Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "Yokiyo?"

  Looking up in his eyes, Yokiyo only smiled. She knew he felt what she did. It was a shame that sprites didn't make like dogs did, then she could keep her brother with her forever maybe. "I will be alright. Just a fact of life for us right?"

  Though before he could answer, the sigh from their son drew his attention down to his son as he sighed with a smile. "Indeed. However I do think that it is time that we take our pups and get them in bed and do it ourselves. We can talk about it another time."

  Nodding herself as she handed Katana to him as she went to the bed to fetch her daughter. "Come on Kiara. You can see Koto and Kishiko tomorrow more. Right now Mama and Papa are tired and your brother is already sleeping."

  "But…." Kiara started to try and argue but she knew that look in her mother's eyes. "Yes Mama."

  Switching Kishiko from Kiara to Senri, Zokeni hugged her. "Don't worry honey. You can come and spend all day here tomorrow. We are going to stay here for at least a couple of days before we go home. You got time with her."

  "Thank you Aunt Zokeni. Uncle Senri." Kiara then let her mother pick her up and sighed as they walked out of the room. Followed quickly by everyone else. Once in her parents room and back on the floor, Kiara blinked as she looked up at her parents. "So really? Everything is done now and we don't have anything to worry about anymore? You aren't going to leave like this again?"

  As Yokiyo took Katana from him to put him in bed, Kiyoshi picked up his daughter and walked around the bed with her. "That's correct. Though no more questions. Sleep."

  "Yes Papa." Kiara then curled under the blankets next to her brother. A couple of deep breaths and she was sound asleep. Now that her parents were back with her. She was more relaxed.

  Smiling as she stood there watching her pups sleeping already, Yokiyo sighed as Kiyoshi came up behind her and put his arms around her. "You know it isn't very often that she calls you Papa anymore. I love hearing that. And I love seeing them sleep together."

  "Indeed. Father and Mother say she is just like I was at her age. The perfect mature pup most of the time." Watching her with a smile as she turned in his arms, Kiysohi smiled. "However it is nice to see the pup once in a while. Though I do believe that Katana is going to be the problem pup."

  Giggling Yokiyo slid her hands up his chest and around his neck. "I think you may be right about that one. He is always getting into something. Sorae told me while we were with Zokeni, he hasn't started walking yet. The only thing I missed is him sitting up and crawling. I still get to see his first steps."

  "That is good." Kiyoshi then dipped his head and seared her mouth as he pulled her flush against his body with a groan. He wanted her. But tonight, they needed sleep. After a moment he smiled as he kissed her nose. "Sleep."

  "Right." Yokiyo moved to her side of the bed and curled up next to her boy, as Kiyoshi did the same thing with Kiara. Their hands overlapping each other on their pups. As her eyes drifted shut, Yokiyo couldn't stop the smile. If only Imae and Senri both could live forever like she was. It would be so perfect. But for now, she was just enjoying her own family.

  A New Heir Chapter 110

  A week has passed, and Yokiyo now found herself standing with everyone else at the gate. Just two days before, they sent Umarus with Chiren and Nyoko to take them home after getting word from Soichiro and Emiko to send them home. And now they were there seeing off Senri, Zokeni and Kishiko to their village, and then Imae to the East with Sanzo. It was a bitter sweet day.

  And eventually that day, Kurosai, Sorae, Yukani, Kamui and Koto were all going to the Southern Shores. But right now she couldn't help but smile and giggle as she rubbed her nose on Kishiko's nose. "Oh my sweet little Kishiko. You go on home with Mama and Papa. But Aunt Yokiyo will be there soon to visit you and tell you all the ways that you get to give your Papa hell."

  Crossing his arms, Senri growled as he glared at his sister. "Really Yokiyo? She is barely a week old. Do you really need to be telling her that?"

  Pulling a giggle from her niece as she once again rubbed her nose on hers, Yokiyo laughed herself. "It is never too early for her Aunt Yokiyo to tell her all about how to annoy her daddy." She then handed her over to Zokeni and laughed as she pulled her reaching son into her arms from his father.

  Smiling back at her brother, Yokiyo winked at him. "And besides right now she doesn't understand a word I say to her. Wait until she is old enough to really get it. Being a half demon it won't be long either."

  With a glare, Senri crossed his arms as he growled. "Oh shut up."

  Laughing, Imae stepped up to her Aunt and Uncle with a smile yet sad eyes. "She is precious Aunt Zokeni. I am going to miss you guys."

  Smiling at Imae, Zokeni shook her head as she pulled her into a hug. "Thank you honey. Send us a message as soon as you are good and settled and Uncle Senri and I will come and stay a few months with her."

  Moving from Zokeni to Senri, Imae nodded. "Thank you. I love you guys." She then turned to Yukani and Kamui and hugged him first. "I will miss you too Uncle Kamui."

  Hugging her back, Kamui smiled. "We are going to miss you around here too Imae." Once she stepped back from him he reached out and pushed on her nose like when she was little. "We will come visit soon. And you make sure the bird walks the line alright? Don't let anything slide with him."

  With a smile as Yukani gave Koto to her father, Imae nodded. "I promise Uncle Kamui."

