Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  "Right." Soichiro smiled as he turned back to the others. "So the wolves are most likely under control of Noke, and had them kidnap the mates and children of the dragons. All to force them to turn on Tikae. That cowardly bastard."

  Nodding, Ieyasu sighed. "We went looking for them as soon as Ina told us what happened. We caught a small scent that was old for Sidhae's mate, then it just vanished. We think that it has to do with the mountain that we were by, but we aren't sure how."

  His eyes narrowed, Chiren turned to Ieyasu and crossed his arms. "Do you remember how to get to that point? We can start our search there."

  Nodding Yukimura turned their eyes toward him again. "We do. Though, the scent died. It is like they literally just disappeared. No scent, no aura nothing. But I can lead you if you would like."

  Nodding, Chiren growled. Looking at the rest of them as they all nodded, Chiren turned his eyes back to Yukimura. "Get plenty of sleep tonight Yukimura. We leave at dawn and I want you to take us to the last place you smelled her."

  "My Lord."

  Branching Out Chapter 126

  Pacing in his hidden palace, Kenji glared as he growled. It has been seven days since he knew that Soichiro got his demands. Sure he didn't expect a 'sure here you can have the North and my duahgter' from him. But he did at least expect a quick no from him. But there hasn't be anything yet! Typically no news would be good news, but in this case it was un-nerving him. He was actually hoping that Soichiro would move, and force that damned wolf to do something other than slink around in the shadows.

  But no nothing! Not even so much as a screw you from him. He wanted a fight. In the fight he would swoop in, grab the females he wanted and slink out. But if there is no fight, their defenses can be raised and he would have a hard time getting to them. Stopping to slam his hands on the table, Kenji snarled. "Blast it all to hell! Why haven't we heard from that bastard yet?"

  Not even trying to hide the rage and anger that he had for Kenji, Sidhae followed him around the large room with a glare. His daughter was not even a day old when she and her mother were taken captive by this monster. Thanks to that, he was forced to fight in a fight that killed his Lord that he promised Lord Eiji he would do everything to protect But with their lives in the balance, he was bound to him. "Perhaps My Lord, no response is their response."

  Turning a glare on him, Kenji snarled as his eyes narrowed. Sidhae was by far the strongest of all the ones he forced to join him right now. It was he that was the key to distracting his brother and his leopard bitch so he could get them and kill them. But he had a damn mouth on him since then. "I was not asking your ass about it!"

  His own eyes still in a narrowed glare, Sidhae met Kenji's. "I know that."

  "Shut up!" Standing with a glare for him, Kenji gave him a sadistic smile? "Or should I go and kill your mate for this outburst? Or better yet, add your daughter to my list of females to have fun with when she comes of age?"

  His eyes bleeding, Sidhae fought to keep from transforming and attacking him. The thought of his vile hands touching either his mate or his daughter was enough to drive him mad! "You dare…"

  Elbowing him in the side, Sakon glared at his friend. "Sidhae just shut up! If something happens it will be…"

  "Well it seems that at least one of your men knows his place after all." Walking in the room, Noke smiled as he sat down near Kenji. They were almost at their usefulness. He had a few more things that he needed from them, then he would kill them all.

  Still glaring, Kenji turned his eyes to the wolf as he sighed. "Though the other needs to learn his. I think a lesson later might just be what he needs."

  Laughing as he closed his eyes, Noke shook his head. "It isn't like there is going to be another war just yet anyway. I need more time, so you have time to teach him to be obedient."

  Relaxing some now, Kenji shook his head. "Actually you have less time than you think. At best you have three days more at best before I move on the North."

  His blue eyes glaring, Noke tensed. "What did you do?"

  With a smug smile as he sat down across from the wolf, Kenji put his feet up on the table. "Seven days ago Soichiro recived a message from me. I took all credit for what happened to my little brother and those leopards. My demands were simple. I want the North, his daughter and the dog that was with Chiren. It has been seven days, so in three days, we march."

  Blinking, Noke let himself relax. That had nothing to do with what his ultimate goal was so it didn't really matter. But he couldn't believe how stupid this dragon really was. "Do you really think he won't be ready for you? You have the dragon army under your control again yes, but I doubt that they could stand against all four lands. And three demons that can….."

  Waving his hand in the air, Kenji sighed as he laughed. "Yeah I know. I know. Three demons all birthed by a human that are full demons and can purify. I still say you made that up. My daughter is the daughter of a demon and a miko as well, she is half demon and can't purify. So I don't believe that they can."

  Closing his eyes, Noke growled. "Perhaps it means that her father and mother were both too weak to do it, or there was no true bond between you. Or perhaps she could have."

  With a growl Kenji sighed. "Whatever. I am moving on them in three days. You agreed with our deal the North is mine to do with as I please anyway. I want to start now and that's all there is to it."

  Shaking his head, Noke let out a deep sigh. This dragon before him had to be the most stupid creature alive. Sanding as he turned to leave the room again he shrugged. "Just remember. If you act without thinking through just because you have the dragon army at your back now, doesn't mean you will win. You will end up dead. Remember that Kenji." Then he was gone.

