Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  The tears gone, Imae started to nod her head as fast as she could. "That sounds great! Let's go!"

  Laughing as she walked hand in hand with this little girl, who in just a few days' time would be her daughter, it felt right. She already felt like she was her daughter and loved her just as much. It was ironic to her that she would feel as at home in this demon palace, as she did the village with her parents. And it was this little girl and Kiyoshi that helped with that.

  X

  Standing in his window, he watched as Yokiyo and the kid ran around the garden playing with each other. His attraction the second he saw her was instant. And it has grown and grown every day that he trains her in self-defense. Tough it was all his ploy to use it against her in the end. All he knew was that he had to have her!

  His eyes narrowed at the palace as he growled. He had to have her and before she and Kiyoshi bonded. It was clear that they were in a courtship of sorts. But if she mates with someone else, his demon will chose someone else for him. He won't feel the need to protect her and send her away. Right to his arms. Be it by force or by choice. That part would be up to the miko.

  But he had to play his cards right. He was not nowhere near strong enough to fight Kiyoshi for her and stand any chance. He would bide his time, convince her that he is only trying to break her and make her question him. And then steal her away into the night.

  His eyes turning back to the miko he smiled. "I will have you Yokiyo. You will be mine. One way or another."

  X

  With Imae at her side, Yokiyo smiled as they made their way toward the dining hall for dinner. She felt like she was on cloud nine. Like a small girl with her first crush. And tonight when they took Imae for her nightly walk that they now had to both be on, she would tell him what she has decided. Though she didn't really know how he was going to act.

  A glance over her shoulder at Takara who was right next to Yoite made her smile. She was so much more to her than just her simple maid. She was in everyone one of her very best friends. Turning back around she let her head drop slightly as her smile lessened when she thought about her childhood friend. Izumi.

  She was no miko, or demon slayer. But she was brave and strong as a warrior. And then there was her husband Itachi. He was a monk with strong spirit and powers. Both of them were so dear to her. And never finding anything of theirs when the demons attacked she has often wondered what happened to them. 'I do wonder if you are alive and where you are my dear friends. I bet that Kiyoshi would help me find them and my brother.'

  Looking up as the doors opened, Yokiyo dead stopped, nearly causing Yoite and Takara to trip over them. Her eyes were wide as they could be! There on the other side of the dining hall were they very people she had just been thinking about! Itachi and Izumi!

  Taking another step she stopped again and scanned the room to quickly find Kiyoshi sitting at his place at the table. His glare for her friends. But she could feel the pure rage that rolled off of him. Taking a deep breath she turned to Izumi with a clear look. She started to walk toward them with a smile. 'OH man he is mad. No not mad, pissed! Two humans showing up unannounced and no doubt asking to see the one he just said he his demon wanted. Yep that is pissed.'

  Izumi wanted to rush toward her friend who walked slowly toward them. It didn't make sense that she would act like that. That look her eyes was a clear 'stay there' if she ever saw one. And she didn't seem that happy to see them. 'What in the hell is going on here Yokiyo?'

  Keeping his eyes on Yokiyo, Itachi could feel Kiyoshi's eyes stabbing him. He was furious. But he would fight him if he had to so they could take Yokiyo home with them. A quick glare to him then back to Yokiyo, Itachi crossed his arms. 'For his sake she better not be a prisoner here.'

  Just before she reached them, Yokiyo gave a small laugh. "Itachi. Izumi." Then just as she was in arms reach of them, she let go of Imae's hand and laughed as she lunged into Izumi's arms and both girls hit the floor with a loud thud. "Izumi! I missed you! I thought you were dead after the demons attacked I couldn't find you anywhere when I woke up. How did you live?"

  Smiling now as she hugged Yokiyo more once they were standing, Izumi let tears fall from her eyes. "We were blown away by one of the fire balls and landed in a tree, unconscious. I don't know how long we were out, but when we came too, we raced back and found the massive grave. We couldn't find you though and have been looking for you since then. I figured you were the one who buried everyone else."

  Whipping her own tears, Yokiyo smiled as she laughed. "Yes. I thought that you were just gone. I couldn't find you or any parts of you. Yes I am the one who did the grave. You were out for a while then. I left just three days after I did the grave that only took two. I thought I was alone again as I set out to try and find Senri."

  Feeling the tug on her hakamas, Yokiyo smiled as she took Imae's hand again and smiled at her. "Izumi. Itachi. I would like you to meet Lady Imae."

  Stepping up next to his wife, Itachi put an arm around her as he smiled down at the little girl. "Well hello Miss Imae. It is…."

  Though his words were cut off at the sound of a rumbling growl that echoes through the dining hall and everyone turned to see Kiyoshi, one fist on the table as his eyes narrowed at Itachi. "Lady Imae. As she was introduced. You are in my home and you will address my daughter correctly. Got it monk?"

  Turning to Yokiyo with arched eyes, Itachi didn't underst5and that. How could he of all demons say that she was his daughter with her being human. "Yokiyo?"

