Author's note:

This is part two of a four-part series. Where the first two parts talk about some the Imperial Arms users of the US. Explaining how they got here in the first place. The next two parts are coming next week. See you then.

Please leave here any reviews, comments, criticism, or suggestions.

M for language and violence.

April 17, 1963
Atlantic Ocean
USS Princeton

After two day on sea, the British isles strike force is still six days away from their objective. Unfortunately, they run into a major hurdle, U-Boats. In order for this mission to be a success, they mustn't lose a single ship, as losing one can hamper on the invasion time. Several of US Navy Air pilots made their daily runs in order find any Kriegsmarine ship that may stand in their way or U-Boats that have the ability to hamper if not out right destroy US ships.
The USS Princeton is one of three Atlantic helicopters following the lead of USS Iwo Jima, another helicopter carrier, and the one leading the whole strike force of carriers, cruisers, destroyers, etc. the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk.

It's the middle of the night. Tatsumi is leaning on the railing of the stern portside of the USS Princeton. Seeing the ocean absorbing the colors of the sky and lights from the ships. He looks up and sees Naval RF-84F Thunderflash landing on the USS Kitty Hawk every couple of hours and taking off. Tatsumi looks out into the ocean and begins to think. If he couldn't save all of his friends then, then what makes him able to save them now? This world, compared to his original one, is living relatively easily, but still the threat of Esdeath is looming over him. With what technology and manpower the Nazis boast, he knows that this won't be an easy war. Tatsumi begins to loom over the salty ocean.

"Tatsumi." Akame calls out to him. This sudden announcement startles him.

"Oh, it's just you Akame." Tatsumi replies to Akame.

"Mind if I join you?" She asks him.

"Yeah sure." Akame joins Tatsumi and looks at the ocean. She to also feels the gentle and salty breeze of the Atlantic ocean.

"I see now why Wave loves to talk about the ocean and the Imperial Navy a lot." Tatsumi throws in some small talk.

"Yeah, I understand why too. If I was born in this world, then I too would've loved to sail. Better yet, probably fly." Akame throws in some of her interest about this new world she's in. From the technology, to the geography, and the wildlife that aren't considered danger beasts. Where human thought and society manage to advance very far with the help of religion, science, philosophy, etc.

"Akame, I've got a question for you." Tatsumi asks Akame.

"Yes?"

"Remember back in Newfoundland. When I asked you all a question about how you all cam here. " Tatsumi asks. Akame thinks for a second to recollect her memories.

"Well, alright. What happened took place after you died and the fall of the Empire." Akame begins to flashback explaining in detail to Tatsumi.

Akame's Flashback

After the fall of the Empire, the disbanding of Night Raid, and the reconstruction of a new state. Akame bears the responsibility of the Revolutionary Army's wrongdoings on top on her own wrongdoings. After giving parting words to Najenda, Akame leaves the capital of the now defunct Empire, one last time. Night Raid, working from the shadows and in the dark, doing most of the dirty work, erased from history of their world. In the desert during a sandstorm, she's surrounded by a group of bandits who appears to be wielding Imperial Arms. She begins to slay down the bandits saying her iconic line.
"You're Done!"
After slaying the bandits, the dust storm begins to pickup. It begins to slowly cloud her vision, but she traches onwards continuing to survive when her own comrades, no, family didn't. She marches on forwards and spots a cave, she begins to run towards it and sits down to rest and wait out the storm. She's tired of this, of everything, of the immense burden that is placed on her. She gives a soft sigh. She wishes to keep mourning for all of the loss but their is no one to mourn with, she must stay strong for all of them. In the cave, she hears gentle footsteps, she grabs hold of her Murasame, readying it for a strike.

"Please, put your weapon away. I don't wish to harm you my child." The figure spoke to her in a gentle manner. He speaks to her like a father to a daughter. He stands in the darkness of the cave. Akame stands up with Murasame at the ready.

"Show yourself first!" Akame responds to the man.

"If you so wish, I will do as asked." The figure walked forward to Akame. He wears simple clothing a rough white tunic that one may mistake for light brown, a long brownish red coat on top of his white tunic, wearing sandals and carrying a simple Shepard's hook. His looks were that of a rustic thirty year old, with a beard and long hair that is dark brown or chestnut covered by a long scarf that covered the head to the collar.
"As I said once before my child. Please put away your weapon." The man spoke to her in a calming voice. Akame responded and proceeded to put her Murasame away.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Akame ask the man.

