Chapter 3: Aftermath & Sudden Encounter


~Minutes before Aria's execution~

"You know... This shouldn't even have taken long for Akame finish a simple task."

Temporary settled on top of the deceased noble, wealthy family's mansion, was three out of the six members of Night Raid standing-by patiently for the rest of their fellow members to return. But their expectations on their fellow assassins usual timing was out of the ordinary.

"While I have no doubts on Akame, she'll be back here soon. But the questions is-" An caped armored assassin gaze ahead the opening horizon field, just below where their familiar certain crimson eye assassin engage.

"Where's Leone? She should've been back here an hour ago, what's taking so long?" The tallest member of the organization remarked and questions.

"Hmm," The fur trimmed hooded teen shrugs without any worries before reassuring his partners worries. "I'm sure they're fine without our assistance. We all know how their expertise are set, they'll be here soon."

It was then, an impatient sound that was made by the third presence member on the roof, the below average height female teen pressing her tounge against the front of the roof of her mouth, applying pressure, and releasing.

"Tch. It shouldn't be taking this long for those two to complete an uncomplicated task, especially how our premature targets were easily taken care of." The salmon twin-tails slung her high advance augmentation rifle over to her shoulders, resting.

"And where's Sheele? She should've been here long ago!" The female gunslinger frets. In response, comes from a certain green-haired killer, who sighs somnolently.

"Yup. I've already seen this coming, as soon Sheele chases after one of the three targets. I was so sure she'll be lost inside of the mansion."

"As I expected." The twin-tails solemn-headed teen mumbles inexpressive, before releasing an audible breath expressing her weariest, yet a hint of perturbs channels within her.

"Not to worry, Mine." The armored bulldozer took notice of his fellow assassin worries. "She might be clumsy-"

"She is clumsy." The goggle strap-headed teen interrupts, announcing his thoughts. Which in results, triggering the pink-haired assassin to scold him ghastly as he shrieks.

"But I'm sure she's fine. We shouldn't doubt her abilities, sure she can be an airhead at times, but that is what makes her endearing."

"Hmm." A low, steady continuous sound of hum was made from the, now, composed green-headed killer; agreeing his partners statement. "No disagreement there. Everyone in Night Raid has their own weird unique quirks."

"Hey! Don't include me into this!" The gunslinger, Mine, exclaims outrageously as her duo tied tails rises and quivers, expressing her anger.

"Come on, Mine!" The wire producer encourage jocularly. "Don't deny it, you have always been part of it since joining-"

"Silence, you virgin!" Mine struck her sole finger aiming directly at the deflated, heart-wrenching green-haired teen.

"You're a virgin too, you know?" An audible listless tone of voice makes way for his comeback to be known.

While over the sideline, the wielded spear assassin stood amused observing his two teammates coming at each other once again.

'Never ends, huh.' Rhetorically questions himself fondly. Enjoying the lighten daily round of waggish atmosphere once more then previously before.

As time goes by, the trio temporary jovial, yet strange moment only lasted a few. As the duo assassins coming one another with insults and provocation each other nerves. Their personal boundaries of ambience was soon invaded by an unforeseen invisible daunt force. In results, brought silence to the trio, interrupting the pink and green killers bickering as they all swiftly turn their gaze towards north.

"!"

"Huh?!"

"Augh?!"

Blurring their own respective reaction of sounds under their breath, the wind was roaring in the great bare trees of the centre, as if it were some wild dark grove deep in a forgotten land. The wind sounded its mighty roar, making everything that surrounded it shake in fear, as the leaves fled in terror. Chills invaded the duo assassins skin beneath and tousles the twin-tails and the one eye covered assassins hair and attires to the ringlets, for the exception of the tallest member who was affected by the wind, unlike his flowing attached cape.

"What on earth-" Though, the towered bulldozer disturbed expression was conceal behind his secure geared helmet, spoken based from his current emotions and thoughts.

"What the-?! Look!" The green-haired boy points directly at the countless of trees that were sow outside of the mansion.

The lively healthy Immense bulky army of trees stood in front of the mansion property, movement of a whirlwind. The tree protrudes it dangling vines from the invisible force. Down they come like multicoloured rain. Golds, reds and browns. They are a myriad of shapes and sizes, these leaves that clothed the trees. Now they are discarded, leaving countless of trees expose.

"Wh-What the hell is going on?" An audible tremor of tone expelled out of Mine's breath, her brain had momentary shut down. She was clammy and there was the glisten of a cold sweat. Her eyes were as wide as if someone was coming to deliver the fatal blow.

"Wh-Where is that coming from?" The wire producer assassins, who was in the same state as Mine, paralyzed from the sudden dreaded atmosphere that plunge trepidation upon the trio.

"?!"

