Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

With a sigh, Sanzo closed his eyes for a moment. "I hope we don't make a habit of this Kiyoshi. These gardens have seen enough fighting." But when he noticed that Kiyoshi sheathed his sword and was looking back toward where he had come from he blinked. "Kiyoshi what are you doing? The snake is coming and rather fast at that?"

  With a true smile on his face, one that Sanzo and Ayame have rarely seen, Kiyoshi stood there as he stepped back next to Yokiyo. "The snake will be dealt with just not by our hands."

  "Huh?"

  "Sheath your sword you will see."

  Giving him an odd look as she blinked. He was actually feeling mischief at the moment. Then she smiled, Imae was that way with Umarus and no doubt he told her that it was the snake and she would come to get it. And that would be the shock that they both needed to see from Imae.

  With a smile as she watched and waited for Imae. Though she slid her eyes to glance at the birds. She had to wonder what Sanzo's reaction to seeing Imae all grown up was going to be. 'And you Ayame. Go ahead and start with Imae this time. She won't need me to take up for her this time.'

  X

  A steady glow of blue surrounding her, Imae dodged another of Umarus's attacks and then instantly launched one of her own, faking a few times, then focused on her speed and landed a kill blow stopping her blade a hair from his neck. But she really wasn't happy about it as she stepped back. "Master Umarus what is wrong with you all the sudden? I have tried that on you before and it never worked." Before he could answer though she got a sudden chill up her spine as she tensed. Something was coming. "What is it Master Umarus?"

  With a growl as he kept his eyes on the palace wall, Umarus growled. "The snake from yesterday."

  "The one that tried to kill my little sister?" Looking up when all she got from him was a nod she gave a whistle as Ryu raced toward her. "It's mine."

  Umarus smiled as he watched as Ryu flew past Imae a hair from the ground and headed for Kiyoshi. Seeing as he never really used him anymore, when Imae showed signs of becoming a woman, he gave him to her as a present. They were perfectly synchronized in training as well. Both reacted to the other and could do anything.

  Crossing his arms as he smiled proudly as she vanished, Umarus took a deep breath. "She is my best student in many ways that is for sure. Over her grandfather and father. And it won't be long before I won't have anything to teach her.

  Slipping her mask on just as they rounded the corner to see the snake leaping over the wall she glared. It was going right for her mother and sister! "Back off you bastard!" She then gripped Ryu tighter as he plowed into the snake and sent it off course. Hitting the ground it coiled and began a volley of strikes at them.

  Keeping her cool as Ryu began to zig zag so that he could keep her close but avoid the snakes strikes, her eyes glared as she focused on what she had to do.

  With wide eyes, Sanzo watched this woman in pure awe. He couldn't take her eyes off of her! She was actually fighting and using her head! When she jumped from the dragon with picture perfect grace, and slammed one of the two katanas that she had through the snake's mouth then charged it with purification he took a step back. "Another miko? Who is she?"

  With a smile, Kiyoshi watched his daughter as she fought and smiled. "You have met her before."

  A glare for the dog as he crossed his arms, Sanzo hissed. "I think I would remember meeting a female warrior like that before Kiyoshi."

  Not even looking at Sanzo, Kiyoshi sighed as he growled. "Just keep watching you will get it. You should have by now anyway."

  Watching as the snake thrashed as it tried to get her katana out of its mouth, she found the rhythm in the way it thrashed. 'That's it! One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Now!"

  She then jumped from Ryu again and dove head first as she used her other katana fully charged with her purification she effortlessly chopped the snakes head off. Which she could do with ease now, compared to the first time that she took someone's head when she had to protect her mother.

  Landing on her feet she smiled and lifted her other katana from the ash of the snake. "It serves you right for starting trouble."

  Turning to the shocked birds, Kiyoshi spoke loud enough for his daughter to hear them. "Why do you not ask her for yourself who she is Sanzo? Seeing as you don't remember her at all. I doubt that you or your sister would believe me if I told you."

  Walking toward her family Imae smiled under her mask again. It was Sanzo! Though this time the presentation was for her brother and not her mother. Then her eyes narrowed and hardened when she saw Ayame with him. 'Oh I remember you. I dare you to try something this time. It won't be Mama that puts you in you place this time but me.' Stopping a few feet she gave a polite bow as she closed her eyes. "Lord Sanzo. My Lady."

  Letting his head fall to the side, Sanzo couldn't place her scent, but he thought he knew the voice. But the raspy sound the mask gave her he couldn't quite get it. Giving her a low bow, Sanzo smiled graciously. "The honor is mine to be in the presence of such a warrior as yourself My Lady. Would you flater me by telling me what your name is? Lord Kiyoshi here says that I know you and I have met you before. But I do not believe I could ever forget meeting someone like you."

  Giggling Imae reached up to pull the tie to her mask as she smiled. "I agree that it has been twelve years since you saw me last time. But I did not think that your nose would have went that bad that you wouldn't know who I was just by scent." She then pulled her mask off and let it fall to hang around her neck, one hand going to rest on her katanas and the other on her hip, Imae smiled brightly. "It's me, Imae."

