(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 really tired, so please read the story and enjoy.
Angel: Do enjoy.
Chapter 27: Stand Against the Youma
Mariette ran down the hall with Rai next to her. Mariette was filled with worry for Wuya's well-being. Mariette pushed the door of the infirmary open, where Wuya was lying on a bed with Usagi, Yuki, and Kishi around her. Mariette ran to Wuya's side and saw that Wuya's arm was wrapped with a bandage, but there was still traces of blood on it.
Mariette began to cry and asked, "What happened, Wuya?" Wuya was unconscious, so she couldn't answer. Usagi nudged Mariette's arm making her look at him.
"Wuya and I were just patrolling the woods, but we were ambushed by violent Youmas. We were able to escape, but Wuya was bitten by one of them. She's only unconscious because of the lost of blood, but she should be all right," explained Usagi. Mariette sniffled as she looked down at Wuya's unconscious form.
"So that's why," said Mariette between sniffles. Rai went to Mariette's side and said, "Wuya should be fine." Mariette gave a nod.
Mariette wiped away her tears and looked at Usagi seriously.
"The Youmas that attacked you, were they the ones attacking the kingdom almost every month?" asked Mariette. Usagi nodded. Mariette adjusted Rai's overcoat around her and tucked in her cat features. Mariette looked at Usagi seriously and said, "Take me to the woods. I will deal with those Youmas."
Mariette's eyes seemed to be on fire as she looked down at Usagi. Rai shook his head and said, "The Youmas a dangerous. They can easily kill you."
Mariette looked at Rai and said, "That's true, but I can understand them, so maybe I can make some type of negotiation." Rai wanted to still say no, but the look in Mariette's eyes made it clear that she had made up her mind.
Rai clenched his fist and said, "You have to promise to bring your three beasts and to come back in one piece." Mariette nodded.
Mariette looked at Usagi, Kishi, and Yuki and smirked.
"Let's get going."
All three of them nodded and followed Mariette out of the room.
When Mariette was out of the room, Rai looked down at Wuya and said, "Mariette is doing this for you."
Mariette went to her room first to change into a shirt, pants, and cloak and then made her way to the clearing of the palace. She jumped onto Usagi's back. She looked back at Kishi and Yuki and gave a nod. They all flew into the air and headed toward the woods of the kingdom of Kei.
As they flew, they passed Keiki in Kirin form, who was heading back to the palace. He flew to Mariette's side and asked, "Where are you going your majesty?" Mariette looked at Keiki and answered, "I am going to the woods to find the clan of Youma that have been attacking the kingdom."
Keiki looked at Mariette sternly and stated, "That's dangerous, your majesty."
"That's why I have Usagi, Kishi, and Yuki with me and call me Mariette."
Keiki remained silent and then said, "I will go with you, your majesty." Mariette gave out a sigh and nodded. She was starting to feel down again that Keiki had not said her name, but she had to keep her mind on her current objective.
They arrived at the woods and landed to the ground. Mariette leapt off of Usagi's back and looked at her comrades. She looked at Keiki and asked, "Do you have your clothes?" Keiki nodded as he showed his clothes on his back. Mariette gave a small nod and turned away from him. She felt a small breeze as Keiki changed into his human form.
"You may look at me now, your majesty."
Mariette turned around and saw Keiki in his human fully clothed. Mariette watched as his hair danced in the wind of the woods and how his eyes seemed to glitter in the light. Mariette blushed at the sight. Mariette shook her blush away and turned away from Keiki.
"Let's search for the Youmas," said Mariette. Keiki, Usagi, Yuki, and Kishi nodded as they followed Mariette. As they walked through the woods, Mariette clenched the silver ring necklace around her neck.
Please protect me, Toshi.
As they ventured deeper into the woods, Mariette began t sense a change. Mariette stopped in her tracks forcing the others to stop.
"Is something wrong, your majesty?" asked Keiki. Mariette looked back at them and asked, "Don't you sense something?"
Kishi in his wolf form sniffed the air and said, "Now that you mention it, it seems that there has been a change in the woods." Yuki nodded in agreement and added, "It's like the woods have come alive."
Usagi immediately went into a fighting stance in front of Mariette and said, "This is how it felt when Wuya and I were attacked. Please stay back, Mariette." Mariette nodded as Yuki, Kishi, and Keiki began to surround her.
