Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

Laughing with a smile, Takara turned to Yokiyo and shook her head. "No May Lady. You will not."

  "Great." But when they reached the room where her friends were, Yokiyo didn't understand the guards. Turning to Takara she blinked for a moment. "Why the guards?"

  Nodding to them, Takara then turned to Yokiyo. "Lord Kiyoshi requires guards to be posted to all visitors that are not friends and not invited. And if they are humans it is mandatory even if they are invited."

  "I see." Yokiyo then walked up to the door and slid it open, smiling as she popped her head in as both Izumi and Itachi jumped to their feet. "Hey Izumi. Have you ever been to an indoor hot spring?"

  Stopping half way across the floor as she started to run to her friend, Izumi blinked. "I have not. Yokiyo what are you talking about?"

  "OH just come with me already. I got you an extra towel it's alright." She then turned to Itachi and winked. "Sorry Itachi but you can't come with us. You gotta stay here alone for a while. I won't keep her too long tonight." She then grabbed her friend and drug her from the room and down the hall.

  The Priestess and The Demon Chapter 66

  With a sigh, Yokiyo sank down to her chin in the hot water as she looked up at the roof. "I absolutely love this place. It can be in the middle of a down pour, thunder and lightning everywhere. Or a snow storm. And I can still relax in this hot water and not have to worry about the elements. It's amazing."

  Far less relaxed than her friend, Izumi still kept a cautious eye around her. They were after all in a demon palace, though Yokiyo acted like she grew up here and had no care in the world. Turning to her friend she let out a long sigh. "Alright Yokiyo out with it come on. Why are you in this palace with him when you hate him? You act like being here and talking to him is just natural to you. Like second nature. Spill it what is going on?"

  "Well it is a little hard to explain. I ended up here because I saved Imae from a demon cat. Since that day, even this morning I don't back down from him, I will never. But we have talked about what happened that day. I understand why he did what he did, and that has helped so I don't hate him like I used too. Mama always used to say sometimes you have to understand why someone does something before you judge."

  "But he is…."

  Rolling her eyes, Yokiyo sighed. "I forgave him Izumi." Yokiyo then sat up and dropped her head, her extra-long black hair pulling around her as a few strands fell from the back of her head. "I know that you are going to flip out over this but this is something I thought long and hard on Izumi."

  "What are you talking about?"

  Taking a deep breath Yokiyo turned a serious face to her friend as she sighed. "I am going to keep staying here at the palace. As his mate."

  Her eyes going wide with shock, Izumi jumped to her feet in the water as she gaped down at her friend. "You are doing what!? Yokiyo you can't really be serious about that! His kind doesn't want a human for a mate and he is a liar if he is telling you that he does!"

  Laughing as she half smiled up at her friend, Yokiyo didn't move. "Really then why did he bring it up to me just this morning?"

  Dropping back down in the water, Izumi had a truly worried look as she looked Yokiyo in the eyes. "But you know his kind as well as I do Yokiyo. He only wants something pretty to hang off his arm and look like a good wall decoration. He is either telling you that he does because he wants to break your spirit, or try to use your purification against one of the other Lord's or something. Come on Yokiyo you know better than this you can't really be serious."

  A glare on her face, Yokiyo growled at her friend as she looked at her through a part in her hair. "I am serious about this Izumi. I tried not to, but I did fall in love with him. He isn't that bad once you really get to know him. I felt it the first time that he kissed me."

  "He kissed you!"

  Blushing as she looked down, Yokiyo smiled with a small laugh. "It was about three months ago the first time. I was training in self-defense and my teacher wouldn't slow down and show me the set. I was out in the garden real late and he saw me. He showed me the moves, I got it then he just kissed me. That was the first time."

  Her eyes still wide in shock, Izumi couldn't believe that it was Yokiyo talking like this about Kiyoshi of all the demons in the world! "The first time?"

  Nodding as she giggled and looked up at Izumi with a smile, Yokiyo stretched her arms over her head. "Yep. It usually happened when it was just the two of us and we were not trying to kill the other. The last time this evening in the garden with Imae."

  Moving around in front of her friend, Izumi grabbed her shoulders and gave her a hard shake making her jerk her head up with shocked eyes. "Just because he kisses you a few times doesn't mean a thing! He can never love you Yokiyo and you know that deep down inside. You have got to snap out of it and realize that before you get hurt!"

  "You are wrong Izumi!" Yokiyo jerked away from her and sat with her knees curled up to her chest as she hugged them. Dropping her head she let out a long sigh. "I know it is hard to take in Izumi I do. But I know he cares for me. I don't know if he will ever love me, like Itachi does you, your father did your mother, my parents did each other. But I know I love him. I know he cares for me. I can be happy with that and Imae. She is already like a daughter to me anyway. I was ho ping that you of all people would be happy that I finally have my chance to be happy. It may not be your happy but it is mine, and be on my side about it."

  Moving back around to sit in front of her Izumi sighed as she dropped her head. "I would be elated for you Yokiyo if it was anyone else but Kiyoshi. Or any demon lord or their family. They are no good and will do all they can to break anyone with the spunk that you have."

