Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Smiling as his purification hit their fullest, Torakus crossed his arms. "Point blank, I am a demon that can use purification I got from my human miko mother. Though mine is purification, it is different from my Aunt, Uncle, Grandmother and Mother. They all use the pure purification. Where my purification has more of a demonic twist to it."

  Bumping into his mother as she threw her arms around him, Noke had wide eyes. "De….de…demonic?"

  Narrowing his eyes as he hardened his glare at them all, Torakus took a step closer to them, pleased when the pup and his mother flinched. "They purify things, and just like with my mother and grandmother, they cannot use it against humans. However mine come out in the form of flames. They burn whomever I want into embers. Mine works on demons, half demons and humans alike."

  Backing past his grandfather and toward the gate, Noke looked up into his glaring eyes. "These guys are freaks! I think that a normal mate from our tribe will be just fine thank you. I want nothing to do with them at all!"

  With a growl as he didn't even give Sanzo and the human a passing glance, Dai stormed out the gate past them, as he fisted his hands. It was blown! And by the time that they would get to the North, he was sure Shone sent Soichiro a warning about what they were going to do. Everything was ruined!

  Once the gate was closed, Torakus relaxed and slowly let his power fade. He hadn't ever gotten to full power with them, or used it for that long. Seconds after they died out, that uneasy feeling settled in his stomach as he fell to his hands and knees. His purification would rival the power of any demon, but unlike his Aunt and Uncle, his body couldn't handle it as well.

  Rushing to her son as he got sick, Imae knelt next to him and pulled his hair back as she rubbed her back. "I know son. I know." But she didn't know how long this was going to last with the way that he did it.

  Turning her glare up to her mate as he kept his eyes full of rage on the gate, she could feel the anger rolling off of him. "Alright Sanzo tell me. Why did you let him do this? You know he can't handle it yet and that he would have went farther than normal."

  Never taking his eyes off the gate as he tapped his finger on his arm, Sanzo was debating if he should go after them and kill them all right now. But other than running off his mouth, the pup especially really didn't do anything that would warrant that. "We need to send word to your parents and the other lands about that one. He is going to be trouble one day."

  Standing now and stomping her foot at her mate, Imae put her hands on her hips. "I wish the hell someone would tell me what happened!?"

  Turning to Imae, Sanzo let out a sigh as he forced himself to relax. "Torakus did very well in more ways than one. He won, defended his sister's honor and the honor of the East. But he also found out what was going on. The pup's mother and grandfather want him to have power, and a title. They didn't care what kind. The pup had other plans, which was why even though he clearly hated humans and Torakus for being the offspring of a human he was fine with Hoshiko."

  Her eyes wide as she dropped back down by her son who was sitting back on the ground between his feet steeling reeling from the purification. "What were those?"

  Looking up as he sighed, Sanzo rubbed the back of his neck. "He planned I presume to build a bond with Hoshiko, then take over the East from within. Staring with Torakus."

  Her eyes going wide, Imae gasped as her motherly instincts took over and she pulled her son into her arms. Now she understood why he did what he did and used that power. To show him that he was never going to get what he wanted there. And she couldn't be more proud of him. But her was her son and the thought of anyone planning to kill him set her blood to a boil. Turning her glare to the ground she sighed. "Yes we will send them word today. Damn that wolf."

  Branching Out Chapter 116

  Sitting up in a cherry blossom tree, Sanzo watched the three sets of sparing matches bellow with crossed arms. Imae's brothers and sisters were there for a while, so Seiji and Santrix sparred, Torakus and Katana, and Hoshiko and Kiara. But then he sighed and smiled as he turned to the window he was even with to find his mate and sister on their bed, Ayame holding their newest chick. Just seeing his first day.

  Though he couldn't really believe that it had taken them so long to get pregnant again. She got pregnant in a few days with Torakus when she stopped using her purification. The twenty years that were between him and Hoshiko were planned. But Hoshiko was only a couple years old when she said she wanted another chick. But this time it took them forty years to have another one. Fortunately they had the time, but then finally she was pregnant again. Another son, and just like his big brother, Hajime was a full demon as well.

  But then he turned his head back to the older kids and sighed as he shook his head. They were diligently training, which was a good thing and not all that unusual. They loved it, and no matter what happened they would be ready for it. An annoyed sigh as he saw flashes of that pup fly through his mind. But right now, and he had no clue why he couldn't shake the feeling that every single one of them were up to something. They didn't act strangely, but something just didn't sit right with him and he couldn't place it. Nor could he say anything with the fact that they didn't act any different.

  X

  Smiling, seventy four year old Kiara stepped back from her niece as they both took a deep breath. She was helping her with the naginata, and she was actually doing very well with it. Placing her own practice naginata on the rack of practice blades. "You are doing very good Hoshiko. You keep this up and you will be as good as I am with it in no time."

  Giving her aunt a bright smile, Hoshiko gave a sharp nod. "I doubt that I will be as good as you are any time soon. But hey it will give me something to always work at right?"

