Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  With a smile as he relaxed and pushed on her nose. "I just never would have imagined that my ten year old granddaughter would have thought of something like that faster than seven grown adults would have is all."

  Before his daughter had a chance to say anything back, Kiyoshi tapped his finger on her head and drew her eyes to him. "Off to bed. Yoite will go with you."

  "But father I want to stay just a little longer."

  "Do you really wish to deal with your mother if you do not do as you are told?"

  Flinching as she gasped, Kiara then dropped her head with a sigh. "Yes Father."

  "You will be staying with your sister from now on as well. Go to Imae's room."

  "Yes Father."

  Watching as the pup left with her guard, Soichiro moved to a seat and rubbed his temples. "I do believe that your daughter is going to make the South one of the most formidable lands Kiyoshi. To be so young and come up with a plan that we really should use."

  Nodding as he went over what his daughter said, Kiyoshi nodded. "Ineed. Her goal is to protect the South and help aid her brother when he is Lord. And we will use her plan I think. It will work. After we send the men out to get set up at the traps a week before we do. As we come, if we come in from three different fronts, even if they did push out of the pass, the mountain range would keep them trapped in front of us."

  Looking at the maps again, Sanzo nodded the blinked. "Though I do have one big question. Motoichi is going to know that we aren't taking the women and children into war with us. Where will they be safe? I may not have a mate and kids yet, but I don't exactly want my sister hurt either."

  "That is a valid point. However right now the only thing we must focus on is protecting them when Reijiro comes in a few days. Once that is over we will figure it out then." Though he knew that he was going to have to make a trip before they did anything. The bond that he had with Yokiyo was not normal by any means. He had to often either send Umarus to do the rounds or take her with him because he can't get too far away from her. Learning that the hard way when she lost the first baby. They needed to go and see Kai.

  A New Heir Chapter 86

  Late that night, Kiyoshi walked in his room and sighed to once again find Yokiyo sitting up on the side of the bed watching as their son slept. But it was the emotional roller coaster that she had been sending him on that concerned him. "Yokiyo…."

  Rolling her eyes as she turned her head Yokiyo sighed. "I can't help it Kiyoshi. I thought with the fact that I was pregnant the first time only two weeks after we mated that I would have been able to have more than just two kids. Even though it only took two years for Kiara. I didn't think I would be thirty and having my son. He won't even be as tall as Kiara is now when I have to be…." Unable to finish she turned into his arms as he sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. Silent tears falling onto his chest. "I know I knew that this was going to happen before we mated. But I really didn't think it would hurt like this."

  "I know Yokiyo." Kissing the top of her head as he rubbed her back, Kiyoshi looked down at her. "But right now you really need to get your mind off of that though. At least until the presentation is over. Once that is done, we will go and see Kai about our bond."

  "Why do we need to go see him and who is he?"

  Making her look up at him as he gently whipped the tears from her face he sighed. "Because of war. It is coming sooner than we all think. As it stands right now you may have to go to war with me. We need to find out if there is a way that I can go to war and you can stay with the pups. We could be gone for months, maybe years depending on how Motoichi plays his cards. I know neither of us could handle that."

  Whipping her own eyes, Yokiyo nodded. "I agree with that. But how would he know?"

  "Kai is even older than my grandfather would have been. There are many scrolls that predate probably his parents before he that mention Kai. He has seen more though the times than every demon in this palace combined, Takahashi included. He may know of this sort of bond and how we can get around that."

  Nodding as she dropped her head, Yokiyo let out a sad sigh. "Alright. But Katana is going with us."

  "Right."

  Trying to relax, Yokiyo leaned into his arms again as her eyes half closed. "So three more days. Then we go to see Kai. How long will we be gone then?"

  "Four days at most."

  Falling back with him to lay on the bed Yokiyo glanced at the window. "We know Reijiro is coming to ambush us. We know when the noble is going to get here. Do you think that they will try anything before that?"

  "I doubt it. Even if there were orders for that they would be a fool to try with everyone here. And tomorrow your brother comes." When all she did was nod he sighed as he took her hand and pulled her to stand with him and headed for the door. "Come with me."

  A glance back at her son, Yokiyo then gave him an odd look as he headed for Imae's room. "Kiyoshi what are you doing?"

  Walking into Imae's room he sighed to find that they were both wide awake, Imae going through drills and Kiara watching with extra wide eyes as usual. "Imae. Take your sister and to mind your brother." He then turned and headed down the hall with his mate dragging along behind him.

  Glancing back to see her girls vanishing into her room with her son, Yokiyo turned back to glare up at Kiyoshi. "Can you please tell me exactly what you are doing?"

  Exiting the side of the palace, Kiyoshi pulled her close as he gave a whistle that called Ryu as he jumped and landed to stand on the dragon's back. "You have been focused on everyone around here but yourself. You need some time to unwind and forget what is going on."

