Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Sheathing his sword, Chirio kept his glare. "So you merely wished to fight again? All of you?"

  Nodding Hiroto sighed. "Well I can only answer for myself My Lord but yes. He said he wanted to fight Kurosai. That would be a good fight for me. I am not sure about the others, but had I known what his true intentions were from the start, I would have never went with him."

  The glare still in his eyes, Chirio laid his hand back on his hilt. "Either way that you look at it, what you have done is treason. So tell me what can you do to make me change my mind and not take you out right now?"

  Looking up at Chirio with a serious look, Hiroto knew he had the perfect thing to at least keep himself alive a little longer. "My Lord I ask that you spare my life only. Not that you let me back into your army. I would not be so bolden as that. In return for sparing my life, I can and will detail for you exactly what Horani is planning against Lord Kurosai and his family."

  Relaxing, Chirio blinked for a moment. "You know every detail?"

  "Yes My Lord."

  "Tell me."

  Standing now, Hiroto kept his eyes linked with Chirio and kept his own sword on the ground. "Because the presentations are held in the reception hall in the South, Horani plans to have some of the leopards attack head on with the anticipation that they will sacrifice their lives. While he and the rest sneak in from the sides. He is counting on Umarus to take Lady Sorae and the pup and race them toward the safe room where he would have planted a bomb that will kill all three of them. His mate as well."

  Closing his eyes with a sigh, Chirio crossed his arms. "Tell me then why exactly did you leave him and come to tell me this?"

  Looking down now, his eyes going dull Hiroto took a deep breath. "Because of what I have seen in my long life. Too many young innocent lives taken through the years. I would kill sometimes just because I could. A lot of them guilty of nothing but having the bad luck to run across me when I was itching for a fight. However a child is different. A child wouldn't be able to mount a fight to try and survive."

  Relaxing Chirio glanced back at his cubs. "You speak from experience do you not?"

  "I do." A glance up at the young sleeping Lord, then back to the ground he nodded. "I do. When I was the age of young Lord Soichiro I should have died. My father decided he didn't want to 'deal' with us anymore and slaughtered my family. My mother. My twin little sisters. He tried to kill me. I lived somehow, but I couldn't fight back. My sisters were infants. I swore that I would never do anything like he did. I stand by that now."

  "You will be proving yourself even more if you wish to live. But the choice will not be mine."

  "My Lord?"

  Going back to Kenta he took his sleeping son back in his arms and then motioned with his head toward the back of the group. "Join us in the very back. You will tell Lord Kurosai yourself what his mate's father is planning for her and his son. That is the only chance you have at life right now."

  Giving him a bow, Hiroto picked up his sword and stepped to the side. "I will take that chance My Lord."

  As they walked past him, he saw that Hiroto was sticking close to the back of the group. He seemed sound in his choice. 'We shall see. Kurosai will decide with that information if he lives or dies.'

  Rolling her eyes as she held her head high and sighed, Yori folded her hands before her. "You are a fool Chirio. He should have been cut down where he stood."

  Growling at his mate Chirio turned his glaring eyes to her. She played the good game until Motoichi was born. Then her true colors started to come out. "Yori you have no say in matters of the North such as this. But out of it."

  With a glare in her eyes, Yori watched as he quickened his pace so that he and Soichiro were not right next to her and Motoichi. Taking a deep breath she kept her eyes glued to the back of his head. 'Just you wait Chirio. I will show you that no one treats me and my son like we are nothing. You will pay for this I promise.'

  "Mother?"

  Looking down at the angry eyes of her son she smiled. He thankfully was just like she was and destined to be the next Lord. "Not now son. Just not now."

  Making of a Lord Chapter 17

  With Koraen and Torakus on either side of him, Kurosai met Chirio at the gate with a smile. Their mates and children safe and sound in the safe room for the moment. Giving him a firm handshake Kurosai nodded. "It is good to see as always Chirio."

  "Likewise Kurosai." Then his eyes turned serious. "I trust that you received my letter concerning your ex noble Horani right?"

  Growling as he crossed his arms Kurosai nodded. "I did."

  Taking his now wide awake son and sitting him down at his side, Chirio turned and made eye contact with Hiroto and motioned for him to come forward. "I think it is best that we go in the dining hall. He has information you need to be aware of."

  His eyes seeing blood, Kurosai narrowed his eyes as the leopard came forward to stand just behind Chirio. It was weak, but it was there. He had Horani's scent on his body. "He tells me right here."

  Drawing his friends eyes to him, Chirio had a seriousness in his silvery blue eyes. "Trust me my friend. What he has to tell you, you do not wish to be told outside. That would not be wise."

  Growling and turning to storm off toward the palace, Kurosai threw his hand up in the air. "Fine. But that is only because it is you asking me Chirio." 'Damnit!'

  Not a few feet into the dining hall, Kurosai turned just as the doors shut and growled at the leopard with crossed eyes. "We are inside. So come on then. Out with it."