"Just a shepherd looking for a lost lamb, she's a black lamb." He responded

"Then why come all the way here? There are no grasslands for shepherds to even be here." Akame logically responded to the man.

"I'm looking for an important sheep my child." The shepherd responded back, this causes Akame to become more weary of him and keeps her guard up? The shepherd notices this and he sits down. He also invites her to sit, she accepts the offer.

"I can see that you're in great pain. Carrying the weight of burden of so many on you. Why do it to yourself?" He asks her.

"It's not of any of concern to you, shepherd." She responds back strongly being defensive.

"Well then. Let me tell you a story." The shepherd offers her to hear it. Akame accepts the offer to hear his story.

"There was a man that I knew a long time ago. He was a great man, a great teacher, a man that touched the hearts of hundreds that heard his sermons. He shown through actions and faith about who he is. He had twelve close followers that even he would called his friends. He left and came back after forty days and nights in the desert. When he came back instead of a horse, he rode back into his city on a donkey. People were cheering for him. On the day after his arrival, he did many deeds that people see as important, the next day he made predictions. The next day one of his disciples wish to betray his teacher. The day after he ate supper for the very last time with all twelve of his twelve followers, giving them parting wisdom for them to remember by. By nightfall, the same follower from yesterday betrays and turns in his teacher to the authorities. By morning of the next day he was beaten, questioned, mocked, and whipped so much that you can see the muscle and bone on his back. Then he was given a wooden beam and forced to march with two other men who are condemned for other crimes. He walked and fell three times, and by the time he got on that hill. He felt a pain so agonizing that no other man should feel. A couple of his important followers where there, his mother appeared at the mount and mourned for her child: with sorrows that felt as if seven swords stabbed her heart, and several of more his followers saw on that day his crucifixion. Him being stripped down to his basic garments, crucified, and gave his parting words and forgiving words. He died on that mount, on that cross observed by his followers, his people, those who accused him and those who crucified him." The shepherd tells his story to Akame.

"I think it was a good, but sad story. But why tell me it. Why is he so important that his death is more important then the others. Others who were tortured so horribly and then executed for being rebels against the dead Empire. Dying for their cause, becoming martyrs. With no one to cry for them." Akame responded to the man in agitation.

"Because what he had done. Wasn't simply dying for what he believed in. He offered himself up as a sacrifice for the whole world. To bear the sins of the whole world is the most strenuous part for anyone to wield. Offering to trade his own life, so that all who hear him, all who decided to believe in him, can have eternal life. No less then carrying the burden of over three hundred on your back. There is an ending to this story you know. But its up to you to believe or not believe." The shepherd tells her in a calmed manner. Akame is now inclined to listen to the ending of the story.

"After his crucifixion. He descended into the underworld. After three days, he came back from the dead. He met with his followers, showing his wounds to them. And they believe, without a doubt in their hearts, believed who he say he was. He ascended once more into the heavens to be with The Father. Giving them parting words of forgiveness and to stay strong in times of tribulation. That is the end of my story my child." The shepherd tells Akame the full story. She takes his story to heart and believes parts of it.

"So why tell me this story of this teacher that you knew. How do I know your not an agent of the now dead Empire, or the follower of the lord from the Path of Peace." Akame ask in response to the shepherd.

"Because, everything I said, is true. Every single detail that have happened to him, has fallen upon me. Think about it, me or the lord of the Path of Peace. Who do you think this would also happened to?" The shepherd asks Akame. She thinks about it and points to the shepherd. As for no one in the lands of the dead Empire, dares to touch do such things to the lord. He acknowledges her response. He stands up and points to the cave's exit.

"Out there, is a new chance for life, a new purpose for you will be there. I will leave you some parting words for you as I have told the rest of the flock. "For I am the the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, but by me." Now go out in peace my child." She leaves the cave thanking him for the chat. She notices something about him. His hands and feet are wounded as if a nail has been driven through them. As she steps out of the cave, she notices a change in setting. The once dusty sands blowing all over has now become trees of late autumn, leaves orange in color. She explores a bit more of the forest. Seeing the trees and realizing, she isn't in her own world anymore. But has now a different purpose. Back in the cave the shepherd leaves the cave and looks up and speaks.
"Father, I've found the lost black lamb, the last lamb of the lost flock. We shall rejoice."