Yuki and Kishi went into a fighting stance. Keiki went to Mariette and held her protectively causing Mariette to gasp in surprise. Mariette's cat ears and tail popped out, but Keiki tucked them in for her.
"Stay close, your majesty," whispered Keiki. Mariette held his arm and nodded. Mariette felt her heart begin to beat a mile a minute, but chose to ignore it.
Usagi's eyes darted to the right and yelled, "They're here!" Out of the bushes around them emerged different Youmas with glowing red eyes. They surrounded them causing Mariette to begin to shake. Keiki held her tighter to calm her nerves.
The Youmas growled at them. Usagi, Yuki, and Kishi growled back at them daring them to attack. Mariette gathered up her courage and looked at Usagi.
"Is there a leader among these Youmas?" asked Mariette. Usagi nodded and whispered, "Do you want me to call him out?" Mariette nodded.
Usagi gave out a loud cry causing the enemy Youmas to look at him. Usagi stood firmly and said, "Bring out your leader." The Youmas growled endlessly as a few of them parted creating a pathway. Out of the pathway emerged a huge Youma with razor sharp teeth and black fur that seemed like it was ready to consume the darkness.
The Youma glared down at them with its piercing red eyes causing Mariette to begin to shake and grip onto Keiki's arm. Mariette shook her head and gathered up her courage. She glared up at the Youma and asked, "Are you the leader of this Youma clan?" The Youma nodded.
"Are you the ones who have been attacking the Kingdom of Kei?"
The Youma again nodded.
"Why would you attack the Kingdom?"
The Youma smirked and said, "Because it is fun to see the despicable humans run for their lives and when we catch them, their hearts and livers are almost a delicacy." Mariette cringed and said, "So basically for sport."
The Youma nodded. It stared down at Mariette and asked, "So you can understand our language?" Mariette nodded.
The Youma leaned toward her causing Keiki to hold Mariette tighter and her other three companions to growl at it. It stared at Mariette long and hard and said, "You are not like other humans and you also have a Kirin by your side."
Mariette held onto Keiki's arm and said, "I'm a Half-beast, so of course I am different from other people." The Youma shook its head.
"Even half-beasts can't understand our language. I expect that you are something else," stated the Youma making Mariette confused. Mariette shook her head and glared at the Youma.
"I didn't come here for you to guess what I am. I came here to prevent you and your clan from attacking my kingdom," stated Mariette. The Youma laughed causing Mariette to flinch. The Youma smirked down at her and said, "So you are a royalty, but even that title of yours won't prevent me from doing what I want. I will continue to attack the kingdom along with my clan."
Mariette clenched her fist and asked, "Is there some type of agreement we can reach, so you can change your mind?" The Youma smirked and said, "There is."
It leaned toward Mariette again making her nervous.
"If one of your servants can defeat me, then they can take the leadership and command the others not to attack. Of course, if your servant loses, then I will get my reward."
"What reward?" asked Mariette nervously. The Youma smirked and answered, "I will get to eat your heart." Mariette gasped in surprise causing her cat features to pop out.
"Is it a deal, your majesty?"
Mariette shook from fear. Mariette clenched her teeth as she tucked in her cat features. She glared at the Youma and asked, "The Youmas will stop attacking my kingdom if one of my servants win correct?" The Youma nodded. Mariette clenched her fist and nodded.
"Deal."
Usagi, Kishi, Yuki, and Keiki looked at Mariette in shock.
"You can't be serious, Mariette," said Yuki in shock. Mariette looked at her friends and said, "I am serious. I will do anything for my kingdom."
They stared at her and gave a nod. Usagi, Kishi, and Yuki stood in front of Mariette and said, "We will definitely not lose." Mariette gave a nod and whispered, "I believe in you guys."
They nodded and glared at the Youma.
"We will win for Mariette!"
They charged at the Youma with the intentions to kill. Keiki remained by Mariette's side.
Keiki leaned toward Mariette's ear and whispered, "I will not let that Youma have your heart." Mariette gave a small blush and hugged Keiki's arm.
Yuki pounced at the Youma, but the Youma shoved Yuki away causing Yuki to collide into a tree. Yuki cried out in pain, but immediately went back onto his feet and charged at the Youma.
Usagi swiped at the Youma's legs, but the Youma kicked him back. Usagi maintained his balance and continued his assault.
