Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  With a sigh, Kurosai looked over at Yoite who stood steadfast at the door to the stall, and then Sanzo in the stall sitting with Imae. Feeling a nervous hand touch his, he looked down as he put an arm around Sorae. "Don't worry everything will work out."

  "I know. I just really hope that Kai can help them and she doesn't have to go with them."

  "I know Sorae. It would be better all the way around but that is left undecided as of right now. Just relax."

  X

  Looking up from where she sat with Katana in her arms, Yokiyo nodded as she stood up. He was ready to go and get this done and over with, and so was she. She didn't want to have to leave them for any length of time, her son most of all. She wanted to make memories with them. Not fight in a war. Once she was on her feet she turned to her girls and sighed. "Girls, there is something your father and I need to….."

  Her eyes closed Imae smiled as she gave a nod. "I know. I heard you talking about it the other day. How long are you going to be gone for this time?"

  Her throat constricting, Kiara grabbed both her parents by the legs and looked up into her mother's blue eyes, then to her father's ice blue ones. They couldn't really be serious about leaving! She felt like she was having a panic attack! "You can't just leave! Look at what just happened! Mother! Father! You can't leave!"

  With a small smile and a sigh, Yokiyo turned and handed Katana to his father as she dropped to her knees and took Kiara's hands. "Honey don't get all worked up alright. We are leaving and we have to leave. We will be gone at the most according to your father, four days. We are going to go and see a demon named Kai and hope he may have seen a bond like the one your father and I have before, or at least something close. And we have to do this before the war starts. You and your sister are going to stay here with everyone else."

  Letting go with one hand, Yokiyo turned and looked right at Chiren and motioned for him. When he got there she pointed right at him. "Chiren I am putting you in charge of keeping Kiara right here in this stall." She then turned a glare on her daughter as she reached in her pocket. "And Kiara this is serious and you better listen and stay right here where you are at. Or…." She then pulled out the bell and smiled as her daughter paled. "I will have your grandfather put this around your neck. Understood?"

  Nodding Kiara now had her mother's sleeve in a death grip as she dropped her head. "I just don't want you to leave Mama."

  Hugging her little girl again, Yokiyo sighed as she closed her eyes again. "Honey I have to go. I have to see what is going on with this bond and if there is any way that I can just stay with you and your brother while your father goes and fights." After a moment she eased out of her daughter's arms as she turned and fixed Imae with a glare. "And you young lady. You did good in your fight and I am proud of you for that. But you are not to move from that spot for hardly anything until we get back." She then turned her glare on the bird right next to Imae. "And you Sanzo are going to be in charge of making sure that she does just that. No letting her sneak off in the middle of the night to do any…."

  Imae stopped her mother when she let out a laugh. "Mama don't worry about that. I will be at Father's side when he marches for war. The only way I can do that is if I am in top shape, and right now opening these again isn't going to do that for me."

  A nod, Yokiyo then looked down at Kiara then back up to Imae as she crossed her arms. "Alright girls. Rules?"

  Seeing that asking her again wasn't going to do her any good, Kiara nodded as she sighed. "I understand Mother. And I remember the rules."

  "We remember Mother."

  Crossing her arms as she tapped her foot, Yokiyo glared down at them both. "Well I am waiting to hear them?"

  Both Kiara and Imae dropped their heads as they spoke in perfect harmony. "No running, swearing, sneaking off, challenging or smart mouthing. And be respectful to everyone else."

  Smiling as she laughed, Yokiyo hugged her youngest daughter from behind. "That is my good little Sugar."

  Her face paling, Kiara looked up as she saw the smile on Chiren's face and the others behind her then turned red as she tried to wiggle free of her mother. "Mother! You said you wouldn't call me that in front of anyone!"

  Hugging her a little tighter, Yokiyo laughed as she tried her hardest to get away from her. "Oh by you will always be my little sugar!" She then laughed as she let go and Kiara crawled over to sit next to her sister. "Oh don't get your hair knotted up. You are always going to be sugar to me so just get over it."

  Hiding her face behind her sister's arm, Kiara could just see the laughs that everyone was doing. "I still don't have to like it."

  Shaking her head, Yokiyo went over and kissed each girl on their heads. "Like it or not you are stuck with it so the sooner you deal with it and accept that fact, the better off you will be." As she went back to her mate and took her son, Yokiyo winked at Chiren. "I am hoping with you and Yoite that the two of you will be able to keep a better tab on Kiara. Just keep her here in the stall with her sister for the most part while I am gone please."

  A small bow, Chiren smiled as he stood then walked in and sat down across from Kiara, Imae and Sanzo. "Yes My Lady."

  Wrapping her son in his blanket Yokiyo smiled at Yoite as he moved so that he could see inside the stall then looked up at Kiyoshi. "I am as ready as I am ever going to be I guess."

  Nodding, Kiyoshi said nothing to anyone else as he, Yokiyo and Katana left the barn, and he then called his demon cloud to carry them to Kai. This was his only chance to find out what was going on with their bond. And he hoped that there would be a way she would be able to stay with the pups. It could take a few weeks, months or worst case, years. And being human, she had very precious few of those left. She needed to spend them with her pups, not fighting in a demon war.

