Soul Rebellion #03: Judgement
In the early morning.
Gin, the white two-tailed fox, woke up from a happy dream, leaving him with a soft smile.
He looked to his side, to find that he was resting his head on Shinbou's firm chest.
Shinobu, being his customer last night, had some fun with the fox, giving both a great amount of pleasure.
But, what worried him, was the young man's behavior, it was like he was a different person.
However, despite him being a bit too rough with the fox, Gin enjoyed last night, despite the unbelievable pain he felt at the beginning.
Gin wanted nothing more than to remain in Shinobu's arms.
But, he had a job to do.
He dislodged from the young warrior's arm and sat up stretching.
As he got up, the stinging pain returned, with some residue of Shinobu's essence escaping from his hole.
He wore his yukata, not bothering with the belt, and limped out of the room.
His condition was not unnoticed.
Yasuou, the blonde white mouse, walked over to him, to support his slow moving body, "rough night huh?"
Gin just smiled and nodded
"Let me take care of him next time, I have some....experience in dealing with the hardcore ones", he said with an evident look of lust in his eyes.
Gin still remained silent, just nodding his approval of the idea.
Although, he couldn't shake off the feeling of dread rolling through his spine. He did enjoy his time with Shinobu, but the guy he saw last night was not him.
What is going on?
Shinobu still had his eyes closed, but was wide awake.
Cold winds were blowing past him.
He opened his eyes slowly, only to find himself staring at a dark sky, with a demonic violet moon illuminating his surroundings.
He looked around to find himself sitting on a large hill, over-looking a forest of dead trees, grass, and flowers, with a gigantic thirteen foot wall right behind him.
Cold winds blew past him again, this time followed by some clattering sounds. He looked down at the source of the sound.
To find a skull laying in his lap. He then realized it.
He was sitting on a large hill of skeletons and bones.
To anyone, that would seem like the ultimate nightmare.
But not to Shinobu, he knows the place, having come here many times in the past.
But none of them were for no reason.
"What do you want now?" he asked with a hint of anger in his voice, "you had your fun last night"
"Keheheheheh......" a creepy laugh sounded around him, just as the wall behind him began to move.
A few other walls appeared on top of the first one, all moving in different directions.
Before revealing a titanic snake- a cobra, with it's hood lined with blade like horns.
"Now child, is that a way to talk to a life long friend?" the gigantic cobra, asked with sarcasm clear in it's voice as the moon above them.
"You're no friend of mine, a friend of mine would never do what you did" anger was rising quickly in Shinobu.
He remembered last night.
After he came in Gin's muzzle, his mind and body weakened for a few seconds.
That was all what's needed for the big cobra to coil around his mind and soul, trapping him and taking over his body.
The cobra again gave out it's creepy chuckle "Come now, I was just as pent up as you are, you can't expect me to just sit on the side while you have your fun"
Shinobu just remained silent, finding the skull in his lap more interesting than whatever excuse the big lizard had to offer.
"I mean seriously, all that training and studying, you- and I- needed a break, now that we got it, I was not going to let that chance go, so you can just keep acting like a baby if you want. *Hmph*"
"We had an agreement" was Shinobu's only reply.
" *sigh* I know, and I'm sorry for breaking the agreement last night"
"Not just with Gin, you interfered before that"
"I thought you didn't care for lowlifes"
"They might have known something, Dokumaru, they might be connected to the bad influences my grandfather mentioned"
The snake- Dokumaru, brought his big head closer to the human, his snout inches from Shinobu's face, with a mischievous twinkle in his bright green eyes, "you know, it's really hard to talk to you like this"
Shinobu's eyes widened, realizing what Dokumaru was about to do, "don't you dare!!"
Too late.
Dokumaru exploded into a cloud of black, purple and green miasma.
Only for the same cloud to retract around itself, changing and morphing into a 6' 7 figure.
