A Warning to Rats [Invite] (Shinobu)

Ryo and Tsu looked at their master without fear. How could they really? It had been this creature's will that they now lived in luxury and pleasure, rarely wanting for much outside of some time off, which they were often granted with an audience such as Shinobu.

It was simply the way things were, as Ryoku breathed in sharply at the touch, knowing full well that Shinobu would find the gasp entertaining. He was mostly in charge of the religious and cult part, acting as it's official head in public. From sermons, to accepting religious offerings made to the god of the dead, few dared to challenge his word as anything but truth. Why? It was simple really.

Tsumaki made it a point that anything her brother said was true. She was a silent figurehead in public, but her role was strictly involved in the underworld affairs. From drug trade, smuggling exotic wares, or even making sure that the cult was always funded, Tsumaki made it a point that her word and her brother's were one in the same. The only difference between the two outside of their roles, demeanor, and gender was their view on their master.

Tsumaki barely stiffened. To anyone else, this wasn't even visible, but to the feline like master of hers, she had mentally flinched at the words "die" made with such enthusiasm. It wasn't that she didn't trust her master. It was more that she understood how monsterous he could be if his ire was awoken.

"Calm down now Master, I am always here for your needs, whatever you may desire." Ryoku smooth charismatic voice dripped with promises. A skill well taught by his master, almost one to one with Shinobu's own charisma. Almost of course..... "We would love to entertain you.... But.....". Ryoku's voice caught as he swirled a strand of Shinobu's hair around a finger as he petted the head of the cat boy.

It was at this moment Tsu spoke up, "As much as I wish to... We cannot bother you with the issues revolving around events that have well transpired.... Ones that we have had no fruit to bear for your beautiful ears.". The woman said, placing her arms back into her uniform's sleeves. It was clear she was not as willing to be so physically comforting. Still, Ryoku would do well enough, as he pampered Shinobu with his touch.

"Gossip so far has been.... Uneventful. Outside of a problem that had arisen several months back, to which no leads have made head way. Though, that may be considered uneventful to one such as yourself, but I shall clarify all the more. Rumor has it that one of the officials of Pulic, the Ambassador of Pulic, Shaun, has gone missing. Of course, we discovered this to be a supplanted rumor.... Ones that we had made true. The attempt on his life had been made at the edge of our territory. The rest isn't much to speak of. The people of that area were offended by the aura of those who attempted to take the ambassadors life.... Of course... The worry some thing us that we do not know who sent them...."

"The frog monster that had been roaming in Pulic outside of your territory has been silent for quite a long time. We suspect that it may have moved elsewhere, though a disturbing rumor states that it was tamed by a Fortis girl, who apparently has begun to make a name for herself."

"Lastly, there was rumors from traders who have come from the continent of Silva. Recently, it's believed that something happened that required the greatest hunter of the continent, Gannix; to take a significant leave of absence. There are little more details, but one thing is for certain.... Events around Pulic are transpiring. Within Pulic, it is only the attempted assassination of Ambassador Shaun that we have on our hands. As well as whoever had dared to take such an important.....". She paused. Importance was not an issue for her master to be concerned with.

"I mean to say, that someone or something had attempted to hunt within your territory. What's unusual is that any leads we take to figure out who sent such monsterous killers always seem to disappear as we attempt to find them."

Ryoku held his arms back, as he dared not restrict Shinobu when agitated. Tsumaki was looking fairly regretful at this moment. She had not brought this event up simply because it had yielded no result. It would have been one thing if they knew who had sent the people who were allegedly making an attempt on the ambassador's life.... But the thing is....

Tsumaki bit her lip after she replied. "We attempted to recover the bodies.... Except there were none. Not even my own bonded object,". She stated, pulling out the wakatashi that she kept tucked away on her person. The handle itself was the bonded object, made of a branch from Shinobu's tree that she had wanted. The branch let her see the memory of the land, and conjure it as an illusion. Useful if she wanted to learn history of a place, or even more so, simply needed a distraction. "When I attempted to view the assassination attempt with my power, it showed.... Well.... A lack of something. The ambassador was defending himself, but it was as if whoever he was fighting left no trace of their essence behind. Like they were not there to begin with. Those who were there claimed that the bodies rotted into black sludge before vanishing. Thus why I have had no head way.... Normally no one escapes my eye, yet I feel as though I have failed you ....". Tsumaki stated, biting her lip hard enough to draw a line of crimson blood.

Her brother nodded. "We have never encountered something like this.... Monster or Human, they have always left a trace of their energy... Even in death, as you have shown us before Master."

Shinobu would know this to be true. All beings who were or Had lived exuded an energy of some kind. Shinobu's ability to recreate memories from the dead was proof of that. There was only a few examples where that was not true, but they were ancient memories. Memories from before Shinobu had become as strong as he did. Tsumaki's face twisted, showing that under the beautiful face she had was one of vicious anger. Enthralling still, but in a different way. One could pity whoever was on the receiving end of it. "I can take you there Master Shinobu. Maybe your powers can reveal something.... I simply am not adequa-".