  Once he landed on her eyes and heard the voice without the mask, Sanzo couldn't move. He was in utter shock! With his mouth hanging open all he could do was stand there and stare at her. This fighter. This was the little girl that wanted to challenge him twelve years ago for touching her mother!

  Letting his eyes take in her new appearance, he let them travel up and down her a few times. Her clothes were slim and showed her figure perfectly. She still had short hair, the same chocolate eyes that were just like before. But her body was….

  Givinghis head a shake he closed his eyes. 'Stop it! Those are bad. Bad thoughts! Bad!' When he opened his eyes he took a step closer to her and laughed. "Imae? Like that is really you? Really you?"

  Another giggle as she gave a nod, Imae crossed her arms. "Well there is only one of me in the world so I guess it is me then huh?"

  Rubbing the back of his neck as he smiled, Sanzo let his other hand rest on his hip. "May you have grown up. I need to give you a new nickname now. I do not think that chick will do anymore." He then looked down as Kiara went to her and got to let his eyes trail up her body again. 'Man it is such a good thing I didn't meet her again a different way. She is stunning. The most beautiful woman that I have….damnit no! No! Bad thoughts!'

  Still standing behind everyone, Ayame glared from her brother to the woman and back. She annoyed her as a kid, and now this was even more annoying. And she wasn't going to have her entrapping her brother. Unknown to him, the last twelve years she really picked up on her training to defeat a miko. She couldn't say or do anything to Yokiyo this time around. But this bitch was something different.

  When her glares didn't get it done, she raged inside to see that her brother was still acting like a love struck fool. 'I won't let you. Not my brother. Not the East! I can't openly challenge her but if she does me then I will show her what I can do. I won't let her get her hooks in him. I won't!'

  Then just as Imae's eyes landed on her again, she got the perfect idea to make her do something. Disrespect. Sticking her nose in the air she turned her back to her as she stomped her foot. 'That should do the trick.'

  Going back to Sanzo she smiled a sweet smile. "Thank you very much Sanzo. I don't think that chick will work anymore. But I am also equally sure that you can think of something to call me." She then shocked him as she stepped to the side and kept the same angelic smile as she turned cold eyes to his sister. "Lady Ayame I know that while I
am not your favorite person in the world, you should know better than to show disrespect in someone else's home like that."

  With a glare, Ayame didn't move. "I will show respect to those that have either earned it or deserve it. You have not earned it and you don't deserve it so I refuse."

  Once again proving that she was raised by Kiyoshi and Yokiyo, Imae kept her calm demeanor, yet her words were anything but. "I am the eldest child to the Southern Lord. Respect is given to me without question or thought. Especially when I am in my own home. Do you intend to show disrespect for me in my own home before my parents still?"

  Turning on her with a smile and a glare in her eyes, Ayame never uncrossed her arms. "They are not your true parents so that doesn't count you filthy human."

  Causing everyone except for her parents and little sister, Imae dropped her head as her attitude changed and flared her purification to the fullest. 'She is already getting on my nerves and she hasn't even been here half a day. I don't know how Sanzo can stand to live with her. I think it is time she learn she doesn't want to push me.' "Blood or not they are my parents."

  Hissing Ayame glared harder at her. "You think that because you could kill a snake that is as low as that you can do anything to me? Think again honey you aren't strong enough."

  "You I would not try to kill. I would not kill the sister of the Lord of the East for such a petty thing. However you are showing me disrespect in my own home." Crossing her arms Imae sighed. "I do have to wonder what that says for the sister of the Lord of the East herself."

  Her eyes narrowing as her wind started to whip around her, Ayame hissed. "What was that you wench?" 'Just a little more.'

  With a smile as she looked at her, Imae let out a sarcastic little laugh. "Well it is just that even a traitor human shows respect when in the home of an enemy. I just think that it is such a pity that a low human can show more respect and have better manners than you do. When you act like this you not only are showing me disrespect, but also disrespecting my parents and your brother as well."

  "Shut up!" Ayame then lunged as she drew her dagger. She may not be able to kill Yokiyo, but she would at least take out one of the annoying humans! And what better one than the one that sent her brother googly eyed. But as she brought her hand down to stab her, she just wasn't there! Then she gasped when she felt a firm kick in her behind as her face slammed into the ground. Jerking around she glared up at her as she hissed. "Why you retch!"

  With her smile still in place, Imae had one hand on each hip. "Anytime you wish to yield to me will be just fine with me My Lady."

  "Never! I will never yield to you!" She then pushed fast as she could and landed a hard punch to her in the side of the head and sent her flying back head over feet for about ten feet. "It won't take much more to settle this. You humans are such fragile creatures anyway."

  Standing up like nothing had happened, Imae glared. She wasn't going to play anymore. It was time to end this and make her realize she can't act like a brat every time she comes to the South! Lifting her leg, Imae pulled her own dagger from her boots as she looked up and made eye contact with the smug bird. "How about this then. I have a wager for you."

