Disclaimer: J.K. does not belong to me. However, these stories do belong to me.
Authors Note: I've decided to write drabble for 31days community on live journal. These are the stories that I've came up with for each of the themes.
Title: Stories of Change Series
Chapter 4
Author: Fuji S. Yuki
September 16: Older ghosts
En-koku
Tonight the ghosts of memories seem to be flying. This was the day that he had killed his other self. The one that he wanted to test himself against to see if he truly was granted the Will of Heaven to rule.
Atsuyu his other self the one that had befriend Kouya the boy raised by youma and manipulated a province with his lies. Lay buried without a sign listing his presence here except for the pile of stone place upon one another.
Shouryuu almost lost his Kirin to this man. One that desired power and influence of the people and had the charisma to convince those around him of their rightness in everything they committed. But Shouryuu wasn't fooled in this desire to rule over the people it causes corruption and harm then good.
This other self as he saw him was something that Shouryuu pray he would never become. So every year he would come and send a gift to the man that now live in the underworld. Each year he would come, remember the ghosts of his past, and offer sake in pray for their souls.
Every ruler that had come into power one time or another had faced some sort of problems either rebellion or people that reminded them too much of themselves. Therefore, Shouryuu would pray and hope their souls would rest in peace.
September 17: Scenes from the life of a double monster
Tai-koku
Amnesia is a funny thing that one can remember having once, one-regain memories they would come in floods telling stories and feelings to emotions. It is a wonder that one does not go insane when all of these things come flooding in like torrents of water drowning and crushing together.
Right now Taiki was sitting in his chair staring at the painting he painted. He had requested from the Kirin of En for some paint and a canvas to be brought back. His friend as his memory dictates did so and Taiki felt glad at least he had something, that was solid; that felt comfortable to him in such a foreign world.
It had taken time to purge the poison of Hourai from his system. Poison being the consumption of meat his father force him to eat to all unnatural products that would make Kirin's ill.
He had suffered as his body slowly threw away the ill effects of the by products and with the care of those on Mt. Hou he was able to recover slowly under the anxiousness of his King.
His King. It tasted so weird feeling ecstasy over that word let alone the presence of his master. However, it was a painful battle to rescue the King of Tai and to restore order to the lands. It took two years the first one with help from the kingdom of Kei. Then another year with their own forces to take back the palace that rightfully belongs to the will of heaven.
Taiki's Shirei were recovering in the care of one of the fairies. Taiki could not remember her name but her motherly face told him he knew of her from long ago. Nine years since he disappear and reappeared and he slowly was gaining grown on that feeling of strangeness every time he sat in this foreign world.
However, as he painted he slowly began to piece together the parts of his memory that were shattered since the lost of his horn. The fairies of Mt. Hou could not do anything they said proclaim it had never been heard of such a act to have a Kirin lose one's horn. However, only time would tell if the horn would remain a stub or grown on its own.
"Kouri." A voice shattered his thoughts as he slowly looks up from his canvas into ruby red eyes.
"Gyousou-sama…"
Those ruby eyes soften and slowly a hand he knew that would be steady set against his shoulder. Surprise glinted in his eyes at the unsteadiness of those hands that remain the same but now changed.
"Be patient with me." The Emperor Tai whispered as the hand tightened with a firm squeeze.
Slowly Taiki closed his eyes and smiled wanly, "Hai." He knew it would take time before they both would feel comfortable with how things now stood.
September 18: Arrangement in black and gold
Tai-koku
Maybe it was him being reminisces of what he use to do when he was younger and foolish. To just simply discard the robes of black and gold in a step and run free across the fields letting the wind tinkle his mane. Letting the scent of the green fields of Mt. Hou sound him as he twist and turn and roll around the green pastures.
Even now in this teenage body recovery of the poison from consumption of impurity being purged from his body. The urge to simply discard everything and run over came him in the weakness of illness.
