Reflections
folder
+S to Z › Twelve Kingdoms
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
11
Views:
9,789
Reviews:
50
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
+S to Z › Twelve Kingdoms
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
11
Views:
9,789
Reviews:
50
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Twelve Kingdoms, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 11 final
I had to give this thing some sort of ending. So I gave it an easy, quick ending. I might write a wedding night lemon some time, when I get a chance
CH11
Lady Gyoukuyou sipped her tea while Youko remained flustered. Keiki stood behind his Queen, not touching but kept his eyes upon her shoulder. Youko moved her fingers around the cup, her thumb tracing the edge. She thickly swallowed, “Keiki and I are lovers.”
“That is quite the confession,” Lady Gyoukuyou replied. “Keiki, you let this happen?”
He lowered his gaze from her, “I love my Queen.”
“You learned what true love is?” Gyoukuyou asked.
“This love is still quite mysterious to me,” Keiki replied, giving his honest opinion of the current state of his thoughts. “I know I feel stronger, a bit wiser with this feeling.”
“Do you wish to repeat the past, Keiki. Do you remember what happened to your last Queen when you could not return those feelings?” Gyoukuyou felt compassionate for the pair, but couldn’t help but to be scared for them too.
“Tentei has not bared his wrath on us yet,” Keiki answered.
“What will happen when the people begin to suffer because you forget about them?”
Youko frowned, “That will never happen.”
“Why? It could very likely happen!” Gyoukuyou sternly replied. “Prove to me that your feelings are true and I will speak to Tentei.”
Keiki and Youko looked at each other, she reached out, taking his hand into hers. “Our love gives us strength, hope, and allows us to march forward without fear. Without Keiki, I am nothing. Without his fearlessness, I would have died and never became Queen. I realize he is both man and the kirin and that we serve the people. But, having his hand in mine, knowing that he supports my decisions through that love, makes each day better than the last.”
Keiki thickly swallowed, “Knowing the Queen’s feelings is part of the Kirin’s duty. It isn’t about the body but the heart. With strong hearts we can lead the people of Kei to a better future.”
Gyoukuyou gave a heart-felt smile. “It seems this love of yours isn’t selfish. You feel that bringing your hearts together as one strengthens the bond between the Kirin and Ruler. Therefore, because of that bond, it will make you a benevolent and wise Queen.” She lifted her gaze from her cup. “I have searched your feelings and believe they are true. I shall speak with Tentei.” She stood and walked off toward the shrine.
Keiki and Youko looked at each other. Youko quickly pulled out of her chair, her arms wrapped around Keiki’s middle. He slowly reciprocated, holding her close, he whispered, “It’s almost over.”
Gyoukuyou came back moments later, her face shown no sign of anger or sadness; she held a perfect noh-mask expression.
“Tentei has spoken to me. He says that your love is deemed pure. He believes the love you share between each other will bring the people back to Kei and it will prosper. But, if that love ever becomes tainted, the punishment will be grave.”
Keiki drew Youko in, holding her close, drawing in her sweet flowery scent. “Let’s go home, back to Kei. We should share the news with the people.”
Lady Gyoukuyou grinned, “May you all prosper my children.”
After the ordeal Satoshi and Saiyuri went through, Youko felt a little guilty. She stood up just as a girl came into the room. She was the youngest shrine maiden she had ever seen; around the age of sixteen with long, flowing black hair and beautiful purple eyes. She seemed happy, smiling a bright unknowing smile. Youko knew that moment, this girl standing before her was that forbidden child.
She asked, “Would you like some more tea, Lady Gyoukuyou ?” Then she turned her attention toward Youko and Keiki. “Would you like some?”
“We’re going back to Kei,” Youko replied in her most polite voice. “But, thank you for asking.”
After she took Lady Gyoukuyou ’s cup away, Youko turned back to the priestess. “What is her name?”
“I’m sorry Youko, but we are forbidden to speak the child’s name.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Youko frowned.
“I shall tell you because I think you’ve heard the story.” She folded her hands neatly before her, looking down at them. “She is Saiyuri, given the name of her birth mother, the only child in this world to be born of the womb.”
“I’m honored that you felt comfortable telling us,” Youko bowed.
“Tell no-one that you have met the Tairin’s daughter, not even King En. I feel that this knowledge should serve you while making decisions about the feelings you share with Keiki and the obligations you have as Queen. ”
“I promise,” Youko said, giving her vow.
They arrived in Kei a few days later. The sun in the sky rose high, beating down and nourishing plants. The water flowed through the aqueducts into the fields as men and women worked hard to succeed.
Queen Kei held court for the first time in many weeks, all of her advisors front and center. “Keiki and I have an announcement to make. From this day forward, Keiki has become my mate. Tentei has given his permission, believing our union shall help Kei prosper.”
For the first few minutes, as the news began to sink in, the advisors thought the union some sort of joke.
One advisor lashed out, “Tentei would never grant such a wish.”
“Nobu is it?” Youko asked. “Tentei has granted permission and all I have said is true. Keiki and I shall rule as one mind and heart.”
Nobu lowered his gaze, “My apologies.”
The minister of agriculture stepped forward, “I think this is wonderful news.”
“We should hold a festival in honor of our Queen and King,” the minister of public affairs shouted from the far right of the room.
Keiki and Youko looked at each other, feeling blessed that their love won out in the end. Everyone celebrated that night into the next day. The announcement was made that the Queen took her Kirin as her mate and future husband. The people cheered for them.
As time went on, Kei prospered, the capital expanded with buildings as big as the ones found in En. Everyone had money, a roof over their head, opportunity to come and go as they please.
Youko never spoke Saiyuri’s name or of the book again. Knowing the story was enough to keep the love between the Emperor and his Rin alive. Seeing that girl smile, knowing that she is happy, washed the guilt away.
