Bloodless & Betrayals [Solo]

[Muramasa Maya]

(This topic is a continuation from here)

The Aikayume Shrine

Lair of the Fox Clan, the shrine is heavily oriental styled and situated on the expansive land owned by the Aikayume. The shrine is one of the few places in the upperclass Diamond District that is welcoming towards those of lower class lifestyles. There is no specific deity the shrine is dedicated too; instead, the Aikayume believe in respect towards all spirits and deities of the world, physical or not (think Shinto).

Normally, the Kitsune of the shrine are tranquil and kind, giving off a refreshing atmosphere for anyone coming to pay their respects in the shrine. But today, a heavy aura hung about them, and all but the main shrine were cut off from the public. The grounds were eerily quiet, with gloom along the various clansmen.

...Their Priestess layed unconscious, in custody, deep within the shrine. As the head and heir to her clan, the priestess was infused with The Blood of previous matriarchs, dating back to the original Fox Spirits they descended from. It was her duty to both nurture and protect this blood above all else until she could pass it on to a daughter, who in turn, restarted the process.

Azusa had failed in this one, simple duty.

The dissent in her clan started when she chose to pursuer both the paths of shinobi and priestess, a dream only allowed due to her mother, the previous Aikayume Matriarch's, strong influence. Nevermind the fact that Azusa was headstrong, and once she became priestess, refused to heed the traditions of her clan in favor of following her own path.

This dissent culminated with Azusa's encounter with the demon Miroku Akkuma, which left her cursed with a seal full of malice and darkness. She could not hide this from her clan.

Azusa's younger sister Akiko, and thus next heiress to the Aikayume's duties, took it upon herself to act for her clan. It is she who captured the Priestess and began Azusa's exilement. With a trembling figure, the dark haired kitsune double, triple, and quadruple checked the talismans and runes binding her sister Azusa during the ritual. Her scarlet eyes reflected the blue flames flickering from the many candles adorning the shrine, and try as she might, her dark bangs couldn't hide the look anxiety across her face, dreading the moment her older sister would awaken.

"Ngh...Aki?..." Azusa stirred on the floor.

Akiko's heart sank.

[MFT]

 

[Junan]

It was like he were made of metal and this place was a magnet. Almost as though someone had put up a "Stop" sign, simply making him want to go that much more.

The temple looked quite otherworldly. Junan had seen the temples in Cloud, he'd lived at the foot of them for a period of time, surviving off of the scraps of food that they distributed to the poor, to the starving, but they didn't look like this. This looked like something out of stories, like what people said the Temple to Raiden looked like at the top of the Thunder Mountains.

Excuse me sir, the temple's closed. A voice said from some direction that Junan didn't care about.

The doors had been closed, though they'd not manage to keep him out. He was curious, and his curiosity knew only one way to satisfied. Something landed on his shoulder and Junan felt pressure as it attempted to stop him from continuing on his path. His head turned, and his smiled grew on his face.

Did I say you could touch me?

A sound would echo from where he was in the entrance through the halls to where the shrine lay. Sound of an unwelcome guest making an unwelcome entrance.

The man who had tried to stop Junan had defended himself quite capably, the barrier holding against Junan's attack, but still sending the man skidding across the ground maintaining his footing.

Yet it seemed that Junan had no intent to harm or injure either, his head facing forward once again as he moved ominously forward. His head swiveled from side to side as he looked at the different architecture and art that adorned the walls. Two more approached him, and on touching him Junan's own hands fell on their arms, the two falling unconscious instantly and hitting the floor. It would seem as though the man would not go quietly, and had no intention on turning back any time soon.

So it was that he reached the point where he found himself before a bound person (he couldn't tell if it was male or female at this point), and several others around, their attention likely taken by the tall, grinning man with the pink feathered jacket that stood before them.

Oh. It's that kind of temple huh? He asked, his grin growing as he looked at the girl bound before the others before looking at them in turn.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

"...What is...going on? I cannot move. Help me free." The blonde Priestess asked, unable to move her hands from their stretched out positions to her sides. "I...cannot do so, Onee-sama." Akiko hid her gaze behind her dark bangs again. It was only now that Azusa began to realize that something was not right. "Aki...What is going on?" "...." "Aki, tell me." "..!.." "AKIKO!" Azusa commanded.

Keeping secrets from her sister was difficult for the younger kitsune. Even now, she had wanted to set her sister free; but she knew doing so would not be granting her any favors in the long run. Akiko understood that tonight would require her full commitment to take the sacred blood from Azusa into herself; knowing this, she ensured that the stage was set to absolute perfection. Only a few clansman who were her personal attendants knew what would transpire tonight; and only one, a white haired woman with a pair of short katana who was her most trusted retainer, was allowed to remain in the room where the ritual would take place. She had ensured that Azusa was not being expected to meet anyone, train with anyone, or otherwise be seeing anyone at this time. By the time anyone had realized there was something amidst, the blood ritual would have been long completed.

In short; Akiko dotted her i's and crossed her t's.
...So why was there an unfamiliar man intruding into the heart of clan's shrine now of all times? Akiko clutched the ceremonial knife she held against herself as her kitsune ears and tail rose in surprise, and her single guard within the room unsheathed her blade and locked her vulpine eyes onto feathery-garbed man, moving to position herself between Akiko and the man. "What have you done to my guards? You should not be here." Akiko spoke, in no mood for the intruder's jokes. Though she was a sheltered clan princess, she was not naive enough to believe that he had simply 'gotten lost'; the sounds she had just heard outside just now had let her know that her guards should have provided ample enough warning for him...and yet here he was.

Was he an ally of Azusa's? No, Akiko had made certain that Azusa had not called upon anyone. Was he drawn to the spiritual power emanating from the shrine? Possibly; once she had brought both Azusa and the ritual knife to this room she could not fully mask the spiritual aura of the ritual. Were the spirits she served conspiring against her through fate? Akiko dared not dwell on that possibility.

