Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Jumping to her feet, Chiyo had her crying eyes looking right into his. "So it is true? Lord Kurosai really put a stop to what his plans were? Sorae is alright?"

  Laughing Umarus gave a bow as he smiled. "Safe and sound. My Lady, your things if you would." As she turned and rushed in her home, Umarus turned and looked toward the North. "He will try something I am sure. We will have to keep an eye out for him and anything he may think he can try."

  Once in the house, Chiyo couldn't help but smile as she thought about how much of a miracle this was. Just this morning she feared that she would never see her little girl again. And then Lord Kurosai stepped in and saved her. Stopping briefly after gathering just the few most precious things to them she looked up at the one and only painting that was ever made of her family. A single painting of just her and her daughter not long after she was born. When she was born a daughter, it seemed that was her entire family. Just her and her daughter. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. 'With any luck she and My Lord Kurosai will mate. Then I know even if something happens to me, she will always be protected.'

  Making of a Lord Chapter 2

  Walking through yet another hall with Kurosai, Sorae couldn't help but smile. So much had happened today for her. It started out horrible with a fight with her father about forcing her to mate a dragon. Then she is saved by Kurosai. And now she was a guest in this palace with nothing she had to do at all and could spend the rest of her days doing whatever she wanted. But never having this freedom, she knew she would go insane if she had nothing to do at all.

  As she remembered her first thought when she arrived at the palace she smiled. There were lots of flower beds scattered everywhere but everything in them was dead and wilted. They could be revived and so beautiful. 'I wonder if I asked him if I could if he would let me tend it? Gardening was the one thing that I could take pride in with Mama growing up.'

  Looking up at him as they stopped she gave him a shy smile. "My Lord. Could I ask you a question?"

  With a sigh as he turned to face her fully, Kurosai shook his head. He was honored that she showed him the respect his position and title demanded by calling him 'My Lord' and 'Lord Kurosai' but it just didn't seem right to him to hear it come from her. It was almost disheartening to him in a way. Giving her a wink he smiled down at her. "You may ask me anything you wish, on one condition."

  Blinking as she wasn't sure what that was going to be Sorae stood there for a moment. "What is that My Lord?"

  With a small laugh as he held up one finger in front of her, Kurosai never lost his smile. "My one condition is that you do not call me My Lord or Lord Kurosai when you address me. Not ever."

  Now truly confused and not expecting that to come out of his mouth, Sorae blinked at him as she let her head fall to the side a little. 'Just what does he want me to call him then?' "Well what is it that I am supposed to call you then? My mother taught me from the day I started to talk that you are My Lord or Lord Kurosai. Seeing as you are Lord of the Southern Lands."

  Another wink down at her, Kurosai kept his smile. "Just simply call me Kurosai and that will be absolutely perfect."

  Letting her eyes waver, Sorae looked down at the floor. She didn't know about that. It was such a familiar way of addressing him. And she was nothing more as of right now than the daughter of a disgraced noble. "I do not know if I can accept that condition. You are Lord of the Southern Lands. I am nothing more than the daughter of a disgraced noble. It would not be proper and would not feel right with myself calling you anything less than at the very least My Lord."

  His smile gone, Kurosai sighed as he reached out and once again placed a finger under her chin and turned her eyes up to look into his. The sight of the tears in her eyes making his heart race. "You are not nothing more than a disgraced noble's daughter. As of right now in this moment you are a guest of mine in my palace. And I will not take more or less than just simply Kurosai from you when you address me Sorae. If you can agree to that, then you can ask me anything under the sun and if I am able then it will be yours."

  With a smile, Sorae did her best to blink back her tears and not let them fall. To be so close to him and having him request to address him in such a familiar way was nearly more than she could bear in a way. But for him she was going to have to at least try. Casting her eyes everywhere but his then landing back on his heavenly ice blue eyes she smiled even brighter. "I will try My Lo….or rather Kurosai. It will take me some time however. From the time I was able to talk I was taught to show respect. My mother having taught me that you and your parents were to be referred to as Lord and Lady. My request is for the court yard. The flower beds are overrun with weeds and wilted flowers. I have always enjoyed gardening. Could I please revive it and make it grow? Would that be alright?"

  A broad smile at the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about flowers, Kurosai couldn't help but be reminded of his mother. She got that same sparkle in her eyes when she talked about the gardens as well. "You know I think that is a wonderful idea. My mother had great plans for the garden before her death. I know she would be thrilled to know that they are being brought back to life. And by someone as lovely as she at that."

  With a deep blush, Sorae looked down as she let out a small laugh. She heard many stories from her mother about his mother. Lady Miyu was the embodiment of beauty. "Please. Kurosai I hardly think it fair that you compare me to your mother in beauty. My mother told me all about her. How she looked like a bit of heaven on earth. I could never compare to such beauty."

  Putting an arm around her waist, Kurosai laughed as he lead her down the hall, headed right for his mother's study. "I wouldn't say that Sorae. After all I think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all. Come I have something to show you that you are going to like since you are going to be reviving the gardens."

