by Max Jager
Rolling her eyes, Yokiyo kept her focus on Imae's outfit for the party. "I already know all of that Yukani so you really don't have to point it out each time you try and talk with me. I get it but I don't. You know you can't change it, and yet you insist on starting each conversation you have with me by making sure that you hate me. And yet you haven't even tried one time to try and get to know me in the least."
"So tell me something."
Looking over her shoulder and then back to her sewing, Yokiyo sighed with a smile. "Fine how about a summary of my family and life. Then you can go back to judging me if you want too. At least do it fairly and know everything."
"Fine."
A glance up into the sky, and Yokiyo took a break from her sewing as she smiled brightly. "I never got to know my mother's mother. She was sent off to war when Mama was about Imae's age and just never came home. Mama worked hard and became the village miko when she was sixteen, not long after she and Papa married. Senri was born three years later, and I was born five years later. When I was five, one year younger than Imae, that was the first time that my life was turned into pure hell. Shinra attacked our village with hordes of demons. Senri took me and fled. We expected them to come back a few hours later when they won the fight. By morning they never came back so we went and looked. We found Mama and Papa speared together with a sword near death. Can you imagine what that had to do to a five year old little girl as she watches the two people she thought were the strongest in the world to take their last breath?"
Sitting Imae's outfit on the table, she rested her hands over her now slight bump that was there. "Senri and I traveled for a while until we found a village that had an old miko that knew my mother's momther. She trained me and Senri. Then my brother abandoned me to get revenge. I made village miko just like my mother did at sixteen, and then two years later the same thing happened again. Demons attacked, I was knocked out and when I came too everyone I cared about again was gone. Least I thought that until my friends Izumi and Itachi showed up here not long ago."
When she still didn't get anything from Yukani, Yokiyo stood up and went out onto the balcony and smiled as she watched Imae bellow going through another drill. "I can't explain it. I really can't. But being here with Kiyoshi and Imae is like I am finally doing what Mama and Papa wanted from me all along. They always told me that I would change the world, along with the man of my dreams."
Finally looking up at the miko, Yukani couldn't hide the slight glare in her eyes. "But I have heard you say many times, even to my mother that you hated my brother when you first got here. I don't see how you can hate him then and love him now."
Shocking her, Yokiyo walked over and knelt down before her as she giggled with her chin in her hands. "Kiyoshi and I talked about that and with the good moments that we did have it didn't take much for me to fall in love with him."
Standing again she stretched then went back to her seat and picked up Imae's outfit. "I never imagined myself being like this either ya know. An instant mother to a six year old. A demon lord as my husband, or mate in this case. But now that it has happened, I can't picture myself anywhere else than right here."
Yukani didn't understand this woman before her at all. She talks about pain and heartache and that is all she is going to leave behind on Kiyoshi and her child when she dies. "But I don't get it. You talk about all the pain and heartache that you had in your life. And yet you let yourself bond to my brother knowing that your death would leave him without a soul for eternity. Your pup is still going to be small when you die."
Once again in her seat and sewing, Yokiyo smiled as she let out a small sigh. "I know that. I almost walked away from that. But at the same time I couldn't walk away either. I won't get to spend the rest of time with him. I will never get to know any grandchildren except for the ones that Imae has. But I will be leaving a piece of me behind in this pup, and any others we have at the same time. So in a way I will always be with him."
"But….."
Winking over her shoulder, Yokiyo let out a laugh. "Besides I think that everyone here is going to see what I can do when I am angry in just a couple of days. I am not asking you to be my best friend but I am asking you stop acting like I am going to kill you just by walking past you. I don't like what it is doing to Kiyoshi or Imae because of it. And they are always upset anymore because of you and your father."
Her attitude snapping back to life, Yukani growled. "Well can you really blame us?"
"Yes I can." Turning back to her work, Yokiyo let out a long sigh. "You assume many things about me and haven't even tried to get to know me personally. You assume I am weak, and that will make him weak. But you really don't know that for sure. Your father and I have at least made the agreement to play like we get along when Imae is around. Do you think that you could at least agree to doing the same thing?"
Headed for the door, Yukani let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. But for my niece only."
Hearing the door shut, Yokiyo shook her head as she sighed one more time. 'I wonder if sometimes they are ever going to come around. I do hope so little one. For you, your sister and Papa.'
X
"My Lord."
Turning from where he stood with his father and Sanzo, Kiyoshi arched an eyebrow as the maid stopped and bowed. "What is it"
"The men at the gate sent me to inform you that Lord Shone has been spotted on the horizon. They expect him to be here by evening."
"Good." Rubbing the back of his neck, Kiyoshi sighed. "The sooner he gets here the sooner I can get those damn dogs out and get back to normal around here."
"Indeed." Kurosai still hated it. But he wasn't going to fight anymore about it. He didn't like what it was doing to his mate anymore. Closing his eyes as he crossed his arms, Kurosai drew both eyes to him. "Soon as the presentation is over, your mother and I leaving the same day. Though since it seems your mate wants your mother here when she has the pup, we will be back in two months."
