Hi, everyone. Another day, Another chapter. On today's menu we will be serving reconciliation, surprises, and a little bit of love. Never fear, Chapter five is all about Conrad and Yuri. As always, thank you so much for reading...and your reviews have been very much appreciated! So, it's no to owning Kyou Kara Maou, but...yes to having fun playing with it.

In the end, Murata had pushed Yuri into the fountain at Shinou's shrine. Yuri was certain that he heard the original king's laugh as he was swirling through the water, clutching onto his terrified daughter. And, of course, by terrified, what he really meant was that his little girl acted as though being sucked through a watery vortex was a class-A amusement park ride. She was definitely spending way too much time with Anissina.

So, when Yuri pulled himself and Greta out of the kiddie pool in his parents' backyard, he was angry. No, he thought to himself, angry couldn't cover a quarter of what he was feeling. He was outraged, livid, incensed—and he felt duped. He'd been forcibly removed from his home and the man he loved—and that man was in terrible trouble, he knew that now—just to find himself wet, bedraggled, and accosted by both his parents and Shiori.

As soon as Murata bobbed up in the pool, Yuri slammed his head back beneath the water. The great sage's legs flailed stupidly and his arms wiggled.

"I'm going to drown you, Ken," Yuri promised, "in five inches of water."

"Daddy, what are you doing to Murata-sama?"

Yuri blinked and let his friend, scratch that, former-friend, go. He felt the blush creep across his cheeks. "Oh nothing, it's just something we do." He shot Murata a look that communicated everything he needed—they would talk, in agonizing detail, later. To his credit, the other boy nodded his head. The promise was made.

"Yu-chan!" His mother's happy squeal was followed by a towel flying through the air and landing on his head. "Are you here for curry, and who is this sweet little girl?"

Yuri snatched the towel off his head, stepped out of the pool and began to tenderly dry Greta's hair. "Mom, this is Greta, my adopted daughter—"

"Kawaii!" His mother's voice became impossibly high. "You've brought me grand-daughter, Yu-chan! But…where are her wings? Do you have wings hiding back there, little one? Come and give me hugs."

Greta giggled. "I don't have wings, I'm a girl!"

"Mou! Well, you're still young, maybe they will sprout later."

Yuri watched as his mother gathered up his daughter in her arms and took her inside, chattering away about dresses and dolls and all the fun they were going to have.

"Yuri." Shiori's voice cut through him. "There is something wrong, I can tell. Where is that smug man that follows everywhere you go."

"Conrad is…" Yuri's throat seemed to close. He coughed and tried again. "Conrad is…"

"Weller-kyo is not very well at the present moment, older-brother-of-my-friend." Murata's voice was soft. "And Shibuya-san, perhaps we could all have a word inside?"

Yuri's father nodded, his usually smiling, carefree expression became carefully neutral. "Let's go inside."

"Before that," Yuri said, catching his father's arm. "Could you call Doctor Vaughn? I want Greta to see a doctor…tonight."

"Of…Of course, son. I don't know if she will be able to make it, though."

"Please, Dad. Just call her."

Yuri spent the next hours in a whirlwind of activity. Doctor Vaughn had been called, and Yuri's old pediatrician had taken time from her schedule to come to the house to check on Greta. Murata had spent a long time explaining Hjerteskaerende and what it meant exactly. He turned the term over in his mind. Conrad was suffering from an illness, a disease, that could cause him to lose his mind and eventually die from a systemic shutdown as a result of a high fever. He didn't exactly understand the physical symptoms, but it seemed to be the direct result of an emotional breakdown. Yuri frowned. He knew about people suffering depression, but they made pills for that, right? Could a person really, truly die because of a mental breakdown. And how could this happen to Conrad anyway? He was perfect…he had always been perfect…he would always be perfect. Conrad the strong. Conrad the just. Conrad the wise. Conrad the beautiful. Conrad the sexy. Yuri sighed. How could his knight have been so stoic through all this? Murata had said that it had likely been coming on slowly for a couple of years.

"How could I have missed this?" He whispered.

"Missed what, Yu-chan?"

