The Shadowed Land, The Northern Arrow: Scroll 10
Author notes at the bottom.
...
Dijiku walked silently back towards the room where he had just been, he could hear the pleasant conversation trickleing from inside of the room. He was hesitant to rejoin the party just yet and that lead his wandering to the small garden that was flanking the windows and hallway. It would be in this garden that he would find Ryuurin sitting on a bench looking at a water fountain her tiny legs swinging back and forth slowly.
"My little lady?" he said gently as he would approach her. Ryuurin would look up at him and she would smile at him and then look back at the fountain. "What troubles you, if I may be so privileged to speak with you." he said kneeling down on one knee next to her so they were eye level.
"I... I am afraid, " she said and she would look at him her eyes filled with almost a terror. Dijiku was confused and thus he would put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Please little lady don't be afraid to speak your problems with anyone that you feel that you can trust," he said gently to her and he would watch as her eyes would well up with tears .
"I am afraid of the feelings that are inside of me, I am confused, conflicted," she said softly and she would gently shift so his hand would fall from her shoulder. The young Kirin would get up and walk over to the fountain and jump up on the outer foundation and start to walk along it. "I have been told that I will know when I meet the ruler," she looked up at him and shook her head. "I have felt fear, anguish and sadness since I was taken from Mt Ho." she said as she would crouch down.
"Forgive me for what I may say little lady." Dijuku would rise from his knee and walk to the fountain looking down at the water. "Since the fall of the kingdom 10 years ago that is how many of the people have felt, even before the kirin died of shitsudo." he said his hand gently pushed a finger into the water and they both watched as it rippled. "What one person does effects those around them even if it is something small." he said and he would step back.
"What caused the ripple in Ryuu?" Ryuurin whispered softly as she watched the ripples hit the edge of the fountain before she would look up at Dijuku.
"The previous king Rohou had a son, Enga, he was the cheif minister of the law and he saw how corrupt people were becoming since the 100 year mark of his father's rule." Dijuku would shake his head. "Many people started to look for someone to blame, the one that was under Enga you have met."
"That man, the one that hurt the nice girl?" Ryuurin asked softly. Dijuku would nod his head slightly.
"Yes, even Fuhi was once a good man but some people become frupt with power." he said with a bit of a long sigh. "Fuhi used his position to blaim the increased youma around the shores on the laws not being followed. He worked for several years on Rohou until he relented and removed his son as the Daishikou, the chief minister of law, he was banished from the kingdom." he said his hands gripped as if he had a deep anger in him. "After Enga was banished Fuhi was placed as the Daishikou for a while things went well. But there was evil in Fuhi's heart and he slowly let things slip enamored the king to do things differently until Ryuuki contracted shitsudou." Dijiku watched as Ryuurin's eyes filled with tears and she poked her finger into the water watching a new set of ripples.
"Did he suffer?" she said, not looking up from the rippling water. Dijuku would nod his head slowly.
"Yes, many other ministers pleaded with Rahou to mend his ways but after the years of slipping his reign ended just before the 131st year. Ryuuki died and Rahou didn't not long after. That was 10 years ago an Fuhi has still not answered to justice." he said shaking his head slowly.
"Why hasn't anyone stopped him?" Ryuurin said looking up at Dijiku wiping her tears from her face with the sleeve of her robes.
"It is not that easy, Rahou believed in his blindness that he did no wrong." he said shaking his head. "Only the king has the ability to remove a high ranking minister such as that, the interim government didn't see fit to remove him as well." he said. "I believe that many just over looked what happened in favor to keep their own positions." Ryuurin would stand up and cross her arms in front of her as if she had decided something.
"Then I hope that I find the ruler soon," she said softly and she would shift and jump down from the fountain step. The little kirin walked amongst the paths of flowers in the garden, her spirit seemingly had picked up from the conversation she had with Dijiku. The old warrior would chuckle.
"Tentei seemed fit to give us the exact opposite from the previous kirin that should bring joy to the bleak landscape of the north," he said with pride. Ryuurin turned a bit and she looked surprised.
"Kisa," she said happily as the familiar shape of her Nyokai would appear and wrap her strong arms around her charge. Kisa's ears twitched around as if making sure that she was in a safe place before she would lift the little kirin up in her arms and hold her close.
"It pleases me that you are well, I have been searching for you for a week." she said stroking the childs silver mane. "I am glad that you are in good spirits." she said holding tightly on to her, she had never been separated for more than an hour from her charge and the week seemed like forever to her.
