A/N: I know it's been a while, but here's your conclusion. It took a while for me to get the characters do what I wanted them to. Look for an epilogue sometime soon.

I'm so sorry it took so long!

Mizu Chapter 5

Mitsuru paced his office all day Monday. She didn't come.

He paced his office Monday evening. She hadn't returned.

He paced his office through to Tuesday morning. Why wasn't she back?

Didn't she promise she'd return to him and become his Empress?

But I'll never love you.

That's what she said.

She didn't know he was the emperor though. She would come around.

Noon. Tuesday.

"Akira!" Mitsuru screeched, "Get your fucking ass in here!" Akira stumbled into the office, Keiko at his heels. "Where the hell is she?" Mitsuru growled into Keiko's face. Her eyes went wide. Akira grabbed his Emperor.

"What are you talking about, Mitsuru?" Akira asked calmly. He wouldn't allow the tengu to get into his wife's face, but he wouldn't feed his anger.

"She's gone! She went back to Tokyo this weekend. She said she'd be back! She promised! Where is she?" Mitsuru whirled on the werewolf, picking him up by the collar of his shirt.

"Mitsuru! Stop!" Keiko yelled. She knew Mitsuru was the Emperor, but seeing him in the Emperor's clothing somehow made the whole situation real. "How could you do this to her?" Mitsuru dropped Akira and turned to Keiko.

"What are you talking about, bitch?" His eyes were glowing deep red.

"You want her to be yours, only yours, and then you court her as the Emperor! What the hell is she supposed to think? She loves you Mitsuru and you're ruining any chance you could ever have with her by throwing her mixed signals and asking her to love two different people!"

"It's none of your concern!"

"It is my concern! When it involves my best friend it is my concern! She locked herself in her room for a week! She is probably somewhere in Tokyo right now, pining away, turning into some monster."

"She won't turn into a monster!" Mitsuru reached out and grabbed Keiko by the neck.

"You don't know, do you? She knows Mitsuru! She knows who you are!" Keiko wheezed. Mitsuru's grip was very tight.

"How would she know? Nobody knows!" He growled. Keiko's eyes flickered to Akira. Realization dawned in Mitsuru's face. His grip on Keiko relaxed. She dropped to the floor, clutching her neck and panting. Akira knelt by her side clutching her to him.

"Mitsuru. You better get a hold of yourself. She will never return if you act like this." Akira said.

"You told her." Mitsuru whispered.

"Well, it was more complicated than you think…" Akira said, remembering himself bound and dangling from the ceiling of his chamber, a rabid dog growling below him. "But she deserved to know Mitsuru. You may not have meant anything, and we know your intentions were good, but her heart has been through enough emotional turmoil in the last month. Let her go."

Mitsuru calmed. He clenched his fists, "Akira, I can't live without her. It's not because of this damned claim, either. I know it's not."

"We'll go look for her. You must prepare yourself. You are to be unmasked tonight. We'll bring her back to you." Akira could see Mitsuru's mounting rage. He gathered Keiko in his arms and walked out of the Emperor's office.

Mahiru was in her old room, staring out the window. She hadn't moved from her room all morning. She could feel the anger rising inside her. She didn't want to give in to it. She wouldn't lose her mind over some dumb boy.

But he's the only boy you've ever loved.

No matter. She'd find someone new.

But his blood won't let you go.

Then she'd live without love. In any case, she would not return. She was sick of his stupidity.

Taka stood in the doorway, watching his niece. Her eyes held a distant look, and her face a pallid colour. He didn't know what to do for her. He stared at her intently, willing her to look at him. Someone had knocked at the door, but his wife would answer it anyway. He heard voices. A finger tapped his shoulder. He turned to find a young girl, her arms folded across her chest. Tears were in her eyes, "Come with me," she said, "We have much to discuss."

So Keiko led Taka to the kitchen table and she and Akira proceeded to explain the entire situation. Taka sat numbly in his seat. Mahiru was claimed by some kind of demon-thing. And it was driving her crazy…because the claim wasn't finished. Well, this certainly explained a lot. Although the having the demon for a nephew-in-law thing was kind of unnerving.

"She might resist when we lead her out of here. We only bothered you with this story so that you might be on your guard." Akira said, "And please, stay as far from me as possible, I'm not mean, but I don't want to scare you." Keiko sighed. Akira was trying to be mysterious…

"He means he turns into a werewolf sometimes if he touches Mahiru. She has the power to bring that out of him. Normally he can suppress it, but in her agitated state, we do not know what she will do." Keiko said. Suddenly she heard a shrill scream from Mahiru's uncle. She turned to find Akira pouting, his puppy ears flopped down upon his head. Keiko sighed and walked over to him, she rubbed one of his ears, and said, "Come on, Akira, let's go get our Empress."

"Empress?" Taka mumbled in confusion as he stumbled after them.

In the end, Mahiru submitted easily. She took Keiko's hand and allowed herself to be led back to the Moon Palace. Her aunt and uncle stared after her, looking worried. Keiko promised them that once this was over, Mahiru would return to them happy and healthy.

