Ch. 9: Training on Mt. Hou
Natsuki and Taiki said nothing to each other throughout the whole flight from En across the sea to the Koukai. They rode on the backs of two Suugu Shouryuu gave to them as a gift for their journey. When they arrived, the two Suugu landed before the Reigon Gate between the North and East Kongou Mountains.
"We're here, finally," Taiki said.
"Yes," Natsu replied coldly. She looked at him through the corner of her eyes. "Though I'm not looking forward to it."
"Even though you have accepted your responsibilities as Queen?" Taiki asked, great concern creeping into his voice.
"It's not like I have a choice in the matter, and since I don't want to die, I might as well do it. It might be fun," she said. She started going down the small rocky path ahead of them.
Taiki sighed. He then followed her down the path as they made their way through the tall mountain range, with the Suugu following behind them. They walked for a few minutes, carefully watching their steps as to not trip over the many rocks along the path. They came to a clear opening, where they walked quickly, without hindrance to Mt. Hou. As they walked, the opened gates of Mt. Hou came into view with several figures dressed in light blue and white colors. They arrived and stood in front of the gate where the Nyousen stood in two lines before the gate leading into another path into the mountain.
They bowed their heads slightly, lifting their hands in their large sleeves together.
"Greetings Queen Tai," they said in unison. "Greetings Tai Taiho."
A young girl with dark green hair walked up from the line and bowed her head again. She raised her head to look up at Natsuki.
"Hello, Queen Tai. My name is Youka and I'd like to welcome you to Houro Palace. I'll be responsible for all your needs during your stay," she said, smiling brilliantly. She then turned to look at Taiki. "Hello, Taiki. Welcome back. Welcome home."
"Thank you, Lady Youka," Taiki said kindly as he smiled.
Youka turned and looked at Natsuki. She turned sideways, showing them the path. "Please, this way."
The Nyousen led Natsuki and Taiki down the intricate paths to the palace. The paths were like a maze to navigate as they trotted slowly toward their destination. Natsuki grew weary as they trailed on. The soles of her feet ached as she felt he rocks piercing her shoes. The shoes made in this world were not advanced enough to provide protection to her feet like hiking boots were. The shoes were made of cloth, with barely any comfort in the soles, but she did not complain and continued on.
They walked in silence until they arrived at the palace where they met with another group Nyousen with red hair who introduced herself as Teiyei.
Natsuki noticed that Teiyei and Youka were the ones in charge of the group of Nyousen as they assigned several Nyousen with Teiyei to attend to Taiki and another group with Youka to attend to herself.
After they showed Natsuki her private quarters in the palace, Youka asked, "Is there anything you need at the moment? We'll do our best to accommodate you."
Natsuki yawned. "I barely slept last night so a bath and a bed will do," she said. "I'm exhausted from walking all day. Don't worry about dinner. I plan to sleep for the next 18 hours."
"But, Lady Gyokuyo will be coming by for dinner today," Youka protested. "You must want to meet her."
"Not really," Natsuki said. She ignored Youka and walked up the stairs to the main door of the building that would serve as her quarters for the duration of her stay.
That night, the Nyousen bathed and washed her in a hot bath littered with rose petals. Using scented soaps and flowers, they washed and combed her hair as she sat in the large bathtub in the bathhouse.
"Your Majesty, you have a very distinct hair color," said Youka as she held a lock of Natsuki's hair in her hands. It was a color she recognized easily from years earlier, the first time Taiki returned home. She used to comb the similar hair with the same color and the same texture a long time ago. It had, then, belonged to a man she had fallen in love with while he was here around the same time Taiki was here. However, due to her position as a Nyousen and his title as king, she could not be with him.
Natsuki saw the saddened yet longing look on Youka's face as she looked at her hair. It was a strange look to her, one she could not personally understand, but she had seen it many times before. She saw it when her parents looked at each other and many times in the eyes of girls who claimed they were in love. Natsuki's eyes fell on her white hair, the one identical to her father's. He was also the previous King of Tai and had probably stayed in this palace before. This girl must've fallen for him.
At that moment, she felt a strange feeling that was not hurt or jealousy or anger but a mix of them and she sympathized with her late mother. She also felt glad for her mother because it seemed she was the only person who her father held in his heart.
Natsuki laughed. "Everyone has been telling me that since I got here yesterday," she answered. "It looks just like my father's don't you think?" As she asked that, she felt great satisfaction when she saw the shocked look that Youka tried to hide.
Several days after Taiki and Natsuki left, Shouryuu made sure to keep his promise to Natsuki: to announce the return of the Queen of Tai and Taiki to En and all the kingdoms.
