Kingdom of Hearts

Disclaimer: I do not own Twelve Kingdoms. But I do own all the other characters.

Summary: There was an assassination attempted on Kei-o and they had to flee to Horai.

Chapter 1

Everyone in the Kimpa Palace was in frenzy and everything was chaotic.

Suzu shut her eyes and screamed when a sword came wielding in her direction, waiting for the impact to come. When she failed to register any pain, she peered through her fear stricken eyes and saw that Youko had shielded her with the Suiguu. Suzu scampered away and went to search for anything that was weighty and found a chipped vase rolled away in the corner of the room. The raven hair girl positioned herself carefully behind the bulky attacker and with all her might, smashed the vase onto his sweaty neck. The soldier stiffened for a few moments before buckling under his weight, and his weapon clanked noisily onto the ground. Youko sheathed her sword and pulled her petrified friend from her bedchamber to search for their counterpart.

They ran along the corridor and swerved dangerously to their left, never stopping until they have reached their destination. Suzu held on to her luggage and also her dear life when she almost tripped on her own feet. The young girl contemplated at the young empress and wondered where indeed were they running to in this circumstance. They reached a flight of stairs and if she had not snapped out of her thoughts in time, she might have fell and dragged Youko with her. Suzu's lungs were burning for air and her mouth was parched, and she wondered how in the world this redhead could run so fast in her heavy clothes without breaking a sweat. Must be the Hinman.

Finally, they reached an old looking wooden door at the end of the stairs and Youko screeched to a halt. Suzu collided into the empress and staggered sideways. Youko lifted her leg and gave the knob a punt and pieces of wood went flying outwards. Suzu gave a muffled whimper when a splinter missed her flushed face by a hairline. Without a word, the kaikyuku began dragging the small built girl again. Suzu shielded her eyes from the glaring sun as she tried to follow Youko's lead. When her eyes got adjusted to the degree of light, she was able to distinguish a certain blonde standing beside a couple of beasts.

Without needing to say anything, both women jumped onto the backs of the animals and they leaped off the palace into the depressing sky with Keiki on their trails. Youko looked over her shoulder and sorrow flashed from her green orbs; there was smoke coming from the Kimpa Palace and she could also see her soldiers desperately fending the rebels. One was slain in the torso-

The young empress immediately retracted her vision and looked straight ahead into the horizon. The magnificent creature galloping behind his master saw the pain and guilt within Youko and wished he could say something, anything to make her feel better. He knew that at the start of every regime there would be some uprising amongst the people; those who did not want a female ruler and those who dislike kaikyakus. The previous empress who became delirious had tried to exterminate the female population in Kei, and so it was natural for the people to express doubts over the new empress. But to this extent? Faces of snide ministers flashed before his eyes and he felt his heart missed a beat. Come to think of it, the kirin did not see those few in the palace while he made is way to the waiting place. Keiki refocused on his master and his heart started to ache. He would share her burden. This was the only thing he can do now.

The fleeing trio landed on the soft grass in a forest safe from their assailants. Youko and Suzu got off from the backs of the beasts and began surveying their surroundings. Keiki ordered his shireis to leave and stood at where he landed, inspecting his master's features. Youko was anything but glad, and although they had gotten out of that place but it does not mean that the problem will resolve by itself. The despondent express lowered her head and stared at her feet. She was such a failure; she had let her friends downs and above all, Keiki. At the thought of her most loyal subject, Youko raised her head and switched her attention to the white animal three feet away from her. She realized that Keiki was still in his animalistic form and it hit her. I should have picked up his clothes for him.

Keiki had read her thoughts and inwardly he frown. Youko seemed surprised at the kirin's steady gaze and she looked away. When will she start to do things right? They were in the middle of somewhere and her kirin did not have any clothes to wear. How could she have been so careless! Suzu sensed the declining mood in her friend and too apprehended the reason behind it. The young maid laid down her luggage and spreaded the stuff she brought across the grass. She picked up a forest green cape and flashed a grin Youko. The empress's eyes brightened.

When they reached the nearest town, the three of them went hunting for a humble inn. Keiki's blonde hair was difficult to keep in the hood as the wind kept blowing against the material. The last thing they need was to flaunt their wealth and get unwanted attention. Finally they settled in a small inn situated at the West side of the town. Suzu went out to buy themselves some clothes as Youko was still wearing her imperial robe, and also for Keiki of course. Thank goodness Youko did not have time to adorn her head with all the ridiculously flashy jewelry when they were being attacked, or else she would not know where to dump those things.

