by Max Jager
Laughing, Sanzo then turned and headed back toward the palace. "I see. Well come on then. Imae and Torakus are with Ayame in the library."
"Wait what? With Ayame?" looking at him with a wide look as Katana and Kiara fell into step at her side, Yokiyo didn't know what to think about that one. "I know when we were here two years ago, and in all her letters she said it was all good between them now. But are they really getting along that well?"
Laughing as he looked over his shoulder at her, Sanzo smiled. "The night that Imae and I arrived here, Atsana made his move and they mated. Literally within weeks, everything was great between them and they are close as sisters now." Just as he reached the palace he stopped, making the rest of them stop as he looked down. "Kiyoshi. About Imae and….."
Closing his eyes as he couldn't stop the smile, Kiyoshi sighed. "Do not fret over it. She has done it."
Gasping as his eyes went wide, Sanzo nearly fell over as he turned and looked at him with shocked eyes. "Say it again?"
Opening his eyes, Kiyoshi sighed. "She has bonded the same as her mother and yet different at the same time. Her aging has slowed just like with Yokiyo. But something is different at the same time. I would say that everything is like ours, but you don't have to limit how far apart you are from her."
His eyes misting over with tears, Sanzo looked down as he smiled a big smile. "So I really don't have to try and prepare for a life without her then?"
Shaking her head side to side, Yokiyo laughed. "Nope. She gets her happy ending just like I do."
Crossing his arms as he laughed and smiled, Sanzo shook his head. "She will be elated." He then looked up at Kiyoshi and laughed. "You get to tell her. She will love it hearing it from me, or anyone else. But I think for her it would mean more coming from you."
"Right."
X
Looking up as the door opened Imae laughed as from behind Sanzo rushed a streak of white and black. Smiling as the slid to a stop next to her. "Kiara. Katana, boy you got big."
Looking down at her nephew, Kiara had wide eyes. That was why they were talking about 'happy endings' as her mother would put it. He as a full-blooded demon! Just like Kiara and Katana were! "What is his name Imae?"
Laughing, Imae looked down at her son and how he had wide eyes for Kiara and Katana. "We named him Torakus after his grandfather. But where are Mama and Father?"
"Right here Imae. Surprise."
Looking up, mais' eyes went wide to see both her parents holding a new born each! "You had twins!?"
Nodding, Yokiyo moved across the room. "Yes we did." But then gasped as she went wide eyed but smiled even bigger. "Oh Imae he is absolutely precious."
"Thank you, but Mama. Why didn't you tell me that you were pregnant too?" Her eyes now on the pup in her mother's arms, she sighed. He was a half demon with white hair and black frosted tipped ears and hair. "Half demon this time?"
Carefully exchanging babies, Yokiyo laughed. "Yes. I guess with two at a time I just couldn't have demons for both. That is Seiji and your father has Santrix. Seiji has your great grandmother's eyes and marking colors, she has your father's iced blue eyes and marking colors. She has black hair with white frosted tips."
Yokiyo then looked down at her first grandson and laughed with a big smile as he giggled. "And look at you. You are a demon as well." Looking up at Imae, she half glared with the same smile. "We weren't told that."
"Well Mama we wanted…." But then she looked up as her father handed her down her new sister and took her new brother. "And this is Santrix?"
Nodding Kiyoshi smiled as she turned her eyes to his daughter, and he let his eyes linger on his demon grandson. That would be what done it. He didn't care what anyone said, it was the strength that Yokiyo had to birth not one but two demon children that bonded her to him. And his daughter was clearly just as strong as her mother.
Looking down at her, Kiyoshi smiled. "Imae." As she looked up at him with blinking eyes he reached out with his free hand and laid it on her head. Something he now was elated he got to do forever. "It happened."
Gasping as her eyes went wider than they had been in her life, Imae felt tears start spilling down her cheeks. It happened?! "Really? Like I really bonded like…."
"Yes."
Letting her tears fall freely, she all but shoved her new sister into Ayame's arms. Turning Imae picked up her son from her mother and held him close as Sanzo came up behind her and wrapped his arms around them both. "Oh Papa that is the best news I think I have ever heard in my entire life."
Her own eyes misting, Ayame sat there holding the small pup as she watched her brother, Imae and nephew. She didn't have to worry about helping everyone heal after all. She got to keep her best friend and new sister for a very long time.
Looking at the smiling face of Ayame as she watched Imae and Sanzo, Yokiyo let her eyes fall down to her daughter, and how tenderly Ayame held her. When Imae went to her and Sanzo took Santrix, she smiled as the two hugged each other with smiles and tears. "The two of you really have gotten close haven't you?"
With a nod, Imae looked at her mother and smiled. "Yes. Once she was mated, and understood finally that it wasn't all about lust or anything like that, we had a long heart to heart talk. Everything grew from there. Now we couldn't be closer to each other."
Laughing as she stood with them, Yokiyo nodded. "That's good. Now you can all be one big happy family."
"Imae can I hold him please?"
Looking down at her sister, Imae laughed. "Of course you can hold him Kiara. Sit down right here. Here you go, remember like with Katana mind his head."