  Once her arms were free, Yukani pulled her niece in her arms with a tight hug. "I can't hardly believe that you are really leaving home Imae. I always just pictured you mating a demon and staying right here in the South. Not to the East with him."

  Her own laugh as Sanzo hissed, Imae stepped away from her Aunt, and this time pulled Koto into her arms, as she turned and looked at Kishiko as well. "I never thought I would leave home either. I am going to miss these too just as much as everyone else." She then turned and handed Koto back to Yukani and turned to her mother.

  Once her father had katusor, Imae had to fight back tears as she threw her arms around her mother. These two meant everything to her. Her father adopted her and saved her life. And then a year later her mother came into their lives and everything was perfect. They weren't her real parents but she didn't care. They will always be her mother and father. "I am going to miss you so much Mama."

  "So am I honey." Easing her daughter out of her arms, Yokiyo whipped her own tears from her eyes. "I am going to miss you so much. But we are going to come and visit soon as we can. And at least for the first visit, I promise not to embarrass you too much. But just knowing that you are happy, loved and protected makes it alright for me. I love you honey."

  "I love you Mama." Another long hug, Imae then turned to her father as her mother took Katana from him. She just didn't know what to say to him right now. She never pictured living anywhere but here in the South with him. She knew when she told Sanzo she loved him. When she mated him she would be leaving. But now that it was happening she didn't know what to say to him. 'Oh man I didn't think it would be this bad.'

  A smile on his face, Kiyoshi reached out and did the first thing that he ever did to her. Laid his hand on her head as he relaxed. "Imae."

  Without warning, Imae threw her arms around his neck as she jumped into his arms. "Papa." Neither said a word as they hugged each other for a moment. Though Imae tried, she couldn't stop the tears.

  Although others looked on with wide eyes, Yokiyo smiled as more tears streame down her face. She could feel the emotional rollercoaster that her mate was on, and this one had nothing to do with her at ll. But she understood. She was their eldest daughter and she was leaving home after only twelve years of being there. And it was farther away. And while he did not show it, he didn't know how to take it clearly with how he felt. Once Imae was out of his arms, Yokiyo stepped next to him and smiled as his arm went around her waist. At least for a moment calming down.

  Stepping up to Imae, Sorae smiled as she pulled her into a tight hug. "Oh
honey you make sure you take care of yourself and write often. Grandpa and I will be there soon to visit. I love you honey."

  "I love you too Grandma." She then turned and hugged her grandfather as he smiled down at her. "I love you too Grandpa."

  With a sigh as he rubbed her back a moment, Kurosai smiled. "You better." He still couldn't believe that at one point he wanted to force her out. Now he was sad that she was leaving. But held out hope she would bond like her mother did at the same time.

  Turning to her little sister, Imae smiled as she dropped to her knees and Kiara rushed to her and hugged her. "I am going to miss you little sister." When all she got was a head nod she laughed. A moment later she eased her out of her arms and held her hands. "Remember. Just like I helped with you, and looked after you and protected you as your big sister. Now you are eldest and have a little brother to do the same things with alright? You can do that?"

  Her eyes misting with tears, Kiara did all she could to will herself not cry right now. "I can do it Imae. I will. I love you sister." She then threw her arms around Imae again as she hugged her. Then went to stand behind her parents as the tears just fell.

  Standing as she smiled, she pulled shocked looks from both Takara and Yoite as she hugged them and thanked them both for everything that they had ever done. And all the hell that she put them through. Once she covered everyone, Imae stepped back next to Sanzo who put his arm around her waist with a smile. "Well I guess that is it. No sense in prolonging it and making it harder for everyone. I will….."

  "One more thing Imae."

  All eyes turned to Kiyoshi as he stepped up to his daughter and with a smile lifted Ryu from his shoulder and put him on hers. "He is yours now."

  Her eyes going wide all Imae could do was look from him to Ryu. He was a mount that her father had since he was Kiara's age and he gave him to her! "Father are you sure about this? Like really sure?"

  With a smile as he nodded, Kiyoshi sighed. "You trained with him and he knows your signals. I have other mounts and my cloud. He is yours Imae." He then stepped back to his mate as he watched with joy and pain as Imae laughed and hugged Ryu to him. He really didn't use Ryu like he used too. And Imae would have something that belonged to him.

  With a smile for his mate, Sanzo laughed. "Come on love. Let's get going. We already sent everyone else on ahead with our stuff the other day. They are waiting for us I am sure." When she nodded with a smile, Sanzo winked. "Well do you wanna walk, run, fly with me or…."

  "Race ya." Imae then laughed as she jumped in the air on Ryu, leaving him standing there for a second as everyone laughed at them before transforming and giving chace.

  Standing between her mate and Yokiyo, Sorae sighed. "I know we all told her, but I do hope that she can keep that bird in line."

  Laughing as she looked at Sorae, Yokiyo shook her head. "I don't doubt it at all. He is going to have a hard enough time trying to keep up with her to really make any sort of trouble for her."

  Laughing with the miko, Sorae nodded. "I do think that I would have to agree with that."

