Episode 10
Shadow of the Moon, the Sea of Shadow, Chapter Ten
En
Who are you?
My name is Naotaka Komatsu, a Taika.
Technically, I'm King En.
I'm the King of the Kingdom of En.
Looks like they're after you.
Youma don't attack in packs.
A Shirei must be giving them orders, look for the Shirei.
Shirei?
The only ones left are...
...you and Gajyou...
Taiho please, you must stop this.
Long time no see, Mr. Fuukan.
I heard that Youma showed up in the town, how scary...
I brought some guests.
I sent the letter to the En Taiho.
Only those close to him should know about the letter.
But he cannot be King En, a king doesn't act like that.
The Taiho's man would never pretend to be a king.
Anyway, I cannot go with you, Your Majesty.
I will wait here.
But...
What's the matter?
The room's upstairs.
Is there anything you need, Mr. Fuukan?
Enjoy.
Fuukan?
I can't call myself a king in town, can I?
I heard that the same king has ruled En for 500 years.
My body doesn't grow old.
I even have to change the places I hang out every 30 years or so.
You drew the sword...
The scabbard is dead, you must've been seeing strange illusions.
Do you know what this is?
The Sword Suiguu...
"Sui", the water, symbolizes the sword...
...and "Guu", the monkey, symbolizes the scabbard.
You can cut any Youma with this...
...and the blade reflects visions, like the surface of the water.
It mirrors what's inside its owner's mind.
If you master it, it's extremely useful.
The blade can show you the past, the future, and places far away.
But if you don't know how to use it, it'll show you endless illusions.
Thus you need the scabbard to seal it.
The scabbard appears as a monkey.
He can read the owner's mind, and if you don't know how to control him...
...he will use the visions to manipulate its owner.
So the blade keeps him under control...
...so I've heard from King Kei a couple generations ago.
It's one of the sacred treasures of Kei.
My friend insists that I'm the Queen of Kei, but that's not true.
How many Youma have you slain?
I probably won't be able to kill a single Youma with that sword.
I could draw it because the scabbard was dead, but usually...
...only the true owner can wield it.
You've been using the sword, that proves that you are the ruler of Kei.
If you fix the scabbard, you'll be able to use its power properly.
But you need to be officially crowed first.
But wait a minute...
Man, I'm exhausted.
Who's that?
You better watch your language.
Oh, is she going to be your wife or something?
Hey.
She isn't your mom, is she?
Have you no manners unless she's my wife or mother?
I have met you before on the other side...
The other side?
Why didn't you just say so, Shouryuu?
Well, that's Enki.
The Kirin of En...
This is Queen Kei.
I know that, no wonder I smelled blood from you that time.
Why didn't you go to Kei or come here right away?
I've looked all over for you.
You were looking for me?
Keiki said he was going to Hourai to find the ruler, but when you got back...
We'll talk later.
I need to take you to a safer place.
It's nothing special, but can you come to my home?
Your home?
Don't worry, it's just Gen-ei Palace.
Palace?
I can't go to a palace!
Youma don't attack in a pack like that, unless they're controlled by a Shirei.
Shirei?
Only Kirin can order their Shirei, which means...
...the ruler of another kingdom is after your life.
I see...
I don't want to see my people get hurt because of you.
I'd like to take somebody with me if it's okay.
You mean that Hanjyuu, is he your servant?
He's my friend!
Please come to the palace with me.
I greatly appreciate your offer, but I will be of no use to you, Your Majesty.
Please forgive me for being so rude in past...
I'm still me.
But...
Nothing is changed!
I finally realized, I don't care if I'm queen or Kaikyaku.
I just want to be myself.
I thought I finally became your friend.
Now, not only won't you talk to me like you used to, but you're leaving me?
If that's what I get for becoming queen, I don't want the throne then.
You are far away from me now.
That's discrimination.
You treated me equally when I was just a Kaikyaku, but...
...now it's different because I'm queen?
Youko...
I'm not far away from you, it's your feelings that went far away.
There are only two steps between you and me!
You're wrong.
I'm wrong?
That's three steps for me.
Rakushun!
Thank you, Rakushun.
