Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "You have said something about a true bond. Is that what you are talking about?"

  Leading her back inside and to sit on the edge of the bed, Kiyoshi closed his eyes with a sigh as they sat. "There is already a strong bond between us. It is close to being a 'true bond' on my end. When I say that what I really should have said is an unbreakable bond. When the mere thought of losing you or seeing you in pain or hurt sends me into a rage. When we can start to sense each other's feelings and emotions."

  Blinking as she looked up at him and let her head fall to the side she was more confused now. "So all those are signs that the bond is already on its way or is a true bond?"

  "That's right."

  Sure now that she was where she belonged and that she could never leave she smiled. The 'true bond' was already there on her side if that was the case. The thought of leaving them terrified her this morning. And she noticed this morning that she could feel his emotions. For the last couple of days actually when she thought about it. With a sigh she smiled at him. "So how much of the bond will I be getting then?

  I do not know the answer to that." Brushing her hair back from her face again, he gave her a worried look. "No demon that I know of has ever mated with a miko before. It is something new that we need to take a day at a time and see how it works."

  Wringing her hands together, Yokiyo bit her lower lip as she looked down. "So what would you say if I told you that I was already able to sense your emotions?"

  "Wait you are?" His eyes were wide as he froze for a second and looked at her. Even normal humans had never been drug into a bond that deep. And yet before they were even officially mated this miko was. Something he hadn't expected, but welcomed as well. Proving even more how right his demon was for choosing her.

  Nodding as he looked up and made eye contact with him. "I realized it this morning when you told me what was going on. Thinking about it, I have for a few days now."

  Smiling as he pulled her closer and leaned his mouth toward hers, Kiyoshi let out a small laugh. "I have never heard of even normal human getting that much of the bond. You are rare indeed." He then closed the gap and seared her mouth with an all-consuming kiss as he held her firm against his body.

  Gasping at the intensity of the kiss, Yokiyo went limp in his arms as she moaned into his mouth. Reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck as she returned the kiss with the same intensity. Tensing just slightly when he moved and then she felt her back on the bed, shivering as he growled into her mouth as she let out a moan.

  After a moment, Kiyoshi reached up and took her hands, pinning them to the bed over her head as he ripped his mouth from hers and growled, grinding his teeth to keep some level of control right now. "Stop. If you don't stop then…."

  "This is part of it right?"

  Jerking shocked eyes down to look into hers, at first Kiyoshi could only blink at her. "You are sure that you are ready for this now?"

  With a bright smile, Yokiyo growled. It was the one answer she knew she wouldn't make sound stupid to let him know she was beyond sure. She then gasped as he moved her again and moved between her legs as he blanketed her with his body. Groaning into his mouth as he kissed her with a hungry passion. The feel of him over her, his very touch and kiss were new and scared her, but intoxicating at the same time. She was never leaving. She only hoped if she ever saw him again that her brother would understand.

  Once he released her hands they flew around his neck as he moved his mouth to nip at her neck again making her gasp and then moan. She didn't go looking for him. She didn't look for him at all. This just sort of happened. She knew that by morning she would be mated and have an instant family in Imae. But she wouldn't change it. At all. As she let all conscious thought drift away, her only wish was that her parents, brother and grandparents could all be there and be happy for her in the bliss she has found.

  X

  Late that night, Yokiyo let out a content sigh. Curled on her side, with her bare back up against his bare chest. Her body was sore, but it was such a delicious soreness that it didn't matter to her. Never had she thought that such feelings could exist inside of her own body that he brought out in her. Every touch was a new sensation from him.

  Hearing him taking a deep breath behind her she giggled and let out another sigh. "Well I guess that it would be safe to assume that it is safe to say that except for wearing your crest, I am your mate now in all respects huh?"

  Holding this miko in his arms, Kiyoshi dipped his head as he pressed his nose to her hair and inhaled deeply. The smell of his scent mingling with hers intoxicating and refreshing to him at the same time. She was his mate. A year ago if someone would have told him he was mating a miko and adopting a human little girl as his first pup he would have struck them down for being so stupid. He knew the reactions would be varied. But this is what his demon chose, and he wasn't going to fight it. He would never regret mating her. A mere human. A miko. His natural enemy. And yet she struck him to his very core and his inner demon demanded claim of her. She was his. Kissing the back of her head he smiled. "That is correct. To all others we are a mated pair now that our scents mingle on each other. Do you regret your choice now?"

  Curling around she moved even closer to him as she held his arms with her hands. "I would never regret mating with you demon."

  "Miko."

  Giggling at his playful growl as she rolled in his arms, she smiled into his eyes. "Well now what happens since we are now mated?"

  "First you prove to my pack that you are here to stay."

  Blinking, she leaned up on an elbow she looked down at him as he rolled on his back. Now she hadn't heard anything about that before this. "What was that?"

