Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Sitting on the bed with her, Kiyoshi sighed as he sat her next to him. "You will stay up here with Umarus watching over you tonight for the evening meal. I am going to make it clear that they do not have to approve. But they are not to upset you like this either." Then one of his rare but true smiles graced his face as he let a gentle clawed hand rest lightly on her stomach. "I will not risk losing you or the pup because they wanted to be stubborn."

  With a yawn, Yokiyo nodded as she kissed his cheek then lay back on the bed and rolled over to her side. "I think that is a good idea. I am tired after everything we did today anyway. Then with your sister. Rest sounds really good. Just make sure Takara saves me some food for later."

  "Right." Kiyoshi then leaned over and kissed her forehead, threw a blanket over and left the room. As he opened the door he found Imae standing there with Yoite at her side. "You are ready to go eat Imae?"

  Looking behind him as he slid the door shut, Imae turned worried chocolate eyes up to him as she moved to stand before him. "Isn't Mama coming with us Father?"

  Nodding to Yoite as he lifted her into his arms, Kiyoshi turned and headed down the hall. "Not tonight. Mama is a little extra tired tonight. We will meet everyone for the mal tonight so she can rest."

  "But she is alright?"

  "Yes Imae she is alright."

  With a sigh Imae laid her head over on his shoulder. "Good."

  X

  Looking up as the door opened, the room was tense as they all expected to see the miko walk in with Kiyoshi and Imae. But when he walked in and he only had Imae in his arms they all relaxed and let out sighs as he and Imae took their place at the table. Though the mood was still tense.

  Once everyone was seated and eating, it was Kamui who finally broke the awkward silence as he looked over at Imae with a smile. "So Imae. I hear you have been training with Umarus. How are you doing"

  Swallowing her bit of food, Imae turned and smiled up at him with her typical bright smile. "It is going great! He told me I will be as strong as Father is one day. Mama even trains with me sometimes too. But she told me today that because I am going to be a big sister, she isn't going to train with me for a while."

  "That is a good idea I think." Hearing his mate growl he turned and glared back at the hard glare he was getting from her. Ignoring her, Kamui then turned his focus to Kiyoshi. "So Umarus said that she has a brother?"

  Nodding Kiyoshi didn't even open his eyes as he took a drink of tea. "Yes. His name is Senri. He and his water sprite mate live in a village not far from here. That is where we were at today."

  "I see."

  Taking her own drink of tea Imae giggled as she gave a sharp nod pulling her uncle's eyes to her. "That's right! Uncle Senri said that when I get a little bigger and better at using a sword from Master Umarus, that I can go stay with him and Aunt Zokeni and he will teach me some different ways to fight too."

  Laughing as he leaned back in his chair, Kamui crossed his arms. "That is good. More than one style of fighting always makes it better. You can change it up on them and they won't be able to predict what you are going to do."

  Her eyes going wide, Imae smiled even bigger. "That is what he said!" But then the glance at her Aunt and grandparents she let her smile fade. The looks on their faces. She knew it all too well. The people of the village that she lived in wore that whenever she was around or would hear them talking about her. They didn't like her mother and were not hiding it at all.

  Dropping her head as she let out a sigh that drew everyone attention she turned to her father. "Father may Master Yoite take me back to my room now? I am tired and not hungry anymore."

  Sitting up Yukani had blinking eyes to see such a sad looking little girl. It wasn't Imae at all! "Imae what's wrong?"

  Imae knew everyone was looking at her but she didn't look up as she closed her eyes. She just wanted to go to her room. She loved her family the way it was now with her father and mother. She didn't want to lose it. "Nothing. I am just tired."

  With a sigh Kiyoshi knew that she was sensing what was going on and he wasn't liking this change in her. Not at all. Reaching over he laid his hand on her head and tapped her head with a finger a few times. He would have to have Yokiyo reassure her that nothing is going to happen. "Go on."

  Nodding Imae stood up then wrapped her arms around Yoite's neck as he scooped her up in his arms and headed towards the door. A single tear falling from her eyes just as he left the room she buried her face in his neck. "They really don't like her at all."

  Blinking as he looked down at her, Yoite was caught off guard. "What are you talking about My Lady?"

  Shaking as she tried not to cry Imae took a deep breath. "Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Yukani. They don't like Mama. I really love her as my Mama. I hope she doesn't leave because of it."

  With a small laugh he moved her so that he could look into her sad little face and winked at her as he made his way toward her room. "Do not worry about that My Lady. They just do not know here. And I do not see your mother going anywhere any time soon. Not to worry."

  With a smile, Imae once again hugged him as she giggled. "Thank you master Yoite. That makes me feel better!"

  "That's good."

  X

  Once she was out of the room, Kiyoshi growled as he turned and startled the rest of his pack when he slammed his hand on the table. "You all have three choices. Accept it. Deal with it. Or you can get out."

