February, 23rd, 1935

Location: Leningrad, Russia

Pre-War

It's ironic to think…After everything that happened, 7 years ago…I had been stripped away from my father, stripped away from everything that I was supposed to have in a normal childhood. And here I am, Working as a Welder for metal, Over time it was a daunting job, But I've become accustomed to it, I've even managed to begin working on drawing out schematics to replicate my Hidden Blade. The things I did in my spare time was simple. It consisted of me training, with the harsh lessons that my father bestowed upon me.

Outside of the small Welding shop stood someone who was recalled as a major target. One that the Russian Brotherhood had been searching for. Despite the threats that they were going to bestow upon him, He had enough sense to know that nothing would even begin to be as threatening as what was to happen in the future. Still, Kenya managed to sketch out the specific parts, Such as the sliding action which allowed the blade to spring forth upon reflex movement. There was also the creation of a new blade design that he had wanted to try, Contrary to the one his father had. While placing the pieces together. Kenya had calmly screwed in the pieces along the sides until the bolts had been tightened. The shop-owner if he saw this would most likely destroy it. Considering it a waste of materials. As Innokenti placed away the incomplete project. He had eventually walked over to the window sill. Eyes watching as citizen's had been moving to their allotted locations. This was honestly so strange. He had never been exposed to so many people. Even over the course of his years in Russia. It was still no less strange. Though disturbing him from his curiosity had been an unlikely young woman, A youth much like himself ironically she was the Shop Owner's daughter. The woman appeared to be wearing a long dark green dress and fashioned shoes that clicked as she downed the small stair case.

"Vy vse yeshche na , Keniya?" – "You are still up Kenya?"

The natural dialect had been Russian, Despite so, Innokenti had never truly lost his native tongue.

" YA ... no pochemu ty zdes' ? Yesli tvoy otets ponimayet, chto vy zdes' . On ne budet schastliv. "- "I am...but why are you here? If your father knew were here. He will not be happy."

That's when he saw her, she had a sort of playful air come around her features. Her hands moving over the objects that was left in Innokenti's personal area. That's when he hastily walked over preventing her from even making contact with the Hidden Blade he had been working on.

"Chto eto?" – "What is it."

Innokenti stated in a growl, this attitude eventually caused the young woman to remove her hand from the items laid strewn on his workbench. It appeared that he managed to hurt her feelings. And he could see it in her face. Glossy brown eyes looking down in sadness.

"YA kak raz sobiralsya tebe skazat'. YA sdelal vam pishchu . Tak kak moy otets ne khochet vy yedite s nami." - "I was just going to tell you. I made you some food. Since my father doesn't want you eat with us."

The male blinked, a small sigh coming from his gullet as his eyes traveled to meet her own.

"I appreciate it….Was there anything else you wanted to speak with me about?"

Unlike before, Kenya had been picking his words wisely. Keeping a gentle tone with the female as she nodded to his request. Removing from behind her back had been a pendant that she managed to create, apparently she got the skill from her father. That's when she showed it to him. It was an item that had the shape of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Cross. Innokenti had been far from religious, but he accepted this gift none the less.

"Thank you."

He was sure this had been it, though he clenched the small item in his hand before taking a thin bendable wire and looping it through the ends until it created a necklace for him to wear. Placing such around his neck, He'd lightly down at the item on his chest. Staring at it for a brief moment until he looked back up. A slight blush came from her face. He could easily see it. Infatuation with him, And like many he could easily take advantage of the situation if he so chose to. And he had to think carefully before his next course of actions. That was. Until she revealed to him a newspaper, ironically it held information critical to what was going on between both Russia and Germany. More specifically information with Germany.

"Germany has a Fuhrer now…Things are becoming…radical there. Just a bit more than here. Still, I'm worried something is going to change our world. Something beyond our comprehension. My family is deciding if we should move to America. If we do, we'll have more of an opportunity to start this business without being taxed so much by our government. We'll also be relatively safer. I've been saving enough money up. So that you can also come with us."

Innokenti's eyes had enlarged as he stared at the paper. He had his opportunity to stay in Germany. Revoking it had been for a reason. Sighing in response to her had been what he could offer for now. That was, until he finally gave a straight answer.

"I can't…I have a duty to find someone really important to me. I have to do that first..."

The look of hurt crossed her face again, this was typical, and Still, He then began to reassure her.

"If I don't find these two people. I'll never know the truth. I'm sorry."

He for one could see a smile on her face. She probably thought he meant a woman he loved. Despite such a misconception, Innokenti focused all of his attention on the newspaper wondering what to make of the situation. Still before he could even raise a question to meet the demand he had been having for those few minutes. Something soft and supple touched his lips. It was…the girl. Their connection remained whole for a few moments more. Until she calmly latched her hand against Kenya's unshaven face. In the process of deepening that kiss. He'd lightly pull away denying her any more advancing. "Nadia…We can't." There was too much at stake for him to be attaching his feelings to anyone. This was the result of living his life as a hermit on the account of his father. Kenya could hear her turning away quietly walking as he heard the door close from the stairway.

"Chyort."

The male's frustration had been eating him, still, since he had free time to continue this plight. Innokenti's hand etched upwards to pull down the remaining pieces for his unfinished hidden blade. The one his father possessed had been damaged and this one here had been a replica of that model. Well, until he could find more worth taking. As he fitted the sharpened piece of metal into the groove before locking it in place. He'd screw in the remaining bolts to make sure it had been tight. Flicking his wrist a blade, the blade automatically responded to that involuntary movement. A smile of accomplishment ran over his features almost as if this had been a long time in the making. The construction of her hidden blade had virtually completed, with it done the blade had been wider than the one his father possessed. To which he'd have to redraw the schematics for that one as well. Patiently connecting the belt loops of the weapon across his forearm. He'd fasten it before marveling at his work.

