Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

Stopping, Kanbei smiled as he crossed his arms. "You know we aren't stupid, and neither is Lord Noke. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the purification rejects would get the women and brats out."

  Standing on his cousin's right side, Kuri growled as he narrowed his eyes at him. If that was the case did they really come to take them back, or was it Nyoko. She was who he fixed with his smile as he walked out. "So is that why you are here? To take them back?"

  Laughing, Kanbei looked at one of the wolves with a flashy smile. Two wolves, a falcon, a dog, a dragon, and who half dogs. But with the amount of men that he had behind him. It wouldn't be a problem. Especially since letting the women and kids go on would take a few of them away from the fight. "Not at all. They can get going. They were part of the plan to get their mate's for Kenji. They had no standing in Lord Noke's plan and are of no use to him. They can go or stay it doesn't matter."

  "So then what the hell do you want?"

  Smiling at the half dog male, Kanbei laughed as he pointed to where the leopard female as she looked out from behind him. "We want her. So just make this simple and hand her over to us for Lord Noke and we will take our leave. Or we will kill you and be done with it then take her with us.

  Growling as he felt the pure rage soar through his body, Seiji's eyes went wide then narrowed as he tensed. The hand on his sword gripping so tight his knuckles were white. There was no way that was ever going to happen! "You can take her over my dead body you bastard."

  Hiding fully now, and frozen in fear, Nyoko closed her eyes. She thought that she would be ready to fight in a battle with everyone. So did her father and brother. But knowing that they were all there for her terrified her! She didn't know what to do. All her training was just g one! Reaching a shaky hand out, she grabbed the back of Seiji's clothes as she stepped closer. This was bad.

  Growling himself as he looked around, Katana knew what they had to do. While it wouldn't make sense, it was their best option. The women and children were terrified, but if they really were not their target, then the thirty or so men that he had wouldn't follow them. "So the women and children are not your target so they can leave? And your thirty or so men aren't going to chase after them?"

  Nodding Kanbei kept his eyes on the dog that was talking now. Since he seemed to be in charge. "That's right. We are only hear for the leopard hanging of the halflings back. What the rest do are of no concern to us."

  Growling even more, Seiji took a step back closer to Nyoko. His eyes narrowing as his growl got deeper when he could feel her shaking through his clothes. The thought of what Noke wanted her for set his blood to an instant boil. The only thing he knew right now was that if he touched her, he was going to die.

  Pulling his sword Katana glanced to his little brother with curious eyes. He was sure that his brother didn't even know what was going on. Or at least he would gather that. 'Well now.' But then he turned to Torakus as he came up to him. "Take Santrix and Yukimura and take the women and children back to the North. We would have been there by tomorrow evening anyway. Now."

  Seeing the look in his eyes as Isamu moved to stand next to him, Torakus nodded. "Right." He then turned and jumped in the air. "Come on everyone let's move."

  His eyes on the wolf, Seiji never budged. But he wasn't going to take her with them right now either. That would draw the others out and toward them and who knows what would happen. But he needed to know where she was at all times. "Nyoko. Get on my back and hold on with all you have. Even if you have to dig your claws into me, don't let go of me."

  Nodding, Nyoko was fighting to keep her tears at bay right now. But she then jumped up and threw her shaky, yet vice grip arms around his neck and buried her face in his hair. The second she touched him she felt calm. "I promise I won't let go."

  Laughing, Kanbei shook hi shead. She was turning to the half breed for help. "Do you really think that a half breed whelp like that is going to protect you? Please. Girl you are as good as got."

  Growling, Isamu moved to stand in front of Seiji and Nyoko. Wolves like this bastard and Noke gave the entire wolf demon race a bad name these days when they tried to get along with the growing number of humans. "So tell me what that ass wants her for anyway?"

  His eyes on Isamu now, Kanbei gave him a huge mock bow as he smiled sadisticly. "Why Lord Isamu. I didn't see you standing there I wonder why? Oh I know. You are too insignificant to matter."

  Letting out an annoyed sigh, Isamu just stood there. "I don't care what scum like you think about me. What does that bastard what her for?"

  Putting his sword on his shoulder, Kanbei laughed as he closed his eyes. "Oh I don't know exactly. But he is close to being an adult now. Perhaps he wants to have a pup that is colored like a leopard? Could be interesting."

  Silent now, Seiji was tense as he put his sword back in its sheath. He didn't need to know why Noke wanted to get his hands on her. All he knew was that it wasn't going to happen! And the wolf's answer about why he wanted her just pissed him off even more. And made her shake even more. 'Damnit.' Looking to the side to see her head Seiji reached behind him and got his naginata. "I need this."

  Loosening her hold for a second, Nyoko never looked up. The second his naginata was off his back her death grip was back. She was scared to death to start with. Knowing why he wanted her terrified her as silent tears fell from her eyes to his hair. She was never going to come out like this again.

  The smell of her tears sent his rage over the edge as Seiji growled deeper. The more agitated he got, more so than everyone else about what he said about her, Seiji was no fool. He knew what was going on and he would talk to her about it when she was safe and he was able to make the tears stop. Right now, the only thing he was going to focus on, was not letting anyone touch her.

