AN: 28/50

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's fist slammed against the glass table making the items upon the table momently jump as well as the servants around her. Holding her clawed hand over her ear her one crimson-eye remained open glaring as the other eye closed making a look of pain.

"Would you keep your voice silent woman?"

"What do you expect me to do not freak out it's been five days since I last seen anyone whose human," said Natsuki causing a glare at the fawn-haired woman. Looking with a refuted look Shizuru stood up walking outside towards the patio following behind her Nao joined in the fox-goddess's sulking.

"I'm sorry for yelling I haven't got the hang of being around creatures with sensitive ears," said Natsuki quietly with a blush. Looking at the affection that the lovers before her were showing Natsuki visibly gulped at the two.

"It's alright if anything Haruka is use to noises," said the mousy wife who was now rubbing the back of the lioness's ear.

"Haruka…"

"Oh yes that is my name Haruka of the Darsharian mountains of the frigid North, but now I am known as Judge Steel Heart."

"Oh I see so where you human once too?"

"Yes when I was human I went by the name Suzushiro Haruka; as well as my mate here she went by the name of Kikukawa Yukino until I married and mated her of course," said the lioness with a wink toward her lover.

"Oh I see so how is it that…"

"We are able to be lovers despite our species being different," completed the glasses-wearing woman.

"Y-Yes I mean doesn't Shizuru h-hate humans?"

"Well no she doesn't hate humans she just hates you for some reason," said the lioness bluntly.

"Thanks for the encouragement," said Natsuki in a comically bland tone.

"Haruka no need to be so brash. Forgive my wife she can be very blunt sometimes, it was one of the reasons why I fell for her," said the woman with a blush.

"Honey we have to answer Natsuki's question and while you're doing that I will step outside to talk our empress," said the lioness standing up and placing a kiss towards her lover's forehead before stepping out.

"Oh yes I'm sorry about that."

"No it's fine, please take your time if you want but I have a question." By then tea had already been served looking at the demon outside Natsuki noticed that she was outside taking to the red-haired servant. Setting her tea down Yukino looked towards the blue-haired teen before smiling warmly.

"Yes what is it you wish to know."

"If your human is there a way you can you tell me how to find a way to get home?"

"Honestly I cannot say I know away back for you in the human world I was an orphan so I had no home to go back to. So when I came here there was nothing to do but move forward."

"Oh I see," said the teen looking dejectedly.

"Don't worry our empress may know a way to get you home all you need to do is ask," said the fellow human.

"That plan is not going to work I mean you have to know something about the empress to get me back home."

"Well honestly I can't say I know too much about our empress personally I believe you know more than me. I believe me when she heard of our marriage she congratulated us so it's not a complete case of her hating humans. You see Natsuki it is rare that we humans come within Ethro's but once in a while Ethro's gate opens guiding us here. It is a known fact that no human that has been guided here by Ethro's grace is not without a purpose."

"How do I know my purpose I mean is there a clue?"

"Yes there is," said the vision impaired woman.

"What is it?"

"You have to look inside your heart I know that you will find the answer if you cannot look into your heart look into hers," said the mousy-looking woman looking outside where the empress stood.

Meanwhile…

Pulling out a set of matches as well as twin thin cigars from her purple dress shirt pocket, the judge handed the cigar towards the fox-demon. Taking the thin tobacco in her hand she leaned forward towards the direction of the demon-husk who gladly lit her cigar, pulling back the demon of fawn tresses blew out a toxic wave of used tobacco.

"That Natsuki in there can be quite the feisty one if tested," said the lioness before lighting her cigar.

"Hnn…"

The lioness took a puff before speaking in hopes of alleviating the stress of the empress of the unknown. Sliding her clawed hands within her pockets of her black slacks she looked over eyes keen at the fox.

"You know some of the nobles have been talking…"

"Let them talk they are nothing more than a menace served for the courts entertainment," said the tawny-haired demon.

"Well that I can agree on, but they do for lack or for better purposes serve a point within their rabbling's."

"And, what shall I say is there point?" Taking a puff and putting out the cigar the lioness looked firmly into the fox empress's eyes, it was as if the two demons were at an understanding that no soul could reach.

"The court has become indigent as of late with their request to see you mated or at least with a kit or two on the way." Turning back harshly and resting her hands on the patio railing, she watched at the cloudless sky began to slightly darken.

"I see…well let them want for more all they want, no one will hear their requests, but there transgressions will be noted as I carve through them with my claws."

"That's the kind of behavior that everyone is afraid of; as of late within these past few days you have become somewhat ambivalent and reckless. It's like you're not yourself…"

"Everything is fine I may not be verbose as I once was, but I…"

"What is it about that human that bothers you so? Why is it that she has made you so galvanic? Even in the old days you would show kindness towards your enemies sparing them from death, but that girl in there, you spared her no quarter."

"Those reasons are that of my own if I stand alone within my judgment then I shall," said the tawny-haired demon looking back with a dead stare at the lioness. Looking firmly the judge walked over before leaning on the side of the crimson-eyed woman to where her lips were inches from her ear.

"Don't play lone hero with me Shizuru it does nothing to distend your pride. The point that I am making is this you have been saved by the fires of war by not letting this footage get out. So now you are at the mercy of Ethro's and her people nobles and all."

The lioness pulled back before looking with a somewhat triumphant smile on her face before walking back inside towards her mate and unborn cub. Feeling the artic dam crack within her impenetrable shield known as her pride, Shizuru looked towards the now frosted sky its grey shapeless form burying its self within the reassess of her heart.


AN: R&R

Preview: "What are you doing in here human?"

Zero