AN: 45/50 five more to go thank you all for sticking with me all this time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-hime
Warnings: mild and heavy themes of profanity, Futa its fan fiction, not reality right?
"Thinking"
The two armored judges made their way towards the castle holding chambers. Walking soldiers struggled to keep up with both of the judges fast pace.
"What's the status of the prisoner," asked Chie in a commanding tone.
"Your honor the status of the prisoner is fine, but she wants answers to questions that we cannot give the answers too."
Walking along they spotted the cat demon in all of her glory with the guards standing still as well as the two judges stopping in their tracks.
"Your honor's I was just letting your guards know that we need to treat our guest kindly she is the mother in-law towards the empress."
"What do you mean in law," asked Chie.
"She means that Natsuki's mother is here, she made it through the gate," supplied Nao. Smiling herself Minagi spoke as if she were conveying a great truth.
"That woman there she carries more regret then this province alone, her connection to our empress go outside of marriage. The coming of a new age is here and Orikumo's spirit has joined the great chasm."
"You mean the promise of Orikumo has been filled?"
"Yes bear-dog all there is to do now is tie the lose thread that binds this place. I will leave your delivery of this discovery up to you two but know this the empress must know no matter how much it will hurt. That girl Natsuki she will be there no matter what never to salt the wounds of the empress only heal them," spoke Minagi before leaving.
With that pause the two judges dismissed the soldiers that surrounded them making them accompany the cat demon. Walking towards the chambers they thought of the same thing choosing to speak first Chie lead herself into the conversation.
"So this is the dawning of a new age?"
"I guess so and I guess Shizuru and Natsuki are the ones to lead us into this age. The age where our regrets no longer tie us to this world just out simple will, no totems, no regrets, no past."
"A life without misery only new memories," said Chie looking up at the glass ceiling that showed only dawn. Walking in both of the judges would hear the small stifled cries of the woman within the cell. With the sliding doors to the prison opening the sounds of the blue-haired woman could be heard.
Looking with wide eyes at each other they looked as the woman resembled there masters wife as well as their good friend. With small spaces of stress evident on her face as well as part of rimmed glasses as well as the scent that was reminded of their friend the two made their way towards the cage.
Saeko looked at the two judges placing her body on the bars as if to reach she looked with tears laced in her eyes.
"Tell me," asked the blue-haired mother.
"Tell you what," spoke the red-haired judge.
"What do you people mean I am the in-law to the empress? Tell me!" Both judges looked at each other they knew they had to tell the truth the scent of regret and sorrow as well as worry mixed pouring out of the woman's pores. Looking at Chie, Nao knew that they woman knew how to handle matters concerning prisoners and classified royal information.
"You are mother-in-law to our empress who is within Ethro's grace Shizuru Voila Fujino. She has mated your daughter Natsuki Kuga who came here and has spent time with my comrade Nao and me."
Looking with wide eyed shock she let herself drop towards her knees before sparking up once more. "You said Shizuru and Natsuki are here? Can I see them? I need to speak with my daughter and Shizuru I need to make things right with both of them please!"
"I'm sorry, but I can't all judges and shall be accounted for and we shall figure out what to tell the empress. I am sorry, but you shall be transferred to a safer quarters my lady," spoke Nao flawlessly before bowing as well as Chie.
Tightening her hold on the red book that was within her arms she stepped back as the cage opened. Not being a fool she knew that she could not resist and that she would be caught if she tried to escape. Knowing that these people were not human Saeko allowed herself to be cuffed and led.
Shizuru…Natsuki…
Dawn…
Shizuru watched with a wide smile as she watched her blue-haired wife swim within the bath. As she sat within the bath her hair pinned unlike her lovers now unruly blue tresses. Watching her lover dive under the blue water she soon popped up next to her earning a surprise yelp from Shizuru herself.
With her wet arms snaked around her waist the empress drew herself in for a kiss. "So my empress can get scared easily," commented Natsuki as if she were solving a great mystery.
"Ara yes I can but only when it comes to you my dear."