  X

  Taking a deep breath after her parents left, Imae looked over at Chiren and sighed. "So I haven't had the chance to hear everything about what is going on with the battle coming up. I will be there with my father so fill me in on what is going on."

  Chiren gave her the oddest look. Glancing down at the wide eyed Kiara, he blinked as he looked back up at Imae. "But your sister is here."

  Laughing Imae looked down at her sister as she smiled. "Don't worry about her. I know she was there listening to what they were planning for the war after you got to see my brother. And anything you got to say is nothing compared to some of the scrolls she has read I would be willing to bet."

  Crossing his arms as he took a deep breath, Chiren crossed his arms as he looked down at the hay. "Well I told them the path he was going to be taking to march down. Kiara pointed out that the tiger that used to rule the South put traps out there as he planned to try and take over the North from my ancestor. Your father is going to send some out early he said just before he left to get them ready to use. And there is also Uncle Tikae who will help us as well."

  Blinking Imae let her head fall to the side as she went over that name. She knew she knew it, and she thought she had it right but wanted to make sure. "Tikae? He is a dragon right? I have heard Grandpa say that name before wondering how he was."

  Nodding as he half smiled, Chiren looked back up at her as he nodded. "That's right. The same one I would gather. He is also the younger brother to Kenji and Shinra and not too long ago drove them into hiding and took over as Lord of the Dragons. Though he was blackmailed by my Motoichi into fighting for his army in this war. When I know he would rather fight for our side. His mate is my mother's twin sister and she is terrified of Motoichi, and the threat on her was what made him agree to fight for him. But when the time is right and they see the signal, a third of Motoichi's army he is counting on is going to turn on him. All the dragons that are loyal to Uncle Tikae."

  With a smile as she laughed, Imae gave a sharp nod. "That is great! But what is the signal and who is going to do it?"

  Pulling all eyes to him as he smiled, Soichiro walked in and looked right at Imae hearing the topic of conversation. "That would be
me. I am going to have someone take me to the sky and ignite a large bomb that will simply release a harmless red smoke. When they see that, the dragons are going to turn on him, then Tikae and I are going to start reinforcing my rule of the North."

  Smiling as she looked down to her feet where Ryu soundly slept, Imae smiled as she looked back up at him. "I can take you up on Ryu when the time comes."

  Looking at her bandages, remembering the state she was in when she was brought into the barn, Soichiro rubbed the back of his head. "I doubt you will be going with us Imae. Three months isn't exactly enough time to heal from those wounds."

  Her eyes hardening as she turned from him and looked out the window, she could still see smoke from the palace where the bomb went off. "Trust me Soichiro. Not only will I be up to it and be there. I will be in top shape just like I was this morning. I will be the one to take you up." She then softened her eyes as she looked up at him again. "Do you know how to whistle?"

  Still just a tad bit shocked, Soichiro nodded. "Yes I do." He couldn't believe the children both blood and adopted of Kiyoshi. This place was unique to say the least.

  "Then just do this. This is the whistle I use to get Ryu's attention when I need him. With me on him, he won't fly to you, but I will see him react to it and come get you." Imae then started to put her fingers up by her mouth.

  Seeing what her sister was about to do, Kiara gasped as in a flash she was across the stall next to Chiren and trying her best to get behind him. "Everyone cover your….."

  Chiren looked at Kiara odd, but the she was cut off when one of the most shrill whistles that he had ever heard rang out through the small confines of the stall and barn. Looking up as the muffled chorus of growls and hisses came from those outside the stall, he closed one eye as the ringing in his ears echoed. "That was just a little loud."

  Looking up to see the familiar faces of her grandparents, Imae smiled to see them glaring at her. "I am sorry. I was just showing him how I call Ryu."

  With a sigh as she shook her head and closed her eyes, Sorae crossed her arms. "You could have waited until you were outside Imae. You didn't have to show him right now."

  Nodding in agreement as he used a hand to dig in his ear, Sanzo looked down at Imae with a glare. "Or at least give those of us with better hearing more of a warning."

  Glaring up at him for a second Imae sighed before she leaned her head over on his shoulder with a sigh. "Oh stuff it bird."

  His eyes about bugging out of his head, Sanzo blinked down at her. "Excuse me?"

  Laughing as she looked up into his shocked gold eyes, Imae smiled with that same innocent smile she had as a little girl. "You have told me when I was younger than Kiara and since you have been here this time not to treat you like you are a lord, but more like family right?" When he nodded she laughed again. "Well whenever Kiara is being smart I say that to her."

  Crossing his arms as he hissed at her, Sanzo half smiled. "I just never expected that to come out of your mouth. You don't exactly talk like that all the time."

  Settling back against the wood with her head on his shoulder, Imae smiled as she sighed. "Sometimes I can't help it and Mama comes out."

  "Really?"

  Letting her eyes drift shut, Imae nodded. "That's right. But right now I think it is nap time. I am tired."

