Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Blinking for a second, Sorae bounced her grandson as she sighed. "If that is what she wishes I do not mind." Turning to a maid as she brought more food out, she smiled. "Please have some food taken to Lady Ayame for me please."

  "My Lady."

  Looking up at Umarus as he stood behind her, Kiara blinked. "But what about Mother's friend? I don't smell her or her children anymore."

  Giving a smile as Sorae looked at him as well, Umarus sighed. "They left late last night for the village that they came from. She said they are just not used to the workings here like My Lady is. I suspect that being here full time was just too much for them. I am sure they will come to visit when they return."

  Now that everyone was seated and eating, with the wolves that caused the trouble on the opposite end, Yoite let himself relax a little. Though not too much as you could still feel the tension in the air. Each time he would glance at the wolves, Sume was in a glaring battle with either Kamui or Senri.

  But then his eyes focused on Kiara and smiled as he moved to stand behind where Kiyoshi would sit normally. Clearing his throat he pulled all eyes at the table to him. Making eye contact with first Isamu, then Nyoko, and finally landing on Kiara, Yoite smiled. "Lord Isamu. Lady Nyoko, and Lady Kiara. At the request of your father's, Master Umarus and I are going to start your training today while they are away. When would you like to start?"

  Her dark blue eyes wide as they could go and full of shock, Kiara could just look up at him like he had ten heads! Did her father really say that he wanted her to start her training while they were gone? "Wait really? My father said he wants me to start training before he gets home from the war?"

  Nodding with a small laugh Yoite sighed. "He did in fact My Lady."

  A bright smile and a small laugh crossed her face, but then she flinched as fear flew threw her eyes. What about what her mother would say about it? "But what about Mother? She has been so adamant that it wait until after this whole time."

  Crossing his arms, Umarus pulled all the kids eyes to him as he laughed. "Your mother did not fight it actually. Her only stipulation was that you use practice blades."

  Her eyes getting bigger and shinning as she gasped, Kiara jumped to her feet with an excited squeal. "That's wonderful! I would very much like to start right now Master Umarus."

  "I second that!" Isamu was also on his feet as he quickly nodded his head.

  Giving her granddaughter a stern look as she bounced her brother, Sorae reached over and touched her shoulder. "You can start after you eat your food. One argument about it and I will put a stop to it."

  Elbowing her son, Yuriko nodded as she closed her eyes. "I agree with that. That goes for you as well Isamu."

  Watching as Kiara and Isamu looked at each other then sat down and smiled as they ate, Nyoko wasn't as excited about training right now as they were. She wanted to train, but she wanted to wait until they got home. Looking up at Yoite and Umarus she blinked. "Do we have to start training now?"

  "You don't want too?" Chiren blinked down at his sister. He would have thought that she would have been elated to start training now. "I figured you would want to, especially with Kiara."

  Turning her silvery blue eyes to her brother, Nyoko blinked as she shook her head. "It isn't that Chiren." She then dropped her head as she sighed. "I just want to wait and train with Master Kenta and the kudachi remember."

  With a smile, Chiren looked up at the waiting Yoite and Umarus. "My sister likes the kudachi, and there is a dragon that is part of Uncle Tikae's army that told her when the war is over he would train her in it. That is all."

  "Oh honey that's fine you don't have to if you don't want too." Though Sorae sighed as she looked around at everyone else as they seemed to all relax. Well all but four of them anyway. Umarus, Yoite, Kamui and Senri were all still on edge and tense as they cast the occasional glare toward Sume, who seemed to have a constant glare for all of them. A look over at Koto, then down to the eating Katana, Sorae sighed as she smiled. 'I just don't understand how Kisa could have ever bonded to a wolf like he is. Especially with parents that were like Koraen and Kintare. I am sure that the way she is acting has them turning in their graves right now.'

