Akame cradled Tatsumi in her arms as he lay unconscious, there had been a strong silence since he had lost consciousness, Akame simply caressing a hand through his brown hair a small smile on her face. He was ok, the first thing she had worried about when she awoke, was Tatsumi, it was odd. The young assassin had been on her mind a lot lately. When ever she looked at him, there was a warmth in her chest that had never been there before, when he went to fight, she worried for his safety. In the beginning, true they had their ups and downs, joining a band of assassin's wasn't the easiest thing in the world accepting a new member into a tight knit of people was even harder. But Tatsumi had touched the lives of everyone in night raid, those deceased and still living.
Tatsumi was family to her, someone very special in her heart. Incursio worried her greatly, if it was up to her the moment the Teigu specialist had informed them that it would kill Tatsumi, she would have taken it off of him right then and there. But Najenda knew they wouldn't win without Tatsumi's newly acquired strength and as much as Akame hated to admit it, she was right. In the last battle against the empire, Tatsumi would undoubtedly lose his life fighting for peace. So, instead she had flicked the switch and cast her worry away, but it always crept back whenever she saw Tatsumi holding that blade. It was the first time, that flicking the switch had never worked for her.
"You have grown close to him." A soft spoken voice reached her ears making Akame look up from Tatsumi's peaceful face to see Run standing behind her. "I honestly never expected you Night Raid members to be such a close group."
"Even though we're assassin's, we're still human beings." Akame told the blonde. "You said you would explain everything that has happened to us, and give us information on where we could find Leone." Run nodded with a smile as he approached the two, crouching down beside Tatsumi, memories of seeing the boy at the mercy of Esdeath awkward relationship skills brought a chuckle from his lips.
"Would you like to carry him, or shall I?" Run questioned and Akame was already moving to pull Tatsumi onto her back, with a little help from Run Tatsumi was situated on Akame's back in a piggy back position. Run nodded as Akame stood with the teen on her back, her strength not wavering in the slightest. "It would be best to talk somewhere more secure than this park, I believe Tatsumi's home will suffice." Akame nodded figuring that she would get answers if she didn't ask every question that came to her mind.
Following Run out of the park and onto a street, a few street lights illuminating the road. Akame gave a wary glance to the vehicles around them, unsure of exactly what they were but as she thought that the memories of all different vehicles passed through her mind. Shaking her head she continued after Run, the two coming to a stop several meters before a house.
The residence was a two-story terrace house with a light blue exterior, a balcony on the second floor, and a brown roof. Run eyed the building for a moment, Akame doing the same searching for any kind of movement from within the darkness of the house. Run stepped forward sensing no one was awake and opened the front gate and walking down the side of the house, Akame a few steps behind.
"Up there." Run pointed making Akame look up to see an open window. "Tatsumi would have fled through that window when he first awoke." Akame didn't question how Run knew that and righted her footing while adjusting Tatsumi on her back before leaping up to the second story window and landing within with barely a soft pat of her feet. Surveying the room she walked over to the bed, laying Tatsumi down as Run entered through the window. Akame turned from where Tatsumi lay unconscious to where Run was standing in front of the bedroom door, his hand writing white glowing markings on the door.
"What is that?" Akame questioned.
"Runes, to stop anyone from someone hearing within or entering without permission." Run smiled as he finished his seal.
"Was that apart of Mastema's abilities?" Akame questioned curious of Run's Teigu abilities as she sat on the edge of the bed beside Tatsumi.
"No, it's something I've learned in this world." Run smiled as he moved across the room to the desk, pulling out the chair and sitting down one leg crossed over the other as he leaned back and flipped on the lamp illuminating the room in a light glow. "Let me first say this, Akame." Run started. "I am not the same Run, that you know from your world." Akame didn't falter, she was surprised sure but she wasn't about to show emotion to something so trivial. "Not to say I don't know of your reality, I do. I have some memories of Night Raid more of the Jagers, Tatsumi when Esdeath took him from the arena. Kurome." Akame's red eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of her sister.
"I don't understand what you're saying." Akame muttered. "How is any of this possible?"
"The Teigu that you used to get here, the Reality Marble. It was the last Teigu created by the Emperor over a Thousand Years ago." Run explained as Akame listened intently. "From what I know, it was created to distort reality, to send the user to another reality. In particular, this reality."
