by Max Jager
Paling as she looked up at her mother, Imae almost wished that she was still an emotional wreck. "Mother really!"
Laughing with a smile as she winked at the still nervous Sanzo, Yokiyo reached out and grabbed her daughter's hand and drug her with her as she walked away. "Imae you come with me for a moment young lady. Sanzo just make yourself useful. Go help with the preparations for war or something like that."
Blinking as he watched his mate and her mother vanish into the palace, Sanzo just stood there with shock still on his face. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes as he shook his head trying to make sense of what just happened. "Oh man. I wonder if this is how it is going to be in the East when we get home? I wouldn't complain, but it might through everyone else for a loop that's for sure."
X
Once they were in the palace, Imae half glared up at her mother as she followed her through the halls toward the hot spring. "Mama! Why did you just do that?"
Laughing Yokiyo winked back at her little girl. "Oh just get over it Imae. Do you really think that now that I am back to normal so to speak that you are going to get out of getting razzed about being mated to him? Or him? No way not going to happen. Now you two are mated he is fair game."
Dropping her head as her mother let go of her hand at the hot spring, Imae sighed. "What have I done to him?"
Untying her sash, Yokiyo laughed. "I won't be that bad. Come on Imae get in the water with me."
Looking up to see her mother breading her hair before she got in the water, leaving it to lay on the rock out of the water, Imae half smiled. Disrobing herself, she slid in the water with a sigh. "Mama…"
"I will be fine honey. I miss them and can't wait for them to get home and stay, but I understand why they are where they are at. Even though it's hard for me." But when Yokiyo looked over at Imae, and how she had sad eyes as she looked in the water. Reaching over she took her chin in her hand and smiled as she made her look up at her. "Imae. If it happens like us then great. But if you don't bond with him like your father and I did, don't spend what time you have left worrying about it, or regretting anything. Even if I wouldn't have bonded like I did to your father, I would have died a happy woman to know that I had a wonderful life with him and raised three perfect pups with him."
Letting out a long sigh, Imae moved her chin from her mother's hand as she dropped her head toward the water again. She was scared about that. She was worried about it before, now it really scared her. "But what if I do not bond with him like you did Father Mama? I will hopefully leave him with some chicks, but he won't be able to….."
Pulling Imae's now startled chocolate eyes up to her, Yokiyo laughed as she shook her head. "You don't have a thing to worry about where that comes in honey. You have plenty of time to be with him even if you don't bond like I did. And you have something with him, that most humans would die to have."
Rolling her eyes, Imae half glared at her mother. "Really Mama and what is that?"
With a smile as she reached out and ran her finger down her daughter's nose then tapping it, Yokiyo sighed. "He loves you. To have someone that loves you like he clearly already does is a rare gift." With a sigh, Yokiyo turned her head down to look at the water. "I have it with your father. Aunt Yukani and Uncle Kamui, Aunt Zokeni and Uncle Senri. Your grandparents." Concern washing over her, as she hasn't heard from her friend, Yokiyo let another small sigh come from her. "I thought Izumi had it too with Itachi, but I still haven't heard from her since I sent her word about your brother. I wonder if it is because of Itachi."
Nodding, Imae gave her mother another odd look as she let her head fall to the side. "You sent another messenger out today again didn't you?"
Leaning her head back on the rock with a deep sigh, Yokiyo let her eyes flutter shut. "I did. I do hope she sends what I want to hear or comes with him."
Moving over closer to her mother, Imae smiled herself as she leaned back and laid her head over against Yokiyo's. "I am sure you will hear something from her today Mama. And thank you for the talk. I am really going to miss you and moments like these."
Leaning her head over on her daughter's as well, Yokiyo smiled as she sighed and held her hand under the water. "I know what you mean honey. I am going to miss you and our moments like this too. So much. But we will be there to visit you as often as we can, and you can always come and see us no matter what. And before you know it honey, I bet you have a beautiful daughter that you can make these same memories with that will last her forever."
"I hope so Mama. I love you."
"I love you Imae."
X
With a serious look, Kiyoshi looked up from where he sat with Sanzo and Soichiro to see his mate storm into his study. She was more than irate about something. "What is it?"
Waving the scroll in the air the crossing her arms, Yokiyo stopped in the middle of the room. "Well I get a message back. The messenger I sent to see what was going on with Izumi today. He wasn't even allowed to see her and instead Itachi sent a message back the prick."
Standing and moving toward her, Kiyoshi kept his emotionless mask in place. "What did he say?"
Taking a deep breath as she started to calm down when he put an arm around her and that comforting feeling fled back, Yokiyo looked at the scroll. "He said that I can see and talk to his wife and children when I repent for what I have done, leave you and all my pups with you and go back to the human world with them." The growl that came from him made her roll her eyes. "Like I ever would do such a thing. But I want you and me to go there in a few days and see exactly what is going on with them. I just got a feeling."
Knowing never to ignore her feelings, Kiyoshi sighed as he gave a nod. "We will go in a couple days."
