Angels and Shadows {Private}

[Zan Xi]

Today was a quiet day in the city of Yun Nan. Well, it was relatively quiet, considering how large of a city that Yun Nan was. The people were going on about their business as usual; men and women could be seen crowding around the shops, boys and girls were playing in the streets, the males pretending to be heroes of war, copying their favorite heroes of battle while the girls were the pretend ladies whom the boys battled to gain the favor of. The air even seemed to be copying the mood of the city; though there were clouds in the sky, they moved quickly in a wind that went unnoticed by the crowds many kilometers below.

It should then be unsurprising that a man could walk through these crowds unseen, nearly invisible for all the attention that people payed to him. He was quite a tall individual, towering easily above the women around him and being a few inches taller perhaps than most of the men. His skin, what little could be seen of it, was a milk chocolate brown, being a clear indicator of his heritage. A tattoo placed upon his right cheek would have been further evidence of his descent from the Nanman of Nanzhong had it been totally visible but as it was, covered partially by a dark mask that adorned his face, no one could truly tell that it was even there.

This man moved through the crowds fluidly, weaving in and out through small groups of people like a snake, seemingly without purpose. However, there was indeed a purpose behind these movements, and it was walking away at a pace which suggested nervousness. A rather larger man walked through the crowds, pushing and shoving his way through, which contrasted heavily to the man who was following behind him unnoticed. This man had a rather thuggish appearance, which was rather appropriate considering that he had just stolen around several gold pieces from a shop owner somewhere further in Yun Nan.

Walking into a shaded alleyway, this thuggish man began to count his shiny ill gotten gain, when suddenly he heard the sound of a throat being cleared behind him. He turned around to see a cloaked and masked person behind him. A smile revealed many missing teeth and a look of malevolent intent. Apparently he thought that Heaven had shined upon him, giving him another opportunity to practice his thievery.

"You! That cloak and armor of yours look pretty expensive! Hand em' over quietly and perhaps no one will get hurt!"

The man eagerly patted a large and rather cruel looking sword that he kept strapped to his back. It was easily longer, wider, and thicker than the two black scimitars that the person in front of him wore in two sheathes placed on both of his sides. However, the man in front of him merely chuckled; it was a dark sound that displayed not only amusement, but confidence that the large weapon would be no threat. Slowly, the man looked up and revealed his eyes, and what the thief saw shook him slightly, though he did not know why.

Crimson eyes glared at the man from beneath the hoods' dark folds, examining him with a look that radiated a calm amusement at what the man had just said. Silver-white bangs drifted into the mans' face, but he simply ignored them, still examining the man with a look similar to how one might stare at a young boy that had just threatened physical pain if he were ten years that boys' senior. Finally, after some time of examining his apparently soon to be opponent, the man spoke through his mask, and his voice, though softer than the thief's, was possessed of a subtle malevolence that was much more effective than the the others' loud, boisterous tones.

"Hmm...Tempting though that offer may be, I prefer to keep my cloak and armor where they are; upon my back. However, I have a counter-offer for you. Surrender that money that you stole from the shop-keeper earlier and perhaps I will let you leave with your life and dignity still fully intact. You will only receive this offer once."

The undisguised confidence in the man's voice was a testament to the fact that he was not speaking hollow words, he had given this man full warning that he intended to take back the money that he had stolen, and whether the man lived or not after he had done so was completely up to him. Though no one would be able to see it, he was smiling slightly, though why was only to be known to him for a while.

[Ryou Kin]

The beating heart of Yun Nan is one that everyone should come and experience. So lively here that it shouldn't be that hard from starting a business or just for the visit. Not all parts of this city is bursting with customers. Some parts are dark, abandon, and deserted. In these parts, rules sometimes don't exist here. Rather your playing by someone other person rules. Still, in these very areas money can still be made, by different means.