With a glare for his father, Kiyoshi growled then turned and walked away from him and the bird. Going to find where his mate and pup were at. He was really starting to get annoyed just being around them anymore. 'Something hast to give or I am going to hurt them I swear.'
His golden eyes wide, Sanzo turned to Kurosai and gave him an odd look. "So you really still do not approve of her then?"
"Hell no I don't!" Watching with a glare as his son vanished into the palace, he let out a loud growl. "I actually had every intention on cutting her down the second I saw her. But now she had to go and be pregnant already, so there went that idea."
Blinking Sanzo could only stare at him when he heard the level of hostility in his voice. His father was killed by a miko and he didn't hold it against all of them. Just the one. "You know Kurosai, even though it was a miko that killed my father, I don't hold it against them. There are actually a lot of them that I can get along with in the East that don't kill demons just because they are demons."
"You got your view on them and I will have mine kid." Kurosai then turned and stormed away from the bird with another loud growl. The one there that he thought would have his back seeing as his father was killed by one, doesn't seem to and supports it! 'Damnit all to hell.'
X
Walking into the reception hall where he could already smell Kiyoshi, Shone smiled at him as he laughed. "You just had to go and be different huh Kiyoshi."
Growling with a glare, Kiyoshi turned to him as he crossed his arms. "Not you too."
Holding his hands up Shone smiled. "I am not going to try anything. If she can handle you and that bird for this long, she is alright in my book." Stopping and giving his friend a firm handshake he sighed. "I did leave Yukani and Isamu at home though. She wanted to come and meet her but she hasn't been feeling all that well lately so we figured it was best that she stay home this time. Especially with what could happen tomorrow."
"Right." Rubbing his temples Kiyoshi let out another sigh. "Yes the presentation is tomorrow. That damned leop
ard though. He did send two dog demons that are loyal to him down here for it. I want them to try and touch her just so I can rip their heads off and get some of this frustration out."
Shaking his head, Shone turned serious. "About that. I brought no nobles from my court today. And only a few men. But they are loyal and have no opinion what so ever about who your mate is. They are yours to use at your disposal during the presentation."
"Thank you."
Hearing the door fly open, both looked up to see Ayame storming toward them with her feathers all ruffled up and an irate face. Blinking as she got to them, Shone half smiled. "Well you don't look happy about something."
Her eyes glaring up into Kiyoshi's eyes, Ayame hissed. "I am not. Because my brother should have killed her that is why. How could you Kiyoshi? How could you degrade yourself by mating with one and father a pup with her!? Have you gone mad!?"
Growling, Kiyoshi glared into her eyes. "If you are going to do nothing but act like this then you can get out and go home Ayame. I get enough of it from my father and Yukani I will not deal with it out of you."
"You apparently don't get enough or you would have sent her packing already!"
"Ayame!"
Flinching as she looked to the side to see her brother coming in another door, Ayame narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even try to do anything about it did you brother? Nothing at all."
"I did actually. Though not so much to try and stop it, I just wanted to make sure that she could handle herself in this cut throat world of ours. And had she not been what she is and can use barriers, you would have been Lady of the East because I would have lost my head to Kiyoshi." He then crossed his arms as he got to her with a hard glare. "You will play nice or we are really going to have it out on this one when we get home Ayame. Understood?"
With her gold eyes flashing, Ayame hissed and then turned storming out, her destination the miko. With every intention on doing what her brother wouldn't do and taking her out. Pregnant or not.
Glaring after his sister, Sanzo sighed. "Had I know that she was going to be like this Kiyoshi I would have left her home."
"Indeed. She may end up on her way much sooner than you if she doesn't cool down."
X
Sensing a ball of rage that was coming, Yokiyo looked up from where she sat with Takara and Imae at the koi pond to see a bird storming toward them with an angry look. "Who is that Takara?"
"That is Lady Ayame. She is Lord Sanzo's little sister."
When she reached the miko, Ayame glared with her arms crossed down at her. She didn't get it. He should have had no problem with her. "I don't get it. My brother should have been able to cut you down with ease. They don't need ki8yoshi to produce an heir, Yukani and Kamui can handle that so….."
"Just go away if you are going to do nothing but boast of stupid nonsense. I have other and more important things to do than to indulge the dilutions of a fluffed bird." Yokiyo then stood and turned to walk away from her.
"Mama?"
Smiling down at her, Yokiyo held her hand out for her daughter. "Come on Imae. We are going to go inside for a while. The air out here isn't as comforting as it once was a few moments ago."
Hissing again as she stomped her foot, Ayame narrowed her eyes at the miko before her. "Don't you dare turn your back on me you bitch!"
Flinching with a small gasp at the name, Imae looked over her shoulder than back up to her mother as she sighed. "Mama can we go find Father? I don't like Sanzo's sister."
Her eyes flickering down to the brat at the miko's side, Ayame never lost any rage. "You will never refer to my brother by just his name again you retch! He is Lord Sanzo to you!"