After the announcement, he had heard all kinds of reactions throughout the kingdom. Everyone was surprised, however, among the refugees from Tai, some were ecstatic while the majority had mixed feelings, while the rest were hateful of Taiki and the new ruler. It was quite intriguing to him. He even heard that some people from Tai went to Mount Hou to see the new queen and win her favors but they all never got passed the gates of Houro Palace.
He laughed as he read that letter from the young new queen that reflected the events that occurred during the previous days.
It'd been a few weeks since Taiki and Queen Tai arrived at Houro Palace. Taiki and Natsuki only saw each other mostly during meal times because they each had different schedules for their training sessions.
On Mondays, Natsuki had lessons on the inner workings of the court while Taiki was working on his Kirin transformations. After so long, it was as if he had returned to being 10 years old again. The same frustration and anger came with the forgotten ability to metamorphose to Kirin form and back to human form. He would often try to remember Keiki's advice to let his transformation come naturally to him. He had to stop living in the past, stop rejecting his nature as a Kirin, and accept that everything that had happened was a part of what makes him the person he became.
Tuesdays were war and military strategies for Natsuki and training with Sanshi and Gouran for Taiki. Taiki had no problems with Sanshi and Gouran, except that they were as overprotective as ever. As he watched Natsuki's lessons during his free time, he noticed she had a talent for strategies. She was the one who ordered to get teachers for everything including combat, war tactics, and government leadership. He was glad she was determined to learn more about Tai and learn the skills needed to survive in this world, but he couldn't say that he agreed on everything. Civil wars were something he would rather not ever happen in Tai because Tai had had enough with suffering. He talked about it with Natsuki, but she would not listen, saying, "whether or not war happens remains to be seen but I would rather be prepared to lead my army to victory."
Wednesdays were free days where they could do whatever they wanted. Natsuki had combat training on Thursdays and Taiki was trying to find and tame new Shirei. During her combat training, it didn't take long for him to realize that she was dangerous. She relished in fighting and wanted a reason to fight. Someone like her is the kind of person who would choose battle and war over anything even if there is a peaceful solution available. He feared her, more than anything. He truly feared her red eyes and the mischievous smirk that often spread across her face.
On Thursdays and Fridays was the history of the nation and its status quo for Natsuki of the country. Those days were the hardest for her. She learned about Tai's history, its kings, and the culture of the nation. She also learned about the provinces, their names, and governors as well as the Youma crisis in the country. She even learned things from the resources available to Tai to the type of wheater that was most seen in Tai. She was updated on any changes every week. On her breaks, Taiki found her thinking and looking out the nearest window as he was meditating.
Saturday's and Sunday's were also free days but they often spent that time drinking tea and eating sweets for snacks only for the Queen to go back to looking over documents about Tai's government and writing several ways to solve the problems in the kingdom and the court. She was beginning to consult Taiki on certain decisions to be made when she is crowned. She'd talk to him about allowing everyone to keep their current government positions unless she thinks they're not suited or if they're found guilty of treason against the government and against the people.
But she couldn't help but wonder what Tai really looked like and how the country had remained standing after all this time. She needed to see it.
Natsuki wore a pair of white pants, black flats and a red cheongsam that was cut on both sides all the way to the hip. She took a hooded cape and wrapped it around her body and clipped it at the hem on her left clavicle. She tied her hair up again with a red leather band. She took the sword that was borrowed to her for practice and attached it at the waist of the dress.
"Gouran," she called. Natsuki walked to the main gates of the palace. Gouran came out of the shadows behind her.
"Your Highness?" Gouran answered.
"Come on," she said. Natsuki climbed on Gouran's back. "Let's go."
Gouran took to the skies just as the Nyousen came running after them while continuously calling out to Natsuki.
"Where are we going, Your Highness?" called one of the Nyousen.
"To Tai," Natsuki replied.
As Taiki and the Nyousen arrived at the scene, Natsuki had already left the mountain and they had no idea where she was going.
The soot in the clouds prevented the bright light of the sun from hitting the ground. Without the sun, nothing could grow and the cattle had nothing to eat. In addition, when it rained, the soot laced acidic rain destroyed the soil and all its nutrients. The rain also washed away the home of the citizens, who remained and lived in the streets, rotting away with no clear water to drink and nothing to eat. The ground became brittle that it crumbled into dust when Natsuki held it in the palm of her hand. The wind scattered the putrid scent of blood and rotting bodies of both man and beasts. This is what became of her father's kingdom. Of her home. The dying children broke her heart. But what were the providential soldiers and the governors doing? They should have food for themselves and have good stored for times like these, however, these children seemed like they haven't eaten any decent food for weeks.
