by Max Jager
"He was shown right after he became Lord that he cannot rise against me in the way you think he can or he may say. You would have been but a pup."
"That's not true!"
An annoyed sigh, Kiyoshi reached down and lifted the girl by the back of her kimono and sat her on Ryu. "If you think you can take her from me you can try. I will send word to your Lord of your stupidity and disrespect to me when I return to my palace."
"You will be seeing My Lord soon. What he wants he gets. He is Lord and this is his domain."
Growling as Ryu took to the sky with the giggling girl, Kiyoshi called his own demon cloud and narrowed at him. His eyes bleeding. "It matters not what humans he is over. I am over every living being in the Southern Lands. I bow to no one and answer to no one." He then went up into the sky.
Once he was with Ryu, headed toward the next trouble point, he looked at the little girl as she giggled. There was a human village there that he would leave her in. But what bothered him was his want to make sure she is safe. The rage that soared through him when the human wanted her shocked him. 'What in the hell is going on with me? I know it isn't a mating. She isn't even mature. Why do I even care about what happens to her? Perhaps the time between here and there will tell me what is going on.'
Making of a Lord Chapter 38
Two more days have passed and the kid was still tagging along after him. But it was strange. The longer that she was with him the more confused Kiyoshi was about what it was with her. he understood that one day a child might get him to do many things he wouldn't normally do. But he always figured that the child would be his child with his mate. And nearly a thousand years, everyone was on him, his parents especially about taking a mate and having a pup.
But he has not found the right demon for that. Not a single female that has been offered to him has ever called out his demon, and he was not attracted to them in the least. He didn't know exactly what he wanted, but he knew he didn't want a wall decoration that did what he wanted her to do just cause he wanted her to do it. He did want someone who would fight with him and against him. Standing beside him no matter what.
Looking back at the girl again he sighed. He knew it wasn't that. She was far too young for it to be that. But there was something about her that he couldn't put his finger on. That was what annoyed him at the moment. He wanted to know what it was and didn't.
"Who goes there? Demons are not welcome here."
Stopping as he looked straight, Kiyoshi hardened his eyes. It was another miko. They were as common as your everyday peasant human now. And each one had an attitude with him. "I am passing through on my rounds of the South."
Glaring as she notched an arrow the miko wasn't moving. "Who are you?" But hearing the gasp behind him she looked to see a little girl sitting on the dragon mount that was following him. Her black eyes narrowed back to the demon. "If you want peaceful passage down this path and near my village, release the child to me and then be on your way. If you do not you will force me to kill you to rescue her."
Turning sideways Kiyoshi stepped back and closed his eyes. "Imae."
Turning her eyes from the miko to Kiyoshi, tears flew from her eyes as she jumped down from Ryu's back and ran to grab his leg as she gripped his clothes with everything she had. "You are not really going to make me go with her are you Lord Kiyoshi?"
Looking down into her chocolate eyes, Kiyoshi never lost his emotionless mask. "The agreement was from one human village to another. This is not like when the army showed up wanting you."
Shaking now as she let even more tears rush from her eyes, she didn't want to go with her. She wanted to stay forever with Kiyoshi. He was the only being in the world that has ever not been horrible to her. "I don't want to go with her My Lord. You are the first that has ever been nice to me at all. Humans are much scarier to me than demons are. Please don't make me go with her My Lord. I just want to stay with you. I am begging you not to!"
Kiyoshi sighed as his eyes softened into hers. It confused him to no end why, but those big chocolate eyes and the way they cried. It struck him to his very core and he couldn't make her do anything. It was almost like he was dealing with his own daughter and that was the face she used on him, the way Yukani had a face she used on their father.
In his first real act of compassion and kindness to her, Kiyoshi laid his hand on Imae's head as he turned his eyes to the miko. "You heard her answer. Now step aside and let us pass."
Her eyes narrowing even more, the miko's face twisted in anger as she refused to budge. "Is it not bad enough that demons of your status do nothing to keep the lower level demons that terrorize humans in check but now you make our children think you are someone to look up to? You are nothing more than a vile creature! You and all demons need to die!"
Though her eyes still cried as she clung to Kiyoshi. Shaking violently, Imae looked around his leg as she glared at the miko. What she said wasn't true about him! He didn't make her go with him. "But he didn't make me! I want to go with him. I don't want to go with you. Even if you make me go with you I will find away to run away from you and find him!"
With a sigh, Kiyoshi had enough of this. The miko wasn't getting her and that was all there was too it. Reaching down he pulled a shocked gasp from the little girl and the miko as he lifted her carefully into his arms. As Imae smiled and threw her arms around his neck he growled. "This was my last stop on my rounds. Since you are standing here being disrespectful to me, that means that there are no demons giving your grief. So I will take my leave now. Filthy human."
Letting her rage soar through her, the miko began to shake as he started to walk away from her with a smiling little girl in his arms. "I will show you who is filthy you bastard! Die!"