Yuri looked up to see Dr. Vaughn come out of the sliding glass door and onto the porch. She smiled at him in that special way she had—like she had a secret, and she was enjoying keeping it.

"Make a hole, kiddo." She said.

Yuri slid over a little bit and she sat next to him on the stairs.

"Want to talk about it?"

Yuri sighed. How could his doctor understand what he was going through. What was he supposed to say, "By the way, I live part-time in another world, where I'm the king, and I was engaged for a long time to an 80-year old guy who looks like he should be in a boy-band, and that little girl you treated is our daughter—oh, and yeah, the man I love with all my heart is dying and there's nothing I can do to help." Yeah. That was a good idea. But then again, his doctor was a woman, over six feet tall, blue-eyed with long, curly brown hair. She had also been his first crush—so maybe it wasn't so weird.

"How's Greta?" he asked, instead.

"Healthy, beautiful, very worried about her Uncle Conrad, Uncle Gunter and her Papa."

"She told you?"

"Just a little bit. But, maybe you should tell me yourself. I realize that I'm not strictly your physician, Yu-chan, but doctor-patient confidentiality is still in place."

"Gunter is…like a mentor. And lately, well, he's been very different with me. Impatient, cold. I never thought he would ever be like that. He used to adore me, or I thought he did, and I guess I took that for granted. Anyway, we ended up fighting with each other, and I sort of…fired him."

"Wow, that sucks," Dr. Vaughn said as she settled her arms on her knees—a pose Yuri knew from years as her patient meant that she was really listening. "Do you regret it?"

"Of course! Gunter…well, Gunter is a great man, and I never thought we could have that kind of fight. I just want to make it better."

"An apology, and gifts—from the heart. Nothing grandiose, just a token that shows you appreciate him. OK, that's one problem solved, on to the next."

"That's it? Just like that? You think that will work?"

She nodded. "I'm a doctor, Yu-chan. I'm paid to make quick, accurate assessments. Go on, though, what about this Conrad person?"

"Conrad…means a great deal to me, to all of us," he amended quickly. "Have…have you ever heard of someone dying of a broken heart? I know it sounds stupid."

"Well, we all die of heart failure, eventually, Yuri, but I don't think that's what you mean. If you mean can grief prove to be fatal…? Well, yes, if compounded by secondary behaviors—drinking, reckless driving, suicide…that sort of thing. Why don't you explain this man's symptoms to me?"

Yuri stumbled through what he knew, adding the information he'd gotten from Murata and what he'd observed of Conrad himself. When he was finished, Dr. Vaughn looked up. She had a thoughtful expression in her blue eyes.

"That's really something. I've never seen anything like that in my practice, but, then, I'm a pediatric oncologist—your mother insisted I take care of you and Shiori because she trusted my eyes. You know all about that, though. Your…friend sounds like he's in real trouble."

"I have been thinking this whole time, about what I can do to help him. I have the people around me, who love me, who are trying to help him. But I wish you could see him. You're just so smart. And Wolfram, too. I'm really worried about him. Conrad hit him so hard, I thought his skull must have cracked."

"Wolfram? That's the jealous blonde Sho-chan told me about?"

Yuri nodded.

"Well, I guess I could take a quick peek at them if you like. They're not kids, but my first aid isn't so bad."

"You're a surgeon." Yuri said flatly.

"I know! How cool is that?"

Dr. Vaughn's laugh was infectious. Yuri had always admired her. In some ways, she reminded him of Conrad—or rather the way Conrad used to be, except that Conrad wasn't as flashy, and where Conrad's jokes were hideous, Dr. Vaughn could make anyone laugh. She was just that good. Then Yuri frowned. What was he supposed to do now? Ask her to step into the pool?

"They…They're really far away. I don't…I don't think you'd understand."

"Try me, Yuri." Her face was suddenly serious. "Your mother is busy dressing your daughter in all your old clothes—and btw, we're going to have to talk about your cross-dressing habits at another time—so it's a good time to travel, right? Your father and brother have a handle on the house, and I think your friend Murata might have already left. My car is just outside, so…shall we?"