  With a smile Katana put a hand on his hip as he sighed when Isamu and Kuri each got on either side of him. "You know what boys. I think all that training we have done is going to pay off. How about we have some fun?"

  Nodding in agreement, Isamu looked around as they were surrounded by the wolves. "Agreed. Time to go all ot."

  Laughing, Kuri glanced over at Seiji and smiled. "And judging from the look on Seiji's face, Nyoko is going to be just fine with him."

  Looking over at his brother now, Katana's eyes went extra wide. His eyes were bleeding a brilliant red like when he is getting ready to transform. "That is interesting? I wonder if he knows what is going on yet?"

  Nodding his head, Kuri turned his eyes back to the leader of this misfit mob. "I am sure he does. Father says when it happens you know it."

  "True. Father says the same thing to both of us." He then turned back to Kanbei with a serious face. "Seiji. There is a break, I know you know it. Take it and go."

  Turning to Seiji with a hard eyes, Isamu moved over to stand next to him and hardly spoke over a whisper. "Make for the West with her. They were waiting here for her and may have another ambush waiting for her to go further north. I know it is three days, but you are fast when determined. Got it?"

  With a nod, Seiji took a step back as he held his hand up in the air. His demonic powers spinning his naginata in the ball of his hand. "Got it."

  Glaring with an annoyed growl, Kanbei was ready to stop this game. "There is no break in my men! You are totally surrounded. You have no way out."

  Taking deep breaths, Seiji smiled. "Do you trust me Nyoko?"

  "I do."

  Narrowing his eyes, Seiji smiled a feral smile. "Then just hold on and keep your head down."

  "You stupid fool! I told you that there is no break in my men!" Kanbei pointed his sword at him as he growled. "Now just give it up and hand her over and we might let you live."

  Turning his smile back to Kanbei, Seiji poised himself. "Oh there is a break in your men. You just didn't know it." He then turned and using speed he got from his father charged two of the men and took them out, vanishing into the trees as he pushed himself as fast as he could for the West.

  "Don't stand the
re after them!"

  "Not going to happen." With a growl, Katana threw up a barrier and locked all but three of them inside. "Damnit. I hoped I would get them all."

  Looking around with a glare, Kuri sighed. "Even with Nyoko on his back, Seiji would be able to more than handle the three of them with those eyes of his Katana."

  Dropping his head, Katana sighed. "You heard Mama before we left."

  With a growl as the three of the moved to stand back to back, Kuri narrowed his eyes. "Aunt Yokiyo will have to get over it. He went through the same training that we did. He will be fine."

  "I know that. It is a good thing though that my purification doesn't bother you anymore. Ready for fun?"

  "Right!"

  "Don't mock me! My men will get that bitch!" Kanbei then pointed at them. "Kill them now!"

  X

  Sliding to a stop in the tunnel, nearly to the place where the whole was, Kiara had extra wide eyes as her breathing got heavier. "Oh no. "

  Giving her an odd look, Chiren blinked. "Oh no what Kiara?"

  "I don't know. Just a feeling like something isn't right. Not at all right." Her eyes focused, Kiara tried to figure out what this was. She knew it was like her mother, but she didn't know what was going on.

  Remembering what happened before they left the South and found what happened to Tikae and Toki, Chiren remembered that blood curdling scream of Yokiyo when she got a bad feeling. "Is it like your mother?"

  Nodding, Kiara looked down as she blinked. "Yes. And its about….." She then turned terrified eyes up to his. "It is about Nyoko and Seiji right now."

  Confused, and wanting to press on, Sidhae stepped up to them. "I am sorry but what are you talking about? What is going on with Lady Nyoko?"

  His eyes now worried and stern, Chiren turned to him with a sigh. "Long story short Lady Yokiyo and all three of her daughters get feelings from time to time. When they get them, it is best not to ignore them because that means something is going to happen or has happened. She got one about my siter and her brother. We have to push it harder. They are with your mates and children."

  Nodding as they were off again, even faster, Kiara closed her eyes for a second. 'Oh please let them be safe. Please!'

  X

  As she paced in her study Takara, Yokiyo was nearly at her wits end trying to make sense of the sudden feeling that come over her. Something was wrong and it focused all on Seiji. But it wasn't like when Kiara left and someone died or is going to die. Just that he is doing something stupid and could be dangerous or something.

  When she finally couldn't come up with anything, Yokiyo threw her hands in the air as she fell on her futon. "I can't this anymore! I don't know what is going on, just that my youngest is probably doing something stupid that could be dangerous. I wish I didn't get these!"

  "I understand My Lady. But they have saved more than a few lives." Takara only smiled sweetly at her. She didn't really know what else to say. "Lord Seiji is not in real danger or you would know. Perhaps if you talked with Lord Kiyoshi about it?"

  "Talked to me about what?"

  Jumping with a yelp, Takara dropped her head with a sigh. She hated getting startled like that. Yoite doesn't do it anymore because they are mated, but she did wish that Kiyoshi wouldn't do it either. "My Lady has afeeling My Lord."

  Looking from Takara to Yokiyo on the futon, Kiyoshi sighed. Gives us a moment Takara."

