Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  A quick step and Atsana was right behind her. "Or you could look a little closer to you right now. Focus on what is in front of you."

  Turning to look at him, Ayame blushed when she found he was right behind her. Taking a step back, she tripped over her own feet but just as she started to fall, her blush deepened as he reached out and grabbed her around her waist. "Atsana I…."

  Not wanting to give her time to react, Atsana pulled her close as he framed her face with his other hand and gently presses his lips to hers. After a moment he pulled back and smiled into her shocked eyes. "I would like to be the one to help you with that task My Lady. If you would allow me too that is."

  Frozen, but not wanting to move either, Ayame blinked as she kept her eyes wide and her breathing heavy. "Atsana you just…..why did you just….I don't understand…"

  Keeping her close, Atsana laughed as he cupped her face. "I have been biding my time so that I knew for sure what was going on. If you feel the same, and you would allow it to be so. By morning, your brother would not be the only one with a new mate in this palace."

  Her hands now resting on his chest, Ayame just looked up at him with wide eyes. She had always thought that he was handsome. And couldn't deny the attraction. But she never expected something like this. But the second he kissed her, her heart started racing. And she was feeling feelings that she wasn't feeling. But now after that, she knew. They were his feelings! She was bonding to him and didn't even know it!

  Taking a deep breath as she looked down at his chest then back up to his face, Ayame could feel her face flush an even deeper shade of red as his hold tightened around her waist. "You know, I think that could work."

  Tilting her head up, Atsana took a deep breath. "You are sure then? I do not want you to if you do not feel the same as I do Ayame."

  Relaxing now, Ayame smiled as he lowered his lips closer toward hers again. Just hearing him say her name and not My Lady seemed to make her heart race even more. "I do. There was always an attraction. The second you kissed me, I could feel your emotions. It sealed it. My heart is beating like crazy right now. But I…"

  Searing her mouth with his, Atsana pulled a gasp from her as he pulled her fully flush against him. All he needed to hear was that she wanted to become his mate. He has wanted this for a long time, but his demon took its sweet time. But now. He had permission from her brother. And now he himself finally had the one woman who completed him.

  X

  It was late that night, laying in bed with Imae, Sanzo smiled. Neither were sleeping, but not talking either. Just enjoying being in each other's arms for their first night in their bed together in the East. But he just noticed the difference in his sister's scent. She was no longer the innocent little girl she had been for so long. Letting his claws trace a feather touch from Imae's waist to her shoulder and back down to her waist again, Sanzo took a deep breath. "Well Imae you are no longer the only newly mated woman in the East."

  Looking up at him as she rolled to her stomach with her chin on his chest, Imae blinked. "What are you talking about?"

  Laughing as he closed his eyes and kept his claws on her back. "The night before Atsana escorted Ayame back with the troops and your things, he came to me and asked me about my sister. And judging from the way her scent is different now. They are mated."

  Blinking Imae just looked at his face. "Really? Atsana and Ayame?" When all he did was nod, she let her head fall to the side some. "Well that is going to be interesting to see."

  Giving her an odd look, Sanzo blinked. "How so?"

  Laughing Imae sighed as she lay her head back on his shoulder as she closed her eyes. "I just wonder how he is going to be able to deal with her fixation on sending me to hell."

  Laughing, Sanzo kissed the top of her head. "I think that with this, that just may change you know."

  One last deep breath, Imae could feel sleep finally tugging at her. "I doubt it, but I hope so."

  His eyes on the top of her head, Sanzo sighed as she gave one more deep sigh and then her heart slowed to that of sleep. For the moment, everything was right for him. No matter how much he tried not to think of it, and remain positive, Sanzo couldn't stop his mind from wondering how much time he would have with her. He wanted forever with her. But reality told him too that he may not have more than fifty or sixty years with the only woman that was created for him.

  Reaching a hand up and running it through her short black hair, Sanzo took a deep breath as he smiled at her gentle face. He would never regret mating with her. Whether she lived forever, or fifty years. And if he didn't have forever with her, he would never forget her. Nor would he let any chicks they have forget about who she is either.

  A New Heir Chapter 112

  With a groan, Sanzo cracked open one single gold eye to see his mate slipping out of bed and going to their son. His son was now three week old, but already showing that he was just like his mother. Having them both up at the crack of dawn daily. Closing his eyes as she sat back down to nurse him, Sanzo sighed. "I do wish that he would have gotten my sleeping habits."

  A smile as she watched her tiny son nurse, Imae sighed. "I am glad that he keeps my schedule. I literally get to spend time with him from the time I get up until night. And he does sleep all night. If he kept your schedule he would want to sleep all day and be up most the night." With a laugh as she glanced at her hissing mate, Imae then turned to her son. He was named after Sanzo's father. Torakus. And the name seemed to fit as well. According to all the older demons who could remember Sanzo's father as a chick, he looked just like him.

