Hello everyone I decided to redo this story. Mainly improving the general writing style and separating out the dialogue boxes. So... anyway, here is the second iteration of chapter 1! I also changed it up so it doesn't just read like the first arena scene...

Anyway... I still don't own Akame ga Kill.

Chapter 1

The area was huge, large enough match the first floor of Nightraid's hideout. The main fighting area however, was much smaller, paved in what looked like white marble. It was slight scuffed from the many fights that had taken place.

Tatsumi tested the grip of his boots on the smooth surface. He'd need to make sure his balance was just right or he'd go sliding across it with little effort. A small twitch at the corner of his lips… a slight shifting of his weight to his other foot. Both signs that he was ready to fight.

His fingers twitched to his side, where Incursio's sealed blade rested. He would need to be careful not to show too much in this fight. "Or else I'll get questioned for where I was trained… sheesh..don't those guys realize how hard it is to hold back when I'm fighting?"

He glanced off to the side, catching sight of Leone and Lubbock. Leone waived to him, cheering him on. Tatsumi sighed and looked across to his opponent. "Is this guy for real?" His opponent stood across from him, standing at least eight feet. He obviously wasn't human. The giant bull head making him look like a minotaur…."Or maybe his is a minotaur…" Whichever way it was, he was big as they came, his muscles overdeveloped, building obscenely.

At that moment the announcer, a young man with dark hair and a friendly grin, jumped onto the field. He did a wildly overenthusiastic bow to each of them. He shouted to the crowds as loudly as he could. "NOW FOR THE FINAL MATCH!" IN THE EAST CORNER IS KALBI THE BUTCHER!"

Tatsumi sweat-dropped. "Really? That sounds a bit over the top…"

"AND IN THE WEST CORNER, TATSUMI THE BLACKSMITH!"

Ooo

Esdeath pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. She was bored… no bored didn't even begin to describe it. She had been here for… five hours already and not a single worthy fighter. It would kill her if the oppressive heat didn't do it first.

Her hand wearily reached out to the side, "Run… Would you organize something… interesting for me after this is over. I fear that my disappointment will need some avenue of release."

He nodded readily, "Of course Lady Esdeath."

She sighed and turned her attention to the arena. "This is the final match. Maybe they saved the best for last. The big one actually looks somewhat skilled. Although….his looks leave much to be desired…"

Ooo

The announcer stepped back and the bull man looked down on him. He snorted, "Hmmmm, A small fry eh? I guess I'll be winning this match. I'll have you know that..."

Tatsumi let his muscles relax as he ignored the guy's arrogant boasting. Part of his mind told him that it was only half lies. He really was strong. Tatsumi thought about all his training he'd already done with Night Raid. This guy was nothing...

The announcer shouted, "BEGIN!"

Kalbi charged and slammed his fist down into the ground, where Tatsumi had just been ground split apart and cratered even as he leapt up in the air over his head and brought an elbow into the bullman's head. He thought, I don't even need Incursio for this guy!" His opponent barely managed to get his arms up to block. Despite that he was still sent skidding along the smooth stone of the arena.

Kalbi recovered quickly and lunged forward, launching a blinding barrage of punches and elbow strikes. Tatsumi saw them as if in slow motion. He ducked and weaved, dodging most and blocking those he couldn't. For all his size Tatsumi was physically stronger.

Getting tired of being on the defensive he ducked the next blow and dashed in close. He smelled the reek of sweat from Kalbi. His fist caught him once...twice...in the gut. Tatsumi then jumped backward as his enemy raised both fists and roared. Tatsumi flipped to his hands and swung his hips, hitting Kalbi's legs. The bull's bodymass sending him to the ground hard. Tatsumi used that momentum to leap above him. Kalbi looked up as Tatsumi foot hammered him in the face.

He sprawled across the ground as Tatsumi landed gracefully a few feet away. Black was already creeping across his vision.

Tatsumi realized the fight was over. "Jeeze...I didn't mean to hit him so hard last time. I shouldn't give so much away about my strength."

The announcer shouted, "THAT WILL BE ALL! TATSUMI THE BLACKSMITH IS THE WINNER!"

The crowd which had been sitting in stunned silence erupted in approval. Tatsumi saw Leone and Lubbock in their seats cheering him on. "Wow...Everyone is cheering for me..I DID IT! Tatsumi pumped his fist in the air grinning.

