Author's Note: Okay, here is chapter two. And yes, Reito has four names! Reito Caesar Aurelius Fujino. Again, this fanfiction story was inspired by the movie "The Gladiator" (2000). The story is not an exact replica of the movie itself. There are twists in it, which fit around the cast of Mai Hime, and -some- of the events in the movie.

Character Guide:

Gladiator: Mai Hime:
------------------------------------------
Maximus ................... Natsuki
Commodus ............... Reito
Lucilla ....................... Shizuru
Marcus Aurelius ........ Katsu
General Quintus ....... Tate

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime, or the Gladiator. I wish I did, but I don't own either of them!

Chapter Two: The Grape, and the Olive.

Inside of Shizuru's Tent:

'Ara... What is it that is troubling her, I wonder,' Shizuru Porcia Fujino thought to herself, as she regarded the younger woman beside her. The young woman's expression appeared to be that of worry, and total defeat. Sitting with her ankles crossed, and her legs bent, the General's figure was slouching forward, allowing her elbows to sit comfortably upon her knees.

"Ara, would you like some wine?" Shizuru finally asked, breaking the silence which had engulfed the whole of the goat-skin tent since their arrival. Both women were sitting upon a feathered mattress; Shizuru was enjoying Natsuki's presence, while the General seemed to be heavily caught up in her thoughts.

Natsuki responded with a grunt, and a nod, which made the edges of Shizuru's mouth curl into a slight smile. 'Ara, she hasn't changed a bit,' The brunette thought, as she stood up from the matt, and then making her way towards a cherry wood table.

"What is it that troubles you, Natsuki?" Shizuru inquired, as she prepared a drink for the general. "Does it have anything to do with what my brother overheard?"

'Ara, I wonder if I should've exposed that,' Shizuru thought to herself, as she picked up the mug from the table, and made her way back towards the flabbergasted figure who was seated onto that matt. Amused, Shizuru watched, and waited for the blunette beside her to regain her composure. It took a few moments for Natsuki to do so, but when she did, she gladly took the mug from Shizuru's hands, and gulped down a large drink.

"Did you hear any of it?" Natsuki then asked, locking her emerald orbs, onto those of crimson. "Please, be honest with me, Shizuru."

"Ara, haven't I always been, Natsuki?" The brunette asked, while amusement was displayed within her eyes. "But to answer your question, yes, I did hear some of it, Natsuki, but my brother heard most of it. Reito was quite... upset... by the time I interrupted his eavesdropping."

"I-I can imagine," The general whispered, as she lifted a hand to run her fingers through the blue strands of her hair. "What all did you hear, Shizuru?"

"My father's last order to you," Shizuru answered, while studying the blunette's reaction. "You don't seem very pleased with that order, Natsuki."

"I am not," The general responded truthfully. "This role, in which he has asked of me is too much."

Shizuru quietly nodded, while folding her hands within the palm of her lap. 'Ara, but my father was right, though. You'd make a very excellent Empress, Natsuki.'

Shizuru bit her lip, and glanced towards the female beside her, Determination flooded throughout the brunette's body, as she took a deep breathe. 'Ara, I came out here for a reason. I cannot let myself be distracted...'

"Natsuki," Shizuru called out to the general beside her. "I have a favor to ask of you."

"Ne?" Natsuki asked, turning her emerald eyes to those of crimson. "You know you can ask almost anything from me, Shizuru."

A genuine smile etched itself across Shizuru's face, as she stared into Natsuki's eyes, "I need you to marry me."

"What?!" Natsuki exclaimed, eyes widening. "T-to m-marry you?"

"Yes, Natsuki, to marry me." Shizuru replied.

"But why?" Natsuki nearly shouted. "I am a woman! There's no way a priest would sanctify this!"

Shizuru sighed heavily, and closed her eyes, "I am betrothed to marry as soon as my father returns to Rome. The only way I can break the marriage contract, is if I find someone else, who is suitable to my father's standards, to marry. Natsuki you are my only option from marrying Senator Quintus!"

"Senator Quintus..." Natsuki murmured, in slight understanding. "As in Senator Quintus Florius Calvus?"

"Yes!" Shizuru responded quickly. "That Senator Quintus."

"Bigods! No wonder you want out of the marriage," The general murmured, trying to stifle the urge to laugh. "How many wives has he had in the past? Three? Four?"

