Author's Note: I don't know if I like this chapter or not. I don't know if I did the action scene well enough. I'm shocked I was able to complete it tonight, as I thought the electric would go out. Uh, just to clear up some confusion. Tate is filling in the role of Quintus from the Movie. His name is not actually Quintus, although there is a Senator Quintus in the story. (This is not Tate).

Disclaimer: I don't own Mai Hime - if I did, I'd probably be rich, and there'd be nothing but ShizNat.

Twenty Six Hours after the Death of Katsu Aurelius Fujino,
Two miles south of the Roman War Camp of the Augustus Legions:

Tears spilled out from her eyes, as she glanced about herself, listening to the distant howls of the hound dogs, and the voices of men. Natsuki Antoina Kruga was crouched down behind a large oak tree, with iron shackles about her wrists. 'Why is this happening to me?' The former general thought, as she took large gulps of air.

*** Flashback ***
Inside the Princess' Tent,
Six hours after the Emperor's Death:

"Egads," Natsuki muttered, running a hand through her blue strands of hair. "The bloody bastard killed him..."

"What are you saying?" A brunette woman said in a soft voice behind her. "That Reito killed my father?"

"He definitely didn't die in his sleep, Princess." Natsuki retorted. "Else his eyes would've been closed, and the Emperor's arms were bruised."

The Princess' expression resembled one of a thoughtful expression, though suddenly it became hard, "How could he do that? Why?"

"As you told me, your brother overheard us," The General said with a pained expression.

*** End of Flashback ***

The sounds were getting closer, Natsuki realized, as she surveyed her surroundings. She was further from the war camp now, and could hear the sounds of a nearby water source. 'If I can make it to the water, I can escape easier, because the hounds will lose my scent,' Natsuki thought as she rose from her crouching position, and began to run once again.

'Gods damn it!' Natsuki cursed inwardly, as she listened to the sounds once more. The sounds were indeed getting closer, making the former General sprint forward in a quicker pace. She was disparate now, to reach the stream. 'I will not be captured! I will warn, and protected my family!' Natsuki chanted within her mind, gaining strength from those words.

*** Flashback ***
Inside the Princess' Tent,
Six hours after the Emperor's Death:

"For a woman you are quite clever," Reito complimented, as he made his presence known within the goat-skin tent.

"Why do this?" Shizuru demanded in a cold tone. "Why kill our father? Are you that obsessed with power?"

"I tried to reason with him before hand," Reito said to his sister calmly. "He was too blind by his own foolishness to listen to reason. He even had me enrolled within the Legions, after I suggested sending the she-general home, and removing her from power."

Natsuki said nothing, but continued to glare at the dark haired man, while the palm of her right hand flexed instinctively about the hilt of her weapon. 'I will avenge you, Caesar,' Natsuki thought to herself.

"Interesting," Reito commented, eying the .blue haired woman. "How you've managed to gain such loyalty, and return it. I fear my father had some sense in the matter, and with that being said, Natsuki Antoina Kruga, I ask that you swear your new Emperor loyalty."

The blue haired woman growled, as she unsheathed her sword, pointing it directly at the Emperor's murderer before her, "I refuse. I will not tarnish my family's name, nor my honor by giving my allegiance to a murderer."

*** End of Flashback ***

"Thank the gods," Natsuki whispered between soft pants, as she made her way into the freezing waters. It took all she had not to cry out, as she started to wade out towards the other side of the rather large stream. It wasn't long, though until the water became too deep, and the currents became slightly stronger. The former general inhaled a deep breathe of air, and began to swim the rest of the length of the stream, all the while praying that no one would spot her.

As soon as she found herself out of the stream, Natsuki quickly took up to running once again. The further she got away from the water, the quicker she could make her escape from the Praetorian guards who followed her. 'I'll make them all burn in Hades,' Natsuki growled in thought, as her teeth clenched together.

It wasn't long before Natsuki realized that the voices behind her were becoming fainter. 'The stream must've held them up,' Natsuki thought, as she slowed down slightly to catch her breathe. Her thought pattern soon changed as she surveyed her surroundings. She needed a horse, if she were to make it to the province of Italia in time enough to save her family, but the only horse which was available to her needs was those being ridden by the Praetorian guards behind her.

She would have to ambush them, and take a war horse, Natsuki surmised. If she could get her hands onto a sword in just the right amount of time, she would be able to capture a horse, and flee the guards once again. It was her only option.

'They will be following my footprints once they are out of the stream,' Natsuki thought to herself, as she made her way towards a nearby tall oak tree. 'They will come this way, and I'll only have one chance to swing down from these branches and take them by surprise.'

A scowl soon overcame her expression, as she reflected on her thought pattern, 'Sounds like I'm trying to build up some imaginary courage to perform this act. Pathetic.' It wasn't long before Natsuki was perched into a high branch which allowed her a good view of the Praetorian guards who were following her. 'All those men just for me?' Natsuki growled. 'Someone is awfully scared of me living through this day.'

*** Flashback ***
Inside the Princess' Tent,
Six hours after the Emperor's Death:

"I somehow figured you would say that," Reito said with a smirk on his face. "Guards! Seize this woman, for the murder of my father!"

"No!" Shizuru cried out as she made her way to grab hold of Natsuki's arm. "How can you do this to her? To me? Have you no honor, brother? Have you no sense of morality?"

"Do you have any idea what she was going to do me?" Reito countered. "She would've made me in a mocking fool of the Empire! She was going to take my throne from me!"

"You don't deserve the throne!" Shizuru retorted in a voice which surprised the blue haired woman beside her. Shizuru was never one to raise her voice; she was always the image of calm and serenity. Emerald eyes glanced over towards the brunette, in surprise, before returning to glare at the Emperor's son, but by the time her eyes caught sight of the man, he was lunging forward at her weapon.

