Thank-you Sarah8 for reviewing. I appreciate any and all support I can get. I also appreciate constructive criticism. Please everybody review and tell me what you like and don't like. Also I still haven't decided who will end up with Youko. I apologize to any fans of the Keiki x Youko pairing. I just wouldn't know how to write that...after what happened with Yo-Ou I just cannot imagine that. I also imagine Keiki with Kaiko (his Nyokai) or with Tairin, the Kirin of Tai.

I do not see the point of putting this in every chapter but I do not own Twelve Kingdoms. Or Allen (ooh what a thought! Just kidding...kind of.) Ack start the chapter!

The sky was a beautiful robins-egg blue. Traces of clouds danced in the golden light of the evening sun. It's a perfect day for flying. Rakushun thought. Then looking over at Youko who was flying on a kiijuu next to him, he sighed. Something was wrong. He could feel it. She was hiding something from him. She seemed very anxious to arrive at his mother's home, yet, determined to hide the fact. She wanted to go straight there with no stopping. Quite a flight! Truth be told he was glad to hurry there. The earlier we arrive the longer we can visit. The only draw back to being a student of Diagaku in the kingdom of Kei was that he was not able to regularly check up on her. He was about to comment, yet again, about Youko's odd behavior when she asked in a curious tone.

"Rakushun...why is it that you are always in your human form? You used to prefer your hanjyuu form."

"It's sort of a challenge to myself. I realized recently that I was out of balance. I never took my human form growing up, as a result I don't know this part of me. In classes I had problems with riding and archery. Even just walking around this way, I often trip. I realized that I was not complete as a person because I have been ignoring a part of what I am. You told me once that you want your people to be masters of themselves. I guess I am trying to follow your wisdom and advice."

Youko's cheek's turned a light shade of pink. "Rakushun." She whispered feeling a lump in her throat. She felt touched that he took her words so to heart.

"Besides in the summertime it will help me to be cooler." Rakushun's eyes twinkled merrily. Youko laughed brightly and for a moment his Youko had come back. She had changed so much from when he first found her in the rain. She had become such an incredible woman...er...queen. Suddenly she seemed to bite her lower lip and turned her face away from him.

"Youko..." Rakushun whispered so she could barely hear his voice over the wind. "Please tell me what is wrong?"

Sighing Youko turned to face him with a brilliant smile. "It's just silly really. Nothing worth getting worked up over. Nothing to worry about...really."

"Really." Rakushun stated getting worried.

"It was because of a nightmare I had last night. That's all...nothing to worry about at all."

Rakushun wrenched his head to the side considering her words. He remembered something she had told him once about the sword Suiguu warning her of approaching danger through her dreams and visions. "Your royal sword sends you dreams and visions. Youko what did you dream about?"

"Did I ever tell you about how much that sword likes to lie and play around with my mind? Like I said, I am sure it is nothing to worry about at all."

"If that were the case, you wouldn't be worried." A thought occurred to him and he could have hit himself for not considering it earlier. He had been asked to come to the palace early this morning. Normally Youko asked him to come visit her well in advance. Even breakfast was quite rushed but done in such a way as too not seem alarming. They left almost immediately after he had agreed to go with her. She had everything ready. She only had to argue with Kantai, and Rakushun, himself, about not taking an armed escort. Insisting again she was safer if she was able to blend in among the people.

How could I be so slow? Rakushun asked himself. Even Shoukei had mentioned that she had a feeling Youko was going for more than just a visit! Rakushun realized then, in his sudden rush to hurry home, that she had even chosen the fastest kiijuu. It was about the fastest way to travel in the twelve kingdoms, next to a kirin's back. Thanks to them they were almost to his home a journey that would have taken well over a month on foot, and overnight on most kiiju was made in just an afternoon.

Allen woke on a sandy shore. Spitting sand from his mouth, he dragged himself to his feet. He still had his sword, but it was wet much like the rest of him. His body, stiff from the cold, turned slowly to look out at the ocean beyond. The sight that met his eyes was one he knew he would never forget.

An alien ocean stretched out before his widened eyes. The tide was changing. Beyond the tide, however, he could see whirlpools and eddies swirling in strange colors of blue and green.

Where am I? He thought to himself. Could this be the Mystic Moon where Hitomi was from? Racking his mind, he strained for the name she called it. Earth...And the country's name was Japan.

Forcing himself to turn from the strange sight; lest he stand and gape forever, Allen walked toward the forest scanning as he did for driftwood. He needed a fire. Allan had seen strong men reduced to death by nothing more than being wet on a cold day.

King En, also known as Shouryuu or Naotaka Saburou Komatsu, moved soundlessly shifting from shadow to shadow. Like a ghost in the night he shifted from the camp into the woods beyond. When certain that no one had followed him or would hear his commands he stopped and spoke into the darkness. "Kibou, report."

From the ground arose a Sanki Youma who stood ready for any command to be given. "Her majesty left Kinpa Palace with the rat hanjyuu this morning and flew to Kou."

Shouryuu scowled. This wasn't a part of the plan. Well at least they are close. He thought to himself. "Go." He stated. "You know what I want you to do." The creature which at first appeared to be an oversized dog seemed to stretch and change it's shape until it appeared to be a Kochou, or youma that resembles a crow. It then took off into the air and flew toward a little house in Kou. The same little house that Youko and Rakushun were racing toward.

Thank-you for reading chapter two! Now, please, check the little box and let me know what you think about it. Thank-you.