  With a laugh, Yukani watched as Kiara, Isamu and Nyoko rushed through eating, and then flew outside with Yoite to start training. Nodding to Zokeni, she stood with Koto and joined her mate, Zokeni and Senri in following the kids outside to watch as they got started.

  Once Yukani and the others were outside, Sorae sighed as she watched as Sume, Kisa and Hiroko stormed out of the dining hall. "I swear I don't know what to think of that one." Looking down at Katana, Sorae laughed with a small smile. "We all fought against Yokiyo at first, yes, but his dislike for all humans in general is like nothing I have ever seen."

  Nodding as she leaned back in her seat, Yuriko sighed. "I know what you mean. I have no clue when it started either. He wasn't like this when he first started to court her. He was always nice, polite and respectful. Once they mated, Shone wasn't happy when she left to go and stay with him at his tribe, but was elated when just a few years after she had Hiroko they came back to the palace. But even then he wasn't like this."

  "Really? When did it start?" Sorae then winced as she got her head jerked sideways by a jerk on her hair thanks to her grandson.

  Moving to sit next to Sorae, Yuriko smiled as she took Katana and sat him on the table. Laughing as she pulled a round of giggles from him as she rubbed her nose on his. "It actually all started when I was pregnant with Isamu, and then exploded after he was born."

  Her eyes wide as she glanced behind her at the pup standing next to Kiara then back to Yuriko, Sorae couldn't believe what she heard. "Really? He started to act like this because Isamu was born?"

  Nodding and standing with Katana as Sorae did, she watched her son as he stayed focused on Yoite and sighed. "Yes. You are so lucky that Yukani and Kamui are not like Kisa and Sume. Hiroko actually told me while I was pregnant that she didn't want me to have a baby. When I asked her why, she said she just didn't. She then asked me if she could kill the baby when I had it. I have thought she was joking at first. But sadly she meant it."

  Exited the palace and making for a bench next to a pond, a little ways away from everyone else, Sorae paled. "How do you know she meant it?"

  Bouncing Katana on her knees, Yuriko laughed as he giggled. "A few days after I had him, we hadn't even sent out the announcement yet, he was sleeping and I laid him in his small bed next to mine, and turned my back to get a new kimono out of the closet. I turned around seconds later and found Hiroko there standing over him. Pushing a pillow into his face."

  Her eyes going wide, Sorae looked down at Katana and then to the palace before she visibly shuttered as she let a hand land on her chest. "Oh my that is absolutely horrible!"

  "I know. I nearly had a heart attack. I rushed to her and pushed her away from him, moving the pillow I picked him up and blew in his face as he tried to catch his breath for a very long moment. Finally he sucked in a big breath and started to cry. I asked her why she would ever think she could do such a thing." Shaking her head as she could still hear Hiroko's answer like piercing whistle through her head. "She told me that if she killed him, he wouldn't be able to take our attention, and we would be able to only pay attention to her like before."

  "What did you do?" Sorae then smiled down at Katana and took him back as he reached out for her.

  Leaning back and looking at her perfect boy, once again thankful that she hadn't hurt him at all that day. "Kisa and Sume say I over reacted. But I wouldn't let her have anything to do with him for a long time after that. I told her that day not to go near him and I slapped her."

  Nodding as she once again glanced at the palace, Sorae shivered again. "But that is understandable and not an overreaction. By then she was old enough to know what she did was wrong."

  Nodding as they both watched as Kiara and Isamu started to spar with each other, Yuriko smiled. "Exactly. That was when
Sume became the cross and sour thing he is now. He started to act like he had the right to do anything in the palace that he wanted to do. Including trying to scold Isamu for anything, even walking wrong. Shone however, put up with a lot of it because of Kisa, but put a quick stop to any of that."

  "That's what I don't understand. Why isn't Kisa saying anything to him about it, or trying harder to correct her daughter? Especially with as close as she and Shone were growing up, and raised the same way he was." Sorae than sat Katana down on the ground between her feet to let him play.