When the miasma cleared, a four-armed naga stood in front of Shinobu.
The naga had the same purple and white skin coloring, and bladed hood, as the giant snake, except for a purple eye-shaped stone resting on the front base of his neck, right at his throat.
The naga opened his eyes, revealing a pair of green eyes shining like emeralds, "you just love this form, don't you?" He asked with a seductive tone.
Shinobu had to admit, he was right.
The naga, seeming like a smaller anthropomorphic version of Dokumaru, was built heavily.
Thick veins lined his bigger and thicker muscles, he had a pair of pecs that would make his father jealous, and an impressive flat stomach, line with a six-pack.
And Shinobu had a soft spot for heavy and thick muscles, just the sight of them would make him wish the owner would simply and thoroughly ravage his body.
Shinobu was a switch, but for certain people and for the right conditions.
He looked away from the now normal sized Dokumaru, a deep red blush dominating his face.
Dokumaru slithered towards the hesitant young man till he stood in front of him, "just admit it, and all will turn out okay" he lightly grabbed Shinobu's chin lifting and straightening his gaze.
"I won't", the deep blush still present on his face, now accompanied by a glare of defiance.
"You will.....in time", the naga wrapped his three remaining arms around his 'friend', pressing their bodies together and pulled out his forked tongue.
Before pushing it deep in the now struggling Shinobu's mouth.
Shinobu thrashed and struggled all he could, his eyes closed, refusing to look at Dokumaru...... but that didn't last long.
His body soon gave up, his arms falling to his sides.
His expressions softened.
A loud moan escaped his now occupied mouth.
Finally opening it more, giving the snake more access.
Locking both their lips in a deep passionate kiss.
Shinobu opened his eyes.
To find himself in his room in the inn.
He sat up, to find his 10 inch morning wood standing straight, as if saluting him.
"That damned living tube" were his first, angry thoughts.
He ignored his steel hard dick, and went to the bathroom to freshen up.
He turned the water knob, and water busting forth from the shower head.
Once the water was the right temperature he stood under it, with his still hard wood refusing to be forgotten.
But his anger at Dokumaru didn't last long.
Despite the pranks and mischief the snake causes, using his body of course.
Because Shinobu, owes Dokumaru his life.
On one of his first missions for his family, he was to infiltrate a bandit camp and assassinate their leader.
Only to find a member of a rivaling family.
His cover was blown, barley escaping from the camp.
But he would not survive the rest of the night due to his fatal injuries.
Dokumaru, a demon snake living in the forest surrounding the camp, watched the whole thing from afar.
He was amazed by the young human's techniques and courage.
And he fell in love at first sight the minute he laid eyes on the human the moment he stepped in the forest.
As Shinobu fell to the floor, unable to move forward, the snake demon was getting closer.
Now on his back, Shinobu laid still, staring at the stars above, as he was taking his last breathes.
Dokumaru slithered beside the young human's still body, caressing his cheek with the back of one of his hands.
"Still young and has much to learn, I can't let you die, my young serpent", were Dokumaru's thoughts as his body turned into the same black, purple and green miasma.
Before entering the human's body.
Shinobu woke up, his injuries fully healed and a pair of familiar figures over him.
"You okay cousin? we thought you died" one of the figures, he couldn't remember his face, asked.
"Yeah I'm good" although he had trouble getting up.
The other two carried him back to the families main house.
A titanic castle, almost 20 feet tall stood proudly within a thick forest, towering over all the trees.
He sat in a spacious room, in front of an elderly human with a long beard and thick eyebrows.
"So, anything you want to tell us Shin?" the elder, the head of the family asked him, "your Soul Scroll showed your death"
The Soul Scrolls were scrolls that were made with special mysterious materials, that of mixed with a hair of an individual, it would connect with their soul, showing his treks through life, like a self updating diary, although that same individual is the only one who can read what's on it, appearing like a blank paper to others.