  "I need time for what exactly to make me unwind and forget that someone is coming to kill my pups?" She then gasped and flinched as he dipped his head and nipped at her neck with a growl. Her head falling back she sighed as she went limp in his arms. "We have a n infant. We don't need to be doing this…." But when she felt a hand cover over her breast she moaned as she closed her eyes. "I better not get pregnant so soon after just having a baby."

  With a smile as he looked into her eyes Kiyoshi shook his head. "You will not get pregnant. You are not in heat." Then seared her mouth with his own.

  X

  Once they were in their parents room, Imae watched as Kiara climbed up on the bed, she then pulled her brother from his bed and laid him on the bed next to her. Though she was a little confused as to why her parents just up and left like that with what was going on. But at the same time, with everyone there, they figured that it was safe enough.

  Looking at her sister as she tugged on her sleeve, Kiara was more than a little worried with wide eyes. "Why did Mother and Father just leave like that?"

  Rolling her eyes as she got comfortable, Imae laughed. "I have no clue why."

  Her face turning to more of a glare as she glanced down at her brother then back up to her sister, Kiara crossed her arms. "But someone is probably on their way here to kill Katana. What if they get here and they aren't back yet? What if…"

  Laughing as she shook her head and tossed her sisters hair, Imae smiled at her. "Kiara you need to realize that you don't have to worry about that. Mama and Father may not be here but I am here. So is Grandpa, Uncle Kamui, Shone, Sanzo, Soichiro, Umarus and Yoite. And a whole host of others that would fight with them like Atsana. No one is going to hurt him or you. I promise."

  Laying down on the bed next to her brother Kiara let out a long sigh. She knew that she didn't have to personally worry about it but she still did. She couldn't help but be protective of her little brother. "If you are sure then."

  "I am totally sure." But just as Imae started to close her eyes she froze in bed. A second later she shot up to glare around her. Something was wrong. She could sense blood lust in the air. 'Damnit! I just told her that everything was going to be fine. Bastards.' "Kiara. Get Katana and get in that far corner of the room. Now."

  Hearing her sister, Kiara jumped up and gave her a worried look. "I k now it! Something bad is
going to happen now isn't it!?"

  Turning a glare as she stood up, Imae didn't have time to argue with her sister right now. "Don't talk back about this Kiara! Get Katana and get over in the damned corner right now!"

  Lifting her brother as she watched Imae grab her katanas and take up a guard position before her and Katana, glowing blue as her miko powers snapped, Kiara was terrified right now. She had never been in a situation like this where Imae was so strict and her parents were not there.

  Imae focused her purification to her ears as she tried to figure out where this vile feeling was coming from. Something or someone was coming, but she couldn't tell from where. 'Damnit focus!'

  Turning to the window she narrowed her eyes as her resolve to kill whomever came through it as it got closer set in her eyes. Footsteps coming in the room she looked to the side to see Umarus, followed by Soichiro, Chiren, then Yoite rush through the room to get between her and her brother and sister. Turning back to the window as she tightened her grip on her katanas and stood tall, she took a deep breath. "Where is Grandpa?"

  "I am right here." In the room now, Kurosai took a stance next to his granddaughter. "They are leopards. Soichiro do you know who they are?"

  "I do." Only being half the size of everyone else there and not nearly as strong, Chiren was in the very back right before Kiara and Katana. "One is Kado. He is not your run of the mill soldier. He and the other four were all put on Reijiro's guard when he was born and Kado heads it. Motoichi is a jerk and cold, and her put all four of them through their paces that is for sure so don't underestimate them."

  "Well now. A traitor that still sings the praises of Lord Motoichi. How touching. I am sure that Lord Motoichi and Lord Reijiro will be thrilled to know such things."

  Her eyes narrowing as the slight breeze from when this leopard landed on the window, Imae didn't even flinch as she met his glare. "Get the hell out of my home. Or you can die. Either way you want it but you are getting out."

  Laughing, Kado crossed his arms as he looked at her. This must be the one that Kiyoshi adopted as his eldest pup, seeing as she isn't even mated yet. But she was still nothing more than a weak human miko and he had defeated many of them. "And what is it that you think you are going to be able to do to stop me human? Miko or not you can't stand against me. Part of my training to protect Lord Reijiro was to defeat one thousand mikos. Which I completed. You are nothing more than a stepping stone to those brats in the back."

  Growling as she gripped her katanas even tighter, Imae narrowed her eyes even more as she moved to stand even in front of her grandfather. "Get out."

  "Sure I will get out. But when I do I am going to take the heads of those mutts and you along with me. Astonishing that they are demons, but they could ruin Lord Motoichi's plans and they cannot be allowed to live."

  "You won't get close enough to touch them or me."

  "Watch me!"

  Imae flinched as she watched his body move slightly. "Go to hell!" She then focused all of her purification to her feet and charged him before he could get in or anyone else behind him. Slamming her katanaas against his as he blocked them. The second before they touched, she channeled her purification to them and sent him flying into the garden. One foot on the window to jump out she growled again. "I hate when they don't listen to me!"