Not very far from those busy streets, four guys are hidden between two structures of homes. These dark alleys are places that most towns people know never to go through unless forced to. In this dark area, many things could be found or lost here. Could find money here, certain treasure, or even a body, whether dead or alive. Into this place this very moment, those four men seems to be cheering but disappointed about something.

Zooming in the action, they seem to be playing a game of some sort. Throwing some gold coins into a pile, then picking up two small objects into one of the men's hands. Finial bets asked and once approved, the roll. "Awwwww, you ass!" One of the men said in a angered tone of voice. Must be getting tired of losing or something. The man who rolled smiled and laughed at the others. "You have to be cheating or something!?!" another man questioning. "Yeah. Somethings up!" Yet another man said something toward the winning man, accusing him of cheating.

"You three just mad because I am taking your money and suck with luck." That winning man said that trying not to laugh, knowing that it could be the end of taking money away from them. "Let me roll. Then he will roll. If we both roll sevens, your a dead man." From one of these men to say that, he sure is smart. "Fine..." nervous of the outcome of this, the man hands over the dice. The first man grabs the dices, shaking them in his hand.

Throwing them forward, first hitting the ground, off the wall, and back onto the ground. The dice tumble along the ground, slow motion it seems in the winning man's eyes. There, one dice stopped on the four, and then the other on three. "Well look at that!" That winning man just nodded. "Maybe your luck is coming back." saying it in such a smart ass way. "Or maybe your rolling trick dice. Here, your turn!" Reaching out, he poured the dice into the other man's hands. Same as before, rolling and shaking it in his hand onto the ground and off the wall.

While this roll was happening, that winning man stepped back, grabbing the hilt of his sword, preparing to pull it out if his lucks runs out at this very moment. The dice both stopped on the exact numbers it did before, three and four. Those dice were rigged. Melting the material to one side of the dice, gives a better chance for one to get what they most desire, seven. Thats what happens here in the dark alleys in these parts.

Quickly noticing his losing luck and chances, the winning man drew his sword, doing so before those other three losing men have even done so. He slashes down at one guy, cutting his chest open. The very cut leaves a trail of blood down the man's chest, leg, and onto the winning man's feet. Turning around and lifting his weapon back up he cuts another man's throat and neck open, right up to the very jaw bone. Taking a step forward and placing his sword close to his hip, hilt against hip, he thrusts forward stabbing the last losing man in the stomach, pulling it out slowly right after the stab. "Stupid luck..."

Grabbing one of the men's robes, he ripped off a large amount piece to clean his blade. Wiping away the blood from his weapon and folding it to clean his face. The man took his robes off, covered in blood. Throwing it onto the face of one of the dead men he just sliced. Sheathing his sword and grabbing his earnings and dice, the man steps out of the alley. He looked to his left, then right, and back before stepping off, heading to the busy part of the city. He headed through some more dark alleys, not afraid at who ever might even try to rob or kill him.

Yet this alley that he walked into right now, was occupied. Two men. One big guy with a huge sword on his back and another in a mask it seems and dark in color. He carried two swords on his hips and wearing such a cloak that looks pretty slick. Heading to the corner of a wall, the man heads his body. He wondered if he should just continue a different way or just watch. Leaning back over he peeked around the corner, gazing on both men, figuring that a fight would happen. "Lets see what will happen."

[Zan Xi]

The threat that the cloaked man had made earlier had the effect of making the thief pause and contemplate his actions. Maybe it was the way that the hooded mans' red eyes stared at him, maybe it was the undisguised confidence in his voice, or perhaps it was something else about the man, something that the thief could not hope to place; either way, he was beginning to have some doubts about continuing with his earlier plan. Then the thief reached with his hand and the huge sword that he always carried around with him. It filled him with confidence that the cloaked man was simply bluffing. Yeah, he had to have been bluffing! The same smile revealed yet again a lack of several teeth and also a near lack of fear. A near lack, but there was still a small shake in his voice when he spoke at first.

"Nice try! I know that you ain't strong enough to hurt me!"

