Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Dropping her own head, Sorae half smiled. "I know all that Yukani." She then looked over at her pregnant belly, and then back up to her amber eyes. "But I worry all the time anyway. You know how I am. Once I get my hands on them and I know for sure that they are just fine, then I will be alright. I can't help but worry until then, just like I still do you and your brother." But then she gasped as Kurosai jumped and landed with her fully in his arms in the middle of the court yard. Pushing out of his arms, as Yukani did, the both of them raced into the palace and toward where they could already smelled them all.

  Touching her feet to the ground from Atsana, Ayame sighed as she took a deep breath then snapped her head up and glared at the palace. He did! That fool mated with the human! 'You fool!' "Sanzo you….."

  Crossing his arms with a half glare, Kurosai looked over at the falcon as Kamui made his way to the palace first. "Yes Ayame that is right. My granddaughter and your brother are mated now." When she didn't even look at him he sighed as he headed for the palace with Umarus. But just a few feet later he smiled the threw his head back in a fight of laughter.

  "My Lord?"

  Looking over at Umarus, Kurosai crossed his arms. "I just now realized how crazy of a dynamic our pack is. My oldest granddaughter is now mated to someone who is older than her own father. My great grandchildren will be just at best a few years younger than their aunts and uncles. And who knows what else is going to happen after that."

  With a laugh of his own, Umarus smiled over at him. "And this amuses you I see My Lord."

  Winking back at him, Kurosai laughed again. "Hell yes. It has already been crazy, but can you imagine? I do believe that the South and East are in for a wild ride for the next thousand years or so."

  Her arms crossed as she glared at the palace, Ayame was not amused by what Kurosai was saying. She was enraged at the fact that her brother actually mated with the human. Her only hope now was that someone in the court would manage to kill her before they bond can be too set.

  "My Lady?"

  Hearing Atsana's voice, Ayame sighed as she shook her head. "I am sorry. I will be fine. I just need to go and have a talk with my brother is all. Thank you Atsana."

  Giving her a bow, Atsana watched Ayame as she stormed into the palace. He couldn't hide the draw to her. The attraction to her. However, he was going to wait until after the war was over and do things properly. He did hope that she accepted. After all, a mate and maybe a chick to occupy her time, and soften her heart, might soften her toward the young miko that is now his Lord's mate."

  X

  Looking up at the window, Sanzo sighed. "Well everyone else is here."

  Smiling, Imae stretched her arms over her head as she sat next to him. "Good. Mama will be happy about that. And grandma probably is sick with worry till she gets to them."

  Leaning over and kissing the side of her head, Sanzo laughed as he stood up and pulled her off the bed with him. "That is true. But come. We have one that is not as happy to be here as the rest of them are right now."

  Giving him an odd look, Imae put a hand on her hip. "Really? Who is that?"

  Smiling down at her, Sanzo dipped his head for a quick kiss. "That would be Ayame."

  Rolling her eyes, Imae sighed as she laughed and headed for the door with him. She should have known that she wouldn't be happy about the fact that they were mated now. "And that would be because of us and what happened while she was gone."

  Laughing as they exited her room, Sanzo nodded as he sighed. "That would be right love. Though I do believe after the beating that you have her when we got here a few months ago, I doubt that she is going to try to do anything with you, or even say anything. I will be hearing an earful though I am sure."

  Laughing as she gave him an odd look, Imae shook her head. "I would think that she would understand that she is one of only four that don't like humans here. Her, Kisa, Sume and Hiroko. And nothing she has said has changed anything yet."

  Nodding as he smiled down at her, Sanzo laughed. "She really just won't care." As they turned a corner he smiled even brighter at Ayame as she stormed up to him. "Isn't that right Ayame?"

  "Isn't what right Sanzo?" Ayame really just wanted to take her head off, but she knew better than to mess with her herself. Her brother however was a different story. He was going to hear it.

  His smile never fading, Sanzo kept his hand in Imae's and his eyes on his sister. "That you really just don't care that you are of only four in this entire palace and land that hate humans."

  Crossing her arms as she glared up at him, Ayame took a deep breath. "That's right I don't care Sanzo. And right now I want a word with you. Only without your mate."

  Rolling her eyes, Imae let go of his hand and headed down another hall. "Have fun. I want to see my grandparents, aunt and uncle anyway."

  Watching her walk away for a moment, Sanzo then sighed as he turned a glare to his sister as she glared at him. "There is nothing that you can do about it Ayame. So there is nothing to talk about. It is said. It is done. She is the Lady of the East, and our child, boy or girl, demon or half will be my heir. So just suck it up and deal with it."

  Snapping her teeth at him, Ayame stomped her foot as her eyes narrowed. "I honestly thought that you were just joking before we all left. I didn't really think you would actually mate with her." When she saw the look in his eyes she started breathing hard. "Come on Sanzo you can't be serious about this! To mate with her knowing that she more than likely won't mate like….."