Keiki and Youko stood in the lush garden, before the giant fountain, holding hands and looking out over the kingdom their love made.
The End
CH11
Lady Gyoukuyou sipped her tea while Youko remained flustered. Keiki stood behind his Queen, not touching but kept his eyes upon her shoulder. Youko moved her fingers around the cup, her thumb tracing the edge. She thickly swallowed, “Keiki and I are lovers.”
“That is quite the confession,” Lady Gyoukuyou replied. “Keiki, you let this happen?”
He lowered his gaze from her, “I love my Queen.”
“You learned what true love is?” Gyoukuyou asked.
“This love is still quite mysterious to me,” Keiki replied, giving his honest opinion of the current state of his thoughts. “I know I feel stronger, a bit wiser with this feeling.”
“Do you wish to repeat the past, Keiki. Do you remember what happened to your last Queen when you could not return those feelings?” Gyoukuyou felt compassionate for the pair, but couldn’t help but to be scared for them too.
“Tentei has not bared his wrath on us yet,” Keiki answered.
“What will happen when the people begin to suffer because you forget about them?”
Youko frowned, “That will never happen.”
“Why? It could very likely happen!” Gyoukuyou sternly replied. “Prove to me that your feelings are true and I will speak to Tentei.”
Keiki and Youko looked at each other, she reached out, taking his hand into hers. “Our love gives us strength, hope, and allows us to march forward without fear. Without Keiki, I am nothing. Without his fearlessness, I would have died and never became Queen. I realize he is both man and the kirin and that we serve the people. But, having his hand in mine, knowing that he supports my decisions through that love, makes each day better than the last.”
Keiki thickly swallowed, “Knowing the Queen’s feelings is part of the Kirin’s duty. It isn’t about the body but the heart. With strong hearts we can lead the people of Kei to a better future.”
Gyoukuyou gave a heart-felt smile. “It seems this love of yours isn’t selfish. You feel that bringing your hearts together as one strengthens the bond between the Kirin and Ruler. Therefore, because of that bond, it will make you a benevolent and wise Queen.” She lifted her gaze from her cup. “I have searched your feelings and believe they are true. I shall speak with Tentei.” She stood and walked off toward the shrine.
Keiki and Youko looked at each other. Youko quickly pulled out of her chair, her arms wrapped around Keiki’s middle. He slowly reciprocated, holding her close, he whispered, “It’s almost over.”
Gyoukuyou came back moments later, her face shown no sign of anger or sadness; she held a perfect noh-mask expression.
“Tentei has spoken to me. He says that your love is deemed pure. He believes the love you share between each other will bring the people back to Kei and it will prosper. But, if that love ever becomes tainted, the punishment will be grave.”
Keiki drew Youko in, holding her close, drawing in her sweet flowery scent. “Let’s go home, back to Kei. We should share the news with the people.”
Lady Gyoukuyou grinned, “May you all prosper my children.”
After the ordeal Satoshi and Saiyuri went through, Youko felt a little guilty. She stood up just as a girl came into the room. She was the youngest shrine maiden she had ever seen; around the age of sixteen with long, flowing black hair and beautiful purple eyes. She seemed happy, smiling a bright unknowing smile. Youko knew that moment, this girl standing before her was that forbidden child.
She asked, “Would you like some more tea, Lady Gyoukuyou ?” Then she turned her attention toward Youko and Keiki. “Would you like some?”
“We’re going back to Kei,” Youko replied in her most polite voice. “But, thank you for asking.”
After she took Lady Gyoukuyou ’s cup away, Youko turned back to the priestess. “What is her name?”
“I’m sorry Youko, but we are forbidden to speak the child’s name.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Youko frowned.
“I shall tell you because I think you’ve heard the story.” She folded her hands neatly before her, looking down at them. “She is Saiyuri, given the name of her birth mother, the only child in this world to be born of the womb.”
“I’m honored that you felt comfortable telling us,” Youko bowed.
“Tell no-one that you have met the Tairin’s daughter, not even King En. I feel that this knowledge should serve you while making decisions about the feelings you share with Keiki and the obligations you have as Queen. ”
“I promise,” Youko said, giving her vow.
They arrived in Kei a few days later. The sun in the sky rose high, beating down and nourishing plants. The water flowed through the aqueducts into the fields as men and women worked hard to succeed.
Queen Kei held court for the first time in many weeks, all of her advisors front and center. “Keiki and I have an announcement to make. From this day forward, Keiki has become my mate. Tentei has given his permission, believing our union shall help Kei prosper.”
For the first few minutes, as the news began to sink in, the advisors thought the union some sort of joke.
One advisor lashed out, “Tentei would never grant such a wish.”
“Nobu is it?” Youko asked. “Tentei has granted permission and all I have said is true. Keiki and I shall rule as one mind and heart.”
Nobu lowered his gaze, “My apologies.”
The minister of agriculture stepped forward, “I think this is wonderful news.”
“We should hold a festival in honor of our Queen and King,” the minister of public affairs shouted from the far right of the room.
Keiki and Youko looked at each other, feeling blessed that their love won out in the end. Everyone celebrated that night into the next day. The announcement was made that the Queen took her Kirin as her mate and future husband. The people cheered for them.
As time went on, Kei prospered, the capital expanded with buildings as big as the ones found in En. Everyone had money, a roof over their head, opportunity to come and go as they please.
Youko never spoke Saiyuri’s name or of the book again. Knowing the story was enough to keep the love between the Emperor and his Rin alive. Seeing that girl smile, knowing that she is happy, washed the guilt away.
Keiki and Youko stood in the lush garden, before the giant fountain, holding hands and looking out over the kingdom their love made.
The End