  Doing the same as he did when he approached Chirio. Hiroto pulled his sword, fell to his knees and bowed as he laid it on the floor. He was prepared to be cut down for his part in it. But so long as he could save the life of a child, his life was not that big of a price. He could only hope now that Kurosai would let him live after he found out. "My Lord. My name is Hiroto. I bring news to you that Horani is just beyond the palace walls to the west."

  Growling making everyone flinch, Kurosai didn't budge. "I know that. I smell his scent on you Hiroto. You better got something more to say to that if you don't want death right now."

  Daring to look up at him as he sat on the floor, Hiroto nodded. "I do My Lord. I can tell you exactly what his plans are, and even how Shinra falls into play with it."

  With a growl that rumbled loudly through the room, even vibrating the floor, Kurosai fisted his hands as they were still crossed. "So out with it. Tell me everything."

  Taking a deep breath as he sat back on his feet, Hiroto kept his eyes on the floor. "My Lord Horani is planning an attack based on tradition. He has a poison bomb with him right now. Once the presentation starts, Shinra and some of the leopards still with him will attack head on. He knows that will spur Umarus to take your mate and son and race them to the safe room. Where under that he will have planted the bomb. Then he will set it off, aiming to your mate, her son, her mother and Umarus all in one go."

  His eyes were bleeding black but all Kurosai could see right now was red as he listened to what this leopard said. When he was done, Kurosai reached down and grabbed him by his collar and jerked him up into his face as he growled deeply and dark. "Tell me then why did you come to tell me this? Is it par to his plan I have to wonder? What do you have to gain from it? Is he hoping I will break tradition so they can do something else to try to cause the death of my mate and son?"

  Breathing hard, Hiroto never moved his eyes from Kurosai's. He wanted to live but he was on the verge of death he knew. He knew that just the hint of lie to his voice would result in his head rolling. "I told Lord Chirio and I say it to you now. I am here because I will not have part of killing a child. I was part of Lord Chirio's army. In these times of peace I grew bored and when I heard that Horani was going to try to over throw the South, I left and joined him. My only reason for doing so was that I wanted a good fight. I knew it would be my death but if I was going to die I at least wanted it to be in a fight against someone as strong as you are." But when the growl grew deepe
r he closed his eyes as he waited for the kill. "When he told us that he didn't want to kill you at all. Just your mate, her mother and your son, I couldn't stomach that. My father nearly killed me as a child because I couldn't fight back. I lived for the fight, but if they can't fight back I can't stomach that. I wasn't going to help him take the life of a child. I couldn't."

  Though he wanted to rip his head off, there was no lie in his voice. No waver under the threat of death as he told him. Letting go of him he stood up and crossed his arms. "That bastard. I can't wait to detach his head from his body. He won't know what the hell hit him tomorrow with what is going to be done tonight."

  Giving him an odd look Chirio blinked his eyes. "What do you mean tonight Kurosai?"

  Nodding Kurosai turned to look at Chirio with a smile. "Tonight. Shinra is already here as you know. Horani is outside. I know what his plan is, and I can deviate from what we came up with some so even if he does get the bomb planted it won't hurt anyone. I ask that you and Yori and your cubs wait here for a while. Torakus and Koraen will get their mates and children. You will then be shown to our room for the official presentation for all of you. A different one done totally different tomorrow for Shinra."

  A glare on her face, Yori turned away from Kurosai as she crossed her arms. "A traitor. That is all that Hiroto is. And you are breaking tradition because of what he says? I would have never pegged you for someone who would ever do something like that."

  With a growl at the female, that no one liked, Chirio included anymore, Kurosai glared. "For your information Yori I had planned on changing it for my son either way it went. Before I heard what he said. And besides. When it is the best way to make sure that my son and my mate are unharmed, you better bet I will drop tradition in a heartbeat. This is the South after all. Not the North. You got no say in what tradition is or is not here so but out." He then turned and left the room headed toward his mate and son.

  Turning her nose up in the air as she crossed her arms, Yori growled. "Well I never."

  Glaring at his mate, Chirio sighed. "He is right. You got no rule here stay out of it Yori."

  Turning Torakus headed out of the room. "I am going to go get Sarigi and the chicks. I will also grab Kintare and Shone for you too Koraen."

  "Right."

  Moving to sit in a chair Yori ignored the glare she got from her mate and everyone else in the room. This did change things. She had hoped that this would end the rule of the dogs in the South by taking out the pup. So that when it was time all Motoichi had to do was take out Kurosai.

  Looking over at her cub as he stood at her side she smiled. 'It doesn't matter though. My plans have not changed for you son. And you will not be stopped by anyone. One day all the lands will be yours. I will see to it.'

  X

  Standing beside Kurosai in the middle of their huge room, Sorae held her head high and proud. Kiyoshi in her arms and Kurosai's arm protectively around her waist. Her mother next to her on the other side. This part of the presentation was going to go off like the whole thing should have. The only real threat for this one would be Yori or Motoichi. But neither would risk anything right now so she didn't have to worry about it. She was surprisingly at ease right now.

  As the doors opened, it was Koraen and Kintare who walked in first and moved to stand to their left. Seeing as they had both already seen Kiyoshi. Next was Torakus and Sarigi and their children.

