A Juni Kokuki fanfiction (The Twelve Kingdoms)
In the Twelve Kingdoms, the bond between a ruler and their kirin is sacred, divine, intimate, and unlike any other. It is a connection forged by the Heavens, deeper than loyalty, stronger than blood. To serve is the kirin’s destiny; to protect is the ruler’s vow. And yet, when devotion softens into yearning, and reverence slips into desire… what remains of that sacred vow?
Tairin, the kirin of Tai, never intended to fall. Gyousou, her king, never meant to reach for what should have remained out of grasp. But in the silence of palace walls, where the Heavens always watch, something forbidden takes root.
What begins as duty and purpose blooms into something dangerous, something forbidden and cursed. In the quiet shadows of the palace, an irreparable sin is born between a sovereign and their holy beast.
Side Story: Smut (Tairin x Gyousou. Non cannon!)
Tags: Forbidden Romance, usual tags, forbidden love, taboo romance, taboo relationships, taboo love, cross species, established relationship, smut, porn with plot, master-servant relationship
A young woman who looked no older than her early twenties walked the halls of Hakkei palace. Her jet-black hair cascaded down her back to her waist, the skirt of her layered kimono brushed the floor as she walked. Tairin, the Saiho of the kingdom of Tai easily moves around the bustling servants as she navigated her way through the imperial halls. Hakkei palace was more lively than usual, Tairin could hear the festival going on in the capital all the way in the palace, proving how excited the citizens were, and how hard they were celebrating the anniversary of their ruler's reign.
It had officially been two hundred years since the king of Tai took the throne; the longest a ruler had ever sat on the throne in their entire history. He was a man named Saku Gyousou, the former general in the Tai army before Tairin recognized him as Tai’s new king after descending Mt. Hou and following the pull of the Ouki to Kouki, the capital of Tai. She had spent twenty years on Mt. Hou waiting for her king to come to her. But when he didn’t show she decided it was time to go to him. And what a joyous decision that was.
Tairin was on her way to her king’s study after being summoned. She wasn’t sure what for but no matter what it was about she was more than happy to come running whenever he called for her; be it high waters or hellish storms she would gallop to her master’s side in moments the moment he uttered her name. She liked to think of herself as a good kirin to her lord, she did adore him after all, as did all kirin. Sometimes she found her feelings of devoting running a bit...deeper than that. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling, not entirely; but all she knew is that she loved her master more than anything and always would.
Tairin stops momentarily in front of the king’s door. She takes a deep breath, gathering her composure and mentally preparing herself for the encounter. Her heart was now pumping fast with a mixture of anticipation and a hint of anxiety but she swallows her nervousness and pushes the door open, entering the room. Standing in front of her king always made her nervous, but in the best of ways. His eyes shined bright, a deep determination always burning deep in his soul. And that’s what she loved best about him. His determination to build a strong kingdom that would be ruled by a never-ending era filled with peace, an era where nobody had to suffer and everyone went to bed at night happy and fulfilled. That is what he told her when they ascended the tallest peak of Mt. Hou to receive the blessing of the Heavens after she found him. He had been named the Peace King, and just as he promised her, he brought the most peaceful and ever thriving era to the kingdom of Tai that the people have ever seen.
Tairin gently knocks on the door, waiting for permission to enter. “Come in” the wonderful voice of her lord speaks. Tairin feels her heart skip a beat, opening the door. Immediately she is enveloped in the warmth of his Ouki before she could step one foot through the open door. His Ouki was like a warm blanket…no, it was more akin to a blazing fire in the middle of winter. Whenever she was away from him she felt cold, but not the kind of cold you could chase off with layers of clothes or by laying under many blankets.
No, this was a kind of biting chill that pierced her heart and struck deeper than that, a feeling akin to drowning in the frosty, arctic waters of the far north surrounding their kingdom. It was an intense, raw chill that gripped her soul and attacked her entire being. But just a single glance from her master, simply being in his presence was enough to chase the frigid pain away and warm her starved soul. She knew sometimes it was necessary to be away from him, but that didn’t mean she liked it.