  "You are wrong. His demon is even trying to come out and claim me."

  Snorting and pulling a glare from Yokiyo, Izumi crossed her arms. "If he really told you that he is a liar. He is just trying to make you think that so he can lure you in and hurt you in the end of it. I don't want to see that. Can't you see I am only trying to look out for you Yokiyo."

  "You won't see that Izumi." Yokiyo then stood and walked out of the spring and to her towel. "Come on we better get you back to Itachi. It is late and I am getting tired."

  "Yokiyo I only want to see….."

  Drying her hair and quickly putting on her clean clothes as Izumi did the same Yokiyo growled. "I know things will work out the way I want them too in the end with him and with Imae. I know it is hard to get, it is hard to explain but I know I will be more than alright here with him Izumi."

  Seeing that things were going nowhere with her tonight Izumi sighed as she got dressed herself. "I don't think so Yokiyo."

  X

  Hearing the door open, Itachi looked up to see his wife looking defeated walk in and flinched. Rushing her side he pulled her into his arms as he sighed. "What happened Izumi?"

  Clinging to her husband as she moved him closer to the window, Izumi let silent tears fall. "We have to get her out of here. And the little girl before that bastard warps them even more. We have to Itachi."

  "What did she say?"

  Relishing in his arms around her, Izumi took a few deep breaths as she tried to wipe away the tears from her eyes. "She thinks that she is in love with him and that he cares about her and the girl. She said he wanted her to be his mate and that she is going too! I know he is playing her for a fool. I know it. We have to just take them and leave. As soon as we can. Tonight if possible." Then unable to stop the sobs, she fell into her husbands arms.

  Holding his sobbing wife, Itachi sighed as he glared through the walls. "We wouldn't be able to get near them tonight again. I am sure that with us here the little girl has a guard and he may well be with Yokiyo tonight. I just hope she isn't taken advantage of before morning. But we have to wait until then. You can go find her, and I will get the girl. We will meet up outside the palace walls on the way to the village."

  "Right. Thank you Itachi."

  X

  Growling as he glared up at the window the humans
were in, Yoite was sure that they didn't know he was posted out there for the night while Umarus sat with Lady Imae. He heard what they wanted and why. Lord Kiyoshi was a lot of things but he wouldn't have suggested mating with her if he didn't care about her or his demon wasn't demanding it. There was no way.

  He let the rage fly through him as he remembered the last one who tried to 'get rid' of her as he put it. He wasn't going to let this come to fruition. He wasn't.

  Moving silently away from the window he found another guard and growled. "Until I get back go stand under the window Lady Yokiyo's friends are in and listen. You are to tell me if they say anything else when I get back. Understood?"

  "Yes Master Yoite."

  X

  Sitting in her room with her, Umarus kept his eyes on Imae as he smelled the miko with Kiyoshi in the next room over. He knew what was going to happen tonight, and wondered how Kurosai and Sorae were going to take it. He knew they are not going to be happy about it in the least. Yukani either. He however was happy that the pup finally found his other half after nearly a thousand years. Human or not, even after she passed, he would feel the longing to be with her, but wouldn't be alone either.

  Closing his eyes as he smiled, he figured that it would be like with Imae. She was going to have to prove to them that she was worthy of being where she was. Just like Imae did. Opening his eyes to look at the sleeping child he laughed. "I am sure she will win them over just like you did little lady."

  "Master Umarus."

  Turning to look at the window as Yoite came up and over the balcony and walked in to stand on the other side of the bed, Umarus blinked as he gave him an odd look. "What are you doing here Yoite? You were told to stand guard under the window of the humans tonight."

  Dropping his eyes down to look at Imae, Yoite sighed. "I have someone there for now until I can get back. I needed to come and speak with you."

  "For what?"

  His eyes narrowing as he kept them on his charge, Yoite growled and fisted his hands at his side. "The humans. Lady Yokiyo told her female friend what was going on with her and Lord Kiyoshi. She told My Lady that it was a farce and he was just going to use her and or break her. They are planning on taking Lady Yokiyo and Lady Imae in the morning and trying to flee the palace with them."

  A growl as his own eyes narrowed, Umarus let his eyes fall on the little girl in the bed. Now that Akahito was gone, there was not a demon in this palace that would dare lay a hand on her. Some lower level ones for fear of Kiyoshi, but the majority truly did love her. Closing his eyes, Umarus took a deep breath. "They won't lay a hand on either one of them. However we will conduct things as normal. Go on and go tell the guard to stay put and get some sleep a little early Yoite. You will escort Lady Imae to breakfast as normal. However before they emerge from their room, I will go and inform our Lord what the plan is. Understood?"

  "Yes Master Umarus."

  Looking up, just as the young demon was about to leap over the balcony he sighed. "Yoite." When he looked back at him he smiled. "You know that Kiyoshi trusts you with his pup and now his mate to the very end right? That says something."