Finally, burning to ashes with the person's death.
"Your Scroll was burning, only to stop halfway and reconstruct itself", the elder was stroking his beard lightly.
"I don't know grandfather, at first I was almost lifeless on the floor, then a voice saying that I had much more to experience in my life"
"Hmmmmmm........... you can come out you know"
Shinobu only stared at his grandfather in confusion.
Before violent spasms over-took his body.
The demonic miasma, slowly left his body, only to manifest into a snake demon.
Shinobu was about to draw his sword, "HALT!!"
His grandfather's voice stopped him in an instant.
The demon and the elder stared at each other for a few minutes.....before the elder bowed his head at the demon, "thank you for saving my grandson's life"
Shinobu could not be more confused, then he remembered the voice that spoke to him.
And imitated his grandfather's gesture of gratitude.
The snake just blush lightly, crossing his four arms and turning his head away, "I just thought it would be a waste for such a young soul to perish"
And with that the trio became immediate friends.
Dokumaru kept possessing Shinobu's body, helping him with his journey to be the top assassin in his family.
All the while his love for the young human grew, until he confessed his love to him. But that's for another time
Shinobu finished with his shower, and dressed , and grabbed his sword, leaving the room, he remembered to check on Kintaro, the young pup he saved last night.
Entering the pup's room on the same floor, which appeared to be an exact replica of his own, he found an elderly looking ram, who looked like a doctor of some sort, checking on a flush looking Kintaro.
"Is he okay?" Shinobu kneeled down beside the docter with concern written on his face.
The doctor noticed his presence, "Oh, you're the young man he was with, I don't know, the fever struck him hard, although I'm surprised he is still alive at this point"
Shinobu then got a closer look at the shirtless pup, horrified at what he saw.
The pup was nothing but skin and bones, almost literally, he was breathing hard, his ribs showing clearly with every inward breath.
"I'll give him some medicine to lower the fever, and he needs lots of rest, if we want him to recover"
Shinobu nodded and stood to leave the doctor to his work.
"Mister......Shinobu..." the raspy, dry voice of Kintaro called out to him.
He stopped to look back at the young pup, who was attempting to get up.
"Hey, you need to lie down" Shinobu returned to his place, this time facing the doctor, at the pup's side.
"I promise..... I'll be okay...... in a few minutes..... please?"
Shinobu didn't know what he was pleading for, he just pushed him softly to lay him back on the futon, "just sleep, you'll be okay"
As soon as he laid back, Kintaro fell asleep almost immediately.
Now both Shinobu and the doctor, left the little pup to sleep, the doctor turned to Shinobu, "I really need to scold this kid's parents, he is worst than he looks", He received a glare of confusion from Shinobu, " *sigh* the fever is too strong, if not treated properly and carefully it could be fatal"
Shinobu's eyes widened, "but you said-"
"I said that because I didn't want to scare the kid"
"What should we do?"
"Well, he needs lots of rest that's for sure, but the medicine needed for this kind of fever is expensive"
"I'll pay"
The doctor looked at him stunned at first, then looking down and noticing his medallion, "fair enough..... by the way, do you know where his parents are"
Shinobu wasted no time explaining Kintaro's predicament to the doctor.
"Hmmmm..... so the slavers are still in this city"
"Slavers?"
"An underground group that kidnap people to sell them to the highest bidder, children, men, women of all species are targets"
"Why doesn't anyone do something about it?"
"Well......it's just rumors I think, but people say that they are supported by one of the four families"
"WHAT!?" Shinobu snapped, only for the doctor to cover his mouth, reminding him of the sleeping pup just a door away.
"I know it's unbelievable, but what's even more unbelievable, is the rumored family"
Shinobu just kept staring at him waiting for him to continue.
"The house of the phoenix, the Suzaku family"
Shinobu, just stood there stunned.
How is that possible!? The Suzaku house are known for their deep sense of justice and freedom, to think that they would allow slave trading, let alone support it, was unthinkable, unimaginable even.
