Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  X

  Standing on the palace wall, Reijiro smiled as he watched the discord in the gardens bellow them. The Lords and the guards in battle with his own men. Confusion stemming from the small poison bomb that Shoji set off in the palace. 'And his death at the end of this will be a mute point. Just so long as he can get the big bomb set.'

  Scanning the garden he stopped and growled when he spotted his cousin. And just behind him stood one of the reasons why he was there in the first place. After a few times blinking to see that the rumors were true and that she was really a demon. And she was hiding behind his weak cousin for protection. Though just as he was about to drop down, he glared as Sanzo, a dog demon that was clearly related to the pup, and a human all put themselves between he and his prey. "Such foolishness."

  Dropping to the ground, Reijiro smiled an evil smile as he walked toward them from across the garden. Holding his hand up he let out a small laugh as he stopped not far from them. "Well now if this isn't just my lucky day. I can take out one of the pups, my weak cousin, the bird of the west and maybe a few others." He then side stepped and met his cousin's glare with one of his own. "And Chiren. Look at how low you have fallen. Playing protector to a pack of dogs. You really are just pitiful. Oh well. You and the little mongrel bitch behind you are going to die anyway, no matter what you may think you can or can't do."

  Flinching as she heard the growls from her grandfather and Chiren, the hiss from Sanzo. But it was the catch in Kiara's voice that really pissed her off. She was not going to just let that go. Growling herself she pulled eyes to her as she pulled both of her katanas out of their sheaths. "How dare you." Looking up into his silvery blue eyes she had a resolve shinning in her eyes. She was ready to kill. "How dare you insult my pack like that. For your insults on my mother, my father will deal with you on that. For your insults on my little sister. I will make you pay myself."

  Movement behind, Imae turned to find her Uncle Senri was now there with everyone else. Turning back to Reijiro she took a stance. "Grandfather…"

  Nodding as he growled, Kurosai wanted to rush the cub and rip his head off. But, at the same time. Imae…she was showing a resolve that he knew wouldn't let her lose. And then there was Kiara as well. "Right. Just don't lose focus."

  "Right."

  Crossing his arms with a laugh, Reijiro shook his head. He really couldn't help but be amused at what just happened. "Please human do you really think that you can make me pay for anything that I say? You won't lay a hand on me. I am a demon remember. I am…." But then he gasped when he was cut off as a hilt slammed into the side of his head and sent him flying. Flipping around in the air he landed on his feet as he snarled up at the human standing where he was. And she was glowing!

  Standing he narrowed his eyes as he snarled. His skin was crawling already and he was a good fifty feet from her right now. She was strong there was no denying that. But it would make no difference to him. "Miko or not that will be the only hit you get on me." He then gave a whistle and jumped in the air landing on a fully transformed brown falcon. "Come get me if you think you can!"

  "That damned traitor."

  Turning to look up at Sanzo, Imae still had her glare. "You know him I take it?"

  "I do. He is actually Atsana's cousin."

  Turning to him fully as she made eye contact with him, she let a feral smile play on her face. "Well then Sanzo. I would you mind assisting me in my task?"

  Bending down as he let her put her foot in his hand, Sanzo had his toothy grin back on his face as he glared. "Oh with pleasure fair lady." Then then gave her a hard throw up in the air, and followed after her, changing into a black falcon as she landed on his back. Once she had her footing he shot off through the sky chasing after Reijiro and the bird he was on."

  X

  Standing behind Chiren still, Kiara clung to him as silent tears streamed down her face. She had never seen her sister that mad, but she has never went up against anyone like Reijiro either. "Oh may be careful."

  Turning to glare down at his grad-daughter, Kurosai growled and pulled her eyes as well as Chiren to him. "Kiara you better listen this time damnit. Uncle Senri will take you and Chiren to the safe room. You will stay there is that clear?"

  "Yes sir." But then she gasped as she looked behind him to see even more leopards coming over the wall and headed for them. "Grandpa behind you!"

  Turning to look behind him, Kurosai growled to see another flood of demons rushing the walls and at least thirty of them headed right for them. "Damnit!"

  But before anyone could do anything there was a loud roar in the sky, looking up, Kurosai smiled to see Ryu in his largest form soar out of the sky, blasting some demons and sending them flying with his ice, stopping to hover over his mount's pup with a snarl as he looked around.

  Turning, Kurosai grabbed Chiren by the collar and met his eyes. "You are going to protect my grand-daughter. I see a lot of your father and grandfather in you so you can. Right?"

  With a sharp nod as he took a deep breath Chiren stood fast. "I will." Then he gasped as he was thrown up to land on the dragon. Turning around in time to catch Kiara as she was thrown up to him.

  Not looking at his crying grand-daughter, Kurosai turned a hard glare to Ryu. "Keep them away from what is going on and safe Ryu." As the dragon took off pulling a startled scream from Kiara, Kurosai turned and growled as Senri stepped up next to him. Fifteen years ago, he would have been fighting against Senri, not with him. with a slight laugh as he unhooked his sword from his side, he glanced at the human next to him. "You know I never thought that I would fight back to back with a human."

