The world was a large place filled with dangers and destruction beyond anyone's imagination. Ancient creatures lurked in the dark shadows of caves and forests and prayed on the weak and helpless citizens of The Empire. The Young Emperor Maxim on his thrones does what he can to elevate the suffering of the people but his efforts are hindered by corrupted officials who either block or even modified the words of the Emperor himself. The Empire itself contending with these beasts has increased the need for an army which have only helped further corrupted and or sociopathic generals who feed on war. Though the Empire had many good men and women in it there is no escaping the fear in the hearts of those who do of those with the need to murder, maim, torture, exploit, and dominate them. The Empire needed a savior...or group of saviors...

Night Raid...They seek to help the masses...they seek to kill those in power...overthrow the Empire...install a new order that caters to the people, made for the people, and for the people. And it will be GOVERNED by the people. It's the assassinations that feed their growing rebellion. Many flock to their righteous banner in need and seek their help and call them heroes. The Empire calls them traitors and beasts who would kill any innocent man or woman to fit their own needs. And in reality they are a group of misfits who seek to simply change things. For their own reasons they will cause a revolution they will save the people...and they will be heroes. But can a government run by the people itself truly thrive? Can Night Raid truly say they are able to change everything and wipe away the hatred?

Salvation...Salvation is what the people need. They don't need a new government they need one that works. One that doesn't thrive on benevolent hog wash and or continue on people who seek to live in their own decadence. Formed twenty some years ago in secret by a group of intellectuals and experienced generals. Their goals are different their end games varied their but one thing was for certain. These men didn't want to kill the Empire...they wanted to reform it with a new hierarchy. Leadership was needed. Solid, unwavering, and temperant leadership devoid of corruption and selfish intentions. These men wanted a home for the citizens. One of these men were one of the most dangerous men in the entire Empire. Xerxes. Xerxes promised his comrades he'd get rid of the belligerents of chaos and pave a way for the others to fix the Empire. Be it with rebels or with the people inside of the government. He formed a group initially consisting of just him. Then came two more people then more and more until it grew into what it is today. The group took the name of their end goal...Salvation...

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Today is a bright shining day in the middle of the mountains where Salvation calls home. An ancient monastery rebuilt by Xerxes now serves as the home of operations for Salvation as they go about their lives. From all walks of lives and from various groups and organizations comes the members of Salvation. From the Empire to the Rebellion come many different and highly talented people. Some have Imperial Arms some are simply extremely deadly warriors and poets. The Temple itself consists of a large courtyard in front and a meditation garden with a small alter in the back. A three story high tower in the middle and four other smaller one story towers to the left and right corners of the square compound. It has underground highways and prisons made by Xerxes and more than enough room for a small army.

Heavily fortified and protected by heavy iron walls and gates the temple stands as a monument to the willpower of the Salvation group. Xerxes is planning a small time assassination plan on two individuals today but he needs to finalize the information before sending out his men so he has given them free time to spend as they will.

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In the back towards the meditation garden sits Natsuo Phoenix. He sits underneath a tree his silvery hair blowing in the wind as his emerald eyes gaze through the pages of a book. It is a book about a family who travels all around the world doing all sorts of things and in the current chapter they are going around a fair talking and having an overall amazing time with their friends. Natsuo wished he could have had that life but in the end he knew he never could and probably never would. And that was fine with him. How many people had he killed in his life so far? Tens, hundreds possibly? It didn't matter to him especially he liked a good challenge.

He flipped through the pages gently as he hummed a sweet little tune to himself; a smile graced his lips. He couldn't help but wonder...what were the others up to? There were quite the number of people here but there were others in Salvation...The Lone Spirit, Hardin, Shinto to name a few. They were probably off doing their duties or gathering allies or info. It didn't really matter to Natsuo but still he couldn't help but wonder.

====

Other than Natsuo there were at least two others doing their usual routines. Nako Homura was in front of the pond dancing around practicing her absolutely gorgeous moves by herself. Her pink dressed flowing in the wind as she twirled and spun on her heels and did all various movements each as elaborate as the last. Some were simple but each were practiced and each had their own dedicated part in Nako's movements.

