Black Night [Devil Saints]

[Machimachi--Group Account]

To Whom it may concern,

...would you like to know what's going on in the Mortal Realm?
...who here knows about the War...?

"Are you sure that luring them this way will work?" Kilara asked, her silver dress blowing about in the wind. Everything was pitch black, the large trees above them blocking out the lights in the woods.

"Of course it will. Sanada said that they would help us if need be," Lavi said. "It has to work."

"I think the Yami-ou knows these Humans," Quinn, his dark rumble echoing against the nothingness of the forest.

They were all gathered in animal form, since it was the form to be noticed the least in that setting. Sure, it would be strange for two lions, two kitsune, a dragon, a tora, and eleven ookami to be gathered together, but it was working. The location and time had been left attached to the note, so they would have to see what response they got.

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow walked down the darken path that was before him--both in metahorical and literal sense--to the location of the note. As he walked farther into the thick woods he begain to questioned if it was a trap or a joke from one of the others but it was the first soild lead that he gotten since he started this job and he wasn't going to ignore it.

I still say its fishy... Rage spoke as they ventured forward, I mean, really, the woods?

"But," The young Devil Saint moved a branch out of his eyesight when he stop to look around "It's the only thing we have at the moment. Besides, we've had stranger meeting places before." He laughed but then stopped as he saw something ahead.

"Are you the one that left the note?" Shadow questioned the forest.

[Machimachi--Group Account]

Having seventeen animals in front of one person was usually something that threw off a Human, and so Lavi, the Ookami, the silly one and the least threatening of the group, made his way to the front, smiling as usual even in his canine form.

"Yes, we called you here," Lavi, the red wolf, said in his comical voice. "What's it to ya? Of course, we need your help with something, and we're willing to help in exchange for something else."

"Something your girlfriend was looking for, actually," Arcana, the other red wolf, this time one with gold markings, said as she sauntered her way forward, making sure that she purred seductively and entwined her sleek animal form around Shadow's legs. She hoped that he didn't fall.

Quinn, the white lion stepped forward with his mate, Quen. she spoke first. "Please, we have the location of the Mononoke, the one who took over after the Ishii Shoko. We know his whereabouts, and we are willing to take him down for you...we will exchange you information about which Humans are aware of the War, or which beings in the Mortal Realm are a part of it or are knowledgable."

Quinn spoke now, his voice booming even though he wasn't speaking loudly. "We will require the usage of your Devil Saints. Not only you. Call them, and we will discuss the terms of this deal."

[Akuma Shadow]

It wasn't the fact that they were animals, it was the fact that they were talking that kinda had Shadow a little worried, especially the one that was going around near his legs.

Why Shadow, I didn't know you were into that sort of thing... Lust said laughing.

Shut up... The Bara sighed deeply as he looked at the White Lion, his eyes focus on his.

"I guess your the leader of this group. Never mind that, I'll call the other leaders now. Just one moment, please."

The Bara felt around into his pants pocket slowly.

"I know I put it in here before I left..."He whispered
Why must this happen every time you have a serious job? Rage thought with harsh voice.

No clu---Ah ha... Shadow pulled out his green and black cell phone fast and flipped it open just as quickly. Pressing a few buttons, he held it in his ear.

"You can come out now..."Shadow said and he closed the phone.

[Akuma Sara]

"I'm here!" Sara called out through the thick darkness that covered the forest.

"Eithan and Angel told me to tell you that they will be a little late, like always." Sara walked pass a large oak tree with clawmarks near it and it made her hesitant about moving any closer. The markings were huge and the way that they shaped, she had an idea that it wasn't from a bear.

What is the world? She thought as she regained conpouser but still....

"Is there something you are not telling me brother." She said in the most nice-type of way she could, "Because I can force it out of you, you know that?"

[Runa Lisger]

Runa sauntered out of the Shadows as well, in her Panther form. It put her at ease to know that she was working with other youkai--however, Shadow and Sara seemed a bit off set by their appearances.

Runa gave the group a friendly hello--then stopped in her tracks. She had been right about this all along.

"You're all of the group that was with Tomo! What the hell are you doing here and why would you need our help?"

She changed back to Human form quickly, wearing the same clothes that she'd had on during the meeting but ignoring the cold night air.

"I can't believe that you need us! Why don't you just call that stupid Tomo of yours to help you?"

[Machimachi--Group Account]

Lavi recognized her, and was about to open his mouth and say something mean and petty, when Taryn changed to her human form, her blue hair standing out against the darkness as she bowed.

"I am sorry about your sister and I hope that she's alright!!" Taryn said in her high voice. She bowed deeply, as someone who had done something really wrong.

All of the pack recognized Runa's scent--she had been at the bar with her sister.

Quen smiled; her triplets had liked this girl's little sister, and that was enough for her to treat her pleasantly. She also bowed, but with more grace, changing into her Human form as well. "My children miss your little sister. Please, allow my group to make your acquaintance. We are known as the Machimachi clan--while we may serve Sanada Tomo, we are in no way allied with him. We are paid for our services and compensated for our efforts. However, we do require your aid.

"In the tower up ahead in the New Mononoke, Koryu Ishida. He is trying to terrorize the youkai citizens in this country into submission like his predecessor, the Ishii Shoko. Surely you have heard of him. He was an emissary between the Humans and the Youkai as well as other creatures for years, and while he was forceful, he was tactful. This new Mononoke blantantly attacks those who do not swear absolute fealty to him.

