Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Shaking her head up and down as fast as she could Imae giggled again. Of course I would. I would do anything that you asked me if it would make you happy Lord Kiyoshi. Anything at all."

  Still keeping her head in place with his finger, Kiyoshi smiled as he fully relaxed with her. "That is good Imae. Very good. You have had the status here as being a guest that is under my protection since the day you came over that wall in my arms. I want to change that status."

  Fear gripping her, Imae reached out as tears welled in her eyes and grabbed his arms. "You are not going to ask me to leave are you Lord Kiyoshi?"

  Laughing as he shook his head side to side, Kiyoshi moved his finger from her chin and pushed her hair back behind her ears as he then rested his hand on her head. "No. I will never send you away. I want to make your status Lady Imae. Princess of the South."

  Her eyes going wide as she froze. What was he asking her to do? "A Princess of the South?"

  "That's right. You will be my daughter and princess to the Southern Lands from this moment on."

  Pulling her head free from his hand, she dropped her head as she let her tears rush from her eyes. She hugged herself as she started to shake. "But why would you want me to be that? I look at you like a father. But you are a demon lord and I am nothing more than an orphaned human that owes you my life. Why do you want me as your daughter?"

  Reaching out with both of his hands Kiyoshi framed her face and pulled her crying eyes up to look at his smiling face. "Imae you are the only human in nearly the thousand years since I was born that has gotten me to care about them in such a short amount of time without even trying to. I can see you nowhere than at my side from this day forth. You mean as much to me as if you were my very own pup. You just said that I am like a father to you right? So it makes sense."

  Tears still falling from her eyes as she looked up at him, Imae didn't expect this to come up ever. "You are serious? You really don't think I am too weak as a human to be your pup?"

  Moving his hands from her face, Kiyoshi laid them on her shoulders as he took a deep breath. "You are my daughter Imae. One that I chose to be my eldest pup. You are far from weak. And I will make sure that you only grow stronger as you grow up."

  Dropping her head, Imae was shaking nearly as violently now as she was when the miko said that she wanted to take her away from him. She was so happy right now she didn't know what to do!

  "Imae?"

  Shocking him for a moment, threw her arms around his neck as she smiled. "Papa!"

  Hugging her back, Kiyoshi stood up with her in his arms it felt right. Headed back to the palace he sighed. He had hoped that she would agree to this, and thought that she would. And now that she has, he had a daughter. 'And I will make sure that you are strong enough and have the frame of mind to defend yourself against anyone. You may be human but you are my daughter. You will be the strongest human in history.'

  X

  Walking into Imae's room, Yukani smiled when she found Kiyoshi sitting next to her on the bed, Imae still clinging to his hand as fresh tears streamed from her closed eyes, a smile still on her face. "You made her the happiest kid alive tonight brother."

  Shaking his head as he sighed, he would not deny it anymore. "The other way around Yukani. When I first told her she called me Papa like you do Father. But then told me that she is going to call me Father for respect. She also plans on asking you and Kamui…."

  Giggling as she stopped by the bed and looked at the girl that was now her niece, Yukani nodded. "Of course she is going to call us Auntie and Uncle. I wouldn't dream of telling her no." Then she sighed as she dropped her head. "I actually came here for Mama and Papa. They want to talk to you. They are with Umarus in your study waiting on you. I don't think they are happy about this."

  His mask back in place, Kiyoshi gently pulled his hand from his daughter's and headed for the door. "I don't care if they don't like it. It doesn't change a thing where she is concerned." Once he left the room he growled as he headed to his study. He didn't want to have to fight his father over this. But he would. 'I do not care if they don't like it and will face anyone if I have to, to keep my daughter with me.'

  Opening the door he fought back the growl as he walked around them and sat at his desk facing them. "Mother. Father. You wanted to talk to me about something?"

  His eyes closed, Kurosai kept his arms crossed. "That kid. You insist on this then?"

  Nodding Kiyoshi kept his eyes on his father's closed ones. "I do. From this night forth she is my daughter by all rights."

  Taking a deep breath, but not moving, Kurosai opened his eyes to glare back at his son. "Since there is nothing we can do about it short of me killing my own son which won't happen. Then we have only one request where she is concerned."

  "That is?"

  "That she is to call us Lord Kurosai and Lady Sorae. Not grandmother and grandfather. Your true pups will one day, but we do not want a human calling us that no matter what you say she is."

  Closing his eyes, Kiyoshi took a few deep breaths as he fought to keep calm. When he opened his eyes, he pulled a flinch from his mother and a gasp from Umarus with the level of resolve in his eyes. A level they have never seen before. "IF that is your wish then Imae will not call you that. However in turn any pups that are born to me after this not will only call you Lord Kurosai and Lady Sorae as well."

  Her eyes nearly popping out of hr head, Sorae leaned over on her mate as hse paled. She couldn't believe that he would say such a thing to her! "You can't really be serious? You would deny our rightful grandchildren the right to call us Grandma and Grandpa all because we don't want a human child to call us that?"