Looking at each other, then back to Yokiyo and Kiyoshi, Sanzo and Soichiro were both more than a little confused. Though with the way that Yokiyo stormed in, it was Sanzo who dared to ask who they were talking about. "Um who are you talking about?"
Walking in behind her mother, Imae sighed as she moved to stand with her mate. "Izumi and Itachi. They were Mama's friends as a little girl. But when they first learned that she was mated with Father and they adopted me, Itachi turned into a total asshole and now refuses to let Mama and Izumi see each other, or their kids."
"I see." Sanzo sighed as he just rubbed his neck. He didn't know what to say on that one. He didn't even know who they were.
Looking down at the desk, Imae blinked when she saw the different flags on a map. She knew four of them. Each one would be where the camp was going to be located at for each of the four lands. But there was another Southern flag on a bluff to the west of the battle field. "Father why is that here?"
Looking down, Kiyoshi sighed as he then looked at his mate. "That is where your mother will be at with a full platoon of her own to keep her safe, and Emiko."
Moving from her mate's arms, Yokiyo looked down at the map and blinked. It was a safe place she guessed. But she knew that there was going to be one there at least that would be seeking her out. "Well that is all well and good but you know that I am going to end up in at least one fight during the wary anyway right."
Growling loudly, Kiysohi glared into her eyes as she looked up at him. "Not."
With a sigh as she crossed her arms, Yokiyo glared up into Kiyoshi's eyes as she gave a nod of her head. "I will be. I know I am. I just know it. Rinako will be there and seeking me out I am sure of it."
Closing his eyes as he forced himself to relax, Kiyoshi couldn't stop one last annoyed growl. "I doubt it."
S haking his head as his eyes took on a serious look, Soichiro drew Kiyoshi's eyes to his. "I wouldn't doubt it Kiyoshi. I would actually bet on that fact. They do things there as traditional as you could imagine. She is the pretty little wallflower that does all she can to try and catch anything being said about my brother to keep him Lord, and to stay his mate. Raising his heir and being the pretty thing standing at his side in court. Rinako took her title seriously. By killing Reijiro you would have sen
t her over the edge making her feel as if she failed her mate in what she was supposed to do. And Motoichi would not hesitate to let her come to war with him just so he could watch her as he would put it, tear your human mate apart."
With a bright smile, Yokiyo looked up at Kiyoshi as she giggled. "See." She then grabbed Imae by the hand and turned to leave. "So I need to brush up on purification training. Come Imae. You get to help me with that."
"How can I help you when you trained me?"
"Cause I said so."
Laughing, Kurosai walked over and patted Sanzo on his shoulder. "So are you really sure that you are ready to mate into this bird?"
Laughing as he smiled and shook his head, Sanzo put his hands on his hips. "I am. Besides, a little crazy will fit me better anyway. Remember Kurosai, you are always telling me how much like my father I am when it comes to that."
Laughing as she also shook his head, Kurosai let his eyes half close. "That you are bird. That you are."
X
With his eyes closed as the wind blue threw his long hair, Tikae stood in the middle of the gardens with his mate as she painted. It was perfect just like was. And yet war was looming over them all. And every ti me he tried to talk to her about it she always got upset. But she had to know what was going on. He had no intention on letting himself die, but just in case the worst did happen to him. She had to be ready for it. Taking a deep breath as he opened his eyes to look at her he sighed. "Toki."
Hearing the one of voice of her mate, Toki let her eyes hit the ground as she could already feel the tears forming. She has avoided talking about this stupid war for a while now. But he seemed determined to talk to her about it, even though he knew her thoughts on it. "Yes Tikae?"
Moving to her side, Tikae reached own and took her brush and paints sitting them to the side as he took her hand and pulled her to stand with him. "Walk with me Toki. We need to talk and you know it."
Letting him lead her through the garden by her hand, Toki sighed as she gave a slight nod. "About the war right?"
"Exactly."
H er hand shaking as the tears fell from her eyes, Toki tightened her grip on his hand. "I don't see why you even need to go fight at all. We don't really have to do this do we?"
Squeezing her hand himself, Tikae sighed as he looked down at her. "If we don't, and Motoichi does somehow manage to win, the entire Northern army is going to come after us. We wouldn't stand a chance. But the plan that Soichiro and I have will work."
"But what if it doesn't?"
Stopping on a bridge that went over their koi pond, Tikae turned to face her as he rubbed his hands up and down her arms as he waited for her to look up at him. "It will work Toki. I will come back to you. Yes I know there is always that chance that it won't work, but knowing that you are here waiting for me, and that you believe in me. I won't be able to lose. And we have to do this. Even if Motoichi wasn't trying to force my hand I would have fought doing the same thing. Just like with Kenji, Motoichi has to end to end his rule of tyranny. No one is going to be truly safe until we do this."
"But Kenji and Shinra did escape when you took over Tikae. What if they…" Toki then grabbed his clothes as her silvery blue eyes filled with worry and pleading. "I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you."
