Chapter 9: What a Woman!

Verdict

As to the final count and as much as I want to please Loyal Readers Ilysaviel16 and Serry 2, this chapter will be about Yuri's kidnap following the Mateki Adventure, as there are more than four votes of it. Though I must say, I agree with some of you that Stoffel can be an old Bore. I promise to those who want this to be short to be a one chapter story and for those who are waiting for the Mateki story will come ASAP. I thank you all for your reviews. In the meantime be patient, and write like there is no tomorrow. Write... Let your imagination take you to places beyond physics...

Again Thank you.

"Watch your front before your back," Wolfram snapped, "Hasn't Gunter told you at least a million times?"

"Don't you start," Conrad muttered – having given the same lecture from Gunter himself only a minute before, hand over an apparently bandaged forehead, "And how was I supposed to know the some of the Bone Tribe were on his side?"

This was supposed to be a simple investigation!

In fact it was so simple, Yuri just had to tag along! How did the Bone Tribe ever see past her disguise of brown eyes and short red wig?

Yuri had been part of the last few investigations. Some of them were so she could ditch Gunter's lecture on History. "He's a good teacher," Yuri once commented, "but his drone almost always puts me to sleep." Conrad had to laugh at that, empathising with his god-daughter. "He used to do the same with me." Wolfram sighed. Though Yuri had had ditched lessons now and then, Lord Weller telling her how he used to ditch Gunter as well was not helping any.

This investigation turned into, not surprisingly, another Maoh's-life-threatening mission. They were in a town near Stoffel's estate, with Gunter as well, when bandits came out of nowhere as did a swarm of the Bone Tribe. Conrad was hit on the head by a rock which the Bone Tribe carried while protecting Yuri, allowing the bandits use smoke bombs and the Bone Tribe to kidnap the Queen.

Wolfram had lost count of how many times his fiancée was either nearly assassinated or victim of attempted kidnap since her becoming Maoh of Shin Makoku. He could count the number of times with one hand when injuries occurred, Conrad's head injury happened to be the worst.

While Wolfram admired the older soldier for his loyalty to the Queen and his sword skills, it embarrassed the blond just how reckless the man was. Of the three sons of the previous Maoh, Conrart Weller was, by far, most reckless strategist and the Royal Healer's worst patient. If Wolfram did not know any better, he'd say that Conrart enjoyed his constant banter with Gunter's daughter.

What was even more embarrassing for the Maoh's fiancé was that he himself had reckless strategies of fighting. Like Lord Weller, he always, always, ran straight into the middle of chaos and end up scratched in more places than Gisela Von Khrist would have liked. As Yuri had said before, they were brothers so it was not surprising to him how he became reckless – he could always blame Lord Weller who had taught him fencing. This, however, made Wolfram wonder where Conrart had learned to be reckless in the first place.

Maybe he got it from Dan Hiri. Or, though it was highly unlikely to Wolfram, maybe even Gwendal. Back at the castle, where he was planning to move his army, Gwendal sneezed.

"Apart from a nasty headache," said Gunter, half-urging his student to his student to ride double, "you should be just fine. Gwendal ought to have notified Yosak by now, right Wolfram?" there was no answer from the blond. "Wolfram?" Conrad called, looking around for his brother.

It was then they heard a familiar whinny. He turned to the window of the inn they were finding temporary shelter for Conrad's injury and watched as Wolfram had already left with his white horse.

"What was that about watching your front first before your back?" Conrart said, sweat-dropping. "Urusai!" Gunter reprimanded, smacking his ex-student upside the head.

They finally caught up to the blond racing across the grassy plain leading to Stoffel's estate. The blond ignored them as he rode as fast as he could to save his beloved fiancée.

"Hyaa! Hyaa!" Wolfram yelled, urging his horse to gallop faster.

"Wolfram!" Gunter called, though it was useless, "Slow down!"

