"The search for Taiki was conducted by 4 Kirins with the help of magical devices from Han and Ren. Renrin and Hanrin found traces of Taiki�s Shirei which lead them to Taiki. The overall mission leader was En-O.

When they found Taiki, they could not regard him as a Kirin and technically/legally, he could not be brought back to the 12 Kingdoms. There was a debate whether Taiki should be brought back and if yes, how this is going to be lawfully possible. You have to read the details to fully understand why En-O is possibly the only person who can fetch Taiki from Horai.

My sense was that Youko, after realizing the details of Taiki�s predicament did not firmly press for his return. she either asked questions or kept quiet. It was Han-O who firmly said that Taiki should be brought back regardless of whether he will be rejected by this world or otherwise.

Youko's role was that of a host to the search party. En-O requested for help from the 12 kingdoms and sent Enki to confer with the fairy on Mt Ho to make sure this collaborative effort did not violate heaven's rules. Youko accompanied Enki in this trip and clarified the boundaries in which the kingdoms can and cannot act. This whole Taiki incident was like a learning experience for Youko and Keiki. The author reminds us that Youko is only a teenager and Keiki is a young Kirin.

If not for Enki's quick thinking, Taiki would not have made it back -- dead or alive.

Taiki had his horn chopped off by Asen and that removed his mystical powers. Also, his parents were making him eat meat which his body regarded as a foreign substance. His shirei started to starve (they feed off of a Kirins life force) and went mad. This was slowly killing Taiki. When Keiki & co. finally found him, he was a mortal who was (outwardly) healthy but inside he was dying.

If they left him in Horai he would die soon. Bringing him back to Kei would also kill him because only Senin can pass through Shoku. I think they could not use the magic rope from Ren because he was no longer Senin. Basically, he would die no matter what they did, so why not bring him home. En-o temporarily placed him on the En registry as a refugee, then went to Horai to make Taiki a Senin and bring him through Shoku to Kei. From there Risai took him to Mt. Ho and the Goddess Saiobo (spelling) healed him, and said his horn will probably grow back in time.

Risai had to do a lot of begging because the Goddess didn't want to do it and questioned Risai's motives as personal instead of Tai-oriented. She takes away his Shirei (including Sanshe) because they are insane. She said she will cure them and they can return then. She took him back to Kei. When he was well enough to travel En-o removed him from the En registry and Risai and Taiki flew off into the sunset to search for Tai-O.

Taiki and Risai were unnerved by the attempted coup in Kei and decided they should leave - that they were being a burden and they had to get started finding Gyousou anyway. They left by flying above the sea of clouds, where there is no youma. Apparently, only the king is allowed to fly there usually? Not sure why.

Taiki and Youko were talking together when the rebellion stormed into Taiki's room and interrupted them. I'm not sure what they were talking about... couldn't realling understand it. There won't be any chance of relations until Gyousou is back and Tai is stable again."

Mine is definitely when Yoko stands up to the Demon Monkey, once and for all. It marks the turning point in her character development from insecure schoolgirl to regal queen, and shows how a person should stand up to his or her own doubts and insecurities (personified to Yoko by the Demon Monkey).

I really enjoyed the mood of these episodes. Taiki was very innocent and I found his curiosity with everything very cute. The seiyuu was perfect for this. But despite the relative innocence and joy after his arrival, I already knew that something would eventually happen to disturb the peace.

I felt relieved when I found out it was just proof of his true loyalty. The scene very intense though.

At first, I wasn't sure where this arc in the story was going to lead. Hindsight reveals to me that the seemingly unconnected Shoukei, Suzu, and Youko would eventually lead to one of the coolest rebellions ever.

Suzu makes it to Shoukou's town and watches her friend die, then joins a band of rebels to overthrow Shoukou along with Youko. I was really surprised that Youko kept her identity hidden for so long -- would've thought I lot of people would know what the sword Suiguu looked like. Shoukei, the former princess of Hou, joined up with another band who was playing to scare Gahou.

