The Imperial Saber

by Marutectz552

"Soldiers we are: we the Imperial-Sabers do not flee, nor do we falter and nor do we fail to purge Evil from our sights. We are flesh and steel, so we are nothing but weapons of the Emperor. In the face of Evil we do not back down, ever." Tatsumi's beginnings were not of a free hero as he was made out to be, but as a soldier loyal to the Empire he lived in. Loyalty unto Death.

2. Chapter I

Akame ga Kiru

The Imperial Saber

Chapter One

"I never realized, even on horseback getting to the Capital would take this long. Thank God for small mercies, I'd have been lost if I walked here at all and this place is just ridiculous. Swear this city gets bigger every time I come here." Tatsumi had ridden a horse towards the capital, it was his personal steed that was a fine specimen of its breed. A dark brown stallion with a patch of white across the right side of its face, the female animal had earned its birthright as a fast-paced messenger and the young Colonel had cared for it for two years now. He had gotten it as a reward for promotion to lead then infancy of the Imperial Saber Legion and he hadn't wished for a finer companion. The animal was probably the oldest thing he had to a friend and possibly a family as well.

He named her, Noburu.

An animal noble in her heritage, to be a fine example of a horse as he had cared for her once he had gotten promoted to the position of Colonel within the Empires Military. While the position was high on the chain of command, he knew that it was a short ended stick before becoming a general in the long run of things. Politicians, bureaucrats or even corrupted figures were aware of his intentions on some level and were looking to stunt his rise to the more open influenced positions like a General, in order to keep him under-wraps. It sickened him, seeing the abuse of powers and what not to secure their own interests for a few more years whereas he could have gotten progress to change the Empire from its festered system now.

The problem at hand was where could he begin for such a task?

His time on the Western frontier in subduing the rebellions that were forming were quite tedious in itself, the more violent and open ones were immediately suppressed with his Imperial Saber Legion and that alone was worthy for those in power to warrant their attention onto him. He reflexively maneuvered Noburu away from a rotting tree that had fallen across the road leading to the outskirts of the Capital City, Tatsumi honestly had no idea to even remotely garner influence amongst the politicians to create a change in the system for the Empire to rule the people.

This wasn't easy, nor did he even remotely wish to take on the mantle of that responsibility without support from those he considered 'friends' in this day and age. So few he knew, so few yet so many had followed him into combat and they had prevailed at the end of the bloodshed. He could only try to find help in such a hope for the Empire to endure, he could only hope and find ways that would be eventful enough to establish. It just seemed, to be so vast to try to find those to stand with his beliefs and in the event if was impossible...

No.

He would not accept anything less, he would find a way or burn in hell for a failure.

"I won't falter in my hope, I can do this. I just need to a place to start, you can do this. You made it this far, Sayo and Isyeau are still out there becoming heroes for our village. I'll find a way to make the Empire better for our village, I swore I would." His eyes came upon the wall that surrounded the vast capital of the Empire, first things first he needed to get to the Palace where he'd have to await further instructions from whoever was commanding the defenses. Adjusting his uniform and preparing his satchel which held the paperwork for the guards to accept his credentials, Tatsumi took a deep breath as he came to the gates that checked in visitors to the city itself.

Bringing Noburu to a halt, he patted the side of her neck as the horse neighed in response to his affectionate touch. There was a small wait till he approached the gates leading into a busy intersection of the city itself, the guards were somewhat shocked to see his rank addressed on the side of his shoulder which marked him an officer.

Tatsumi didn't blame them.

He was incredibly young to be a high ranked soldier but when he enlisted as a child, those were the perks in surviving for as long as he had.

"Halt! State your name and visiting the Capital, sir."

One of the guards spoke this respectfully as Tatsumi replied with a kind smile that made the two men on duty look on with softened expressions. It wasn't about looks, it was a genuine smile from a man who understood their positions which made the youngster all the more charismatic. He understood the troubles for the most casual of duties at times.

"Colonel Tatsumi 'Saber' reporting to the Imperial Palace for assignment. I have my paperwork right here with the Seal of the Emperor, I must confess this was brought to me several days ago out in the field." He laughed somewhat embarrassed to admit it as he handed the folded parchment to the lead Guard who was scanning the print with a mild interest. Whilst the other could only be startled in shock as he asked him, with a near awed look.

"You're Colonel Saber from the Western Territories! I beg my pardon, sir but you saved my family from being executed once a rebellion broke up from the neighboring villages. We were to be condemned but your Legion gave us a chance to live another life." The leader of the guard could only snort at his compatriots tone, but nonetheless his eyes glimmered with respect to the young man on horseback who had a confused expression on his face. Tatsumi didn't know how to react other than to offer his hand to the guard who shook it with an enthusiasm that expressed, gratitude, admiration and utter devotion which seemed to be odd.

An oddity that was welcomed nonetheless.

"Ah! Forgive me, my memory is a bit hazy. Still I hope for the best of luck to your family then. Keep them safe and loyal to the Empire, for we all must try to make the best of our lives. Have hope and never look back."

The guard gripped his hand hard, responding immediately.

"Understood Sir, enjoy your stay in the capital. It's a beautiful city and be safe."

Tatsumi nodded, smiling kindly as he accepted his orders back from the guard captain who allowed him passage. Gently he nudged Noburu forward making the horse move past the looming walls on his way to the palace, which was way off in the horizon at the top of the small mountain that it was built upon. From a distance it seemed that the metropolis was a booming, thriving and welcoming urban center but the young officer could feel something amiss such feelings. He didn't consider himself a master of human emotions nor a genius amongst tacticians but he knew injustice at first sight as he had fought against it for his time in the Empire's Military.

He felt tense here, as various people were passing him and many were saddened.

Their eyes gave it away, that haunted look which disturbed him immensely.

"Looking at these people, the corruption plaguing the Empire itself is rooted here. I can see the despair, that hopeless look when a person has given up on trying to fight the evil in their lives and for all that mattered: the lack of hope makes them susceptible to submission. No, not that. I feel that these people are just broken spiritually now more than ever. Is it possible for a person to lose their way, once no hope has been offered to them?"

Riding along on the street, Tatsumi could only see the sorry states of its various citizens that were going about their daily lives. Every mans eyes were hollowed, postures slackened and the women were always glancing over their shoulders as if trying to spot rapists amongst the crowds. Few walked alone and children were no where to be seen, it just burned the blood of the Colonel whose duty was to protect the very people of the Empire he served. Silently glaring at the Palace in the distance, Tatsumi had that urge to drink himself silly in order to fully gripe with the reality beset upon him and boy, the fucking temptation was killing him.

In fact, he passed by a decent looking bar just to get himself really annoyed more so than usual.

"What do you think Noburu? Want to rest up and get a drink, you need one especially traveling this far without much."

He patted the side of the horses neck, affectionately rubbing a spot where the animal neighed in response as it slowed to a stop. Eying the various folks that were looking at him due to his uniform, the young man sighed to himself before moving other towards the bar that had a spot to tie up horses as a water source had been created there. Slinging the parcel over his shoulder, he tied us his horse to allow her to drink and eat the feed that was laid out. Looking up at the bar, it seemed like a fairly nice establishment and he had some decent amounts of money on him, serving the Empire as an officer had its perks in the long run of things.

In the end, the orders had received didn't state the time-frame had to report into the Capital.

Merely that he go to the palace, so some downtime and leisure would be a nice rest before going back to his profession as a soldier. He smiled somewhat bitterly to himself, most people wouldn't have been able to afford such a place but in the end, he needed something to lift his spirits in order to become even more motivated to assist those in need. He moved towards the entrance of the bar, pushing open the door as he spied several vacant spots around him. Conversations silenced as they spotted his appearance, making several folks avert their gazes which got him curious at the fearful responses.

He sat a stool facing the bartender that eyed him for a moment before returning to his tasks, cleaning the glasses and absently smiling for some reason or another. He sighed before asking the bartender, a clear question. "Do you serve any ale here? If so, I'd like something smooth and not a bad aftertaste." he got a perplexed look from the bartender as if gauging his age, but Tatsumi smiled kindly while pointing to the rank on his shoulder giving the man the hint that he wouldn't be slammed with an illegal fine for serving a minor which was more of a deterrent than anything. Money was money, people had to make a living in some way or form which was negative in his opinion.