Wolfram ignored him and continued to urge his horse to run faster. Conrad, who was rather embarrassed with riding double with Gunter, understood why though. Wolfram had the blood of the fiery hot Bielefelds running through his veins and he, like his father before him, did not like other people meddling with his precious people. He thought about what had happened the day before as Gunter urged his horse to go faster – when some of Stoffel's spies tried to kidnap Yuri.

Conrad had an idea that his dim witted uncle was asking for an early death. He knew Yuri would also likely decline everything Stoffel has to offer; but then, knowing Yuri, anything could happen.

He shuddered slightly at the previous day's events. If being a soldier did not kill him first, being a godfather would kill him sooner than he expected:

"He won't say anything," said Gwendal, "Not even whom he took orders from."

A vein was popping from Yuri's head. She had tried playing nice by using psychology, trying to make the fugitive cry by thinking how his mother would be disappointed that he had tried to kidnap the Queen. And when the death threat did not work...

"No use about playing nice is there, Gwen-kun?" she asked Gwendal.

"Gwen-kun yu na," Gwendal retorted before answering, "no, he probably die if we use torture on him as well..."

"Von Voltaire-kyo Gwendaru!" she said darkly. Apparently, Yuri had learned from history the way they torture people in the most, to put it mildly, inhuman way.

"Fine," he snapped, "No torture! Do you have a better idea?"

Yuri thought for a moment. "Does Anissina have any sterilised needles?"

"Sterilised needles?" Wolfram queried.

"How many Heika?" said Anissina, who came up right behind Gwendal, scaring him out of his wits.

10 minutes later...

"What are those for?" asked the fugitive, eyeing about thirty needles in the tray.

"For you," said Yuri cheerfully. Everyone in the room looked at her in confusion before she continued, "I'm going to give you an acupuncture treatment. You must be very tired after all that skulking around."

Gwendal's eyebrow twitched. Was that why she asked for sterilised needles? To give this man health treatment even after he tried to kidnap her?

"Why I..." the fugitive stuttered.

"Now, now," she said firmly, smiling, "Just relax and you won't feel the pain."

He did feel the pain!

Within the next ten minutes, more than ten sterilised needles were sticking out all over his body. His face contorted in pain as Yuri continued to talk about what happened in the night. As Yuri pressed one more needle near his neck, he cried out not able to withstand the pain any more.

"Stop! Please! Mercy," the fugitive cried, "I'll say anything!"

Gwendal just stared wide eyed, as well as everyone else in the room. What was that 'no torture' thing just now?

"Anything?" Yuri queried, forcing the needle more inwardly.

"Anything!" he squeaked, "EVERTHING!"

"Good boy," said Yuri cheerfully, patting his head, "I'll take out the needles now."

"Arigatou gozaimasu," he whimpered.

"You can question him now, Gwendal," she told her adviser cheerfully as she quickly took out the needles, mercifully causing only little more pain. The advisor felt a chill crawl up his spine. Is this girl really as innocent as she looked when she smiled? Her pranks certainly did not indicate so. If she was any scarier than Anissina.... Gwendal shuddered at the thought of their second political match...

"Or am I as a woman too weak to rule without advice?"

After the incident, Conrad was looking at her in an expression that seemed half-amused and half-terrified and it did not go unnoticed by her.

"What's up, godfather?" she asked. Before he could answer, she noticed her fiancé ahead of them trying to retreat from her sight.

"Oh, Wolfram..." she called pleasantly.

"Yaaaa!" her fiancé yelled, as he ran to the other side of Covenant Castle.

"That was weird," she commented. Ya think?

"Does it really work?" asked Conrad then.

"What?"

"That acupuncture thing?"

"Actually," she confessed, smiling innocently, "I don't know."

Brown eyes widened. "Eh?"

"Well," said Yuri, "At least, it worked."

"Oi oi oi," Conrad began, smiling nervously as a chill crawled up his spine, "You mean...?" His god-daughter was soinnocent...

"I wasn't sure if it would work until I tried it out on someone," she explained. Conrad backed away slightly from her, his hands raised in surrender. "I'll be nice to you from now on," he promised, laughing nervously.

"Only if you're getting too reckless," Yuri laughed, "Otherwise I'd let Gwendal deal with you."

