Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Looking up at her mother, Hanako let tears flow from her mother's eyes. Her father scared her. So bad. She didn't want to go back. "Mama please? Let's keep going. I don't want to go back there. I don't. Please Mama?"

  Taking a deep breath, pain searing her heart at the fear in her little girl's eyes over her own father, Izumi nodded. "Let's keep going. She knew that this was something she had to do. She had to protect her children from him. She didn't want him to hurt them in anyway. And she didn't want Kazuo to end up killing his own father because of the way he was. But that didn't make doing the right thing any easier.

  "Who goes there?"

  Looking up as they reached the gate, Kazuo made eye contact with the demons standing there. "We are here to see Lady Yokiyo."

  "Who do we tell her is here to speak with her?"

  "Izumi and her children."

  Knowing the name, one of the demons nodded. "We will inform her. Due to the state of the demons in the lands, I cannot open the gate just yet. Wait here."

  "Right."

  X

  Looking at her daughter's odd face, Yokiyo couldn't help but laugh nearly as hard as she could. She was in the room with her when she had Katana, but she stayed up by her head this time. She didn't see anything that mattered to a woman who could now have children. But now that she was a mated woman, and she would soon be having chicks of her own, there were things she was going to need to know. She just never expected to see her daughter actually pale and get physically ill over what she was telling her.

  Once the initial shock of what her mother said wore off, Imae glared with a bright red face as she stood up from where she was leaned out the window getting sick. Glad that no one happened to be under it when she ran to it. Looking at her mother she put her hands on her hips. "Mother! Why would you say something like that!?"

  Falling over to her side, Yokiyo laughed even harder, so hard she could hardly breath and had tears rolling down her eyes. "Well I am sorry Imae. But the truth is the truth you know. And if I don't tell you what having babies is like then who will might I ask? Your grandmother tried to help me when I was pregnant with Kiara. But she wasn't good at talking about it at all. She was as embarrassed about it as you are so she wouldn't be any help. And while Aunt Yukani is just past her half way point and will have the baby before we go to war, she can't help right now either. And Aunt Zokeni won't have hers until the war is over, so she would be no help." She then winked as Imae's glare got harder. "Oh get over it. I know that once she has the pup, your Aunt Yukani will agree with me whole heartedly.""

  Dropping her head as she kept her arms crossed, Imae glared at the floor as she sat next to her mother. "But still Mama. To compare it to something like that really?" Though if that was the truth, she was thinking that she would make sure to use her purification to fix it so that she never has any kids.

  Taking some deep breaths to calm herself, Yokiyo sat up now as she sighed with a smile. "Well you opened the door for this talk after all Imae. You were the one that asked me what it felt like to have children. And the truth is the truth after all. It is like you are trying to push something the size of a melon out an opening the size of a lemon."

  Covering her ears, Imae groaned as she dropped her head. "Enough already Mama! You are going to make it so that you have to wait for Kiara or Katana to grow up before you get an grandkids."

  With a laugh, Yokiyo shook her head. "Oh no I doubt that. Your grandmother will be all over you if you do that. She is more excited about being a great grandmother now you are mated than with Yukani having a baby."

  Before either could say anything else, there was a small knock at the door. Looking up Yokiyo blinked as she stood up. "Come in."

  Opening the door then giving a small bow, the young maid smiled at her Lady. "My Lady the gatekeepers have asked me to inform you that there is a human woman and two children at the gate that are requesting to see you."

  Flinching as her heart skipped a beat, Yokiyo knew that there would be only one woman that would have two kids that would want to see her. Izumi and her children. Taking a deep breath she held her hands before her. "Did they say who they are?"

  Nodding the maid gave another bow. "Yes My Lady. They said to tell you they are Izumi and her children."

  Pulling a startled gasp from the maid, and Imae, Yokiyo rushed past her and through the palace right for the gate. Imae on her heels. "Open the gate." Just as the gates opened, Yokiyo smiled as she flattened her best friend to the ground. "I knew you wouldn't let him make you stay away from me much longer!"

  Standing back, Imae smiled as the two stood up and hugged each other with smiles. Glancing at the kids, she noticed how the little girl who seemed to be about Kiara's age was looking behind them and terrified. And the boy was glaring with crossed arms as he did the same thing. Clearing her throat and pulling all eyes to her, Imae smiled as she let her head fall to the side. "Mama I think that we should carry this on inside the gate."

  Nodding, Yokiyo smiled as she took Izumi's hand. "That's right. Besides your father would have a cow if he knew where I was right now. Izumi you and I have a lot to catch up on. I am glad you are here with what is going on right now. You can help keep me busy so that…." But then she felt Izumi's hand and how badly it was shaking. Stopping just inside the gate as it closed, Yokiyo looked back at her. She wasn't smiling or happy. She looked almost broken and terrified. "Izumi what happened?"

  Stepping up right next to his mother, Kazuo sighed as he closed his eyes. "I can tell you what happened. But just the two of us if you wouldn't mind." A glance at his sister and then his mother he let his eyes half close. "I don't want my sister to hear everything and I don't think that Mama could handle hearing it again."