"Akiko. Unbind me." Azusa commanded again from the ground. Of course she was confused at the situation she awoke to, but sensing her sister's hesitation upon the man's arrival told her that he was not part of Aki's plans, although she couldn't see much from her position other than a bright jacket. But Akiko ignored her in favor of remaining unmoving, her scarlet eyes locked onto the flamboyantly dressed man. "...You are not welcome here tonight." She donned her best stoic expression in an effort to hide the anxiety of her plan being set astray.

 

[Junan]

He looked from one figure to the other, then to anyone else that was in the room. His grin widened as he was spoken to, he wasn't supposed to be here? Well, this was true. He wasn't even supposed to be in the village. He'd slaughtered about a half dozen people around the corner from the temple as well, so really... the level of his caring as to where he was supposed to be right now, didn't exist.

Taking on a relaxed stance, his hands moving to the back of his head his eyes moved to the roof. The girl on the ground spoke to the other girl. Junan had no idea as to what had happened here, or what was going on, whether this girl who was bound was meant to be a sacrifice or whether there was some other thing going on that he had no clue about. He also didn't know if she were willing or not.

She asked to be unbound.

Perhaps she wasn't he voluntarily.

I'm not welcome anywhere tonight. He said, a short burst of a laugh exiting him as he finished speaking.

His head fell and looked at the girl on the ground. The smile suddenly slipped completely from his face as he began to take in details, he then looked at the girl standing before him.

Wait... He said. He took a step towards them, his hand stretching out before him, his eyes hidden behind his glasses were not focused on the girl before him but rather on the one laying on the ground. His head tilted sideways slightly as he moved, looking at the girls head.

...are those real? His finger stretched out, pointing at the spot he was looking at. He continued to advance.

Your ears. Do they work? There was a growing measure of excitement in his voice, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. Perhaps she would also feel a certain level of menace in the way he moved. He would continue to move forward till he could play with the girls ears unless he were stopped. This would include blowing in them.

Right now for Junan, nothing else even mattered. His curiosity had been piqued. Everyone else might as well have not existed.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

Akiko stared blankly at the laughing man; she was unused to being ignored. And her sheltered upbringing, rarely leaving her clan's shrine, left her unprepared to deal with anyone who would not obey her. Aside from her headstrong sister of course. Somehow, Akiko was even worse than Azusa when it came to not having her way.

...Meanwhile, Azusa began cursing mentally when she saw her sister not only refuse to release her, but backed away when the man began to enter the room. Though she was still in a daze from waking up, she heard the sounds of a fight outside. This man was dangerous at worst, and a wild card at best; she definitely didn't like being in a forced passivity situation.

Her pulse began to quicken within her chest, outpacing the steady sound of his approaching footsteps. Despite this, her pride prevented her from showing this and quickly turned her look of confusion turned to a sharp gaze of defiance, ignoring his question.

...But Azusa flinching from having her large ears touched and tugged, and how they twitched each time they were blown at should have provided all the verification towards their legitimacy that he could want. "Uwah...Do not...touch me like some doll..." She growled; for one as prideful as Azusa, the current position she found herself in was frankly, humiliating.

And Azusa did not take well to feeling any sort of humiliation. Imagined or otherwise.

So she fought back in the only way she was able; like a dog fox in a corner, she lashed out in an attempt to punish his curiosity by biting at his hands. Although it were just her ankles and wrists that were bound with Akiko's sealing talismans, it was still difficult for the girl to do with any efficiency...but just making the attempt made her feel better. Small victories.

...Somewhat. But if this guy was going to be curious, what kind of clever fox would she be if she didn't at least try to use that to her advantage? If her sister refused to remove her restraints, perhaps this guy would be more cooperative; afterall, Akiko was clearly put on edge from his presence. "...Look, I do not know who you are, but if you pull these charms off me, I will be indebted to you. I may just even allow you to touch my tails as a reward as well. Perhaps." The five-tailed priestess of foxes offered with a certain smugness on her face (Azusa was proud of everything Azusa-related, but -especially- in the silky softness of her fox spirit features). Unlike her ears, most of her tails were stuck under her body uncomfortably, and moving her would end up disrupting Aki's sealing charms. So it would be a mutually beneficial situation.

...But Akiko's patience was running out, and her growing anxiety was getting difficult for her to hold back. "...He will do no such thing. Enough of this; Tsuki, remove this man quickly." She commanded her last guard, her personal servant. And her command was obeyed; moving with the full intent on putting an end to the man's curiosity with her dual blades. She did not aim to kill, but certainly made no attempt at avoiding bloodshed in her attempt at capturing him.

[MFT]

 

[Junan]

IF he'd been paying attention he would have noticed the girl who had told him to stop stepping out of his way, but he didn't. Her very existence was erased from his memory. Instead he found his fingers running over the fine fur of the ears, gently tugging on them so as not to cause damage or harm, but simply to satisfy that they were indeed attached. He blew in them and they flicked, and he almost squeed with joy.

As much of a master of his craft as he was, there were things which simply couldn't be replicated in his craft.

The unusual interested him. He had found a girl once in Kumogakure who had similar features, but after he'd killed the man who had tried to forcibly stop him from playing with her ears and tail he turned to find out that she had indeed fled the scene. He'd never been able to truly satisfy his curiosity with her.

Snap! He teeth snapped towards his fingers which had darted out of reach. The act however made him smile, it kind of reminded him of Komora and her sharp teeth that she used to hunt bears with. She was such a sweet wee thing. One of the few creatures safe from him on this earth. For now at least.

As his fingers gingerly re-approached her ears, the anticipation of her attempting to snap at his fingers turning into a kind of game in his mind as he did so she instead spoke. She said that she would be indebted to him if he were to release her. At first all this did was stop his hand movement, his smile slipped from his face as he thought about the option. But she continued, she had tails. Not just one. Multiple. Tails.

Behind his glasses his eyes grew wide, oooo, he had to see the tails, and he'd get to play with them too, make sure that they were real, see how they moved. Perhaps he could attempt to recreate them... But then she seemed to almost back out of the arrangement. She said perhaps. He didn't deal with uncertainty. He was a businessman after all, and his business was in human trafficking, well, it was an exaggeration. That was what his business was in, but to call himself a businessman would be over the top. Rather he worked for an organisation which did.

