Chap 1: A Different Story

On the peak of Mt Hou, a single ranka is growing on the Shashinboku. The small yellow fruit looked striking against the whites of the tree. A Houka. It looked somewhat delicate and vulnerable, hanging alone on the tip of a thin branch of the tree without any leaves. However delicate as it seemed, it will determine the fate of a certain north-western kingdom. No matter how vulnerable as it seemed, it bears the hope for a better life of tens of thousands of people in Hou Kingdom. It had been almost two decades since the last Hou-Ou had fallen, but it was only recently that the new ranka of the Hou Kirin is growing.

The nyosens wondered what took so long for Tentei to grace Hou with a new kirin. The previous Prince of Mt Hou, the new Kourin, took 5 long years to find a new king, staying in Hourou Palace for a total of 18 whole years. Still, that should not have delayed the growth of the Houka. Uncommon as it may be, there were still cases of Mt Hou housing 2 growing kirins at the same time. Nonetheless, it was a joyful event worth celebrating now that the Houka had finally grown out, and the nyosens decided that the 20 years of waiting didn't matter any more.

-x-

Inside the cave below the Shashinboku where its roots reached, another ranka was growing. Only this one was much bigger than the other. Suddenly, it became detached from the branch-like root of a similar white, falling to the ground with a loud plop. The new female monster crawled away from the membrane which enshrouded it a few moments ago with much difficulty as it caught around her large wings. While her human hands attempted to brush away the golden membrane clumsily, she tried to stand with her 2 pawed legs of a tiger. A single thought filled her mind. "Hourin…"

What did that mean, she did not know. All she knew was the strong urge to get out of here to a special place flooding her mind. Finally, she got rid of the membrane, exposing a layer of bright orange feathers near the tip of her white eagle wings which stretched from her shoulder blades to the back of her knees. Her hair wet with the amnion was in a weird and pale shade of yellowish gold similar to that of her eyelids, while her eyes were grayish silver, twinkling in the mild lantern light drawing closer and closer.

The severely hunched old woman lifted her lantern close to the nyokai as she looked her up and down. "Not very well mixed I see," she tutted in conclusion.

The nyokai blinked with a tiny hint of hurt in her round eyes. Her eyes lingered for a short while on the strange old woman, before staring beyond her at the flight of dirt stairs at the end of the tunnel. "Hourin…"

"I know you are anxious," the old woman hooted, "You shall be called Haku Kyuiko."

"Kyu…i…ko…"the nyokai stammered after her.

"Now go, and never forget your mission which accompanies the surname bequeathed to you."

Smiling, Kyuiko flew out of the cave and soared towards the throbbing of her heart leads. There, she embraced the Houka dearly, the one thing that was more important than her life which she must care for forever. From then on, whether was it rain or shine, Kyuiko had never left sight of the ranka.

-x-

Rika stepped into the shade of the dim library from the heat of the afternoon sun enthusiastically. She had finished her work early. With soft graceful steps, she arrived at the shelf she was looking for. Reading was always her favourite way to pass time, and a good way to gain knowledge during leisure. Reaching for a heavy leather bound book at the top shelf, Rika sneezed as the dust fell onto her face. It had been that long since someone had read this book. She hastily brushed her light blue dress before sitting down on the ground with the book. Sweeping away the thick layer of dust and a few cobwebs lacing the cover, Rika giggled slightly as she recalled a meeting with Lady Gyokuyou a week ago.

You would help to take care of the new kirin, won't you?

Rika answered with composure, but it was tough to keep a straight face as she was screaming in the inside.

A nyosen for 15 years, Rika had never seen a kirin at a close up. At the age of 14, Rika thought she didn't fit well into the world. She began her daily meditation at the village shrine to gain a peace of mind, and gained immortality 5 years later. Shortly after attaining immortality, the Prince of Mt Hou then left with the new Kou-Ou. She had only caught a glimpse of the amazing golden hair which left her in awe from a distance during the ascension ceremony. Rika told herself she must do her best in her current duty, the chance to care for the owner of that similar incredible golden hair.

She cast away the teases of her fellow nyosens about her over-zealousness in her mind and opened the thick book in her lap.

::Magical Creatures Mythology::

Kirin
Of all creatures which roam our world, Kirins reign as the most superior and sacred among all others. Kirins represent the throne, one of the three seeds on the branch given by Heaven to each of the twelve people he kept after putting everything back into eggs. They are holy creatures who will appoint the most capable person from their native kingdom (although they are born on Mt Hou) as Emperor, and assist the Emperor with the position of the Taiho. Kirins are merciful by nature and seek to avoid bloodshed, thus representing the Kingdom's population as their voice for benevolent ruling. As such, Kirins are bestowed with the colour of royalty, gold, as their symbol.

Kirins are generally present with blond (golden) hair, the only creatures with such hair colour throughout the entire universe, although on rare occasions, legendary kirins of other colours appear.

Black Kirins
Black kirins are present with black mane with a glisten of slight vibrant colour. They are a symbol of good luck, bringing peace and prosperity to their kingdoms just as black is the auspicious colour.

