Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KYOU KARA MAOU

It is not my property, no profit made.

Warning: a bit of language.

From now on, from time to time, I will alternate Yuuri's POV and the third-person narrative.

xx

" So you mean, you were aware of who Gaetan truly was?" asked a dubious, yet infuriated blond mazoku as he and his black-haired companion were strolling through the forest above the caverns, with their horses. Murata gave a weak smile.

" I had doubts."

" And you completely failed to protect Yuuri or tell us about it?" Wolfram gritted between his teeth. He was glaring at Murata. This one just shook his head:

" I wanted to but this Valten Theobald just took all of us aback...and by surprise. He's unpredictable. I couldn't know."

" How the fuck you couldn't know?" Wolfram yanked harshly the reins of his horse that emitted a low moan at his action. He stared at the spectacled boy. " You should have told me from the beginning! Yuuri would be with me right now, and I would not fucking have my blood boiling like this in my veins! I'm so angry you can't even imagine! Have you thought of what could happen to both Yuuri and Greta! You should have warned us as a Sage! It was your duty!"

Murata sighed and lost his smile, but still was composed and calm despite the blond's fit of anger.

" I'm sorry...but as much as you may hate me at the moment, I hope what I'm going to tell you will cool you down. Whereas you were all sleeping, I was sending messages to your brothers. I said them I met a man in an inn near his "den", shortly after my arrival in Shin Makoku, named Gaetan. And from this very meeting, I suspected him to be an enemy. He was wearing a medal that only Valten's allies wear, a kind of golden dragon, on their hips or chests...Then, as he thought I was a native of this world, despite my black hair, he didn't pay too much attention to my actions, and that was probably his only mistake. Even his friends, who had been with us before he and I left for Blood Pledge Castle, tried to warm him about me. I think he was deeply fascinated to meet a real double black – that could also explain his seductive behaviour towards Yuuri- but he told them off and they finally had no say anymore.

That is why he loosened his guard around me, though, not totally, but it was enough for me to observe a few things that betrayed his real identity. I noticed too many people were demonstrating too much respect for a simple commoner. He also had better clothes than most of them, and everyone knows that Valten Theobald is a rich merchant. To continue, when I visited the small village he was hiding in to prepare Yuuri's abduction on my first day, I saw a few banners with insulting tags written on them against the Demon Kingdom. They encourage people to reverse our king, and rebel against every mazoku. On those banners, were drawn a dragon, the same on the badge, and a blond man. He totally looked like Gaetan...the next day, someone removed all the banners...maybe to lessen suspicions about their actions.

So I wrote to your brothers, and for that, I've used those tiny green birds that in Shin Makoku, people barely use, to send messages. They responded, and trusted me enough when I sent proof of my identity as the Sage. So they told me to keep informing them, and vice versa, they've been doing me the same. That is how I learned a half mazoku spy was sent to find Valten's living place and inform them the most possible. So far, I know this spy sent your brothers plans of the castle Valten owns and maybe holds Yuuri prisoner in, the number of people working in, the weapons they may use and other details.

We have just lost Yuuri in Valten's claws, but you can be sure he's not going to kill him. Because he wants him to be a part of his machination. Everything is going to turn fine, believe me. Wolfram von Bielefeld."

Wolfram was breathing more slowly, his nostrils barely swelling as an indication that Murata's words had worked on him as a soothing medicine. He eventually gave a nod and heeled in his horse's side to make the equine walk again.

" Right. It better get fine for Yuuri and Greta." Then, he turned his back to Murata. This one let out a sigh of relief, saying to himself he'd just escaped death from a fire-manipulating mazoku. For a very brief instant, he wondered how Yuuri, the Yuuri he knew, had dealt for so long with someone like Wolfram. And even grew to love him. Love.

" Ahaha, we have to trust our own friends, Lord von Bielefeld."

" Yeah," Wolfram drawled. " Maybe there's some hope left in such calculating a Sage as you. But you're my wimp's friend, so I guess I have to trust you."

My wimp?

xx

Yuuri's POV

I had kept Greta with me since the morning. She had slept in her bedroom and me in my own, two guards watching over us during the whole night. I was a bit too distrusting and on my guard, but one is never sure 100 per cent. I was afraid they might rape her, under my nose, to torture us. I'd never imagined such things before; but now, I suspected everyone around. Now, after the breakfast, they allowed me to stay with Greta. In the afternoon, she was still with me and we got no visit. She took care of my sore wrists in spite of the fact I 'd told her I had healing magic.

" Yeah, maybe," she said rolling her eyes. " But from what I have seen, you really haven't used it either."

Ouch. Father is going to order you to be less insolent with me, Greta. Nonetheless, her witty reply put a smile on my face, and I wrapped my arms around her.