Kotaro meanwhile sat by himself in front of the main gate whiddling away at a wooden box with a knife. He had been making wooden dolls, and other mundane objects in his alone time. He found it boring but it gave him something to do and that was all that mattered to him. Not enjoying the company of others was one thing but he found talking to the crazed people Xerxes and others had recruited to their cause to be even harder to get along with. In a compound full of the crazed he found it more comforting to talk and sit alone by himself just him and his thoughts.

When she was a bodyguard, there was a clear order. There was a master, a charge or a client to protect and she either stuck by their side and scared away everyone from potential harassers to possible assassins. Here, however, she was surrounded by equals - theoretically - and that thought made her feel strange.

Hiding her discomfort, however, Halia was in her room within the complex, examining herself in a mirror and making sure that her appearance was up to the standard she demanded of herself. Her clothes were clean and neatly ironed, her hair was not a mess and her knives were polished to a sheen - not that anyone would see that, but it would still have been improper for her to have her knives rusty. The things that blood did to a blade.

Checking the pocket watch that was her imperial arm, Halia figured that she had spent enough time in her room. Closing the watch and pocketing it, she headed out and prepared to head throughout the entire monastary, in the order of the laundry river, the kitchens and the general cleaning to see if there was anything she could pitch an extra hand to. Anything she could do to keep herself busy.

Patience may be a virtue, but idleness bred weakness.

Aleksi stood in the kitchen with almost a ring of open space between her and everyone else which only a few people would hurry through as though she would kill them. "Well I can't blame them can I" Aleksi said under her breath but continued chopping the meat and throwing it into a pan that had been sitting on the stove over a fire. The pan sat there and Aleksi leaned back on a counter with her arms crossed in her sleeve, the others in the kitchen began starring at her more at the fact that she wasn't even watching the delicate ingredient as it cooked then the fact that until very recently she had been part of the imperial army's "Dogs" though now she was happy since she had at least a bit of freedom to cook and do what she liked.

She had joined the group "Salvation" over a month ago and a lot of people didn't trust her yet since she had come from the army. "86... 87... 88... 89... 90 time to turn it over" Aleksa said before releasing her arms and walking over to the pan where she picked it up and began to flip the food inside it like a pancake and added a few extra ingredients to it, after she finished this process Aleksi backed up again and began counting all over again but this time she constantly tapped her finger on the counter like the ticking of a clock which seemed to echo throughout the kitchen.

After She finished counting Aleksi pulled the pan off the fire and dumped it onto a chopping board where she sliced it into what looked like a rose with petals made of meat. She did this multiple times until there were five large "Roses" sitting on the cooking table, "I hope they trust me after this, OH I forgot the sweets!" she gasped and began to rush around the kitchen collecting materials for her next dish.

Yosuke was outside enjoying the day before the mission. Since he wasn't "on duty" ,as he would call it, he wore a simple outfit for now. While his armor was fancy and well kept his regular clothes pretty tame. Right now he was wearing a plain white T-shirt with blue pants with nothing on his feet. As he was walking around he spotted Nako dancing looking like she was oblivious to other things around her. Yosuke leaned on a nearby tree careful not to disturb her and watched her dance. When she was done he started clapping with a smile on his face. "You have some really impressive moves Nako-San."

Nako's dancing stopped but it was a smooth stop as she twirled around and took a bow and giggled. Her flowing crimson hair blowing behind her as she took the bow. "I suppose I would have to be Yosuke. I may not look like it now but I used to do this for a living." Nako said in her usual casual and soothing voice as she looked over to the boy. She adjusted her dress slightly as she looked up to the sky. "I'd thought you would be with our little Natsuo not me but it is still nice to see you. You're usually training aren't you? Well regardless thanks for watching me dance. It makes me feel silly when I have no one watching. So did you have something to ask me or are you just here to enjoy the sight?" Nako said with a sly smile as she looked around a bit, "Also have you seen Aleski anywhere? I haven't seen her today yet. I know Lord Xerxes is planning missions for us right now so I'd expect her to be up and about."

===

Kotaro watched the woman walk by him wandering around idly in an attempt to find something to do. It annoyed him that others couldn't just find a hobby and stick with it instead of what she was doing. If she wanted to help then she should have made a schedule and followed it. Kotaro supposed he shouldn't so harsh on the girl from the missions they've been together on he knew she was competent at the very least. "You know you really should find a hobby or make a list. It helps. Though I suppose I don't need to tell a grown woman what to do. And besides who am I of all people to comment on lists..." Kotaro said to...to....strange he still had trouble remember the woman's name. Halia you said your name was again right?"

