Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Giving him a half glare as she smiled, Yokiyo sighed. "Well for one I didn't ask Zokeni to wait for me. I asked the baby. I told him or her before we left that Aunt Yokiyo wants to be there and see them born and to wait as long as they could."

  When all she got was a strange look, Yokiyo laughed as she kissed his cheek with a bright smile. "Oh don't look at me like that. Everyone thought I was crazy when I was pregnant with both Kiara and Katana because of how I would walk around the palace having a full on one sided conversation with them." And not to pass up a chance to get her daughter and the bird, Yokiyo looked up and to the side at Sanzo and Imae. "And I be that Imae does the same thing that I did when she becomes a mother soon too."

  Her face flushing red again, Imae dropped her head to hide her face in her eyes. "Mother! Why is it everything has to come back to kids now that I have a mate. Who says I want one right off the bat?"

  With a bright smile and a giggle, Yokiyo kept her eyes on her embarrassed daughter. "Because that is the way life works. You grow up, mate or get married, have kids. I did it. I mated your father, and we had kids. Now as my kids all come of age, they will mate and have kids. If I have my way, by the time I am satisfied, Kurosai there will have four or five generations of grandkids."

  Dropping her head even more, Imae growled. "Mother!"

  Giggling, Yokiyo sighed. "Oh just get over it. You should have known long ago that I would be like this. Come on." But then Yokiyo once again laid her head on Kiyoshi's shoulder as she sighed. "I am just glad that for a long time to come, we can focus on our family and being together. Now that Motoichi is gone that is."

  "Indeed." Kiyoshi smiled as he kissed her forehead. Now that Motoichi was gone, any other threats wouldn't show up for them yet. They had time to raise and train Kiara and Katana. And possibly an eternity to look forward to spending with Imae. The want on both sides, the love on both sides is there. It could happen.

  X

  Jumping to her feet where she sat with Nyoko, Kiara gasped as she looked at the sky. "They are here!" Rushing away from the trees to see her parents landing, Kiara showed her age as she rushed in a streak of black across the gardens and leapt into her mother's crying arms. "Mama!"

  Hugging her daughter as tight as she could, Yokiyo was on her knees now as she smiled, yet the tears streamed down her face. She was home. "Oh my Sugar! I missed you so much you have no idea."

  Kiara just smiled as she hugged her mother as she forced her own tears to stay at bay. Normally she would argue and complain about the nickname, but not this time. This time she was just glad that they came home.

  Reaching out and pulling on Yokiyo's clothes, Nyoko had worried eyes as she stood there and her brother came up with her. "Mama and Papa. They are alright aren't they? Why didn't they come back with you?"

  With a nod for the little girl next to her, Yokiyo smiled. "They are just fine Nyoko. They are going to establish your father as Lord of the North, and then send for you and your brother when it is settled down. Until then you two are going to just stay with us for a while."

  Turning back to her daughter she eased her out of her arms and then kissed her forehead as she framed her face with a bright smile. "You were good for everyone right Kiara? You helped Grandma with your brother and looked after things here?"

  "Yes Mama." Kiara then looked up to see her father still standing there and leapt into his arms and hugged him. But spoke only loud enough for him to hear her as he wrapped his arms around her. "Papa."

  Still smiling, Yokiyo turned to see everyone making their way toward them. Katana in Sorae's arms as he reached out for her. Rushing to them she pulled her giggly son into her arms and rubbed her nose on his as she hugged him. "There is my big boy. Oh Mama missed you so much."

  Smiling, Sorae turned to see her mate there at her side and couldn't stop her own tears. "Oh I am so glad that you are back safe and sound."

  Keeping his mate in his arms, Kurosai smiled as he kissed the side of her head. "You and I both Sorae. You and I both."

  Turning to try and find Zokeni, Yokiyo couldn't see her right off the bat. Turning back to Sorae she gave her a worried look as her son started to chew on her hair. "What about Zokeni?"

  "Not yet."

