Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "Oh but you are my little sugar."

  Seeing her father walk in behind her, Kiara's eyes moved to him. "Father!"

  Going out the door, to be flanked by Umarus, Yokiyo laughed. "Oh just get over it Kiara."

  Turning to Imae as she stood up, Kiyoshi blinked. "What was that about Kiara picking fights?"

  Stretching with a laugh, Imae sighed. "You know like she used to start fights with the other demon kids for even a wrong look. I told her she can't do that this time."

  Closing his eyes as he turned his back to both of his daughters. Kiyoshi knew that Imae was right, but she did the same thing, challenging Sanzo just because he touched her mother's chin. "Your sister is right Kiara. You have the same rules that your sister does. No running, swearing, yelling, fighting or challenging anyone over anything. Imae is allowed to fight back if someone else does her, Kiara you stay out of it all together. Is that clear from the both of you?"

  Both girls dropped their heads with sighs. "Yes Father. I understand."

  X

  Just before the evening meal was about ready to be served, the smell of Shone, Yuriko, Isamu and a couple guards were getting stronger. And now Kiyoshi was going to the reception hall to greet his guests leaving his mate, Imae, Kiara and Yoite to take Katana to his mother and sister who would be with Umarus and Kamui.

  Walking into the hall he had a small smile. "It is good to see you my friend. Yuriko." Stopping as he looked down at the pup he nodded. "And I believe he was just an infant the last time that I saw him."

  With a smile, Yuriko nodded as she looked down at her son. He as a good boy but as of late his Uncle Sume had been teaching him some really bad habits. "That's right at his presentation. It was only six months later after that when you mated. And he is still the same mischievous pup that he was even at two weeks old."

  Dropping his head as it turned red slightly, Isamu growled. "Mother really. You talk about me as if I am a kid."

  Ignoring her son, Yuriko looked up to Kiyoshi as she smiled. "But it is good to see you again Kiyoshi. I do have to ask though, when exactly will we get to meet your mate and your pups?"

  Blinking as he looked at her, this was not like her to rush anything. She usually just went with the flow of things. "You are in a hurry then?"

  With a nod, Yuriko laughed. "I am actually. I just can't wait to see the little one. And I have missed Imae and want to see how she has grown. Your mate and I share letters often and I can't wait to put a face to the letters with her as well."

  Smiling again as he shook his head, Kiyoshi turned and headed for the door. "I have had them already make places and plates for you all. We are just sitting down to eat. Yokiyo, Imae and Kiara will be there soon if not already then. My son is with Mother, Yukani, Umarus and Kamui. Once we eat you will all be taken to see him."

  "That sounds wonderful!" Yuriko smiled as she followed him toward the dining hall. She wanted to see Kiara for more than one reason. Having heard the rumors around the West from the messengers that Yokiyo, a human miko gave birth to a demon daughter. She wanted to see if it was actually true or not. Though not smelling any half demons around, she figured it was either true, or both Kiara and Katana had little to no human or half demon scent even though they are seeing as who their father was.

  As he walked between his mother and father, Isamu rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms. He couldn't believe that his mother would actually think that it was even possible. The messengers were lying for some reason if you ask him. 'She just can't stop till she sees it for herself. They are rumors and lies. It just can't happen. A human and a demon can't have demon pups.'

  Seeing his son's actions as they walked, Shone glared as he reached out and flicked him in the back of the head. As he turned around to look at him, Shone had a glare that he should know. That he better not dare try and start trouble with anyone. Or he wouldn't like what happened.

  Once he was sure his son got the message as he turned and dropped his head, Shone looked up at Kiyoshi with an odd look. "By the way why do we smell Ayame's blood? What happened?"

  With a small laugh as he pictured Yuriko's reaction to what happened, Kiyoshi stopped for a moment and turned to look over his shoulder. "Imae. Ayame started running her mouth and pushed Imae. Insulting not only Imae, but myself, Yokiyo and even Kiara and Katana. Imae gave her little more than a lesson in manners. A sparring match where the first to draw blood won. Imae slashed her just deep enough to draw blood from each shoulder in an x to the opposite hip."

  With a pale face, Yuriko rushed around to get in front of Kiyoshi with one hand on her throat and the other her chest. "Don't you dare tell me that you turned that well behaved little angel into a fighter like that?"

  Meeting her shocked green eyes, Kiyoshi nodded as he gave her an even look. "I have made my daughter strong enough to stand against anyone. From the lowest of the low weak humans, to the strongest of the demon lords. She will never be weak in mind or body for her own good."

  With a deep breath then a smile, Yuriko couldn't argue with that. She was after all a human in a demon's world and needed to be strong and know how to fight. "Well I can't really argue with that. But I still can't wait to see her."

  Sliding the door open to the dining hall, Kiyoshi smiled. "She will be here shortly with Yokiyo and Kiara. In the meantime, Sanzo is here."

  Blinking as they walked in, Shone looked around. "So where is Ayame?"

  Standing as he bowed to Yuriko, Sanzo smiled. "It is an honor as usual Yuriko." Turning to Shone he sighed. "She is still down and embarrassed that she lost to Imae this morning she said she is eating in her room." Looking down at the pup between them as he laughed. "And Isamu you got big. I hear all about your antics. Are you still as rotten as ever?"

