Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Ayame groaned as she sat down on her own futon and dropped her head. "He is a fool. An absolute fool!

  X

  As he went through the reports of his army for that day, Kiyoshi sighed as he smelled Sanzo coming. Without even looking up with the footsteps stopped, Kiyoshi sighed. "Come in Sanzo."

  Walking in with a sigh as he held one eye closed, Sanzo rubbed the back of his neck. "You wanted to see me Kiyoshi?"

  Not even looking up, and his emotionless mask in place Kiyoshi nodded. "After the kiss that Kiara saw tonight. You intend on mating with my daughter do you not Sanzo?"

  With a serious face as he knelt down before him, Sanzo gave him a nod. "I would like too with your permission of course. I never thought that growing up with you that I would end up mating with one of your pups. But this isn't just feelings on my side. My demon has moved on this as well."

  Leaning back against the wall as he let out a sigh, Kiyoshi looked up at him with a stern look. "That is good. And was going to be my next question."

  Meeting Kiyoshi's eyes with his own, Sanzo sat tall. "I would not do that to her Kiyoshi. Your pup or not. I would not lead her on knowing that my demon may choose someone else. I could never do that to anyone." He then took a deep breath as he blinked. "But I can promise you right now I will make sure she stays safe and happy."

  Looking out the window with a small smile, Kiyoshi let out a long sigh. "I am not worried about her being safe. She can take care of herself. Though she is a human I have made sure that my eldest daughter is a match for anyone she comes across. Even you. She proved that in her battle with Reijiro. And even though we have grown up together, and I consider you a friend and an ally."

  Turning on him with a glare and a growl that actually made Sanzo flinch as his eyes went wide. "I will push all that aside and take your head and the East as mine if she is not treated the way that she deserves to be treated. Is that understood?"

  With a nod as he relaxed, Sanzo had every intention on treating her like a gem. "Understood perfectly."

  Sitting up again, with his mask back in place, Kiyoshi went back to reading through his scrolls again. "That is good. You have my blessing, provided that she is in agreement with it."

  "Thank you."

  A New Heir Chapter 92

  "Are you crazy!?" Yukani growled as she moved and slammed her hands down on her brother's desk growling in his face. This was the most insane thing she had heard in a long time! Even above and beyond when he mated Yokiyo and she didn't like it. "Why in the hell do you think Mama and me going to the East and your pups going to the West is a good idea? Over everyone just stays right here while you go fight!"

  With a glare in his own eyes for his sister, Kiyoshi crossed his arms. "Logically yes it does make better sense to leave them here with everyone else at the same time. However he will be expecting that so I am going to change what he expects me to do. Much like Mother and Father did for my presentation. I do not expect you to like it, or agree with it. Simply do it."

  Shaking her head as she was on her feet Yukani was wide eyed and near going crazy. "I will not just do it! I won't! Father you have to talk sense into him about this!" But then when she turned to look at her father and the stern look in his eyes for her she paled again. "Wait you think this is a good idea too? Why would…"

  With a sigh as he turned and looked out the window at the full moon, Kurosai let out a long sigh. "I do think it is a good idea. The scouts that have been set out going back and forth getting everything ready for the last month have all sent reports back. Motoichi has scouts out watching the palace as well. If we split up all the women and children and send them in different directions, whatever force they send will have to split up as well, thinning the numbers and making them safer in turn."

  Completely on her Aunt's side, Kiara moved from her mother's side and went to pull on her grandfather's clothes pulling his eyes down to her. Worry all over her face. "But how could that really keep us safer Grandfather? We would have to thin out our forces too."

  With a sigh, Senri stepped away from Zokeni and went and lifted his niece in his arms, pulling a lock of her hair gently as he smiled too her. "You already understand Kiara I know you do. You did read the scroll that your parents gave you a few weeks ago right?"

  "I did."

  Turning to lift the scroll off of Kiyoshi's desk again, Senri held it up in front of her face as he winked at her. "Go back over this scroll. It was more than just a story. Replace the names with us, and then tell me if it makes sense or not. This actually happened Kiara."

  Looking at the scroll with a sigh, Kiara went through every word that was written on it in her head. Doing what he asked and replaced everything with what was going on right now. Startling everyone as eh gasped and her eyes went wide, Kiara turned to her Uncle and blinked. "Now I understand."

  With a glare as she crossed her arms as she kept her eyes on Senri and Kiara, Yukani let out a growl. "I refuse to just go along with this I don't care what anyone says." Looking down at Yokiyo as she held Katana she shook her head. "I can't believe that you are actually alright with doing this Yokiyo."

  Bouncing her son, Yokiyo had her eyes half closed. She really wasn't' but she knows why they need too. "I am actually not okay with having to split everyone up. I don't want to leave them anywhere but I have to go with Kiyoshi. When he explained it simply to me, it made sense. That's why I agreed to it."

  Looking around the room, Yukani growled. "Will someone do that for me then?"

