City of Saints

For those of you who don't know....


Kitsune: is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form.



Shane stared at his feet as he stood. He was shaky and unstable but he was standing again at last. A year had passed since Lady Shiva had lost the City of Saints. It had been a year of hiding and waiting and healing in the darkness, a year since he had stood alone, on his own feet without pain or needing aid. The battle of Saint’s End had left his damaged to a critical point; only a frantic search for his body had saved him. His reputation and Juliana’s kept him alive at least. It had done nothing for Juliana. His keeper was always on his mind, he was always missing the cruel woman who had led him into countless battles between keepers and their tools. It would always be so; he would always be drawn to the one he was created for. However, he would never love her; one cannot love that which isn’t theirs to love. Shane was a tool, not human, not capable of being independent. A tool will go rampant without a keeper, and his case is special. Lady Shiva did not underestimate his power. When alone he was bound about the neck, hands and feet and his arms would be strapped to his sides. A leather blindfold was always tied tightly to his face so he could not target someone. He was allowed to breath, and allowed to speak little. He had to speak carefully or they would suspect him- of a spell and gag him as well. Tools were far from toys.
It was hard when his body was so broken, when the slightest pull against his bonds, the slightest shift, sent waves of pain through his body. He was mostly healed now, and Lady Shiva had a plan for him. She had met him a week ago, but refused to tell him what she had in store. She did not stay long for fear of him. She was never afraid of him before, but a tool with no keeper is a dangerous thing to have. And after so long without a direct link of a keeper could have terrible effects. He could already feel the maddening hate inside him rising. He would many times fancy killing those who spoke to him or helped him heal. But today she felt forgiving, he was bondless, save the collar he couldn’t remember ever being without. He was allowed to stand, as his releaser moved away from him. He was in the portion of the keep that had been underground that had lead to the outer walls of the city and beyond. It was no longer Lady Shiva's but she continued to live there and use them to her advantage as Lord Dirkas sat in her throne.
He looked about himself with his cool gaze, almost completely ignoring the presence of the girl who had unbound him. He could smell her fear and hear the sounds of her bones clattering. It wasn't tremendously cold, but the sunless concrete place did hold a damp cool to it. Plain cotton clothes hung from his once healthy form. He was too thin now, lacking the muscle mass he had before and probably won't regain again. He was never a large boy, but now looked slender and feminine. He could smell the perfume of the Noble before she entered the room. A heavy laden metal door stood between him and freedom. If he actually tried he might be able to escape, but he did not wish to. Lady Shiva was going to take care of him; he would be released again soon enough. Keys clanged and chimed in the lock as an armed guard opened the door for the Lady. Little light spilled in and he realized then how dark the room actually was.

“Shane, I would like it if you would sit.” The melody of a voice sang to him but she did not show herself. He obeyed quietly, placing himself on his stool once more. The poor girl that had been charged with releasing him managed to scurry out before the Lady entered. Her long hair was glittering with jewels of white and blue, knitted throughout the long waves with delicate golden threads. Her dress was lifted but if allowed down would surely drag along the dirt-encrusted floor. Flowers of fall colors danced along the silk fabric that her long white fingers pulled up to safety. Beautiful wasn’t the word for Lady Shiva. Cruel, however, was. She smiled kindly at him but he knew she felt no kindness towards him. It was unnatural that he was even alive. She saved him only for the fact that he had been so useful before the Battle of Saints end.

“I have a present for you Shane.” He lowered his gaze as was accustom, but never lost his defensive posture. He did not like the fear he felt without a keeper, it was almost as terrifying as his building hate.

“What has the Lady brought for me today?” She smiled; she was pleased he was still so polite. He knew better than to lash a Noble.

"I have found you a new keeper worthy of your skill." Shane closed his eyes, feeling the pain of her words stab at him.

"Juliana was my keeper. I cannot serve another my Lady." Her intake of air was heavenly as light filled her face.

"But you are wrong Shane. Your creation was so perfect and so beautiful that you may switch keepers as you wish." He shook his head, comforted by the quiet chime of his metal loop against his collar.

"No one can replace Juliana. She ruled me as no other could." Lady Shiva forgot her dress and reached for him, if a little cautiously.

"She ruled you so well, but she held you back Shane." He felt his ears fall back against his head as her fingers caressed his face. The touch of a Noble was something to behold.

"There's my little kitsune, you hide him even in this hole." She had removed all of his restraint as his fox ears and tail became visible, his usually dark eyes turning a vibrant green.

"My ears and tail betray me, you know that." Her laugh chimed like a small bell, her fingers caressing his velvet soft ears.

