(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.)

KChanDreams: I am tired, so I will just warn you that I do not have much knowledge about science.

Angel: That's why this chapter might not make sense with the water issue.

KChanDreams: I tried at least.

Angel: Trying doesn't help much. Your "trying" in science barely got you a "C".

KChanDreams: Why did I ever create you?

Chapter 24: Search for Water

Yoko was blinded by a flash of light preventing her from seeing Mariette. Yoko rubbed her eyes and glared up.

"At least warn me, when there is a time skip," said Yoko angrily.

"Two months have passed."

Yoko gave a low groan knowing full well that the Gods were not listening.

The image around Yoko appeared. Yoko now stood in an office, where Mariette, in a red dress, was reading scrolls.

Mariette gave out a sigh and placed her scroll down.

"Narumi did a good job in increasing the food process by making the fields more resistant to storms and making the animals more healthy, but we are still low on water. Not even the lake will last long enough," said Mariette worriedly.

Mariette heard a knock on her door. She looked up and said, "Come in."

Tenshi entered the room with a bright smile and said, "How are you doing, Mariette?"

"Fine, but why are you here, Tenshi?"

Tenshi pulled out a small parchment from his pocket and said, "A messenger bird sent this from En. It seems that his majesty wants to send us some money to aid us."

Mariette smiled and said, "It is nice of his majesty to send us money, but he already sent us enough supplies for restoring the fields. I can't have him do any more than this."

Tenshi smirked and said, "I agree, but on that note it said that he wouldn't accept no for an answer." Tenshi then gave a small groan and added, "He also wrote a P. S. saying that he would see you again soon." Mariette giggled.

"That sounds like his majesty. I bet he even called me little kitten in the note," said Mariette as she laughed. Tenshi nodded and said, "He did write 'to my little kitten' on the note." Mariette giggled.

Mariette smiled and said, "His majesty is always so kind to me." Tenshi saw Mariette's smile when she mentioned about the king of En and clenched his fist. He forced smile on his face and said, "I should get going. I need to see if Rai is getting any ideas on how to get more servants and I need to make sure Miss. Twin isn't torturing her soldiers." Mariette gave a nod as she watched Tenshi leave the room.

When Tenshi was out of the room, Mariette looked back at her scroll and then looked outside her window.

"I need to do something," said Mariette.

"Why not go outside to look for water?"

Mariette gasped in surprise causing her cat features to pop out. She looked down on the floor and saw Kishi in his cat form under her desk.

"Don't surprise me like that," said Mariette as she tucked in her cat features. Kishi nodded and said, "I'll make a note on that, but you should go outside and try to fix the water problem. You did say that the fields won't last if there isn't any water and that the lake won't last forever."

Mariette nodded and said, "I guess I should go outside, but wouldn't Keiki get angry." Kishi gave a groan and said, "Keiki won't mind, if it's for your duty as queen." Mariette gave a nod as she stood up.

"I guess you're right," said Mariette as she left the room with Kishi behind her. Mariette looked down at Kishi as she walked and asked, "Should I ask Yuki and Usagi for help?" Kishi shook his head.

"Yuki is helping General number two with organizing the papers around the palace and Usagi is with your other friend helping train the soldiers," explained Kishi. Mariette nodded and then asked, "What about Keiki?"

"I believe he flew to Mount Ho. Something about needing wisdom," said Kishi. Mariette nodded and began to sulk. Kishi looked at Mariette in concern.

"Something wrong?" asked Kishi. Mariette gasped in surprise causing her cat features to pop out. Mariette shook her head and said, "I was definitely not feeling weird about Keiki being away." Kishi looked at Mariette confusingly as she tucked in her cat features.

Mariette went to her room first to grab her cloak and then followed Kishi to clearing in the palace yard. Mariette placed her cloak on and looked at Kishi.

"Let's get going," said Mariette. Kishi nodded and transformed into a huge bird. Mariette jumped onto his back. The minute Mariette was on Kishi's back he took off into the sky.

Mariette rode Kishi through the sky. She remembered Keiki and asked, "Do you know why Keiki doesn't say my name?"

"I wouldn't know. He's a strange Kirin. Why do you ask?"

"I just want him to say my name at least once," said Mariette as she held Kishi on his back. Kishi glanced at her and noticed her sad expression.

"Do you feel sad when Keiki doesn't say your name?"

Mariette nodded and said, "It might be because in my old village in Hourai, no one ever said my name except for Rai and my parents. The villagers always called me monster."

Mariette gripped her fist and said, "I guess I feel uneasy when Keiki doesn't say my name."

