Dawn

**A/N** Thanks for the input keiko259. I see where you're coming from. The first five chappies all took place within 24 hours of Yuri's leaving. I felt that it was important to see how each character was coping with such a traumatic event. I also didn't want to scare anyone with a 16 page first chapter. ;) LOL You're right that it did take a while to move from that point. Let's see if I can move it along for you in the next couple 'K? Feel free to review and kick my butt if a start going too slow or vague again. I really do appreciate your review.


It was early

The sun had just risin in the sky. He could see the sunshine reflecting off of the cars parked along the road outside. It always seemed like one of the brightest times of day. When the dark of night was first chased back by the flashes of dawn that shown down into a city full of glass and steel. Watching the sun rise over Japan was very different from watching the sun rise over Shin Makoku Yuri thought.

He felt his forehead wrinkle again. He'd found himself thinking more and more about the differences between the two worlds lately. It was strange. Always before when he'd come back to this world after leaving the other he'd felt freer. Like he knew he'd only have a limited amount of time before going back so he needed to try and do as much as he could here before he had to leave again. Almost like trying to squeeze as much into a vacation as you possibly could before you had to go back to work.

That was part of the problem he mussed. Before that final trip, whenever he'd been in Shin Makoku he'd treated it almost like the amusement park he'd first thought it was; a step away from his own reality where he was just an average baseball loving high school student. And yet when he thought back to it whenever he'd been here, he'd treated it almost the same way; like a play he had a role in, but not an interest in.

That's what he felt so confused over now. When he'd left the Great Demon Kingdom he knew that it was the best choice. He knew that the people he'd left behind would be fine without him. He'd helped them to find peace with the neighboring countries, now it was their job to continue to maintain that peace. In his mind he'd already shown them the way, now it was just up to them to take it. He didn't know why he was having second doubts about it now; he knew that everyone was capable of carrying on without him. After all, they'd always done just fine without him before when he'd been carried away.

"Yuri! Breakfast!¨ his mother's voice came from the kitchen downstairs.

Yuri sighed and turned away from the window he'd been standing in front of. He finished buttoning his school uniform on his way down the stairs. As he entered the kitchen he saw that his mother had already put his breakfast on a plate at the table. After he'd poured some juice into a glass and started to sit down his mother came up beside him and rested her hands on his shoulders.

"Good morning Yuri! I made a special Demon King breakfast for you today!¨

Yuri groaned and closed his eyes. He briefly thought about slamming his head into the table, but dismissed it. Knowing his mother she'd feel the need to keep him home from school where she could soak his 'poor battered demon king head' in ice so that his 'great demon king brains' didn't scramble. He had no idea how his parents had managed to keep their knowledge about him being the next demon king of Shin Makoku a secret. Ever since he'd been back his mother had taken every opportunity to call him 'her son, the demon king'.

It was weird enough when they were at home and it was just family. But she'd even gone so far as to remind him when they were out too, whether they were at dinner or the market. His father only looked mildly embarrassed by it; Shori, he was sure, was ready to disown the whole lot of them. Amazingly even though Shori was training under Bob to be able to take over leadership of the Demon Kingdom of Earth, their mother still saw a big difference in Yuri already being a demon king and Shori merely being a demon king in training.

"Ahh. That's okay-I'm not really that hungry today. Besides I have to meet Murata early today at school. We're helping with the cultural day planning. So, I really have to leave anyway. Bye Mom!¨ Yuri yelled over his shoulder as he made his escape out the front door.

"Yuri! Call me Mama!¨ Jennifer sighed as she watched her youngest son grab his bike and peddle away at a frantic pace. As she cleaned up the table and kitchen she hummed to herself happily. She knew her boys, and like any good mother she wanted what was best for them. It was just too sad that since they were boys and not girls they couldn't see that. Maybe if they'd had marvelous wings, they'd have also been blessed with the knowledge that 'Mama knew best,' but she sighed, since that wasn't to be she supposed that she¡¦d just have to continue her plans of great demon king domination. With eyes glittering dangerously and a smile of scary determination she left the kitchen.


When Yuri arrived at school he saw Murata already standing on the steps waiting for him. After chaining his bike to the stands he took the steps two at a time until he reached the top.

"Good morning Ken!¨ Yuri greeted.

"Good morning, your highness!¨ Murata parroted back.

"Argh! Not you too! Would you keep it down. Geez.¨ Yuri stormed past his friend after looking around frantically to make sure no one had over heard Murata's address and entered the building.

Following after Yuri in a fit of laughter Murata inquired, "So the Great Demon King is upset this morning then, eh?¨

"Ken-knock it off already! You don't hear me going around calling you the 'Great Sage' do you?¨ Yuri bit out.

"I've been meaning to speak to you about that Yuri. I know that we're friends and all so I really don't want to stand on too much formality when it's just the two of us. But I really think you'll have to start being a little more conscious about paying your respects when we're among the masses-" Murata abruptly broke off as he walked into Yuri's back.
"Eh? Shibuya? What's-"

"The masses! Ken?¨ Yuri had turned to face his companion his face showing nothing but shock and disbelief. "The Masses?!?!?¨ His voice was starting to raise in volume, "What masses? Ken? Tell me-"

"Yuri!¨ Murata's firm voice cut through the cloud that was swirling in Yuri's mind. Causing him to blink and remember where he was, and with whom. He sighed.

"You can be a real jerk sometimes Ken.¨

"Heh.¨ Murata smiled and continued down the hall passing his friend, "For all that I can be a 'real jerk' sometimes, Yuri, you are real wimp.¨

Yuri's stomach fell towards his toes. "Ken-"

The voice was raw, damaged, a cry of raw-edged hurt and confusion. Murata turned to look at the figure behind him.
Where before he had seen a young man standing tall and indignant, he now saw a face down-cast and shoulders slumped in confusion, doubt, exhaustion and despair. He wondered if Yuri even knew that this was what he looked like; probably not, he thought as he walked back. "Come on Shibuya. We're going to be late.¨ He walked his friend towards the gymnasium.

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The fire burned brightly with flames of blue and ochre, its light extending only a few feet into the cavernous dark room. The heat it put out doing nothing to warm the icy confines of the space. No candles illuminated the faces of those gathered in the darkness. The crackle and spit of the logs as they burned an eerie accompaniment to the sinister plot being hatched in this secret bowel of intrigue.

As one, the cloaked figures stood from the scarred table and left; all except for one. The final figure approached the fire and stared malevolently up at the tapestry hanging in murky solitude above the mantle. The cursed tapestry the only witness to the bloody plans hatched by the members that had gathered. As the flames flickered they illuminated the smile of madness upon the face twisted in hatred. 'Soon,' the figure thought, 'soon.'
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