  Growling as she glared up at her brother, Yukani wasn't holding back with this. "Well had you had a damned backbone we wouldn't be in this situation would we Kiyoshi! It is all your fault."

  Growling, Kiyoshi used all the strength he had to keep from ripping his sister's head off. His eyes starting to bleed he narrowed them into her eyes. "I don't care if you like it or not Yukani. You are my sister not my keeper. Accept it, deal with it or get the hell out. I don't care which one." He then made eye contact with his parents. "I will not have any of you upsetting either of them. Or all of you can just leave now." He then turned and stormed out of the room and headed for his mate. He needed to calm down.

  As he entered his room, Kiyoshi let out a sigh as just the mere sight of her laying in their bed helped him to start to calm down. Curled up under the blanket, a hand laying over her stomach with a smile still on his face. A sight like that and the scent of her being pregnant would be more than enough to pull him out of any rage.

  Going in and sitting on the bed next to her he reached out with the back of a finger and let it slide down her face softly. The last bit of rage at how his pack was acting gone the instant that he touched her skin.

  He certainly never thought that when he did take a mate that it would be a human. And a miko was even further from his mind than just a human was. But by the time he knew he was bonding, he didn't fight it. He had watched others go mad fighting a bond that was there when they realized it. She was strong enough to draw out his demon. That has to say something.

  And yet here he sits in his room with his human miko mate sleeping on his bed, with the smell of his unborn pup mingling with the two of theirs. No he would not have planned to mate with a human miko, but he was not going to fight it either.

  But as he stood and went to change, he had to smile to himself. He did not expect her to get pregnant so soon after mating. He actually figured that because she was a miko that it would take them a while before she was to get pregnant. If then. But to have it happen in two weeks after mating astonished him.

  "And what is it that you are thinking about so hard over there Kiyoshi?"

  Turning and going back to the bed once he was comfortable, Kiyoshi smiled at her as he lay down next to her and pulled her into the middle of the bed with him. As she pushed against him and sighed, the overwhelming feeling of contentment filled him. Once again reassuring him that not fighting it was the right thing to do. "Just still astonished that you are already pregnant."

  Laughing Yokiyo closed her eyes. "And why do you say that?"

  Le
tting his eyes drift shut as well, Kiyoshi began to methocically run his hands through her hair. "Simply because of what we are. We are by definition the natural born enemy of the other. I figured that it would take a few times before you actually got pregnant and it took hold."

  With her hand still over her stomach, Yokiyo smiled as she let out a sigh. She had actually figured the same thing. She knew that being pregnant so soon was helping with his family. He didn't have to worry about them trying to kill her and they knew that she wasn't going anywhere. But she did hope that her body would keep the pregnancy and it would stay strong. But the fact of the matter is that she knew she may lose a baby a few times before she actually had one.

  After a moment she felt eyes on her and laughed as she rolled in his arms to look up into his dazzling blue eyes with a smile. "The chances that in the next two weeks of me actually losing this baby is really high. Until everyone starts to file in for my presentation I am not going to use any purification. But during the presentation I don't know if I can say that I won't or I will. And it might just cause…."

  Placing a finger to her lips Kiyoshi sighed. "So long as you stay at my side it won't happen."

  Pushing herself up to sit, Yokiyo gave him a half glare as she leaned back on her elbow. "Oh get off it. I know that you will protect both me and Imae at the cost of your own life but still. You can't be with me every second of every h our of every day. I am going to have to prove myself more than capable of taking care of myself to everyone that day and you know it."

  "However…"

  "No. No however, or but or anything about it." Looking down at her stomach as she sat up, Yokiyo smiled as she put both hands on it. "And we talked about this at length remember? We know there is a very high chance of me losing at least one maybe more until we finally figure out what has to be done to keep it. But I don't think that my purification will make me lose it. Its part of me and I still got pregnant.

  Looking back at him with a radiant smile, Yokiyo giggled. "After all I did get pregnant using them training with Hachiro and Umarus every day. So I doubt that it will effect it. But I do know that there is a chance and I am okay with it. Look how fast I got pregnant this time. There is no reason to think that it wouldn't happen again."

  Seeing his smile Yokiyo leaned down and kissed him then giggled as he wrapped his arms around her and rolled her under him as he moved his mouth from hers to her neck. Clinging to him she gave into the passion as once again his hands brought forth a fire she never knew existed until him. She was so content with him now. She knew this was the right place for her to be and that everything would work itself out just fine.

  The Priestess and The Demon Chapter 71

  Two more days have passed and Yokiyo let out a groan of a sigh as she sat down with Takara in the dining hall. Imae and Umarus training just outside the door in the court yard. Between Kiyoshi fussing over her with the baby, the constant growls and tension from his parents and sister. And on top of that a party where she has prove she is strong and invite all those that would try and kill her, she was about at her wits end. Dropping her head to the table she let out a groan. "I swear I can't wait for this party to be done and over with."

  "My Lady?"

