Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  Standing as his men bandaged his wounds, thankful that they were not life threatening, Yoite crossed his arms as he looked around. "But where are the others? Why were you and Lady Nyoko here all alone and not in the North?"

  Leaning against the tree again Seiji groaned. It hurt worse moving with the sword out of his gut than with it in. "Well I got no clue really. Four days ago Kiara and Chiren went down a tunnel to find the dragons to let them know we freed their mates and kids. They are probably just getting back to Katana, Kuri and Isamu who fought about thirty wolves also, and Torakus, Santrix and a dragon named Yukimura are closer to the North and…."

  Shaking his head as he held a hand up, Yoite sighed. "Enough. My Lord I have no idea what you are talking about."

  Laughing as he held his stomach, Seiji sighed. "Right. Seems like so much is going on everywhere else. Mama is going to flip out when she hears it all, and when she sees me."

  Seeing him like this, Nyoko couldn't help it as she let her shoulder slump. Everyone since the first time when the wolves tried to get her has been helpful in some way. All she could do was freeze and cling to him when it mattered. "I am sorry Seiji."

  Turning a stern look to her, Seiji growled. "Don't you even dare start that up again Nyoko."

  Dropping her head even more as she choked on a sob, Nyoko was shaking again. "But it is true and you know it Seiji. When the wolves showed up while I was hunting, I froze and had to be carried back. When the showed up after me after we got the women and children. I froze, and with this fight all I could do was hang off your back. I have just caused more trouble than I have been helpful."

  Reaching over, Seiji grabbed one of her hands and pulled her startled tear filled eyes to his. "I said don't you dare. I told you what happened to me when I was little and had my first real fight. I froze. I had to be saved. Don't doubt yourself because of it and no more putting yourself down over it."

  Pulling her hand away from his, Nyoko hugged herself as she shook even harder. "How can I not? I mean look at you. You are hurt like this and it is all because of me."

  His eyes still just as stern, Seiji took a deep breath. "Don't. I would have fought this fight, getting wounded just like this a million times over to keep you safe. It may take me a little longer to heal than a full demon, but I will be fine and probably not even have a scar."

  "But…."

  Laughing as he pulled her eyes to him, Seiji sighed. "But nothing Nyoko. Every single wound I got was worth it to keep you safe. So just stop."

  As he looked back and forth between Seiji and Nyoko, Yoite couldn't help but smile. He was sure that Kiyoshi and Yokiyo would be thrilled, and not a bit surprised that their youngest found a mate in a time of chaos just like their eldest. Though he did have to wonder what Yokiyo would think about her youngest pup bringing home a mate.

  Clearing his throat, Yoite drew all eyes to him as he looked down at Seiji. "My Lord where were you headed? If everyone is headed North why were you two this way?"

  "We were headed to the West."

  Blinking, Yoite let his head fall to the side. "Why is that?"

  Shrugging Seiji laughed then closed an eye. "I have no idea actually. All I know is that Katana and Isamu were talking, then they told me to go to the West. So we ran to the West. Their whole objective was Nyoko, that was why they were there in the first place. They probably figured that there would another ambush to the North."

  Rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, Yoite sighed as he put the other hand on his hip with a groan. "Fighting all over the place. Much too familiar for my liking. And Noke and Kenji are at the heart of it."

  Looking up at him with an odd look, Seiji blinked. "Fighting all over the place? Other than me and what I told you of? Where else has it happened."

  "Well to start with, it seems your mother and Lady Imae were not the only mikos to mate a demon. Long ago, Kenji also had a half demon daughter with a miko. By day she is human, nothing about her sight or scent says she has a demon father. By night she turns into a large dragon. She has been trying to cause unrest between your father and the humans of the South. War is breaking out with the humans all over the lands. One wants to take your father out, the other defends him. Even bringing it to the palace."

  His eyes wide, Seiji flinched. "Mama?"

  Laughing Yoite smiled at him. "She is fine you know this. But she has picked upmore than just your father's life span that is for sure."

  "Like what?"

  "Right now let's just go on to the West. I will tell you then." Looking around he sighed. "What direction would they run into the others?"

  "Straight toward the East from here. You will either find them, or more wolf bodies. If you see that first, then turn and head straight North."

  Turning to two of his men, Yoite pointed. "The two of you go that way and don't stop until you find either Lady Kiara or Lord Katana. Let them know that these two are with me and we are going on to the West and they are to head North at once, Lord Kiyoshi and Lady Yokiyo are on their way there. The rest of you help me with him."

  With a sigh as he went to the now standing Nyoko, Yoite lifted her in his arms as Seiji was fixed on the back of one of his men. "Right now let's get to the West. The sooner you get to a healer the sooner you will heal."

  Nodding Seiji sighed. "Thanks Yoite."

  Running now, Yoite kept his eyes on Seiji as they ran right in front of him. But he had to smile as he thought about the situation. It would seem all his pups are going to find mates in times of chaos. Lady Imae did, now Lord Seiji. But he also knew that once they found out why he was the way he was, that they would be just as proud of him as he was.

