles him irritates him; he knows what he was thinking. It was her he thought of. It's more than a week pass after the kidnapping incident, they were still stuck up in a maze. And the only way out to that maze was her and his brothers. He's doubtful to VV's identity before but never had he expected she was more than the person he thought. To a person who would be good in combat and a person who had powers. Her identity as human and as Yuri's friend is doubtful.

Wolfram sat on their bed and looked at Yuri's back for a minute. Then Yuri felt someone looking at him and turns to see Wolfram staring at him.

"Did I wake you?" Yuri asked. Wolfram was caught from his daze. He got a bit embarrassed and quickly laid on the bed.

"Yeah you did. But I'll just go to sleep again." He said and tried sleeping.

"Sorry," Yuri said and walked to the bed and sit.

"What's wrong?" Wolfram asked.

"I'm worried. I feel tensed all over my body." He said

"What are you worried about?" Wolfram asked though a bit aware of the answer.

"I'm worried to Gunter and Gwendel. It's been over a week we haven't heard anything from them." He replied being seriously concerned with the two.

"They were only staying at the meeting place of the nobles for two days and travel back in a day but it's been over a week since I've returned."

Wolfram sympathized to his feelings. He was also worried for his brother and Gunter but unlike Yuri he believes nothing could go wrong to their meeting. He also felt glad that it wasn't about VV.

"I'm also worried about them. But I believe they'll come home especially Gunter I know he can't wait to see you."

Yuri chuckled and turns to him.

"You're right, without them here makes it feel more intense."

He turns to his side facing Yuri lifting his head with one hand and the other to his side.

"I guess, but we're still here Yuri. Me, Conrad, Greta, mother, Annissina, Hubert's family, Adelbert is also here…" he said counting of everyone in the castle. He was assuring him.

"As long as you're alive, Yuri everyone will feel safe and everything will be fine."

"I guess you're right." Yuri replied

"Of course. I'm always right." Wolfram retorted then Yuri laughed throwing a pillow to him and both of them laughed. Their laughter lowers and then came silence.

"Then go to sleep already" Wolfram said while pulling his blanket.

Yuri turns to look at Wolfram and saw his eyes closed and breathing soundly. He sleeps fast! He thought. He stared at him, mesmerized.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Then he pulled the blanket over them properly and fall asleep still facing him. Wolfram opened his eyes feeling blissful for some reason and stared at Yuri's sleeping face. His in relief and happy, that he wasn't thinking about her. Even if he was worried about her he shouldn't get jealous. But still deep in his thoughts was the need to know Yuri's true feelings to her.

Meanwhile, that morning Adelbert paid a visit to VV's room. He stood beside VV's bed. He was very curious as to who is the girl Yuri brought from the other world. It was impossible to bring someone that is normal. He crossed arms tapping his fingers in his arm and trying to come with answers to his questions. Was it only by chance she got in the portal Yuri used? Or she actually has her own powers as the rumors said and that would be a problem. If she did then it would be a problem. Her having powers would make her in a serious situation in which will question her role. Adelbert at the present crisis, he doesn't want any intrusion for their plan to subdue their enemies and he thinks VV is one of it. He went closer to her and surprised to see her. She looks like his fiancée, Julie. It was the first time of him to see him directly. The image of her came rushing in to his mind. He still loves her more than anyone else. In a speed, he walked away and exited the room.

Moments later, in a restricted room two guards were guarding outside while everyone was inside have a meeting. Yuri, Wolfram, Conrad, Cecile, Adelbert and Annissina were inside the room talking about things happened. Also as Conrad's promised they'll be continuing where they stopped. After hearing about what happened to the battle between the enemies, they come to a point talking about VV and the woman Wolfram and Yuri knew through her. They were all curious to who she is as she couldn't cordially introduce herself to them at the present since she was still sleeping.

"For my opinion, I think she is friendly and a kind person. She got along well with Wolfram, when I saw them together. But when I saw her fight the captain of the enemies, it was very remarkable and suspected her to the least. She handled and defeated her opponent on her own. Having her as an enemy would be a trouble." Conrad was saying as everyone was amazed and agrees to him.

"Then she's an amazing girl" Annissina remarked.

"I'd like to meet her," Cecile excitingly said to know another woman who can also fight. Adelbert seems to disagree. His face didn't show any belief though it was Conrad who was saying it.

