The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

first, it would be impossible to say. Once you have retrieved him, bring him here and we will do whatever we can to help him recover. In any case, he must be separated from his shirei. Be sure to bring them back as well."
    "I understand."
    Gyokuyou nodded, and now looked at Risai. "Heaven has its reasons and its precepts, and no one may disturb their foundations. It does no good to argue necessity or expediency. There are reasons for everything, and all is built upon that foundation. Heaven itself lies within the web of the Law and cannot condone any outrage perpetrated against the people. In that respect, Heaven and Earth differ not at all. Do not doubt that for a second."
    Risai said nothing, but only bowed her head.

Chapter 42
    T he news Risai had been waiting for so anxiously arrived the day they came back from Mt. Hou. Renrin rushed into Ransetsu Hall, threw off the Koseisan and called out, "Risai, he's there!"
    Risai froze with shock. Hearing this long-awaited news awakened in her more fear than joy, rooting her body to the spot.
    "The shirei discovered Taiki. Gouran and Sanshi are definitely with him."
    Risai pressed her left hand against her breast and groaned in relief. She raised her head. "How is he faring?"
    "He appears to be unharmed. When I got there, he had already left. But I was able to follow his trail. He resides inside that building. I left shirei to watch, so we shouldn't loose track of him again."
    Risai looked up at the heavens. Strangely, she felt expressions of thanks welling up inside her. Indeed, if Heaven existed, then Heaven must be imperfect. Heaven must make mistakes. But those too could be amended. A Heaven that could not err could never correct itself.
    Hanrin asked, "What do we do next? Will Shouryuu go to see him?"
    A king was not a magical being by nature, and could not pass through the Gogoukanda. Even though called a god, he remained in essence a man.
    "No matter what path we choose, Taiki will be along. The Gogou Gate will have to open."
    "That will produce a large shoku."
    "Unfortunately unavoidably," Shouryuu mumbled mostly to himself.
    "We'll use as many shirei as we can muster to limit the collateral damage as much as possible. I don't know what that will accomplish, though. At any rate, we've asked the Royal Sou, and those three kingdoms will be sending us their shirei. We'll multiply their forces as much as possible and do whatever we can."
    Hanrin nodded.
    "And when?" asked the Royal Han.
    Shouryuu said shortly, "Tomorrow."

    Where the gate would open was carefully investigated. At the far reaches of the Kyokai would be best. As far away from dry land as possible. But even distance did not guarantee that the bad effects of the shoku could be avoided. Such was the nature of the beast.
    Rokuta said, "In cases like this, we really do close our eyes and trust to fate." He summoned his shirei. Kijuu could not cross the Kyokai. The shirei would bear Shouryuu.
    "Rikaku, I entrust him to you."
    Accompanied by Hankyo, whom he'd borrowed from Keiki, the two fastest youma would travel half a day, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the land. The shirei would follow after them, traveling invisibly through the psychic streams.
    Rokuta saw them off from the balcony of Seikou Manor. He let out a long breath. He'd split up with Youko and Risai at Mt. Hou and returned directly to En. He'd put the paperwork in order as Gyokuyou had instructed. With the Imperial Seal in hand, he'd arrived back in Kei this morning. And now all the groundwork had been laid.
    "Good job."
    He was resting his chin against the handrail. He turned around to find Youko there behind him.
    "I haven't worked this hard for quite a while. You okay, Youko? Taking time away from your official duties?"
    "At any rate, I'm not in much of a mood to work today. Koukan said I was there in body but not in spirit and kicked me out."
    "You don't say?"
    "Well, I did do the same thing to Keiki earlier."
    Rokuta laughed. "But of course. Keiki's really got a soft spot for the kid. Carries on like he's his little brother. He really took him under his wing."
    This news caught Youko off guard. "That's a bit unusual, isn't it?"
    " Way unusual," said Rokuta, and they both laughed.
    That was about the time a flustered Hanrin came running up. Rokuta turned to her casually, but knew from one look at her face that something bad had happened.
    "What's up?"
    "Renrin went to check on his condition. She says that Taiki