Behind the steel helmet armor, the oldest assassin eyes dilates in terror, the atmosphere was thin, as if one was usually used to swimming in mushroom soup only to be introduced to water for the first time. Yet, exuberance was short lived, deprived of enough oxygen became giddy, unable to climb further. They were drowning in air with brains fighting for consciousness. Their only hope was down and the only way to get there now was to tumble.

'Eh?!' A great sense of disturbed slight of movements was felt beneath that lies and secured his flesh; behind his respective armor. The armor subconsciously dents, the helmet of the armor; golden smoothed vision eye sights seemed to glow with a shrewd power, flickers in malfunction.

'[Incursio]?!' Subconsciously announce the title of his weapon name fill with befuddlement on his lively weapon unordinary unison its committing. 'Its acting on its own. Something disturbing it.'

Fixing his concealed gaze, that was hidden beneath his helmet, towards the horizon view of the countless of standing, partly or completely dead trees; branches, leaves and other pieces of naturally occurring wood found in a pile of sunken leaves and lifeless birds and such, onto the ground.

"W-We... We-" The gunslinger stammers upon her words, as her speaking abilities were restricted.

"G-Go." The twin-tails fellow assassin that stood besides her, shivering, mutters, yet the bulldozer and gunslinger have heard. "W-We need to go... Now!" Uncharacteristically took command on the situation.

"W-What about S-Sheele?! We can't just leave her!" Outrageously snapped out of her perturbation state momentary. "She's still inside of the mansion. We-"

"Mine! Wait, look!" Successfully stopping the pink assassin from marching her way towards back to the ground surface and barge into the former family's home. Until noticing two figures bolting, like the winter breeze colliding into inanimate objects and crashing waves hitting the shore line. Like eagles soaring across indigo skies and a herd of cheetah's racing through verdant meadows. One with long, charcoal colored locks whipped back and forth behind her like a fiery tale as she forcefully being dragged by another long-length sunshine blonde hair.

"A-Akame? L-Leone?" Seeing the return of the two missing members, the sight would be settling for the salmon headed killer, but the expression and their body movements tells differ; the rare expression of traumatized horror and terror the buxom blonde displaying. The usual inexpressive, third female member of a assassin, eyes widened in frights almost replicated as her own blonde partner that was hauling by her wrist with such force.

"Sheele!" In the distance, the blonde shouts rungs through the surface gap allowing the three killers on the roof to hear. As one of them quickly averted their pupils towards the main entrance to see one of the final missing member of their organization; quivers her way outside each steps that she takes.

It was then, Leone loosen her grasp on Akame as she continues to run up ahead, followed by one of the strongest Night Raid assassin in their group. Leone aims directly at one of her fellow female assassin member, Sheele. Before any chances that she was given to speak her confusion and startled thoughts, she was cut short soon she was fallen to the grasp of Leone.

Leone then makes a quick turn soon after she hauls Sheele along side with her, seeing the crimson eyed teen being assisted by her fellow male teen green-haired by using his wires to craft strands that are twisted together into a larger and stronger form of an manila rope to aid her journey onto the rooftop. She, too, along the petrified equipped absurd size of scissors assassin, race towards the rope as their only salvation.

Reaching to the top and uniting the rest of the Night Raid once more together, the situation would've been lighthearted under a different circumstances, but no time could anymore be wasted.

"Akame! Leone! What the hell is happening?! What's causing all of this?!" The strapped goggle-headed teen fires off panic of questions. Which was fallen deaf to the blonde.

Without any sort of warning nor explanation, Leone races off the mansion rooftop onto another as she continues to leaps across the Capitals rooftops leaving behind the suffocating atmosphere behind along Night Raid. Much as dismay towards the rest of the killers, so bombshell at their unusual frighten paled fleeing.

"Leone!" The green-haired assassins then follows the startled oldest member, who was taking lead, back to their own sanctuary. He hopes.

"H-Hey! Hold on!" The petite teen swung the strap of her advance rifle over to her shoulder securely as she too follows. Not wanting to be left behind. "Come on, Sheele!" Shouts once she hops towards to her destination.

"U-Uwah! W-Wait! I'll be there!" One by one they take their leave hastily. Sheele follows her closes familiarity before catching up to her landing on the same roof, journey their way together. Consequently leaving the last two assassins, the one out of the three oldest member stays behind with the last youngest teen; Her hair flowed into thin air like black ink of a tilted piece of parchment.

The armored male has noted since the arrival of the crimson eye teen behavior. She was excessively ignorant around her surroundings momentarily, neglecting the presence around her comrades. Her remarkable unique eyes fixes themselves the same open field scenery; where she and Leone despatch from, but the scenery has taken to a worse turn that morphed the bulldozer man facial pale, his breath was caught.

A mystified clouded revolving pitch black waves increases its size, the grass fallen victimized and shared the fate as the trees and nearby animals. This was no longer a tranquility remarkable home anymore. It was never a ordinary to begin with, only as a disguised home that fiends were living. But now, everything around them will soon be extinguished.