  Picking up the little girl in question, Yokiyo hugged her and smiled. "Long story short her village was destroyed by demons and she was the only one who lived. Something about him didn't scare her. She followed him around until he just let her come home with him. Their bond grew and he adopted her as his eldest daughter."

  Turning over her shoulder with a soft smile Yokiyo blinked as her eyes met his. "Is it alright if they eat with us?"

  "Yes."

  Making their way to the table, Kiyoshi kept his eyes hard on the monk. The woman he watched, but he didn't like the monk at all. His daughter was introduced as a Lady and he dared speak to her like he knew her for years. And he was much too familiar with Yokiyo for his liking. She may not be his mate as of yet, but the bond for him was clearly there. And this entire palace watched as he went to battle against his own parents for Imae. As they all sat down he let a growl escape him. 'That stupid human better not touch either of them.'

  During the meal, Yokiyo was tense. She just really hoped that Izumi and Itachi wouldn't say something stupid and start a fight. She didn't know what would happen where Kiyoshi was concerned after what happened earlier that day between the two of them.

  And now the meal is over, and yet no one, not even Imae seemed ready to move from the table yet. This was normally the time that she and Kiyoshi would take Imae for her walk in the gardens. But right now, he seemed to be in a glaring match with Itachi. And Izumi kept looking around the room like she was looking for an escape route cause someone was going to attack them.

  With a sigh, she looked down at Imae. All this going on and she was absorbing it all! And it was working on her nerves too. She knew if it kept up any longer she was going to go insane! And Yokiyo herself was trying to figure out a way to get Kiyoshi and Imae in the gardens and them in a room before they did smart off to him. Neither could keep their tongue in their mouth, they were just as bad as she was about running it off.

  Imae sat in her seat and looked around at the four at the table with her. Yokiyo wouldn't let them focus too much on her father, but the guy seemed intent on glaring at him, and he was glaring right back at him and growling some. She didn't understand why these two didn't seem to like him at all. 'I don't get it why humans don't like him.'

  Finally, it was Imae who broke the silence as she looked up at her father with wide eyes. "Father since we have company tonight, I won't get to walk in the gardens with you and Yokiyo tonight will I?" She did want to walk in the garden with them ever
y night. It felt like they were a true family when they did.

  Softening his eyes as he looked down at his daughter, Kiyoshi sighed. These damned humans showing up when they did could screw everything up. He knew she could leave, but he did want her to stay. Taking a deep breath as he relaxed and closed his eyes, Kiyoshi laid a hand on her head. "I will leave that up to the miko."

  Giving him a glare, Yokiyo then turned her attention back to Imae as she gave a sharp nod. "Of course we are going to take you to walk in the gardens Imae. It is nearly dark now, I can catch up with them later or in the morning." She then turned her smile to her friends as she gave a nod. "Alright you two?" She then turned that same smile to Kiyoshi as he looked right at her. "They can stay tonight right?"

  That pleading in her eyes, the smile on her face. 'Damnit why do they have to do that right now.' With a sigh he stood up and gave a nod. "Yes. Takara take them to a room."

  "My Lord. If you would follow me please."

  Before Izumi or Itachi could react they jumped when they heard the voice behind them and turned to see the same demoness that was behind Yokiyo standing there. Izumi turned her eyes back to Yokiyo and let them go wide as she stood next to Kiyoshi and held the little girls hand. She didn't like how this was going one little bit. She hoped she was wrong but she doubted it. "Yokiyo…"

  Looking up at her, Yokiyo blinked as she let her head fall to the side. "What is it Izumi?"

  Standing she forced a smile. She had to talk to her tonight, not morning about what she saw going on. "I haven't seen you in two years. Is there a way we could talk tonight?"

  With a sigh, Yokiyo stood there then smiled as she gave a nod. She wanted to talk to Kiyoshi about what she wanted to do. But she had a feeling he would wait up for her too. "Alright. We take her for a walk every night. After that I need to talk to him about something then I will come get you and we will go to the hot spring alright?"

  Though she wanted to insist that she do it now, Izumi didn't get the chance as they were gone after only a nod from her. Joined by her husband, they followed the demoness toward a room, another demon just behind them as a guard. With a glare for the floor as she kept her arms crossed, Izumi was not happy about this. 'Just wait till I find out what is going on. Manners be damned I won't let it happen and I will get her the hell out of this place. And the little girl too. She doesn't need to call him father anyway.'

  X

  Once they were outside in the garden, Yokiyo and Kiyoshi walked side by side as Imae giggled and ran around looking at the flowers and trying to catch fireflies. She was catching on so fast with fighting, proving that she would be the strongest woman of her time. And yet she still held such an innocence about her that was catching and adorable.

  When they neared the end of the garden, they went over a small bridge, but Yokiyo stopped and stopped him in the middle of it. Turning to look up at him, she smiled into his scared ice blue eyes as a mist shinned in her own. The moon seemed to make his silver hair make him look otherworldly. "Kiyoshi I want to tell you something. I have made my choice."

  Hoping that he wasn't reading her wrong, Kiyoshi kept his eyes on hers. "And what is that?" But the emotions that swam in her eyes terrified him right now. Something he wasn't used too. He had always been in control of everything about his life, and yet this woman before him undid it all.