For a few minutes, the talk of the bar came alive again as he shut his eyes enjoying the peace that flowed into him. While the atmosphere wasn't tense, he felt the pressing matters of everyday life and he wished to try to lift that burden amongst the citizens to make them believe in the Empire itself. He wanted them to enjoy their times together, not be afraid of those to persecute them in order to satisfy their personal gains. Just seeing this hidden suffering was enough for him to take the Palace by storm and try to get any sort of help to end the corruption that has crippled the Capital itself.

It seemed nearly impossible...

But there was always a way for a dream to come true and it often took hard work to achieve such a state.

Smiling to himself, his mind went to his old promise with his two childhood friends: Ieyasu and Sayo.

"I wonder how they're doing, I left the earliest to prove everyone right. I send back money in amounts to help those who are starving and I have yet to hear from them at all. Maybe they're doing jobs so often that they barely have time for me, I wouldn't hold it against them since I'd be in the same boat. God I hope you didn't try to get onto Sayo, Ieyasu: you always were a horn dog. Heh, I bet she kicked you in the balls for touching her ass and all that..."

The drink from the bartender came in front of him, he smiled and offered his thanks to the man who shrugged at his tone. He was just doing his job and returned to the task of making more drinks for the rest of the patrons that were trickling in as the sun went down outside. Many of the people gave him a wide berth, as if more fearful to be even an inch away yet alone inside the bar. One or two random passerby promptly got out of the bars range, as if his uniform were a curse upon their sight. It made him feel isolated, which was an experience he hadn't been exposed to for a while now. He looked down at the bluish tinged liquid in front of him, not even ale he was used too but he'd accept the bartenders experience to have a decent drink.

Sipping it, Tatsumi coughed a bit at the unexpected aftertaste as it burned his throat.

"Blue berry or, is this watermelon?"

He half asked the question as the bartender passed by him with several mugs in his hands, "It's a fruit from the southern part of the Empire a hybrid of Wild Berry and Pineapple, its very rare and expensive to deliver. It's a good potent mix for those who like a finesse in their drinks." Tatsumi could only look on in amazement as he had several more sips, he have to tip this man for knowing job very well. Smiling he would be amazed at how much the drink would cost, but when one person had the money it could buy them relief. It made him bitter on the inside, but he hadn't exploited anyone for his own gains and he'd keep it like that for the rest of his natural life.

"I might become an alcoholic after this, hell this is best drink I ever had. Who knew, add a little fruit to the mix of a tasteless ale and you'd take it like water from a canteen in the desert. Not bad, not bad at all."

Relaxing in his seat, Tatsumi could only look ahead against the wall to see his reflection in a mirror that spanned the length of the entire bar itself. Bottles, glasses and small barrels were lined up behind the wooden counter-tops he had his elbows resting on, it gave him a sense of peace despite the Capitals state right now. He wished he could have a sense of direction now, leading a Legion of the Empires Soldiers into battle had taught him the meaning of leadership but did the cost of securing a peace be the result of a war that would tear the very Empire he cherished apart?

It didn't make any sense, if change didn't come to those in power than the very fabric of daily life would be torn asunder in the fires of war once more. As it once did over one thousand years ago, at the formation when the first Emperor had risen amongst the chaos that spawned this country. Questions formed again, the ones that refused to go away over time.

"But how can I do this? Already knowing I can't do this alone..."

Murmuring this to himself, the young officer could only just bathe in the content state in trying to give hope back to the people that rightly deserved it after a long reign of corruption that poisoned the life blood of the Empire. It just seemed too vast to cover, too large of a problem that had to be dealt with on such a scale it'd shake the power vacuum already in existence. The pretext of change would be that many would oppose it, humans had often hated change because it brought the fires of revolution at their doorsteps once the need to hope had become too strong for subjection to handle.

Violence always came after the need to change a way for government.

So would the Empire survive the coming destruction from within?

The young Colonel looked up at the mirror, to see the gaze of a worried man staring back at him.

"Hey there handsome, you look like you need some company."

A woman's voice spoke up from the side of him as he jumped from the sudden presence of a beauty that made his throat tighten in surprise. Sitting to the side of him was a blond woman, whose chest left little to imagine the size of her bust and with a figure that have many model women cry out in envy. Her attire was practically nonexistent except with a belt of sorts around her waist, with pants concealing a good portion of her legs and he swore her eyes held an animal tint to them that got his blood rushing places best left unnoticed.

In fact he tried to keep his blush down but the woman smiled in a tempting allure.

"Am I right there, little boy?"

Tatsumi huffed in annoyance, as the woman giggled at his pout.

"While I'd say yes, you startled me alright? It's not often to see a beauty like you to sit next to an average joe like me..."

The blond could only lean her elbow on the wooden top looking at him with a smile that suggested amusement, "Such a flatterer to a mature woman boy, though I'd say you aren't average looking. Not many boys at your age in the Imperial Army, what's your rank if its not too personal. I bet you're a new recruit or something." She leaned forward as if ready to hear an important secret. While on most days, Tatsumi really would speak up on such things since it made a lot of conversations awkward, he had the unexpected view of the woman's breasts that were literally underneath his gaze. He had to wager that this woman was intentionally making him stare, as he huffed out an answer to take his mind off those...

Shivering he looked away as the woman laughed softly at his response.

"Not exactly, I only got here today. I got posted up in the Imperial Palace and I have to report in, within a reasonable time I guess."

He wouldn't budge on his rank, it was better to play it off as a meager thing that made others nervous of his status. His Saber hit the back end of the floor with its sheath, he have to set it down somewhere unless risking to trip up someone walking by him. Sighing to himself, his hearing brought his eyes back to the blond woman who had spoken up in a surprised tone of voice.

"Wow, never figured you to be posted here. Must be a dull job now, just walking and patrolling the streets of the capital. You sure you're not an Imperial Guard instead?"

Her questions caused him to shrug, indifferently since he really didn't know the routine here.

"Just a soldier, who follows his orders. I'm just enjoying a quiet peace, so I couldn't say much about it here." The woman didn't as so much nod her head, she kept staring at him as if trying to figure him out. To be honest, it was flattering if not a bit creepy in the sense that he had not seen this woman ever in his life. So what gives way to confusion, often lead to curiosity more so than caution as he stared back. His patience gave way to an amused tone of voice, as if enjoying the staring contest.

Her eyes briefly turned into slits, making his heart rate speed up at the sudden spectacle.

"Okay I'll bite, why are you talking with me? I haven't done anything to you as far as I'm concerned or did I warrant something to get your attention?"

The woman shrugged a bit bored as she leaned back from his position, his mind was preoccupied on figuring this person's angle and it frankly got him curious as to why. It didn't hurt to be forward in such things, but being friendly with him tended to become awkward if the truth about his rank was ever known. He had little experience in having casual conversations due to the fact of his status as a Colonel, he had talked with several Generals or rather officers when he was still an enlisted soldier years ago when he first came into the Empire's service.

So, in all honesty talking to someone as an equal was slightly strange but it was welcomed.

"You got some guts in being honest, but I wanted to get my friend over there into the barracks of the Imperial Army, they're accepting enlistments and he needs the money to pay for the fees once he signs up. Taxes are a bitch and paying for your set of armor isn't cheap in this city." The blond poked him on the side of his head, on his temple and started to make a small circle motion with her finger. Her strength made him wince, as his skulls resisted the pressure being forced onto it and for a second he swore this woman was made of steel rather than flesh from her strength alone. Trying to understand her reasons, Tatsumi looked around the tavern to see a young man like himself sitting near the back end of the establishment itself.

He had green hair covering half of his face and seemed to be bored.

Which was odd, most people would be nervous in having a friend ask a stranger for money.

