by Max Jager
Laughing as he handed Yukani back to her mother, Kurosai reached out and lifted his son tossing him in the hair a little, smiling as he laughed at that. "Don't worry about that. She is your sister yes. But I am sure she will want to do anything you do so that won't be a problem. After all. You and I have to make sure that she is the strongest female in all the lands. Strongest anyone has ever seen. How does that sound to you Kiyoshi?"
A sharp nod and a smile as he was sat back down on the bed, Kiyoshi liked that idea. "That sounds perfect Father. That way when the time comes she can help me with the South when I become Lord."
"That's right son. She will be able to do just that." Kurosai then lifted him and let him hang off of his back then gently lifted his mate and daughter in his arms. "Right now I think your mother and sister need a more comfortable bed then we will go train with Umarus for a while. Sound good to you."
"Yes! Thank you Father."
X
Another small and sudden cry in the middle of the night pulled Sorae from her bed with a smile. Yukani was already proving in her first night of life that she was going to be up often all night long. Pulling her from her small bed, Sorae sat on hers again and let her haori fall on one side so she could nurse her daughter. "Here Yukani. This is what you want isn't it?"
A growl in his voice, Kurosai kept his eyes closed where he was curled up with his mate. "Why couldn't she have taken after her brother on how she sleeps? He never woke up in the middle of the night for a single thing."
Giving her mate a glare with a half-smile, Sorae rocked her daughter. "Just because Kiyoshi was like that doesn't mean that she is going to be. Even if we do have another and that is a boy. He could be the same as Yukani."
Sitting up Kurosai stretched his arm over his head. "I get that. But I can still hope right?"
Laughing as she turned her eyes back down to her contently nursing daughter, Sorae's eyes began to mist over. "I really was almost ready to just give up hope on having any more pups let alone a daughter. We really started trying after Kiyoshi was five. Twenty years. That is a really long time to wait for another pup."
Moving over so that he was right next to his mate, Kurosai smiled as he ran the back of a clawed finger down his daughter's cheek as she finished nursing and her eyes fluttered shut to sleep. "Yes I will agree with that. It was a really long time to wait to have a pup with as often as we tried. But she was worth the wait and then some I would have to say. And you never know. Another twenty or thirty years down the road and we might get lucky and have another pup."
Rocking side to side now as she watched her daughter sleeping in her arms, Sorae smiled. "That would be grand but somehow dear I doubt that will ever happen. I don't think I am going to ever have anymore. But that is alright now. I have my son and now I have my daughter thanks to you. I am more content and happy having them and you in my life right now than I have ever been before."
Turning her head to look at him Kurosai kissed her gently as he smiled. "That love is why my demon chose you to become my mate. You complete me. And you have given me the two most perfect pups that I could ask for. I couldn't have asked for a better family."
With a smile as he kissed her again, Sorae turned and looked back down with a sigh as Yukani let out a sigh of her own. Standing and laying her in her bed, Sorae kissed her gently then lay down and curled back up against Kurosai with a sigh. "At least we know that they can grow and be happy for the next thousand years. For at least that long no one can mess with the peace that we will have."
His arms wrapped snuggly around his mate, Kurosai nodded as he smiled. "That's right. And who knows. By then we may have a few more generations running around the palace."
"That would be wonderful." But then Sorae let her eyes take on a look that mixed pleading with curiosity. "Kurosai I have a question for you."
"What's that love?"
Mulling over how to say what she wanted to say, Sorae didn't want to bring up hurt feelings. But it is something that she has been thinking about since she realized she was pregnant with Yukani. "I know that with it being the place your parents were headed when it happened. I have only ever heard stories about the Southern Shores Palace since I started to stay here. I would so like to see it one day. And are we going to go there when Kiyoshi is lord?"
His eyes misting over as he saw a flash of his parents in his mind, was all Kurosai really did anymore as he smiled. Right after it happened he swore that the Southern Shores Palace was cursed and wanted it tore down. But every time he was ready to give the order, he would hear in his heart his mother talking about how much she loved it and he could never bring himself to do it. And from the day the mated he debated on if he and Sorae were going to do what his parents were planning on doing and move there after Kiyoshi was Lord. 'But I guess asking me like that she has sealed the deal for that choice.' "Well I was wondering if we should at first. But if you want we will. And if you want to see it that badly, we can leave and go see it in a few weeks. Give you time to heal and get back in the habit of an infant to care for again. If you want too."
Jumping to sit up and look down into his eyes with a bright smile, her eyes shinning Sorae's eyes were lit with excitement. "Really? We can really go there soon?"
Laughing as he looked up at her Kurosai nodded with a bright smile of his own. "Of course we will. It will be a good way to celebrate Yukani's birth into the world."
With an excited gasp, Sorae threw herself on his chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck as she giggled. "Thank you so much! And we can even invite all the other Lords and Ladies to come too. They were all so excited when I told them about me being pregnant again."