"Ah," Halia nodded, stopping right in her tracks as she passed Kotaro at the front entrance and responding to him as if they had been in conversation the entire time instead of replying to him for the first time, "But a hobby implies that I'm only doing something for the sake of doing it. I think my time would be much better spent if I were to do something productive."

Turning an giving him a polite bow, she finally decided to make the customary greetings.

"Hello, Kotaro. How are you today? Don't worry, you got my name right."

"You saying my wood cutting is a pointless endeavor? It makes me think over how exactly I want something before I start cutting and if I don't think ahead of time it becomes a crude and overall ugly piece of work made by myself. Hobbies, even mundane ones such as this, have a point Halia. Think that over before you dismiss such activities." Kotaro said as he pulled down the brown cloth that covered his neck, mouth, and nose usually. He wasn't one to go without it and he when asked about it he simply said it was a way of hiding in plain sight. He brushed some wood chips off of his long brown overcoat and plain white buttoned shirt. He adjusted his brown cap slightly and his dull blue eyes came to rest on Halia. "And as for how I'm doing today...I'm bored. I need someone to fight or I need a mission. This hobby of mine is boring and everday work is not my strong suit. I don't know how you deal with it Halia. Ever since you joined us you seem so diligent. Nako took months before she really did much. And even now I bet she's doing her infernal dancing junk." Kotaro said as he tiled his head up to look up at the sky. "At the very least I can understand why the monks who lived here picked this spot. A beautiful atmosphere fills this place even now and it only takes one glance at the sky to show that life is beautiful." Kotaro said dourly as he spit on the ground and grunted.

At Kotaro's comments, Halia could not help but chuckle.

"Did you just say moments ago that hobbies have a point? Seconds later, you go ahead and call someone else's hobby junk. If I was a crueler person, I would say that's quite hypocritical of you." she said even as her eyes turned away from Kotaro and looked around at the monastary and the sky, trying to take in some of the wonder of the beauty of life that the monastary's position was said to inspire.

"Although I would say I could do with a mission myself. I keep myself busy around here because I believe that idleness bred weakness, and that every little thing counts - but some things count more than others, if you know what I mean"

"What is your walking doing work around this place your hobby? If so I apologize and humbly suggest you pick a better hobby. Something personal all the same I shouldn't complain. Not everyday a cold blooded killer like you would offer to wash my dirty undergarments. And they ARE filthy." Kotaro said with a amused grunt. "Anyway I AM a hypocrite there's no need to hide that. It's a part of my job description that I live a two faced life. Otherwise...never mind did you hear about Night Raid's latest activities? They're still being bold. Killing an noble house in cold blood in the middle of the night. Vanquishing Esdeath's Death Squad, or at least that's what I heard from Soul in a letter, and overall just being an ass. I heard a rumor the Ogre's dead...pah he was weak anyway. All bark and no bite. Only commoners had something to fear from that brainless baboon." Kotaro said as he eyed Halia. He was looking for some sort of reaction though he hoped he wasn't being blunt about it.

It didn't surprise Yosuke to hear she danced for a living. "It's sad you had to put such an artistic career behind you Maybe you can pick it back up when we are done." He gave an awkward smile when she thought he would be with Natsuo. "Is it really that obvious what I think of him? I didn't think I was being that transparent." Yosuke shook his head. "I decided to mix it up a bit today and you shouldn't feel silly about doing what you love." He thought for a few seconds about Aleski. "I saw Aleski-San in the kitchen when I walked by it not long ago. The tension was so thick you would need a special pair of glasses to see through it."