So saying, the large thief drew his weapon, rather quickly for its size, and held it at the ready. It seemed that there was going to be an inevitable fight. With a sigh, the cloaked man reached down. The thief thought for sure that he was reaching for one of his black scimitars, and so was highly confused when the mans' hand passed the weapon and kept going lower until it finally reached a dagger, which he drew out of its sheath on his leg. The man calmly brought forth the dagger to bear and gestured with his hand as if to say: 'Waiting on you.' A mocking smile was present on his lips, and though it went unseen by the thief, there was no denying that it was there by the look in his eyes.

"You have got to be kidding! What are ya going to do with that?"

The thief stared incredulously for a moment, then decided that the cloaked man was either very brave or very stupid. Never once did it occur to him that the man might simply be silently taunting him. With a shake of his head, the man ran forward and brought the sword down in a large arc. To give him credit, had that blow actually connected the cloaked man would have been cut clean in half and the battle would have been over. However, when the sword finished its arc, it was obvious that this was not to be the case. The metal struck the ground where the cloaked mans' body had been but a second ago, and the entire sword vibrated accordingly. The man looked around with an undisguised look of confusion, trying to find where the man had apparently disappeared to. His unasked question was answered not a moment later when a sharp pain blossomed from the middle of his back and spread to encompass his torso with the central point of the pain being the original point wherein the dagger penetrated the skin and muscle.

The man turned around, screaming out in pain and rage. His sword was swung in a horizontal arc this time, but that too proved to be quite futile. Again the man simply was not there. A dark chuckle revealed that again the cloaked man had managed to get behind him without his noticing. Another sharp pain in his back told the thief that he had been stabbed by yet another dagger. Breathing heavily and losing both blood and focus, the man tried one last time, keeping his eyes locked onto the man to attempt to make sure that he didn't get behind him again. One more swing...

The cloaked man simply jumped back this time, not even bothering to expend the effort required to get behind his attacker. With a curious arm motion and a flick of the wrist, a bright steel sheen revealed that he more than just the two daggers that he commonly kept on his legs. The thief's mouth opened and the look in his eyes was pure fear. He looked almost ready to beg for mercy, but at this point it was far too late. The steel flashed with another flick of the cloaked mans' wrist and a second later all that could be seen of the dagger was the hilt that stuck out of the thief's chest. The sword fell to the ground with a loud clang and shortly after afterward the man fell down next to it. The cloaked man sighed and walked up to his felled opponent. He felt his attackers' pulse and determined that the man was still alive, if unconscious.

"Impressive. Three knives in you and you yet live. Then again, I was not aiming for your vital organs. Perhaps someone will come and find you here in this place before you bleed to death...perhaps not. I have what I came for so it matters not to me."

Reaching for the mans' waist, the cloaked man collected the bag that contained the gold pieces and stood up. He casually began to count the coins before simply attaching the bag to his waist and walking away. Before he had gone more than five steps however, he turned his head slightly. He had a few words to say to the bandit that lay on the ground behind him losing consciousness.

"At least let it be known that I am not unnecessarily cruel; I left the knives in your body so that the blood loss would be lessened. If you manage to recover, you might take a word of advice from the man who defeated you: Find a new way to make money, because banditry is more for people like me than for people like you."

With that, he turned his head back forward and began to walk towards the way that he had come in. On the way out, he began to whistle lightly to himself a little tune...

[Ryou Kin]

"Another bandit huh..." thinking to himself of what the man just said. This guy was amazing with his movements. impressive at that. Surly such a character have to be doing more than just robbing the robers. The cloaked man left him in shock of the outcome of the fight. Such a waste of a big guy, but he is most useless anyway. Leaning over some more, the cloaked warrior begins to walk away. The man threw his hood upon his head, turning around the corner and moving to the big guy. The man kneels beside him, reaching out for one of the handels on the daggers.