He opened his mouth to answer, his words being spoken to the girl with the ears at the same time as some other buzzing happened from his left.

No, no, no. I could simply play with your tails and leave you bound. He said... there were quickened footsteps the unsheathing of blades. There was assumption that he would move, that he would do something to dodge. They weren't aimed to kill, but they were aimed to hit, otherwise they wouldn't force him away.

But they didn't know what they were dealing with.

The blades found their mark. They sliced at him, but his not moving almost put the movement off as they were intended for him to be backing away. After all, who sat still when weapons were slicing at them. Two slices went into Junan's shoulder, the woman with the blades confused and hesitating, he hadn't even flinched.

Indeed he continued speaking to the girl with the ears I think that if I help you out that you let me investigate every inch of your body. He didn't mean it in a sexualised way, sex for him was simply a form of domination, a way of asserting his control over someone, letting them know who was the stronger, who was in control. It was his 'non-violent' way of doing so. No, this was simply curiosity, she would be looked at like one would look at a painting. It would be most humiliating. However whether she would understand his intentions or not was another thing entirely.

As he waited for her answer the other two would have realised by now the truth to their situation. He wasn't bleeding, and with their keen eyes they would see that his arm wasn't made of flesh and bone, but rather a layer of some kind of silicon substance mimicking flesh, and wood. He was a puppet.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

Azusa shut her eyes in anticipation of blood spilling down from the man near her...but there was no blood to be shed. Instead, any misconceived notions Azusa got from his apparent whimsical nature was dispelled as her mind decidedly placed the 'dangerous' tag on him despite, quite literally, this man doing absolutely nothing different from when he first walked in. It was only natural for one to defend themselves from harm; the fact that he made no effort to defend himself spoke volumes on how he had yet to consider anything 'dangerous' to him. She could only hope her sister wouldn't try anything stupid.

Oh, Akiko was demoralized by the way. All her cautious planning, thrown off by the sheer chance of a man's whimsical nature, impossible to predict. Her guard leaped back to her side, realizing the futility of following her mistress's order further. With few exceptions, the Aikayume were primarily a spiritual people, not shinobi; they were not equipped to deal with such a threat. The two backed off into a corner, not daring to rush for the exit as that would involve approaching this...thing...to reach the sole entryway into the room. Perhaps he would have been unattentive; but it was not a risk she could take, even if her knee's still had the strength to support her.

...As for the priestess of spirits; "Wh-what..." The shock Azusa felt from being unable to fully comprehend what exactly was standing before —technically, above— her, or the impossible request he 'proposed' to her, left her momentarily speechless.

Azusa was all about being admired by others; in fact it was on her to-do list to get a portrait made of herself to display within the shrine. But what he stated was not something she could take pride in; they were his terms and not her own. That loss of control would not do; her gratitude could only be stretched so far.

...She did not like his smile, either. But at least he had a nice coat going for him.

So, the Fox's eyes narrowed into a glare; "...It brings bad fortune to evoke the scorn of a Priestess. And I am not known for forgiveness." She spoke. True, she did not want to agitate him out of possibly helping her. Especially after her sister's servant's failed attack...But Azusa was offended.

And....her pride...

She couldn't stand to equate herself to trophy to be admired as a sort of prize, at least not on anyone's terms other than her own. "Do not mistake my generosity as something that can be manipulated." Yes, she was aware she was hardly in a position to negotiate. Yes, she knew it would have been best to agree and get what she wanted. But...

Azusa was nothing if not stubborn.

 

[Junan]

He was completely ignoring what else was happening in the room, and yet he was still aware of them. The damage to his arm didn't matter, it wasn't that part which enabled him to move, it was simply a wooden shell to him. Their decision to give him space though was noted in his mind, he knew where they were, though wouldn't have stopped them leaving.

Still they remained and that didn't bother him either.

The girl with the ears had winced at the moment of the strike, which was curious. Did she care? No, probably not, maybe she thought he'd have ended up bleeding on her. Yet with Junan there was one thing which made him less dangerous, and that was keeping him entertained, keeping him interested. So she reacted to his request.

He wanted to investigate her, touch her, find out how she felt, how she moved, how the tails works, the texture of her fur, was there fur on her skin, how sensitive was her skin or the fur, he wanted to know everything. It would take his knowing everything for him to create something to even come close to resembling it. Of course there were other ways... easier ways...

She began to speak threats, and his mind started to blur her words out. His head fell to one side, his smile slipping slightly from his face as he looked at the other two in the room. Something was wrong here. This girl had been tied up by them, the obvious question one interesting in understanding would ask would be 'why'. Junan didn't care, she was tied up, by these two, that was all there was to it in his mind.

Her words continued, but fell on deaf ears now.

Her words bored him.

So now he had to find answers, he was going to have his way, that was all there was to it. Only entertainment and the word of the organization he worked for kept him in check. In Sand the organization didn't exist, but he was here to try and build business. His mind wandered, his hand moved over the girls ears, gently, tenderly running over them now, almost like the touch of a lover, while his mind went to other matters. His face was pointed towards the other two, but he didn't see them,

Instead he was trying to figure out what to do. His fingers ran down the ears down her neck, his senses taking in every detail of how she felt, he was effectively doing what he had requested of her despite her request not to. If she moved to bite him, he would let her, she would feel her teeth sink into a flesh like substance, and then hit hardened wood, but she would also find his hand would simply continue to move his hand gliding over her skin softly, gently, over her neck, under her chin, his hand suddenly wrapped around the front of her neck, but gently, however it had stopped moving, only the thumb gently brushed back and forth over her cheek and jaw, his forefinger similarly moving along the jawline gently.

There was no hint of malice, other than the position of it. Yet with one as strange as he, was this malice?

You two. What would you be doing next with Tails? It seemed his mind snapped back to reality. Had he decided something? Or was he about to make a decision. She had also been named.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

He ignored her.