  Crossing her arms as she shook her head, Kiara laughed. "You will get there in time Hoshiko. Just wait and see." But then she looked to the side, Kiara blinked with an odd look. It was no surprise to see Seiji and Santrix not holding anything back, they never did. But the way that Katana and Torakus were sparing, was different. It was like they were enemies that were legitimately trying to kill each other. "I swear I don't get them. All four of them. Katana and Torakus especially right now."

  Sitting down on the ground to watch, Hoshiko smiled as she looked up at Kiara. "Don't worry about them. I am sure that Torakus is enjoying having someone that he can actually spar with like this."

  "Of this I am sure. But what I don't understand is why they have to act like this about everything. Katana and Seiji do this. So do Seiji and Santrix all the time. I swear that they would try to see who could beat each other in eating if Mother would let them do it." Leaning against a tree, Kiara crossed her arms as she shook her head. "I just don't get it."

  Landing with his sister, Seiji smiled at Kiara and closed his eyes. "Oh we would do that if Mother would let us for sure. Not sure how well it would turn out but we would give it our best try."

  Giving her uncle another odd look, Hoshiko watched as he sat down on one side of her and Santrix the other. "Really? But what I don't get, and I don't get it with Torakus either is why can't you just help each other be strong? Why does one have to be stronger, better or faster than the other?"

  Scratching the back of his head, Seiji than shrugged. "I have no clue we just do. I guess it is a guy thing. At least that is what Mama says."

  Giving him a glare, Hoshiko hissed at him. "That isn't true. It isn't just a guy thing."

  Nodding as he gave her a big grin, Seiji laughed and poked her in the forehead. "Yes it is. You wouldn't understand Hoshiko since you are not a guy."

  With another glare, Hoshiko gave him another hiss. "I know that isn't the case Uncle Seiji. If it was then explain to me why Papa doesn't think he has to be better than Uncle Atsana? Or the other Lords? He doesn't think he has to be better than them."

  Smiling at the confused look on her brother's face, Kiara laughed. "That is a very good point Hoshiko. Our father is the same as your sis. So tell me little brother? Why is that? I do so look f
orward to hearing this answer."

  With a groan, Seiji put his hands on the back of his head and laid back. "I don't know. I was just saying that is what Mama says. Maybe it is a brother thing, or a family thing. Or maybe it is just Katana I don't know. But it is how we are so there."

  Shaking her head as she smiled, Kiara looked up at Katana and Torakus as it faded. "Whatever the reason. But don't you guys think it is strange that they are going this all out? I mean they go all out a lot, but this seems to be even more intense don't you think?"

  Shaking her head as she looked up at the tree where her father was, Hoshiko sighed. He was going back and forth looking at them and her mother with her new little brother. "No I don't. Since Mama got pregnant, father hasn't been able to spar with him a lot. And Uncle Atsana doesn't have the time to spar with him like Torakus would want. I am sure he has a lot of built up energy and this is just his way of letting it out. It will be good for him."

  Rolling her eyes as she turned and headed for the hot spring, Kiara sighed. "Whatever the reason. Let them do what they want. I am going to the hot spring. Hoshiko, Santrix. You two coming?"

  "Yes!"

  Turning and watching his sisters and niece vanish into the palace, Seiji took a deep breath as he turned back to the sparing match before him. They were not doing this to burn off extra energy. They were doing this because they wanted to be ready for anything. And a reason for it. But they couldn't tell anyone the truth about it, or it would mess everything up fully.

  X

  Late that evening, Torakus was in alone in his room, sitting in the window looking up at the growing clouds in the darkening night sky. But was actually thankful for them for what he had planned that night. A clear night would be more risky. For this plan, the cover of the clouds was more than welcoming.

  Taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes and images of a female half falcon demon flashed through his mind making him clench his fists. She was the reason. He knew something was wrong with her. He just felt it. Opening his gold eyes to glare up at the mountain where she lived with her father he narrowed his eyes. 'And tonight we find out exactly what is going on. I know something is wrong. I am coming to find out what it is Shian.'

  Forcing himself to calm down he took a deep breath. Shian was ten years younger than Hoshiko. Her mother was a princess of a Eastern human Lord, but she fell in love with Yusuke, one of his father's friends. Seeing as they visited each other often, his mother grew close to hers. It has been a month now that her mother passed away. And also a solid month that he hasn't gotten a single message from her. Or Hoshiko. And that was what was causing him to worry. Typically whenever she was upset about something, the messages would go from four or five a month, to three a week. But nothing.

  He tried to go to his parents and aunt and uncle about what he felt was going on. But they didn't think anything was wrong at all. They told him to give her time with her mother just passing. That it was hard on everyone, her and Yusuke most of all. But he knew something was wrong. That was why when Katana, Seiji, Kiara and Santrix came. He got the perfect plan. They would go and check on her themselves.

  "You do know that everyone is going to be furious with us when we get back right Torakus?"

  Looking toward his door to find Katana's dark blue eyes walking toward him. Taking a deep breath as he gave a sharp nod. "I know that. But I just can't shake this feeling. Mama thinks that I am just paranoid. I have to go and check on her. And I know we can play the 'safer in numbers' thing with them."

