Chapter Twenty-Two: Cat and Rat in Trouble
"Haru do you really think it was a good idea of us sneaking over here again?" Momiji asked as they watched the whole scene from atop the hill.
"Well" Hatsuharu replied pulling down the binoculars, "If we hadn't snuck here again, Yuki and Kyo would have no support. Once again they have managed to get themselves captured."
"So what's your plan?"
"I 'm working on it."
"Oh boy."
***************
"Let go of me you bastards! You have no right to do this! This is false imprisonment!" Kyo shouted.
"We'll you just shut up your moron" Yuki replied.
"I will not shut up! I am being treated like a criminal."
"Enough!" the king yelled quieting the room, "Lieutenant?"
"We found these boys on our property sir. They're Sohmas."
"Sohmas? Has the princess been recovered yet?"
"No sir" the lieutenant shook his head.
"Wait a sec" Yuki interrupted them, "The princess is gone?"
"As if you care Sohma," the king replied, "Lock them up!"
"But wait I do care" Yuki said.
"Yea you old geezer" Kyo added, "We care. She's our friend."
"My granddaughter? Friends with Sohmas? That's not possible."
"Darling" the queen replied, "Perhaps we should hear them out."
"I have heard enough" the king looked them directly in the face, "If your king does not return her in twenty four hours, then the two of you shall be executed."
"Executed?" Kyo shook his head, as they were dragged away, "You can't execute me! You don't have the right!"
"Darling" the queen patted his hand as he sat down.
"Not now. All that matters is getting Tohru back."
****************
"You bastards! You jerks! You assholes!" Kyo shouted flailing stuff at the bars.
"You gonna keep yelling all night?" Yuki asked sitting on the cot.
"I can yell if I want to. You're not my boss."
"It doesn't do you any good."
"I don't care. Man I never thought I'd end up like this. Dying next to you."
"One thing is for certain though. Akito didn't do it this time."
"Do what?"
"Take Miss Honda. Someone else did."
"Who would?"
"I know."
Yuki and Kyo peered down the bars and saw Megumi.
"I know who took her."
"Hey. You're the brother aren't you?" Kyo asked, " You look just like that psychic chic."
"My name is Megumi. And her name is Saki."
"Yea."
"Wait a minute. You said you know who took her?" Yuki interrupted.
"Yea. It's the same creep who had me thrown in here."
"Who?"
"Captain Kageru Manabe."
"Captain, Manabe. Manabe" Yuki replied.
"Why do you keep saying that?" Kyo asked.
"Do you remember what the ancestor told us?"
"Uh no."
"The sorceress princess. Her last name had to go along with where she was from right?"
"Okay I'm with you so far. But where was she from?"
"MaraNabe. Manabe. Hello it works the same as our name."
"That guy's a descendant of the sorceress who put a curse on us?"
"Duh stupid."
"Don't call me stupid."
"Then don't act stupid, stupid. Okay we need to figure out where he's taken her."
"I know that too," Megumi piped up.
"Okay where? Smart guy" Kyo replied.
"I watched as he put her on a horse, from the bars in here. He must have drugged her after he pulled her out of here. He headed towards the mountains."
"The mountains?" Yuki frowned.
"Her mom's cabin" Kyo snapped, "Her mom's cabin. That's got to be it."
"It's close enough I suppose. Now we have to figure out how to get out of here."
"It ain't gonna be as easy as it was the last time. I'm in here with you now remember?"
"Yea and the company is not so pleasant."
"Shut up."
****************
Hatsuharu and Momiji crept through the streets of ShiraNobi. They were suddenly grabbed from behind. The man in the cloak revealed himself.
"Kureno? What are you doing here?" Momiji asked surprised.
"I could ask you two the same question?"
"Uh well" Haru replied, "Um we followed Yuki here. And now he is in serious trouble. He and Kyo are in the dungeon."
"I know. But I have a way to get them out."
"You do?"
"Yea. A new friend."
****************
"Excuse me your majesty" Uo peered into the king's chamber.
"Yes Arisa my dear" the queen smiled, "What can I do for you?"
