Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Yokiyo a powerful miko who was strong enough to mate with Kiyoshi who was the strongest of the demon lords. And Imae would reflect that she was their daughter in all ways.

  X

  Headed for his bedroom, Kiyoshi stopped just down the hall to see that his mother was smiling as she left his room and headed on down the hall toward hers. Oblivious to the fact that he was even standing there. It was actually really late and he had to wonder why she was still in his room.

  Stopping by Imae's door he smiled when her heart and breathing told him she was sound asleep, with Yoite taking first watch on her for the night, Umarus no doubt with Yokiyo.

  Walking in his room he nodded to Umarus as he turned to leave. Seeing Yokiyo sitting by the balcony door sewing in the moonlight, he blinked with confused eyes as he walked toward her. "Yokiyo?"

  Looking up as he reached her, Yokiyo smiled then turned back to Imae's outfit. "So then I take it you are all done for the night then?"

  "What are you doing?"

  Laughing as she kept working, Yokiyo smiled. "Making Imae's outfit. Your mother helped me a lot tonight with hers so I am just doing a few finishing touches on hers. Then I am going to make mine."

  Confused now, Kiyoshi just looked down at her. "Yesterday the seamstress was told to make them for you so that you could focus on other things. Why did she not do them?"

  Laughing again, Yokiyo sat the outfit on the table and yawned as she stretched and then stood up looking at the moon. "Well once your mother came around about me, the planning for my presentation is done. We went this afternoon to get the finished outfits and they were not what I told her to make at all."

  "What was wrong with them?"

  Turning to him as she welcomed his arms around her waist, Yokiyo laid her hands on his chest. "Well for one Imae had an actual seven layer kimono. And mine was too in a way, but a little different. But it was still two sizes too small. They were simply awful."

  With a smile of his own as he held her against him, Kiyoshi sighed. "I would have made her do them again. She has workers that can have them done in no time."

  Giggling as she slowly slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and then to twine around his neck, Yokiyo let out her own content sigh. "I don't think so. Even your mother told me today when we were talking about it after the fact that it was like she wanted to restrict us for some reason." She then winked at him as she stood up on her tip toes. "I have made my own clothes since I was six years old. I enjoy it and Imae is thrilled that Mama is making her something so it is alright."

  "That is good." Searing her mouth with his, Kiyoshi growled low in his chest as she moaned into his mouth letting him nearly instantly deepen the kiss. Moving he had her on the bed beneath him, his hands roving her body as they moaned into each other's mouth. He was not about to let this opportunity slip past him. Not this time.

  X

  Looking sideways as the door opened, Kurosai growled. "You spend way too much time with that miko Sorae."

  Rolling her eyes, Sorae went to the closet to get herself ready for bed. "She is our son's mate and mother to our grandchildren. Really Kurosai why are you still acting this way? It took Kiyoshi to snap me out of it. What is it going to take for you to do the same thing?"

  "I want a demon grandchild."

  With a sigh Sorae closed ow that can't ha one from Yukani and Kamui perhaps. But not….."

  "That is what I told her myself. If she could give me a demon grandchild that will prove she is stronger than most humans and I will accept her fully." He then turned his eyes from his mate and out the window with a sigh. "And like you just said Sorae. It cannot happen so when it comes to her, or that pup, this is me."

  With a glare, Sorae growled as she turned and headed for the bed. "Whatever Kurosai. I cannot believe that you and Yukani are still acting like this. It was his choice to make, we can't make it for him you know this. The bond is there don't you think it is time to just let it go?"

  Turning a glare to his mate as she slipped into her robe for bed, Kurosai growled himself. "I can't believe one thing from Kiyoshi and you are her best friend either."

  Her back to him, Sorae stopped as she felt the well of tears in her eyes. She never thought that she would have to fight with her mate over something like this. But he knew what Kiyoshi said and he knew it was true also. Turning her tears now streamed down her face. "Well if parents could force their kids to do whatever they wanted, then Kiyoshi and Yukani wouldn't be here. I most likely wouldn't be here!"

  "Just because he compared this to that doesn't mean….."

  Storming over to him, Sorae had her hands on her hips as she let her tears flow and leaned her glaring face into his. "But you know as well as I do that it is true Kurosai. If just by acting like a jerk, a parent could force their child to do something that would make them miserable, my children would have been born dragons and you know it Kurosai."

  Without giving him anytime to process what she said she turned and went back for the bed. "But if that is how you feel then that is fine. You can stay at the Southern Shores for good then. But I will be staying here or coming back in two months."

  "What?"

  Stopping at the bed, she sighed. "I told her that I would be here for her for the birth of the pup."

  "You are not!"