"And like that, that is how I got here. I lived in the area for a few months, defending myself from attackers and hunters who I suspected are after me. Their equipment is different from what we knew. Fought against their agents. Then I ended up here. With you, with everyone again." Akame responded. Tatsumi looks at her.

"Where you scared after you left that cave? With everything?" Tatsumi asked

"Not much. I was confused at first, I managed to reorient myself once again and able to push forward." Akame looks up at Tatsumi face, she gives a soft smile. The two are able to reconnect once again. As they look at each other the scream of a jet passing by interrupts them as they duck a bit from the loud sound. A loud yawn can be heard from the door. It was Lubbock trying to find the bathroom.

"You two still up? Come on get to bed we got morning PT." Lubbock tells them. Akame acknowledges this. She tells Tatsumi goodnight and leaves first heading for the barracks. Tatsumi follows last. Tatsumi helps show Lubbock where the bathrooms are. He waits outside for him so they can go back together. They begin to have the same conversation as Tatsumi had with Akame.

Lubbock's Flashback

After dying on those spikes outside in the Imperial Palace. Lubbock's soul was pulled up by a couple of angels. If he didn't believe then, he believes now. As he reached the heavens, he saw a man guarding the gate, it was the same man that appeared to all of his comrades. At first he was confused on who he is. He didn't look like the god worshipped by the lord from the Path of Peace. At first he didn't understand a word of what he said but then all the sudden got teleported to a city called New York. Just like Akame he was confused but also reoriented himself. Though with his style and looks he was pretty much a sticking sore thumb. But the only thing he had from his old world was his imperial arms: cross tail. Which helped him to get out of almost every situation. Till he was found cold and hungry and lying on the cold ground by undercover FBI agents. He was later questioned about his involvement and found himself in this situation.

The two conversed a little bit more and returned to their barracks. Tatsumi is now seen a bit more happier as he gets to reunite with his old friends. All he's missing now is Leone, Najenda, and Bulat. But he hopes to meet them soon once again. Tatsumi strikes up a question for Lubbock.

"Lubbock. I got a question for you." Tatsumi asks Lubbock.

"What is it?" He responded.

"Do you still miss, Najenda?" Lubbock turns red from the question. He responded with a yes telling him that she is one of the most important women in his life. And that he wishes to see her one last time, and possibly meet her again and this time, asking her out.

In the forest of east Siberia, Najenda sneezes as she is holding Lubbock's red goggles. "Apparently someone is talking about me." She speaks. Pvt. Sokolov enters her tent informing her of the next major operation for the Soviet Peoples Revolutionary Army.

The two make their way to the barracks and call it a night. They have to wake up and train in the morning.

April 18, 1963

After morning PT, Cpt. Anderson called up a meeting with the Night Hunters. He briefed them on the new mission followed by Col. Reeds who gave them more details of such mission. The mission is to help liberate the British Isles. As of late, the British Isles were given the most strict security, second only to France. So they're to enter by helicopter rather then airdrop. Because two of their members hadn't completed Jump School. Tatsumi was staring off a bit. As he looks around, looking at both Lubbock and Akame and wishing to know what they've gone through. But importantly also the rest. Mine, Sheele, Chelsea, Wave, and Kurome. Perhaps he'll ask once lunch starts up.

Due to the Night Hunters being in the same ship with the Army and classified on clandestine level. Meaning their identities shouldn't be disclosed to anyone except to themselves. To minimize such they ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner a few minutes after the general army, during PT they train earlier then the general army, mostly the non-imperial arms users did PT. But still didn't stop the Imperial Arms users from training on their own. From practicing with their imperial arms to rifle qualification. Helicopter pilots practice their landings and strikes for their upcoming flight. After lunch Tatsumi brought up a similar question during the off period. He brings this up first with Sheele who was seen praying the rosary.

"So, Sheele. I've noticed that you've been praying a lot. Never struck me as the religious type. What happened?" Tatsumi asks. Sheele looks at him and answers his question. Sheele pondered for a moment on his question she answers him.

"Hmm, I don't know exactly much when but where. About a year ago." He sits up right across from Sheele.

