Twelve Lords

by Max Jager

  X

  Once Kiara was out of her room, Yokiyo gave it just a few minutes and then she left as well. Once she was out of the palace she took a deep breath and smiled as she relaxed. The look of utter shock on Kiara's face making her sigh as she looked at the palace. 'Poor pup. Didn't know what hit her when I said that but it is for her own good in the long run.'

  Headed through the gardens she found her mate and son. Giggling some, Yokiyo hugged Kiyoshi's arm as she closed her eyes. "Well that part is done. Poor thing. She was shocked when I opened my mouth and said what I did."

  Looking down at his mate with a glare, Kiyoshi growled as he took a deep breath. "I still do not understand the tricks. With him here in the palace together with her, they will have to face each other at some point and it will fall into place then."

  Smiling up at him as she sighed, Yokiyo nodded. "I know that. But I also know how stubborn your daughter can be on this. That is why we have a second part of the plan."

  Now sitting on a bench a few feet away, Katana just shook his head as he let out a sigh. "Still don't get how that is going to work either. How is introducing them each to someone else going to do anything?"

  Giving her son a half glare, Yokiyo laughed as she smiled. "It doesn't make sense to the one asking because he isn't bonded or mated and it shows. Tell me this Katana. Do you think for example. Seiji and Nyoko. If Seiji were to see Nyoko introduced to another male before he had the chance to ask Soichiro anything or talk to Nyoko that he would just stand there and do nothing?"

  Shaking his head side to side, Katana blinked. "No. his demon wouldn't let him just stand there."

  Giggling as she winked at her son, Yokiyo gave him a sharp nod. "That is exactly it my son. Kiara is bound to him, and for her to be bound to Chiren as strong as she is, he has to be bound to her just like Nyoko did Seiji. He won't be able to stop himself from interfering with what is going on and saying something. Same with Kiara."

  Shaking his head as he dropped it, Katana just sighed. He didn't see this working out the way they thought. He did want them to realize it and mate, but he didn't see it working like they think it will. "If you say so Mama."

  X

  With a sigh as he flew for the South, Chiren closed his eyes and let his head fall back some as he sat on his dragon. One more night in the sky and then he would finally be in the South. Part of him was excited to see his sister after three years. And really excited to be able to see his first niece or nephew when she gives birth no long after he gets there he was sure. And then there was Kiara. He knew that he was in love with her, and that has prevented him from even talking to the many nobles in the North that think they want to throw their daughters at him. None of them sparked any interest at all in him and he knew that it was because of Kiara.

  But then he would remember how she acted toward him the last time that he saw her. She avoided him like he was death itself and then left without so much as a word. Because of that alone he knew that he needed to move on and start looking for someone else. But he could also see something different in the way that she avoided him. Either way it went he hoped that since he was going to be in the South for at least a week, maybe longer, that he would have a chance to talk to her about what happened. If nothing was different then he would have to figure out how to move on and find someone else.

  "Are you alright over there My Lord?"

  Blinking as he looked over at Yukimura, Chiren sighed then laughed as he dropped his head. He being the only one who didn't have a mate and child volunteered to go with him. But the poor guy didn't know what he was in for in a way. "I am fine. Just a little tired."

  Pushing his mount to move up next to Chiren's, Yukimura couldn't help but smile over at him. He saw the way that the two would look at each other and didn't understand why neither said anything. "My Lord, you were thinking about Lady Kiara were you not?"

  Flinching, Chiren glared at him. "I was not."

  Laughing Yukimura shook his head and then looked up at the sky. "you know dragons and leopards are not like other demons. We don't bond and mate for life like a dog does. But I do know a bond when I see one, and just because it isn't our nature to bond, doesn't mean if we mate a demon that does, that we won't be pulled into one." When all he got was a growl, Yukimura let out another laugh. "I have a feeling that there will be three headed for the North when we go home in a week or so."

  Crossing his arms as he glared over at Yukimura, Chiren was not amused by that comment. It would be amazing for him, but he doubted it. "Well wouldn't it be nice if you were proven wrong Yukimura?" But then he remembered what his mother said as he was leaving and dropped his head with a groan. "Though it won't be for lack of trying. According to Mother, Yokiyo has no intention on letting me leave without at least trying to find me a mate. I have a feeling that this is going to be a very long, eventful and unforgettable week to say the least."

  Giving him an odd look, Yukimura blinked. He had no clue what he meant by that statement. "My Lord what do you mean by that?" With the exception of Lady Yokiyo being bound to Lord Kiyoshi, it should be no different than a week in the Northern Palace."

  Snorting as he threw his head back, Chiren erupted into a fit of laughter as he fell on his back and held his stomach as he laughed hard. "Oh man. I totally forgot!"

  Blinking even more, Yukimura was now more confused now than when he met the Southern Pack. "My Lord what did you forget? I do not understand why what I said is so funny to you."

  Taking a few deep breaths to stop laughing, Chiren sat up and smiled over at the confused dragon. "What I forgot is that when you met the Southern Pack it was a rather serious time and situation. They had their light hearted moments, but they were not themselves and were acting rather strange for them when you met them."