"I wish to use you again my kitsune. You must take back my city that bastard Dirkas is destroying." Venom entered her voice and he forced open his eyes. He had not been made for Juliana but for the use of Lady Shiva. And she was calling on him again.

"I will serve you again my Lady if you wish it so." She smiled and took her hands away, taking the utter feeling of bliss with them. She turned away from him and faced the waiting guard.

"You may bring him." Shane's ears perked, his back becoming rigid. A same gender pairing was unheard of, it just wasn't done. He could feel Lady Shiva's eyes on him but she said nothing to him. Shane's sharp ears received the light sounds of footsteps along the stone hall.

"Behave yourself Shane; I'll not have my men cleaning up blood." Lady Shiva's voice broke his concentration, it was only then that he realized he had been targeting the sound; at that point he could destroy the being if he wished. He took to laying his ears back submissively and only glanced at her coolly for having removed him from his defensive actions. A small smile parted her lips.

"You didn’t tell me he was a kitsune." Shane's ears perked, she had distracted him. His gaze rose to find a pair of startling gray eyes looking at him, almost with amusement. He didn't like it.

"It's only a very small part of his blood. In truth we aren't sure what he's made of. His creator committed suicide soon after his birth. But the man had done something right." The man approached, seemingly lacking any type of fear of him. It made his hair stand on end; he wanted to strike fear into him. He lifted a hand to his collar and pulled the heavy leather upward to reveal his badly chaffed neck. His fingers were warm and lightly brushed along his skin. Shane couldn’t help but close his eyes, a soft touch was so foreign to him he had no choice but to relish it.

"So he is the remaining half of the Blood Pair. He looks so young to have such a powerful reputation." Shane took a second look at the man still holding his collar. He was tall and lanky but well defined in shape. His jaw and nose were angular but beautiful and lacking any blemish. Long strands of dirty blonde hair fell down his back and in his calculating gray eyes. It struck him then as the man stared at him. What if he wasn't suitable for him? Would Lady Shiva terminate him if she could not find a keeper to take him? When he really thought about it, he was damaged goods. It was against all odds that he would ever be as powerful as he had been, what's to say he would even be a fraction of what he once was?

"He looks young, but he's not really. It's the kitsune blood. You may be his keeper for three hundred years and he'll never age a day." Shane watched as he took in the information and rolled it about his mind. She was trying her hardest to sell him off, this keeper wasn't stupid. The man let loose his collar and Shane swallowed hard.

"May I speak?" He remembered the tremendous rage that would take Juliana when he spoke out of line; he remembered her terrible blows that he had no choice but to take. He watched carefully for those things now, but saw nothing to say that the man was angry.

"You may speak tool." Shane lowered his gaze respectfully before continuing.

"What shall I call you?" Shane waited for some sign that he was pleased with this question and not angered. He wouldn't dare look at him, and would be completely compliant to any form of punishment. Instead he felt the long, slender fingers sliding through his hair, caressing his ears and sending sparks down his spine. It was the touch of a keeper. Shane submitted.

"You may call me Kuran. Have you decided a new name Lady Shiva?" He was allowed to meet Lady Shiva's gaze as Kuran's hand slid from his hair.

"A new name for a new age. You shall call him Kota." She wasted no time after that, she quickly turned away and made her way towards the door.

"I have one more request my Lady, before I accept him." Kota turned an ear towards him but did not look; he was too preoccupied with Lady Shiva as she glanced coolly over her shoulder at him. It was not the place of a keeper to ask a Noble for a request.

"And what shall the keeper be asking the Noble today?" Kuran noticed his mistake and quickly lowered himself again. Kota only sat tensely, wondering if his new keeper would be able to survive her horrid wrath.

"I wish to test his strength in a mock battle. He is strong enough isn't he?" Kota pressed his ears back hard. He hadn't battled since Saint's End. His body was still weak and in need of training. And he had never before battled with anyone except Juliana. Lady Shiva stared at him a long moment, at his tense posture and tightly pressed ears. Even his tail had drawn close, but she needed him to have a keeper before he went mad, before she lost her greatest advantage over Lord Dirkas. He would have to fight, weak or not.

"I can grant you this Kuran. Leash him and we will set up the arena." Kuran nodded as Kota watched him pull a long chain away from his belt. It was the basic clip leash, but enough to keep control. He clipped it to his once loose metal loop and began to lead him along. Kota stretched, pleased to be moving after so long in the same chamber, but was unsure of his abilities. The arena would take almost five minutes to walk to, he wasn't even sure his legs would withhold him that long. He followed along quietly, and tried not to trip.

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