Sheele's Flashback

After being shot by Seryu and eaten by Koro, Sheele sacrificed herself to protect Mine, by using her Extase's trump card to blind the Imperial reinforcements from capturing Mine. Allowing Mine to escape. Sheele gives one last smile before being swallowed by Koro. She wakes up and notices her body is one once again. No longer in pain or bloodied. She saw a bright that was blinding, it was more brighter then Extase's trump card. A man soon appeared to her who approached her. He spoke in a language different from hers. Though she didn't understand him at first, she began to understand the meaning of it. She felt as if her sins of murder are ready to condemn her, but another figure appeared. A woman in fact, she approached the male figure and converse with him, she gives him a hug, as how a mother hugs her own son. She looked young and very beautiful, wearing a veil that covered her head and a long robe. She understood what the woman is saying. The woman approached Sheele and raised her hand to caress Sheele's face.

"Do not fear. For my Son is just and righteous in his word. He has a plan for you. But you'll have to do penance for your sins in the Earth. He'll send you out now. Find him and you'll be blessed." The woman said to Sheele. Before Sheele knew anything of what's happening, an intense and blinding light was created. She soon found herself in a forest wearing her cheongsam and to her side is Extase. Who ever those two are, have fundamentally changed her viewpoints of the afterlife. She thinks she has been reincarnated or teleported to a point in her past.
"No." She says in a deductive manner, because if she was reincarnated then she would be a newborn, if this was in her past then she may have known about it. But she feels her same old self.
"Excuse me!" A male voice cried out. Sheele got up to a defensive position with Extase. She looked around and saw a man slowly approaching her with his hands up. He looked a bit unusual he wore a long black gown, a large brimmed black hat, prayer beads with a little cross tucked to his side, and a small wooden cross necklace around his neck. He looks a bit young but is older, in his mid forties. He slowly approaches Sheele with his arms up still.
"Are you alright? Do not worry, I will not harm you." The man tells Sheele.

"Who are you? Are you with the Empire?" She asks the man.

"The name is Father Donavon. I guess you can call this area part of the British Empire, safe to say what's left of it." He speaks in a Canadian accent.

"British Empire?" Sheele asks him. He tells her that where they are right now is in Nova Scotia, Canada. The dominion of the exiled British Crown of the fallen British Empire.
"Who are you exactly Father Donavon." Sheele asks him.

"As you can see, I am a priest, priest of the Catholic church to be specific. I was called upon by the Holy Spirit to come here. I knelt in prayer asking why to be here. Then I felt a gust of wind which wound me up here." He responds her question.

"Do you have a place to stay? If you wish I can take you to my parish?" He offers Sheele shelter so they can talk there. She takes him up on the offer as she has no where else to go. During the car ride north to Sydney Nova Scotia, she asks him about his profession, those beads etc. He tells her he's a priest who works for the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. His job is mostly administering the faith and upholding the sacraments of Catholicism. As for the prayer beads, that is a holy rosary, of which he prays it everyday to get closer to Jesus through the lens of his mother, Mary. Through out the drive she told him that she was an assassin but isn't sure what to do now. But she still is hopeful about the future. The city of Sydney Nova Scotia was a small city with the population of about 30,000. But due to economic pressures in Canada, the collapse of the British Empire, many people have fled to neighboring Halifax or to mainland Canada in search of work. Leaving this small city with less then 11,000.

Sheele continues on with her story. Explaining his religion and finding out the identities of the two people she met. She was confused about it at first but through his guidance helped her through it all. She found a comfortable place to stay, was taught from driving to common knowledge, and had the same personality as previously, but a bit more cautious. She explains to Tatsumi that she'd been baptized into the faith, and swore from taking another life. Letters were sent out to everyone about the impending attack of the Nazis coming to Canada. Her and Fr. Donavon decided to stay and help out the most to protect Sydney. In the 31st of March of her first communion and confirmation, whilst the trinitarian mass was being performed. Ship batteries began to open fire on the small city, as well as fighter planes began to drop bombs on the defenseless city. Then, a cloud of snow began to fall upon the city during spring. Esdeath has arrived. The city militia groups held up an honorable fight but fell quickly. Outside of the church Fr. Donavon sees snow fall.
"Sheele. You must leave the city now. What is out there is of no match. Get out of here and don't forget your weapon. Please." Fr. Donavon tells Sheele. At first she pleaded with him to leave with her or at the least stay. But he tells her no. He gives her the keys to his truck, and his blessed rosary as sign to remember him by and to pray it everyday. He pushes her off. As she gets on the truck she begins to drive away seeing battery shells land after her. Fr. Donavon dresses up in his black cassock carrying a metal and wooden crucifix to the beach head where the Nazis are going to land, reciting the Our Father in Latin, to the very end.

