Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "Imae." Kiyoshi let sadness sweep over him as well. He never imagined that she would mate a demon and leave the palace. Let alone to one older than he was, but she was happy. And that was all he wanted for her, for as long as she had.

  "Yes." She then sighed as he moved her and turned so that she was leaning against him between his legs. "I did always hope that she would find a demon and be happy like I did, and Senri. And that she would stay in the South. I guess it just wasn't meant to be."

  Fully relaxed, Kiyoshi sighed as he kissed the side of her head. "I agree with that. However, she will not only have a mate that will treat her how she deserves, but she has the same status in life as her mother." Smiling at her as she looked up and smiled, he laughed. "I could not ask for more of a deserving life than that for our daughter."

  "Exactly." Turning so she was sitting sideways, Yokiyo kissed him. "And we will get to see more of the East as well once she has kids of her own."

  "Agreed."

  Letting her eyes start to close as he leaned toward her to kiss her again, Yokiyo smiled. But then both gasped as they jumped to their feet. Their kiss ending before it began. Explosions rocked the Southern Camp! Rushing out they saw leopards racing through the chaotic forces. Glaring she stepped closer to him. "Oh he is going to pay for this."

  Nodding, Kiyoshi grabbed a guard he knew would protect her and pulled him to his face. "I will deal with the leopards. Stay with her and nothing and no one touches her. Understand."

  "My Lord."

  X

  Jumping to their feet from where they sat in their own tent, Imae had wide eyes as they rushed from the tent when they heard the explosions coming from the South. But as they slid to a stop, they came face to face with leopards coming right for them.

  With a glare as she growled, Imae stepped up next to Sanzo as she pulled both of her swords. "Well what do we have here? A welcoming party."

  Pulling his own sword, Sanzo held a hand up to stop his army from advancing as about a dozen or so leopards surrounded them. They would handle this. "Stand your ground."

  Stepping out in front of the rest of them, one of the leopards smiled as he pointed his sword at the pair. "Oh how the mighty have fallen. Both the Lord of the South and the Lord of the East take a human bitch as their mates. Lord Motoichi will win this battle with no problem that is for sure."

  Flinching at the name, Imae narrowed her eyes as she gripped her swords tighter. "Excuse me?"

  Looking at the human, the leopards snarled. "You heard me you human wench. I can't believe that Sanzo mated you, just like the dog and his pet bitch from the South."

  Flinching himself, Sanzo went wide eyed as he looked down at his mate as she started to take deep breaths and closed her eyes. She was shaking, but the rage he felt was undeniable. She was about to give a show as to why she drew him into mating her, and how worthy she was to be Lady of the East. "You know love. This could be the perfect time to show the East what you are made of and how worthy you really are of your new title. How about you and I show them how set our bond is and deal with this?"

  Nodding as she kept her head down for a moment. "Fine, I am game with that. They will learn right now not to screw with me. But that one. he is mine and mine alone."

  "Understood."

  Growling, the leopard gripped his own sword tighter as he snarled and pointed at the miko. "Don't stand there and act like we are nothing you bitch!"

  "Lady Imae!"

  Without even looking up Imae turned her head to the right as she sighed. "Stand your ground."

  Sliding to a stop on the other side of the leopards the guard glared. "I was sent to check on you by your mother."

  Going tense, Imae didn't move. "My mother is unharmed?"

  "Yes My Lady. She is just fine, and Lord Kiyoshi has set to dealing with those that attacked the South."

  "I am fine. Go back to my mother and tell her that and stay with her." When she heard him rush off she sighed as she forced her body to relax. She had to focus. She had to funnel the rage and use it to her advantage. She couldn't just attack blindly.

  Moving around her, Sanzo put her back to hers as he smiled. "Love?"

  Letting her head fall back with closed eyes Imae sighed. "It's time."

  "Everyone stay out of it and watch." Then without a word Sanzo turned and while it looked like they were going after each other, they quickly and easily took out the attacking leopards. Once all but the one were gone, Imae turned to him and opened her eyes as she growled. "Now it is your turn."

  Now holding his sword with both hands, the leopard took up a defense position. "You damn bitch."

  Sheathing his sword, Sanzo stepped back from Imae with his hands up and wide eyes as he looked at the leopard with shock. "You just prolonged your death from fast to painful and fast."

  Turning his eyes from the human to Sanzo, the leopard gave him an odd look. "What the hell are you talking about?" But then he grunted as pain radiated from his stomach and he was sent flying backwards about ten feet. The pain was so intense and burning that he could hardly move. Looking up as he was trying to force himself to stand up he saw the miko glowing a brilliant blue, the demons around him scattering at the pins and needles, and that feeling for him only made it worse. "Don't you dare even think that being a miko is enough to stop me! It won't!"

  As she reached him, with the same cold resolve to kill in her eyes that her father had when he was angry, Imae lifted her leg and pulled out the small dagger she had in her feet. "No. What I did to your stomach was not to kill you. It was only to hurt you." Then faster than he could follow her arm, she moved around behind him and stabbed him in the middle of the back. Pouring slow amounts of her purification in him as he screamed for a moment before he turned to dust. "That was for your insult on my mother."