Grabbing it, pulling it out of his flesh and throwing it against a wall. "You know. For a bandit or theif at that, you suck at it." saying this with such a grim voice. He then moved around to another blade, kneeling once more. Such a big guy, he really did know how to take a hit, or in this case, three daggers. Gripping another dagger, the man pulled this out even slower, chucking as he did so. "So weak you are." standing onto both feet while talking. "Have a better life....or after life anyway." Dropping the dagger right next to the man's face. Death shall be with him soon.

Its been a couple of minutes now. Meeting this cloaked man was his next intrust. Right out of the alley and into the sun and bursting streets of Yun Nan. Looking for a dark skin, black hooded man shouldnt be that hard to find. There he was, walking away threw the crowds of the people, blending in with them. Glancing behind him and checking that big guy one more time, he smiled and started to follow this unknown character with talent. Eyes locked onto his target.

Moving through crowds of people is a hassile to deal with when following someone. This follower jumped in a group of men and women alike. Sticking close to them, blending in, as if he belonged in that group. Not long they split into a different direction than his target. Gently shoving the crowd to the side as he pushes through, he tries to make his self unnoticable. Yet, moving people out of the way is reveals of his following. Just a little further he found another group heading in the same direction. Moving slowing into it, he stayed on the back, gazing over their shoulders and still following this man.

"I'll wonder where he is going..."

[Zan Xi]

The cloaked man maneuvered through the crowds of Yun Nan with a small smile upon his face. He was still whistling his relatively macabre tune to himself as he did so. People stopped to look at him once or twice, but he did not particularly mind. Perhaps it was an aura of victory that was radiating from him that was drawing such attention? After a few minutes of apparently aimless wandering through the city, he stopped at a rather unassuming shop. In truth it was a small weapons' shop, one that specialized in daggers of various shapes and sizes. After exchanging words and coins with the shop owner, the cloaked man received ten small throwing daggers and two rather larger ones that he slipped into the sheathes strapped to his legs.

After this, he went back outside and looked around as though he were looking for something. He looked around for a few moments before shrugging and continuing his journey through the crowds. The cloak on his back billowed slightly in the wind, which was becoming more powerful and more noticeable. In fact, this wind nearly blew the hood off which protected his white hair from curious eyes.

Eventually, the cloaked one turned sharply and entered into another alleyway, being similar to and yet extremely different from the first. Here he stood still and looked up, appearing for all the world to simply be amused by the clouds that were floating overhead. However, one who was skilled in body language would easily be able to tell that he was looking at the clouds without actually seeing them. Rather, his attention was somewhere else entirely...

[Ryou Kin]

Continuing through the busy streets of Yun Nan, one man follows another, seeking to know a little more of his target. He has been following him for a little while now, jumping from different crowds of people after another. With groups of four or more he blended it well enough to seem as if he was their friends. At times those groups break away from his target's path, either hopping into another group that is head in the same direction or moving through the crowds on his own. Moving through on his own he gently grab the person, pushing them away just a little. Nothing much at all.

Grabbing their shoulder, arm, or even their waist to move through the crowds. He might even turn a certain way, as if moving on the edge of a cliff or in between a tight space. All of this just so he would not make his self noticeable or putting his position in jeopardy. The follower would hide behind the heads of other people or even duck quickly if he had to. He has been following this man for a while now, seems like this guy don't know where he wants to go at all. Not that far down the roads of this bursting city, the cloaked man turned to a shop.

Not stopping so he would not be notice or be suspicious, he turned to a shop right across from the other. He was not bugged or anything due to the employee being busy with a customer. Looking down at his goods, he slightly turned his head, keeping an eye on his target. The follower turn back and forth at times, watching closely at what he was buying. Really couldn't make out much, due to the distance, the people, and for that cloaked character being inside. Thinking back at the alley back behind the, he figured that he was buying more daggers, but he could be wrong.

