by Max Jager
With a sigh as she turned her worried eyes to her daughter's mate, Sorae had a pleading in her eyes. "Kamui…."
"Yes My Lady?"
Reaching out and laying a hand on his arm, Sorae had tears missing in her eyes. "Just make sure to keep close to her. If you see her acting a fool use whatever force you have to use to stop her. If he did bond during their fights like they do in the lower levels, his demon is in this. I fear if pushed too hard he won't see the difference between a threat on her and pack. Please…."
Giving a low sweeping bow, Kamui smiled. "Say no more My Lady. Though I do think that we should catch them before they leave without us and do something we cannot stop."
"Right."
X
With a sigh as the evening started to set, Yokiyo smiled contently as she leaned back against the half bed that was sitting on the balcony of the room that she now shared with Kiyoshi. He was in a court meeting, and Imae was training in the gardens bellow with Umarus as Yoite kept a watch out. Thanks to Takara she had a hot cup of tea next to her. Life couldn't be more perfect for her right now.
Her brother and his demon mate now lived close by and since that first time either they come to her or they go see them. The only thing that would build on the perfection was if her parents were alive to see the bliss that the 'demons' that they mated them have brought to their lives.
"My Lady?"
Blinking as she looked up, Yokiyo giggled with a smile at Takara. "I am sorry did you say something? I was a little lost in thought."
Dropping her hands to fold before her Takara smiled as she gave a bow. "I asked if there was anything else that I could get for you."
Laughing again as she shook her head no, Yokiyo smiled. "NO Takara thank you. I am sorry I didn't hear you the first time. I was just thinking about how much my life has changed and for the better. Not how I would have planned it but that makes it that much more special right?"
"Exactly My Lady."
But then she cast worried eyes down. "Now the only thing I gotta do is convince his parents and sister to back off and then the other Lords they can't kill me so easy."
Turning to leave Takara giggled as she closed her eyes with a bright smile. "I have no doubt that you will do what you need to do My Lady. Lady Yukani may be the first to come around once you and her have a good talk. Then the rest will follow. You shall see."
"I hope it is that simple." Taking a drink of her tea again as her body fully relaxed again. They sent the messenger to time it to where they would be there the next day. Looking up as the sun started to change the colors in the sky she sighed. By morning she knew they would leave and fly, so by tomorrow afternoon she would have to start. "Which isn't much time before I face my first challenge as his mate and Lady of the South."
"What might that be miko?"
Looking up as he stopped next to her Yokiyo smiled as she looked up at them. "Dealing with your parents when they get here tomorrow. The way you talk they should be here tomorrow afternoon."
"This is true." Kiyoshi then reached out and brushed her bangs from her face. "You are worried about it?"
"I am." Sliding over so he could sit with her Yokiyo sighed. "But it does need to hurry up and get here so I can get it over with. Then the presentation and then no more drama to deal with."
"Indeed." Kiyoshi then revealed the small box that was in his hand as he sat it on his lap. Reaching out he couldn't help but run his fingers through her black hair that was just as long as his and always flowing free. One thing he enjoyed doing the most. "They may be here before the sun reaches it's midpoint. If I know father and Yukani."
Closing her eyes as he held her hand Yokiyo smiled. "Good. The sooner I make friends with them the sooner we can get the presentation over and then get back to normal. Well normal for us anyway."
"Agreed." Kiyoshi then smiled as he reached up and tapped her under her chin to make her look at him. Handing her the box. "It is clear not only to the two of us but everyone in this palace that our bond is to the point it cannot be broken. My bond is beyond the point of no return. You will forever be the only mate that I will ever have." Opening the box and watching as her eyes went wide as she looked at it he took a deep breath. "When the bond is to our point, this is presented to the Lady of the South."
With wide eyes and gentle hands, Yokiyo lifted the box from his hands and opened it. Lifting it by the chain she was shocked that it looked so strong but was so weight weight as well. She felt like she could break it. Her eyes stuck to the pendant she didn't even look up at him, though her voice was little more than a whisper. "So once I put this one, it is the same as announcing to the world that I am Lady of the South?"
Watching her closely, Kiyoshi nodded. "That is correct." But when she kept her head down and handed the necklace back to him, for a fraction of a second his heart stopped. "Yokiyo?"
Once he took it from her she turned her back to him and moved her hair as she smiled over her shoulder. "Put it on me?"
Smiling, Kiyoshi put his arm under her hair and wrapped the chain around her neck fixing the clasp, letting it fall to her neck, the pedant landing right on her chest over her miko outfit. Turning her to face him, he smiled and pulled her into his arms. "Lady of the South."
Sliding her arms up his chest to twist around his neck, Yokiyo smiled as she laughed. "You know the more I hear that, the more it is starting to grow on me."
Still smiling, Kiyoshi pulled a gasp from her as he lifted her feet from the floor from around her waist, calling his cloud as he flew off from the balcony with one destination in mind. A waterfall. His parents would be there by the next afternoon and he wanted just a little time alone with her before they were there doing all they could to disturb it.