She didn't know what was going to happen, but she hoped all would be well.

When they returned to the Palace, it was in an uproar. Subaru ran to them, panting, "The Emperor's in some kinda rage! He's destroying everything! You've got to stop him, sir. The others are trying, but he's beating them to a pulp!"

"Subaru" a small, distant voice said, "Prepare for the ceremony tonight." Mahiru stepped forward and went in search of Mitsuru. Keiko and Akira started to follow but she stopped them.

Misoka held a small wall of fire around the Emperor. He was in a rage and had already destroyed his study, his chamber, Mahiru's chamber and he was working on destroying the throne room when the Fox Demon and the Vampire caught him. Mitsuru was thrashing about within the flames, attempting to escape. Misoka ran to Nozomu, who had been struck by Mitsuru's lighting. The vampire was breathing, so Misoka once again focused on the enraged Tengu.

Suddenly Mitsuru stopped. He lifted his face slightly, "Mahiru!" he cried. He tore out of the room, chasing her presence, sprinting through room after room after room until he finally found her, at the foot of the large stone staircase he would climb later this evening to reveal his identity to the Lunar Race. She looked as if she was helping one of her maidservants with decorations.

Mahiru's eyes lifted from the white roses she and Subaru were discussing. He had come at last. His eyes were dark and blazing. Mahiru could feel her heart pounding but she refused to squirm under his gaze. She returned to her work and pretended she hadn't noticed his approaching.

"Why didn't you return sooner, you damned woman? Where were you?" He screamed. Mahiru ignored his and kept her discussion with Subaru, "Answer me! Where the fuck did you go!" His voice was becoming progressively louder and Mahiru would see those dark and enchanting eyes becoming glazed with a crimson light. His face loomed over hers and she could feel his breath upon her face in little aggravated huffs.

Mahiru didn't know if it was the claim acting, but his anger, his rage and outward disdain of her was making him all the more enticing. She handed the flowers to Subaru and looked Mitsuru squarely in the eye.

She slapped him across his bare face.

"How dare you!" She yelled in return.

Mitsuru stumbled away from Mahiru in shock. She hit him! What the hell was she thinking? She couldn't hit him. Mitsuru's rage grew until he learned that the slap she had given him had triggered a very odd reaction. First of all, he had transformed into his larger, Tengu form. Second, and most shocking, was his overwhelming desire for her. Her eyes were fierce and glowing, her lip snarled. To him, she had never been more attractive.

"What the hell are you on about?"

"How can you be an Emperor, Mitsuru, when you can't even sort out your private life? You're a coward! You can't do anything without Misoka and the others! You can't even stand up to your responsibilities and finish your claim!"

"I am NO coward!" he screamed. He threw his hands over his ears and dropped to his knees.

"You are. Tell me, Mitsuru, what would you have done if another had been chosen as the Emperor, and another had asked me to be his Empress?"

"I would have killed him!" Mitsuru ran forward and wrapped his long fingers around Mahiru's arms. "I will kill anyone that touches you!"

And then—silence. Mahiru's eyes had gone dead and cold. Mitsuru, aware that he had been squeezing her, opened his clawed hands and stepped back.

"Mitsuru, you can't live your whole life lost within your own soul. You have a very important task in front of you. You must unite everyone together and bring peace. Shirogane would have wanted that. If you wish me to assist you, I will. And if you wish me to become your Empress, I will do that as well." She raised her eyes to his. They were once again glowing, "But you shall never have my heart."

At once Mitsuru was enraged. He lunged at her but his advisors caught his arms. Akira, Misoka and Nozomu had to work together to keep the transformed Tengu from attacking, "Let me go!" he yelled, "You bitch, you promised! You swore to me to be only mine! I don't intend to share you! Any part of you!"

It was Mahiru that then attacked. Her maidservants and Keiko restrained her. She let out a low growl from deep within her chest. The words in this fight had become meaningless. The Emperor and his soon-to-be Empress had been reduced to mere animals, fighting over a small cowardly act. The two struggled against their captors, trying to break free.

Mahiru knew she was losing control. She could feel her mind growing hazy, but still she struggled. She wanted Mitsuru to know she wouldn't just give into him-- that he couldn't just throw her around.

She felt a searing pain spread through her chest. She stopped struggling and fell to her knees.

Mitsuru looked at her in disbelief and then he looked at his own clawed hands. The left was covered with her blood. On her chest was a gaping wound. He hung his head in shame. How could he do such a thing to her? He loved her; he didn't mean to lash out like he did.

Mahiru stood, weak from the loss of blood and stumbled over to the large sliding door. Using as much strength as she could muster, she threw it open. At once, the large din of the people gathered to see their Emperor reached the ears of all in the room.

"Do you hear those people, Mitsuru?" she asked, her voice coming in pants, "Those are the voices of the people who rely on you—the people that need you to be strong and fight for them. You need to stop acting so childish and act like an Emperor should." She once again fell to her knees, "They need you, Mitsuru, and so do I. Please, stop being such a fucking idiot."

And she passed out.