"It doesn't quite work like that…" he sighed. What should he do? He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. He was the king, the maou, and one of his subjects needed him. Dr. Vaughn was a great resource, the top of her field, and she might be able to help. Didn't Yuri have a responsibility to do everything in his power to save Conrad?

"You'll want to take your medical equipment, right?" he asked. "And…did you just say b. t. w. instead of By The Way?"

"Of course I'll need my kit, and yeah, I love text-speak—cracks me up!"

"You are the weirdest doctor…ever."

"I know it!" She grinned. "But that's how I get to sleep at night, kiddo. Now, you take some time to pick out something of yours for this Gunter-fella, and I'll get my stuff from my car."

"We're going to need one of Mama's space bags," Yuri said. "Meet you in half an hour, back here?"

"Let's do it."

In the end, Yuri had taken almost the entire time choosing gifts for Gunter. He had them tucked safely in a ziplock-type bag. When he came back outside, Dr. Vaughn was already waiting for him. She was holding a large, cube-like bag that had been completely squished down. It was very lumpy.

"Do you have everything?" he asked.

"Everything I can carry, yeah," she said. "But, seriously…space bags? Wow, I never had so much fun with a vacuum."

"Mom," Yuri sighed under his breath.

"No worries, kiddo. Let's just get this done, right?"

It suddenly struck Yuri as he guided the doctor to the kiddie pool. "You…You don't remind of Conrad…you remind me of Yozak!"

Her light, tinkling laugh made Yuri smile, despite the seriousness of the situation. "Yozak? He's a carrot top, while I am blessed with beautiful, mahogany hair! But, he does look better than me in a dress."

And with that, Doctor Vaughn jumped into the pool and disappeared. Yuri sputtered incoherently as she disappeared from view. What the hell? He stumbled, tripping over his own feet and smacked into the water. Instantly, he felt the suction.

Hold on, Conrad, he thought. I don't know what's happening but I'm going to fix this.

--O.o.O--

How do you pack up a life? That was the question currently uppermost in Gunter Von Kleist's mind. How do you distill a lifetime of memories and emotions into a few cases and just move on? He crossed his room and opened his wardrobe. Sure, he could place the clothes in a valise, but how could he pack up the story about the wardrobe itself—how Cheri-sama had commissioned it for him because he happened to remark one afternoon that he felt bad when his cape wrinkled in his then too-small armoire.

"Gunter. What are you doing?"

He didn't turn around to face Gwendal. He didn't want his friend to see his tear-streaked face.

"You should be sleeping, Gunter. Conrad is stable now, and the last five days have been very trying for all of us."

"It will take months to repair the castle."

Gwendal cleared his throat. "I'll tell Yuri-Heika that it was me who blew the wall out of his bedroom."

"It doesn't matter. You can tell him the truth. You can tell him I did all the damage if you want, Gwendal. I won't be here."

"You can't mean that. You love him, too. You're not going to let it end like this, are you?"

"I've told you, I've told him, I've told the world…yes, I love him. He is our king, and he is already the greatest king Shin Makoku has ever had—stronger, and more loving than Shinou, Kinder and sweeter than Cheri-sama, I pledged my life and sword to him, because I love Shin Makoku and no one can do what he can, Gwendal. But, he released me from his service. He wants me gone and so, I will go."

"The boy thinks you hate him, Gunter. He doesn't want you to hurt, and he doesn't want to keep you against your will."

Gunter did turn then and leaned on Gwendal for support, crying into the man's shoulder. "I was just so frustrated! It's been years that our Conrad has pined for that boy…and it's painfully obvious that the maou loves Conrad, deeply. I was so angry at him for putting them both in danger—and then—"

A polite cough from the doorway interrupted Gunter's train of thought. The great sage was standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels, trying to look innocent, the former adjutant thought.

"Geika?"

"I just wanted to tell you both that Yuri will be coming shortly. Gunter, could you meet him?"

"I must decline with regret," Gunter said, his voice stiff and coolly formal—belying his own swirling emotions. "I am no longer in service to his majesty. Perhaps Gwendal would serve where I cannot?"