Hearing the draw of the bow, Kiyoshi knew that they had different ranges when it came to them. Narrowing his eyes, he nodded and he was in the sky with Imae sitting on Ryu as he stood behind her. Growling down at the human bellow them. "For that. Even if there are demons that are in the area hunting humans. You deal with them on your own." Then Ryu turned and flew off.
Watching with a glare still on her face, the miko was breathing heavy. The way he talked, now she knew who he was. Kiysohi. But that little girl. She was just being fooled for who knows what from him. "And I don't get it. What could he have done to make her think of him like that? That damn bastard." Then she turned and headed for the village.
X
Having completed her training hundreds of years ago, Yukani always made sure to keep up training a little each day. And today she was sparring with her mate. They mated just over three hundred years ago, and as of yet no pups have been born to them. But that didn't matter to them either. They both knew the problems that not only Sorae but Chiyo had with pups. They knew it would happen one day when they were ready. And when looking at the demon life spans, they still had more than enough time left to wait for a pup.
As she spun around, she slammed the staff of her practice blade into his and smiled up at him. "So who do you think is going to win this round of sparing dear?"
Smiling into his mate's beautiful eyes, Kamui stood his ground. He knew what he was getting into when they mated. And he wouldn't change it. "If this ever ends that is Yukani. This one sparing match has lasted all day long."
Smiling as she jumped back and took her stance, Yukani giggled. "I will have to….." But then her smile faded and her eyes went wide at the same time Kamui's did. Looking at each other in pure shock on their faces. There was a human with her brother! Moving to stand next to her mate, Yukani blinked as her brother fell from the sky, Ryu on his shoulders. And in his arms, sleeping soundly curled against him was a human child. A little girl.
Once he landed and walked toward the palace, Yukani's eyes never left the little girl in his arms as he walked past them. "Kiyoshi what is going on here? Why do you have a human child with you?"
Looking down at the girl in his arms, Kiyoshi went on in the palace. "It is a long story I will tell you later."
Following Kiyoshi with his eyes, Kamui had his arm around his mate's waist. That was more than a little strange given his feelings to humans in general. "Well that was…"
"Weird. My brother has hated humans since before I was born. And now he is carrying that little girl into the palace in his arms like she belongs there."
Taking a deep breath, Kamui sighed. "I am sure he has his reasons though Yukani."
Dropping her head as she growled, Yukani crossed her arms. "I am sure he does too. Kiyoshi never does anything without having a reason for it. I just hope that it doesn't have anything to do with that one human lord that keeps starting with him. He hasn't moved on him since the last time Kiyoshi put him in his place. But he won't shut up. I love my brother dearly, but the way he has always felt about humans. I wouldn't put it past him to try to use her as a bargaining chip with him."
His amber eyes meeting with hers, Kamui was more than a little shocked to hear her say something like that. "Do you really think that he would? I know he hates humans. But he also knows that he could go against that entire army and win and s how him. Surely even your brother has to have a fraction of empathy for a child like that."
Headed for the palace Yukani growled. "I wouldn't bet on it Kamui. Come on. That look on his face. We might as well go wait at his study for him to get there. Or Umarus will be coming to get us."
"Right."
X
After taking Imae to a room that would be hers, Kiyoshi had Umarus sit with her as he headed for his study. Pleased that Kamui and Yukani were there already so he wouldn't have to go get them. Walking in the room he sighed. "Good. You are already here."
Nodding Yukani glared up at her brother as she crossed her arms and wasted no time. "I knew that look in your eyes when you said I will tell you later. Why did you bring her here Kiyoshi? I swear if it is to use her for any reason against that damned human lord I am going to go straight to Mama and…."
"It has nothing to do with him. I can deal with that myself I don't need to use something or someone as leverage to show him he is no match on me. So calm down." Letting out a long sigh as he fully relaxed he kept his eyes closed. "Toward the end of my rounds this time, I came across another human village that was destroyed by low demons. She was the only one who survived and was hiding under a half fallen wall. I moved the wall and walked away. For a week she followed me." Glaring at his mount as he lay on his bed on the other side of the study Kiyoshi growled. "Thanks to Ryu she kept finding me no matter how far I was gone or when I would leave her."
Crossing his arms as he half smiled, Kamui closed his eyes. "She probably thinks of you like a hero. The demons attacked and killed everyone but her. Then you lifted the all for her and saved her."
His eyes stern as he looked at Kamui, Kiyoshi didn't move. "I thought that at first. When she asked me if she could follow me to the next human village then she would leave me I agreed just to get her away from me as soon as possible."
