(Disclaimer: The Twelve Kingdom Characters belong solely to Fuyumi Ono, but Mariette and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)

(Disclaimer: Ikigami manga belongs solely to Mase Motoro, but Sasuke Mura and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. The story is just based on the plot line of the manga. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)

KChanDreams: Looks like I needed to put two disclaimers for this one. Well anyway, my plan for the ultimate crossover was reformated, so only two mangas for this one. If the other story is ever finished, then it might be added, but not likely. Anyway enjoy this and the crossover will be seen later on. Please review.

Storm of the Past

Chapter 1: Memories?

Mariette looked around at the vast dark plane that surrounded her calling out, "Mommy?" Her voice only echoed back. Mariette stood her ground wondering where she was. She suddenly saw a figure in the distance and waved toward it.

"Hello!"

Mariette.

Mariette paused in her actions as the figure approached her. When the figure was close enough, Mariette saw that it was a woman in a red armor with long black hair. Mariette blinked in confusion.

"Who are you?"

The figure smiled and placed a cold hand on Mariette's head causing her to gasp in surprise. Her cat features popped out. The figure giggled and kneeled down in front of her.

"You still have your cat features. I'm glad."

Mariette stared at the woman and asked again who she was. A tear escaped from the woman's eye. Mariette gasped. Mariette waved her arms frantically saying, "I'm sorry" repeatedly. The woman shook her head.

"You shouldn't apologize. It was my fault for feeling even a little jealous, but…"

The woman suddenly showed a serious look that sent chills down Mariette's back.

"…I will never forgive them."

"Never forgive who?" asked Mariette. The woman gripped Mariette's shoulders and said, "Be careful, Mariette. They are going to try to kill…"

Mariette awoke before the woman could finish her words. Mariette sat up in her bed and looked toward the cloudy sky. Mariette remembered the woman's face wondering who she was.

Mariette shook her head and jumped out of bed. She slipped on her royal garments and headed out of her room. Mariette ran down the empty hallway calling out, "Mommy?" Mariette knew that her mother would be awake at this time for she had work to do as Queen of Kei.

Mariette ran into the throne room and saw Yoko speaking with one of her officials.

"Mommy!" cheered Mariette as she ran to Yoko. Yoko saw Mariette and smiled brightly. She embraced Mariette and said, "Mariette, why are you awake at this time?" Mariette smiled.

"I had this weird dream and I wanted to tell you about it," said Mariette happily. Yoko giggled and looked at her official.

"We will talk later," said Yoko. The official nodded and left the throne room.

When the official was gone, Yoko sat Mariette on her lap and said, "So what was your dream about?" Mariette thought awhile.

"I wasn't really sure. I was in a meadow filled with Mochi and Keiki was eating it like a pig. And then En-Chan came along and pulled the king of En out of a mushroom and started yelling at him for no apparent reason. Then the apprentice of that medical scholar came along and he had bunny ears. He told me that I was late and to follow him, but I didn't want to because you said that I shouldn't follow him out of nowhere. And then the twins came along and started to sing in Japanese and Korean. They were really out of tune. And then the hotel man came and told them to be quiet with horns upon his head. Then that new soldier of the king of En came along and began to throw mud at me telling me to fight him repeatedly. It made me mad. Then the king of Kou materialized from a flower and told me that he was going to take me to a happy place, but then you appeared again calling him a pedophile and Taiki appeared too saying that he was no good. Then daddy came along and grew cat ears laughing like a clown."

Yoko was trying her burst not to burst out laughing from Mariette's dream description. Yoko controlled her laughter and said, "That is a strange dream." Mariette nodded and suddenly looked down sadly.

"Is something wrong?"

Mariette sighed and continued her story.

"After seeing all that, my dream suddenly became pitch black. I called out to you, but you didn't answer. I was really scared, but then I saw a girl in red armor."

Yoko eyes widen and asked, "Red Armor?" Mariette nodded.

"She had long black hair too. She was really pretty. I asked for her name, but she never told me. She just said some strange things like 'I'm glad that you still have your cat features' and that I shouldn't apologize. She also cried."

Yoko squeezed Mariette's arm lightly and asked, "Did she say anything else?" Mariette nodded.

"She also said that she couldn't forgive them. I don't know what that means, but she looked angry. She also said that they were going to try to kill something, but I woke up before she could tell me. Weird right?"

Yoko nodded and hugged Mariette close. Mariette looked at Yoko in confusion.

"Is something wrong, mommy?"

Yoko shook her head and said, "Everything is fine, so why don't you play in the garden." Mariette nodded and jumped off Yoko's lap.

When Mariette was out of the room, Yoko clasped her hand over her mouth with wide eyes.

Why was Wuya in her dream?

Mariette played around in the garden laughing. She suddenly saw a reflection in the small pond and looked up only to see Narumi, a green haired ten-year-old boy, looking down at her. Mariette smiled brightly at the sight of him.