"In the end, I never saw him again. I broke my vow to not take anymore life when I encountered a Nazi patrol. They shot at my direction and I had to fight back. I encountered several patrols of which now I realized where allied. For that I still ask for forgiveness from all of my victims." Sheele tells Tatsumi. She opens up her foot locker and puts away her rosary in it on top of a D-R Bible.

"Never thought that you'd become the religious type of person."
"I guess so too. But I see it as a personal pride for me. Aside from my work, I take this seriously as well. In memory of Fr. Donavon." Sheele ends her conversation with Tatsumi. Now he is starting to piece together the pieces of the puzzle of who sent him and the rest of Night Raid into this world? Why? First him, then Akame, Lubbock, and Sheele. He'll need to consult the rest of the Imperial Arms users about if they all have collectively met this one man. If possible even know if this was the same one who brought Esdeath. And to ask, how to remove her when she is this powerful.
Kurome overheard their conversation from across the room. This reminds her of a memory she had in the Appalachia mountains, of meeting a person in the afterlife and then meeting a person on this planet made of flesh and blood.

Kurome's Flashback.

After being bested by her sister Akame, Kurome dies in her sister's arms after their dual. She wakes up in a void, with no light, no sound. But then a bright light appeared, she is encountered by the souls of the people she killed or she saw let die, who all wish death upon her telling her that its her fault that she should've died on the field and not them. All say for two, who remained silent. She wants them to stop but is at a loss as she has no weapons to end it all. She dropped to her hands and knees asking for forgiveness repeatedly, but are drowned out by the barrage of threats. Then a bright light came forth that end the barrage of insults and threats. A figure approached her and told her
"Please. Stand up, you don't have to cry or fear anymore." He tells her. Another figure with wings approached and bow down to one knee as he presents the bright figure with a sword. He grabs the sword and presents it to her.
"You have done horrible deeds and works. But you suffered a lot, everything that has happened to you was out of your control. Now, I'll be sending you out on a new mission, a new purpose. You will face immense trials before knowing what your new mission is. I have done so with others, they've requested for your aid." Kurome observes the sword, it was her Yatsufusa with the same abilities as previously before.
"It was never destroyed as you are buried alongside it. The new world you're heading towards is highly dangerous but I believe you shall do fine." He tells Kurome. She asks him a question.

"If this new world is dangerous, then may I ask for the aid of at least one other?" She asks the figure, he looks around to see if anyone wishes to step up and volunteer for to take up one of the eight slots of Yatsufusa and accompany Kurome in the new world. Out of hundreds only two step up, they were previously silent but now wish to serve Kurome one last time. They turned around and bend a knee to the figure that they saw is the Lord. He is saddened by this revelation that they won't be able to enter paradise, but from their free will, he allows it once. He lifts up his arms and shouts a chant that all can hear, then a blinding light then engulfs all.

Kurome wakes up and senses her first feeling, cold. "Just what was that?" Kurome spoke as she looks around. Around her are nothing but trees and snow with songbirds chirping. She looks around more and sees Yatsufusa and grabs hold of it. She activates her imperial arms and two figures emerge, she recognizes them immediately being Natala and Doya.
"Go out and find me shelter." She tells the two. The two went out looking for shelter for their master. Activation of Yatsufusa has sapped what little strength she had left, she collapses on the snow ground.
"Is this how I'm going to die again?" She tells herself. Whoever sent her here must've done it for the shits and giggles. Looking up she sees a small bird approaching her. A sparrow she had never once in her life seen before, it was brown, white, with yellow above its eyes. A white-throated sparrow, the sparrow sings her a song calming her. Out in the distance she sees a person coming, it wasn't Natala or Doya, this person was moving fast almost as if he is swimming in air. Every time she blinks the bearded man got closer he gets close enough that she can hear footsteps being dampened by the snow, the sparrow flies away.