"You said you were not the same Run as we know from the Jaegers." Akame stated. "How is it that you know of us then, of the Emperor and the Teigu?" Run smiled lightly at that.
"It is indeed true that I only have select memories of you." Run told her. "It happened a few years ago when I awoke my Sacred Gear, what you call Teigu in your world. When Mastema awoke within me, I began to have dreams at first, of a time and place I had no recollection of here in this world. Than, as time continued on I began to make sense of it all, I was having visions of an entire different me. One that wielded Mastema in a different world."
"You're saying, that your body is linked to the one within the other reality?" Akame questioned making Run nod.
"As was yours." Run explained. "The reality marble merged your body with the body of this world, the same way that memories of your reality began to manifest within my mind, here in this world." He continued. "I'm not entirely sure as to how as I don't have much information to work on from this side, I've only come across a few select books around the world even detailing such information." Akame sat silent for a while, taking in the information that Run had given her, while not rock solid, it was all that she had to work with at the moment.
"I can find out more about this?" Akame questioned.
"It would take time, resources and access to otherwise restricted areas. But it is possible to learn more." Run explained. "Do you have the Reality Marble with you? I'd like to see it." Akame shook her head at that, the memory of pain the three Assassin's had been in as they had their minds pulled forth into it before the device shattered upon sending them across realities.
"It was destroyed." Akame stated.
"I see." Run sighed softly. "With it destroyed, I believe there will be no way for you to return to your own reality." Akame frowned slightly at that however Run offered her a comforting smile. "On the bright side, there is no war in this world for you to fight in. Or at least, not a present one." Akame glanced down at Tatsumi as Run told her that, a strange comfort knowing Tatsumi wouldn't give his life for war rising within her. Run rose from where he was seated making Akame turn back to him.
"There is something else you should know Akame, about you and your standing in this world." Akame's eyes narrowed as she saw the serious gaze in the blonde's eyes. "In this world there is more than just the humans that live in it, there are many Factions, Three that stand out the most. The Angels, Devils and the Fallen Angels." Run explained. "Each live in a realm of their own, the Devils and Fallen Angels live in the underworld while the Angels reside in Heaven."
"And where do I stand in this?" Akame questioned figuring Run wouldn't have brought it up if it wasn't important or didn't affect her personally.
"The abandoned church where you awoke, there were others but you were slightly preoccupied with other matters when you first awoke, fleeing the church before taking in your surroundings." Akame nodded, being fully aware she had been in a state of mental turmoil like Tatsumi had been. "There were four Fallen Angels within that church, the presence around you also marks you as such." Akame's eyes widened as memories of black wing, weapons of light ran through her mind. Run frowned as Akame rose a hand to her forehead, breathing heavily through gritted teeth the memories causing her pain. "Are you ok Akame?"
"You're right." Akame breathed out softly. "I'm a Fallen Angel... why is it like this?" She questioned softly.
"I don't know." Run admitted. "It's hard to determine your being without knowing your memories in full, all of which will come with time." Akame nodded softly as she felt the power of her Angel side deep within her for the first time, it was a strange sensation. She truly only knew Murasame's power and that was never joined with her like this foreign angel power was.
"What about Murasame?"
"From what I've experienced myself, I believe that your Teigu will become your Sacred Gear, whether you have access to it at the moment or not, I don't know." Akame nodded silently, while she didn't need Murasame to be deadly, it was a comfort to know that she could still wield the cursed blade. "What will you do now?" Run questioned.
"I'm still working on that." Akame admitted. "There is a lot that still needs to be done, Tatsumi needs to know what is happening and we need to find Leone." Run nodded his head in understanding before turning to Tatsumi.
"He started having headaches during class today, and after I realised what infact was happening, I noticed your presence in the area as well." Run explained. "I honestly had no idea that this was even possible, that your consciousness would be brought over to this reality."
"You're a teacher?" Akame questioned making Run nod with a smile.
"I am." Run nodded. "Tatsumi has been in my class for three years now, he's a good student." He continued to explain. "There are others, Night Raid members and Jaegers in this reality, I believe although haven't seen, that Esdeath is present in this reality." Akame frowned slightly. "I do not think that they will remember who they were until their Sacred Gears have been activated, as the same happened with me."