Hey, I told you to behave yourself.
Youko, are you all right?
I was flying like this on that day.
I was feeling Ionely, scared and hopeless.
But now, I'm not Ionely because I'm with you, Rakushun.
I'm sorry for all the trouble.
I wouldn't have come along, if I didn't want to.
You never thought this trip would be so dangerous, did you?
That's true.
But I'd rather be in danger by your side than be safe by myself.
I knew it was the right thing for me to do.
Look Youko, that's the town of Kankyuu.
It's so dark...
Where's the palace?
On the top of Kankyuu Mountain.
Mountain?
I don't see any mount...
The mountain that reaches the Heavens...
I hope the ride was comfortable.
Are we climbing these stairs?
I suppose so.
There's a spell cast on the stairs...
I smell the ocean...
Look Rakushun, it's the sea!
Of course, we're above the clouds.
The sea is above the clouds?
Otherwise, you wouldn't call it Unkai.
I can see the lights of the town...
Doesn't water fall to the ground?
The water of Unkai doesn't fall.
I'll have a room with a terrace ready for you, Queen Kei.
Would you please stop calling me Queen?
You'll get used to it.
Do you know where my friend is?
Rakushun?
This is why I told you to behave yourself.
That's what Hanjyuu means...
I didn't know you were a man.
If I were just a beast, I wouldn't talk.
Why don't you stay like that all the time?
Then I wouldn't have hugged you like that.
I'm more comfortable in animal form.
No disrespect is meant, it's just that His Majesty has no manners...
...at least the people in the palace should act like they belong here.
I completely understand, I couldn't be more inappropriate showing up like that.
My name is You Shukou, the Minister of Law.
I have been assigned to serve you while you are here, Your Majesty.
Nice to meet you.
Rakushun, you can take your clothes off if you want.
I am quite all right.
All right, Taiho will explain the situation in Kei.
Jyoei's force is growing in number.
The people of Kei are asking for Jyoei's protection from Youma.
I don't think they'll believe us even if we bring the real Queen Kei now.
Who is Jyoei?
She's calling herself Queen Kei.
Queen?
A fake queen.
But how do you know she's a fake?
I saw she had Keiki right by her.
But then...
The Kirin's horn is the source of his power, but Keiki's horn was sealed.
If Jyoei were the real queen, why would she need to do that?
An ordinary human can't seal a Kirin's horn.
Another ruler must've had his Kirin do that.
Youko, you need to rescue Keiki in order to become the queen.
Wait a minute.
I didn't come here because I wanted to be a queen.
If you, the King of En, say I'm the queen, I'll believe you.
But I came here because I was sick of being chased by Youma...
...and lying to people all the time.
So, I came here to find out how to get back to my home.
Youko, sit down.
I just...
Sit down, I need to explain something to you.
There are twelve kingdoms in this world and Tentei chooses the twelve rulers.
So Nakajima was the daughter of a king?
No, Tentei gives the order through a holy creature called a Kirin.
Only the Kirin will recognize the true ruler.
The Kirin is to choose a wise ruler who won't oppress people...
...keep the kingdom safe, and help farmers to keep peace through the land.
However, no reign lasts forever in the world we come from.
Do you know why?
Because a king eventually dies, and his heir isn't always fit to be a king.
In this world, if you become a ruler, you'll be given eternal life.
You don't inherit the throne, the Kirin chooses a ruler instead.
And the Heavens will keep an eye on the rulers.
Pretty flawless system, isn't it?
What is a Kirin anyway?
It's a holy creature born on Mt. Hou in the middle of the world.
It is said to be a creature of righteousness and mercy.
The Taiho always tell the ruler to be just and compassionate...
...asking the ruler to forgive criminals, decrease taxes...
...care for the people and things like that.
But you can't govern a kingdom like that.
Sometimes you have to ignore him and do something ruthless.
However, a Kirin must obey the orders of its master.
No matter how wrong the order is.
So you can do anything if you are chosen to be the ruler?
Yes, you can even abandon your people and go back to your world.
Abandon my people?
There's nothing a ruler cannot do, you can go home if you want.
But the Heavens created the Kirin the way they are...