"You're evil," he stated in mock weariness.

"I learn from the best," she shrugged.

Simply put: if Stoffel thought kidnapping her would solve anything, he did not know what he was up against.

Yuri said nothing throughout the speech Stoffel gave. Instead, she kept her arms stubbornly crossed, clenched her teeth and stared at the floor. She was beginning to suspect him of being an old loony. She heard his side of the story well enough, but all he said were some nonsense about Humans having to respect the Mazoku and all the trash Gunter had talked to her about at the beginning of her stay.

Yuri stayed with her opinion of the man: his speech could bore a monkey to tears!

It was hard for her to believe that gentle, serious Gunter, though boring and air-headed at times, was a racist. One thing she had to give him credit for though was the fact that he was flexible, very much unlike Stoffel. Stoffel was unchanging and arrogant, he blamed his nephews for a number of things. Many of the things Yuri found quite unbelievable. Was it Conrad's fault that he could not exceed expectations all because he had no Maryoku; Gwendal was stuffy she could agree with that but he...

"Do you honestly think I would have you as my advisor?" Yuri said flatly, "You want power over me don't you? I am not a puppet you can play with."

"If I were to have my way, you would show me more respect," Stoffel replied in an oily voice. Yuri kept her mouth stubbornly shut.

Stoffel bowed, knowing this was a losing battle, and left the room. As soon as he left, Yuri looked around the room she woke in, trying to find a way out. Digging through stone walls was out of the question and the windows not meant to be open, not to mention it was a long way down. If she could create a hole big enough to go through...

The door opened, interrupting her train of thoughts.

"Room service!" said a familiar nasal voice.

Yuri grinned, "Nice try, Yosak."

"Aw," the spy moaned, "You knew already, it must be the lipstick."

"It's the voice, Yozy," the girl chuckled, as she turned to find a red haired burly maid, "I would know your maiden voice anywhere."

"Cut me some slack, honey," Yosak moaned jokingly, "I'm a guy." Yuri smiled and shook her head, "I take it you have a plan of getting me out of this hellhole?"

"Hellhole?" he queried.

"Add it to the list of words that I'll explain to you," she said.

"That makes ten, you know," he said mildly, "and not including the fashion show." Yuri simply shrugged.

He then showed her the contents in the bucket he carried with him. The queen's smile broadened. "Perfect!" She set the bucket down and pulled on the maid's clothes over her uniform. Once finished, she gestured to Yosak of his opinion. "Kawaii ne," he said, flashing a grin at her. She had to hold back the urge to laugh, otherwise the soldiers would see that she was trying to escape.

Then quietly as they could, he led through the castle down to the kitchen, which was very near an un-guarded exit.

"Just how did you get here so fast?" she queried, as he looked around the kitchen to see if the coast was clear.

"Lord Von Voltaire sent me to get you before the war starts," Yosak told her as they climbed out of the kitchen window. Yuri stopped short, every good feeling evaporating into thin air.

"What war?" said Yuri suspiciously.

"With Lord Von Spitzberg," Yosak replied, unconcerned, "For kidnapping you,"

"That idiot!" she fumed. Yosak looked back at her, rather surprised.

"Which one?"

Yuri's eyebrow twitched, "The ponytail gramps with Tiny Tim blue eyes."

"I wouldn't tell him that to his face, highness," said Yosak, pleasantly making a note to ask her later what a 'Tiny Tim' was. Yuri folded her arms and lifted an eyebrow. Yosak sighed inwardly, Conrad would give him that exact same look when he was stubborn. "I'm going to that battlefield, and I'm going to kill him!"

"Highness?" he asked, hoping she was not serious. The only one who was allowed to kill Lord Von Voltaire was, again, his mother. On the other hand, at least she never threatened to tell his mother of his (ahem) misbehaviour.

"I take it you brought horses?" she said.

Thinking it was best to follow what his Queen said, he quickly led her past the guards within Stoffel's castle.

They were about to flee when two guards came with their spears aimed warningly at them.