  Smiling as she looked up at her, Yokiyo laughed. "I just want to get it done and over with. After that then at least the only one who will glare and growl at me will be his sister. His parents told him this morning at breakfast that as soon as its over they are leaving."

  "I see." Takara then looked down at the small stack of scrolls that were now sitting in front of her. She was still a bit puzzled by this. "My Lady why do you ask me for help doing this? I know nothing about planning an event like this one. I am just barely over a hundred and just came to work here at the palace a few years before you came. I have never seen an event like this one, let alone had a hand in planning for one."

  With a giggle, Yokiyo pulled her startled brown eyes up to hers as she winked at her. "I am getting you to help me for a number of different reasons. The first is that I can have help from anyone so long as I make all the final choices. You may not have planned or seen an event like this but you know the other Lord's and Ladies from where they were here two years ago. Well two of the other three. That and the amount of stress that doing everything all on my own isn't good for me right now being pregnant and the way Kiyoshi fusses over it."

  "Very well then My Lady." Giving her a bright smile and a sharp nod Takara was elated. "I will do all that you wish for me to do and that I can do to help you."

  "Thank you Takara!" Yokiyo then sighed as she looked at the scroll that had a list of things that needed to be done. "Well the first thing that needed to be done Kiyoshi took care of yesterday. He sent out the announcement that he has taken a mate to the other Lords and that the presentation will be held in about two weeks. After that it says that I need to figure out who stays where in the palace and then the events of the night and food."

  Nodding as she looked up, Takara thought for a moment. "Well My Lady one thing I can tell you is that when everyone was here two years ago, Lord Shone and Lord Sanzo were given rooms in the family wing of the palace. An old maid at the time told me that they always get the same rooms when they come."

  "So get rooms in the same wing we all sleep in?"

  Nodding Takara smiled. "It is due to the fact that the two of them and Lord Kiyoshi grew up quite closely with each other."

  Nodding as she made a note on an empty scroll, Yokiyo smiled. "I can ask Kiyoshi what rooms they get so I get it right. But now the question remains who to expect first." Looking up at Takara, Yokiyo blinked. "Do you remember who got here first two years ago?"

  "I do not My Lady."

  "Expect Sanzo first."

  Both Yokiyo and Takara looked up to see a very sullen and annoyed Yukani walking in the room, to sit on the same side of the table as Takara but at the other end of it. Letting her head fall to the side, Yokiyo blinked at her. "No offense but I know that you detest the very sight of me right now. Why are you coming in here to help?"

  Keeping her arms crossed and her head down, Yukani sighed. "I am not here to help you for you. Don't think that miko. I am doing this for my brother's sake and because Mama asked me to. Mama refuses to help but wants to make sure that my brother is not made a laughing stock so I got hoodwinked into it. Just plan for Sanzo and his sister first. They will be here in just a few short days actually, at least a week early."

  Her eyes nearly bulging out of her face, Yokiyo smacked the table as they went wide as they could go. "You can't be serious! He will be here in a week!?"

  "According to my father he is just like his. Impulsive and doesn't wait for anything. I do not know for sure if his sister will be with him or not, but plan for it anyway. I am sure that she will come."

  Making another note, Yokiyo sighed. "Great now I will have to plan most of it with another Lord here." Reading over the list she groaned. "I can ask anyone I want to about what sort of events that night should have so long as I order them and plan them out. I think I will talk to Kiyoshi about that. Right now it is off to the kitchen for some food." Standing and headed toward the door with Yoite close behind Yokiyo looked back with a smile at Yukani. "You can come with us if you want too."

  Growling as they walked off out the room Yukani stood and stormed out the other side of the room toward where her mother was at. 'Damn her! She is driving me insane!'

  Flinching and looking up when she heard the door slam inside, Imae noticed that no one was in there anymore. "Master Umarus where did Mama go?"

  "I heard her say something about going to the kitchen to plan the food for the presentation."

  Dropping her head as she moved to stand next to him, Imae then looked up right into his eyes. "Master Umarus can I ask you something?"

  "Of course."

  "Why doesn't Aunt Yukani like Mama?"

  Dropping his head, Umarus uncrossed his arms and rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. He watched intently, t
he miko wasn't being rude. She didn't raise her voice at her and invited her to go with her when they left. It was Yukani that was rude. He knew Imae knew she was in there, and was clearly picking up on things better than they thought. "Well My Lady that is a little hard to explain."

  Turning and looking at the door her mother would have went through to go to the kitchen, Imae let tears mist in her eyes. "It is because Mama is a human miko and not a girl dog demon isn't it?"

  "Well…"

  Dropping her head as she handed him her practice blade, Imae let out a very sad sigh. "But if Mama makes Father happy. And she makes me happy. Why can't they be happy for that?"

  "That I don't know little one." Umarus wasn't really at a loss for words much. Very few times has it happened, but right now he had no clue what to say or do. "Your Aunt and Grandmother are in the garden. Would you like to go and see them? I am sure I can find Yoite and send him to…."