At first, this brought the Priestess irritation; he was ignoring her. For one who thrived on her ego and attention, simply just 'ignoring' her...well, she didn't like it. "...Do not touch me..."
This brought about shame. In realizing that her words could only get her so far; that their value lasted only as long as his interest in humoring her did. It was difficult for her to stomach a reality in which she was she was without a means to defend herself. Or her ego. Gotta defend the ego.
...Fear. The natural response to feeling threatened without the means to protect oneself. It was a small amount for now, true; but enough to exist within Azusa as a constant worry in the back of her mind.

And so the ears he was investigating slowly began to lose their softness as her golden fur began to stand on edge, bristling, like a cat or dog's fur when defensive.The same could be said for her tails. Touching her ears, her hair, her neck...it brought about anger. And said anger could quickly breed Hate when it had a source to be projected onto. Things that wore pink feathery jackets made excellent targets, for example.

Fear and Hatred; two pillars of the unholy triumvirate that formed her curse.
Though she felt these emotions in small amount, it was enough to stir the cursed seal within her, tingling her hand as faint red marking began to become visible. Not enough to awaken it; not yet. But enough to serve as a warning saying 'Turn back now'. So long as she prevented the triggering emotions from increasing, she could keep the seal suppressed.
...But she was never known for self control.

As for the two in the back of the room;
"An outsider has no business-" Akiko's guard began to speak, but the black haired Kitsune silenced her, placing her pale hand on her guards shoulder. Akiko had given up her defiance already, knowing defeat. She lacked the spark that enabled her to struggle through hardship. "...Onee-sama will be exiled from the clan soon. She will be relieved from her duty in protecting Our Blood, and have The Blood cut from her as punishment for allowing darkness to taint it..." She spoke, unable to look at Azusa. It was easier for her to look at the man who terrified her than it was to look at her sister. "...I wished to save her from the disgrace. I...had only wanted to protect her from public suffering in front of the clan. I was going to do everything myself, here in private. It was the only mercy I could give." Her gaze fell to the knife she held. So close.

...and she would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for a meddling puppet.

Back to Azusa;
She could only have assumed as much after seeing the ritual knife, knowing its only purpose was to serve as a tool to transfer their sacred blood. But she didn't want to acknowledge it...

And so, the situation was different now. She absolutely must not show her Curse. Not here. Not in the shrine. Not in front of her younger sister.

It was no less difficult for her to swallow her pride, but her priorities changed; "...Okay. Okay already...." She muttered, unsure if her words would be acknowledged. It was difficult for her to judge with those damned glasses on his face. "One request. I...I shall grant you one request. Just...get them out of here. Out of this room." 'Please', she could have added. But the word was heavy to her, she felt it reaffirmed her helplessness, and refused to speak it. She was setting aside her pride enough just conceding to him already.

[MFT]

 

[Junan]

His smile split his face.

He had won. He could feel it like one did when telling a dog off, when you push it to the ground, grabbing it by the fur around its throat, pinning it there, the defiance, the struggle, and then the stillness as it acknowledges that you are its master. That is what had just transpired in Junan's mind, and as usual he had gained the subservience of that dog. One request. She had already turned down the lesser of his requests, now she would be forced into a far worse one. She had given her word, and to break her word with Junan would be expected, he expected no-one to be honest, to hold their word, to do as they say they would do. Not fully at least. What mattered was whether they were smart enough to wait for their opportunity to break it without the backlash being as bad as it could be.

As long as Junan lived the backlash would continue. His boss had found that out the hard way, her family dying one by one through means which they were not known for. Overdosing on poison, suicide, each one a message to her that she needed to step in line with Junan, each one showing her the lengths to which he would go to get what he believed belonged to him. As far as he was concerned, his boss belonged to him.

And now, so did Tails, though it hadn't needed to be that way, he had at first simply had a curiosity, but she had denied him that.

His hand lifted from her throat and he stood, he gestured for them to leave, a casual flippant hand gesture as if to say "shoo". They had served their purpose. Though they had also been lucky with how she had worded their departure. He was sure they would make good puppets.

In the blink of an eye he rattled off a series of handseals, faster than most should be capable of, even among the top tier of shinobi. The seals planted on the girls body exploded outwards, away from her, freeing her. She could try and flee if she chose to now, he would simply cut her down if she attempted to though. It would disappoint him, she had so much more that she could offer.

They have left, you have allowed me one request. My request is that you now belong to me, you are my pet. His shoulders shook slightly, an almost silent laughter welling up as his excitement got the better of him, but as he did so his gaze was leveled at her through his shaded glasses, signalling how serious he was.

This was his request now. She would be his dog, his play thing whenever he felt like it. He was still tossing up with the idea of whether or not he should give her a collar. Perhaps that would depend on her next actions.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

"Gods..." Akiko muttered to herself as she struggled to leave, managing only through the help of her guard. Had she strength, perhaps she could yet give Azusa a small mercy and plunge the sacred dagger into her back, freeing her of her struggles...But Akiko did not. She felt responsible for this, leaving Azusa alone in the room with a maniacal puppet. She lacked the courage to atone or even resist. She could only leave.

Intending to spare her sister from one unbearable fate, she inadvertently set her towards a potentially much, much worse one.

...Which then lead to Azusa having her physical bindings being exchanged for entirely ones of an entirely different nature. She rose to her feet slowly, her body numb from how long Akiko had kept her confined here. Her features earning her her nickname were as bristled as her ears. "...Impossible..." The Fox said. "People are not pets." A simple statement, but one she spoke with confusion, as if asking a question rather than reaffirming her beliefs.

...Was she being mocked? Perhaps she was...it felt as if his entire existence, well, existed solely to mock others. But even worse was regardless of whether she was being toyed with, he gave the frightful impressions that he was being entirely serious. For all her headstrong arrogance, Azusa was not actually violent...But she nonetheless had felt the strong desire to hit this man between the glasses. Perhaps it was trace amount of her Seal's influence seeping through to her.