"Heh don't worry about it so much I had no choice in the matter and given the choice at the present time there's no way I'd go back to it. Not because I don't want to but because I can't. You can't dwell on things you can't have. There's my bit of wisdom for you today." Nako said with a kind smile as she walked over to Yosuke and she put her fingers to her lips and tapped on them. "Well not that Natsuo being with you is normal it's just that you don't seem to get along with Quickshot, or rather he doesn't want to get along with you, and I think Halia is a bit professional for your tastes. Natsuo for all of his faults is a free spirit who will talk to anyone. But that's just what I think. So about Aleski I think she should be doing her usual chores about now so how about we go and visit her. You said that it was 'tense' but if I'm there I'm sure things can work out. Aleski needs some friends in her life. She's a bit...eccentric but she does her best. So how about it? Or would you prefer I go poke Natsuo until he stops reading and practices with us?" Nako said as she held her hands behind her back and tilted to the left and the right stretching. She was always so nice and gentle it was surprising that she was one of them here. But at the end of the day Nako was just as deadly as any of the Empire's finest due to harsh training she forced upon herself. Her body was pretty but it had more than it's fair share of scars.

"But are you being two faced to us too?" Halia said with an amused tone. "And if so, then what are you hiding from the boss? From us?"

Taking a moment to shake her head, she let out a snort.

"Of course Ogre was weak, but he was also powerful. His danger didn't lie in the fact that he was strong in any way, but because if you pissed him off you'd get arrested on some trumped up charge and executed. Of course, the system's rigged, so really, what could you do?

Although I guess he wasn't prepared for an assassination group at all. No amount of blackmailing and falsifying crime will ever save him from those kind of thugs."

Kotaro stopped cutting his wooden box abruptly and he took the knife and smacked it into the ground and then stood up and moved over to Halia. He leaned down looked into Halia's eyes. The emotions in Kotaro Yumi's eyes were clear: They were burning with anger and indignation; his body shook slightly with barely contained anger. "You...you're new so I'll let this time pass. But don't you dare suggest I would betray ANY of you. I know just as much as ANYONE what betrayal feels like. But if you EVER question my bloody freaking loyalty again then I will pull my guns on you. I have NOTHING to hide from the boss. I'd follow that man into the Emperor's Throne Room and spit in that little brat's face if he asked me too. I'd follow him to the depths of whatever religion's hell is the correct one if he so much as requested it of me. I haven't lied to anyone here and I won't ever become a turn coat!" Kotaro said as he bluntly turned his back on Halia and sat back down and breathed in slowly but deeply. His rage was bottled but it was still there. "As for Ogre...he was a special piece of freaking garbage. I just wish I was the one who broke his spine. I guess I'll settle for Esdeath..."

"You always seem to be full of wisdom." Yosuke laughed at the normal remark. "Even if you take away the whole "assassin thing" some people probably won't think of me as normal. I think we should go visit her. I know how she feels right now. I also was in the military before joining." He started making his way to the kitchen.

"Maybe it's just my winning personality. I just say a bunch of nonsense and hope it's smart." Nako giggled as she moved over to Trevor and patted him on the shoulder before motioning for him to follow her. "So do you expect Night Raid to actually get anywhere soon? They've been active as of recent but they're still just a bunch of thugs in reality. You can't just hammer away at an Empire's Joints and then watch it crumble while it's Citizens deal with what's left over. You got to think of the bigger picture in my opinion. The Empire can unify the people but it can't do that if they are punishing it's people for the benefit of fat fools who sooner eat a person's food then shake his hand. An odd analogy but it's true. I've seen the corruption face first." said Nako as she led her way to the middle of the compound and said hello to Natsuo as she passed by him. "Hey there sweety good afternoon!" She said to Natsuo who peered up from his book and smiled. "Oh yeah hey Nako and Yosuke. I'd say it's a beautiful afternoon. It just needs a certain...something to finish it though." Natsuo said with a nod and a smile as he turned back to his book and the two walked past soon after.

Halia felt his rage - and really, what she had said was meant to be a joke, nothing serious - but she did not regret suspecting him. No matter how much one would profess their loyalty, she was a bodyguard. Another's honor was none of her concern nor their professed loyalty - she was a bodyguard; it was her duty to suspect, to treat every potential threat as a potential threat. He could threaten her all he wanted, she wouldn't even consider him a potential threat - but in the apparently very unlikely event that he was to turn on them she would be ready to bring him down just as she would be ready to bring down someone charging at her or someone under her protection with a knife or a sword.

"Settle for? Don't you think you're setting your sights just a bit too high? To rank Esdeath below Ogre, now that's a special kind of insult." she said. "Just be careful; I'm more than willing to bet that you're not the first one to say that."

