Author's Note: Okay, so I'd like to annouce that thanks to all you who has continued to stay tune for updates on KKM Rewrite, this story has finally reached over 1000 hits! Well, 1001 to be exact. So I thought I'd celebrate with a new Chapter. Thanks for your support, All!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Kyou Kara Maou or its characters. But the OC and Plot are mine… xD sliver lining…

Chapter 7

Sarah had practically lost track of how many hours had passed by since her escape of the sand trap. Moreover, she wasn't even sure which was she was going. She could only fervently hope that it was towards greenery.

Sarah wiped the sweat from her brow. The heat was getting to her. Her vision faltered every now and then and her feet her sore beyond their limits. She took a step forwards and her feet gave in.

"A little help would be appreciated, Shinou," she muttered under her breath. Sarah had seen no signs of anything that resembled life and she was beginning to understand why.

With no little effort, she pushed herself up onto her still protesting feet. She lazily shuffled to the top of a sand dune. "I'd even act civilized to Shinou later if I could just see the edge of the city now," she mused randomly.

Sarah reached the top of the dune and cursed in wide eyed amazement. Signs of grass could be seen, slowly getting thicker and thicker until it turned into a small valley. At the end of the valley, she saw a tree beside the falloff. It looked so familiar because Sarah now knew where this place was. She stumbled to the edge and there it lay: the capital of the Demon Tribe.

"Now I know Shinou's responsible for every misfortune that I came across," Sarah said as her eyes narrowed dangerously.

She looked off into the distance to where a low building stood. Despite the distance, Sarah quickly identified that it was none other than her destination. "Shinou's Temple," Sarah said.

As she started for it, she suddenly stopped. For a moment, doubt etched in her heart, as if telling her that the temple wasn't the place she was supposed to go. But didn't Shinou himself tell her to go to the temple?

Her eyes wandered to a spot in the opposite direction. The tree? But it wasn't just any tree. It was the tree where Shinou had met the Great Sage. She looked back and forth between the two destinations and finally decided to approach the tree.

She found the climb up the hill didn't take much effort at all. She walked around it once and found nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe she was just tired from the aimless walking in the desert and she was just imagining things. Either way, she was tired. She sat down on one of the large roots of the tree.

"You certainly took your time," a voice said from behind causing her to jump to her feet. "At least you trusted your sixth sense."

"Don't do that," Sarah said as she turned to Shinou. Just as she was about to say something, Shinou held up his hand, stopping her. "Didn't you say that you'd act civilized when you talk to me now?"

Sarah bit her lip. "Fine."

Shinou motioned for her to take a seat again. "I think you have a few questions," he started. "But I can't answer them all."

"Why not?"

"You'll have to find some of them out on your own," he said. "But why don't you ask a few and I'll see if I can answer them."

"Okay," Sarah said as she thought. "Why here? I though you said to go to the temple."

"I changed my mind for the most part," Shinou said as he leaned against the trunk of the tree. "Besides, Ulrike might find it surprising and insulting that you can hear and see me and for the fact that you're a double black. You'd send the entire continent into a total uproar."

Sarah shrugged. "A little exaggerated but makes sense, I suppose." She thought again. "Why did you bring me here?" she asked.

"Didn't I already tell you that back on earth?" Shinou asked. "You're here to help me manipulate events. You've seen and experienced what people have to go through every time I try something."

"So it was you," Sarah said in an 'Ah-ha!' manner. "Why did you throw all those obstacles on my way here?"

"For one, I didn't count on Josak being in Simaron at that time," Shinou said. "You needed to at least rely somewhat on yourself to come here. If you couldn't withstand all the obstacles, then who knows what'll happen when you try to help me with things? But to my surprise, you overcame every with great ease."

Sarah didn't know whether to feel insulted or flattered. "Well," she said. "You could have used more subtle ways. Why me? Of all the crazed fans of Kyou Kara Maou that you could have picked to help you, why choose me?"

"I thought you might have figured it out by now," Shinou said with some disappointment. "It's because you aren't just any fan of that anime of your world."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sarah was confused.