Pulling her fully into his arms, Tikae let his chin rest on her head as she buried her face into his chest. She was the absolute love of his life. He would do anything for her. "I know that Toki and I don't want to lose you either. I wouldn't know what to do if I did. But for us to live in peace and keep that peace for our children when they are born, I have to fight. If they show up, great. With everyone there anyway we will take them all out at once. Hopefully they do then all the lands will finally know what true peace is."
R elishing being in his arms, Toki sighed as she gave a nod. "I guess you are right. I still don't like it though."
Laughing, Tikae rubbed her back as he looked down at her. "I know that. And after this, hopefully Kenji shows up but if not, that will be the last battle I have to fight. I beat him and Shinra once. I will do it again."
Looking up at him, Toki smiled brightly as he dropped his hands to rest around her waist. "And then we can finally focus on just us and starting a family."
"And nothing will stop it." Tikae then dipped his head and sealed her mouth with his own. After a moment when he pulled his lips from hers he smiled as he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. "Right now though I need to go and talk with Sidhae, Sakon and Hideo. Make sure the last of the plans are in order. Including where you and your parents are going. I have a funny feeling we march soon."
Nodding, Toki tip toed and kissed his cheek. "Alright. I am going to go and find Mother and Father then."
"Right." Tikae then dipped his head and kissed her again as he cupped one side of her face with a hand.
X
As he walked into his study, Tikae was greed with a smile from Sidhae and Sakon. Looking around he blinked as he settled on Sidhae. "Where is Hideo?"
"He had to go and handle a problem that some of the men are having with some weapons." His arms crossed Sidhae kept his eyes even with Tikae's. "We have all the final preparations for war done. Including the special uniforms that you want all of us to wear."
"That's good." Looking down at his table, Tikae sighed. "That way when we turn sides on that bastard Motoichi we won't attack our own men and will know who is who. You also made sure that all the men know the red smoke signal is when we turn right?"
"Yes My Lord."
"That's good." Looking back up at Sidhae he had serious eyes. "There are still the undergrounds caves right?"
Blinking as he gave him an odd look, Sidhae nodded. "Yes My Lord. You are referring to the ones your father used right?"
Nodding as he looked back down at the table and leaned over on it, Tikae sighed. "Yes, the ones he used during war to keep the women and children safe. Are they still up and going?"
Pulling his eyes to him, Sakon stepped up as he crossed his own arms. "Most of them are. A few have fallen in but they are still there. Is that where you are planning on having Lady Toki be?"
Nodding, Tikae went to a window to see Toki walking in the gardens with her parents. "Not just her. Her parents, and every mate and child of all the men in my army. I don't trust Motoichi as far as I can throw him. After all, he was raised by the woman who tried to blackmail me into killing Soichiro. And then there is Kenji and Shinra as well. I still don't know where they vanished too."
"Indeed. I will see to it that there are more than enough men to keep them safe and get the ones that have fallen in put back up."
Nodding, Sidhae sighed as he leaned against the wall. "It is ironic when you think about it. She tried to have you kill Soichiro, and now you are helping to kill Motoichi."
Looking up at Sidhae as he stood tall, Tikae crossed his arms. "That is true. And after this Soichiro will finally be able to take over as Lord like he should have done long ago." When he didn't hear anything, he looked up with blinking eyes to find both Sidhae and Sakon just smiling as they looked at him. "Alright what are those looks for?"
Sidhae shook his head as he laughed. "It isn't anything bad My Lord. You just prove to us more and more each time something big happens that you are just like your father. In fact right now you remind us of your father when he would be planning to fight. You got his colors and look just like him, and act just like him too."
Shaking his head as he smiled and looked down, Tikae laughed. "Is that a bad thing?"
Shaking his head no, Sakon laughed as he smiled. "No My Lord that is a really good thing. And I also know that if he were here today, along with your mother, they would be every bit as proud of you as we are right now My Lord."
His eyes taking on a distant look as he glanced up at the painting of his parents, parents he never got to meet, Tikae sighed. "I hope so."
Looking up at Lord Eiji and Lady Ling, Sakon let his eyes half close as he remembered the promise tha
t they made himself, Sidhae and Hideo take to watch over and protect Tikae. "Of that My Lord I have no doubts."
A New Heir Chapter 95
With wide eyes, Kiara slid off the back of her Uncle as she looked up at the palace of the West. The palace itself reminded her a lot of home which she would welcome. As her eyes scanned the garden as they entered he gate, she marveled at the different kinds of trees that were all over the garden with few flowers. Where home had more flowers than trees.
Just as she entered the court yard, Kiara was in awe of this place, until she heard the shrill yell of a wolf that actually made her flinch. Looking up she watched as an older wolf pup threw herself into Shone's arms. 'I take it that must be Hiroko that Isamu told me about.'
As she clung to her Uncle, Hiroko smiled as he hugged her back. "I am so glad that you are finally home Uncle! I was really starting to think you were never going to come home." A small giggle as she was put on her feet, Hiroko looked behind him then gasped with fear as she grabbed her Uncle's arm and started shaking. "Uncle! Why did you bring leopards in here? Aren't they who we are fighting against in the North?"