But she was not dumb either; she had seen what Akiko's guard's weapons didn't do to the puppet. She also knew he had been attacked multiple times already, and did not want to see if his patience would hold out for one more in an attempt to guess at attacking with something that maybe would have been more effective. And perhaps most importantly, that she was the last thing keeping his attention here at the shrine. Unless he really, really, felt captivated by the picturesque scenery of the shrine, there would be nothing to distract him from her if she attempted to flee. Turning tail(s) and running was not an option.

....So she humored him, hoping to end her own confusion in the process. "What does that even mean? I...I have servants that assist me. But I take care of my....pets." The Priestess practically spat out the word, becoming ever-so-slightly more aware towards the indignity that could be carried by it.

 

[Junan]

The gentle shaking of his body in the almost silent laugh slowed, and then ended.

The pair had departed, the girl freed and then Junan had delivered his decision. Confusion reigned but his smile slipped slightly, it remained but it was a far more normal smile, like one held by a simply happy person, just the situation didn't really match it. Tails didn't understand what he was saying, yet her statement about humans not being pets had almost placed confusion in his mind. Of course humans were pets, that was part of why they were so popular. Part of course, some simply wanted to vent frustration on them, violent or otherwise, others were just pigs of men who had nothing else to do, and so purchasing humans gave them a thrill. They were the worst, for why own something with no purpose?

No, Junan had purpose, and Tails was now his.

He remained silent as he let reality sink in, let her regather herself, let her have some kind of control again, over herself, over how she would react. After all, she was his now, and he couldn't simply have some broken toy, she had to be her, while being his.

After a moment she spoke again, Junan's smile remained as he listened to her question. This is what he hoped she would ask, for clarification, it meant she was thinking, she had understood that he had said something but that exactly what it was that it meant for her had not been spelt out. By letting her ask it, he gave her the feeling of control, sometimes it was good to let the strings relax.

I take care of my pets too. He said as he maintained the distance between them, letting her have some kind of comfort.

What this means is that when I want something from you, or when I am in your presence you will do as I request. You can question, but how much I tell you is over to me, and you will do. His head tilted, but only slightly, a short silence to again let his softly but deliberately said words sink in.

In return, as my pet, you receive my protection. If someone threatens you I will kill them, if someone harms you, I will kill them, if someone looks at you wrong and you don't like it? I. Will. Kill. Them. The grin grew, human lives meant nothing to him. They could all die, unless they served him some purpose. Of course you would need some method of contacting me, and I will give that to you. But remember, you are mine first and foremost. No-one else will ever hold as much control over you as my word. If you marry and I don't like him, you will rid yourself of him. This is the price of your life, your freedom here and now, and my protection in the future.

She could turn him down, there were always options, of course they weren't always better options. He had given her her life back, she owed him everything, and so he would take everything. But he would give her some rope to move with.

I am not from Sand. I will not always be around, so you will be able to live a normal life until I call on you. He pulled a small metalic object, about twice the size of a finger, out with his right hand and stepped towards her, his left hand held out palm up silently asking for her hand, a kind of warped mirror image of a wedding ceremony. If she didn't give him her hand, he would tell her to 'shake' if she still didn't, then that would mean she didn't understand anything that he had said, and that she was saying "no", or worse, that she wasn't worth keeping as a pet.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

If Azusa was ever told she'd find herself in this situation before this, she'd have no trouble brushing it aside and laughing at the insanity of it. But now? Processing what he meant and the terms being laid out left her speechless with an expression of disbelief. This had felt like some kind of sick joke, and couldn't really be happening.

...But it was.

Quite simply, the full repercussions were well beyond what she was capable of imagining. This wasn't just a one time act that she could endure and be done with. This wasn't something she could look forwards to being behind her tomorrow, a week from now, or even a month. He gave no timeframe. This was...indefinite. Forever. "That is...unfair. Cheating. It is so much more than one request. No one would accept this." As the gravity of the situation weighed down mentally upon her mind, her kitsune features gradually lost their perkiness and began flattening to the side of her head and down to her knee's respectively. "...People are not pets..." This was a dangerous man who had no trouble tossing around the concept of killing, and she did not doubt that he had the full intent on following through. "...I am not...a pet..." this gave her the ever-so-curious notion that he was not the type of person she could attempt to renegotiating terms with once a deal was made, however skewed they were.

True, he did save her life from Akiko's intentions; but to claim it as his own to hold afterwards? No amount of gratitude could justify this.

When he reached out in an apparent gesture becoming her forth, the Kitsune remained motionless, her eyes glued to the ground. It wasn't that she was ignoring him; it was just the first step was the hardest to take. It was one thing to accept an unknown request; but approaching him meant accepting everything he had said after he made it known. It meant that she'd accept that there would always be someone above her, that she wasn't the greatest' that her self-respect built herself up to be within her mind.

No, the most Azusa thing to do was to keep her personal pride from tarnishing any further at all costs, now, while her resistance was at its strongest. She was self-centered and arrogant. There was no reason to play along to terms she didn't approve of.

...So why did she find herself reaching out, accepting such an insane reality?
She could say it was to protect her clan, protect her shrine, protect her sister. That was a believable lie. A respectable lie.
But the truth was, she was afraid. When she was bound with Aki's charms, her words or consent had no power or influence over the puppet, and denying him just made the situation worse. And though she was now unbound, she felt even more restrained than she did before. When she was prompted to shake on it, she made the logical choice and moved forwards. But it was no less a painful choice to make; she couldn't stand to look at him when she reached for his prosthetic hand, halfheartedly asking questions she was afraid to know the answers to. "...Can things ever return to normal? Can I repay myself? Return the favor?...Anything?"

 

[Junan]

Taking the metalic object he placed it at the end of her finger and slipped it on (OOC: Explanation of what it is below, you can have her pull the finger out of it to stop the effect) he listened silently to her words, not ignoring them, but not answering them either. She claimed that no-one could accept this, she was stuck on the idea that people are not pets, that she wasn't a pet, but he didn't care. If people were not pets then she wasn't people. If she wasn't a pet, then she was worthless, and those she cared for would die first. That was how things worked in his mind, he had decided she was his pet, if she worked up the courage to deny him in future then those who she loved would suffer the consequences, until she once more fell into her place.

