Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "Perhaps." Giving his sister one of his rare smiles Kiyoshi stood and took a few steps from her and held up his practice blade. "Until father returns, shall we continue with what we were doing?"

  Pulling her spear practice blade up, Yukani giggled. "Oh yeah I think that is a good idea. I was finally starting to push you back this time."

  "You think you were."

  "You really should not underestimate me dear brother."

  "Prove why."

  X

  Walking in their room Kurosai felt the flare of powers as Kiyoshi and Yukani started sparring again. His mate now awake he sat down on the bed with her in his lap nothing more than a sobbing heap. Rubbing her back as he sighed, Kurosai closed his eyes. "Sorae you need to calm down. I will make sure that they can both stand on their own against him. That cub won't get past me and the two of them. He will be massing his army and so will we. Everything will be fine."

  "It is not fine! Everything isn't fine at all!" Clinging to him, Sorae just cried. Her children were the most precious thing in the world to her. And just when she was finally started to relax when it came to them this had to happen! Just the mere thought of someone wanting to hurt them let alone kill them was enough to make her hysterical. She hated having to just stand by and do nothing to stop it! And at the moment that was the only thing she could do. "It isn't fair. It just isn't fair that this had to happen to Chirio and Hiro. Or that our pups have to face this and I can't even do anything to try to stop it. I feel helpless and I don't like it!"

  Tucking her head under his chin, Kurosai knew exactly what she was talking about. For him, it was when Kiyoshi turned ten and Yukani twenty. They stopped needing them as much and were more independent. While Yukani stayed a pup a while longer, Kiyoshi was ten going on a thousand. He hated it but knew that it was part of life as well. They were going to have to stand on their own at one point. Just as he did and Sorae.

  Laying back on the bed with her, he kept rubbing her back as he closed his eyes with a smile. The energies outside of his sparring children were actually quite comforting to him at the moment. "You know Sorae. With how old Kiyoshi is and how well he catches onto things. It won't be long now before I can let him have the title and we can take Yukani to the Southern Shores with us to keep her training going. He will be here on his own to run not only this palace but the South. We will have to trust him to do it right. I know you want to protect them from the world. But right now the best protection you can do for both of them is to let go of them. Yukani will not stay in the Southern Shores forever. Soon as she can she will be right back here with her brother. We both know it."

  Taking a deep breath as she kept her face buried in the side of his chest Sorae was shaking. "You talk like that is your plan now. Giving him the title of Lord the day he can get you down and leaving."

  "You know it has always been my plan to give him Lord when he was two hundred. That is only fifty years from now."

  Going limp as she finally stopped shaking just from lack of energy Sorae took a deep breath. "I know. And I wasn't looking forward to that either. I know he will do good and make us proud. He understands what he must do to keep the lands as peaceful and plentiful as you have. It is just still really hard for me to let them go. Think about how long it took me before I finally stopped trying to make you do the rounds and make him stay home."

  Laughing as he hugged her tightly Kurosai smiled then sighed as another round of sobs came from her as she started shaking again. "I know that love. I know. But our parents let us go at some point. Now it is time to do the same for our pups and let them grow up."

  X

  "You wished to speak with us Father?"

  Looking up to see both Kiyoshi and Yukani walking in, Kurosai sat his scroll down as he sighed. By the time that Sorae finally cried herself to sleep, it was too late for the training to start. It was nearly dark now. Crossing his arms he sighed. "Sit down."

  Once she was sitting, Yukani looked from her brother to her father. He was tense still. "Papa what is it? Is it about what you told us about earlier today?"

  Nodding as he rubbed his neck, Kurosai leaned his arms down on his desk with a grown. "It is. Your mother and I have finally reached an agreement. Though she didn't like it much she finally agreed. Kiyoshi. You and I will go over things more clearly soon. But as of right now this is just the basics of what we are going to do."

  Looking up to see both amber and ice blue eyes of his pups just as serious he half smiled. "In light of what is going on in the North. Not only is the new training starting at dawn. But when we were going to do different things has changed. Yukani." His eyes then focused on his daughter. "You will be going to the Southern Shores with your mother and I when it is time until you can get me pinned with a kill blow in this and dog form. We both know your desire to help your brother with the South and your love of this palace. So your motivation is going to be coming back here. The sooner you get it, the sooner you can come back here with your brother."

  Not giving her a chance to say anything yet, Kurosai turned to his son as he crossed his arms with a serious face. "You Kiyoshi. I will be focusing on your training only starting off. The day you can get me pinned is the day that you become Lord of the South." Seeing the shock that jumped into his eyes he closed his own. "It was always my plan to give you title at two hundred. Then your mother and I were going to leave you and your sister here and go to the Southern Shores and come back time to time to visit and see grandpups. But with this going on. It is being pushed up."

  His eyes wide Kiyoshi was shocked and for once it actually showed on his face. He figured that it would be another few hundred years before his father would retire and let him take over. But if he could take his father down in just three months' time he would be Lord then. But it was the seriousness in his eyes. "You are serious about this aren't you Father?"