"I am fine, I got to see some of Ryuu," she said and she would fidget with the sleeves of her robes. "There are not many people there now... but I know that it can be beautiful." she said and she would squeal a bit when she would feel the warm fur around her neck when her shirei would appear around her neck and nuzzle against her cheek. "Rui-Jei, welcome back." She said gently petting the soft fur.
The nyosen are very worried about your Ryuurin. It would be best if you returned to Houro Palace as soon as you can," the weasel like shirei said nuzzling once more against its mistresses cheek.
"I would agree with your shirei," Dijiku said walking up to Ryuurin. "I believe the first shozan will be soon will it not?" he said
"But that man, the one that did this to me will he be punished?" she whispered softly. She felt an odd sense of remorse for him and she looked scared at what she was feeling. "You will not kill him will you?" she asked softly. Dijiku was unsurprised that she would wish for compassion for Fuhi.
"I will make suer that justice will be sought for what he did to his daughter and ordering your abduction," he said gently his hand resting on her head. Ryuurin smiled feeling his hand on her head, she enjoyed being petted just that way. "I do have one more thing my little lady," he said in a more tense manner. Ryuurin became concerned by how he was acting now.
"Yes Dijiku?"the young kirin asked softly. The large man knelt down on one knee so that he would be eye level with her.
"The ones that kidnapped you, they must also have justice but I believe that only you are capable of deciding what they must do to repent for their crime." Dijiku said watching her eyes open up widely. She would feel a warm confront of her shirei around her neck as he would tighten just for a moment to remind her that shew as safe.
"I would speak with them first," she said softly. "Kist please go I will be alright." she whispered to her nyokai. The cat eared being would disappear into her shadow after a few hesitant moments. "Please Dijiku come with me," she said takeing the mans hand.
"Of course my little lady," he said as the pair would walk back to the room that held the brother and sister.
...
"I will never get used to it," Lausa said pulling at the silk robes the handmaidens had insisted that she wear to the first formal greeting of the people. Whey they had started to try and put up her hair in fancy loops an bows that had been the last draw. She had pushed them from the room saying she would finish her own hair.
"You are not the only one, but at least you look good," Iso chuckled as he walked up to his wife and took her hands in his. "Don't think that we will not be any different," he said cupping her cheek.
"I know," she whispered softly looking up at him. "How is Koda doing after yesterdays incident?" She asked.
"He is resting with his Nyokai but he will be ready for the ceremony," he said. Lausa walked from him and to the balcony, she watched the people gathering into the large courtyard to greet the king and the kirin.
"The children, I don't want them put on the registry of immortals until they are at least 18 or older. I want them to be able to make that decision for themselves." Lausa said turning back to look at her husband. Iso nodded his head slightly agreeing with her.
"Of course I know you would wish that, they need to decide their own paths," he said. "Come we still have time before we have to go," he wrapped his thick arms around her swaying slightly as he hummed a song to her. Lausa would let out a soft laugh.
"You know that you cannot sing to save your life," Iso then started to sing badly for her just to spite her. Her laughter and playful banter would echo down the hallway.
...
Kouki, or Koda as he was now called, frowned as he looked in the mirror. "I haven't aged anymore," he said examining his appearance. Looking in mirrors was not something he had done much the last several years. He was quite tall now eye level with most adults. His mane he had cut this morning, not liking it as long as the nyosen had. He turned his head slightly and seemed to enjoy the shoulder length much more.
"Are you still nervous?" Tuisai asked him, she was standing to the side of him watching with careful eyes.
Koda shook his head slowly, "No I am not nervous just worried. The kings wife is still upset, I hope that I didn't do anything to cause it," he said turning to the window.
Tuisai put a hand on his shoulder in comfort, "Do not fear, it is an adjustment, she is a strong woman and will help the king make Kou great once more."
Koda nodded his head slowly, "Yes I was surprised that I didn't sense oki from her in the first place," he admitted. He enjoyed the company of the woman and her family, it brought great joy to his heart.
"I have heart that most kirin don't feel right when they are away from their masters. I do feel the same way, even though he is just down in another wing I still feel the longing." He paused and laughed a bit at himself. "I still feel like that kid from 10 years before from when I first met him, I was so frightened I didn't notice that it was him until the second time I saw him." The kirin walked out onto his balcony and he would lean against the stone looking over the growing crowd.