  A glance out the window, and Imae took another nervous breath as she sighed. Any day now her parents would be there, and had a surprise for her as well. But what she hopped was that her father would notice a difference in her proving she bonded like her mother did. Looking back down at her son she couldn't stop the smile as she half closed her eyes. Not only was Torakus the spitting image of his grandfather, but he was just like his aunt and uncle as well. He was born a full-blooded demon. 'I hope so. I want to watch you grow.'

  Opening his eyes, Sanzo sighed when he felt her nervousness and hope, followed with some sadness. She was thinking about it again. "Don't get worked up about it Imae. Even your father had to have it pointed out to him about your mother. If anyone will be able to tell a difference in you it will be him." He then moved and sat behind her and looked over her shoulder and smiled watching his son nurse. It was the best thing that he could ever see in his life. Kissing her shoulder Sanzo smiled. "When he gets here he will know if you have or not and tell you."

  "I know that. I am jut anxious. With him being born full-blooded demon like Kiara and Katana, I want to know for sure if I bonded like mama did." She then looked at him with a smile. "I also want to know what mama's surprise could possibly be."

  Kissing the side of her head, Sanzo laughed as he lay back down on his back. "Who knows. I think you have a bigger surprise though. With the how close you and Ayame have gotten in the last four years."

  Laughing as her son stopped nursing, Imae pulled her kimono back up as she lean back against the head board with Torakus. "It turned out all she needed was to know what it felt like to be mated with someone I guess. It wasn't long after she mated Atsana that we had our heart to heart and things just grew from there." She then laughed as she smiled and looked at him. "I think she was more excited about me finally being pregnant than you were honestly."

  Before Sanzo could say anything though, both he and Imae turned and looked down at Torakus when he let out a content sigh. But when he met his son's gold eyes that were wide open as he looked up at him, Sanzo groaned as he fell back on the bed. "And here I thought that he was actually going to go back to sleep."

  Laughing as she rubbed her nose on her son making him giggle, Imae smiled. "Not my boy. Maybe the next chick will have your sleeping habits."

  But then she looked up at the door when she heard a small knock at the door. Looking over at Sanzo as he stretched his
arms over his head. "Who is that?"

  "Ayame." Standing as he sighed and headed for the closet he smiled. "Come on in Ayame." He then laughed as Ayame came in and went right toward Imae and Torakus.

  Looking up as she sat down, Imae handed her son over. "Here you go. He is why you are here this early for right?"

  As she took her perfect nephew, Ayame smiled. "Partly. Also Atsana said that your parents are spotted and almost here. Somehow the overnight didn't see them."

  Her eyes wide as her heart started to race, Imae just tensed some. "Really they are almost here?"

  With a laugh as Torakus started to play with her hair, Ayame shook her head at him. "That's right. They should be here by the afternoon he said."

  Relaxing now, Imae stood and went to the closet herself, stepping in so that she could change. "That's good. I can't wait to see them and know what their surprise is too. Seeing as Torakus is mine."

  Laughing as she bounced her nephew, Ayame looked toward the closet. "Honestly Imae with your parents. It could be absolutely anything at all."

  "I know that is what scares me actually. And it is mama that said it so that really scares me. Who knows what she came up with." Stepping out of the closet in her typical outfit she couldn't stop her smile. Just like her mother, she was already back down to the size she was before she got pregnant. Something she had to assume was the fact that she gave birth to a demon child.

  Going and taking Torakus from Ayame, Imae smiled at him. "And with you Torakus I can finally get the 'where is my grandchild' letters taken care of huh."

  Laughing, Ayame smiled. "You never know Imae that could back fire on you."

  Pulling eyes to him as he walked up behind her, Sanzo reached out and rubbed his hand on his son's head, tussling his hair. "Because knowing your mother, next will be the 'now he needs a brother or sister' demand."

  With a glare for him as she growled, Imae turned and walked away from them both with Torakus. "You know the two of you could have just agreed with me and kept that to yourself. Just for that, I am not going to save either of your from mama when she gets here."

  With a smile, Sanzo watched as she walked out of the room with his son. Something he hoped to see many times over with many other chicks. But then his smile faded as he looked down at Ayame as she stood up. "The guards rotated last night. Did any of them…"

  Shaking her head Ayame sighed. "No. None of them could tell a difference in her at all. Maybe when Kiyoshi gets here he will be able to tell. He hasn't smelled her scent for two years since the last time they came to visit."

  "I know." Leaving the room himself, Sanzo sighed. "We are hoping for just that too."

  X

  Looking over at the dragon that Kiara and her now four year old Katana rode on, Yokiyo sighed. "Alright you two. We are going to be there soon. What are the rules for this time with the new baby? Say them. Both of you. Number one is?"

  Rolling her eyes, Kiara sighed. "Number one. No running around and being loud."

  "Number two?"

  Smiling as he looked at his mother, Katana nodded. "Number two is that we stay with you until after we see Imae and the baby."

  Nodding Yokiyo smiled. "That's right. And no trying to sneak off from me either Kiara. There is going to be enough going on with three babies there. Torakus is three, and your brother and sister are only two weeks old."

  With a smile, Kiara sighed. "We know this mama. I am just excited to get to see Imae again."