  Taking a deep breath, Yokiyo took a step closer to him and gently placed her hands on his chest. Her face flaming red as one of his arms went instantly around her waist and pulled her even closer. Looking up at him she took another deep breath. "I want to stay. Just please take everything slow for me. I am not sure the process, but I know that though I tried to fight it I love you. I want to stay."

  Relief flooding him, Kiyoshi dropped his head and seared her mouth with his in a fiery and yet soft kiss. She was going to stay. That was so much more than he could have hoped for with their relationship up too now. She didn't run from him and the palace the second he told her what was going on.

  Finally breaking the kiss he turned her so that her back was against his chest as both arms wrapped around her waist. Kissing the top of her head he let out a small sigh. "Itoushi."

  Looking sideways up at him, Yokiyo knew that she had a red face standing with him having his arms around her like that. But what he just said, she didn't think that was going to come out soon. "Beloved?"

  Nodding as he smiled at her, Kiyoshi sighed. "Exactly. What you are to me now."

  "I see." Turning her smile back to Imae she let her head fall back to his shoulder. "I could get used to that."

  Tightening his grip on her, Kiyoshi closed his eyes as he inhaled her scent deeply. "Thank you Yokiyo."

  Blinking as she looked back up at him with extra wide eyes, Yokiyo was more than a little shocked. That was the first time ever that he used her name without her demanding it in the middle of a fight. "Thank you for what?"

  Kissing her head as he laughed, Kiyoshi looked into her eyes. "For not running from the palace the second I left you in my study. I had not realized how far into the bond I was until your friends."

  Turning back to look at Imae with him as she let an eruption of giggles fly out as she started to chase a lunar butterfly she rested her hands on his arms around her. "Well I tried not to fall in love with you after all. I tried to hate you from the second I saw you. But somewhere in there I did fall in love with you so deciding to stay didn't take long for me. I had my choice nearly the second that you closed the door." Turning in his arms she smiled at him. "Let's get Imae and get her to sleep. Then I am going to go take Izumi to the hot spring for a while and then we can talk and you can tell me what happens next."

  Rolling her eyes as he growled and tightened his grip on her waist, Yokiyo growled herself. "Don't even growl at me you old dog. I want to talk to her, I haven't seen her in over two years. Get off it."

  Another growl from him and a glare from her, Kiyoshi sighed as he closed his eyes. He was not happy about this. Not at all. But he wouldn't fight her on it, this time. "Fine." He then turned to Imae and smiled. "Come Imae. It is time to retire for the night."

  Turning at the sound of her father's voice, Imae stopped and gasped as her eyes went extra wide. They were always next to each other during her walks in the garden at night, but this time her father had his arms around her! After a second she giggled as she raced toward them remembering what Umarus was talking to Yoite about earlier that day.

  Sliding to a stop, she looked up into her father's eyes with a bright smile. "Are you and Yokiyo mated now?"

  Neither expected that, and as her face flamed red, Yokiyo gave Kiyoshi and odd look, but he looked just as confused as she was. Turning back to Imae she smiled as she moved out of his arms. "Imae where did you hear that?"

  "I heard Master Umarus talking to Yoite about it earlier. He said he wouldn't be surprised if you two mated."

  Taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes and shook her head some, Yokiyo stood and crossed her arms. 'I am going to kill him. He talks too much.'

  Scooping up his daughter with his emotionless mask in place, he put her on his shoulder on the left and put his right arm around Yokiyo's waist and headed back toward the palace. "We are not mates as of yet Imae. We are in a courtship at the moment."

  Looking down at him, her wide innocent eyes pleading with his she let her head fall to the side. "But you are going to mate soon right?"

  "Yes soon."

  Smiling as she giggled then laid her head over on his head, Imae yawned as she instantly seemed to feel sleepy. As her eyes started to drift closed she let out a content sigh. "I can't wait till you are."

  Once they were in Imae's room, Yokiyo stood back as Kiyoshi so gently threw back the blankets laid her down, covered her up and then kissed the top of her head. Something she didn't even think that Imae knew he did every night. She then walked up to the bed and kissed her herself then turned and left with him.

  Once they were in the hall, she turned to him with a bright s
mile as he once again snagged her around her waist and pulled her to him. "Alright now she is out of it I am going to go and get Izumi and take her to the spring with me and talk. Do you want me to go to my room or….."

  "Mine. Come to mine when you are done seeing your friend." He then bent his head and nipped at her neck, making her flinch as her pulse quickened and her face flamed red with a smile. "And don't be too long."

  With a glare as she took a deep breath, Yokiyo wiggled free from his grip then turned to her room. She grabbed a towel for herself, and an extra for Izumi. Leaving the rom just as she saw Takara coming down the hall she smiled. "Takara where are my friends at?"

  Giving her a bow, Takara smiled. "They are on the visitor side of the palace. Come I will show you where they are My Lady."

  With a half glare for her, Yokiyo sighed. "Will I ever get you to stop calling me that Takara?"