He was most likely the most dangerous person she would ever meet. And yet, his reign of terror had only barely begun. He himself was a pet, a pet to an organization who had raised him, fed him, trained him. He was as worthless as she was, but their training had turned him into a smaller more compact version of the organization which he admired so. Of course she would have no idea on his own circumstances, have no clue that in truth he was simply doing what he had been taught was how things worked.

Then she asked a question, a question which would in turn set things in motion in his own head. Could things ever return to normal? But... this was normal.

He could only answer from his own experience, from what he saw as the truth. His smile no longer on his face, in fact it was almost expressionless, the eyes hidden behind the glasses keeping any hint of emotion away.

You live in a shinobi village, they tell you to do things, sometimes kill people, and you do it because they said so. You get your reward for being a good shinobi but in the end are you not their pet? This is considered normal for people like us isn't it? To do as we are told, to accept the orders of those who are above us, to desire their praise, to work hard for them? At least I do not rank my pets in their importance. No matter whether you are a Jounin or a Genin you will hold equal value in my mind, I care not for your skills, I will not judge you according to your gender and place you on missions of seduction purely because you are female.

His right hand moved up to gently brush her cheek in a touch like that of a loved one comforting them. His voice had been gentle, like one who genuinely cared.

There are ways that you can free yourself from the bondage of a village, just as there are ways to free yourself from me. His tone took on a slightly harder edge Just like should you free yourself from a village that there is repercussions, there would be should you attempt to free yourself from me.

He smiled, a caring smile, though only if you ignored the top half of his face due to the glasses almost always giving any expression he gave a nasty edge.

You can call me 'Master', and I will call you 'Tails'.



CRPJ being used with the metal instrument.

Spoiler

Effect: The Messenger Puppet is a CRPJ which with the approval of an individual means that Junan is able to send them messages wherever they are in the world by tracking their chakra signature.

Notes:

• Due to the size and speed of the messenger puppets they are unable to be tracked.
• Junan himself cannot be used as a "Messenger Puppet" nor can any puppets created for the purpose of battle.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

With the initial shock and distress passed, Azusa returned to a more calm disposition. To say she was comfortable with the situation was stretching it, but she at least did not feel under any immediate threat. Tolerant was a good word for it, as much as she could be considering she could not truly tell if her were out to taunt her, harm her, or otherwise. She had never encountered anyone like him before, thus found it impossible to read his intentions or where she stood with him. And likely never would unless she came to understand his twisted view of the world.

He compared his pets to the village shinobi system, and she listened, doing her best -- but visibly struggling -- to resist backing away from his touch or snapping at him for doing so. Tolerance, the proud fox told herself. "I...understand. That is not untrue. It could be worse." Of course it was not an unfamiliar concept, requests were given, and either rewards or repercussions depending on if they were followed through. It was simple to understand, and he had a point. Azusa did not have anything to say in response.
It was still disgracing and she hated his guts, but...he did seem fair, as far as unfair systems went. Obey, and she had his protection...not that she had any intent to evoke such a ruthless method of resolving trouble.

Of course, her tolerance all entirely depended on what he required of her. Even his first statement made one of her eyebrows twitch; she didn't know his name and vice-versa, but he provided his own solution. For someone used to being called 'Lady Azusa' most of her life, being bluntly called 'Tails' was something that would cause her irritation, but was not too bad on its own. But...'Master'!. The Kitsune Priestess didn't even have her own servants call her that! This stirred a guttural sound from her akin to a low growl. Just when she had thought he was being kind too...

"Ha! I'm to call you 'Master', you say. I...suppose that will not change even in public." She tried her best to mask her embarrassment by calling forth her remaining haughtiness, flicking aside strands of her gold hair as she made a mental note to avoid speaking in ways that required such distasteful pronouns. Even so, she dreaded the thought of when and where she'd be called upon and forced to address him...which she assumed was the purpose of the tube. "...And what is this thing? To call me when you are bored? You say you are not from Suna...So why are you even in the village then? Surely there are closer shrines to break into." Allowing her to regain herself definitely let her bring back some of her snark and wit, at least enough to help mask some of her displeasure.

Azusa couldn't imagine what motivated him, nor what his schedule consisted of. It did bring relief to hear earlier that he wasn't native to Suna. But if he had forced her to leave, would she have obeyed, she asked herself? Ashamed at the answer, she pushed the thought out of her mind. She could only hope he lost interest once he returned to whatever place he called home, or got lost in the expansive sands surrounding the village.

Not that she was holding her breath.

 

[Junan]

She laughed at his suggestion to call him master, saying the word with judgement clear in her voice. He stood there and looked at her, he had to consider his options. Did he let her have this one, or did her punish her for the attitude she was showing towards him. Because of this he ignored everything else she asked him, her questions falling once more on deaf ears as he considered her fate. She had finished asking her questions, and yet he remained motionless, she would feel his eyes staring at her from behind his glasses.

And then suddenly he decided.

Moving his hand to his pocket he pulled out a scroll. Taking his time he unrolled it and then summoned up a small object, about the size of a mouse. Moving it to the side he then sealed the small metallic object into where the toy had come out of.

What you do is place a message intended for me inside its mouth. It will come directly to me and then I will know you need me. He said while he sealed the metallic object.

But then he unwound the scroll further, looking for something else. Then he found it. Summoning another object it would take a moment, but then she would likely recognise what it was. The male genitalia... in a way... it wasn't real, but it did look very real. It was larger than average, but not massive, and Junan placed it to the side before rolling up the scroll and then placing it back in his pocket.

Standing back up he held an item in each hand and once more looked at her.

You see this? He said, the hand holding the more disturbing object rose and fell, I use things like this to put people in their place, so that they understand that they are no my equal, that I am in control. I can pick any size I want, the more I want to hurt them the bigger I choose. I don't have the weakness of a man who ejaculates and then goes soft and can keep going far longer than you will be able to. If you speak to me as if I am beneath you again, I will show you. It was only fair. She was new, she didn't know what her punishments would be. This was her one and only warning for this type of action, if she spoke to him like that again he would show her what true domination meant.

