The sun releases the gift of light and the lush greenery eagerly eats it up. A soft breeze caresses her pale skin and sends her raven locks dancing around her head. Birds can be heard singing their love songs to each other as they play in the background. The scent of several different flowers attacks her nose in the most pleasant of ways. It was here where Yor could always find herself at peace.

In the Garden.

Her dainty hand grabs the delicate porcelain before her, bringing the steaming cup to her red lips. The bitter-sweet taste of coffee dances across her tongue as the warmth of the drink spreads throughout her. Bitter like the unforeseen death of a loved one, while also as sweet as a mothers kiss. Perfect for her as she provides both on a daily basis.

"This coffee is lovely, Shopkeeper." She says while looking across the table where they were enjoying this wonderful spring morning.

"Do you know how coffee is made, Thorn Princess?" She blinks at him as the dark skinned man merely smiles at her over his cup.

"You brew it in a coffee pot?" She could not help the questioning tone in her voice. Surely the shopkeeper knows that she brews coffee and tea all day every day. It was practically a requirement for her job at city hall.

"The cherries of the coffea arabica are pulped and fermented." She finds herself engrossed in his lesson about coffee. "There are two beans inside the cherries that can be roasted for this drink we are enjoying, or planted as a seed that will sprout new opportunities."

"Why not roast them both?" She watches him lower his cup and chuckle at her.

"Because we need to plant the seeds for the next generation." She takes another sip of her cooling drink while listening for the deeper meaning in his words. "While also using one to wake up the people."

"...I see." He sighed at her lack of understanding, as if it was as easy to put together as the last piece in a puzzle. When she was younger, listening to his speech with an underlying meaning was interesting. She remembers trying it herself on occasion, comparing strawberries to blood and watermelon to heads. It was enjoyable trying to figure out his meanings while coming up with her own.

Now it was just tiresome.

"Hedeon Agapov is a growing figure in the political sphere." She leaned forward glad to finally be getting somewhere in this conversation. "It is through careful pruning that he was able to grow so steadily to power in the national unity party."

"And he needs to be taken care of?" She begins to see where this is heading. Or perhaps she needs to protect him. Since that assignment on the Lorelei, she has gotten a few more bodyguard missions.

"It is his rival." He pauses to take another sip of coffee. Steam rises from the cup and disappears between them. "Donovan Desmond is your client this evening."

"Desmond?" Anya has a boy with that name in her class. Loid seemed adamant about sprouting a relationship between the two. Hoping that they could possibly become friends. Is it because of the influence he holds? Loid did seem to enjoy talking to people at the school balls, and always seemed just a tad disappointed. "May I ask why?"

"Now that is a first." She merely stared into his dark eyes. A smile grew on his face before a small laugh followed. "You never seemed to care before."

"His son is in the same class as my daughter." He raised a single eyebrow at her statement.

"Hmm. Yes, your daughter." The sound of his voice gave her pause, stopping her cup right before sipping the coffee. What is he insinuating? Anya may not be her blood, but that does not matter to her. In her line of work here she has spilled so much blood, and it is about as important to her as the birds flying in the air. Pretty to see and marvel at, but just something to admire in the moment. She set the cup down and stared back at her mentor. A few tense moments pass as they simply stare at each other from across the table.

Time seemed to stop there in that garden. Almost as if nature itself could feel the growing atmosphere between them. What it was floating about between the two none could say for certain. Perhaps anger? For questioning the assignment for the first time in her life. Maybe disbelief? That she actually cares, and dare she say, loves Anya. That she is concerned how this could affect her school life. Those feelings were unfamiliar here, but were a constant in her day to day outside the garden. It was something else that made the birds stop singing though. In fact, all was quiet around them, not even a rustle of leaves. It must be this feeling she revels in, that feels as welcoming as Loid when she comes home at night. There was just a hint of it here in the air between them.

Bloodlust.

Then, as quickly as it came, it left. The birds were singing their love song and chasing each other through the sky. Another breeze blew them carrying the brisk spring morning air. A shiver shook her to the core, whether it was the cool air or the moment before she could not say. The shopkeeper laughed and set his cup down almost like the tense atmosphere before was completely normal.