"If father was alive, He'd be a proud man."

That said, Kenya eventually stood from his position in order to take a day outside of his work place. There were a few abandoned locations that had been without people. Or so he had thought, whilst making his way outside of the doorway. Innokenti would be exposed to the world of communist Leningrad. Still, His idea with politics had become as fickle as the times. Capitalism and Communism had been ideas that virtually could lead to the destruction of whomever abused their ways. Well, He didn't have the time to actually make sense of the situation. Though as his form walked down the street. A constant pace as his eyes tracked the sidewalk adjacent to the street. There would be military police guarding certain locations only authorized by the government. The only good thing about the entirety of the country had been that the Templars had been incapable of taking over Russia with their agents and ideology. Virtually it was safe for Innokenti at least for the time being.

Drawing the distance had been silent, though he did manage to make his way towards a rather open field overlooking a small barn. Kenya had traveled far ways just too actually find a suitable location to actually train. There was only a few days out of the week that he had to himself to actually place his attention on this. From what his father taught him, the lesson was to never allow your enemy to get the upper hand. The basis for this had been to completely give your enemy hell. There was also the brutality that he had been instilled with. He could remember it like it was yesterday. Innokenti had trained under harsh conditions, Every time he failed. The threat of punishment had been eating meager meals which were unsuitable to even a bum. It was the psychological effect that Nikolai had given him. To be fierce when the time determined it. Still, with the scarecrows which were planted close to the ground. Kenya rubbed his red hair before removing the jacket from his upper body. Flexing the muscles in his left arm once more, The Hidden Blade sprout forth. Testing the mechanism to make sure it had not been faulty. After all, it would be bad if such happened in the course of a fight. As his blue hues tracked the 3 scarecrows, a sequence of events ensued.

Going for the most basic of take downs, Innokenti sprinted forth with a desire to make his way to that first stationary target. Like cutting the wind with his body, the male's hand flexed quickly with easy succession which with a decent pull back came his hand. The Arm blade shifted from his hip to the midsection of the scarecrow. There was a distinct piercing sound which hit his practice target in a decent location. Tilting his head in curiosity. He'd slowly pull his arm away which was stuck all the way to the wood.

Amazing…My arm strength has gotten better over the years, I didn't expect for it to have that much impact force on a scare crow. Maybe I should work on my hand to hand. It's not like I have a distinct fighting style. But it would be good to devise something that actually works for my defense.

Studying the scarecrow, All Innokenti could've done was go with basic strikes, While starting his form had been somewhat sloppy, It wasn't refined or anything that looked remotely eloquent. Still, the male wasn't discouraged, After all it had just been the beginning. While eyeing the Scarecrow viciously, Kenya thought of something that could be to his benefit. As his form came upwards to the scarecrow, He'd begin to strike it violently until his knuckles ran red with crimson. Damn this hurts... It was a training exercise for his mind, to numb his sensitivity to pain to a setting as low as possible. It was hard but if he could do it for his hands it would be worth a lot for his future. He continued to etch memory into every strike, a knee to the wood certainly hurt once he tried it. This however discouraged him from even attempting anymore. Looking to the sky he could see that it had already fallen into the pitch black nature of night.

"I suppose it's time for me to head home…"

A light question of such had been the first thing that came to mind as his form slipped away from the practice field. With his stride that took him home. Kenya eventually placed up his coat and also managed to dress casually for the evening. It was the best he could do to enjoy his night. Looking over to his work bench he could see something wrapped up placed underneath his side lamp. It was classic pot roast and potatoes, The savory scent of beef wafted into his nostrils, While making his way over to the table he'd uncover the plate before taking a seat down to eat. Next to it had been a note which was written and left by none other than Nadia herself.

'Moya mat' sdelala nekotoryye zharkoye , kak vy mozhete videt', ya popytalsya sprosit' moyego ottsa , chtoby izbavit' kazhetsya, on avtomaticheski predpolozhil, chto ya govoril o poluchenii vam chast' . Aheh Nadeyus', vam ponravitsya yedu' – Nadya

'My mother made some pot roast as you can see, I tried to ask my father to spare some, He automatically assumed I was speaking of getting you a portion. Aheh I hope you enjoy the meal' – Nadia

With his eyes analyzing the meat he'd, Cut into the meat with his fork. Taking a taste of the tender meat before chewing abruptly. Unaware that this world would be changing. Not for the better, But forces of mass destruction had already held sights of mass migration into Russia. Not friendly as he'd like to have known. Innokenti had be preparing for such. His skills had to reach a certain peak of he ever wanted to be a true fighter.

Though before he knew it, the platter had been clean, eaten completely, it appeared that his indecisive nature would become a true hindrance to him. Still, the male recovered the plate before making way to his bed. In the process of doing such he'd remove his shoes and his hat before laying down on the small twin frame. Extending his form back across the resting space he'd close his eyes falling into the recesses of sleep. The ensuing dream that followed was nightmarish. It was as if the primordials had been giving him yet another vision. It appeared that Kenya had been further into his life with this dream. There him meeting the Mentor of the modern day assassins. Yet upon doing so, His hand reacted violently and stabbed the man directly in his adams apple. The Hidden blade in the vision was intricate, Very well made and held tribal symbols much like a lion or an eagle. Still he watched this dream as he appeared to jump out of the window from such a far height.

Leap of faith

These were the first word's that came to mind when he felt himself hitting the surface of the water. That's when the dream ceased, and with it came the dawn of the morn it hadn't been too specific on what the dream's significance had been. Though it was probably something he rather forget. Then as it was. Still, the male spent his time at this Welding business, Knowing full-well of the futility of what could happen, with the promise of conflict that would be coming. Kenya knew that his fate could be determined.