  With a smile as he looked at the leopards that surrounded them, Senri laughed. "I never thought I would be as chummy with them as I have been since I mated Zokeni." Then he glared as he turned and put his back up to Kurosai's. "All the same. We both have those we want to protect right now. I watch your back and you watch mine?"

  "I think that is a good idea." Kurosai smiled then in a flash as the leopards charged they were fighting them off.

  X

  Charging out of the room when he felt Imae's barrier, Yoite raced through the palace. He ran outside just in front of the smoke with the rest. His only priority at first were to find the pups. He could smell Kiara with Kurosai and Senri and knew she would be safe. Now he had to find his Lord! He would stay with Yokiyo and their infant so he could do what he needed too.

  Rounding a corner that would lead to the stairs that would take him to the safe room, Yoite slammed into Shoji. When he turned to try and run with wide eyes he reached out and snagged him by the neck, pulling a yelp from him as he dug his claws deep inside his neck. "You!"

  Both hands on Yoite's wrist to try and get free, Shoji had his eyes closed. "Get off! Unless you want to die with that bastard lord of yours you better just let me go and run!"

  "Go to hell you bastard!"

  Laughing as he cracked an eye and looked down at the floor, Shoji had an evil smile. "You fool. Any moment now all the Lord's mates, the pups and anyone else in that so called safe room are going to go out with a boom!"

  His eyes glaring, Yoite gave a jerk on his neck making him yelp and stop struggling. 'A big boom? He planted a bomb!' Racing on, he pulled Shoji with him as he ran even faster toward the safe room. As he did he focused and he could smell something burning. The scent of the burn was moving.

  Reaching the safe room he threw the door open and just barely dodged Kiyoshi's blade as he kept his glare. "Get everyone out of here! This room is about to blow thanks to him!"

  Her face pale as she held her still sleeping son, Yokiyo's eyes went wide. Then she flinched when she heard the scream from Kiara. "What the hell!?"

  "Come. He is right." Kiyoshi then lifted his mate and everyone in the room fled out of it, across the hall, and out the window of that room. Just as everyone landed the palace shook as the bomb went off and left a big part of the palace destroyed!

  Looking around in a near panic to see w
hat was going on in the gardens, Yokiyo was starting to shake. Guards rushed to warm around her and everyone else. Looking up to see Hakkai there, she grabbed his arm. "Where are Imae and Kiara?"

  Looking back over his shoulder, Hakkai then looked up. "Lady Imae is in the sky with Lord Sanzo fighting Reijiro. Lady Kiara and Lord Chiren are on Ryu in the sky as well."

  With a nod Kiyoshi just walked away a few feet, most of the leopards were done for by now. He then turned his head up as he tried to find his daughter. 'Imae.'

  "Kiyoshi."

  Turning to see his father and Senri walking toward him from one way, his name again and Shone and Soichiro were coming toward him from another. Looking back at his mate he sighed. "You all stay with Yokiyo and the others." The then looked up and locked onto his daughter in the sky and walked away to watch it.

  Once he was there, Senri pulled Zokeni into his arms as she shook and shed silent tears. He then saw the look on his sister's face and pulled her and his nephew to his side. "Everything is alright now. We knew this was going to happen and Yokiyo you planned for it. Just settle down. It will be over soon."

  Nodding Yokiyo looked down at her son and sighed. "I know it is just that…." But then she gasped and let her eyes harden and narrow as she turned to let them fall on Shoji as Yoite still held him away from the group though. Turning she all but shoved her son into Takara's arms as she pushed her way through the throng of guards pulling all eyes to her. "You damned bastard! How dare you try and kill my pups!"

  With an evil smile for her as she stormed toward him, Shoji laughed. "You never should have had those pups. You shouldn't have ever been a Lady to start with. But that doesn't make any difference anyway. Lord Motoichi will take over all the lands and you and everyone else will fall before him. Even those pups of yours." Another laugh as he flinched when the guard dug his nails even deeper, he could feel the blood from his neck soaking his shirt. "And besides what can a human like you really do to me?"

  Her anger soaring now, Yokiyo flared her purification to the max, making Yoite yelp as he flinched, but he stood his ground. "I will show you exactly what someone like me can do to a bastard like you. You should know better than to try and hurt a mother's children. They have the tendency to go a little insane!"

  Shocking everyone, even her brother, Yokiyo reached out and pulled Yoite's sword from its sheath and slammed it down into his chest, right through where his heart would be, then funneled every ounce of purification into it, instantly turning him into dust. "Well he is done."

  Going back to get her son, Yokiyo looked up in the sky. She could see flashes of black and brown where Imae was with Sanzo fighting. But where was Kiara? Looking all over where she could see she sighed. "Where is she? Where is Kiara and Chiren?"

  "Ryu was keeping them away from this and safe." Giving a shrill whistle, Kurosai smiled as Ryu came out of no where and landed right next to him. Crossing his arms as a crying Kiara ran and jumped into her mother's arms he looked down at Chiren. "Good job Chiren." He then turned and touched the dragon's nose. "You too Ryu."