Gyousou had entrusted him to Mt. Hou for a few months in hopes that the Kirin would recover from the bout of illness. However, his master did not comprehend that illness would go away if the soul was strengthen by the presences of their master.
Every weekend of course his master did come to visit him. To ensure that his Kirin was in good joys.
The fairies had babied him of course remembering how he use to be. Now enjoying the grown up version of the Kirin of Tai, some would linger and eat with him to keep him company from the loneliness.
And during night he would lay as those gentle fairies would bring along a lotus for him to sleep with. Daily rituals of cleansing in the lake added with powerful herb kept on going on day in day out.
Slowly the murkiness crept away to leave Taiki tired and weak from it's journey out of his system.
However, it has been a while since the murkiness was gone and he felt frisky with energy. There had been shame in him when he discovers that his horn was left to a stub that he flat out refuse for anyone to see him in such a state.
Now being alone in this field since the fairies were already asleep in their beds gave the Kirin of Tai enough courage to shed his robes and change.
The feeling of morphing into another form came easier since when he was younger. The ability seem long forgotten was summon quickly and with a flicker of his ebony mane he was off running across the field onto the mountains.
No one would witness the Kirin without a horn running as if something was chasing him. The beauty of night made into flesh was what some individuals would proclaim the Kirin of Tai to be. However, that is if only they can see him with starlight sparkling his hide and the flicker of sparkles as he landed and jumped onto another boulder.
Freedom came with a price. If this were what he had to pay then Taiki would be pay it to be with his King.
After all a promise is a promise. He would one-day return to the Kingdom he belongs too.
Dark ruby eyes watches the Kirin prance then turn to the gentle fairy beside him, "Thank you for taking care of Kouri."
The woman designated to be the caretaker of Taiki when he was brought to the twelve kingdoms smiled, "no thank you, for being Taiki's hope."
September 19: Dante in hell
Kei-koku
The sword was staring at her from its shield. Every time she moves, she can feel those eyes watch her. However, she learns over the years that it was a reflection of things to come. The shadows of her heart that she should not ignore when they give warning. Once when the sword had a shield to prevent it from sending signals it now remains free.
The old sheath gone forever and the peace of the previous kings disappeared. However, the Empress of Kei could live with it. She learned that there are many things one should accept and if they can be changed then so be it changes it would come.
Even her note taking drove Keiki insane but Youko felt it was a way to organize her thoughts and figure some things that drove her insane. After all if Dante in hell then she should make it so that she can create a paradise. A kingdom rests on her shoulder and she needs to make the most of things.
One day Keiki would come across his empress resting underneath a tree. Notes after notes surrounding her on the blanket that she laid upon paperweights were settled so the scrolls would not disappear with the wind.
Ren-Taiho had one time taken Keiki aside when she was passing through on her way to Tai informing Keiki that a ruler is only human and that they as guardians must look after their masters.
Even though Keiki did not talk that much to the Taiho of Ren he felt that Renli had been speaking the truth and was possibly concerned with his treatment of his charge.
Shaking his head Keiki found himself walking closer to his mistress and slowly cover her with a blanket he brought from his room. Squat next to his mistress he breaths in the scent and let his heart calm down in the presence and safety of her.
Even though he would not show that, much softness in her presence, he would always watch over her. There was so much hope riding on those thin shoulders that he was almost afraid that she would fall not from failure but of something else entirely.
Watching over her, Keiki notices the dark shadows underneath her eyes signifying the unrest she has undertaken in all these papers. Protectiveness crept upon him, and slowly he picked up the brush and opens one of the scrolls, and sitting down he started to go over the papers. An blank scroll in his lap as he wrote down summaries of each of the scrolls in hopes to lesson the burden of his mistress.
September 20: Chinatown fiction
Han-koku
Diplomacy sucked! That would be the written motto that Enki would be throwing into the face of his King when he manage to get his hand around his master's neck. After all the idiot King of his decided that it would be grand if they would visit Han in hopes of establishing diplomatic connections for trade.