"I know, everyone who hears that gets the same stunned expression"
"I'll look into it, it's just unbelievable"
The doctor just nodded, and followed Shinobu down the stairs.
Shinobu, saw Yasuou at the reception area this time, occupied by a chubby mole customer, but simply waved at him, and receiving a wave and smile in return.
He reminded himself to find and apologize to Gin when he returns.
Before he and the ram went their separate ways, "is there a guild nearby?"
"Why yes, there is one just beyond the main market-place"
Making his way to the central market, his thoughts were occupied with those rumors.
The Astral Empire had many warrior, ninja and assassin affiliated families, but only four answered directly to the emperor himself.
The Four Royal Families: Shinobu's Orochi family, The rumored Suzaku family, the Byakko family, and finally the Kuwagata family.
The Orochi's assassin house of the snake, were an expert mixture of warriors and ninja, all professional assassins, with their supernatural powers and origins, making them the strongest assassins of the four.
The Suzaki's chivalrous house of the phoenix, were warriors with a passion for justice. Although their majority were avians, they accepted anyone with the same visions and sense of justice. Their sharp minds make them the strategists of the four, and their majority of avians as scouts, watching over the kingdom from the skies.
The Byakko's peaceful house of the tiger, were a group of monks, who stayed away from conflicts as much as possible, and only fight when provoked first, they believed that being in spiritual harmony with the land, spirits and the gods was the only way to reach inner peace, and were gifted with strong bodies, minds and souls. With their martial arts expertise they were like a great shield for the kingdom, protecting it from outer and inner threats. Their pure souls and strong bodies makes them an impenetrable wall.
The Kuwagata's power-minded house of the scarab, they are a group of scientist and researchers from different origins, mages who study the ancient spells of old times, technologists who search for new ways to improve and build the kingdom, and the rarely found alchemists who were capable of mixing the two sciences to create the ultimate discoveries and wonders. Their knowledge makes them the support to the kingdom and the other three families.
All four families had a few sub-families that are under their command, like Sasori's Tsuchigumo family, the house of the spider, is one of the sub-families under the Orochi house's command.
Shinobu was still in deep thought even as he entered the marketplace.
How could the Suzakus be so underhanded?
As he was walking, he noticed someone giving out fliers for what seemed to be a play in the local theatre.
A little side stop won't do any harm, were his thoughts as he followed the directions shown on the flier.
Shinobu was a big fan of music and theatrics.
The theatre was a big half circular building, with the stage on the far end.
Shinobu found a place among the packed seats.
Just as he sat down, the musicians and actors, all wearing kimonos and assigned costumes with kabuki make-up, started appearing on the stage, but only one of the musicians caught his eye.
A white fox reminding him of Gin, was playing a biwa, but instead of two tails like Gin, this fox had nine.
As they were playing, he got a sense of nostalgia, the play was familiar, but he could not put his finger on it.
But a few verses reminding him, and he listened clearly as the nine-tailed fox sang while playing a biwa solo.
"Gionshoja no kane no koe ~~~~, Shogyomujo no hibiki ari~~~"
"Sarasoju no hana no iro ~~~~, Joshahissui no kotowari wo arawasu~~~"
"Ogoreru mono mo hisashikarazu ~~~~, tada haru no yoru no yume no gotoshi~~~"
"Takeki mono mo tsuwi ni wa horobinu ~~~~, hitoeni kaze no mae no chiri ni onaji~~~"
Shinobu listened clearly to the rest of the play.
The play ended with all the watchers, including Shinobu, left with smiles on their faces
He sat at a bench in front of a small shop, with a small bowl of noodles in his hands.
As he was eating he saw the same fox from the theatre, wearing a white pink-trimmed kimono, browsing at the window of a shop that sells scrolls and masks.
He was carrying the same biwa he was playing at the stage.