  "My parents and my sister will not like this. Yukani took to Imae right away, my parents took a little while to let her in as a grandchild. They eventually did, but they are not going to be happy that my mate is a human. Let alone a miko." Reaching up as he smiled he brushed the hair from her face. "They will either accept you and let you into their lives, or they can all stay at the Southern Shores forever I don't care."

  With a growl of her own as he pulled her down into his arms, Yokiyo sighed. "I won't let that change my mind about what I have done. I will just have to show them the same thing I did you. That seemed to do the trick with you."

  "Exactly." Kissing the top of her head as he took a deep breath, Kiyoshi methodically started to rub her upper arm with the tips of his claws. "About Imae…."

  "You know that I could never tell her no."

  Laughing, Kiyoshi let his eyes close. "I know that. She insists on calling me Father for respect. I am not yet sure what she will call you."

  "I know exactly. She will never call me anything but Mama from now on." Looking up into his eyes as pride washed over she smiled. "After all she has been like a daughter to me from the start. Calling me Mama is going to sound more natural coming from her than anything else."

  Kissing her forehead, Kiyoshi let his hand fall down to lay on her waist, while the other rested on her hand on his chest. It had been a long day, though it did have an ending that he was happy with. "Sleep. It has been a long day and night…" Then he tensed as he growled and glared through the walls. He could smell it in the air. Her friends were pacing. Hunting. "Your friends are restless tonight. I can smell it in the air they are not happy."

  Looking up at him again Yokiyo blinked. "Alright I know you got a great nose but how can you tell if they are restless or not?"

  "Their scents are heavy with anger and annoyance. Their blood is pumping. That is directed at me no doubt."

  With a giggle as she laid her head back down and let her eyes start to close as sleep tugged at them. "Don't worry about it. I am not going to let them make me leave at all. But….sleep…..is…"

  Kissing her head as he let sleep pull at his eyes as well, Kiyoshi smiled. "Sleep. We will deal with them in the morning."

  The Priestess and The Demon Chapter 67

  Opening her eyes slowly,
Yokiyo smiled when she felt the breath from the figure behind her blow some of her hair into her face. Memories of the night before flashed through her mind making her face grow red. She was a woman now. Mated with a daughter. Relishing in the feeling of his arms around her and how they made her feel safe. As safe as she would have been in her father's arms. She knew beyond a doubt that she made the absolute right choice.

  Rolling in his arms she giggled when he tightened his grip on her waist and growled at her. "You can't sleep all day."

  "Sleep."

  "Kiyoshi…"

  Cracking a glaring eye open at her, Kiyoshi growled again. "I am Lord of the South. I can sleep all day long if I wish too."

  Her chin now resting on his chest, she smiled as his eye closed again. "Oh really. And Imae is going to allow that? Sorry 'My Lord' but for the last five months, if my eyes are closed when the sun comes in my room, that is sleeping in for me. And once I am up, I can't go back to sleep. Come on. Up."

  With an annoyed growl he cracked open his ice blue eyes. "Fine."

  Sitting up, Yokiyo held the blanket over her chest as she looked to the side as he slid his hakamas on and then ran his hands through his hair she then laughed. "You know it is still sort of unreal that I am here with you like this to me still."

  "I do not follow?"

  Another laugh as she slid out of bed, she slid into her clothes that somehow managed to escape being shredded last night by him. "It is just that five months ago when I woke up, I hated you. And yet now here we are, five months later a mated pair."

  Going to the other side of the bed, Kiyoshi stepped up to her and pulled her to him around her waist and smiled as she put her hands on his chest as he brushed a lock of hair from her face. "Though there are a few things that you need to know about this morning."

  Growling as she half glared up at him, Yokiyo sighed. "Like what did you not tell me before that I can't get out of now?"

  With a sigh, Kiyoshi closed his eyes. "Now that I have taken a mate, my mate will need to show the lands as well that you are worthy to be so."

  Giving him an odd look as he was back to his emotionless face, Yokiyo crossed her arms as he kissed her nose then turned and went to his closet. "I don't follow you again. You already told me that last night."

  Slipping into his armor, Kiyoshi sighed. "No I told you last night about my pack. This is different. You will have to prove that you are a warrior and a Lady to the other three Lords. You will have to organize a presentation where you will be shown off as my mate. They will see you as the Lady of the South and as the spitfire that drew out my demon. Some, even some from the South will try to kill you. Maybe even one of the Lord's."

  Dropping her head and shoulders, Yokiyo let out a groan. "So I have to convince your family I am not the threat they see me as, but all of Japan that I am not the weak minded fool they will see. Great. Welcome to the world of Lady of the South."

  Moving back toward her, Kiyoshi sighed. "My sister and mother will most likely help you once they see we are already bonded." Stopping before her he pulled her gently into his arms as he turned her face up with a single finger under her chin to meet his smile. "You may have all the help getting it done that you want, but all final choices must be yours."

  Smiling as he kissed her forehead, Yokiyo then turned and went to the window to look down into the garden, laughing when she found that Umarus was already out there with Imae training her for the morning. Yoite standing to the side. "You know after our village was destroyed, Senri and I went out looking for another that would let us stay there. The one we found had a miko that new of my mother and grandmother and took us in instantly to train us both. Senri having some purification as well. At sixteen I became the village miko. I had to plan everything for that too. So I will just look at it like that."