  As the bird and his family got close enough to see him, Kurosai smiled. "Torakus. Sarigi. Sanzo." Then he looked down at the baby just a few months older than his son and laughed. "And Ayame. I present to you my son and heir. Kiyoshi."

  Peering down at the small pup in the woman's arms then over at his sister, Sanzo then looked up into his father's eyes. "Papa they are both too small. Why are they so small?"

  "That is because they are babies Sanzo. But one day you will all be grown up. And you will get to work with him to keep peace. You can do that right my boy?" Turning to Sorae Torakus laughed. "He is a fine pup and will be a fine man one day I am sure."

  "I will do my best Papa!"

  "He is adorable." Sarigi then moved to the side next to Koraen and Kintare with her mate and son.

  It was clear as Chirio and Yori walked toward them with their cubs that Yori was not going to hide hers, so Sorae wore one of her own. Her grip on her son tighter than before. 'Oh I don't like you.'

  Reaching them, Chirio gave a bow along with Soichiro, when all his mate and eldest did was a slight head bow. Giving them both glares as he stood up.

  Looking back down at his son, Kurosai smiled. "Chirio, Yori, Motoichi and Soichiro. My son and heir, Kiyoshi."

  Smiling down at the pup as he looked up at his eyes then cracked a big smile, Chirio sighed. "He is a fine boy." He then looked down at his boys before him. "Boys you have something to say right?"

  Knowing what his father wanted of him, Soichiro happily stepped forward and gave another bow. "It is an honor to see you again Lady Sorae. Lord Kurosai. Congratulations on Lord Kiyoshi to you both. I do hope that he and I can grow and be friends."

  His eyes filled with pride at the respect Soichiro showed, Chirio smiled. He couldn't help but wish that Soichiro would have been born first. Especially at times like this. He turned a glare on his eldest who just glared at the pup. Reaching out he thumped Motoichi on the back of the head making him jerk his glare from the pup to him. "Motoichi. You have something you want to say to them also right?"

  Turning to look up at his mother who was glaring at his father now, no doubt for hitting him like that. He didn't want to say anything. They didn't matter to him. There was no point. "Mother?"

  Turning to her son she sighed. "Go on Motoichi."

  An even more annoyed glare, he turned and gave just the slightest of bows to them. "Congratulations on the birth of your son and heir. Lord Kurosai. Lady Sorae." 'Damnit why did I have to do that?'

  Even if he tried, Chirio couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes at his eldest as he turned to Kurosai. "In the morning then?"

  "That's right."

  Once everyone was out of the room, Sorae was finally able to relax now that Yori and Motoichi were out of the room. Going to her son's crib she laid him down as he giggled then turned to Kurosai. "I am telling you Kurosai that cub actually creeps me out. Did you see the glare he had for Kiyoshi?"

  "I did. But don't worry. Just a couple more days and it will be just the three of us again and all this will be done and over with. Come on. Let's get some sleep." He then lifted her into his arms and carred her to the bed laying down with her in his arms. His son beside the bed, his mate in his arms holding her close, Kurosai was finally able to let himself fully relax. Though he was laid down with a giggle, he could hear that his breathing has already steadied out to that of sleep. Quickly followed by his mate as she let out a content sigh in his arms.

  Looking up at the ceiling he couldn't sleep. There was no way to do it right now. There was still too much to think about and try to process for him. He knew that the second that Shinra got close enough to Kiyoshi tomorrow she was going to try and strike down at him. Horani was over the palace walls. The women and children were going to be moved to another safe room one that Horani didn't know about.

  But no matter what he did, or how he tried to reason with the fact that he has done everything he can, he had a bad feeling about tomorrow. He knew it wasn't about Sorae and Kiyoshi. They would be protected. 'I wish I knew what it was. I just hope it isn't anything really bad.'

  Making of a Lord Chapter 18

  Standing tall and proud next to her mate, Sorae held her son under the very cherry blossom tree that she had Kurosai speak his first words ever to her at. Right in the heart of the gardens that were perfect in full bloom. She looked around with a half-smile. She was going to have to do some major damage control on them when this is done. But she had a stock pile of seeds for each and detailed where everything is. It would only take her a couple years at best.

  Looking
at everyone, she felt pride in knowing that she and Kurosai were right in what they were doing. She stood on his right side, and next to him was Koraen. On her his left was Chirio and Torakus. Kintare, Yori, Sarigi, her mother and the rest of the children were tucked away in a safe room that her father knew nothing about. Each with her own guards. Their mates fighting side by side with hers to end her father and hopefully Shinra all in one go. Two threats she would be pleased that her son would never have to worry about.

  There were dozens of guard standing around them. Some from the South, some from the East, North and West too. All flanking the sides, ready to spring to protect her and her son. With a smile she gave her head a slight turn to find Umarus standing right behind them. Ready to whisk her and her son away to the safe room the second Shinra strikes at him. There would be no other for this task but Umarus. She felt as safe with him as she did her own mate in times like these.