"You're saying that none of them are our allies nor our enemies?" Akame questioned.
"We're here talking now aren't we?" Run questioned with a smile. "As promised, I'll search for Leone, I can't promise that I'll find anything but I will look for her. Tomorrow, I don't expect Tatsumi to be in class so take the day, explore this new world. Figure out your next move. But do be careful, the school I attend and the very area we are in is in the territory of a Devil. You will be targeted if you are discovered, along with your fellow Fallen Angels."
"What about you? Won't' they know of your presence?" Akame asked..
"I've managed to keep my own power secret from them." Run smiled at her concern for him. "I've been teaching at the school for several years now, the Devil's present still have no idea that I have a Sacred Gear." Akame nodded her head before a frown came to her face.
"Will Tatsumi be in danger because of me?" The red eyed assassin questioned, Run glancing down at Tatsumi a knowing smile on his face.
"I highly doubt it, I can sense Incursio in him meaning the Devils more than likely can as well, along with your fellow Fallen Angels. If Tatsumi can activate Incursio, when needed he will not be in danger." Akame frowned slightly, if Tatsumi used Incursio, would that put his life at risk? The sense of ease was gone as worry once more rose in Akame, she couldn't let Tatsumi be overcome by Incursio, she had lost so much already now there was a chance that she could lose Tatsumi as well? She honestly didn't think she could handle losing him.
"I'll let you both get some rest." Akame nodded her head as Run removed the runes from the door before heading for the window.
"Run." Akame spoke softly. "Thank you, for everything."
"It was my pleasure Akame." Run smiled over his shoulder at her before leaping from the window leaving Akame alone with the resting Tatsumi. A heavy silence filled the foreign room, Akame found it slightly comforting but it wasn't the same as Night Raid's headquarters, that was really home. Glancing down at Tatsumi who was still out on the bed behind her, she rose from the bed and stood in the room. She walked over to the closest and peered within, going through several of Tatsumi's clothes. Finding nothing of interest she walked to the bathroom, simply investigating anything she could find out about this reality's Tatsumi, no matter how much she tried to get memories to awaken, there was nothing of this world's Tatsumi in her psyche.
Exiting the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a soft click, she headed for the bedroom door, figuring it might be best to explore the rest of the house. Entering the hallways the left lead to three more rooms, and a bathroom at the end of the hall while the right led to a staircase. Exiting Tatsumi's room without a sound she headed down the hallway which led to the bedrooms. Stopping at first she opened it a crack peering inside only seeing an empty room. Closing the door she crossed the hall to the second door and peered inside, it was the same as the first.
Heading for the third door she opened it slightly and stopped, there was someone asleep in the room. Closing the door softly she retreated down the hallway away from the bedroom and bathroom, passing Tatsumi's bedroom door and made her way down the stairs. She found herself in a living space, a couch a television along with a dining table adjacent to the kitchen. Searching the lower level of the house she found another bathroom along with two other people sleeping within the same bed.
Akame stood in the centre of the house a small smile on her face, she could almost see Tatsumi living in a normal place like this... at least before Night Raid had come into his life. Walking across the hardwood floors Akame found herself in the kitchen, opening the fridge she peered inside before seeing a plate of leftovers sitting on the top shelf. Feeling a pang of hunger she pulled the plate from the fridge before retreating back upstairs. Tatsumi hadn't moved since she had last seen him, Akame sat down in the chair where Run had previously sat and ate what was on the plate. As she ate, she noticed a set of photographs on the desk.
The first was of Tatsumi grinning that same grin he hadn't given since Mine's coma. He was with two others, and Akame instantly recognised them. They were the same friends that Tatsumi had lost the night Leone had dragged him to Night Raid, Sayo and Ieyasu. She had often heard Tatsumi speak about them, not in great detail but enough to know that they were close friends. Grabbing the picture she ran a thumb over it, her eyes locking with the grinning Tatsumi. Turning to look over her shoulder at the unconscious assassin she frowned slightly.