Blinking as he flew, actually very fast through the air, Yokiyo was about to ask him where they were going when she heard the sound. As it came into view she gasped as her eyes went wide. She had no clue that there was a waterfall that was so close to the palace. "That is breathtaking."
Landing on a small ledge, Kiyoshi walked behind the waterfall and laughed. Leaning down he nipped at her neck and pulled a gasp from her as he growled. "I would say I hold the breathtaking one here."
With a giggle, Yokiyo shivered as almost instantly she felt herself laying on the soft sand that covered the cave floor. Her black hair splayed out around her as his mingled with when he covered her with his body. Her arms twining around his neck as his hands roamed her body and he kissed her. Moans escaping them both.
X
Late that night, after they came home and put Imae to bed, Yokiyo found herself curled up against Kiyoshi yet again. But her mind was reeling at the moment. She couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen when his family got there in the morning. She knew they were not going to be happy but she had to wonder if the other Lords and some of his men were going to be bold enough to try and kill her would his parents or sister try to do the same thing?
"You are restless tonight."
"I was just thinking about what your family may or may not do when they get here. You already told me that they won't be happy about what we have done. But I have to wonder if they will try to kill me like everyone else is going to be doing at the presentation." Rolling on her stomach, but with her head still on his chest she sighed. "You don't think they will do that do you?"
"I do not know. They may think the bond isn't like it is at first and try. Starting out you will just stay with me at all times. You may see fighting but that is something that would happen if you were there with me or not."
With a giggle as she moved again and curled against him, Yokiyo closed her eyes. "Well I got a feeling the fighting is going to go on for years and years to come to a point. Being mated to a human and having half demon pups. You got your work cut out for you in the years to come."
"Our pups will show them themselves that they should not underestimate my choice in a mate or their mother." Taking a deep breath he sighed. "Sleep. Tomorrow is a busy day."
"First a visit to Senri and Zokeni. Then your parents should be here soon after that and the fun starts."
"Indeed."
The Priestess and The Demon Chapter 69
Looking up at the small knock on the door of their small home, Senri blinked as he sat by the fire cleaning his spear. "Who could that be? Zokeni?"
Giggling as she went toward the door she winked at him. "Kiyoshi, Yokiyo and Mia." She then opened the door and watched as Imae vaulted into the house and lunged into her mate's arms. "Well looks like she likes you."
Laughing Senri hugged her back for a second then eased her out of his arms. "My niece better like me." Smiling at the little girl, the last few weeks, seeing his sister truly happy he wasn't about to put a damper on it and just embraced it. He didn't expect to have a six-year-old niece at twenty-three, but that was what life gave him. He then looked up at his sister as they walked in. "What brings you all out here?"
Smiling as she watched Imae stand right before her brother, Yokiyo pointed at her. "Imae wanted to come and see where you live at. And to tell you that the presentation is in two weeks. His parents and sister will be there today and then two weeks later, the presentation."
Nodding as he stood, Senri crossed his arms. "Good. We will be there in a week." Feeling a tug on his clothes, Senri looked down and blinked. "What is it Imae?"
"Since you are coming early, will you help train me?"
"Train you?"
Nodding as she put her hands behind her back, Imae giggled. "Father is training me to fight. I want to learn all that I can learn. So will you Uncle Senri?"
Laughing, Senri ruffed her hair. "Of course. I will show you some of my moves not a problem."
Looking up at Yokiyo, Zokeni smiled. "How long are you going to stay here for?"
Laughing, Yokiyo looked up at Kiyoshi as she smiled. "Kiyoshi said that there was something that he wanted to show me so we aren't staying long. We were wondering if Imae could stay for the day and we will come back and get her later?"
"Of course." Lifting his niece he sat her on his shoulders and laughed as she wrapped her arms around his head then looked up at Kiyoshi. "Don't worry she will be fine. We won't let anything happen to her so get out. We got some sight seeing to do don't we Imae."
"That's right! I will see you later Father. Mama."
"See you later Imae."
Walking out into the city, Zokeni smiled as she watched the two fly off. "So I know we were going to start working on a family now that you are done trying to find Shinra. I wonder which of us get pregnant first?"
Laughing Senri grabbed her hand. "Well I would say us on that one for sure. They won't have a lot of time right now to worry about it." He then looked up at Imae. "Hey do you wanna skip the sight seeing and just go get some training in with me? This town doesn't have much right now."
Her eyes shining Imae gave him a sharp nod as she giggled. "That would be great!"
Watching as the two talked while they headed back to their house to go out back, Zokeni couldn't help but smile. She knew that Senri would be the best father. Though she was sure that he wanted a son, he would be a good dad to a daughter too.
X
Flying toward the waterfall, Kiyoshi smiled as he held his mate in his arms. He had a special place that he wanted to show her. In one of their conversations about her mother, she told him that she would wear a camellia in her hair when she found them because that was her mother's favorite flower.