  Watching his men as most of them had a dumstruck look on their faces, and some even ones of wonder he smiled as he walked up to his mate and looked at them as they circled around her. "What say you all? Is she or is she not worthy to be Lady of the East?" Smiling as they all cheered. Looking back down at his mate, Sanzo crossed his arms as he shook his head. "Well love, it seems that you have their full approval."

  "That's good." No longer glaring, Imae sheathed both her swords. "But now now we have to go to the South. I want to check on Mama." She then turned and rushed through the crowds, Sanzo at her side.

  X

  After getting her own arrows, Yokiyo stood just outside the opening of her tent and took out leopards that managed to get through the circle that they had around her tent. "I swear I think it is raining idiots!"

  "My Lady look out!"

  Staring to turn her head, Yokiyo gasped as she felt herself get slammed from the side and then hitting the ground. Looking over she saw four arrows land right where she was standing, then gasped as he covered her head when they all exploded.

  "My Lady you are harmed?"

  Letting him help her up, Yokiyo stood but was a little shaken still. "I am thank you."

  With a sigh the guard let go of her hand and gave a bow as he smiled. "I am pleased that you were not hurt by me or the arrows My Lady."

  "So am I." Yokiyo then looked up to find Kiyoshi walking toward her with a glare. Walking out to him as he got closer she welcomed his arm around her. "Are there still more of them?"

  Shaking his head no, Kiyoshi looked in her eyes and then the dirt on her clothes. "You are unhurt?"

  Shaking her head as she glanced back at the guard still by the door, Yokiyo smiled. "Thanks to him I may have a bruise or two but he made sure nothing touched me."

  "Mama!"

  Both Yokiyo and Kiyoshi looked up to see Imae and Sanzo coming to a stop next to them. Yokiyo blinked as she looked toward where she saw the guard that she sent to check on her at. "I thought you were attacked too?"

  With a laugh, Sanzo crossed his arms as he looked down at Imae as she growled. "Oh we did. But those that attacked us were lead by an idiot that made two fatal mistakes."
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br />   Blinking as she looked at her daughter than back to the bird, Yokiyo let her head fall to the side. "And what were those fatal mistakes?"

  Laughing as he rubbed the back of his neck, Sanzo winked at her. "He insulted Imae and called you a bitch."

  Her eyes going to Imae's, Yokiyo actually flinched to see the glare leap into her eyes. "Well then. And here all we got were exploding arrows."

  "My Lord."

  Looking up with everyone else, Kiyoshi blinked to see one of hi smen dragging a leopard that was bound like a pig that was ready to be cooked and eaten. Giving him an odd look, Kiyoshi growled. "Why didn't you just kill him instead of bringing him to me?"

  Looking from Kiyoshi down to the leopard he held, the demon growled. "I did not just kill him because of what he is My Lord." Looking back into Kiyoshi's blue eyes he sighed. "I have been a loyal member of the Southern army since before your father was born. I have been around for a long time and seen many things in my time. The markings on his body, over his leopard markings. He is poison. To kill him, will leak poison into the air in a toxic gas. Death will come quickly, but painfully to those who breath it."

  Looking down at the leopard, Kiyoshi put his foot on his head and pushed him into the ground. "You understand that he sent you here hoping on your death right?"

  Glaring up at him, the leopard only narrowed his eyes as he smiled. "I knew that. I will gladly give my life if it will further Lord Motoichi's plans!" He then closed his eyes as he started to move his back around.

  Flinching, Imae reached out. "Father! He is going to try and kill himself!"

  Flexing his muscels, Kiyoshi let himself transform as everyone jumped out of the way, took the rope and slung him back toward Motoichi's camp. From this height he could see Motoichi and Rinako on a cliff glaring at them. A snarl as the hair on his back stood up for a moment, Kiyoshi then turned back to his human form again. Welcoming a shaking Yokiyo in his arms as he calmed down. "That bastard."

  "He is watching from the cliff isn't he?"

  Turning to see Soichiro and Shone coming toward them, Kiyoshi nodded. "He is indeed. The time for waiting for him to make a move has stopped. At dawn, our forces line up in formation and force his hand. We goad him and make him make the first move so we can finally end this."

  "Agreed."

  Turning, and going in his tent as everyone followed, Kiyoshi sighed as Yokiyo and Imae moved to sit on a futon on the other side of the room. Going to the maps, Kiyoshi sighed. "We must figure out now what happens. If by midpoint tomorrow he has not moved, we use some of the weapons against him and make him move."

  Sitting with Imae, Yokiyo noticed that some of the demons going past were looking in with odd looks, though none were angry or mad. But each time Imae would see it, she would drop her head as her face turned red. "Wait a minute Imae why are you blushing like that? I haven't said anything yet."

  Letting her head fall more as her shoulder's slumped, Imae groaned. "I know that Mama it is just that I never thought about it before. But on the way here, I heard demons talking. I know the smell it and show it every time they look at me. I don't know if I can get used to this."

