Hi guys!

I know that I didn't update for the last two months. I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it since I have to do the projects and works for school. I wanted to tell everyone about two main things. The first is that I will be having some Summer school for Math, which means a lot of studies and works, but I'll try to update as soon as possible. Secondly, I will be starting a new story, which will be a crossover between two anime: La Storia della Arcana Famiglia and Katekyo Hitman Reborn! If you are interested, please have a look! It would probably be published in the next two weeks.

Thanks for your support!

Bluemoonyue

:D

Prelude : Sorry (Last Part)

o.o.o.o.o.o

Gunter's P.O.V

"….SHE LEFT THE CASTLE?!" I shouted, looking at the soldier with incredulity.

I just returned to the main office at Blood Pledge Castle a while ago. As soon as I arrived, I quickly organized the troops and send some divisions to aid Gwendal. And in the process, I took advantage of the presence of the guards to ask them if they saw Anissina… but what was she thinking, leaving the castle like this?

"Ye… Yes, your Excellency… Lady von Karbelnikoff left the castle a while ago with some maids and sir Dorcas…" the soldier replied, frightened and standing straight and still,

"She… She was saying something about… about assisting his Majesty on the battlefield with… with her newest invention… something called Fight-Big-Shimaron-Army-Off-Our-Land-kun, I think…"

I remained shocked for a while. I had never expected this… Arg! Lady Anissina! Why is it that you are always here to blow up the castle in times of peace and that you disappear to test your inventions when we require them?

"What did you say she took with her?"

"Eum… I'm not sure… there was quite a lot of things. She took more than 5 carts and 10 horses just to carry them…"

"Was there a freezing device among them? A sort of coffin shaped machinery?"

"Euh… I believe so… I do remember seeing something like that…"

I dismissed the soldier and sat down on the chair next to me, the shock of the revelation creeping up on me. Anissina left for the battlefield to assist Yuri Heika… but she brought with her the body freezing device… Was this supposed to be a good news or a bad one?

I shaked my head and stood up again, sighing. I walked toward the window and looked down to the yard, completely submerged with thoughts.

The sky was still covered with rain clouds. I stared at the distant horizon; lightning fell down a second later.

The current situation seemed dreadful. Geika's life was at stake. Yuri Heika is on the battlefield. Gwendal is at the shores, fighting off a big wave of Big Shimaron's army. And with this rain, I feared that our messages won't arrive to our allies in time.

I held my right arm with my left hand. I had to stand tall. It was my duty to protect the castle for as long as our Maou has come back. I must act accordingly to my loyalty.

I will have to trust Conrad and Wolfram to protect our Maou. I will have to believe in Shinou Heika's abilities… Believe that both Heika and Geika would come back safe…

But distantly, some birds were crying: Bad omen! Bad omen!

o.o.o.o.o.o

Murata's P.O.V

The room was cold.

No, rather… I was cold.

My body temperature dropped dramatically. The feverish sensation that plagued me hours ago was no more, but everything felt so very cold. And even so, my body was already too weak to shiver. The only warmth I could feel came from the mazoku holding me in his arms. But then again, I was wondering if I didn't imagined that.

Ulrike was looking at me with a sorry expression. I guess she found herself guilty for not being able to save me even though I helped her so much. I looked at her and smiled, wanting her to understand that I knew she could do nothing to help.

But as for Shinou, I was surprised that he still didn't seem defeated as I thought he would. He was staring at the blood that kept flowing out of my injured shoulder and I could see the blood taint his hand. I don't know how long did he kept staring at it, but when he stopped, he muttered to himself with a desperate voice:

"There is still a way to save him…"

I turned at him with certain perplexity and exasperation. What can you possibly scheme again, Shinou?

I thought. Knowing him so well, there was but one and only option that he could consider in desperation. If nothing in Shin Makoku could save me, then he would most probably… no way… You can't possibly be thinking about sending me back on Earth with the last of your powers so that I can get treated, can you?

