Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Turning and instantly pulling her into his arms, Kurosai burred his nose in her hair and took a deep breath. Calming himself down just as fast as he went into his rage when Hanbei reached for her. After a moment he finally sighed as he closed his eyes. "Sorae. We need to talk. Right now."

  Trembling like a leaf at the situation and his sudden mood changes, Sorae could only nod her head. In the two years that she has been there, she has never seen him act like this and didn't know how to react to him right now. Her father would rage when she or her mother or both were beat. But it was nothing like this. This was different. Almost like he wasn't himself at all right now.

  Standing as he rubbed his jaw, Hanbei glared at Kurosai. "How dare you! Lord Koraen will be hearing about this! I promise you that!" Then he turned and stormed off with his nose in the air.

  Growling after him for a moment, Kurosai then took a deep breath. Wasting no more time he lifted Sorae into his arms and using the speed he was known for, was over the palace wall, through the forest, and leaping up the side of the mountain. Stopping on a ledge that overlooked the palace. Once there he sat her on her feet but didn't loosen his hold on her waist.

  Still shaking, with worried eyes, Sorae looked up at him as he held her in his arms. "Kurosai? Are you alright? You have never acted so…."

  Shaking his head as he dropped it down so that his forehead rested on her shoulder, Kurosai still growled. "I have my reasons for this Sorae I promise. Just don't talk for a moment. Let me completely calm down and I will tell you exactly what is going on right now."

  Nodding, still wide eyed Sorae kept her eyes right at his chest as she gently laid her hands on it. She didn't know that someone as kind and sweet as Kurosai has been, could be capable of such rage. Such violence. She knew with who he was that he more than likely had it in him, but never thought that she would see it like this.

  One final deep breath and Kurosai was finally fully calmed down. "I am sorry if I scared you Sorae. I really didn't mean to do that. But I have a good reason for what happened."

  Still not moving, Sorae just b linked her eyes as she spoke in just over a whisper. "What is that?"

  Moving so that he could make her look up at him, Kurosai's eyes bor down into hers. He had but one question for her before he acted on what his demon wanted. "I want you to tell me how you feel about me. Exactly. On the most intimate of levels."

  Though she tried and tried to will herself to look away and not to cry, her tears sprang forth. She was so madly in love with him that it hurt sometimes to even look at him. Finally able to pull her eyes away from his. "Does it really matter?"

  Making her looking back at him, his eyes holding a look of desperation, Kurosai took a deep breath. "To me it does Sorae. It means everything right at this moment. Please tell me."

  Calling forth all the strength that she could, Sorae pulled fully away from him and turned her back on him as she hugged herself. Tears rushing from her eyes as she took a few shaky deep breaths. "I love you. I have been so in love with you since the day we met. I don't know why you wanted me to tell you it isn't like you…."

  Going to her, Kurosai spun her around to face him, pulled her close as he tilted her head and seared her mouth with his own letting out a low growl. After a few moments he pulled his lips from hers smiling as she gasped for breath. "Are you sure about that Sorae? You haven't noticed anything yet have you?"

  With her breathing hard, Sorae was seeing stars at the moment as she looked up at him with wide and tear-filled eyes. "What are you talking about? Noticed what?"

  With a smile, Kurosai kept her close as he let out a laugh. "How you seem to always know where I am without realizing it? Or how about you can take just one look at me and tell exactly what kind of mood I am in? I used to sit on the roof and watch you for hours without you knowing. Lately I get there and you look right at me with that smile of yours."

  Blinking Sorae just looked at him with a confused look in her eyes. "I do? I haven't noticed that."

  Nodding, Kurosai framed one side of her face with his hand. "Exactly. Like I said about the roof. You just seem to know that I am there instantly. And it is the same for me as well."

  Her hands on his chest in a death grip Sorae kept her eyes locked with his as she started to shake. She was confused now. "So what does this mean then?" Though she hoped he would make her dreams come true she didn't know if she should get her hopes up.

  Flushing her fully against his body, Kurosai laughed with a warm smile. "Sorae. It means that I am right now. At this very moment looking at the new Lady of The South."

  Her eyes going wide again she froze. "You mean that your….."

  "Yes."

  "And that mine in turn…."

  "Yes."

  "So that means that we…"

  Laughing as he pressed a finger to her lips Kurosai smiled into her dazzling dark blue eyes. "Yes Sorae. Our demons have finally decided to lay claim to the other. And from this day forward we will spend eternity together as mates. That is if you will still have me?"

  Dropping her head as her body was once again shaking like a leaf, Sorae then shocked him as she threw her arms around his neck as she sobbed into his shoulder. "I was so scared that another female would have drawn out your demon. And that I would be doomed to live alone and watch you from the sidelines with a family. You just have no idea how happy you have made me with this."

  Holding her tight, Kurosai smiled as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Taking in her sweet scent. "Oh I think I have a clue."

