Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  With a sigh, Chiren hardened his eyes. "Kiara I need to see him now. This is urgent."

  Tensing as she turned to look at him, Kiara now had hard eyes. "What is it?"

  With a sigh, Chiren closed his eyes. "I don't care if you hear it as well, but I don't want to have to tell it twice. Your father please?"

  Focusing her nose, Kiara sighed. "You are in luck. Mother is in her room with Takara. Father is in the library with the twins."

  Just as they reach the library, before going in, Kiara turned her stern eyes to Chiren. "Just so that you know, if he is short with you don't take it personally. Seiji and Santrix must have done something that made Mother mad, and that effects him remember."

  "I will remember." Chiren then nodded as she reached out and opened the door. This was something that he didn't fully understand but was told to do by his father. He hoped that Kiyoshi would be able to shed more light on it.

  X

  With a glare for his youngest pups, Kiyoshi had his arms crossed as he growled right now. For once not what they were doing, but because of their lack of judgement in doing it where their mother would be able to not only hear it, but see it. "The two of you know how your mother's headaches affect me."

  Dropping her ears along with her head, Santrix sighed. "Yes Papa."

  "Then why?

  His ears down just as far as his sister's, Seiji sighed as well. Even though they had been adults for a while now, he still hated it when he was scolded by his father and mother. "We are sorry Father. We just didn't think about it, and thought Mama would understand and not flip out like that. Seeing as we are fully grown now."

  With a sigh, and every intention on talking to his mate about the rules that all their pups go by now, Kiyoshi dropped his head and closed his eyes. The pup did have a point, but at the same time they know their mother as well. "Yes you are fully grown. Yet you are also not stupid and you should have known how your mother would react to seeing something like that."

  "Seeing what?"

  Looking up, though he didn't show it, he was a little shocked to see Chiren walk in behind Kiara. Turning back to the twins he sighed. "They were practicing with real blades just outside our bedroom window."

  Giving them an odd look with wide eyes, Kiara then sighed as she glared. "Really? You know how she gets when it comes to that. Ever since everything with Motoichi and what happened to Katana and I she has been super strict on training. Imae is Lady of the east and has four children now can't use a real blade when they are here."

  Rubbing his neck, Kiyoshi sighed. "I will have a talk with your mother soon. Right now, to appease her. Stables. Now. Do anything that they tell you to do."

  "Yes Father."

  Once they were gone, Kiyoshi turned and went to his desk with a sigh. "What is it that you need Chiren?"

  Turning to him, Chiren was in full work mode now. Moving to kneel before the desk with Kiara, he took a deep breath. "I am here on behalf of my father to request aid."

  His eyes narrowed, Kiyoshi tensed along with Kiara. Crossing his arms he took a deep breath. "What do you need aid for?"

  Meeting his ice blue eyes with his own silver blue ones, Chiren sighed. "A few weeks ago, Nyoko and a few members of her guard were out on a small hunt when they were attacked by wolves. The fastest of the group rushed her home, one was killed, and the other was hurt bad. He still isn't up to top shape."

  Flashes of Kaoru flying through his mind, Kiyoshi growled. "The one thing you know for sure is that they are not loyal to Shone. Noke?"

  Nodding Chiren crossed his arms as he glared. Not hiding the venom in his voice. "That is exactly what we think. Mother sent me and several guards on a recon and I tracked them down. No one used names, and no one used scents. One with me was one of Nyoko's guard, so they were taken care then. The only ones we can think of that they are loyal too is Noke, or Kenji. But no one has seen or heard from Kenji since Tikae sent him further into hiding and took his title from him."

  "From all the foes that we have had, those are the only two that would have been bold enough to have done something like that. And if it is Noke, then it is he working this on his own. Shone called his mother and grandfather as well as the pup himself to the palace after what happened with Shian. Isamu took out his mother, Shone his grandfather." Growling, Kiyoshi rubbed the back of his neck. "This is going to be bothersome. I wish I knew where that bastard was."

  Finally seeing the chance to interject, Kiara let her head fall to the side. "So the Noke that had Shian kidnapped is the same Noke that Torakus defeated for Hoshiko. And that is the pup of that woman from the West? They are all tied together like that?"

  Nodding, Chiren gave her an odd link. "Yes. However, I would have thought that you knew that already?"

  Dropping her head, Kiara sighed. "It wasn't until the last decade that mother finally gave up and let me start listening in to what is going on."

  Pulling eyes to him, Kiyoshi sighed as he glared at the desk and crossed his arms. He would be ready for the fight with Yokiyo on this one. However, just like his mother with him and Yukani, it is time that she let go of the pups. Seeing as with the exception of a few years for Katana all five of them are grown. And he thought he knew what Soichiro wanted from him. "Chiren. What exactly does your father want aid in from me?"