I could sense him starting to unleash his maryoku.

"Don't Shinou!" I yelled, quickly gripping his arm as strong as I could with the energy of desperation. "Don't do that! Don't let yourself die in front of me another time!"

My words were not very efficient. He looked at me sadly, but he was still unleashing his powers, although less. I looked at him in the eye, trying to convince him.

"And what about you? Do you believe that I would allow you to die in front of me?" Shinou replied relentlessness, "Do you think I could do such a thing to you, I, who already feel guilty for making you live for so long and so many painful lives?"

"Is that what you always felt for me?" I asked him, sadness overwhelming my face. I didn't want him to feel guilty. My first life, Soukoku no Daikenja, chose to reincarnate himself, and not entirely because of Shinou. He did it because he wanted to pay back Shinou for all the things he taught him and all the moment they spent together. He didn't did it so that Shinou would feel bad at the end.

I could see that Shinou was conflicted by my question. He closed his eyes, refusing to face my regard. I moved one of my hands up to his cheek.

"Please don't force yourself. You don't owe anything to your first Daikenja or me. And I already told you that I am condemned…"

"Yet, I…"

"There is nothing you can do." I insisted. "It's too late for me to get hospital treatments and you will disappear if you used more power than this. All this would be futile, so don't pain me more by suggesting such a thing…"

And I said all that with a weak voice yet surprisingly clear voice. My life force was draining up. I knew that I lost too much blood. My lifted hand was going to drop, but Shinou held on to it, closing his fingers around it. My mind was clouding. I had totally forgotten that we were surrounded by priestesses.

"Hey, Shinou…" I started to whisper, "I… have some things to say… well… they are more selfish requests than anything, but… can you please listen to them, for once ?"

"Go on… Tell me…" he answered, looking at me with heartbreaking eyes, "I'll listen…"

I relaxed and spoke.

"If Shibuya happens to die… please send his soul back to Earth to be reincarnated. I don't want his soul to be influenced by war, should it erupt in this world. I wouldn't tolerate that… And I couldn't help him achieve… his dream…as the Maou… so… please give him another chance to fulfill it… "

"I'll try… I'll try to make him the Maou any time, if that's what you wish…"

"And my soul too…" I added, "send it back on Earth… with all my memories and the memories of my past lives… "

Shinou was startled by my request. "But didn't you say…"

"I thought I would need them anymore… but I can't tolerate the idea of dying without dealing with the one that tried to harm me and Shibuya… and the peace we tried to achieve at the same time… " I explained between pants and pauses, "I'll keep all these memories within me… even if I have to live another 4000 years until the culprit is caught…"

Small silence.

"Then… I'll respect your request…" he said hesitantly, still holding tightly on my hand as I started closing my eyes. I could feel his warmth under my cold and bloody fingers. My heartbeats were frighteningly slow, but my mind was calm.

"As for the throne… don't let anyone be Maou until Shibuya and I return… please"

"As powerful as I may be, I won't be able to stop the people for very long, my Daikenja…"

I tried to smile. "Then, give us 20 years… if after 20 years, both of us haven't returned from Earth, then let them choose a Maou, or choose it yourself… or whatever you wish…"

I could barely hear my voice. My forces were drained. I felt like as if I would sleep anytime now… Everything seemed darker, except for Shinou, who was still shining mesmerizingly to my sight. My body felt numb. The room seemed so silent…

I looked at Shinou's face another time, my eyes no longer focused… I knew what was to come… An automatic grin stretched through my face… I want the last thing Shinou remembers of me to be my smile.

My last thoughts were about all those significant moments I spend in this lifetime. 24 years of struggle and relief… There were so many things I wished I could do… so many promises I wanted to fulfill…

And so many things I hadn't yet said to both the most important peoples of my life and the one that I loved…

I heave a sigh; there is always still next time…

Words arose with my last breath…

"I'll see you soon… Shinou…"