Master is asleep. Obi has had it happen before with stressed clients, but he expected more from his Master, someone who has trained and fought many battles and increasingly becomes immune to poisons of many kinds. But Master has never had to deal with a high ranking Reaper from the underground. Obi knows this, because he knows when someone has met a Reaper, he can smell it on them, can see it in their eyes. The only Reaper that Zen has ever met, is Obi. Torou isn't a Reaper, she hasn't been assessed for such a title yet, she would have bragged about it when they met at the inn in Tanbarun if she had been promoted.

In some cases, Obi is hired to kill or capture; only a Chief of a Guild can decide whether they're Reapers and lower ranked members will kill or Capture a client's target. There were a few times that Obi took up rescue missions off the board that were either ignored or simply paid well. But most of the time, because of his manipulative nature and his ability to assess a person and the environment, he was sent on missions that concerned Nobility. Those missions were always exhilarating, especially when he could drag Cerberus and all of their children along. Mostly his children, but he doesn't hate any of the animals that Cerberus has raised, he could never hate any animal after all.

That is why he trusts Cerberus so much with this task. Cerberus doesn't like dealing with people, doesn't kill unless ordered to by someone with the proper authority, knows herbs and has experience with nobility. That's to say if Master wakes up in the cave, if he doesn't she'll just tend to and wrap up his wrists and keep his body temperature normal. He and Cerberus get along just as well as they can with anybody else, but they obviously prefer each other over just about anyone.

The way to the main cavern of the cave is long for obvious reasons and is incredibly complicated. But Obi could find it no problem even if he was drunk off his mind – which he would like to clarify, never happened because he never gets drunk. He is careful about the echo of his feet. He wants Cerberus to hear him, but he definetly doesn't want him to. Based on his knowledge of the cave system, he's near to the entrance of the cavern. He can see the hint of a light up ahead to the right, and once he's at the fork, he walks to the left. That light is a lie, something to throw someone off. It's not a trap per say, if an unfortunate sole ever got to the fork they might go to the light seeking help, so they don't want to kill that person. The trap would simply keep them in place.

After a short while and a few more twists and turns through the maze, Obi finds the light he is looking for. It can only be seen when the person wandering the cave doesn't have any light of their own. A crack in the wall, the crack of a hidden door. He walks up to it and stands to the left of the door, a foot or so from it. It's all silent, until he taps his feet. The beat he sets is quiet, but after a few seconds, the door opens up into the tunnel like any door would – only this door is made entirely out of stone – but not too much so as not to let a lot of light shine through into the tunnel. He walks through it, not bothering to shut it even with his foot as it closes on its own with the assistance of three wires tied to the top of it.

The cavern is enormous. Obi doesn't know it's exact dimensions because he never bothered to ask Cerberus, doubts that even Cerberus knows. To put it's size into perspective, it be the size of two of Wistal Castle's ballroom stacked, and the ballroom is tall on it's own. Of course, it doesn't look anything like the ball room, it's a cave. There are some elements to give it a lively feel such as torches lining the walls. Some rugs and old furs are laid out or folded in holes in the walls. There are three floors to the cavern, the upper two are only noted by the railed walkways along the walls and the few stone and wooden bridges that overlap between the walls. In the walls, there are holes used for storage, but there are also the doors of rooms that had been dug out or were already open. Some of those rooms have doors some do not. At the end opposite to the small door that Obi enters through – which is closing do to the wires that run vertical of the wall that the door sits in – there is a larger door. From within the cavern, it looks like a giant wooden door, but Obi knows that on the other side, it looks like a giant boulder. It has to be that big and hidden of course, because it leads directly to the forest outside. Obi could have gone that way, or through any of the other five ways – they're all hidden of course – but he decided on the tunnel because of the fact that he is traveling with his Master, who cannot walk and is also very clearly passed out, and because he wants to guarantee that he doesn't follow them.

"It's been awhile since the last time I let in a stray cat," a monotone female voice.

Obi doesn't startle, and no matter how deathly that voice is, he doesn't quiver like a leaf when he hears it.

"Hmm… does that mean that hunters have been following the laws of the lands and are not hunting endangered cats and trying to steal their kittens to show off to others? Humans have become a lot more… human since the last time I took a hike through the forest while on hunter control… When was the last time I did that?"

Obi walks to the left slightly, towards a room with a wooden door. Out of the shadows, a female figure of similar height to Obi with a wooden staff emerges. Her clothing conceals her completely, and if one were to give her only a cursory glance, they might think her a man with messy brown hair. Her locks go down to her shoulders which are covered by a thick evergreen scarf. Her hair obscures most of her face, but her dull green eyes are still visible. She walks to the door to the room before Obi reaches it, using her staff to assist with the limp in her left leg. She opens the door the door for Obi and steps aside to let him through, her blank expression never leaving her face.

"Milady," she says with her ever stoic voice.

"Afraid this one's a male, my dear puppy," Obi retorts with an equally stoic and bored voice as he walks through the open door.