  With a smile as her son shot her a glare when she laughed, Yuriko nodded. "Oh he is still up to them every day."

  "Yuriko. It is nice to finally meet you." Yokiyo smiled as she entered the dining hall from another door and met the wolf demon half way across the room as she hugged her. "How are you?"

  "It is great to finally meet you as well Yokiyo." Easing out of the miko's arms she laughed as she shook her head. "I am fine. But I should be asking you how you are. After all you are the one who has a pup that is only a week old."

  "Oh I am just fine." Smiling as she looked behind her, Yokiyo nodded. "I am sure you remember Imae?"

  "Of course I do!" Yuriko then pulled the giggling Imae into her arms. "Oh Imae I missed most of your child hood. You grew up way too fast. Look at you! You are a grown woman now."

  With a smile as she laughed, Imae gave a nod. "That is right. I am a human after all."

  Still holding her hands, Yuriko laughed. "I know that dear. It is just when I think of you, i think Kiyoshi's eldest pup. Not the human he adopted. I do forget sometimes."

  Moving to them, Kiyoshi smiled as Kiara came out from behind her mother to stand right in front of him. Laying his hand on her head he smiled at their shocked eyes. "My middle pup Kiara."

  Clearing his throat to draw their attention, Kiyoshi smiled as he laid his hand on Kiara's head. "My middle pup. Kiara."

  Looking down at the pup, all three had shocked faces. But Yuriko was entranced. This little girl, it was so clear that the miko was her mother by smell alone. But even more so with that shiny black hair and the big cobalt blue eyes. But she really was, she looked and her scent was that of a full blooded demon! "It was true."

  Blinking, both Yokiyo and Kiyoshi looked at her odd. A glance at her daughter, Yokiyo then shook her head as she looked up at Yuriko again. "What do you mean it was true?"

  Looking at Yokiyo, Yuriko smiled as she laughed. "It was one reason why I pushed to come here with Isamu today. Shone wanted me to stay home with everything we all know is going to happen this time. But I wanted to see for myself and not sound like a busy body by sending a letter asking you. But our messengers that go back and forth have been talking for years now that somehow you gave birth to a demon pup."
/>   A smile as she looked down at her daughter again, who seemed to now be in a glaring competition with Isamu, Yokiyo sighed. "Yes I know. We didn't tell anyone when she was born that she was born demon. We knew it would be found out at some point, and didn't really want to make her a target as an infant."

  With a sigh, Yokiyo then took Kiara's hand and moved toward the table. "Right now let's all sit and eat. Once we are done eating, you will get to see Katana."

  A New Heir Chapter 84

  Looking around the table as the meal got under way and all the introductions were done, Kiyoshi sighed. To his right was his mate, and his two daughters. Shone and his mate and pup. Sanzo and his hyper and annoying ways. His father arrived back from the rounds not long after the meal started. He was with his mother, sister, his sister's mate and son. Umarus with them.

  He couldn't help but let his thoughts drift to one he hasn't seen in hundreds of years who has spent that time living under unthinkable conditions with his brother. Soichiro. If he was Lord like he would have been then this presentation would be simple and a pleasant thing. He, nor anyone here would ever try to kill his son.

  But Soichiro had to have a mental case for a mother and an even more crazy brother that screwed his life to hell and back. With a deep breath he started to sigh as he closed his eyes, but then he, Sanzo and Shone all jerk their heads up at the feint scent that just arrived. As it got closer to them, the three of them were on their feet, Kiyoshi with a clearly shocked look on his face. "Don't tell me that he sent him!"

  Turning to Kiyoshi, Shone blinked his eyes a few times. "If he did send him then we won't be able to force the war right now after all."

  Seeing their faces, and sensing the mood change, Yokiyo looked up at Kiyoshi with a half worried look. "What is going on Kiysohi?"

  With a half-smile as he looked down at her, Kiyoshi sighed as the scent got stronger as they were clearly being shown toward where they were. "I told you about Soichiro right?"

  Nodding Yokiyo let her head fall to the side. "You did. He is the brother of Motoichi that you all got along with and was screwed by his brother."

  "Exactly. And Soichiro is here."

  With smile, Sanzo sighed as he crossed his arms. "And by the smell of it, has a mate and cubs with him too."

  "Indeed." Kiyoshi then turned to see a guard rushing through the door and nodded as he waved his hand in the air. "Show them in."

  Looking down as Yokiyo joined him at his side, he then turned when the door opened to greet an old friend but glared to find the guard and several others walking him in with their weapons drawn and aimed right for him. With a growl Kiyoshi crossed his arms. "Lower them. He is welcome in my palace whether I am here or not. Now."

  "But My Lord they are…."

  "Lower them and get out!"

  Before anyone could say anything, Yokiyo started to turn to greet the leopard her own when she heard a small whine coming from the other side of the door. To her, it sounded like Kiara when she wasn't getting her way and was complaining about something. "Who was that?"

  Rubbing his neck as he sighed, Soichiro turned to the miko and gave a low bow. "My Lady. That would be my daughter Nyoko."

