Author's Note: This story is a 'What if' of my brain's creation. XD Its a private challenge about what would happen to Yuuri if Conrart actually had died in episode 27 "Conrad's Arm". This is going to be one of my time travel fics, I really live playing around with time. This story will incorporate part of the events of episode 52 "Conrart Standing Tall", and also through to the battle of Luttenberg and afterwards. Its an interesting little story that will probably be about 4-6 parts long if people like it.

Disclaimer: own nothing but Jenner.

O never harm the dreaming world,
the world of green, the world of leaves,
but let its million palms unfold
the adoration of the trees.

It is a love in darkness wrought
obedient to the unseen sun,
longer than memory, a thought
deeper than the graves of time.

The turning spindles of the cells
weave a slow forest over space,
the dance of love, creation,
out of time moves not a leaf,
and out of summer, not a shade.

-Kathleen Raine, Vegetation, CollectedPoems, 1956

Covenant Castle, The Great Demon Kingdom

"Wait Yuuri!"

The dark haired Maou burst through one of the doorways and out into the faint wash of first light. His chest heaving, he rushed down the stairs attempting to keep as quiet as possible, even though he was hurrying. The cloak swirled around his shoulders, the silky fabric almost reaching his boots, the faint scent of Conrart clinging to the rich dark grey-blue length of it as the hood lightly brushed against his nose.

"WAIT!"

He sprinted across the yard, ignoring the startled gasp of a maid, when he darted in front of her. His head twisted back slightly over one shoulder, glancing back to see the bright glint of blonde somewhere behind him and a flash of frilly, frothy pink. For once he did fear Wolfram catching him, he knew what would happen the moment someone caught sight of what he had taken. Conrart's sword thumped heavily against one thigh, the blade hidden by the length of the cloak.

"YUURI!"

The Maou rested against one of the high walls, his fingers clenching into fists as he heard Wolfram calling him again and again, some of the guards becoming aware of the Lord's worried tone.

"I won't go back." He breathed softly, his eyes closing tightly and his head pressed back against the wall, dark lashes dropping and brushing against his cheeks as pain flared across his pale features. "I can't. Not... not until I've found the ones responsible." A deep stabbing pain cut right through him at the last glimpse of Conrart he had, the man being cut down by the enemy within the burning church. The echoes of his own screams of the man's name still ringing in his ears.

"Your Majesty!" Gunter's voice joined Wolfram's. Guards already calling and searching the surrounding buildings for him.

No matter the stab of guilt he felt in abandoning his duties, he could not bear the thought that Conrart Weller's murderers were still free, that they were still walking in the world of the living while the bright presence of his protector had been extinguished. His heart had been torn out that day, nothing and no one had been able to ease the deadly ache that centred in his chest where that life giving organ had once beat.

"Yuuri please! This is no time for games...!"

A bitter laugh escaped Yuuri as he finally found the old door he had been looking for, his hand curling around the roughly crafted knob hidden beneath the thick clinging ivy. Twisting it, the hinges thankfully didn't squeak as it opened, allowing him to slip into the passageway that ran beneath the castle. The Maou carefully slipped a key from a pocket and fitted it into the lock on the inside of the door, hearing the mechanism engage before he retreated into the darkness.

"No one but a select handful of the guards know this is here. If you ever need to run, Yuuri, take this way out." He could still see Conrart's broad shoulders before him, the torch light washing over the man's tawny skin.

A slight tingle rippled its way up along his spine and Yuuri stopped in the middle of the dark tunnel shadows spread out before him as a faint light spilled in from behind him. Soundless footsteps sent tiny vibrations through the wood flooring beneath his feet, his lips pressed together knowing well exactly who it was behind him.

"I'm leaving, Yozak." His voice was a soft whisper, stoic and almost cold. The usual tone of the light hearted boy having melted into the commanding one of the Maou. Conrart's death had stripped him of something and left him a changed man, though he still hadn't grown into his body, he was a man, his features no longer that of a child.

"Highness... this is not advisable. The Kingdom..."

"Can function just as well without me, than with me at present." Obsidian eyes chilled as they turned to regard the amber haired warrior who stood only a few feet away from him. "I need to do this, Yozak. If I am to find any measure of peace, I need to look into the faces of those who took him from me and know that they had been brought to justice for his murder."

"Let me come with you, Majesty." Yozak stepped forwards, his blue eyes taking in the face of the young man who had grown in the last half dozen months right before his eyes. Yuuri was no longer who everyone had begun to know, this man was the Maou, someone who commanded respect and knew his own power. "Please..."