"Akame!" Running up to the dazed teen that stood idly, not bothering to acknowledge her sole comrade, which provoked the adult male. "Hey!" Aggressively clutches both of her exposed shoulders blades to face the armored assassin.

Her vision was then welcomed by a duo flaxen beaming lights.

"Whatever happened to you and Leone can be discuss back at the base! Regain your composure and let's make our way out!" Even though the helmet conceals his furious yet agitated expression. Akame was consciously aware of it. The state that her comrade was enough to expelled Akame's, seemingly, longed gaze and mind.

Without any response from the girl nor any gestures. She reverted back to her usual ordinary stoic expression, despite having trouble to brush off the pressured petrified atmosphere, she takes her leave up ahead towards the same path, or in this case rooftops, the same way where her comrades vanish. It wasn't long after Akame restore her composure, as he too follows the katana blade wielder racing off into the distance.

Not after one final glimpse from the girl, who her gemstone crimson eyes tilted back at the havoc setting one more time as she travels from roof to roof.


~Present~

'It's over.'

The skeleton looked fresh. In some places there was a pink sheen where flesh had been newly and inexpertly removed. There were tool marks gauged into recently living bone and a round hole in the skull. At the rear the head was cleaved open. Along the girls torn state attire.

'Once again... another life has been taken away.'

It went from a noble teen who took Tatsumi in, as a sign of kindness and righteousness. The one who was disguised as a fiend under all of that flesh. In the end, all of that was false to bring fallacies security, warmth and food, just to fulfill her twisted inhumane fantasies along with her family onto the poor souls and outsiders.

'They didn't deserve it, all those countless of defenseless lives taken away.'

But now, here lies a skeletal structure of a human that left some portion of flesh left on the human girl. The sight of it is sickening for anyone with such weak stomach to contain. Every parts that her flesh and the lack skin entirely and her jaw and facial structure heavily altered from her previous full fleshed state. Exposing her own anatomy.

The corpse soon will be devoid of its remainder of skin and pitted by burrowing insects.

The lone murderer emerald green eyes openly examines his disarrange mess, for the first time during all of the eras he'd seen and live through.

The seek of repentance or sorrow never register within him.

'Death. A widely used symbol and decomposition.'

It didn't matter anymore. The havoc of event now ended. No more any righteous man, women, or child will fall into the hands of the family's. However, while the reign of terror was over, but the capitals flesh camouflage demons continues to roam and devour the poor souls into such unfortunate faith.

Eyes slightly widened in realization recalling that he wasn't in fact alone with the girl, two other assassins he tangled with previously were presence. Tatsumi's eyes reverted back; devoid any signs of emotions, as his standards emerald eyes roam through the deserted deceased environment. It's not a surprise to the boy, he was aware the consequence once he releases his own furious wrath of force.

And so, the living that were near by were its sacrifice.

'They'd escaped.'

Seemingly, no signs, with the exception of his recent kills, bodies were not spotted. Nowhere to be found. 'I guess... at least something good came out of this.'

While there's nothing else to be found, except death, nor have any reasons to stay in one spot for all eternal or wait the authorities to arrive and sweep the area.

'My time here has come to an end. There's no reason for me to wait until anybody to show up into the scene.'

The boy, too, takes his leave. In a haste pace enters into the deep countless of exposed dead wilderness of the family's home, straight head, allowing the shadows of the night consuming his frail form.

Aimlessly strolls into the shivering sight of the woods, aware of his damaged long sleeved loose attire; that display a torn slash that slightly exposes his chest and stomach. Functioning his right hand as he trail down the gap of his clothes triggering his recent memory.

'That girl... I've touched her.'

Never have forgotten the sense of touch. His first contact since such a long time. But, once recalling the first individual who survived from his unintentional wrath, a group of six then flashes within his mind, the sudden plunged imagery of the intruders that invade the mansion.

'Night Raid.'

The name of the organization left a taste.

'An rebellion group must've been formed to overthrow corruption, I assume.' Tatsumi theorize.

Once he was completely out of sight, away from the public eyes. Tatsumi grasp his robes knot before undoing it, allowing the robes to be descended as it flows while being held by its owner, before the boy slung his robes over to his shoulders processing to conceal his visible sliced damaged clothing; continues to revolve around his right shoulder and abdomen after tying a a new-able located knot over to his shoulder to keep it stable.

'What's so different about them?'

Without any further, Tatsumi trudges along through the withered countless of trees.

For the rest of the night as the sun yet to shed its light and bring a new day upon the capital. Tatsumi continues to wander aimlessly until dawn arrives.


Night Raid.

One of the main function to be able to handle reconnaissance and assassinations within the capital of the Empire. In addition, for the opposite side benefits, the members of Night Raid are, too, in charged with the retrieval of any Teigu weapons to be able discovered in order to boost the combat effectiveness of the Rebel Army.