"I suppose a little detail couldn't hurt." He chuckles again like he said something funny. His soft expression was soon replaced with a flat stare. "Desmond is pushing for another war."

"What!?" The cups on the table rattled from the impact of her hands. War? Did Ostania not lose enough? Did the people not lose enough? She lost her parents and childhood from the first. No, not first, for first implies there will be a second. She will make sure that no one has to lose their parents to war again.

"We also have reason to believe that he is looking to push for a draft within the year." She pushed herself up away from the table. She heard her chair fall over impacting the stone ground rather than see it. She began pacing while chewing on the nail of her thumb.

A draft? Yuri could be, no, he would be drafted. She is not going to pretend she is fortunate enough to keep him away from his country's obligations. Yuri might even volunteer, oh her brother could be such a fool at times. What would she do if he got himself killed?

No, do not think about it.

He is the only family she has left. No, that is not true. She has her daughter Anya, their dog Bond, and her husband Loid. How could she forget that she is not alone anymore. That her nights of coming home from work alone are behind her. How would another war affect Loid? He already fought in the last one after all. Would he be drafted too? He is still extremely fit and exercises regularly. It would be of no consequence to Ostania though. Just another number to fill the growing list of deceased soldiers. Of children that will grow up without their fathers. Anya already lost her real mother, she can not lose her father too. It would be too much for the poor girl. It would break her heart to lose her father.

She could not bear losing Loid.

"I accept." stopping suddenly to voice her affirmation to the task put before her. Another smile pulls at the edge of his lips at the sound of her voice. "I assume you want this done tonight?"

"Better to pull the weeds before they can cause any lasting damage." She nods understanding the simple analogy in his words. "The director will take you tonight after your work at city hall is finished."

"I'll make sure Desmond can't start a war." She looks at him and nods, her face tight with determination. She turns from him to leave, but remembers she knocked her chair over. Blushing she rights it and pushes it into the table. She turns away from the man still sitting and enjoying his morning coffee.

"Oh! One more thing before you go." She stops and turns her head to peer at him from over her shoulder. Where his smile was from enjoying the coffee is now replaced with a steel look. "Do cover up tonight."

"Cover up? Like a disguise?" He nods silently answering her question. When she did not turn to continue leaving he set his cup down and faced her.

"You may only kill Desmond tonight." That is news to her. She typically slaughters everyone in the vicinity. "Agapov is making a nightly visit to the Desmond estate and we don't want any mishaps."

"Just Desmond?" He sighs in response to her question like he is talking to a child.

"Any guards who get in your way as well as Desmond." Well, at least now she has some wiggle room to work with. "Hence the need to disguise yourself, we wouldn't want you to kill the staff working there after all."

"Of course." It has been years since she needed to wear a mask for work. Not even on the Lorelei did she feel the need to wear a mask. Perhaps she should stick to a more stealthy outfit as well. Her black dress is her favorite, and the revealing nature of the outfit helps distract targets. But…Well…it is still at the dry cleaners from her last job. That is definitely not the reason why she is changing her look for tonight, nope not at all. "So just Desmond and anyone protecting him. I'll be leaving now."

She turns away and continues down the garden back to the entrance where the director is waiting by the door for her. They nod at each other in respect then she continues past him into the long corridor. She hears the resounding click of a door being closed behind her and soon the two of them are walking together down the hall. They walk together with an atmosphere of comfortable silence. Her eyes wander admiring the deco of the manor that Garden operates out of. Along the walls of the corridor were several abstract portraits of notable members in Garden. The style of each piece varies depending on the modus operandi of each assassin. One was of a dark skinned man surrounded by several flowers. His lips were dripping a purple liquid and his eyes were rolled into the back of his head. A small plaque below the portrait revealed the name of the hitman. Monsieur Belladonna, a fitting name for his use of atropa belladonna. Otherwise known as deadly nightshade, one of the most poisonous plants in the world.