  Narrowing his eyes at his lord, Yukimura growled. "My Lord you are talking in riddles."

  Taking a deep breath as he laughed, "Well there are many things that I could use to explain that to you. Yokiyo can be calm and sweet and the picture of a perfect Lady. But say one thing that she doesn't agree with and she is on you with her purification and yelling. Which sometimes leads to a fight for dominance between her and Kiyoshi. Sometimes that can take out a few walls of the palace. Or one time when Nyoko was still small I brought her here. Kiyoshi and Yokiyo were in the gardens and I didn't think much of it, but then I heard a yelp and she is running from him with a barrier as she tells him to keep his hands to his self she doesn't need another pup."

  The look on Yukimura's face made him laugh again. "According to what I heard Umarus saying that day, since the palace didn't get destroyed that Kiyoshi got his way."

  Shaking his head, Yukimura just looked at him. He didn't know what to think about that one or what to say about it. "You are kidding?"

  Shaking his head Chiren kept his smile. "Nope. But then again there is Senri who is only a few years older than Yokiyo. He mated a water sprite and they both did the same thing that Kiyoshi and Yokiyo did, he is still alive. Katana can sometimes be just like his father, then he can be as goofy as his mother, but is rather lazy himself. Koto is Kamui and Yukani's daughter and is a girly girl that wants nothing to do with fighting much to her mothers dismay. Umarus is the weapon's master there that even helped train Kurosai has a mouth that is the foulest you will ever hear as he trains them. Santrix is usually teasing everyone. There is not going to be a dull moment this week. You will see."

  Shaking his head, Yukimura laughed as he turned back to look toward their destination. "The South truly is a world apart from the rest of the lands."

  "To say the least." Laughing, Chiren shook his head. "It is like the world of demons and the world of humans met in a violent clash and now things are not the same as they are anywhere else."

  A glance toward the East and Yukimura blinked as he turned back to Chiren. He didn't know if he was really ready for the answer, but he had to ask the question. "Is the East the same way? Since Lady Imae is the adopted daughter of Lord Kiyoshi
and Lady Yokiyo? It would be the same there, a human mated a demon and bonded to his life span."

  Shaking his head as he laughed again, Chiren sighed. "No actually. Imae can have her moments when she acts like her mother and there is chaos in the East. But usually only when someone is there that is from the South. But typically things in the East run just as smooth and in the same basic order as the North and the West."

  When he looked back at him, and saw the overwhelmed look on his face, Chiren laughed as he stretched. As he closed his eyes. "Don't feel so bad Yukimura. I have known them since I was half grown and they still don't make sense to me." But the sudden sense of someone watching made him glare as both he and Yukimura pulled their mounts to a dead stopped and turned around to see a dragon turn and fly off away from them. "Do you know who that is Yukimura?"

  Shaking his own head as he glared, Yukimura was tense now. "I do not. But when we turned and he flew off like that, he was defiantly following us."

  Flashes of his mother, father and small cousins in the North flew through his mind. If the few dragons that didn't rally around to train Raidon and make him Lord of the Dragons when he became of age decided to move, they needed to know about it. "I don't see anyone else do you?"

  "I don't. It seems that he is the only one." Turning back to his Lord, Yukimura blinked. "My Lord what are you going to do?"

  "I am going to go on to the South." Turning his eyes back to Yukimura, Chiren growled. "I want you to go back to the North and tell my parents what we saw. My mount is fast and he hasn't been pushed in a while. I can push him and be to the palace by nightfall." A glance back home and he sighed. "I would just turn around and go with you, but with no real clear threat, my mother will have my head if I didn't go to my sister."

  "You are sure you will be alright My Lord?" When he blinked, Yukimura sighed. "I do not mind escorting you on to the South before I turn back for the North."

  Nodding, Chiren sighed. "I will be fine. We will be there by the time it gets dark so it will be alright."

  With a nod, Yukimura stood on his mount and jumped into the air as he transformed into his full size. "I will send my mount with you. I can make better time back to the North when I am in this form."

  "Right." Chiren then watched as Yukimura took off like a shot for the North. Turning and looking toward where the dragon went he sighed as he narrowed his eyes. "Damnit. Just don't let anything happen right now. Not with Nyoko this close to having her first child. Just let this be a happy time for her." He then turned and pushed his mount as fast as it could go, Yukimura's having trouble keeping up. "Everything will be fine. It will be fine."

  Branching Out Chapter 136

  Reaching up he gave a gentle push on his mate's nose as he smiled. "Wake up sleepy head. Time to go in."

  Keeping her eyes closed, Nyoko didn't move as she scrunched up her nose. "I don't want too. I love sitting out here. It is so peaceful in the evenings."

  Pushing on her nose again and making her open her eyes, Seiji laughed. "Yes it is, and you have been sleeping for a while. The sun is down. Come on, let's go."

  With a small giggle as she sat up to let him stand and stretch. Looking up at him she yawned. "Oh fine then. I do get so relaxed out here though that nothing seems to bother me."

  Helping her up, and in the room, Seiji grinned at her as he winked. "I see that every day. But I do think that it also messes with your nose too."