  With a smile, Yoite let his eyes land on Imae. "That is good to know. I will continue to prove my loyalty not only to him, but to Lady Imae and Lady Yokiyo as well. And any pups that come along now."

  "That's good. Because I am sure he will make you any pups head guard as they are born."

  X

  Opening the door to Kiyoshi's room slowly, Yokiyo looked up and stopped as her face flamed with a blush to see him on the other side of the room. He was in only lose fitting hakamas and that was it. She just always figured he slept with all his clothes on. 'Oh man this is going to be interesting.'

  Turning when he heard her gasp, Kiyoshi smiled as he turned to walk toward her. "Does this bother you miko?"

  "Well let's just say that I wasn't expecting it." Then she looked up and her eyes locked with his as he reached her, then her world spun out of control as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her to him and seared her mouth with his own. When he didn't break the kiss right away she felt herself going limp as she let her hands run up his bare chest to twine around his neck through his hair. 'Damnit! I am not going to like when he kisses me like this. He could get me to do near anything after a kiss like this."

  Finally releasing her mouth, Kiyoshi smiled as he took her hand and lead her to where there was a table with tea that Takara brought not too long ago. "Sit. I will explain what happens from here."

  Nodding as she sat down, Yokiyo looked around the room and blinked as she took a drink of tea. "Wow. I thought that my room was huge. I think you could fit three of them in here."

  Taking his seat across from her, Kiyoshi nodded as he lifted his own tea. "Indeed. This is the bedroom of each Lord. It was my grandparents, then my parents and will be ours until the day our son takes a mate and I make him Lord."

  "I see." She did hope to give him a son, but the way he was with Imae she knew that a daughter would be named heir either way. But there were still a few things that she wasn't sure about.

  Sensing that she was not saying everything that was on her mind, Kiyoshi turned his gaze to her. "There is something you wish to say otherwise isn't there?"

  Taking another drink of tea, Yokiyo then put the cup down on the table as she gave a nod. "There are a couple of things actually. The first is well…." Dropping her head she let out a long sigh. "Most of my miko training has been on how to kill demons and spot a mated pair to a point. I was never told what the process was. I have seen some lower level demons mate, like bugs and stuff and they leave horrible scars. Is something like that going to happen with us? Is that how you have to mark me or something?"

  With an odd look at first, Kiyoshi then smiled as he stood and pulled her to stand as he lead her across the room. "No. That is a most primitive way of doing things and not the way things are done with dog demons. Even those that low. In dog demons that low it is the change in scent that marks them. Though you will bear my mark when it is done." He then turned her to look toward the picture of his parents. "There around my mother's neck is what my 'mark' is going to be. Once it is finalized, you will wear the crest of the South."

  Looking up at the picture of his parents, Yokiyo's eyes went wide. Hanging from an ever so delicate chain was a perfect full moon pendant that was extremely beautiful. "Really that's it?" She then smiled as she sighed. "I was so worried that you were going to have to bite me and leave some sort of horrid scar."

  With a smile he reached over and pushed her still damp hair back away from her neck as he pulled her close and nipped at her neck making her jump. "No. I will not bite you and scar you to mark you as my mate." Another nip then he let his tongue run up the side of her neck. "Though I cannot promise that I will never bite you."

  With her pulse quickening, Yokiyo just stood there as she once again placed both of her hands on his bare chest. When he pulled his mouth away from her neck, she gave him a shy smile. "Well I guess that kind is alright so long as you don't scar me."

  A small laugh as kept her held against him, Kiyoshi smiled. "I can agree to that."

  Dropping her head some, Yokiyo couldn't help but she couldn't help but let what Izumi said ring through her head. She had to make sure, and knowing that she was feeling what he did, she would know if he was telling a lie. "I just have one more question." Looking up at him with worry in her eyes, and feeling the worry wash over her from him, she took a deep breath. "I don't know if it is true or not. I have always been taught that love has had nothing to do with being mated. A mate is chosen simply by who can fulfil the needs of the male. But do you now, or do you ever think that love could be a factor for you towards me? And you swear you will never try and change me from who I am?"

  With a sigh, Kiyoshi let his eyes half close. He knew where this doubt was coming from. Her friend must have gotten to her some. Releasing her waist he took her hand and stepped out on his balcony and looked up at the night sk
y with a sliver of a moon. "It is much deeper than just who can satisfy needs. The moon and the stars go together. The sun and the clouds. It would seem basic as that to humans that do not understand what happens. When demons that mate for life, like dogs, wolves, falcons and what not. It is not so basic for us."

  Turing to face him fully Yokiyo gave him an odd look. "Alright I don't follow."

  Pulling her into his arms he smiled down into her eyes as he ran the back of a hand down her cheek before cupping her face with it. "The way that both my mother and my father described it to myself and my sister is finding the other half of your own soul. It is not just who can suit the needs for that male. It is more on who completes him on a level that a human could not possibly understand." Dropping his mouth he kissed her gently then tucked her head under his chin. "I am not sure what it is about you, but I do have feelings for you that are strange for me. But I can promise that it goes much deeper than you just being suited to fill my needs."