Kishi transformed into a bigger form of his wolf form and gnawed on the back of the Youma. The Youma shoved Kishi off its back. Kishi slammed into a tree, but immediately went back to attacking the Youma.
When Kishi, Yuki, and Usagi attacked all at once, the Youma gave out a piercing cry and knocked them back with its claws. Blood flew in the air as Usagi, Kishi, and Yuki collided into the ground. Mariette gave out a scream of horror when she saw them lying on the ground covered in blood.
Keiki caught the scent of their blood and began to feel feint. Mariette gasped in surprise causing her cat features to pop out. Mariette tucked her cat features in quickly and supported Keiki.
"Keiki?"
Keiki looked at Mariette weakly and said, "I can't stand the scent of blood." Mariette bit her lip realizing that Keiki had the same weakness for blood as she did when she was little. Mariette kneeled down on the ground with Keiki in her hold. She held him close to her chest and whispered, "Just rest for now, Keiki." Keiki nodded as he let his weakness take over.
Mariette then looked at her three bloody companions and said, "Please get up." Her three friends remained motionless. Mariette felt close to tears as she looked at them.
The Youma cackled and began to approach Mariette.
"They have lost, so I will collect my reward," said the Youma. The Youma revealed its teeth and darted toward Mariette with the other Youmas giving out cries. Mariette shut her eyes and screamed, "Get up!"
Yuki, Usagi, and Kishi's eyes flung open and they immediately charged at the Youma. Yuki bit its back leg, while Usagi bit and clawed its back. The Youma cried out in pain. Kishi transformed into a monstrous form with razor sharp teeth and claws and dived into the Youma's chest sending its blood flying. The blood landed on Mariette on Keiki making Mariette cringe.
Kishi emerged from the Youma's back with its heart between its jaws. The life in the Youma's eyes disappeared as it fell to the ground. Yuki and Usagi released it and went to Kishi's side. Kishi tore the heart to shreds and looked at the enemy Youma with Usagi and Yuki by his side.
"Your leader is defeated," said Kishi angrily. The Youmas stared at them silently. The Youmas then bowed to them pledging their allegiance to them. Yuki, Usagi, and Kishi nodded and ran to Mariette's side.
"Are you all right, Mariette?" asked Kishi. Mariette nodded with weakness showing in her eyes.
"It's been a while since I saw this much blood," said Mariette. Yuki nudged Mariette's cheek to cheer her up. Mariette smiled at them and said, "I knew you guys wouldn't give up." Her three friends smiled at her.
Mariette looked at the other Youma and said, "They really don't know what to eat now, so one of you should stay here to teach them what to do, so they don't attack the kingdom anymore."
Kishi bowed to Mariette and said, "I will stay. I was the one who tore the heart out of their leader, so I am the leader. I will stay here and teach them what is right." Mariette nodded and felt tears begin to escape from her eyes.
Kishi smiled at her and said, "Don't cry. I will return to the palace someday." Mariette nodded as she wiped her tears away.
"I'll miss you Kishi," said Mariette. Yuki and Usagi bowed to Kishi and said, "We'll miss you too, dear friend." Kishi gave a nod and turned to the Youmas. He gave out a cry and began to lead them away from Mariette. Kishi looked back at Mariette and said, "You will always be my one and only master." Mariette nodded and waved goodbye to Kishi.
When Kishi and the Youmas were out of sight, Mariette stood up with Keiki in hand. She placed Keiki on Yuki's back and sat behind Keiki.
"Let's go home," said Mariette. Yuki and Usagi nodded and took off into the air.
As they flew, Mariette looked back at the woods with a sad smile.
"Goodbye Kishi."
Yoko watched Mariette fly through the sky and smiled.
"Mariette was willing to give up her heart for the Kingdom," said Yoko. Mariette reached out to Mariette, but her hand went through her. Yoko stared at her hand and shrugged.
"I guess I should keep watching."
KChanDreams: This time I tried to add a little action in the story.
Angel: Your descriptions really do suck.
KChanDreams: At least I tried.
Angel: You did and I remember you nearly cried when Kishi left the cast after the fight.
KChanDreams: He was one of my favorite characters.
Angel: Whatever.
KChanDreams: Please review and look forward to the next update.
Angel: Some of you might be surprised in the next update.