"Ahh you poor thing. I'll help you up." The bearded man tells Kurome. He puts his rifle off to the side and puts Kurome on her back. He checks the left arm by lifting it up to check for blood circulation. There is but the paces is slowing down immensely to about twenty if not twelve beats per minute. He carries her in his arms as he slings his rifle back and grabs her sword as well placing it on his belt. He begins to move once more carrying Kurome in his arms. During his trek back to his cabin he is stopped by Natala and Doya blocking his path.
"Please move. My cabin isn't too far away, and she looks like she's dying." He tries to reason with them but they fall on dead ears, they prepare to kill him but Kurome gestures for them to move aside. They do as command and the bearded man keeps moving, the two follow behind. They reach towards the cabin, a small two story cabin with the roof acting as the second floor. The bearded man turns around to tell the two to wait outside, but they're no where to be seen. He places Kurome down, strips her of her top clothing to dry out, and places a couple of heavy blankets as he rests her near a fireplace.
Kurome eventually woke up and looks around, she notices that she is stripped down to her underwear, she notices her sword and clothes are laid out by the fireplace to dry. The bearded man enters the room she was in, carrying a tray. She gotten defensive but in a calm voice he tells her.
"Calm down, calm down. I won't hurt you, I got some food for you." He tells her and places down a stew with a cup of water. She approaches the stew and begin to eat it. The man sat down across from Kurome on chair and asks her who she is. She answers him and she ask the same question back. He reveals himself to be Ezekiel Roher.
"Just where and when am I, Ezekiel?"

"In the piedmont of the Appalachian mountains. Specifically your in Pennsylvania. Its also the first week of January 1963."
"You got anywhere to live?" He ask her, she shook her head in a no response. He decided to allow her to live with him if she can explain her sword and those two people he encountered.

Kurome ends her memory of first encountering Ezekiel, he didn't tell her much aside from his age and belief, him being 66 years old and a retired Presbyterian pastor. She recounted another memory.

January 31, 1963
Pennsylvania, US, Appalachian mountains.

It has been a few weeks since Kurome first appeared in the Appalachian mountains in Pennsylvania. The snow had mostly melted away, with a few pockets of snow left, Kurome is seen bringing firewood. For the past few weeks she learned how to survive in the wild like her big sister: Akame, the good thing is that she hasn't seen a single danger beast. The few creatures that she'd encountered wouldn't even be seen as a danger beasts, such as foxes, bobcats, and the black bear: which mostly avoid confrontation except if they're with their young. She got better at handling Ezekiel's weapons, an M1903 Springfield, a M1911 and a model 1897 shotgun, which he dubbed "Trench Broom". He even tried a couple of times to teach her puppets on how to use the weapons, with a varying degree of success. Kurome looks around the cabin during leisure time and saw a rather large chest that she did not once saw before. She opened it up and inspected each one. Two helmets: an American Brodie and an m1917 painted Stahlhelm. Inside there was more stuff, a trench knife, bayonet, an American Great War uniform with two chevrons pointing upwards on the sleeves, shoes, trousers, and webbing kit. There also appeared some photos, mementos, medals, and other miscellaneous items, and a tattered up 48 star American flag.
"I wouldn't go through that if I were you." Ezekiel tells her. This startled her as she is caught red-handed going through his stuff without permission.

"I'm sorry. I'll put them back."

"No, don't. It's alright for you to be curious, that is just some... uh... memories. From the Great War." Ezekiel tells her.

"Great War?" She asks of him.

"Sit and I'll tell you about it." Ezekiel begins to tell Kurome a story about his time during the Great War, aka First World War. He starts off by beginning in the town he was born in. He was born into an Anabaptist Mennonite family. He was told stories about how his great grandfather served in the Civil War, fighting for the Union. So, by the time he turned twenty he enlisted after hearing the Germans declared war on the US. His family at objected, believing that a Mennonite should never ever go to war, following the ideas of pacificsm. He decided to do it anyway to fight in the Great War, the War to end all wars. But the Great War wasn't so great. Being a doughboy, he was hoping to have a similar adventure as his great grandfather but didn't. Like all young American men who served they thought just as how the Germans, British, and French thought previously: an easy war. After several battles and personally taking a life of a young German soldier and a veteran German soldier, being blown away from artillery, and nearly getting shot by machineguns that drowned out the screams and cries of his American brothers, he changed.