  Turning as he came up next to her she crossed her arms as she thought for a moment. "Though I want to wait one month at least to set the date for it. I need to see what happens with your family first. I don't want to have to deal with convincing them and then others too that are trying to kill me."

  Smiling as he laughed, Kiyoshi reached out and ran the back of his finger down her face before he pulled her into his arms again. "I think that we can do that. Though we will also wait a few days to a week before we tell my parents and sister. I would like you to myself for that long before we call in the masses."

  "Fine with me." Yokiyo then held her breath as he started to bend his head to kiss her, but then blinked when he stopped just a breath away from her lips to growl at the door. "Kiyoshi?"

  "Your friend is without her guard and outside my door. Hunting."

  "Hunting?"

  "And plotting My Lord."

  Both Yokiyo and Kiyoshi turned to see Umarus land on the balcony with a glare as he crossed his arms. "What do you mean? Plotting what?"

  Standing his ground, Umarus sighed. "I sat with Imae last night. Yoite was put under the window of My Lady's friends. He came to me last night and informed me that he overheard that they are planning to take both of them and leave. I told him to stay with Imae this morning and let things go as normal. That I would inform you."

  "I see. Where are they now?"

  "Yoite was escorting Imae to the dining hall."

  "I see. Go and find them and stay with them. We will deal with the human outside my door then find her mate and deal with him as well." Once Umarus was gone he turned and headed toward his door with a growl and a glare, stopping when he felt the shaky hand of his mate grab his. Turning to her he cupped her face and sighed. "I will not kill them. But they are going to have to be put in their place on this."

  Smiling Yokiyo then followed him as she nodded. "Thank you."

  Throwing his door open, his reflexes worked as he snagged Yokiyo by her waist and spun, letting the strike of the woman's sword miss them totally as she landed in the middle of their room. "Do you really think something so trivial can work on me?"

  Turning on him, Izumi glared as tears fell from her eyes. When she realized that Yokiyo was in here with him she knew what happened. She couldn't allow it! "Don't even treat me like an inept child! I know what happened with the two of you last night. And I know the perfect cure for it! Killing you and then she will be able to move on and forget all about you!" She then jumped in the air and lunged at them again. Only this time she came down and hit Yokiyo's blue barrier. "Yokiyo!"

  Crossing her arms as she wiggled free from Kiyoshi's hold, Yokiyo let her barrier fall as she stormed up to Izumi, shocking not only her but Kiyoshi too as she slapped her. "Izumi that will be enough of this. I love you like a sister I really do but you are really starting to take the 'I worry about you and want to protect you' stuff to an extreme. He gave me the choice. I had the chance to walk out yesterday morning if this isn't what I wanted. And never have to look back. I chose to stay. Why can't you see that I am perfectly able to make my own choices in life!?"

  Shaking her head some with wide eyes, Izumi pointed past Yokiyo to Kiyoshi as he growled. "Because in this case Yokiyo your choice is clouded! He tells you these things and you believe them. Trust what Sada taught you about demons Yokiyo! He is a demon Lord! He won't rest until he has broken your spirit and you bow to him you know this! Or at least you should."

  Stomping her foot, Yokiyo growled as she turned her back on her friend. "The sooner that everyone in the world realize that there isn't a soul on this Earth can break me without a damned fight the better. I want to be here with him and I am not going anywhere. And neither is Imae."

  "But Yokiyo!" Izumi started to reach for her friend to protest but gasped and watched with wide eyes as tears streamed down her face. Just before she was able to touch her friend, Yokiyo moved and stepped effortlessly into Kiyoshi's arms. Like she has been there her entire life and it was so natural. Dropping her hand and her head, Izumi closed her eyes. "You won't change your mind about this?"

  "I won't."

  Taking a ragged breath as she hugged herself. "I just h
ope you really know what you are doing Yokiyo."

  "Trust me I do know exactly what I am doing." Turning in his arms, Yokiyo glared. "Now where is your husband at?"

  "He was going to wait in the hall for the little girl." Reaching out and grabbing Yokiyo's arm, ignoring Kiyoshi's growls, Izumi took another deep breath as she let her hands fist on her haori. "I just don't want to lose you. I nearly lost you once and it next to killed me. I know that I wouldn't be able to stand it if I were to lose you for good."

  Wiggling free from his arms, Yokiyo reached out and pulled her friend into a hug with a sigh. "It won't happen Izumi you will see. And you can come and visit me whenever you want. Though if Itachi is still the way he was as a kid that probably wouldn't be a good idea. I mean after all when the day comes that I have my first child, I want my sister with me when I give birth."

  As she stepped from her arms, Izumi nodded with a half-smile. She couldn't deny Yokiyo that. She had to be here when she did have her first child, half demon or not. "That is true. I wouldn't miss that for the world and you know that."