by Max Jager
A New Heir Chapter 99
"So can you explain the feelings to me again Yokiyo I am still not sure that I understand it." Izumi sat with a now smiling and chipper Yokiyo in the court yard. She had no clue just how much different her friends life has been. But now she is finding out the strange things she can do now that she couldn't do before Kiyoshi.
Laughing Yokiyo winked at her. "It is just one of the many things that have happened that are not normal. Even by demon standards. It happened first when I was pregnant. Kurosai went on the rounds for Kiyoshi, and I kept getting a bad feeling about Sorae. I finally got Kiyoshi to send Umarus to check on her, and there was a small force that were planning to try and attack her when there were few guard and Kurosai and Kamui were not there either."
She then looked up at the sky as she sighed and leaned over on her friends. With the way that Imae knows how she gets, her pups would be back today. And she couldn't wait to get her hands on all three of them and know for herself that they are safe. "I really can't wait for the pups to get back here already."
Laughing as she looked up at her kids, then back down to Yokiyo, Izumi smiled. "Demons or not I doubt that they will be here today. Maybe the middle of the night but I would put my bet on tomorrow Yokiyo. It takes at least two days for demons running to get from here to the West."
Winking at her friend as she sat up, Yokiyo shook her head as she smiled. "Imae won't take that long and neither will Ryu. They both know how I get when I get my feelings like I did. You saw me. I was like that until I am sure they were safe with Imae."
With a sigh, Izumi nodded. "So let me ask, is that the only thing different with your bonding with Kiyoshi? I mean already like you said, even by demon standards it is not normal."
"Well I get my happy ending, and there are several other things that have happened that are odd." Blinking as she looked back at Izumi to see her half glaring. "What?"
"First of all what do you mean by you get your happy ending? And second what sort of things are you talking about that you can do?" But when Yokiyo burst into a fit of laughter, Izumi glared. "What it is a legit question."
With a nod as she looked behind them to see Kiyoshi talking to the men that were going to stay there and help guard her pups and the palace she smiled as she sighed. "Just like it sounds. I get my happy ending. It happened so fast that we had to have it pointed out to us. You see I knew when I mated him that any kids I would have had would still be kids when I died of old age. I was ready for that. But with all the strange things that are going on in our bond, after Reijiro attacked, we went to see a demon named Kai. He told us that our want to be with each other, allowed me to truly bond with him, and I took on his life span."
"You did what!?" Jumping to her feet, Izumi for a second drew all eyes to her as she gaped down at her friend with an odd look for a moment. Blushing she sat down as she shook her head at her giggling friend. "What kind of other things happened than the feelings and bonding?"
Looking up at the clear sky, Yokiyo blinked as she thought about it. "Well the first thing we noticed was that just like a typical dog demon I could sense his moods and feelings. But the first thing was when….." Dropping her head as she let her eyes half close and she put her hands on her once again flat stomach. "Two weeks after we mated the first time, we realized that I was pregnant. I was pregnant the entire presentation that presented me to the other Lord's. I even used my purification. After it was all done he left to go do the rounds. But once he got so far away from me, I collapsed in a mess of sobs and pain. They rushed to get him back as soon as they could, but I lost the baby. Again when I was pregnant with Kiara, I wanted to find him for something and focused on where he would be in my head. Next thing I know, Sorae tells me that my eyes went unfocused and crossed, my head fell to the side and my eyes dulled out. To me it was like I could see him in my head. I could sense his mood, see where he was and who was with him. Things that even demons can't do."
Nodding as she took a deep breath of her own, Izumi turned her eyes to her kids. "I agree. That so so far from normal it is crazy. I am sorry that you lost the baby still. You never did tell me exactly how when I came to be with you when you had Kiara. But I figured you would in your own time."
Laughing as she winked at her, Yokiyo smiled. "It's alright. But Kai said that it happened so fast that not even Kiyoshi or Kurosai could notice it. And not only did I adopt his life span but I am linked with his is a better way to do say it. And I will get to live to be a grandmother, or even a great grandmother who knows."
"Linked?"
Crossing her arms, Yokiyo nodded. "That is one of two downsides to this. If he dies, I die. If I die, he dies. That and not being being able to be too far apart." But before Izumi could say anything, Yokiyo jerked her head up as her eyes went wide when she heard a roar. It was Ryu! Rushing out from under the cherry blossom trees she smiled as Ryu landed and a streak of black raced for her. Stooping down, she threw her arms around Kiara as she jumped in her arms and wrapped her little arms around her neck. "Oh my sugar!"
While she hated the nickname, Kiara wasn't going to fight it this time. She just hugged her mother. She could call her anything that she wanted to right now, all Kiara cared about was that she was back with her and her father.
Looking up to see a smiling Takara walking toward her with a giggling and happy Katana, Yokiyo smiled as she laughed. "And there is my handsome boy." Sitting Kiara down on her feet now she smiled down at her. "Honey you remember Mama talking about my friend Izumi and her children right?" When she nodded, Yokiyo pointed to Izumi. "That is her."
Turning to see Kazuo and Hana walking up to them she pointed to them. "That is Kazuo and Hana, her children. Hana is only a few weeks older than you, and Kazuo is the same age as Isamu. But remember to be nice and include them alright?"