Natsuki's sword was knocked to the side, as the appearance of five black armored guards made their appearance inside the Princess' tent.

"If you do this, Reito," Shizuru threatened in a cold voice. "I'll never forgive you for this. I'll never speak to you, nor consider you my brother."

"I am the Emperor, you will do as I say," Reito commanded in irritation.

"I will not," Natsuki growled. "You are no Emperor. You are the mockery of that of what is Rome!"

"How dare you," Reito sneered, and turned to the Praetorians beside him."Well, are you going to stand there, or are you going to take the wench away, and execute her as I ordered?"

The Praetorian guards had done as they were instructed to, and had drug Natsuki out of the tent. It wasn't long before the former General's arms were shackled, nor was it long before she was stripped of her battle armor.

"I don't want to execute her here," Takeda commented, glancing about the war camp. "The men will take this hard, and will fight for their general."

Natsuki sneered in response, raising herself to her full height, and squaring her shoulders. She was very proud of her men, and was grateful for their loyalty, if she weren't in a vulnerable position, she could easily call out to them for assistance, and easily, she could take down the Praetorian guard, and she could also avenge the Caesar who was murdered.

A black hood was suddenly thrown over her head, and soon she found herself being drug away from the sounds of the camp. Two hours later, the hood was removed, and Natsuki's eyes soon took in her new surroundings. She recognized the area, remembering a previous battle here, which was quickly won by her forces.

Her eyes soon traveled over the men before her, before resting onto the spikey haired man before her. A plan of escaping soon reached her mind, as she knelt down onto the ground.

"Please, soldier," Natsuki said in a false pleading tone to Takeda. "Could you grant me one last request?"

The former general eyed the Praetorian General curiously, as he seemed to be shocked by the request. Hesitantly, the man nodded towards Natsuki, "Aye, but make it quick."

"A soldier's execution," Natsuki begged. "Grant me with that last honor?"

The man seemed hesitant in granting the request, as his eyes darted over his underlings. A murmur of agreement soon followed, making Takeda nod his head in agreement.

"Aye, you may have it." The Praetorian General agreed, as he then instructed, "Lower your head, General Natsuki Antoina Kruga, Traitor to Rome."

Natsuki did lower her head, but flinched at the title she was now named with. Her teeth ground together as she waited for her cue, and it didn't take long for Takeda to raise his blade high into the air. There was a slight pause, before Natsuki felt the air about her changed, and as soon as she felt the change, the blue haired general pulled backwards, and jumped up into a crouching position.

Taken aback by the sudden movement, Takeda stared mutely at Natsuki, allowing her the advantage of surprise. A smirk covered Natsuki's face within those brief seconds, as her shacked hands quickly reached forward to take the sword from the stunned man before her.

Soon enough the other Praetorian guards had their weapons unsheathed, and were soon attacking the former General. Shackled Natsuki's defenses were not at their best, leaving her to get nicked in the process of fighting, but luckily enough, she managed to kill, or injure a few of the Praetorians before making her escape.

*** End of Flashback ***

'What in Taterus?' Natsuki thought to herself, as she heard the sounds of fighting coming from the direction in which she came. Emerald eyes gazed down from her perch, finding no sign of what was going on, that was until the sounds of hooves caught Natsuki's attention just below her.

"General!" Prefect Tate Decius Yuuichi exclaimed, as he saw the shackled figure in the tree. "We've been looking for you! Those Praetorian bastards aren't very smart."

"No, they aren't," Natsuki murmured as she climbed down from her perch, and greeted the Prefect. "Why are you here? How did you know of this?"

"The Princess sent me and a squadron," The Prefect answered truthfully. "We were to find, and save you immediately."

"Get these shackles off of me," Natsuki ordered, as her thoughts became consumed with worry. "How is the princess?"

"She's doing well," The Prefect answered, as he dismounted from the golden warhorse, and made his way towards the former general. "That bastard Reito knows he cannot do anything to her."

Natsuki nodded curtly, watching as the shackles soon fell off of her wrists, "Why were you to find me?"

"Her Highness knew that you wished to go to your family," Tate replied, as he grabbed the reigns of his horse. "She knew that you would want to protect them. She sent me, and a handful of trusted men to accompany you."

"Does he know of this?" Natsuki asked, worry showing on her face.

"No, he doesn't," The blond haired man responded. "But when his Praetorian's don't return, he'll know."

"Well then," Natsuki said, glancing towards the incoming soldiers. "Best we make haste then. I don't want my family subjected to his desires, the sick bastard."

"Aye, General," Tate said, and saluted while saluting the blue haired woman. "Please take my horse."

Omake:

Natsuki: O.O Omg. Shizuru yelled.
Rhythia: Why are you surprised?
Natsuki: Shizuru yelled!
Rhythia: Well... yeah... aren't you use to it by now?
Shizuru: -giggles-
Natsuki: Uh?
Rhythia: Dude, your bedroom... I hear lots of yells from her.
Natsuki: -scarlet- Th-that's none of your business!
Shizuru: Ara, I think it is Rhythia's business when it's her ears...
Natsuki: Sh-Shizuru!
Shizuru: Aside from that, my studly Natsuki, you should feel proud.
Rhythia: -snickering- Oh god, this is classic.
Natsuki: -glares at Rhythia- What do you mean?
Shizuru: Natsuki should be proud that she makes me call out in pleasure.
Natsuki: ...You two are... the death of me.
Rhythia: -writes this down- I know.

/End of Omake

Author's Footnote: Any errors, or misunderstandings you have about the story - just let me know. Please enjoy and review - ah, and my personal thanks to those who reviewed so far! :)