She turns her head, looking past the director to take a peek at one of her favorites. This portrait is very colorful using a lot of different shades of red. The woman in said portrait is barely recognizable. It looks as if someone cut up all her features and jumbled them together to try and imitate a person. Her fair skin is stained red with blood and her blue eyes appear lifeless. Below the plaque reads Queen Gladius. Her use of shortswords was lethal and Yor has much respect for a woman who fought similarly to herself. She turns away to keep pace with the director as they continue past portraits of retired members of Garden. It always feels like their eyes follow her down the hall. Judging her every action, deciphering if she is worthy to walk down the same path as they once did. It leaves a pit in her stomach and she bows her head.

Is she worthy of this hall?

Only her actions as a hitman will tell. As long as she maintains control of her bloodlust and only directs it to her targets all is well. It is what separates her from the scum who simply kill for the thrill of it. Not that there is no thrill for her, because there absolutely is. The thrill of skirting death, of dodging gunfire and going blow for blow with an enemy. She loves the adrenaline rush it gives her and she has yet to find anything that could compare. It is these urges that she must keep under lock and key, lest she become a monster herself.

Light filters in from before her as the director opens the doors leading outside. She blinks trying to adjust her vision back to the bright light of this spring morning. She steps through the door as the director holds it open for her like a gentleman. He follows her outside as she slowly steps down the stone stairs leading to the parked car ahead of them. The director steps past her to open a door for her once again. She slides into the back seat of the car easily and soon enough they are both heading towards city hall. She simply gazes out the window watching the lush landscape slowly turn into the concrete jungle she calls home. This home could become barren of fathers. How many children would end up like her? Barely earning enough to survive, let alone live a life. If it was not for Garden recruiting her, Yuri would have never been able to live a normal life. Well, as normal as it could be after the war.

And now they could be plunged into another one.

She shakes her head to try and remove the depressing thought. No. She is not going to let another war take place. She is going to protect the carefree life of her family. That is why she gets her hands dirty, so her family can keep theirs clean. Yuri who just got promoted in the government working on foreign affairs. Anya, her loving daughter who smiles so bright and genuine she often wonders if her own smiles are fake. Then there is Loid, the humble psychiatrist. Who has made it his life's mission to help those in need. To alleviate his patients worries and fears where even their own thoughts betray them. Using his mind and his body in the line of duty. The concussive method can be very dangerous, she has seen it first hand after all. Yet, he still greets her every morning with a smile on his face.

Her husband.

Her fake husband. This arrangement has been going on for the better part of a year now and she often finds herself dejected as a result. Not that her family makes her sad, in fact it is quite the opposite. She does not know if she can truly feel happy without them anymore. She loves her family and wants this feeling to last. Even if they were not actually a married couple, she is still Anya's mother. Those two have pierced her heart straight through, killing any chance of her being able to go back to her life of solitude prior to this arrangement. It is scary, terrifying even, to think she thought she was happy before all of this.

"We've arrived." The sound of the director knocked her free from her thoughts. She looks up into the rearview mirror and sees him nod his head at her. She nods back then opens the door to let herself out of the car. She appreciated the gesture he made at the manor. Opening the car door for her to enter while they were leaving. It was nice, but here in front of city hall with all her coworkers it will seem a little strange. So, she closes the car door behind her and the director drives off to the nearby parking lot.

"Yor?" She jolts in surprise at the familiar voice coming from a few paces down the sidewalk. She turns to see the ever fabulous Camilla. "My, my, isn't someone a little late this morning?"

"That was the director who dropped me off." Yor responded and turned to face her friend? Coworker? Cooking mentor? Her something anyway. "If anything I was actually working a little earlier than usual."

"They better be paying you overtime." Yor giggled at the concern Camilla was showing. Appreciated, but unwarranted as she gets paid handsomely through Garden.

"Don't worry, I'm making more than enough for the effort. Now let's get some tea going." Camilla rolls her eyes but smiles and they both walk into city hall together. They step inside to see several people already standing in line at the welcoming desk. Those poor women who have to work with the people. She does not envy them that is for sure. Her and Camilla walk past the desk and through a door behind it into a long hallway. They walk a few paces before Camilla turns and opens a door that reads break room on it in bold black letters. Naturally Sharon and Millie are already inside chatting with each other. The two of them step inside and are greeted by the other two.