  Blinking as she gave Imae and odd look, Yokiyo shook her head. "Honey I have no clue what you are talking about?"

  With a small growl for her mother, Imae glared at her. "About Sanzo and I."

  With a small smile, Yokiyo would have teased her if it was anything else, but she knew that feeling. It never bothered her too much, unless she heard more than one point it out. "I see then." Hugging her arm, Yokiyo smiled as Imae slid down some and leaned her head over on her shoulder like she did as a child. "Honey I promise once you get it in your mind that it doesn't matter what they think about what you have done. You won't even think about it anymore. You just need to look at it differently is all."

  "I know." With a deep breath, Imae closed her eyes. "It is just hard when I would hear a whisper, and then see the looks I got, some of them just pure shock, but some turned into a glare. Though I know why. Because I am human."

  Her own eyes taking on a distant look, Yokiyo nodded. "That look I know all too well sweetheart. To this day there are those in the South that still think I shouldn't be with your father. Even though it is very clear that twelve years, and three kids later they can't do anything about it. Most just keep it to themselves, but the looks I see. I learned a long time ago to just shrug it off. I am who I am and I am with your father as his mate. So anyone that doesn't like it can just go suck a big one." Looking at how her daughter's eyes bulged out of her head. "Oh don't give me that look you have heard that before I am sure."

  Dropping her head more, Imae's face was beet red. "Mama please!"

  "Oh get over it."

  With a groan, Imae sighed and closed her eyes. For the first time since mating Sanzo she was actually thrilled that when the war was over she would be going to the East with him. She really doubted that she, or he would be able to survive living in the same home as her mother.

  But then her mind went to two more babies in the South. Koto and Katana wouldn't be as close to her as Kiara was because of that. The only regret that she had about it. "Mama."

  Seeing how her mood changed, Yokiyo blinked at her. "What is it honey?"

  Without even looking at her mother, Imae let out a sigh. "Promise me that for the first couple of years after I leave that if I can't come see you, that you, Father, Kiara and Katana come as often as you can."

  Giving her eldest daughter an odd look, Yokiyo slowly nodded her head. "Honey I can promise you that for sure. But where is that coming from all of the sudden?"

  "Katana and Koto. I want them to know who I am. I will be leaving not long after we get back from the war to go to the East with Sanzo. They won't know me like Kiara, but I want them too. You know." Imae couldn't tell her that she wanted to make sure that her brother and cousin knew who she was because she might die in the next fifty years. She didn't want to think about that, even though it was a very real possibility.

  Reaching over and laying Imae's head on her shoulder again, Yokiyo leaned her head on Imae's with a sigh and a smile. "I promise you one thing more too Imae. Even if we don't get to visit each other as much as we want. Between your father, me, Kiara, Takara, your grandparents, Yoite. Your brother and cousin will know exactly who you are and everything about you too."

  With a bright smile, Imae let out a sigh as she half closed her eyes. "Thanks Mama."

  A New Heir Chapter 105

  Watching as Umarus and Yoite worked with Kiara and Isamu, Senri and Kamui couldn't help but compare the two of them. Isamu was good. He caught on quick and was able to get it. Given time and experience, he would rival his father in strength. Someone who would be more than worthy to rule the West when Shone done.

  But then when they compared him to Akria, right now he was lacking horribly in ability. With a half-smile, Senri looked over at Kamui as he shook his head and kept his eyes on the pups. "You are thinking the same thing that I am about them aren't you?"

  Nodding Kamui kept his eyes on his niece as he smiled. "I am. Isamu will be a formidable force when he is older. But even then I doubt anyone from their generation will be able to beat Kiara. Especially right now, in a serious fight he would lose miserably."

  Stopping his drill, Isamu turned and glared at them as he growled. "You know I am right here and can hear you talking about me. We are both starting our training at the same time, and on the same day. How can you say that she is already so much better than I am?"

  Laughing as he glanced at his own daughter, Kamui closed his eyes. "Don't get your tail in a bunch pup. It isn't that you aren't good for what you have learned today, you are. It is just that Kiara has seen Imae spar with everyone at this palace multiple times. Mostly her father, grandfather, Umarus, myself and Senri. As well as fox, horse, falcon, hawk, eagle, tiger, and others. You name it she has seen it, and that is what sets the two of you apart."

  A pure confused look on his face, Isamu dropped
his arms to his side, and the tip of his practice blade hit the ground. "Alright now I am lost. What does seeing all that have to do with anything now?"

  Stopping her own drills with Umarus, Kiara had a small smile as she turned to Isamu. "They are not explaining everything. You have a great deal of talent yes. It is the memory that I have that no one else has that sets it apart. That is why for me seeing it is everything."

  Turning to face her fully now, Isamu glared. "So you have a good memory and that helps you when you watch a high speed demon sparing?

  Laughing, Umarus pulled all eyes to him as he crossed his arms and moved to stand between them. "Now it is Kiara that isn't giving you all the details. In a nutshell My Lord, if she sees something one time, she can copy it exactly. To show you what we mean, how about an example of what we are talking about to show you what we mean."