The atmosphere in the room became increasingly tense. Keiki was sitting by the window, his eyes transfixed onto something outside. Youko did not know whether he was mad at her or not. They had not spoken since he told her to get Suzu while he waited for them at the top level of the palace. The nervous teenage girl cleared her throat and Keiki turned his attention to her. Youko blushed at his steady gaze and looked away in an instance.

"Is there something you want to tell me, your highness?" Keiki spoke in a audible but hushed tone, his eyes never leaving his master.

"I…uhh..I…we…well…since we are out here now, you should stop calling me master." Youko finally found her words after fumbling for the first few seconds, "Just call me by my name."

The blonde kirin softened his eyes and lowered his head by a few degrees, "As you wish."

"And," the redhead started again, "I think it would be inconvinient for me to keep calling you Keiki. Do you have a name you like?"

Keiki's eyes widened at the sudden proposal. A new name? The tall man knitted his eyebrows in concentration, and Youko thought he was upset.

"I mean it's fine if you do not wish to change your name Keiki is okay with me I was just ask-" The nervous empress blabbered on and on until Keiki interrupted her.

"Youko." The flushed young lady stiffened at the sound of her name being called. It sounded so different when it came out from his mouth, and she wanted to hear it again.

"A new name would be advantageous. It would pry attention away from us."

The young empress was slightly disappointed at his given reason. Of course he would think this way; it is only logical. What do you expect then?

"I do not have any names in my mind right now, but if you think of anything you would like, please tell me." Sekishi smiled gently to hide her disappointment.

"I will, Youko."

Youko watched with amazement at the 180 degrees change in his attitude. But she'd still wish he would dispense with the formalities. Right now, however, she was contented with what she got. At least they were making some improvements. The young empress smiled to herself.

After Suzu was back with their clothes, they changed into them immediately. Youko folded her robes neatly and wrapped them tightly in a piece of cloth. Then they sat down and fretted over Keiki's hair. The kirin did not seem to like the idea of having his hair chopped off, as suggested by Suzu. He would have to keep wearing the cloak wherever they go until they find a solution.

There was a small green bird perched on a bird stand near the only window. After they found out it was used to deliver orders from the guests to the innkeeper, they ordered food. All vegetarian. Suzu watched the little bird flew out of the window and went back to sit beside Youko. The empress and her most loyal subject were talking about the rebellion that happened a few hours ago.

"You mean the cabinet ministers? But they didn't seem to be unhappy with me." Youko rested her chin on her right fist and pondered deeply.

Keiki uttered a defeated sigh. It looked like their empress still have much to learn of the cruel world in the twelve kingdoms. "Those type of people are dangerous. They may seem friendly but they could also cause your downfall."

Youko's face heated with embarrassment as she listened. He must think I'm ignorant and naïve.

"It doesn't matter right now, we're on a run. What's important is staying alive and maybe we could seek help from En-o." Suzu suddenly said and Youko threw her a grateful look.

"En-o has his own country to run, he can't keep helping us." Keiki rebutted and frowned even deeper.

"But what if his highness has already sent En-Taiho to search for us?" Suzu inquired.

The three sat silently and kocking of the door abrupted the dead air. "Your meal is ready!" A voice chirped with fake enthusiasm.

Suzu opened the door and a bored looking man with their messenger bird on his shoulder entered to serve them their dishes. The winged animal flew back to it's resting place and stayed there obediently, not making a sound. The all too familiar silence fell upon them again. The three of them could not help but to notice how unique the food tasted. Keiki almost choked at the greens he had put into his mouth. Almost. They managed to finish the food in the end but at an incredibly slow speed.

At mid afternoon, the sky was startting to be covered with brooding clouds, and as expected, droplets of rain began to grace the land of this town. Youko had wanted to get information around the town but the change of weather ruined her plans. So she sat on the bed she and Suzu would be sharing and stared straight out into the rain. The raven haired girl had gone down to ask for some candles after they found none in their inn room. Keiki sat on the bed adjacent to the girls' and watched the bird chirped at the weather. The little green creature returned his gaze and another chirp escaped from its beaks. The placcid man then remembered his shireis; he could count on them to do some investigation. A flash of lightning followed by a thunderous roar from the sky brought him back to reality. Keiki scowled at the sky; his plans will have to be adjourned. He turned his neck to check on the scarlet headed young woman near him. Youko was starring at the rain with her eyelids half closed and she was about to fall into a slumber when a series of lightning plus thunder chased away her fatigue. The young woman turned her head and met the gaze of her kirin.