"What would it take for you to smile like that again, Tatsumi?" Akame wondered as she set the picture frame back down and looked at the second photo. This one made her eyes widen, she herself didn't know any of the three in the picture apart from Tatsumi, but seeing the other brown haired boy. Memories ran through her mind. Her purpose here as a Fallen Angel. To observe progress and report to someone known as Azazel along with the other Fallen Angels with her, all who would see the boy dead and anyone that got in their way.
Wincing in pain she dropped the photograph onto the desk she gripped her head with both hands, pain coursing through her mind as new memories came to the surface. Waiting for the pain to subside, it took a few moments before she let out a deep breath. Glancing at the photo once more she frowned.
"I have no interest in observing him any longer." Akame spoke softly to herself before turning away from the photograph, she had no interest in doing anything that didn't revolve around herself, Tatsumi and Leone presently. Leone was currently the number one priority, but until they found her she would stick together with Tatsumi. Walking over to the wardrobe she once more opened it and grabbed a shirt from within, undressing from her current attire she pulled the shirt over her underwear clad form.
Smiling lightly as Tatsumi's scent encircled around her even going so far as to grip the hem and raising it slightly to her nose. Letting the shirt fall to where it was suppose to sit she walked back over to where Tatsumi lay. Manoeuvring herself onto the bed she lifted his head up and used her thighs as a substitute pillow for him.
"We have a lot to talk about when you wake up Tatsumi." Akame thought to herself running her hand through Tatsumi's hair. "Until then, rest easy."
However, Tatsumi was anything but resting easy.
Tatsumi floated within a darkness, his mismatched coloured eyes unable to pick up anything distinctive in shape or form. He had no idea where he was, or even what this place was. The last thing he could remember was seeing Akame come rushing through the trees before unconsciousness claimed him. His eyes searched the darkness, feeling someone... something watching him. A gentle breeze blew past him, his hair moving slightly in response. However Tatsumi knew it wasn't a breeze, it wasn't an act of the elements. It rank of foul stenches and had originated from the shimmering form now situated before him.
Tatsumi stared at the distorted figure before him, his eyes scanning the presence there, his eyes hardening as four red eyes glowed before him before the beast was revealed. Tatsumi was speechless as the titanic form of the dragon appeared before him, he knew this presence far too well. The Tyrant moved in an instant, both claws gripping Tatsumi's body and raising his body up, Tatsumi wasn't in pain as the grip wasn't one of harm.
"..." The beast breathed out as Tatsumi stared into the Dragon's red eyes before the Dragon moved his claws so that they were palm up, Tatsumi standing atop of them. "You're not my original host." The Dragon breathed out. "Yet you have more promise than what was before." The Tyrant continued carefully looking into Tatsumi draconic eye. "Somehow you have already began to merge with my being."
"You're the Tyrant." Tatsumi stated making the Dragon snort through it's nose, almost blowing Tatsumi from his position on the dragon's palms, the teen raising both his hands to covered his face.
"Yes." The Tyrant's eyes glowed an even more vibrant shade of red before a very familiar weapon began to form before Tatsumi, the teen smiling as he reached out for the chained hilt. "You know of this weapon."
"Incursio." Tatsumi smiled his hand running across the blade. "I'll never forget it." The Tyrant watched as Tatsumi grabbed the hilt of the sword, the darkness surrounding the two filled with images of all the times that Tatsumi had equipped the powerful weapon in his life. The Tyrant glanced at the flashing images of how Tatsumi and Incursio fought together, all the way to the time where Tatsumi forced the evolution of the weapon to incredible heights. Tatsumi glanced up at the images smiling softly at all the times he had been able to protect his friends.
"I never intended to awaken." The Tyrant told Tatsumi, the assassin glancing back up at the Dragon. "The body, before now didn't have what it took to wield such a weapon. However after I have seen what you have already accomplished with Incursio, I see no other choice but to give you the chance to wield such power again."
"Will it be the same as before?" Tatsumi questioned glancing up at an image, it was of the time when Esdeath had activated her time ability and with Incursio's most recent evolution had been able to adapt to her ability.
"Your body has already forced Incursio's evolution to that stage, I will not revert it." Tatsumi nodded. "You're worried about the effects on your body." Tatsumi rose his head up to look the Dragon in the eyes.
