City of Saints

Kota watched carefully as Kuran attached his chain to a leather wrist shackle. He had never seen anything like it before and was suspicious of the reason. Doing so limited the power of the keeper and raised the status of the tool.

“The first thing I will ask of you is to no longer hide your ears and tail. To do so is an illusion and to me, that is a lie.” Kota nodded to let him know he understood. They stood in a small makeshift arena. It was a dark long room, the only room in the tunnels with buzzing electric lights, high above their heads in the ceiling. Several guards and Lady Shiva stood off to the side, all looking a little nervous of their proximity. Their opponent was being fetched. He was sure Lady Shiva had asked for a low ranking pair, it was unlikely she would risk him for a keeper’s pride. Kuran’s request was a risky one. They weren’t bonded, and a tool is always a problem if not kept in check. If he really wished he could remove them all in the midst of battle, it would seem an accident. Kota’s ears perked as the door opposite of them opened. Every muscle in him tightened as he accepted the familiar pull of a keeper behind him. The long chain rattled a little as Kuran wrapped a length about his hand, taking a little more control. Kota smiled; he could no doubt feel his mounting energy rolling down the chain. He would regret using a wrist wrap. He knew the frantic feeling of the need to destroy, to rip and rend and kill. He was ravenous to attack even as the pair walked through the door.

“Wait for them to engage.” Kota flicked his ears back impatiently, but felt soothed by Kuran’s voice. The pair that entered looked average and young, a pair that has yet to earn a name. He watched them as they slowly approached. They were too weak for him to feel their power over the distance but he threw his own at them, he wanted them to feel and fear as so many had when Juliana held his leash. The girl walked a little closer to her tool; Kota took it as fear until her fingers reached up and took the tools. Every hair stood up on end as he bristled and clenched his teeth. Kuran pulled hard on the leash, nearly bringing him down but his blow was faster. Kota felt his every fiber pop and snap as he released a sharp cut of energy between the two before him. He smiled and watched them jump apart, watched them lose that unity that they so very much treasured. Kuran quickly reprimanded him, jerking him until he was back and kneeling, a pulse of painful energy rolling down the leash to his throat. He smiled and practically spoke in a growl.

“Keepers do not love their tools, and tools cannot love their keepers. You fools think you know what you have? He is using you to raise his prowess and you’re only option is to fight and die!” It was the tool who became enraged first, gaining his energy for a strike. Kota could smell the air heating; hear the snaps and pops of the atmosphere being manipulated. He lowered himself and gathered his own power but very quietly.

“I love her and she would never let me die!” The boy cried out and released a large blow, it was a fraction of what Kota could do, or had done long ago. It wasn’t a problem to him; he had shielded himself and his keeper protectively. It was an easy energy to hide; shielding power was quieter than a strike. The strike was deflected easily as the air lost its snap. Kota laughed at him.

“Didn’t they tell you? Love isn’t something they put into the pot when they’re making a tool. They only use hate and pain and sorrow. There is no love for those like you and I. Even if you think you feel it, you can’t really use it can you?” He chose to rip again, forcing his energy so sharply through the air that it would cut flesh easily. He struck out at the girl, knowing that the tool was too far from her to shield her effectively. A shiver ran down his spine as she screamed in pain, the smell of blood filling his nose. She managed to dodge the fatal blow but didn’t escape entirely. A wide gnash ran down her shoulder, laying her open to the bone.