  "I don't know either Sorae. I think he warped her head those years he had her away from everyone. She tells us that he is right and lets him do anything he wants, and dotes on Hiroko just as much as he does, she can do no wrong in their eyes. Not even trying to kill her own nephew." Dropping her head Yuriko sighed as she let her shoulders slump. "No one can get through to her anymore either."

  Looking up in time to see Yoite go wide eyed and have to j ump out of the way of Kiara and Isamu's sparring match. Looking back over at Yuriko she smiled. "One thing at least. Once this is done, we can all at least have some peace between everyone ya know."

  Laughing as once again, Yoite had to jump clear of the match, Yuriko nodded. "Indeed."

  X

  Slowly opening her eyes as the sun shinned into them, Yokiyo blinked then held a hand up to block the sun. She was still in Kiyoshi's arms, and moving pretty fast still. Looking up at Kiyoshi she blinked. "How far did we make it?"

  "We are about a third of the way there. We will stop in a while and rest for the day and night. Tomorrow we will be there by afternoon. We ran hard last night and shaved some time off." He then looked down at her and sighed as slowed down to a normal walk. "You want to walk?"

  Nodding as he sat her on her feet, Yokiyo smiled. "I do. I need to stretch my legs, they have been curled like that since we left our room." She then looked over at Sanzo and didn't see Imae. "Well Sanzo is Imae on the other side of you or is she already awake and on Ryu?"

  "Yep I was on Ryu Mama." Imae smiled at the gasp that her mother made as she dropped from Ryu to land perfectly in Sanzo's arms. Once he sat her down, she moved and walked next to her mother. "I was actually up a long time ago and used Ryu to make sure that no one was lagging behind for Father."

  "Why does that not surprise me?" Yokiyo then laughed as she stretched her arms over her head with a smile. "I do have a question though. And don't not one of you make fun of me for it, or so help me I will flare my purification so high demons for the next hundred feet will jump out of their skins."

  Blinking as her mother looked at her, Imae hoped that this was not going to be something that would make her blush. Not in front of the entire Eastern and Southern armies! "What is that Mama?"

  Winking at Imae, Yokiyo crossed her arms. "So what is it going to be anyway? A flock or a pack?" When all she got was a shocked look she groaned. "A family of nothing but birds is a flock. A family of nothing but dogs or wolves is a pack. So when you have kids what are you going to call them? I mean having kids isn't that far off for you now Imae."

  Her face turning beet red, Imae dropped her head with a gasp. "Mother! Is this really the time or place for this conversation?"

  Blinking at her daughter, Yokiyo was serious. "What? Come on Imae you know when I get something on my mind I don't care who is around and I will say or ask anything I want. You do plan on having kids right? I mean you don't really think that your father and I are going to wait for Kiara and Katana to grow up before we have grandchildren, with one mated daughter already. No way."

  "Mother!" Imae dropped her head even more, but then turned an angry glare on her mate as he laughed. "Don't you even laugh at me Sanzo. She isn't only talking to me, but you as well."

  Shaking his head, Sanzo laughed as he winked at Imae. "But she was looking right at you so, yeah not talking to me I would assume."

  Looking up at him, Yokiyo glared as well. "I was asking the both of you. Don't think you are getting off scot free you daft old bird. Without your contribution to this, we can't be grandparents yet. You are just as much part of the baby making process as Imae is, so you are in this conversation."

  Blinking as he felt a small blush rise to his cheeks, he never thought that this would come up with the miko. He knew she was outspoken and defiant but not like this! "Ummmmmmmm, I respectfully opt out of the conversation thank you."

  Crossing her arms, Yokiyo growled as she turned her eyes away from him. "Don't think that because you are Lord of the East that you can just opt out of it. You are my daughter's mate now, which makes you part of this pack. So you are as much at my mercy as Imae is."