Then again for all he knew, the young man was just nervous within himself and had found a way to mask the emotion by doing whatever he could to ignore it. He had done the same thing, when aftermaths of suppressing rebellions in the West could do that to a person in his shoes. So ignoring that particular feeling, he replied in a curious manner while drinking the rest of his drink on the wooden top in front of him.

"That the guy with the green hair? He doesn't seem thrilled to go out and join the Imperial Army. You sure you want me to pay the fee for him to get in, its not that expensive if I recall at the top of my head. In fact, I doubt you'd need my help Miss..."

Tatsumi trailed off, a bit amused at himself for not asking for this girls name. Well, woman technically as she smiled at him as if studying his response which was a bit unnerving. Were all people outside of the Army really this scrutinizing when others asked to defend their gold purses? Leaning away from the woman he kept his gaze forward on the mirror, clearly seeing his 'companion' flaunt her assets as if tempting him to look over at her. Ignoring that urge, he just waited.

Silently he waited for answer, to his own question.

"Well if you want to ignore a pretty woman, then so be it. The names Leone, by the way."

Tatsumi could only smile kindly, "I'm Tatsumi. Its nice to meet you. And is that so hard to strike up a proper conversation with someone?"

Leone only smirked while tracing a finger along his cheek bone as if memorizing the structure of his face. Idly resisting the urge to swat the limb away, he kept his gaze trained on the blond haired woman clearly watching her movements. So for a few moments, the two people gazed into each others eyes searching one another for answers to unexpected questions that lingered in their psyche. But like all mysterious things, they passed into shadows as Leone broke her gaze to lean over to take a drink out of Tatsumi's cup who was a bit annoyed at that move.

Her eyes were playfully daring him to make a remark on her actions, clearly to see if he had restraint in some shape or form.

Well, he really had enjoyed drinking that fruit alcoholic drink now.

"You're something else kid, I like you. Not many man can stare at my face and be straight tongued to demand anything from me, so tell me really: why are you here in the capital?" That piercing gaze was back, searching for any signs of deception. Tatsumi idly had to wonder if this women was an Imperial Spy agent or something of that extent, she certainly met the standards for the espionage of the militarist arm and it certainly gave him that type of vibe. Still, she hadn't really asked anything other than generalized information that he was free to give out.

As for her intentions, he had little clue other than genuine interest in him.

"Thank you for the compliments, you're beautiful as well, but as I said earlier: I got stationed here recently, as in today. I'm just a soldier for the Empire Leone and I don't have any ill intentions towards you personally. I just wanted a small piece of time for myself, a drink to calm my nerves and to just enjoy the Empire as it is." Lying wasn't really on his manners nor even remotely close to his name, if he spoke of a topic it was the truth. Few could claim that his integrity was rotten, as he valued honesty in order for people to express their wishes instead of twisting truths. It often solved problems, in the quickest fashion to get results and so he had kept that type of social value to himself.

Leone's lips curled into a smile, as she purred into his ear while holding his drink in her furthest hand. Her own legs folded, with her foot teasing the side of his thigh tracing its length.

Her intentions were becoming curious now as far as Tatsumi was aware of in this moment.

It got him rather, uneasy for a better lack of a word.

"Thanks handsome. If you are that honest with me, how about you would like to care to spend the night with me after you pay for my friend there to go into the Imperial barracks to enlist? Hmm?" Tatsumi's raised an eyebrow in confusion and interest, he wasn't experienced with women in that type of sense. Still a virgin at his age was just pure and a better lack of a word: innocent. It caused his spine to shudder in delight or fright, either way it made his entire core shake with an unknown feeling that demanded to be sated. This challenge had been issued on some level, his body had responded while his mind was leaps behind trying to play catch up.

Quivering from her touch, the woman clearly enjoyed the effect she had onto him.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted, but I'll have to pass. No offense, I hardly know you and having a few drinks to go to a room would be kind of on the border of rape Miss Leone. I'd rather not have that on my conciseness thank you. I hope you understand why at the least." He laughed mid way a bit bashful since the reasons were honorable and honest, again.

The woman pouted, leaning back a bit as her leg retracted away from his own: since she had been trailed along his inner thigh muscle now. That sensation made certain parts of his body react strongly, as he inhaled to calm down his raging hormones that had been ignored while on the battlefields. Tatsumi's mind began to cloud with darker thoughts, as he automatically worked to suppress them back due to his own misdeeds as a soldier of the Empire. It got him slightly sick to his stomach, in reality it just made him bitter.

"Your loss. So think you can help a sister out here, I wouldn't mind returning the favor in the future for you personally."

Glancing over at the bartender, the man clearly had been paying half an ear to them and was smirking much to the young Officers growing irritation.

"Here."

Reaching to his side, Tatsumi tossed over a decent sized bag of gold coins capable of getting a person a week long stay at the most pricier taverns or hotels within the country. His kindness had won out, if a person had dreams and hope to make in the army: he wasn't going to deny such a thing from a kid his own age despite being in the army longer. "That should be enough, please do not ask me again since I do not like people taking advantage of me. Help your friend, help him achieve his dreams and I want you, to promise me, to have hope that the Empire will be a better place tomorrow."

Leone stared at the moderate sized money pouch cradled between her breasts before giving a small chaste kiss on the young Colonel's cheek who had turned bright red at the contact. She whispered into his ear, "Sure handsome. And thank you again love, I'll be sure to pay you back in the future. Try to have a good night and stay safe, its a bit dangerous after dark as a fair warning. See you around, Tatsumi." She got up leaving his empty glass in front of him and he heard her whistle to the back as the young man with green hair looked at him with a keen sense of admiration? Tatsumi had to blink in confusion as the expression was replaced with an apathetic boredom to the rest of the world.

And with that, the two were gone out the door.

"Kid, I'd say you better get a bed for two in the future. Because that's a fine looking lady you should hold onto, take it from me: you can go places in having that kindness of yours."

Tatsumi blushed a bright red, as the bartender refilled his drink.

"Shut up. I wouldn't do that to a woman if we had too much to drink, it's not right. And besides, the odds are I won't see her again at all. I think I got swindled for a sob story, to be honest."

The bartender just smiled, "Have hope kid. Might as well enjoy the mark she left on you, purple looks good on you if I had to guess." Tatsumi blinked as the man started to chuckle, he looked to his glass to see a purple coloration on the border of the the rim. Reaching up to the side of his face, he felt a moisture that got him annoyed. "She wore lipstick and it's fucking purple. Oh great, now people think I'm going to be a man-whore or womanizer. Ugh, never trust a pretty face again or I will go crazy from the suspense." This was going to be a long night, and he knew without a doubt that it'd kick off once the sun went down.

Most of the dangers thrived at night and the capital held no such qualms to invite him to die.

---

Perhaps he had been given a stroke of good fortune after all, Tatsumi could only marvel at the beauty of the city after the sun had fallen. He had changed out of his uniform for something more comfortable, leaving him as ordinary as many common folks that lived within the walls. Carrying his bag with his folded uniform, he had a furred sweater with black plants to cover his frame and his armored boots to keep his feet warm. Slung over his shoulder, the parcel with his orders and spare money was secured tightly to keep a mugger from trying to make off with it. Not to mention he had two weapons attached to his body, the Saber from his time in the Legion on his right hip and his old villages weapon across his back as a back-up at a moments notice.

So for a few hours had wandered the city, usually walking Noburu through the streets intent on finding a lodge for the night. However to his embarrassment, many of them were filled one way or another to leave him stranded on the streets for the night to come. Hindsight was a bitch, spending so such time in a bar really should have been the secondary objective and more so to report to the Imperial Palace was the lightened on the hill over-watching the massive urban center. So like all soldiers, he dealt with the cool night and occasionally had to peer over his shoulder to make sure, few muggers would dare to take a shot at him.

Offering condolences was one thing, but he wasn't going to allow himself to be killed if things went south immediately.