  Nodding and keeping eye contact with his son, Kurosai sighed as some relief once again flooded him to know that even grown, his son would still show emotions at some point. Not keep them locked up at all times. "That's right I am. Your sister will get side by side training with you from Umarus while I focus on you starting out. Once yours is done and you are made Lord, she will get the one on one from me in the Southern Shores. I will make sure that you are both more than a match for Motoichi or anyone he might bring or send for anything at anytime. Understood?"

  His emotionless mask back in place, Kiyoshi nodded to his father. He understood perfectly. "Yes."

  Giving her father a pleading look Yukani kept her eyes on his. "So Papa. Once I can do that, then I came come back here to live as long as I want to right?"

  Looking down at his daughter as they all stood Kurosai smiled. "Yukani come here." When she got to him he smiled as he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. Enjoying the fact that at least one of his children showed emotions. And just how big of a daddy's girl she was. "Yes Yukani. Once you can take me down, you can come back here and stay forever if you want."

  As he hugged his little girl, he looked over at Kiyoshi who was reaching out taking some of the scrolls from his desk reading over them. He couldn't believe that his pups were so vastly different. Yukani was a tomboy of sorts, but still liked to learn the 'girly' stuff and could show she was a Lady in every sense of the word. And worried about her family to the point that she would sometimes forget to worry about herself. Openly showing emotion to anyone no matter who was around to see it.

  Kiyoshi however was a pillar of ice and stone. He knew he had emotions, for every once in a while like just a few moments before he would let them slip. Mostly with dealing with Yukani. But they worked well together and the sooner Yukani could get back the better this palace and the south would truly be. At least until Kiyoshi found a mate that completed him like Sorae did for him. 'And I just know that one day when does take a mate, along with his sister. They are going to throw the lands for a loop with how strong they are and how strong their pups will be. I know it.'

  Making
of a Lord Chapter 35

  Growling with a scowl on his face, Kiyoshi once again walked in the palace making his way to his study after three months from home doing the rounds. And even more reasons to hate the human race as his rage for them grew even stronger like it did every time he got back.

  Between the confrontations with three Lords and five different mikos was more than he could deal with. And each confrontation was over something petty that he couldn't care less about and the Lords didn't even talk to him about demons. About wealth. And yet for reasons that were out of his control he couldn't just slaughter then and send them on their way.

  As he reached his study he dropped his head as he sat behind his desk letting his body fully relax. Oddly enough it was this study and his bedroom that were the two places that he found he could really relax in. Just as he let out a sigh he glared at the door as he smelled Umarus stop at it then knock. "What is it Umarus?"

  Walking in and holding two scrolls, Umarus was serious as he knelt before Kiyoshi. No razzing him over not having fun on the rounds today. And no lectures about keeping his smile going. This time he was the bearer of bad news. "My Lord I have some bad news to inform you of."

  Looking at him odd, Kiyoshi arched his eyebrows as he blinked then glanced at the scrolls then back to his eyes. "What is it?"

  Holding up one scroll, Umarus sighed as he closed his eyes. "This arrived not long after you left. You know that Lord Sanzo was given title just a few weeks before you were right?"

  Nodding Kiyoshi crossed his arms. "I do remember. His parents and sister moved to their mountain palace."

  "Well." Sitting the first scroll on his desk, Umarus had sad eyes. "This got here two weeks after you left. Lady Sarigi's guard were escorting her home to the mountain palace when they turned on her. Forcing poison down her throat and then abandoning her. She lived long enough to reach her mate and was able to tell him who did what to her before she died in his arms."

  His eyes wide, Kiyoshi didn't know what to say on that one. Both Torakus and Sanzo were pains whenever everyone was together. But Sarigi. She was the one who kept them in line and a good soul. Would never hurt anyone unless she had to. Why would anyone want to hurt her or kill her was beyond him. "What did Torakus do?"

  Fisting his hands in his lap around the second scroll, Umarus took a deep breath. "After he buried his mate, he set out to hunt down each and every member of her guard. Killing each one slowly. The last four were together and seconds after he killed them, he was so focused on that, a miko of the East got a lucky shot and took him out."

  His body tensed as he froze Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes. Torakus was loud and annoying. But he was a seasoned fighter and lead the charge in finding out all anyone could about the mikos. And yet was taken down by one. Closing his eyes he took another deep breath. "Sanzo?"

  "Went out to hunt her down. When they found him there was nothing but dust in his clothes. He took some of that home in a jar to burry next to his mother. Then went to hunt her down. But he could not find a trace of her."

  Leaning back against the wall, Kiyoshi relaxed as he himself let out a long sigh and opened softened eyes. "I will go and inform Mother and Father about this. And send a message to Sanzo. I am sure Yukani will send one to Ayame as well."

  "There is more." Looking up at his young Lord in the eye, Umarus himself couldn't help but let a single tear shed down his face though he tried to stop it. "I have already sent a message to your parents about what happened with Lord Torakus and Lady Sarigi. I would think that the letters from you and your sister would help. But there was also another death while you were gone. In the West."