"I'm not afraid." Tatsumi told him. "I'll use Incursio to do everything in my power to protect my friends."
"Should you push Incursio above your limits once more, the strain may kill you." Tatsumi scowled slightly as the Tyrant leaned in further. "Adapt." Tatsumi's eyes widened. "Evolve. I evolved to every situation that was brought before me. As the wielder of Incursio, you must do the same." Tatsumi lowered his head, a small smirk coming to his lips.
"Then I'll do just that." Tatsumi spoke as he rose his head. "I'll evolve and adapt to the situation as it is brought before me." The Tyrant nodded as Tatsumi smiled softly.
"I will gradually adapt your body to the current power of Incursio so there will be no draconic after effects, however your eye." Tatsumi rose a hand to his draconic eye with a frown. "It will be the symbol that holds our contract to continue to evolve to the ever changing world." Tatsumi grinned and nodded.
"I'm fine with that, I've actually grown to like the appearance." The Tyrant laughed in response.
"An interesting host I've found myself in." The Tyrant spoke. "In time, we will both Evolve to the point that the Red and White dragon's will be sure to acknowledge our power." Tatsumi was confused by the statement however didn't have time to ask as the darkness along with the Tyrant began to dissolve around him. He only heard the Tyrant reminding him to evolve over and over again.
Tatsumi's eyes fluttered open as the sun was now up in the sky, with the curtains open there was no way to block the light from his face. Feeling a strange softness beneath his head he glanced up only for his eyes to widen slightly as he saw Akame sleeping above him in a shirt he recognised as one of his own, or more so the self of his life here. She was resting against the wall the bed was propped up against. Raising his head up he moved to sit on the side of the bed with his feet on the floor, his head ached slightly but nothing compared to the previous night's pain. Standing he stretched his arms before turning back to Akame, her red eyes now open as she stared at him.
"You're awake." Akame spoke with a small smile.
"Did I wake you?" Tatsumi questioned, getting a small nod from the dark haired assassin. It was bound to happen, Akame was such a light sleeper that she could be woken by a mouse squeaking three rooms over, it was necessary as an assassin to be a light sleeper, she was just trained that way. "Sorry." The teen apologised however Akame shook her head.
"Don't be, I'm just glad you're awake. How are you feeling?" She questioned moving off the bed to stand beside him. "How is your head?"
"A lot better." Tatsumi admitted as he gave her a soft smile. "Other than a crazy meeting in my dreams, I think I'm pretty much back to normal."
"Crazy meeting?" Akame questioned tilting her head slightly.
"I doubt you'd believe me if I told you." Tatsumi chuckled lightly. "Wait, wasn't Run here last night?" He asked making Akame nod. "Is everything alright? What happened?"
"It's all fine Tatsumi, there is a lot for you to be informed on." Akame began before she explained everything that Run had told her last night when Tatsumi had been unconscious. Tatsumi was able to hide his surprise well like Akame had when Run had been explaining everything to her. Tatsumi moved over to the desk, spotting the same picture that Akame had last night, a small smile coming to his face as he saw Ieyasu and Sayo smiling with him in it. "They're alive here Tatsumi." Akame spoke softly.
"You said the memories will come back?" Tatsumi questioned. "Of our lives here, in this world?"
"That's what Run told me." The senior assassin nodded as Tatsumi picked up the picture. "He also said that we may not be able to return back." Tatsumi nodded softly,
"Yo Tatsumi, you ready for school?" A knock came from the door before it opened, both Assassin's eyes widening in surprise as the door opened suddenly. Issei stood within the doorway, half dressed in Kuoh Academy's school uniform. "Mum was asking you down for..." Issei rose his head up only to spot Akame standing in one of Tatsumi's shirts and Tatsumi across the room completely gobsmacked. "Breakfast..." Issei finished.
"Issei this isn't what it looks like." Tatsumi began to instinctively say, however Issei just grinned gave Tatsumi the thumbs up before slipping back through the open doorway without another word. Akame stood silently before turning to Tatsumi with a questioning gaze only to see him holding his forehead a flash of pain across his face as new memories began to form in his mind. Akame knew him as Issei Hyoudou, holder of an unknown sacred gear that she along with her fellow Fallen Angels had come here to investigate, more so if necessary. Stepping towards Tatsumi she placed a hand on his back.