"Naru-Chan, what brings you here?" asked Mariette with her cat tail swinging about. Narumi walked over to her and said, "My master wanted to visit the palace." Narumi sat next to Mariette on the grass. He looked at her and asked, "So how have you been?" Mariette smiled.

"I've been doing great. My mommy says that I am doing great in my studies and I can go down to the kingdom soon to play," said Mariette happily. Narumi smirked at her and patted her head.

"That's good to hear," said Narumi. Mariette giggled and jumped to her feet. She looked down at Narumi and said, "You want to play?" Narumi nodded and began to play tag with her.

Narumi suddenly stopped in his tracks. Mariette looked back at him and asked, "Is something wrong, Naru-Chan?" Narumi had a look of disgust. Mariette looked in the direction he was looking in and saw Enki standing before them. Mariette burst into a bright smile and ran to Enki.

"En-Chan!" cheered Mariette as she embraced him. Enki blushed, but immediately shook it away. Enki pushed Mariette away and asked, "Shouldn't you be with your mother?" Mariette shook her head.

"Mommy told me to play in the garden, so that's what I did," said Mariette happily. Enki smiled and then glared toward Narumi, who was glaring back at him.

"So why are you playing with this parasite?" asked Enki making Mariette confused. Narumi flinched and continued to glare daggers at Enki. When Enki and Narumi first met, it wasn't so great. Narumi "accidentally" splashed Enki with an itching formula and Enki slipped an extra spicy herb in Narumi's soup. It was practically hate at first sight.

Mariette looked at Enki and Narumi wondering what was wrong with them. She suddenly sensed something and jumped back. In the place she was standing was a bamboo stick. Mariette smiled when she saw it and looked around.

"Rai-Chan?"

Rai, a sixteen-year-old soldier of En, appeared from behind a pillar and said, "I missed." Mariette giggled and pulled out the bamboo stick from the ground. Enki glared at Rai and yelled, "Didn't we tell you not to attack Mariette." Rai shrugged.

"It was an instinct," said Rai. Enki glared at him.

"Act more mature!" screamed Enki. Narumi nodded in agreement. Mariette giggled at the sight of them fighting. She tossed Rai the bamboo stick, which he caught, and asked, "Do you want to play too, Rai-Chan?" Rai pouted.

"Why would I play with the likes of you brat?"

Enki and Narumi glared at Rai. Mariette giggled and said, "Then how about this: if you catch me, I will fight you like you want me to." Rai perked up. He smirked at Mariette and charged at her.

"Better keep your word," stated Rai with his arms outstretched. Mariette leapt out of the way causing Rai to run into the pond. Rai was soaked from head to toe. Mariette giggled at the sight. Narumi and Enki were laughing like crazy. Rai glared at Mariette and attempted to capture her again. Mariette ran from Rai laughing.

Mariette suddenly felt something grab at her heart and fell forward. Rai stopped in his tracks and looked down at Mariette.

"Are you OK?" he asked. Enki and Narumi ran to Mariette in concern. Mariette held her heart and whispered, "Something is missing?" Narumi, Rai, and Enki were confused. Mariette got up and looked at them with sadden eyes.

"I think I need to see mommy," said Mariette and began to head into the palace. The other three boys followed her in concern.

Mariette stepped into the palace and immediately went into a coughing fit. Enki ran to her and asked, "Are you OK?" Mariette coughed into her hand. When she pulled her hand away there were traces of blood causing Enki to gasp in surprise. He looked back at Narumi and said, "Get your master now!" Narumi nodded and ran off into the palace in search of his master.

Enki carried Mariette like a princess and looked back at Rai.

"We have to take her to Yoko," said Enki. Rai nodded and ran down the hall with Enki. Mariette clenched onto Enki's shirt sweating.

"Mommy?"

Enki held Mariette close and whispered, "We're taking you to your mommy now." Mariette gave a small nod and closed her eyes. Mariette coughed blood onto Enki causing him to cringe. Enki looked up at Rai and said, "You hold her." Rai nodded and took Mariette from Enki's grasp.

They ran down the hall until they reached the throne room. Enki kicked it open calling out to Yoko, who was speaking with Shouryou. Yoko looked at them and gasped when she saw Mariette in Rai's arms. Yoko and Shouryou ran to them. Yoko pulled Mariette to here and asked, "What happened?"

Enki sighed and said, "We were playing and then Mariette didn't seem to be feeling well, so she was going to see you, but then she started to cough out blood. I already told Narumi to look for his master for medicine." Yoko hugged Mariette with her form shaking.

Shouryou stared down at Mariette and asked, "Is she sick?" Yoko looked at Shouryou with tear filled eyes.

"I don't know. Mariette has always had a weak body, but she has never coughed out blood. Why is this happening to her?"

Mariette suddenly held Yoko's shirt causing Yoko to look down at her. Mariette looked at Yoko with glazed eyes and whispered, "I don't want to die." Yoko's eyes widen. Mariette collapsed in Yoko's arms. Yoko held Mariette's small form close with wide eyes.

Why did she say that?