Episode 17
The Sea of Wind, The Shore of the Maze, Chapter Three
{\3c&HFFFFFF&\4c&H808080&\c&H23373D&\3a&HFF&\4a&HFF&\fnPoor Richard\fscx70\fscy70\move(191,160,190,162,18,2228)}Koukai
After Taiki returned from Hourai...
...it didn't take him too long to get used to the life on Mt. Hou.
There was nothing else that would make us happier than to take care of Taiki.
However, we were concerned about one thing.
He has spent ten long years as a human in Hourai.
We did not know if Taiki could transform into a Kirin.
And right when we started worrying about it...
...the incident occurred.
I've caught him!
I'm the new King of Tai!
Black hair?
Oh no...
When I see blood, I get numb...
Damn you, monster!
Go back to the Koukai, Ninyou!
Hey Kid!
What is with the black hair?
Aren't you a Kirin?
What on earth is going on?
How despicable of you to assail the Lord of Mt. Hou!
The Lord of Mt. Hou?
So this kid...
I mean, this child really is Taiki...
I have caught him!
What do you mean you have caught him?
My name is Goson, I serve as an official in Ba province in the Kingdom of Tai.
I heard of Taiki's return to Mt. Hou, so I have come to capture him.
I declare myself King Tai!
How dare you...
You fool!
I order you to release Taiki immediately!
It's that Tenken!
Don't worry, I fed him plenty of Gyoku!
Unfortunately for you, Rokuta is tired of eating Gyoku.
Lord Shinkun...
Could he really be Lord Kenrou Shinkun?
That's just a myth, besides, why would a god be in a place like this?
Youma are strictly prohibited here on Mt. Hou, who else...
...could he be if he's allowed to be here with one?
Sanshi, you have been stained with blood.
Stay away from Taiki for now.
Lord Shinkun...
I will walk you to the Reikon Gate.
It'll be trouble if you come back here again.
Sometimes there are fools among those people who seek the throne.
Some believe that they can become the king by capturing the Kirin.
Some believe that they just have to make the Kirin kneel.
The Koukai is where Youma live.
And the Kongou Mountains block the people from entering the Koukai.
However, only four times a year, on the days...
...of spring solstice, summer solstice, autumn solstice, and winter solstice...
...one of the four gates opens for a day.
The people who seek the throne enter the Koukai through the gate.
And the Kirin chooses the ruler from among them.
But how do I know who the ruler is?
Technically, Tentei is the one who selects the ruler.
Tentei is the most important god in the Heavens...
...and Tentei lets the Kirin know who is the ruler.
Tentei will let me know?
When you meet the ruler, you will receive a revelation.
What kind of revelation?
Only the Kirin know what it is.
You just know when you meet the ruler.
When the day comes, we will take you outside the gate.
Sanshi!
You still shouldn't get too close to her.
It's all right...
And?
Yes?
What's going to happen when I find the ruler?
After the revelation, he prostrates himself before the ruler.
A Kirin is such a noble creature that it cannot kneel to anyone but its true master.
And then what happens?
Well, like I have told you before...
...you and the new ruler will return to Tai, and...
But if I go back to Tai, will I see you anymore?
Um...
I won't be able to see Sanshi, Teiei...
...and everyone else here on Mt. Hou?
Sanshi will always be with you as long as you live.
She will never leave your side.
What if...
What if I don't choose a ruler, then can I stay here?
You will become a great Kirin and choose a great ruler for your kingdom.
Nyosen's one and only wish is that you fulfill the mission.
I don't know what to tell you...
The holy gems of Gyokkou are indeed mined on Mt. Gozan...
...but we don't usually store them here on Mt. Hou.
But my master ordered me to get them, and if I don't bring them back...
Oh, that's Taiki.
Taiki?
When Kyouki was unable to find the ruler...
...he stayed here on Mt. Hou for twenty-eight years.
So I don't have to leave here right away?
No, not until you find the ruler.
Really?
Oh my, it is nothing to be so happy about.
Taiki, I am just like you...
Taiki!
Let me speak with you!
Sanshi!
Mokurin!
Youka, get Sanshi away from here.
Y-Yes, Ma'am!
So, she's of service to a Hisen of the Kingdom of Sai.
Yes, her name is Mokurin.
Why have you done such a thing?
I am also a Kaikyaku.
And I miss Hourai dearly, so I just wanted to talk with him about it.
Taiki is a Taika, he is different from you.
Don't you ever come near Taiki again.
I want to go back!
Please Taiki!
Mokurin!
What do you think you are doing?
I want to go home!
I want to go back to my world!
Remove her from Houro Palace at once!
Taiki!
Please!
Please let me talk to you just once!
Taiki!
Sanshi should not get blood on herself this often...
I wish there were Shirei for Taiki...
How does a Kirin obtain a Shirei?
After a Kirin is born, it usually grows up in its original form for quite some time.
And the Kirin begins practicing taming Youma, starting off with a small one.
But...
...Taiki cannot even metamorphose.
I wonder if it will be safe for him to attempt to face a Youma...
Taiki...
Taiki.
I brought you some tea.
Thank you...
As the summer solstice approached, Taiki began to get very quiet...
The Reikon Gate in the Southwest would open on the day of summer solstice.
And then people would come to Mt. Hou to seek the throne.
Taiki needed to have Shirei to protect him by then.
Wasn't there anything you could do?
Couldn't you find any other Kirin he could talk to?
Around that time, I was...
Your Majesty, please return to the morning conference.
No one needs me there!
What are you saying?
How could we decide the future of the kingdom without the Queen?
I am just the daughter of a merchant...
I know nothing about governing a kingdom.
You are the queen of this kingdom!
I didn't choose to become queen!
That is when I received an invitation from Lady Gyokuyou.