  Keeping her eyes down, Sorae smiled as she walked along with him. She couldn't believe what was going on still. It all still seemed unreal. 'Oh Mama! Just wait until you come to visit the first time. You are not going to believe what has been going on. I can hardly believe it myself.'

  Once he reached his mother's study he smiled as he placed a hand on the door. One day when he took a mate this was going to be for her to use as Lady of the South. But until then, he would allow Sorae to use it as hers. Especially for the gardens which was a passion of his mother. Looking down at her he smiled. "This is a very special room to me. And until I take a mate, you get full use of it." He then slid the door open.

  Not having the time to ask him what he was talking about, Sorae was ushered through the door to see a room more beautiful and elegant than she could have ever imagined. There was one large window that allowed lots of light into the room that was decorated and painted in soft pastels colors. The mixture of the pastels and the sun lit the room beautifully. "Oh my goodness. It is breathtaking."

  Nodding as he looked around the room himself, Kurosai smiled. His mother took great pride in decorating the room that they were standing in. Looking to the one large wall that had small box shelves lining it. Each one with seeds of different flowers she gathered herself, or ones his father would bring home to her knowing how much she loved it. Looking to the wall behind the desk he smiled to see the portrait of their family. One his mother had done just for this study. The start of the dog demon legacy of the South. Pointing to the picture as he turned her he smiled. "My parents and myself as an infant. You see, she decorated this room. It was her study when she was Lady."

  Jerking her eyes around up to see his, Sorae wasn't so sure about this. "I don't think I can use this then. If it was your mother's study then it would not be right if I were too….."

  "I insist."

  Seeing how even though he spoke to her, his eyes were still on the portrait. Turning herself she looked closely at them. A glance from Kurosai and then to his father she smiled. He looked more like his father. But had the markings from both. His mother had one single stripe on each cheek, his father had a small crescent
moon next to each eye. Kurosai got a perfect mix of that from both his parents, with his father's dark blue color and iced blue color eyes. Other than the one stripe on each cheek he was his father made over.

  Then she turned her attention to his mother as she held him with a bright smile. The one and only Lady Miyu. She was even more beautiful than her mother described her to be. She was the embodiment of pure beauty. Something she could never compare too and wouldn't even try. With her extra-long golden tan hair that looked as if it shined in the sun and her amethyst colored markings no one could compare to her.

  Looking back up at him with her smile still in place, Sorae folded her hands before her. "My mother was right. Your mother was beautiful beyond words indeed. So much more than my mother's words could describe or I could picture. However, I must say that you look more like your father."

  With a warm smile for her, Kurosai looked down into Sorae's blue eyes. "Thank you. Like I told you before my mother had big plans for the gardens of this palace. She spent many centuries gathering all kinds of seeds. And whenever my father would be away, he always brought her home some different kinds of seeds each time." Gesturing to the one wall he laughed at her gasp. "That entire wall, each block has seeds in it. She also detailed each flower, what it looked like, how it grew and colors. She always intended for them to be in the garden. They are now yours to use as you see fit."

  Her eyes extra wide now, Sorae glanced from the wall and then back to his eyes. "Truly? You really want me to use them in the gardens?"

  Crossing his arms as he laughed and then looked back up at his mother, Kurosai nodded. "Mother wanted to use them to turn the entire court yard into nothing but a maze of flowers. She never had the time though. What with myself as a pup. I wasn't exactly good all the time. And then her duties as Lady drew her away from them when I wasn't."

  Looking at the wall of seeds, then her picture, and finally with a bright smile and for the first time in a long time happy tears building in her eyes. "I will do my best to make her proud. Would it be alright if I started today?"

  Turning to the door, Kurosai nodded. "Of course you can. And I know you are going to make her proud. I look forward to seeing it finished." He then slid the door closed behind him as he shook his head watching as she went to the wall whipping tears away as she smiled.

  "My Lord. Lord Koraen has arrived to see you. He has been shown to the reception hall."

  Turning to see the maid he smiled with a nod. "Thank you. We have a new Lady that will be living here at the palace. She is in my mother's study. Be sure that if she needs anything to help her and check on her."

  "Of course My Lord."

  As he walked through the doors of the reception hall, Kurosai smiled at his old friend. "So to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit Koraen?" Reaching him Kurosai crossed his arms as he sighed.

  Giving his friend a smile, Koraen also crossed his arms. "I have come actually on two different things today. The first is that, I have been informed by one of my men of someone acting suspicious."

  Blinking now Kurosai was more curious than worried. "Really? Who is that and what makes them suspicious?"

  His eyes narrowed as he met Kurosai's, Koraen was all work. "It has to do with one of your nobles acting differently than normal."

  Instantly hate filled Kurosai's eyes as he let out a dark growl. "They are talking about Horani are they not?"

  Shaking his head with a smile, Koraen laughed. "I should have known it wasn't missed on you. But yes it is he that they have seen acting suspicious. Totally different than normal."