After Imae took her sister from him, Sanzo moved and stood back watching as the babies were passed around from one to the other, including Kiara and Katana, he couldn't help but smile as his eyes stayed focused on his mate. He would get to keep her forever. "You know Kiyoshi. I wonder what is going to happen to the country now?" When all he got was an odd look, Sanzo laughed. "Two immortal mikos with demon kids. Two of them for sure can use purification and who knows about the third. It could get interesting."
With an odd look as he also focused on his mate, Kiyoshi fully relaxed himself. "Indeed. Whatever happens with the country, at least we know one thing. We both get to keep what is precious to us for a long time yet to come."
Nodding, Sanzo leaned against the wall. "And for that I will be forever thankful for."
"As will I Sanzo. As will I."
~ 8 ~
Branching Out Chapter 113
Shaking her head as she glared down at all four of her pups, Yokiyo didn't know what to do right now. She was both furious and shocked at what they had done to Hiroko this time. What with the way that Kisa has been since Sume died and she moved back to the palace with her, she just knew once she found out that it was going to be another argument. "Really Kiara? What possessed you to do such a thing? I know you don't like her but still you didn't have to do that."
With a sigh Kiara looked up at her mother then down to the floor as she let her shoulder's slump. "I know that mother. I hadn't done anything and I know you told us to be patient with her because of what happened to her father. But she really did start it. And I just finished it. Again."
Blinking as she relaxed some, Yokiyo kept her eyes on Kiara. "What do you mean Kiara? How did she start it?"
Pulling his mother's eyes to him, Katana now had his father's trade mark emotionless mask as well. "What hasn't she done mother. She tried to trip me this morning as I walked past her in the garden. But when Kiara reacted, she reached out and pulled on Santrix's ears. Her yelp made Kiara do what she did."
Reaching up as she rubbed the sides of her head, Yokiyo was almost at her wits end. She never had this much trouble out of her pups unless they were here in the West. She knew that Hiroko didn't like her, or anything to do with her pups, Imae or anything. The only reason why she didn't try to bully or push Kiara around was because Kiara tried to rip her arm off twice when Katana was an infant. It has been twenty four
years and the pup still held a grudge against them and tried to torment her pups whenever she could.
Turning back to her pup Yokiyo sighed as she let her shoulders slump. "Just please no more stunts like this. And Kiara, spinning her by her hair and throwing her in the pond was a bit much and you know it. We are not at home, there you should be on your absolute best behavior. Be protective of your brothers and sister, but nothing like that again. We were invited here by Shone and Yuriko to see their daughter. Don't act like you are the ten year old that was here before."
Nodding, Santrix smiled up at her mother as her ears perked up. "Alright Mama. Next time she does something to us we will go and tell Uncle Shone about it."
Tensing, Yokiyo shook her head as she crossed her arms again. Shone was already worried enough about how Kisa and Hiroko were going to react to the fact that they had a little girl. After all Hiroko did try to smother Isamu as a pup. "No honey I don't think that would be such a good idea. From now on, I want you, Seiji and Katana to either stay with Kiara, myself or your father. That way she won't be tempted to do anything, no extra stress for Shone and Yuriko. And you won't have to worry about what might be waiting for you around each corner."
"You are referring to my daughter are you not miko?"
Turning with a start, Yokiyo found a very angry Kisa standing in her door way glaring back at her. Instinctively she put herself between Kisa and her pups. "I was. You know yourself she takes delight in seeing what she can get away with when it comes to my pups."
Growling, Kisa stood her ground as she glared at this miko. She would live forever and sully everything in the South along with her retched kids. However she was now doomed to suffer without Sume. And raise Hiroko in a way that he would be proud of all alone. It wasn't fair. "Just like with the war against Motoichi. Do not show disrespect to my daughter in the home she lives in miko."
Her eyes narrowing, Yokiyo growled herself. "And just how long were you listening to the conversation?"
Turning her nose in the air, Kisa didn't move. "Long enough."
Tapping her foot, a nervous habit she has picked up when she is angry. "So then you heard what she did to my children? Had your daughter not been a brat to my son back then, and my twins now. Kiara would have never had reason to touch her then or now."
Her eyes narrowed her eyes as she bore her teeth at the miko. "I heard what she did to them. This is her home. She can do as she wishes here. They don't belong here."
Flaring her purification, Yokiyo was more than a little irritated with this wolf before her. Shone was so kind and gentle. Kisa, though his sister, same parents, and raised together was the total opposite of her brother. She was just as vindictive as her pup was, and it had nothing to do with Sume being her mate. "Well now Kisa let me go and ask your brother? Tell him what she has done to my pups since we got here yesterday. Do you think he will just let it slide and tell me what you just did? That she can do as she wishes since she lives here?"
Breathing hard now, Kisa snarled at the miko. Fighting the urge to rip her damned head off. "You dare tell my brother a thing about my daughter and you and Kiyoshi won't live to see the South again."
"Really Aunt Kisa?"