  Standing with a bow, Takara smiled. "Of course My Lord. I will be in the kitchen, send someone to fetch me when My Lady is ready for my return."

  "Right." Waiting for the door to close, Kiyoshi then went and stood before his mate. "What is going on? You have been worried, scared and nervous for the biggest part of the day."

  Not even looking up at him, Yokiyo sighed. "I don't know. I got one of my feelings, but I am not sure what to make out of it?"

  "Not sure?"

  Rolling her eyes as she sat up, Yokiyo crossed her arms as she looked at her lap with a sigh. "It's about all the kids, but Seiji mostly. It isn't a thing like we need to rush and find him or he is going to die. But just that he is doing something stupid that could be dangerous."

  With a small smile, Kiyoshi reached down and took her hand pulling her to stand as he wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her to him. "I see. Would it make you feel better if we paid a visit to the North?"

  With a gasp as she looked up at him, Yokiyo had wide eyes. "Wait can you really leave?"

  With a small laugh, Kiyoshi ran the back of a finger down her face. "Not for long. But I can long enough to go and stay there a few days and then come home. So you can put your worry to ease. I can leave Kamui in charge for that long."

  Smiling, Yokiyo then giggled as she threw her arms around his neck. "Oh thank you so much!"

  With a sigh, Kiyoshi wrapped both of his arms around her as well. It seemed that it always took the smallest of gestures or actions to make her the happiest. But just as he was about to tell her that they would leave as soon as he told Kamui, he could smell a guard coming toward them with a rapid heartbeat.

  Turning to the door just as it flew open, he narrowed his eyes at him with a growl as he hit his knees. "What is it?"

  Keeping his eyes down, the guard sighed. "My Lord, we have trouble."

  Turning to look at him odd, Yokiyo blinked. "What sort of trouble?" But then her feeling slammed full force at her and she grabbed Kiyoshi's clothes with a death grip. "Is it about my pups?!"

  Shaking his head side to side, the guard looked up. "No My Lady, it is nothing to do with them. There is a human army that is coming this way. About a thousand strong."

  With a growl, Kiyoshi sighed. "Are they coming to fight or asking for aid?"

  Standing now the guard sighed. "Fight. They all have weapons drawn and at the ready. They seem to be lead by a woman that is riding a large tiger demon."

  With a glare and a growl, Kiyoshi turned his eyes to Yokiyo. "Stay here."

  "To hell I am!"

  "Yokiyo."

  "No! This could be about one of my pups and either way it goes I will be at your side. Deal with it."

  "I said…."

  Throwing her hand up, Yokiyo walked o past him. "I am coming!"

  X

  With a forced smile, Jonas waited for Kiyoshi to show up on the castle wall with the rest of the demons. She figured that it would have been much easier to find a bunch of humans to stand up against him. But to her shock, most of the humans of the south respected him and refused to rise up on him. She was only able to find a thousand of them. But when he killed them all it would show the rest how big of a bastard he really is.

  Looking up Jonas smiled as Kiyoshi came to stand on the top of the gate. "I see you have come out after all. Tell me, is it true that you have a daughter that is demon with purification? She looked just like you but with black hair and dark blue eyes."

  With his eyes narrowing, Kiyoshi growled as she stopped not far from the gate. Now he had to wonder if something was going wrong with the pups. "Her name is Kiara. What about her human?"

  "So it is true. Is her mother Yokiyo the legendary miko?" When Kiyoshi only nodded, Jonas closed her eyes. "I see it is a shame you chose to sire pups with a human. It is a shame that that she didn't live long enough to see of what she would have called her…."

  "My pack. Now what was that I heard about my daughter?"

  Looking to his right, Jonas flinched as her eyes went extra wide. She was looking into those same dark blue eyes she looked into so long ago. Her glare just as hard if not harder than Kiyoshi's. But she looked like she was still in the prime of her life! Her own mother was a strong miko and she was dead before she ever reached her father's waist! "How?" Hardening her eyes Jonas fisted her hands. "How in the hell are you still alive and look so young?"

  Keeping her glare, Yokiyo tried to even out her breathing. She actually asked her that? She has lived long enough, that most humans know why she never changes. "Don't you worry about why or how I am still alive. It i
s of no concern of yours. But you mentioned my daughter. What happened to her?"

  Shaking her head, Jonas glared harder as she pointed up at her. "There is no way that you are really her mother! She is a pure demon!"

  Rolling her eyes, Yokiyo crossed her arms. "Really? So tell me this then. How many female dog demons do you know other than her that can use purification? She sure as hell didn't get that from her father. Now tell me what the hell happened!?"

  Glaring as she took deep breaths, Jonas just looked up at the miko. Dusk would be there soon and then she would die. "Well the last time that I saw her she was fine. Though I don't know if anything has happen to her at any rate. However I am sure that will change shortly."

  Rage filling her, Yokiyo opened her eyes as wide as she could, with a slightly crazed look to them. Her purification flaring to its maximum. Forcing every demon save Kiyoshi away from not only her but the gate and the wall. "You don't know if anything has happened to her? You know it will shortly! You bitch!"