The Twelve Kingdoms

Haunted by a recurring nightmare, timid, red-haired Youko feels like an outcast, then becomes one after the stranger Keiki appears and swears fealty to her before she is carried off by a winged creature to another world.

Youko, captured and on her way for judgement as an evil kaikyaku from the sea, meets up with classmates Yuka and Asano, who were also transported here but separated during a demon attack.

Attacked on their way for judgement, Youko uses the mystical sword Keiki gave her. Escaping, the three are befriended by a native woman who feeds and clothes them, then offers them work in another town. On the way Youko has another vision.

Takki, their apparent saviour, has less innocent plans for Youko and Yuka than getting them work in an inn. While they make their escape, Asano meets another kaikyaku (people from our world), an old man who arrived before the end of WW2.

Yuka believes herself to be the chosen one instead of Youko, and takes up with the kirin Kourin. After Youko and Asano are separated, she tries to kill Youko, but injures her instead.

Rescued by the rat half-beast Rakushun, Youko recovers and Rakushun tells her about the world of the 12 Kingdoms. Together they head for En, where they will be more kindly treated. Yuka is betrayed.

Youko saves her travelling companions, but Rakushun is hurt. Youko takes up with the entertainers she'd met previously, as their guard. They arrive at the port for her to take ship to En, but it's full of officials looking for her.

King Kou changes Yuka's appearance so she can fight Youko without being recognised - then sends bird demons to do the job when the two young women are on board ship. A larger demon fights the birds, and Yuka changes back to merely human.

Youko and Rakushun are reunited, and go to see a kaikyaku teacher who, with Rakushun, explains more about the world. Youko's fate is uncovered. Fighting invading youmo, she meets King En.

King En takes Youko and Rakushun to his palace, where more explanations of how the royal system works are given. At the same time Yuka is being similarly educated by the kaikyaku teacher. Youko has important decisions to make.

Finding out about the last queen of Kei, Youko doubts her own ability to rule wisely. Yuka finally finds out how King Kou has used and betrayed her, and stops fighting against Youko.

King Kou defeats himself: King En and Youko rout the false queen of Kei and Youko, reluctantly, agrees to take her rightful place. Keiki restores Yuka to Japan, where she finds a strange boy whose art looks like a map of the 12 kingdoms.

Rakushun instructs Youko in the history of the world in which she is to play such an important role, and summarises the story so far.

Keiki and Youko travel to Mt Hou for the new queen's coronation. They detour to Keiki's 'home' and Youko hears the story of Taiki, the missing kirin of the kingdom of Tai.

Taiki learns more of the history of the 12 kingdoms, and of his own nature and destiny.

Keiki and Taiki meet at Lady Gyokuyou suggestion, and although their first meeting does not go well, they soon become friends and learn from each other.

Taiki's first attempt to find the ruler of Tai from among those assembled at the solstice fails - although he does meet two particular people, one of whom he likes, the other of whom scares him.

Taiki tames his first demon - one of the most dangerous in the 12 kingdoms - and chooses the king of Tai, but not in accordance to the will of the heavens.

Keiki, Enki and King En conspire to prove Taiki correct, causing great relief. In the present, in Japan, Yuka is convinced the strange young man belongs in the 12 kingdoms.