Her brother instantly spoke up. "Tsumaki, we spoke of this. Do not sell yourself short. It's not simply an insult to yourself, but the one who gave us our lives.".

The twins were use to supporting each other, and in all honesty, it was something they relied upon. Even before Shinobu. That said, the cat monster would sense something.... It was faint, but nearby. Something that creeped and crawled, scurrying as though it was moving with intention and stealth.

Tsumaki wouldn't brighten up, but she did quell her anger. Ryoku said nothing, but smiled. The girl calmed her demeanor, only letting out a sigh to return to her normally calm exterior look. She always felt inadequate, but that was less so a problem of her own strength, and more that she constantly compared herself to her master.

That said, Ryoku was content with himself, and well aware of his state as human. He sometimes worried that his sister would want to be more monster than human. Never the less, they were blessed in his mind, as Shinobu began to head back through the door. Of course, that was when they saw their master's demeanor shift. Tsumaki froze instantly, and Ryoku became stone faced, immediately aware that their master sensed something they hadn't.

The rat froze as well, trying to hide itself again. Unfortunately it was using the wrong method to hide from a Monster. One cannot use energy to hide from one who can sense and detect energy like one can smell meat on an open fire. It was tantalizing, enough to reawaken Shinobu's hunger. An instinct he could suppress at any point, as living for so long allowed one to control such primal urges unlike the mindless monsters of the modern day and age.

The twins spoke in unison. "Shall we find the rat for your Master?" After a few moments passed, with the intruder having begun to quickly move away instead of complying.

The twins nodded, their demeanor showing the true side of how they thought of their Master's desires. Ryoku grinned with sadistic pleasure almost comically so. "As our god demands, I it's prophet shall obey." He stated, standing with one fluid motion while lifting his monk staff up with his leg, rotating it so with his foot akin to a monkey almost as he grasped his prayer beads, muttering a single long chant. Instantly, sigils began to glow upon the staff, mantras and scriptures carved in by the first priest that Shinobu had ever convinced to worship him. Memories that Shinobu could recall, but that was a story for another time. Ryoku had proven to be attached to the staff, and it's strange hoop and twin rings design. This being Ryoku's bound object, it allowed the boy to channel energy and create mist based barriers and illusions. It wasn't the most original bound object power, but it mimicked Shinobu's, and was used to entertain the cat as well more often than not. Plus the illusionary prey were nice morsels of energy. Tiny, and effective enough as a treat on occasion to stave off the instinctive desire for human flesh.

Tsumaki withdrew her blade, standing by her brother as she prepared to guard him. Her bound object being her blade which could recall the memories of the dead did so with a terrifying ability as it could not only allow Tsumaki to recall these memories, but record them, and in essence inject any phantom pain into it's most recently cut victim. Her face transformed back from her doll like figure to one of a wraith, her face distorted to show her ferocity. The twins were strong alone, but their powers were far better suited to help each other.... and with their master in the mix now; it was nothing more than a cage with no escape. "Happy Hunting Master," Tsumaki chimed, a equally sadistic smile as her twin brother showing in her ferocity. Shinobu had rubbed off on them, and honestly; it would be a surprise if they were considered monsters in their own right.

---

The man who had infiltrated slipped out of the shadows that he melted within, his shroud no longer vibrating with his energy as he quickly scrambled with silent steps up to the rooftop of the building. Much like any place in Pulic, ancient architecture on the edge of the cities were very traditionalist in design. This one resembled the Shogun like designs of a fortress that constantly was under the threat of siege by old Fortis. The man was shrouded in ninja garb, navy blue cloth that covered all but his ebony colored face. The whites of his eyes wide and visible only to those who could see in the dark; though for Shinobu he'd be able to spot the man as though he was in daylight. He wore tabi, and outside of the shroud like cloth he wore almost like a poncho he was still and silent, watching for any movement.

He considered the thought that perhaps the strange human like individual was simply bluffing. The Zen Stone Garden that lied in front of the figure who flattened his body to the roof. Perhaps paranoia of being the "God" of this cult and trying to keep that façade up was getting to that man.... at least that's what the individual thought was a man. He didn't get a good few of the individual, though it was clear with how the two leaders of the cult and organization had revered their Master that this was likely the "God of Death".

The man considered the messes he had to clean recently. He had barely been a bit ahead of the woman, his Pocket Shadow ability allowing him to kill targets in a number of ways. Suffocation was the most common. All he had to do was only accept the target without air, and the rest was just waiting in silence. Accidents could easily be set up, people could disappear, and honestly if his employer wanted him to; he'd likely even be willing to kill this "God" if he reported this.....