"Can I have a word with you?"
****************
Uo strolled down the palace steps and to the alley where Hatsuharu, Momiji, and Kureno waited.
"Okay. She will help you guys get the prince and orange top out of there" she pointed to Haru and Momiji, "Go to the dungeon stairs, she will meet you there."
"There's still the matter of" Hatsuharu started to say.
"Oh yea" Momiji nodded.
"What?" Kureno asked.
"The curse. Tohru knows where the Zodiac Stone is. We need to gather the others."
"How do we do that?" Kureno said.
"Uh hello? What are you guys talking about?" Uo raised an eyebrow.
"Uh it's nothing Arisa" Kureno broke in, "Family matters."
"Oh I understand. Then how is Tohru involved?"
While Kureno tried to explain to Uo, Haru pulled Momiji aside.
"Don't you think it would be best if one of us saved them, and the other went to gather the others in Zurinth?"
"Yea it would" Momiji said, "Okay. I'll stay here and get Yuki and Kyo out. You head to Zurinth and get Rin, Kisa, Hiro, Ayame, Hatori, and Ritsu."
"What about Shigure and Kagura?"
"I'll take care of them too. After I help rescue Yuki and Kyo. They need to find Tohru. Somehow we can meet up in the mountains, at the Sohma cabin, then we can find the stone."
"Sounds like a good idea" Hatsuharu nodded, "Okay. I'll go to Zurinth. But oh. What about the other figurines."
"Oh those. I've got them."
"Well how did you get them?"
"Tohru sent them special mail about two weeks ago. Here. Take them."
"Thanks Momiji" Haru grabbed the figurines.
"Good luck Haru" Momiji waved.
"You too" Hatsuharu took off running.
"Where is he going?" Kureno pulled away, noticing Haru leaving.
Uo sighed in exasperation and left.
"Don't worry about it Kureno. We have to save Yuki and Kyo."
"I have to get back to the palace."
"Kureno" Momiji sighed, "This could solve the curse. Don't you get it? We'll be free. Don't you want to be free?"
"Of course I do. That's what we all dream of."
"Then help me. Help me get Yuki and Kyo out of prison."
Kureno finally nodded.
****************
"You got any ideas yet?" Kyo asked.
"No. You?"
"No."
"I got one."
"Not now Momiji" they both said.
Momiji?" Kyo ran over.
Momiji was placing the keys in the lock of Megumi's cell. Then he came over and unlocked theirs. Kureno was standing behind.
"Kureno?" Yuki said surprised.
"Yuki. Kyo" he nodded.
"Gee uh thanks" Kyo replied.
"Don't thank us," Momiji said, "Thank her" he pointed.
Tohru's grandmother came down the stairs.
"Your majesty?" Yuki replied.
"Arisa has told me everything. Go. Please save my granddaughter. I would be eternally grateful."
"Why did you help us?" Kyo asked.
"Because I don't believe that you two are dangerous. And I believe you do care. That you truly care about her."
"We do."
"Yea" Kyo added, "She's our friend."
She nodded with tears in her eyes. Momiji led the way out of the dungeon with Yuki and Kyo trailing behind Kureno. The queen watched as they left, then strolled up the stairs.
"Oh my dear Kyoko" she replied, "Protect them all."
***************
"Well" Momiji said out of breath, "I have to get back to the palace and get Shigure and Kagura here. Come with me Kureno?"
"Okay" he nodded, "What are you two going to do?"
"We got to find Tohru" Kyo replied, "She's up in the mountains."
"And then we got to go to the Zodiac Stone" Yuki added.
"Do you know where it is?" Momiji asked.
"Nope. But I have a pretty good idea where we're going to find it" Yuki said.
************************************************************** ***
Authors Note: Okay, guys that's it for this week! Three more chapters to go! Send reviews!! Lots of reviews!!!
Next Chapter: Adding the Pieces
Yuki and Kyo find Tohru and gather with the Zodiac members. What happens when the two kings of two feuding countries come together to track down their families? Don't miss next week for the exciting climax of the Zodiac Stone!
