"This is the capital?! It's so big! How do people get around here?" I was in awe. I've only ever seen little villages, this completely blows them away. The streets are full of people, there is little room to move.

I felt a hand push on my back. "Keep it going, you're gonna catch people's attention if you stand there." Said Leone. Complying with her I started to move my body, walking alongside her through the city.

"This place is going to get some taking…" I saw something light blue in the distance. It looked so familiar. I started walking towards it, ignoring the world around me. I could hear Leone trying to get my attention, but I was so focused on what I saw that I couldn't understand her. As I walked towards it, I started to realize what it was, well who it was. It was her, it's Esdeath. Her hair was the same as back then, she's much taller now. Her skin was still as pale as a godesses, and her womanly feature came in. I went to call out her name. "Esde.."

"Don't finish that name if you want to live boy." It was an older man that said that. He was in a black suit. His hair was grey and long, tied back in ponytail that easily reached past his knees, with little bangs covering his face, he had a moustache as well. On either side of him was a little kid wearing the same suit yet had shorts instead of pants on. His hair was blonde with horns in it. He also had a tail like a devil. The other guy was huge, easily the strongest looking guy I've ever seen. He held a wild look in his eyes, as if he just wanted to kill everything.

A feeling of nervousness washed over me. These guys held a killing aura like no other, it was suffocating. I looked all around me hoping Leone would be there to save me, but no luck she was gone. I looked back at the guy that stopped me. "I know that girl, why can't I say her name?" I asked.

"You are not worthy of miss Esdeath. That is why." Said the older man.

"If I wasn't worthy than why was I able to talk to her so long ago?" People were starting to look at our little exchange, many of the people held a look of fear on their face before looking away.

"What is your name kid? I wish to know it before I kill you."

Those words weren't a lie. I could feel myself already choking from his look alone. 'Is this where I meet my end?' "My name.. It's Leo. Can I request the name of my killer?" If he's going to kill me, I want to atleast know his name.

"It's Liver." With that he pulled his sword out and swung it down at me.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the blade to sink into my skin. It was only seconds later that I opened my eyes. I looked down at my body, no blood, no wound. Looking up at Liver, I was shocked, his sword was frozen. Judging by the look on his face, he was just as shocked.

"Now Liver, why were you about to kill this boy?" At the sound of that voice, The world around felt like it was freezing. The three guys moved to the side, revealing Esdeath. Each of them got down on one knee, bowing their heads.

"Because.."

"Quiet." She turned her head towards me. "So you claim to know me. How exactly?" She reached out, gently placing her hand on my cheek. Her hand was so cold, it wasn't normal. She also had this dangerous aura around her, she's definitely not the same girl she was years ago.

"It's me… Leo.. from years ago…" After saying that, the air around me seemed to go back to normal, except for still being cold.

"Leo? So you have survived. I must say I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to survive without me, but since you survived." I felt a stinging pain run across my cheek. She just slapped me, I winced in slight pain.

"What was that for!?"

"That is for leaving me behind." While I was focused on the pain, I felt arms wrap around me. Everyone around us was shocked. They didn't know what to think of seeing the empire's strongest embracing someone. "You have caught me at a bad time, I must go to the North. When I get back we can talk, and you'll tell me how you lived."

I looked at her, there was a slight blush on her cheeks. "O.. Okay.." I could feel a blush rising on my cheeks as well.

She let go of me and called over two soldiers of the empire. "Guards, escort this person to my personal quarters in the imperial palace. Tell them it was my orders." She said, she then glared at the soldiers. "And if he is harmed in anyway, upon my return I will personally take care of you two, and the one that touched him." The soldiers seemed to panic, they were shaking in their armor.

"Y.. yes ma'am." One of the soldiers managed to say.

"Good. Now Leo I must go now, I will be back once I'm done with my mission." Esdeath turned around and walked away, with her followers close behind her. The cold air disappeared just as he did.

The soldiers waited until she was out of sight to talk.

"Alright kid, let's get going."

"Y-yes sir." I followed behind the soldiers. As much as I want to stay and be with Esdeath, I have to meet back up with Leone. I searched my surroundings for a way out. 'Any help Nyph? I need to get out of this.

"Please don't shorten my name. All you have to do, blend into a crowd and find a shadow. The rest of it, well you will have to figure out."

'Thank you cause that helps so much. Why do you help me anyways?'

"Don't get it wrong, there is something dangerous. If you die, I will lose my host and never be able to see this world again. We have to coexist if we want to make it through this world."

'Okay.' I looked around, we were in a heavily populated area. Everyone around us was too busy looking at the what vendors had to sell. This will be my only chance won't it. I watched the soldiers in front of me. They weren't paying attention to me. This is it.

