Disclaimer: if I could own CM, the only part of it that I would really want for keepers would be the font they use on the cover. Keep Mahiru and Mitsuru, keep Akira and Nozomu—I want the font, and that's it.
My first CM fic ever—please be kind. It's going to be humorous, and it's obviously going to be romantic…so bare with me. Expect rather slow updates…at least until after next Thursday (and maybe next Monday)—that's when all the obligatory stuff in my life ends and I'm left with the summer to myself.
Capture Me Care for Me:
Shirogane has gone missing, and it looks like the Moon Bandits may be the only ones able to locate the Emperor. And with things getting serious with Mitsuru and Mahiru, what will happen when a human suitor turns up? Three years after the series.
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Chap 7: Complications
Mitsuru and Misoka were indeed fighting, though no one seemed to be in serious danger when Nozomu and Mahiru arrived. They were having a simple argument over the Emperor's disappearance—Mitsuru felt that, since they knew where he was, they should simply capture him and take him to the palace. Misoka felt that, since he was their Emperor, more effort should go into understanding his motives and speaking with him than force. Misoka maintained that Shirogane could have them all thrown in prison for simply picking him up and moving him.
Nozomu's arrival with Mahiru cut the argument short. Akira, sitting on the curb of Kirsa's subdivision while Misoka and Mitsuru argued on the sidewalk, bounded over to the newly arrived Bandits. Mahiru smiled at him and he gave her a summary of the argument being waged, sprouting his tail simply to wag it as he spoke.
"I thought that you'd get here too late. Mitsuru is all ready just to grab Shirogane and go home, but Misoka doesn't want to rush the Emperor."
Mahiru looked over Akira's shoulder to see the two boys glaring in their direction. She patted Akira on the head and sighed, gaze traveling to Kirsa's house in contemplation.
"Misoka, will Shriogane listen to any of us, do you think?" she asked.
Misoka frowned and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose in thought. "Perhaps if we approach the house peacefully, so that we are all visible and he knows he is not trapped, he will see us. I cannot guarantee that he will listen to anything we say."
"So why do you think we should try to speak with him?"
"Shirogane is the Emperor. We owe him respect," Misoka said.
Mahiru nodded. It was true, after all. She didn't have the final word in the argument, but from what Akira had said, she needed to convince Mitsuru to go along with Misoka. Even if she did think it would be easier just to pick up the little Emperor and go home, she didn't want to sit in jail while Koku ran amuck in the Moon Palace. She doubted that being imprisoned would do much to resolve that situation…most likely, he would think that she was being held hostage and try to rescue her.
Joining the boys on the sidewalk, she reached a decision and looked up at Mitsuru. "I think that you should listen to Misoka," she said.
Mitsuru looked away from her, anger spilling over his face. "Somehow I knew you'd side with them."
Mahiru shook her head, tugging his arm to get his attention and distract him from his temper. "If we can get Shirogane back home safely, Koku will be easy to deal with. If we make him angry, we might have to fight to get away from the Palace. I don't want to start a war, Mitsuru."
The anger left his expression, though only briefly. It came back in full force, though Mahiru knew that he was only mildly irritated with her—if Mitsuru truly loved her, then he could see why they had to do as Misoka suggested.
She smiled at the rest of the Bandits. Misoka was still frowning, but began to give orders anyway. With Mitsuru placated for the moment, they had to decide what exactly they were going to do.
"I think that Nozomu and Akira will be unwelcome in the human residence. Both of you will remain in full sight from the house, though at a distance, to show that we're not a threat. Mitsuru should fall back as well, though I don't think he needs to be as far away as the others. Mahiru, Shirogane trusts you the most out of all of us—perhaps you should do the talking."
Mahiru nodded, stepping away from Mitsuru to comply with Misoka's orders. The Tengu was sulking, but he didn't argue…at least out loud. Mahiru knew that the faster they got Shirogane home, the faster she could resolve the problems in her family.
"Let's do this, then," she said.
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Koku paced the room, wondering if the demons would force him back inside if he tried to leave. The vampire had promised that he was a guest until Mahiru returned, and said that he would be fed. Did that mean that they had him under surveillance?
Mahiru's betrayal unnerved him. Koku had been nothing but true to his unknown fiancée for the past several years—in fact, he had not so much as flirted with another woman since his grandmother had explained that he was to be engaged. Grandmother had also explained the world of demons to him, when she spoke of the princess that he would be wed to. Koku had fallen in love with the princess of his Grandmother's voice, and Mahiru fit the image perfectly. He knew that they were destined to be together, that they were…soul mates.
Obviously the demon boy had her under some sort of spell. If he could get Mahiru alone and show her how much he loved her, then there would be no need for any more negotiation. The purity of his heart would break the demon's spell, and Mahiru would be free, as she deserved to be.
In the unlikely event that she truly did not care for him, then Koku could see no reason not to free her. At least Mahiru would never fall into the trap of the demons again. Such a rare and delicate creature was not destined to be caught up in evil schemes.
If she weren't secretly in love with him, how would he break the spell? He knew that love could conquer anything—but how would he free her if there weren't love in the picture?
Koku was never the sharpest tool in the shed, but sometimes a clever idea wormed its way into his brain and stayed rooted there until he carried it through. He was noble, honest, and pure. Koku thought that he would be rescuing a lady in distress if he managed to kill the demon holding her hostage.
Was…what had she called him? Mitsu-kun? Was Mitsu-kun still in the Palace? The vampire had said that Mahiru was gone for a time…perhaps her demonic jailer was still within the walls of the Moon Palace.
