Disclaimer: I do not own Akame Ga Kill! or any of its characters.
Chapter 1: Prologue
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The sound of wooden swords clashing can be heard from afar. Out in a clearing in the woods, you can see two men in a deadlock.
One man, clearly the oldest, stood at around 6 feet; heavy build; black hair with white, most likely due to aging, with determined honey brown eyes Currently dressed in long pants with some holes in and a dirtied and ragged shirt. His name is Tyler Graves, age 47; former lieutenant for the empire and known for his strength and charisma.
He led the army to fight against a camp, housed by the Revolutionary Army, along with the Ice Queen General Esdeath. The empire's army suffered little causality while the Rebels at the camp were utterly decimated.
It was during this time that he noticed the darkness and corruption of the empire. Mothers screaming for their kids, blood being splattered on the ground, children crying, and the downpour of rain against the ground.
Tyler stood shocked and disgusted at the sight before him. It was at that moment he decided that he would leave the empire for good. However, due to the empire and the soldiers there fearing that if he leaves he would become a part of the Revolutionary Army, they tried to kill him.
Luckily, he hid out in the woods and spent a few nights in a village. After he left, he heading south and found a clearing and decided to start life anew and starting working on building a cabin.
The man opposite Tyler gave off a bone-chilling aura. He was in his teen years; more specifically he was at the age of 16. He had light brown hair and piercing green eyes that sent chills up your spines when you stare at them. He was standing at 5 feet 5 inches and dressed long pants and no shirt. Adjourning his chest is a slight 6 back, a "V" that dips down into his pants and many small to medium scars, telling a tale of combat.
His name is Tatsumi.
CLANG!
"Hahaha it seems just like yesterday, you couldn't survive 30 seconds with me and now we have fought for the better part of an hour" Tyler said.
Tatsumi chuckles "Oh don't remind me, I remember those times clear enough... Yeah, we should take a break. I'm sweating like a pig."
Tyler nods his head "Sure, we can take a 10 minute break and get some water, but after that we continue. I want to see if you're ready enough to head out to the Empire."
Both men break away and proceed to head toward the cabin that is just in view. The two continue to walk in silence until Tyler breaks it "So, do you have any information on the sword you found last month?" 'Oh great, this again' Tatsumi thought dryly.
The sword is a mystery in itself on a whole other level. The sword is a katana in an obsidian black sheath with green sakura leaves trailing down towards the handle. The handle braid is black, but underneath it stands a gold dragon ornament. Anybody who looked at the sword would assume it would be worth a fortune.
Tatsumi found it one day while going out to hunt danger beasts. He killed a couple of them before he felt, almost like a tug, towards the mountains towards the east. He followed the "tug" and soon found himself at the base of a small-sized mountain. The mountain stood easily at about two hundred fifty feet.
However, feeling determined to find out what the "tug" was he started to climb it. It took nearly two and a half hours to climb the mountain and it led him at the foot of an entrance to a cave inside the mountain itself. Luckily, the sun was still out so he could make out what's inside the cave. When he started to near the end of it he came across a pack of six horned tiger danger beasts and what they seemed to be guarding… A sword? Tatsumi easily dispatched of the pack of danger beasts and made his way towards the sword that almost seemed to be calling him. He picked it up and unsheathed the blade to find an engraving at the foot of the gleaming blade.
This sword once thrived, but now it is lost...
Tatsumi took the blade and pondered on the meaning of the words Noting that he stood out longer than he should have he immediately headed back to Tyler's cabin.
"Hey Tatsumi... you listening to me?" Tyler inquired giving him a suspicious look. Tatsumi shook his head to get rid of his thoughts
"Yes, I am. I was just thinking of the time I found the sword. As for if l found any more information on the sword, then no. I asked a couple of people around the area I found it and they said they haven't had a clue where it came from" Tatsumi replied back noting that they are at the cabin Tyler and Tatsumi go into the cabin and go straight to the kitchen to get the already filled bucket.
The cabin is medium-sized, big enough or two people, and has cozy feeling to it. The inside of the cabin was very simple. Hardwood floors, a couch that could easily fit three people, some paintings on the wall of nature, a small kitchen with a stove, and two medium-sized bedrooms down the hall of the kitchen.
Tyler got two cups that were on the table in the kitchen and filled with water. Tatsumi gladly took the cup and began to drink greedily, finishing the cup in a few seconds.
"Jeez, Tatsumi... didn't know you were that thirsty" Tyler commented. Tatsumi sat the cup down on the table and gave Tyler a of pure sarcasm.
"Oh, well you know when you are fighting with an ex-lieutenant of the Imperial Guard with neither side gaining an upper hand... you can get dehydrated very quick" Tatsumi said with a degree of sternness in his voice. Tyler looked at Tatsumi for a moment before his booming laughter rebounded off the walls.
"Hahahaha… oh Tatsumi you never seem to amaze me with your way of speaking" Tyler said reducing his laughter to a moderate chuckle. They both sat in silence until Tatsumi broke it "Well, we should get back to the clearing to continue our spar." Tyler nodded eagerly.
