AN: 46/50 four 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"
(Saeko P.O.V)
So I ran I dispatched a human life for my own, buried under the past I could only think of my solace. My way of atonement I knew my prayers could not be reached. In my youth a foolish mistake had been made forever casting the next wave of events. This feeling chewing against my soul I knew where ever you were I knew I could never reach you. The courage I lacked to kill myself is the courage I gave to you my dear Natsuki this is the final piece the final solution to everything to atone for everything…
"So what are you going to do tell me that I am a bad friend? If so I know I am the scum of the earth, but I know I need to talk to Shizuru as well as my daughter. I need to set things right before…"
"What before you kill yourself," supplied Haruka. Looking with wide eyes the blue-haired woman looked at the smiling demon before her.
"How did you kn-"
"Know well it's as plain as day, I'm only here to say this to you and only this. Your death will not accomplish anything it will only bring grief and despair to those around you. You need to face your daughter besides I'm sure she misses you and it would be most upsetting if you died before that could happen."
Tightening her fists and biting her lip, she looked up to see Haruka's back speaking she wanted to know the answer towards the question that she had wanted to know.
"How is Natsuki is she a-aright?"
"Yes she is fine you should congratulate her she's married now."
"Married…"
"Yes to Shizuru so I would think a congratulations is in order when they come."
"They are coming h-here…?"
"Yes as soon as I give word. Also before, you blame yourself as if Natsuki had to marry Shizuru due to her repenting for your mistakes your wrong. Natsuki married the empress because she is actually in love with Shizuru."
Saeko could do nothing but sit and look at her hands in shame as guilt rolled off in waves. Watching the lioness walk towards the door, she watched demon stopped. Without looking at her Haruka spoke as if it were her final law for the blue-haired older woman.
"I will leave you to your thoughts…" with that, the older demon walked out of the room with the silent of the thick air behind her back.
"Shizuru, Natsuki which path should I take?" Looking at the mirror across from her bed the thought of suicide seemed more pleasant then the comfort of facing her loved ones.
Meanwhile…
Natsuki slipped on her original cleaned school uniform attire feeling much more comfortable to travel in it. Looking over at Shizuru, she was dressed in a simple black and red kimono with that being her style.
"Ok are you ready to go?"
"Ara why is Natsuki in a rush could it be that her pregnancy hormones are in affect as of now?" Natsuki blushed at the fact of producing children to her new wife. Looking down and shuffling her feet she bit her lip in earnestly, walking up Shizuru hugged her lover before speaking.
"We don't have to have kids right now if you don't want to we can wait. Besides maybe we can try to visit my parents before we make a decision like that ne Natsuki?"
"You mean…"
"Ara yes I have thought about it with Orikumo gone, there is a great opening of possibilities. Ookini Natsuki for placing the thought that I can see my parents again, I just hope they…"
"Don't say that I know they are alive and I know they would love to see you."
"Ara but will they notice it's me I mean fangs, claws and markings can change a lot," said Shizuru with a smile that lightened her dark mood.
"Tch…they will notice you a child never forgets I know my parents will never forget Me." Walking out of there room they walked towards the entrance of the building. With a carriage waiting for them, the two got in Shizuru held Natsuki's hand as she looked into her lover's emeralds before asking the next question.
"Ara, what about your father? You never talk of him."
"Oh well…there's nothing much but I know that my father went to the university that my mother went to. Him and I we are best friends until they divorced just recently well in my time of course. None of them would say whose fault it was but I know it was my mother's fault how can you stop loving someone just like that?"
"Natsuki…I…I…maybe your mother had a reason."
"Not loving someone shouldn't be as simple as picking a pair of shoes then throwing them back if you don't like them. My father he was there for my mother and he loved me and her unless he cheated on her I don't see why she would just up and leave him."
Shizuru could feel her mark heat up as she could feel the anger that her emerald-eyed mate was giving off. Leaning on her mates shoulder, she nuzzled her nose into her lover's neck earning her a calm throaty moan. Letting her spiked anger calm down they made her way towards the airship that they were about to board.
Knowing that her lover could easily fly towards there destination Shizuru preferred to be with her mate every step of the way. With the knowledge that her beast form was simpler Shizuru wanted her lover to enjoy the simple life beginning able to answer all and any of Natsuki's questions.
"Wow what's the name of this ship," asked Natsuki with her face glued towards the window.
"Hehehe…my Natsuki that airship is called the Leviathan it's our best war ship next to the Windbloom. This ship has…"
"Five thousand laser cannons with two thousand machine gun turrets all computer generated. With a speed of three thousand miles per minute this is the second fastest ship in the military."
"Ara does my Natsuki like machinery and jets?"
"Yeah I do and besides I found a book in the library a lot of your energy is proton based isn't it?"
"It seems like you have been reading a lot when did you find the time to do this?"
"When you were gone I just sat and started reading," spoke Natsuki with a smile.
"I'm sorry for leaving you alone I should have been a better mate towards you," spoke Shizuru with a sad smile. Kissing her lovers cheek, Natsuki smiled before speaking in her lover's defense.
"Don't blame yourself besides you were a jerk back then. So, I don't think that we being in the same room would have been a good idea Shizuru, but now you're my jerk and I'm not letting you go." With a smile, Shizuru fell into the comfort of Natsuki's loving joke.