  His eyes narrowed at the floor Kurosai still growled. "I nearly did miss it. Had I not been thinking about all the other nobles throwing females at me I wouldn't have noticed that his daughter was in my court yard today. When I question him about it, he tried to lie but his true intentions for her came out and it wasn't offering her to me."

  A glare on his face now too, Koraen crossed his arms. "What were they?"

  His eyes now even with his friend's dark blue eyes he fisted his hands as he kept them crossed. "Taking her to the North to mate a noble up there. He tried to change it but he started to say dragon. I just know it was going to be Kenji!"

  A growl of his own Koraen closed his eyes with crossed arms. "Bastard. I never liked him anyway." Then he registered that he thought it 'was' going to be Kenji. "What do you mean was? He didn't do it?"

  Shaking his head, Kurosai sighed as he uncrossed his arms, put one hand on his hip and rubbed the back of his neck with the other. "Once I confronted him about why she was there and it came out I wasn't about to just let him leave with her. He knows how my parents were murdered, that dragons were involved and I wasn't about to let an innocent female be forced to mate with one."

  A little confused now Koraen blinked with slightly wide eyes. "So she is here then? Or is she under guard at her own home?"

  "She is here. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him." Looking back up at him with a sigh, Kurosai half smiled. "Something different to talk about. What is the other thing you came all the way here to tell me?"

  Smiling proudly as he put his hands on his hips, Koraen laughed. "Well it is about Kintare."

  When he didn't say anything right away, Kurosai growled. "Well? You going to tell me or make me guess?"

  Winking at him Koraen laughed. "I will be seeing you in the West in a few months my friend. We are now expecting our first pup. Son or daughter you better come."

  Laughing as he patted his friend on the back, Kurosai smiled. "Well that is good news isn't it. Knowing your luck it will be a son first and you will have to play host to the bird."

  "Oh just shut it." Koraen then gave him a sly smile as he crossed his arms. "You are the one falling behind. Chirio and Yori now have two cubs. Torakus and Sarigi have a son. You are the only Lord that doesn't have a mate and kid yet."

  Not amused and glaring at his friend Kurosai growled. "Not you too. Everyone is on me about it and I am starting to get sick and tired of it. It will happen when it happens and I refuse to force or rush it thank you very much."

  Turning and heading for the door Koraen laughed as he waved a hand in the air. "Well just don't wait too long. You don't want your kids to be three generations behind our kids do you?"

  "Can it will ya!" Kurosai growled at his friend as he laughed. Then he turned seirous. "Koraen."

  Stopping and looking back at his friend, noting how his voice changed Koraen blinked. "What is it?"

  His eyes harder than they had been for a long time, Kurosai growled. "Keep an ear out and if you hear anything about Horani let me know. And if you see him kill him."

  Giving his friend a hard glare and a sharp nod, Koraen took a deep breath. "Right." Then turned to leave. For his own sake, Horani's own sake, he better hope that someone other than Kurosai finds him to kill him.

  Making of a Lord Chapter 3

  Having been so consumed with going over the flowers, Sorae had no clue just how much time had passed. Hearing a knock on the door she jumped and looked at the door with blinking eyes. "Yes? Who is it?"

  Watching as the door slid open, tears sprang from her eyes when she saw her mother standing there with Umarus. Jumping to her feet she rushed to them and threw her arms around her mother. "Mama!"

  Bracing herself for the impact of her daughter, Chiyo welcomed her arms around her once again. Crying as well she just hugged her sobbing daughter. "Oh Sorae. My little princess. I am so happy that you are here and safe. So very happy."

  Her face buried in her mother's shoulder, Sorae was trying to stop the sobs as they came. She couldn't help it. Once she was ripped from her arms this morning she really thought that she was never going to get to see her again! "Mama I was so worried I would never see you again this morning. I really thought I never would!"

  A glance to the smiling face of Umarus, Chiyo rubbed her daughter's back. "As was I my daughter." Then she looked down at her as she eased her out of her arms and framed her face. "Howeve
r. Thanks to our great and wonderful Lord and Lord Umarus here you are here and safe and sound. Never again to know the ugliness that was your father."

  Keeping his smile, Umarus cleared his throat as the two women embraced one more time. "Now that the two of you are reunited. I will take my leave. I need to report back to My Lord anyway."

  Turning to him, Sorae nodded as she smiled and once again eased out of her mother's arms, still holding her hand. "Thank you very much for bringing her here. I will be forever grateful."

  "The pleasure was all mine My Lady." Umarus then slid the door shut as they went back in the study. Turning and following his nose to find his Lord.

  Once she was totally in the room, Sorae wiped her tears as she smiled into her mother's eyes. "Mama. I am so glad you are here right now. I was hoping you would come to visit today. I already talked to Kurosai and he said you can come and visit whenever you want. And…" But then she blinked when she saw the shocked look on her mother's face. "Mama what's wrong?"