  With a glare, Yokiyo crossed her arms as she looked at the door. "You have a daughter?"

  Nodding as he glanced over his shoulder, Soichiro smiled. "I have a son and a daughter. My son is sixty two and my daughter is twelve."

  With a laugh as he came up next to him, Sanzo threw his arm around his shoulders with a smile. "So you managed to get a mate and cubs that's great. And you and Kiyoshi now are the only one of us that have more than one."

  With a true smile on his face for the first time in a long time, Soichiro nodded as he looked at Sanzo. "And the hyper bird hasn't changed and is the only one of us that doesn't even have a mate yet."

  With a glare as he hissed, Sanzo crossed his arms. "Oh just shut it?"

  Pulling the leopards eyes to her, Yokiyo still had her arms crossed as she stepped up to him. "If your family is with you when he said to show 'them' in why were they not brought in with you?"

  Another long sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck, Soichiro dropped his head. "Because your guards do not like the fact we are leopards it would seem. My brother's reputation is just as bad here as in the north."

  With a glance up at her mate, Yokiyo sighed. "I am going to go and get them myself then. Have them bring more food and make them places at the table." She then turned and went through the door where he came from and found even more guards with their weapons drawn and stances made. Looking at the leopards she sighed to see that they just went with it. With a smile as she made eye contact with them, the little girl though reminded her of Kiara with that 'is this really happening' look she had all the time.

  Once her eyes were back on the guards she crossed her arms and glared. "What exactly is going on here?"

  "My Lady. We are keeping them under guard because they are….."

  Rolling her eyes, Yokiyo shifted her feet so she had one leg bent. "I know exactly what they are. I think even my son would know that they are leopards just by looking at them. I asked what you were doing all this for."

  "We are taking the preca…."

  Shaking her head making him stop, Yokiyo sighed. "I don't want to hear any of that. Do you really think that Kiyoshi would have let me come in here on my own if any of them were truly a threat to anyone? He would have either come with me, or sent Umarus or Yoite with me. Now go on with you all now." As they all reluctantly lowered their weapons and left, she turned to the now blinking family. "I am sorry about that."

  Coming too first, Emiko smiled as she gave a slight bow. "It is alright My Lady. My mate's brother's tyranny goes far and wide." Standing up with a smile she folded her hands before her. "I am Emiko. This is my son Chiren and my daughter Nyoko. Both of you say hello."

  Both standing straight and giving respectful bows, Chiren and Nyoko spoke at the same time. "It is an honor to meet you My Lady."

  With a smile as she nodded back to the kids as they stood up, she turned and headed for the door. "Well come on then. We told them to show you all in, Kiyoshi knew it was your mate before they got there. I do not understand why they didn't bring you all in like he told them."

  "It is because we are leopards."

  Stopping at the door Yokiyo blinked then smiled as she laughed. "Well the guards here should know that the South is a place where just about anything could happen and shouldn't be like that."

  "My Lady?"

  "Just follow me." Yokiyo then glided through the door to the dining hall where Soichiro now sat at the table waiting on them. "The first is that I don't think any other demon Lords have a miko for a mate." Going to stand behind her daughters she smiled at the shocked faces. "My eldest daughter Imae, and my youngest daughter Kiara."

  With all three of them gasping and going wide eyed, Yokiyo laughed as she took her seat. "See. Anything can happen here."

  Chiren was the first to come out of his shock and then smiled as he shook his head with a small bow. "Lady Kiara. Lady Imae. It is an honor."

  Following her brother's lead, Nyoko made eye contact with the pup. They were about the same age. She didn't see anything wrong with her having a human mother. "It is an honor for me too. Lady Kiara, I do hope we can be friends."

  Seeing true sincerity in the leopards eyes, Kiara smiled herself with a nod. She was the first demon child to not look at her in contempt because of who her mother was like the wolf there. "I would very much like that. Your father said your name is Nyoko. I will call you Nyoko and you just call me Kiara. Alright?"

  "Right."

  Turning to Soichiro, Kiyoshi sighed as he half smiled. "Your cubs show their manners well Soichiro."

  "They do. Chiren was named partly after my father. He acts much like my father did as well." Soichiro then looked at his cubs that sat between he and his mate. They and their mother were his life.

  Closing his eyes and turning serious, Kiyoshi let ou
t a long sigh. "I have to ask Soichiro. Did your brother send you here for my son's presentation?"

  Dropping his head then glaring up at Kiyoshi, Soichiro shook his head side to side. "No he did not send me for your son's presentation. He doesn't even know that I am here as of yet. We were not at the palace when the letters came in about your son. However he does plan to send his only cub and son here with a small platoon of ten dozen soldiers to do his dirty work. He and that cub of his are exactly alike. They are confident that they will kill not only your son, but all three of your children and your mate. Starting the war when you charge in a blind rage."

  "He is a damn fool."

  Leaning back in his chair, Soichiro sighed. "His official that he is sending is a noble names Shoji. However…" Soichiro then looked at Kiyoshi with a smile forming. "I do have some rather good news to tell you. And some news about things I have been working on."