"Highness?" Gouran spoke to her from the shadows, without showing himself. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Natsuki covered her mouth with her edge of the poncho. "The air is so disgusting it makes me feel sick whether we're in the air or on the ground."
The country was completely infested with Youma. In Jou Province, Risai and her assistant general and her army protected the people of the province and gave them a way out of the kingdom by ship. Every day many people would come to ask for food, shelter, and a way out of the kingdom.
This was all she could do to help. Even if the people escaped land with their lives, many of them did not make it across the sea because Youma would attack the ships or they would die of starvation or dehydration. Those who made it to other kingdoms had a hard time trying to survive, to find jobs and shelter on their own.
Risai sighed for, who knows how many, times that day. She and her men sat on their horses upon a cliff, watching the last ship for the day as the people boarded.
"A Kochou!" yelled one of the soldiers.
Horses neighed in fear as they ran along with their owners, away from the cliff while people screamed and scrambled trying to remove themselves from their currents position.
"Stop! Do not be afraid!" Risai said as she tried to calm the soldiers and the horses. "Now help the people to safety!"
Risai quickly rode her horse down the slope as the Kochou landed on the beach. She stopped and pulled on the horse's reign when a person in a white cape dropped from the sky with a sword, stabbing it through the Youma's neck. The Youma screeched and fell, dead, on the ground. The person pulled the sword from the Youma and hopped off the animal's dead body. She turned slightly but, Risai couldn't see their face covered with the hood of the white cape but she could a see a little trail of white hair around her face.
Another screech from another Youma, heading for the boat that had already set out to sea. Risai looked up at the sky. Just as the Youma approached the boat, a red streak came and bit the Youma in the neck, falling with it into the sea. The red beast came back up and flew to land. It landed in front of the person with the cape.
She looked closely and saw that the animal was Taiki's Shirei, Gouran, and a person with a strand of white hair fluttering in the wind.
But it couldn't be, could it? That person couldn't possibly be the king, Risai thought. She walked toward the person. As she walked closer, she noticed many differences about the person in front of her. The person had a small and slim body with a much shorter stature than that King. She approached the person. She could see the thick locks of white hair surrounded the person's face as it blew in the wind.
"Yo...Your… Highness?" Risai stuttered. She gasped when she saw a young woman turned to look at her and then turning to Gouran.
"She is General Risai of Jou Province," Gouran spoke.
Risai saw the person nod.
"Well, General Risai, it's an honor to meet you. I'm glad that you can recognize your ruler but I am not the person you are hoping for."
When Risai heard the voice, her eyes widened. The person was a woman which means that person standing in front of her was not Lord Gyousou.
Risai watched closely as Natsuki removed the hood of cloak off her head, letting her white hair fall around her face and revealing her bright red eyes. This person was an exact copy of the king except the fact that she was female. Her olive skin, her white hair, and even her red eyes were unmistakable, even in the dark.
"My name is Natsuki Saku. I am the new Tai-Ou." Natsuki added, "Gyousou Saku was my father."
She looked at the person who claimed to be the new Tai-Ou and the daughter of the previous. It was difficult to believe but she could not deny the fact that it was Gouran who stood beside that woman, which meant that Taiki was with her.
"General," said one of the soldiers. All of Risai's soldiers came running down the hill on their horses. They stopped when they saw Risai standing in front of a person.
"General, who is that person?" Kyoushi, the vice general, asked.
Risai fell to her hands and knees and bowed her head low to the ground, prostrating before Natsuki.
"Welcome to Tai, Your Majesty," she said.
All the men from the army gasped. They looked at General Risai on the floor and the other woman in front of them. They all fell to their hands and knees as well, prostrating before Natsuki.
The governor of Jou Province and all the Jou Province officials lined up and prostrated in front of Natsuki, who now sat on the governor's chair. Natsuki looked at all of them with their heads lowered in front of her.
"Your Majesty, we have heard that you have returned, however, because you were at Mt. Hou, we were unable to prepare anything to welcome you," said the governor.
"That's okay," Natsuki said. "It's my fault for not sending any notice before I came here. I only came here on a whim to see the situation in Tai." She looked at them. "You may all raise your heads." There were soft murmurs among the officials but no one moved. "Come on, raise your heads," Natsuki said again. "I want to have a conversation with you about your thoughts on what I should do about Tai's current situation. In order for us to have a conversation, we must have eye contact."
All the officials raised their heads and sat on their heels on the cushions on the floor.