"Is there something wrong?" Youko expressed her concern.

"No, nothing is wrong. Pardon me for my rude behaviour." With that, Keiki tore his eyes away from the confused empress and resettled them on the bird again.

Youko hated it when he did that I'm-staring-at-you-but-nothing-is-wrong thing. She had caught him doing that many times back at the Kimpa Palace and it had irritated the hell out of her. It made her feel afraid. It made her feel as if she had done something that displeased him. It made her feel…wrong.

Keiki watched the red haired empress in discreet and felt guilty for making her upset. He knew that his civil manner had hurt her, and he knew that she was pain stakingly trying to build up their relationship. But whenever he wanted to respond to her, You-o would sprang into his mind; throwing him off-guard and the alarm would go off in his head. It felt weird even to stand close to her as if she was going to cling onto him and tell him what he would wish to, but afraid to hear. It made the morning court unbearable everyday just having to stand next to her…

Youko's sensitive hearing picked up a frequency coming towards their room and held her breath as the door was being pushed apart. In came the familiar girl with a lighted red candle in her hands. The flame casted an eerie orange on her slightly tanned skin and her lips were slightly apart. Suzu just stood there without any expression. The other two occupants noticed her face muscles twitching involuntarily and her eyes burned with ferocious distress.

Youko was the first to react, "Suzu. What's wrong?"

However the young empress probed, her friend and handmaid continued to disregard them. The kirin also noted the abnormal behaviour and summoned his shirei. The red beast surfaced at his master's feet but kept his pressence unknown to the ladies, its parturient eyes dead focused on the weird girl holding a large red candle.

Then, Suzu raised both her arms and held the flickering flame just below her throat. The red head immediately noted the change in her brown orbs; they were filled with horror.

Youko narrowed her eyes at her friend and seethed, "Show yourself."

The corner of the lips of the frightened girl pulled back into an unnatural expression and a man's sadistic sniggering escaped from the pale lips. After he, or so it seemed, was done with his egoistic presentation, the muscles around Suzu's mouth began to move and every word and note was not her own, " I am here your royal highness, but I cannot present myself to you physically at the moment. I deeply apologise for my insolence and of course, for my sudden intrusion as well. I have come to seek for your cooperation your highness, and I suggest that you do as I command or this servant of yours shall be harmed."

Air caught in her throat as she looked around frantically in search of their unseen enemy. Keiki, however, chose to keep his eyes on the distraught girl in front of him, his shirei ready to pounce on any fourth party that might come in contact with his empress.

"Your highness, I am saddened by your distrust in me. I have already told you that I am… unavailable at the moment." The cocky voice reverberated within Suzu's throat and "he" willed her limbs to heighten the candle, "Please leave with me quietly, shall we?"

Despite the cold weather, beads of perspiration trickled down the side of her face. Should she leave with this…"person" or should she negotiate? Youko casted a quick glimpse at her loyal kirin and saw that he had not as much moved an inch since she last caught him starring at her earlier.

Sighing in defeat, the young empress lowered her gaze and muttered, "Just…let her go."

A flash of lighting illuminated the room and reinforced the tension amongst its occupants. The thunder that followed announced the impending doom that was to come.

"I knew you would come to your senses, your highness," the voice spoke with a higher pitch and showed that its owner was very pleased, "now if you would kindly follow this young lass and I shall guide you to your destination."

Youko felt her feet moved on its own. Keiki narrowed his violet orbs and stood up from his bed.

"Uh-ah-ah-ah-ah!" Suzu's mouth moved again, this time in a more agitated way, "Kei-Taiho, you shall and you will stay put. Rest assured I will take good care of your dear empress. Please keep your shireis away while you're at it."

The holy figure halted his actions and grinded his teeth behind his lips. He watched helplessly as Youko made her way out of the room with Suzu behind her. After he was faced with the grey wall of the corridor, almost immediately the red beast which had been very patient submerged into the cement floor. The wind outside howled and disturbed the kirin's golden mane. Keiki did not heed the hostility of the weather god and he leaped off the ground, leaving a pile of clothes on the floor and the spot where it once stood was once again filled with stale air.

TBC…

Finally, after two weeks I managed to finish the first chapter. I was/am very busy with school work and the only time I can spare are weekend nights. I feel a little dizzy right now…need to sleep, otherwise I wouldn't be able to complete the heaps of homework tomorrow. Please R&R! I know this chapter is quite uneventful and perhaps too draggy for some, but I will try. I already have some rough ideas on how this story is going to go. . Thanks!