  A New Heir Chapter 90

  With her eyes held shut, Yokiyo held onto her son with a death grip. Though she was safe in her mate's arms and she knew he would never let anything happen to her, her fear of heights were getting the better of her. They were so high in the sky that she could barely make out the ground, and absolutely terrified. 'The sooner we get there and home the better. I hate being this high!'

  With a sigh as he looked down at his mate, Kiyoshi closed his eyes as he tightened his grip on her even more to try and stop the shaking. "As many times as I have had you in the air, you should know by now Yokiyo that I am not going to drop you."

  Growling as she glared up at him, Yokiyo narrowed her eyes. "And you should also know by now that I am terrified of heights any higher than the palace. I don't know why you are so extra high this time."

  Opening his eyes and looking straight, Kiyoshi took a deep breath. "I want to get there and home to the girls as fast as possible. The air blows the direction we need to go up here and allows me to go faster. On the way home, we will stay lower to the ground for you."

  "Fine."

  Looking down at the top of her head, he did feel bad for making her so scared. But the faster they were the better for them. He has already been awake for a fully day and night. And today they would arrive at Kai's forest. And he hoped beyond hope that he had some sort of an answer as to what was going on with them.

  His eyes moving down to land on his son he smiled. He didn't have a care in the world, sleeping in his mother's arms with the two of them shielding all but a small breeze from his face. The scent of many demons scattering made him look on down at the ground. Starting his descent out of the sky he growled. "We are here."

  Blinking as she looked down at the thick trees, thicker than the ones around the palace, Yokiyo was a little shocked. She could sense the sheer number of demons that were down there. Some seemed terrified, but others curious. A worried glance at her son she then looked up at Kiyoshi. "There are some that aren't running from you."

  Nodding as he touched down in the middle of a small clearing, Kiyoshi growled as he looked around him. "I know this. None of them are strong enough to challenge me and they know it. They also know the foolishness in trying to attack you or Katana. Even those curious are staying back."

  Snaking an arm around her waist as he headed through the woods with her, Kiyoshi kept a look around him. They were all weak and low level and were probably more curious as to why he was there versus thinking they could attack his mate.

  With a sigh as she looked up at Kiysohi, Yokiyo blinked her eyes as she let her head fall to the side. "So let me ask this. How old is Kai anyway?"

  Shaking his head, Kiyoshi moved a branch as he let her walk just past him. "No one really knows his age. He has been around even when the tiger would have taken over the South thousands of years before the birth of my grandfather."

  Looking down at her son as he still slept, Yokiyo half smiled. "So if anyone is going to know about what is going on, Kai will right?"

  "What will I know about?"

  Both Yokiyo and Kiyoshi looked up to see a man before them. Yokiyo stepped back and behind Kiyoshi as she looked barely around him. He had a nice and gentle smile, yet he was still shadowed by the forest so much that she couldn't see anything else about him. And for him to be able to sneak up on them like that, she could only hope that he was Kai. And not someone who wanted to start with them.

  A hand on one of his katanas, Kiyoshi growled as he narrowed his eyes at him. "Who are you?"

  With a soft and kind smile, Kai turned in the shadows as he laughed. Walking in a different direction, Kai nodded as he waved his hand on. "You are seeking Kai are you not? That is who I am young one. Come, my home is not far away from here My Lord. And would be much more comfortable for your mate and pup to sit while we talk about why you have come to find me."

  Having never smelled Kai's scent before, Kiyoshi growled as he kept a tight hold on his mate and watched him closely. Once they reached a small clearing where the sun came through both gasped as they stopped, Yokiyo going wide eyed. In all the scrolls they could find that described him, said that he was a nature demon. Nothing more on the type of demon he was, but that when then natural sunlight would touch him he would have a warm, yet orangish glow, as if being kissed by the sun itself.

  To Kiyoshi that was a relief as he relaxed fully seeing as it was the scrolls that his grandfather wrote that talked about that. "You are Kai."

  Laughing, Kai looked over his shoulder as he smiled with a nod. "I told you who I was. Though seeing me in the light you seem to recognize me. Who has told you about me then? Tell me My Lord was it your grandfa
ther? How is he?"

  With his emotionless mask back in place, Kiysohi closed his eyes as he sighed. "No he did not tell me directly. My grandfather and his mate were murdered before I was born. I have read about you in the many scrolls he left."

  Going on in his small home, Kai dropped his head as he sighed and his eyes half closed. "I see. That is sad. Lord Kento was a regular visitor here as he trained to over through the tiger and take over the South. After he did that, I only saw him one other time. When he brought his beautiful mate Lady Miyu to see me."

  A glance down at his increasingly worried mate Kiyoshi sighed. "My mate is why we are here to see you." Looking back up at Kai as he stood there, Kiyoshi took a deep breath. "My grandfather said that he had heard of you as a type of legend growing up even when he was a pup. But the bond with us is different than other dogs and humans and we have come to see if you may have heard of what happens and heard of it before. War is coming and we need to know."