"That," he said. "You'll have to find out for yourself. The fact that you can speak and understand the language here is the only hint I can give you."

Sarah blinked as the fact sank in. She just remembered that it was true. Fighting against the urge to question about that fact, she asked, "Who is Ysabel?"

Shinou looked at her. "She's you, of course. Can't you remember?"

"No," Sarah said dryly.

"Well, don't worry then," he said, pushing the question aside. "I'm sure you'll remember eventually.

He looked at the setting sun. "That's enough questions for today. You have to get to the castle today, fight if you have to. You can consider this an order. No one will believe you so you have to show them something that they have no reason to doubt. Something that's special."

"If you ever need to talk to me again, just come here," he said as he started to walk back towards his temple. "Keep your features hidden until you get inside the castle grounds and that you're sure that they'll believe that you are who you claim to be. The population isn't really ready to see another double black in their midst, let alone a dead aristocrat." With that he slowly faded again.

Sarah approached the castle with her hood up to hide her hair and eyes. The market place, though crowded, didn't give her so much as a second glance as she walked past them.

Throughout the journey to the gargantuan building, Sarah racked her mind to find that 'special something' Shinou talked about. What could she present that would be 'special' enough so that they wouldn't doubt her.

She walked up the twisting road up to the castle. She was quite shocked that even though she climbed a fair distance, she wasn't the least bit tired. She came to stand in front of the main gates, only to be halted by the guards in grey armor.

"You can't come in here," the guard stated. "The lords are getting ready for a mission, come back some other time."

Past the two guards, Sarah saw that the grounds were indeed bustling with activity. Men of higher rank were shouting orders while soldiers were running left and right. It truly was chaotic.

"But I really do need to get in," Sarah said, careful so as not to lift her hood. Although I haven't a clue what to do when I get in but…

"You can't," said the second guard. "Now move along before I lose my temper."

"But…"

"NOW!" the guard said, his spear was leveled.

Sarah stood frozen at the spot. She sighed as she remembered the dream in the cave in Caloria and finally realized what Shinou meant by 'You can consider this an order'. "Shinou's words be said, Shinou's will be done," she muttered.

"What was that?" asked one of the guards. "W-what are you doing?" he stammered as Sarah drew her Simaron sword.

"If you won't let me in, I'll fight my way through," Sarah said simply as she assumed a battle position. She was tempted to lift her hood. It would be easier to fight that way. But then, she recalled Shinou's words and remained stern.

"I have a better idea," a voice said from inside the compound of the castle. He had brown hair and eyes and rode on a brown stallion. He slid from his saddle and walked towards them. Sarah saw that the two men in similar blue outfits as the person remained where they were. He came up to them and unsheathed his sword. "Why don't you fight me? If you win, I'll personally escort you to throne room." His eyes narrowed as the blade registered in his mind. "Simaron Captain," he added.

Sarah was momentarily stunned. Soldiers had stopped what they were doing to stare at the newcomer and the Lord Weller's conversation. Behind, Sarah saw that a golden hair youth had also appeared. Wolfram… and what's this… Günter?

Some of the soldiers were chuckling slightly. Obviously, they had confidence that Lord Conrad Weller would win without a sweat. Somehow, Sarah thought they were right.

But… orders were orders. Sarah nodded to accept his challenge. They moved inside the compound and the spectators formed a ring around the two swordsmen. Sarah's mind raced again, if she couldn't win against the best swordsman in all the lands, what would she do then? Just as the battle was about to begin, Lady Celi also came out to see what had caused such a commotion.

"I must warn you," Conrad said. "I will not go easy on you just because you're a woman."

Sarah pulled her hood lower. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Then she rushed forwards and their swords met.

Back and forth they exchanged blows and parries. Once or twice, she had come close to being cut by him but only in exchange for the same amount returned to him. The audience gasped at certain times. They didn't expect her to be this good and truth to tell, she didn't either.

