A/N: As you all know or should know. Glowie-san is currently translating a really awesome Chinese fanfiction. So I made a rather rash decision and decide to free her from the bonds of betadom. So beware...it is raw fan fic time again.

Current warns for this story. I realize ch13 was a very ultimate high point and I feel that I write climatic things and slowly drop down from them. This time I skipped slow..I fell. The next chapter isn't as good. But I decide to switch POVs for once. I had only intended to do that once, but eeryone wants to know more about Shizuru, right? There ya go.

Disclaimer: Mai hime is not mine.

The Gala

The hours past sooner than what I had wanted it to as I my alarm clock went off letting me and Shizuru know it was time to get ready. I slammed my hand down on the little alarm clock. I sat up slowly feeling somewhat exhausted after a pleasant "romp" with Shizuru. The covers fell exposing my unclothed form. Shizuru was not bothered by the alarm clock. She must be more exhausted than me. I pulled covers off and walked over to my bathroom turning the shower on. I came back to find Shizuru covered in the blankets again. I pulled them off shaking my head and I was smirking. I can't believe I'm doing this. I know I'm strong enough to pick her up. It just seems so weird I can do that. Once I got over my feelings about picking up Shizuru I scooped her up in arms and walked into the bathroom with her. I step into the hot shower and Shizuru just glared at me.

"Natsuki, you're so mean!" Shizuru huffed. I laughed as I set her down into the shower.

"You know the last time I did this to you we, you know." I continued laughing attempting to tease her but failing badly.

"I don't wanna." Shizuru said turning her back to me. I laughed even harder.

"That's quite alright Shizuru. I can live with this view." I said while staring.

"You voyeur!" Shizuru teased.

"I am." I proudly said smiling at her hugging her from behind kissing down her neck to her collarbone. I ran my hand across her stomach as I bit down gently on her shoulder making her gasp.

"Natsuki, stop, haven't you had enough yet." Shizuru moaned. I stopped and looked into her red eyes with my cold green ones.

"I can never have enough, but you're right I should stop. We've got to go to the gala in about two hours." I said reluctantly.

The evening will be long. I won't have the ability to run in and run out. The gala will be something new for our government. I will be sitting with the foreign dignitaries tonight making the even just as interesting. I'm somewhat intimidated by General Arisugawa and I will have to spend my evening with her. Thankfully Shizuru will be at my side. I stood in front of my mirror making sure I had my uniform on correctly. In the reflection I realized I was being watch by a fully dressed Shizuru. Shizuru's dress was something I could only see her wearing. She was really pushing it too. I turned around to face Shizuru to make sure I was seeing everything correctly. There she stood in traditional attire from her home country. The dress was mainly rich with a violet color that shone elegance and gave her an air of grace; a graceful amethyst. My mess dress for the occasion was tailored against the wishes of my superiors. I refuse to look like a man so I had my mess dress fitted to my body. The jacket, shirt, vest, and pants all tailored to the curves of my body. The mess dress would have made me shorter in appearance if it remained as is and I'm short as it is. The mess dress I have on is adorned with all my medals and the gala is so traditional the president is requiring all officers to wear their coat of arms. I have no coat of arms, just a family heirloom left with me when I was found as a child. So around my waste hung a very old but nicely maintained saber with an elaborate hilt. I buttoned my middle button on my jacket and walked over to Shizuru.

"Shizuru, you look heavenly." I smiled and sighed as I walked over to her and kissed her hand.

"And Natsuki, you are very dashing in that mess dress. I didn't think the military allowed their soldiers to show a figure." Shizuru smile as we walked out to the living room.

"They don't allow such a thing, but I figured since tonight is my last night under the service of my government I wanted to go out in style." I said proudly. "Tomorrow, I have to end it."

Shizuru became quiet and looked away from me. "This…I wish, I hadn't been born in this world. I wish you and I could have been born together else where." I gently cupped her cheek making her look at me.

"Nothing can be done about what is and what must be done. We will make it. You must believe that we will. I will not let you return to that government, but we cannot stay here." I said in a serious tone. I looked at the clock. "The limo should be here, let's go Shizuru." Shizuru nodded and we headed out for our last night of safety. As we sat in the car I explained the history of the location we were heading to.

"The Grand Gala is being held at the palace of the lost monarchy of Webstein. The story of the lost monarchy happened before the democratic system existed. The democratic system only existed for about a hundred years and before that there were massive revolutions amongst the greedy nobles. The people of Webstein were quite content under the monarchy, and the only reason it fell was due to the invasion of the Karisan government. The once friendly neighbor had been waiting for our nation's ailing monarch to die and for the nobles to fight amongst themselves. Rumor has it the royal family did not die out, but in secret the new political power has been trying to kill them off one by one. I suppose it is just a rumor though." I finished as we arrived.

"Natsuki, you seem to know a lot about your country's history. I'm impressed. I know nothing of my country's history. I feel so very humbled by you." Shizuru said quietly as the door to the limo opened. Shizuru was helped out of the limo and greeted by many gasps. I quickly got out with her to also be joined by many more gasps. I guess this must be a new kind of greeting, I jokingly thought to myself, but I knew why they were gasping. Shizuru was obviously stating she was a Karisan citizen and I was the guest of honor representing the Webstein. I ignored the other guests and continued my conversation with Shizuru.

"I graduated from college with a political science major and a history major focusing on the histories of Karis and Webstein. Of course I was only able to learn the history of Webstein. The fact I was an officer of the Webstein government I was not able to go to the college in Vince to finish my history major. I did get a chance to learn a little about Karis, but not nearly enough. Sadly I never did get to use my major immediately. It's so ironic I was finally able to use it at the GGC and now you and I have to run away." I laughed quietly as we entered the grand hall before entering the ball room.