"It's personal I'll just leave it at that. Ogre was scum I'd have taken pride in gunning him down. But...Esdeath...from what I-From what I've heard she is capable of freezing the air. Just the concept of that is enough to make men shake in their boots in fear and or terror. From what I've been told by our contacts she has a deep love for torture. I fear no man. Or woman. But that woman...she's not natural. To wield such power and love it. It is a thing that no human should have. Power is a tool to be wielder by those who know how to use it. Not idle sadists. And besides...if Ogre was better than Esdeath...how come Xerxes and or Night Raid hasn't taken her out yet?" Kotaro muttered darkly and forebodingly. Though Halia couldn't see it his lips curled in a grimace. "If a man is bound to die kill him. If he needs to talk then get him to talk and then kill him. Don't prolong someone's suffering just for your own personal happiness. Not even I would stoop so low as to do that. And I don't like to look men in the face and let them know who is killing them. I'm one of the most underhanded types of 'soldiers' out there."

Yosuke shook his head and followed her. "Don't put yourself down like that. You're not just spouting nonsense." He sped up tell he was walking beside her. "Night Raid does seem to be a little crass but they might have a plan. At least their heart seems to be in the right place. If we run into them at some point maybe you could give them some pointers." Yosuke waved and greeted Natsuo as he walked by. Not wanting to bother him to much he let him get back to reading. Yosuke let a grin creep onto his face. "I didn't know you two were so close. I hope you are going to invite me to the wedding."

"Uh ew? Natsuo is like little nephew I was actually a member back when Natsuo joined. Xerxes wasn't all too sure about having the young man join us but he knew why he was being sent here. Besides there's another reason Natsuo is still around. Xerxes and him had an incident awhile back maybe he'll tell you about it sometime. Either of them would probably tell you if you bugged them enough about it. But as for Nightraid. They believe in peace and they believe in their people but they fail to see that the Empire's purpose is to hold the people together and unite them against the beasts the roam these lands."

"Without it people would fight harder and break off. However things can't keep going with all the ramapant corruption. So next time I see a member of the Nightraid, which I haven't for a long time, I'll be sure to let them go or else they'll feel the cold edge of my weapon. You know I use a kusarigama right? The thing is such a underhanded weapon and no one ever see's it coming. You can tie people's feet up, pull away their weapons, make them fumble leaving them open, and it's a light weapon so I can carry back up ones as well as other small weapons. I think it's better to have a plan to kill everyone you may meet. So I like to keep my options open. Of course I'm sure you disagree."

Nako's speech was as long winded as expected of a girl who danced for a living. If there was one other thing besides her dancing that she loved more than anything it was learning another way to take someone out. She loved her different methods and she would be a true force to be feared if she ever received an Imperial Arms however she has yet to find one to match her tastes. Though she had looked for it she at the same time prided on herself on her brain over brawn. It was better to fight smart than to fight with pure force more often than not. At least that's the philosophy that was espoused by the red haired beauty.

After going into the wooden building which was spacious and had various doorways some led to empty rooms some led to various other storage areas or bedrooms. They went up the stairs but Nako stopped for a moment and looked at another room and an inquisitive look came upon her face as she past it but insisted that Yosuke ignore her stating she was thinking of previous residents that were no longer in the sanctuary. Soon after passing the room they came upon the kitchen and Nako knocked on the door firmly but not too strongly just enough to make sure the girl inside would notice them come in. "Aleski how are you doing in here?" asked Nako with a big smile on her face as she entered the room.

For the past few minutes Aleksi had been standing at a table whisking a bowl of what looked like cream but was a very light shade of yellow with flecks of red inside it. The other people in the kitchen had slowly began to close the distance between them and Aleksi but still kept a "Safe" distance between them. Aleksi looked up from the bowl at one point and spotted a group of chefs pointing at her and laughing though just looked back down at her cream which had become light and fluffy, that was until she saw one try to sneak a piece of meat, at that point Aleksi had had enough and threw a knife past their face causing them to fall over. "Don't touch!" she said before she heard Nako at the door, "Hey Ms. Nako!" she called as she waved with the hand that was holding the whisk "Everything is How are you two doing today?". After she finished with her current task Aleksi took an undecorated cake out of the oven, "You guys came at the best but also the worst time come help me with this cake will you".@vancexentan@Trevor1001