Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Growling as he moved before his son could react, Motoichi backhanded him making his head jerk to the side with a glare. "Don't assume that I have not planned for that you whelp. You may be my cub in every sense of the word, but you are still the cub. The fact that they would all be thick as thieves as you put it was very clear even when we were all small children. Bide our time. Once the iron is hot and the moment is hot we strike. Not at one but all three. If they have their own battle to fight, they won't help the others."

  Going back to sit down Motoichi sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It would be preferable though if one of those fools had an heir. I am the only one who has one. And the closer we get to war the more irritable he gets."

  His face still stinging, Reijiro turned his eyes back to his father. He was going to stand his ground on this. After all the land that his father is building is going to one day be his. He would have a hand in it and know how it was built. "What about them having kids would help us though Father?"

  Laughing Motoichi looked up at his cub and shook his head. "All Lord's go to see the new heir. We take the brat out, and then run North. That is when they all come after us and we take them out."

  "How is it a good idea to take on the South, East and West all at the same time now?"

  Her silvery eyes taking on a gleam just as evil as her mate, Rinako laughed as she drew her son's attention to her. "Do not worry my son about such things. We have already taken care of that."

  "How so?"

  Moving from his desk to look out his window toward the South East, Motoichi smiled. "Reijiro do you remember me telling you about the turn coat dragon Tikae?"

  "I do."

  "Not sure when but at some point he took charge of the dragons and drove Shinra and Kenji further into hiding himself. The dragons are a formidable force. And if you add the dragons to our forces with as vast as I have built them up. The North will win hands down."

  Blinking as he looked at his father then his mother, finally back to his father, Reijiro was just a little curious to know how exactly they were going to make that happen when the dragons weren't loyal to anyone but their Lord. "How is that going to happen? If he is a turn coat how can you trust him with this?"

  Going to stand before her son, Rinako laughed as she reached out and tapped him on the nose. "Well in a word. Your cousins."

  Shock clear on his face, Reijiro just looked down at his mother with a creased brow. "How in the hell are Soichiro's brats the key to making Tikae and the dragons help us?"

  His eyes adverting some toward where Tikae now rules as Lord of the Dragons, Motoichi growled. He needed that bastard to win this war. Soon as it was done he would deal with that traitor. Had he just done what he was told by his mother all those hundreds of years ago, it wouldn't matter. But no he had to be like not only his father, but Motoichi's as well.

  Turning to look at his son, Motoichi headed back toward his desk. "Well not the older one but the newborn brat to be more specific. Emiko has a twin sister named Toki. Toki is mated to Tikae. If he is anything like his father was before him, or your grandfather like I think he is, he will do anything to see his mate happy and safe. And joining our side to save the life of his mate's twin sister and newborn babe would do the trick. And Soichiro better make sure he knows it or he is going to lose his mate and daughter."

  "Do you really think you can trust your brother though?"

  "If he wants to see his mate and daughter live he will do anything I tell him to do. This I know because of how much like our pathetic father he is."

  "I see." Reijiro then turned and left his father's study without another word. He didn't like being treated like he was nothing, but in time he knew he could and would prove himself to his father. But he also knew that to him at least he put too much trust in his uncle.

  Turning and headed toward the side of the palace that his uncle was in, he growled. 'I think I will pay my good for nothing uncle a visit and question him about it himself.'

  X

  Slumping down behind his desk, Motoichi sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. An annoyed growl coming from him. "I swear that boy. I swear if I didn't know any better I would say that he was growing a conscious."

  A smile as she poured a cup of tea for her mate, Rinako laughed. "He is just over thinking things is all My Love. He wants so badly to prove he is as good as you and tries too hard. If I remember correctly though, you did the same thing toward your mother when we first met each other."

  Taking the tea, Motoichi half smiled up at her as he winked his eyes. "That is true." Taking drink of tea he closed his eyes as he crossed his arms. "Thanks to mother I looked deeper into everything when there was nothing more than what I saw on the surface. Like with you."

  Gasping as she was grabbed and pulled down to sit on his lap, Rinako blushed as she placed her hands on his chest. "Like me?"

  Laughing as he nodded, Motoichi looked into her eyes. "That's right. Thanks to her I was convinced at first that you were only trying to become my mate to further your own cause and would ruin mine." He then dipped his mouth and seared hers with a powerful kiss. A moment later he pulled back and opened lust filled eyes into hers. "It was not until the halfhearted attempt on my life when you showed me that it didn't matter what happened to you. Your only point in life was to stand at my side and help me to further my own goals."

  With a small giggle, Rinako slid her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck as she smiled up at him. "Hence the reason your mother is no longer here with us. Your thoughts have been your own since you dealt with her. And I will always aid you in what you wish to do. No matter what it is or what I have to do to make it happen. It will happen."

