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Reflections	By : vampkitten27 Category: +S to Z > Twelve Kingdoms Views: 9410 -:- Recommendations : 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 List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Disclaimer and Notes: I do not own The 12 Kingdoms! There are parts in this fic that do not follow the anime in any way shape or form.

Reviewers:

I�d like to say thanks to those who want to beta-read. I would, but I�ve tried that before and it takes longer to get a story out. I, myself, do not mind certain grammar errors, as long as it is not spelling. Spelling mistakes are so obvious that they stick out like a zit at the end of a person�s nose.
The lemon shouldn�t be to far ahead. I figure this will reach about 10 maybe 11/12 chapters at the most. Last chapter will be the lemon. Still have to get past that virgin barrier problem. Any ideas? ^_^�
My recent thoughts on 12 Kingdoms: *Cries* Why does Rokuta have to look like a kid! He�s so damn cute! Hmmm� maybe if I do another 12k fic, I�ll age his body some how :D

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Chapter 6

They stood at the base of Mount Kankyuu, looking up into the Unkai. From below, it looked like a normal sky, blue as heaven on a warm summer day. Above the clouds, it becomes a scene of a mystical sea, even filling the air with the smell of salt water. Toward the top of the mountain, the Imperial palace of En is built into the rocky spire.

Rokuta waited patiently at the bottom of the mountain, by the scowl on his face, he had been there a day, maybe two. "What's wrong, Enki!" Yoko teased, calling him by his other name, knowing he prefers Rokuta.

His left eye slightly twitched and he decided to ignore it. "Shoryu sent me down here yesterday."

"After I get settled, we can talk," Yoko happily replied.

Rokuta scratched the back of his head, "Let�s head up to the palace."

All that was currently on his mind dealt with a soft bed and warm blanket. He hated mornings, but at least he was not at another boring council meeting with Shoryu.

Keiki interrupted the conversation, "I cannot go to the palace. I have business at Mount Reimei. Please give Shoryu my apologies and that I will try to be back within a few days."

Just before Keiki was about to head in the opposing direction, Rokuta called out. "Hey! Why are you going to Reimei?"

"Allow My Master to fill you in," Keiki replied, sounding rather indifferent. With that, he left as quickly as possible.

"What was that about?" Rokuta grumbled.

Yoko sighed, "I have no clue."

______________________________

Keiki called out to his faithful hinman, "Jyouyuu..."

"Yes Taiho..."

"Please go back and look after the Queen."

Keiki felt a tinge of guilt course through his veins. "I would never forgive myself if something should happen."

The hinman faded away without question, leaving his master to go guard Queen Kei. As long as both Jyouyuu and Hyouki were with her, he had nothing to fret. The hinman would protect her as he had done in the beginning. Hyouki will be there to help as well. Yoko was safe as long as she did not leave the palace or Rokuta's side. As far as Shoryu, he didn�t really trust him with Yoko. Since that night outside Yoko�s room�things changed.

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"Rokuta..." Yoko whispered. "How far away is Mount Reimei?"

Rokuta shrugged. "Mount Kankyuu is several miles wide and Mount Reimei is on the back side. I would say half a day- that's if Keiki stops to take a rest. But, he won't stop."

Yoko blushed. Keiki was going to be gone for at least four days, even if he had promised her three. "Would you like to know about Reimei?" Rokuta asked.

"Yes," Yoko replied.

"Fine, we can talk about it over tea at the palace."

They took off toward the mountaintop- Not far behind, Yoko followed. Once at the main gates, they left the Yoma with the stable attendants. Yoko's belongings were taken immediately to her guest room, which happened to be across the hall from Rokuta�s and a few paces from Shoryu�s rooms.

The gardens were as amazing as ever, it seemed King En preferred water gardens, filled with lilies and koi fish. Different types of ivy grew around the surround areas, up several of the pillars, even blooming with purple-violet flowers. Hummingbirds fluttered by, it was the first bird she saw that she knew existed in her old world.

Rokuta and Yoko sat at a marble table in the center of the landscape near a tiny koi pond. A servant brought them tea. "You were going to tell me about Mount Reimei," Yoko said and then took a small sip from the round porcelain cup.

"It's not much," Rokuta offered. "The story goes:"

�Mount Reimei was born at the foot of Kankyuu, a mountain that can never see the light of day or the light of the moon. Kankyuu blocks the sun, not allowing light to pass over the formation. Anyone who goes to the tip will see both the Unkai and twilight- the stars in the heavens. You can see stars from the countryside, but they are most brilliant at the top of Reimei and you can view them any time during the day or night.�

"How beautiful," Yoko sighed, "being able to see both the stars and the Unkai."

