(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.)

Chapter 35: Enki and Mariette

Mariette walked through her garden humming a song that she used to sing in her past in a white dress. Mariette suddenly heard purring and looked toward her pond, where Yuki was sleeping. Mariette approached Yuki and sat next to him. She petted his head making him purr more. Mariette giggled as she petted him.

"You look happy, Mariette."

Mariette turned around and saw Enki leaning against one of the pillars of the palace. Mariette smiled at him.

"Hi, En-Chan."

Enki went to her side and sat next to her. Mariette looked at Enki and asked, "So what brings you here? Did Shouryou visit the palace unexpectedly again?" Enki shook his head.

"He wanted to, but I forced him to stay in En because he needed to fix some issues in the Kingdom," said Enki.

"So why are you here?" asked Mariette curiously. Enki hugged his legs and said, "I just needed to know something. It's been bothering me for a while now."

Mariette cocked her head at him.

"What do you want to know?"

Enki stared into the pond and asked, "Did you notice how Shouryou acts around you?" Mariette smiled and said, "He always acts nice around me and sometimes gives me flowers."

"Well you are the only one he will act that way to," said Enki. Mariette blinked in confusion.

"Before Shouryou met you, he would move from one woman to another. It disgusted me, but then he met you. After helping you get better in the hotel, he refused to sleep with other women. He would speak about you endlessly when we were alone. When we met you again in Kei, Shouryou would always want to visit you."

Enki clenched his fist and asked, "Do you know why he does that?" Mariette thought a while and shook her head.

"Why does he do that?" asked Mariette eager to hear the answer. Enki looked at Mariette seriously and said, "Because ever since he first saw you, he's been in love with you." Mariette was silent for a long while and then gasped in surprise with a blush forming on her face. Mariette had more control on her cat features, so her ears and tail didn't pop out.

"Shouryou loves me?" asked Mariette in disbelief. Enki nodded and said, "He told me before that he wanted to marry you, but was willing to wait until you were ready." Mariette was blushing madly when she heard the news.

"I had no idea," whispered Mariette. Enki looked at her seriously and said, "I know, so now that you know, tell me. Are you in love with him?" Mariette thought awhile as her blush faded.

"I love him, but as a father figure. I'm sorry," said Mariette sadly. Enki stared at Mariette and held her hand making Mariette confused.

"What about me?"

"En-Chan?"

Enki leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. Mariette was frozen as a statue when Enki kissed her. Enki pulled away from her with a light blush against his cheeks and said, "Sorry, Mariette." Enki jumped away from Mariette transforming into his Kirin form and flew into the sky. Mariette watched him fly completely confused.

As Enki flew he couldn't stop thinking about what he did.

Why couldn't I say it? She's a Kirin too, so it should be all right for me to say it. I just had to say that I love her.

Mariette stared up at the sky and placed her hand to her lips.

"En-Chan kissed me?"

Mariette shook her head and said, "It must have been a greeting he learned." Mariette remembered the warmness of his lips and blushed.

Or maybe he loves me too, but it can't be.

Mariette stood up and walked into her palace leaving Yuki in the garden.

Yoko watched Mariette walk into the palace.

"So Enki and Shouryou were in love with her, but how can that be? They never mentioned her."