Snapping out of her rage when she heard Isamu behind her, Kisa turned a gracious smile down at him. "Isamu. I didn't see you there. How have you been today?"
Rolling his eyes, Isamu crossed his arms as he closed them. "What did she do this time? Ever since the war with Motoichi, and even more so since Uncle Sume died, you spend far too much time defending everything that my cousin does. Things she shouldn't do. And mostly when Kiyoshi and Yokiyo come to visit with Mother and Father."
Reaching out as she patted him on the head, Kisa kept her sweet smile. She saw how everyone was when he was born. Even more so when she had to ask to come back after her mate died. Her brother didn't even ask her how she or her daughter were doing. And it all started with him. She detested him. He was the reason why her daughter got her one and only smack. Regretting fully the fight she had with Sume over if she needed to be nice to him after that or not.
With a small laugh she turned and walked on down the hall. "Oh it was nothing that you nor your father need to worry about Isamu." Once around the corner, her smile turned into a glare as she headed for her room. 'I will see what you could not live to see Sume. I promise. Hiroko will lead this country as a strong female alone. And all those that try to stand in her way will die. I will make it happen my love. Starting close to home and branching out.'
Rolling his eyes, Isamu looked at Katana as he walked in the room. "Who did she start with?"
Slumping down on the bed along with her mother and sister Kiara growled and pulled his eyes to her. "Yes. She pulled Santrix's ears. Do you think she is ever going to outgrow being a brat like this?"
Closing his eyes again, Isamu leaned against the wall next to Katana as he shrugged. "I doubt it. I don't think she will ever be capable of doing anything but this." He then looked over at Katana as he opened just one eye. He may be twelve years younger than him, but they quickly became best friends the more they were around each other. "Katana. Want to go outside and spar with me? Our father's are going over land treaties with the nobles while you are here, and you won't get to see Cho until later."
Looking up at his mother with a flash of begging flying through his dark blue eyes that mirrored hers Katana blinked. When he got the smile he wanted, he turned and headed for the door with Isamu. "Let's go." Once they were in the hall, Katana sighed as he dropped his head. "This is perfect. I mean your cousin is such a pain, I need to work out some real frustrations right now."
Laughing, Isamu shook his head. "None taken. I know the feeling."
X
Letting herself flop down backwards, Yokiyo sighed as she closed her eyes with a deep breath. "I wonder if we can ever have a normal day?"
Moving and sitting in the window, Kiara gave her mother an odd look. "What do you mean Mother?"
Laughing Yokiyo rolled her head so she could see her and smiled. "It is just that ever since I met your father, my life has been nothing but a whirlwind. Never a dull moment and always something happening. Even in the times of peace when it was just your father, myself and you four at home."
Giving each other a confused look, Seiji and Santrix then turned down to their mother and spoke at the same time. "But Mama isn't that normal for our pack?"
Sitting up, Yokiyo laughed as she reached out and pulled both her twins into her arms she smiled. "I never thought of it like that before. So yes. This is just another day in the normal life of the Southern Lands pack huh." Laughing as she tickled them and they giggled along with her.
Hearing the sound of the practice blades as Katana and Isamu started to spar, Kiara turned and sighed as she dropped her head. She was glad that Shone and Yuriko had a daughter. Honored they invited them, but she did really want to stay home so that Kiba could teach her more things with the naginata.
Seeing the sulking look from Kiara, Yokiyo moved and pulled an shocked look then an annoyed growl from her daughter as she hugged her. "Kiba will be there when we get home Kiara. We were asked to come and it wasn't like I could stay home and your father come on his own."
Giving her mother an annoyed look, Kiara finally stopped struggling. "But I could have stayed home with Aunt Yukani and Uncle Kamui."
"No you couldn't have." Yokiyo finally let go of her daughter with a sigh. "But you know the rules. You barely come past my hip right now. No one is allowed to stay home without me, whether your Aunt and Uncle is there or not. Or grandparents. When you reach my shoulders, then you can. Katana and Seiji won't be able to until they reach your father's. Alright."
When all she got was a nod as she dropped her head, Yokiyo couldn't help herself and grabbed her daughter and tickled her, forcing a laugh and a smile from her. Then laughed herself as Seiji and Santrix joined in with them.
X
With a sigh, Kiyoshi looked over at Shone where they sat in the
reception hall going over the treaties with the nobles. Neither of them really wanted to be there, but it needed to be done, and this way he wouldn't have to come back in a few weeks to do it. But he knew from the wording of Shone's invite that he had a very distinct reason for why he wanted him there now.
He wasn't sure yet what it was about, but knew that it wasn't just to come see his daughter. He knew this invitation was a cover up for something else, and he had to wonder what that was.
Taking a deep breath, Shone sighed as he dropped his head. Finally the last of the treaties were amended until the next time. Looking up as he stood, he gave a nod to the nobles. "Thank you for making this fast. I will take my leave now. Kiyoshi."
Following him, Kiysohi gave him a nod. Once they were in the hall he looked at him with a curious look. "Shone. Your daughter and treaties are not the reasons why you called me here is it? What is going on?"