"No." The black inky orbs studied the soldier's face for one long minute in silence. "I appreciate all that you have done for me, Yozak, in his stead." One hand dropped down to the pummel of Conrart's blade, stroking over the cool hilt for a moment, remembering the hours of lessons he had forced himself to take with Yozak and Gunter as his teachers. He might still be a novice, but he had enough skills to protect himself and no longer fear duelling in battle. "But this I need to do alone. They have need of you here."

"I promised him I would guard your back..." The soldier took another step forwards, hesitating and feeling a prickle of apprehension slide up along his spine. "I swore I would..."

"You can't replace him." Even though he knew the words weren't quite right, his jaw clenched and he straightened, his raven locks curling about his face beneath the edge of the hood. "No one can replace him. I loved him, Yozak. I did not realise the true extent of my feelings until he was taken away from me." His jaw clenched sharply, shoulders stiffening and he flinched away from the soothing touch Yozak was trying to provide. "The day I lost him was the day my innocence truly died. I am tired of seeing those I care about being hurt for my sake. I will not risk the lives of those around me for my selfish desires."

"He was my friend... I... Yuuri, I need to go."

"I will never leave you on your own."

He could still hear Conrart's promise echoing in his ears, his hands clenched sharply, fingers nails digging into his palms, almost drawing blood. "I had the power to protect him." Guilt burned in those dark eyes, a raw wound that nothing could seem to ease, no number of words could close. "But I was afraid. I cowered like a cornered dog, whimpering and whining."

"You were overwhelmed." The man whispered softly in response, stopping in his tracks as he gazed into those haunted eyes.

"I have stopped entire armies!" A snarl escaped his lips, anger flaring within his chest, burning like coals in his belly. "Yet... I..." A rather foul curse escaped his lips, his head dipping and his shoulders sagging for only a moment. "I could not protect what mattered most to me."

"Don't do this on your own."

"Goodbye, Yozak." And he turned away from the man, unable to meet those blue eyes and moved off into the darkness. And in those deep shadows, several tears streaked down his cheeks, still hearing Yozak calling for him to come back, but respecting his decision enough not to follow him.

The Forests, The Great Demon Kingdom

Every breath spilled out of him in a puff of white that clouded into the air before him. With each inhale, it felt as if needles were tearing through his lungs, cutting away even more of him than had already been removed by the loss of Conrart Weller from his life. The horse moved swiftly through the darkened forest, the animal far more sure footed than Yuuri could have been in the pitch blackness.

One leather clad fist coiled tightly in reins, his other rested lightly on the hilt of his sword, wary of every noise that slipped through the underbrush of the forest around him. He could still hear the distant clamour of Covenant Castle, which stood bright and illuminated over the tops of the trees. Some part of him felt a pang of guilt for what he was doing, guilt over the course of action he was taking, yet he knew it could only be this way. For the last six months, he had been the Maou for his people, he had strived to do all that had been asked of him with no more complaints. Not a single word of protest had escaped him.

But he finally had the information he had sort after, he had found out who had taken Conrart from him and the names of the men responsible echoed within his mind. His hand lightly stroked against the neck of the mount he rode, regretting the fact that he had been forced to leave Ao behind. Money, provisions, his weapon, maps and passage already booked on one of the cargo ships. He had already organised for the boat to meet him away from the usual docks to prevent Gwendal from finding him at the main port of the Great Demon Kingdom.

Drawing on the reins of his horse, he stilled the mount, his head turning to the side, aware of the half dozen men who were moving through the trees. His head twisted slightly to regard the man who stood there in the pool of moonlight that shimmered down between the branches of the trees. The man's brown uniform easily gave him away as one of Conrart Weller's personal soldiers, his head tipped back to regard the Maou with a silent glance of understanding.

"Jenner." He greeted softly, actually being able to offer an honest smile, even though it was small, it came from his heart. These men had become Yuuri's own personal escort, the Maou wanting to hold close that which had been important to Conrart.

"All that you have requested has been done, my Lord." Jenner responded, his grey eyes warming a little at the sight of the younger man wearing Conrart's cloak. His hand lightly reaching out to rest his palm against the horse's shoulder, patting the mount lightly. "Is there nothing more we can do for you, my Lord?" There was a note of hope in the man's tone, his expression showing that he wanted to be able to accompany the Maou, to be of greater service in some fashion or another.

"Return to your families." He whispered softly. "Return home for a time, Jenner, appreciate what each of you has... for it is our families... those we love that truly are the heart of all we are."

"I will send the men back, Sire." Fingers combed back through dark brown locks, his grey eyes lingering on the Maou's face. "But may I accompany you until you meet the ship. I... I wish to see you safely on your way, Sire."

Yozak had asked him almost the exact same thing, yet, Jenner knew that Yuuri Shibuya needed to do this on his own. "Your presence would be a comfort." His head tipped forwards slightly, before Jenner was soon mounting on a horse that had been drawn out of the shadows of the forest, the two men soon heading further into the darkness.