  Making of a Lord Chapter 10

  "I swear I am going to kill you!"

  Arching his eyebrows when a loud growl came from the door just behind him, followed by Sorae's voice. Umarus couldn't help but smile.

  Hearing the amount of anger that was in his mate's voice, Kurosai visibly flinched as he froze from where he paced just outside the door to the birthing room. He could hardly believe that she was pregnant after their first day together. And now a few short months after mating she was birthing their first pup.

  Turning and looking at Umarus who stood between him and the door he had wide eyes and had to ask the question. "Was my mother like that when she was birthing me?"

  Shaking his head with a laugh, Umarus crossed his arms as he looked down at the floor. When Lady Miyu was in labor, the only one that dared to try to keep Lord Kento out was he. In the light of that, it seemed natural that now with the welcoming of the next generation that he would be in the same place. Looking up at Kurosai, he could see Kento doing the same thing. "No actually your mother was nowhere near as vocal as your mate is when she had you. She did however have her own way at keeping your father at bay and on this side of that door. And I must say it was the most effective thing."

  Giving him a slightly scared look, Kurosai could remember only one time that his mother was ever truly angry about something. And she was more terrifying that his father was. "Do I dare ask what that was?"

  Laughing at the look on his young Lord's face Umarus nodded. "He had the same basic look on his face after this that you have now My Lord. With your father being who he was, no one other than me would even try to stand between he and your mother in labor. Your mother let out one small cry of pain the entire time she was in labor. Obviously he pushed past me easy enough and threw the door open, yet didn't cross the thresh hold of the door. When I looked around him to see what happened, the look on your m other's face and the glare she had him fixed was unmistakable. That was all that he needed to keep him onthis side of the door. It was only short time later you were born."

  With a half-smile Kurosai dropped his head. He knew that look. All too well he could remember that look, and the look of giving in on his father's face when he would get it. "Yeah I think I know what you are talking about." Then there was another painful scream from his mate causing him to fixate on the door behind Umarus again.

  With his eyes narrowing, Umarus held his head up. This pup knew what he knew about fighting because
of himself and his father. He wasn't going to get past him. Not like his father did and he knew it. "Don't you even think about it pup."

  With an annoyed growl, Kurosai went back to pacing before the door. "What is taking so long? I can feel her weakening."

  Shaking his head, Umarus closed his eyes. "I bet she is. With what is going on in there. But I doubt that you have even a fraction of the strength to do what she is doing right now without destroying the South."

  Turning a glare and a growl on him, Kurosai crossed his arms. "What is that supposed to mean Umarus?"

  His eyes gleaming Umarus looked into Kurosai's eyes. "Exactly what I said My Lord. To be blunt about it she is pushing something that is the size of a melon out the opening the size of a lemon. Tell me My Lord do you really think you could do that and keep any level of calm like she is?"

  Growling as he went back to pacing, Kurosai was not at all happy with the situation. "I know that! I don't think I could do it, but I would take the pain of it for her if it meant that she didn't have to feel it!"

  "My Lady. With the next contraction, push with everything you have. It is time to see if you have a son or daughter."

  Before Umarus could say anything they both froze and listened closely at the sound of the midwife's voice. Both knowing with what she said, it wouldn't be long now.

  X

  The midwife smiled as she checked on her Lady's progress. Flashes of Lady Miyu when she birthed Kurosai going through her mind. And now she would welcome another generation of dog demons into the palace. "Soon My Lady. Soon we will have another pup in the palace. It has been far too long."

  Relaxing for the short time she could between her contractions, Sorae was near out of breath. "When?"

  "Very soon My Lady."

  Rolling her head to the side, Sorae groaned. "Mama why does this have to take so long! He is driving me insane! I don't think it would be anywhere near as bad as it seems if he would just calm down!"

  With a bright smile, Chiyo once again whipped the sweat from her daughters brow as she laughed. "He is worried about you dear. Even if he was sitting right next to you that wouldn't change. But would stress you out even more. That is why the men are not allowed in here with us when we have our pups. I still can't believe that just a few months after you mated you are birthing your first pup. It is a good thing that the other Lord's trust his judgement with you. I would not have wanted you to deal with the presentation being pregnant."

  Breathing hard, Sorae smiled as she nodded. "I know what you mean. But if I have a son we will have to go through one for him regardless of what they do or do not trust him on. Even so I do wish that this is a…son…"

  As the contraction on her lady peaked, the midwife checked her progress one more time then smiled at her. "My Lady. With the next contraction push with all you have. It is time to see if you have a son or daughter."

  With an excited nod and smile, Sorae anxiously waited for the next one. As the contraction ripped through her body she ground her teeth together as she bore down and pushed with all the strength she had. Nothing. Second time. Nothing. Third time she strained for as long as she could and nothing. The fourth time she took a deep breath and nearly curled her body so that it was folded in half. A few seconds later, the pressure gave way and all the pain fled from her body instantly. Followed a second later by the first cry of her pup! Falling back into her mother's arms she couldn't stop the tears as she looked at where the midwife now had her back to her cleaning her child. "Well? Do we have a boy or a girl?"