Red Kirins
Covered with mane of pure crimson, this legendary kirin is an omen of misfortune. Although also merciful creatures by nature, they often trigger their own deaths by causing their kingdom to be bathed in blood, creating an era of unrest similar to their colour, although by no means due to their action.

Rika closed the book with a sigh, ignoring the following paragraphs. It would be sad if such a kirin appears, luckily it only exists as a 'Mythology'. Looking out of the library window, Rika quickly realized that it was dusk already. She had unknowingly spent the entire afternoon in the library. Rika shoved the book back onto the shelf and hurried towards the kitchen to help with the preparation of dinner, cleanly forgetting about the fact that 'Mythology' had once become reality.

-x-

As the months past, the ranka grew bigger and bigger, until eventually it was even too big even for an adult to put both arms around it. The special and ceremonious day drew nearer, and Hourou Palace boomed with excitement. Nyosens chatted enthusiastically about the new kirin's colour, with guesses ranging from the normal blond to brown and yellow. Rika actively took part in the discussions too, and what she had read months ago had been easily forgotten.

-x-

Time was easily forgotten in Hourou Palace, where the changes of seasons were never experienced. Ten fleeting months past by quickly. Exactly ten months before this day, a golden fruit had appeared on a branch of the Shashinboku tree. As Kyuiko stood up from the tree roots which she was sitting on, warm tears began to stream out of her eyes. Tears of happiness. She edged closer to the Houka and embraced it for the last time. Raising her trembling fingers, she plucked the fruit from its branch. Kyuiko let out a cry of elation as the heavy fruit fell to the ground. It was a great biggest reward any nyokai could yearn for, to pluck the fruit containing her master with her own hands after ten long months of protection.

Kyuiko bent forward to cradle the little creature as excited chatters of nyosens approached the Shashinboku. One by one, figures of blue began to gather around the duo under the sacred tree.

Panting heavily, Rika whooped as she saw that nobody else was here yet. Her auburn hair that was tied into a loose yet graceful knot looked a little messy, and some of her shoulder-length long fridge stuck to her face from the sweat. She had run all the way up the steep and rocky path to where the Shashinboku stood. The big golden ranka was no longer growing on the white tree. Rika smiled as she saw the contented nyokai kneeling at the roots, caressing her kirin.

The short, spiky mane and fluttering eyes was egging Rika to pat the cute little one which buried its head in her nyokai's embrace. But as she bent closer to the newborn, something struck her. Something was not right about this kirin. There was definitely something amiss. Rika quickly withdrew her hand as if she had touched a hot object as the pair of deep brown eyes gazed at her inquiringly. Hourin poke out her head slightly from her nyokai's hug and Rika was sure her eyes were not playing tricks on her. The body of the kirin was fiery red, accompanied with scarlet mane with tinges of maroon.

This colour was too outrageous. Kirins are known to be blond, sometimes with a color closer to bronze or yellow, but Heaven blesses a lucky kingdom on rare occasions with an unusual black. No matter how long Rika stared at the new Hourin, the fact that she will not be like any other kirins could not register. A myth. A legend. Red kirins should not exist in reality.

…an omen of misfortune…

…often trigger their own deaths…

…creating an era of unrest similar to their colour…

Bit by bit, fragments of the long forgotten text which she had read so long ago crept back into Rika's mind. She stumbled backward, bumping into the approaching Teiei.

"Watch your steps! You can't afford to be this clumsy when serving Hourin in the future," Teiei laughed as she steadied the flustered nyosen.

Behind them, more nyosens were slowly beginning to stream in at the Shashinboku. The rapid chatters were cut as they drew nearer, following was a deafening silence.

"What…" Rika heard a mumble escaping Teiei. Slowly, low murmurs broke out rapidly among the gathering lady priests again.

Alarmed by the growing crowd around her, the kirin began to wriggle behind the nyokai's body. Rika stole a glance at the other nyosens around her then at the frantic kirin. She couldn't help but felt sorry for the newborn since the attention she was getting was not exactly encouraging.

"Let's get her back to the palace," a calm, firm voice said, "I see she needs some rest."

"Lady Gyokuyou." One by one, the lady priests bowed on the ground as their superior made her way towards the kirin shying away in the middle.

"What a pleasant day! Heaven had blessed Hou-Koku and Mt Hou with a fine young kirin," Lady Gyokuyou smiled gently at the nervous nyokai as she bent down to stroke Hourin. "Rika, won't you lead the way? You have been preparing Seiryo Palace for Hourin since a month before haven't you?"

"Y-Yes madam!" Rika raised her head upon hearing her name.

As the nyokai picked up the small kirin and flew away from the Shashinboku, leaving behind the crowd of dumbstruck nyosens, nobody had any idea this ruckus today is just the beginning of the story.

A/N: I am a little confused with the time line myself. Assuming Kou fell a year before Hou (before and after Youko's ascension), and Kou's ranka grew shortly after Saku-Ou died, plus the 18 years my Kourin spent on Mt Hou, it should be around 17 years since Hou-Ou fell when Kourin left right? I know 20 years is way off, but well…

The book title which Rika was reading was inspired by the subject care of magical creatures in Harry Potter.