by Max Jager
Shaking her head no, Imae still stood there. Her grandparents didn't like her Mama either. "I would rather follow along with Mama and Miss Takara."
"Are you sure? I am sure your grandmother most of all would enjoy your company I am sure. It has been a long time since she last saw you."
Giving him a forced smile, Imae looked up at him, though she really just wanted to cry in the arms of her mother and father. She wanted to try and do something about this to fix it. She loved her father. She loved her mother. And she loved her Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. All she wanted was for everyone to get along, and they didn't. And she felt horrible because she didn't know how to make that happen. "I am sure Master Umarus. Can we find her and Master Yoite now?"
With a sigh, Umarus scooped up the little girl and headed for the kitchen. The smell of the unshed tears she was trying to hide angering him. The only one who hasn't changed what they do with her or how they act around her was her mother, father, himself, Yoite and Takara. And clearly it was affecting her and not in a good way. "Let's get you to your Mama and Yoite. Then I think I will go talk to your father about something since you are done training."
Throwing her arms around his neck Imae giggled with a true smile on her face. "Thank you very much Master Umarus!"
X
"What is it Umarus?" Not even looking up from his reports, Kiyoshi only blinked. The reports got backed up the last couple of weeks and seem to filter in daily. And at a time when he just took a new mate the work builds up. But it was the agitation that hung in Umarus's scent as he sat before him that made him arch an eyebrow up to him. "Well?"
"Sadly I am here because of your pup."
"What about Imae?"
His eyes stern and glaring, Umarus crossed his arms as his eyes met Kiyoshi's. "I will talk to your father about what is going on. I think someone needs to knock some sense into that head of his anyway. I watched both you and he grow up and I know you both as well as your mother knows him and Lady kiyuoko will know you. But I think right now you need to go and have a talk with your mother and sister and now not later.
Growling Kiyoshi crossed his arms as he closed his eyes. "What do I need to talk to them about?"
"How they seem to be upsetting your pup still even after telling them not to last night."
"How so?"
"According to your sister who was in the dining hall to help your mate with the presentation, it was at the request of your mother so you did not become a laughing stock. And showed no effort to hide her hate for your mate. The miko just let it all roll off her back and went on with the planning of the presentation. She was in no way rude like your sister was. But Imae knew that there was something going on when we heard a door slam shut. She asked me why they don't like her, and when I didn't answer right away trying to think of something to tell her she hit the nail on the head. Because of what she is. I will handle your father, you go talk to them." Umarus then stood and went to the window jumping out and headed toward the Northern Fields where Kurosai was.
Growling loudly as he stood, Kiyoshi went to the window and in one great leap was outside and landed just behind his mother and sister startling them. Crossing his arms, he narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is wrong with the two of you?"
Kiyoshi stood and growled as he walked over and jumped out the window landing just behind where his mother and sister sat. "What is wrong with the two of you?"
Glaring over her shoulder now, Yukani growled her own growl as she crossed her arms. "What is wrong with us? What the hell is wrong with you taking your natural enemy to bed and siring a pup with her? Did it even dawn on you that your blood born pup is going to be a half demon? A target for those that want to take you out. Or what it would do to the reputation of the South!" her anger boiling over before her mother could stop her she stood and swung at her brother, growling when he easily caught her hand. "You are nothing but a fool!"
"For once in your life Yukani you need to keep your emotions in check. For example, the way you both and Father have been acting is starting to affect Imae. Umarus tried to get her to come here with the two of you but she opted to go with Yokiyo. Said that she doesn't understand why if she makes her and myself happy why you can't just accept that she is my mate and her mother and be happy for that."
"I will never accept it Kiyoshi! Never!" Yukani then shocked her brother as she brought her other hand up slapped him so hard in the face it jerked his head to the side. "You want to try and blame us for reacting the way that any demon would knowing that their brother and son mated the enemy. But the one who is the cause of everything is you. Had you not done this, none of this would be happening right now!"
Growling deep, Kiyoshi closed his eyes as he ground his teeth together and held tighter to Yukani's hand that he had. He really didn't want to hurt his little sister but she was pushing him too far. Moving his arm and a fling of his wrist he sent her flying back twenty feet to land in the middle of the pond. "You will deal with it however you want and stop acting like this or you can all just leave now."
On her feet Sorae had a cross look for her son as she crossed her arms and moved to stand before him. "You stop it right here Kiyoshi. Lord of the South or not you are still my son and that is still your little sister. She shouldn't have slapped you but you had no right to throw her in the pond! You apologize to her and she will do the same."
Turning his glare down to his mother's face, Kiyoshi growled even deeper. "I will do that mother, when you both apologize to Yokiyo for the glared and growls that she gets every time she has to pass you. Or would you rather I just tell Imae the truth about why you hate her mother?"
"Don't you…."
"Then you will stop!" Seeing her flinch at the loudness of his voice, Kiyoshi crossed his arms as he turned sideways. "What you, Yukani and Father is doing is wrong and you all know it. What if I had done the same thing with Kamui? Or what about you mother?"