  "I would and I am." His eyes glaring from one to the other, Kiyoshi growled. "And when you and father are through being judgmental about this and actually get to know her, you might change your minds about that. Otherwise I do not care if my first pup is not born for another thousand years and Imae is gone from this earth. He or she will be told about their big sister and will refer to you as Lord Kurosai and Lady Sorae just like you their sister."

  Growling as he slammed his hand down on Kiyoshi's desk, Kurosai glared at his son. "I will not have that kid calling me something I am not now or ever going to be to her! My blood grandchildren will call me Grandfather or Grandpa which ever they want. You got that pup!"

  "They will not."

  Standing now, his voice was nearly a scream as he fisted his hands and looked down at his son. "They will when I teach them to do it!"

  Shaking his head, Kiyoshi sighed as he stood and walked back to the door. He was over this. So over this. "I have to wonder though Father. You learned to work with the humans from your father and I learned from you. I have to wonder what he and your mother would think of this right now? Or Mother's mother? Would they demand these same things? This is my choice and if I have to, I will keep your grandchildren away from you until they are older and I can tell them exactly why."

  "Why you little I otta…."

  Turning a glare to his father Kiyoshi sighed. "Unless of course you think you could really take me out to stop it. That would be the only way. So I would really think on what you are saying right now when it comes to my daughter and what the consequence would be."

  Making of a Lord Chapter 43

  Three more months have passed and everything around the palace has changed. Sorae and Kurosai were eventually won over by Imae and that sweet smile, now fully welcoming her as their first official grandchild. Which not only made Kiyoshi happy that he didn't have to keep fighting with his parents about it. And it elated Imae. She was now only missing a mother and then she would have a full family again.

  Imae was also given Yoite as a full time guard. Impressing both Umarus and Kiyoshi over and over with how he was with the child, he has proved that he is loyal not only to Kiyoshi, but would be loyal to Imae no matter what as well. Which to Kiyoshi spoke volumes as to the length that he would go to protect his daughter.

  Yet even now, a s
et of black eyes glared from the roof as they watched the little girl and her guard move around the garden. It was very clear that Yukani was in heat right now. And judging from the smell Akahito could smell from the palace, she was otherwise preoccupied with her mate. Kurosai and Sorae were gone. And he was just told that Kiyoshi would be home by that evening, and as if luck was on his side right now, Umarus was with him. Entrusting the kid to the young Yoite. "This is my only chance. If I am going to do this I need to take it now."

  Dropping from the palace roof he made his way to find the kid and Yoite as she looked in the koi pond with a hand full of flowers. "Yoite."

  Tensing to see that it was Akahito coming toward him, Yoite moved a step to the side and was now right between Akahito and Imae. He hoped that Akahito wouldn't do anything to her seeing as he is supposed to be loyal. But there was something about him that he didn't like, and he made it no secret from the day that Imae came home with Kiyoshi that he didn't like her being there, and even less as his daughter. "What is it Akahito?"

  Rolling his eyes as he crossed his arms, Akahito stopped a few feet from Yoite. "Give me a break. I am not going to do anything to the kid. My neck is worth more than that. I was just coming to tell you that Lord Kiyoshi and Umarus were seen on the horizon. They should be home by evening."

  Refusing to look up at them, Imae smiled as she looked down at her flowers. Every day since he left she would pick flowers and put them in the vase in his room hoping that he would be home that night to see them. 'And now he is really on his way home!'

  Smiling Yoite started to turn his head to look at her his charge. "Lady Imae did you hear…." Then his eyes went wide and fluttered shut as the darkness claimed him. 'Akahito you damn bastard!'

  Flinching when she heard a thud behind her, and Yoite's voice stop, Imae started to shake. She started to turn her head to see what happened but then gasped as a hand clamped over her mouth. Her eyes went wide as tears fell from her eyes as she started to scream but nothing. Dropping her flowers as she felt herself flying through the air, only to see the palace wall seconds later as it started getting smaller and smaller as whoever had her ran. 'Someone help me! Please!'

  Racing through the forest, Akahito kept his hold on the kid and his hand over her mouth. Once he was deep enough in that no one would hear her scream he focused behind them with his nose. No one was following him. Letting go of her mouth he draped her over his back holding her by her kimono collar and walked on through the woods going even deeper.

  Her mouth finally free Imae began to fling her arms and legs as she screamed. "Akahito what are you doing!? Let go of me! I want to go back! Someone help me! Let me go!"

  With a laugh as he walked on, Akahito closed his eyes as he smiled a truly evil smile. "No one can hear you retch. And with that blow I landed on Yoite, it was his own damn fault for not keeping up his guard. You can blame him in the afterlife for your death if you want too."

  Trying to reach around and get his hand to make him let her go Imae kept wiggling as she cried. "You are supposed to be loyal to my father! Why would he think that you would do something like this to me! You traitor!"