  His body tensing as he flinched, Kiyoshi glared. "Shone?"

  "His mother."

  As he paled slightly, a look of utter disbelief on his face, Kiyoshi couldn't move. He thought he was shocked to hear about Sarigi. But Kintare! "You mean that Kintare was…"

  Shaking his head side to side, Umarus closed his eyes as he tried to get his emotions in check. "No My Lord. It was merely a freak accident. She was working in the garden and a baby demon snake was somehow able to mask its scent and presence. Biting her on the hand. It sent so much venom through her body, that by the time she reached the palace she fell inside on the floor and was already gone.

  Fisting his hands Kiyoshi growled then stood up. Kintare was like a second mother to him and now she was gone. That was personal to him, even more so than Sarigi. Headed for the door he growled. "I will send word to Sanzo myself and have Yukani send one to Ayame. First thing in the morning I am leaving and going for the West."

  Standing with a half-smile as the door shut, Umarus just looked at the door then turned to look up at the portrait of Kento and Miyu. Three generations now he has served and looked after. And he hoped many more to come as well. And it all started with his best friend. Someone who in many ways like the father he never knew. "Kento. I hope are watching your grandson my friend. He is a fine Lord. I know that you are as proud of him as myself and his father are. Your legacy hasn't faded in the least in this one."

  X

  Looking up as the doors opened and a guard walked in, Kenji blinked at him with a glare. "What do you want?"

  "My Lord. The miko has returned."

  "Show her in." Keeping his glare from his throne Kenji sighed. With all the peace acts and mutiny going on outside. And Motoichi turning on them just like he knew he would, Kenji chose to stay fully hidden for a long while yet to come. Biding his time before he played his hand against that bastard lowlife of a cub.

  Looking up as the doors opened again, Kenji narrowed his eyes at the miko as she walked in. For whatever reason, she has declared that she was in love with him and wished to become his mate. That she would do anything to prove such. She was young and strong and took on the task of taking out some of the Lords and Ladies.

  But he did wonder and played around with the idea of what a child fathered by a demon and mothered by a miko would be able to do. It had never been done before so it was worth seeing. And she was beautiful. Would be even more beautiful if she was a demon. But he could at least rest easy in the fact that his son wouldn't be ugly with her for a mother.

  Even if she never got pregnant being a miko he would at least have fun with her for a while. And if there was a child and that child didn't have the powers he wanted, he would just do away with her and the child. As she reached the middle of the room he smiled. "You have done as I asked of you then Rena?"

  Stopping to fall before to her knees before him, Rena bowed her head low. "I have My Lord. I was successful in disposing of Kintare of the West. As well as Torakus and Sarigi in the East."

  "How did you do this?"

  Keeping her eyes closed and toward the floor, Rena folded her hand sin her lap. "Convincing Sarigi's guard to turn on her. Offering them my good word for you to let them join your army. I also set them up so that Torakus could take them out for killing his mate. Which is when my arrow found his back. A strategically placed baby demon snake for Kintare."

  Her body tensed when she heard him start to move. Holding her breath she waited for what was about to happen. She was either going to be struck down after he got her to do his dirty work. Or her dreams were going to fulfilled and she would become his mate.

  Stopping to stand over her, Kenji smiled as he knelt down to a knee and used one clawed finger to make her look up into his eyes. "You did well Rena. Taking them out is that many less I have to worry about when the time comes. You have earned the reward that you seek from me."

  Her midnight black eyes went wide as they danced into his misting over with tears. Smiling she dared to breath now. Did that mean that she was really and truly going to become his mate? "Truly My Lord? I have? You will accept my proposal for me to become your mate now?"

  Taking her hand and standing, Kenji nodded as he smiled. "I do. However your purification is my enemy. From this day forth until after you birth my child. You will not use any of ti. After that you will be given an area in
which you can train and use it."

  Her hands clapped together before her Rena nodded as she smiled and tears of joy streamed down her face. She knew his reputation but she didn't care. There was something about her that she just couldn't resist. And now she was going to get to do what she wanted. "I will do what you wish My Lord. To know that I am to become your mate is a dream come true. Anything that you wish to ask of me I will do."

  Pulling a gasp from her, Kenji smiled as he pulled her flush against him from around her waist. Lust instantly clouding his eyes as he looked down at her heaving chest then back to her black eyes. She was a beauty alright. And child or not at least he was going to have some fun with her. "I think that is something we are going to take care of right now."

  Gasping again as he lifted her into his arms, Rena smiled as tears streamed down her face. Then she dropped her head in a blush as one hand rested on her chest and began to knead it walking through the halls. Throwing her arms around his neck she leaned her head down on his shoulder as she let a small moan escape her. She couldn't be happier with the way life was at that very moment. It didn't matter what Kenji asked her to do. She would do it and not think twice about it so long as he didn't send her away.