by Max Jager
Making of a Lord Chapter 29
Letting out a sigh as he fixed his sash around his waist, Kiyoshi was annoyed right now. Two days. His first time being there, and he only got two days to explore this new palace on his own. And then they find out this morning that the birds are on the horizon and will be there later that evening. "I get that he is going to be an ally and I need to learn to tolerate him like Father says. I just don't think that is possible."
Walking in the room with her crossed arms and a smile, Sorae laughed. "You will see one day that he will be a friend. As he grows I am sure that he will not get on your nerves as much as he does now. Before you turned ten years old Kiyoshi you actually acted just like him."
His eyes going wide as he turned to his mother, Kiyoshi found that really hard to believe. Blinking his eyes he just stood there. "Really? You mean that I actually used to act like that noisy bird does?"
Crossing her arms as her face took on a cross look also, Sorae walked closer to him. "First thing you can do to try and get along with him is not refer to him as such things as that Kiyoshi. You know that is rude." When his mouth started to open she held her finger up to stop him from saying anything. "Be they true or not. You will lean as you grow that some things really are better left unsaid. You want us to treat you like you are older than you are right now right?"
Dropping his head Kiyoshi let out another sigh. "Yes."
Dropping her arms Sorae shook her head. "Then you need to act like it. If you want to be treated as such, then you need to act like someone who deserves it."
Dropping his head even more Kiyoshi crossed his arms. "I know mother I get that but at the same time. He makes it really hard you know. I am the most mature of all the other kids of the other Lords. It just really bugs me when he acts like that."
Smiling as she pulled a gasp from her pup, Sorae swept her arms around him as she sighed. "I know that honey. But Kiyoshi you know you don't have to act like you are going to be handed title of Lord tomorrow you know. I really do worry that you are missing out on fun times as a pup. Training is one thing. But you shouldn't be so ready to grow up right now that you don't want to play."
Rolling his eyes with a half-smile, Kiyoshi nodded. "I know that Mother but playing the games that the others play just really doesn't interest me anymore."
With a sigh as she sat him down, Sorae crossed her arms again. "I know that son and that is part of what worries me. I would love to know what happened to bring about this change. But I guess if you are happy like this then I won't push you on it. Now come on. Your father is waiting for us. Torakus, Sarigi, Sanzo and Ayame will be here soon. Once they were sited they decided to fly."
"Great."
"Kiyoshi."
"Sorry mother."
X
Walking into the reception hall, Torakus and his mate and kids gave a bow to Kurosai and his as they stood. "It has been ages since we have all gathered here. It has been long overdue if you ask me."
Nodding with a smile as he crossed his arms, Kurosai laughed. "I agree. Though I must say the whole thing was planned by Sorae and the Ladies."
Nodding as she sat down next to Sorae and her mate across the table next to Kiyoshi, Sarigi giggled. "Indeed. Though we are three days early because of my darling mate after all. I let it slip too soon."
With a smile Sorae gave her a nod. "I know but that is alright. Kiyoshi has been exploring the grounds the last couple of days. He should know enough of it that he could show Sanzo and Ayame around and maybe find some more."
With a sigh as he nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. Trying not to let his mother see the glare for bringing it up. "I was actually going to go to the stables later if they want to come with me." Then opened his eyes and glanced at the birds then focused on his food.
With a small laugh, Sanzo nodded. "I am game with that. Aya?"
Shaking her head no Ayame was not going to go near the stables. "Perhaps when you go somewhere else I will go with you two. The stables are dirty and I don't want to get dirty." Then turned her bright gold eyes up to Kurosai as she blinked. "I would like to read through scrolls in the library if that would be alright."
"That is fine with me."
Giving his daughter a smile as he reached out and rubbed the back of his head, Torakus then sighed as he turned to Kurosai with an uncharacteristically serious look. "Though while our mates spend time there are a few things I would like to talk to you about. Some rumors and such that might interest you to say the least."
Blinking as he looked at him Kurosai was struck odd at first with the seriousness of the tone of his voice. "Rumors huh. How so?"
Leaning back in the chair, Torakus crossed his arms as he glared down at the table. "Well. There are some humans that are traveling about in the East. I would guess the others too. Making names for themselves. And that spells a bad things for all demons that come across them. Including us."
Still confused but focused now Kurosai kept his eyes on his. "How could a human possibly mean something bad for anyone sitting here at this table? With the exception of the low and weak demons they usually turn to us to take care of the troublesome ones."
Dropping his head as he closed his eyes with an annoyed sigh, Torakus took a deep breath. "Because the humans that I am talking about aren't your normal humans. Though we don't start wars or feed on the humans, there are those that do. I try my best to stop it and for the most part demons can live in harmony with humans in the East. But it seems that more do that than I thought."
"Okay Torakus now you are really confusing me. All the lands do that. North, South and West." Dropping his head he sighed. "There is a point soon right?"