  Holding her sobbing daughter, Yokiyo sighed as she closed her eyes. She had her pups. Opening her eyes she looked around and growled. "The gardens are destroyed, but it at least looks like the only one left is Reijiro."

  Finding Imae in the sky, Kurosai nodded as he glared. "Only two are left. Reijiro and a traitor from the East that I am sure Sanzo is going to deal with soon as he can get him in his claws."

  X

  With a glare as once again, Sanzo and the other falcon dove at each other, snapping their beaks and scraping each other with their claws, Imae and Reijiro let their swords clang out only seconds later for them to be thrown apart and the chase was on again. Glaring as she looked down, Imae growled. "We can't keep this up like this. I need him on the ground!"

  With a hiss, Sanzo dove toward the ground where he saw Ryu was still with the others and motioned with his head for Imae. If she could get on Ryu and watch, they could get them apart from each other, she could handle Reijiro and he would deal with the traitor.

  Smiling as she leapt from Sanzo as he soared high into the sky, Imae let out a shrill whistle that brought Ryu up to her. "Keep on them Ryu. We have to get them apart."

  Shocking the falcon, Sanzo was on him instantly and locked his talons with him. Spinning as they fell back toward the ground. With Imae on their tail. As they got just about to the garden, Sanzo gave a mighty shake that sent Reijiro falling to the ground. Smiling as Imae fell from Ryu to put herself between him and her pack. With her father out there now, and everyone else she would be just fine. Letting go, he hissed as he raced after him as he tried to fly off.

  Once on the ground Imae moved instantly and put herself between her father and Reijiro. She knew she probably wouldn't be able to actually win and kill him. He was just as skilled as Shoji had said that he was. But she owed him for what he said about Kiara. "Father….."

  "Imae move."

  Her eyes narrowing as she kept them on the leopard, Imae gripped her katanas tighter. Her resolve was still absolute. "Father please let me. I have to at least try to do this. He…"

  "Imae?"

  "He called her a bitch right where Kiara could hear him. I can't just sit back and do nothing after hearing it. Seeing how it affected her." Taking another deep breath as she felt her father's eyes on her Imae stood tall. "I have to at least try.

  Stopping as he growled, Kiyoshi trained Imae the way he did so that she would be able to do exactly what she wanted to do. Taking a deep breath as he crossed his arms, Kiyoshi sighed. "Fine." But he was not going to let her get hurt. The second that it looked like she was going to be hurt, he was stepping in then and ripping his damned head off.

  A New Heir Chapter 89

  Walking in a circle with the leopard before her, Imae glared as she narrowed her eyes. She was going to try her best to kill him. But she wasn't going just let him get away with calling Kiara a bitch right in front of her. Her training with her father, grandfather, uncle, Umarus and countless others, and how she used her own purification different from her mother helped to build her up to be able to fight a fight just like this. Though she knew that this was nothing like when she fought Kado. He would be much stronger and much faster. But she wasn't going to let herself get hurt.

  Walking with the miko before him, Reijiro had a half-smile as he looked from Kiyoshi back to the human. Laughing he shook his head. 'She actually thinks she can get to me. I find it remarkable just how stupid humans can be.' "Foolish. Your father is a piece of work I tell you that one. Or at least the one you want to call father is."

  Flinching as she growled, Imae tightened her grip on her katanas even more so. "What was that?"

  "Letting you fight me all on your own. You won't touch me."

  Her eyes narrowed as she kept her stance Imae growled. "You said that before and got a hilt to the side of the head. I already proved that wrong."

  Glaring as he snarled, Reijiro was furious. She was nothing more than a weak human and yet talked to him like she as above him! "Why you bitch!"

  "You bastard!" Imae then shocked everyone, Reijiro most of all as she charged at him, transferring on the go where she wanted her purification focused at. She wasn't going to back down cause he ran his mouth!

  Flinching as she was to him in a few seconds, Reijiro dodged as she attacked with the twin katanas. And amazed at just how skilled she really was with them. But how was she as fast as she was! She was nearly as fast as he was and yet that shouldn't be possible!

  Stopping he held up his sword as he blocked a first attack, growling as he narrowed her eyes at her when he felt the vibration of how hard the attack was through his own body. Twisting he flung that katana back and blocked the other one, again feeling the vibration through his body. 'How the hell!?'

  But then his eyes went wide as he watched her free hand switch how she held her katana and bring up at him for a kill shot. Seconds before she connected he gave her a shove and shook his he
ad as she stayed on her feet as she slid backwards. If she would have been born a demon like the little one, he would have considered taking her home with him for him. "You know it is a real pity that you are nothing more than a mere human you know that."

  Already in her stance, Imae growled. "And just what in the hell does my race have to do with a damn thing right now?"

  Giving her a smug and sly smile, Reijiro laughed. "Oh just that had you really been born with a demon, with the blood of a demon lord running through your veins, you would have made a worthy mate for me."

  Her growl getting deeper, Imae never moved. "It wouldn't matter what race I am. The thought of mating with you, be it willingly or by force is enough to make me take my own life." Imae kept her eyes on him, ready for anything but she had to think of a way to land at least a blow on him. He was nothing more to her than a pompous ass that needed to be took down a few notches.