Through rather odd circumstances, the three of them ended up together which quite a large band of rebels and mercenaries and held back the provincial army of Wa. The best part was when Keiki bowed in front of Youko and everyone suddenly realized what was going on. Youko rode away on Keiki's back and demanded (you go girl) to know why the queen's private army was mobilized without her consent. The whole provincial army and royal army bowed and had that look of "Oh shit we're in trouble" on their faces. Good stuff.

Taiki basically defeated and captured that huge beast (I forgot all of the names of the creatures ;_; ) to save everyone

That last moment, when the truth is revealed, made my hair stand on end. It was awesome.

What I particularly liked about that chapter is that it focuses on how people handle the problems they have in their lives, and how each person is really in control of their own fates.

I like how the novelist makes a very strong case for personal responsibility in this chapter -- that there's no point in blaming other people for one's problems if she doesn't make an effort to make a better life for herself (Shoukei irrationally blaming Yoko for her problems, for example). Suzu's obsession with Yoko also showed that in the end, there's no point in putting all one's hopes into a single person, either.

I think both Shoukei and Suzu had too much self-pity in them -- it took a tragedy, in Suzu's case, to open her eyes up to that fact. It's really cool how their characters developed over this arc, to become really strong, self-assured people.

The uselessness of self-pity seems to be a recurring theme in the series, in general. It's wonderful that an anime can address themes like this with such maturity.. I think that's why I like this anime so much. =)

Throughout most of the episodes in the first arc that Sugimoto appeared and/or talked in, I literally could not stop yelling at the screen "Why are you such a stupid, psychotic bitch?" at least once every episode. She's just a jerk who doesn't listen to reason or think for herself at all and I didn't think there was any valid explanation given for it.

Also when Youko was being driven crazy by the sword, I didn't buy it. I seriously did not get the whole "killing is awesome" thing she launched herself into.

I did like how even when she became queen, the series managed to stay away from becoming anything romantic and focus on the difficulties she had to face and her dealing with them. And when her advisor is accused of being a traitor, takes her hostage, and then gets shot to death? That was definately when I knew things were getting pretty serious

Youko's rebellion as even though I didn't like the other two girls as characters initially, it came together very masterfully. Episode 39 was my favorite episode, mainly because of the major pwnage Youko lays on the general and then her councilmen, the fact that all the loose ends get tied up, and just the ending when she makes her first decree and we fade into her Asano's grave to the incredibly powerful intro music.

In the first couple of episodes, Youko saw her reading a novel that had a dragon illustration in it. If you assume that the book is something about mythology or more likely, fantasy-fiction, you can see that Sugimoto believes she's the one who belongs in the other world, not Nakajima.

She's basically really jealous that a creature from her fantasy novels, i.e. Keiki and the Youma that appeared and even the sword Suiguu, went to a girl like Youko whom Sugimoto felt didn't deserve any of it. That was her progression into envy.

Regarding Youko, I wonder why she kept the Minister of Law around. She was just as involved in the coup as Gahou, Shoukou, and the other Ministers. Granted, Youko did have a tighter leash on her, but still. She put the rest of them away.

Agreed, you have to take into account the whole trauma of being trapped in a strange world, but even with jealousy, I'd see the character reacting more afraid of Youko and upset, maybe even angry. But not constantly filled with pointless bloodlust just because some king is telling her that going after an old friend will filfill her fantasy.

Youko goes through a drastic change throughout the series and that's interesting to see. Also, I love how complex the political system is in both detail and setting. Rakushun is my favourite character, both for his knowledge and humour. It's a really good series with lots of emotional and realistic moments.

when youko reveals her trueself, and rides on keiki back, toward her army, and tell it to stop immediatly. The best parts of this, are when she stands still on it, in front of the army. She was also very beautiful there. And the other part was when she returns to the rebels, but this part was spoiled by that stupid mountain guy that didn't bow, but stared at her like a stupid ignorant non respectful person.