...so that the kingdoms will be ruled justly and with compassion.
If you disregard the Kirin's advice, eventually you'll foil Heaven's mission.
The previous King En had become corrupted by his power.
He'd slaughter the people and burn down their villages if they didn't obey.
Then one day, the Kirin became ill.
When the ruler loses his senses, the Kirin gets sick.
It's called Shitsudou.
Shitsudou.
Once the Kirin suffers Shitsudou, it's almost impossible to cure it...
...because not many rulers change their ways, and then...
...eventually, the Kirin will die.
...and so will the ruler.
But you said you're given eternal life.
That's right, but still I will die if I get beheaded or my body is cut in half.
And since the Kirin chose the king, the king will die if the Kirin dies.
But if the ruler dies first, the Kirin doesn't necessarily die.
Keiki is the example.
Keiki...
You were chosen by Keiki.
You still have to go to Mt. Hou to be crowned officially, but...
...the Heavens have already made the decision, you are the Queen Kei.
Nothing can change that.
You are free to go home, but your kingdom will lie in waste without a ruler.
And the Heavens will punish you.
Then Keiki will become sick...
...and you'll die shortly after that.
But what about the people of Kei?
A kingdom without a ruler will become chaotic, infested by Youma...
...suffer from storms and drought, and plague will spread...
...and the people will lose their faith in their kingdom.
Keiki took a long time to find the last ruler...
...and Kei was without a ruler during that time.
Kei has still been lying in waste.
The refugees from Kei have grown to unsustainable levels here in En.
You don't want to take any more refugees in En...
...is that why you want me to be queen?
I don't care if you put it that way.
But I do believe that you have what it takes to be a queen.
No way...
You're your own master, and well aware of the responsibility of being yourself.
That's why you can become friends with a Hanjyuu and respond to his feelings.
You cannot be in charge of the land if you cannot be in charge of yourself.
Shouryuu, don't force her.
She can do whatever she wants to do with her kingdom...
...as long as she knows what the consequences are.
See how compassionate the Kirin is?
But I want you to at least save Keiki, I cannot let them treat him like that.
I know it's a bit sudden, but I need your answer tomorrow.
Okay.
I don't understand why Nakajima is a queen.
She isn't fit to be a ruler.
But I'm different, I could do it.
That's right, it's just a misunderstanding.
Keiki brought me here, and Nakajima just got involved by mistake.
She was mistaken for me.
That's why King Kou is helping me out.
King Kou?
I should be the queen, don't you think so?
I have no attachment to the other world, I can fight.
I am the...
Do you really think so?
I don't believe you are your own master.
If one really knows herself, she will never say that she is fit to be a ruler.
I don't understand why you can't make up your mind.
If Keiki dies, you will die too.
It doesn't matter if you go back to your world.
I know, I understand that, but...
...I don't want to make a decision just to save my life.
I could've lost my life many times since I came to this world.
I'm not afraid of dying.
But that's why I don't want to make a rash decision.
This is your world, so you think I should be the queen because I was chosen.
But I don't know...
Mr. Shukou, King En and Enki are both Taika, aren't they?
Yes.
Then they must know how much I want to go home...
His Majesty and the Taiho probably won't speak of themselves...
...and it's certainly not my place to bring this up, however...
...there's something I want you to know.
Son, you stay here, I'll be right back.
Don't move from here, okay?
I won't go anywhere...
I'm not going back...
I'm not going to make them sad...
Father!
Where is my father?
Father...
Where is the Lord, Young Master?
He didn't make it.
We have lost our Lord...
That'll make you our new Lord, Young Master.
Give us the word.
We'll escape to the castle on the island!
Don't leave anybody behind!
Use every single boat!
Don't leave anything to the Murakami clan, especially your lives!
There was a child who lost his home in a fire in the capital...
About ten years later, there was a man who was about to...
...Iose his small territory on Setouchi island.
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.
Rokuta is the Kirin of En.
He chooses a man beside him as a king.
Rokuta asks him, "Do you want a kingdom?"
The Twelve Kingdoms, Episode 11
Episode 11
Shadow of the Moon, the Sea of Shadow, Chapter Eleven