"There is." Looking up into Kurosai's iced blue eyes he narrowed his gold ones. "Do you remember a long time ago, you would have been barely your pups age when my father and I were there and that one old woman came calling?"
Closing his eyes with a visible shudder, Kurosai nodded. "I do. She called herself a miko and she gave me a feeling of being stabbed and burned all at once just from walking past me. I don't remember much from that long ago. But that I could never forget. But why did you bring…." Then he gasped as he tensed and his eyes went as wide as they could. "You don't mean…"
With a nod and keeping his eyes on Kurosai, Torakus hissed. "Being twenty two years older than you, I remember more about. Especaially since father made sure that I never forgot what she said she was or what she could do. One arrow. According to what she said if one harrow goes through a demons flesh they are purified into dust from the inside out. Which if they have pure powers it would make sense when you think about it. Demons are not exactly pure. And other than each other, until now. We have had no natural enemy that could stand against us. But now humans have bred something that could be just that."
"Great."
Lifting his left arm, Torakus let rage fill his eyes as he snapped his arm guards off. "I have seen three full moons since it happened and you can still smell the dead flesh on my arm. Thankfully it isn't my fighting one."
Gasping with wide eyes, Sorae covered her mouth. "Dead flesh?"
Carefully rolling his sleeve up, Torakus held his arm up so the table could see the perfect shape of a hand on his arm. Once they saw it, he fixed his sleeve and arm guard. "It is healing but extra slow. It is healing like a human that got a near fatal would would heal. That is the power of purification."
Letting his eyes glance to the chicks and his pup who were absorbing it all, Kurosai then settled back on Torakus. "How did it happen?"
"When I got this one came to our palace. She looked rough. Tattered and torn clothes and wounds all over her body. She said demons were attacking a newly settled human village right near the heart of the East. I told her that I would deal with it." Closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths to keep from raging again, Torakus crossed his arms. "I started to turn away from her to send someone to go and deal with it. I guess she thought I wasn't going to really help. She told me she wasn't l
eaving without someone to help them deal with the demons that day. I told her what I was doing and she said it wasn't good enough. I couldn't smell purification. I didn't have that sensation. She was close enough at the time that she grabbed my arm and charged her hand with her purification and flicked her wrist. That was all the physical things she did. Sent me flying back to slide on my feet thirty feed. I wasn't ready for that and she caught me off guard. My men that were in the room attacked her the instant that she touched me but not even fire could get to her with her barrier she had." Opening his eyes he glared into Kurosai's eyes. "We have to watch ourselves now. This new breed of humans could be bad for demons of all races and classes."
Nodding with a growl, Kurosai let his eyes flick to his son then back to Torakus. "Agreed."
X
As he lead the way into the stable with Umarus standing just outside, both Kiyoshi and Sanzo were quiet. Very typical for the pup, not so much the falcon though. Stopping far enough away that Umarus couldn't hear them, Kiyoshi looked over at him. "You aren't hyper today."
Dropping his head with a sigh as he closed his eyes, Sanzo sat down. "I can't stop thinking about what happened to Father that day. I have never seen him thrown like that before. And just knowing that it was a human woman that could do it doesn't sit well. To look at her she looked weak as a baby. But she wasn't."
Leaning against the stall of a flying demon horse across from the bird, Kiyoshi crossed his own arms. "I know what you mean. I wish there was a way we could tell them apart. Your father didn't know what she was, and mine said the last time he remembered anything like that was years ago."
Looking up at him as he thought about the countless humans that come to his father for help, Sanzo then gasped as his eyes went wide. "I think there might be a way to tell them apart from the other humans. I did notice something about her that was different than any other human that ever came to visit father for anything."
Looking up at him, Kiyoshi had curious eyes. "Well what was it?"
"The way that she was dressed." Nodding as he looked down he fisted his hands. "That has to be it. The way they are dressed is what will tell everyone what they are."
"I don't follow?"
Looking up at Kiyoshi as he came to stand next to him, Sanzo stood up. "Most women when they come to see father, they are all mostly dressed the same way. Dark and drab colors, all one piece kimono, usually short ones and held together by a simple sash like we have."
"Yes I know that." Looking straight up Kiyoshi sighed. "I see them when they come with men to see Father. The men don't dress much different. Only difference I see is they wear hakamas like us."
"That's right. But the one that flung father was a total opposite. She wore hakamas like we are that were bright red in color. Her haori was white. Like a pure blinding white color. I have never seen another human that dresses like that."
Nodding Kiyoshi glanced over his shoulder at Umarus who seemed to not hear their conversation. A plan working in his mind to try to get rid of them all when the time comes. "Pherhaps that is what will tell them apart."
X
For the rest of the day, the seven that were there now spent it in very different ways. Ayame dived head first into the many scrolls she found in the libarary. Reading as many historical and just stories that she could find. Sarigi and Sorae spent the day in the garden as they talked about everything they could think of and passed Yukani back and forth between them. Torakus and Kurosai were in his den talking about what they were going to do about the rumors and the mikos in general. And trying to figure out a way to see how many there were if they could and how they are even here.