" I'm so happy you're fine."

" Me too, dad," she breathed my scent " and I hope we're going to find a solution to run away from that place."

" Yes, I hope too, don't worry."

There was something strange about Greta, but I was to glad for having her with me to give it further attention.

When someone flung my door open, I knew our peaceful moment was going to break like a shattered glass. I was already pissed when I parted from Greta. " What?"

Valten Theobald was gazing at us with an annoyed expression, one hand on his hip. It reminded me so much of Wolfram, on the instant, that I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He didn't notice my troubled countenance, though, and told the guards behind him to bring Greta to her bedroom. I was going to protest, but they acted quickly. My eyes caught sight of the big brown bag he held in his other hand.

" Is she going to be well treated?" I asked with a contained anger. Greta looked at me until they completely dragged her out of my bedroom.

" You keep asking that when you already know the answer; so stop bothering me with it, okay?" he closed the door behind him once everyone else was out.

" What is that?" I pointed his bag.

A more cheerful expression came on his face. He approached the bed I was sitting on, his footsteps muffled in the thick white fur rag, and said:

" Did you think I didn't know you threw all the pretty petals I killed myself to spread on your bed, by the window? Silly Yuuri. What was my surprise when I saw a red rain falling from your gated window, from my office. It was amazing...yet frustrating."

He opened his bag and to my surprise, it was full of petals...the same ones. " Does it ring a bell?" he inquired with a fake innocent smile. Without paying attention to my scowl, he spread them again all over the bed by shaking the open bag. As though a heated iron stick had burnt me, I jumped to my feet, putting distance as much as possible between me and my bed.

" Yuuri," he called with a dark tone and clouded eyes " come to the bed, right now, or I'll tell my guards to beat Greta."

" No...you wouldn't do that...What the hell do you want from me!" I felt my blood leaving my head, making me imagine I was pale as a dead...

" I said: come to the bed, right now," he said more slowly. He looked so serious that for the first time, he gave me the chills. I'd be over the moon if someone could rescue me now. It was blue-grey eyes filled with hatred, pain, lust and violence that encountered mine. His darkened mood shadowing his face told me I was in front of a murderer.

Standing on cautious feet, I headed back to the bed, trembling. He didn't stray his gaze from me and when I sat down, he finally crawled by my side. I wanted nothing more than getting away from him; I felt like I was betraying Wolfram. We were facing each other, his demeanour calm unlike mine, just as my heart was throbbing hard in my chest.

" I don't seek a painful confrontation. I want you to listen to me."

" I've been only longing to hear what you wanted to say," I answered in a breathe. It was him who delayed that moment of talk. He could only put the blame on himself. He gave a more satisfied smile, though the dark expression didn't leave his face.

" Fine. I would like to begin with my own history." He crossed his legs, I nearly mimicked him. " I'm the son of a former soldier of Shin Makoku. His name was Martin Medved Bridge. A very courageous human man, someone that everyone would love. He met my mother in his 24th year and married her two years later. They had me. I am their only child. My father had been one of the bravest soldiers of the kingdom, and fought for the country many times. He had put his life in danger countless times without getting injured until that day. It was a battle against rebels. Everyone agreed to say he was one of the bravest on the battlefield, displaying a courage rarely seen by soldiers of his age; but he came back, wounded and weaker than he had ever been in the past. Despite everything he had done for you, the mazoku tribe," at that moment, his eyes became wet, his tears threatening to tumble down " he had got no award, no money, nothing that could then help him to pay the medicines, the doctors, and the food for us, that he so needed after that battle. He was sick! And every fucking damn mazoku left him in his misery, in his misfortunes! Even the ex-queen, Celi! She could have done something for him, but she turned a blind eye, like everyone else because she was too busy with mating with every man she met! I wrote myself millions of letters so that he could be better paid, but we got no answer! And then, just as you can easily guess, my father died..." his voice became lower, broken. " He was everything my mother and I needed, and I lost him because no one wanted to help him. He was left in his penury without any compassion. What was the purpose of encouraging him to defend a country he loved just to have him ignored in the end? I pondered over this question years and years before I stopped doing so and started accepting the hatred I felt for this kingdom! I have to get a revenge. I've been putting every means on my side.

First I've become rich by working; and now, I have people allying to my cause. We want our revenge against all the outrages you've done to us."

His tears hadn't fallen, surprisingly. He's tougher than I am.

" That's why you kidnapped me." My voice was calm, and shaky at the same time. His story, if it was a true one, tore my heart.

" It was one of the parts of my plan. But not the biggest." He looked determined again and seemed to fight back his tears until they were annihilated. " The biggest one is that you have to abandon the kingdom of Shin Makoku. I want you to work with and for us. I want to create something new that is not directed by Mazoku people anymore, but by Humans, now. We have to revolution this world, together. Recreate a world where injustice towards non-mazoku no longer is. I have already a program.

