The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

took several more steps backward. Keiki seemed to hold his ground, but could not resolve to approach any closer.
    Keiki glanced back over his shoulder and nodded to Youko, who marched through that invisible wall. Risai stumbled after her.
    "What is going on?" cried out Hanrin, clinging to her lord. "Such impurities cannot be the stain of blood! This must be the curse of malice and bitterness directed at Taiki himself!"

Chapter 44
    T aiki was flown immediately to Mt. Hou. Waiting for them at the gates, Gyokuyou examined the figure borne down to her.
    "What has happened--" she began to ask, and could say no more.
    "What can we do to cure him?" Risai implored.
    According to Shouryuu, Taiki had walked about under his own power in Yamato, and had managed to ride on Rikaku's back from there to here. But ever since then he had not opened his eyes once.
    Carried down by the wizardesses according to Gyokuyou's orders, his face was still an ashen gray. He seemed to have slipped into a deep sleep.
    Gyokuyou knelt and gazed down upon the emaciated face, her own features drawn with pain. "Impurities have compromised his horn. Nevertheless, however imperfect, he had achieved his full stature as the 'black unicorn.'"
    She raised her head and looked at Risai, Youko and Shouryuu. These three had accompanied Taiki here, the kirin being unable to abide his presence.
    "This is not something we can address. Our only hope is to rely on the good offices of the Queen Mother."
    All three of them looked back at her. "The Queen Mother?" Risai asked. "You mean the Queen Mother of the West?"
    Gyokuyou nodded. "It is possible the Queen Mother will know of a way to help him."
    "The Queen Mother of the West really exists?"
    "Of course she does. This way."
    Gyokuyou headed to a shrine. Both Youko and Shouryuu had stepped into its precincts once before. Only the statues of the Queen Mother and Tentei rested upon the altar inside the shrine. The altar was carved with numerous patterns and motifs. On a silver throne set against a pair of burnished silver screens sat the stone figure of a person. Pearl curtains strung between the four pillars hid the statue up to its chest.
    Gyokuyou bowed to the statue and continued on towards the back. Two doors--right and left--graced the wall behind the altar. Gyokuyou knocked on the door on the left. And waited several long moments. At length, from the door came the ringing sound of two stone disks being struck together.
    She opened the door. Considering the size of the court, there should not be much else beyond that door. But deeper in were still more pavilions.
    Urged on by Gyokuyou, Youko passed through the door.
    Inside was a temple that was not a temple. The expansive white floor resembled that of the court. In the center was the same altar and the same throne. Except the pearl curtain had been raised.
    The two rooms seemed to be copies of each other. But here there was no ceiling. No inner walls. The pure white pillars forming the wall behind the throne were in fact a huge waterfall descending out of infinity. The course of the water was shrouded in mist and fog. Looking up, all that could be discerned were white rays of light shining from a great distance.
    On one side of the throne, drenched in the clean, white light, stood a woman. Following Gyokuyou's example and kneeling in obeisance, Youko and the others understood that this was the Queen Mother of the West.
    Even Shouryuu had never seen her before. True Gods did not mingle with those of the world below. The other two had never been convinced that the Goddess actually existed.
    The beauty of Hekika Genkun's countenance was acknowledged by one and all. Compared to her, the Queen Mother of the West appeared--not ugly--but surprisingly plain.
    The wizardesses bearing Taiki laid him down at her feet. Casting her eyes upon him, she sat calmly, not stirring a muscle.
    "This is a horrid sight." Her voice was flat, almost mechanical.
    Gyokuyou bowed deeply. "As you have observed, this is more than our poor, unworthy hands can handle. We wish to rely upon the Queen Mother and her powers."
    "He comes here despised and cursed. I have never before beheld such a self-damned and despised kirin."
    Her words suggested not a glimmer of pity, perhaps because the silently falling curtain of water absorbed any lilt or intonation in her voice.
    "The shirei have lost the Way and run wild. This is due to no fault of the kirin himself. He has lost his horn, fallen ill, and