Quickly finishing a bowl, he went over to the fox, "Great performance there, you were great"
The fox turned to him and smiled, "thank you, you were pretty interested there yourself"
He stood there stunned that the fox managed to locate him among all those patrons.
He then noticed a collar on his neck, with a crimson stone embedded in the middle, "what's that?"
"Oh, that's......just a reminder of my real job", he got a sad expression on his face.
Just as he was about to ask, "HEY SEIMEI!!!!!"
They both turned towards the shrill high-pitched voice, to find a couple of young women, a blonde one with pigtails, and one with smooth black hair flowing freely.
"Y-y-yes mistress" the fox turned very submissive all of a sudden.
"Where have you been, we were waiting for ages" the blonde one stomped her foot.
"Calm down Lin, your making a scene" the smooth haired one calmly told the blonde, they were followed by a pair of buff men, a bull and a horse.
"You're supposed to be there responding to our wishes" she completely ignored the other girl, they appeared to be sisters.
"Sorry mistress, we had a play I had to take part in, it was important"
"More important than serving your superiors?"
He remained silent.
She angrily snapped her fingers, "Gozu, Mezu"
The buff duo walked to the fox- Seimei, one grabbed him and the other grabbed his biwa, taking it to the blonde girl.
the black haired one started getting really worried, "Lin, stop it please"
"He needs to learn his place", she took the biwa in her hands, "you still carry this stupid relic?"
"Please, it's important to me, give it back, please!!"
"More important than your masters?"
"......Yes" he whispered
"Okay then" she extended it to give it back to him.
Before lifting high up and smashing it to the ground, breaking it in half, with a few splinters flying off in different directions.
"NOOO!!!!" he yelled, breaking free from the bull holding him, and knelt beside his broken instrument, cry silently as he held a broken piece.
The blonde simply smiled, "now you have nothing more important than your masters"
"Sister that was very horrible of you, that instrument meant so much to him" her black haired sister scolded her, the blonde not caring.
"He's our slave Fei, he needs to learn his place", she snapped her fingers agian, "Gozu, Mezu, bring him, he will be punished for his disrespect"
Shinobu remained deadly silent throughout the whole scene, along with a small sympathetic crowd.
The bull and horse, grabbed the now limb fox, and began dragging him, along, behind their mistresses.
*THUD* *THUD*
The sisters turned around, just in time to see the bull- Gozu's head rolling slowly towards their feet.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH"
The blonde one screamed in fear, and her sister simply covered her mouth with the same terrified expression, before looking up.
They saw a young man with a bloodied sword standing over the similarly headless body of the horse-Mezu.
His demonic aura, steaming off his body, his eyes and teeth morphing, to resemble some kind of demon.
"You spoiled bitch, you think you can just walk all over everyone here?" Shinobu said with a demonic voice that matched his looks.
"W-wh-wh-wh-wh-who a-a-are you?" the blonde- Lin stuttered with shaky legs.
"The one who will cut you down to size....literally" He held his bloodied sword straight, for emphasis, "unless you walk away, like a good girl"
"What's it to you? He is our slave, a peasant, a lowlife, someone who doesn't matter, what's wrong with treating them the way they should?" Lin was yelling frantically with fear, "he's a worthless waste of space, who was born to be the Tsu families servant, all of you should be"
A group of low gasps sounded from the surrounding crowd.
"Yes that's right, you think you all are living here because of your jobs or money? It is we, the Tsu family, who are allowing you, you should be grateful you worthless peasants"
A gust of wind blew past here, Shinobu in a downward slash stance.
Her clothes suddenly ripped to many small pieces leaving her almost naked.
"AAAAHHHH"
She tried covering herself, but to no avail.
The crowd around them started laughing, at her expense.
"LIN!!" her sister, Fei brought out a piece of cloth they had bought and covered her now crying sister.