  Turning from Sorae to see a very huge Zokeni walking toward them, Yokiyo sighed as she looked down at her son. "Mama is home. Papa is home. Zokeni is still pregnant. Now we can just relax for a little while."

  Standing with Senri off to the side some as Katana and Koto were passed around, Zokeni smiled as she leaned on him. She was glad that Yokiyo was home. Now she didn't have to have any extra stress on her if she did go into labor. She had grown especially close to her, just like if she were her blood sister. Just as she started to walk into the group she stopped as her body tensed with a small pain in her stomach. 'What was that?'

  His eyes fully of worry about her today, Senri looked down at her as held her steady and arched his eyebrow. "Zokeni are you alright?"

  Before she could say anything, Zokeni gasped as she closed one eye and a hand flew to the bottom of her stomach as a searing pain ripped through it. Grabbing Senri's hand with her other one she ground her teeth together. "Let's just say that I think Yokiyo made it home just in time."

  His eyes bulging, Senri just looked at her. "Wait you mean that you are…"

  Tensing again as another contraction ripped through her so strong her knees buckled and forced him to catch her. "Yes. It's time."

  Smiling as he held her up, Senri looked up at his sister. "Hey Yokiyo! Wanna give your mate his son for a while and come give mine a hand?"

  Looking up, Yokiyo gasped. The look on her face, the way she was holding her stomach. She made it home with only moments to spare it would seem. Prying her hair free from her son she tossed him in the air toward his father pulling a giggle from him as she and Sorae rushed to Zokeni on each side. "I tell you I got timing. Come on Zokeni let's get you to the birthing room." Looking up where Takara was with Yoite, Yokiyo smiled. "Takara. Go and get Retsuko for us and tell her to go to the birthing room."

  "My Lady." Takara then rushed through the halls to find Retsuko.

  With another wince as they tried to help her as fast as they could through the halls of the palace, Zokeni was finding it hard to see straight it hurt so much. "Oh man this hurts."

  Giving her a smile as they helped her to move through the palace, Yokiyo gave a small laugh. "I know but it is so worth it and you will be just fine." But the hearing footsteps close behind, Yokiyo turned and glared at her brother. "Don't you even think about it Senri. You just back off and wait until after she has the baby.""

  With a glare for his sister, Senri's eyes then went back to his mate. "Don't give me that Yokiyo. We can do…"

  Fixing her brother with a glare that made him flinch for a second, Yokiyo narrowed her eyes. "It is done this way even in the smallest and poorest human villages too Senri. You stay out."

  With a laugh, Kamui reached out and grabbed Senri by his neck as Yukani and Koto went in the room along with Imae, Takara and Retsuko as they got there. "Come on Senri. Let them do this and you can wear out the pacing path here in the hall. I did, Kiyoshi, Kurosai, his dad. It won't be the last either."

  Pulling free from him, Senri crossed his arms. "I don't get why we can't change it anyway." He then started his pacing back and forth as he waited to hear what was going on. But what caught him off guard, was he could feel excitement and fear from someone but didn't know who he was sensing it from.

  A New Heir Chapter 109

  A small groan, then Zokeni fell back with her head landing in Yokiyo's lap. Yukani and Koto to her right side, and Sorae on her left. She was glad she had so many in the room with her. But she never imagined that it would hurt like this. She knew in the end she would finally be a mother to a perfect baby. But unlike Koto, and Yokiyo, she didn't see the reason to curse Senri or to swear she isn't having anymore. "Oh man." She then tensed as another contraction ripped through her.

&nb
sp; With a smile as she patted the sweat off her brow, Yokiyo laughed. "You know Zokeni I do believe that you are the first one to have been in this room giving birth and not swore off any other kids, or threatened physical harm to your mate. I do believe that this is a first for not only everyone here but the South."

  With a smile as she took deep breaths, Zokeni nodded. "That's because I want more. I want as many kids as I can have with him." But then her eyes half closed. Knowing that at some point, Yokiyo and her kids, and her own children with Senri could be the only thing of him that she would be able to have."

