Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  X

  "Imae!"

  Flinching as she jerked around to see her mother smiling as she walked toward her, and a confused Yoite behind her, Imae spun around as she put her hand on the back of her head. "Mama! Mama it isn't what it looks like or what you are thinking. Nothing…" But then she was cut off and a little shocked when all her mother did was hug her as she got to her. "Mama?"

  Laughing as she eased out of her daughter's arms, Yokiyo held her hands as she shook her head. "Oh my little pup. It is alright I am not angry. We have actually been waiting for him to get off his butt and do this since he got back. If he hadn't by the time this war was over, your father was going to give him a kick in the butt to make him."

  Blinking as she flicked her eyes up to the equally shocked Yoite and then back down to her mother, Imae was looking at her like she had ten heads shoot out of her. "Wait you knew what was going on with him and didn't tell me about it Mama!"

  "Not just your father and I, your Aunt Yukani seen it too though I don't think anyone else did." Laughing as she let go of Imae's hand, Yokiyo crossed her arms. "Though I think the one it shocked more was your sister. Kiara, Nyoko and Isamu saw the kiss and told me about it." But then Yokiyo turned serious as she opened her eyes and her smile vanished. "But now the question is for you Imae. What are you going to do about it when he no doubt does go to your father about it? Your father and I already talked about it and what he will say depends on what you say right now. It is all about what you want."

  Turning from her mother to look at the spot in the ever growing dark sky that she could last see him as he landed in his camp, Imae could still feel the tingling sensation on her lips where his had been. Her heart was still racing and she felt like she had butterflies in her stomach. She knew without a doubt when he left and came back that somehow, sometime since he got there to see her brother she fell in love with him. Smiling as she looked down, she laughed. "Mama…I….."

  "Yes dear?"

  Looking up at her mother as she gave a nod, Imae closed her eyes and let her head fall to the side. "I want to. I want to be with him."

  Pulling her daughter into another tight hug, Yokiyo smiled and laughed as she rocked back and forth some. "Great!" Easing out of her arms again she tapped her under her chin as she sighed with a smile. "I am going to go get your brother and then find your father and let him know what is going on."

  "Right."

  Turning to go back to the palace, Yokiyo was on cloud nine. She wanted Imae to be happy, for what time she had left. No one really thought that it would happen twice like with her and Kiyoshi so soon. They did hope, but they were doubtful about it. But at least she would be happy and she can handle the bird after all.

  Reaching the window she held her hands out for Yukani. "Yukani, give me Katana. I am going to go and tell Kiyoshi what is going on with Imae." Looking at the little one as she took Katana, Yokiyo winked. "Kiara, Nyoko, Isamu you three want to come with?"

  "Yes!"

  Looking up at everyone as they looked at her with ten heads, Yokiyo laughed as she situated her son. "Oh come on anyone else who wants to come." She then laughed as everyone poured out of the room and into the gardens. "Good everyone is going!"

  Reaching out and touching her arm, Yuriko pulled her eyes to her. "But one thing we don't even know where they are. They all go so many places now since war has a starting day, their scents are strong everywhere in the palace. None of us can find them."

  With a giggle, Yokiyo smiled. "Oh I can handle that one." She then took a deep breath and opened her eyes as they crossed, dulled over and became unfocused. Her body going limp for the most part but she still held onto her son. "Right now they are in the library. He is annoyed but not that bad. Going over maps with Kurosai, Soichiro and Chiren." She then shook her head and blinked her eyes. "Shall we?"

  Blinking as they looked at each other with wide and shocked eyes, Yuriko and Emiko just stood there for a moment. They have never seen that done at all! Even in the demon world! But it was Emiko that drew her attention. "Yokiyo how did you do that just now?"

  With a laugh as she turned and lead the way down the building to the closest door that would take them to the library, Yokiyo laughed. "I have just been able to do that since early on. The first time that I did it was when I was pregnant with Kiara. We assumed it was because I am a miko and could sense demonic energy. But now that we know I bonded to his life, and I get my happy ending, we figure that it is because of that."

  "I see."

  X

  Walking in with everyone in tow, Yokiyo smiled as she turned and handed Katana over to Zokeni. "Here hold him for me please." She then turned and glided toward Kiyoshi.

  Curious about this strange roller coaster she was on, and that shine in her eyes, Kiyoshi arched an eyebrow as he looked down at her when she reached him. "What is it?"

  Touching his arm with a hand, Yokiyo kept her bright smile. "Can we talk in private for a moment?"

  "Yokiyo?"

  Rolling her eyes as she half glared up at him, Yokiyo crossed her arms. "Oh come on just humor me please." Smiling as he put an arm around her waist and turned to lead her through the door of the library that lead to his personal study. Once the door shut she turned to him and clapped her hands. "He kissed her!"

  Blinking, and caught off guard, Kiyoshi just looked at her. "Wait who kissed who?"

  Glaring at him now, Yokiyo crossed her arms. "Sanzo kissed Imae. I didn't see it, but it sure shocked the heck out of Kiara, Nyoko and Isamu. Just before it got dark actually."

