AN: 25/50 Enjoy halfway there! Half of 5o is 25 right? I'm bad at math T-he. Thank you Romantic my sweet, sweet beta.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-hime. If I did I would be rich well not really yawl!

"Thinking"

Warning: Mild and heavy themes of profanity, Futa its fan fiction, not reality right?*

Shizuru looked absentmindedly at the blood on the ground and put a crimson-stained claw in her mouth, lightly licking it. The crowd was in shock at the ruler's unexpected action. Nao touched her cheek where the blue-haired girl's blood had managed to splash and opened her mouth but closed it quickly. The others around her seemed to be having similar thoughts. A sinister smirk emerged on the red eyed beast. The reaction was immediate; everyone's limbs remained paralyzed as they looked fearfully towards their leader. Shizuru ignored the stares from her comrades and the servants and slipped her calm mask back, hiding the lingering thoughts of satisfaction from her kill.

Before turning towards the cat demon who had witnessed the whole thing, Shizuru glanced at beaten human's glassy eyes. Feeling no effect on her body, Shizuru proudly walked to Minagi who had been staring blandly at her.

"So much for your assumptions, this human is nothing to me; her demise is thanks to your doing," said Shizuru in a growling voice. The mystic quietly observed the empress's form and spoke with an unwavering voice without fear or doubt.

"I would think again if I were you fox." Shizuru's fox ears flicked at the whispers. When she turned around, horror appeared on her face as she saw the once lifeless human was crawling towards an item. Natsuki's beautiful kimono was soaked in crimson blood and stained with dirt. Without warning, Shizuru immediately marched to the body and smashed her black leather boot on the teen's hand causing her to yell out in pain.

"I see you're still alive," said Shizuru. To her astonishment, a light blue fire started sealing the mortal's critical wounds. Pulling her leg back and crushing the teens hand once again, everyone watched in fear as the demon delivered kicks to the body. Unable to take all the pain, Natsuki held the picture tightly in her hands and curled into a ball to protect herself from the blows. She closed her eyes as she grew weaker during the nonstop assault. Once the kicks had subsided, Shizuru turned to the cat demon again.

"If you think this vile human is my equal," shouted the tawny-haired woman with a sickened rage, "then you are wrong!" Suddenly, a strained weak groan bought everyone attention to the assumed lifeless body. The girl was struggling to get on her feet. This caused Shizuru to take a step back fearfully. A bruised cheek, probably some broken ribs, tired emerald eyes and yet there was still determination in those eyes. With her bruised right hand holding her left side, Natsuki slowly limped to the tawny-haired demon, a gentle smile adorning on her face.

"I-I think this is yours."

As soon as the demon saw the picture, she gripped the collar of her kimono feeling a fire surge within her body and cold darkness creep within her veins. Natsuki was in shock when Shizuru fell on her knees and started howling in agony. She felt her body burn and her heart stop. Rolling on her back she could see the worried look of the human above her. Her black combat boots scraped against the ground frantically; her eyes changed from light red to the color of crimson blood within seconds. Panic gripped the teen's heart and unknown tears seeped through emerald eyes as the scene unfolded before her. Natsuki quickly kneeled down and tended the beast. Everyone at this time was around the fallen empress trying to assist her.

"Empress Shizuru! Quick get the medic out here," said the blonde-haired judge who had started running to Shizuru the second her queen fell.

"Leave her be!" Just when the judge was about to scoop the ruler into her arms, she was stopped by the presence before her. Through her blurred tears emerald-eyes, Natsuki saw Minagi approaching, her black cape dancing long the sea breeze. The small crowd of soldiers, advisors and servants made a pathway for the mystic. The fox-demon before her had all the claws and fangs fully extended; and her pointed ears that normally rested on top her skull were no longer there, instead they were on the side of her head. Minagi glanced at the wild feral appearance of the empress before noticing a broken Natsuki on the ground.

"Well it's nice to see you again Natsuki," said the seer with a smile.

The girl threw herself at the seer's waist; her tears wet the young mystic's robes. "H-Help me it f-feels like I'm dying what is wrong w-with me?" Immediately Minagi took out a bean and bit it in half, then she grabbed the teen's mouth forcing it open and pushed the bean in. A wave of soothing coolness overcame her emotions and her lingering pain. Soon blackness surrounded her and she fell into oblivion.

"Nao, take Natsuki to the empress's transport. Judge Steel Heart I need your assistance on this one." Snapping out of her dazed look, the blonde-haired judge made her way forward. Shizuru seemed to lose all her senses. At the moment, she did not show her usual grace nor control. Instead, a fierce demon was in place, swiping its claws and baring its teeth at the Judge of the North. Chaos dwelled within the beast's eyes. Spitting out the other half of the bean, the mystic tossed it up and down.

"I need you to hold her down; I believe you know the spell. Am I correct?"

"Yeah I can do it at advance level but she will break out in no time," said the blonde.

"How long do you think you can hold the spell for?" Minagi looked at Shizuru current state. The tawny-haired woman had started to spit out black blood.

"Fifteen…"

"Fifteen minutes," added the cat demon.

"No fifteen seconds," said the judge with a determined look.

She just shook her head and gave out a big sigh when she thought about all the work and troubles that were caused by this stubborn empress. So many things so little time. The mystic took off her cape and tossed it aside. "People step back. I need everyone to attend to both ships, captain I need you to get ready to head to the palace in three minutes." The blonde gave her nod of approval before sending the other demons off. She disrobed her top armor and stood over the empress's head while the cat-demon was over the other end of the body.

"Are you ready?" asked the cat demon.

"I'm a Judge. Of course I'm always ready."

"Hmmm whatever just try to keep up with me." Soon magic channeled through their bodies and darkness flooded the fox-demons senses.

AN: R&R

Preview: "Shizuru are you alright in there?"

Zero