"Me!?" Blinking as her eyes went wide, Sorae could only look up at him. His eyes were open and glaring at her. The rage in them umistakable. "Just what are you talking about?"
Turning to fully face her again, his eyes were hard as he sighed. "Had father not stepped in the day he met you. Had Horani been able to take you to the North you would have been forced into a mating with a dragon. Most likely Kenji."
"This is totally different from that! That was my so called father lookin gout for only himself and he couldn't care a less about what was going on with me. This is different from that and you know it!" Sorae glanced to the pond and saw her daughter wringing out her hair then turned hard eyes back to her son. "So don't….."
A loud growl making her stop, Kiyoshi took a deep breath. "It was a different situation. But it is still pack trying to force someone else in the pack to do something they want them to do and not caring about what happens because of it. It is the same exact thing here."
"And just how in the world do you figure that?"
Looking back toward the palace, feeling the joy and contentment that came from it, Kiyoshi knew that was the only reason he wasn't doing more than he was. He then sighed as he turned back to his mother. "You want to force me to make her leave, and will not even accept the fact that a miko or not she was strong enough in mind and spirit to draw out my demon with ease. Yet you would love nothing else for her to lose the baby and me send her away right?"
Frustrated tears spilling from her eyes Sorae crossed her arms as she stomped her foot. "I would. If that were to happen, you couldn't make me happier but how is that like with…"
"In your case it was your father trying to force you to do something you didn't want to do and didn't care. Here it is you trying to force your own child to do something tha the doesn't want to do and you don't care what it does to him or those around him. You want to force me to live without a mate, and no pups other than Imae. You want me to break her heart just so that you can have your way in a choice that was never yours to make in the first place. Now you tell me mother, how is that any di
fferent than what Horani wanted to do to you?" Kiyoshi then turned and stormed off. Once again fighting the rage that nearly blinded him to the fact that he was dealing with his parents and sister. The only thing stopping him from taking their heads is Yokiyo right now.
Standing in place, Sorae watched as he vanished around a hedge of flowers as even more tears streamed down her face. Thinking about how he put it, he was right. It was true! She was trying to do the very same thing that she hated her father for trying to do to her, to her own son.
Dropping to her knees she dropped her face in her hands as hse sobbed. 'What have I done? What have we done?'
Glaring toward where her brother went, Yukani rushed to her mother's side and rubbed her back. "Mama don't let him get to you like this. It was all a lie anyway."
Dropping her head even further to her knees, Sorae still had wide eyes as she watched her tears dripping onto her knees. "You know as well as I do that he would never say anything like that unless he had good reason. And he is correct. Everything he said is true. I am, we all are trying to make him do what we want and not being more opened minded and accepting of his choice."
Her eyes nearly bulging out of her head Yukani gasped as she tensed. "But Mama she is a miko and….
"She is also the mate of your brother and my son. Mother to you Imae and the next blood generation soon to come." Slowly standing as she shook, Sorae turned and started to walk toward the palace as she covered her mouth. "We are all trying to do to him exactly what my father wanted to force me to do. To live a life I knew I would hate and would be miserable. Not caring if he hurt me or my mother in the process."
"I don't get how that is anything like this though!?"
Turning with a small growl and a glare for her daughter, Sorae still let the tears flow freely. "Just like he said. My father didn't care what sort of life I would have had as long as I did what he wanted me to do. We are trying to do the same thing, like we don't care what sort of life he has or how it hurts Imae in the process either."
"But….."
Turning from her daughter Sorae let out a defeated sigh. "Like he said. The choice of who he takes as a mate was never ours to make. It is his. It is time that you and your father realize Yukani, that we can't act like we have a grudge anymore. For at the very least the next fifty years or so until her life span is up. Do you hear me?"
"But Mama!"
"Yukani!"
"Yes Mama."
X
Smelling Umarus coming, Kurosai turned a glare up at him as he landed not far from him then turned back to the troops. "I really hope you didn't come all the way out here to help my son try and talk some sense into me. I had every intention on cutting her down if she hadn't been pregnant. Now I am stuck with the situation. But I refuse to claim this one. I won't lay claim to a half demon as a grandkid."
With a glare as he stopped a foot away from him, Umarus growled. "So you are alright with hurting your granddaughter? You are alright with the fact that she knows something is wrong and doesn't understands why you seem to hate her mother?"
"That miko is not her mother."
"She is your son's mate. That makes her mother to that little girl, and she looks at her as such."
Closing his eyes Kurosai let out an annoyed sigh. "Just get off it Umarus. I am never going to accept the fact that….." But he was caught off guard when Umarus's fist made contact with his face and sent him flying. Instantly on his feet and in his face, Kurosai grabbed his clothes with one hand. "What in the hell was that for?"
"To try and knock some sense into your damn ass!" Standing his ground Umarus kept his hard eyes even with Kurosai's. "Tell me this Kurosai. How do you think your mother would react to how you are acting? Or your father?"