"Mornin'." Sharon says after blowing out some smoke from her cigarette. Millie smiles and waves at them. Camilla starts to say something, but yawns in the middle and simply raises a hand to return the greeting.

"Good morning!" Yor says genuinely happy to greet her coworkers. She then steps past the other three women who have already started gossiping this early in the morning. Sometimes Yor felt that perhaps the manager was wrong and that they did get paid to gossip. Yor opens a cupboard and pulls out a kettle. She steps to a nearby faucet and fills the kettle with water before turning on the stove top and setting the kettle on the burner. She then turns to grab a tea set and some herbal tea blends. She walks over to the rest of the women sitting at the table and sets down the items atop it. She takes a seat and begins to listen as the women chatter away.

"Well, you could've been down there when it happened." Camilla said, sounding a little bored. Down where? What happened?

"He should've just held it in for two more minutes!" Millie replied angrily. "Lord knows he can barely last five. He completely ruined the mood!"

"The mood?" Curiosity got the better of Yor, and she felt the growing temptation to know.

"She's talking about this new guy she met." Sharon said, holding her cigarette up in her hand away from everyone else. "Apparently he was a little gassy last night in the bedroom."

"Oh!" Well…That is embarrassing. "At least he was comfortable around you to do it?"

"Comfortable around me?" Millie whipped her head to stare at Yor. A slight snarl across her face causing Yor to shrink back. "I certainly didn't feel comfortable being around him after that! Quite literally I might add!"

"Pff." Camilla snorted and covered her mouth. Millie sent a snarl towards Camilla and Sharon merely shook her head. "That's one way to get your blood pumping."

"Yea! In anger and shame!" Millie yelled. Thankfully they were the only ones inside the break room, probably because they were supposed to be working.

"It's really not that big a deal." Sharon said, seeming bored with the conversation. "Just wait until you're married, then they just do it around whenever and wherever."

"What!?" Millie jolted back like she was struck.

"I live with Dominic and he definitely seems to be getting a little too comfortable around me as of late." Camilla seemed pensive for a moment, then directed her gaze towards Yor. "Is it true Yor? Does Loid seem too comfortable?"

"Well…" She could hardly believe this is where the topic is heading. It is sad to say, but she much preferred the saucier topics of nights in the bedroom. Now she has to deal with their potty talk like it is the most natural thing in the world to discuss at work. Loid has been nothing but polite and a gentleman, even in the confines of their own home. Anya on the other hand, has no issue sitting at the table burping and talking with her mouth full of food. "Our daughter is certainly comfortable."

"As they should be." Sharon added. "Is your husband comfortable though?"

"Oh, he seems very comfortable." Loid does not seem to be too stressed at home. He is always the first one up in the morning and never seems too tired.

"Ooooohhh." Millie turned to face Yor, grinning like a madman. "You help him relax at night?"

"Yes." She helps where she can. Like making tea or brewing him coffee. Some nights she even makes dinner for the two of them now. Thanks to Camilla helping her with some cooking lessons. Some days he comes home exhausted from work, so she tries her best to help. "He always seems so stressed when he comes home. So I try to relieve some of that stress for him."

"So you do all the work in the bedroom?" Camilla asked from across the table. The bedroom? Oh no. With the previous topic and now what she just said to everyone about relieving his stress. It is ok though, she can play it cool. She has danced to this tune of theirs many times this past year. It is nothing new.

"It is not always in the bedroom." She feels bad insinuating that she and Loid do these things, but they are married. People have an expectation of them. It does not make it any easier though, she can already feel her cheeks growing pink.

"It is always good to spice things up so they don't feel boring." Sharon spoke wisely. "Once it becomes routine, then it seems more like a chore than a pleasure."

"If that's the case me and Dominic are never getting married." Camilla said head held high.

"Yea ok." Millie rolled her eyes. "If Dominic dropped down on one knee to tie his shoes you would faint from imagining him proposing."