  Once again searing her mouth, Motoichi growled. "And hence that is why you are perfect for me in every way Rinako. Only you."

  X

  Sitting on the dragon mount that her sister sent for her, Emiko held her two week old daughter as she gave her mate a worried look. If they stuck to this plan, her mate would miss everything that their daughter would do at her early stages. He wouldn't see her again until she was walking! "Soichiro I am not so sure about this. I don't think it is such a good idea." Looking down at her sleeping daughter she fought back tears. "You are going to miss out on all her firsts and I don't know if….."

  With a smile, Soichiro stopped her words as he reached up and laid hand on his newborn's head. Though his smile was bright, his eyes held sadness like he never knew. He didn't want to miss everything, but for her future he had too. "I know Emiko I know. I don't want to miss these stages with her either. They were the best moments, the two of us with Chiren. But this is for her and her brother in the long run. It will all be alright."

  "But what if your b…"

  "Trust me." Looking up to smile at her, Soichiro cupped her face in his hand. "I will see you again soon." Turning from his mate to his son standing next to him with his head bowed, he felt his heart breaking. He was only fifty years old, and he knew that he would be a great ruler one day. Just like his grandfather was. He would make sure that he was Lord of the North with his plan one day.

  His son had empathy. A good heart. He knew what was just and what was not. He would be a force to recon with when he was older. And he was sure that he would be the best Lord that the North has ever seen or will ever see again. Reaching out he placed his hands on his son's shoulders. "Son….."

  "I know father. It is my job to protect Mother and Nyoko while you are gone."

  Shutting his eyes for a moment, Soichiro took a deep breath. "That's right son. I hate forcing you to grow up so fast. I wish you still had plenty of time to be a cub and play. Not take on a role I should be filling because I can't be there."

  With a mix of hurt and pride shinning in his eyes, Chiren looked up at his father and smiled. "I do not mind it at all Father. That is the role of the first born. And even bigger role if the first born is a son. I will do it."

  Dropping to a knee before him so he was
eye level with his son, Soichiro smiled into his eyes. "Indeed my son. Indeed. You are headed for great things I know it. For now. Just look after your mother and sister. Also behave yourself and listen to your Aunt Toki and Uncle Tikae."

  "Yes Father."

  Giving his son a hug, he then watched as he jumped on the dragon before his mother and sister. Leaning in and giving his sleeping daughter a kiss, smiling as she sighed and smiled he turned to his mate. Reaching up he pulled her face down to his and seared her mouth with a passion filled kiss. After a moment he pulled his mouth from hers and leaned his forehead on hers. "I will be there as soon as I can. I love you Emiko."

  "We will be waiting with open arms my love. I love you."

  With a deep breath he stepped back and watched as the dragon took to the sky. Taking those that meant everything to him with it. Closing his eyes as the wind blew toward them he smiled. "Stay safe."

  "Where in the hell are they going Soichiro?"

  Turning a sly smile to his nephew, Soichiro shook his head as he walked past him and headed for his brother. This cub was a chip off the block of the blackness that is his brother and was his mother. And though he was his nephew, he couldn't wait until he was cut down. He and his father were what stood in his son's way of being where he should be. "They are on their way to see Tikae and Toki. After all it was your father that said he wouldn't do anything if they went for a while after he had proof that Tikae would join him in battle when the time comes."

  Growling as he followed his uncle, Reijiro crossed his arms. "He has had no such proof as of yet. Personally I think he is stupid to rely on it like he does."

  Holding the scroll that the dragon brought with him up, Soichiro laughed. "I have the proof that he needs with me right here. I let them go on and go for Emiko. I think it will do her and the cubs some good to see her parents, sister and grandparents for a while."

  Growling as he followed his uncle all the way to his father's study, Reijiro was ready to snap. The second they walked in he shifted his glare to his father. "He just sent his mate and cubs to Tikae."

  A glare with a growl, Motoichi turned to his weak brother as he crossed his arms. He knew what the conditions were. "You know what happens now right? Explain why you would do that."

  Handing him the scroll in his hands, Soichiro kept his polite smile. "The conditions were fulfilled. Soon as you had word that Tikae would join your army in the war I could let them go to see her parents and sister. Here is that word."

  Reaching out and snatching the scroll from his brother, Motoichi opened. When he saw the hand writing he sighed as he relaxed. It was from Tikae after all. He wasn't happy about it, but he was going to do it. "You had best be glad that this is Tikae's handwriting. Or you were going to have to say goodbye to that family of yours."

  "My family means more to me than anything. I would not have sent them off without it." Giving his brother a bow he turned for the door. "If you will excuse me My Lord. I am going to go and finish what you have assigned to me so that I can unite with them soon."

  "Just make sure your part is done correctly then you can do whatever you wish."

  Watching as his uncle left, Reijiro turned a glare to his father. "Father!"