"Your Majesty," said the taller of the two, "Please let us lead you back to your chamber."

Yosak suddenly felt the temperature around him dropping by at least 10oC as she gave an ice cold glare to the soldiers who wished for nothing more than pay to feed their families. "You would rather be traitor to your own kingdom rather than to your master?" the girl said coldly.

The soldiers seem to want to cling to each other under her glare before having senses brought back into them. "Sureshemasu!" both soldiers exclaimed, dropping down to their knees. Two small bags of coins suddenly dropped in front of them, each.

"You are only doing your duty," she said in a softer tone of voice, "Speak none of this to His Lordship."

"Yes, your Majesty," they chorused. They heard the sound of hooves then, the soldiers looked up to find both maids galloping off as far away from the castle as they could. The same thought crossed both their minds as they watched the Queen's raven black hair sailing in the wind.

"What a woman!" they both breathed.

Wolfram white mare reared as they came to a clearing; the blond calmed her and saw what had her excited in the first place. Raven was there in front of him preventing him, Gunter and Conrad from entering any deeper into Stoffel's estate. As much as Wolfram respected the man before him, he had to reach Yuri before Stoffel would have a chance to turn her.

"Raven," Wolfram demanded, "Either you let us pass or I'll unleash the Bielefelds' wrath upon you!"

"WHOA!" said a voice. Wolfram looked up to find a black line ran past him in great speed exciting his horse so the he was riding her horizontally. The only person he knew who had little experiences with horses was...

"Yuri?" exclaimed Wolfram, calming his horse. He did not know whether to laugh or even shudder under her death glare as she rode Ao in a maid's clothing. On the whole the scene was pretty funny. An frightening.

"Let's go Wolf!" Yuri ordered as she galloped off with Ao.

"Hya!" Wolfram yelled followed closely by Gunter and Yosak.

"What a woman!" Raven murmured under his breath watching them before leading his small army where Stoffel was.

The Queen's party stopped after a distance. "You all right?" said Wolfram, reaching his hand out to see if she had any injuries. "I've been better," the Queen snorted, swatting his hand away. She was not happy. "Right now I have to go to the battlefield and stop a war." Wolfram said nothing because, like Yosak, he knew that this was a losing battle. He then eyed her head to toe.

"Before you do that," said Yosak called from behind, "Might I suggest a change of clothes?"

Yuri looked at the red head sceptically. "A maid with a scary face is not exactly very intimidating," he pointed out. Wolfram smiled ruefully, "As much as I love- I mean, am loyal to you, I have to agree with him." Yuri sighed and ducked behind some bushes to undress. Realisation awakened; did Wolfram just say, 'as much as I love'?

Yuri shook her head from the thought, Wolfram had corrected himself. Turning love into loyal.

"How're you Conrad?" she called from the bushes.

"Apart from a nasty headache I should be just fine," her godfather answered, "At least, that's what Gunter says. I'll be seeing Gisela once we head back to the castle."

"They hit a rock on your head didn't they?" the tone this time came out in ice, indicating she was near to turning Maoh.

"Uh... eto..." all four stuttered.

"Boys!"

All four gulped. Whenever Yuri pulled the 'Boys!' card on them, it meant pain, lots of it, unless they spoke the truth.

Blue eyes glared into indigo. One with a green army behind him and the other with red.

"Surrender the Queen!" Gwendal called.

"So you could corrupt her even more?" Stoffel sneered, "She is little more than a child."

They both raised their hand, about to command their armies to charge. Each were at ready...

"STOP!" a black stallion came into view. Upon his back was the Queen!

"HEIKA!" both armies greeted, immediately dropping their weapons and falling upon their knees, "SURESHIMASU!"

"Uh..." she faltered, "At ease?"

Gunter, Wolfram, Conrad and Yosak watched from aside. Apparently the lessons Gunter had been giving the Queen was finally paying off, – she was still not used to the whole 'command' thing.

