Ch11: King

When he had discovered Taiki – who had just recovered enough to be allowed to roam by the nyosen – standing forlornly outside his packed up camp space Gyousou's resolve to leave was tested. Taiki himself tried his best to shake that resolve with multiple attempts to convince him to stay, or come visit later, and he left feeling keenly Taiki's despondent gaze on his back.

He put on his most normal face so that those who chose to leave early with him – whether for their protection or to try their hand at catching suugu – didn't notice anything amiss, and resolved to forget everything that happened on Mt. Hou as soon as possible. Suugu hunting required being constantly alert, so was the perfect distraction.

Keito, who Gyousou was saddling, suddenly looked to the sky and called from his throat. Youma? But Keito didn't appear to be nervous…

Squinting into the sky where Keito was staring, what he saw blew his mind completely. So much for forgetting my attachment!

The obsidian coloured kirin foal shone in the moonlight like his coat had been lacquered, and his silver mane polished.

"What a magnificent kirin." Gyousou realized his mouth was open and quickly shut it, recovering his dignity as a century old general. "What is it, Kou? Have you come especially to see us off?"

Taiki, standing at the top of a nearby crag, began to leap down from boulder to boulder.

Gyousou was struck with a second possible explanation for Taiki's unexpected appearance: since previously Taiki had confided in Gyousou that he was unable to transform, might he not have, upon discovering the method, rushed out to show Gyousou? "From appearances, it looks like you can already transform. I am very happy for you. It really is an unexpected honour to have this rare opportunity to see such a unique sight. It is hard to image that this is the Kou."

"Though you already have shirei now, it is still a bit careless. You should hurry and return to the palace." He couldn't help but be happy to see Taiki's true form, whatever his resolutions were, but three years as a corpse hunter had made Gyousou more than aware of the dangers of the Yellow Sea at night, particularly for someone who had just recently been restricted to bed! However, Taiki still didn't move. "Or is it that...you have come to see me about something?"

Gyousou draped his robe over the kirin, feeling it was very odd speaking to someone who didn't look human. Not that Taiki ever had been human, but when a familiar face peaked out from beneath the travelling cloak Gyousou felt himself soften. He imagined this would probably be the last time he saw that face.

"Gyousou-dono..." Taiki had a very strange look on his face, and knelt down on his knees and – to Gyousou's extreme surprise – kowtowed.

There is no one in this world who does not know what a kirin bowing meant. "I will never abandon you… never disobey your royal command… and I pledge my loyalty to you. This I vow."

His head spun in a million different directions as he tried to process what he had just heard. Wasn't the revelation supposed to come at the first glance of the person? But so much of what he had considered 'fact' about kirin had been thrown out the window in the last few months that Gyousou was not too troubled by the delayed revelation.

"I accept."

Gyousou reached out and helped Taiki up, smiling. This was exactly, exactly what he had wanted! "Let us forgo formalities... Taiki!"

Of course, Gyousou's companions were whispering among themselves, and Gyousou picked up the inconceivably light Taiki, who he now had the status to call by name, and turned to show him to his companions. They had already seen him many times over the course of the shouzan, of course, but this time was different. This time Taiki was his kirin.

Truly, Gyousou had exactly what he wanted.