  "And what sort of wager would I agree to from you?"

  "A sparring match. Best two out of three wins. If you win, then I do not question how you treat me and can treat me anyway that you wish. If I win, you show me respect no matter what you like it or not."

  Her wind flaring again, Ayame gave a nod with another smug smile. "I agree to that."

  With a hiss as he stood next to Kiyoshi, Sanzo glared at his sister. "I will hold you to that Ayame as well. Don't forget that."

  "Of course brother."

  As the two women took up their stances and started to circle with each other, Kiyoshi couldn't of hid the pride that he felt at that moment if he wanted too. By all rights, she acts just like she was his by blood and not an adopted human. She was right now acting like the eldest child of a demon lord should act like. Demanding respect in her own home from a guest. 'And now with this that whinny bird will finally be put into her place.'

  With a glare for his sister as he shook his head, Sanzo watched intently. She brought this on herself and he would not step in. It would do her some good to be brought down a few notches, and who better to do that than a miko. He didn't know why after the deaths of her parents she started to act like the world owed her something and that she was so much better than everyone else. It wasn't how they were raised. Taking a deep breath, Sanzo let out a long sigh. 'However hopefully this will show her that she isn't as big as she thinks she is.'

  A New Heir Chapter 82

  With a glare that mirrored her father, Imae held her dagger as she circled with the falcon before her. She really didn't want to do this. To start a fight with her right of the bat wasn't her idea. But she held a grudge and for some reason she didn't understand. But this would end it. She could have her grudge all she wanted, but this would be the end of her acting like she was better than she was.

  And she knew that she wouldn't lose, not her to her. She was too emotional when she fought. It would be her undoing. Her disrespect to herself and her mother when she was there was about to end. After this the great Ayame would have to show respect to not only one but two humans she likes it or not.

  With a feral smile as she glared at the human, Ayame couldn't help but laugh as she went over in her head what was about to happen from her point of view. 'She may be strong, but she can't keep up with my demon speed. No human in the world could keep up with the speed of a demon!'

  Without warning, Ayame charged in with her dagger going right for where Imae's throat was. But as she let her hand swing she gasped as her eyes went wide as she spun in a complete circle, she was gone! Her eyes darting everywhere she had to find the wench. "She couldn't have just vanished where is she?" Then she hissed when she felt a solid punch to the side of her head that sent her flying ten feet with her face landing in the dirt.

  Jumping to her feet she turned and was ready to charge when she froze as she felt cold steel touching her neck. Her eyes were as wide as they could go. She was moving faster than any human she had ever seen! 'How the hell is she so fast?'

  With her cold and emotionless mask in place, Imae just stood there behind her as she dropped the dagger. "That would be a kill blow Ayame. One more and you show me respect in my home like it or not. I just don't get it. Why is it so hard to show someone the respect they deserve being in their own home? I would not openly disrespect you in your own home. I mean really you are acting younger than Kiara."

  Letting her anger soar at losing one time to the miko, Ayame turned and hissed at her as she let her wind flare forcing the human away from her. "I don't care! It isn't like you or those brats are going to make anything of your selves before someone takes you all out! Just because she was born demon doesn't change the fact! Had my brother done what he needed to do then you and your mother and your siblings would all be dead right now! No one around to taint the blood line of the South or make them weak!" Ayame knew that her brother as angry, she could feel his glare as she stood there and hissed. But she didn't care at all. He started it all by not doing what he needed to do and she was going to take at least one of them out now!

  With a flinch, Imae dropped her head as her body tensed. She wasn't a demon, or a half demon. But she didn't miss the growls from her parents, the catch in her sister's breath as she stepped behind her father's leg and dropped her head. It was one thing to insult her, or even her mother. You don't bring the little ones into it. "You have gone too far Ayame."

  "What are you talking about?"

  Drawing only one of her katanas, Imae gave the falcon before her a glare that made her visibly flinch as her eyes went wide. "First one to draw blood wins."

  "Fine." Ayame then called her wind at full force as she smiled. Though her blood was going to go deeper than the humans would.

  His eyes hard now as he growled at Ayame, Kiyoshi couldn't help b
ut compare her to the gentle and kind natured bird before her parent's deaths. She acted like someone that no one knew anymore. "Ayame. Ally with your brother or not, if you try to do more than just draw blood, I will be the one taking your head off. Understood?"

  Ayame nearly forgot that he was standing there, and that annoyed her even more. She couldn't kill this little pest after all. "I understand Kiyoshi. Just draw blood."

  With her mind spinning, Imae glared at this bird. She wasn't going to play by the rules of your typical sparring match. Even though the rules were to just draw blood, she knew that Ayame would go deeper than that. Not enough to kill her but more than a scratch. While Imae would go by the rules set she had to go by it a different way.

  Pulling a shocked gasp from Ayame, Imae charged her and swung her katana in a sweeping motion that forced her to jump back. As she swung, Imae pulled out her second katana out and swung it at the same time, making her jump back a second time. And this time she stumbled as she landed and fell back.