So he had wandered around for hours, absently taking in the darkened corners of the Capital with a stoic face as he witnessed shadows moving beyond his sight at times. Those that preyed on weak people had definitely ignored his presence, for willing to contend with a prey that could kill a stupid predator in a straight up fight. More than once he got onto Noburu as a precaution to keep himself mobile if someone had the audacity to attack him, he didn't wish to spill blood over a gold purse but in the end if the forced his hand, so be it. His kindness had limits and defending himself was not above something he could afford to get him killed. Still he kept his heart sealed and his gaze readied in order to defend against the scum of the capital, that it had to offer if necessary.

Beyond that he had stumbled upon a lone carriage with several guards attending to it, he had been walking his horse with a slumped expression on his face. Finding a vacant tavern seemed practically a myth at the rate he was moving through the capital city. However much to his positive outlook, the carriage that he had bumped into or rather it had pulled up next to him revealed something that made his eyes narrow in confusion.

An Aristocratic lady, a young girl with a beautiful face and a kind expression appeared walking towards him; she had offered him a place inside her carriage to care for him for the night. Her kindness seemed genuine as he had taken a moment to realize that this was one of the upper class in the capital city and it was rare to be invited into their households on a whim. She greeted him with a smile that would've sent a lesser man into a red face frenzy, but he kept his calm nature while politely bowing to the Nobility of the Empire who seemed to be pleased at the respectful tone he held.

She called herself, Aria.

As for the rest of the confrontation, the young girl had offered him a place at her home for the night.

And seeing that finding a lodge for the night was getting a bit irritating, Tatsumi agreed while hitching his horse to the back of the carriage so that she could be placed in the families personal stables. The two made some small talk, as Tatsumi only revealed the basics about his occupation and kind of just tried to get some rest on the way to the mansion that he was going to be staying at.

In fact, when he witnessed Aria's home he had to withhold an urge to scowl: when money was abundant, people became warped to have the grandest life styles to fit their needs. For all he knew, these people donated some of their fortunes to the public services but he didn't make assumptions at first glance at all. So for awhile, he had been escorted into the mansion viva the guards with Aria at the head of the precession, she had claimed to have him meet her parents who were the very image of Aristocratic at their finest.

Or worst, pending on his own feelings about the rich that formed the upper classes.

"Ah, so my dear Aria has brought home another one. I wonder how many this makes, love. This is becoming quite the habit now." Aria's mother had said to her husband bemused, who seemed to be barely bothered by the presence of Tatsumi who bowed respectfully for the family for taking him in during the night. In fact, Aria seemed to be beaming as if priding herself on helping a person and from the young Colonel's standpoint...

She seemed to be somewhat forcing the expression which was odd, again.

"She'll be fine but first, may I know your name young man?" The elderly man asked pointedly as Tatsumi spoke up, a bit reserved but held a kind expression to make the family feel at ease with his presence here.

"I'm Tatsumi, sir. I recently got into the capital and for what its worth, your home is just amazing. I don't think I've seen a more grander place since I've been alive and I thank you for your daughters, kind gesture to let me stay in your home for tonight. I'll be sure to replay this debt, as much as I can do." His words were sincere as the two adults merely chuckled halfheartedly at the display of honesty. However their eyes seemingly were piercing his weaponry, or rather the elegant blade that was on his hip, which brought questions to the young Colonel's mind at that very moment. They were suspicious of about the state he traveled in, but at what expense?

Where did they see the danger in him as he ignored the looks before being addressed to be escorted to his guest quarters for the night.

Although the father of Aria brought up a question, as they were about to retire for the night.

"So tell me, Tatsumi what brings you out here to the heart of the Empire and how did you get a blade like that Saber? I must confess, it looks you put a lot of effort into taking care of such a weapon." The elderly man's gaze was one of interest mainly as the Colonel smiled before trying to avoid the topic of him being an officer of the Imperial Army: people always tended to become forced when revealing such formalities. He hated them, to an extent but he explained a little about his origins as a means to give the man answers.

"When I was young, I left my village far in the east to become a freelancing 'Hero' to earn money to get the debt off my home. I find it ironic that 'Heroes' are no more than mercenaries with a good word and get their jobs done, I had to grow up quite a bit to understand the need that money can assist those in troubles. I wandered around on the Western Frontier doing jobs for the military at times and earning my keep, I even got this Saber for my efforts in assisting one of the Legions stationed there."

The family looked really curious at this point, so he elaborated a bit on hims time within his Legion.

"Ah, my mistake since you probably have never heard of them and all. I worked with one of the Imperial Legions called the 'Sabers' and I had to say, they were one hell of a fighting force to be with. They gave me a presented sword for doing a lot of jobs and I had an impression on the leadership there when we had to put down rebellions or fight to expand the borders of the Empire, it was an eye opening experience for the most part."

Aria's mother happily chimed out, while sipping her wine glass. "The Army is quite the prestigious life if one is to make it to the rank of a General young man. Perhaps you wish to become such a thing in the future, if I may add due to your enthusiasm to expand the Empire. In fact, I'm searching for able bodied men to be sponsored by us to enter the ranks to increase our standings." Tatsumi kind of ignored that last part due to the fact he was high enough on the chain of command to command sponsorships to really prodigal enlistments that could be entered on his admission alone. He hadn't used that authority at all due to the fact, he hadn't actually searched for recruits to join the 'Imperial Sabers' and his command was revoked due to his position in the Capital.

Still he replied again kindly to the elder woman who seemingly was eying his physique now.

"They were good men, mam. Eventually I will join it again but for the moment, I wanted to see the Empire for what it was worth and find the few that followed me out to make a name for ourselves. In fact, I'm hoping to find two friends of mine someday and I wish them good fortunes in wherever they are now."

Aria asked him from his side, "Oh, do you know their names. I'd be happy to lend assistance if we ever come across them in the future."

Tatsumi figured to humor her, why not get an extra set of eyes or ears to find his friends.

"Ieyasu and Sayo, are their names. I'd be more in your debt if you ever tell me of their whereabouts. But I'll confess, I'm quite tired and I hope to travel with you more in the morning, Lady Aria. So I'll bid you a good night and to have sweet dreams..."

He took her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles, making the poor girl go red in the face: making her parents laugh at their daughters reactions. All in all, this seemed like a nice family as the young Colonel excused himself to be led away by a servant who directed him to his room for the night. The bright skies lit with stars as they shined with a purity that few could hope to achieve in their life times.

And Tatsumi felt at ease with himself.

Perhaps their was hope for the Empire yet.

At least until the next morning anyways...

---

"Okay! Maybe I was being too optimistic, how can I have hope in people when they spend so much fucking money! God's mercy the horses will die in shame if they lug that much crap around."

Tatsumi 'Saber' could only look on with a mystified expression at the wagon load of things that Aria had bought with her own money and it varied all over the hellish landscape called luxuries. Jewelery, toys and most of all clothing. The young Lady had dragged him around asking about the clothing she could try on and for it was worth, it got annoying after the second time they hit the lingerie store more than once to get a reaction out of him. Hell even the guards escorting them were getting tired from lugging the packages and for what it was worth: he assisted them in loading the packages which got him respectful gazes at their positions.

The young Colonel could only help them, which was a blessing to clean his ears out from Aria's insatiable need for clothing to indulge her desires in some shape or form. But she was smiling, genuinely happy more so than he admitted as he watched over her while ideally making any shadier people back off from their journey across the merchant sector of the Capital City.

Overall it wasn't at all that bad, sure he had some groan worthy moments...

But for the sake of his male pride: the guards were in the same boat as him per say.

It took several hours and what not to be on their way back home, but along the way Tatsumi noticed the various posters of wanted individuals that got his attention immediately. Riding on Noburu, he asked the nearest guard next to his horse about the posters and the answer wasn't disappointing in the slightest. It had been quite some time since he had visited this place and those posters weren't on the walls of various structures much to his hidden interest. Information would nice about those wanted by the Imperial-Law and he felt inclined to understand why.

"Those posters are about Night-Raid, a group of assassins who have been killing people for the past month or so. They've been around for a bit now, targeting people and what not. It is they who have been terrorizing any rich people within the capital and now fear is now so open, for everyone to face in their nightmares. Terror is their weapon and for its worth, its getting to the point its affecting public life. Notice how people are down-ridden as we ride by, many of them have had family or friends killed by them and its only getting worse."