When Tairin finally steps in, the room is dim, candlelight flickering softly in the darkness. A figure turns to face her, but the angle shrouds His Majesty's face in shadows. He is staring out a window towards the festivities outside. He turns back to her, the candlelight providing a soft glow from behind, illuminating him faintly. "Close the door" he says, his voice calm and smooth. She does as told, closing the door behind her.
The room falls into a deeper silence, the sounds of the outside celebrations muffled. Gyousou stares at her, his expression unreadable in the shadows. "Come here" he says, his voice soft but commanding. Tairin feels her heart skip a beat, but she obeys. She walks over to Gyousou, stopping only a few steps from him. He looks down at her, his expression still unreadable. The silence is almost suffocating, the tension between them palpable. Tairin, for a moment, wonders if she did something to upset him that she wasn’t aware of. Usually, he wasn’t this quiet with her.
"Closer" he says, his voice holding a hint of amusement in his voice and something else, but she wasn’t quite sure what. Tairin steps closer, looking up at Gyousou a bit nervous. Gyousou studies her for a moment, his eyes roaming over her form. He reaches out a hand, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek. His touch is soft but commanding. "You look..." he pauses, his eyes fixed on her. "...beautiful," he says, his voice quiet. Tairin smiles faintly, "thank you Your Majesty" she says softly. She was more than happy to hear him praise her appearance. She always put special care into it, so she was always happy to hear him say that.
Gyousou's hand moves from her cheek to her chin, his thumb tracing her jawline gently. He gazes at her intently, his eyes seemingly unreadable, especially in the dim light."You don't need to be so formal," he says, his voice quieter than usual. "You can call me by my name."
She smiles, "thank you lord Gyousou" Tairin’s voice was as soft spoken as always. Gyousou's fingers move from her chin to her hair, gently pushing a stray lock behind her ear. His touch is soft, almost reverent. "Why do you always have to be so...polite?" he asks, his voice holding a mix of irritation and amusement. They had been master and kirin for many years by now, too many for Gyousou to keep track of. So why was the woman in front of him, his one and only kirin, so distant with him still?
"I...forgive me lord Gyousou," she says softly. Gyousou's hand stops in her hair, his touch growing firmer for a moment before loosening. He steps a little closer to her, his hand moving from her hair to lightly rest on her waist, pulling her closer to him ever so slightly. Tairin feels her heart jump slightly. It always did odd things when her lord touched her in such a gentle way. She wasn’t exactly sure how her master saw her. En-Ou and En Taiho had a relationship like brothers. Sai-ou and Sai Taiho had a relationship like a grandmother and her beloved grandchild. Han-ou and Han Taiho had a relationship like parent and child.
Yet she couldn’t quite place a title on her and her own master’s relationship. They...just were. Sometimes he touched her in ways that were brief but made her feel in ways she sure was a sin. Other times those gentle touches made her feel secure and safe instead of like a flustered young maiden. It was confusing for her, but she never once questioned him.
"You don't need to apologize," he says, his voice gentle. "But...you always try to keep your distance." He adds with a raised brow. "I do not, you're the one who has kept me at a distance, not even summoning me as of late" Tairin crosses her arms with a small pout, turning from her master. Gyousou's eyes widened briefly, surprised by her unexpected fit. He lets out a small chuckle, his hand tightening its grip on her waist slightly and turning her to face him once more. "You're quite observant," he says, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "I suppose...I have." He gazes down at her, his eyes searching her face for a moment before he speaks again. "But not for the reasons you think."
"Then what was the reason lord Gyousou. Are...you upset about last time?" She asks softly. Gyousou's expression softens slightly, surprise momentarily flashing in his eyes. "You're more direct than usual," he remarks, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He remains quiet for a moment, contemplating how much he should reveal. "I'm not upset, nor did you do anything wrong" he says finally. "But... I have been...distracted."
"Distracted about what lord Gyousou?" She asks gently. Gyousou hesitates for a moment, his eyes drifting over her face before settling on her eyes. "You" he says quietly, his voice a low murmur. "You've been on my mind as of late," he admits, his hand on her waist moving to rest on her hip. Tairin thought that made sense. They had both been very busy as of late. In her mind, he must have missed her a lot, maybe almost as much as she’s missed him. But at the same, she didn’t believe he missed her in the same manner she had.