Lady Gyokuyou!
Oh Taiki.
You have grown since I saw you last.
Is everything fine with you?
Yes, Ma'am.
This is the Kei Taiho, Keiki.
Are you also a Kirin, sir?
Both of you were born on Mt. Hou.
You two are like brothers.
I'm sure you will learn a lot from him, Taiki.
Yes!
Kei Taiho, may I ask you where you live?
In Kei.
What kind of place is Kei?
It is located in the East.
So you chose the ruler of your kingdom?
Yes, one year ago.
Um, how did you know who the ruler was?
I just knew when I met the ruler.
What would happen if you made a mistake and picked the wrong person?
That would not happen.
The ruler has the Ouki.
But...
However, I would not know if it is the same since you are a Black Kirin.
Kei Taiho...
I can't turn into the Kirin form.
All Kirin can metamorphose.
But I don't know how to do it...
Do you have to learn from someone how to raise your hand?
Did you have to learn how to walk from someone?
N-No...
It is the same way with this.
Even if I explained how to metamorphose, I do not believe you would understand.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you.
Keiki!
Yes?
Nothing...
Taiki!
Maybe I'm not a Kirin after all.
That is not true.
Then I'm a failure as a Kirin!
That's right, I'm a failure...
I'm so sorry...
It's okay, you are fine just the way you are.
Taiki, you'll always be a Kirin no matter what happens.
You need not concern yourself with anything else.
It's all right, Kaname.
I'm happy as long as you grow up with goodness in your heart.
I do not know what to do with you, Kei Taiho.
Taiki is still only a child.
Did you have to make him cry?
All I did was tell him the truth.
Keiki.
Do not suppose I am unaware of the grief you have been causing Queen Kei.
Taiki is a very sensitive child.
You should know that being honest may not be always appreciated.
You must start by trying to understand people's feelings first.
I'd like to apologize for earlier.
I tend to sound uncaring.
N-No, I should be apologizing to you.
May I ask you why you were crying?
Huh?
I'd like to know how you are feeling.
I just felt bad for the Nyosen.
They've been waiting for me to transform, but I can't.
Why do you concern yourself with the Nyosen so much?
They've been so nice to me...
...but that's because I'm a Kirin.
I can't even make them happy.
So I thought, maybe I shouldn't be here...
Please don't cry.
The Nyosen will scold me again.
Even you get scolded by them, too, Kei Taiho?
Yes, of course.
The Nyosen have their way with the Kirin.
You should not worry too much about the Nyosen.
It is their duty to serve and take care of you.
But it was the same back in Hourai, too.
I'd always make my grandmother mad, and disappoint my mom and dad.
Perhaps, you miss your home in Hourai, do you not?
N-No, that's not the reason...
The other day, I met a girl who said she also had come here from Hourai.
I want to go home!
I want to go back to my world!
Her voice is still echoing in my head...
Sometimes, I start remembering my home as such a warm place to be...
But the Nyosen are so nice to me, and I shouldn't be thinking such things.
It is okay if you miss your home, it is only natural.
Do you think so?
Absolutely.
I want to go home!
I want to see my mom!
This is a Kirin...
Do you like it?
Yes!
Will I look like this when I metamorphose?
You are a Black Kirin, so you might look a little different.
When in the Kirin form, you can even fly across the world if you wish.
Will I be able to go to Hourai, too?
Yes, you can...
...if that is what you wish.
From that time on, Taiki became attached to Keiki.
Keiki even let Taiki ride on his back as he flew him around.
There is a Hiso.
Rin Byou Tou Sha Kai Jin Retsu Zen Gyou!
Shinchoku Meichoku, Tensei Chisei
Jinkun Seikun, Fuo Fudaku
Kimi Koubuku, Onmyou Wagou
Kyuu Kyuu Nyo Ritsu Ryou!
Jyakko!
Hiso?
Jyakko?
Jyakko!
Hiso is the name of the type of this Youma.
And Jyakko is its name.
Is it easy to make a Youma your Shirei?
It is easier with small Youma...
...but when I tamed Hankyo, I spent half a day glaring at him.
You glare at them?
Yes, all you do is glare at them.
If you lose your concentration, the Youma will either run away, or attack you.
So if you don't think you have a chance, you may be forced to run.
I see...
Can I ask you why you named that one "Jyakko"?
I did not name it.
I suppose that is its name.
When the Youma surrenders...
...the Kirin is able to divine its name, and conquer it by calling out the name.
The Youma becomes your Shirei only when it is...
...convinced that the power you possess is worthy.
You are bound with the Shirei by an oath.
What do you mean by worthy?
Taiki, the Shirei consumes the Kirin.
More accurately, it eats the corpse of the Kirin...
...and obtains the powers that the Kirin possesses.
So they observe the Kirin, and decide whether it is worthy enough to serve.
Hankyo!
Fear not, the Shirei never disobeys the Kirin while they are under the oath.
Now go on, try it
Y-Yes!
Taiki, it's a Chouyuu!
Okay!
Um...
Um, thank you very much!
Kei Taiho, you are a very kind person.
It is I who should be thanking him.
Taiho!
Gahou has donated this beautiful garden to me!
Would it be all right if I came here to rest sometime?
I understand.
Your Majesty could use some rest.
I shall join you when you take a break.
Oh Keiki!
I am so happy!
You do care for me.
Perhaps, it was my act of kindness that drove Yo-Ou to lose her way.
However, I do believe that I learned something very precious from Taiki.
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.
His eyes are crimson, as red as blood.
Taiki cannot help but feel terrified of him.
The Twelve Kingdoms, Episode 18...
Episode 18
The Sea of Wind, The Shore of the Maze, Chapter Four
The Sea of Wind, The Shore of The Maze, Chapter Four.