The mans answers made sense to some of the facts he had witnessed, but the idea of a mad group of Assassins killing without purpose was full of shit.

Someone hired them to kill others for power or other selfish gains at the least, he could allow one to be captured alive to be interrogated.

The Empire needed hope and having a mad psychopathic group like Night-Raid would be met with steel and arms to take them down into hell itself. Other than that, he honestly had never heard of this group and for what it was worth: they seemed competent enough to take on the dangers to fight the Politicians of the Capital itself. He looked over at Aria who was viewing a vendor and pointing at a silver inscribed laced ring that held a ruby so pure red, that he'd mistake it as a heart. It seemed to be worth quite a bit of money, as Aria had paid the merchant with a charming smile and a small bag of gold.

She walked over to them and the guards could only snicker at Tatsumi's silent groan of agony.

"I got this for you Tatsumi, here its a gift. That merchant said, this ring is meant as a way for one person to give affection to another back in the olden ways. Before arranged marriages and what not, but I picked it out since it'd look good on you. Will you accept my gift? Please?" No soldiers had the right to refuse gifts, the regulations of uniforms varied Army to Army, General to General and so forth: as results were what mattered. Apart of him wanted to be remain humble in life, but for it wasn't his morals that made him pause.

Her eyes were absolutely glowing with unrestricted happiness, that made him sigh internally: why him? What in the hell did he need a silver like ring to match the uniform that was packed away in his bag even now? In the end he figured it'd be the right thing to say 'yes' to it and just have as a reminder that friends could be made in any place by hope alone. Better to be kind and understanding, than to become an utter ass to those who wished himself good will.

So he smiled and accepted such a gift, kissing the young woman on the back of her hand as a sign of gratitude that made her face flush.

And long story short, he had an expensive ring on his left index finger.

Beyond that the day ended and it seemed like another night was to befall the Capital.

Or so he thought.

---

"Something's wrong, its too quiet and I smell blood now. This place is under attack, son of a bitch."

Tatsumi in bed resting when his body tensed as a smell of copper reached his nose. Throwing off the covers, he got his uniform on immediately as his heart raced inside his chest. Blood was being spilled in the very heart of the Empire and he was going to be caught in the crossfire with no sort of reinforcements to secure the perimeter to catch the would-be murderers. Silently sighing to himself to get his body out of the bed, the air around him became stained with the smell of blood.

Rapidly he slipped on his vest and cloak to be prepared once he located the family he was stay with.

His uniform was a bright white tailor made as an officer, with red trimming on the borders of the cloth and having a cape that signified him as a Colonel made his figure stand out in the burning moonlight. Placing his former villages sword onto his back, he gripped the Saber at his side before reaching inside the small parcel of his to remove a certain piece of head gear that made him stood out amongst his fellow soldiers in the field.

A white beret with red lining with the symbol of the Empire in the center its forehead.

Pulling fingerless gloves over his hands, he had the ring in place from Aria as he adjusted the beret for a final time and rushing out of his room. He sprinted along the hallways smelling the copper that was saturating the air around him, as he passed by the windows leading onto the Mansions grounds he witnessed a sight that got his heart racing in fear.

On the outside grounds, a squad of guards were being slaughtered.

A group of figures were standing on something in the air, as two of their comrades were killing the nearly panic stricken guards. That wasn't a fair fight, not in the slightest as his knuckles gripped the handle of his Saber which was giving him urges to cut down the murderers of this family. He had nothing against Aria nor her family, sure they were wealthy but that wasn't' a reason to justify their killings if they weren't already dead. Distantly flashes of steel caught his eyes as he moved with a purpose, speeding through the hallways encountering half-alive bodies that were cut in half.

And soon enough he passed by the gruesome remains of Aria's Mother, who was sliced in half and decapitated in a mockery of a fight. She didn't even have the chance to defend herself, it was sickening to his stomach and he'd find her killer one way or another.

"Let my faith in the Empire to give me strength, for will of the one on the golden throne is with me and I shall end the evil that plagues his domain. For I am the Emperor's sword, and I ask for his will, to have hope to be done." Saying a mental prayer, the young Colonel found himself sliding down the grand stair case leading to the main floors, clearly moving towards the outdoors as he heard screams from various guards dying in the background. Shaking his heads he moved to see the faint outlines of Aria vanishing into the grounds out back near the stables and storeroom areas, his heart raced as he sprinted after her.

His eyes could see the escort of a firearm marksmen guard, who was scared in his own right as he tried to protect his ladyship.

Tatsumi literally came flying out behind them.

As a result the guard pointed the weapon at the young Colonel who raised his hand in peace.

"Easy there, guardsmen. I'm not the one invading Aria's home, stand down for a moment. Please."

The man lowered his weapon, as Aria gasped. "Tatsumi is that you? But, but you said you were a traveler and apart of the Armies as a mercenary." He shrugged in response before responding in a formal tone yet clearly having regret laced in his voice as well. "I apologize Lady Aria, but usually I keep my rank to myself since people tend to force their conversations and I wanted a normal one. It wasn't important to mention it ether, but know this: I'm a soldier of the Empire and I will stand against the evil threatening it." He offered a bow of his head to the two citizens, who looked pale more than anything probably due to his reveal of his status.

"What were you planning on doing, to secure Aria's safety guardsmen?"

He asked this clearly and simply, making the man answer quickly.

"To hide there and barricade ourselves inside, to await the authorities who would assist us. We can not make it to the city on our speed alone, it'd be a fool hardy attempt and the lack of men suggest many of my peers are dead."

Tatsumi couldn't fault the logic, it made sense in some way.

"Understood, but it won't matter if its barricaded. They'll just break down the doors or walls, so do me a favor and keep Aria behind you at all times. If anyone tries to get past me, shoot them without any hesitation since I'll be defending the both of you. Try not to panic and you will see the next sun rise again, is that clear?"

The two nodded, as the Colonel turned to face the forward darkness as figures moved within the shade of the woods. Now that was out of the way, the young officer did what he could to steady himself as the assailants of the Manor had come out into an open field just before the woods of the mansion itself. Rolling his shoulders, he kept his hands at his sides to find himself calming down to potentially view the battlefield that was going to be the Manor's own grounds.

"I guess Night-Raid is brash enough to attack anyone. Not to mention there is some truth left after-all, I don't see why this family has been targeted but, I'll get answers one way or another. I just feel like this is all too sudden and the reasons are not matching up at all."

Someone appeared in front of him, leaping from the tree's as he witnessed a black attired girl appear with a sword so crimson red it literally glowed in an inhumane light. Feeling shivers crawl up his spine, Tatsumi gripped the hilt of his Saber and held it in a loose grip, slicing a line in the dirt before speaking up in a voice that warranted caution.

"You will not pass this line, Assassin."

The girl's gaze seemingly ignored his statement as she tried to sprint past him, only for his blade to vanish at a speed to force the Assassin back as her gaze widened at the speed of his aim alone. A single crack of 'steel' clashed as the two blades sparked along their lengths as both wielders fought. The girl spoke a single sentence to him as he held her back with a moderate effort.

His time in the 'Imperial Sabers' had pushed his body into acceptable levels of physical ruggedness when one fought in wars.

"You're not a target, step aside."

Tatsumi snorted, before flipping his Blade to lock the girls own weapon onto the ground to avoid her trying to slice at him in any way. "You better rethink that, because as far as I'm concerned: you're a target to me and for that, don't pussy foot around." The Black haired Night-Raid member could only narrow her eyes at the threat that was forcing her away from her target. Grunting she launched herself around the soldier, attempting to bypass his guard directly. Only for another blade to appear in her eyes as she hissed as her arm got cut form a secondary weapon the young man in front of her pulled out. That didn't make her any less happier to see that the soldier was proficient to use dual weaponry.

Rising up Tatsumi kept his gaze cool and collected, with his smaller blade in his left hand and the Saber in right, to keep the girl at bay.