  With a smile as she looked down at her daughter, Yukani nodded as she crossed her arms. "Yeah I am sticking with what I said. Koto is going to be an only child. But if that is what you want, I hope you get it."

  "Thank you." But then she gasped then ground her teeth together as her hands squeezed Yukani and Sorae's hands hard. "Oh man this one really hurts."

  Looking up at the midwife as she came to check her, Yokiyo blinked as she stood up. "How much longer does she have to go before she gets to push?"

  "Not long at all. She is nearly there." Looking out the window to see where the sun was on the horizon, she smiled. "I would say she gets to push before the sun is gone from the sky."

  "That's wonderful." Zokeni then laughed as she fell back in Yokiyo's lap and let up on Yukani and Sorae's hands. "I am really glad you made it back here for this Yokiyo."

  "Me too. I didn't want to miss you or Yukani giving birth. You were both there with me when I had Kiara and Katana. I wasn't about to miss the birth of your first baby each." Yokiyo then laughed as she whipped her brow. "And you get a plus that Yukani and I didn't get. And Imae won't get too so feel lucky on that one."

  "What's that?"

  Laughing, Yokiyo winked down at her. "The constant sensations of fear and worry from Senri. I know it would be a double edge sword if you bonded. Like we all hope for Imae. But that drove us insane."

  Looking up at both Yukani and Sorae nodding with closed eyes, Zokeni laughed as she tensed when another contraction hit her hard. "That is true isn't it. And I bet that is affecting him even more so that me."

  X

  Running his hands through his hair once again, Senri paced the same path, that not a couple months ago Kamui did as well. And just a few months before that Kiyoshi. But they had something that he didn't. He couldn't sense what Zokeni was feeling or how she was doing. And it was driving him insane!

  But the small streak of black made him stop and growl as he gave his niece a cross look. Yet again she tried to rush past everyone and get in the room. "What do you think you are doing Kiara?"

  Her head dropped, Kiara crossed her arms. "I want to be in there. I don't understand why they were going to let Imae go in but not me."

  Laughing as she reached out and grabbed her sister by the collar of her clothes and headed down the hall, Imae shook her head. "Age. I was grown when Katana was born. I was eight when you were born. Just like you now, and just like you when Koto was born. No going in. Let's go. Dusk training."

  "It still isn't fair." Kiara then growled as both Sanzo and Imae laughed at her as they were joined by Chiren and Nyoko.

  Shaking his head as he turned to pace again, Senri sighed. "Damnit what is taking so long?"

  "She is fine Senri you know this." Kamui sighed as he leaned on the closed door next to Kiyoshi. "Just like with Yukani and Yokiyo. You can feel…"

  Shaking his head as he turned crossed arms and a glare to Kamui, Senri sighed. "No Kamui I cannot. Zokeni is a water sprite demon. They don't mate for life like a dog, wolf, or falcon do. We aren't bonded to each other like you are Yukani or Kiyoshi is Yokiyo. I have no clue what she feels like right now and I think that is what is driving me nuts more."

  Watching as he went back to pacing, Kamui blinked at him. He hadn't thought of that. With the exception of the leopards, most everyone he knew mated for life and bonded. He never thought about the fact that Zokeni is a water sprite. "I am sorry Senri I never thought about it like that."

  A groan as he dropped down to sit on the bench that was in the hall, Senri rubbed his neck as he sighed. "I wish we did. Then we may have a chance to have what Yokiyo and Kiyoshi have. Or what Imae and Sanzo could have. But the fates are not going to be kind to us on that one I don't think."

  Before anyone could say anything, Senri stood and smiled before he started his pacing again. "Well at least she will have part of me in a sense with this kid and anymore that we can have right."

  Kiyoshi blinked at his mate's brother for a moment. He knew that the fate that he and Zokeni are destined to have could have very well been his fate. A half demon child and in fifty years or less, the loss of a mate. Glancing back at the door as he focused on his mate's scent he sighed. 'I guess we are lucky in that regard aren't we Yokiyo.'

