Ookami no Mubi

Prologue

By: Gator Ri and Kellendraysia

The bright light of orange dancing flames reflected off the cold black copper of the statue that reared up in the front of the room, with the alter beneath its fanged mouth.

The fangs glistened of their pearly white essence, although the red of the fire made it look like they were stained, stained with the blood of its victims. At which were proffered to it openly to for cleansing.

The black eyes seemed to be alive as they watched the cold room of gold pillars and circle of mats on the floor, with the briers of fire positioned on either side of the alter set before the foreboding black statue.

Before the alter someone kneeled, the bare skin of his bare torso showing bronze in the light of the room, his head bowed with arms held outward and palms turned toward the sky, "Sune-ku no Kami! Hear the cry of your obedient servant. Whom worships you to the very last breath of his unworthy body," after this he fell silent as his mahogany eyes opened to look upon the statue of the god of all, the viper.

He looked up at the contours of the statue of his god in the flickering light, it's strong narrow head with intelligent black eyes, and it's mouth open, ready to receive its sacrifices.

Taking a slow deep breath he closed his eyes and let spirit separate from mind so that he may spend time in his divine's presence.

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Near silent feet padded through the hallways towards the central chamber of worship for the temple. Shoes or sandals of any type were not allowed for it was a disgrace to the their god. He was dressed in black shirt and pants, about his waist was a red sash, the color of blood. About his wrists were bracers fashioned to look like coiled vipers, their heads forming guarded protection over he tops of his hands. They too were black, with inset eyes of obsidian. Only those who were favored by the god and the high priest were allowed to wear the sacred bracers.

Heading down the hallways decorated with a carpeting that seemed to slither across the very marble floor itself, other lower members of the cult offered bows or gestures of good fortune to this man as he walked past. A pair of guards stopped the man at the main doors of the temple, crossing before him pole arms who's handles were formed in the shape of the Viper god, open mouthed, fangs glistening as the long curved blades protrude out almost as a wicked and sharp tongues.

"I have come to see the high priest," the man said.

"You will wait, the high priest is in worship," one of the guards said.

"For only he can commune with the God of all," the other added and pointed to a wide basket. "You will wait."

The man nodded, a hard look in his dark eyes as he went over and sat down inside the basket, folding his legs up in a meditative sitting position, hands resting upon his knees as he let himself slip into a light meditative state. His eyes remaining open as his breathing slowed entranced much like that of a serpent waiting for it's time to strike. None of his form moved not even a strand of his silver and coal streaked hair. He was young and strong in the beliefs of the high priest and their god.

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The sound of hissing fills the room of worship as he slowly comes back to his senses. Bowing his head he looks down at the floor for a few moments before looking around the room and finally getting to his feet. He was now filled with renewed strength and guidance from having conferred with his god.

Turing he looked towards the heavy bronze doors that were engraved with the black colored bodies of vipers making it a never ending maze of beauty.

He gave a grunt that echoed throughout the room, one that he knew would reach the guard's ears. Then he walked down the few steps that led to the alter and turned to face the statue, the light from the fire in the briers casting an odd half light across his frame. Making the loose black velvety pants shimmer and the black bracers that he wore glow dully with an unearthly light.

He let his mahogany eyes slide close as he stood relaxed yet poised, with arms resting comfortably across his back, as he waited for the visitor that the god had told him was waiting to see him.

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Hearing the grunt one of the guards stepped forward, towards the man sitting in the basket. He was just about to tap the basket with the butt end of the pole arm when the man's hand shot out and grabbed the end of the weapon, much to the guard's surprise. Dark eyes turned towards the guard, before he let go of the weapon with out one spoken word. As he moved to his feet it was almost like watching a snake uncoil, the movements fluid but quick. The guard took a step back away from the man as he moved out of the basket.

"The high priest will see you now," the guard at the door spoke as the other slightly unnerved guard walked back to the doors and reclaimed his place. Simultaneously the guards opened the doors, swinging noiselessly upon their hinges.

The man brushed a lock of coal and silver hair back over his shoulder as he walked forward and through the doors and into the main chamber of the temple, with out so much of a glance at the guards. 'Pathetic creatures,' he thought. 'They do not know the glory of the God of All.'

Once inside he walked down the main isle of the chamber, paying no heed that the doors swung shut behind him. Once he reached the central part of the chamber to stand before the High Priest and the Alter he dropped to his knees and bent over till his hands were stretched out before him, palms facing up.

"What is the bidding of the God of All, High Priest?" he asked as he stayed in his stance of groveling before the high priest and statue.

Sensitive ears followed the so soft padding of the bare feet of his visitor as Hokujai, the high priest, kept in his relaxed manner even as he was addressed he did not turn to his underling.

"Have you paid your respects?" the man said in a deep voice that was hushed.

He finally shifted his stance and turned to look at the young man groveling at his feet. The shift in light caused the tattoo on Hokujai's forehead to flare.

The striking poise of the open mouthed viper looked as if it would jump off his skin and eat the other man alive, it's body seeming to slither as it coiled it's way over his bald head and down his back.

He let out a slow breath, as his upper body seemed to weave back and forth, much like an entranced serpent's would. "His Diviness has told me the reason as to why we had to relocate," his voice hissed out of his mouth now with the same deep tone as before. "We are to cleanse this city as we had started in Kyoto."

He straightened his posture and stopped the dancing gesture, as he looked down at the young obedient man, his mouth moving into a grin that showed off the set of lower and upper fangs that he had filed there.

The man still remained in the prone groveling state as the High Priest spoke, for he was not told to rise.

"I pay the respects to the God of All, Lord High Priest, as the unworthy servant I am," the man responds.

He does not have to look up to see the swaying visage of the High Priest before him, he knows that the man is enthralled with the Voice of the God of All by it's hissing tones.

"What does his Diviness want this lowly servant to do, Lord High Priest?" The smooth voice of the youthful man speaks, his coal and silver striped hair pooling about his shoulders in coiling ripples as if each strand has come to life, becoming a serpent of which he serves. "Does this lowly servant obtain the blessing to do his Diviness' will?"

Mahagony eyes look down upon the man groveling before him as he becomes still, letting his ears take in what the young one says. When he is done only then does Hokujai speak again, once again in a low voice that is hushed, "That is good, Kurohebi, for if you had not then..." He just grinned, even his most favored he did not hesitate to punish for disobeying the commandments at which the god had set.

He turned to once again gaze upon the black statue of the Serpent god, "We are to cleanse this city of all the evil and diseased blood that had anything to do with Kyoto all those years ago. And we will start tonight," He looked over his bare shoulder at the other, "We will start with a young girl that lives in the twelfth district, she lives with her parents and must be dealt with. It is their punishment for the evil that they have done."

Turning he dropped a ribbon in front of the man, "Use this to find her, do not fail Kurohebi, or you will be used in her place," he grinned with his white filed teeth showing as he licked his lips with his forked tongue, almost in anticipation.

Walking towards the back of the chamber, where a door lies hidden in the shadows beside the statue he disappeared, "Remember tonight is your only chance," the high priest's voice came flwoing back as if on a
breeze.