  X

  With a sigh as she looked in the direction that all the children went five days ago, Emiko sighed as she started to wring her hands together. She didn't want to let Nyoko go with them. But she had not only Chiren and Kiara on her side, but Soichiro too! It was hard to say no and make it stick.

  Hearing her mate come up behind her, Emiko dropped her eyes as she sighed again. "Do you really think that she will be alright Soichiro? I am not sure letting her go was such a good idea."

  With a smile, Soichiro wrapped his arms around her as he kissed the back of her head. "She will be fine love. They all will. Not a single demon, or the two half demons with her would let anything happen to her. You know that."

  Nodding, Emiko went limp in his arms as she let her head fall back onto his shoulder. "I know that. It is just that she is my little girl. She could be ten thousand years old and I will still worry about her just like I am now."

  Turning her away from the window, to look at the two figures napping in their bed curled into each other, Soichiro smiled. "I understand that Emiko. However, at least we have these two little ones here that need our attention now. Just like as if they were our own. Raidon I am sure will one day take his rightful title of Lord of the Dragons. And Mizareke we will make her into the warrior that her father would have made her. We have our work cut out with these two."

  "I know. And knowing that one day they will take their parents places will give me solace one day." Smiling, she looked up at Soichiro as he turned to look at her. "Especially seeing as I doubt that Nyoko will be in the North for much longer after all this is over."

  Laughing, Soichiro kissed the side of her head as she turned back to Mizareke and Raidon. "So you saw that too huh?"

  Nodding, Emiko yawned the moved away from her mate and slid into the bed next to her nephew as she draped her arm over them both. "I did. She will come back mated, or leave here to be mated not long after they get back. But I am good with it."

  "Same here. I couldn't ask for someone better for her than him." When his mate nodded he sighed as he leaned over on the bed, he kissed her cheek then let his hand fall on both Mizareke and Raidon with a sigh. He felt horrible for them. He knew what it was like to have a father killed by someone else who was supposed to be family.r />
  His eyes going to Emiko as she let out a content sigh, Soichiro smiled as he reached out and brushed her bangs from her face before turning to sit at the desk they had in their room. Looking up at the sleeping kids, Soichiro took another deep breath. Tikae. I know that my son and the others will see those responsible for your death are dead. I am not sure when, but it will happen. But I can promise you this much. Your son will be just as strong as you were. I will see him Lord of the Dragons. That I promise."

  X

  Leaving Ieyasu and Ina in the North, it was decided that Yukimura and Hideo would lead them to the clearing just next to the mountain that they last smelled her. Once they were there, Yukimura sighed as he crossed his arms. "This is where her scent just sort of vanished. We are guessing where she is being held with the others is near, we just can't find it."

  With himself and his sister the only leopards there, Chiren turned to the k-9's that were there. "Do any of you smell anything?"

  His ear flipping, Seiji sighed as he crossed his arms. "I am getting nothing but us."

  Nodding, Kiara crossed her arms with a growl. "Same here. Not even lavender to try and cover any scents. Nothing."

  Growling to himself, Katana looked around then sighed. There had to be something that they could do. If it was near them they had to find it and see what they could do about it. That way those forced to fight for Kenji could turn on him again.

  But then he gasped as his eyes went wide and drew everyone's eyes to him. Katana laughed as he snapped his fingers. "I got it! Kiara and I can find them. We just gotta use that. Mama and Father put us through hell to do just thing with that. Together we can get further out."

  With a smile, Kiara gave a sharp nod. "Right. Let's do it."

  Everyone moving, rather quickly toward the edge of the trees, Isamu looked over his shoulder to see that both the dragons were still right next to them. "Hey! Yukimura! Hideo! The two of you will want to get back here with us until they are done."

  Blinking, but going to the tree line, Yukimura was a bit shocked that they would do that. "Why are you all the way back here?" Turning back to the brother and sister as they talked for a moment, he let his head fall to the side. "What exactly are they going to do? Tear into the mountain?"

  With a smile, Torakus laughed. "Sort of but not exactly. Just watch. I am sure Kenji doesn't realize what he has started."

  The two dragons looked at each other, and then back as the brother and sister turned back to back. But they went wide eyed and flinched when their power spiked, and even from this far away they felt the pins and needles of purification. Turning wide eyes back to Chiren, Hideo took a step back. "What the hell? How are they using that?"

  His eyes on Kiara, Chiren laughed. "Come on Hideo. You know that Kiyoshi mated with a human and had two demon pups. Or at least you should."

  Giving him an odd look as he turned to Chiren, Yukimura pointed back toward them. "I know that. It was astonishing that it happened with them, and even more so with Lady Imae. But that doesn't explain why it feels like they are using purification like a miko!"

  Pulling all eyes to him, Isamu laughed as he gave a nod toward Seiji and Santrix. "Well, Kiyoshi and Yokiyo adopted Imae as their eldest. Then those two out there, then the two half demons. But Yokiyo and Imae both aren't just humans. They are mikos. They got that from her."