  Though he didn't show it outwardly, Kiyoshi knew Yokiyo could feel the mix of emotions that he had about this. His daughter, the first human to ever break into his heart would be leaving the South for good. He was elated that she would get to have a family of her own, as any parent should be. But she was human and the chances of her doing what her mother did were slim. He wasn't going to spend much time with her when it was her time to go and that bothered him. "Have you talked to her about it?"

  With a soft and knowing smile, Yokiyo stood on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck as he put one arm around her waist to hold her still. "I know that feeling. I am sad to see her leave for the same reasons but we both knew that this was coming. And she is as in love with him as I am you, and they haven't even mated yet. It might do it again. And she wants too."

  Kissing her, Kiyoshi then sighed as he closed his eyes and nodded. "Indeed. Is the bird still here?"

  "He went to his camp."

  Opening his eyes and pulling his mate into his arms Kiyoshi let out another sight. "I will have Yoite go for him."

  X

  Seeing everyone going in the library, Sorae blinked as she rounded the corner and went to see what was going on. Opening the door to see Kiysohi and Yokiyo walking into his study alone, then the smile on her daughter's face. What she thought was true. And he must have acted on it.

  Shaking his head with a odd look, Kurosai blinked as he looked at the closed door with crossed arms. "Well now what in the hell was that all about?"

  "Hush! There are children in the room." Sorae then moved to stand at her mate's side as she hugged his arm and smiled up at him. "If I am right about this and from everyone's look I am. It's about Imae. She will be leaving the South soon."

  "Leaving where?"

  Laughing at how protective he sounded when he said, Sorae shook her head. "To the East. To be Lady of the East."

  Blinking for a moment, Kurosai was caught totally off guard with that! "Wait a minute. You mean that daft old bird and my grand-daughter will be….and even have….." He then turned his glare out the window as he growled. "Why I otta…"

  Growling herself as she glared at her father, Yukani laid a hand on her stomach as she shook her head. "Father! Don't you even dare say or do anything that will mess it up for them." When her father's glaring eyes were back on her she sighed. "If you haven't noticed Imae is in love with him. He kissed her today and his demon is coming out just l
ike with you and Kiyoshi for Mama and Yokiyo. They both want to be together right now and Yokiyo and I are hoping that this pack will defy the odds again and she will do the same thing her mother did."

  A deep sigh as he put an arm around his mate, Kurosai rubbed the back of his neck as he looked up at the ceiling. "Well that I would be thankful for. Though I gotta say I never thought she would leave the South. I always thought she would end up with a demon, but stay here."

  Resting herself in his arms, Sorae giggled as she closed her eyes. "Don't be so sad dear. You are not Lord remember? We can come and go anywhere we want. We can go and visit her in the East and make sure everything is alright. Especially after she has children."

  Flinching as he looked down at his mate with wide and shocked eyes. "Children?"

  Laughing along with everyone else in the room, Sorae smiled as she closed her eyes to see the look of shock on his face was hilarious. "Yes dear that's right. We are going to be great grandparents sooner than you think I am sure."

  Moving and sitting on the window seal as he dropped his head with a growl. "Don't even say that Sorae."

  Laughing, Soichiro looked at Kurosai and sighed. "It won't be so bad now will it Kurosai? But being human she will have children a lot faster than Kiara or Katana would."

  Growling as he glared up at the cub, Kurosai didn't move. "Don't you even start cub."

  "I know you and Yokiyo said that he knows but still." Kamui sighed as he looked over at the closed door. "I still wonder what Kiyoshi's reaction is going to be seeing as who she is going to mate with."

  Laughing as he put both arms around her waist to rest his hand son her stomach, Yukani sighed as she smiled up at him. "He does already know. I am sure he isn't happy about seeing her leave. But he wants to see her happy too. He had every intention on kicking Sanzo in his butt to make him do something if he hadn't made a move for her by the time the war was done."

  "Really?"

  Nodding she laughed then turned and look at Zokeni and Senri who had her nephew. Yukani couldn't help but smile. She so wished that Imae would bond like her mother did. And was sad for Yokiyo at the same time that she would have to watch her brother grow old and die. "Really. He isn't going to fly off the handle don't worry."

  X

  Feeling the wind, Ayame looked up in time to see the flap of the tent fly open and her brother waltz in and fall down on the futon with his big goofy grin as he seemed to be a million miles away in his eyes. Once again, just as he has the last two nights he reeked of Imae when he got back to the tent. Spending all day sparing with her for the last three days now. She would never understand that, but she did enjoy seeing him happy. "Well n ow brother you are in a good mood."

  "But of course I am my sister." Turning to wink at his sister Sanzo laughed. She was going to be furious about what was going on right now. But Imae has already proven that she can handle her so he hoped she wouldn't try to fight her on anything and everything.

  But as he turned and looked up through the small hole in the middle of the tent, Sanzo couldn't stop his smile from growing. The redness of her face. Her lips were so soft. And tasted like the sweetest honey as the kiss even now lingered on his lips. 'I do hope we bond like her mother did. That would be perfect to have her forever. If not, I will still treasure the time that I will get with her and however many kids we have. Now the only thing I gotta do is figure out where to take her to make things official? She would be a nervous wreck in the palace with her parents there I am sure.'