"Shut up!" Camilla shouted with her face red like a tomato. The other two women laughed at a pouting Camilla. A loud whistle interrupted the usual banter between the four of them. Yor excuses herself from the table and walks over to turn the burner off. She removes the kettle and heads back to the table with the other women. She pours the water from the kettle into the porcelain teapot and puts a cloth filter inside of it. She adds some herbs to the filter and lets the teapot simmer on the table for a few minutes. She sits back down into her seat and looks up to see the other three women staring intently at her. She blinks back at them surprised by the sudden attention.

"Um, yes?" Why were they staring at her?

"How did Loid propose to you, Yor?" Camilla asked while the other two nodded in anticipation.

"Well, it was after we went to y-". Your party last year Camilla. She can not say that! Think Yor! She coughs to give herself a moment, and to hopefully hide whatever mistake she was about to say. "After we went to Yuri's for dinner!"

"What?" Millie asked in disbelief. "That sounds really lame."

"That was at the end of the night!" She has to defend her husband. By coming up with some fake scenario to portray the amazing proposal he did. Which to be honest, was an amazing proposal. How many people can say they were proposed to behind a dumpster with a grenade pin? No one most likely.

Except for her anyway.

"He was actually running late because of work." The three women rolled their eyes, most likely having heard that one a million times. "Some people were harassing me, and he showed up to save me."

"Ugh." Camilla scrunched her face up to go with the noise of disgust she made. "Harassing a woman on the street? Men can be such pigs."

"Yea…" Yor replied, looking away from her three coworkers. How could she tell them that it was the three of them who he was saving her from?

"Did he kick their ass?" Sharon asked while putting out her cigarette in an overflowing ashtray on the table.

"He beat up a lot of guys that night." So did she, but it would seem a lot better to play the damsel in distress in this lie she was telling. "They couldn't even get a hit on him!"

"Oh wow." Millie got a far off stare for a second. It was like she was looking through Yor and not at her. "To have a man protect you as the woman he loves? That's sooo hot."

"Yea…" They have definitely protected each other quite a few times this past year. It could not be because he loves her, right? No, it has to be because it would make Anya motherless again. There is no way he loves her, at least not romantically speaking. She could gladly say that they were pretty much best friends at this point, like most married couples seem to be. She should be happy to have Loid as such a great friend, and a fake husband.

Why does the thought leave her wanting then?

"HEY!" All four women turned to look at the entrance to the break room. Where their boss just so happened to have slammed the door open. "I DON'T PAY YOU TO SIT AND GOSSIP! GET BACK TO WORK!"

Yor shot up from the table collecting the tea set in her hands. The other three women merely look unamused with the situation before walking past the manager to their desk further in city hall. Yor followed a few paces behind them carrying the teapot in one hand and balancing some cups in the other. They soon arrived at their work stations, and Yor placed the tea set down on a counter next to a coffee machine which was already brewing. She poured herself a cup of tea before walking and sitting at her desk. She stretches her back and cracks her fingers before she begins to start on the work for the day.

She begins by copying some important ledgers from their spending at the office. Compiling it all into one organized document to file once tax season comes. Mentions of paper and other office supplies, such as paper cups and staples. Once she was done with organizing their spending, she could move onto the more exciting things. Like copying documents from courtrooms that the scribes their record. Need to keep listings of what has been said in each case and file it all. It is always so interesting to see what sort of things people are buying or saying in court.

Who is she kidding? She is bored out of her mind.

Is all paperwork so mundane and tedious? In all her experience it has been. Surely not all jobs involving paperwork are like this though, right? Well, Loid happens to do a lot of paperwork. She knows because sometimes he has to even bring it home and work in his room. She was always curious about what that paperwork would be like. Surely reading about people's problems and trying to find ways to help is much more entertaining than this. He is always so focused on his work too. Sometimes not even hearing when she knocks on his door to let herself in. She would catch him sitting at a desk with the most intense expression while reading over those files. His sharp blue eyes boring through her when he looks up and finally notices her presence. Those eyes soften and a small smile curls up on his face. She would step over and set a cup of coffee down before him just the way he likes it. She would slide some of his work to the side so she could sit upon his desk. He would quirk a brow at her but say nothing.