"You better leave now, and never show your disgusting faces before me again" Shinobu had a dreadful gaze in his eyes.
Fei kneeling besides her sister, now noticed the medallion on his waste.
Before she could say anything though, "you'll pay for this, you'll pay dearly for this humiliation, I will tell my father, and he'll hunt you down, than find your miserable fucking family and reduce them to ashes"
Shinobu suddenly kicked her in the chest, the force pushing both sisters to the ground.
Before stabbing her in the arm, deeply, with his sword.
"AAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH"
She tried to kick him off, but he wouldn't budge, and he kept pushing the sword deeper, going beyond the ground under them, electing more screams of pain from her.
He would have been lenient on her for being a girl, but no one, absolutely NO ONE, dares disrespect the Orochi name.
The whole crowd watching in silent horror at the young man's mercilessness.
As Fei rushed to her sister, she stopped midway.
Seimei was holding his arm, preventing it from going further, "Please stop, that's enough"
Shinobu looked at him briefly with a side glance, before looking back at the crying bitch below him.
He pulled his sword out completely, allowing her sister, to come to her aid.
He suddenly grabbed her, by her good arm, holding tightly, bruising it, "don't ever badmouth my family again, got it you worthless, spoiled bitch?"
She nodded weakly with teary scared eyes.
Both sisters, left to attend to Lin's wound.
Now both Shinobu and Seimei were sitting together, sharing a plate of rice balls, even with his collar removed, compliments of the young warrior, Seimei still felt sad and sorrowful, "you didn't have to go that far".
Shinobu just ignored his statement, it wasn't for the foxes sake, he just despised people like that bitch.
Shinobu was cleaning his sword of dried blood, "we'll find you a new biwa" he tried to reassure the sad fox, but to no success.
"It's not that simple", he looked more sad than ever, "That biwa was a gift from someone close to my heart"
Shinobu just stared at him, "from who?"
"My little brother, we both came to this city, to find ways to help our poor village"
Shinobu was now deep in thought, then a light bulb lit in his head.
"Is your brother by any chance: slim, fit, white furred, and has two tales?"
Seimei just looked at him stunned, "why yes, how did you know?"
"Your brother is working at the inn I'm staying at"
Frim hands grabbed him suddenly, shaking him hard, "He does!? Where is that inn? I have to see my brother! I have to make sure he's okay!!"
Breaking free from the shaking grip, he stood up almost feeling sick from the spinning feeling in his head.
"Okay calm down I'll take you there, just calm down, you're acting like you haven't seen your brother in a long time"
"Because I didn't" he confirmed looking sad again, "A few days after we arrived, those girls' father approached me with a job offer"
"It was to work for them, as a servant, they said that they have a place for my brother, but I felt that something was wrong, so I refused to my brother joining, they told that if I came alone I was not allowed to have any kind of contact with him, it was the price of keeping him safe"
Shinobu just listened to the story in silence, before the voice of Dokumaru sounded in his head.
"It seems that you found a lead"
Could be..... the blonde girl mentioned the Tsu family, looks like we have to investigate their relationship to the slavers.
"You do that, while I enjoy the hot piece of fox sitting-"
Shinobu cut him off, blocking him from his mind.
"Come on, let's go see your brother" and they went on their way, with all of Seimei's tails wagging behind him.
Both oblivious to a figure watching in a distance, a medallion, with a face of a tiger or lion, biting down on a blue gem, hanging from his waist.
As the duo arrived at the inn, the sun was setting, giving the sky a beautiful orange color.
Just as they entered the inn.
"Is he back yet?", a frantic voice asked Yasuou, who was still at the reception area.
"Please sir calm down, he will be back soon" he tried reassuring the customer.
Shinobu noticed something familiar about the guy.
His big horn reminded him of-
"Oh crap"
Both Yasuou and the other guy turned to him.
It was the drunk beetle from yesterday.
"Oh there you are!"the beetle exclaimed, a bit too happily.