Finishing buying whatever he had, both men continued down the path. One still following the other. Not far down this path the men took, the wind began to pick up, blowing harder as they try to continue. Holding his own hood, the cloaked man quickly turned and moved into a alley. Noticing this, he pushed a group over to the side, causing a commotion in the process. "I think he noticed me..." Still holding his hood and stepping into the alley, he locks his eyes onto the man, questioning why the man is looking up at the sky.

"Nice work back there in the alley..." saying this with a bit of cockiness in his tone, and resting his hand on his sword's hilt on his left side of the hip. Taking his other hand, he takes off his hood, revealing his face to the dark cloaked figure that stands in front of him.

[Zan Xi]

The clouds high overhead were moving a little bit slower now. The winds had died down, becoming closer to gentle breezes than the moderately strong passing wind that had just been occurring. One of the clouds, a relatively large one that seemed to stretch to encompass more area than any other cloud in the sky, passed over the sun, casting a shadow over the city below. Meanwhile, within that very city, a cloaked man watched the entire process with a stare that suggested that he was looking at the clouds without really seeing them. Finally, after some moments had passed, the man began to hear footsteps approaching behind him.

"Nice work back there in the alley..."

The cloaked man turned around, somewhat slowly though not so much as to be excruciatingly time consuming about the action. He looked at the man who had just appeared in the alleyway with something akin to curiosity in his eyes for a moment before reaching up. With a quick hand motion, he removes his hood, doing as the stranger before him had done not five seconds hence. This revealed his face, his silver-white hair, and his red eyes, which were now examining the man before him.

"I had the feeling that I was being followed, and now I know why. You like what I did in the alley? Thanks, I don't get too many compliments on my work."

Using the same hand that he used for his hood, the cloaked man pulled down his mask. This revealed the tribal tattoo that adorned the right side of his face in its full glory. Also, revealed a slightly amused smile to fit the voice that he had just been using to speak. However, the amusement ended rather abruptly within a few moments, and a look of confusion spread across his features.

"Well, as much as I appreciate the compliment, it does beg a certain question: Why have you been following me? Apparently since that brawl in the alley no less?"

[Ryou Kin]

A over cast, blocking the rays of the sun, darken the alley, making both characters pretty dark but still enough to make out their facial features. The features of this man before him was something that he really have not seen ever in his life. White silver hair, crimson blood eyes, dark tan skin, and a tat on the right side of his face. A most shocking person to meet. Eyeing up and down this man's body, he inspects the person. Stance, postier, his weapons, almost everything except of whats behind him.

Very different than many others in this country, still he himself is different also. Light skin with a tan, brown eyes, short brown hair, just two very different people than most. Taking his hand off the hilt of his sword he rest his left arm on it instead. The other hand laid at ease beside him, seeming well relaxed in front of this man. "I had the feeling that I was being followed, and now I know why. You like what I did in the alley? Thanks, I don't get too many compliments on my work." A very small smirked slowly appeared on his face. The man shrugged his body, as if he didnt know what the man was talking about, but he very well did.

"Well, as much as I appreciate the compliment, it does beg a certain question: Why have you been following me? Apparently since that brawl in the alley no less?"

The man was silent for a minute or two, just staring at the dark man in front of him. He looked down as if trying to remember something, then looking right up to the very clouds that is blocking the sun. The chances he thought of. The trust he seeks. "Maybe because I saw something that intrest me. No doubt you have skills, expectually with daggers." saying this while lowing his head and looking at the man. "You said something about 'banditry'. I myself am a bandit, or merc, or outlaw. I am many things but so are many others."

Turning his body to the side he looked down at the ground. Thinking about something even harder. Puzzeled he may be. "Seriously. What do you plan on doing after this very moment? Your skills can be used for more useful things than wounding or killing wanna be theives." He turn back at the man, taking a step forward, still showing no sign of a threat towards him.