When not under direct orders from the Revolutionary, Night Raid opens itself as an "assassins for hire" services firm to the general public. However, not just accept any job from just anyone and will often investigate beforehand on both the client and target's background in order to avoid possible deception, traps and false data. Only operates until night.

Composing of two groups. One works within the city, while another handles the surrounding lands beyond the walls of the capital. And so, outside from the city, ten kilometers away from the capital, in the mountains lies one of their sanctuary.

In momentary, inside the base was occupied by the one and only head superior of the assassin organization: Najenda.

The older veteran women now sits on her personal throne, the assembly room, the rich oaky smell of the fire permeated the room, wisps of silver grey smoke curled and danced their way through the thick, hazy air as if excited to escape the gentle pull of the chimney.

She sucked the smoke deep into her lungs. She held it there trapped, thinking how her lungs must hate her now having so little regard for them they must be screaming at her at the top of their lungs. She craved oxygen now but not until her entire body got the message that she was crazy and not to be trifled with.

Just as she removed it from her pink lips, the snowy-haired women blew the smoke in the air carefully as if it was the aftermath of a kiss that aches to steal a life she was struggling to elude.

Now, the scene in front of her displaying is quite nerving to the leader. An unusual rare sight upholding before her. There is no sound in the spacious room, no movements, nor any bickering her underlings usually come off to. Just silences.

She doesn't condemn any of them, despite their experience on the field or any hardship they faced before uniting the organization. The phenomenal pressure of atmosphere took a breath out of her too. The sheer extraordinary vibe went unnoticed. Before the meeting were to be taken place, as the head of Night Raid awaits her underlinings to arrive from their full-grouped task.

An unsettled event occurs, while alone at the base. Najenda prepares and settles reports of recents occurrences and negotiating to the Revolutionary head quarters. An intensely unease, unnatural atmosphere unleashes across and throughout outside of the capitals ambiences.

Najenda unconsciously felt, as if, she lost the colour from her face. It was as if her functioning heart had suddenly stopped beating and all the blood had run down into her boots. Letting loose of her cigarette from her lips, her mind crosses with one conclusion on the current phenomenal case. As panic, too, rises within her core, Najenda, almost, jumped ahead before investigating any further of the recent case. She believed the high-ranked strongest general of the Empire infamous tyranny, a human who can be described and truly believe to be the incarnation of the devil himself, a person who she fears who'll return to the capital so soon.

Esdeath.

However, the more of its sources unleashes of its energy, the idea of Esdeath arrival soon to be extinguished. The new sheer power alone sensation differs from the person who she used to be acquaintance of.

This fact alone didn't cease the leader of Night Raid anxiety at all. The thought of a single being burdens such monstrous absurd power that signals immediate danger. But it was then, from a veteran composed, collected women to a worrisome women who shows dreadful anxiety for the safety of her underlings returns. The possible thought how her subordinates may crossed path with a greater, possible, force of adversary.

And now, here attending in the conference room where she patiently awaits the full group to come. And perhaps gain intel on the bizarre phenomenal occurrence.

As of it now, sitting among them, with an unusual sight that leaves the room, the entire building, into silence. Her sole eye examines every member that are attended within the room with her, studying their expression and body language.

Leone, the one of the most valuable member of Night Raid, on her accustomed stands, whenever a meeting takes place, leans against on the wall a bit further away from her leader. Her hair overshadows her golden hyperactive beaming eyes, her thin lined lips remains neutral, cross both of her arms beneath her developed assets in a comfort manners. In a close observation, her quivering exposable shoulders and legs were barely visible for anybody able to be noted.

Moving on, silently, her sole eye drifts onto the next member current state, the former imperial military soldier; the 100- Man-Slayer Bulat. The usual compassionate and composed second oldest member, too, leaning against the decorated walls near by his boss' throne.

The aura revolves around him, today's, seemingly affected him greatly, along side the rest of his fellow peers. In his usual posture stance; he leans against the wall with his arms crossed slacken, on foot stuck onto the wall forming his right leg into a plane figure with three straight sides and three angles triangle.

And the typicalness ends there, what makes a difference, that both eyes securely shut as if he was mediating, his facial features can be told. And foretold a tale how his day ended. Every matter of seconds it can noted his eyebrows twitches into disturbances, his developed size hands clutches the sides of his arms in response of his agitations.

Then moving on, goes to her long time familiar, most loyal subordinate acquaintance, since back when Najenda was positioned to be the Empires general, Lubbock.

The teen was quite anxious over his peers current state of mind and behavior that they were given off rather than worried over whatever has occurred over them. It was no surprise from Najenda, already aware how, the great tactician of Night Raid, sometimes fret over his comrades rather than himself. That kind of trait Najenda took pleasure to witness, such a side from the typical perverted good hearted teen, despite his flaws.