She rode in front of the ranks looking at each and every soldier who were about to die in battle had she not intervened. She did not feel that she could do that herself but she felt angrier with Gwendal for allowing the rules to get the better of him. Kidnapping the Maoh was crossing the line of treason, but still he sent Yosak to retrieve her, why send the whole army?

She turned her horse to face Gwendal, who was none too pleased to see her.

"You should not be here..." he started before she narrowed her eyes at him. The only other person who was brave enough to do that was his mother.

"Von Voltaire-kyo Gwendal," she thundered, "Withdraw your men."

No one moved.

"Do. It. Now." she ordered in a low and dangerous voice.

"Like. I. Care. Gaki." he said in an equally dangerous voice.

Not good, Gunter thought to himself. He could hear Wolfram shudder beside him as Gwendal and the Queen started a glaring competition. All right, their Queen does get angry at the wrong places at the wrong time at times...

"This war is unavoidable," Stoffel interrupted unwisely as Raven arrived with his army.

"URUSAI!" both Queen and advisor yelled.

It was then a lightning bolt hit Lord Von Spitzberg. Making him appear to be a Stoffel-shaped mound of ashes coughing out smoke. Yuri turned; though had not completely turned into the Maoh, she still managed to bring upon storm clouds. Lord Von Voltaire looked equally angry when he saw that the game he was playing with Yuri was rudely interrupted.

They glared at each other and nodded. Yuri then turned to face the dimwitted man whom she had had a dislike for ever since they first met. At the mention of him in front of Conrad and Lady Celi, like her advisers, was enough to make her blood boil.

"Do not tempt me," she said in an equally dangerous voice towards Stoffel, "Lord Spitzberg, as your punishment for bringing an unwilling maiden to your estate, let alone kidnapping the Queen, you are to confine to your castle within the next month. Penalty of this charge shall be prison for another month more." She paused for a moment, "I am certain you have no wish to make things difficult for those in your land."

"Your excellency," said Raven quietly so only Stoffel could hear, "I think we had better do as she says... I do not think we would want any more ahem... demonstrations." Though Raven had not said so, the dark haired man knew the young Queen would not fatally hurt anyone, though she had at times gave a few spankings, to put it mildly, in the name of justice. Really, one of these days he will have to restrain his master before he really does invoke her wrath.

"As you command, your majesty," said Stoffel meekly. Yuri acknowledged him with a nod. She turned towards the younger of her two advisors.

"You," said the queen, pointing an accusing finger to Gwendal, "I am not talking to."

"Fine with me," Gwendal muttered but signalled his men to withdraw. Yuri just ignored him as she rode past with the dignity and pride of a ruler. Gwendal frowned in annoyance after his queen, her long hair tossing lightly in the wind, black as her stallion's mane. She rode in a trot if not a gallop. Though her outfit was not one for riding – having put her foot down in riding side saddle, and saddle skirt, as there was only so many nose bleeds she could take from Gunter – she managed to ride with dignity. Gwendal reasoned that she had been Maoh for over a month to be able to trot quickly – to Yuri though it had only been about a week or two on Earth.

For all her good qualities, she still reminded him of a crow – loud and annoyingly boisterous.

The army on both sides began to withdraw. Stoffel's were confined to his estate, Gwendal's were to head back and continue with their daily duties. The captain from Stoffel signalled to Gwendal's captain, "Good luck."

The green clad Captain just grinned and signalled back, "Thank you, but my master's the one who needs it more than I."

At this, Stoffel's captain winced, "That bad?"

"There are times when I can't tell whether there are friends or enemies, one minute they're merry, the next they have their swords drawn."

Meanwhile, Wolfram, Conrad and Gunter were riding at a safe distance from Yuri and Gwendal who were unusually quiet. Conrad still rode double with Gunter, much to his chagrin, due to his head injury. A chill went down his spine, somehow Yuri was not going to forgive Stoffel for that any time soon. And she was too fond of the Bone tribe to blame them.

"Wolfram," said Gunter wearily, "Where do you keep the cotton balls?"

Wolfram sighed. "In my desk, feel free."