Tuisai walked up from behind him and wrapped her arms around him once more in comfort. "I am sure it will pass, it has only been a few days that you have really known him," she said softly.
Koda nodded his head sloly, "Yes there are many more important things that we have to focus on. I can sense that he will make a great king in some matters but his wife will be his rock, that is why i think I liked her so much. Iso has the strength to not back down when faced with adversity and Lausa is a very intelligent woman she will look for the best solution for the problem." he said and he looked up at Tuisai with a smile.
The court of Kou was severely lacking, after the previous king fell many of the ministers left to help their own families or their own fortune. It had been the taisai that had ruled in the absence of the king and now he was behind bard. "I think there will be many changes in ministers in the coming months," Koda said softly.
Tuisai smiled, she was happy that Koda had grown up strong, not afraid to speak his mind when it mattered. He may be a little more brash than other Kirin but i was as Tentai wished for the Kingdom of Kou.
"I am ready," he said and he walked from his Nyokai's arms and turned to her. "I will call upon you later," he said with a gentle smile before he left his chambers. His steps down the hallway would be quick as he moved to the wing of the royal family.
"Your majesties, it is time," he said knocking on their door. It would be a few moments before the door would open. Iso framed by the door way as he opened it, looked down at his kirin.
"Very well," Iso said simply and he opened the door all the way so Lausa could come out into the hall. Koda followed a pace behind his master to the ceremony that would start their future together.
...
Horan was pacing the room much to his sisters annoyance, the young mans body tensed with every sound outside of the door.
"Brother stop pacing you are driving me up the wall," Sari hissed at him. Horan turned and stared at her for a long silent moment before he would relent by sitting in a chair across from her.
"What do you think will happen to us now?" he asked his sister. Sari leaned her head back and shrugged her shoulders.
"It doesn't matter now, mother and father are dead and so is the village," She whispered bitterly. She would shift when she would hear the door open, the brother and sister would stand up slowly when Dijiku would walk into the room. "Master," she whispered softly.
Ryuurin peaked from behind Dijikus legs looking at the pair of them. She would shift and stare at Horan and then at Sari for a long almost tense moment. The shirei wrapped around her neck would let out a loud hiss as if warning them not to try anything funny.
"My lady," Sari said softly as she would kneel down, Horan sat there stunned a bit that she would actually show up once more. "Brother," Sari snapped seeing him still sitting into the chair. Her snapping at him seemed to bring him back into this world.
"I.. yes," he said and he would slowly slip from the chair and down onto one knee in front of them. Ryuurin would feel her pushed gently in front of Dijiku by his large hand.
"Go on," he said gently to her to try to give her a little confidence to speak to the ones that had kidnapped her.
"I am not angry at you for what you did, I understand that there are reasons for things to happen that we cannot control," she whispered softly her gaze wavered for a moment as she spoke but Rui-Jei nuzzled against her neck to give her more confidence. "I forgive you both," she said softly and she would reach her hand up to Rui-Jei gently stroking his soft fur.
"Thank you," Sari would whisper softly and she looked down ashamed at herself at what she had done. Horan would lift his head up to look at Ryuurin and he stared at her.
"My little lady, what will be our punishment?" he asked her, Ryuurin shifted and she would walk up to him and put her finger on his forehead.
"Protect as many people from the kingdom you can, that it until I have chosen the ruler. Much has happened to me and I cannot feel much except for fear." she said and she would back up from him and she would nod her head, "That is fitting, both of you will protect the people. The first shozan will be in the next couple of years. Please make sure that they make it safely," She said and she would look up at Dijiku, "I need to go back home now, thank you for everything." she said and she would slip from the room.
Sari would lean back and sit on the floor her heart still beating fast from the encounter they had with the kirin. Dijiku looked at the two of then. "Well you have your punishment, I suppose that the two of you can come with me when I take Sage back to the palace." he said as he moved to the door.
"Well come on don't dally we have a long ride ahead of us," he snapped at them and Sari would quickly jump up, "Yes Master," she said and she looked at her brother. He didn't say anything but he would straighten up to follow the two of them out of the room in the en palace. The ride back he knew would be awkward but that is how it would be for the rest of this life he speculated.
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End of Scroll 10
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Author Notes: This was a long time in the making but I have finally decided which direction I wish to go. As Ryuurin is my primary character in this story I will be focusing more on her but Kouki will still be in the story as I do enjoy his character much.
Please take a little time to review if you liked it, I really appreciate feed back.