  Turning back to him, Chiren sighed as he dropped his head and closed his eyes. "I don't really see how what he wants is going to work to do anything about anything. However he sent me here to have a member of your pack come with me. From here we go to the East, and then to the West, before going back to the North. And then…"

  "A few days there the others would leave the North on their own." Nodding Kiyoshi knew who he was going to send with him. "I understand the logic in this, and though you do not now. You will in time."

  Dropping his head more, Chiren let out a long sigh. "So long someone does. He just tells me to do things and doesn't tell me why at all sometimes."

  Reaching up and rubbing his temples, Kiyoshi growled. Something was still annoying Yokiyo. He didn't know if it was still over the twins, or if it was his change in mood considering. Looking up he sighed. "I am going to send Kiara with you."

  Jerking her head up with wide and shocked eyes, Kiara nearly fell over when she heard her name. "Me? Really?"

  "Indeed." Opening his eyes Kiyoshi let out a sigh as he fixed her with a serious look. "Katana and Seiji both go on rounds with Umarus. And between you and Santrix, you have the better memory. I want detailed what is going on out there."

  Giving him a smile and a sharp nod, Kiara couldn't help but be in a good mood now. "Right."

  Walking toward the door, Kiyoshi nodded. "You will leave just after dawn." Once he walked out of the library he hearded right for his mate. He had to calm her down and stop this throbbing in his head before he went mad because of it.

  Turning her eyes to look down, Kiara couldn't stop her smile. 'Really Father. Thank you.'

  Giving her a look, Chiren was a little confused right now. And a bit shocked to see excitement in her eyes about what is going on here. "So you are actually exited that he chose you to go with me? I must say that this isn't a side of you that I have seen much."

  Pulling another shocked look from the leopard, Kiara smiled up at him and gave him a wink. "I am. I know that it is a serious situation, and I will do what needs to be done. But you can't blame me for being a little excited that I am going on my own. I have never been on a mission without a full guard and a sibling or two. Or all three."

  Smiling as he crossed his arms, Chiren laughed. "Well you do know it is only going to be for a couple of days at most."

  Her smile gone, Kiara glared at him as she crossed her arms with a growl. "And how do you figure that one?"

  "Because we are leaving here and going for the East to get Torakus. He is your nephew after all." He then laughed as he dodged a smack from her jumping back.

  Another annoyed growl, Kiara glared at him. "Thank you Chiren. Way to burst
my bubble leopard."

  Holding his hand up, Chiren laughed as he walked toward her. "I give. I give. I won't do or say anything else. I learned a long time with Nyoko not to push too far. Though, a room would be nice if you would?"

  Turning her nose up at him, Kiara stood and turned for the door with a sigh. "I guess I can do that. Since you did ask me so nicely."

  Not being able to resist one last tease, Chiren gave her a low bow before he followed her out. "Your hospitality is generous My Lady."

  Giving him an odd look, Kiara lead the way down the hall toward a room in the family wing. Finally she shivered as she shook her head. "Don't do that again. That was just creepy." She then joined in him in laughing. Though she was excited about going out, she also knew that it wasn't going to be all fun and games this time. This was serious and she had to pay attention to what was going on so she could detail everything to her father when she go thome.

  X

  Rubbing her temples, Yokiyo sighed a she lay on her bed in her private study. She still couldn't believe that her twins would actually think that they could use real blades in practice! "I swear. How stupid could they be on that?"

  "They are actually quite smart."

  Glaring at Kiyoshi as he walked in, Yokiyo sat up as she growled with crossed arms. "Don't you even give me that Kiyoshi. They have their moments when they are smart, but ones when they are dumb as rocks too. Like practicing with real blades today!"

  Knowing that this was just the start of the fight he was about to have with her this time, Kiyoshi stood before her as crossed his arms and glared at her. It was time to let go of that leash and let them be the adults that they are. He understood to her they were always be her little pups. But in only five years, they would all be grown and could leave if they wanted too. "Seiji and Santrix have been trained along with the others with myself, my father and Umarus. And you know as well as I do they won't hurt each other with them. In a real battle, they won't use wooden blades and the two feel very different."

  On her feet now, Yokiyo growled as she pointed her finger in his face with a glare. She couldn't believe that he was actually going to take their side in this! "Don't even start taking their side! We haven't had anything really big happen since they snuck out of the East like thirty years ago!"

  Narrowing his eyes, Kiyoshi stood his ground as he growled right back at her this time. "And had the Eagles still be with the humans Yokiyo? Had they had to have fought then? You can't compare now to then. They are grown now. And just like my father and I when I was grown, from now their practices will be with their real blades from now. Kiara down to Santrix."

  Her eyes wide, Yokiyo looked up at him in almost utter shock. He was actually serious about this! "That's it. You have lost your mind haven't you? No way am I going to let that happen!"

  "Yes you are Yokiyo." His eyes narrowing, knowing the fight that was about to come on this, Kiyoshi sighed. "Especially with why Chiren is here right now."

  Blinking at him again, Yokiyo let her head fall to the side. That was not what she was expecting to hear. "Wait he is here? And why is it?"