"I wasn't talking about the kid in your arms," she walks through the door. "and don't call me puppy."

The room they walk into is a little dark, until Cerberus lights the single torch mounted on the wall. The room is dome shaped, there is only one wall that circles around a flat floor that covers maybe 20 square feet. There is a futon opposite of the door. Upon this little futon, there are maybe three thin blankets and one fluffy pillow. Not one of those fancy noble pillows with maybe ten feathers and absolutely nothing else, it's one of those full ones. (No birds have been harmed in the making of these homemade pillows). Even before Cerberus lights the torch Obi walks over to the futon and moves one corner of the sheets over. Master's head slightly shifts due to his movements. But ever the stubborn Master he is, he tightens his grip around Obi's neck and somewhat jabs his head into Obi's shoulder to stay close to him. If he was acting anything like how he created Obi to act, he would have chuckled and stored the memory away to taunt Master with when he woke up later. But he's not Obi now. He doesn't know which personality he is now, maybe Cerberus will tell him. Then again, Cerberus never revered to him by any of his personalities. She never had to call him a name because they were never in a group of people that wasn't just the two of them. It was only ever just them and the animals.

Speaking of Animals.

Since Cerberus left the door open, Azail decided to invite herself in. Obi definetly hates hunters and the nobility that hunt for fun rather than benefit. He hates them for wanting to kill such a beautiful black panther such as Azail. After he lays his Master on the cot and tucks him under the blankets, he turns to face Azail and gently places his hand on the scruff of his neck. She releases a deep and melodic rumble when touches his forehead to her's. They stay like for maybe a minute. He had raised her and her brother Avlor, a common colored jaguar – because black panthers are just black jaguars – who is peaking his head into the door, after a hunter killed their mother and tried to sell them on the black market. Because of his occupation at the time, he had to be sneaky about his visits to see them in the cavern. None the less, they knew who he was, and they have always loved him. Because of the death of their mother, the natural absence of a father and Cerberus's faulty leg – she can still move a lot, but not as much as she used to – it became Obi's job to teach them how to survive. And in turn, when they were old enough and always returned to the cavern, seemingly refusing to completely leave, they act as parents and mentors to any stray animals that their human parents bring in.

Master groans, breaking the connection between the beast on two legs, and the beast on four. Looking back at Master, Obi sees that Cerberus has already tended to his wrists and had just laid a wet towel on his forehead. Avlor had completely entered the room and had laid down between the wall and Master. His muzzle brushes Master's white locks. Avlor likes meeting new people, which isn't exactly a good thing, but Master wouldn't do anything to harm him, broken or not.

"There are crows cawing outside," Cerberus notes, not even looking at him.

Obi stills, anger growing at the reminder of why he's here. He didn't completely forget, after all, he hasn't become Obi again. Azail bumps her head into his chest, effectively calming him… somewhat.

"He didn't die," he responds.

"You were supposed to kill him."

"Apparently, breaking his leg, leaving a deep gash in his chest, stabbing him seven times and burning his throat and mouth to the bone, doesn't kill someone," he says, scratching behind Azail's ears.

"You know saying."

"I threw him off a cliff."

"Didn't they make it a rule?" Cerberus is still monotone, using a cloth to wipes down Master's chest. She'll put his clothes back on when she's down, she's not a pervert.

"… into the violent rapids of the Vour Point River."

His eyes are dangerous, but Azail does not back down. She is not afraid, she never was. It's silent in the room, other than Avlor's purring that is.

"He hurt this boy," It's not a question. "Won't die unless his head is separated from his shoulders…"

"… Or his cold heart removed from his chest," Obi finishes.

"Not it," she drawls slowly, no hint of playfulness in her voice.

"Fuck you," is all Obi says.

Azail hates naughty language, she reminds Obi of that by growling at him and flattening her ears, giving him a stern look. Obi can do nothing but relent.

"… Sorry."

It's quiet again and Avlor cuddles up close to Master, and it would appear that Master rather enjoys it, if the way he seems to lean into the jaguar's touch is anything to go by.

"I need the thread," Obi finally says.

Cerberus, had only been watching Master after she was done making sure he was okay. Not in a creepy way, more like the way that Young miss does when she tries to heal someone with her mind, minus the determined scowl on her face. Cerberus is a person who rarely shows emotion, and when she does, only animals ever get to see it. The supposed-to-be-Obi can count on one hand, the number of times he has seen Cerberus smile. This is not one of those times, but he still sees something of sorrow, or maybe anger in her dull green eyes.

"I'll remove his heart," he says. "After I remove his head from his shoulders."

"… He does have a heart."

"Tell that to Sakura."

"You become attached too easily."

He turns to face her. She's the only human being who doesn't even flinch from his deadly Eyes. She just stares into his eyes.

"It's so unlike how people tell those stories," she continues. "About how the dragon kidnaps the princess and then the chosen knight or prince goes to rescue her and kills the dragon… and the princess marries him."

he stares harder, he knows where she's going with this. She looks back down at his Master with her scarred hands folded in her lap, her faulty left leg extended before her.