  His head spinning, Yukimura fell to his behind as he looked up at the wolf with extra wide eyes. "So let me get this straight. Lord Kiyoshi mated a human miko, adopted a human miko, sired four pups with his mate, and the two that were born demon can use her purification before she died? Really?"

  Growling, Santrix glared as she reached out and kicked Yukimura in the side of the head pulling his eyes to her. "My mother and sister are both still alive you idiot."

  Just as confused as Yukimura, Hideo dropped his head. "Could someone else explain this? But just one."

  Stepping up to them Nyoko sighed. "It isn't that hard to figure out if you know everything. I will explain it to them." Dropping down to her haunches in front of Yukimura she smiled. "Long time ago, Kiyoshi saved Imae and she just never wanted to leave him. He adopted her as his eldest pup before he mated with Yokiyo. He went to the West to help Shone and left Imae there at one point, and someone there took her to the forest to let her die. Yokiyo saved her. That was how Kiyoshi and Yokiyo met. They eventually truly and honestly fell in love with each other. That is what allowed her to bond to his lifespan and yes she is still alive. The same thing with Imae and Sanzo. And both Yokiyo and Imae were strong enough mikos to birth demon children. Kiara and Katana, who are the only two she gave birth too that have purification from her. Imae did too. She has two demon sons, and two half demon daughters. Torakus there can use purification, but his are unique to just him, and his half demon sister Akane can too, and just like him, hers are unique to hers. Was that simple enough for you?"

  Shocked, yet understanding now, Yukimura nodded. "Yes it was actually." He then turned those same shocked eyes to Torakus. "If you can use purification to, why aren't you helping them?"

  Laughing Torakus looked down at him. "They have the miko's pure purification like the mother and mine. Mine are a nothing like them, but more demonic. They purify things, I destroy things. If I were to try and help, we would cancel each other out."

  "Found them!"

  All eyes jerked up to Katana and Kiara as they let their powers fade. First one to reach them, Chiren looked down in Kiara's eyes. "So where are they?"

  Her eyes narrowed and stern, Kiara crossed her arms. "They are inside the mountain. They must have taken over the mountain or something. I am not sure how she could be inside a thick wall of a mountain with no obvious signs disturbance. But they are in there in a large cell that has purification running through the bars."

  "That has to be what is keeping them in check!" Hideo was there with hard eyes. "So how do we get in though?"

  Pointing to the side, Kiara smiled at Hideo. "Torakus is going to get us in. His purification is destructive yes, but he can concentrate it so it won't hurt the women and children. He is going to blast us a hole in."

  Cracking his neck, Torakus held a hand out. "Just give me a bow and arrow and tell me where I am shooting at."

  His eyes wide and worried, Yukimura stepped up to him. "But you just told us that you destroy? Are you sure you can do it without hurting them?"

  "I can. I destroy but I can focus and keep it contained. It isn't wild and explosive." Winking at him Torakus took Santrix's bow and arrow from her. "Just watch, it will be alright."

  Taking an arrow from her sister, Kiara threw it and stuck it in the dirt. "Right there. Split my arrow and keep it to 3 feet on either side. There are seventeen wolves inside there. I am sure you will take some out when you open it up. Once they charge out, we will finish it."

  Nodding, Torakus smiled as he let the wind pick up around him with a hiss. "I hope that bastard Noke himself is in there. I can't wait to come fact to face with him again." HE then flared his demoinc purification and fired his arrow.

  With worried eyes, Yukimura watched as the arrow flew. "I really don't think Kenji knows what he has started Hideo."

  Watching as he grabbed his sword, Hideo nodded. "Nope. He has no clue at all."

  Then when the wolves rushed out, they all charged right at them. Taking them out quickly and easily. This might be easier than they thought to deal with when it comes to Kenji.

  X

  Jerking her head up as she tensed, Kagami joined the other women and children in flinching as some screamed when the side of the mountain blew out, killing a few of the guards, and the others rushed out. Hearing the sound of swords clanging, Kagami could only breath hard as she watched with wide eyes.

  "Kagami? What do you think is going to happen to us now?"

  Looking back at the young female dog demon who was about her age, barely even over a hundred she smiled. She had twins, one dog and one dragon. "I am sure that it will be fine. Unless there i
s another miko that can break the cursed spell on these bars, they can't get to us."

  But then she turned when she heard the sounds of fighting just stop. Standing with her daughter in her arms, Kagami waited to see what was going to happen next. They couldn't smell or sense anything that was outside the barrier around the bars. But then her eyes went wide as tears streamed down her face. The first one through the hole in the side of the mountain was Hideo! "Hideo!"

  Going to the bars, Hideo smiled. "Thank heavens you are alright Kagami. I am sure Sidhae will be thrilled to know this."

  Watching as he started to reach out toward the bars, Kagami's eyes went wide as she took one step toward him. "No! Don't touch the bars!"

  Jerking his hand back, Hideo gave her an odd look. "What do you mean don't touch them?"

  Bouncing her now crying daughter, Kagami closed her eyes as she dropped her head and more tears rushed from her eyes. "There was a miko working for Kenji. Keeping a purification barrier around us so we can't even try to leave. Once I was in here and she sealed the barrier, he killed her. But her barrier is still here."