  X

  "It is time My Lady. Let us see if you have a boy or a girl."

  Nodding Zokeni smiled through her tears as she waited for the next contraction to come. When the next contraction hit, Zokeni bore down as she pushed with all she had. When she finally ran out of breath she fell backwards. "Oh man this hard." But with everyone around her urging her on, Zokeni took a few deep breaths and pushed a second time. Then a third. Finally on the fourth, she fell back with a smile as she felt her child slid from her body.

  Seconds later tears rolling down her face when she heard a great healthy wail coming from her baby. "I did it. I did it." With Yokiyo hugging her from behind, Zokeni looked up at the midwife as she turned to her. "What did I have?"

  Gently laying the baby down in her arms with a smile, the midwife nodded. "You have a beautiful daughter."

  Taking her baby in her arms, Zokeni smiled as she laughed with tears rolling down her face. She was a mother! "And she is a half demon."

  Giving her an odd look, Yokiyo sighed. "Zokeni you knew that…"

  "I know Yokiyo. Like I said earlier. We didn't bond like you and Kiyoshi did an that's alright. I just hoped." But then looking up at her, Zokeni smiled. "But I will always have her with me as a part of him. So I will be alright."

  Looking back down at the baby, Yokiyo smiled as she opened her eyes. "She is a perfect mix of you two as well. She has your sea green hair, but she has her daddy's dark blue eyes." Hugging Zokeni once more Yokiyo smiled. "Oh she is perfect! What is her name again?"

  Smiling as her daughter turned her eyes to her, Zokeni laughed. "Her name will be Kishiko after my mother." She then turned and handed her up to Yokiyo. "I think it only right that his sister shows him his daughter."

  Taking her newest niece, Yokiyo smiled down at her as she yawned. "I think we can do that. Can't we little miss Kishiko." She then turned and walked toward the door. Knowing soon as she opened her brother was going to be there.

  X

  Once they heard the midwife tell Zokeni that it was time to push, Senri had frozen in place as he kept wide eyes on the door. Once he heard the wail of his baby he smiled and then relaxed as he hit his knees on the floor. No one around them looked worried so Zokeni must be alright. "Finally."

  Hearing the footsteps coming toward the door, Senri gasped as she jumped to his feet and rushed to the door as Kiyoshi stepped to the side. When it opened and he found his sister there looking up at him with a smile, his eyes focused on the small moving blanket in her arms. "Yokiyo…"

  Laughing a she handed her brother his daughter, Yokiyo sighed. "You have a beautiful little girl Senri."

  Carefully cradling the baby in his arms, Senri pushed the blanket from her face and smiled as a few tears misted in his eyes. She had her mother's hair and his eyes. "My Kishiko." He then walked on past his sister and to his mate who was just sitting up. "You were right. We have a girl."

  Taking her daughter in her arms Zokeni leaned into her mate's arms and sighed. "I knew I was right. But mostly I am just happy that she is healthy and perfect."

  Kissing the side of her head, Senri reached out and used the back of a finger to rub down h
is now sleeping daughter's face pulling a small smile from her as he and Zokeni laughed. "And perfect is exactly what she is."

  "Can I hold her Aunt Zokeni?"

  Looking up to see Kiara's dark blue eyes glued to her daughter, Zokeni laughed as she sighed. "Of course you can. But wait until we are back in our room. I want to be in a comfortable bed after this. Alright?" Laughing as she got a vigorous nod from her.

  Lifting his daughter from his mate, Senri turned and handed her off to Takara as she stood there waiting to help, then lifted his mate into his arms. "No time like the present then right?"

  X

  Standing off to the side, Yokiyo smiled warmly as she held her bigger, yet sleeping son in her arms next to Kiyoshi. There on the bed was her brother and his mate, Kiyoshi's sister and her mate, and two precious newborns. Kiara in the middle of all of it holding the newest baby. Nyoko at her side.