Lifting up his other hand he offered her the mouse sized toy.

Besides. What else would you call me? He asked, the other object still in his hand.

 

[Muramasa Maya]

OOC: Congratulations. This is probably the single most difficult post I've ever had to write. I could -not- figure out how Azusa would respond.

Azusa watched curiously as he seemed to exchange the metal tube for some other object that served as a messenger for him, a small, toy-like device. Convenient. She wondered if this thing would be able to seek her out, too. Having at least a brief warning before seeing him would work wonders for her sanity. But her curiosity quickly turned to horror when she realized she had insulted him; it was force of habit! She never meant him to take it personally!

The Shrine Maiden was mortified. His threat of punishment involved pulling out another toy like object, much larger than the previous one. "Wh-what kind of sick joke..." Her vulpine eyes moved from one object he held to the next, then finally to the puppet himself as one thing became absolutely clear;

He was absolutely deranged.

Could he actually feel? How much? Did sex actually do anything for a puppet, or was his only pleasure derived from the twisted irony of using these as instruments of torture? These were all questions that sprang to mind, and the fact that he may as well have been carrying them in his back pocket --with multiple options to choose from if he's to be believed-- hinted at all the answers she cared to know. Puppets are always creepy, and she was terrified.

She cursed her poor fate of encountering him in her home, and not somewhere she could flee from. She had no delusions on being 'the strongest'...But even her instructors never actually made her feel weak so much as point out her flaws. She had no idea how to deal with this situation, other than nod her head slowly, and it infuriated her to the point of her eyes watering. Some dust must have gotten into her eyes, because Azusa most definitely didn't cry.

In light of this, his point got across to her; calling him 'Master' didn't seem like such an unreasonable request afterall. Considering the alternative. "...I-I didn't do anything wrong...I-I just wished to know what you would call me for...B-but you do not have to tell me if you do not want to..." The Priestess spoke in a timid voice that she wasn't at all familiar with using. "I...I get it already..." Her eyes blinked frantically in an attempt to fight off their watering. "I-I-I mean, I-I'm sorry.......Master." It was humiliating...but so was being coerced through the waving of sex objects. Neither did any favors for her precious ego.

 

[Junan]

His message had gotten through, her reaction told him that and he smiled, he was back to his more jovial self. Even if that frivolity only really meant that there was a less serious air about him as he said rather serious things, with extremely serious consequences to them. Taking a knee once more he unrolled the scroll and carefully placed it back from where it had come. He didn't want to feel the need to train his pet, but if she were to disobey or show him anything but loyalty then that is what he would do.

Rolling the scroll back up he placed it back into his pocket and stood once more.

Now then. Let us continue. He said.

His hands reached out and his fingers moved to wrap around her wrist if allowed, one hand would keep the arm raised while the other would gently run down its length, occassionally squeezing the muscle on her bicep, then forearm, finally down to the hand where he would squeeze various areas of the palm and the fingers. His fingers were unusually warm for someone without flesh, not too warm to be uncomfortable, but warmer than a human would be. If it weren't an act which went completely against her own will she would probably enjoy it as something akin in many ways to a massage. His fingers and palm pressing into her skin, but not painfully so, not enough to bruise or cause harm, but enough for him to understand the feel of her skin, her arm, how it reacts to pressure. In any other circumstance...

Hmmmm... he mused. Oh yes. Your question. Why would I call on you... He continued his hand dropped her arm and moved over to the other arm, performing the same activity as he spoke, assuming she let him.

I could call you for anything. Perhaps I need you to pick something up for me and deliver it to me, or maybe I need your help with entering this village, you could find someone to leave with you and I could kill them and take their passport, turn them into a puppet and then I will have access without issue. He was speaking as if it were a normal thing to discuss.

Indeed, is there anyone you would like to die who is a local resident and a shinobi? Preferably of low rank. In truth he wasn't overly confident yet in his own abilities as a shinobi. He had failed at the academy and only when he'd been turned into a puppet against his will had he gained the knowledge and ability that he had. He was doing well as a shinobi since however after killing a Chuunin and taking this body, the body that was once Junan, and making it his own.

He would then move behind her, his hands finding their way under her clothes (still not sure if she's wearing them but have assumed she is) and perhaps tearing them slightly as his hands moved to her shoulders and then up to the shoulder blades, continuing the almost massage on her shoulder muscles, though perhaps too short a massage for it to be anything but a briefly relaxing sensation... if relaxing at all, though if she were allowing him to do his thing then she would probably be getting used to it by now.

In the end I may not call on you at all. He continued, before his hand pulled out from the neck hole in her top and he dropped to a knee, his hands moving up to her back as he continued.

It all really depends on what happens, he continued as he perhaps had decided that she deserved to be told in full, his fingers kneeding each muscle on her back figuring out how it moved. Apparently he was ignoring her tails for now, perhaps saving them till last.

You see, I work for an organization in my home. They have several branches and I am simply a part of one of those branches. My job out here is to attempt to expand the organization. He was finishing up with the back, his fingers moving around to her stomach.

Did that help? He asked his hands moved up to her rib cage, navigating around her chest, but he didn't touch her where perhaps she thought he would. Around the underneath, part of the curve, but no higher. The reason: He had no intention of creating a female puppet, so why on earth did he need to feel those?

 

[Muramasa Maya]

She was relieved to see him put away his equipment, having given his warning and letting it remain exactly at that; a warning in which Azusa had no desire to test his word. This was someone she'd need to tread very, very lightly around, especially if simply having a loose tongue would get her in trouble. So she resolved to stand still as her arm was raised and he satiated his earlier curiosity in 'investigating' her. Azusa held her tongue back and restricted herself to mental curses. (Touched like some toy...Unforgivable.)

His digits gauged the Kitsune's arms and hands for whatever purpose lied within his mind. She was unsure how much sense of touch he retained, but Azusa's arms themselves were not particularly noteworthy, being of average physique for a five foot female genin, albeit her focus on Genjutsu and Ninjutsu making her abit 'softer' than one who specialized in Taijutsu. The only things of real note were her left hand having faint red markings of her dormant curse seal, and her nails being more akin to claws; although neither strong nor sharp enough to weaponize as the Inuzuka do. No surprises that a Fox clan lacked the physical strength of a Wolf clan.