  Rolling her eyes as she stopped, Nyoko glared up at him as she smiled. "And just exactly what is that supposed to mean Seiji?"

  Leaning down and kissing her, Seiji laughed. "That you haven't noticed that your brother is here early and on his way here with Katana."

  Gasping as her eyes went wide, Nyoko flinched. He was on his way! "He shouldn't have gotten here until tomorrow!" But then she crossed her arms over her stomach and glared at the door. "He better have himself a damned good reason why he is early."

  Throwing his head back in a fit of laughter, Seiji urged her to walk on over to a chair that was by the bed. "Your brother is in for a shock when he gets here."

  Giving him a small growl as she sat down, Nyoko glared up at him. "What are you talking about Seiji?"

  "I have to agree with my brother."

  Looking up as Katana and Chiren walked in, Seiji laughed again. "So you didn't tell him that his shy, sweet and innocent little sister isn't so shy and innocent anymore?"

  Shaking his head as he laughed, Katana crossed his arms. "Hell no. Some things are better left to be found out on their own. And funnier too."

  Blinking as he looked at Seiji, Chiren was confused. "What are you talking about Seiji?""

  "Chiren!"

  Looking past him to find Nyoko sitting in a chair glaring at him, he blinked. "Nyoko?"

  Her arms still crossed over her belly, Nyoko tapped her foot. "Why in the hell are you here so early?"

  Blinking as both Katana and Seiji laughed, Chiren could only look at his sister with wide eyes. It would seemed that the Southern Pack has rubbed off on her more ways than one. He had never heard her talk like that at home.

  When he didn't say anything right away, Nyoko pushed herself up from the chair and waddled over to stand in front of him. "So come on what is it? Did something happen at home to Mama? Papa? The twins?"

  Shaking his head as he sighed, Chiren reached out and laid his hands on her shoulders. "Stop. Nyoko, just stop. Nothing happened at all. I just was able to leave early so I left early is all. That's all. I just thought that I would come early to have a little more time to see my little sister and her baby. Is that wrong? I can leave if you want me too."

  Letting out a long sigh, Nyoko relaxed as she started to run the side of her belly as Seiji came to her side. "No you are not. You just had me worried when you got here earlier than what Mama's note said that you were going to be here."

  Hugging his sister, Chiren laughed. "It's alright. I thought about sending a messenger, but I would have probably passed them on the way here so there was no point."

  Stepping back to her mate's side, Nyoko laughed. "I can understand that."

  Watching as Nyoko then pulled her brother to the bed and sat down with him and Seiji, Katana smiled. She would probably keep him in here half the night wanting to make sure that he didn't end up running into Kiara before they got the chance to do their little plan. A plan that he still didn't understand.

  But then he flinched when he caught the scent of his sister coming toward them and fast. She wasn't going to avoid anything right now. She had no doubt heard what Chiren told his parents when he got here and was on her way to talk to him. Turning for the door, Katana sighed. "Well I will see you all tomorrow. I am going to bed." Then he was out the door.

  X

  With a determined face, Kiara went through the halls toward Seiji and Nyoko's room. She wanted to run and avoid him or anything to do with him at all costs right now. It was hard enough to find her bond with him, let alone with him in the same room as her. But after she heard Umarus and Yoite talking about what he saw on the way there, she had no choice. She needed to find out every shred of detail about what happened so she could make the proper adjustments in the defense of the palace. It was her job, and she took it seriously. Especially now with Nyoko so close to giving birth.

  Just as she rounded the last corner to get to their room, she blinked and took a step back when she found herself looking into Katana's blue eyes. Which, for some reason right now were unusually serious. "Step aside Katana, I have business with Chiren about what happened on his way here." She then started to go around him, but was stepped when he put his hand out. "Katana…"

  Shaking his head, Katana kept his stern face. "Not right now Kiara. Wait until morning and you can talk to him all you want."

  Growling as she stood firm, Kiara glared up at her brother as she crossed her arms. "Excuse me Katana? Nyoko is due to deliver any day. I must know every detail of what happened so I know what to tell the guards when I put more up for defense. I wi
ll not risk the lives of my best friend and her baby. Now move."

  Glaring right back at his sister with his own growl, Katana refused to move as he crossed his own arms. "What do you think is going to happen when you storm in her room with the mood you are in, drag her brother out and tell him that you need to speak with him? She will know something is up and he already liked to her about why he is early. The second that she saw her brother her worry went up thinking something happened in the North. Do you really want to be the cause of her stress this time?"

  Her eyes wide, Kiara could only stare up at her brother. He was serious right now, which was highly unusual for him. And while she was the one who most resembeled their father through looks, right now, her brother was just like him. It actually impressed her that he was being so mature and using sound reasoning. But then her eyes narrowed. She wasn't going to let that derail what she was going to do right n ow. "And what would you have me do then Katana? I won't risk anything happening to them. If I cannot talk to him tonight, then I will just triple the guards around the palace." Kiara then turned to walk away, but two steps later she ran into someone else. Looking up at her brother she growled even louder. "What now?"