A storm gathered on the horizon, a distant rumble of thunder spilling across the valley and mountains surrounding the Demon Capital.

Driving rain pounded the two riders, almost knocking them off their mounts. The trees swung wildly, their branches flailing back and forth, the trunks groaning in protest of the raw power of the storm that had prowled at the edges of evening and had finally blanketed the entire world. The only light in the pitch black of the forest was the brilliant bolts of gold that jaggedly cut the sky.

"We must turn back!" Jenner's voice was barely audible above the roar of the storm, thunder crashing again and again, almost making them both deaf and soaking them to the bone.

Icy needles slammed into Yuuri's face, chilling his flesh, seeping into his soul and numbing him all the way through. Magic filled the air, its raw potential rubbing at each of Yuuri's nerves. It called to him, seductive and promising to ease the terribly pain that gnawed at the Maou's heart.

"SIRE!"

"Go back." His voice was as harsh as the storm and Jenner stilled the moment he heard the clear words, his grey eyes worried. "Return to the Castle."

"My Lord!"

"Leave me."

Something was here, something had come to stop him and it almost made him smile. The wind screamed, the forest uncoiling its claws, its jaws spreading wide and sending Jenner's horse into a blind panic. The man's cry of surprise was swallowed by the storm, when the mount turned and fled back along the path it had taken along the winding trail. The soldier desperately clung to the creature's back, knowing that if he was unseated it would mean his death at the speed he was travelling.

He felt the presence more than saw it, his jaw clenching as his entire expression darkened at the thought that his being would decide to block his path. "Do not stand in my way." His voice echoed amongst the trees, gaze dropping to meet a pair of intense blue eyes that almost seemed to glow in the dark, dangerous and shadowed.

Shinou stood like a perfectly proportioned statue, his blonde locks untouched by the pelting rain that had soaked Yuuri all the way through to the bone. The wind past straight through him, the branches not scratching at the man's face, even though they swayed violently with the howling screams of the storm. A dark shadow flickered around him, like a candle flame caught in a breeze, flaring and dimming while it coiled it's sickening tendrils around Shinou's body. "You belong to me."

The Maou actually laughed at that, raven eyes so dark that they seemed to be part of the night, while he nudged the horse forwards, unafraid of the monster that had summoned up the storm. "I belong to no one."

"You will learn your place."

Lightning split the sky open, bright and blinding, yet Yuuri didn't flick away as the bolt of energy split a nearby tree, his grip on reins remained tight, preventing the frightened horse from bolting. "I will not be bent to your desires. I have proved my capability in doing just that." His free arm spread out from his body, gesturing towards his surroundings and lifting his jaw slightly, an act of defiance against a force that had sort to control him. "You know as well as I that you do not have the power to force me to return to Covenant Castle or to Earth."

Shinou had tried time and again to send him home, yet Yuuri's stubbornness and force of will had prevented it each time he had felt the desperate tug on his body attempting to pull him back and through to a world that no longer made any sense to him. He had made a decision to remain in the Great Demon Kingdom, to remain in the world that had struck a deep chord within him. His family wouldn't even notice his absence with the rapidly different time streams between the two worlds.

"Do not challenge me, Child. You do not realise with what powers you play."

A rough laugh escaped Yuuri at that, his hand turning palm upwards as rain collected in the palm of his gloved hand. Tiny water serpents began to uncoil from within the water droplets, coiling up over his arm, their mouths open in hissing displays of rage. "I realise that I'm a weapon to you. I know why I was forged, why you made me." He knew well the reason he had been created by Shinou's meddling in the life of Lady Susannah Julia Von Wincott. "I was to be your vessel." It sickened him.

He knew well the forces that Shinou had been playing with. The seals on the boxes beginning to crack and fracture. They had been gathered painstakingly over the six months he had remained in the Great Demon Kingdom and ventured into several other nations for short trips when he knew his presence had been required. Also, fate hadn't gone the direction it had meant to. Ken Murata had said as much to him on several occasions.

"This is not what was meant to be."

"But in the end, I was given another value. I was placed upon this world to love Conrart Weller, that is my reason for existing." His eyes challenged Shinou to contradict him.

Blue eyes softened for a moment, the darkness that clouded the clear colour retreating only for a moment. "His death was unfortunate."

"Unfortunate?" Yuuri snarled the word, rage surging hot and fast through his veins, his guilt and regret tangling up around it, knotting together and making it almost impossible to breath. The forest reflected Yuuri's emotions, the trees and branches fairly trembling with rage and pain, battered by the storm and by the emotions of the Maou. "His death stains my hands and you act as if his existence has had no meaning other than to serve your purposes. He was the deliverer of my soul, the one who held me close to his heart and never once gave up on me despite how I stumbled."