I wanted to kill you, because of everything you represented. But then, people told me about your blood, your kindness and you generosity towards people like me. So I decided to make you a friend, an ally, and not a simple ally. You have powers and enough clairvoyance to see what is good and what isn't. You're definitely an essential piece to my puzzle."

" And did you think threatening me, my friends, my family and treating Greta like you've done would help you?"

" I-I don't care! It was for my plan! I had to make you understand! Otherwise, you would never have listened to me!"

" You could have asked for a meeting, or something like that instead of using violence! Every sane person would have figured it out! Even a child would understand that! It's called "diplomacy"! Seeing how ready you were to menace people's lives just enraged me. That is not what I would expect from someone who says he wants to create a better world. I only see a sick man in your eyes. A man who needs help."

He was staring at me, the colours in his eyes wavering because of some internal trouble I may have aroused in him.

" What would you do of my friends if I ever grant you power?" I continued, softer " these mazokus that you despise so much are my friends, my family. I love them, and they do me, without any doubt. So the mere idea of someone hurting them because of their blood sickens me too much. And in that case, I'm unable to agree with you."

Silence took place after our voices...

He was still deeply staring at me, my words sinking in his mind as ice would drown in a glass full of water. He gave me the impression he couldn't believe what I said. I'm sorry if I did hurt him or struck a sensitive chord. But I couldn't restrain my frustration and those words any longer. They would have slipped past my lips any way...

Just when I thought we both lost our tongues, he said, with such a low voice that it was hardly more than a whisper:

" ...You would abandon me...?"

"...What? What are you...?"

" You really hate me, don't you?"

He took me by surprise, and I found myself tongue-tied in front such astounding words, and such gripping a sadness in his eyes.

Suddenly, a bell started ringing, outside. We both startled, turning our eyes towards the window.

" What?" he said. Anxiety and stupefaction seemed to have stunned him. " An enemy has attacked the castle?"

So it was an alarm.

He jumped to his feet and headed with haste towards the window. As I was as curious as Valten was, I raised up from the bed and wanted to check by myself. I was wondering what he saw. But when he swivelled his face back towards me, I knew then he was terribly, terribly angry and upset. A deep frown was wrinkling his usually young-looking face.

" What have you done?" he barked. He was yelling with a new ferocity. " Have you sent informations to your subordinates?"

" What?..they're here?"

He slung my face with so much strength that I wobbled and slid on the ground.

" You'll have less time to cheer up when you learn what I've reserved for you."

He gripped my arm like some hungry eagle and lifted me up to my feet. He jerked me forwards as we strode to the closed door.

" Where are you leading me? Tell me!"

" You don't want to know."

Once again, just like yesterday, his voice had taken a frightening freezing edge. As he opened my door, a sudden giant maid faced us, her long white dress doing nothing to hide her super muscles. I could guess her muscled calves beneath that linen white skirt and her high cheekbones under the endless cascade of red curls.

But then, I could see who it really was, my heart pounding with renewed relief.

" Yoz..."

" It's me, kid!"

" What the f..." Valten began, horribly astonished; but the punch Yozak gave me straight in the face sent him to dreamland.

" Weirdo..." he just had time to let out before falling on his back, ridiculously and somehow amusingly. I blinked twice at the now- so suddenly!- sleeping form at our feet. But Yozak rested a heavy hand on my shoulder:

" Your majesty, how are you feeling?"

He expressed a real worry that went right to my heart. Like a child who found back a parent, I took him in my arms:

" Better! Thank you! You've been there!"

" Yes, I've gotten a lot of info about that place. Even if people here always praise Valten Theobald, I'm pretty sure he hasn't treated you well. Now, follow me, we have to get out!"

" Wait! There's Greta!" And the sleeping one, too, by the way...

" I know!"

That was why, taking my hand, he kicked Greta's door open, the lock breaking in the action. Greta was sitting on the bed, busy with...fastening every sheet she'd found to make...

" Greta!"

" Dad!" she leapt into my open arms.

" What were you doing?"

" A rope! To escape by the window!"

I smiled widely at her idea. Despite his joy to see us reunited, Yozak hurried us up; the three of us all left the room. We ran like crazy animals through the multiple corridors the spy chose for us. I was wondering how he had really arrived here, and what role he'd played again to save me. Nonetheless, I was truly happy at the moment and I trusted his skills enough to keep running. Seeing no opponent on our way, but only hearing their alarmed voices, gave me a very eerie feeling of glee and relief. No obstacles anymore.

As we saw a door, at the extremity of a long, dark corridor, my smile came back on my lips.

A word floated on them.

" Freedom."

TBC