lostmoonchild: Ohayo! Thanks for the reviews! As much as I would actually love to have the story end after this is done, there's still the daddy issue that needs to get worked out. No fears since I'm currently working on it and all I'm going to say is that not even our favorite double-blacks are safe from what's coming. I about died writing Dan's speech since I personally find it annoying but the only four year olds that I've ever been around have all talked like that. So let's get started!

Disclaimer: I don't own KKM so don't sue.

Chapter Thirty Three

He wanted desperately to do something to stop the fire that raged below but whatever Nieve had done to his eye was ultimately messing with his maryoku. A single glance told him that Gwendal and Conrart were each suffering from whatever was going on below and he knew that his fiancé was suffering just as badly. "Don't worry, Shibuya." Murata told the other raven. "Lord von Beilefeld will be fine."

Then what was this horrible feeling twisting around within him? He watched as those that had water maryoku struggled to put out the flames below with no avail, wishing he could be among those that was doing it. Those with earth and air maryoku were waiting on standby, prepared to do their parts in defending the castle. If push came to shove, he knew that each one of the soldiers would die for the sake of protecting their home.

Beneath he could hear the wounded being treated and knew that every medic available was working to treat the injured. Some of them were hysterical, going on about seeing their loved ones attacking their homes while others were in silent shock. He knew that he could be with them and trying to ease their fears but his body refused to move away from the wall where he knew that if arrows were to go flying he could very well be hit.

He looked down when he felt someone tug on his jacket, staring into reddish-brown eyes. "Tewl Daddy to go hewp Mommy. She's gonna hewp Wowfam but you gotta tewl Daddy to hewp Mommy." The boy pleaded.

"Who are you?"

Frustration showed on the boy's face. "Daddy has to hewp Mommy, Yuwi!" The boy suddenly started crying as he held onto his stomach. "I don't want Mommy to die."

"Hey! Are you hurt?" Yuri asked as he knelt down and tried to check only to have his hand pass through the boy. "What in the…"

"Pwease, Yuwi, tell Daddy to hewp Mommy."

He watched as the boy vanished, wondering who he was and who the boy's parents were. His features were familiar although he couldn't piece it together through the fog in his mind. "Yuri, please come down." Conrart told him. "It's too dangerous up here."

Yuri was silent as he stood up and went down to the courtyard, his mind racing. "How's your arm?" Yuri asked as he watched his godfather try to resist grabbing onto it.

"It's fine." Conrart lied.

"How's Gwendal?"

Conrart smiled faintly before answering, "Insisting on keeping Gunter away from Anissina. All of the injured have been tended to although we don't know the number of lives lost before our men were able to get to them."

Dark eyes scanned the area, immediately spotting Maria sitting with some of the orphans. She was singing to them and teaching them finger games that he immediately recognized. As he moved closer, he could hear her singing in an attempt to soothe the younger children. "Don't worry. If there's one thing that psychotic woman's good at, it's keeping herself and others alive." Diego told Yuri with a small grin.

It was clear that he was forcing himself to grin and Yuri couldn't help but be grateful for the man's attempts. "Yeah. I just wonder how long she's going to be able to keep herself alive." Yuri responded softly. "I know she's going to die tonight."

"You can't change the future unless you've got some pretty damn good talent." Diego paused. "Or you're sucking off someone else's ability. Question is, Yuri, who sucked off enough power to make it so she dies and yet still has you shoving her towards her father? You and I both know the brother's got his own agenda and it's different from their father's so it can't be him. There's another player in this game of theirs, Yuri, and I don't like that I don't know who it is."

"I know."

His dark eyes narrowed slightly. "No, I don't think you do. Not knowing who's playing this twisted game of hide and seek has gotten people killed in the past and I wouldn't be surprised if your previous incarnations had been pulled in once or twice. I just pray for your sister's sake and for the sake of everybody else that this new player's on our side."

"And if he's not?" There was caution in Yuri's voice as he eyed the other man carefully.

Diego gave him a solemn look before replying simply, "We're fucked."

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

He was used to staying where he was and fighting but as he stared at the dark-haired woman that was pulling him through the burning maze, he knew that she was trying to save him. Wolfram could see the panic in the woman's eyes grow each time the fire blocked their escape, somehow knowing that they were being directed towards the place they were to meet with Nieve's would-be murderer. "Get back to the castle!" Nieve screamed each time they saw a soldier. "Run!"