Gunter had told him the story of how Conrart had carried Julia's soul to Earth and allow Yuuri to be born to be Maou. There had never been a choice for Yuuri, no one had ever truly asked him if he had wanted the power that had been given to him. His destiny had been decided and forced by the will and machinations of Shinou.

"Ken Murata is handling the three Boxes in our possession, the search for the last is still continuing. I am not necessary in this, it is best that I as a Key remain away from the Boxes." Lips pressed together and he urged the horse forwards, his entire body trembling with the sheer force of his emotions that had been unleashed and no longer responded to the hard won command he had over them.

"You will return to Covenant Castle."

The wind shrieked, battering the horse and knocking the beast to his knees, almost crushing Yuuri beneath its soaked body. The young man was rubbing a hand across its head, soothing it with his power, desperate to keep the creature calm. Mud streaked his clothes, covering him from head to toe, staining his clothes, even as the water was pounding over his exposed face and neck.

"YOU DO NOT COMMAND ME!" Yuuri Shibuya staggered to his feet, the wind battering him as the ground began to vibrate with the force of the energy being drawn into the area. His raven eyes blazed with defiance, feeling the dark claws of Shinou's power attempting to seep into his body, scratching at his senses and desperate to get inside his mind. It was starving for the raw emotions that swamped the Maou. The grief and guilt drawing it in like a moth to a flame. "I am the forest. I weather the storm, I survive the fire, I endure."

The hungry black fingers clawed across the ground, a living breathing evil that seeped out of Shinou.

"Conrart." Yuuri whispered softly, feeling the brush of something against the edges of his mind, the soft caress of fingers against his chilled and numb skin. His head turned upwards and he felt the cold rain slide down over his face, tracing across his lips as he felt the darkness continue to gather around him.

"Watch the morning light burn away the darkness, is it not beautiful, Yuuri?"

Tears slowly trickled down the young man's cheeks at the sound of Conrart's voice filling his ears, the touch of a strong calloused hand against his shoulder as he and Conrart had once stood on the wall of the Castle and gazed out at the rising sun, watching the dark shadows that pooled over the land be chased away by brilliant rays of sunlight.

"Let me taste your rage." Such hunger filled Shinou's words, blue eyes were clouded completely over by crimson streaked grey, staring at him with a desire to touch the living shadows that lurked within Yuuri's own soul. "Your grief... oh such..." All the vestiges of what had once been Shinou melted away as the Originators that had been trapped within Shinou's body surfaced, having clawed their way out, hungry for something to feed them after being confined within Shinou's very soul.

The edge was there.

The division between good and evil, the point where grey turned into black. Yuuri had been walking right towards that edge, right towards the point where he might just end up falling over the edge and right into the darkness that offered to consume everything within him and edge the pain that had burnt his heart.

Striking out against Shinou in anger would only allow the darkness to slip in under his defences and claim what it had come for, him, body and soul. And so he reached for that part of himself that hadn't been tainted black by his sorrow and anguish, that part where his love for Conrart still resided, the single thing that kept him breathing, that kept his heart beating. Closing his eyes against the darkness, his hands lifted, even though he could almost feel Shinou's fingers brush his own.

Reaching into the light, he bathed his powers in its glow, burying himself within the security of that emotion, in the memory of Conrart's arms sliding around his body. The comfort that the strong warm presence had always provided him with. Releasing for those few moments the darker emotions that plagued him, he grasped his love with both hands and held on.

"I love you, Conrart. Nothing will ever change that." Swallowing against the lump that was forming in his throat, he stood there in mud streaked clothing, rain pounding down over him.

Light ignited within him, brilliant and all consuming, spreading outwards from him, burning away the dark tendrils that had attempted to reach him. The bubble of energy seared away the shadows, the air filling with steaming mists of evaporating rain that hissed against the barrier. Shinou's face was illuminated by the harsh radiance, eyes glinting crimson as darkness swept forwards from his hands.

The two forces collided with the power of nuclear weapon, exploding outwards around the two unnaturally powerful beings.

In that blinding moment, Yuuri swore he could feel Conrart's arms wrapping around him, shielding him from the force of the blast, tucking his face in close to a warm shoulder and sheltering him. His body was flung backwards as was Shinou. The young man's body slammed against the trunk of one of the trees, limbs flailing slightly before he was caught up again by the secondary shockwave and tossed through the air like a battered doll.

His head struck hard against a branch, and finally everything went black as Shinou screamed as the purifying fire continued to eat away at the darkness that had so long ago become a part of Shinou.

I hope you like this! If you do... I'll try to get another chapter up within a few days.