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Tatsumi and Tyler made it back to the clearing they were at before, making small talk along the way. They both walked over to their wooden swords and picked them up and dropping into a ready stance "Well, Tatsumi..." Tyler started "Let's get started!"
Both sides immediately dashed at each other with blinding speed, their wooden swords in tow.
Their swords clashed into a deadlock before Tyler pushed Tatsumi off and attempted a horizontal strike at his stomach. Tatsumi easily dodged the swing, while redirecting it and leaving an opening at Tyler's right side. Tyler barely saw Tatsumi attempt a thrust into his exposed side, but he managed to roll to left while simultaneously gaining some breathing room to plan his next plan of attack.
"Almost had me there, eh Tatsumi?" Tyler asked with a hint of pride in his voice. Tyler was met by cold, dead, green orbs staring back at him 'This always happens...' Tyler thought.
Whenever, Tatsumi is in a battle or even a spar he succumbs to his want to kill. Tyler was about to say something else, but was nearly hit by a wooden sword that barely missed his head.
Stepping back a few steps, Tyler his greeted by a barrage of swings which were getting faster by the second. 'How the hell is he swinging so fast?' Tyler thought curiously. Since the blows were steadily gaining speed, the swings were mostly dodged or locked.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The flurry of swings were stopped by a deadlock, however it was more like a battle of dominance. Both sides were equal in strength, until Tyler put another hand on the handle of his wooden sword and started to exert more force. Tatsumi was took an involuntary step back, due to the amount of force, Tyler's sword was applying.
Tatsumi's arms were shaking slightly desperately trying to push through Tyler's strength.'Even after all my training I still can't beat Tyler in a duel.' Tatsumi thought helplessly, while his mind drifted back to that time of his life.
'NO!' Tatsumi thought angrily. "Like hell, I'm going to give up that easily!' Tatsumi screamed in his head while putting another hand on his sword handle. It's time eradicate the corruption of the EMPIRE! I owe it to everybody from my village!' Tatsumi yelled in his mind and started to exert more strength, causing Tyler's eyes to widen as he was taking steps back at the force Tatsumi was applying.
"And to clean the injustice of this world!" Tatsumi yelled out as he broke from the deadlock and dodged Tyler's overhead strike. Tatsumi rolled to the right and hit Tyler's sword as it came up, hard enough to make Tyler's grip on the sword loosen. 'This is my chance!' Tatsumi thought as he swiped with all of his strength causing it to fly nearly ten feet in the air before falling to the ground Tatsumi immediately hit Tyler in the stomach with his sword dropping Tyler to his knees.
"*Cough*... *Cough*... Damn Tatsumi... *Cough*... A little less strength next time." Tyler said hoarsely. Tatsumi looked at Tyler with an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Tyler... my bad" Tatsumi replied while dropping on one knee and holding out his hand. "We should get back to the cabin... Its starting to get dark." Tyler nodded and took a couple more deep breaths before taking Tatsumi's hand.
"Yeah, you're right" Tyler said sounding better than he was. Tyler collected his sword and Tatsumi and Tyler started walking towards the cabin, neither speaking a word.
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Tatsumi and Tyler were just about nearing the cabin, when Tyler suddenly stopped in front of Tatsumi blocking his path.
"What?" Tatsumi asked confused about what was going on.
Tyler cleared his throat as he spoke in a proud voice "Tatsumi, I have looked out for you, for the better part of six years and I will always cherish all the moments. I have trained you in swordsmanship, hiding, blacksmith, crafting, and cooking to just name a few and you have exceeded my expectations with flying colors. Today is a day which every trainer looks forward to... The day when a pupil surpasses the trainer."
Tatsumi's eyes widen and he lets Tyler continue. "You probably do not know I had no one to pass these skills down to and I'm happy that it could be you. I believe it is time for you to go out and destroy the evil of the empire. I will pack up some supplies for your journey and you're welcome here anytime." Tatsumi is shocked at hearing that Tyler is ready to let him go, but an abundance of happiness starts to swell up in his chest. No longer being able to control his happiness he brings Tyler into a bone-crushing hug. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Tatsumi says and as he let's go of Tyler, "Don't worry, I won't let you down!" Tatsumi says as he throws his fist in the air. Tyler smiled happily and nodded at him. "Thanks, Tatsumi, let's get inside the cabin, I'm starving," Tyler says while nodding toward the cabin. Tatsumi smiled and went on ahead toward the cabin. Tyler for a moment before gazing up at the sunset settling in the distance. 'Tatsumi, I'm certain that with time you will meet your goal. Keep being headstrong and loyal, Tatsumi and you will go far' Tyler thought before smiling and walking off to catch up with Tatsumi.
Three hours of working to get this ready for yall! I'm going going to say that I won't be doing it alone! DemonFoxBK201 is my coauthor and so over the next few days we will be republishing each chapter with changes made to them. It's either minor grammar fixes or a better fitting word. I humbly present to you the revival of this story and we shall try our best to capture the glory of this story in the newest chapters that will be published after we finish republishing the old ones. I hope that you all are excited!