  Looking at Kazuo then back to Izumi who wasn't even looking at her and shaking even more, Yokiyo sighed as she nodded. "I can agree with that. Imae take Izumi and Hana to a room in the family wing and wait for me. Kazuo follow me to my study."

  Nodding Imae smiled. "Right Mama."

  Watching as Imae lead Izumi and Hana one way, Yokiyo turned and motioned for Kazuo to follow her as she lead him through the garden and into the palace to her study. She could feel the concern at her sudden anger, but thankfully he wasn't coming. But she just knew that it had to do with Itachi, and that is what made her truly angry.

  Once she was in her study and Kazuo walked past her she shut the door and went to sit behind her desk as he sat before her. "What in the hell has been going on the last ten years? That is not the woman I knew when my daughter was born. She acts like a timid mouse now."

  "In a single word, Itachi. Taking a deep breath, Kazuo closed his eyes as he tried his hardest to control his anger. Opening them he met her own glaring eyes. "I am not sure exactly when he really started to change. But the earliest I can remember I was five years old. He came home drunk and started fighting with Mama about it. In the end, he ended up beating her before he stormed out and left again."

  Her eyes bugging out of her head, her heart jumping to her throat Yokiyo couldn't believe that he would have done such a thing! She knew he hated her because of Kiyoshi but never thought he would do something like that! "He did what?!"

  Closing his eyes again, Kazuo fisted his own hands. "It became a nightly routine of his. We all just grew used to it I think. He would leave, get drunk on sake. Sleep with whomever would welcome him and come home, beat on Mama and then pass out. Only to do it all over the next day. I swear I would have killed him already if it was not for Mama begging me to give him time. It fell to me soon after that to feed our family. I had to become the man of the house, since he wasn't worthy of it anymore."

  Shaking her head as she looked down, Yokiyo was finding this hard to absorb. "But why didn't anyone stop him? And what about you and your sister? Tell me he didn't touch you?"

  Taking a deep breath Kazuo turned his eyes back to the floor as he half opened them. "He tried too one time. I never told Mama though. He came home early and Mama wasn't back from tr
ying to gather roots and herbs. Because she wasn't home he thought he was going to try and beat Hana two years ago. I stood up to him. Mama started teaching me how to fight when I could walk so I was able to show him that I am not going to take it like Mama did. She thought he had already passed out, but I knocked him out for it."

  Sympathy for this young man filling her, Yokiyo sighed. "You really should have told your mother that one. She would have killed him for trying to touch her kids."

  His eyes softer as his mind went to his mother and the sweet smile that she used to have that he hasn't seen for so long. "She wouldn't have. She loved him to a fault and believed that he would change in time. She always made excuses for why he did what he did, but said he was a good person deep down. I don't buy it."

  Breathing hard, Yokiyo sat there. "So then why are you all here? What happened to make her come today and not before this?"

  Making her flinch, Kazuo glared as he slammed his fist into the floor as he glared. "We are here today because that bastard crossed the line last night. I told Mama that it was him or us. That she left and came with us today, or I was going to bring Hana back here and go kill him myself." Taking a deep breath he forced himself to relax. "I was hunting yesterday. Mama and Hana were home. I thought that I had more time, since he never came home before dark. But as I got closer to our home, I could hear Hana screaming. When I ran in, he was trying to force Mama's clothes off of her. In front of my little sister. That was it. The last straw. I hated telling her what I did, but we had to get away from him. One way or another."

  Hearing movement he looked up to see Yokiyo running from the room. Jumping up he followed her, shocked that he could actually hardly keep up with her. When she ran in another room he watched as she hugged his mother as they both cried. 'Now we will see what happens.'

  Not stopping the tears, Yokiyo held onto her best friend in the world. She couldn't believe the hell she has been through. "I am so sorry Izumi. Had I thought for even a second that you were going through all of that I would have come and brought you and the kids home with me long ago. I am so sorry I wasn't there."

  Clinging to Yokiyo, Izumi let her own tears flow. "No one had a clue that I would have ever had to go through that. He is no longer the gentle man that I fell in love with so long ago. And then last night….." Hearing a sniff she turned and looked to find her daughter's eyes as they filled with tears as well. Reaching out she held her hand as they all sobbed.

  Sitting back a moment later, Yokiyo held her hands as she smiled, even though tears fell. "Don't you worry about a thing anymore Izumi. You are home now. You, Kazuo and Hana are all staying right here. You are home now. And don't you even say a word about Kiyoshi. He won't say a thing about it, and even if he tries he won't want to face me."

  Stopping at the open door, Sanzo sighed as he had his arms crossed. He has talked at length with Senri about Itachi and Izumi. Friends of theirs when they were younger, but also about what happened before he got there to meet Yokiyo when they mated twelve years ago. But to do something like that, to t hose he is supposed to love and protect was just ridiculous.

  Looking down at the boy, and seeing the glare in his eyes as he looked at his mother. He knew that look. He would have probably done the same thing if it were his parents. Though he was blessed to know parents that loved each other with all they had. Reaching out he tapped the boy on his shoulder and held a finger to his mouth as he walked away and motioned for him to follow him.

