by Max Jager
Nodding as she agreed with her father, Nyoko looked down at her lap with a sigh as she crossed her arms. "I bet that Torakus was beyond angry when he saw her in a cage like that. He probably had to really hold back not to hurt any of them."
"I am sure that they were all upset to see her like that Nyoko." Emiko then sighed as she took a deep breath. "We are going to have to place a guard with her at all times. Even when she is with you and Chiren."
"Alright Mama I will deal with the guard. But I am telling you." Turning to her mother's eyes Nyoko had stern eyes. "But Mama I am telling you. That of all of them Torakus was way more upset. Probably raging mad."
Giving her an odd look, both Soichiro and Emiko looked at each other then back to their daughter. With a sigh as she blinked, Emiko let her head fall to the side. "Nyoko what in the world are you talking about?"
With a giggle, Nyoko crossed her arms as she looked at her mother. "Sort of like whenever we talk about Chiren in front of Kiara and she gets all red and blushes like crazy. She won't admit it but she has had a crush on him since Motoichi. And it is the same thing with Torakus and Shian. He likes her likes her. That is why I say he would be even more mad about her and why he was so worried."
With a half-smile, Chiren pulled his sister's eyes to him. "What are you going to do if you end up being wrong there Nyoko?"
Laughing, Nyoko turned a smug look to her brother. "You have not seen them together Chiren and I have. I know I am right about it and you would have to agree with me if you seen them together last year."
Laughing as he shook his head, Chiren just sighed. "Whatever you say Nyoko."
Turning to her mother, Nyoko glared. "Mother make…."
Holding her hand up, Emiko sighed as she stopped her daughter. "Chiren stop pestering her. I think it would be a cute story for them with their chicks if it is true." But then she opened worried eyes to her mate. "Other than giving her a full time guard, what are we going to do Soichiro?"
With a sigh as he crossed his arms, Soichiro shook his head. "Take it one day at a time and see what happens. I am sure that Imae let Shone know as well. They were from the North at one point, but since they are in the South now he will deal with them as best he can. We will just have to wait and see what happens."
With a sigh Chiren closed his eyes, then turned serious to his father as he opened them. "If that is what we are doing, I think we should go and let Uncle Tikae and Aunt Toki know what is going on. Where they live, they would see and hear a lot more than we can up here."
Nodding as he looked down at the floor still, Soichiro wouldn't help but be worried. From the little bit that Imae put in her letter, he got a feeling that this wolf was just like his brother. And if that was the case, no matter how many years of supposed peace they had, they could never let their guard down. No matter what or it would shatter. "Go on and go tell them."
"Right."
X
By evening the following night, Chiren landed on his feet as he transformed back to his human form just inside his aunt and uncle's court yard. But the surprise visit was more a surprise to him! There were two new smells, and from scent, Tikae and Toki had kids! Looking at the palace with his still wide eyes, Chiren didn't know what to think. "We didn't even know she was pregnant."
"What brings you here this late boy?"
Turning to the side to see Tikae coming out of the palace toward him, Chiren smiled as he shook his head. "Why did you guys tell us that Aunt Toki was pregnant?"
Laughing as he stopped the motioned for Chiren to follow him, Tikae sighed with a proud smile. "Well that is simple. Bluntly put, each time she got pregnant, if we told anyone about it, that seemed to jinx it and she would lose the baby. I don't think she could have took another loss like that. We have lost five in the last couple of years. This time, we didn't even tell your grandparents about it. And everyone who found out by scent was forbidden from breathing a word to a soul."
As they entered the palace, Chiren gave him a smile as he nodded. "I can understand that. But two of them?"
Nodding with a laugh, Tikae lead the way toward their room. "Yeah I know. They are only a few hours old right now. We already had the letters ready to go out to everyone." Walking in his room he smiled as Toki looked up with a tired yet radiant smile. "I think we shocked him."
Turning her eyes to her nephew, Toki laughed. "Hello Chiren. Come and tell me what you think of your new cousins."
Going to her side of the bed, Chiren smiled as he looked down at the two sets of eyes that were looking up at him. They had one of each, a boy dragon and a girl leopard. He had the same sky blue colored hair that Tikae had, but where Tikae had an aqua green color stripping, the chick had silver like they had as well as silver scales, and Tikae's blue eyes. The leopard girl looked exactly like her mother, but she also had Tikae's normal blue eyes."They are beautiful Aunt Toki. I am sure that Mother, Father and Nyoko are going to be more than excited about it."
With a laugh, Toki watched as her mate took their daughter from her. "We didn't want to jinx it this time. Just wait until after I had them to let everyone know about it. But it was my shock when I ended up having twins." Looking down at her son in her arms, she sighed. "This is your nephew, a full dragon, Raidon." She then looked at her mate and daughter with the same smile. "And your leopard niece Mizareke."
Going to the bed Chiren smiled down at the babies that looked up at him. A male dragon and a female leopard. "They are beautiful. Mother and Father will be excited about it."