His sudden reveal of the second weapon gave her pause, at the level since a dual wielding opponent got an edge over a single weapon user in melee combat. Shields were good to an extent but dual blades, gave the fatal edge one needed to win a duel. Inhaling slightly, he noticed movement behind as the rest of the Assassin's were coming to the location. Without any sort of reinforcements, he'd have to hold off a small group of an unknown amount of time.

He buried a chill of uneasiness, as the girl glared at him fully for the blood slipping down her shoulder.

Expertly she flipped her blade, before launching herself at him.

Parrying the attack, Tatsumi slashed at his assailant numerous times forcing her to peddle backwards, as he kept avoiding the blade since it screamed 'unnatural' to his mind and his instincts were screaming at him to stay back. His heart rate sky rocketed as he stopped suddenly to see how far he was from the trembling Aria and Guardsmen, the two were watching the spectacle with pale faces.

Moving backwards to avoid a narrow decapitation, the Colonel moved back to his sword drawn line in the dirt.

Panting a bit, his arms were going numb from blocking that weapon of that girls. It was downright pushing him to his limits to keep up with this Assassin, Night-Raid had some insane dangers to their members it seemed and things were only going to heat up, as he witnessed an Armored Humanoid drop to the girl's side as if intrigued by her lack of kills. The voice was metallic but raspy, similar to a males but held a beast like quality to it that got Tatsumi on guard. These items that these assassins held were starting to make sense, these things weren't just weapons. His limbs felt like lead weights, no wonder it hurt to block the strength of that girl and the answers hit him full on like an enemy calvary charge.

They were Teigu.

"Oh fucking hell! No wonder these Assassins were dicing their way through the guards, these guys are actual Teigu-Users and that's the only thing I've gotten to be terrified off since the rumors of the Ice Demon when I just enlisted into the Army. Oh son of a bitch, this blows so much crap."

Sacred Imperial Arms, that even he was dreaded to dare face in combat and his stomach lurched knowing he had been dueling with Death. It damn well got him fearful as the man's voice spoke up, clearly amused and rather curious when facing him. His armor didn't seem to have any signs to be pierced by his Saber, which he doubted he would do much against the powerful weapons of the First Emperor himself.

"It's been awhile to see someone forcing you off Akame, you losing your touch?"

The girl looked up, clearly bored.

"No. He's just a competent opponent, I don't think he realizes whose he's defending. It'd be a shame to kill him."

The humanoid armor Teigu user looked at Tatsumi's passive form, as if gauging the stance alone. It made the young Colonel wince as his arm throbbed from considering to defend against such a massive armored warrior. The steel like metal accented the man's form behind the suit, he looked simply like a monster if one had to make guesses on a physical level and that monstrous spear just added to the hell that could be made. Plus that massive spear like weapon didn't make the idea of fighting in close combat any less appealing.

"I got to say, its pretty nostalgic to see an Officer commit to defending a person. But no offense, little guy, your in the way of our target. No hard feelings, since she's going to die. Either step away or get crushed."

That ultimatum just made Tatsumi narrow his eyes, Teigu users or not: he would fight until his body was underneath the ground.

"Tough talk from the guy in armor, who doesn't have the honor to fight in a straight up duel. Take your suggestions and fuck off."

The humanoid armored Teigu user just whistled, "What a foul mouth, man you got guts but I can respect that."

Raising his weapons, the Colonel got into the most reactionary defensive stance he could possibly get into.

The next turn of this battle wouldn't be the matter of pushing the enemy back, but merely prolonging this battle to await the reinforcements that would come from the Capital City's guard at the least and hopefully, see that next sunrise. Clutching both of his weapons tightly, he stared unflinching at both of the Assassins of Night-Raid with no regrets other than to fight them off, he could assume what they were feeling as the Armored Teigu flashed forward raising his spear into an overhead arch of destruction.

Tatsumi leapt back clearly avoiding it, as he parried a strike from the girl who looked annoyed at his prevention to get at Aria, as she was against the storeroom granite wall. The other guard fired several shots as the armored Teigu lazily blocked them from his face, it just screamed an unfairness that the young Colonel hated more than anything. Pivoting on his right ankle, the dual sword user forced off the black girl to just barely avoid getting cut in half from the Armored User, who just seemingly hefted the spear onto his shoulder as if taking a moment to penetrate the defense had he mustered against the two of them.

Needless to say, Tatsumi still hadn't let them cross the dirt line he had forged minutes ago.

And it started to show as sweat dripped down his neck, the strain he had to contend with to fight these super-powered monsters would eventually get him killed in reality. But he had no other choice, if he didn't then another murder would be caused and the that would inexcusable to allow such an injustice to occur. The safeguard of the Imperial citizens made this fight all the more reason to give it all his effort.

The two vanished as his eyes widened in shock to see the two Assassins on his flanks!

"Shit! I'm going to get ruffed up now!"

Immediately he leaned back, as his knees bent at the lowest possible degree possible making his eyes witness the spear and the blade of the girl nearly slice his head into a pulp. Cringing as his limbs cracked with pain, the young officer performed a diagonal lunge to get away from the two, as they looked over in shock to see him panting heavily as he avoided yet another death blow. The two Night-Raid Assassins were narrowing their gazes clearly trying to figure out the level that the Army Soldier was displaying before them.

"Is that the best you two can do to me? Ganging up, trying to overpower one person?"

He taunted them out of his own frustrations to fight on an even level with them, perhaps getting them angrier would expose sloppy mistakes? At this point, any longer he was going to get messed up and badly at that. Teigu were dangerous in the normal scenario when having an army fight against a user, but having nothing other than a single soldier stand against a pair of them was suicidal. Nothing could be done other than to die in the best manners possible, since a single person could not hand two of these things at once without a Teigu of their own.

"Why do you defend that girl? Do you know of what her family and she has done personally? I was not aware that soldiers defended evil corrupted nobles."

And the armored user commented a bit curious as well.

"I'd have to agree with Akame here, you are skilled and very well versed in swordsmanship but you're trying to save a person who tortures other for amusement. I hope you understand that girl's family is responsible for dozens who were taken into their 'care' off the streets."

Tatsumi blinked curiously, as the intent of their purpose made him pause. His eyes were gauging the two as they stood casually watching him, as he heard movement from his right-hand side. Flipping his Saber, the Colonel pointed at the sight of a familiar woman who he had meant from earlier. However she looked rather...

Looked like a hybrid humanoid animal?

"Leone?"

That hesitant question made the blond woman in question, clap her hands in amazement. "Oh its you from the bar, Tatsumi was it? Oh dear, this is quite the place to run into you here and hell, its pretty shocking to me. Talk about awkward as hell, right?" For several minutes silence reined in the clearing, as the Colonel's hair overshadowed his eyes making him appear to have slumped forward. A breeze picked up as the Assassins felt their spines tingle from the gaze of the Army Officer who glared at them with one of his eyes, which was pulsing with an anger so unholy that all three of them took a step back as a killing intent leveled them down.

An intent dead set on making them nothing more than food for the crows, if give the chance,

"I see how it is now. Using me, my very own kindness to help the people of the Empire as a means to an end. How disgusting..." Hissing out each word, his gaze made the animal teigu user feel like she was staring down the grim-reaper itself. A hatred so potent and so utterly crushing, her heart kept pace with the anxiety that set her instincts screaming at her to flee. Even her other two compatriots were somewhat wary of her arrival to cause such an intense change in the young man. Her body tensed as he started to smile, coldly at their frozen forms.

While he had no Teigu, Tatsumi's body could covert his hatred of corruption in a driving force that made him well known in the Western Territories of the Empire as his Legion had crushed rebellions that openly challenged the corrupt system. His job was to crush the hopes of the many, to satisfy the few that denied those rights and it got to hated himself more so than anything more on this plane of life.

"Hey take it easy, take it easy Tatsumi. I'm not here to kill you, were after that girl behind you and the rest of her family. They've been on a hit-list for a while and someone gave us the contract to kill them off, do you want to know why?"