  "Sanzo!" Ayame shook her head with her hands on her hips, she half smiled a down at him. Laughing as he looked at her with shocked eyes. "I said your name five times and you didn't even look at me. What in the world is going through that feather brain of yours right now?"

  Rolling his eyes as he looked away from his sister, Sanzo put his hands behind his head. "Nothing really. A little of this and a little of that. Oh and we aren't going home alone when the war is done either."

  Flinching as she froze, Ayame was terrified to ask the next question. He reeked of Imae. No one else. Just her. He couldn't really be thinking about doing that with her! "Why is that?"

  His smile going even bigger as he once again saw a flash of Imae with a bright smile, Sanzo sighed. "Because I am going to be bringing home a mate."

  Instantly fuming, Ayame shook her head then stomped her foot. "You can't really be serious about the miko Sanzo!" Crossing her arms as he stood and faced her with an odd look she didn't have to ask him who he was talking about. And she was not going to have it either! None of it!

  With a sigh as he looked at his sister, Sanzo crossed his own arms. "I am very serious about this Ayame. She is strong enough to call out my demon so she is strong enough to become my mate. And I don't have to do a presentation, everyone who matters is already here and will approve. So….."

  "But she is a human Sanzo! You didn't think that I was just going to let you do this did you?! I hated that you let Yokiyo live all those years ago. And now you are telling me you are going to mate her adopted brat and expect me to just go along with it!" Her hands on her hips as she tapped her foot, Ayame was seeing red right now. She couldn't believe that he would do this! "I will not have it Sanzo! I won't!"

  Seeing that he was really going to have to have it out with her, Sanzo rolled his eyes as he hissed at her with a glare. It was time to stop this thing she had with him thinking that she was his mother and could tell him what to do about anything. "You will have it Ayame and shut up about it because I will have her. She beat you once and I know she will do it again if she has too. I don't know where you get the notion that you get to tell me what to do but you need to wake up and realize you are my little sister. Not my mother. And you know as well as I do that Mother and Father would have loved her and welcomed her with open arms so long as I was happy if they were still here."

  Frustration building in her eyes, Ayame was breathing hard. "I don't care I am not going to just let you do it! When she does it will fall to me, the little sister to pick up the pieces of you and any chicks you may or may not have. You will be left heartbroken, with a possible half demon chick and no chance to be with anyone ever again! The odds are more than stacked against her that she will die and not mate like her mother! If you go through with this Sanzo you are going to leave it up to me to produce an heir to the East!" But it was the anger that surged through her brother's eyes that made her flinch as she backed away from him a few steps. The last time that she seen that much rage in his eyes was when they were told about what happened to their father.

  Hissing as he narrowed his eyes at his sister from where he stood, Sanzo took a deep breath. "Don't you dare presume to know everything Ayame. Yes I do know that the chances that she mates me like her parents did are next to nothing or worse. I don't give a damn. Even if she wasn't a miko I would have mated her. Even if I only get a very small amount of time with her and one chick, or an eternity and a dozen. It is better than nothing and I will be just fine."

  Closing the gap quickly he was in her face as he bore into her eyes. "And you better know this little sister. If the worst does happen and we don't make like her parents, and I got only one half demon daughter with her, then fine. But that half demon daughter will be made my official heir and will take over the East when I am dead or step down. Have I made myself clear Ayame?"

  "Lord Sanzo. Might I have a word with you?"

  Though before his sister could answer he turned when he heard Yoite outside his door. Turning from his sister he sighed. "Yes Yoite of course come in." When he walked in with a bow he smiled. "So what is it?"

  Standing tall now Yoite smiled. "Lord Kiyoshi has sent me. He wishes to discuss with you what happened between yourself and Lady Imae this evening." Yoite opened his eyes to see a tense and pale bird standing there before him. Laughing as he kept one hand on his katana, the other at his side, Yoite shook his head. "You do not have to worry My Lord. He figured that this was going to happen sooner or later and merely wishes to s
peak to you about it."

  Dropping his head with a sigh as he relaxed. "You know Yoite you could have just said that from the start. You didn't have to pause between it ya know."

  "I could have."

  With a half glare as he crossed his arms, Sanzo hissed at the young dog. "Well I can see Imae gets her personality from more than just her parents."

  Turning sideways as he gestured with a hand, Yoite smiled. "If you would come with me My L ord."

  Another hiss as he walked past him, Sanzo shook his head. "And I think that Umarus has rubbed off on you too much too."

  "My Lord." Laughing as Sanzo left the tent, and having heard the bulk of the argument between he and his sister, Yoite turned a glare on the female falcon as he stood tall before her and narrowed his eyes. "I do not care where she is. Who she mates. Or how old she is, Lady Ayame. I will never let anyone harm Lady Imae and get away with it. Even if that means that I must contend with your brother as I go against you. Just remember that." Then he just turned and left.