"Haru do you really think it was a good idea of us sneaking over here again?" Momiji asked as they watched the whole scene from atop the hill.
"Well" Hatsuharu replied pulling down the binoculars, "If we hadn't snuck here again, Yuki and Kyo would have no support. Once again they have managed to get themselves captured."
"So what's your plan?"
"I 'm working on it."
"Oh boy."
***************
"Let go of me you bastards! You have no right to do this! This is false imprisonment!" Kyo shouted.
"We'll you just shut up your moron" Yuki replied.
"I will not shut up! I am being treated like a criminal."
"Enough!" the king yelled quieting the room, "Lieutenant?"
"We found these boys on our property sir. They're Sohmas."
"Sohmas? Has the princess been recovered yet?"
"No sir" the lieutenant shook his head.
"Wait a sec" Yuki interrupted them, "The princess is gone?"
"As if you care Sohma," the king replied, "Lock them up!"
"But wait I do care" Yuki said.
"Yea you old geezer" Kyo added, "We care. She's our friend."
"My granddaughter? Friends with Sohmas? That's not possible."
"Darling" the queen replied, "Perhaps we should hear them out."
"I have heard enough" the king looked them directly in the face, "If your king does not return her in twenty four hours, then the two of you shall be executed."
"Executed?" Kyo shook his head, as they were dragged away, "You can't execute me! You don't have the right!"
"Darling" the queen patted his hand as he sat down.
"Not now. All that matters is getting Tohru back."
****************
"You bastards! You jerks! You assholes!" Kyo shouted flailing stuff at the bars.
"You gonna keep yelling all night?" Yuki asked sitting on the cot.
"I can yell if I want to. You're not my boss."
"It doesn't do you any good."
"I don't care. Man I never thought I'd end up like this. Dying next to you."
"One thing is for certain though. Akito didn't do it this time."
"Do what?"
"Take Miss Honda. Someone else did."
"Who would?"
"I know."
Yuki and Kyo peered down the bars and saw Megumi.
"I know who took her."
"Hey. You're the brother aren't you?" Kyo asked, " You look just like that psychic chic."
"My name is Megumi. And her name is Saki."
"Yea."
"Wait a minute. You said you know who took her?" Yuki interrupted.
"Yea. It's the same creep who had me thrown in here."
"Who?"
"Captain Kageru Manabe."
"Captain, Manabe. Manabe" Yuki replied.
"Why do you keep saying that?" Kyo asked.
"Do you remember what the ancestor told us?"
"Uh no."
"The sorceress princess. Her last name had to go along with where she was from right?"
"Okay I'm with you so far. But where was she from?"
"MaraNabe. Manabe. Hello it works the same as our name."
"That guy's a descendant of the sorceress who put a curse on us?"
"Duh stupid."
"Don't call me stupid."
"Then don't act stupid, stupid. Okay we need to figure out where he's taken her."
"I know that too," Megumi piped up.
"Okay where? Smart guy" Kyo replied.
"I watched as he put her on a horse, from the bars in here. He must have drugged her after he pulled her out of here. He headed towards the mountains."
"The mountains?" Yuki frowned.
"Her mom's cabin" Kyo snapped, "Her mom's cabin. That's got to be it."
"It's close enough I suppose. Now we have to figure out how to get out of here."
"It ain't gonna be as easy as it was the last time. I'm in here with you now remember?"
"Yea and the company is not so pleasant."
"Shut up."
****************
Hatsuharu and Momiji crept through the streets of ShiraNobi. They were suddenly grabbed from behind. The man in the cloak revealed himself.
"Kureno? What are you doing here?" Momiji asked surprised.
"I could ask you two the same question?"
"Uh well" Haru replied, "Um we followed Yuki here. And now he is in serious trouble. He and Kyo are in the dungeon."
"I know. But I have a way to get them out."
"You do?"
"Yea. A new friend."
****************
"Excuse me your majesty" Uo peered into the king's chamber.
"Yes Arisa my dear" the queen smiled, "What can I do for you?"