I slipped into a crowd that was gathered around a guy selling food. Nobody seemed to notice me. "Damn that was close." One of the soldiers turned around. He made a face of pure horror, he was scared to death. He got the other soldiers attention, and they both started to look around.

I scanned the area, there is no way I can get out of this in time. Panic started to set in. I'm so screwed, if they find me, there is no way I'll be able to get away again.

By some miracle, I was pulled away into an alley. I looked to see who pulled me in just to see Leone in her what I will now call beast form. "Now that was a close one." She hit me in the head after saying that. "Never run off again."

I rubbed where she hit me on the head. "That hurtt."

"So the cold heart can feel. Anyways, you've proven you're good enough to slip out of a crowd." A huge grin appeared on her face, as her hair went back to normal length. "NOW LET'S GO TO THE BAR." She wrapped an arm around me, leading us towards a bar.

"Why are we going to a bar?" Seriously, she wants to drink?

"Too relax, plus a bar is the best place for information." A part of me wants to believe her, but she probably wants to get drunk.

"Yea yea let's go." I followed her to the bar and took a seat in the corner. I kinda like to be alone, it's normal almost. 'Hey Kanae, am I doing the right thing being with Night Raid? Would you look down on me?' I was watching the world outside of the bar through the window. Everyone, was in such a hurry, a hurry for what? 'I've already almost died so many times. I've lost my family, my body has been used to slaughter hundreds.' I put my hands on the table in front of me and looked at them.

"It's all your fault, you killed so many people. You don't deserve to live." My hands started shaking, and the world seemed to spin in front of my eyes. "Give me back my life." A child's appeared in front of me. He was sitting next to a body. The body belonged to a woman, she was obviously dead. The child sniffled, "Wake up mommy, please wake up." He was pushing on her body, his hands were drenched in blood. "Come on mommy, I wanna get home."

That scene, I've must of seen it a hundred times by now. I killed his mom, I left him there with a dead mom. It's all my fault.

"You're a monster. Just die go die." The voices were booming in my head. It's all my fault.

I mumbled under my breath. "I… I should of been able to do something… I should've stopped him.. why.. why.." I looked around me, people were staring at me. 'What did I do…'

I took a deep breath once I remembered where I was. 'I need to be in control.' I put a hand over my heart. As long as this is beating I'm human, as long as this beats I need to live on for my family. I managed to calm myself down.

Sighing I looked for around the bar for Leone. She was sitting at a table, talking to a boy. "She's busy, I might as well get fresh air." I got up and left the bar.

"This doesn't help any." Everyone's staring at me. Why are they staring, is there something wrong with me? Black smoke rolled down in front of my eyes, I half expected it to burn my eyes. It didn't it just kept rolling off my body.

"Hey it's Esdeath's kid, fuck we're lucky to have found him." Said an older voice that sounded familiar.

"You're right, but there's something different about him."

"I know, just let's get him up to the chambers so our asses can be intact."

I looked at where the voices came from. It was the two soldiers that I slipped. I took a back step, my focus leaving the black smoke coming off my body. 'Gotta get away.' I turned around and started to run, just to hit something and fall back on my ass.

"How dare a brat touch me Captain Ogre." Said a grizzly voice.

Looking at the person I bumped into, it was crazy, he looked like a demon. His body was pure muscle, overcompensation if you ask me. He was missing an eye, obviously lost in in a fight. No way a normal human can be this big.

"Captain Ogre sir! I'm sorry about this kid, we were told by E.." the soldier was cut off by Ogre

"Silence, this brat attacked me and tried using smoke to get away, the punishment is death." With that Ogre cracked a grin.

'He seems awfully happy to kill..'

"That he does, think you can kill him?"

'No idea, but I can try.'

"Sir, you can't kill him. Esdeath is… interested in him." One of the soldiers pleaded.

"Probably another pet. People, tend to get attacked in this city, it's out of our control if a kid is killed by some thug on the street."

"B..but sir.." The soldier looked terrified of Ogre. Yet it was obvious that he was even more scared of Esdeath by how he was trying to argue. Just how strong did that girl become?

"Silence, anymore talk here on is insubordination." With those words, the man known as Ogre pulled out his sword. "Give this kid a blade, no fun if he can't fight back."

Without a word one of the soldiers approached me and handed their sword to me. Grabbing it felt weird, I was hoping it would be heavy like the sword I used long ago, yet it's so light.

I turned my focus back onto Ogre. This is a fight with a trained soldier, I need to be careful.

