Sitting at the small desk in his chambers, Rokuta pondered over a scroll that had been laid out before him. By now the candle he had been using for light was almost completely gone. Around him everything was still and quiet as the world slept. Rokuta didn't know how late it was and only just now realized he'd been at this for much longer than he should be. He rubbed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, feeling exhausted and irritated. Trying to come up with the first decree for En was not his job, it was the king's. Yet here he was, looking over the past decrees of the kingdom trying to think of one as ordered by Shouryuu.

"The first decree is your job! Why are you telling me to think about it?" Rokuta had complained earlier that day.

His response was merely a cheerful laugh. "Why not? You're my advisor aren't you? Think about it and then tell me your advice."

Rokuta rubbed his hand over his face. That man was annoying and Rokuta wondered why Heaven had told him to choose such a person for a king. Fifteen years and Rokuta still did not trust Shouryuu even a small amount. Kings could not be trusted, he constantly told himself. He would just be like all the others and destroy En. Yet even as Rokuta believed that he saw En was starting to flourish around him. The kingdom was recovering and the people were returning. For that he was thankful, yet he still could not trust Shouryuu.

Rolling up the scroll, Rokuta decided it was time to give up. He was not going to get anywhere tonight. Plus he was too tired to think straight anymore. He stood and stretched, thinking for a moment what he should do now. His bed was inviting however he felt the sudden urge to pay Shouryuu back for inflicting this task on him.

I'll take this stupid scroll and throw it over his face, He thought smugly as he left his room. So when he wakes up in the morning he'll see it first thing.

Satisfied with this plan, Rokuta made his way to where the king's chambers were. As he drew closer he took a moment to look at the architecture of the palace. It was so fancy, especially compared to what he grew up with in Hourai, that he was still not use to seeing it everyday. The marble and gold embroidered along the walls, decorating the doorways and lining the floor looked like something out of a fairytale. It made him a bit annoyed sometimes; especially seeing how the luxury increased the closer he got to Shouryuu's room. While the common people below them suffered still, they slept in a place like this.

Finally reaching the doorway, Rokuta paused. It was dark inside and he mentally kicked himself for not bringing any light with him. He waited until his eyes adjusted better to the darkness before he entered, moving as silently as possible across the carpeted floor. The king's bed was much bigger than his own and looked like it could fit two or three people. A canopy of silk hung down from the top in several layers, hiding everything behind it from wandering eyes. It occurred to Rokuta then as he stood outside the wall of silk that this was probably a stupid idea. He'd be better off just leaving the scroll on Shouryuu's desk and being done with it. Truthfully he'd rather not wake the king up and then have to deal with him.

Unfortunately vengeance (or perhaps curiosity) got the better of him. He inched closer and paused when he heard movement. When nothing happened, he parted the silk curtains and poked his head inside. It was dark so he couldn't see anything. He was about to deposit the scroll on the bed and leave when movement caught the corner of his eye. Something caught the faint glint of light from a candle outside. Rokuta jerked backwards, barely avoiding the edge of Shouryuu's sword. Both of them froze at the same time, the tip of the blade pressing against the side of the kirin's neck. The scroll slipped from his hands and unfurled on the floor. The rustling of the parchment was the only sound in the room.

By then Rokuta could see in the dark a bit better and he stared wide-eyed at Shouryuu sitting up before him. He was wearing simple sleeping robes that were open in the front, exposing his bare chest. His hair was down around his shoulders. It was a complete mess, frazzled and tangled. Shouryuu himself looked frazzled and very startled. It was then Rokuta realized he also still seemed to be half asleep. Realizing he was at the receiving end of the sword Shouryuu was gripping tightly in his hand, Rokuta let out a small yelp and tumbled backwards. The silk curtains fell closed as the Taiho collapsed on the floor in a heap.

"Rokuta?"

The silk curtains moved again and Shouryuu stuck his head out, peering down at the boy with a surprised expression on his face. He also looked vaguely concerned but Rokuta was still so shook up from nearly getting his throat sliced that he didn't notice.

"W-What the hell was that?! What kind of idiot keeps a sword in their bed?!"

Shouryuu stared and then gave a soft sigh, running his hand through his hair. He looked a little shook up himself.

"Maybe the better question is what kind of idiot sneaks into the room of a new king."

Rokuta stared, still angry from the scare but feeling it beginning to fade quickly. Shouryuu disappeared behind the canopy again and for a brief second Rokuta debated on just leaving. But then Shouryuu spoke so quietly he almost didn't hear it.

"Forgive me."

Hesitating, Rokuta wasn't entirely sure how he was supposed to reply to that. So he picked him up and pulled the silk layers open again, standing there uncertainly. He glanced awkwardly at the sword resting on a pillow near by and then back to Shouryuu, who was rubbing his forehead wearily.

"Are you okay?"

The words fell out of the kirin's mouth before he could stop them. Shouryuu glanced up, looking perplexed that Rokuta was still there. Rokuta himself was surprised yet he strangely found that he didn't want to leave. In their short time together he had never seen Shouryuu be anything other than annoyingly laid back and carefree. Yet suddenly he had witnessed a different aspect to him, that of fear and maybe slight paranoia about his surroundings. Rokuta had forgotten very quickly that this world was still alien to Shouryuu.

"Yes. I think I was dreaming. You scared me."

"I scared you…?" Rokuta muttered.

Shouryuu laughed. "Yes. A warrior generally doesn't like when people sneak up on him."

Rokuta made a face. Just like that the carefree attitude was back again. He collected the scroll from the ground and threw it on Shouryuu's lap, not even bothering to roll it back up.

"Whatever. I only came to give you that."

"In the middle of the night?"

"Hmph."

Shouryuu picked it up, squinting at it. Although he couldn't read it in the darkness he recognized it enough to understand what it was.

"I see."

There was a pause and Rokuta decided this was the time he should leave. This whole thing had been awkward and unwanted. He wanted to put it behind him as soon as possible. Yet before he could move Shouryuu reached out and touched the side of Rokuta's neck lightly. The kirin tensed immediately.

"I didn't hurt you," He said with a small sigh of relief. "Good. You would've never let me hear the end of it if I had."

Rokuta stared and then angrily slapped Shouryuu's hand away. "Don't touch me."

His voice sounded venomous, even to his own ears. Shouryuu withdrew his hand with a small chuckle. "As you wish. You can leave now. I'll tell you what my first decree is in the morning."

"What? You mean you already knew it?"

"Not at all, but you just gave it to me like I suspected you would."

Rokuta hesitated again. He felt the need to ask. The words were right on the tip of his tongue. Yet he didn't want to ask at the same time. Letting the silk curtains fall closed one last time, Rokuta stepped away and turned on his heel to leave. Once he reached the doorway, Shouryuu suddenly spoke again.

"I know you don't trust me. I don't know if you ever will no matter how long I end up sitting on the throne. And if you don't trust me then the people most definitely won't."

Rokuta, back still toward the room, didn't move. Shouryuu continued, "So I will make En a kingdom where people can trust each other undoubtedly and no one has to sleep with a sword by his bed. I will do this for you."

Rokuta stood there for several seconds. When Shouryuu did not speak again, he left the room and continued back towards his own. His mind was spinning with a thousand and one thoughts as he walked. Although Shouryuu's words had touched something inside him, he still could not trust a king. However he did think, for a brief instantly, that Shouryuu may be the one to someday change his mind.

The next day the First Decree of the Kingdom of En was declared: "…And thus the Kingdom of En will from today henceforth never turn away anyone in need and all who seek help shall now know that they will always have a home here."