  Throwing his head back as he laughed, Shone looked over from where he walked on the other side of Yokiyo and Imae to the bird. "You are sure you are ready for this Sanzo? It is not going to get any easier."

  Laughing, Sanzo kept his eyes closed as he rubbed the back of his head. "I admit that this is going to take some getting used too. But I will be just fine."

  "That was a very good answer Sanzo." Yokiyo then turned serious eyes back to both of them. "So really. What do I tell anyone who may ask. Are you going to have a flock or a pack? Imae was raised as a dog demon pup remember."

  With a sigh, Sanzo smiled sweetly at his mate. She hated talking about relationship things with her mother, and now he was finding out exactly why. And knew for sure what Kurosai meant when he told Imae to just wait until her mother was back to normal. "You know Yokiyo I couldn't care less. They will be our children, and so long as they are healthy and happy I don't care what they are called. I will let Imae figure that one out."

  Turning her glare back to him, Imae crossed her arms. "Gee thanks."

  Laughing as he gave her a smile but a serious look. "Well you are going to be their mother, and like your mother said, you were raised as a dog demon would. It would be something even demons would have to talk about when the time came." Sanzo then winked at her as he gave a nod. I just figured that since you would be the one giving birth to them, you would get to pick if they are part of the pack or flock."

  Dropping her head again, Imae groaned. She knew that she and Sanzo would have to talk about this at some point. But figured it would be just the two of them, alone, in the East, and after she got pregnant. Looking up at the blue sky and the clouds, Imae sighed. "Well if that is the case then I think they will be both. Pack and flock."

  "Both?"

  Hearing the multiple voices, Imae smiled as she turned to her mother. "That's right. I will always be part of Father's pack. But I am also going to have my own flock with Sanzo. My flock will still be part of Father's pack. Both."

  "I guess that I can deal with that." Yokiyo then gasped as Kiyoshi lifted her into his arms, and Sanzo pulled Imae to him and lifted her into his. Looking at her mate as he started running. "I could have walked longer than that you know Kiyoshi."

  "I know. However, you can't keep up with us at this pace. We will run until midday and then make camp." Looking down at her, he half smiled. "Unless you want Motoichi to beat us there that is?"

  Smacking him on the chest then wrapping her arms around his neck, Yokiyo sighed. "Oh just shut up and run already."

  A New Heir Chapter 104

  With a glare, Motoichi crossed his arms as he reached the peak. There stretched out on the other side of the valley was the massive army of the East, South and West. They were the ones who were responsible for the death of his son and only cub. And with them already there as he reached the pass, he lost the element of surprise. "Damnit all to hell. How did they know when I would move?"

  Dressed for the first time of her life for battle, though still the picture perfect vision of a Lady, Rinako moved to stand beside her mate. Reaching out, she touched his arm gently and smiled at him, though her eyes shined with the same frustration she saw in his own. "My Lord please. Remember you have to keep calm so you can control the flow of battle. To let the fact that they are waiting on us upset you into doing some
thing rash would not bode well for us."

  Forcing his body to relax, Motoichi closed his eyes as he sighed. She was right about that one. Pulling her close to him around the waist he opened stern eyes to her. "You are right. I do also think that we will force them to be the one to start the fighting. I will not make another move and prolong it. However." Turning to one of his men he had a sadistic smile. "Send him, and a welcoming party to greet them."

  "My Lord!"

  X

  With a sigh as she lay on her futon, Yokiyo looked up at the ceiling of her tent as she saw flashes of Kiara and Katana flying through her mind. Even Koto, and a pregnant Zokeni. She wanted to be back with them. Not in the middle of a war, that she knew they were going to win anyway.

  "Yokiyo?"

  With a sigh, Yokiyo sat up as she let Kiyoshi sit down next to her and looked down at her lap. "I will be alright. I was just thinking about everything going on back at home right now." Leaning fully on him as his arm went around her waist she sighed. "Just ready for this to finally be over so we can go home. Even with the sad thing to come once we get there."