Laughing Toki looked down at her son as her mate took their daughter. "We wanted the baby to be a surprise for everyone so we didn't jinx it this time. It was my shock though when I had twins. Your dragon nephew Raidon, and your leopard niece Mizareke."
Looking from one to the other, Chiren then crossed his arms as he turned back to his Aunt. "You know Mother and Nyoko will be here not long after I get home right?"
"I do not doubt that one." Toki laughed as her son sneezed then turned curious eyes up to her nephew. "But Chiren why are you here right now anyway? I know it isn't late, but it is after nightfall.
With a smile as he winked at her, Chiren let out a laugh. He wasn't about to tell her the truth after just having twins, and one of them being a girl. "Nothing really. Mother just wanted me to come and check and see how everyone was doing. I left yesterday afternoon and just took my time getting here."
"I see." Laying her son next to her as she took her daughter, Toki glanced up at him again with a smile. "You will be staying for a couple of days with us then?"
Nodding, Chiren laughed. "At least. I do want to hold them at least."
Tikae could see that look in his nephews eyes though. There was something different that was going on here. Not just to check on them for their mother. Bending over with a smile, Tikae kissed the side of his mate's head. "I am going to walk him to his room. I will be right back."
"Alright."
Following his nephew out, out of the room, Tikae turned and they slowly walked down the hall toward his room. "So what happened Chiren? I know the only reason you are here is not just to check on all of us."
Crossing his arms, Chiren sighed. "Something did happen but it didn't happen in the North. You know Imae and Sanzo right?"
Nodding, Tikae gave him a serious look. "I do. In fact Toki and I were just there at the Eastern Palace a few months ago."
Stopping but the door that was his, Chiren turned with stern eyes and made eye contact with his uncle. "To the point then Uncle? When Shone's daughter Cho was born, a north that used to live in the North, but resides in the West now named Kaoru tried to force Shone to betroth Cho to her son Noke. When that didn't happen, she, her father and her son went to the East to get Imae and Sanzo to do the same thing with Hoshiko and Torakus stopped that."
Giving him a glare, Tikae was tense now. Once Motoichi was done with, they started for a child. It took her forever to even start getting pregnant, and now th at they finally have twins, something like t
his has to happen. "There is more. Spill it."
"Either Kaoru or her father decided that they were going to find a mate for their son by force if need be. No one knows how they came in contact with them, but they promised a human Lord that is in the East treasure and land to help them produce a female. So he sent his arm with eagles up the mountain behind the Eastern Palace and slaughtered an entire flock of falcons to get it."
Gasping as his eyes went wide, Tikae just looked at him. "An entire flock!?"
With a nod, Chiren crossed his arms. "They did. For a reason. The leader of that flock was a falcon named Yusuke and good friends with Sanzo. He took a human mate some odd years ago. They were not lucky enough to be like Imae and Sanzo. She passed away little over a month ago. But together they themselves had a half demon daughter. They were after her. Sanzo and Imae were close with him and his mate, and their chicks just as close. Torakus got a feeling and snuck out with not only his sister, but all four of Kiyoshi's other pups and found her in a cage. They got her out and she was fine physically but…"
With a sigh as he shook his head, Tikae crossed his arms. "The emotional damnage that had to have taken on her will take more time to heal from I am sure. This would have to happen just when we had kids."
"I know." Chiren sighed as he looked on down the hall. "Fahter wanted me to let you know so that you and your men can keep an out and let us know if you hear anything about a wolf named Noke."
"Done."
With a smile as he relaxed, Chiren walked on past him. "I am going to the hot spring now."
With a smile, Tikae watched as Chiren walked on past him. Then turned and headed for his mate. Walking in he couldn't help but smile. She was curled on her side, Raidon and Mizareke next to her, with her arms around them both. Sleeping. Going to them he sat down as he took a deep breath. "I won't let anything happen to any of you. I promise."
X
After his trip to the hot spring, Chiren was in his room and now found himself sitting in the window looking up at the full moon. The light of it making the silver in his hair sparkle as he sighed. It was a happy and peaceful night otherwise for his family. Though his mind was in overload. He had hoped that Motoichi would be the first and last evil that she would ever live to see. But now the reality of it is that was never going to happen.
When they faced Motoichi, even though he didn't actually fight, they won. If this Noke started trouble they would do the same thing with him. And now he felt even more of a burden on his head. He had to keep his sister safe, but now two brand new cousins that he had to make sure stayed safe.
His eyes narrowing into a glare as he looked up at the moon, Chiren sighed. "And I will do it. I won't let this bastard get near my family without ripping his head off."
Branching Out Chapter 121
Once again, Kiara stood before her father and uncle. Once again she was getting a lecture about transforming and what she can do verses what she should be able to do by now. She wasn't as good as Katana, but he has been transforming since he was three weeks old. But she has been able to transform for a long time now. "Father. Uncle Kamui I already know how to transform. We really don't need to go through all of this again."
With a half glare for her, Kamui sighed as he shook his head. "Yes we do. We know you do it every day whenever you get the chance. But now that you are of age, just being able to do it isn't enough anymore. You lack stamina in that form. Not to be mean, but it is true, Seiji and Santrix have more stamina than you in that form."