  Growling so loud that he caused her freeze and her heart start to race, Akahito glared over his shoulder at the back of her head. "Don't you dare ever refer to Lord Kiyoshi as your father around me. There mere thought of him protecting you made me cringe when he first brought you home. When he said that he adopted you as his pup I wanted to rip your head right off those shoulders then and there you little wench. A filthy human like you has no place in the palace."

  Shaking out of control Imae dropped her head as she covered her eyes. "So you are going to kill me then?"

  Laughing again Akahito shook his head side to side. "No chance in hell. If Lord Kiyoshi comes home and smells your blood on me at all I am as good as dead. The demons of this forest are going to do it. I will not sully my hands with the likes of you."

  Shaking as she sobbed, Imae kept her eyes closed. Her only hope was that Yoite would wake up or her Uncle would realize that she wasn't there and they would come looking for her! 'Please! Someone help me! Father please!'

  X

  Exiting the palace hand in hand with Kamui, Yukani couldn't help but giggle. Imae was there for good. And they were now determined to try every chance they got for a pup of their own. But until then, they would be doting on their niece, for however short a time it was going to be. Looking up into her mate's amber eyes she giggled again. "I do hope that we get to make Imae a cousin before she is gone. It would be nice for her to be a big sister but I don't see that happening with my brother any time soon."

  "I can agree with that." Though just as they headed for the gardens he stopped and growled as he narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong. His eyes scanning the garden he stood rigid. "Something's wrong." Stepping away from his mate he closed his eyes and focused. "No!" Then he took off rushing through the gardens, Yukani on his heels.

  "What is it?"

  "Imae isn't with Yoite!"

  Rounding the corner of the hedges they both gasped. Kamui rushed to wake up an out cold Yoite as Yukani froze. Her eyes filling with tears as she started to frantically look around. "Imae….Imae…Imae!" When she stopped to focus on her scent she growled as her eyes opened and rushed to Kamui who had Yoite sitting up shaking his head. "It was Akahito!"

  Nodding Yoite growled as he tried pushed himself up on shaky legs. "It was. He told me that Lord Kiyoshi was seen on the horizon. I turned my head to tell her and…." Then he glared as he fisted his hands. "I knew better and I let my guard down! Damnit!"

  "But where could he have taken her?" Yukani turned to her mate with frantic and worried eyes. "I can't even smell either of them."

  Glaring to the trees that towered over the palace walls Kamui growled as he fisted his hands. "The only place I can think of is those woods. He is in there every day and his smell would be all over the place, and with the amount of low level demons that call those woods home, that alone would cover up their scent to be able to find them. Unless…." Kamui then turned to Yoite. "Let's go Yoite. We are going to get together some men and hit those woods hard to get my niece back safe and sound and rip Akahito's head off."

  "Yes My Lord."

  X

  Stopping and looking around, Akahito could smell the demons and their blood lust. With a laugh he dropped the girl from her back, smiling even more as she yelped in pain. Turning to look at her as she held her ankle he laughed. "Did it twist? Oh that is perfect. You won't be able to run when the hordes come to devour you."

  Looking up at him through tears, Imae still shook with sobs. "Please you don't have to do this to me Akahito. I don't want to die! Please. Just take me to a human village so….."

  Growling as he reached down and smacked her in her face, Akahito growled as her head hit the ground and she curled into a ball and cried harder. "Like hell that would ever happen. I take you to a human village, the second you can you would come running back and I am not stupid. You die now. Later." He then smiled as he turned and rushed off through the woods. Going around a different way than the way he came. The retch was going to die tonight. If he didn't have to get back to the palace he would stay and watch her die. 'At least she is dead either way it goes.'

  Imae sat there looking around as she shook and sobbed. Her head hurt now and she could feel the welt on her face where he smacked her hard. She could hear the growls and feel the eyes on her. The demons were watching her. "Please. Please someone help me. Anyone! Grandma. Grandpa. Auntie Yukani. Uncle Kamui."

  Hearing a twig snap scared her to death as she sucked in a wild breath as she closed her eyes and let out a scream like she had never done before. "Father help me!"

  X

  Jerking his head up as they ran flat out across the land's Kiyoshi slid to a stop with a gasp. Something was wrong. His entire body screamed at him to hurry and was focused on Imae. "Something is wrong with Imae."

  Looking at him with serious eyes Umarus cros
sed his arms. "What do you think it is?"

  "I do not know. She is in trouble. I am taking Ryu and flying on ahead. Make haste with the men." He then jumped in the air and landed on a transformed dragon as they shot out of sight headed home faster.

  Turning to the rest of the men Umarus glared. "Enough running. Call your clouds or mount your mounts. Hitch a ride I don't care. Or just run faster than you are now. Something is going on with Lady Imae." Then turned to the sky himself. Looking back to see the concern in the men as well. 'Good.'

  X

  Walking out of the woods just a few hundred yards down from where he went in with the kid, Akahito had to smile to himself. He had done what no one thought could be done and by now that brat was ripped apart by the low demons of the forest. 'And I am happy for it. Now Lord Kiyoshi will be much happier and stronger with her no longer…'