"We can see the stars here on certain nights too," Rokuta replied. "But there is something otherworldly about being at the top of Reimei."

Rokuta downed the herbal tea and took a deep breath shortly after. A servant came and refilled his glass and politely backed away. "So, why did Keiki bolt off like he did?"

Yoko looked anxiously down at her tea. "He figured out that Suiguu been acting up again and he decided to go against my wishes and have the scabbard fixed."

"About time," Rokuta answered. "The visions will eventually drive you completely cuckoo. Even with the scabbard fixed, it will show you visions, just don't be too tempted to look at them."

"Why not?"

"Well it was one of the mistakes Lady Jyoukaku made."

"Yo-Ou?" Yoko questioned.

Rokuta grimaced and bit his lower lip with a painful scowl. "I said too much."

"No..." Yoko replied. "Please finish. I think I should hear this."

"It's not my place," Rokuta replied. "Keiki should be the one to tell you."

"Please Rokuta," Yoko begged. "Tell me because Keiki won't."

Rokuta scowled. "You're right. Keiki won't tell you."

'It's been almost four years since Yo-Ou's reign ended. As you know, she was just an ordinary girl, your age now when Keiki found her. You know that Lady Jyoukaku was in love with Keiki, but what you don't know is Keiki had felt the same way. He loved her, Yoko.'

Yoko looked at Rokuta, almost ready to faint. It was quite a shock to learn the truth. If anyone else had said Keiki loved Yo-Ou, she would have thought the person were insane. Since it was Rokuta, it had to be true.

'She was not always that tired, haggard-looking woman you see in the sword. She was once a very beautiful girl with a good heart. There was even a time when she would let women work in the palace and around Keiki. Then, as time went on, she got addicted to the power of the sword like some fool who goes to a fortune-teller and spends all their money. Sometimes the sword is right and sometimes it's wrong. If the owner doesn't know how to handle the sword, I'd bet my life that most of the time it would tell a lie. It feeds off the information in your mind and makes up a story. Do you get it?'

Yoko nodded. "Yeah. It�s like a parasite."

"Anyway, Keiki returned her feelings in the form of compassion and understanding, not the way she desired it. He's very naive when it comes to human emotions. She would go back to the sword and see her so-called future and it would show what she wanted and what she didn't want to see. It showed Keiki with other women...you know-doing stuff." Rokuta cleared his throat and blushed. "But, it also showed her and Keiki together as well."

"It made her question his loyalty," Yoko said in awe.

"Yes," Rokuta replied. "By the time he figured it out, it was too late. He'd gotten Shitsudou and was dying. She'd kicked all the women out of the kingdom, even killed a lot of them. Yo-Ou's young body withered under the strain, she turned old. When she managed to come to her senses, it was too late to save Keiki and the Kingdom. She went to the gods and asked them to take her instead."

"It was quite a selfless act," Yoko said as she wiped a tear away. "I don't know if I could do that for someone."

"I'm sure you could, Yoko." Rokuta replied.

Their conversation had gone from talking about Keiki, to Mount Reimei to Yo-Ou's death and back to Keiki. Another questioned festered at the back of Yoko's mind. She needed to know the truth. Rokuta may look like an innocent kid, but he has lived at least six or seven lifetimes. He's more than competent and knows how the world works, both here and in Japan.

The question spilled from her mouth, "Isn't it true that a Kirin cannot...you know?"

Rokuta's face turned from blush to crimson. "Yo...Yoko... do you understand what you're asking?"

"Yes," Yoko replied. "I was told that both the Emperor of a Kingdom and the Kirin cannot have relations or get married."

Rokuta rolled his eyes. "I wish that were true. If it were, there sure would be less lady visitors to Shoryu's bedroom." Yoko found herself instantly blushing. "I swear he should install a revolving door." The youthful looking Kirin started to grumble under his breath. He looked up, "I'm sorry Yoko."

"It's all right," Yoko sighed.

"Well, that is a myth. The truth is we are allowed, we just can�t have children like normal people. The Riboku refuses the Kirin. The new Emperor cannot have children after taking the throne. That is the truth. If it had been true, I would have died from Shitsudou five-hundred years ago."

"Where did that silly rumor start?" Yoko asked.

"Oh..." Rokuta bit down on a hard biscuit and roughly swallowed. "The Book of Horai."

"What's that?" Yoko asked and casually took a swallow of tea.

"About three-hundred and fifty years ago, maybe a little less. A Kaikyaku wrote a book; actually, it was more like a journal. Back then, the other world was known as Wa- that's where the Wa province got its name, because it's the closest point to where the Shokus happen." Rokuta stretched his limbs a little and fidgeted. "I even met this man once. He came to En searching for his wife."