  Looking over at her Aunt as she held onto her Uncle's neck, Kiara let out a sigh and pulled her eyes to her. "It before any of our time. I would gather that then, it was before even Great Grandfather's Great Grandparents were born. When the land was just forming into the North, South, East and West. The ones who started the foundation of the South were Eagles. The Lord and Lady had twin infants, one boy and one girl. When demons from what would be the West started a war then, to keep them safe they split them up. The small force that the Western Lord at the time sent to kill the chicks had to split in half. But there were enough with each chick they were easily overcome and defeated and the chicks were safe."

  Dropping her head as she sighed, Kiara gave a nod. "It was a good plan and it did work. And it should work here too."

  Yukani couldn't believe that this was happening! Everyone wanted to split everyone up and it was all based on a scroll that for all they knew was a fairy tale! "You are really going to do this based on a scroll that supposedly happened that long ago in a different time!"

  Looking up at Yukani with a glare and tears in her eyes, Yokiyo had finally had enough of this pathetic arguing. This was the last day and night that she was going to get to spend with her family until this war was over and she really didn't want to spend it sitting in Kiyoshi's study arguing over something that they really did have to do no matter how hard it is. "That's enough Yukani."

  "But Yokiyo…." Turning to see the tears in her eyes, Yukani stopped with a sigh as she dropped her head. "I just want…."

  Looking back down at her son, Yokiyo half smiled as he smiled up at her. "I understand that you love them and want to keep them safe. When I first read the scroll we got from Kai, then he told me that we were going to do the same thing I had a fit at first. But then he reminded me that the one who gave us the scroll was Kai. He would have been alive then and seen it first hand, not just had to read it in a scroll." Taking a deep breath as she looked back up at Yukani she half smiled. "I wasn't and I am not thrilled. But with everything going on. Kakdo, Shoji. Motoichi hates all of us with a passion and his son is dead because of us. It is worth a chance to split everyone up. But Kiara and Katana will not be split up."

  Dropping down to her knees as her head slumped more, Yukani let out a sigh. She knew it really wasn't her choice in the matter, but she couldn't help but fear that everything was going to go wrong with it! "I guess if you are going to let it happen then I should too huh."

  Giving Katana over to Kiyoshi,
Yokiyo moved to the middle of the floor and hugged Yukani as she let her own tears fall. "Oh Yukani. We love you and your opinion means the world to us. But doing this is as much to not only keep my pups safe, but you and my soon to come niece or nephew safe as well. And Zokeni. It will all be alright I promise."

  With a sigh as she relaxed, Yukani put her head on Yokiyo's as she sat there with her. "Fine. I won't fight it anymore. But who is going where with who?"

  Turning to hand Katana to his mother, Kiyoshi sighed as he drew attention to him. "To the West with Yuriko and Isamu we are sending Kiara, Katana, Nyoko, Chiren, Zokeni, Takara, Yoite and Senri as well as a small force. To the East with Ayame, will be Mother, Yukani, Emiko, Kamui and Umarus."

  Relaxed a bit, Yukani looked over at her nephew as he played with her mother's hair, she let out a sigh as she smiled. "Well at least they are going to have Senri and Yoite with them. I think I can relax some knowing that."

  "Exactly!" Yokiyo then stood and took her son from Sorae pulling a giggle as she made a face at him. "Imae. Kiara. Come with me. The two of you are going to stay with us for tonight." She then turned and left with Kiyoshi, her girls following behind them.

  Following in the rear, Imae had a bad feeling about this, but she wasn't going to speak out against something both her parents agreed on. But she did know that the sooner that all this got done, the sooner she could get home and get them home. Though she would be leaving soon after, knowing her brother and sister were with her mother and father would make it easier for her to leave.

  X

  Finding it hard to fall asleep, Yokiyo just looked down at her kids. Kiara was curled up next to her father, holding his hair like she did the very first night she was born. Katana sleeping soundly in her arms. And Imae, just like when she was Kiara's age was stretched out at the foot of the bed. This was the last night in a couple of months that she would get to spend with all three of them in one place. And she was finding it had to deal with at the same time. Especially with Katana being so tiny and it still being a few months before they left, and who knew how long it will take for the fight to finish. She just hoped that she could stand it.

  Looking over at his mate as she half sat on the bed and flicked from one pup to the other, Kiyoshi sighed. She was an emotional wreck. "Yokiyo. Everything is going to be fine."

  Nodding as she once again landed on her son, Yokiyo sighed. "How long do you think that this war is going to really take and be serious with me. I do hope that Chiren is right and Motoichi is going to just try to do it all in one big battle and not drag it out."

  With a sigh as he pulled his hair free from Kiara, Kiyoshi went around the bed, he lifted Katana from her arms and laid him next to Katana and pulled her to her feet. Both of them smiling as Kiara and Katana turned and rolled to the other in their sleep. Looking down at his mate he smiled as he took her hand and walked toward the balcony. "Come." Once they were outside in the full moon light, he turned and looked down at her. "We leave here in two months. We leave on the night of the first full moon then just like now."

  A glance up at the moon then back down to his mate's crying eyes as he pulled her closer to him. "And I give you my word I will have us home without pups again before the first night of the next full moon. Even if we have to chase Motoichi and Rinako right to the palace and half destroy it. I promise."