"I've missed you too, lord Gyousou," she says truthfully. Gyousou's eyes flicker with surprise, perhaps expecting a different response. He studies her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You have, have you?" he asks, his voice holding a hint of mockery. He steps a little closer to her, their bodies almost touching. "I have" she says matter of fact. Gyousou's eyebrows raise slightly at her matter-of-fact tone. He lets out a soft chuckle, amused by her unflinching honesty.
"You've missed me" he repeats, his voice holding a hint of mild amusement. He pauses for a moment, studying her face intently. "Just me, hm?" he asks, leaning in closer. "Yes" she says softly, her breath catching in her throat slightly. He was...close. She tries to keep eye contact, but she looks down in a matter of seconds. Gyousou is close now, his body mere inches from hers. His hand tightens on her hip, his fingers digging into the fabric of her kimono.
"Just me?" he repeats once again, his voice carrying a slightly mocking tone. His other hand comes up to cup her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "No one else?"
"No one else," she confirms. Gyousou's eyes darken as he looks down at her, his expression filled with the sparks of a small flame and something else, something he was trying hard to hold back. But Tairin wasn’t quite sure what. "You're certainly a mystery," he murmurs, his hand on her chin slowly trailing down to her neck, his fingers tracing the soft skin before resting there. "Always so honest...yet I can never tell what's truly on your mind."
He leans in a bit closer, his lips nearly touching her ear as he speaks. "You've no idea what you do to me" he whispers, his voice low and husky. Tairin felt her stomach flip. Lord Gyousou wasn’t usually like this, maybe teasing her from time to time with his words but never like this. But maybe she was thinking of this all wrong. Maybe?
"Then tell me," Tairin says, gulping. Gyousou's breath hitches momentarily at her directness, surprise flickering briefly in his eyes before being replaced by a hint of desire. He moves his hand from her neck to the back of her head, his fingers gently tangling in her hair. He pulls her closer to him, their bodies now almost pressed together, his other hand on her hip pulling her against him. "You...drive me mad," he husks, his voice low and filled with a hint of desperation. "You have no idea the effect you have on me...the things I want to do. "
Tairin feels her heart jump from her chest. She froze, unsure of how to react. But her mouth opens before her brain could catch up, "then...do them, lord Gyousou. Whatever you wish to do to me, I will accept it. Do it" she says, her heart racing so hard it ached slightly. Gyousou's eyes widen, surprise and desire clear in his expression at her words. He didn't expect her to be so...open, so accepting. For a moment, he remains still, his fingers tightening in her hair, his other hand moving from her hip to the small of her back, pressing her firmly against him.
"You...are dangerous" he murmurs, his voice rough and filled with a mix of desire and a hint of warning. "You can't just...say things like that."
"I know...but, I don't want to burden you. So...please do not hold yourself back lord Gyousou" she says softly, looking up at him through half lidded eyes. Maybe this was more of her selfish desire than her wishing to take a burden from her master, or maybe both. She wasn’t sure, and she didn’t think she quite cared enough to try and figure it out. Gyousou lets out a strangled, ragged breath as he gazes down at her. Her words, her look, the way she was pressed against him, it was driving him mad. He didn’t know if he could hold back anymore, not with her so willingly submitting to him.
"You...have no idea what you're asking" he murmurs, his voice a low growl. In one swift motion, he pushes her back, pinning her against the wall, his body pressed firmly against hers, his grip on her tight, possessive. "I think I do, so...please don't restrain yourself anymore...lord Gyousou" she says softly, looking up at him. Her words, her eyes, her complete and utter submission, it was driving him absolutely mad. He stares down at her for a moment, his eyes filled with a mix of desire and something primal, before finally giving in.
He grabs her wrists in a firm, almost bruising grip, pinning them against the wall above her head with one hand. His body is pressed firmly against hers, his body pinning her against the hard surface. He leans in close, his lips just barely grazing her ear. "I am warning you, Haru. Don’t say something you will regret" he says, speaking the name he gifted her. The name that makes her his Kirin out of them all. It meant “Spring”, it was given to her to represent the new beginnings of Tai now that they had finally had a king and kirin to guide them to a bright, sunny future.