Continuing on her observation, onto the next, her eye then lands on the two closest friends among Night Raid, Sheele and Mine, seated on one of the upholstered piece furniture in the room. Mine, using the muzzle of her rifle as support while her weapon balances on its butt plate, she leans forward and rested her chin onto her occupied gripped thumb pads with an blank expression of pondering as she gaze into nothingness.

Her accustomed usual cold exterior and easily irritated petite teen seems not to be at presence momentary.

The next person besides her is exactly on the same onboard as Lubbock, one could say the mother figure of Night Raid yet endearing air-headed, displays concerns over her comrades health, especially agonizing over her intimate twin-tailed gunslinger teen.

Truth be told, it such a heartwarming sight to see the oldest and the young have a closet kindred bond together in such horrific times.

And now, the person who Najenda expect to be ordinary was, of course, Akame. The usually stoic member of Night Raid as she, too, used to be associated with the empire at such a young age. The composed teen stands along side with her comrades, gaze upon her superior as she awaits the meeting to proceeds. Out of all the members who are attended, the ruby eyes killer, seemingly to sustain her image in front of Najenda and the rest of Night Raid.

The eye patch women wasn't ignorant, nor bothering to overlook her underling true feelings behind her specialized mask she conceals. As it now, she took notice two things from the girl that separates her ordinary state; She frequently blinks more often than normal than Najenda has ever seen, her hands fidgets once in awhile as her index finger nails find themselves onto connecting towards her thumb nail as both nails sedately abrade one another.

'Even her too?'

The atmosphere felt like it had stagnated in the conference living room, as if the air ceased to flow and the life was sucked out. It could cut the tension in the air as everyone were silently allowing their respective own deep inner thoughts running, with a exception of few.

All this tension quite causing her to feel distress and annoyance, knowing a full night is ahead of her. And so, she then exhale into her fine produce ebony thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled up and felt as that sweet burning sensation curled throughout her lungs and throat, ripping its way to her head she finally let it out in a huge cloud watching the light create abstract colors out of the light mist still hanging in the air.

'This is going to be a rough night of trivia, isn't it?'

Foreseeing another long night ahead of her, she then hops into the befuddle case right this instant.

"Alright, enough moping around! All of you!" Her yell was like a booming bark, that carries absolute authority that reminds them who's in charge. It made every daze members jump like scared rabbits. It was enough to dispel them out of their inner engrossed thoughts and brought their undivided attention towards Najenda, with an exception of the unfazed, half-attentively crimson-tied teen.

Successfully expelled their recently distracted thoughts, much to Najenda pleasure, she proceeds.

"All of you are well-trained assassins who'd been through hardships, everyone has their own side tormented tales to tell. Whatever has happened during your task I must need to be well inform about this, then we can overcome this." The sense upheaval of Night Raid were radiating dispatches as soon became engross to their superintendent authoritative utterances.

"Don't let restrictions get the best of you, overwhelm it you must. How are we going to succeed demolishing corruption of the capital and succeed our ideal goals if we can't unbound these chains that holds us?" Releasing her slight concealed compassion, yet passionate thoughts in hope to break out of their current drubbing state.

A simple courageous speech given lifts their previous high-vitality spirits, then heads were lifted high then before. A new set of will power settles within them that shines brightly. The previous self-ashamed and distress atmosphere were immediately stomped by her underlings new found motivation, just from her simple one speech, causing her to consciously uplift both sides of her occupy lips as it wields her favorite brand of cigarettes.

Though, while feeling pride of accomplishment to shatter any of their traumatic or self-doubt thoughts, but one person in the room felt alienated out of the six members of Night Raid; Akame.

'What's wrong with her.'

As much seeing immense strength and will of power regenerates and continues to grow stronger and give her motivation to persevere can be admirable and remarkable to Najenda, but something scarcely seems to weight her down.

Her hidden converted anxious gestures comes to a stop as soon hearing her boss's pluck of speech. However, her eyes that invisibly beams much more than fine can be told another perspective side of a story.

Nonetheless, soon she must deal this matter, as for now, the meeting can finally have some progress.

"Let's not waste anymore time, so everyone can have a deserve well-rest for tomorrow until then." Najenda proposal schedule for tomorrow jolt everyone in the room fills with please for an temporary break from their various amount of never ending assignments.

"Well then, one of you, report today's incident!"

And so, the meeting commence.


Loneliness.

One who is craving human contact. One can leave a person feeling empty, unwanted and isolated. Sometimes people cause themselves to feel this sense of isolation.

Loneliness eats you alive, swallowing every once of hope you had yet to spare. It feasts upon any happiness you have left, leaving behind empty carcass; full of despair and memories you can't seem to hold onto anymore. It takes your heart into its claws, squeezing out every bit of life you had circulating throughout your opaque veins. It craves for you to suffer a life without any warm hands embracing you, or any shoulders to go cry upon.