"Sorry Akame." Tatsumi breathed out. "Just have to get use to it all." Akame nodded her head. "Anything on Leone?"
"Run is looking into it for us, he also suggested you take the day off school so that we can become accustom to our new lives, I'm inclined to agree with him."
"Can we trust him?" Akame frowned slightly.
"I'm not sure." She admitted. "But for now, we have no choice. If he can lead us to Leone it will be best if we do." Tatsumi nodded in agreement as both set out to get changed before slipping from the house unnoticed by the rest of the family residing within.
A weight lay across Leone's stomach making her sigh and try to roll over however found that she couldn't, opening her golden eyes she found herself in a dark room, only small gaps through the curtain offering any light at all. Other than the weight across her stomach she was extremely comfortable, she was completely sunk into the numerous pillows surrounding her. Her head was pounding but she didn't remember drinking with Akame and Tatsumi the previous night, Akame never really drank and Tatsumi hadn't been in the mood lately, mostly because of what happened to Mine and Lubbock.
"Maybe I drank with Boss? No she's been pretty busy too..." Leone thought to herself looking up at the ceiling before something entered her vision, it was a black tail of some kind, black fur covered it so she wasn't in her Lionel form which gave her a golden yellow tail. Glancing around she didn't hear nor could she pick up the scent of a cat anywhere. Opening both of her eyes she pushed against the soft pillows only to hear a soft mew from the woman currently using her as a bed.
"Big Sis... cut it out..." The woman muttered before rolling over slightly to the side of Leone. The blonde immediately sprang up from the bed of cushion's landing on the floor in a crouched position ready to attack however the woman hadn't moved from where she was sleeping. Taking in the appearance of the woman, she was a beautiful and a highly attractive young woman with a voluptuous figure, long black hair with split bangs. Her attire consisted of a black kimono, a yellow obi, a set of golden beads, and an ornately detailed headband. The kimono features a red interior and it is open at her shoulders, giving view to her enormously large breasts which outsized Leone's own large breasts. What surprised Leone the most was the pair of black cat ears and the two tails swishing about beneath her kimono.
"What the..." Leone muttered running a hand through her short hair before unknown memories struck her making her wince and buckle over in pain, grunting as she held her head. Remembering the same pain as to when she, Akame and Tatsumi had held the strange reality marble that Akame had found within the Teigu lab. "Gah!" She shouted as she crumbled to the floor, wakening the other occupant of the mountain of pillows. The woman's head shot up at the shout of pain before seeing Leone gripping her head on the floor beside the pillows. Immediately rushing to the blondes side she tried to find out what was wrong.
"Leone!" The woman shouted kneeling down beside the blonde, seeing her face contorted into pain. She didn't see any physical reason that she could be in any pain but immediately activated her Senjutsu to calm her mind. Unknowingly to the woman, it was working wonders on sorting through the memories now flowing through Leone's mind. The blonde was able to comprehend the life she had both within the Empire, and this strange place where she was now. She could understand what had happened to herself along with Akame and Tatsumi. Her head shot up as she stared into the golden eyes shaped with a cat like pupil of the woman she now knew.
"Kuroka..." Leone breathed out slightly getting a small worried smile from the dark haired woman.
"What happened Leone?" Kuroka questioned as Leone sat back, holding a hand to her head as memories began to form, pain no longer held any presence within her mind like it had been, now using her own Senjutsu ability to keep her mind calm. It was strange, accessing a new power as if she had hundreds of times before, she knew the very fundamentals of how to access this unknown power.
"Something... odd." Leone chuckled. "Best that I can explain it." She continued as she sat back. "This is insane, all of it. Where the hell did Akame and Tatsumi wind up if this is what happened to us?" Kuroka sat before Leone with a curious expression on her face, Leone shifting through all the memories of she had of Kuroka and... Shirone, both being her younger sisters. She was somehow apart of one of the remaining Nekomata tribe, specifically being Nekoshou. She was a Yokai. "Kuroka." Leone started. "I need to find some people." Kuroka's eyes twitched slightly in response.
"Who?"
"Dear friends of mine." Leone smiled. "I'm sure you'll love em."