  Leaning fully into his arms, Yokiyo sighed as her tears fell. She would never regret her life with him. She loved him no matter what happened. But not being with her kids was hard for her. She knew why they were doing what they were doing. And Senri and Yoite were going to be with them. And she knew beyond any doubt that both of them would die before even a hair was harmed on her children and take everyone with them. Katana was now sitting up on his own. He would be crawling or even walking by the time she seen them next and that was hard. She didn't want to miss it!

  "Yokiyo…"

  Hiding her face in his chest as she choked back a sob, Yokiyo grabbed his chest with both hands. "I can't help it Kiyoshi. I love that I get to spend the rest of time with you, watch them become adults, and see my grandchildren from all three of them. But I wish that this part of our bond was never formed! I hate leaving them for any length of time. And with Katana being so young I am going to miss stuff I know it!"

  Rubbing her back as she lost it in a mess of sobs, Kiyoshi sighed as he looked down at her. "I understand Yokiyo. I don't want you to go either. I would have much rather left you and the pups here in the South with everyone else, or at least sent you with them to the East. But things just can't be done like that. I will get you back to them as soon as I can. I promise."

  "Father? Mother?"

  Turning around to see a teary eyed Kiara standing before them, Yokiyo went to her and scooped her up in her arms, her heart breaking even more as Kiara latched onto her hugging her just as tightly. She hardly ever openly showed emotion like this. It showed that she was still just a small pup. "Oh what is it sugar? What's wrong?"

  Not wanting to fight with her mother tonight over her nickname, Kiara just sighed as she looked up at her father. "Since you and Mother are leaving for war, and Katana and I are leaving tomorrow. That means that until you are home, as the eldest I will be in charge right Father?"

  Smiling as he laid a hand on her head, Kiyoshi nodded. "That is right. It will be up to you to help with and help protect your brother while your sister, mother and I are away at war. You can do that for us right?"

  Nodding as she shook some, Kiara looked down then back up to his eyes. "I can do it and I will Father. But I want…"

  His eyes narrowing, Kiyoshi crossed his arms. "I have told you Kiara. We are not changing this plan and there is no way that you are going with us. Understood?"

  Closing her eyes, Kiara knew that look in his eyes. He wasn't going to budge, and she didn't have an argument either. No matter what she tried to think of, there was no way to get him to change his mind and either let her go with them, or leave everyone right there in the South. No plan she could come up with made more sense than the one they were doing right now.

  Going back to the bed, Kiyoshi watched as his mate slowly fell asleep. Kiara between them holding onto both of them, Katana laying with his head on his mother's chest and the rest of him on his sister. Imae still stretched out at the end of the bed. He hated this right now. He hated splitting everyone up. He didn't want to leave his pack. He should be the one keeping them all together and staying there to protect them all. But right now he had a steel trap mind when it came to what he had to do. It was time to deal with Motoichi, so that he could restore the peace not only to the lands, but to his pack as well. And then get Yokiyo back to them as soon as possible.

  X

  Just at dawn the next morning, a teary eyed Yokiyo stood holding her son at the gate of the palace. Looking down at Kiara who had her head down standing between them. One hand holding her clothes and the other hand holding her father's. 'I hate this! I swear he is going to suffer. I hate him.'

  A sigh as she half smiled, Takara stepped up to her Lady who had quickly become her best friend. "My Lady. It is time." She then gently took Katana from her arms and nodded. "They will be just fine. We will all make sure of that."

  "Exactly." Standing with Zokeni, Senri smiled as he looked at his distraught sister. "Don't worry Yokiyo. They got me and Yoite. Nothing is going to happen to them."

  Breaking away from Umarus, Sorae rushed to Yokiyo and pulled her into a hug as her own tears fell from her eyes. "I know this is hard for you. It is hard for all of us I can only imagine you. But it won't be long I promise."

  "I know but I still don't have to like it. Even if it is for the best for them." Pushing her tears to stay at bay, Yokiyo smiled as she leaned down and kissed her son's cheek. "You my little gluten, you be a good boy for Takara."

  She then turned and fell to her knees as she looked into her daughter's eyes that mirrored her own. Taking a deep breath, Yokiyo reached out and took her daughter's hand. "Kiara. Just
like your father and I told you last night. While you and your brother are in the west you are to mind your manners and show respect to Yuriko and Isamu in their home. And you are to stay with and listen to both Takara and Yoite. And make sure to take care of your brother and look after him." Blinking as she forced her tears to stay back again, she took a deep breath. "And the same rules go for there that they do here. Now what are they?"

  Forcing her tears to stay back as her eyes filled up, Kiara nodded as she looked at her mother. "No running, swearing, and no challenging."

  "That's my good girl." Yokiyo then pulled her daughter into her arms as she hugged her.

  Stepping up and looking down at her little brother with misty eyes, Imae smiled as she held her finger up and Katana tried to pull it down to his mouth instantly. "You pig be good." She then looked down at her sister as her mother eased out of her arms and crossed her own as she smiled at her with a wink. "We are counting on you Kiara."