Tatsumi is no stranger to this certain sensitive topic.

Loneliness sounds like such an easy thing to fix: find a friend, reach out to someone who cares. But in the end, it backfires. They recoil, sensing something so foul within Tatsumi, unwilling to offer an olive branch of hope to the leper teen or just wind-up dropping to the ground, correspondingly, as rag-dolls and so his anxiety deepens.

There are nights it takes a hold of him.

All he can do in those long black hours is find an enclosed place to shake until the tears subside and willing to be focus on the dawn light. It isn't simply a lack of company, though that's part of it for sure, it's a black hole that grows more powerful. It threatens to swallow every part of him, evil and good, until all that's left is a human shaped shell too numb to feel the pain anymore.

And thus, he's subconsciously always avoided trying to display his 'conditions.' As he grew, he gradually realized how much a threat he is, even when he's at presence. When people are unable to act or do as they please, their comes to a halt. Before, he lacks of understanding that his aversion to using his unique abilities has become a complex.

The emotions that are necessary locked away deep inside Tatsumi's heart needed to be expand little by little. However, there's a limit to how much stimulation he can take before, unintentionally, unleashing death.

'I should've had never touched that cursive relic goblet.'

The boy, who has no access to death, continues on his journey aimlessly into the deep wilderness.

As the sky has softened to a blue and the clouds are blushed like a ripe mango. The air is delicate and cool to kiss our skin with moisture. The sun is peeking over the mountains, each blade of grass already feeling the soft warming rays and growing stronger for the light they receive.

Down the path there is a stream, that he follows. By nature all streams are slow-flowing, languid in pace, and lax by nature. However the stream is mighty. Many torrents of water travel its path, rapids flick up against its surface like paint flakes off a distressed door. Boulders rise out of the water like the bows of a sunken fleet.

On the sideline path he strolls far to the end point of the single pathway encountering a river. A small way east, the river drops in close to the hillside and runs deep and blue. The river flows with perfect consistency, an artery of blessed water.

The water is cool and refreshing, for it has slipped twinkling down from the mountains by the stones. The water is lined with trees, pine, birch, redwood, fresh and green with every spring, carrying by their roots the debris of last winter's flooding. Inhales the air, thick with late spring's presence. The air is rich with the fragrance of leaves and damp, slightly releasing its milky white mist.

A force of nature, both beautiful and brutal. Tranquil from a distance but deafening up close. It was as if the cascades of water conjured cascades of equally powerful emotions for anybody's brain and it can quite take anybody's breath away. It was simply spectacular, the most magnificent sight had ever beheld for travelers.

'How long has it been since I washed myself?' He lingers in one spot as he constantly observes his surroundings and examining the natures beauty once more.

'I'm must be caution. Just a quick dip, wash, then self-exile.' A simple self-given task was planned out for the teen.

Tatsumi saunter further deep into the paradise region, as he unloosens the knot that rested on his right shoulder. And thus, removing his colorless white cloth that partially converts his damaged folded-collar robes that slightly exposes his upper body.

Proceeds to slide his robes through the strap of his concealed weapon, unhurriedly, Tatsumi then folds his cloth before lifting the strap of his weapon and hovers the strap over his head with one unoccupied hand as he now carries his scabbard.

Without any disturbance, Tatsumi arrived to his destination, near by the river and a curtain of water came over the grey rocks as if it were being poured from a giant bucket that never emptied.

'Splendid.' He, nonchalantly, thought.

Settles his ropes, that was wrapped around his blade, down where his belongings can easily be on his sight as he bathes. Not after long discarding his primordial worn boots and garments, placing them on top of his white cloth and blade. Leaving him bare naked.

He walks leisurely into the freshen river, strolls ahead under the providing barrage rain of water. He welcomes it. The water pours down, it drips by his side, as the boys' mind fades into dullness and everything is a foggy illusion. The sensation of the steamy water calms him; it brought his mind tranquility. All the things he honestly don't care about. All in the water. Minds' all swirl, standing under an everlasting waterfall. Ever so beautiful.

Scrubbing the lack of cleanse of his grungy and lubricant medium-length hair, subsequently allows his pale hands roam all over his immersing-cover body.

The basics of washing continues until every scarcely unpleasant scent and sweat would be extinguish and wash away. While ignoring time itself; dawn gradually turns into dim grey and the illumination of stars got languidly lusterless. Millions of stars in the ebony sky begin hiding their brightness and slowly dissipate, as if someone arriving. Divergent birds then took off flying into the manifest sky and their audible dulcet dawn choruses.

The first orange hued rays appears on the skyline, the streak of lights passes through the clouds and the prodigious sky was easily visible. The sun came out of its abode across the brilliant orange horizon and glimmers upon the heavens. The beaming sun rises up towards the scarlet skyline, which clearly differentiated the sky and lands.