And it was on a level that even Kiyoshi didn't think was possible, he and Sanzo were doing the same thing as their father's. Talking about what they could do as they grew about the mikos. And were actually getting along right now. To the point that even Kiyoshi would say that they were growing as friends.
And now that she was sitting in her room holding her contently full daughter, Sorae smiled as she rocked side to side with her. Kurosai was on his way to the room and was worn out from stress and worry. 'I have to wonder though if mikos are really going to be that big of a problem? I hope not for a very long time though.' Then letting her head fall to the side, Sorae smiled at her daughter as she sighed. 'That way at least you and your brother might not have to deal with them.'
"You okay love?"
Looking up at him Sorae smiled as she sighed. "Yeah. I was just thinking is all."
Going in to sit next to her on the edge of the bed, Kurosai sighed as he smiled and reached a hand out to run down the back of his daughter's face. "About the mikos I would assume."
Taking a deep breath Sorae nodded. "Yes. I have all day actually. Since I heard Torakus's story."
Leaning down so that his elbows rested on his knees Kurosai kept his eyes on the floor as he dropped his head. His long hair now cascading around him to the floor. "If what Torakus and I think is right, and what happened to him that day. This get together you wanted to plan was the best thing that could have happened at the moment. Everyone needs to know what is going on. I don't like the humans. All they ever do is complain about everything and start wars. It wouldn't be so bad if they stood on their own two feet for once. And each year that passes it seems like they pop up everywhere like insects. As much as I hate it I know what Father said rings true. We have no choice but to live with them.
"I understand how you feel Kurosai." Reaching out and laying a hand on his arm she pulled his worried eyes to hers as she smiled. "Perhaps we can lead by example to them. Protecting them from those they can't on their own. If they don't think we are the enemy perhaps they will start to settle down some."
Groaning as he flopped backwards on the bed Kurosai let out a long sigh. "The only way that would happen is if a miracle happened. And not any time soon. Not the way things are with the lower demons and the humans. I just hope that we get them to calm down some in the next seventy five years. Or at least get rid of the mikos. That way Kiyoshi won't have to deal with them in a bad way. Get rid of them or get them on our side."
"I agree with that." Standing Sorae lay Yukani in her crib and turned to Kurosai with smile as she shocked him and sat on his lap straddle legged. "Though. I know of something that can take your mind off of mikos and stress in general."
With a broad smile, Kurosai moved and had them fully on the bed with Sorae now under him as he nestled himself between her legs. "You truly do know how to get my mind off of things this is true. In a way that only you can." He then seared his mouth with his as a free hand started to pull on her sash.
Ripping his mouth from hers he smiled as he leaned his forehead on hers. "I do believe that I have a vixen on my hands now."
Giggling as she wrapped her arms around his neck and through his hair Sorae giggled. "Enough talking my love. We haven't been able to love each other since Yukani was born. And we don't have much time with how she sleeps."
"Right." Searing his mate's mouth with his own, his hands roamed her body as hers roamed his. Each setting sparks into flames with their touch. They knew the threat with the mikos and humans would still be there when they were done. But for this moment in time. For this night. They thought only of each other. Nothing more.
Making of a Lord Chapter 30
A week later, Kiyoshi now found himself as well as Shone, Ayame, Soichiro and Sanzo sitting around a koi pond. On the other side of the garden from where their mothers were with Yukani as they passed her around and talked about Kintare's news that she was expecting a second pup. And again everyone was serious now. A mirror image in the mood and conversation as their father's were in as they stood in Kurosai's study. Mikos.
Opening his eyes, Kiyoshi looked at everyone and then back to the koi pond. "I know that our parents tell us not to worry about the mikos that they hear about. But there is something about the situation that I just can't put my finger on. I would wager anything on the fact that at some point we are
going to have dealings with them. All of us."
Serious eyes Sanzo nodded in agreement. "I agree with that. There has to be something we can do to defend ourselves against them. I mean surely if my father is right and they are our natural enemy because they are made of pure energy in contrast to our demonic. There has to be a way to be able to kill one and not get hurt in the process. We may be natural enemies but even then there are weaknesses."
Leaning on the tree with a slump, Shone sighed as he crossed his arms. "that is something we can't know for sure though Sanzo. I would like to think that. But after all it isn't like our parents are going to just let us walk up to a miko and say 'will you train me so I can kill all the other mikos I see' and be alright with that."
"I get that but still. Like I said. Natural enemies or not. Each has the skill or develops the skills to hunt and kill the other. But each has or develops the skill to defend against them too. it doesn't always work but it is there. Other than that they can turn us to ash with a single arrow. We don't know anything else about them." Sanzo then dropped his head even further as the image of his strong father being flung through the hair with a flick of the wrist.