  Turning a glare on him as she heard him move, Sorae made him freeze with shocked eyes. Tears once again flowing from her eyes. "When I talked to her in the hot spring she told me what happened up to this point. Her parents were killed by Shinra. She got there just before her mother died and had to watch it. I know what that feels like remember. Watching your mother take her last breath. Other than our son she doesn't have anyone to be here with her when she has this baby. Whether you claim it or not that is my grandchild so I will be here with her. You like it or not."

  Turning and storming out of the room Kurosai growled. "Whatever Sorae."

  X

  Standing off to the side as Kurosai stormed out and down the hall, Kamui sighed. It would seem this grudge that they hold for humans and mikos is going to tear the pack apart. Turning he went to his own room where Yukani still was sitting on the bed. She had been there most of the day for the last couple of days. Kiyoshi was able to snap her mother out of it. He hasn't been able too, but he would wager that maybe Senri would be able to help him snap her out of it.

  Going to the bed he closed his eyes as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet and headed for the window. "Yukani come with me."

  Jerking her hand out of his, Yukani glared at him. "What the hell are you doing?"

  Not saying anything else Kamui moved and threw her over his shoulder and was out the window and leaping over the wall as he transformed into his dog form and headed away from the palace.

  Sitting on his back, Yukani glared at him. "What are you doing Kamui!?"

  After a few moments when he was closer to the village that Senri and Zokeni were from, he transformed back into his human form but grabbed her am and pulled her with him. "I want you to see something Yukani. I swear it is about time that you stop acting like a spoiled little child that isn't getting her way."

  Trying to get her hand away from his, Yukani growled with a glare. "You got some nerve to say that to me Kamui! Let me go!"

  Stopping and turning a glare and a growl on her that made her freeze, Kamui never weakened his grip. "Tell me that you are not acting like that and I will say that I am sorry." Then shook his head with another sigh as she dropped her head so that he couldn't see her eyes. "Exactly. There are two you need to meet."

  "I don't want to meet anyone. I just want everything to be the way it was six months ago!"

  Growling again as he glared over his shoulder at her, Kamui made his way into the small village. "That can never happen and you know it Yukani."

  Feeling eyes on her, Yukani looked up just as they entered the village. Her eyes were wide as they could go. So many people were looking at her, and demons. Some male demons with
human mates, female demons with human mates, human couples and demon mates. "Where exactly are we?"

  Not even looking back at her, Kamui sighed. "This is the village where Yokiyo's brother Senri and his demon mate live. They are who you are going to meet right now." Turning his glare on her before she could protest he growled. "And no you don't have a choice in the matter either Yukani."

  Stopping at the home, Kamui knocked a few times then smiled a hello to Senri as he opened the door. "Senri."

  Shocked to see him back so soon, Senri blinked. He hadn't expected anyone of Kiyoshi's pack to come and try to make friends like he did. It was comforting in a way with his sister living in the palace with them. "Kamui what are you doing back? You left for home a while ago."

  "I did. However." A glance back at his glaring mate and he sighed. "I think that you and Zokeni, or at least you need to have a talk with my mate." He then steppe din past him and pulled the reluctant Yukani in with him. "She seems dead set in not accepting what she cannot change anyway."

  Rubbing the back of his neck as he went on in the room, Senri sighed. "I see." He then held Yukani's amber eyes for a moment then dropped his own and shut his eyes. "I get it you know. I can't say that I am exactly thrilled with who my sister chose either. Of all the demons in the world, I wish she had choose anyone else. But seeing her happy with him, and knowing it is what she truly wants. It is easy to accept it and let it go."

  Growling Yukani crossed her arms. "Your sister is a human miko and should not have ever been near my brother much less mated to him. All she is going to do is make him weak with weak pups. I know that I can't change it but I have no intention on ever playing nice with her either. Or treating that pup anywhere near the way that I do Imae."

  Blinking as once again he met the amber eyes of the demon before him, Senri burst into a fit of laughter as he fell backwards on his behind, and then on back to lay on his back. Laughing so hard he had tears streaming down his face as he held his stomach.

  Confused now, Yukani crossed her arms as she glared at this man and growled. "And just what exactly about what I said is so damn funny to you?"

  After a few moments and a few deep breaths, though he was still laughing, Senri was able to sit up and smile at her as he spoke. "You don't wanna play nice with her I don't care. Don't play nice. Yokiyo can take care of herself very well. Just don't be shocked when you finally push her too far and you have one angry and temperamental miko on your hands. If she is anything like our mother was you won't be happy."

  "Do you really think that would bother me? Doesn't in the least."

  Standing up as he crossed his arms, Senri shook his head with another laugh. "Fine then. Do it I don't care. Yokiyo will show you herself that just like you aren't scared of her, she isn't you. Just hope you are ready to lose a few things in the process."

  Yukani's eyes flashing in rage, she growled loudly at this human before her talking to her like he knew anything about her life. "And what is it that you could possibly know about me and what I could or could not lose by refusing to change how I am acting."