"So stubborn," The Sage said softly. "Very well, Von Voltaire-kyo, could you please meet his majesty?"

Gwendal sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You will all be the death of me. Is Greta returning? Please tell me no."

"No, Greta is currently being pampered and spoiled by Jennifer-san."

"Very well, I'll go." Gwendal pushed past the sage, paused and turned back. "This, too, will wash away—and the flowers will come again, Gunter. In the spring you will remember this time, and you will wonder how you could have even thought to miss it. Love changes, love waxes and wanes, but it never dies.

Gunter sucked in a sharp breath and watched his best friend's weary shoulders as he disappeared into the darkness.

"What was that about, your excellency?"

"A memory, Geika. You would have had to have been there. Now, if you will excuse me."

When Murata disappeared from view, Gunter sat heavily on his bed, shielded his eyes with his hands and sobbed.

--O.o.O--

Yuri came out of the fountain at Shinou's temple spluttering, as usual. "Doctor Vaughn! Where are you?"

"Right here, Heika—here, have a towel. It seems Ulrike-sama was expecting us."

"How…when…ok, just…I mean…what the fuck!"

Yuri watched as his former pediatrician dried off the outside of his mother's space bag, then opened it. Her hair was already bundled in a towel. She pulled out some folded garments and disappeared around a corner.

"What should I have said to you, Heika?" she called out. "Hi, I'm your doctor, kiddo, and I'm also from another world where you will one day be king. So, stick out your tongue and say AH!" She came back from around the corner as he was stripping out of his shirt. "I had to wait until the time was right, Yu-chan. Would you have believed me otherwise?"

Yuri watched in disbelief has she adjusted her pink scrubs. They had a cute little bunny with one floppy ear on the pocket and words that read, "Please get well soon, or they'll fire me!"

"You're wearing happy bunny scrubs." He remarked, scratching his neck.

"I know! Aren't they so cute?" Her face sobered and she slowly bent to one knee, crossed her right arm over her chest and lowered her head. "Please forgive me, Heika. I took on the duty to protect you, with my life should it come to that, long before you were born. I left Shin Makoku on a journey, and when Shinou himself came to me and asked if I would complete this task, I immediately said yes. The conditions, though, were that I could not reveal myself to you. Instead I spent many years doing many things, learning your world. Then, when the time was right, I went to medical school, moved to Japan, learned your language, got a license and set up a practice. I arranged for your parents to meet me, and, happily, your mother trusted me right away. I have watched over you since you were an infant, your majesty, and it has been my privilege and honor to do so. I humbly beg your forgiveness for my deception, and reaffirm my commitment to serve the Maou."

"Heika?...Anna?"

Yuri jerked around to see Gwendal leaning heavily against the stone wall. He looked like he'd been hit in the head with a brick.

"Father?" For the first time Yuri heard hesitation in his doctor's voice.

"Is it…is it really you?"

"Yes, Papa. I'm home…if you'll have me?"

Yuri couldn't help but smile when Gwendal straightened back up to military bearing and slowly opened his arms. The woman with him squealed happily and raced to leap into her father's arms.

"My beautiful girl. Is this were you've been all this time?"

"Yes, Papa. I've been watching over and protecting the maou—just like you. I missed you so much."

"I missed you, baby…I missed you, too."

Yuri cleared his throat, blushing at being a witness to such a reunion. He wouldn't have understood, he supposed, without having spent that time with Gwendal.

"You can put me down now, Dad." Dr. Vaughn said.

Dr. Vaughn. That made Yuri remember what he wanted to ask. "So, where did you get that name, then?"

She smiled, looking back over her shoulder. "I've had a lot of names in your world, heika. This is just the latest. My driver's license reads: Ann Vaughn. Nice and professional, good for a doctor, right? Of course, my name is—"

"Anna Von Voltaire," he finished, proud of himself for getting at least one thing right.

"Just so, Heika."

"Gwendal…Conrad? Wolfram? How long have I been gone?"

"Almost a week, heika. Conrad, well, he is sleeping right now—truly sleeping." Yuri felt his chest ease a little. Conrad was still alive. "As for Wolfram, he's been better. He still has some pretty bad bruises, but I think all the attention from the maids and soldiers is speeding his recovery. I assume you are here to check on them, Anna?"