Ooo

Up in the observation box, Esdeath had leaned forward, her eyes focused on the graceful acrobatic movements of the young man who had just crushed Kalbi. "Oh…yes.. They did save the best for last. I can't believe that one so young has skills like that.."

Her cheeks tinged pink as he grinned, pumping his fist in the air. "That smile…he looks so innocent… and perfect…" Esdeath's shifted and stood quickly, eager to go down and meet him face to face. By her side Run was frowning. His usual relaxed posture had turned to one of surprise.

"He didn't even draw his sword…" Run sounded astonished as he glanced at her, "Do you think he is a candidate for an Imperial Arms?"

Esdeath nodded, "Quite, but he's also a candidate… for… something else." She smiled and stepped forward, descending the steps to the arena floor.

"Commander?" he asked, somewhat confused. Esdeath didn't answer him as she passed into the sunlight.

Ooo

Tatsumi stiffened as he saw Esdeath coming down the steps towards him. She was wearing a uniform, crisp and clean. It was obvious that she wore it in to battle. The way she walked, the way her perfect composer seemed to be genuine. She looked every inch the general. Her manner was that of someone who feared nothing.

It made him feel extremely vulnerable...but she couldn't read his mind. So she was just going to be a tournament host giving a prize to the winner, instead of General Esdeath giving an award to a member of Night Raid. That idea almost made him smirk. "But why does SHE have to come down to the ring? I hope she wasn't that impressed by my match...damn I knew I showed off too much."

A few moments later Esdeath stopped in front of him. She looked him up and down as he did the same. She was tall and slender with the palest skin he'd ever seen, like fine porcelain. Her hair was a light blue with hints of lavender. And her eyes were the deep blue of artic ice. The bangs that hung over her face complimented her...almost too perfect beauty. It wasn't a harsh beauty either as he had seen of the noble girls in the capital. It was a beauty that could only be gained by the mixing of blood lines...She was not from the capital. Tatsumi noticed a black symbol that lay centered, just above her bust. It was strange and at first he thought it had been a necklace.

His gaze was drawn upwards to her face, her cheeks, which were tinted like a rose. "Is she…blushing?" Esdeath smiled warmly, her pink lips showing the hint of a smirk as well. Tatsumi tried to get a sense for her with his innate ability to read body language. Her movements were friendly and.. welcoming.

He didn't relax though

Esdeath took a good look at him up close. He was of medium height, but he was also young, without his first real growth. He might have been 15...16. Either that or he was actually short for his age. He had brown hair and bright green eyes. Not a common color...she instantly liked them. He had cute face that had the first hints of becoming become handsome as he grew older. One thing that wasn't young were his muscles. He was undeniably strong and fast.

His smile seemed to have become slightly fixed, or uneasy. She knew that she had that affect on most people. Taking another step forward she said, "Your win just now was magnificent...I'd like to give you a reward." Reaching in to her military jacket her finger searched for the "item" she had brought just in case.

Tastsumi watched her searching her jacket for something, on alert now. He body language had just changed. "Well even though I'm taking it from the enemy...money is money. I'll gratefully accept it." He said, "Thank you."

She found what she was looking for and stepped even closer. Then her hands were around his neck and he heard a faint -snick- of a latch closing. He looked down. She was holding a chain in her hand which led to the smooth collar around his neck. "Huh?"

She smiled down at him saying, "From now on you belong to me." Her sweet voice in deadly contrast to what she had just said.

"WH-WHAT?!"

She started dragging him away. "It's too distracting out here...come to my palace."

He tried to shout, "Wait! Hold on...Wait I'm not going!"

Then a hand came down on the back of his neck. His eyes went wide as his body went limp. Black was crashing down around his vision and he thought, "What did she just do to me?" He heard her whisper quietly, "Let's talk in my room... just the two of us."

Esdeath picked him up, smelling him. He didn't even smell sweaty. He smelled clean and fresh. She began to walk out of the arena, leaving the shocked crowd to watch them leave. In the audience Leone and Lubbock felt themselves go several seconds without their hearts beating. Lubbock turned to her as she looked to him. They both cried out, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?"

I was originally planning on dropping the story in favor of turning it into a Naruto/Akame ga kill fic, but everyone responded with the answer "DON'T DO IT" so... I won't. I will do my best to continue the story as is guys. Anyway, on to chapter two.

Remember to review.