Six Years

"You and Izo sounded a lot like my dad and Lendas last night," Ryo commented as he hungrily ate his breakfast. Izo’s face grew flush and Kana practically choked on the wine he had been drinking. He coughed violently for a few moments and Izo patted his back.

"Are you all right?" Izo asked and Kana nodded his head.

"I’m fine. That was a remark I wasn’t expecting your highness," Kana said and Ryo looked away.

"They really...liked each other. Hearing the two of you reminded me of my dad. They would spend the nights together a lot. I miss those sounds. Could you make them again sometime?" Ryo asked and Izo looked at Kana.

"I think we can manage it, huh General?" Izo asked as Kana pushed back his braids.

"Perhaps, but only if you stick with your training," he replied and Ryo pushed back his plate and gazed expectantly at the older demons.

"He may not fully understand sex but he likes the sounds. He’s used to the noise. I guess it comforts him," Izo muttered and Kana smiled.

"He is a demon, after all. It’s in his nature," Kana said as he picked up his glass.

"Can we start now?" Ryo asked and Izo stood up.

"You have to wait for the general."

"Hurry up Kana. I want to start training."

Kana stood up and Ryo clapped his hands in anticipation. He smiled slightly and glanced at Izo. Izo folded his wings and walked out of the dining area. Wyrne stood waiting for them in the hall and Izo grinned.

"Training time," he said and Kana folded his arms.

"You better not strike me again," he said and Izo glanced away. He folded his wings as Wyrne laid out the medical supplies. Ryo gazed at the general expectantly and Kana drew his weapon. Izo’s ears twitched at the sound and he drew his katanas. Ryo watched his skin harden then glanced at Wyrne who had begun ushering him out of the way.

"We don’t want you to get hurt, your highness," he said and Ryo reluctantly sat on a rock as Kana swung his sword. Izo blocked his attack then swung one of his swords for a counter attack. Izo pushed back his hair as Kana blocked his attack. Kana swung his sword and Izo winced in pain. Kana sheathed his sword as Izo fell to his knees. Wyrne ran to Izo’s side as Kana turned away.

"Even seasoned warriors make mistakes," Kana said.

"Are you all right major?" Wyrne asked as Izo bared his fangs in pain.

"I’ll live," he growled.

"Swordplay is deadly, Ryoshan. Always remember that. It is a wonderful thing to protect yourself with but it is easy to be consumed with the thrill of the battle. Do not let that happen to you," Kana said.

"Is that what happened to you?" Ryo asked and Kana shook his head.

"No. I’ve seen too many battles to be consumed by bloodlust. I made a mistake in the fight, that’s all."

"If I were the enemy and if the general had been serious in this battle, I would be dead now," Izo said then growled as Wyrne placed antiseptic on his wound.

"It’s going to hurt so quit complaining," Wyrne said.

"I’m only doing what’s natural," Izo said as Wyrne bandaged his wound.

"You never could handle cuts well, could you?" Kana asked and Izo shrugged his shoulders.

"I’m fine seeing others wounds but I can’t take my own. Kinda funny, huh?" Izo asked as Kana laid a hand on his head.

"Not at all. I’ve seen numerous demons with your same problem. Don’t get obsessed with your setbacks," Kana said and Izo nodded his head.

"I was also careful not to aim at any major organs. I didn’t want to potentially kill you."

"It’s nice to know I’m still worth something. Aah! Why did you have to put it on so tight?!" Izo demanded as Wyrne drew away.

"The wound area has to be kept sterile," Wyrne said as Izo picked up his katanas and stood up. Kana took his hand and Izo looked at him. Kana pushed his hands down and shook his head.

"No more from you, major. I don’t want you to make your wound worse," Kana said and Izo sighed. Kana’s gaze hardened as he looked into Izo’s eyes. "I’m not quite ready to let you go."

"I understand, sir," Izo said and Kana laid a hand on Ryo’s shoulder.

"Let’s start your training." 

Lee opened his eyes and yawned. He sat up and gazed out the window. It was one year later. One year from the destruction of the castle. One year from the death of his father and the loss of the future king. He rubbed his eyes for a moment then glanced out at the town. It had grown quite considerably in the previous year and it was now home to not only humans but refugees from the castle. D had arrived, Lee noted as he stood up and stretched. He lived down the hall in the apartment complex he and his mother stayed in. He gazed at his body and smiled. In a year, he had grown in size. Especially between the legs. He was now almost fourteen and Ryo would be eleven. Only five more years before Ryo would be sixteen and they could practice different mating skills. He could barely wait to see what Ryo looked like as a teenager. He got dressed and stepped out of his room. His mother had already left for work, he noted as he walked into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator door and took out ingredients for breakfast. There was a knock at the front door and Lee’s ears stood up straight. He sniffed the air for danger as he made his way to the door.

"Would you just open it? It’s me," D said as Lee unlocked the door.

"I can’t be too careful," Lee said as he opened the door. "I’m natural."

"My dad heard some news on Ura."

"Good news?"

"No. Ura got killed by a wild animal."

"What about Kana?"

"Word has it, he went down to Izo’s place but that news is about eight months old. He’s got nothing recent," D replied and Lee sighed.

"So they could be dead for all we know," Lee said and D shook his head.

 "Kana isn’t an easy guy to kill. My dad’s been trying to keep in contact with him but it’s really hard. The forest has grown even more dangerous, you know. I don’t know how much longer this town will be safe."

"You are so optimistic. Have you eaten yet?"

"I got something on the way over here. I guess some of your oddities paid off, huh?"

"What do you mean?" Lee inquired and D shrugged.

 "I mean you can survive on your own. You cook, you clean...." he started to say and Lee looked thoughtful.

 "I guess you’re right. I never saw it that way. I was always so worried about myself because I was so different from the rest of you."

"Well you must admit that you picked up a lot of your mother’s traits. I guess it’s nice to have a feminine guy around."

"What exactly does that mean?" Lee asked as he turned on the stove.

"It doesn’t mean anything bad," D replied.

"I hope not."

"That smells good."

Lee smiled as D sat in a chair. He watched Lee take down a plate from the cabinet and serve up his food. Lee glanced at him then hesitated when he took out a fork from the drawer. Was he being impolite?

"You sure you don’t want any? I can give you some if you’d like," Lee said and D shook his head.

 "Nah. I’m fine. Hey, do you think he’s alive?" D inquired. Lee turned off the stove and walked over to where D sat. He set his plate on the table and sat down. He closed his eyes and switched to his human form. He picked up his fork then glanced at D, who was still waiting for an answer.

"I think if he wasn’t still alive, life would be a lot worse than it is now," he replied.