Kikuri

Kikuri (キクリ, Kikuri), most commonly called Himeou (秘女王, Himeou), is the leader over the kingdom and with her strong Amatsuriki, she keeps the powers of the Hayagami in line.

Personality
When first introduced, Kikuri is shown as kind and mature (partially due to her true age being aroung sixty). However, the shinshou see her as cold and duty-oriented. Her cold personality comes from trying to maintain her duties and take responsibility, and to make certain others stay in line. Kikuri watches over her people and refuses to let them suffer. As Himeou she has to disregard her personal feelings, she suffers from seeing people die and suffer and faces rejection from people she had to turn her back on thanks to her duty (ex. Yataka). Kikuri willingly abandons her feelings and everything she has to protect the civilization in Amawakuni. She serves a spiritual guide to Arata Hinohara at the beginning of his journey and is the one who helps to motivate him into saving Amawakuni.

History
50 years ago, Kikuri asked Yataka to help her visit her ill mother who lived in his territory. Yataka choose to listen to her plea and help her; he uses his Utsuho-No-Kagami to turn her into a beautiful maiden that catches his eyes. After successfully visiting her mother, Kikuri and Yataka form a friendship that soon develops into love. She falls in love with Yataka after he comforts her from her mother's passing and considered eloping with him. However,she discovers a rogue Shou has gone berserk in Muroya and decides to resume her duty as Himeou and is forced to treat Yataka coldly so he could stop pursuring her since more important matters were at hand. Her coldness towards him hurts her and causes her emotional pain that she keeps hidden.

Amawakuni/Japan Arc
Himeou is introduced at the ceremony where she was to hand over her title as Himeou to the next female successor whom is Arata. Himeou is performing the first ritual; but before the ritual is completed Kannagi strikes her down. She tries to fight back, but is severely weaken and the other Shinshou make no effort in saving her. The citizens all deem her dead, until it is discovered she is in a catatonic state.

At the trial, the minister revealed her corpse to the citizens, everyone is horrorified at Himeou's painful death. Before the trial ends, Arata Hinohara confronts the Twelve Shinshou on their betrayal, she tries to whisper to Hinohara's mind,but he fails to notice her voice. She then reaches out to Arata Hinohara in a vision created by their Michihi-No-Tama spells and told him to save the citizens and herself to prevent from chaos and war. She also informed him that her body continues to grow, but once she reaches her real age she will die. Kikuri believes in Arata and that he will protect the citizens after learning he is Tsukuyo's Shou and will return the Hayagami to revive her. Afterward,Himeou disappeared in the vision.

Kadowaki Arc
The servants at the capital were surprised of Himeou's body aging meaning she's still alive. The Six Shinshou then appear at the capital, stating they will find a solution to break her Amatsuriki membrane, but lie about her status must be kept secret. While the servants disappear, the Six Shou then examine Himeou's body, and attempt calculating a way to eliminate Arata Hinohara and his Tsukuyo to prevent Kikuri's recovery. Later on,the Six Shou introduced the unconscious ruler to Kadowaki, with the offer he must kill her to defeat Arata.

Yataka Arc
Her lifeless body has now grown to a mid-twenty age and was checked by her former lover Shinshou Yataka. Upon Yataka's reaction,he then cruelly tells her lifeless body he wishes she should die. Struck by Yataka's harsh words,she painfully shed tears in her unconsciousness.

After Arata defeats Yataka, Yataka tells the group he truly loved Kikuri all along and feels ashamed he didn't attempt rescuing her at the ceremony. Kikuri can hear his explanation and cries over how both of them feel guilty for turning their backs on one another.

Inra Arc
Three of the Six Shou members check on her body again and this time,she is now in her late-twenty and soon enough she will reaches her real age.

Abilities
Amatsuriki (アマツリキ, Amatsuriki) is Kikuri's main power of the Himezoku. As a Himeou, she's able to seal the Kamui within all the Hayagami and vanquish Kamui from chaos and submission. However her Amatsuriki began to grow weaker after thirty years of being pushed back to resume her duties.

Relationships

 * Yataka: Her beloved. Kikuri grows to love Yataka when he shows kindness to her in her grief. She considers dropping her title,until learning of her future candidates deaths. She is deeply sorrowed on leaving Yataka to resume her duties.

Trivia

 * When translated from kanji, Himeou (秘女王) means Secret Queen.