[Zan Xi]

The cloaked man held his expression of confusion for some moments before allowing it to be replaced by one that spoke of mild curiosity. The person before him seemed to be thinking; about what, the cloaked one could only guess. In this time, examinations were made and opinions were formed, at least half of each being done by the cloaked man. He stared at the man who had followed him into the alleyway, examining what he looked like, if examining would be the correct term to use.

Light skin, brown eyes, and short brown hair caught the most attention where the man was concerned. The cloaked man chuckled silently to himself. Here before him was a man who possessed traits that were uncommon in these lands. However, there was no denying the fact that of the two, his features were the more...rare? Unique? Exotic? Soon the cloaked man began to lose concentration as his mind drifted off into finding the correct word to define his features compared to the features of most of the people that he met in his travels. Soon however, he was brought back to the topic at hand when the man in front of him began to speak.

"Maybe because I saw something that intrest me. No doubt you have skills, expectually with daggers. You said something about 'banditry'. I myself am a bandit, or merc, or outlaw. I am many things but so are many others."

The cloaked man looked at him with a more curious expression. It did not surprise him to meet another bandit; rather he was surprised to learn that this one had an interest in him. The other man turned his body and looked back down at the ground, as though he had gone into deep thought about a confusing issue. Without a long time passing however, he began to speak again.

"Seriously. What do you plan on doing after this very moment? Your skills can be used for more useful things than wounding or killing wanna be theives."

At this the cloaked man had his turn to look down at the ground for a moment. He saw nothing particularly exciting or helpful; the answers were unfortunately not written there in the dirt beneath him. For several moments he thought about what his plans were, then shrugged, looking back up at the other man, who had taken a step towards him.

"To be honest, I do not particularly have a plan. Wandering has been good to me up to this point, and I suppose that wandering was to be my short term destiny for a while longer, doing mercenary work to support myself. However, it sounds as though you have a much better plan in mind..?"

An unspoken question of name had been attached to the end of the sentence. As long as the two men were getting onto such subjects as plans, introductions seemed to be in at least slight order.

[Ryou Kin]

Stepping back, the thoughts of all he has done flow through his mind. Wandering for a few months now is all he has done, just in the same position as the other man. For a while now, wandering the lands of china just seems to be all he has done. Meeting other men who joined him for whatever reason they did. Though he have men that act like they are loyal and two other men who will kill the world for this man. These two things really didnt mean anything to him. He needed something more, trust, better yet a trusted partner. Someone that have the same goals and help eachother out.

Facing away from that bright haired man, he begins to walk away from the man. Right at the corner or edge of the alleyway he looks at the different people that walks pass them. Never met or had the opportunity with anyone else as this. Having partnerships is one thing but the trust is the only issue. He never turns back over to the man, still looking out at the many people that cross over. Taking his hand, he places it on the wall beside him, leaning on it to relax. "Going to ask you a question. its fully up to you if you want to agree with me or not."

Taking his hand off the wall and leaning back over to his orginial stance, he looked down again. Breathing in slowly, relaxing his mind and body, he turns back around facing the man once again. "Lets work together as Mercs. Out here in these times, bandits are better off working together with one another rather than alone. So this is my offer to you from another bandit. Do you accept or what?"

[Zan Xi]

The brown haired man took a step back, another thought filled expression coming to his face. He seemed to be once more and again deep into his own thoughts. What these thoughts were, the cloaked man had no idea, though he could venture to take a few guesses and he probably would have been correct by perhaps the third. Eventually the other merc turned away from him and began to walk toward the entrance to the alleyway. He seemed to be staring at the people who were going past. As expected, only a very few people looked back at him, and even fewer looked deeper into the alleyway to see the man with the billowing cloak that stood further in, basking in the wind and shadows that were present therein.

After some time had passed, the man in the entrance to the alleyway began to speak again, and the cloaked man listened intently, being thoroughly intrigued at this point.

"Going to ask you a question. its fully up to you if you want to agree with me or not."