Looking up at him, Yokiyo blinked as they flew right past the waterfall. "So we aren't going back to the waterfall then?"
Laughing as he looked down at her, Kiyoshi shook his head. "Not now. We can stop on the way back to get Imae if you wish. I have something else that I wish to show you." Then just as he looked up he smiled and slowed his cloud. "This."
Looking straight, Yokiyo gasped as tears sprang to her eyes. It was an entire field full of red, white and pink camellia flowers! "Camellia! Your mother had a place where I was told that she always wanted to grow them, but they never lived for some reason. I had no clue that you were this close to a whole field of all three colors! Mama would have loved it here."
Landing in the field he watched with a smile as she dropped down and plucked a pink one out. "I never was fond of pink. Ever. But Mama always loved this one. So this was the one I would seek out when I wanted to remember her."
Moving to stand in front of her as she stood up, Kiyoshi pulled the flower from her hand and tucked it in her hair just behind her ear. "It fails in comparison."
"Smooth talker." Yokiyo then sighed as he dipped his head and seared her mouth. Twining her arms around his neck she pushed herself even closer to him. Giggling when he growled and had her on her back dipping his mouth down to her neck. "I think…..the flowers is better right now."
"Good. Or both." Kiyoshi then pushed her shoulder down as his hand began to massage her breast. He was going to enjoy the last couple of times before his pack was there to drive them insane.
X
Arriving at the palace just as the sun was getting ready to set behind the mountain, Kurosai growled when he didn't smell the Imae, Kiyoshi or the miko there. Falling from the sky with Sorae, Yukani and Kamui following suit on her mount he glared. Storming toward the palace he growled when he saw Umarus headed out and toward them. "So where in the hell is that damned kid of mine at?!"
Stopping as they reached each other, Umarus smiled as he crossed his arms. "Well it is good to see you too."
Throwing his arms in the air, Kurosai growled. "Never mind that where is Kiyoshi? And why didn't you do anything to stop it!?"
Laughing, Umarus shook his head. "They are actually not at the palace at the moment. He, Lady Imae and Lady Yokiyo went to a nearby village to visit with her brother and his demon mate. They shouldn't be gone much longer."
Crossing his arms as his eyes narrowed at him, Kurosai growled loudly. "Why in the hell are you calling the miko that?"
Laughing as he turned to go toward the stables with Yukani's mount, Umarus waved a hand in the air. "Because that is what she is. You will figure that out soon enough I am sure." Stopping just before he turned a corner in the garden Umarus turned back to see Kurosai and Yukani growling at him, he turned serious. "Though just a fair warning. Don't dig your heels in even as much as you did with Imae. Trust me you won't like the outcome this time."
Her dark blue eyes wide, Sorae watched as Umarus vanished as he went around the corner. Could that mean what she fears. Turning her eyes to her mate she grabbed his arm just before he walked away from her. Pulling his eyes down to hers. "Be careful how you go about with this one. Of all the demons in the world that know Kiyoshi, the only ones who know him well at all are the four of us and Umarus. Heed what he says."
With a sigh, Kurosai pulled his arm free from her. "What I am going to do is beat some damn sense into that boy and make sure he sends that bitch the hell out of the palace. That is exactly what I am going to do." He then turned and walked to the wall of the palace and jumped up sitting in a tree right next to it taking a deep breath. 'Damn him! I will not let this one go like I did with Imae. I won't do it.'
X
Going to her room in a huff, Yukani crossed her arms as she growled. "How could he do something like this!? I swear he is being stupid."
Annoyed at the way she judged the situation, knowing that she really couldn't do anything about it, Kamui growled as he glared at her. She need to stop this and but out of what her brother did. "You know that if your mother is right and his demon is doing this, it isn't just like he woke up one day and decided to mate her."
"I don't believe that his demon is in this at all. I am betting that Imae got him to do it so that she could feel like she had a whole family. I am going to kill her is what I am going to do. Just make it look like an accident in the woods or….." But then she gasped when she felt herself flat on her back on the bed with her mat pinning her legs and hands to the bed. "Kamui! What the hell are you doin
g?"
"You need to wake the hell up and listen to how you are talking Yukani. Even if this is all for Imae, do you really think that you can destroy his mating, make Imae cry, see her tears and hear her sobs daily and not die a thousand deaths inside? Knowing that you are the reason?"
As frustrated tears streamed down her face, Yukani glared up at him with a growl. "What do you want me to do!? I can't stand by and do nothing! Watch as my brother makes a miko and has half demon pups! If she can have pups with him at all! I can't!"
Refusing to let her up as she started to struggle, Kamui growled at her. "What would you have done if your brother told us that it didn't matter if I saved you that day or not, if we were bonded or not, that he refused to allow us to mate? Or if your father would have done the same thing and didn't care what it did to you?"