Then pulling a startled gasp from his sister and her mate, Kiyoshi slammed his fist down on his desk sending scrolls rolling to the floor. "Moments after I agreed to that I smelled a dragon. Well into the South. When I got there she was leading hordes against some traveling humans. From what she said, I put two and two together and it was Shinra. I nearly destroyed her, but just as I saw the chance for a kill bite I heard her scream and it actually distracted me. Shinra got away. There was an army that wanted her for him. That Lord. I refused to let them take her and she was with me for two more days. Then a miko thought I kidnapped her she didn't want to go and I didn't make her either. I don't understand why I didn't make her but I didn't. So I brought her home to figure out what it is about her and then she is leaving. End of story."
Opening his eyes he saw the smile that Yukani and Kamui had for each other then they turned it on him. Narrowing his eyes he crossed his arms. "What is that all about?"
With a laugh, Kamui winked at him. "You see Kiyoshi. Other than those here at the palace, your parents at the Southern Shores, and those in the West. You try to act like you don't care about anyone."
"I don't." His sister's giggle pulled his glare to her. "Yukani?"
Moving to sit next to her brother Yukani laughed as he growled and glared down at her as she hugged him from the side. "Oh my dear big brother. You will never admit I don't think. But time will prove we are right. Somehow, and I wanna know how, that little girl made you care about her in a short amount of time. That was why you couldn't force her to go with the army or the miko. You care about her."
Shrugging his sister off of him with an annoyed growl, Kiyoshi kept his glare on her. "It is not that. I do not know what it is but as soon as I can figure it out then she is gone."
Standing and walking to stand with Kamui as he stood, Yukani giggled as she smiled at her brother. "We shall see about that. Mama and Papa are going to be here soon and they are going to be shocked by this."
"Soon?"
Headed for the door, Yukani laughed. "You know that every other full moon they come here. You, me and Mama were all born on the full moon remember? The next one for them to come is only a couple of weeks away."
With a sigh, Kiyoshi fixed the scrolls on his desk and pulled one out to start going over it. His typical emotionless mask was back in place. "She will be long gone from here by the time they get here. So there will nothing to be shocked about."
"I doubt that but if you say so brother." Yukani then stopped at the door and looked back at him. "So where is she at anyway?"
"In a room with Umarus." Growling as she giggled Kiyoshi didn't even look up. "Just get out Yukani."
Making of a Lord Chapter 39
Rubbing her eyes as she opened them, Imae blinked for a moment. The last thing she rmembered was being in Kiyoshi's arms as she fell asleep and now she was in a bed. "Lord Kiyoshi?"
"Well he isn't here right now but I do hope that I will be a good substitute for him for now."
Sitting up Imae looked over to find that a beautiful female demon was sitting on the bed next to her. She was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, and in her face she looked a little like Kiyoshi. "Who are you?"
Letting her head fall to the side, Yukani giggled with a smile. "My name is Yukani. I am Kiyoshi's little sister. He brought you back here to our palace."
With a bright smile, Imae bowed her head as she sat there. "It is very nice to meet you Lady Yukani."
Moving to sit right next to her, Yukani hugged the girl. She was so sweet. She wasn't sure when she went in there, but she could see right away why she would steal her way into her brother's heart. "Alright honey none of this Lady Yukani stuff."
Giving her a strange look Imae blinked her chocolate eyes as she sat there. "But what I am going to call you then? Lord Kiyoshi told me to call him Lord Kiyoshi and you are his sister."
Pushing in on the girl's nose, Yukani laughed along with her as she smiled brightly. She was so sweet and innocent. Those eyes alone could make anyone fall in love with her. The one and only human that she could see herself carrying about. It truly was no wonder Kiyoshi was drawn into caring about her so fast. "I guess that if he told you to call him Lord Kiyoshi, then you should call him that. But I only want you to call me Yukani okay." Then she pointed to her mate who was by the door. "That is my mate. You can call him Kamui."
Looking over to the male standing at the door Imae smiled brightly as she gave him a sharp nod. "Hello Kamui."
With a smile, Kamui moved to the bed and reached out tussling her hair with his hand. "Well I bet that had a play in it. She is very well mannered."
"I agree."
Looking from one to the other, Imae had no clue what they were talking about, but it had to do with her. Landing her eyes on Yukani she let her head fall to the side. "Had a play in what?"
Picking the little girl up Yukani shook her head side to side. "Don't you worry about it honey. You slept half the day yesterday and all night long. I bet you are hungry. Let's go get something
to eat shall we?"
Hearing her stomach let out a growl right after that Imae blushed as she gave a nod with a smile and threw her arms around Yukani's neck. "That sounds wonderful! Thank you Yukani!"
X
Hearing the sound of Imae and Yukani giggling and talking as they walked past his study, Kiyoshi smiled then dropped his head with a sigh. Hearing her with his sister seemed natural. Like it should have been from the day she was born. 'Could they be right about it? Could in that short amount of time she gotten me to care about her?'
"Something on your mind pup?"
With a sigh as he went back to going over more reports, Kiyoshi didn't even look up as Umarus walked in. "No."
Sliding the door shut behind him, Umarus shook his head with a half glare for the pup before him. "You know you are a really bad liar?"
"What do you want?"