Now the warm breeze can be felt and the plants made a beatific smile towards the sun.

'I should soak and wash my garments while I'm at it.' Emerging his way out of the curtains of water, the envelope soak figure teen advances towards his idly clothes as his movements creates a trail and miniature ripples drops. Upon reaching to his belongings, while remaining in the water; that reaches up to his hips conceals his groin area.

Tatsumi grasp his personal collar-dark garment robes into his hands before, without hesitatingly, dips it to the freshen water; swirls his robes around in the river to let the detergent spread among them.

'Such declaration I've made.'

("All people must one day turn into ash.")

("And so too, this nation must collapse. Those souls that were consumed by fiends, must be silenced for all eternity.")

("You people are beyond salvation. You all will be silence in the dark. The end of this capital will soon meet its judgment!")

Plunged in such sudden thoughts. Tatsumi halts his performance of cleaning, drifting his emerald eyes away scouting for near by smooth texture of stones.

'Should I really get involve in such affairs of the capital?'

Already on the move as soon his eyes lands on a, few distance away, permanently idly flat soothing stone rock perfect to be used.

'Though, who knows what I might discover, whether it does involve, or have at least some sort of connection, to my condition.'

Soon closing the distance between himself and the rock, morphing his ebony saturated garment of robes into a sphere shape; massages his garment on the rock, rinsing out the dirty water while keeping his eyes peel to any stains that are still intact. Using a bit of strength for this.

'The chances could potentially be high or minimum.'

Tatsumi dips his clothing back into the water briefly to rinse off any stench that still intact.

'While it may seems doubtful. The capitals horrific corruption on the other hand.'

Grabbing onto one part of his ebony robes garment and then slam it onto the stone, dislodging any stubborn dirt or swear. Ideally want the his robe to spread out as it hits the stone. This action repeats a few times.

'The empire is being led by a child. Such absurd decision to allow it to happen.'

("The thing that might be absurdist, is the fact he's just a child right now.")

("However, he's not alone to make any decision throughout the capital; the prime minister is there right besides the emperor.")

Finishing his last touch, he holds onto two corners of his garment and spreads out tenderly rinse it in the water.

'The family did mention the prime minister is always attentively besides the emperor. The prime minister might have been using unethical techniques to gain an advantage in on elections, to gain more money, votes or to acquire ungotten wealth. And undoubtedly have his fingers wrapped around the emperor.'

Tatsumi finishes laundering his first piece of clothing before setting his robes down to the sides leaving it there to be wither. Reaching to grasp another new piece of his clothing; his jet-black trouser.

'For now, it might be for the best to stick with the shadows and observe from there. I might as well gather some intel-'

His train of progressing thoughts for his further future schemes has come to a halt. There was absolute stillness. No air stirred the grass or leaves. Although, clouds drifted in the sea of blue above, water continues to dripped or flowed. But, not a sound could be heard either close at hand or in the far off distance. Even his own breath seems to have died. It was an eerie sort of tranquility, so instead of being soothed his senses became heightened. Sensing like the prey, even though no predator could be detected. It was as if the world were encased in a cocoon, a bubble, and there was no way out.

He feels it.

And aware, that he's not alone anymore.

In his hands grasp his trouser in a statue position, his back turned on the intruder. While he faces his clothes up front.

Silence gnawed inside Tatsumi. Silence hung in the air like the suspended moment before a falling glass shatters on the ground. The silence was like a gaping void, needing to be filled with sounds, words, anything. The silence was poisonous in it's nothingness, cruelly underscoring how vapid their conversation had become. The silence was eerily unnatural, like a dawn devoid of birdsong. Silence clung to Tatsumi and the intruder like a poisonous cloud that at any moment could choke the life from them. Silence seeped into their every pore, like a poison slowly paralyzing them from either speech or movement.

Nonetheless, he makes his first move. His current soaked, dripping hair slightly sways as he cautiously revolves his head to his side while the rest of his body stays settled, his emerald green eyes drifts to the corner.

And there stood was the unexpected intruder. Giving him the perfect sight to be memorize.

A familiar youth with long inky hair that reaches down to her knees, remarkable crimson blood eyes. The newcomer wears a dark sleeveless mini dress with a white collar and a tie; equipping a red belt that has a red side skirt cover. And a shin length socks and dark shoes.

"..."

"..."

Neither them dares to make any sudden movements.

Only silences lingers.

"So."

But that was until, the unordinary traveler first dares to speak.

"I never expect to meet you once more in such undignified circumstances."

The crimson eye teen gave no response, and not any signs of emotions, yet holds of great suspicion that carries the will to seek out the truth. Only kept her eyes fixed at the back of his head, more specifically, his eyes.

"I apologize coming across any rudeness, but-"

It was then, the air drastically turns so brittle it could snap. Tatsumi's apathetically dreadful cavernous coarse voice was enough to send the intruder on guard, provoking the newcomer instincts.