He would be distracted by her presence, especially as her foot gently rubbed along his thigh. Traveling up and up before stopping oh so cruelly before they could reach the finish line. She would do this a little longer, getting closer but never truly striking gold. His expression would harden just like the place her foot was so close to touching. He would growl and stand knocking his chair over before embracing her in his strong arms. She would gasp as he feasted on her neck like a newborn desperately sucking on a mothers teat. Her hands would scrape across his scalp feeling the soft blond locks that could only belong to an angel. Trapped between his desk and his strong arms she has nowhere to go. His hips pressed into her core and she could feel how much he needed her. The cloth curtain separating east and west relations would need to fall eventually. She wraps her legs around his waist and she shudders as he releases a groan against the crook of her neck. He pulls away and stares at her with lidded eyes full of lust. He licks his lips and she reciprocates the gesture by leaning in to finally claim that wonderful mouth as her own.

"That's some steamy smut." Yor yelled in surprise as Camilla said that from somewhere off to the side. She turns to look at a smug looking Camilla.

"Yor's writing smut!?" Millie was at her other side within a sec. Yor looked from Camilla to Millie then looked in front of her to stare at the damning evidence itself. Her typewriter which should have been working on ledgers abruptly changed to a steamy night in the bedroom. Heat slowly crept up her neck as she ripped the paper out of the typewriter and began tearing it into little pieces. Her efforts were meaningless though, if the other two red faces were any indication.

"Oh wow." Millie said softly before looking at Yor. "Is that the type of stuff you and your husband get up to? You've been holding out on us girl!"

"He seems to get a lot of work done at his desk alright." Camilla said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"Leave the poor girl alone." Sharon said from somewhere behind them. "There's a reason why it's called a private life."

"Not when she's typing it here on the typewriter!" Millie shouted back to sharon. She soon heard choking and coughing coming from behind her. She turned to see Sharon setting down her cup of tea and waving at them before making her way over to the trio.

"Do tell." Sharon more so demanded than asked. Yor was effectively surrounded by these hungry vultures as they prepared to feast on the remains of dignity.

"My mind just wandered!" Judge, Jury, and Executioner gazed upon her with looks ranging between delight and pity. "Please don't say anything!"

"Why would we say anything?" Camilla asked, sounding genuine to Yor's ears. "This is the most exciting thing to happen in this office since the secret police showed up last year."

"I never knew your husband could be such a beast." Millie said with a faraway look.

"I was worried that perhaps things weren't going so well at home with all the late hours you've been putting in." Sharon smiled down at Yor. "At least you both can still find time to enjoy each other's company."

"It's-well-I." What could she say to this? Does she deny it? Saying that it is all just a fantasy and this has never happened before. But it seems like this is all normal, like it is almost expected of them to have some depravity in their marriage. "I'm so embarrassed!"

"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Camilla asked. "The amount of times Dominic has thrown me on the table…" She then trails off as all eyes roam to her.

"Go on." Sharon smirks as Camilla blushes before the three of them.

"Mhm." All four women turn at the sound of the man trying to get their attention. A man they all recognize, one more so than the rest. The director stands before them in a fine black suit with a wrinkled face staring down at Yor. "Yor it is time to organize the files in the data room."

"Yes, sir." The other three women walk back to their desk as Yor stands from her seat. The director showed up at the perfect time to save what little remains of her dignity here. She shakes her head to clear her thoughts as she follows the director out of the office. She needs to satiate her lust for Loid somehow.

Hopefully satiating her bloodlust will do the trick.

AN: Another chapter finished! Sorry for the super late chapter, between writing chapter 1 for TMKF, This Magic Known as Family, I also caught covid last week. I was bedridden for a little while, you think that I would be able to get some writing done. Alas, I was too tired to even think about writing. I know it's an excuse, and I hate hearing them as much as the next guy but I hope you can forgive me. Moving on, It seems that Yor will need to outfit herself a little differently here. Hopefully all works out and she can pick up her dress from the dry cleaners soon. She also seems to be letting her mind wander while on the job, well we've all been there. I will be going back and forth between this story and TMKF in update patterns. So, the next update will be that story followed by this one. Thank you for reading, and I will see you in the next one. Ciao!