Episode 12
Shadow of the Moon, the Sea of Shadow Chapter Twelve
En
You can't sleep?
I can't relax in that fancy room.
Me neither.
Do you know about the last Queen of Kei?
Her reign lasted for six years, and her posthumous name was Yo-Ou.
That's all I know.
Did she cause Shitsudou?
No, I remember she resigned the throne herself.
You mean she chose to die?
But why?
I wonder what she was like...
I heard that she was the daughter of a merchant.
So she was an average person?
Yes.
Just like me, then.
I wonder why Keiki chose normal people like us...
Keiki...
Why did you choose me?
Keiki?
Keiki!
We don't need any women in Gyouten!
Forgive my opposition, but these women do not have a place to go.
Is it you?
You tempted the Taiho, didn't you?
P-Please, Your Majesty!
A Kirin is a creature of mercy...
You must've begged him with your tears!
You took advantage of the Kirin!
Keiki, order your Shirei to punish them!
If they say they can't stand, cut off their legs.
If they try to hold onto the pillars, chop off their arms.
Those who disobey the imperial command deserve no mercy.
Do you not agree with me?
Fine then...
Exile all women not only from Kinpa Palace...
...but from the entire Kingdom of Kei!
But Your Majesty...
If there are no women left in this kingdom...
...no one is going to tempt you ever again.
She fell in love with Keiki...
Keiki!
I don't want to see it!
Keiki...
He is suffering from Shitsudou.
The Heavens are angry with you, Your Majesty.
No!
No, no!
No!
You must save Keiki.
Save him!
Please...
Please save Keiki...
A short time later, Yo-Ou visited Mt. Hou...
...and offered her resignation to the Heavens.
It was the only way she could save Keiki.
The Sword Suiguu only shows the vision of the truth.
You wished to know about Keiki and Yo-Ou, that's why it showed you.
I'm no different from Yo-Ou.
If I become the Queen, I'm sure I'll make foolish mistakes like she did.
The Sword knows it, and it's mocking me.
Why don't you play with them?
But I can't even speak their language.
If you don't try, you'll never be able to communicate with them.
I was once like you.
I thought nobody would understand me...
...so I didn't bother talking to my parents or teachers.
It's not too late for you.
If your friend is really the Queen of Kei, she may be able to help you go home.
Your Majesty.
I am glad to see that you are safe.
Thank you.
It appears that the evil Kaikyaku has deceived the king of En.
I heard that she's now claiming to be the Queen of a kingdom.
How despicable...
She will bring an end to this world!
Sugimoto, can you save the world?
Yes, Your Majesty.
If I pay a visit to King En, she will show herself to you.
And when she does, she will probably act like your friend.
Taiki?
Is he a Taika, too?
I've told you about him before.
He's a "Hina" of Tai.
Hina?
A Hina is a Kirin that hasn't matured yet.
When a Kirin reaches adulthood, it stops growing physically.
Does that mean Enki became an adult sooner than Keiki did?
Yes, that's right.
Now I remember...
...but I thought Taiki was believed to be dead...
I don't think he's dead.
I thought he had died a long time ago.
The Kingdom of Tai has been in the midst of a war
...and I heard the Kirin has been missing.
But I thought a ruler cannot start a war with another kingdom.
It's prohibited by the Heavens, right?
That's right.
It's strictly forbidden for a king to cross the border with his royal army.
The king will be punished immediately.
That's why Shouryuu cannot go rescue Keiki on his own.
The war that's been going on in Tai is a civil war.
Both King Tai and Taiki have been missing, but...
...if they'd really died, there should be a new Kirin's Ranka growing on Mt. Hou.
But I haven't heard of it yet, so they're probably still alive somewhere.
By the way...
Remember the night I met you?
Yes, I do.
Actually I was looking for Taiki then.
What is Taiki's real name?
I think it was Kouri...
No wait, it was Takasato something.
He was a rare black Kirin.
Then what's Keiki's real name?
Keiki is Keiki.
Taiki and I have names because we came from Hourai...
...but usually a Kirin doesn't have a name or parents.
No parents?
The life of a Kirin can be a sad one.
Kirin are born for their masters, and live to serve them.
They'd even die for their masters, but they don't get graves.
They don't get graves?
Technically, the Kirin are buried along with their masters...
...but they don't leave corpses.
Stop that.
It's no secret.
A Kirin has Youma as his servants.
They are called Shirei.
The Shirei are only bound by the agreement...
...that the Shirei get to eat the corpses of the Kirin.
I hear the Kirin taste good.
If you feel sorry for the Kirin, then you must try and help Keiki.
I don't think I can do it...
Youko...
The last Queen, Yo-Ou, cared so much for Keiki, and still...
Keiki.
People are foolish, and so am I.
People make mistakes, or do the wrong thing...
...even though they know what the consequences are.
That's okay.
As long as you remember that you can be foolish...
...your other half will help and guide you.
My other half?
Yes, your Kirin.
I'd like to go down to the town.
But...
I'm not going to escape.
Up here in the palace, I just cannot be myself.
I want to think about it among other foolish mortals like me.
Please leave me alone!
Sugimoto?
Kourin is suffering Shitsudou?
So the Hou has reported to me.
There's no doubt about it, King Kou is the one who's been after Youko.
But what could King Kou be scheming?
Excuse me...
There's only one way to find out.
Is he here?
What are your intentions with this pretender?
Are you scheming to start a war in Kei?
Of course not.
If I interfered in another kingdom's affairs, my Kirin would fall ill.