He had a best friend that he'd grew up with and that enlisted and served in the same infantry unit. His name was James Anderson, all he remembered of James was that he has a mother and a younger brother before enlisting. They fought together in the Meuse–Argonne offensive until the Germans attempt to overrun their positions. They'd successfully halted the German advance but at the cost of hundreds and thousands of men. This included Ezekiel's only childhood friend, James. Who pleaded with Ezekiel to not let him die there and that he wishes to go back home to see his mother and younger brother. Ezekiel's friend would die in his arms as he is brought back to friendly lines for his body to be sent back and a telegram sent towards his mother.
Ezekiel begins to tear up after explaining his past, Kurome offers to comfort him but he simply turns it down. He continues on with his story.

Soon after the Great War's end, of the over two hundred fighting men who went towards the Western Front to fight against the Germans, only twenty came back to the cheers of the people and the pomp and circumstance that came with it. He went back to his home and soon found it abandoned, his family had already left, his grandparents and a few relatives have died due to the Spanish Flu outbreak that wrecked many local communities. He was left saddened after reading the note left behind, learning of their situation. He visited his friend one last time, paying his respects, and giving his condolences to his mother and younger brother.

Due to the Spanish Flu, combined with Shell Shock. He wanted to be left alone and was for a few years falling to a spiral of depression and alcoholism. Till he met a "colored feller" as he called him. An African American Presbyterian pastor helped him out of his spiral of despair and took him under his wing to become his successor and become a pastor. So he did and served well for few years. Till he announced his retirement at nineteen sixty-one. Kurome thought that his story is a good story. A soldier of man becoming a pastor of God. He offers to dress up in his uniform to see if it still fits him after over forty years of not being worn, he put it on, and surprisingly it still fits him, plus the Brodie helmet.

A sound was made outside. It's dark outside, curious Ezekiel tells Kurome to wait in the cabin till he gives a whistling sound, and to use her sword powers as last resort. Reports by locals about not-deer have been popping up. Of people who are attacked and found dead later with attacks not made by man. These reports catch the attention of the CIA.
Ezekiel grabs his trench broom and steps outside, he looks around a bit. He sees a single doe slowly approach him, then two more appear. But now, a whole herd of over fifty are approaching his cabin. He doesn't know what's going on, but this isn't normal for deer to act like this. One begins to rush him, within an instant, he shot at the deer with buckshot. The deer collapses dead in front of him, it doesn't look normal. It appears that the snout has been ripped off, parts of its flesh are ripped off, with sharper claws than hooves. Almost as if it's human. Then several more begin to rush him, he calls upon Kurome of which she leaps out of the house, to fight. With the trench broom, he unloads four more shots at the two deer. One of them collapses in front of him, as he flips it over, his suspicions were semi-correct, it is human. But it had sharper nails and sharp teeth. How did this happen he doesn't know. All he knows is to survive the onslaught.

Kurome begins to attack the creatures. She sliced through the first five she saw, killing them. One appears behind her, the creature attempted to strike Kurome as her back is turned, but is shot down by Doya who was sniping from the rooftop with her revolvers. Kurome summoned Natala to aid against the siege and attack any that tries to sneak upon them. He sliced down several not-deer. During the battle, Ezekiel also protects Kurome, Natala, and Doya from being ripped to shreds by rushing the not-deer with his bayonet charge.
The siege lasted for a couple of hours Kurome cut through several, nearly getting killed by them but her puppets protected her. Ezekiel held his ground, having equipped a bayonet on his trench broom. He's heavily wounded, after being sliced and stabbed a couple of times. In the end, all not-deer have been eliminated. Ezekiel lies on the wall of the outside porch bleeding out with his intestines hanging out. Kurome rushes to his side immediately to comfort him.

Feburary 1, 1963
0002

Ezekiel is bleeding out. Kurome rushes to his side to comfort his last moments. This is the first time in a long time that someone she starts to care about dies in front of her. She holds her imperial arms and prepares to bring down Yatsufusa on Ezekiel. He tells her to put her sword down.

"Kurome, *coughs out blood* please, place your sword down on the wood and not me. This isn't your fault, nor those puppets. I only wished that I've lived longer to guide you through life but *coughs out more blood*. God has other plans for me as he has for you. When you end your fights, forgive your enemies, just as how Christ told us to forgive our debts, sins, trespasses of others just as we forgive ourselves. Take my firearms for protection and whatever ammo you can carry."