Laughing as he wrapped his arms around her again, Kurosai couldn't deny that seeing everyone again was pleasing to him. Even though Sanzo and Torakus drove him mad at times. And Kiyoshi. It would be nice to see everyone again, and not with an impending fight looming over their heads, or the threat of a mutiny from within. Just to be around each other and enjoy the company. "We can do that if you really want too."
Shocking him, Sorae gave him an excited urgent kiss then rolled over on her side as she smiled and curled up to him. "Thank you Kurosai. For everything."
Smiling as he focused and could hear his son's steady heart beat in the room right next to theirs. Since he decided just a couple years ago he was tired of sleeping with them and wanted his own room. The steady heart and breathing next to the bed of his daughter.
His mate in his arms. Tucking her head under his chin he let out a very content sigh as he closed his eyes. "You should know by now Sorae. For you I would do anything."
Making of a Lord Chapter 28
With a bright smile, Sorae walked tall and proud next to Kurosai. He landed his mount when they were still far enough away that she couldn't see it. Said he wanted to surprise her. But with him at her side and Kiyoshi on his shoulders, she felt perfectly safe. Looking down she smiled even brighter at her sound asleep three week old daughter. She couldn't wait to show her off. And she couldn't wait to get to the Southern Shores. So many stories have been told about it and how beautiful it was. Especially about how much Kurosai's mother Miyu loved it no matter what. And with it being early fall, she just knew that it was going to be breathtaking.
A glance down at his mate Kurosai smiled as he kept his arm around her waist. "Are you excited?"
Turning her smile up to him, Sorae gave a nod. Her eyes dancing into his. "I am. I can't wait to see it."
Letting his eyes flick straight then back down to her, Kurosai winked at her. "Well then just look straight."
Her eyes flashing forward, followed slowly by her head Sorae gasped when she caught her first glimpse of the palace. "Oh my goodness." It was the most stunning thing she had ever seen. At least five floors high, maybe more. Built right into the side of the mountains that overlooked the ocean. A combination of rock and stone as well as wood. "Well I can defiantly see why it is called the Southern Shores Palace now. I bet the view of the oc
ean is breathtaking."
Looking at the palace with a smile, Kurosai let out a small sigh. "Mother's favorite thing about being here was the sunrise and sun set. Especially this time of year. Tonight when we stand on our balcony to watch the sun set and the sun rise we will see all the colors of the sky. As well as the way each color seems to make the different colors of the leaves in the trees dance and glow."
Wiping a tear from her eyes Sorae smiled. She was so excited to be there for a few different reasons. She would live there one day. And she knew that once he was there, Kurosai would feel like his parents presence was there and would be happy for it. "I can't wait to see it all."
Looking back and forth from his mother to his father where he sat on his father's shoulders, Kiyoshi blinked as he pulled on his father's hair pulling his eyes up to his. "Father so this is where you and Mother will live when I am Lord right?"
"That's right. And one day you will join us when you have a son that takes over when you are ready to step down."
"Will Yukani be with you here too?"
Looking down at his sleeping daughter and then straight ahead Kurosai nodded his head. "That depends. If you take over as Lord before she is grown, yes she will be going with us."
Looking down at his sister then back to his father Kiyoshi blinked his eyes a few times. "And after that?"
Laughing as he looked back up at his son, Kurosai winked at him. "After she is grown and a warrior if she wants to come back to the main palace and live there with you she will be able to do so. Is that what you are worried about?"
"Not worried just wondering." Kiyoshi then looked straight ahead at the palace himself. 'But it will be nice to have help like Mother does you until I take a mate who will help me then.'
X
With wide eyes and a bright smile as they walked through the gates of the palace, Sorae looked all around her. It was stunning! The fall flowers, a lot of the same ones that she had at the main palace were there and in full bloom. The trees, including the Cherry Blossoms were a variety of yellow, gold, red and orange. Simply breathtaking. "I have never seen a place as beautiful as this is."
The way her face lit up when as she spoke and her eyes darted around everywhere, Kurosai couldn't help but smile as he watched her. She adored it and he figured that she would. Just like his mother did. Most females that see this place fall in love with it. "I am glad you think like that. After tall this is going to be home one day."
Smiling into his eyes Sorae giggled. "And I can't wait. But I don't want it to be too soon either."
His ice blue eyes meeting his mother's dark blue ones Kiyoshi cocked his head to the side. "Why don't you want it to be too soon mother?"
Reaching up and pushing on his nose, Sorae giggled as she smiled at her son. "Because I don't want you and your sister to grow up too fast on me. It already seems like just yesterday that you were as small as your sister is right now."
Still blinking and looking a little confused Kiyoshi kept his eyes on his mother. "But I am nowhwere near as small as she is. That was a long time ago."