"Well when you put it that way let's go, and see the ship that you have been reading about."
"Yeah…"
Getting out the carriage the two were greeting by servants and fleet captains. Walking in the ship Natsuki was in wow at the technology that that was around her. Knowing that her wife's technology surpassed all technology in her world back in Fuuka, Natsuki fell in love on site at the world around her.
"Ara does Natsuki like it?"
"You bet I do," spoke Natsuki with a bright smile as she looked over the rail of the deck. Now the two were in the air looking over the water of the blue coast. With the wind her in hair Shizuru forgot the relaxing feeling that it brought leaning over the rail along with her lover Shizuru smiled.
"You know this is the first time I have flown this ship anywhere that wasn't to a war."
"Really we have to change that, you own a whole land you should have fun with what you worked for Shizuru."
"I suppose your right my Natsuki." It was not until the two spotted in front of them a smaller fighter aircraft that looked like it was preparing to land.
"Is it about to land?"
"Yes it about to it must be some type of message for me if they are verifying a code. It seems like we have to get inside to see what is the problem, I guess our fun will continue." Natsuki could see the disappointment in her mate's eyes, as she knew that the tawny-haired unknown did not want to work.
"Come on Shizuru I'll come with you and it won't be so boring how about that?"
"I would like that very much how thoughtful of my mate," spoke Shizuru with a bright smile. The two walked from the deck as they were met with the inside of the ship awaiting news.
Meanwhile…
"Did left fleet catch up with the empress?"
"Yes your honor the message has been secured. Even though sources say that the empress and her mate are heading over towards Hidasyha fortress."
"I see you are dismissed solider."
"Your honor," spoke the foot solider bowing in respect before leaving.
"Hmm…lion did your letter require that Natsuki and Shizuru come towards this fortress?" Looking at the cat demon. Haruka looked from her desk to see the mystic laying across on the long furnished couch that the judge claimed herself.
"Before your scent gets on MY couch yes the letter did say for them to come towards the fortress. Although it seems that they are coming here there selves."
"It seems like you are nervous about something lion."
"I'm nerves because you're rubbing your scent all over MY couch you forget who's the bigger cat here." Looking with her typical bland look that she normally gave in the face of danger the cat demon removed herself from the couch.
"Just when my back was starting to feel better, now why are you nervous lion?"
"I'm not nervous I just have a bad feeling about some stuff."
"Like…"
"If we should have a suicidal middle-aged woman with deep regret come into our camp," said Haruka rubbing her temples.
"Well with the promise of the great fox god Orikumo gone, we may not know if the other gods will cast us with another promise to fill. I can see how this will be nerve racking in this state of grey not knowing if danger or peace will come. Try to relax about these things if you can."
"I'm trying but the very woman that put Shizuru here is mere rooms away from me I feel like it's my duty to deal with her. With Shizuru newly mated to Natsuki, I do not want her attitude to resurface like the way it was so you can see why I think shes a threat. I want my friend and comrade to have the same joy that I have and I don't know if this woman could bring them that."
"No Shizuru has Natsuki there is nothing that Shizuru wouldn't do for Natsuki it is not up to you to deal with Saeko. I know that Natsuki will be there for Shizuru and keep her from slipping back. I know that Yukino has kept you from slipping back." Knitting her clawed hands together Haruka's eyes softened at the thought of her mate and her violent past.
"I know she saved me else I would have been a feral demon killing and waiting to be killed. I will trust your judgment now that we all have a path to create I cannot let destiny slip away from me." Minagi looked towards the wide window that contained the sea below them setting her palm towards the cold glass Minagi closed her eyes.
"Lion know this you cannot go on protecting the empress forever, she needs this. Do you know of the whereabouts of Shizuru's real parents?"
"Yes they still live in Kyoto, but what's that have to do with the situation now?"
"Prideful lion, with Natsuki and Shizuru reuniting with Saeko Shizuru can finally see her parents. This place it works as a barrier you know."
"How…"
"When we were first human the world did not give us a chance, and because of that when we left this world we were given the choice. The choice to become demons and unknowns and have another chance at life, but when we all made it to Ethro's we have hidden into the lives. The lives that we now have reality to them but we are not facing the past. Now with Orikumo's passing we are long overdue for our meeting with the past you know of your past lion now take the extra step."
Looking up at the cat demon Haruka smirked at the cats words as the made sense. "What about your past Minagi have you faced it?" Looking with a cocky smirk the cat demons retorted.
"That's for me to know and only know and Haruka…"
"Yes…"
"Call me Mikoto from now on."
AN: Well I had fun writing this chapter sorry folks my internet was off for a long time so I had to improvise but I am back up to writing and I am going to knock out these four chapters. Now that Orikumo is dead, the characters are opening up about their past ill see if I can squeeze them in next two chapters or something. Minagi thing on the couch cats all cats lions and house cats rub on stuff to claim their areas and Minagi was doing that to Haruka's couch so yeah I squeezed that bit in there for you guys. Yay well here is the preview I hope to update more folks read and review.
Preview: "It seems that Haruka wants to meet us in Hidasyha."
Zero