Their swords clashed together again, each straining to hold his or her grip so as not to fall to the opponent's force. Sarah smiled underneath her hood. She could almost sense Dan Hiri's presence nearby, coaching them.

Then it struck her! How could she have been so stupid? Of course, the perfect 'special' thing, only she, Conrad and Dan Hiri knew of it.

She stepped forward. Conrad stepped forward in response. Again, she stepped forwards and Conrad did so too. Then, she did the unexpected: she leaned forwards and lightly brushed her lips against his cheek and before anyone could register anything in their minds, Sarah took a quick step forward and twisted the sword away from him, successfully disarming him. She leveled her sword tip at his throat.

"Comarade's Angel," she said.

Immediately, at least two dozen sharpened blades were forcing her away from their commander. "Hm… this isn't what I had in mind when he said 'escort'."

Conrad stood stunned speechless. His family members and a few soldiers all rushed to his side. "Are you okay, Conrad?" "Are you hurt, my lord?" "Commander, are you alright?"

"Comrade's Angel," he whispered. It couldn't be. No one knew of that move and the last time he saw it performed was over one and a half centauries ago. It couldn't be. The one who had invented the skill was dead. She passed away long ago. "How do you know of Comarade's Angel?"

Josak and Gwendal came up before she could speak. "There you are," Josak said cheerfully to the mysterious woman opposite him. He looked around. "I see you've met everyone else."

"You could say that," the woman said.

"You know each other?" Conrad asked his loyal friend, Josak.

"She's the person we were supposed to look for in the desert, Commander," Josak explained. Looking at his commander's expression and as if just noticing the fact that Sarah was surrounded by two dozen points, he asked, "Did I miss something?"

"Lord Weller was defeated in battle," Günter said, still stunned from the display.

Gwendal raised an eyebrow. "That wouldn't cause you to be this shocked," he said. "What happened?"

Conrad composed himself. His eyes were still wide with shock as he took a step forward. "Conrad?" Celi asked from behind.

Conrad didn't hear her question. The ring of soldiers encircling the woman moved aside as he approached her. Not trusting himself to lift her hood, he took her hand.

Curious enough, she didn't resist. Conrad took a deep breath and removed the fingerless-glove. He stared wide-eyed at the birthmark on her palm. He looked at the woman, her head lowered to hide her face, begging for some explanation.

Without looking up, she reached into her olive top and pulled out her pendent. "I thank you for my twelfth birthday present," she said.

The crowd gasped. "The seal of the eighth aristocrat!" one shouted. Conrad looked back at his childhood friend who was now as stunned as he was. Josak shrugged, indicating he didn't know anything about it either.

Conrad reached for her hood and gripped the rim, but then hesitated. She let go of her pendent and reached up to grip his wrist. Together, they pushed back the hood.

Black hair fell past her shoulders and the crowd gasped again. "It's been awhile," she said as midnight eyes stared back at him. "Conrad."

Without thinking, Conrad leaned forward and embraced her.

For a moment or two, time stopped as Conrad held Sarah. But in this touching moment, Sarah's mind was elsewhere for she knew the truth. She knew why she had those 'memories' and what they meant.

She knew why Shinou wouldn't tell her the entire truth. It was because Shinou knew that Sarah wouldn't have believed him. Shinou was right. She was Ysabel or rather Ysabel wasn't her past life like she thought. Ysabel… Ysabel was her childhood.

a/n:

In the immortal words of Pinoko from the anime 'Black Jack': (slams fists into cheeks) Oh my goodness!

Lol, that's what my sister said when she read the ending so I imagine that it would be pretty much the same for all of you.

To i love athrun: Yay! Thanks so so so much for reviewing! I hope that you liked this chapter.

Again, I would apologize if all this is a bit (or a lot O.O) corny, but this is my first attempt to write anything that's remotely close to romance. Forgive me… T.T

Sigh, this chapter was a long one, I actually wanted to go on but I thought of the people who would say 'Gosh, why is it so long? I don't want to read anymore…' So heh…

Until the next chapter.

Forever,

Val.