  Hissing at her, Sanzo made her stop as her eyes went wide when he narrowed his and leaned down into her face. "Don't lecture me about that Ayame. I know very well what could and could not happen. I don't care if at best all I have with her is fifty or so years. I will take what time and chicks I can have with her. Now for once why don't you be the supportive little sister that wants her big brother to be happy and just knock all this off." He then turned and followed his mate's scent toward her father's study.

  X

  With a smile as she sat beside the window beside Izumi, Yokiyo held her sleeping boy as she looked around the room at everyone that was there. Her eyes landed where Senri, Zokeni, Kamui and Yukani were all talking. Yukani now less than a month away from giving birth, and Zokeni just now starting to show that she was pregnant. She knew she would see Yukani's pup born before they left. But she only hoped that she would make it back in time to see Zokeni's baby born.

  On the other side of the room Kurosai and Sorae were talking with Umarus. Another place Sanzo, Imae and Emiko. Kiyoshi, Shone and Soichiro were in the middle of the room talking. And to her side were all the kids, Kazuo, Hana, Kiara, Isamu and Nyoko. This moment was next to perfect, but in just a few days they were going to be leaving and headed to war. But at least once it was over, for a long time to come peace could reign with Soichiro and Emiko being Lord and Lady of the North instead of Motoichi.

  "Kiyoshi. Have you given thought to who is staying and going when it's time?"

  Looking up along with everyone else, Kiyoshi nodded as he sighed. "I have. Yokiyo and I talked about it. Of course Kamui will stay with Yukani, Umarus with my mother. Yoite with the pups. And….."

  A glance back at his mate with a smile, while he wanted to be there to support his sister, he knew Kiyoshi would make sure that she was safe. He was staying here with her. "I am going to stay too." When he sighed and nodded, and he saw the smile on both Zokeni's and Yokiyo's face he relaxed then turned back to Kiyoshi. "My sister?"

  Looking back down at the map, Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes. "She will be toward the back of the battle field. A small regiment of troops I know would be loyal to her with her, along with Emiko. Just in case."

  Rolling her eyes, Yokiyo stood and moved to stand next to her mate with a half glare for him. "I already told you, and so did Emiko and Soichiro. I will have to fight at some point. Rinako sees the death of Reijiro as a failure to do what was expected of her as the Lady of the North. Like it or not Kiyoshi she is going to hunt me down
and you know it. That is why I have been training harder than normal in purification."

  Shaking his head as his sister goes from glaring to Kiyoshi to smiling with her now wide awake son, Senri sighed. Trying to keep his voice down, Senri turned back to Kiyoshi. "How long?"

  "One month from now. Chiren says that Chiren will push it and shave one month off of what he wanted and leave the North if Four months. I will be there waiting on him when he gets there." He then cast his eyes over to his pups and his mate. "Though I do wish I could say tomorrow and get this done and over with."

  "Agreed." Senri looked over at his sister and once again felt like he was letting his father and mother down. He couldn't go with them to protect her, and feel right about leaving his mate here. And the smile on her face, he knew she probably wanted him to stay with her pups anyway. 'I just hope you approve of the paths we have taken Mama. Father. Neither of us would trade the lives we have for just about anything.'

  A New Heir Chapter 101

  Watching as Kamui paced the hall outside the birthing room, Kiyoshi let out a sigh. He was in a way thankful that his sister went into labor today. A little longer than she should have had the pup, but she was now. For it would give him a break from the roller coaster that his mate has had him on, since she was now focused on the birth of their niece or nephew. Not the fact that they only have one more full night with the pups before they leave for war.

  When he heard the small sigh to his right he looked down to see quite sad faces on both Kiara and Nyoko. "Kiara?"

  "I wanted to be in there with Mother." Dropping her head, already seeing the stern look on her father's face. "I know I am not old enough yet."

  "Exactly. It will not take as long as you think then you can be with your mother again." But then an annoyed growl came from the pacing wolf. With a sigh, Kiyoshi just closed his eyes. He knew, personally that there was nothing he could say to calm Kamui down. Until he got to Yukani and his pup.

  X

  Falling back with her head in her mother's lap, Yukani growled. "When can I push? This hurts!"

  With a smile as Yokiyo handed her the cloth, Sorae shook her head. "It hurts but worth it in the end you know that Yukani. Really now." She then used the damp cloth to blot her daughter's head.

  "I know that Mama but it hurts! I can't believe that some people have ten plus kids!" Growling as she flinched and fought the urge to push. Once the contraction was over she let her body relax as much as she could. "I am never doing this again. I am only ever having one pup. That's it. I can't do this again."

  Laughing with a true smile, Yokiyo just looked at her. "Oh don't you even say that Yukani. If you remember I said the same thing when I gave birth to Kiara, and I have another one."

  Falling back and breathing hard, Yukani half glared at her. "Yeah and you are nuts too."

  With another sigh as she shook her head, Sorae looked up to find the midwife kneeling down to check her progress. "How much longer until we find out what she has?"

  Checking the progress, the midwife smiled. "It should not be too much longer. She is almost there."

  Yokiyo turned back to Yukani as she sighed. "Well Yukani you and I were talking the other day. Do you know what you are going to name the pup when it gets here?"