"That's good to know that I am very special in your eyes. But now something of interest catches my eyes and it's something I want to ask you."
"Ask away my Natsuki."
"Why is this water so blue I mean I have never seen water look like this?"
"If you must know what makes the water so blue is the minerals in it. This water contains worm salts and herbs which are good for the skin but this mineral is different. Ara I can't believe this is what catches your interest such a child-like innocence you have my Natsuki," commented Shizuru with a smile.
"Hey I'm not the one that's forty-five years old, I swear if we were back in Fuuka you would so go to jail for this," said Natsuki with a smile.
"Ara you are forgetting one thing my Natsuki."
Crossing her arms and looking away from her lover with a cross between a pout scowl on her face Natsuki answered. "What am I forgetting Shizuru?" leaning in and licking the shell of her mates ear Shizuru whispered.
"Your forgetting that no man nor woman demon or unknown, or cage can stop me from getting to my mate."
"Baka," said Natsuki before sticking out her tongue.
"Ara you better put away that tongue unless you want to use it right now." With her pussy still sore from the last four times the mated Natsuki stuck her tongue back in quickly. Gathering herself in her lovers arms the two sat as the saw the sun peak through the glass windows.
"Shizuru…"
"Hmm…"
"Do you ever get the feeling that something big is going to happen?"
"Ara what do you mean are you feeling unwell my mate," said Shizuru jumping up and placing a clawed hand on her lover temple. Taking her lovers hand from her head and placing a kiss into her palm Natsuki spoke.
"I'm fine it's just that I feel that someone I know is here, I don't know who they are, but I know that they are sad. I know that they have been running putting the past behind them. Their heart weighs heavy and they are trying to make things right, it's kind of the same feeling that I felt with you."
Knowing that her mate was one for adventure, Shizuru knew her mate was right and that the feeling did not just affect her mate but her too.
"Hmm…I feel it too but not as much as you do, can you sense a point in which this feeling is coming from?"
"It's coming from the west I want to say somewhere between here and Ragnos, but not that far. It's more towards the blue coast."
"Hmm…my best bet to say is that it is Ivalice love, along that area the Hidasyha fortress stands it's a sea fortress."
"Well um…can we go back there? I want to see if the gate is going to open." Looking with a sad look on her face Shizuru hoped that her mate would forget about the gate and raise her kits. Knowing the reality Shizuru knew that they world that her mate came from was a world that she could no longer go back to. Sensing this feeling Natsuki rubbed her mate's ear.
"Shizuru I want you to come with me if the gate opens I would die not being around you," said Natsuki holding up her once marked hand to cup her lovers face.
"I can't go back to that world there is no place for…someone like me," said Shizuru her crimson looking down into the water.
"Please Shizuru come with me and we can figure out a way to get back, I want to tell my mother about us. What about your parents I know they want to see you."
"No they don't I am nothing but a coward to them," spoke Shizuru.
"No you're not please zuru please I want this for you and me both I hate to see you hurt," pleaded Natsuki with comfort in her eyes. Hating to see her mate cry Shizuru bit her lip for the fourth time stepping out of her comfort zone for her mate.
"If it means everything to you mate then I will go, besides I do believe there is a method to your madness mate," said Shizuru kissing Natsuki head. With a smile Natsuki kissed her lover deeply before breaking apart for air. "Ok now that it's decided let's get dressed so we can go."
"Ara, right now are you sure about his Natsuki?"
"Yeah it will be like an adventure," said Natsuki hopping out of the bath.
"I can image our kits being this way," mumbled Shizuru.
"Come on Shizuru," said Natsuki down the hallway. Getting out with a smile Shizuru followed behind her lover towards there private chambers.
Meanwhile…
"I'm here I just got the news and talk about a headache next to a hang over," spoke the lioness. Along the long meeting table sat all three of the judges both past and new. An empty chair next to the judge known as Mandus with everyone seated they looked at the situation at hand.
Being the first one to speak and one of the oldest judges there, Haruka was the first to speak. "I have heard the story and I know that you have heard as well. Our empress is currently residing with her mate to be but it has appeared that Natsuki's mother has come through the gate. I don't know the past that this woman has with our empress, but we have to figure this out and report it to our empress so any ideas."
