Episode 16
The Sea of Wind, The Shore of the Maze, Chapter Two
Koukai
The Ranka of Taiki, Tai's Kirin, was...
...blown to Hourai from Mt. Hou by a Shoku.
Houro Palace was enveloped in the deepest sadness.
And ten years had passed...
...almost everyone except for Taiki's Nyokai, Sanshi, had given up hope...
...he was found in Hourai by the En Taiho and brought back.
He was only ten years old...
I cannot imagine the commotion that was caused at his home.
I'm so sorry, Grandma...
Why do I always make everyone sad?
Have you awakened?
Good morning.
Good morning...
Taiki, I would like to welcome you back.
I am overjoyed to have you back here.
Where is that woman, Gyokuyou?
You must call her Lady Gyokuyou.
Lady Gyokuyou has already gone back to her palace.
She does not visit Houro Palace that often.
My name is Youka.
I have the honor of serving you here.
Well, Lady Youka...
You can call me Youka.
You only call Ms. Genkun "Lady Genkun."
Who is Ms. Genkun?
She means Lady Gyokuyou.
Youka, why did you say I came "back" here?
I thought I was brought here from the backyard of my house.
You are the Lord of Mt. Hou.
You were born here, Taiki.
I was born here?
You were born from the fruit of Tai that grew on this tree.
You were given life by Tentei.
Fruit?
I was born from a fruit?
I knew it, I didn't belong to my family.
Why doesn't he try to make friends?
Kaname, you need to behave, please...
Okay?
If you could behave, then Grandma wouldn't be so hard on you.
I get scolded because of you!
I wish you were gone!
I thought that everyone fought because of me.
I was right...
I was born from a fruit that grew on a tree...
I wasn't supposed to be there...
Taiki?
I can't go home anymore...
...never again...
When he started crying, we were worried that he would start saying that...
...he wanted to go back to Hourai.
However, I remember that he clearly said he "could not" go home.
Perhaps he had recognized himself as a Kirin...
He sounded like he had accepted the separation from the other world.
Good morning.
Are you up for the day?
Yes, I am.
Excuse me...
I couldn't finish the meal yesterday either, I don't think I can eat this much...
It is okay if you cannot finish it.
What about Youka and Sanshi?
Sanshi does not eat.
And I have already finished mine.
Did I oversleep? Is that why you already ate?
We are not permitted to eat with you, Taiki.
You mean you can't eat with me, even if I wake up early?
That is correct.
I guess it can't be helped if that's how things are in this place, but...
Yes?
But I think it's a little strange.
That I have to eat a meal all by myself when I'm not really alone.
I'm sure the food tastes better if we eat together.
Everyone!
Take a break and come on here!
Taiki has invited all of us to his breakfast!
Excuse me...
What am I supposed to do the rest of the day?
Nothing.
Just enjoy a nice, peaceful day.
You could learn about this world little by little.
But there is no school I could go to...
By the way, do you have a map of this place?
A map?
I want to know where I am.
You're speaking the same language as I am, so if I look at the map...
I don't know if I can find the way back.
Do not worry, Sanshi knows the path.
This place is like a maze.
Because you are the Lord of Mt. Hou, this place is built to protect you.
What do you mean I am "the Lord of Mt. Hou"?
It means you are the master of Houro Palace.
I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand.
No?
This is Houro Palace, right?
That is correct.
Then why am I the Lord of this place?
I am just a...
You are a Ki.
That is why you are the Lord of Mt. Hou.
What is a "Ki"?
It grows on that very tree, which I showed you the other day.
This area is prohibited, even to a Nyokai.
I am allowed to enter, because I am with Taiki today.
There are twelve kingdoms in this world and each kingdom has a ruler.
There are twelve kingdoms and twelve rulers.
There are twelve Taiho that serve each ruler, and are...
...born from the Shashinboku.
So there are people who are born from the tree, just like me?
Yes, there are eleven more Taiho.
I believe you have met the Taiho of Ren, have you not?
You mean the lady with the bracelet?
Can I meet her again someday?
When you descend to Tai, then you may have a chance to meet her.
Descend?
When you choose a ruler, you will leave here and return to your kingdom.
And there you will serve your ruler as long as he lives.
We are just caring for you until the day comes.
Serve a ruler?
I don't know if I will be able to do such an important job.
Of course you will.
Take a look over there, that is the kingdom of Tai.
Its color is dark because the kingdom is greatly suffering.
There is no king?
Why?
A new ruler hasn't been chosen...
...since the last king passed away ten years ago.
Who is going to choose the ruler?
Me?
That's right, you are going to choose the new ruler of Tai.
Are you sure that I can make an important decision like that?
That is the reason you exist in this world.
Taiki, only you can recognize who will be the ruler of Tai.
I'm sure he didn't understand what it meant to choose the ruler of a kingdom.
I would imagine so, nevertheless...
...he started getting used to the life of Mt. Hou rather quickly.
Many Nyosen vied to eat a meal with him.
To be honest, he was a lot friendlier than the previous Lord of Mt. Hou.
Who was the previous Lord of Mt. Hou?
That would be me.
I see...
Oh no!
I got caught!
Honestly, I was worried about him at first, but...
There was never a case where a Kirin has been away from Mt. Hou.
Still, a Kirin is a Kirin.
Nothing is different.
He might act a little strangely since he grew up in Hourai...
He still bows when he sees us.
He doesn't like us to bathe him, either.
Well, it's not like he's different in any negative way, so I don't mind.
I'm not going to allow you to talk about him like that!
It is true that he is exceptionally friendly compared to the...
...Kirin that are born and grow up here, but...