  X

  It was early evening when Kiara and Chiren transformed back to their human form as they came to a stop seeing Katana, Kuri and Isamu in the middle of numerous wolf bodies. With wide eyes Kiara found her brother's blue eyes. "Katana what happened!? Where are the women and children? And Nyoko, Seiji, Torakus, Santrix, Yukimura!?" Why are…"

  With a sigh as he held his hand up to stop her many questions, Katana dropped his head. "Just stop asking questions and I can tell you. It is simple and won't take long."

  Growling with a glare as she stormed up to him, Kiara crossed her arms. "Alright then out with it."

  Crossing his own arms, Katana sighed. "Yesterday morning we were making good time, but that was when about thirty wolves started to stalk. Before noon they made it clear they were there when we stopped to let the women and children rest. And…."

  Growling Kiara was tapping her fingers on her arm. "If you don't hurry the hell up with this story then so help me I am going to…"

  Pulling her eyes to him, Isamu laughed as he sat down on the ground. "Kiara just give it a rest and let him talk. There is a key part in this story that is something you and Chiren are going to want to hear for sure."

  Glancing back at Chiren and the way he looked at her, followed by the hordes of dragons that were there blinking at what was going on, Kiara growled as she turned with a disgruntled sigh. "Fine. Katana."

  Clearing his throat, Katana smiled. "Once they were in the open, they said that they didn't care about what the women and children did, so I had Torakus, Santrix and Yukimura go on to the North."

  Flinching, not hearing Nyoko in that mix, Chiren narrowed his eyes. "Then why were they even there?"

  Moving to stand next to his cousin, Kuri nodded. "They did actually. They told us who they wanted soon as Katana asked if the women and kids could go on toward the North."

  His body going ridged, Chiren gasped then narrowed his eyes. "Where is my sister?"

  Keeping his arms crossed, Katana nodded. "Exactly. We took care of that though. Seiji and Nyoko were told to go for the West and we took out all but three wolves. They…"

  Her eyes wide, Kiara reached out and pushed on her brother's chest making him stumble back a few feet. "The West! The North is closer! What the hell were you thinking!?"

  Moving back up so that he was now in his sis
ter's face Katana pulled a shocked gasp as he glared and growled at her. "Yes Kiara the North is closer. But they had thirty wolves stalking us to get her. Nyoko was their target. Do you really think that they wouldn't have set up an ambush waiting on them?"

  Before he even gave her a chance to answer, Katana turned to Chiren with a sigh. "On his own, protecting your sister, Seiji is more than capable enough at handling ten on his own with her on his back. Being a half demon, Father and Grandfather put him through his paces more so than with me to make up for the fact that he is a half demon. The three that got out of my barrier and went after them are nothing for him. We would not have risked not only your sister but my brother."

  Chiren was breathing hard, but he couldn't argue that point. They wouldn't have done anything to risk their lives, and it did make sense that they may have another ambush closer to the North. But still. She was his sister.

  Pulling all eyes to him, Kuri laughed as he crossed his arms. "Don't worry so much. I would wager, fifty could go after her right now, and Seiji will face them down and win without a problem."

  Turning her blue eyes to her cousin, Kiara growled. "Seiji is good but not that good Kuri and you know it." But then her eyes went wide as she looked toward the west. Nyoko and Seiji were there and she didn't like it. She was worried about them. But Chiren was really getting to her right now. He was acting calm, but she could feel that he was spiraling out of control inside. 'Please Chiren don't do this. Not right now. Please not right now.'

  "Don't be so sure Kiara."

  Turning on her cousin, Kiara gave him a sigh and a glare. "What are you talking about? Alone I would struggle with that many. How in the hell do you think that he could face it?"

  Closing his eyes Chiren sighed as he moved up next to Kiara. "You said they headed due west right? I am worried about my sister and I would like to go and see for myself. Kiara?"

  Crossing her arms with a nod, Kiara took a deep breath. "Oh I am coming."

  Pulling all eyes back to him as he sat down on a rock for a moment, Katana laughed. "You can if you want to sure. But you don't really need to go after them. Just like Kuri said, and I know we are right. In this case this entire drag on army could be coming down on him and he would have won."

  Giving her brother a glare, Kiara didn't know what in the world he was talking about. It was like he was talking in circles. "In the words of our mother, you have done lost your mind haven't you?"

  Shaking his head side to side Katana laughed again as he winked at them. "I haven't. But I know that when we all go home, Nyoko is going to be coming home with us and staying forever."

  "Now I am more confused. What are you talking about Katana?"

  Kuri sighed with a small smile as both Katana and Isamu burst into a fit of laughter. Pulling eyes to him, he crossed his arms. "It was Seiji's eyes. The attraction between the two couldn't have been missed by the two of you, everyone else saw it. But the second they singled out Nyoko for who they wanted, and who they wanted her for, his eyes instantly started to bleed."

  Nodding at their shocked faces, Isamu finally stopped laughing as he stood up. "That and Nyoko turned to him soon as she saw them, it was Seiji she called for."