Upon arriving back at the castle – and entering Gisela's office – Conrad was attacked with a very painful headache by Gisela. "Ow!" he moaned.

"I swear," she muttered, shaking her head in disdain, "How many times have you come to me for injuries in your lifetime?"

"Eto..."

"Don't answer that," she said then, "You probably lost count ever since we graduated."

"Er..."

"Have you nothing to say Lord Weller?"

"No..."

"Can you honestly be more reckless?" she continued, "I swear of all the soldiers, you are my worst patient!" Conrad, cringing, was beginning to suspect that this was how Wolfram felt every time the blond did or said something dirty towards the Queen. Trying to lighten the atmosphere a bit, he asked, "Can you blame me for being reckless?"

Gisela felt a vein popping near her forehead. Julian with his less-than-humorous puns was worth, though not always, the headache, but Conrart with his pun-itis was pure torture – even if the man was ridiculously good looking. Gisela stopped, did she just thought Conrart was ridiculously good looking?

"Do not even jest on that, Conrart," she said wearily, pushing her thoughts aside, and tending to his injury again, "You're lucky it's not even a concussion."

"Then why did I have to ride double?" he asked irritably.

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Did you hit your head or something?"

He could hear the sarcasm in her voice. "Of course, I got hit on the head!"

"Stay!" she ordered, "No horseback riding, no sword fight, not even a step out of this castle for the next two days. Am I understood?"

"Whatever you say," he muttered as he rubbed the spot where she healed. What a woman, he thought to himself, not feeling the scar he expected to find.

"Get some rest," she returned, as he went on his way to Gwendal's office.

Fifteen minutes later...

Within the meeting room, both Queen and advisor were having a staring competition as if wanting to see who can glare longer. As far as Conrad and Wolfram could tell, they were both clearly displeased with each other and with good reason too.

"Gwendal," she finally said, realising the staring contest was not going to get them anywhere, "Would you be impolite to me?"

"No," the advisor said flatly.

"Why?"

"Because you're the Maoh."

'Buaiso kuma jiji!' Yuri thought to herself.

(Translation: Buaiso – grumpy, grouchy; kuma – bear; jiji – old man. Here, Yuri's referring to Gwendal as 'grouchy old bear')

She had to keep herself from sighing exasperatingly, it would only provoke the man more or even allow him to accept victory. Honestly, there were times when she wondered how Conrad and Wolf ever managed to survive growing up with the stubborn man.

"Then you have permission to be impolite, otherwise I'll possibly let slip to Anissina you're off for a week so you will have lots of free time for her." Gwendal's eyebrow twitched. Because she was his boss, she was obliged to give him a day off whenever he deserved it. He crossed his arms and said, "Fine!"

"The rest of you gentlemen are excused," said Yuri, referring to her godfather, elder advisor and fiancé. Gunter, Conrad and Wolfram looked at each other and walked out of the office, fully aware of the war that was about to start.

The first cannon fired once the door was closed behind Wolfram. Gunter produced some cotton balls from his pockets which he borrowed from Wolfram. Being polite, he offered some to the two who shook their heads and leaned against the vibrating stone walls wherein the Queen and their older brother were continuing their game of quarrels. Though it was unlikely to happen, Conrad and Wolfram silently agreed that it was better to stay nearby if the game of quarrels turned into the game of elements – even if Gwendal was nowhere near as childish as Wolfram.

The yelling went on for quite sometime as the two younger brothers waited outside."Think they'll start a sword duel any time soon?" Wolfram asked Conrad.

"Two copper coins says no," Conrad answered, "And I highly doubt that Gwendal would go so far as to elementally duel against the queen."

"It could happen."

Conrad chuckled then. "The day that happens will be the day you break her heart."

"Walls have ears, Lord Weller," Wolfram warned, professionally hiding his discomfort.

Author's note: Again, sorry it took some time. This was a hard chapter to write. Though I would like some opinions on nicknames I have in mind.

Yosak: Yozy or Red?

Gwendal: Pony-Gramps, buaiso kuma-jiji, or Dai-ojii?

Conrad: ? (just for teasing)