Again silence was met, as the young man merely stepped forward flipping his two blades hell intent on ending one of their lives. His eyes were so cold that it reminded the three of various demons that were inside their own pasts, Tatsumi 'Saber' had arrived from the depths of his heart in order to crush the evil that was facing him down. Memories of villages burning, rebels being slaughtered and his orders to make examples of them were flashing before his vision. As fires and smoke filled his senses, the Colonel who was a fair man had become a war-mongering warrior that would not back down from the foes before him.

He began to utter words that made the Armored Teigu stiffen, which got his other two comrades to look on curiously.

"Soldiers we are, we the 'Imperial-Sabers' do not flee, nor do we falter and nor do we fail to purge Evil from our sights. We are flesh and steel, we are nothing but weapons of the Emperor. In the face of Evil we do not back down, ever..."

The Colonel began to move, slowly towards them as he flipped his weapons to flash them in the bright moonlight as several droplets of blood went down the Sabers length.

All three Night-Raid members watched before immediately trying to quell the soon to be offensive soldier, they were not here to kill him but to slay the corrupted nobility that had destroyed so many lives beforehand. They needed a chance to convince him and a chance to open this soldiers eyes to the reality that he was about to defend. Without Justice, there wasn't a chance to hope for a better future for the Empire. All of them saw a potential ally to join, to find those to rally under their banner.

"Enough! If you wish to see Injustice, then look inside that building behind you and see what the true face of Evil is and you will realize what you are defending. I give you my word and honor, that behind those doors will you see what you are trying to save..."

Tatsumi stopped exactly three meters away from the Night-Raid members, his foot barely before the line drawn in the dirt. His cold hardened eyes were unyielding as he stared at them, his interest peaked at the continued reluctance of them fighting him. Twitching his jawline, the young man spoke out a single warning. His gaze reminded several of a person that they wished not to remember and it gave them the frozen fear to witness anger so justified.

"If you as so as much take a step towards Aria when I have my back turned, I will take you all down someway and somehow."

He wanted to fight, but that urge of curiosity was there. That validation of their own intents were within reach of his mind, so he would do what they asked since they asked of him to see what the evil in the Capital was. Snorting he moved towards the locked doors, before looking at the two people had 'known' for the past day or so. Aria looked like a ghost as her knees collapsed in on themselves sending her to the dirt. Some sort of truth must have been said from the Assassins, so he checked the other person he was defending.

And the guard was frozen at his appearance, but he saw him trembling.

Again, how odd of these people.

"What's behind this door?"

He asked the both of the two people next to him once was within a foot of the entrance.

Not one of them spoke and Tatsumi growled in his throat, as he slammed his boot into the wooden frame sending it backwards with a mighty 'boom' and allowed the moonlight to slip inside to unveil the darkness within. Evil had many faces, he knew in his heart that the citizens of the Empire were not perfect. But he believed these assassins were wrong, corruption from this family would be a far-cry from the people he had...

"Oh my god...this is..."

The smell hit him first.

As the rotting flesh of dozens within a space of a dungeon.

Sounds of the groans of the dying that were filling his eardrums like a disgusting water.

As the finale was the sight of mangled, scarred, crushed bodies of people who were either regular folks or what not. His mind refused to process of the female inhabitants as he stepped through the doorway into hell itself, with impaled bodies reaching up at him as if the damned were pleading for mercy. His eyes took in the familiar crucified bodies of those country men that were of his blood, his very protection was to stop atrocities like this from happening and it was allowed! It was allowed, allowed under his soon to be post and for what it was worth...

"THIS WILLINGLY WAS ALLOWED TO OCCUR!"

Gnashing his teeth together, Tatsumi's graze hardened to the point where blood seeped through his lips staining the ground with his ungodly like rage that coursed into his veins. The true face of evil wasn't on some distant frontier, some random village or local Governor outside the heart of the Empire. His body trembled as the others behind him watched his reactions, fear, anxiety and sadness all drifted towards the Colonel whose goal in life was to give out Hope to the people as a means to have a better tomorrow for the Empire itself. The Imperial capital of the Empire was supposed to be the very center of country that gave all the chance to become great.

But now...

Evil and corruption became the heart, the true face of the Empire.

Oh and it would change.

Tatsumi vowed to change this sickness that plagued the country he pledged to protect.

And he would start with the source of this madness...

"You sick, degenerate bastards. What gives you the right to do this, who decides to play with lives as if they were nothing more than toys? EXPLAIN THIS ARIA!"

His demand for answers went unsaid.

Until an old voice, a familiar one came to his aid.

"That...voice, you sound like Tatsumi...is that you?"

The Colonel froze in his spot, as he looked towards a cell to see a mangled figure stumble to the bars. His eyes were in disbelief as Tatsumi could only stare on in confusion to see the scarred tortured soul who seemed like someone so long ago: appear before him as if this reality, was just a nightmare. A bad dream that had to be known, his lips quivered and his throat constricted. There was no way in hell, that this could be the same person he knew all those years ago.

"Ieyasu?"

"No, No, No..."

The battered teen looked at him wide eyes, in disbelief and utter relief. It looked like the boy thought Tatsumi was god given the form of retribution as he stood there with dual swords, with blood trailing down its length and for that alone made the Officer look around for another heart wrenching sight. He could only fall to his knees as tears went down his cheeks.

There hanging overhead, in front of him was a beauty of a girl with a familiar face shadowed by hair that he once saw years ago.

Sayo...

Everything he had thought he had known for hope, was dying and everything he had hoped for was spat back in his face. The Empire was dying, it was sickened, it was disgusting and it was going to change one way or another by his hands alone. Sheer rage consumed his sight as he heard his best friend from the past in the village of his birth speak to him, almost insanely drenched with grief. He had witnessed the torture of the woman in front of him hanging, like a loose wiped piece of meat.

Scars marred her flesh.

Her breasts were cut away leaving rotting patches of muscle.

Below along with her intestines hanging like a mocking display and her genital area was burned into a black mush of flesh.

"We came here several days ago...that bitch took us and the next thing we do...is wake up here."

He ignored the ramblings of his friends, staring at the forms of the two people that he had come to know. Past memories were torn asunder as he launched himself at the guard who tried to pull the trigger only for his corpse to fall to the ground without his head. Blood spilled onto the building as his boots stepped in to the red liquid, leaving prints of his naivety behind him as his hopes for the Empire were becoming a warped representation of the world. He ignored the pleading of the blond haired girl in front of him. Her words muted, his eyes seeing red and his rage to have Justice fought for, entrapped his soul.

She went onto her knees, begging and crying her eyes out as he appeared before her.

"...Nor do we fail to purge Evil in our sights. It will be purged, regardless of its face and what it says to me. Burn in hell and leave nothing but the damned to claim their vengeance upon your own soul."

Aria's face was of shock as his blades sliced her skull into multiple pieces of flesh...

Two slashes, four pieces of bone, brain matter and blood split open like a popped balloon.

And that was it.

Nothing but a burning passion of anger that didn't subside, he wanted to purge more of these disgusting degenerates that formed the heart of the Empire. He would cut them out for sure now, no one in hell would get in his way after the blood he would spill to save this country. He would do what he had to do, in order to be loyal to the Empire yet have the mantle of responsibility to save it from itself. He would not betray the Emperor nor his Legion, he would find a way. He had to or the sights behind his back, would never stop.

Inhaling deeply, he turned to his last surviving friend to see the bars keeping him contained.

"I'll get you out, Ieyasu hold on."

An answer came within a moment.

"I got it, just wait."

Before he did anything, Leone came from behind him to suddenly bend the bars opposite ways in order to get the battered semi-living teen out of his cell. She handed him to Tatsumi who wordlessly took the younger boy, keeping him at peace with his head cradled tenderly. He felt so hopeless, so numb and just so out of it he gripped the boys hand, trying to say something for this madness that had occurred. After his time in the service of the Empire, he'd been unable to see the Evil that would claim the lives of his former friends.

"...Shit you look...bad-ass Tatsumi..."