Though he could guess without difficulty the gist of the question, the cloaked man preferred his fellow mercenary take his time and gather his thoughts together to ask it. After some moments had passed, his patience was rewarded as he was revealed to have been correct in his assumption. The brown haired man turned himself back around and offered him a partnership; one between bandits for the cause of making things easier for each other.

The cloaked man took a few steps forward, speaking to his fellow bandit as he did so.

"You have a good point; bandits these days are better off forming groups than trying to rape and pillage by themselves and mercs tend to find work easier in groups. The Three Kingdoms capture lone bandits everyday, finding such a thing to be simple at best. However, these same Kingdoms find capturing groups of bandits more challenging, and hiring the same people as mercenaries to be much more appealing. As such, I accept your offer; let us work together in the hopes that doing so will offer high fame and even high rewards."

By the time that he was finished, the cloaked man was actually slightly past his new partner, and had to turn slightly to face him. However, at this point he drew his mask up to cover his face and he brought up his hood to cover his hair, making him once more into his more shadowy appearance.

"I take it that we shall not remain here for an extended period of time my new ally and thus I shall await you outside the city, to the north a few miles away. I have to collect about four hundred 'friends' that I left outside before we can truly begin our journey. Oh, and before I forget to mention, my name is Zan Xi. However, those who speak of me in the bandit circles, and those who wish to contract my services tend to know me by my other name: The Shadow of Yun Nan. I look forward to traveling with you."

With that, Zan Xi turned around and began to walk slowly into the crowds, not knowing if the bandit in the alleyway was going to follow him or conduct business in the city first, if there was any business to be conducted.

[Ryou Kin]

The question has been asked, an offering hand that most merc partnerships that rarely happen. Mostly all mercs, bandits, outlaws, criminals, and so on are selfish for their own wealth and growth of strength. Yet this two very men agree to it, putting their selfish ways aside and becoming parallel with each other. Already turned around facing this cloaked man, his head locks on him, watching him and slowly moving his head as he walks towards him.

"You have a good point; bandits these days are better off forming groups than trying to rape and pillage by themselves and mercs tend to find work easier in groups. The Three Kingdoms capture lone bandits everyday, finding such a thing to be simple at best. However, these same Kingdoms find capturing groups of bandits more challenging, and hiring the same people as mercenaries to be much more appealing. As such, I accept your offer; let us work together in the hopes that doing so will offer high fame and even high rewards."

The man walked passed him slightly and the very words of agreement sealed the deal. Turning his head slightly so he could show that he is still listening, the brown haired man nodded his head in full agreement with his new partner. Partnerships as this will make things much easier, finding work, earning more money, protecting one another, just more things to gain. Against each other, nothing to gain but more negatives than positives for men that roam alone. These two will fly higher than any other bandit group.

The cloaked man began to suit up, mask on and hood up. This only showed that he was about to depart and continue on with things outside of this dark alleyway. Coping his partner, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a bandanna, black one at that. Wrapping it around his face, below his nose, tying it around the back of his head and then throwing up his own hood.

"I take it that we shall not remain here for an extended period of time my new ally and thus I shall await you outside the city, to the north a few miles away. I have to collect about four hundred 'friends' that I left outside before we can truly begin our journey. Oh, and before I forget to mention, my name is Zan Xi. However, those who speak of me in the bandit circles, and those who wish to contract my services tend to know me by my other name: The Shadow of Yun Nan. I look forward to traveling with you."

In mid sentence, the hooded men face the same way, brown haired one still slightly behind the other. He Couldn't say too much but just shook his head in agreement once more. With his new partner, Zan Xi, Shadow of Yun Nan, it would only be proper if he also give his name.

"Names Ryou Kin, The Angel of Death. Shadow. I shall meet you in a few hours. I have to get some supplies for my guys. See you when I see you."

Kin said this while walking with Zan, exiting the alley and cutting a different way than his new found partner. Though both men were going a different way and not 'together' they both had to take care of things on their own sometimes.

[Zan Xi]

[Topic End]