Speaking of which, how is Kourin?
Well...
About this Kaikyaku...
She is not here right now.
I see...
Thank you for your time.
When you see her, tell her that her friend is sick and wishes to see her.
Even if...
Even if someone were to set up a false queen to take over Kei...
...what good would it do?
The Kingdom of Kou is far wealthier than the Kingdom of Kei.
What would be gained from controlling Kei?
En is indeed wealthy...
We are very unfortunate.
You would never understand...
After all, you are a Taika.
A Taika?
What does that have to do with anything?
Call the Taiho, we're going out.
Going to Houryou, sir?
It was January 18th, 1969.
I was 22 years old, a student at Tokyo University.
Free Tokyo University
We'll create our own government
We must defend Yasuda Auditorium to the death.
I crawled under a pile of desks to get through a barricade...
...and I ended up in this world.
I wanted to start a revolution in Japan.
But I realized that I was powerless, and the next thing I knew, I was here.
I thought I was given a second chance.
Just like you did.
It's not the same!
But I soon realized that I didn't belong here.
People here are not going to accept outsiders.
I understand you wanted to be accepted in this world, but I'm sorry.
I know who I am!
Don't do anything foolish, you should try to find a way home.
No!
Mr. Heki!
Mr. Heki, are you here?
Is my friend...
Don't come inside!
I'm sorry.
Sugimoto, it's really you!
Thank God, I was...
You came here to kill me before I tell people the truth, didn't you?
No, I was told that I'm a Queen, but...
There's no way you could be a Queen!
Sugimoto!
D-Damn it!
No, stop it, Sugimoto!
Come down here, you coward!
Come on!
Draw your sword!
Asano!
What was that?
This sword shows me things I want to see, and things I don't want to see.
I guess the sword knows it too!
That you aren't fit to rule a kingdom!
Look!
All you ever think about is yourself.
You acted like such a good girl around people.
But you did wretched things to survive when no one was around.
Do you really think...
...a phony like you is worthy of being a queen?
Wait!
Stop it!
That's enough.
Taiho!
This is what I really look like now...
What about the rat?
He's probably dead.
What if he's still alive?
You should go back...
...and finish him off.
I can't do it.
Rakushun, and King En...
No one knows what kind of person I really am.
They have no idea how foolish, wretched and sinful I am!
I know you very well.
You have not been alone.
Jyouyuu?
I have witnessed everything you have experienced.
Accept the throne.
I know you are worthy.
So you can talk...
Please forgive me for disobeying the master's order.
Jyouyuu, shift into your dormant state.
I'm so foolish...
Wait, Jyouyuu.
I want you to do me one more favor before you go back inside me.
Sugimoto, there she is!
She's by the Riboku!
Nakajima!
I'm not going to run away anymore.
Youko!
What are doing without your Hinman?
Rakushun, Roku...
What do you think you're doing?
Damn you!
See, this is your real power.
Stop it!
Too bad, I can't understand what you're saying!
Youko!
Please stay back.
I need to find out if I really am the Queen, without help from anyone.
What did you just say?
Why can you speak the language without a Hinman?
That's because Youko is the real Queen.
Sugimoto, you won't be able to kill her with that sword.
Use this!
King Kou, Your Majesty...
King Kou?
Your Majesty!
You are King Kou...
Why?
A miscreant like you is in no position to question me.
I want to know why you're doing this.
Why?
Tell me the reason!
Sugimoto!
B-But, Your Majesty...
Sugimoto!
Yes, Your Majesty! Sugimo...
She is such a weak girl...
It's King Kou's voice.
It's the Sword Suiguu.
Taiho, you must kill her for sure next time.
You went all the way to Hourai for such a useless master?
Hmm?
Kei Taiho?
Please, think this over.
The Heavens will punish you if you choose to attack Queen Kei.
No Taika shall rule the kingdoms bordering Kou.
Why does this concern you?
It could expose me as an unfit king.
But that is not true, Your Majesty...
It has been merely 50 years since I ascended the throne.
Meanwhile, En has had the same ruler for 500 years.
Kou may still be superior to Kei, however...
...this shall be the end of my reign.
Stop it!
You are nothing but an intruder here in the Kingdom of En.
I wouldn't think the Heavens would have a problem if I punished you here.
Accept all refugees from Kei...
Soon they will realize that Kou is a better kingdom than Kei.
Your Majesty, why are you setting up the false ruler in Kei?
I have no intention of competing with the Kingdom of Sou or En.
However I cannot let Kei flourish now, I will look like a terrible ruler.
That's not true.
I hear that Wa is a wealthy country.
King En is from Wa, and En has been prosperous for 500 years.
Taika must have secrets for governing.
If a Taika were to rule Kei, it could be as prosperous as En.
I cannot let that happen.
Kou will not last for long, and I will probably die.
So I shall take down that Taika Queen of Kei with me.
How selfish can you be?
It is not true!
King Kou!
It is just an illusion!
I did not know that the Kaikyaku was the Queen of Kei!
But you said that I wouldn't be able to use this sword just before.
How did you know that?
That is...
You knew that Nakajima was Queen Kei all along.
You didn't care about me or Asano at all!
You Kaikyaku dare not oppose me!
I knew it...
This is not where I belong.
Nakajima...
I want to go home.
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.
Youko smiles softly, and says, "I accept."
That is the beginning of the story of Youko.
The Twelve Kingdoms, Episode 13...
Episode 13
Shadow of the Moon, the Sea of Shadow, Final Chapter.
Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow, Final Chapter.