"Where did she learn her combat skills?" Cecile raised a question and everyone shifted their eyes to him.

"I didn't asked VV where, but she told me when we were kids that her aunt trained her every morning. That's why she sometimes gets sleepy in class." Yuri answered scratching his head whilst remembering other things related to that. Again to their amazement, it explains the fact combat became a part of her.

"For what reason?" Adelbert asked.

"For what I remember, her aunt told us it was a form disciplining her and being ready."

"To be ready with what?" Adelbert interjected.

"I don't know. Maybe as self-defense for anyone that'll try hurting her."

"Why? Are there people against her and her family?" he asked again

"No! I don't think so."

"Why?"

"Well because she's kind, friendly and a good person." He defended and continued with,

"Why are you interrogating me this way Adelbert-san?" Yuri got annoyed to the series of questions Adelbert gives.

"He's just asking some questions, Yuri. You shouldn't be defensive about it." Wolfram calmed Yuri as he getting pressed with questions.

"Sorry, but I just felt Adelbert was pushing it." Yuri apologized. Though what he said is true, the meeting became more of an interrogation type and there more tension in the air.

"This is a serious conversation, sire. Everything she does might have a reason to it that could tell who she is." Adelbert explained himself.

"Now, now. This is a meeting not an interrogation. We shouldn't pressure the majesty to his friend." Cecile said to cool the rest. Everyone agreed even Adelbert.

"What Adelbert is saying is that, we might find clues on why she is skilled and had powers." Conrad rephrased Adelbert said.

"I know but making me tell things about her, feel disrespectful to my part. Knowing VV she would answer all your questions to her openly if she was here." Yuri expressed.

"If that's what you feel, then just tell us how you met her and what you know" Wolfram said to him.

"Okay..." he agreed and everyone paid attention to him.

"I met VV for the first time when we were kindergartens and our family became very close to each other. She's very friendly, cheerful and popular ever since. She never fights nor bullies anyone but when I get to trouble she always came to save me. But we got separated for ten years after my accident and never saw each other until last two weeks. She only had an aunt as her guardian. She didn't have parents or siblings, I know of. Only the two of them but recently her aunt passed away, now she's the only one left. And she'sbeen struggling for the past years on her own without contacting us. When she arrived, we welcomed her happily and when she told us about the death of her aunt we grieve for her lost. So we took her in the family." Yuri ended. Through the story they became sympathetic to her.

"The poor girl." Cecile responded with tears.

"If I may ask, what exactly happened to her aunt, your majesty?" Annissina asked so that it won't give pressure to him.

"Her aunt was murdered in their house" Yuri answered feeling uneasy remembering VV's expressions when she was saying it.

"Does she know the culprit is?" Conrad turns to ask,

"I don't know. No one knows. VV saw someone when she entered their house but it was rather vague"

"She saw someone?" Wolfram repeated and Yuri nodded.

"How did she saw that person?" Conrad again asks hoping that it isn't to the very least connected their enemies.

"I don't know, we couldn't ask her more. She was crying when she told us about it and mom stopped as to ask her more even us we're concerned." Yuri said then everyone became very silent.

They were all seriously thinking. Adelbert and Conrad were connecting dots if she is ever related to them or the enemies. Cecile feels worried while Annissina felt concern to her. Wolfram felt sympathetic at the same time concern to Yuri's affection to her. Then bell ringing was heard and someone knocked on the door, disturbing the meeting.

"Enter" Conrad said and the door opened came out was a soldier who was guarding outside the room. Everyone was alarmed.

"Sorry for disturbing your meeting, your highness but this is an emergency." The soldier said,

"What is it?" Adelbert asked the soldier.

"What's happening outside?" Wolfram exclaimed seeing soldiers in groups running inside the castle.

"Some of the prisoners are escaping, and fighting our soldiers while others were releasing more of their kind." The soldier informed

"What the exact location of the escapees?" Adelbert walked fast to go out from the room.

"The meeting is adjourned, we'll continue this tomorrow. Conrad, come with me." Adelbert ordered before he left with the soldier.

"All of you here, stay in this room and don't leave this room until I or Adelbert say so" Conrad instructed.

"Wolfram I entrust you with Yuri, protect them." He said to Wolfram before he left.