�The Ronin was named Hiroito Satoshi and he came to En in search of his pregnant wife. Back then, people here had no idea what the man meant by 'Pregnant'. He said they had been on their way to some Island off the coast of Japan, where they were going to meet up with a group and travel past China.�

"You and Shoryu both knew what the man meant," Yoko criticized.

"Of course we did but we weren't stupid enough to tell about that stuff here or admit to knowing about it," Rokuta replied. "Being pregnant here is blasphemy and goes against the Gods. This man and woman are the reason why people hate the Kaikyaku and the Shokus."

Yoko continued to listen to Rokuta's story. Her fingers wrapped contently around the warm glass, but she was too enthralled with Rokuta's story to drink the contents.

�We took Satoshi to the Prefectual Office and signed him in. We also asked the clerks if they signed in any women. We found out a woman named Hiroito Saiyuri had recently been through and was given residence at a boarding house in the West Prefecture of the City. So, I took him there.

When we arrived, all hell had broken loose. A woman was lying in bed and everyone thought she was dying. It turned out that it was Saiyuri and she was giving birth. The doctors came and the whole thing was a circus. They didn't know what to do for her. The doctors had a bigger surprise when the baby popped out.

Everyone was screaming that it was some sort of demon and that all Kaikyaku are demons. Children are supposed to be gifts from the Gods and that is what keeps the world in balance.�

"You see, sex was never outlawed. That is why you still see so many green pillars when you walk through the streets of any kingdom." Rokuta shrugged, "I don't even see why people do it. I mean it serves no purpose here, reproduction is done by the land and Tentei."

Yoko couldn't argue Rokuta's claim, but he wasn't telling the whole story. "What about love?" Yoko replied. "If you look at it from that point-of-view, love serves no purpose either. Any man and woman could get together here, make a ribbon and tie it to a Riboku tree. If the couple and their ribbon suit the Gods, a ranka will grow."

"Right," Rokuta replied. "Love doesn't matter much at all."

"If there is no love, any type of love, it would be a lonely existence."

Rokuta nodded, "Yes, it would be a very cold world."

"Then, wouldn't you say the best way to express it between a man and a woman would be to make love and create life with that person."

Shoryu stood in the doorway, nearest the lanai, only a few yards from where Rokuta and Yoko were sitting. "You shouldn't ask him such serious questions. Even if he is five-hundred and fourteen, he's still just a kid."

Rokuta's brow furrowed. "I'm not a kid!"

"See, loses his temper like a child," Shoryu laughed.

The hair on the back of Yoko's neck slightly rose away from her skin. She could feel eyes watching her. She knew this feeling; it was Keiki watching over her. Then she realized it was not Keiki at all, but his hinman had just secretly entered her body. Since the hinman knew her body well and she had no time to resist the creature, it was able to come to her without being seen and enter from her back.

"Damn it." Yoko thought. "Keiki obviously doesn't trust me enough to be alone."

"Something wrong?" Shoryu asked. He walked to the table reached and touched her forehead. "It's practically impossible for you to be sick."

"It-it's nothing," Yoko replied. "Just Jyouyuu decided to follow me here."

"Oh, I see." Shoryu replied. "Sneak attack from behind?"

"Keiki must have sent him back," Yoko grimaced.

"I hope I didn't hurt you, Empress." The Hinman replied from inside her mind.

"No, Jyouyuu. I'm fine." Yoko sighed, "Just sleep for now."

"Yes, my Queen...."

Shoryu grinned. "Where were we...Yes, that's right. You were asking Rokuta very personal questions." Rokuta face turned even redder. "The only thing Rokuta is proficient in is being a pain in the ass."

"If you ask me, that sounds like a self-description!" Rokuta retorted.

"Awe, the baby is cranky," Shoryu snickered.

"That does it," Rokuta jumped up and clung to Shoryu's back, brought him down to the ground and pulled at his well-kept ponytail. The whole time, Shoryu laughed and the more he laughed, the more angry Rokuta became. "Damn it, you just don't know when to quit!" Rokuta spat. Shoryu managed to get Rokuta off his back, he picked him up over his shoulder and tossed him into the pond.

Yoko laughed so hard, she thought her ribs were about to break. Shoryu turned and faced Yoko only to find hands gripping at the back of his brocade and belt. Rokuta pulled with every ounce of his strength and the much bigger man fell into the water. Rokuta stood up and walked back to where Yoko sat and eyed the soaked Emperor.

"Who would you say is the bigger child?" Rokuta asked. "Me or that idiot sitting in the pond?"

"Well, he did start it," Yoko laughed.

"Thank you for agreeing with me," Rokuta fumed. "I need to go change. Don't let that moron talk you into doing anything stupid."

"I won't," Yoko said, still laughing.
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Reflections