Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maou or any of its characters but the OC and plot are mine… xD silver lining…

Author's Note: I admit, I've been putting off writing these past few weeks. I was going through withdrawal systems most of the time though. I only got 1 review on the last chapter… was it really that bad?

Nah, anyway, I'm sorry for the loooong wait. Well, here it is, chapter 12.

Chapter 12

"You're frowning a lot more than usual, Your Excellency," he said, "and that's saying something."

Gwendal threw Josak an annoyed look before turning back to the window facing the training grounds. Directly below were the unsuspecting figures of a brown-haired soldier and a black-haired noble.

"You know," Josak continued, "you of all people should be happy that she's back. I mean, Lady Julia did say that she could resume her family post when she deemed it all right. Now you not only get to get rid of me, you can focus on the Military Department!"

Josak paused as if in thought. "Taking care of the Intel and the Military Department isn't exactly my idea of a holiday. Of course, there always could be the possibility that you liked being overworked."

"A twelve-year-old mazoku child," Gwendal mused aloud, "dies falling into a ridge famous for rapids. Chances of survival are less than zero percent. One hundred and fifty years later, she appears again as if nothing ever happened with no recollection whatsoever of what she had been doing the entire period she was missing." Too convenient. How could she—

Gwendal stopped short. He blinked in shock. It took him awhile to recover. Conrad had smiled! Not an empty forced smile like usual but one of true and pure joy. Simple happiness. Conrad had mastered the ability to put on a convincing fake smile but he had yet to find a way to deceive his own brother.

Gwendal balled his fists. Seeing his brother's smile made him even more determined to unmask the imposter. To fool around with someone's feelings to this extent… it was simply callous!

However, somewhere at the back of his head, he knew there was the present possibility that she was real. No tricks. Still, what were the chances of that? Also, somewhere slightly closer to the front of his head, a question hovered.

"Fake or not, did he really have the right to take away this happiness away from his own brother?"

Gwendal shook his head to get rid of that idea, at least for now. Regardless, he had to act. "I want you to follow her. I want to know what she's hiding."

"I want you to follow her. I want to know what she's hiding."

It took a while for the words to register in Josak's mind. He frowned. Deep down, he knew that Ysabel had been the one that saved them that day on the Hydrofoil. One did not just 'drift' full miles in one night and Josak, for one, knew he didn't do anything. He would not even be here if it were not for her. He owed her his life.

Sure, she had her… devilish side, Josak thought as the scene where he brought her her dinner and sword played in his mind but to believe that she was evil, Josak just couldn't do it. No, she was real, he just knew it.

Still, the words practiced so often slipped from his lips. "I understand."

Gwendal nodded before returning his attention to the paperwork on his desk, indicating Josak was dismissed.

Josak turned around placed his hand on the door handle. As for 'what she's hiding', he thought, everyone has things they'd prefer not to share with others. A mazoku boy crying on his mother's unmarked headstone entered his mind.

"Not that my opinion matters, Your Excellency," Josak said, quite unconsciously. "But I think she's who she says she is." Boy, that was a mouthful.

Gwendal looked up again. There was a moment of silence before Gwendal asked, "Why do you have so much faith in her."

And don't come back! Her voice rang.

Hands on her hips, she stuck her tongue out after the fleeing figures. Those bullies.

Teary blue eyes looked up in awe from where I sat on the ground. Why…

She turned around and held her hand out to me. Hm? Her black eyes bore into his.

He could bear to look at her anymore. Why did you save me?

She grinned sheepishly. Save? I just told to go away… Hardly saving…

They were right… I… I… I'm just the half-blood that hides behind the maou's son!

She smile disappeared. That's not true! No one's hiding behind anyone!

He was shortly stunned. Why are you so nice to me? They're right. I could just leave you all and become your enemy when I become sixteen.

Her expression fell. That's true, you can go and become one of them when you turn sixteen but I'd be very sad if you did.

Silence.

But then, if you join them, it's only because you think it's right, right?

Why… are you like this?

A glint appeared in her eyes.

Josak smiled inwardly. "Just a feeling I guess." With that, he walked out the door, leaving behind a slightly puzzled Gwendal.

She picked up a fallen scabbard and hit Josak, none too gently on the head.

What was that for? It was more a demand than a question.

Dummy, it's because I'm your friend. You, Conrad, and I are best friends. Her feigned anger slipped away only to be replaced with a smile and a hand.

Josak never told anyone, not Conrad nor Ysabel, but before that day, he had seriously considered joining the humans after he became of age.

That was why he joined the mazoku spy network. To repay Ysabel by using a lifetime of service to her for stopping him from making the worse mistake of his life.

Heh… you think after what the humans had done to him and his mother, he'd have learnt a thing or two.

Josak sighed. "Men really are idiots."

"Raven, don't let her out of your sight."

"Understood."

a/n:

I know this chapter is somewhat shorter but I promised a friend that I would post it this Wednesday (today) no matter what.

The last part was supposed to be longer but I didn't actually count on Josak and Gwendal's part to being that long either.

To TwilightVixen: Yay, you're the best, Ari. Here's the chapter, as promised. I hope your internet is better and if not, I hope I lifted your day., even if just a little.

I'm sure most of you were expecting to see Edel Royal Guards in this chapter. I'm sorry if I disappointed you. But, according to my calculations, they should appear in the next chapter. So, stay tuned!

Forever,

Val.