"Five, and each of them are dead," Shizuru answered honestly. "The man is a murdering, repulsive wino, Natsuki! You have to help me."

"Shizuru... I would," Natsuki said, shaking her head. "But as I said, I am a woman, what priest would sanctify the marriage? What would Rome think?"

"Since when do you care about that?" Shizuru replied, her eyebrow lifting a notch. "If I told you that it could be done, would you do it?"

"To save you from Senator Quintus?" Natsuki said, her brow furrowed. "In a heartbeat..."

Inside the Emperor's Tent:

"Father, I've returned," Reito Aurelius Caesar Fujino announced, as he pushed open the flat of the tent and made his way inside. "I've calmed down considerably, father, like you said."

"I've no doubt in that, my son," The Emperor said in an amused tone. "But let me guess what brings you back... Ah, you wish for me to change my decision?"

"That, and I want you to dismiss Natsuki Antoina Kruga from service," Reito answered, folding his arms over his chest. "She is a woman, and as such, she should not be serving within the Imperial Legion, but married, and at home!"

"I see..." Katsu responded, chuckling thickly. "Guards! Could you have Prefect Tate Decius Yuuichi brought here?"

"At once, Emperor!" The guards replied in unison, as the sounds of foot shuffling could be heard outside the tent.

"F-father?" Reito questioned, glancing towards the man who raised him. "Why do you need the Prefect here?"

"A number of reasons," The Emperor replied evasively. "But to answer your demands, I will not do as you asked. That "woman" as you called her has brought many victories to the Glory of Rome. Do you fail to recognize what she has done thus far, my son?"

"I'm sure it could've been done by any other individual father," Reito responded stubbornly.

"Hmm... I thought so," Katsu murmured, listening to the sounds of footsteps outside his tent.

"Emperor! You wished to see me?" A male voice called out suddenly.

"Enter, Prefect," The Emperor responded. "Do hurry, I grow tired."

At once the flap of the Emperor's cow-skin tent was flipped open, and the blonde soldier entered.

Reito remained quiet, and waited for the Emperor to make his next move. He didn't know what his father was up to, but was certain that things weren't going to get any better for him.

"Sire!" The prefect uttered, and bowed respectively towards the Emperor, while offering a salute to Reito.

"Enroll my son into the Legions, Prefect," The Emperor ordered. "Make sure he starts his training off just like any other man would."

"Father!" Reito exclaimed, his jaw falling open. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Yes, your majesty," Tate replied, and bowed to the Emperor. "Is that all, your majesty?"

"Yes, thank you," The Emperor answered. "Please leave us."

The guard bowed once more, and respectively saluted the Emperor's son.

"H-how could you do that to me?" Reito sputtered, obviously enraged.

Morning,
Inside of Shizuru's Tent:

"Father!" It was a loud anguished cry that fluttered throughout the war camp, making General Natsuki Kruga leap to her feet, and race out of Shizuru's tent. As she made her way towards the Emperor's tent, Natsuki soon noticed the horde of soldiers which were surrounding the entrance.

"Stand back!" The general ordered, as she pushed through the men. "Let me through!"

As soon as she made her way into the tent, Natsuki saw the figure of Reito kneeling over the "sleeping", pale figure of Katsu Aurelius Fujino. Questions arose within Natsuki's mind, as she made a step towards the bed in which the Emperor was resting on.

"Ara, what happened?" Shizuru demanded, glancing towards her father, and her brother. "What is the matter, brother?"

"H-he's dead!" Reito sobbed out, as he held his father's hand.

Disbelief fluttered through Natsuki's veins as she looked down at the ashen face of the Emperor. The man's crimson eyes were still open in a blank stare. Turning her head away from the sight, Natsuki rubbed her face, "How did this happen?"

"H-he must've died in his sleep," Reito responded, making the General instantly suspicious. "I-I came in a few moments ago, and saw him asleep. When I tried to waken him, he would not rouse..."

Omake:

Natsuki: You did make Reito in a bastard.
Rhythia: I did.
Shizuru: You don't feel guilty because of it?
Rhythia: -mumbles- Sorta. It had to be someone.
Natsuki: Hmph. Why can't I ever be the bastard?
Shizuru & Rhythia in unison: Your too cute to be a bastard.
Natsuki: -grumbles- Stop doing that to me!

/End of Omake

Author's Footnote: Okay, I'm going to leave you with a cliffhanger. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, (even though it's short). Thanks for the reviews, and please review again!