"Amazing…absolutely amazing." Shizuru sighed as we came in only to be halted by the door guard.

"We must announce you first, ma'am. Names." The guard said.

"You're kidding, right?" I said in an astounded tone. The guard smiled.

"There is a back entrance, but please let me know who you are so we can alert the staff." The guard laughed.

"Colonel Natsuki Kuga." I said. The guard all of sudden went to attention. "Oh stop, I can't stand formalities. I'm going to the back with my date now. Have a good evening soldier." I grumbled as I ushered Shizuru down the old hallway to the back entrance. I slowed down halfway so I could ask Shizuru about herself a little more. "So, how about you? You must have had a very enriching education."

Shizuru sighed and looked at me with piteous eyes. "Natsuki, I'm happier hearing about you. Don't ask about me, please. My past is not good." Shizuru sighed again. "Let's go to this gala and get this over with. I'm interested in seeing the legendary monarchs of Roses."

I frowned at Shizuru's reluctance to share her past, but I knew we were going to have more than enough time to discuss our pasts starting tomorrow. We made it to the back entrance which was being poorly guarded. I had never been to the palace before so I was just as shocked as Shizuru when we entered the ornate ball room. The center of the room was a busy with a flurry of tuxedos, mess dresses, and ball gowns. The surrounding areas had the tables. I knew I would have no problem finding the table I was to sit at. General Arisugawa was not a hard individual to miss. She has long flowing orange red hair with the occasional grey streak which made her very exotic to look at, but it also made me wonder how old she was. I wonder if what Youko said was true or not. Perhaps General Arisugawa was just having pre-graying. I scanned the room and much to my disappointment I could not find the General until I heard Shizuru gasp.

"Why, hello ma'am. You wouldn't happen to be here alone would you? That would be such a shame for such a lovely young woman as yourself." A smooth female yet somewhat husky voice said.

"I'm actually accompanying my partner here." Shizuru said as I approached from behind.

"Oh, General Arisugawa, hello." I quickly said and saluted. The general laughed.

"Please, don't do that colonel. It's tiresome. Now please introduce your date to me." The general said smiling staring politely at Shizuru with her malachite green eyes.

"Ah, yes General. This is Shizuru Viola. And Shizuru, if you haven't caught it already, this is General Arisugawa of Roses." I said finishing my introduction.

"I am pleased to make you acquaintance, general." Shizuru said sweetly.

"No, Ms. Viola, the pleasure is all mine." The general said kindly. "Now if I may, please let me accompany you to our table." General said as she took Shizuru's hand to take her to the table. I was shocked by the general's demeanor towards Shizuru. I could swear she is flirting with her. I can't jump a general. Is she really flirting with Shizuru? I followed behind them to a rather large table which was suppose to seat the monarchs of the Roses, the military heads of the two nations and the president of Webstein. The general pulled out a chair for Shizuru to sit in and gently pushed the chair in before returning to me. "Colonel, can I talk to you for moment out on the veranda to our right." I nodded and wondered what this was about. We walked to the veranda and the general shut the door behind us and joined me.

"Tell me Colonel Kuga, why are you with an enemy of your government?" The General asked out of the blue.

"I have no idea what you are talking about general. Ms. Viola is my date for the evening." I said keeping my composure.

"Don't give me that programmed bullshit Kuga, or should I call you by your code name; Ice Princess." The General protested.

I gulped not knowing what to do. She knew I was the Ice Princess and that must mean she knows who Shizuru really is.

"I'm not going to report you Kuga. Don't freak out on me. And call me Juri. It's only fair since I know so much about you." Juri said looking at the night sky in her red and black mess dress.

"General….Juri, how much do you know?" I said with stress in my voice.

"A forsaken liaison, I once had something like that. I can only guess about other things. I know you failed at killing you target and that you've killed a fellow agent and a Karisan agent." Juri sighed. I was starting to freak out despite what the general said.

"That's very impressive intelligence Juri." I stammered. Juri looked at me and smiled a very comforting and easing smile.

"I've been around too long to not notice things, but you and Ms. Viola are something new. I hope for the best, but I cannot say how much I wish you didn't have to kill to get out of your bonds." Juri said grabbing my shoulders. "Listen to me Kuga, run once you severe you bonds. Run and don't look back. This is the only advice I can give you. I once, tried something like you did, a long time ago, and it did not work. It ended in tragedy for me. My other half died and I lived on." She said dropping her hands from my shoulders. I didn't know what to think. This was all too strange to be happening.

Mini Feed:

Chuckabutt: I can't believe my older sister is reading this story. -stares at the review from Miko-chan 'Onee-sama'-

Natsuki: Woah, that kind of weird especially since you write about lesbians.

Chuckabutt: -sigh- ya I know but there is no one else in montgomery that reads this

Shizuru: Ara, Kara-san, I like your Myspace page.

Chuckabutt: EH!

Shizuru: -reading profile- Ara, really now.

Natsuki: -reads it too- I don't get it.

Chuckabutt: -red- please get off the computer.

Natsuki: -clicks on picture folder and has an instant nosebleed- OMG Kara-san you have...some interesting pictures here

Chuckabutt: You must be staring at my ShizNat folder. -Natsuki nods as she actively searches it-

Yay! I updated both stories today! Same challenge here. REVEIW! And Miko-chan...don't hate me! I come over and watch more animes with you later.