"Yes, Dad. And, honestly, you can put me down now."

"No," Gwendal said thoughtfully. "I really don't think I can."

"Um, Heika—do you think you could possibly carry my things back to the castle. It seems I'm catching a ride with my dad."

"Uh, sure," Yuri said. "I've got to change, then I'll be along. I want to check on Conrad and Wolfram, then…Gwendal, I need to see Gunter."

The general nodded still holding his daughter tight. "Of course, Heika, change your clothes. We'll wait for you."

--O.o.O—

Yuri accepted the greetings of his close advisors and friends when he came back to the castle, save for one lavender-haired, beautiful adjutant who was conspicuously absent. Happily, Cheri-sama was more interested in smothering her first grandchild in her ample bosom than the young king this time. Yuri took the time to confer quietly with Gwendal. Assured that Conrad and Wolfram would be alright for a little longer, Yuri went to find Gunter. He found him packing books from his shelves into a box.

"Um, Hi, Gunter. What do you think you're doing?"

"H…Heika." The older man dropped his eyes, but Yuri could still see the blush-stain on his cheeks. "I apologize. I know you have been away, but with all the…commotion…I have been unable to pack before now. I will remove myself from your sight immediately."

"What are you talking about? I came to see you, I don't want you to leave." Yuri faltered for the words. Sometimes, he really wished he could turn on his inner Maou at will—apparently that guy was super-suave and always said the right things.

"You released me from your service, Heika. I won't offend you with my abhorrent presence for longer than necessary."

"Gunter! Have you been crying? Your voice is husky. I…I…here!" Yuri thrust two small items into Gunter's hands.

Gunter didn't say anything at all, he just stared at his hands. Yuri ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "You could look at them, at least."

"What are these, Heika?" The adjutant was clearly confused.

"Presents…gifts, from the heart…to show you…to tell you…Damn it, Gunter! I'm sorry, ok?"

"It is not his majesty's place to apologize to a loyal subject," Gunter said automatically. But, he did look at the presents. "What is this?"

"It's a keychain."

"It is strong enough to hold keys?" Gunter looked amazed.

"Well, not the kind of keys we have here at the castle, but house keys, car keys, sure…but that's not the point! The point is…well, look inside it. See there's a little window?"

Yuri watched as his advisor held the little plastic piece up to the window to catch the sun, and a surprised gasp followed.

"Heika! This is…magic of some kind? How did you get a portrait of us that small, and how…when…?"

Gunter felt something warm blossom in his chest. He didn't know what to say. Looking into the small object, he saw himself, smiling, bent slightly as he stood behind the maou, his arms around the young king's shoulders and clasped in front of his chest. Yuri was laughing, his hands covering Gunter's.

"Last summer, you know, on my birthday, when Murata had the camera—remember taking the picture."

"Yes, I remember. I've just never seen them so small."

"Well, I couldn't very well carry around a full-sized picture of us into my exams, now could I?"

"Gunter looked up. "Exams?"

"Well, yeah. Whenever I take tests at home, I carry that picture, and the neko-chan that Gwendal made for me, Wolfram's button from his uniform sleeve—and of course I always have the pendant Conrad gave me. I never take exams without them! I need them, always, for luck!"

"You have a keepsake…of me…for luck?"

"Of course, Gunter. You're very important to me."

"I am," he whispered. How he had longed to hear these words…but why now, when it was all too late and he had overstepped his boundaries in such grievous fashion. Was he now to stand on the brink of happiness only to have it snatched from him?

"Absolutely! Do you think I could do my job without you? I can't run this country on my own, Gunter, and you are the best adjutant a maou could ever ask for. You are so patient with me, and thoughtful and kind. You care about me, and you always make sure that I'm ok. You do my work for me when I am too tired, and rub my shoulders when they cramp up, and sacrifice yourself to Anissina whenever Gwendal or I need rescue. You're my teacher, and my confidant, and…well…you're family, Gunter. I couldn't live without you."