Giving a small bow as she stood, Takara hoped that she could defuse the situation. "Lady Ayame if I may….."
Still in the throws of a fit of anger, Ayame turned on Takara as she raised her hand to backhand her. The last time she was this angry was when her parents were killed! "Don't you dare address me without being spoken too first!"
Glaring back, Yokiyo had finally had enough of being pushed around and just as the bird started to let her hand fly toward Takara she threw up a barrier making her hit it instead of Takara. At the same time holding a hand up for Yoite to stay his sword. "That will be enough of that Lady Ayame. My daughter referred to your brother as merely Sanzo because that was what your brother requested of her. And you do not have any right to strike those that work here in the palace of the South. Especially my friends."
Turning to Takara as she rushed over to stand with her, Yokiyo smiled at her. "Takara you and Yoite please take her to her father."
Growling at the bird, Yoite didn't like the way she was so fixated on Yokiyo right now. "I will stay with you My Lady."
"You are…."
His eyes flicked to hers and then back to the gold of the bird. "I am also in charge of keeping you safe when it calls for it Lady Yokiyo. I will do as My Lord asks of me."
Moving so that she and Imae were now standing just behind Yoite, Takara looked around but no one else was there. She had to stay. 'I do hope he senses this and comes fast. This could be really bad.'
Taking a deep breath, Yokiyo glared at the bird as she let her barrier fall away from her. "Then just stand aside. I am tired of being walked on and treated like crap because of what I am." Holding her head high, Yokiyo crossed her arms. "You insult me, my daughter and try to strike my friend. I will not let that go. And I refuse to die here. I am not the weak human that you and everyone else save just a few think I am!"
With a hiss and an evil smile, Ayame called her wind to whip around them all. "After my father was murdered by a miko, my brother and I made it our mission to know how to combat your kind. Taking your life will be easy. You can't get through my wind!"
Stopping, Yokiyo let her purification snap to life in full force as rage filled her from both herself, and her mate who was on his way toward them. No doubt with Sanzo and Shone in tow as well. "Don't you underestimate me. It will be your mistake. Everyone thinks that cause I am a human I am weak and I am not!" She then pulled a pin from her clothes, charged to so it was glowing the brilliant blue she was and threw it at the ground by the birds feet. As it flew, it sliced a rift in the wind where her wind now blew around. "Want to tell me again how weak I am or how I can't get through your wind?"
Letting her wind stop, Ayame charged the miko with a dagger in hand. "I don't need wind! I will do what my brother should have done from the start!"
Hardening her eyes, Yokiyo glared. She lost count of the number of demons that attached her out of rage. Just before Ayame reached her, she pivoted to the side and then reached out and kicked her in the side of the head sending her flying. "Will anyone ever learn!"
Spinning around, Ayame got ready to lunge at her again. "I will see you dead!"
"Ayame! If you make one more move it will be me that sends you flying and not the miko."
Flinching and then hissing, Ayame looked up as her brother seemed to have come out of nowhere! This was just great now she wouldn't be able to do anything! "Don't even give me that brother! She started it!"
Her rage flaring again, Yokiyo moved out of her mate's grip and slapped his hand away as he tried to grab her, moved around Sanzo and shocked Ayame by slapping her across her face. "Oh you bet I started the fight. But only after you snapped at my daughter and called her a retch. And after you tried to assault my friend. You bet your ass I started this fight and I would do it again in a heart beat too!"
Turning she held her hand out for Imae who was still in Takara's arms and smiled as she ran and grabbed it. She then stormed away from everyone. "We will be in our room for the remainder of the evening Kiyoshi."
Shaking his head with a sigh as Kiyoshi went after them, Sanzo glared down at his sister. "Where are they at?"
On her feet now, Ayame crossed her arms as she glared after the miko. She couldn't believe that she got a good hit in on her like that! And now she wouldn't have a chance to do anything. "They are just
over the palace walls."
Ayame then gasped when Sanzo grabbed her by the wrist and jerked her with him as he went to the wall and over it to the camp. "What are you doing!? Let go!"
Not stopping until he came face to face with Atsana, Sanzo hissed. "Atsana I want you to take half of the men, I don't care what half, and escort my sister home."
Paling as she moved around to gape up at him, Ayame had extra wide eyes. "What did you say!?"
Turning to glare down at her, Sanzo had cold and hard eyes as he hissed and the snapped his teeth at her making her freeze. "I told you to stay out of what my affairs are. You will do well to remember next time that you are not Lady of the East and what I decide to do doesn't lie with you. Today with your actions you not only disrespected me, Kiyoshi and his mate today. You disrespected our parents as well. You attacked his mate, insulted his child and tried to assault a member of his staff. This is not the East and you will not be allowed to act like that without consequences Ayame." He then turned his eyes from her and closed his eyes. "You know as well as I do that Mother would not have blamed every miko for what happened to father but just the one who did it. I am sure that they are turning in their graves to know what you have done today and why."