Shoving him back a few feet Kurosai pointed at him with a deep chested growl. "You leave them the hell out of this."
Moving and pushing Kurosai back about ten feet Umarus was so angry right now with him that he couldn't see straight. Clenching his fists at his side he dropped his head. "I will bring them into this Kurosai! Your father was very patient and believed in keeping good relations with humans was the key to our survival."
"I do too but that fool pup mated one that has the natural power to kill us!"
Jerking his head up Umarus flung his hand out to the side. "Wake up Kurosai! They all have the power to kill us!" Aware now that the troops were no longer doing their drills but gawking at what was going on, be it from a safe distance, Umarus sighed as he half closed his eyes. "Your father never treated anyone different. An older member of court came many times with his half demon daughter. Your father treated her no different than he did me as a child when he found me."
"But that is totally different! She wasn't his pup, or his grandpup! If t hey had lived and I mated with a miko they would have…"
Turning his back to Kurosai, Umarus crossed his arms. "Welcomed her with open arms and been proud of your choice. And even more proud to stand tall right next to that half demon child and lay claim to him or her as their grandchild." Then he started to walk away. "I give up. I used to think that you were just like him. But on this you couldn't be more different.
"Umarus!"
Stopping just as the wind started to blow around him, Umarus couldn't stop the tear that fell from one of his eyes. "Don't you even dare Umarus me on this one Kurosai. Your father was my best friend. Like a father to me and I have always looked at you like my brother. I swore to him the day he left with your mother to the Southern Shores palace that I would do what I could to make sure that you followed the right path. Not HIS path but the right one. Your parents are probably turning over in their graves to know that their own son that they did everything right by saved his mate from a fate that her father was trying to force on her, is turning right around and trying to do the same thing to their grandson." Then he was gone.
Blinking as he watched Umarus fly off, all Kurosai could do was stand there. From the day that he was born he couldn't remember Umarus ever raising his voice to him. Even when as a pup he was his guard and he ran him like crazy he never once raised his voice. That shocked him. But he could see his point in the matter. But at the same time it wasn't his son who brought home a miko as a mate. Rubbing the back of his neck Kurosai growled as he called his cloud. He had to think. He knew Umarus was right about what his parents would have done. But it is different situations. "Damnit all to hell!"
X
Looking up from where she sat at the small table in their room, Yokiyo blinked to see Kiyoshi walk in and head for her wearing a glare. "What's wrong with you? You have been very distracting today?"
Reaching out with a hand, Kiyoshi ran it through her now lose and flowing hair. The feeling of calm claiming him. "Distracting?"
"Yes distracting." Closing her eyes as she smiled at the feel of him playing with her hair. I kept feeling rage and annoyance off and on all day long. I knew it wasn't me. Takara and I were actually very productive today with planning the event. So I knew it had to be yours." She then smiled up at him as she stood and placed her hands on his chest as his arms went around her waist. "So what's wrong?"
Reaching up with his other hand, Kiyoshi titled her head slightly as he dipped her head and seared her mouth with his own. A moment later he broke the kiss and pulled her close tucking her head under his chin, as he massaged her head. "They are pack. Family. And yet they are driving me mad."
"And it's because of me." Yokiyo then gasped as the hold on her waist went from tender to a desperate tensed as it got just a little tighter. Giggling she pushed on his chest and looked up at him with a smile. "Get real you know I am not going to go anywhere at all. I wouldn't do that to you or the Imae. Or the baby."
"If you were not pregnant?"
Going up on her tiptoes, Yokiyo laughed as she framed his face in her hands. "Even if I wasn't pregnant already. No one is going to get rid of me that easy love."
Searing her mouth again, Kiyoshi used his speed and had them on the bed with h
er giggling underneath him. Though his thoughts were far from mounting her. He kissed her deeply for a moment then moved and pulled her to him as he lay down on the bed. "Sleep. You may not be but I am mentally exhausted."
Rolling in his arms so she could look at him with her head on his shoulder, Yokiyo gave him an odd look. "You do realize that it is still daylight outside? Imae is in her room and still wide awake. I need a bath and I am not going to sleep until I get one. You are calmed down now. And I got things to finish."
Stopping her as she tried to sit up with a growl, Kiyoshi didn't even open his eyes. "Yoite and Takara will look after Imae tonight."
"And what about eating? It is almost time for that and I am starving."
Cracking an eye open, Kiyoshi growled as he let her up. Sitting up himself he watched as she went back to the scrolls at the table. "You said you have been productive today with planning the presentation. What have you gotten finished?"
Opening the scroll she kept her notes on she smiled as he moved to stand next to her. "Well, I k now what sort of clothes that I am going to wear. Myself and Imae, though I am sure your seamstress isn't going to like it. It is something that is a little traditional for the South but me at the same time. I talked to the ones who work in the kitchen, and the food is all planned out. And thanks to the little bit of help from your sister today, I had the room that Sanzo and his sister use ready for them, and went ahead and had rooms for Shone and his mate as well as whomever comes from the North."