The plan is brilliant! I was getting really anxious there for a moment. :) Astounding chapter.

Oh goodness, Natsuki could be very wicked if she chooses! Stubborn little brat! LOL Luv how Natsuki behave toward the end when Shizuru wanted to meet him alone. She growled like Shizuki, keeping her master safe. And with this, I believe that Natsuki will never let Shizuru to face danger alone, not without her! I have always believe since day 1, when Shizuru asked Natsuki to return with her that Natsuki will most likely go with her...Natsuki's shadow behavior throughout the story is a given :D I think Natsuki just need to ties some loose ends before she head home with Shizuru.
She couldn't stand Shizuru and Takeda alone...how could she stand to be alone knowing Shizuru is out of her sight..(that is when they are sea apart.)

I really want to see Natsuki and Shziuru go to Hime together. I'm sure there are great things in Hime Natsuki needs to see and Shizuru will do a wonderful job of showing that to her :D
AND all women in HIme will be jealous :D

I'm sure you have good reason to keep from revealing Natsuki's intentions when refusing Shizuru(besides from being from two completely different cultures). So to the below review, "all in due time." It is frustrating to see Shizuru refused over and over again but it's all done for a reason. We as readers must be patient. I enjoy your writing so hopefully you do not feel pressured or rushed when writing future chapters even when reviewers are pushing. I have to agree with the other reviewers though. This was a great chapter and truly the "most eventfully uneventful" chapters just as K-promises-fall mentioned. The politics of this chapter had me thinking, and the rest was entertaining. The end especially was very sweet. Starting with Natsuki having her temper tantrum (girlish squeal!) to Natsuki waiting with Shizuki for Shizuru. That part was very cute and painted a very nice picture. Like a family, so "picture perfect." Now I'm especially eager to read what happens in the next chapter when Shizuru and Takeda confront each other. I wait (im)patiently for the next update!

-medoty

Okay. *Please* Come on. Just either tell us *why* Natsuki won't go with Shizuru, or just let her just decide to go with Shizuru to Hime already, please. This decision which has had her hurting Shizuru and telling her no, no, no constantly has been going on for chapters and chapters. It's been dragged out a bit too much now. It's time we either got the reasons for the 'no', or we got a wonderful YES, and we get to see the plot move onto the next arc.

Wonderful writing as always, just would like to see a decision finally made.

Nice chapter.
I really like your writing style.
Good to know that this story not ending soon. :)
Thank you for update. xD

Um, wow. It took me several minutes just to type those two words. I'm still processing how amazing and authentic this story is! I've spent the last three hours poring over every little detail at work because I'm a horrible employee, but screw it! This is a true epic that everyone should read! My goodness, I want to rush home and watch the "Caesar" segment from the BBC Ancient Rome series now!

Gah, I can't get over the excellent characterizations, political machinations, and my favorite is the dialogues between Shizuru and Natsuki. So. Good. I wish I had a quarter of the talent you possess as a writer. Too greedy? I would settle for a tenth even!

Oh, I forget which chapter where this came from, but Suou was talking to Takumi and someone overheard them. I'm assuming that person is Natsuki? Could that be another reason why she refuses Shizuru's offer? Oh, oh, I can't wait to read how everything turns out and especially how Shizuru will put Takeda in his place in the next chapter!

I love love LOVE this story!

^^) excelent as always. Very well thought out analogy of Hime society

Hehehehe, that Shizuru is quite the fox and not just a lion! I love her tactics to literally get around the whims of her opponents. It helps when everyone loves her - well, save for Takeda and her enemies in general, lol. I'm glad she's got someone as powerful as Chikane, among others, on her side as well.

I'm glad she's finally come to her senses about not being so aggressive about getting Natsuki to change her mind. In some battles, it's just better to win through kindness and compassion, and though Shizuru is fully capable of it, her ego gets in the way. Heh, a classic case of "you want what you cannot have", hehe.

Gah! You keep dangling that carrot as to why Natsuki won't give in! =P You know, you've devoted several LONG chapters on that delay, so... how many more before you finally tell us, huh? Huh? XD

Again, I bow to your elegant writing skills. It's really quite something to imagine your Natsuki here, who retains her primary cannon traits, only to come alive in a fashion so unlike the girl in the anime (i.e., the cadence in her speech), and still emerge so believable altogether. As well, just the sheer complexity and magnitude of this universe, granted that it's been painted similar to ancient Rome, is simply astounding!

Can't wait for what happens in the next 3 weeks before Shizuru's departure and afterwards!

Yay! Glorious chapter! I'm so curious for 'the talk'. Nice scheming, by the way. I love it how you manage to balance the relationshiop-aspects and the political plot and how you intertwine them. Well, I guess I just love this story!

Takeda is definitely a pawn in the game between Shizuru and the Mentulaens and one about to be sacrificed. It's fascinating to see the other side of the planning/plotting: that of Shizuru and her allies. I wonder what Natsuki will do while Shizuru is gone. Will they exchange letters? Shizuru's doubts bout her should be much assuaged. Great update!!

Awesome as always, i kinda hoped shizuru would have taken shizuki with her so the panther would have ripped Takeda apart *muahahahaha* im looking forward to the next update please soon xD

and by the way with this update you crashed allmy theories i mean i didn't know the king had children so i thought natsuki would become queen, and even though she is treated like nobelty i thought she was some kind of princess for the otomeian people, it's good though but now im just more anxious to read the next chap n_n

Oh but that was so delicious. My apologies for not reviewing for a while. Life has gotten in the way.
As usual i enjoy your stories above anyone else's. A marvelous job and can not wait for more.
RPX

I was both exhilirated and sad when I saw you update. Why I'm happy is easily understood; I was at the same time, sad because I was HOPING I could update something myself before your update. :P
(I didn't replied to you because I was hoping to put out some updates before doing that... *blush*)

Nevertheless, the "YES!" easily outwon whatever little guilt I had... hehehe...

O... Brilliant plan and the touch on the road works is just so "Shizuru". :P
(I can already picture her riding her horse on a mad dash on this very road back to Natsuki once this is all over)

Sombre huh? Gah! What I would give to "read" what's inside our favourite little sphinx's mind! :P

I can't help but wonder... once Shizuru is away... through whose eyes would you be using to shed light on the happenings in the North. Suou? maybe Takeda even? *evil grin*

Awesome work as always. I just love your letter writing skills... so elegant and "polished". I gave up translating a ShizNat which was centered heavily on letters as I couldn't pull off the "prim and proper" feel that it requires. *sulk in the corner*

Thanks again for a satisfying read. :)

*tries to peel herself away from facebook long enough to get some work done...*

can't shizuru just kill takeda? pretty please? or have nao do it, lol

and why won't shizuru just say the 3 magic words, that would so (probably) convince natsuki to go! i wish natsuki would just go already! i don't understand why she keeps saying no, really

awesome chapter as always

Where's the I LOVE YOU!