Nodding as she looked up into her mother's teary eyes, Kiara blinked. "Where is Father?"
Looking as she pointed to where Imae and Sanzo were talking with him, Yokiyo sighed. "He is right over there with your sister." Once she took off, Yokiyo turned and pulled her son into her arms. "And I hope you were a good boy."
Turning back to Izumi as she smiled down at her son, Yokiyo welled with pride. "And this is Katana. We aren't exactly sure where the marking comes from, guessing because Kiyoshi has one by each eye."
Reaching out and doing what she did with her own children, Izumi tapped him on the chin and smiled as he squealed with a laugh. "Oh he is precious Yokiyo." She then gave her friend a half glare. "And a demon as well. I was amazed that Kiara was, but two of them? You neglected to tell me that."
Rubbing her nose on her son's pulling another chorus of giggles, Yokiyo laughed herself. "I am just so used to everyone knowing now it slipped my mind. It has to do with the bond that we share. Come on let's go join them over there so we aren't the odd balls out. And besides Katana loves to hear his daddy talking. Just don't tell Kiyoshi I said that he hates it when I say daddy. He would prefer Papa or Father, but I do it anyway when he isn't around."
Just as she reached her mate and daughter she got that sudden rage as she heard his low growl. Following his eyes, she found him glaring at a wolf pair with a cub. "Well who are they or you just going to growl."
Looking down at his mate, Kiyoshi didn't hide the glare in his eyes. "That is Kisa, Shone's sister and her mate and pup."
Flinching, Yokiyo glared at them as well. "So that is who had Isamu thinking bad about all humans and made him say those things to Kiara. He looks like the type."
"Anyway Mama…." Imae sighed as her parents eyes came back to her. "It is a little deeper than that now. Kiara tell Mama and Father what happened with them in the West."
Looking up at her parents, Kiara blinked. They both looked like they could blow up the world already and she hadn't said anything yet. After a moment she took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and still clung to her father's clothes. "Hiroko said it was our fault that leopards and wolves were attacking. Said they would g
o away if they got what they wanted. She moved for Katana. I put her on the floor."
Her entire body tense, Yokiyo closed her eyes as she took a deep breath so as not to go off half cocked. All but shoving Katana into Imae's arms. "The leopards and the wolves must have been the reason for my feeling."
"Probably. Master Yoite took care of the leopards, and Shone helped him when we got there. Sanzo and I took out the wolves." Imae then blinked and smiled when Yokiyo turned and headed for Sume and Kisa. 'Show them Mama.'
Reaching the small family of wolves, Yokiyo knew all eyes were on her as she glared up at Sume. Since you are mated to Shone's little sister, you are welcome in this palace during this time of war. While you are here, stay away from my pups. The second we return, the three of you leave."
Growling down at her, Sume clenched his hands. "Only the Lord of the palace can place rules on someone. Not some lowly, filthy human retch."
Ignoring the threat, Yokiyo kept her glare up into his eyes as she took another deep breath. "You will keep your daughter away from mine. Kiara will be told next time not to relent. Understood?"
"I told you bi…" But just as Sume took a step toward her, he growled as he was flung backwards as she touched him, through a tree and slamming into the palace wall.
Putting up a barrier around Kisa and the pup to stop them, Yokiyo advanced on him. "You will keep your hands and mouth off of my children. Your mate will keep her hands and mouth off of my children. And your daughter will keep her hands and mouth off of my children. Do we understand each other?"
With a snarl, Sume jumped to his feet and tried to swing on her, but instead his fist hit a barrier, and then he froze when he heard another snarl as a resounding boom echoed around him. Turning to see Kiyoshi there with bleeding eyes and his sword against the barrier that he was in. With a growl as the miko moved and let Kiyoshi pull her into his arms as he started to calm down, Sume glared. "Fine. But if your daughter starts with mine, she won't relent either."
Feeling him calming down now, Yokiyo laid a hand on his as she kept her glare with Sume. "My daughter knows better than to start the fight. But she will finish it." She then turned to Hiroko and Kisa with the same hard glare. "We do have an understanding as well do we not Lady Kisa? Hiroko?"
Clinging to her mother, Hiroko just looked at her with wide eyes. All she wanted was to get t her father. Nodding her head quickly she took a deep breath. "Yes I understand." Then the second that the barriers were down, she let go of her mother and raced to her father, beating her mother by just a few seconds. "Papa are you alright?"
"Not now Hiroko." Sume growled at the miko as she walked away from them. She really was stronger than he gave her credit for. But all she did with this little s how was piss him off. No one treated him or his daughter like they have been treated the last twelve years and gets away with it. 'She will learn that the hard way. When she comes home and no pups are waiting for her.'
X
As she sat in her room with her family, Yokiyo was still made and fuming over the way that her pups were treated. But hearing the giggle of her son, Yokiyo looked over and couldn't help but smile as she watched Kiyoshi once again trying to pry his hair loose as Katana jerked on it as he shoved it in his mouth. With a small laugh she pulled glaring ice blue eyes to her. "Are you having trouble there Kiyoshi?"