I charged at him, my sword aimed for his throat. He wasn't moving, he was standing there waiting. "Don't think so little of me!" I yelled, some rage coming out. I won't be looked down on. My sword was mere inches away, but he sidestepped it as if it was nothing while the momentum of the charge kept me going. Charging right past him he slammed his elbow into my back, sending me flying into the ground. "Shit.."


"Huh where'd he go?" Walking outside Leone scratched her head. "He didn't just up and leave did he? Just after I got all this money too." She put on a pouty face. "I'm going to make him pay."

The streets were empty, how unusual. "What's going on here?" Got a bad feeling about this. "Nobody around, okay lionelle let's go." Using her teigu she jumped up to the rooftops so nobody could spot her. Sniffing at the air she caught a familiar scent. "There you are Leo."


Jumping up at Ogre I brought my sword down on him. Sparks flew through the air once our swords collided. For a moment my body was suspended in air, pushing all my weight down on my sword, trying to break Ogre's blade. I looked down at his face, letting out a growl while he just smirked at me.

"Why the hell are you so happy?" I was getting pissed. He's just mocking me, that's it.

"Because a brat thinks he has a chance against the mighty Ogre." He slammed his free hand into my chest, sending me flying into a wall. Upon impact I coughed out blood, the wall behind me obviously got destroyed from the impact. "Shit I can't move.. my body too well." My body gave out as my body fell off the wall and onto the ground. "This.. really hurts.."

"This is what happens when you challenge me. You should have just let me kill instead of fighting. Even though I gave you a blade." I felt something grab my head, forcing me to look up. It was him. I could tell, even though the sun was in my eyes. 'Wait sun in my eyes?' I looked down at the ground with my eye. 'Maybe.. just maybe please work.'

Using all the energy I had, I shook my body squirming out of his grasp and fell onto the ground, disappearing into his shadow. 'May I ask why you didn't tell me I could hide in people's shadow?'

"It was obvious was it not?

'tch not to me.' I slowly rose to my feet. This may be my only chance.

"Wha..where'd that brat go?" The look on Ogre's face was priceless. His jaw was hanging so low while his eye was wide open, clearly in shock. He lost his prey, now it's his preys turn to strike. I raised my blade and aimed it as his throat.

'Unfair advantage me one, Ogre zero. I stabbed the blade through his throat, blood splashing onto me as his body fell onto the ground. His shadow no longer hiding me.

"It seems I took you down." I looked around me, everyone had a mix of emotions on their face. They were shocked because Ogre was killed by a kid, scared because I was covered in blood and smiling, happy because no longer could Ogre terrorize them. A few people started cheering, and slowly the rest of the crowd followed. Even the soldiers, though they were probably cheering because if Ogre killed me, Esdeath would kill them.

I noticed something change. I killed someone on my own, and the voices stopped, I don't even feel bad for killing him, I feel nothing. Almost as if I lost something after that. If killing doesn't bother me, maybe being an assassin would be the best?

'Nyph, if I stay with Night Raid, could I get stronger?'

"Most likely, if you stay, you'll be pitted against strong foes. The experience you'd gain would lead you to getting stronger and honing your skills."

'Okay, than I'll stay with them. I mean, you helping already makes me the perfect assassin.'

Time to get back to HQ. Looking down at Ogre's corpse, a small grin formed on my face. "My first kill.. I thought it'd be harder for me.." I turned towards the crowd and darted through them, heading back to HQ.


'Leo no! I need to help him.. but if I do, I'll get figured out' Leone thought, while watching the fight between Leo and Ogre from the rooftops. "Why did you leave the bar?" Watching Leo's face get grabbed by Ogre caused something to snap in her. "Screw it, I'm saving his ass."

Just as she went to hop off the roof, she felt something warm on her shoulder. She already knew who it was, she turned and faced Braht.

"Leone wait."

"Why should I Braht? He's going to die down there?

Braht pointed towards the fight. "Are you sure?"

Looking back at the fight, Leone was shocked. Leo was nowhere in sight, he just vanished. "Where did he go?" As if answering her question, a sword was plunged through Ogre's neck, with the boy appearing right in front of him. "H-how did he?

"Has to be a part of his teigu. Anyways we got orders from boss, a new target."

Watching Leo run off, Leone sighed. "Okay. Who are we taking out?"

"Some rich folks that have been taking in people off the streets and torturing them."


A/N Well I first have to say, I am so so sorry. Real life got, a little crazy. Than I started talking to a friend, who in turn got me hooked on berserk. So I've been busy procrastinating this story. I was going to make this chapter longer, but since it's half done, I'd rather just get it up for you guys and release the other half soon. I hope you readers have a good rest of your day/night.