  Leaning on the wall next to his nephew, Katana smiled as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Right. Whenever you are ready then. We will be right there with you. It will be refreshing to do this. It gets annoying being followed all the time."

  "Agreed." Turning back out the window and looking up at the mountain, Torakus took another deep breath. "Soon as my parents and Uncle Atsana are sleeping we leave."

  Sitting on the bed, Seiji blinked as he looked at Torakus. "Okay so how far away is this place then?"

  Not taking his eyes off the mountain, Torakus leaned his head back to the window frame. "Three days normally. However the way we are going is going to take us five days."

  Giving him an odd look, Seiji let his head fall to the side as he blinked his eyes. "Wait why are we taking the long way?"

  Turning a glare to his uncle, Torakus hissed. "Because the second morning gets here and they realize we are gone they are going to look for all us. They know I am worried and will go straight up that way. I don't want to be found half way up and forced back."

  Pulling Torakus's eyes to him for a second, Katana turned serious eyes to him. "But won't they just go look the way we are going next and do the same thing?"

  Shaking his head side to side, Torakus turned his eyes back to the mountain as he sighed. "They won't because they don't know about it. About a year ago, Mama went with Father on the rounds. She didn't have to but she did. Hoshiko stayed with Uncle Atsana and Aunt Ayame. I went up to see Shian and Yusuke. While I was up there, Shian showed it to me. Yusuke told her to use the longer trail if anything happened. The backside of the mountain doesn't have any demons that she couldn't take care of herself. And comes out just to the side of the palace so she could get us to help."

  "I see then. That is the way we go. However, the heir to both the South and the East may be enough to lure stronger demons out. You are ready for that right?" When Torakus nodded, Katana sighed as he closed his eyes and glanced to the bow and arrows that were in there. "I do wish that we had blades and not bow and arrows though."

  Laughing Torakus nodded and then moved to open his closet. "I was going to do this sometime this week whether or not you were here or not. I am glad you are, but I had it planned out. Here." He then tossed both Katana and Seiji a sword as he pulled his own out.

  With a sigh as he put it at his side, Seiji then fell back on the bed with a sigh. "I can't wait to get this started. Our first adventure without any kind of adult supervision. It is going to be awesome. But we are going to get in so much trouble for this."

  His eyes focusing on the mountain again as he sat in the window, Torakus sighed. "The trouble that we are going to be in will be worth it Uncle Seiji. I think so at least. I promised her that if she was in trouble I would always be there for her. I have to keep it."

  Smiling as he let his eyes close, Katana nodded. "That's right. And what kind of Uncles would we be if we didn't help you keep that promise? I would say not very good ones I don't think."

  Laughing, Torakus turned and had his back facing out the window as he looked at Seiji. "Indeed. I still can't believe that you two are my ucnles. You are only four years older than I am, and Uncle Seiji is only a couple weeks older than I am."

  Laughing Seiji nodded. "I know. There was a pup from a wolf pack that is in the South that was there visiting Father a few months ago. He questioned the dynamics of the pack and the pup just looked at us odd when we told him that the 'Heir to the East' is our nephew."

  Laughing with them, Torakus smiled as he sighed then looked up at his ceiling. His mother and Aunt were sleeping. His father and Uncle Atsana were almost there driving as well. "It won't be long. Mama is sleeping and the rest are drifting off. It will be very soon."

  When they nodded, Torakus looked over his head at the mountain and narrowed his eyes. 'Just hold on Shian. I promise you I am coming. I promise.'

  X

  With a glare as they snuck through the palace, Hoshiko lead the way as she narrowed her eyes. The more Kiara talked about how strange Torakus and Katana were acting in sparing. Then the way that those two and Seiji didn't say a word. And then they smell them slipping out of Torakus's room soon as everyone is asleep!

  She was going to catch them up to something and she knew it. Just as she, Kiara and Santrix reached the door to the gardens, Hoshiko gasped as her eyes went wide just in time to see them slip over the palace wall. Crossing her arms as she narrowed her eyes, she let out a hiss. "What in the world could t
hey be thinking sneaking out like that!? Mama is going to be so mad."

  Growling into the night now, Kiara crossed her own arms. "I don't know but I know they need to have their heads examined for something this foolish. Forget how mad Imae will be, Mother will be the one to be afraid of for this for years to come."

  Shaking, Santrix gave her sister a nervous look as she started to wring her hands together. "Should we wake up Imae?"

  With a sigh as she shook her head, Hoshiko still kept her eyes on the spot that the boys went over the wall as her eyes softened. "No don't wake her up. It wouldn't do any good. He has not been himself this last month and I think I know why."

  Looking down at Hoshiko, Kiara blinked. "Why is that?"

  Looking up at Kiara, Hoshiko sighed. "I told you he had pent up energy with not being able to spar like normal. But he has also been worried about a friend of ours Shian. You met her before, the half falcon demon with white hair, an ice blue feather and eyes?" When they nodded, Hoshiko turned and looked back at the wall. "Her mother passed a month ago and we haven't heard from her and he is worried about her. That has to be it."