  Turning and going to the window, Kiyoshi sighed as he looked over the palace walls. "A few weeks ago, Nyoko was attacked with her guard by wolves they believe to be loyal to Noke. One of her guard got her home safe, but another was killed and a second seriously injured. Soichiro wants to show that the lands are still working together and sent Chiren here to get a member of this pack. Then to the East, West and back to the North. It is a good idea to show not only Noke but anyone else that the bonds are still strong between all the lands."

  Sitting down, Yokiyo started to relax some. "I see the logic in that. And don't you think we are done with the real blades thing. I am not going to give up on that so easy. Are you sending Seiji or Katana?"

  Turning to glare at his mate, Kiyoshi didn't move. "Neither. I am sending Kiara."

  Her body going tense, Yokiyo saw flashes of Kaoru in the West trying to force the brothel there. What Imae told her happened in the East with Hoshiko. Then again with Shian! There was no way that she was going to just let Kiara go out there on her own! Not with the way tht this pup seemed to target females of power like she was! Crossing her arms as she shook her head, Yokiyo growled to herself. "No way. Not Kiara. She is not going on this. Katana can have relief from the rounds for this and he is going. If Kiara wants to do something, she can do the rounds with more guards and Umarus and Seiji."

  Closing his eyes, Kiyoshi took a deep breath. "I have already told her that she is going."

  Falling back to lay on the bed, Yokiyo groaned. "OH that is just great Kiyoshi thank you for that."

  "What?"

  Sitting up she glared at him as frustrated tears started to form in her eyes. "Because since you already told her she is going, I can't tell her no she can't go because of that. She would dig her heals in, and then I would have two of you to fight with. But, since I can't change it, Katana is still getting relief from the rounds and going with her."

  His eyes narrowing even more, Kiyoshi growled low. "No. She is going on her own."

  Her eyes going wide again, Yokiyo jerked around to him as she stood up. "What was that? No he is going with her!"

  Stepping toward her and growling so loudly he made her flinch and tense with wide eyes. "Kiara is a grown demon and the most capable of all of our pups at giving us detailed information about what is going on out there. Katana has nothing on her power of memory. She no longer needs a guard. None of them do anymore, and they are not going to have. It is time for you to have some faith in your daughter miko and let her go."

  Sitting for a moment, Yokiyo just blinked at him. She hadn't saw the look in his eyes he had right now since before they were mated when it came to do with Imae. He wasn't going to relent on this like he normally did with her when it came to the pups. And he did have a point that she did need to have more faith in not only Kiara but all of her pups.

  With a sigh as she turned her head away from him, Yokiyo let even more tears mist over her eyes. "I know that Kiyoshi I do. I know that grown pups don't need the same rules as knee high ones. I know they wouldn't hurt each other with blades. IF they ever did they wouldn't want to deal with me on the matter. And I do know that Kiara is more than capable. But I also can't help but see my little pups when I look at them. And then there is Noke and how he…." But then she dropped her head as she closed her eyes.

  Moving to sit next to her, Kiyoshi ran a hand through her extra long hair as he sighed. "I know that Yokiyo. But you must also rememver that they aren't the small pups that need rules either."

  "Katana is still…"

  With a sigh as he covered her mouth, Kiyoshi shook his head. "He may as well be grown Yokiyo. I know that it is hard for you, but it has to be done. Just like even though it was hard for my mother with me and Yukani, she had to do it too.

  Leaning back into his arms, Yokiyo let out a long sigh as her tears dripped down her face. Feeling that same comfort she loved as he wrapped his arms around her. "I know. I know. It is just hard. After losing one. Then everything we went through with Kiara and Katana with Motoichi. I guess I have gone a little over board with it. It is just hard to let go. I feel like if I keep the rules, I can know they are safe."

  Kissing the top of her head, Kiyoshi sighed. "I know that Yokiyo. But you must also have faith that the way we raised them will be enough. Right now if they wanted too, Kiara, Seiji and Santrix could leave and not tell us about it if they wanted too. It is time to let them be who they are."

  Her headache gone now, the pain now in her heart knowing he was right and it was time to just let them be who they are, Yokiyo let out a sigh as she moved out of his arms and turned to face him. "Fine. I will not say anything. She will be with Chiren after all. And we know from before that he won't let anything happen to her. Right?"

  A small smile Kiyoshi nodded. "Exactly."

  Nodding as she moved and laid down, putting her head in his lap, Yokiyo let her eyes f
lutter shut as he moved his hand into her hair and just barely touched her with his claws, massaging her scalp. His other hand rubbed her arm. Letting out a content sigh she let her body go limp. This always seemed to help her through her hysterical feelings. He was perfect in every way for her.

  They started out hating each other, however fate had a different path for them. Even though she has watched as Izumi and several generations after her have been born and passed, she wouldn't change how her life was right now for anything. She had five wonderful children, four wonderful grandchildren. And a mate that did all he could to keep her happy and safe.