  Smiling, Yokiyo sighed as she turned her yes from her older pups, to the two that were sleeping soundly in her arms as she stood in Kiyoshi's flying on his cloud. Twins. She was shocked when she got pregnant when she did. And now she has two more. Another boy and another girl. Seiji and Santrix.

  Looking back at Kiara, Yokiyo laughed. "I know you are honey. Just remember, she is going to be shocked to know that she has two more siblings the same age as her son. And this isn't home. You will follow the rules to the letter or trust me, both of you. You will not like what will happen." Her eyes narrowed on her daughter as she blinked at her with wide eyes, Yokiyo smiled. "We brought the bells. If you don't listen, the first time we have to tell you not to do something, or to wait. The bell goes on. And Kiara will get an extra three weeks no training and learn how to be 'girly' from her grandmother."

  Her dark blue eyes going extra wide, Kiara gasped then dropped her head with a sigh. "Yes Mama."

  With a smile, Kiyoshi kept his eyes on the ever growing palace before him. His eldest pup was now a mother. He was a grandfather. Glancing down at the his twins as they got even closer, he also couldn't believe that he was a father again to twins. With the different ages, the East and South were going to be a big confusion for anyone who mates into it until they adjust. But he wouldn't change it.

  Landing in the garden as the flew over the wall, Kiyoshi turned his eyes with a glare and a growl when he saw the winding of his daughter's eyes. His growl effective in sending her head down and moving her to his side. "Do not forget that you were told what would happen if you did that young lady."

  Nodding Kiara sighed. "I know Father. I am sorry."

  Turning and letting Kiyoshi take Santrix from her, Yokiyo sighed with a smile. "Well let's go and greet them now. And be quiet. I don't want three angry babies on our hands."

  Nodding, Kiyoshi started to walk with her but stopped making everyone else stop when he gasped and his eyes went wide. Imae's scent was the same and yet different. He focused on her scent for a second and then his eyes went even wider. She had done it. She bonded like her mother did. She would get as her mother would call it, her happy ending as well. And he wouldn't have to wonder what he would do when he had to watch his eldest pup die.

  Giving him an odd look, Yokiyo blinked along with Kiara and Katana. "Kiyoshi what is it? You look like you just saw a ghost."

  Turning to his mate, Kiyoshi smiled warmly at her as his eyes half closed. "Our eldest daughter has a very long time to enjoy her son."

  Her eyes going wide as tears sprang into them, Yokiyo froze. Did that mean that she did it too? "She did? She bonded to him like I did you?"

  "It is not exactly the same as yours. She has his lifespan I am sure, that part is the same. But I expect that they don't have to worry about something happening if they are too far apart." Pulling her into his arms, Kiyoshi let out a small laugh. "Our daughter will live forever, just like the rest of them."

  Smiling as she sighed, Yokiyo turned and headed for the palace with his arm still around her waist, and Santrix in his other arm. "That is absolutely amazing. I wonder if she knows yet?"

  Looking up to see Sanzo walking out of the palace he sighed. "We shall find out soon enough."

  "Well now that is going to be a big surprise for her I bet."

  Looking up to see Sanzo reaching them with his big goofy grin, Yokiyo laughed. "Yes I thought so. She has two half demon siblings now." Looking at Santrix and then seiji, Yokiyo laughed. "I guess having two at a time, I just couldn't have demons."

  Looking at the pups, Sanzo laughed. "That's alright. They will be just as strong I am sure with you for their mother." His eyes first focused on the girl in Kiyoshi's arms, with her wide iced blue eyes, she was the first one to have Kiyoshi's eyes.

  But when he turned his attention to the boy that Yokiyo held, when he opened his eyes, Sanzo blinked as his eyes went wide. He was the odd one out now. "Alright Kiyoshi explain this to me then. Kiara and Katana have their mother's eyes. That one you got has your eyes. Where did his amethyst eyes come from?"

  With a sigh as he looked down at his second son, Kiyoshi had his mask back in place. "My grandmother. Father's mother had light tan hair and amethyst eyes and markings. He got them from her."

  "I see." Sanzo then looked down at Kiara and Katana. "Well young man you are a lot bigger since the last time I saw you. You weren't even walking yet. And Kiara, I suspect that you are still the picture of perfect mutrity?"

  "Hello Lor…." Shaking her head Kiara half smiled.
"Hello Sanzo."

  "The pleasure is mine I am sure." Turning back to the new ones, he couldn't help but ask her. "So how old are they exactly?"

  Looking at Santrix first, and then Seiji, Yokiyo smiled. "That is Santrix, and this is Seiji. They are two weeks." Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Yokiyo giggled. "For two weeks after I found out I was pregnant, I was so sick. High fever, body aches. I had to stay in bed for that entire time. I couldn't keep anything down. We didn't want to tell anyone about it, just in case I lost them. When I got better and as still pregnant, that was when I found out that a week after I found out, Imae found out that she was pregnant. I didn't want to take away from her joy, so we didn't tell anyone other than those at the palace. And all messengers were sworn to be silent about it."