A Queen's Choice

Part Four

Yoko woke up the next day with new energy. Her eyes blinking sleep out of them standing up and going through piles of clothes until she found a skirt and a light shirt. She really did miss ordinary clothes they were so much more comfortable then her imperial dresses she had to wear.

She decided to put her holster belt on so she could keep her sword positioned on the side of her waist. A Queen couldn't be too careful - even if she was in her home world Youma could get through to this world.

Remembering how she had dealt with youmas long before Keiki and the battle that had diminished her school to rubble. She blinked the memory away. She didn't want to focus her thoughts on the past. She was in her home world - she was definitely going to make a change for the better. Maybe, the good she inevitability will do would outweigh the bad memories that seemed to stick with her like glue.

She knew the feeling she had felt last night. It definitely was the aura of Taiki. Yet, it was extremely low. She prayed to Tentei that her luck would not run out. That who ever the missing Kieran was she would be able to find him, reassure him, and remind him of his lost destiny.

Grabbing an elastic band from her vanity she whipped up her long, vibrant, unyeilding red hair , holding it back so her hair sat idly on her back.

She was ready to start her search - the Queen of Kei - with her mind set on a clear and specific goal.

Yet, even she was a teenager still and apparently both of her parents wanted to talk to her. However, she really didn't have time for catching up, or playing happy reunion.

Every moment she was here - Taiki could be getting sick, his aura growing fainter each second she was held here.

"I'm sorry. Mother, Father, but visiting you wasn't the only reason I came back." Yoko explained and continued, "In the Twelve Kingdoms there are magical creatures called Kieren. They are holy creatures. They are the ones who decide the rulers of the Twelve Kingdoms. "

"Long before Keiki, my Kieren, showed up there was a Kieran named Taiki. He was a well-mannered Kieren despite his age - he was only 9 when his Shierei, his Guardian, and the Kieren of En had found him in Japan. Long story short - Taiki had eventuality found hid way back to Japan. Leaving behind his Kimgdom even the King of Tai disappeared. Without a King or Kieren the land of Tai has become a wasteland of crime."

Yoko's eyes lost thier usual color - she chanced a glance at her parents to read thier reactions.

"In short, you want to find this missing Taiki?" Yoko's father questioned. Yoko nodded her head.

"I promise to talk more and explaim more to you, but I'm kind of racing against a clock." Yoko stood up ready to leave and start her search for the missing Kieren.  However long, gentle arms encompassed her into a hug - "don't be too long, I want to know everything that happened. " she could hear her mom. Yoko hugged her back before removing her mother's arms from around her - looking from her mother to her father. Her father didn't need to say many words - just the emotion behind his eyes said it all.

He would wait. He would accept everything that had went on in her life. And, he would try to make his daughter's life a bit better then it was before.

Yoko opened the door - crossing the many streets and touching within herself for that feeling - for that power telling and feeling where the lost Kieren was. Her feeling led her to the last place she would ever look - Yuka's.