Youka favors Taiki, doesn't she?
What is wrong with favoring him?
Forget it!
I cannot wait to see him when he metamorphizes into a Kokki.
I'm sure he is a beautiful Kokki.
Have you seen him as a Kokki yet, Youka?
Um, no I haven't...
He lived in Hourai for a long time.
What if he doesn't remember the instincts of a Kirin?
Youka!
Hide me!
Look at him, Taiki favors Youka, too.
You're right.
He went that way, Sanshi.
Taiki went that way.
Oh no, you found me again!
Sanshi, take him and give him a bath.
Supper will be ready soon.
Okay.
Let's go, Sanshi.
Sanshi favors him the most, doesn't she?
I'm sorry.
Did I make the water dirty?
There is nothing purer than the water that a Kirin has used.
I am most grateful to be blessed with such precious water, Taiki.
Why do you say that?
A Kirin is an animal that dislikes anything impure.
An animal?
Are you talking about Sanshi?
No.
That's right...
You are a Taika, aren't you?
Have you metamorphosed yet?
Metamorphosed?
That's right.
You can transform into a Kirin.
And that is your true shape.
Kirin? You mean like the giraffe in Africa?
Lord Shinkun!
Lord Shinkun?
He is none other than the Lord Kenrou Shinkun...
...the god that protects those who travel in the Koukai.
Lord Shinkun visits Houro Palace to...
...acquire water and Gyoku from time to time.
Youka, am I really an animal called Kirin?
That's right.
You are the Kirin of the Kingdom of Tai, that is why we call you Taiki.
However, you are far more precious than an ordinary animal.
But I thought I was human this whole time.
I didn't know I could turn into an animal...
How do I do it?
You have never metamorphosed before, so I understand if you are confused.
Your hair is different from human's hair, that is what we call a mane.
Youka, I am taking Lord Shinkun to Hoto Palace.
So please take Taiki to supper.
Um, can I go with you?
I'm afraid not.
You cannot go outside the Seiyou Gate.
But he can come as far as the gate with us, right?
Come along.
Really?
It bothers you when I touch there, doesn't it?
Just a little...
It's okay.
That's where your horn is.
The horn is very important to a Kirin.
And a Kirin doesn't like anyone touching its horn.
Actually, I've never liked it when someone patted me on the head.
So I'm a Kirin after all...
Of course, you are.
When you metamorphose, you will know what I mean.
But how do I metamorphose?
I do not know.
A Kirin just knows how to, it's in the Kirin's nature.
The Kirin born on Mt. Hou grows up in the shape of a Kirin for a while.
And it turns into the form of a human when it reaches its adulthood.
But I've been a human since I was born...
What did Lady Genkun say?
Does his being a Kokki, or a Taika have anything to do with it?
I do not know.
She just says the time will come when it comes...
A Tenken!
Rokuta, did you miss me?
We have special permission from Lady Genkun...
...but even so, having a Youma in Houro Palace could be trouble.
So we're staying at the palace located outside the gate.
You shouldn't come any closer.
You must not come outside the ground of Houro Palace.
What on earth are you doing, Taiki?
The Kirin I know has a long neck that would reach the ceiling...
So I though if I stretched my neck, maybe I could transform...
The neck of a Kirin is not particularly long.
Really?
I wonder if I'm just different from other Kirin.
Of course not.
Usually, a Kirin has golden hair like the Ren Taiho does, however...
...Taiki, you are a Black Kirin.
A Black Kirin is very rare...
...and believed to bring forth great fortune to the kingdom.
I'm sure you will become the most beautiful Kirin someday.
Do you think so?
Yes, I know so.
But I don't even know how to turn into one.
I'm sorry, I do not have an answer for you...
There was never a case where a Kirin wasn't able to metamorphose.
If he were to be the first, I would feel awful for him...
But...
...the people of Tai will be here on Mt. Hou at the summer solstice...
...hoping that they will be chosen by the Kirin.
Can a Kirin recognize a ruler without being able to metamorphose?
I know, I can't go outside the gate, right?
Can we go up over there then?
That's Hoto Palace...
I wonder if he's already left...
Sanshi, do you metamorphose into the way you are now?
A Nyokai does not metamorphose.
A Kirin can metamorphose, because it possesses extraordinary powers.
There are Youma that can assume human shape...
...however, usually those Youma only cause trouble.
How about Kirin?
A Kirin is not a Youma, and unlike Youjyuu, a Kirin obeys no one.
A Kirin is a holy creature.
The only ones more noble than you are the...
...ruler of Tai and the gods themselves.
We call Ms. Gyokuyou "Lady Gyokuyou" merely out of courtesy.
Sanshi.
Will you give this peach to him?
Please do not move from here.
Okay.
It's Rokuta.
Hi, Rokuta!
I've got him!
I will be the new King of Tai!
Blood...
Oh no...
A Kirin cannot bear the sight of blood.
Even if it is its own blood, it can immobilize the Kirin, and cause him to faint.
Taiki believed that it was because he was weak...
...however, it was, in fact, because of his Kirin's nature.
The shadow of the moon reflects over the Sea of Emptiness.
Let's sleep in the soft silver luster for now.
In my memory, I kept looking for...
...warmth in the lonely rain.
Even if my body dies I will keep running...
...until I reach the rainbow at the end of the world.
He cannot help but miss everything he remembers about the other world.
He wonders if the hydrangea in the backyard has blossomed.
The Twelve Kingdoms, Episode 17...
Episode 17
The Sea of Wind, The Shore of the Maze, Chapter Three
The Sea of Wind, The Shore of The Maze, Chapter Three.