  But before she had a chance to jump out the window she flinched and turned with wide eyes as did everyone else in the room to Kiara and Katana. Kiara was glowing a bright purple color as she held her eyes closed and held Katana tightly. "Well that is new."

  "Indeed." Turning back to the window as Umarus went out already he sighed. "Go. I will be right behind you. We have something to deal with right now." As Imae went out the window, he turned to Chiren as he still stood there. "Chiren, go with Yoite and take my grandchildren to their Uncle Kamui. Now."

  "Right." Once it was just he, the pups and Yoite, Chiren sheathed his katana as he turned to the pups with a soft smile. The pins and needles feeling he got was more painful that he thought it would be. Ignoring the pain he held his hand out. "It's alright Lady Kiara. It is just me, Chiren and Yoite now. Let's get you to your uncle alright?"

  With her eyes shut tight, all Kiara focused on was that she had to protect her brother from anyone that got in. But hearing Chiren's clam voice she opened her eyes with a start, her purple glow and the barrier gone the second she did. She looked all around the room and then landed on Chiren's silvery blue eyes with a slight blush as she took a deep breath. "Where are they?"

  Smiling as he kept his hand out, Chiren nodded toward the window. "They are in the gardens fighting. Your grandfather said to take you to your Uncle. Shall we?"

  With a nod, Kiara took his hand as she stood up but then gasped as she and her brother were lifted by him as he and Yoite rushed them from the room and down the hall. Stopping as Kamui, Yukani and Sorae rushed from a room and to them. Stopping he watched as Sorae took the baby, and then Yukani took Kiara. "They are fine."

  "Thank heavens." Yukani then looked at her niece with a worried look. "Where in the world is your father at? Why isn't he here?"

  "I do not know Aunt Yukani." Blinking as she looked at her brother then back to her Aunt she had worry on her face as well. "He told Imae to mind Katana and I and then he and Mother left."

  "Why that…"

  With a growl as she turned to go back in the room, Sorae bounced her grandson in her arms. "Don't you dare finish that. I know why he more than likely did this and it was actually needed I would say. You know yourself that he would not have left to leave with what is going on unless it was needed. Just stop it I will tell you later."

  "Fine Mama."

  Kiara looked down the hall one last time as they vanished into the room. She couldn't help but be worried right now. 'Father hurry home.'

  X

  Circling with the leopard before her, Imae glared as she waited for the perfect chance. He insulted her pack. Was there to try and kill her brother and sister. Her parents were not home right now so it fell to her to protect them. She was the eldest pup of the Southern Lord and would do what she needed to do to protect her siblings. She would not fall back and leave it to her grandfather or any guard. And she was going to make him pay dearly for what he has done.

  Leaving himself wide open to this little human, Kado was actually quite amused with the fact she thought she stood a chance against him. "I must say human you do have a lot of spirit. Either that or you are just too stupid to see when you are out classed."

  Her eyes never leaving him, Imae had her father's emotionless mask on. "I will not know if I am out classed until someone comes along that can beat me. I will kill you pay for what you have come here to do. You won't touch my brother and sister."

  Closing his eyes as he threw his head back in a fit of laughter, Kado put a hand on his hip. "Your brother and sister you say? That is funny. You are nothing more to them than they human that…" But then he growled in pain when he felt the hilt of a sword slam into the side of his head sending him flying, just as the blade of her second katana grazed his side drawing blood. Flipping and sliding to a stop on his feet he glared at her with a snarl in his voice. "What the hell was that? How did you do that you bitch?"

  The glare in Imae's eyes right now would rival any demons as the resolve to end this fast was absolute. She had no reservations about killing those that threatened her pack. "I refuse to tell you. Just keep your eyes open from now on you jerk."

  "Fine then lets go!" Kado growled as he took up a defensive stance as he waited to see what she was going to do.

  Imae learned a long time ago that she can channel her purification into any part of her body and enhance the ability of it. She split her purification. Half of the power she had spread even through her body, making her just as fast as he was. The other half she split in half again and focused on her eyes. So she could see every flex of his muscles under his clothes. It was what gave her the edge that she needed being a human fighting in a world of dem
ons.

  Having easily took the other three out, Kurosai stood with a smile and crossed arms as he watched Imae with Umarus. No matter what Kado did, Imae saw it and blocked it then countered it. Just as she was taught. But the growing scent that hit his nose made him look down at his right side with a cross look and a growl. "Why the hell aren't you with your grandmother and the others?"

  With her eyes wide as she stood there right between her grandfather and Umarus, Kiara never took them off of her sister. "I had to see this. I have seen Imae fight some low demons like the snake the other day before. But this is different."

  "I am very sorry My Lord." Chiren gave a bow as he came up behind them as he sighed. "When everyone felt Lady Imae's purification spike, they all looked up and out the window. And she snuck out."

  Looking back to see both Chiren and Yoite there, Kurosai have smiled as he turned back to the fight. "Don't feel bad she gives everyone the slip. Even Yoite there. More often than not it is so she can be her father's shadow. However, this is different Kiara. You know you are going to be punished somehow. If not by your father, your mother will for sure."