  A flat look on his face, Senri blinked at he looked at her. He then looked up at her mate. "She just really doesn't get it does she Kamui?"

  "No. And it is going to take more than just me telling her for her to get it I think. That is why I brought her here."

  Looking back down at Yukani as the rage seemed to reach new heights in her eyes, Senri sighed. "You stand to lose a lot of trust and respect in several relationships you have if you don't at least just suck it up and at least try to make friends with my sister."

  "I do not! You don't know what you are…"

  Cutting her off Senri growled himself. "For one your mate. He has accepted her and you still refuse. I bet all you do anymore when it is just the two of you is fight over her right?" Seeing her flinch as her eyes went from rage to shock, he knew he hit a nerve. "And what about your mother? She has accepted my sister and the pup she carries. Do you really want to fight with her all the time? Can you really live with the fact that you know you disappointed her by acting like a brat?"

  When she dropped her head some, Senri crossed his arms as he turned his back to her. He wasn't going to indulge this. Not when all that rage he saw in her eyes was directed toward his sister. "Not to mention your brother and Imae who both think that Yokiyo hung the moon. How good of a relationship do you think they are going to have with you if you n ever at least get to know her and not judge her. You have no clue the life that my sister has lead so don't even stand there and judge her until you spend some time in her shoes."

  Tears rushing from her eyes as she hung her head, Yukani hugged herself as she dropped to her knees. "I can't help it okay! A miko has had a play in several deaths of those I cared about and were close too. And then my brother goes and mates with one! Every miko that have ever come across would sooner kill us than look at us."

  "But none of them were my sister. Or my mother for that matter. Unless the demon or half demon were trying to hurt humans, they wouldn't do anything to it at all. Unless you are pointlessly attacking lower level demons, half demons or humans, my mother would have treated you just like one of her own kids. Yokiyo is the same way."

  "But she is still…

  "A miko yes. But she isn't like the mikos you have had dealings with I assure you." With a smile Senri relaxed as he looked over his shoulder at her. "Just talk to her with an open mind and see for yourself. If nothing else she will prove just how strong she really is and how worthy she is to have the role and title she does right now. You just have to give her that fair chance."

  Kamui watched as Yukani dropped her head with a look of utter defeat in her eyes. Lifting her into his arms he sighed as she hugged his neck as tears rushed from her eyes into his shoulder. This hasn't happened since the day he met her. Turning to nod to Senri he turned and left without a word.

  Once they were out of the village he stopped again with a long sigh. "I know you don't like it Yukani. But since you can't do anything about it you have to at the very least make it look like you are getting along with her. I hate fighting with you like this. We have never fought like this and that is what stresses me out right now. I can see the tension between you and your brother where six months ago there was none at all. Imae doesn't come near you anymore and you and your mother are constantly arguing. If you aren't fighting with me about it you are her. Is this really how you want to live for the next sixty or so years? If nothing else think about Imae. She is human after all and before this pup comes to your brother's hip even she will be gone from this earth."

  Hugging him even tighter, Yukani shook. "I know it is just…."

  "Just do like Senri said. Give her a chance and talk to her without going in with a chip on your shoulder. You just might be shocked with what happens ya know."

  A long sigh, and Yukani nodded. She wasn't going to get let off about this one by anyone but her father it would seem. She was outvoted. "Alright."

  The Priestess and The Demon Chapter 77

  Sitting in the early morning sun, Yokiyo smiled as she worked on Imae's outfit. So far the day has started out peaceful. Kiyoshi hadn't been upset yet and Imae was already training bellow her in the garden with Umarus, Yoite standing just inside her bedroom door.

  But then hearing a knock at the door, she arched an eyebrow as she looked up at it. "Who is it?"

  "Yukani."

  With a deep breath, Yokiyo turned back to Imae's outfit as she sighed. "Come in." She had forty-eight hours before she was going to be on display, and she really wanted both outfits done. Hearing the footsteps getting closer she didn't even look up. "What did you want?"

  Sitting down on the bed, Yukani was a little nervous. She didn't know how to start this conversation. She didn't know what she hated right now. Doing this, or realizing over night that both Senri and Kamui were right on what she stood to lose if she didn't at least try. "We need to have a talk."

  "Talk about what?"

  "E
verything going on."

  Laughing as she looked over her shoulder at her, Yokiyo smiled. "What you really mean is that we need to talk about me."

  "Basically. Kamui took me to see your brother last night and he said I should try to talk to you. So…."

  With a sigh and a small smile, Yokiyo shook her head. "Knowing Senri he was probably getting on you about judging me without knowing anything about my life or what I have been through. If there is something you want to know then just ask me. I am an open book and will talk about it all."

  Shaking now as she dropped her shoulders and her head even more, Yukani let out a small sigh. "I don't know. I just really still hate this. I wish he would have left you in the woods that day and just brought Imae home. But he didn't and you are mated now and I am just not sure how to deal with it."