It was horrendous the situation he was presented in. His mane was pull up with curlers and the clothing his host Han-ou and Hanli gave to him would make any brothel women in En look like nuns.
Twitching at the suggestive leers of Han-ou he wonder where the hell Shouryuu was to free him from this torture. His arms flailed when he felt hands scrunch up his lips to apply make up here and there.
"Stop that!" He huffed unhappily.
"Now En-Taiho we are just helping you out on your appearance. Honestly all that stress and split ends must be horrendous on your health." Han-ou tittered behind his fan.
A vein popped up over Enki's brow, "I happen to like my mane the way it is thank you very much."
"Honestly En-Taiho." Hanli giggles, "You look wonderful especially with the silk we've chosen. Royal blue surely does look wonderful on you."
"Ow stop your pinching!" Enki scowled when he felt his cheeks being pinched here and there.
Han-ou smirked behind his fan, "There now you look nice."
Make up of glitter and eye shadow of gold flittered here and there while the curlers had been removed to let his mane curl with light sparkles applied to his hair. "I am sure En-ou would be pleased."
Sighing in agony over the paint fest as he labels Enki stomped away from the pair of fruit cakes. "Whatever…it isn't like that pervert is going…" He was interrupted in his terrene.
"Rokuta?" En-ou came in his was normally dressed in his garments making Enki scowl at the luckiness of it all. While spotting the goblet, which he suspected, was fill with wine.
"Don't you look all innocent?" Enki grumbles as he folded his arm over his chest when he noticed how see through he must appear right now. "This is all your fault!"
The Han couple snickers as they exited with their servants, "We'll leave you two alone to discuss things." Then just as quickly Han-ou pushes Shouryuu hard until the King of En had stumbled across the floor the sound of door, shutting with locks being turned indicated the dirty thoughts of the pair.
Sulking at the crazy pairs, demented thinking Enki taps his foot. "Well get up…and help me get this stuff off me!"
A glint crept across En-ou's face as he slowly crouches to take a good look at his Kirin. "Is that lipstick on your lips?" Obviously awed with the transformation, "Did they curl your hair?"
"Laugh it up for now but I am going to get this stuff off me if you aren't going to help!" Enki growled as he stomped away from his master. "This is no Chinatown fiction here!" A hand launch onto his arm and tugged him until he stumbled into his master's lap. "Shouryuu!"
"You still haven't told me why they did this." Amusement still lurked in his king's eyes, as he brought out some napkin to help cleanse the lipstick off.
"They thought our relationship was suffering." Enki scowled, "What relationship are they thinking? Honestly you have your women in En and I have my peaches why do they think that we are…"
His voice was stopped when he felt lips against his own his eyes widen to notice the devilish smile over his master's face. "Rokuta didn't I keep telling you denial is a bad habit…"
"Wait Shouryuu I am not going to…" His struggles were stopped.
The Han pair were leaning against the door listening in both were smiling at one another when they heard groans, moans, and shouts of names inside the room.
Han-ou's eyes twinkle with wickedness, "So who is next?"
Hanli tilted her head to peer at her master's happiness, "I think the pair in Kei are having slight problems."
"Ah…I take it Keiki is being stubborn. You would think he would have figure out what he wants after picking all those girls." Han-ou smirked, "Though the previous one was fishy what with that green hair and all."
Both laugh as they walked away to plan their next conquest.
Authors Notes: In translations of the novel of En I noticed that they had different spellings for one thing Shouryuu's name is spelled Syouryuu. I think I rather conform to fan fiction writing on the name instead of the novel since everyone's been using it and I do not want to cause confusion. Another matter that is brought to my attention as I was researching is there are two different approaches onthe spelling of Taihou. one was Taiho the other was Saihou. So in all given situations from now on I'll use Taihou. If some spelling does not conform to fandom outlook well then it's because I am using what I've learned from my research. If there is a disagreement well there isn't much I can do. ;