"You're proving the real version of those stories right," she says. "Where the dragon didn't kidnap the princess, or in this case the prince…"

It's quiet for a few moments and he just about stands up to go find the thread himself. He wants to leave, but she's not done with him yet.

"… The dragon was the one to set them free."

She turns back to face him.

"The dragon takes them away from their prison. But the people who kept them locked behind the palace walls tell the people their version, and those people are stupid enough to believe it. Even willing to support their 'greatest and most heroic knight' to go 'save' the princess, or prince. To kill the royal child's true hero, and force the princess into marriage."

"I'm not who I was back then," he states with a slightly gravelly voice.

"… Not yet."

"Threads… or I'll look for them myself."

"You have to come back for him."

Cerberus never cared for another human's wellbeing besides his, so when she indirectly tells him to ensure Master's wellbeing, saying that he's surprised would be an understatement. If his surprise showed on his face, Cerberus doesn't comment on it.

"I swear by my own crimson blood," he says, bowing his head at her and putting his right clenched fist over his heart.

All is silent. Neither 'human' speaks, neither jaguar purrs and even Master's breathing is quiet.

"Two rooms to the left, same chest as always."

He stands to leave and no one tries to stop him as he goes to walk through the door, but he still pauses when Cerberus speaks again.

"Who would have thought?" She drawls. "That The Black Wyvern of the Underground could be tamed… by a noble no less."

He doesn't comment, just walks out the makeshift door and lets his feet carry him to his destination. It's not far, and his strides are longer and stronger. He can't say he's surprised when he realizes what personality has taken over. It wouldn't be the first time he took over just to fight The Crow. Of all the personalities – too many to count – he's the one with the most motivation to kill the damn bird. He's already opening the chest when he's done transferring nearly all control to the other personality, leaving just enough of Obi to remember Master and the others so as to know that he can get as hurt as he wants, but not to let himself get killed. This personality is somewhat suicidal after all, suicidal as in playing the extreme version of the knife game to prove himself and scare mission targets or anyone who gets in the way of the mission.

He looks down into the old chest. It's wood and steel bindings show age in it's battle wounds and rust, but within, it shows to be kept well, never neglected. Sitting on folded elk fur sits a total of fifty kunai, all perfectly symmetrical and in even lines. Attached to each Kunai, is a near invisible wire. The Threads. Many have laughed at this weapon, because what is so special about them that they are deadlier than a simple kunai? Those people aren't laughing anymore, not breathing at that. They were the targets or got in the way, so he doesn't feel shame. This personality never feels shame, especially when he can use a weapon as deadly as The Threads, when he can use the attack that The Threads were built for…

"Fortress of The Black Wyvern."

He turns to the door to see Cerberus leaning against the door frame, her staff in hand. She doesn't make eye contact with him, instead looking through the chest, her mind lost in the war in her head.

"He's the only one who ever survived it."

She isn't asking him, she's just stating the obvious.

He collects The Threads and arranges appropriately, even though his clothing that he is currently wearing isn't suited for it, but he doesn't have time to go get changed, no matter how quick he is. With everything put away he shuts the chest and it's then that he realizes that the room is dark save the light from the main cavern. That light shows him that he had picked the lock on the chest. He doesn't remember doing that. He stands up and walks through the door. Cerberus reaches out and grabs his shoulder. When he turns his face to look at her, she only turns her's slightly.

"Obi has to come back for him."

There's a hint of a threat in that voice, but he can't be threatened. He smiles a demonic smile, his eyes glowing like that of a night predator in the light of the torches, but that light also casts a shadow across his features. His white teeth show when he speaks, and his canines have never looked so sharp before. But this predator is not a jungle cat, not a wolf, definetly an ally cat. No, this is a wyvern, with poison dripping from his voice and fire glimmering in his eyes and every breath he takes.

"Don't worry," He says in a voice that is eerily happy. "He'll only have a flesh wound at most when I return him."

Cerberus finally turns to look him in the eye, she's the only one who can do it. The only one who stayed after she saw these eyes.

"Sasuke," she warns.

He frowns. Sasuke hates it when people can compete with his death stare, but he supposes he can make the exception with Cerberus. He leans forward and places his lips to the messy hair that covers her forehead. It could easily be mistaken for a romantic gesture, or maybe that of a brotherly figure or a parent. But this kiss to the forehead means almost nothing, it's just a promise.

He flees after that. Leaving the Cavern and traversing the cave system at an excelled speed. Within seconds, the ghastly song of crows sounds. Muffled at first, but only becomes clearer the closer he gets. He leaves the cave and Kunais fly.

Oh, how much fun these two beasts are going to have tearing each other apart. And when the time comes, Sasuke is building his Fortress.

There is blood everywhere, but the two beasts can only laugh.

And they laugh.

And laugh.

And laugh.

And laugh.

And then Sasuke laughs, until he becomes bored. He can't laugh anymore, and know it's no fun.

Sasuke had fun.

But Obi's won't be having fun anytime soon.