"What do you want now?" Shinobu, however was not,"and how did you find me?".
The beetle just stood in front of him, he seemed sober this time, with his yukata, properly around his upper body.
A light blush crept on the guy's face, "I just wanted to really apologize for my indecent behaviour towards you yesterday" he rubbed the back of his head lightly, "as for how I found you, I somehow remembered how you look. Heh, looks like your punch woke me up pretty good".
Wow, the guy was being......polite, a total u-turn from his personality yesterday.
"I know that you don't drink, so is it okay if you would join me for dinner at least? My treat"
Huh....he really is a good guy inside, must have been all that alcoho-
Wait, is he?
"are you asking me out?", the beetle guy's blush deepened to crimson.
Before anyone could say another word, "big brother"
Everyone turned to Gin who had a stunned expression.
"Gin" Seimei whispered, his eyes getting moist.
Before tackling his brother with a tight hug, both now crying.
The other three just stood back, with smiles on their faces at the beautiful scene.
"You think there is a good place open at this hour?" Shinobu asked the beetle man, who looked at him confused.
Then it clicked in his head, "yeah, sure, in fact I know just the place"
The human and beetle left, leaving the two foxes to their reunion.
The street now dark, with only the lights of the lamps lighting the place as much as possible, the duo made their trek to their destination.
Shinobu turned towards the beetle man walking beside him, "forgot to ask your name"
"Oh, where did my manners go? Must have accompanied all that alcohol yesterday", both laughed softly at the joke, "My name is Watari...Nagare Watari"
"Shinobu.... Orochi Shinobu" the young man replied before giving Watari a firm hand shake.
"Oooooh.... the famous Orochi family, heard so much about you, you guys are awesome"
"Thanks, it means a lot"
They started talking about some random things, laughing about a few jokes or funny moments here and there, until they reached the bridge.
At the middle of the bridge, Shinobu suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Watari asked him concerned.
"You go ahead, I'll catch up to you later" he replied with a soft smile.
"Are you sure?" the beetle had a sad look on his face.
"Don't worry, I'll be there, you told me the name of the place, luckily I passed it a few times, so I know where to go"
"Okay"
Watari resumed his walk to their dining place.
Shinobu waited a few minutes to make sure he got way out of earshot.
He leaned on the bridges fence, "I know you're there, come out"
A few seconds of silence passed.
*SPLAAAASSSHH*
Two figures jumped above him, one from directly under the bridge, the other from the river below.
They landed behind him, as he turned around to see who it was.
A great white, very buff shark stood right in-front of him, he had bright green eyes, and a 5 piercings were lined on his fin.
He wore a sleeveless fishnet shirt, ironically, and a pair of black baggy pants, showing off his impressive, six-pack and pecs, he stood at 6' 8, slightly towering over Shinobu's 6' 3, with his clothes all wet, his pants hugged his legs a little, giving the view of a pair of thickly built legs.
The other figure was a slim black and orange spotted, blue eyed gecko, he wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to match the shark, and white pants, also baggy, but fastened tight to his ankles, by a wrap of cloth, he was considerably shorter than the two, standing at 4' 8
Both looked at Shinobu with mischief in their eye's, slowly closing in, With him remaining still for some reason, it was almost like he-
"COUSIN!!!!!!!"
Both lunged at him giving tight hugs from both sides.
"It's good to see you guys too" he replied to their outburst smiling along with the two, "what are you two doing here?"
They released him from their pincer hold, "grandfather said that you might need some help, so we volunteered" the gecko said puffing out his chest.
"What Ame said" the shark confirmed the gecko's words.
"And what about you Harusame, you're not the kind to take such a big mission"
The shark just hugged him again, "first: I'm not alone in this mission, second: I get to be with my favorite cousins"
It was true, the three were friends for as long as Shinobu remembers, they were almost inseparable.