Laughing Kurosai did the one thing that still got a giggle from his now extra serious son. Lifting him from his shoulders and giving him a good hard toss in the air a few hundred feet up, catching him as he couldn't help himself but giggle. "That is because no matter how big you or your sister get, you are always going to be our pups. We will always remember when you were tiny and say it seems like yesterday. I wouldn't be shocked if you are five hundred and your mother still fusses over you like she does right now."
His eyes going wide as they could as all color drained from his face, Kiyoshi jerked his eyes back to his mother. "Please tell me he is joking?"
Shaking her head with a laugh, Sorae winked up at her son. "Not a chance on that one. I don't care how big you two get. How strong you two are. You are always going to be my pup. That simple."
Dropping his head with a long sigh Kiyoshi closed his eyes. "Oh man."
A soft smile for his son, Kurosai sat him down to follow along behind them as they entered the palace. "Now Kiyoshi. On a serious note, I do want you to remember one thing while we are here. With everyone coming here for the event your mother has organized for us, you are to be respectful to everyone, even the other kids. Sanzo included."
Rolling his eyes then letting his shoulders slump, Kiyoshi growled. "But that bird is annoying."
Crossing his arms as he looked down at him sideways, Kurosai had a half glare on his face. "He is going to one day be Lord of the East at the same time that you are going to be Lord of the South Kiyoshi. You have to learn to deal with him and be civil with him so that you can work together to keep the peace. Understood?"
Giving his father a fully serious look, hoping what he says next would get him out of playing friends with the bird. He knew he had to be civil, but he didn't have to play friends with him. "But Father. Doesn't the Blood Pact that I have heard you and Uncle Koraen talk about take care of keeping peace in all the Lands for a long time?"
As he lead his family through the palace, Kurosai turned a glare with a growl on his son. "No. It keeps Motoichi from taking actions against the rest of us. Now you are to do as you are told and be done with it. Understood?"
"Yes father."
X
With Yukani laying in her crib, Sorae turned to find that Kurosai had come up to stand right behind her. "This is truly the most beautiful of all the places that I have ever seen. The sea air is so refreshing and crisp. The never ending sky touching it on the horizon. I understand now why you say that your mother was so fond of this place."
Pulling her against him, Kurosai dipped his mouth with a smile and seared her mouth with his own. "You never know who knows. This palace might be the magic we need to have a third pup one day."
"Then so be it." Sorae then let out a small moan as he bore down on her mouth again, pulling her even closer to his body. Only for the two to be torn apart seconds later by the sound of a fussy baby next to them. With a smile as she turned away from him, Sorae giggled. "I don't think Yukani is ready for a sibling other than Kiyoshi right now."
With a half glare for his daughter as he watched his mate pick her up, Kurosai crossed his arms. "Sometimes it will do her some good to be more like her brother for a bit."
With a laugh Sorae bounced her daughter as she drifted back to sleep. "And like I told you. She is not always going to be like him. You just need to get over that one dear."
"I can hope can't I?"
Sitting on the bed Sorae giggled as she looked up at him with a bright smile. "Don't you remember how it was when he started walking? Do you really want to do that again?"
Blinking for a moment as he thought about the hell he had chasing his son down when he would slip away from him. Shaking his head he moved to sit next to his mate and took his daughter from her. "On second thought Yukani you can stay just the way that you are. I don't need another wind storm."
Sitting back and watching as Kurosai talked to Yukani about not doing what her brother did, Sorae couldn't help but smile. 'Mama I wish you could see this with me right now. Just like I thought Kurosai is a natural when it comes to his daughter just like Kiyoshi. Just please always make sure you watch over and protect them both.'
X
Sitting in a cherry blossom tree, Kiyoshi watched as the sun set and let out a long and annoyed sigh. "I can't believe that I have to play friends with that hyper bird when he gets here. I can be civil without being friends."
"You may not believe My Lord. But it is for the best. After all as your father said you are just going to have to do it. You are going to have to work together, and it would be better done if you are friends."
Growling as he crossed his arms Kiyoshi looked down at Umarus with a glare. "I already heard all this. Why do you have to sound so much like father? You really don't have to."
Smiling as he looked up at the pup Umarus leaned against the tree as he crossed his arms and laughed. "Whomever I sound like you stil
l need to 'play nice' as you put it. After all Lord Torakus and Lady Sarigi will be here tomorrow or the next at the latest with him and his sister."
Jumping in shock at what he said, Kiyoshi lost his seat and was caught by Umarus whom he had wide shocked eyes for. "You have got to be kidding me!? They are going to be here that hearly!? But Lord Chirio and Uncle Koraen won't be here for another week!"
Sitting the pup on the ground Umarus laughed as he nodded. "His father cannot wait that long to do anything. His own mate hid the fact that you were born from him for a week so he wouldn't show up two days after you were born and stay for the whole presentation. He is always early."
Dropping his head and shoulders Kiyoshi growled as he groaned. "And Sanzo acts so much like his father that I should probably expect the same thing from him when the time comes shouldn't I?"
"That might be wide My Lord."
Falling back on the ground Kiyoshi groaned again. "Oh great."