The soft whizzed words came out as blood leaked from the side of the half dead teens mouth. Tatsumi could only watch with a silent horror to see his friend, his last friend dying in his arms and without a means to help him pass on. So he gripped the hand of his best friend, his childhood brother in all but blood to ease his passage onto the next life. What more could he do to assist the easing of death onto one, who did not deserve such a fate?

"Thanks, man. You look like shit, if I had to say something."

Ieyasu chuckled weakly, "No kidding...thanks for killing that..."

Another cough and blood leaked onto the floor, staining the Colonel's sleeve but it didn't matter.

"...At least promise me...you'll fight for us, to fight for our village..."

Tatsumi immediately replied, "I will. I promise you and Sayo will be buried back home, underneath that giant tree we made our vow as kids. I swear I will change the Empire, for you, for Sayo and for everyone who wants to become a Hero. I swear it, Ieyasu. Please do not worry about me or anything else, I will do it for us and for everyone back home. Just rest and understand that my promises will not be in vain, ever."

The teens eyes dimmed as if he were traveling further away.

"Thanks...Tatsumi, you always came through on your promises. I'll see you at the bar and get you a drink..."

The boys eyes dimmed to the point where they fogged over.

Tatsumi bowed his head, "I'll hold you to it, brother. I'll see you then."

The last heart beat echoed in his ears, as Ieyasu died in peace.

Both of his childhood friends were dead, nothing could bring them back and he didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Sayo either. He just could only sit there amongst the dead, wondering why such a thing had to occur in this life. Why did the Evil that plagued the Empire had to be in its heart, why did the Corruption suddenly become so thick that his ideals for Hope were nothing but a fluke. It just seemed so pointless, so utterly empty see the life vanish out of a person the same age as him.

Sighing to himself, the Colonel regained his emotional control before allowing several tears to drop.

Stoically wiping his face away, he stood up putting his friends arms into a respectful position as he prayed for his soul passage into the heavens. Nothing more mind numbing was this, it just screamed like insanity but the reality was: that evil was alive and well in the Empire. He had to stop it, somehow and someway he had too in order to see that country he loved wouldn't collapse to the tyranny within.

It just hurt to see his old friends like this: to die in the most hellish possible way.

"I apologize if I caused you trouble for you Night-Raid. I'll make sure to cover your traces with a report I'll file once I'm apprehended at this site. I ask of you to please, flee now." He spoke to the silent trio of people watching his reactions, they were evaluating him as Leone came over behind his back. His vision was on the forms of the dead and tortured below, seeing their faces burned into his memory for the rest of his natural life. What hell could be allowed by God to exist on this earth, why did it have to be allowed?

Warmth enveloped his back, making him stare to see the blond humanoid female smile at him.

"You should come with us, you have the skills Tatsumi to stand as an Assassin. Not to mention you'd fit well with us, at least in the sense you hate the Empire right? You have potential to really, really grow stronger than you are now."

This offer was unexpected as the Colonel frowned.

"I'm a soldier of the Empire, I do not desert my post. I'm stationed here in the Capital now and if I flee, I'll be branded as a traitor. I love the Empire, as an ideal but right now I can't abandon those like this here to their fates. It's just a bad idea Leone, please don't try to convince me."

The armored Teigu user came up, he lifted his spear to attached itself to his armor.

"Do you have a copy of your orders? You're not a general, so its to be expected for you to have extra time to reach a post. Let me take a look at that, it won't even count as giving away military secrets for the hell of it."

Tatsumi moved to his parcel, fishing out the parchment that unraveled before the Night-Raid members mask. He gently took the paper before skimming the lines as Leone tried to shamelessly rub his back with her breasts, it got him distracted off the forms of his dead friends. Although it caused parts of his body to head her challenge, as much as it pained his heart to ignore the fresh wounds underneath his hands right now.

"Please stop that."

The third Night-Raid member came up and poked the feline woman in her ribs to get her to back off Tatsumi's back, it was a welcomed gesture. Sheathing his blade into its scabbard, the Saber was fit at his side once again as he walked out of the rotting building. He just wanted some time to process these new events, it just really made things hard to understand at the moment. Friends that were there at the beginning of his ventures out of the village, to join the Imperial Army were dead due to the system that was in place. A system he needed to start to change, so did he start here?

"Is he going to come with us?"

Leone asked the armored Teigu user who replied, in a relaxed tone.

"According to these orders, you have another week and five days to report to the Imperial Palace. I'd say this gives him time to consider joining us or what not. Personally, its a blessing he has time to consider it at all and we should take him with us. The boss will certainly like to speak with him, based on what I've seen already..."

Being outnumbered, literally by Teigu users would be a death sentence if he tried to resist. Genuinely these people were being honest, so talking to their leader would be a start of something he could use. Still, for the sake of arguments purposes Tatsumi again tried to reason with them.

"I still think its a terrible idea. But if you insist that much, let me get my horse and I shall come with you. I'd rather talk on my own free will than to be forced, I can't overpower any of you due to your teigu. So please give me a moment..."

Maybe the start of change, began with his decisions.

And with that the meeting with Night-Raid would begin.

Tatsumi could only imagine what the repercussions of his next actions would do.

End Chapter One

Author's Note: Please Review dear readers, just really ask questions or point out things. Compliments are fine and all, but I really want you to point out the nooks, crannies so I can improve on that. I like writing but I like those to be Criticizing (Within Reason/Clarity) about whatever you see.

"Before you say, why did Tatsumi willingly go with Night-Raid? Isn't he supposed to be the Loyal, Prideful, Undeterred soldier that you made him out to be?" - He went with them because of that reasoning. He can't fight five or six Teigu users at once, without anyone of his own and for that scenario alone it'd be stupid to try. Not to mention, Tatsumi is a Colonel whose lead an Armies or a Legion in this case and to have a level-minded decision making is what prevails to those in charge of many. He understands Night-Raid's infamy so far, or rather what they do based on the information from the guard/posters about it.

I say understand, not knowing what they're trying to do.

There is a big difference between Knowing and Understanding.

I'm not justifying everyone's expectations to see this story as complete AU (Alternate Worlds by Awesomenorwegian) dove into that from the very beginning, I respect him and enjoy that story. I'm doing the complete opposite, now that I kind of see what I've done so far, in writing ahead of this post. I'm starting linear into an expanding world, where things will split off at times then come back to events keyed into the manga but the kicker in the future here, is that eventually...

Night-Raids members (Mine. Akame. Bulat. Najenda. Lubbock. Leone.) will be trying to kill him, for what reasons: I will not say but this information is here to stop the Flaming Bull-Crap (Stupid questions and validity of my intentions) about handling Tatsumi.

These first few chapters are in a way going to challenge Tatsumi's loyalty to the Emperor (And his Empire) more so than he's encountered. Plus he's far more competent to agreeing with Night-Raid on his reasons to see them, while he hasn't heard of them during his time out in the Western Territories, he's got his own motives. I know many are expecting the total AU split from Canon and that will occur as stated above earlier.

But I wanted pacing, the 'Imperial-Sabers' won't become more involved into this story until the Three-Beasts Arc (two-three chapters off I hope, so be patient) as I develop his attitude towards Esdeath's enforcers. Things he will be experiencing are deviating from canon, give you the readers more insight to the character that is Tatsumi and for what is worth, it will make you question his actions/motives/feelings later on in the story itself. So, be a bit prepared for differences in the beginnings of his encounter with Night-Raid.

Obviously later on, you will see different fears/loyalties/premonitions of what Tatsumi has experienced before being a 'Colonel' for the Empire. So don't be impatient as I build up Tatsumi for this story, eventually again this will branch out. I want those initial bonds with Night-Raid for a good reason, as you'll discover a more cautious side of Najenda for dealing with a Loyal Soldier that is an Experienced one by that and she's a former General, so expect some interesting conversations with them. At least initially and throughout it.

I only ask that you wait, stop the obvious questions and review, your thoughts on what you think about this.

The next update will be in the early stages of November, since I'll keep on writing ahead to maintain a decent clip.

I have hope in those who will see what I'll be doing, so until then have a good day and be safe.