  Smiling as he read over the scroll again, Motoichi laughed. "Don't get your pants in a bunch son. During the war, your Uncle is going to fight. And he will be struck down then. While he is fighting, an assassination squad will be taking out his mate, her sister and his cubs. After all that is the only reason I let him mate Emiko. Because of her sister being mated to Tikae. I knew it would come in handy when the time came."

  "I see."

  With a smile and dancing eyes as he looked up at her mate as she moved to his side, Rinako laughed. "I told you not to doubt your father didn't I my son?"

  Hearing his son storm out of the study, Motoichi sighed as he half smiled. "That one still has a long way to go before he is Lord."

  Looking up at him with an odd look, Rinako blinked. "You are still young My Lord and have many years left to be Lord. Even of the new age you create. He has plenty of time to grow."

  Shaking his head no, Motoichi looked down at her and smiled a sly smile. "Once I have the entire country under my control. Reijiro will see exactly what is required of him to rule it. Once I am sure he can handle it I will be stepping down."

  "I don't understand My Lord." Moving a step closer, Rinako had a worried look in her eyes as she pleaded into his. "Why would you step down after achieving your goal of conquering the land? Why would you give that up?"

  With a laugh as he put an arm around her waist and jerked her to him, Motoichi kissed her forehead. "That is simple my love. We let him have this one. We move on and take over another together." He then seared her mouth with his and a growl.

  X

  With a sigh, Chiren dropped his head even further. He knew what the plan was, but he knew nothing of the other Lords. He had to wonder if they would really help them like his father said that they would. "Mother can I ask you something?"

  Giving her son an odd look, Emiko nodded. "Of course you can Chiren. You can ask me anything."

  Turning to look into her eyes with his own serious eyes, Chiren took a deep breath. "Do you really think that Lord Kiyoshi will help us like Father says he will? Do you really think that any of them will help?"

  Pulling a deep blush from her son, Emiko smiled as she laughed and wrapped her free arm around her son and hugged him. "In that my son I have no doubt. Not a single one."

  Dropping his head to hide his eyes, Chiren just sat there. "But are you really sure? Motoichi has done so many things that would cause anyone to hate the North since he took over. I have to wonder if they would turn us away knowing that we are related to him. Whether we want to be or not."

  Keeping her eyes looking straight as the dragon flew, Emiko laughed as she kept her arm around her son. "I am sure my son. The other Lords and Motoichi didn't get along at all, but up until he took over, your father and the other Lord's kept in contact regular. And I know he has had secret messages with them since then. You don't have to worry about that at all. You will see."

  The Priestess and The Demon Chapter 63

  Sitting in the garden, Yokiyo sighed as she closed her eyes. It has been three months since she agreed to stay there at the palace for Imae. And each and every day she regrets her choice to stay after he asked her more and more. Each day she spends with that little girl, the more she knows that she may never leave that palace unless it is in death. The only way she would be able to leave is if Imae went with her, and she won't leave him so that means she is just stuck.

  It was sort of ironic when she thought about it. She was a miko living among demons. They were natural enemies and should be striving to kill each other. And yet she seems to be at home with them and gets along with them.

  Though there was one part about her staying there that she was finding it extra hard to come to terms with. Her love for Imae, that she would openly admit to anyone any day. No it wasn't her, it was her growing attraction to Kiyoshi that she wasn't liking. More than once over the last few months she has found that being around him when it was just the two of them pleasing. Almost to the point where she wanted to be around him more.

  But she did figure that it was because of playing nice like they were friends for the first few weeks when Imae kept throwing them together. It had to be that, it couldn't be anything else. There was no way that she was actually falling for him. Not him, not Kiyoshi. She couldn't get out of her mind what happened that day, and yet she did understand after they have talked at length about it a few times.

  "Yokiyo?"

  Looking up and behind her, Yokiyo blinked to find the very man that she was just thinking about standing behind her. Blinking she let her head fall to the side. "What is it?"

  Moving around to sit on the bench next to her, Kiyoshi looked up to see his daughter and Umarus running drills. "I will need to go on my rounds in just a few weeks. It is already past
due."

  "Do you want me to leave when you do it or something?"

  "No." Looking over at her he sighed. "However Imae will be with you and Yoite constantly during the time that I am gone. There are still whispers in the night I have heard about from those that would try to remove Imae from my life. Since you are going to be here, then you need training."

  "I can fight. I haven't for three months but that doesn't mean that I can't. I have my arrows and I can charge anything that I touch."

  With a glare as he sighed, Kiyoshi kept his eyes stern into hers. "From a threat that you have seen every day since the first day you woke up here?"

  "Wait really? You think someone in the palace would do something? From what I can tell whomever Akahito was seemed to be the only one who doesn't like her." Looking around then back to him, Yokiyo was confused now."