Dropping her head, Kiara sighed. "I know that. I know I don't have the stamina that they do, and it is not for lack of training either. But comparing me to Katana, Seiji and Santrix isn't really fair either. Seiji was just like Katana and was transforming before he could walk. Santrix when she was half grown. Just like it wouldn't be fair to compare Koto or Kuri to me when they start it."
Keeping his eyes stern, Kamui didn't move. "You are right about that. Comparing them to you isn't fair, nor your cousins to you. But there is something that you need to understand as the eldest pup here. You have to…"
Rolling her eyes Kiara sighed as she let her shoulders slump as well. "I know Uncle Kamui. Mother tells me all the time that I have to set an example for them to follow in everything that I do. Training in cluded."
"Get real Kiara. That was not what I was going to say." When she just looked at him, Kamui looked up as he groaned and rubbed the back of his head, dropping his other hand to his hip. If trying to train Kiara in this so she could maintain it like they could was this hard, he didn't want to think about doing his own pups. Especially his daughter considering she wanted nothing to do with any kind of training at all. "Kiara. What I was going to tell you is that as the eldest, if your parents are not here, you have to protect them. You swore when Katana was born, that anyone younger than you would be protected by you remember? How are you going to do that when you can't run in a transformed state for very long let alone fight? Not because you need to lead by example. But if you want to be strong enough to protect them you have to get it."
Dropping her head even more, Kiara took a deep breath. "I see."
Just as he was about to tell her to go outside and repeat what he told her to do that morning, Kiyoshi growled as he reached up to rub his temples. Another instant migraine coming from Yokiyo again. And he was sure with the level of anger that came with it, it had to do with one of the other three pups still at home. More than likely the twins.
All of his pups were grown now with the exception of Katana who still had five years to go. At the age of 91, Seiji had been grown for sixteen years, and Santrix ten years. Kiara was 105. And yet even with that, they seem to give him more trouble, especially where their mother is concerned than they did when they were little. Turning with a growl, he sighed. 'Now the question is who did what to who."
"Father?"
Without even looking at his daughter Kiyoshi turned to walk away. "Go. We will continue this later. Your mother is annoyed again." Then he vanished around the corner.
With a half-smile, Kamui shook his head and crossed his arms again. "And I thought your Aunt was driving me insane."
Turning to her uncle, Kiara let her head fall to the side as she gave him an odd look. "Uncle Kamui?"
With a sigh, Kamui dropped his head. "Koto has never wanted to learn how to fight for anything. What little self defense I have gotten her to learn has been a pain. As she puts it, she would rather be with your grandmother doing the 'girl things' that they do all day. Yukani is going insane because she doesn't get into the training and fighting like Kuri did."
With a small laugh, Kiara crossed her arms. "She just may not be cut out for it." When he growled she let her head fall to the side. "Will there be anything else?"
Giving her a glare, Kamui growled. "No go on. I need to calm your aunt down like your mother is your father. Once we are done, you are going through the full course of training while transformed with me. You like it or not understand?"
With a sigh, Kiara dropped her head. "Right." When he turned and walked away from her, Kiara herself left the library and headed for the garden. Once there she stopped and crossed her arms. "I know they are right, but still. They need to realize that it is just as frustrating for me as it is them or more so."
But then she looked up when she smelled a scent that she knew. Stepping out of the trees Kiara blinked as Chiren leaping over the wall to land before her in his human form. Tensing at first she gave him a wide look. Something happened. "Chiren?"
His eyes going wide now he got a good look at her, Chiren couldn't stop the reflex he had to let his eyes travel down to her feet and then back up. They hadn't seen each other since she was only half grown. He knew she was of age now and grown up. And he knew with as cute as she was as a pup she would be beautiful. But she was absolutely breathtaking!"
Once he realized that his eyes were looking her over again, he closed them as he shook his head. 'Don't even start that!' "Kiara…."
Laug
hing as she sighed, he didn't seem like anything was wrong, he wasn't tense and was enjoying it would seem seeing her head to toe. When his eyes went to hers she nodded as she crossed her arms. "That's right. I grew up."
Giving her a nervous smile, Chiren sighed. "Indeed you did."
Giving him a half glare, Kiara kept her smile as she sighed. "Well don't tell me that you came all this way just to see if I grew up for yourself did you now? I mean that is what happens when someone is born, they eventually grow up."
Having been shocked at just how beautiful she was, Chiren was now back on track as he shook his head no. "No that is not the reason at all why I am here. I am actually here to speak to your father on behalf of my own."
Studying his body language, his eyes were not concerned and he was relaxed, so it couldn't be anything too bad. "Well. He went to go and check on Mother. She got an instant migraine and when that happens it is usually because Katana, Seiji, or Santrix, or the three of them, are acting like small pups again. I do not know if we should bother him at the moment." Turning she walked toward the palace and sighed as he followed her. "It will be time to eat soon and I am sure you can talk to him then once Mother isn't so mad."