"What is the most important thing that you think I need to fix when I come back to Tai?" Natsuki asked. "I want your honest opinion. A ruler cannot better themselves if they cannot accept criticism from the people. A country cannot be ruled correctly if the people will not voice their worries and wishes to a king," she said. "Please be honest."
The governor looked at her for a few moments, silently. He had thought that Natsuki was simply a child that was chosen by Taiki, however, he can see that she has wisdom and compassion. He approved of her immediately and was certain that she would lead Tai to a better future. He nodded and smiled.
"You are absolutely correct, Your Majesty," said the governor. "We're sorry it took us too long to advise you as your loyal subjects." The governor placed his hand on his chin, thinking about what to do. "Well, Your Majesty, the most important thing to do right now is to try to get rid of the plague. The plague exists, not only among the people, but also in the plants, the animals, the crops, and within the water and the soil itself."
The ministers behind the governor murmured.
"We can't fight a plague that we can't even touch, we must train the best men to fight to protect the people against the Youma," said a minister. "Don't you agree, General Risai?"
"It is true that we need more men and weapons to fight against the Youma that threaten the people," Risai answered.
"However, if the men you recruit into the army are sick from the plague, they are useless to fight against the Youma," Natsuki said. She stood up. "Alright, we'll help the people of Jou fight the plague." She looked around the room. "Do you have a scribe here?"
A young man in the back of the room raised his hand and shuffled to the front of the room. On his knees, he bowed his head to her.
"I am the scribe here," he said.
"I need you to write down everything I say from this point on," Natsuki said.
"Yes, Your Highness," the scribe answered. The young scribe set up a short desk in front of him with a brush pen and ink. He dipped the pen in the ink to prepare and looked at Natsuki.
"In Hourai and the world that Hourai exists in, throughout history, there have been many plagues and diseases. During that time, the people have created ways to completely destroy some diseases or lessen their effects," Natsuki explained. "The people must be healthy in order to have greater immunity against the plague. First, we must set up a hospital outside the villages with the plague." Natsuki turned to Risai. "General Risai, gather your men and bring all the food that the people need. We must also gather local doctors. We need to set up tents and clean sheets when we set up our hospital. We must quarantine the sick and protect ourselves so we don't get sick as well." Natsuki looked at all the ministers murmuring amongst themselves as she spoke. She smiled and said, "This will be the first thing I do for the people of Tai as the King."
After she gave the order, everyone obeyed. They went to a small village on the outskirts of Jou Province. They set up multiple tents and got the soldiers to bring the sick and elderly in for medical attention. The soldiers wore a plastic, full-body armor and covered their faces with a white cloth so they would not contract the plague. Outside they had many women who volunteered to cook, distribute food, and help the doctors and the soldiers take care of the sick within the tent.
Risai and Natsuki walked over to a nearby river. Natsuki bent down by the bank of the river and looked at the water. It was completely black and polluted. It must've been what carried and spread the plague so easily. There's no other source of water for the people so if they kept drinking and cooking with the river water, it made sense that they would contract the plague.
"Your Majesty," Risai said, "you must not stay here or else you may contract the plague as well."
Natsuki smiled but did not turn to her. She watched the river flow downstream.
"I doubt the heavens would allow such a thing to occur and have Tai lose another ruler and suffer more," Natsuki said. She stood up and faced Risai. "Tell me, Risai. What did you think of my father?"
Risai looked at her for a moment, hesitant before she spoke. Natsuki had told her that she was Gyousou's daughter and she could not deny the resemblance between them. She had bright white hair and gleaming red eyes just like Gyousou. She remembered when Gyousou once told her about his wife and daughter who had been taken from him by a shoku to Hourai. She also remembered him telling her that he would have Taiki help look for his wife and daughter in Hourai. Risai looked at Natsuki again and closed her eyes. She knew very well that Gyousou had reclaimed his lost child at the cost of his life.
"King Gyousou was a great man and a great king to his people," Risai said. "Even though his reign was short, he did great things for Tai and had even greater plans for the future of the kingdom."
Natsuki looked at Risai and shook her head. "I know that since I know my father well, but that's not what I meant," Natsuki replied. "I meant how did you see him as a…"
"Who's there?" Risai asked as she grabbed the hilt of her sword when she heard some rustling in the bushes.
As they looked closely, they saw a child: a young boy. He was covered in mud and dirt. The boy came out of the bushes in rags and had a body of nothing but skin and bones.
Risai sheathed her weapon and lowered her guard as they boy walked closer to them.
Natsuki walked to the boy and bent down to his level. "Hello," she said to the boy.
The boy looked at her. "You really shouldn't drink from that river or it'll make you sick like everyone else in the village," said the boy.