"I say that we should report this and call the empress here there is nothing we can do at this point," said Takumi.
"I agree, but with everything happening with the deaths of Nagi and Tomoe, this would be another scandal for the court," said Chie.
"As well as be another fucking clean up," added Nao. Rubbing her chin in a thinking manner Haruka looked over towards the three before speaking.
"As for the court I will leave that to you Chie it is time for your views to reach there ignorant minds. As for the release of this woman, I will be the one to tell Shizuru and Natsuki since they are staying in my quarters. As for you Mandus and Nao I need you to keep security on this situation. Meaning that no worker solider or scientist alike speak of this to any outside source we don't want another Hanging Edge situation. I do not want the first thing for my cub to smell is blood we do this as quietly and as peacefully as possible is that understood."
With everyone nodding they all knew that they were all in agreement to the plan as well as the situation. "Haruka I just have one question," spoke Takumi.
"Yes judge Mandus."
"How do we even know that this woman is telling the truth or for that fact, know that she is even related to our empress's mate?"
"Hmm…we will see, but you are not at fault here Takumi you have never met the empress's mate I'm assuming at least not formally."
"Hai I have not due to work within the city."
"It's fine how about I invite you all to dinner after my cub is born unless the empress decides to jump my bones and invite you first."
"Hai thank you judge Steel Heart," spoke Takumi.
"Now this meeting will be adjourned, the prisoner Saeko Kuga will stay here at Hidasyha fortress until time being I will call for more guards."
With that the four judges of North, East, South and West adjourned and they took off in their separate ways. Walking along the hallway both Haruka and Chie walked side by side there direction in the same place. "Don't you think it would have been wise to move her to Fortuneya?"
"No Fortuneya is too far and besides it's a neutral area your power and my power cannot reach there. Maybe Nao's power can but she still has to do the clean-up from Tomoe's mess as well as you do to. Mandus and I have a tad bit more freedom despite the courts watchful eye."
"Hmm you are right I suppose moving her to Fortuneya would not be a good idea. I know the court would not treat her kindly if they found out she was there and that this would be a way for them to get back at the empress."
"Now you're thinking like a judge Chie."
"Hmm…thank you…"
Walking off a door stood right in front of them and towards the left a long stairway the blonde placed towards the left and Chie straight ahead. "I would wish you good luck on your journey tangling with the court can be quiet a hassle. Keep your wits about you friend and your loyalty and honor within your heart you should be alright," spoke Haruka with a smile.
"Thank you and good luck to you and your cub," spoke Chie before placing her helmet on. Walking out the door Haruka walked up stairs without turning to look back. Walking up towards the stairs, she peered into the rooms to find the blue-haired woman pacing back and forth with the red book within her hands.
"I hope that your quarters are suitable for you?"
Snapping her head towards the woman before her Saeko looked towards the armored woman setting her helmet down on the table. Haruka looked as a large bed and window as well as desk rested along the opposite side of the bedroom.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a good friend to the empress I am the judge that resides over the north I am judge Steel Heart. But, sense we are going to know each other on formal measures as soon as Shizuru knows this you can call me Haruka."
"Judges…look I don't care about judges or titles I just want to know where Shizuru and my daughter are. As well as how I got here and my daughter got here I need to make things right," said Saeko.
"So you burying the past for over seventeen years then moving back to Fuuka is going to make things right?"
Saeko looked over towards the woman confusion laced her eyes as if her biggest secret had been discovered.
"If you must know I have known Shizuru for a long time. When she came here, she had a vision to build for his place and so did I. We fought as comrades on these very grounds and we fought as friends. I know about you Saeko Kuga and your sins that you have committed."
"That's what I am here to do pay for my sins I'll take any punishment," spoke Saeko in tears.
"If you must take any punishment that you will receive take the punishment from your own daughter. She is the one that is greatly affected by this as well as Shizuru."
AN: Read and review folks.
Preview: "Ok are you ready to go?"
Zero