  Smiling as she wrapped the tiny little pup in a soft blanket, the midwife turned back to her lady and handed him down to her. "My Lady you have a son." Then smiled as she rested the boy in his mother's arms.

  Looking down at her now calm and stoic son, Sorae smiled as even more tears gushed from her eyes. He was the spitting image of his father. Just where his father's markings were dark blue like hers, her son's were the same ice color blue as his eyes were. And absolutely perfect. "My son."

  Crying just as much as her daughter, Chiyo at one point, just a few short years ago feared that she would never get to experience this moment with her little girl. Leaning down she hugged her and leaned the side of her head on Sorae's. "Oh he is just perfect. Nearly an exact replica of his father, only difference is the markings color. I know you have talked about it. What will his name be Sorae?"

  Never taking her eyes off of her son as she rocked back and forth, Sorae couldn't stop the smile or the tears. She had a son! Looking up at her mother for a second then back down at her son she giggled. "We did talk about names. We settled on one of each. If I had a daughter, we were going to call her Yukani after grandmother. He chose the boy name. So that is what we use. His name will be Kiyoshi."

  With another smile, the midwife leaned down and gently took her young Lord from his mother. "A fine name for a fine son My Lady. I will now present him to his father." She then turned and made her way to the door. Sliding it open, she looked straight up into ice blue eyes that were fixed on the blanket she held. Just like his father before him when he was born. "Everything is fine My Lord and My Lady is just fine and resting comfortably. I would now like to present to you, your son. Lord Kiyoshi."

  His eyes extra wide, Kurosai felt like he was stiff as a board as he took this tiny form into his arms. His heart skipping a beat at the realization now finally that he was here that he was a father! He had a son! Flipping the blanket back from his face, Kurosai felt his heart melting. He was just like him but with ice blue markings! "My son…"

  Stepping up next to his Lord, Umarus felt like he did the day he looked down at Kurosai in Kento's arms. "Well this is a repeat."

  Glaring at Umarus with a half-smile, Kurosai growled. "What is that supposed to mean?"

  A look far off in his eyes, Umarus smiled as he took a deep breath then walked down the hall. "The second time I have looked over a shoulder and seen the same face and eyes staring up at me. Just with different marking colors. Congratulations My Lord."

  Watching as he walked around the corner, Kurosai smiled. "Thank you Umarus." He then walked in the birthing room to where his mate sat on a clean plush bed. Handing her their son he smiled as he kissed the side of her face. "He is perfect my love."

  With an even bigger smile than when she looked at him the very first time, Sorae's eyes stayed on her son. "Isn't he? And I was thrilled when she said that I had a boy. I hoped this whole time that he was."

  Nodding as he sat on the bed next to her Kurosai shook his head as he held a hand out for his son and laughed when he tried to grab it but missed. "Well you got your wish. Now we need to give him a sister in a few years. One that is just as beautiful and looks just like her mother."

  Keeping her smile, Sorae closed her eyes as she rocked her son. "That would be wonderful so long as I can have another and don't take after Mama."

  Though she smiled, Kurosai could feel the pain and fear when he said that and felt horrible for it. Reaching out he ran a hand down the side of her cheek. "I am sorry Sorae. I didn't mean that to upset you on a day where there should only be true smiles on that beautiful face of yours." He felt horrible! But he didn't know what he did either!

  Folding her hands into her sleeves, Chiyo sighed as she closed her eyes. She knew what her daughter was talking about by that statement. Standing she looked down at Sorae and sighed as she smile sweetly at her. "Dear he is absolutely perfect. I can't wait to spoil him. Your mate will be right back." She then looked up at the confused Kurosai. "If I could have a word with you outside My Lord."

  With a nod, Sorae opened her eyes as she kept them on her son in her amrs. He was the most perfect thing in the world and he was hers. Once the door slid shut she hugged him to her chest as she let a few more tears stream down her face. "At least I gave him you my son. The heir to the South. Now if I do take after your grandma and can't have another pup, I can be happy with that knowing that as I watch you grow into someone great."

  X

 
Turning on her Lord with tears streaming down her face, as soon as the door closed she took a deep breath. "It wasn't what you said that upset her My Lord. When she was born a daughter and not a son, her father for close to thirty years was adamant about having a son. Trying daily, sometimes more than that when she was younger. Just like my daughter I was one hundred even when I mated her father. Just like my daughter, I was pregnant and birthing her just a few months after I mated. Though I see it as luck was on my side that I never did conceive another pup."

  With confused eyes and looking at her like she had ten heads, Kurosai didn't understand where this was going. "Is it because she is worried that she may only ever have one pup with me? I don't understand why she would worry about that. One pup or fifty I am fine with either."