“Kota!” Kuran’s voice pulled him away from the girl as the tool nearly took him down. He was trying a close range energy attack, coming down on him, his fists clenched. Kota threw a small moving shield at him, blowing him backwards only a few feet. The attack hadn’t allowed him to draw adequately, and he felt it deeply. He had to pull directly from himself instead of the air and it had left him drained more than he had expected. The tool had landed on his feet only a few yards away and was smiling evilly. Pain was apparent on his face from the blow his keeper had taken as he rolled his hurt shoulder behind him. He would be favoring it for weeks. Before Kota had time to draw again he sprung on him. This time he met no shield as his claws cut deeply into his shoulder. Kota cried out, seeing for the first time the kitsune in the tool. Rage tore though his chest as he allowed his fangs and sank them deeply into the tool’s arm, a savage growl rolling up his throat. They were locked, and fighting like beasts, snarling and growling as they each slashed at anything they could find. Kota didn’t have the energy for this; he would be killed if he didn’t put space between them. Using the last ounce of inner energy he had left he released it between them, blowing them both backwards a good six yards. The other slid across the dirt in a mass while Kota only barely managed to find his feet.
It wasn’t until then he realized the looseness of his leash. He looked about himself to find that Kuran had released him at some point, letting his chain drag along the ground. He wasn’t far from him, but was watching him carefully and ready to intercede when things went too far. Something reached out to Kuran inside him, something he didn’t remember from Juliana.

“Finish it Kota.” He nodded, it was what he wanted. It had been so long since he had been ruled, and every inch of him wanted to be governed again. The air heated around him again as it popped and snapped like his body. The final blow wasn’t anything to behold, enough to take down the tool but not kill him. It did leave a nice deep gnash across his chest however. It wasn’t until then that Kota’s adrenaline allowed him to feel his own pain and exhaustion as he fell to his knees. His fingers gripped the ground hard as he watched himself drip crimson onto the concrete. A slow clap rose from the sideline as Lady Shiva approached them. She was obviously pleased by their performance. Kota wasn't sure of Kuran's presence until he felt the strong arms wrap about him and pull him effortlessly from the ground.

"Let me go!" He thrashed about until he had freed himself, stumbling a few feet away in sheer anger. Lady Shiva's clapping had ended and Kuran only stared at him coolly. His muscles shook with the effort to hold himself, he wouldn't last much longer.
"I don't want him. He's not Juliana!" He screamed as loudly as his lungs would allow, his panting becoming shallow as darkness crept into the edges of his vision.

"Juliana is dead." Kuran's words struck something deep inside him as he threw himself at Kuran, managing only a weak stumble, his fingers twisting tightly into his shirt.

"Juliana is dead." He felt his knees buckle at his words, his body jolting a little as his hand slid through the fabric and to his sides dejectedly. He stared hollowly up at the keeper, his tail flat and his ears back. Tears slid quietly through the streaked blood and dirt along his cheeks. "Why am I alive?" Kuran extended his hand to him, his fingers finding their way into his silky strands as the darkness took him. He sighed and lifted him again, Lady Shiva looking on in a very disappointed manner.

"He's such a stupid bother. I'm sorry Kuran. I think he's still confused." Kuran didn't look at her, only stared at the surprisingly light mass of dirt, blood, and hate in his arms.

"Don't worry my Lady. I'll return in a few days." He would not leave his tool for long.

**

Kuran couldn’t help but smile to himself as he followed the guard offered to him by Lady Shiva. He hadn't seen her so excited in a long time, her plan had gone well. He was going to move up in the world, especially after Lady Shiva reclaimed her throne. The guard halted and opened a door for him. It wasn't a fine room but it was decent, the best the Lady could offer under her conditions. He wondered how she could still remain so regal even after being driven underground. He figured it had something to do with Kota; he was valuable to her in so many ways. Kuran softened at the thought of the kitsune. He was the best tool he had ever been allowed to wield, so direct and powerful. He clenched his fist in remembrance of the energy that had been radiating from him constantly, sending him messages of his mood and temperament and his wishes.

"Is there anything I can get for you sir while I'm here?" Kuran shook his head.

"No sir, I thank you for the escort but I'm fine." The guard nodded and quietly left, closing the door with a click behind him. He shouldered off his coat and slid out of his shirt, his fingers lingered over the bloodstains on the front, Kota's signature. He was still obviously broken from his loss, but somehow more powerful than ever. Kuran had heard of tools becoming independent, and later, mad, but never about one becoming something of their own. Kota had denied him, but then seemed immediately to be searching him for answers. It confused him deeply. He sighed heavily and forced himself into bed. It was late, and there was work to be done in the morning. After his other work was finished, he would see Kota again, he didn't want to wait the days he had promised Lady Shiva.

more to come! plz R&R!