"Me? You think those things about…me?"

Gunter watched as his king dissolved into the prettiest blush he had ever seen.

"Well, yeah. I'm just not great at telling people how I feel, and even there is a place where you teach me. You're so good at telling people what they mean to you, but I still get so embarrassed. I know that…I know that you were only trying to protect me…trying to make me see that Conrad was in big trouble…trying to force me to admit my feelings for him. I love him, Gunter—he's my…well, he's everything to me, but Gwendal taught me something, too. Hearts are big places, without borders, and…love is too precious to squander. It's not the love I have for Conrad, because each person is unique, but…I love you, and I don't want to fight with you!"

"Heika?!" Gunter flopped onto his bed, unable to stand any longer. His heart was pounding in his chest. His majesty didn't hate him…he…loved him? Sure, not romantic, but essential all the same. "But…you dismissed me, Heika?"

"I take it back, ok!" The maou was shouting. Gunter didn't like it when the maou raised his voice.

"What? Don't understand."

"You didn't call no take-backs, so, I take it back! It never happened."

"But it did happen, Heika, and what is a take-back?"

Yuri fixed him with a sharp, wise look. "It's an old earth tradition. If I ask you something, or tell you something, or give you something important, and you say 'no take-backs', that means that there is no way it can be returned or rescinded. It's a bond, like a law. It can't be broken. And since you didn't call no take-backs when I dismissed you—I. Take. It. Back. It never happened."

"That is a powerful ceremony, your majesty. I will take care to remember it."

Yuri nodded. "Look at the other present…go on, look."

"Just a moment, Heika." Gunter took the keychain and placed it, reverently, on his sword belt. He'd always been secretly jealous of Gwendal's Bando-kun, but now he had something special from his heika, too. "What is this other gift, Heika? I can't…I don't deserve…"

"Open it, Gunter. That's an order from the Maou." The boy's eyes flashed a brilliant black.

Gunter opened the small box, inside there was a single, brilliant diamond stud. He gasped. "Heika…you don't know…"

"Oh, yes, I do! I've learned a lot from you and after I told my mother what I wanted it for, she wouldn't shut up about babies with wings. So that earring is for your RIGHT ear…you understand?"

Gunter felt lightheaded and he felt a strange pressure in his cheeks. "I…I would be honored, your majesty."

"Then Shin Makoku tradition dictates I should put it in your ear, like this…" Gunter felt boy's fingers tremble as he removed the plain, gold ring he generally wore in that ear and replaced it with the brightly winking stone. "And then, a kiss." Yuri kissed his ear very gently. When he pulled back, Gunter believed his king was blushing a brand new shade of red.

Gunter gathered his king into his arms and finally let loose another flood of tears. "I'm sorry, heika," he sniffled. "I'm just so happy, I can't believe it…I never would have guessed…"

"Ghunther…ay..ayre!"

Gunter blushed again and loosened his hold on his king so the boy could breathe. "Your majesty," he whispered, laying his cheek on the boy's head.

"Yeah, Gunter?"

"No take-backs," he said solemnly.

Gunter would have held onto Yuri forever if it had been possible, but he knew his king was anxious to check on his Conrad. When they broke apart, Gunter wiped his face dry, then realized the shameful truth. Sometime, during all his tears, and after the king had asked him to stand as the full-blooded mazoku godfather to any and all of his children, his nose had bled. And now, Yuri-heika had Gunter's blood in his hair. Maybe later, he would offer to shampoo the king…which meant a bath…and a naked Maou…the world tilted at a crazy angle.

Gwendal found him later, still passed out, half on-half off his bed.

"I take it Yuri-Heika has forgiven you?"

Gunter sighed, coming awake. "I'm to be the royal godfather!"

"Hm. Well, does he know that if Conrad turns him down…that makes you next in line?"

"Bliss!" Gunter cried, as darkness enveloped him again.

I know this was rather a shorter chapter, and it didn't have Conrad in it, but I didn't want the situation between Gunter and Yuri to remain clouded. Yuri will need all his friends if he is going to save the love of his life. Until tomorrow, then, dear readers.

Thank you!