"Why? Why did you do this? Why did you have to die here? Do you know that you will be another person I let die, a person that I got close with. I couldn't let people die that I know. I couldn't let them go. Never!" Kurome tells him as tears develop on her face. Ezekiel raises his right hand to Kurome's face.

"We all got to let go. It's how we move on, its what makes us human. It's alright to be with that person as long as you can. When a friend dies, cherish the memories made. If those monsters or people show up and berate you for letting them die or killing them. Then do not worry, for I will be there to protect you from them." Ezekiel lays down his right hand away from her face.
"Bury me, don't mourn for my death, celebrate that we met and all the memories we've made over the past weeks. Laugh, smirk, whatever, just be happy. Stay safe out there, and let God lead you." Ezekiel gives a warm smile as he slumps his head forward, and closes his eyes. Kurome is about to cry, but strengthens up. Promising him to not cry for him but to celebrate the memories they've shared.

After several minutes Kurome buries Ezekiel Roher as requested, she places his Bible in its wooden case and puts it in between his arms, he still wears his Great War uniform. She has wrapped him in a white table cloth along with a couple of flowers placed on top of his body. She places a makeshift cross tying it with wooden cross found inside the cabin. She kneels and prays for his soul.
"I promise I would keep fighting. Thank you Ezekiel." Kurome bids farewell to Ezekiel. She picks up her Imperial Arms, Ezekiel's Springfield, Trench broom, and M1911, and walks into the woods of the Pennsylvanian Appalachian mountains in hopes of finding a new life and possibly civilizations.

Kurome begins to hear a voice.

"Kurome, wake up." A voice rang out. Kurome opens up her eyes to see Wave.

"You alright?" Wave asks Kurome.

"Yeah, Just remembering an important person." She replies

"Is it a comrade that you love?" Wave hints at Kurome. She chuckles a bit and gets off of her bunk bed.

"What's happening now?" Kurome asked.

"We got a sparring match for pt. Would you like to join?"

"Sure, I haven't fully got over Chelsea, I should also try to earn a win against my sister." She leaves the room with Wave.

"Still holding a grudge on her?"

"Yeah, but I learned how to let go. For the most part." Kurome chuckles a bit more, remebering what Ezekiel told her.

April 20, 1963
Berlin, Germany

Esdeath ponders on what to do. She already lost three of her Jagers in the Vatican which made Hitler angry as he had high hopes for her. But one thing is a fact about Hitler. He's getting old, and it's clearly shown during his 74th birthday. Esdeath thinks to herself. Should she attempt to pursue the chancellorship or let Goering succeed Hitler? or put support for Goebbels who saved her public image. No, for a person like her politics is more boring than war but cut-throat. Esdeath takes a page from any military dictatorship's book, to lie in the shadows and have more control of the army. That way, with bigger army diplomacy she can make it possible that she can have total control of the Reich.

But all is starting to become better after the defeat in the American continent, at the same time it isn't with the generals and colonel's in Iceland and Faeroe Islands instantly surrendering to the US. And reports of a large coalition force heading towards the Mediterranean and another heading north, possibly the British isles or Norway. Now a bigger problem is looming, how will she break the news to Seryu and Bols about Kurome, Wave, and Tatsumi's betrayal. She knows that they served side by side but the two never knew their betrayal. Seryu started to ask questions about Tatsumi.

Inside the Nazi Volkshalle in Berlin. The two surviving cardinals who once served Pope John XXIII have now come out with a new "pope", Pope Bolric of Positive Christianity. Successor to Roman Catholicism. This news reached Pope Paul VI, who is in the US, who reacts swiftly. Calling Pope Bolric an anti-pope, and excommunicates him from the Catholic church, claiming that he has no legitimacy to be pope as he isn't a cardinal nor a Catholic. He calls for the two cardinals to quickly leave Europe, but alas couldn't as they were recently placed back in incarceration. The battle for the liberation of Europe will soon come.

Endnote:

Apologies for taking this long. But things are starting to look interesting in Europe and for our group.

Please leave me here your reviews, comments, criticisms, or suggestions. Who knew making background stories would be tough.
(Update: Added in a bit more backstory for Ezekiel that will tie into the story later. 8/18/2021)

Well then, see you next week in
Kill the world order.