Finally for the millionth time Kiyoshi freed his hair from his son and handed him to his mother. "You seem to be the only one that he doesn't do that too."
"Oh he tries love. I am just better at not letting him get my hair than most are." When all she got for an answer was a glare and a growl, Yokiyo couldn't help but giggle. "Don't give me that look you dog. At least he is playful. When Kiara was this age when you touched her she wouldn't do anything but look at you."
"Mama."
Pushing Katana back into his father's arms as he growled at her, Yokiyo reached over and pulled her daughter into her arms and hugged her. "Oh it's alright it wasn't a bad thing. But when you were tiny, even the night you were born. If I held you, or Imae, or Takara, or Grandma, Grandpa. Anyone. Especially Grandpa you were just like your brother. Laughing, and playing. But the second your father picked you up or touched you, you stopped doing that and just lay there looking at him. Like you were a picture, quiet and focused taking everything in. The only movement you made was when you would breath."
Blinking up at her mother with wide eyes. "Really? I did that?"
With a smile, Kiyoshi freed his hair again and laid his son on the bed watching as he giggled and rolled over to his stomach. "Indeed. Regardless of what was going on or what you were doing, if I touched you, you stopped and just focused on me. Sometimes I do wish your brother was like that."
Smiling as well, Kiara moved to her brother on the bed and tickled him pulling a chorus of laughter from him. But then she looked up at her parents and let her head fall to the side. "Well where do we get how we are from?"
Not entirely sure how to answer that, Yokiyo looked up as she thought for a moment. She had never really stopped to think about where Kiara and Katana got certain things they did from or if it was their own. "You know honey I don't know where you get that from. From what Uncle Senri told me I was never like that, nor was he. Grandma told me that your father wasn't like that, nor was Yukani. I wonder….."
"Grandpa."
Laughing as she moved so she could lean into Kiyoshi's arms, Yokiyo shook her head. "No. According to Umarus your Grandpa was hell on feet when he was a pup. Even worse than your father was. Unless it came from your great grandparents, or my parents I don't know who you got it from actually. I never barely remember Papa's parents, and Mama's died when she was little."
Nodding as he looked at his pups play, Kiyoshi sighed. "There is only one that could answer that about my grandparents. They were thousands of years old by the time my father was born. Kuryukuku, the elderly former head of the Shinigami. He would have known my grandparents as p ups." Reaching out and scooping up his son and dumping him into his mother's arms, Kiyoshi sighed. "Right now it is late. Sleep."
Looking over as she saw Kiara moving out of the corner of her eye, Yokiyo half glared. "Where do you think you are going young lady?"
Turning wide and blinking eyes to her mother, Kiara didn't know what her mother was talking about. "Father said that it is time to sleep. I was going to go and…"
Shaking her head as she lay Katana on the bed next to her as Kiyoshi moved. "No you don't. You are going to stay right here with us. It won't be much longer before we have to leave you and go to war, and until you and your brother are right here in this bed with us."
Smiling brightly, Kiara dove back in the bed to lay between her brother and her father. Curling up against her brother and holding his hand, she let out a sigh as her parents draped their arms over them. She would never say it but she loved the feeling. Just now realizing how tired she really was, Kiara gave a yawn as she let her eyes flutter shut the same time as her brother.
Propping herself up on one elbow, Yokiyo couldn't help but smile as a few tears fell from her eyes as she watched her pups. Feeling concern and eyes on her she didn't even look up. "I am just happy. I get to watch them grow up and see what their kids look like. And who knows once this war is done, maybe a couple more pups could come. We have the time to wait for it to happen now."
"Indeed." Kiyoshi smiled sweetly as he let his eyes land on his daughter, than to his son, and finally at his mate. Moving his hand from over the pups he ran the back of his fingers down her face before running them through her hair.
Leaning into his hand for a moment then laying down as she moved closer to her son, Yokiyo sighed. "Everything is coming together it would seem. Imae is happy, I get my happy ending. There is every chance in the world she will too. And your sister and my brother are both going to be parents finally."
"Indeed." Laying down himself, Kiyoshi kept his eyes glued to her own. The thought of more pups with her was delightful. Though not too soon from now at
least. When he first laid eyes on her, he never thought that in just twelve short years, he would have two demon pups with her, love her, and she seemed to have changed the luck for the better for his entire pack. He had thought that a miko in his palace was a curse. 'Now I know you will forever be a blessing for this palace, and this pack.'
A New Heir Chapter 100
With Umarus's arm around her to hold her firm, and her very pregnant daughter in Kamui's arms, Sorae let her worried eyes focus on the palace that she could now just barely see. All clinging to her mate as he raced them home. She was worried about her grandchildren! They all learned when one of Yokiyo's feeling prevented an attack on her personally, that they are to be took serious and never ignored.
With a small smile as she clung to her mate who kept her still because of the baby, Yukani sighed. "It's alright Mama. Don't worry so much. They are fine I am sure." When her mother looked at her, Yukani winked at her and laughed. "You know Imae would never let anything happen to them, and Yoite and Senri are there with them too. I bet they don't even have a scratch on them when we get there."