As he investigated, the Kitsune's spiteful eyes fell upon the --'Wound' would imply damage-- so lets say Azusa's sight fell upon the 'mark' her sister's guard had made in the puppets shoulder. She had seen enough injuries at the hospital to know that whatever his appearance, this was not any damaged flesh. And while he was touching her, such contact simply was not enough for her to gain any real information on what his hands were like, other than steady and warm; admittedly, not exactly something she'd expect if his hands were the same as his shoulder. The fox spirit had no experience with puppets, but surely his whole body couldn't be false; Azusa felt at least his head had to be real...

Though tense at first, she eventually eased up...only to tense up again as he spoke on reasons he may call her, particularly, his mention of killing again. Leading someone to their death was no different than killing them herself; such a request would be asking much more of her than 'simply' setting aside her pride. It was flat out treachery against her home. Nevermind the fact that he spoke on turning someone into a puppet. Which, naturally, made her extremely paranoid over the fact that he may as well have been sizing her up right now. "....." She was silent, merely hoped that such an example remained as an example.

Under normal circumstances, Azusa would have stared blankly at such a request, taking it as a bad joke. But the situation was not normal, and he had made clear that her master took care of his pets. The genin shook her head at his offer. "Sand is my home. I hold grudges and do not forgive easily, but I would not wish death on any person. Master." With the tiny exception for demons, of course, but she didn't feel they qualified as 'person' in the first place. Regardless of loyalty, those tainted with their vile blood deserved to have their throats stuffed with talismans until they begged for purification, rotten filth they were; the noble Toroano clan being the only exception.
But as she spoke, there was one face that came to mind; coincidentally a demon. The one who had cursed her with his foul dark energy. She did not know his name, or anything about Akkuma other than him having some sort of link to Kyuji, her sensei. But for the first time since being sealed, Azusa held something other than contempt toward Akkuma. He was a demon. Demons could grant power. And with enough power, even a pet's shackles could be broken.
...Perhaps such a wretched creature could serve a purpose for something greater. And if not, a fight between puppet and demon would only end in the Fox's favor.

While she was relatively fine, albeit, irritated, at having her arms checked, moving to her torso began to change said aggravation into a timid modesty; like most things, Azusa mostly bark over any bite. The Kitsune curling her split tails around herself and holding them as he reached into the top of her shrine attire, hands making their way across her shoulders. Eventually him dropping to a knee to massagingly check her back, while her shoulders and upperback were nothing unusual, her lower back would feel different for someone trained to know how things worked. Her muscles existed in such a way that let her consciously (and unconsciously more often than not) move her tails.

Her pulse began to heighten as he moved from inspecting her back to her stomach, and steadily increased from there as he went. Though she was silent aside from her heightened breathing, the combined anxiety and emberessment was too much for her to resist speaking, needing another outlet to her nerves. "Umm! I-I see. Does this...organization...involve turning people into p-puppets?...or pets?...Or is that just a h-horrible hobby to pass time?..." Try as she might through all this, Azusa clutching her tails wasn't enough to stop herself from trembling; she had never allowed anyone to pet anything other than her tails, and even then only as a very specific reward when she was pleased. "U-umm! M-master!" She hastily added.

[MFT]

 

[Junan]

Silently he whispered, though chances were that she would hear Ahhhh I see, so your body is like that of a human with only that one real exception and softer skin by about 45 percent. I think I could scale that. Yes... that shouldn't be an issue. They were words intended for himself, but vocalized mainly because he wanted to remember it. He found that by speaking his thoughts they more often stuck.

Of course while he was doing that he was also disappointed to hear that there was no-one she wanted killed. He would have appreciated a body to use for the basis of his next puppet, he had taken from Cloud's Kushin Ward the instruments that he needed to make them dangerous in the way that he wanted were in another scroll. Still his hands returned to his sides, his eyes watching the tails as they moved, observing the tightening of the muscles, which groups did what and how they operated. He couldn't create them strong and small enough to managed everything that was going on down there for five tails, he would attempt one for his puppet, but it was still so fascinating.

Tails had asked a question and so Junan would answer as his hands ran gently along the tails to figure out their own structure.

Sorry about that Tails, I didn't mean to hurt you. He had no experience with pleasure and so his assumption at her reaction was that he had done so in a painful way. His words were earnest enough, no underlying amusement, just simple words.

I like to make puppets, because they are something I can understand. They move in ways that I want them to move, they do what I want them to do. Humans are not like that, they never behave. Perhaps that last part were aimed at her, and perhaps it wasn't, either way it would let her understand one thing. She would never be trusted. He would always expect the worst case scenario, and that would mean that either he would always prepare for it or he was supremely confident in his abilities.

The organization I work for sells people to other people who have large sums of money. They also deal in other areas, but that is the area I work in. My most common mark are chakra capable, or partially trained shinobi, we sell them to whoever is willing to pay, and what happens to them after they have them is of no consequence to us. His fingers counted the number of bones in each tail, their shape and the muscles in them, he would release them should they attempt to tug away from his grip, his assumption that he had hurt her earlier making his touch gentler now.

I'm going to need to check your feet and legs next. He said his fingers brushing through the fur gently.

But then he added, his head tilting slightly You see, someone like you would be worth a great deal of money, I have heard of them paying vast fortunes for girls like you. You are what people find attractive, you have chakra abilities and you have multiple tails, I've never seen that before but I can only imagine how much someone would pay for you if they wanted you. He paused looking up at her behind his glasses, his smile on his face But as my pet you are safe. He was always interested in the ones which were worth the most, why were they worth more, he had to understand, and to have one as his own pet meant that he had that wealth. He didn't care about money, money meant nothing to him as he didn't need food, shelter, anything that humans needed really, and anything he wanted he took. So to count her among his possessions was actual wealth in his mind.