  His eyes wide, Chiren didn't know what to think about this. Turning back to Kuri he blinked. "You are sure about this? His eyes were…."

  Nodding as he laughed, Kuri relaxed. "Exactly. His demon wanted to come out in full force to protect his 'mate', and that happened to be your sister. I would say she accepts with the way things went on our way to find the women and children. She will be moving full time to the South. And you know how a demon protecting his mate is like."

  Looking back toward the West, Chiren was finally starting to calm down knowing that. But she was still his little sister and until he saw for himself that everything was fine, he would worry. "I am still going. I can't show up at the North without her."

  "I am coming with you."

  "Go on then." Katana now stood with a stretch as he smiled. "We are going on to the North and catch up with the others. Just remember to run extra fast this time. You know that both Seiji and Santrix can rival anyone when it comes to speed, even Father and Grandfather when they get serious. And he was more than serious about this."

  With a nod, both Kiara and Chiren shot off for the West. They wanted to make sure that their siblings were alright, and see if it were true about the mating part. Neither of them would object to it. But for Kiara personally, if it were true, she would have no reason at all to ever go back to the North and could fight what was going on with her and Chiren easier.

  Once they were gone, Katana sighed as he looked around at the dragons. "Come on let's go. It took us three days to get here, even if they hurried, they wouldn't be more than two days ahead of us and almost to the palace. If not, once we catch them with your help, your mates and kids will be relieved and you can help us close the gap." He then turned and lead the way North.

  Branching Out Chapter 130

  Sliding to a stop, Kiara was breathing hard. It was mid-morning the next day and they hadn't come across them yet. But then she caught scent of someone she knew coming. Breathing hard as she looked up at Chiren she blinked. "They are from Yoite's unit."

  Turning before they could say anything, the two demons in question dropped before them on their knees. Giving them an odd look, Kiara was still trying to catch her breath. "Why are you two here? What is going on?"

  Standing up, one of them sighed. "We were sent to find you or Lord Katana on Master Yoite's orders."

  Rolling her eyes, Kiara crossed her arms. "I sort of figured that one. Where is Yoite?"

  "He is escorting Lord Seiji and Lady Nyoko on to the Western Palace. They would have reached there already My Lady."

  Relief flooded through her and Kiara nodded as she dropped her head and closed her eyes. With Yoite they were both safe. "Well at least we know for sure that they are safe now." She then opened her eyes with a gasp. "Wait there were three wolves that were chasing them. What happened to them? Were Seiji or Nyoko injured at all before you found them?"

  Looking from one to the other, the one that had spoke already turned back to Kiara as he rubbed his neck. With as protective of all her younger siblings were, he wasn't sure how she was going to take what happened to Seiji. "Well My Lady, Lady Nyoko was unharmed, not so much as a scratch. However, Lord Seiji who fought them took some rather rough blows and a few serious wounds."

  Gasping then glaring, Kiara didn't know what to think. Her heart was racing and pounding in her head. "Wait you know the training he went through and you are telling me that three wolves managed to seriously wound him!?"

  Shaking his head as he gave her a serious look, the dog sighed. "No My Lady. I am saying more than thirty of them did. But while he was wounded, it is not life threatening, and he won the battle."

  With a gasp, Chiren reached out and caught the now very pale Kiara as she started to stumble. They were all going on days with no sleep by now and hearing that couldn't have helped her. Turning to the men, Chiren glared. "There were more than thirty of them here too?"

  "That is correct My Lord. Though he is half demon and the wounds are serious, he will be fine in a couple of days."

  "What happened to him?"

  Turning to Kiara, the dog didn't know if he should tell her exactly, but then again he feared not telling her and what she would do to him for that. Closing his eyes he sighed. "As I said. Lady Nyoko did not have even a scratch on her. Your brother was covered in small wounds on his legs and arms. But he had a large deep gash across his chest and a short sword in his stomach when we found him. Other than that…."

  Blanching as she tensed, Kiara gaped at them with wide eyes. "Other than that!?"

  Giving her a bow, the dog sighed. "They are not going to kill him and he will be healed I am sure by the time you see him again. However, we must move to the North at once. Your parents are on their way there, and it is their wish that everyone meet in the North to find out
exactly what is going on and where. We were on our way to inform Lord Shone when we smelled your brother. Lord Kamui went to the East."

  Blinking as her heart started to race, Kiara was shaking like crazy. "Wait what? Why is father and mother leaving and having everyone else do the same? What happened?"

  "They were attacked at the castle by humans and a female half dragon demon. However, they did not have to fight the humans. Lord Recca came to fend them off while…."

  A deep breath and Kiara dropped to her knees as she sat back on her feet. So much was going on so many different places. So many people didn't know things that they needed to know to make sure everyone was safe and who was behind it. It was times like this, with all this information that she wished she didn't have the perfect memory that she had. Her head spinning she fell forward and was on her hands and knees as she dropped her head down. "This is all just so confusing. I think father is right we all need to come together and piece the entire story about what is going on right now for everyone. OH man."