"I know," Natsuki answered. "I wasn't going to drink it." She took out a small white cloth and a water bottle and doused the cloth in water. She touched the boy's shoulder and wiped the mud off his face and hands. "That's better." Natsuki smiled at the boy. "Why don't you have some water," said Natsuki. She handed the boy the bottle of water and he drank it without hesitating. "Why didn't you get some food from the soldiers?"
"I was in the forest," the boy answered.
Natsuki nodded. She turned and looked at the river flowing. Natsuki stood up. "Risai, go get some soldiers and some buckets and have them carry some of the water from the river back to camp," Natsuki said.
"But Your m… I mean, Natsuki-sama, the water is polluted."
"And we're going to purify it."
The people of the village gathered outside the tents as they watched Natsuki setup to purify the water. She had a large bucket with a hole and drain carved at the bottom and placed it on a table and placed a large, clean Chinese celadon on the floor beside the table. She prepared a white cloth and placed it inside the bucket all the way to the bottom of the bucket. She placed a layer of sand, a layer of small rock, a and a layer of hand sized rock to fill the bucket three-fourths of the way to the top. She took a bucket of dirty water from the river and dumped it into the bucket full of rocks on the table. The people watched as clean and clear water came out of the bottom of the bucket where the hole was carved as it emptied into the celadon.
Everyone gasped.
"We can easily purify water with just a few rocks," Natsuki said. "First you find a clean bucket and put a clean towel all the what to the bottom. Then fill it with rocks. When you pour the unclean water into the bucket, the rocks, the sand, and the towel will act as a filter and the dirt will get left behind while the clean water comes through." Natsuki took the celadon off the ground. "Although it may look clean," she continued, "it still has some impurities. You have to boil the water in order for it to be drinkable. After that, you can drink it, bathe in it, and so on." She looked at Risai and handed her the celadon of water. "Set up more tables and a large bonfire. The fire will also keep us warm and help us cook the food."
Risai nodded and relayed the message to the soldiers.
The old man who was the village elder approached Natsuki. "Miss you've done so much for us," said the elder. "We'll help as well."
Natsuki looked at the young men and women and children who were looking at her and smiling, wanting to lend a hand. When she came here, the village looked like the home of the walking dead but after a day, the people were more cheerful and happy. It was simply because someone was there to lend a hand and give them hope that things will be better. it warmed her heart that this was because she took leadership to help these people heal.
Natsuki smiled. "Okay," she agreed.
However, a loud screech came from the sky and everyone turned to see a pair of Kochou approaching them.
"Youma," the people screamed. They fled, running in every direction to avoid the evil creature.
Natsuki looked up and furrowed her brow. "Gouran," she whispered softly.
A red steak encircled the Two Kochou and a strong wind rushed through the skies.
When everyone looked up, there were no men and the pair of Kochou were dead on the ground. Everyone sighed a breath of relief.
"Are they really dead?" someone asked.
Natsuki could feel a much more depressed aura from the people now. Just because of the attack from the Youma, their spirits were broken again and their hope was gone. She wanted to cheer them up. She walked to the dead Kochou and bent down looking at it. "Does anyone know what Kochou taste like?" she said.
Everyone looked at her with eyes wide, unable to comprehend what she was saying.
"Shall we be the first to find out?" she said. She smiled at them as she stood up. "Tonight we dine on Youma for dinner."
Everyone laughed and cheered.
"Her Majesty was absolutely amazing," the scribe told the governor. "She gave the people food, the effects of the plague is dwindling, and the people are always cheerful and laughing, almost like they were dead and have come back to life." The scribe looked up toward the sky with his hands clasped together with a gleam in his eyes. "Oh, she brought so much joy to the villagers that she looked like an angel who had descended from the heavens just to heal their hearts."
"Shukyo," said governor Rukan to the scribe, "I hope you're not thinking of Her Majesty disrespectfully in your fantasy."
The scribe blushed heavily. He shook his head frantically. "No, of course not. I just really admire her," he answered.
"So," said Governor Rukan, "what did Her Majesty say?"
Shukyo handed the governor a neatly rolled up piece of parchment. "She said to send this to every province, every village, and every governor and have them do the same to help people combat the plague," Shukyo said. "She also said that she needs to speak to you about a certain task she needs you to do."
Natsuki is finally taking more responsibility as Queen of Tai because she sees how the people are suffering without her. When she lends a helping hand, she loves that she can bring them joy. This chapter was to make her realize that these people need her.
Thanks for reading and thank you for all your support. Wait for the next chapter in 2 weeks.
Reina ;)