  Once they down the hall enough no one in the room could hear, Sanzo stopped and looked down at him as he crossed his arms. A serious look on his face. "So. I couldn't help but hear what you told Yokiyo. My question is, are you going to do something about it or get away with what he has done?"

  Blinking at the demon, there was an aura about him stronger than any he ever felt before. "Who are you?"

  With a smile forming on his lips, Sanzo let his head fall to the side. "I am Sanzo. Lord of the East. I know of your father from talking to Yokiyo's older brother Senri before he left a few days ago. From what I heard you say, you are right about one thing. He isn't worthy to be head of the house, or your family. You are more grown up than most human kids your age. With him not worthy of it, it now falls to you not only to feed them but keep them safe. Now I am going to ask you one more time. What are you going to do about it? Or you going to turn a blind eye and let him get away with it."

  A glare gleaming in his eyes, Kazuo fisted his hands at his side. "The first chance that I get, my sword will be run through his heart. I have every intention on ending him and what he stands for. I just had to make sure that Mama and Hana were safe before I did it. I don't want them to have to see it."

  With a sharp nod and a wink, as his wide toothy grin was back in place, Sanzo put his hands on his hips. "Great! Let's go." He then turned and walked away.

  Rushing after him, Kazuo looked up at him odd as he reached him. "What do you mean let's go?"

  Laughing as they exited the palace, Sanzo rubbed the back of his neck. "Well you see, Imae and I just mated not even a week ago. Yokiyo is her mother. And well they would both kill me if I let you go off and do something like this on your own. I know how you feel in a way too. Both of my parents were murdered. I still wish I would have been able to find the miko that killed my father and gotten revenge for that. Once they were gone, it fell to me to keep my little sister safe. Just like you have to for your mother and sister. Come on. Let's go get this all settled so you don't have to worry about it."

  A sharp nod as Sanzo picked him up and put him on his back, Kazuo smiled. "Thank you."

  Laughing as he jumped up to the wall, Sanzo winked at him. "No problem kid. Kazuo wasn't it?"

  "That's right." Kazuo then gasped as he gave a leap and was hundreds of feet over the court yard. "My sister is Hana, and Mama is Izumi."

  "Well it is nice to meet you Kazuo." Sanzo then transformed and flew off, following the slight scent from where they came.

  X

  Hearing the door, Kiyoshi looked up to see Yokiyo walking in their room. The instant smell of tears, he flinched and was at her side a second later. The second he touched her he gasped as she collapsed in his arms and clung to him as she cried nearly as hard as she did the day that Kiara and Katana left for the West.

  Lifting her soundly in his arms he held her close as he went to the bed and sat down with her on his lap. Rubbing her back gently with one hand, the other holding her close as he leaned his head on her own. "Yokiyo settle down. What happened?"

  Taking a few deep breaths, Yokiyo forced herself to settle down some. She still clung to him. To think of all the hell that Izumi went through. Knowing that she would live eternity with this man. She couldn't be more thankful for him. Looking up at him as the tears still flowed from her red and puffy eyes, Yokiyo was shaking now. "Thank you. Kiyoshi thank you so much for just being who you are. And the way you are with me and the pups. Thank you."

  Blinking at her, Kiysohi was just a little confused as he still held her tenderly close. "Where is this coming from Yokiyo?"

  Dropping her eyes, Yokiyo swallowed hard as she pictured the conversation she had with Izumi after Imae to Hana to get something to eat. "Izumi…"

  Blinking as he looked at the top of her head, Kiyoshi never moved. "What happened with her?"

  Looking back up into his perfect iced blue eyes, Yokiyo knew she was lucky to have someone who loved her and protected her no matter what. But she now realized just how lucky she really was to have ended up with someone like him. He was a demon. By the very definition he should have been pure demonic. Evil through and through in everything that he did. And yet when it came to her and their children, he was absolutely perfect and gentle. No matter he may want to do anything with her, if there was even a chance that one of their pups would come into the room, it didn't happen. If she didn't want to for whatever reason, it didn't happen. He was just picture perfect for her. "Really Kiysohi. Thank you so much for being so perfect in all ways. Th
ank…..thank…..thank you."

  Still confused, and not getting an answer, Kiysohi wrapped both his arms around her as she fell in his arms in a mess of sobs again. He really didn't know what to say or do right now. All he did know was that it had something to do with her friend and her children coming. He knew that she would be pleased with her being there, but never would have guessed some time with her would have made her surge with rage and then turn into this.

  Taking a few deep breaths, Yokiyo was trying to force herself to calm down. She never thought that Izumi would have put up with what she did, let alone Itachi doing anything like that to the woman that he claimed to love with all his heart. When she finally settled down enough that she could speak she took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes again. "They are living here from now on. They are never leaving this palace. Ever."

  Nodding Kiyoshi reached up with a gentle hand as he whipped some tears from her face. "That is fine. But what happened to do this to you?"