A second clever thought snuck into Koku's mind. He had been introduced to no adult leader in the entire expanse of his stay in the Moon Palace. There had been no mention of an Emperor or Empress, as his Grandmother told him there would be. Grandmother had spoken of the Emperor and Empress as though she did not fear them…they would be no threat if he decided to take the Palace by force. Mahiru was removed from the premises, so she would be in no danger.
Koku cautiously slid open the door and stuck out his head. No, no one appeared to force him back into his prison. Security was lax.
If he could reach the outside of the palace, he could contact his family's reinforcements and collect their aid in rescuing Mahiru. They could destroy the demons once and for all. While Mahiru was removed from the capital of demonic activity, Koku could scour them from the plane of existence.
Those wormy ideas did prove useful at times. Koku would rescue Mahiru, no matter the cost.
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Shirogane looked out the curtain of the front window. He was kneeling on Kirsa's couch, trying not to be seen. Kirsa was sitting on the floor, out of sight. If they decided to enter by force, he didn't want her hurt because of him.
His eyes widened in surprise as the princess approached the door, the other Bandits hanging slightly behind her. Mahiru had never seemed the type to lure anyone into a trap. Shirogane was both shocked and disappointed to see that she was as unscrupulous as all the others.
"Shiro-chan, who's there?" Kirsa asked quietly, her voice shaking in fear.
He glanced down at her, letting the curtain fall back into place. "Kirsa-chan, they're not bad people, but I don't know what they intend as of yet. Stay hidden until I say it's okay to come out, all right?"
She nodded, amber eyes wide with fear. Her chocolate hair was short, like Mahiru's had been when she first came to the Moon Palace. Shirogane looked down at his first friend for a moment, and then stood.
"Emperor Shirogane?" Mahiru called, knocking on the door. "It's Mahiru. Please open the door. I'd like to speak with you."
He stared at the handle, knowing her hand was on it outside. If he so much as turned the lock, she would enter the house uninvited. Shirogane cast a sour look in the direction of her voice and turned away, glancing at Kirsa briefly to verify that she was still out of sight.
"Emperor Shirogane, we know that you're here. We just want to know why," Mahiru tried again. "Please, Emperor. Everyone at home is worried."
Shirogane leaned against the door, shaking his head though she couldn't see him. "No one at home is worried, princess," he responded. "And I am not leaving this house."
Mahiru sighed loudly. "Emperor, there are matters at the Palace that only you may attend to. If you would simply see business done, you could return here as you pleased. Oboro is worried."
Shirogane laughed shortly. "What business is there that my uncle cannot attend?"
She was silent for a moment, and Shirogane thought she might have left. Perhaps she was deeply in thought? Had he done it? Was she convinced?
He turned, pulling up a stool to see outside. Kirsa remained obediently hidden. Shirogane was surprised to see no one on the porch, and no trace of Mahiru at all. He tried to look up and down the street as best he could, and still saw no sign of the Bandits.
There was a noise behind him, and Shirogane turned to look at the house. Kirsa had hiccoughed.
When he turned back to look outside for the Bandits, something knocked the handle entirely off Kirsa's door. Shirogane fell backwards, landing on the carpet in an undignified fashion as the door swung open. The Tengu stood in the frame, fully transformed. Kirsa screamed before Shirogane could react, drawing Mitsuru's attention away from the Emperor.
While he was distracted, Shirogane picked up his stool and braced it before him, running towards the Tengu's legs. He crashed into the older demon and took him to the ground, falling on top of him. Mitsuru swore as he hit the pavement, curling slightly at the attack of the stool. Before Shirogane could stand, hands had encircled him and lifted him free of the Tengu.
Mahiru held him tightly to her, so that he couldn't wiggle free of her grasp. "Emperor, Emperor, we mean no disrespect, but it's time to come home now," she said.
Mitsuru had curled into a ball, rubbing his shins with one hand. "Bastard," he muttered.
Mahiru frowned down at him. "Even if you're hurt, you shouldn't call Emperor Shirogane names," she scolded. "Will you be okay?"
Mitsuru nodded.
"Let us depart," Misoka said, from the side of the house. Shirogane thrashed to one side, trying to break Mahiru's grip.
He froze at the voice in the doorway.
"Let Shiro-chan go!" Kirsa exclaimed. Mahiru's knees suddenly gave way, sending her crashing to the ground with the Tengu. She tightened her grip on Shirogane as she fell, gasping as she hit the pavement. In the doorway, Kirsa was wielding a broom. She had apparently hit Mahiru behind the knees with it.
Mitsuru grabbed her before she could beat either of them over the head with the handle of the broom, causing her to drop her weapon in surprise. Kirsa struggled as Shirogane had, thrashing about. Mitsuru was stronger than Mahiru, and Kirsa's struggles did nothing.
"Perhaps we will all be going to the Moon Palace," Misoka amended. "Princess, are you hurt?"
Mahiru nodded. "I think I skinned my knees," she said. Mitsuru looked as though he was about to bop Kirsa over the head. Luckily, Mahiru stopped him before he did. Even if she had kidnapped them, Shirogane had to admit that Mahiru was still the same honest person she had always been. "But I'm okay," she said before Mitsuru did anything.
Kirsa stopped struggling, just as Shirogane had. "My mom will call the police!" she said.
Mahiru shook her head. "We're going to get all of this straightened out before then, right Emperor Shirogane?"
He sighed. "I suppose."
They departed for the Moon Palace, both children being restrained respectively.
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Review! I finally updated! Aren't you happy?