"Why not tell Keiki?"

Mariette remembered Keiki's impassive look and shook her head.

"He wouldn't understand," said Mariette sadly. Kishi glanced at Mariette as he flew and then turned away.

Is that the only reason why she wants Keiki to say her name?

Mariette and Kishi soon reached the ground of the woods. Mariette leapt off of Kishi's back allowing him to transform into his wolf form. Kishi looked at Mariette seriously and said, "Let's search around this whole area for a new source of water." Mariette nodded.

They searched the area, avoiding the place with the lake. Mariette looked toward Kishi and asked, "Do you smell any water?" Kishi sniffed the air and shook his head.

"I only smell the water born from the air, but nothing big enough to use for crops or the kingdom at that."

Mariette gave out a disappointed sigh and sat near a tree.

"I still don't understand how the kingdom can be so low on water, when it rains a lot," said Mariette. Kishi looked toward the place where the lake resided and said, "Maybe the water is gathering in another area just like that lake." Mariette looked at Kishi confusingly.

Kishi looked at Mariette seriously and said, "I noticed since the beginning, but that lake is manmade. It was meant to gather water during rainy days, so there must be another manmade lake like it somewhere in these woods." Mariette gave a nod and stood up.

"Then let's find it."

Kishi nodded and ran through the woods with Mariette behind him. They searched through the woods, but didn't find any trace of water.

Mariette gave out a sigh wondering if they would find another lake. Mariette sat on the ground and gasped in surprise causing her cat features to pop out. Kishi ran to her and asked, "Are you all right, Mariette?"

Mariette looked down at the ground and placed her hand on it. It made a squishing noise and covered her hand with mud. Mariette picked up her hand and examined the wet mud on her hand.

"Water," she whispered. Mariette begin to dig at the ground covering herself with dirt. Kishi looked at Mariette with wide eyes. Mariette pushed her hand deeper into the ground drawing out water. Mariette burst into a bright smile and said, "An underground spring. That's why you couldn't smell it." Kishi stared down at the forming water and said, "If there's water here, then there must be another water source nearby." Mariette nodded in agreement.

They ran across the muddy path of the woods and soon reached a pair of mountains. Mariette ran between them and saw a fissure filled with water. Mariette smiled brightly and said, "I get it now. The water was gathering around the mountains. That's why the kingdom didn't get any. It's just like how a desert is formed."

Kishi nodded in agreement and added, "I guess the mountains would be the oasis and the kingdom would be the desert." Mariette nodded and looked at Kishi proudly.

"With this water we can solve the water problem," said Mariette happily. Kishi nodded. Mariette giggled and hugged Kishi around his neck.

"Thank you for bringing me out here, Kishi," said Mariette happily. Kishi smiled and nodded.

After their discovery, Mariette jumped onto Kishi's back and flew back to her palace to tell her other comrades of the good news.

When Mariette arrived at the palace, she was surprised to see Wuya with Usagi next to her waiting for her. Kishi and Mariette landed on the ground. Mariette jumped off of Kishi's back and approached Wuya.

"Hi Wuya," said Mariette. Wuya crossed her arms at Mariette and said, "Where were you, why are your cat features out, and why are you so filthy?" Mariette looked at her muddy appearance and giggled.

"I was out in the woods looking for water and I found some. I got dirty in the process though," said Mariette with a smile. Wuya shook her head and approached Mariette. She wiped the mud from Mariette's cheek and said, "You didn't have to go through so much trouble for water."

Mariette giggled and said, "But I have to do something as queen." Wuya smiled at Mariette and hugged her gently.

"Believe when I say that you are getting a good start as queen," said Wuya. Mariette nodded and hugged Wuya back. Wuya pulled away from Mariette and said, "You can tell Narumi of your discovery after you take a bath." Mariette nodded as she tucked in her cat features.

Mariette walked pass Wuya and Usagi as she headed into the hallway.

When Mariette was out of sight, Wuya looked at Usagi seriously and said, "Let's head into the kingdom." Usagi nodded and allowed Wuya to mount his back. They flew into the air leaving Kishi behind.

Must be going out to guard the village again.

Mariette removed her clothes in her bathing area and emerged herself into the warm water. Mariette smiled brightly. She cupped some of the water in her hands and said, "I'll tell Narumi about the water and Tenshi can use the money from his majesty to build a way to bring the water into the kingdom." Mariette splashed the water onto her face and giggled.

"I definitely can do it."

Yoko watched Mariette bathe and smiled.

"Mariette is doing well."

KChanDreams: Next chapter will be up when I have the time and please review.

Angel: Just review to make her quiet.