  X

  With a smile as the wind blew her short hair, Imae took a deep breath and then sighed it out as she looked straight up. "I still can't believe that he gave me Ryu as my own. He has had him since he was about the same age as Kiara."

  Moving so that he hovered over her now, Sanzo hissed. "You are his pup of course he would give you something like him."

  Looking up into his gold eyes, Imae laughed. "I know. But it was still shocking that he gave him to me ya know." She then giggled again as he landed behind her and put a hand on each side of her hips. "What's the matter Lord of the East? Did my little dragon wear you out already?"

  Smiling himself as he moved his hands fully around her waist, Sanzo shook his head. "Nothing like that. We are at least two days out to the East no matter who flies how fast. I just wanted to take this opportunity to be close to you right now. A few days after we get back, you have to start your duties as Lady of the East, and deal with Ayame and court members. While I go back to the same old grind for me as well."

  Blinking as she glanced back at him, Imae had wide eyes. "Court members? I knew that Ayame was going to try and give me trouble but why would your court members?"

  Laughing as she turned her head, Sanzo kissed the back of her head. "Yes court members. Ayame is home now I would assume, and has most likely gathered my court and told them all about my 'weak' human mate and they are going to pitch a fuss about it." When she groaned he laughed as he tightened his hold on her. "You just have to s how them that you won't be pushed around and are far from weak." When she dropped her head again as she slumped back against him, he couldn't resist. "Don't tell me that you are worried about it?"

  "No I am not worried about it. It is just such a pain in the ass that I gotta constantly prove that I am not some weak woman that will bow down to a man just because." Closing her eyes as she let out a content sigh, Imae crossed her arms on his. "But I guess that is something that I am going to have to do then I guess. It's just that…" But then her eyes half closed as her voice trailed off.

  Giving her an odd look, Sanzo blinked. "It's just what Imae?"

  Taking a deep breath, Imae kept her eyes down. "I know that the chances are that I will not bond like Mama and Father did. The chances are in our favor that our bond won't be the same as what they have. And I will die in at best about another fifty years or so. But even knowing that I want to wait a couple of years before I get pregnant. Would you mind if…."

  Dipping his head as he kissed her neck, Sanzo smiled at the gasp that she let out. "Do not dwell on that right now Imae. I told you that even if we don't I still want you. And you are young still and have a lot of life ahead of you, no matter if you bond like your mother or not. We will wait as long as you wish for our first chick."

  Turning her head up to look at him, Imae smiled. "Thank you." Then closed her eyes as she sighed when he seared her mouth with his own.

  X

  Laughing as tears rolled out of her eyes, Yokiyo sat in the middle of her bedroom holding her son's hands as he pulled himself up and laughed at her as he tried to stomp his feet. Kiara was not far away in a chair holding Koto with Yukani next to her. Kiyoshi, Kurosai, and Kamui talking to each other on the other side of the room. And Sorae right next to her. "I can't believe it. My little boy is standing now. I missed his sitting up and crawling stages."

  Smiling, Sorae reached out and tickled her grandson's belly. "It is alright though. At least you didn't miss his first steps. This is the first time he has pulled himself up like this too." She then reached out and ran her hands through his hair that was already half way down his back. It seemed to be the fastest growing part of him. "I can't believe just how long his hair is growing. It is growing faster than his body is."

  A small laugh as she turned and glanced at Kiara, Yokiyo turned back to her boy. "I know what you mean on that one. Kiara's hair is just now that long. It didn't get past her shoulders even until she was almost a year old."

  "Sorae."

  Looking up as Kurosai stepped up behind her, Sorae blinked. "Yes?"

  "Come on. It's about that time. It doesn't take long to get home and with Yukani and Kamui coming with Koto we want to get there before it gets dark." Kurosai then reached out and helped her to stand up as he smiled.

  Once on her feet, Sorae turned and lifted her grandson in her arms and kissed his cheek a few times making him giggle as she smiled. "I will see you soon my boy." She then handed him back to his mother.

  Kiara let Yukani lift Koto out of her arms and jumped up to run to her mother. She loved holding her new baby cousin, but her brother was getting big enough now that she could actually play with him now. Once there she tugged on her mother's pants and held her hands out for her brother, smiling as she took him.

  Turning from her own pups, Yokiyo hugged Yukani as she walked toward them. "I am going to miss you Yukani." But then she turned her eyes down to her niece as she smi
led. "Soak up all this time you can with her being this little. I still can't believe how fast demon babies grow."

  Looking down at Koto as she yawned and then let her eyes drift close, Yukani laughed. "I know what you mean all too well. I would love for her to stay this little forever. But I think that Kamui and I just need a break from all the activity to spend some real time with her. And Mama is going to love having a pup living with her again."

  A few more goodbyes and Yokiyo smiled as the door closed and Kiyoshi put his arms around her from behind. Turning to face him, Yokiyo smiled as she looked up at him with a sigh. "I am happy for them, but it is going to be odd without Yukani and Kamui here for a while. Ya know."

  A smile for her as well, Kiyoshi took a deep breath to finally relax. "Indeed. However, just us and the pups will be a welcome change as well I do believe."