"In exchange for your help in defeating him, we will offer you some hints that will help you determine who does and does not know of the War. These are precious secrets, which surely shows how desperate we are to get rid of this foolilsh man."

"Yeah," Lavi added, ignoring Runa completely and speaking to Shadow. "We don't have to deal with this bloke--we're all from the Mythical Realm except Kisharu here--but we don't like having our Mortal Realm counterparts have to deal with him.

Behind Lavi, Kisharu, in his striking red and brown ookami form seemed to shrink into himself.

[Akuma Sara]

"Oh hush up Runa!" Sara walked pass the tree and stood near her brother, her arms hugging against her breast, as she saw a mix of humans and beast standing near on another.

So this is... the Machimachi? Sara thought as she stared at Shadow again with her dark green eyes.

"So, you know who this Mononoke is? What is the hell is a Mononoke and how would you know?"

[Tomoshibi Ethan]

A small lighting storm begin to happen as Shadow, Runa and Sara stood in the forest. Then a lighting bolt slammed into the ground. Ethan took off his hood and gave a nervous smile.

"Sorry I am late, what is this meeting that you were talking about earlier?"

[Akuma Shadow]

Would it kill him to just walk to a place for once? Rage asked with a groan.

"You know him, he likes to show off..." Shadow whispered as he looked the people before him.


"You....know Tomo." What in the hell, no pun intened, did Tomo had to do with this. He was the one that gave The Devil Saints the job. Maybe they have there own agenda with this. Didn't everybody? Regaurdless, Shadow took a deep breath and did what he always did: Plan.

"Alright, we will talk about this for just a moment. Please excuse us. Runa, Sara, Eithan, follow me!" Shadow then walked back to a clearing that was out of ear range from the others. It was about time that he need to get some facts thin out.

[Tomoshibi Ethan]

"Another outrageous plan I'm assuming..." Ethan smirked as he followed Shadow into the clearing. "This plan will hopefully pull through, unlike last time you had a plan. Just make sure you think thoroughly this time."

[Machimachi--Group Account]

Lavi rushed forward as though to stop them, but Quinn held out a long hand, stopping his ookami form from advancing further. "Let them talk," the lioness said, "they need to discuss this. They may want to ask us something in particular."

[Maxwell Knight]

Angel walked into the clearing, thinking it was empty and that she was also late for this meeting.

I don't believe that I missed this one as well , She thought as she continued her walk in to the deep forests.

She then saw them there, just standing and talking.

"Hey Guys!" She called out as Angel took up speed.

[Akuma Shadow]

Shadow ears perked up as he heard the framilar voice. With his back turned he said loudly

"Late again I see." he gave a sigh and then looked at the others, "Don't worry, you didn't miss anything....at least for a moment."

He looked at all of them and thought for a second, resting his right hand on a tree.

"All Right Speak your peace and tell me what I don't know. Runa, you start and tell me everything." He said with a stren voice as he looked at Runa with the last statement.

[Runa Lisger]

Runa blushed at the unwanted attention. "The first time I saw them, they were with the Yami-ou in a bar, and they're all youkai, I think..." she paused. "Other than them being with Tomo, I can't really tell you anything. I just know that they're loud and their rude--you'll have to ask them about the details of their arrangement with Tomo. They know about the other Realms and everything...there really isn't that much to tell..."

The tinge on her cheeks went from being one of nervousness to one of shame. There really wasn't that much to tell them about this group.

"In terms of the Mononoke, however, they are right. He is the Human envoy through which animal-like creatures speak, and with him running rampant and killing them off. His aim is probably to eventually subdue those in the Mythical Realm..."

[Tomoshibi Ethan]

"What do I do now?" Ethan thought to himself. He had very little detail on the war and really didn't know that much about it. The always calm look on his face transformed quickly into a serious look, a look you usually don't see from him. "Are you saying that we are going to have to kill this Mononoke?"

[Runa Lisger]

"Yes!" Runa said. "I have been investigating him myself for months. I did not know where he lived or anything...I don't know how they found out, but I have to tell you that he needs to die. I don't even know why he exists. He imprisons my kind to use as slaves!" tears welled up in her eyes. "He uses his power as a mononoke and abuses it..."

[Akuma Sara]

Sara looked down, feeling sorry for Runa's pain for this bastard wh was doing these things to her kind. She cluched her hand, it shaking from her anger of a human that would do such a thing.

"I say we take him out but..." Sara walked in the middle of their small circle of trust "...If what Runa says is true, he will be ready for any opposition coming his way. I also vote on the fact that one of use should be a look out from HQ just in case something goes wrong. I think our smartest choice should be Runa."

[Tomoshibi Ethan]

Ethan's eyes began glow a bright white. " I agree with Sara also, he'll be Runa expecting her because of the fact that its her people that are being tortured this way. No one should have to die that way!" Ethan knew the exact way to kill the mononoke, but the hard part was finding him. "Although he won't be expecting us, we can't just go after him out of anger, obviously the guy doesn't know how to cover his tracks because Runa has been investigating him, but all we need is a plan." Ethan then turned to Shadow waiting for an answer.

[Akuma Shadow]

Rasing his head to keep his sight on the star lit sky above him. his head was overwelmed by all the information that was told to him, many of which Runa was keeping to her self. Not only that but the whole 'Runa should stay' part, brought up by his sister no less, was getting to his last nerve but he needed to keep his cool.

"I will think about all of this when we are done here. Let us go back, we shouldn't keep out host waiting..." Shadow lead them towards the clearing again. Stopping near a rather large oak tree, he shoved his hands in his pants pocket and clearly said

"We're listening."