"So, where are you staying at?" Ame asked bringing him back from memory lane.
"At an inn called 'Blossom Eclipse', it's quite the nice place"
"Cool, we'll meet you there, since we know that you're busy with that beetle guy", Ame stated, nudging Shinobu in the waist slightly, a soft blush crept on Shinobu's face.
"Ok, I'll catch you guys later", and he continued on his way, with the duo going towards the inn.
The restaurant was big, it was decorated with golden statues, of different feral creatures, in the hallways, the booths and even the walls, which were red all over, with the occasional golden trims.
This place must be very, very expensive
He walked for a few minutes, before finally spotting Watari sitting alone looking lonely.
He moved over to his table, "hey, sorry I'm late, was catching up to old friends"
Watari just gave a smile of relief, "no it's okay, ready to order?"
"Are you sure about this place? It looks expensive"
"It's okay, it's my treat remember?"
"If you're sure"
They both then placed their orders, and sat waiting for their orders to arrive.
"So what do you so for a living?" Shinobu started a conversation, after a few seconds of silence.
"I do whatever is required of me, protection, construction, field work, I'm a jack-of-all-trades"
"Really?" their drinks arrived first, "what got you to take that kind of job?"
"Well, you could say it's my way of thanking someone"
Shinobu raised his eyebrow in confusion.
"When I was a little kid, I used to live in a small village that lay beside a big river. I was playing with some friends, when our village was attacked by some bandits. Their leader kept barking out orders to kill, burn, and exterminate everyone and everything in sight. One of them was going to strike me, but my mom, stood in the way, protecting me, she died instantly"
A few tears escaped Watari's eyes as he remembered his mother's final moments. He finally calmed down before continuing.
"As I was trying to wake up my mom, a stranger appeared out of nowhere, shortly followed by a few others. They fought and eliminated the bandits, saving our village, or what was left of it. The strangers were a group of different species, their leader was a white tiger with a mane, they wore torn sleeve shirts, with slightly baggy pants, and beads around their wrists and necks, the ones on their neck being bigger. They said they were monks who were scouting the land before laying sight on the carnage in our village"
A white tiger monk with a mane? Shinobu knew the guy.
"They were kind enough to stay and help rebuild our village and bury our dead. After that they stayed longer to teach us the ways of peace, self-defense and harmony"
Yep, those were the monks of the Byakko house, technically shoving their beliefs in everyone's faces even in a times of crisis. Well, the self-defense part was welcomed though.
"I admired their leader, to the point my admiration turned to a crush, when I finally mustered my courage, I confessed my feelings, he just smiled and told me 'that he is not the person I was meant to love' and to go on my own path, that the someone I'm supposed to share my life with will appear. Admiring their ways and teachings, I left the village as soon as I was old enough, helping those in need along the way with anything they desired, which eventually gave me these muscles, since I had to work with heavy stuff sometimes" he pulled back a sleeve and flexed, showing those lovely muscles that Shinobu admired.
"And eventually I landed in this city" he finished his story, their food arriving a long time ago.
"Wow....just, wow" Shinobu was really taken aback by the story.
"How about you tell your me your story after we eat" Shinobu couldn't agree more.
After the duo finished eating, they made their way back to the inn.
Shinobu managed to summarize his family's history and tradition.
When they arrived at the inn's entrance, "Well, I better head back to my place, it was really nice meeting you Shinobu"
"The pleasure is mine Watari"
"Well I'll see you tomorrow then" he turned to leave.
"........Wait" He turned back to Shinobu, who was holding one of his lower hands, "it's getting really late, how about you stay here with me"
A light blush appeared on the beetle man's face, "no, it's okay, I don't want to trouble you"
"You won't...... besides", he stepped forwards almost pressing their bodies together, with his hand on Watari's chest, caressing lightly, "I want to thank you for a lovely date"
A deeper blush dominated Watari's face, as Shinobu pulled the large man inside with him.