If they were to follow the soldiers then Wolfram knew that the path would suddenly be blocked by something. They were getting close to whatever Nieve had seen before all those months ago. "Wolfram!" Nieve shouted.

Immediately he used his maryoku to take out one of the formerly dead, cringing as Nieve used her maryoku to turn the flames into an inferno. He didn't think he'd ever be able to get the guttural cries out of his head and suspected deeply that they'd forever haunt his nightmares. Suddenly he saw the woman's eyes widen in horror as if a feeling had suddenly clicked itself into place. Behind her, he could see a shadowy figure approaching and from how the clearly male figure walked, he wasn't one of the dead.

"Wolf, run!"

Flames danced around the shadowy figure as she watched Wolfram prepare to attack. "I'm not going anywhere." Wolfram answered.

The wind picked up, feeding the flames and knocking the blonde down. "The little prince thinks he can play with the big boys?" A chill went down her spine at the voice. "Then let's play."

She grabbed Wolfram's uniform and pulled him up, her heart racing in fear. "Nieve!" Wolfram shouted at her eyes widened in horror.

The figure's face was lit up as the raging inferno grew stronger. The blonde knew the man and watched in horror as he threw Nieve into one of the houses that had just started burning. Taking steps back, Wolfram turned and began to run as quickly as he could back to the castle unaware that his fate had been unsealed the months ago when Nieve first came to him wondering why his flames and her wind worked together as one.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Nieve bit back a cry as she stared at the man before her, knowing from distant memories that she was looking at her and Jeremiah's brother. "You've grown so much, dear sister." The man smiled as his solitary crimson eye flashed in the light, showing her the silver that was consuming it.

Her body trembled as her eyes focused on the flames that slowly consumed the building, biting back whimpers that wanted so desperately to leave her lips. "I'm not letting you kill Yuri and the others." Nieve told him as she got to her feet and picked up a knife from the table. "Talbot."

Laughter left his lips as Talbot looked at her, his eyes dancing with excitement. "Did you draw my name from his memories, Nieve?" Talbot questioned. "Or do you remember hearing my name once upon a time before those stupid humans tried to burn you alive?"

"Does it matter? We're both going to die here you know."

Talbot smiled as he drew his sword, watching as the flames glinted off of the polished metal. "Yes, but our father's blood will not end with us. Another child has been born and is waiting for our lord and master to show him what must be done."

"Our lord and master? No," the woman smiled faintly, "he is not my lord and master. My lord and master is the one person that I would kill for. You gave me the choice to save myself and I chose to have him and the others saved. Now, my dear brother, let's finish this once and for all."

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

His entire body trembled as he quickly explained what had happened and almost didn't hear Yuri's curses. "She saw it beforehand and made it so you'd run!" Yuri exclaimed in exasperation. "Damn it!"

"Told you that psychotic bitch's smart." Diego commented.

Wolfram wanted to relax in Yuri's arms but found himself shouting, "That bastard threw her into a burning house then went in after her! He could be killing her right now!"

"She went in knowing she was going to die. Think of it this way, blondie, she'll go out swinging and she'll take the stupid bastard with her."

Yuri's eyes hardened as the pupils grew slightly slitted, letting them know that he was dangerously close to entering Moah mode. "Conrad," said Yuri stiffly.

"Yes, Heika?" Conrart questioned, suddenly standing at attention.

"If you expect to continue any and all make out sessions with my sister, then you'd better go get her right now."

A chill went down his spine at the realization that Yuri had known all along. "Yes, Heika." Conrart responded as he bowed softly.

"And, Conrad?"

"Yes?"

Yuri looked at him before giving him a weary smile. "Come back, okay?"

"Of course, Yuri."

As he rode down towards the burning town below, Conrart knew that he had Yuri's full blessing and prayed that he wouldn't be too late.

lostmoonchild: You know I actually looked at this story's publish date and realized that "Summer Snow" will be celebrating its first birthday/anniversary in only a couple of weeks so I'm stumbling back like "Holy crap..." but anyway I'm gonna try to sleep when this gets posted so read and review! Ja ne until next week!