"I understand that you and I share the same unforeseeable thought that we would cross paths with each other all of sudden after day one. But now that you've stumble upon here and found me. What will you do now?"


While a fated reunion has taken place.

On the other side across the region, back inside the walls of the Empire, specifically inside of a palace; there lies the empires monarchy ruler. Where the, supposed, ruler is sheltered and guarded by various amount of military higher ups.

Inside the palace, a room that was given and owned by the emperor himself, resides a sole figure that stood front of the closed square glass window that gave off warm ball of light that unfazed through the individual's thin eyelids. Rays of brightness cast squares onto the glossy stone floor, reflecting onto several objects in the room which decorated its otherwise simplicity. He continues to stay idle, allowing the streaks of lights to the illumination directed right at his figure.

A tall, muscular man with spiked blond hair that defies gravity and remarkable hardened ocean colored eyes. He wore a significant, intimidating suit of armor, colorless pants and a crimson cloak that conceals his shoulders. However, both shoulders burdens and binds a duo securely guards that were notably large and a custom emblem of a flaxen tomoe markings on them.

Not making any sort of moment, as if he were to be a statue, only to be observing his accessible view of the early morning sun that shines over the capital.

While he indeed in fact took pride and proudly state the capital is his home that he sworn to protect and keep it secured from any potential threads that may bring harm to his homeland and the emperor.

But, that was case that seemingly bothers this experienced veteran loyal man.

'Something so unpleasant, abominated creature out there roaming through the capital.'

The bizarre even of phenomenon has shook the capital's core last night. The event of last night has triggered every residents and off duties authorities off to patrol, investigation, and a firmly secured lockdown of the palace. Everyone who were out during a for a stroll through the night of the capital were mediatory send back home with force.

'An insect who desires to defile the great empire with their actions and presence alone is not allowed to be breathing.'

While he was willing to take the lives of any potential perpetrators in future, no matter who they are or what age. They're all unnecessary and traitorous beings that never deserve any chances, nor keep on living. In his beliefs.

Although, late night events, originally assumptions that infiltrated within his conscious mind that the infamous stronger general has return from her long-term duty from conquering and extinguishing the northern tribes faction, though mostly terminating a possible subsequent threat they posed by their rapidly-rising military strength.

The sick wickedness of the toxicated atmosphere that wields sheer immensely power, ferocity consumed by malice intentions. The power alone radiated across the capital, undoubtedly. Taking the case further into investigation an absurd conclusion hits him; the phenomenal malevolent unearthly power wasn't radiating off from the sadistic incarnated devil Esdeath.

This didn't sit well on the veteran aged man.

'To think someone possess such monstrous amount inhuman aura. Compare to that foul, retched women of a general is almost like comparing to a mere pebble and a mountain.'

The mark of a blood-curdling myth took its first step. Alarming its presence. One region at a time, foul individuals, will soon begin to be expose by true reign of terror. As of now, the storm remains calm, but soon thunder will rumble.

'No matter. Any disgusting stains shall be wipe off from the surface.' His wrinkled frown deepens as he detach his gaze away from the window.

'It doesn't matter how small or big and powerful they are, it's my duty to exterminate any unworthy pests.'


Quick response:

Hauler- "Show, don't tell." Writing directly and telling you readers on how Tatsumi obtain immortality it just so plain and boring. Authors often write such mysterious current event that are often given off as hints, so the readers can connect the dots together. But sometimes can end it up as a Intriguing plot twist. Yes, Tatsumi is currently searching for any leads or any sign of directions that are, at least somewhat, connected to his curse. For the momentary, it won't be that easy since the curse itself is highly dangerous around people. Sacrifice must be made for Tatsumi to reach for his long-term goal. And besides, of course obstacles will attempt to put restrictions on our protagonist from reaching to his desires. Who says it's going to be easy?

Oh well, anyways, thank you for taking a time out of your day just reading this chapter. To be honest, I'm not certainly too proud of my work for this chapter. I mean, there were days that I feel lack of motivation and enthusiasm working on this chapter, coming home from my studies and pass out WAY too early and having difficult times staying awake, putting every effort within me since its my last year of high school and soon, after this month, graduation coming up. So for now, education must come first, but that doesn't mean the status of this story will be put on halt. I will try the best of my ability to write the next chapter. You can check the percentage of completion, on top of this story summary, for the next chapter.

This chapter was only giving you guys and gals an access to read the aftermath of Tatsumi destruction and Night Raid conference, but the next chapter shall reveal both of our protagonist and Night Raid interaction and where their relationship currently stands, specifically, Akame and Tatsumi. Which, I hope some of you notice Akame's odd behavior in this chapter and her familiar suspicion sensation from the protagonist. As well Tatsumi continuous journey through the empire.

Phew, that's all for now. I'll be in bed if you need me.

Once again, thank you and your criticism.