"I won't, I hear your warning I...simply wish to ignore it" she says honestly, a shiver running up her spine. Gyousou's grip on her wrists tightens at her words, his body pressing her even harder against the wall. He lets out a low grunt. "You really...are going to be the death of me" he husks, his voice a low, ragged murmur. His lips brush against her ear once more, before trailing down to her neck. Tairin doesn't stop him, allowing him access to her neck as the collar of her kimono comes undone a little, allowing some of her collarbone to show. A rare sight.
Gyousou buries his face in her neck, his lips trailing along the now exposed skin, his body pressed so close to hers she could feel his every exhalation. With every touch, every caress, his desire only seemed to grow stronger. He releases her wrists, his hands roaming over her body before settling on her hips, his fingertips digging into her flesh through her kimono layers. He nips and sucks at her skin, his kisses now rough and hungry. He pulls her hips against his, another grunt escaping his lips. "lord Gyousou..." Tairin lets out a soft mew without realizing it, the feeling of his hands over her kimono, it was new and a little scary but...it didn't feel wrong.
Gyousou's body tenses when he hears her moan, the sound sending a spike of desire through him. She was rarely vocal, and to hear her respond like this...it only fueled the fire that was rapidly growing out of control. His hands find their way to her hips again. He doesn't respond, merely continuing his assault on her neck, his kisses becoming more impatient, more demanding. He wanted to touch her more, to do something he knew he shouldn't do, and feel her body against his, skin to skin. To create a relationship never before heard of between Ruler and kirin.
Relationships like this, between a ruler and their kirin were unheard of, taboo even. He should stop, he needed to stop, what if the Heavens punished them for this sinful act? He needed to get a grip and pull away, but...he didn't want to. The moment his hands make their way to her obi and start undoing it, when stepping back to create a bit of space between their bodies, allowing the outer layers of her kimono to fall undone he realizes; he didn't care. That he couldn't stop, he didn't want to stop. The moment her kimono fell completely to the floor, revealing more skin to his hungry gaze, he knew there was no going back. All thoughts of propriety, of taboo, vanished from his mind, replaced by an overwhelming desire to claim her, to make her his in a way no kirin had belonged to their master before.
Gyousou couldn't help but stare. Tairin was usually clothed in layers of clothes that hid her figure and gave her a modest look. But without them he could see what she truly looked like, she had a curvy body, both her bosom and ass were nicely sized, enough for him to grip firmly with his large hands. He pushed against her again, pinning her against the wall as he tugged at the inner layers of her kimono, revealing more and more of her to him. He leaned in, his lips trailing over her exposed collar and shoulders, his hands roaming freely over her body, exploring every inch of her skin.
There Tairin stood, completely bare before her master, her owner, her king. But...she didn't feel as tense or scared as she thought she would. "Your heart is racing" Gyousou says softly, kissing her neck gently. "Do I scare you?" He asks softly. "No, lord Gyousou. I...am just nervous" she says, gasping softly between her words when she feels Gyousou suck on a particular sensitive mark he made on her neck. Gyousou lets out a low chuckle, the feeling of her body shuddering and the soft gasp she lets out from his touch going right to his head.
"You're being honest once again" he murmurs, his lips still trailing over her neck, her collarbone. He stops at the sensitive mark, applying a little more pressure, his tongue trailing over it. "You've nothing to be nervous about" he whispers, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "All of this...it's for you. All for you, my dear kirin".
"lord Gyousou, I...am a little...worried," she says, small moans escaping her as she tries to speak. The sound of her moans, the way she was pressing against him, how bare and vulnerable she was before him...it was driving him mad with desire. "Worried about what, my dear?" he murmurs, his lips trailing back up to her ear, his teeth nipping at the lobe. His hands roam over her body once more, seemingly everywhere at once, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.
"What if...we are caught, if someone walks in?" She asks softly. She knew no one, not even herself who held a rank only second to the man before her, would dare to step into the king's private study without permission. But the thought still danced faintly in her mind. Gyousou lets out a husky chuckle at her words, his lips grazing over her ear. "Trust me, my dear. We won't be interrupted" he murmurs, his hands roaming further down her body.
"No one would dare enter without my permission" he says, his voice fi
