In those days, romance and marriage were allowed between half-sisters and brothers from different mothers but not between half-brothers and sisters from the same mother; however, in the comic story "Tenjo no niji (The Rainbow in the Sky)," by Machiko SATONAKA, it is described that there was a romance involving this kind of forbidden love; Hashihito no Himemiko was persuaded to marry with Karu no Miko (Emperor Kotoku), but she kept the relationship with Emperor Tenchi (Tenji), and Arima no Miko was furious after knowing this and became angry at Hashihito no Himemiko.
異母兄弟姉妹間での恋愛・婚姻は許されるが、同母兄弟姉妹間でのそれは許されなかったのが当時の人々の恋愛事情だったが、里中満智子作の天上の虹では実際に関係があった解釈がなされ、説得して伯父の軽大王(孝徳天皇)に嫁がせた後も関係を持った事をたまたま有間皇子に見られ、激怒した彼に叱責された場面等が見られる。