"Can I have a word with you?"
****************
Uo strolled down the palace steps and to the alley where Hatsuharu, Momiji, and Kureno waited.
"Okay. She will help you guys get the prince and orange top out of there" she pointed to Haru and Momiji, "Go to the dungeon stairs, she will meet you there."
"There's still the matter of" Hatsuharu started to say.
"Oh yea" Momiji nodded.
"What?" Kureno asked.
"The curse. Tohru knows where the Zodiac Stone is. We need to gather the others."
"How do we do that?" Kureno said.
"Uh hello? What are you guys talking about?" Uo raised an eyebrow.
"Uh it's nothing Arisa" Kureno broke in, "Family matters."
"Oh I understand. Then how is Tohru involved?"
While Kureno tried to explain to Uo, Haru pulled Momiji aside.
"Don't you think it would be best if one of us saved them, and the other went to gather the others in Zurinth?"
"Yea it would" Momiji said, "Okay. I'll stay here and get Yuki and Kyo out. You head to Zurinth and get Rin, Kisa, Hiro, Ayame, Hatori, and Ritsu."
"What about Shigure and Kagura?"
"I'll take care of them too. After I help rescue Yuki and Kyo. They need to find Tohru. Somehow we can meet up in the mountains, at the Sohma cabin, then we can find the stone."
"Sounds like a good idea" Hatsuharu nodded, "Okay. I'll go to Zurinth. But oh. What about the other figurines."
"Oh those. I've got them."
"Well how did you get them?"
"Tohru sent them special mail about two weeks ago. Here. Take them."
"Thanks Momiji" Haru grabbed the figurines.
"Good luck Haru" Momiji waved.
"You too" Hatsuharu took off running.
"Where is he going?" Kureno pulled away, noticing Haru leaving.
Uo sighed in exasperation and left.
"Don't worry about it Kureno. We have to save Yuki and Kyo."
"I have to get back to the palace."
"Kureno" Momiji sighed, "This could solve the curse. Don't you get it? We'll be free. Don't you want to be free?"
"Of course I do. That's what we all dream of."
"Then help me. Help me get Yuki and Kyo out of prison."
Kureno finally nodded.
****************
"You got any ideas yet?" Kyo asked.
"No. You?"
"No."
"I got one."
"Not now Momiji" they both said.
Momiji?" Kyo ran over.
Momiji was placing the keys in the lock of Megumi's cell. Then he came over and unlocked theirs. Kureno was standing behind.
"Kureno?" Yuki said surprised.
"Yuki. Kyo" he nodded.
"Gee uh thanks" Kyo replied.
"Don't thank us," Momiji said, "Thank her" he pointed.
Tohru's grandmother came down the stairs.
"Your majesty?" Yuki replied.
"Arisa has told me everything. Go. Please save my granddaughter. I would be eternally grateful."
"Why did you help us?" Kyo asked.
"Because I don't believe that you two are dangerous. And I believe you do care. That you truly care about her."
"We do."
"Yea" Kyo added, "She's our friend."
She nodded with tears in her eyes. Momiji led the way out of the dungeon with Yuki and Kyo trailing behind Kureno. The queen watched as they left, then strolled up the stairs.
"Oh my dear Kyoko" she replied, "Protect them all."
***************
"Well" Momiji said out of breath, "I have to get back to the palace and get Shigure and Kagura here. Come with me Kureno?"
"Okay" he nodded, "What are you two going to do?"
"We got to find Tohru" Kyo replied, "She's up in the mountains."
"And then we got to go to the Zodiac Stone" Yuki added.
"Do you know where it is?" Momiji asked.
"Nope. But I have a pretty good idea where we're going to find it" Yuki said.
************************************************************** ***
Authors Note: Okay, guys that's it for this week! Three more chapters to go! Send reviews!! Lots of reviews!!!
Next Chapter: Adding the Pieces
Yuki and Kyo find Tohru and gather with the Zodiac members. What happens when the two kings of two feuding countries come together to track down their families? Don't miss next week for the exciting climax of the Zodiac Stone!