"Yes I will." Wolfram replied and locked the room. He made distance from it and stood there holding his sword to be prepared.

"What's happening outside Wolfram?" Yuri asked walking towards him.

"There's a break out. The prisoners are trying to escape" Wolfram replied holding him before he gets out from the room.

"Are you sure?" Yuri asked again getting worried. Then Wolfram walked with him to the windows where Annissina and Cecile were standing

"See for yourself" he said pointing at the soldiers capturing and chasing the escapees.

"Your majesty, it's best to stay in this room" Annissina said before Yuri tells he wanted to go out and help.

"But… Greta and VV are outside this room" he said remembering his daughter wasn't allowed in the meeting and VV sleeping alone in her room.

"It's impossible for the escapees to get here for starters so we should hope she'll come to us. And for VV, she has protection from the guards guarding her door." Wolfram said

"Don't worry your majesty. I told Greta to be with Hubert's wife and the maids. They won't let her fall in harm." Cecile said to make them at ease. But still, not seeing those people outside the room makes Yuri worry.

#cuts#

Five of the enemies were making to their exit as Conrad and other soldier were closing near them.

"We can't make it! Their getting near us!" one of the prisoner (A) panicked.

"Shut up! They can hear you." Another man shut the panicking man. But their efforts being hidden from the soldiers failed. A soldier sighted them and immediately informed the others.

"There are prisoners here!" the soldier shouted and along the other soldier they chased them

"Shoot! They found us! Run!" a prisoner (B) yelled and run away from the soldiers.

"How did they reach this place!?" one of the captain of the soldiers fretted. Their cells were far from this boundary and it is more of a suicidal attempt coming in this area. And the area was in the castle grounds where the royal family rests. Death will come to them if they ever think, meeting the royal highnesses.

"Inform the captain about this, and call other soldiers to surround every corners of this building." He ordered one of his men.

The prisoners run through corridors and corners each meeting soldiers in every way. They run and hid as far as they can.

"We're surrounded!" the panicking prisoner (A) yelled.

"Stop panicking! They'll hear us again." A prisoner (B) covered his mouth.

"Put a sock on his mouth to shut him" another prisoner (C) said getting annoyed to his comrade. Then someone (D) did put a cloth on his mouth.

"We need to buy some time to escape. A distraction or something we could use to escape" a prisoner (A) suggested.

"I can see a little girl with brown hair at 2 o'clock" prisoner (E) said looking out to Greta. They didn't have second choices and agreed to that of taking her as a hostage.

It was late before she knew that there were prisoners escaped. Greta was playing hide and seek with the maid when the alarms rang they look for her seriously but didn't find her. Greta felt worried and went looking for Yuri and Wolfram. She came out from her hiding place and walked in the corridors quietly being scared. But then group of men appeared in front of her, she tried to escape. She turns around and then someone was already grabbed her.

"Stop! Ahhh!" she cried

"Sorry, little missy. But you're our ticket out of here." The prisoner (B) said to her, carrying her.

She was forced to come with them and she screamed when a prisoner (A) started scaring her. It was very loud that everyone heard her. They became worried and surprised.

"Greta!" Yuri exclaimed hearing her voice. He and Wolfram exchange glances and Wolfram knew that there's no stopping Yuri getting out so they went outside the room together.

The soldiers they found the prisoner at the flat ground where Yuri and Wolfram once dueled. They surrounded them but the prisoner's plan didn't change and they continued to barter the life of an innocent child. Adelbert and Conrad rushed to the place where they were informed. Wolfram and Yuri went also there; they got stuck on the second floor while the kidnappers were on the ground. The little girl felt very terrified as she cries in the prisoner's arms. Then prisoner (B) shouted while placing a knife to her throat.

"Give us our freedom and we won't hurt this child!"

*## End chapter ##*

I find the cover great and match quite what's on my mind. I just got it from Google so it's not mine. I just put the title in it, lol. What do you think?

As you read, I added a story in the enemy's side and will be doing it continuously. Anyway I think there's action in the next chapter but I'll make it simple and not complicated. Thank you for your advice! I'll do my best! Aja!

What will Yuri and Wolfram do when their daughter is in the hands of their enemies? Will they grant their wish of freedom in exchange of Greta's life? Or will they not? Is Yuri's life weighs more than the life of a child? Stay tune to the next chapter to what will Yuri do.*