  Shaking her head as she waited for another contraction to finish, Yukani held her breath. Once it was over she slumped against her mother. "Not really. I wanted to make him pin down a name but he wouldn't."

  "You don't have a boy name or a girl name picked out?"

  Turning to Zokeni, who was finally really showing she was pregnant, Yukani half smiled. "I don't. He tells me it is all up to me, boy or girl, and I have no clue where to start." Tensing as another contraction ripped through her, Yukani fisted her hands. Once it passed she tried to catch her breath. "I thought about after my grandmother, Chiyo. But it just didn't feel right. And I can't think of anything else."

  Looking down at her belly, Zokeni smiled as her eyes half closed. "Well Senri and I have talked about it and decided already." Looking down at Yukani she laughed. "If we have a daughter after my mother, Kishiko. If we have a son he wants to name it…." She then turned her eyes up to meet Yokiyo. "Kaien after his father."

  Her eyes misting over with tears, Yokiyo nodded. "I think that is wonderful!"

  "It is time My Lady. You are ready to push."

  "Finally!" Yukani then waited for the next contraction to come so she could push. She wanted this done, and her pup!

  X

  Everyone frozen in place, all eyes on the door, they waited as the sound of groaning could be heard with the soft words of encouragement from the other women with her. It was time.

  Kamui was tense with wide eyes as he kept them glued to the door. It seemed like it was taking forever! She already went over what was normal for a dog or a wolf, and now this was taking an eternity to him! But then he swayed as he leaned against the wall. The wail of a healthy set of lungs echoed from behind the door. Yukani was fine, and they had a daughter! A dog demon daughter! "We are…"

  Looking down from Kamui when he felt a pull on his legs, Kiyoshi sighed to see both Kiara and Nyoko looking at him with pleading in their eyes. "Not yet. It is not time for anyone to go in until Grandmother brings the pup to the door. Sit now."

  X

  "My Lady, your daughter."

  Taking her daughter in her arms, Yukani had tears streaming down her face as she looked into her perfect face. She had black hair and as she opened her eyes she had sky blue eyes. "She is perfect. Absolutely perfect."

  Hugging her daughter, Sorae smiled down at her baby girl. "She is dog like you. Has no markings like her father, And those sky blue eyes. She is beautiful!"

  Nodding as she looked down at her little girl, Yukani took a deep breath. Finally, after hundreds of years of being mated, they were parents. It took them long enough but finally it happened. Then she gasped as she remembered what Kamui told her. "Koto…."

  "Koto?"

  Looking up at her mother, Yukani nodded as she let her mother lift her pup out of her arms. "Yes. I was thinking right before she said it was time to push, Zokeni was naming her daughter if she has one after her mother. Sky blue eyes like that, Kamui said that his mother, Koto had those very same sky blue eyes. So that is what we will call her. Koto."

  Looking down at her newest grandchild, Sorae bounced her as she turned and headed for the door. "Koto. I think it is a perfect name for a perfect little girl."

  X

  Hearing the door start to slide open, Kamui was instantly there looking down at Sorae with wide eyes, going even wider when he turned to the pup she held. "Is it a…."

  Handing the baby over to him, Sorae smiled as she pulled the blanket back from her face. "Your daughter. Yukani said you told her, boy or girl she got to pick the name. She decided as soon as she saw her eyes. Koto."

  Kamui gasped as when Sorae said the name, his daughter opened her eyes and he was able to once again look into the same sky blue eyes he did with his mother. Black hair, no markings, and heavenly sky blue eyes. She was his mother made over. "It's perfect." He then went in the room and to his mate as she settled down on a clean bed. Handing Koto down to her he kissed the side of her head. "You are sure of the name Yukani? After my mother?"

  Nodding as she leaned into his arms, Yukani sighed as she looked down, both of them watching as the pup let her eyes drift close falling asleep once she was comfortable. "I am. It just seemed right when I seen her and she opened her eyes. You are alright with it?"

  Kissing her head again, Kamui laughed as he leaned his head into hers once more, and rested a hand on his infants head. "Koto is perfect Yukani."

  X

  Late that night after Kiara and Katana were sleeping, Yokiyo once again found herself in her mate's arms as they looked up at the moonless night. "I am glad that I got to see the birth of Koto. She is so cute, and the name does seem to fit."

  "Indeed. Yukani has waited long to be a mother. It is about time it
happened." Kiyoshi then looked down at her sideways as he let his eyes half close. "Yokiyo I will end this as soon as I can. I promise."

  Turning in his arms and hiding her face in his chest, Yokiyo let out a long sigh as she fought back the tears. "I know that. I just wish that I didn't have to go."

  Keeping one arm around her waist, and the other now around her shoulders, Kiyoshi sighed as he looked back up at the stars. "As do I. However, this is something that we must deal with. Hopefully, if anything else comes along, our pups will be grown and we can send them to deal with it, and we will stay home."

  Laughing as she looked up at him, Yokiyo once again saw that rare but true smile on his face. "That would be ideal. We stay home with the grandkids and they go do the hard work." She then sighed as he dipped his head and seared her mouth with his own.