Disclaimer: I don't own Akame Ga Kill or any of its characters, but I DO own my OC's Akira and Takumi.
A/N: Hello everyone! I would like to thank Drew Luczynski, dgMax, and a guest for reviewing my last chapter! I also appreciate all the faves and follows this story has been receiving lately and the encouragement is just awesome. Also, I have recently finished reading the manga so you can expect some interesting content for future chapters for my version of this re-write!
And just in case some of you are wondering, "When are we going to get into the series?". The answer is soon. I'm just doing a bit of filler so that Akira and Takumi aren't just there and hopefully these chapters will be enough to blend them in. Anyway, that's enough about me. I hope you enjoy the chapter! :3
Chapter 4: Kill the Escapee
It was noon the following day. The small group headed to Akira's home to pick up her and Takumi's belongings and deal with any last minute business matters in town before returning to the hideout. It was rather awkward to say the least. I mean, Akira found it awkward, as if being escorted around town with two professional assassins didn't have her on edge.
Okay... As soon as I see an opening, I'm taking it! The redhead thought in determination, remembering her plan as she packed away her things. She'd just have to try her best and stay relaxed until she can take her chance.
A rather hard pat on the back effectively snapped the kickboxer out from her thoughts, causing her to almost stumble. Before a scowl could set in, an arm wrapped around her neck in a rather chummy manner. "You all set Aki?" Leone asked her with a small grin.
"Yeah, I'm all set." Akira replied grumpily.
"Aw, come on Aki, don't be like that!" The blonde told and began to reassure her. "Everything will get better, you'll see!"
A holler coming from Lubbock downstairs caught the girls' attention. "Ladies, we need to get moving."
"Yeah, I want to go to town and get some crepes!" They could also hear Takumi's excited voice, almost as if he was rushing them.
Both Leone and Akira couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Alright, alright, we're coming."
Soon enough, the small group headed towards the downtown and its bustling streets. Carts monopolized the majority of the road and whatever space remained were for the pedestrians, who were going about their day as usual. Akira was walking on ahead beside Lubbock, whom she was having a pleasant conversation with, and Takumi trailed behind a bit to walk beside Leone. The group is heading to the Farmgate Café and the closer they are getting to the establishment Takumi's pace seemed to noticeably slow down a bit, almost as if he didn't want to go near the restaurant.
"Is everything alright, little guy?" The blonde asked in concern, noticing Takumi's sudden change in behavior.
"Everything is fine. It's just..." The redheaded boy seemed hesitant with his words. "I'm just worried."
The outlaw smiled a bit, giving the boy her undivided attention. "What has you so concerned? Come on, you can tell your Big Sister Leone anything."
"It's about my older sister and her part-time job." Takumi told her honestly.
"Are you worried that she's going to get in trouble with her boss?" The lion shifter asked him.
The ten year old nodded his head. "Yeah."
"Well, I'm sure her boss will be understanding once Akira explains her situation." Leone reassured him, though she herself seemed doubtful in her thoughts. At least I hope so...
The redheaded boy seemed to have caught her train of thought cause as much as he would love to believe in the blonde's words, Takumi's intuition seemed to tell him otherwise. "If you say so..."
"So, uh... What made your sister get a part-time job as a waitress?" The outlaw genuinely asked him, hoping to tone down the boy's concerns a bit. "Considering that she knows how to fight I'm surprised that she hasn't joined the Imperial Army or became some sort of Bounty Hunter." She couldn't help but comment.
"'The Imperial Army are nothing but scum.' those are her words, not mine, and quite frankly I agree with her. What has the army done for us? Absolutely nothing! She didn't want to be a Bounty Hunter either seeing as she'll leave me alone at home most of the time. Not to mention, that the occupation itself is dangerous and she has to take care of me." The ten year old replied honestly. "And so, she took this job as a waitress just for the money though that's only half the reason."
"What's the other half?"
"Before my sister and I got captured by that man five years ago, three years earlier than that my parents died in a robbery. Some bandits broke into our home and cut our parents right in front of Akira, I was three at the time, and so I don't remember much of the incident obviously. My sister had no choice but to run and take me with her before those bandits got to us. For a while, Akira had no choice but to steal in order to survive since she wasn't old enough to find a job yet. As soon as she was of age though, she promised to not only me but to herself as well to never steal again and just work for the rest of her life as an honest woman." Takumi explained. "Since then, Akira has kept her promise and did everything in her power to keep me happy, healthy, and satisfied."
Leone believed it and she couldn't help but smile as she noticed Akira laugh out loud from Lubbock's joke, punching him in the arm in a casual manner. "You're sister is really awesome, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she is. And honestly, I don't know what I'd do without her... I'm going to say something, just between you and me: As much as I am grateful for my parents giving birth to me, I just...don't remember them. They're complete strangers to me." The redheaded boy admitted. "I know that I should love them and I know that it sounds awful the way I'm saying it, but Akira was the one who ultimately raised me. My own sister took it upon herself to care for me and helped me become the person I am today." He sniffled a bit, but continued on with a slight chuckle. "God, am I making any sense...?"
"You are, kid." The lion shifter reassured him. "And, I'm sure if your sister heard your little speech...she'd be overjoyed to know that she's doing a good job for you. Never doubt that."
The ten year old boy finally smiled for the first time since their brief conversation. "Thanks, Big Sister Leone."
"No problem kiddo." Leone gave a grin of her own, patting the boy on the head.
Soon enough, the small group have arrived to their destination. Akira inwardly sighed to herself, mentally preparing for the worst, but she will deal with it.
The redhead turned to face the others. "Alright, I'm heading in. I'll be back soon..."
Farmgate Café
"Fired?" Akira repeated the word slowly, her mind still trying to process everything.
"You heard me: Your lateness is inexcusable!" Her boss yelled out to her face. "You've missed a total of FOUR FULL DAYS of work when you add up all the times you've been late!"
The kickboxer was at a loss for words, admittedly he was right after all. "B-But sir, I..."
"Not another word!"
By this point, all the patrons in the restaurant turned their attention away from their food and looked up to see the full-blown argument that was taking place. The redhead could care less, however she did wish that they would mind their own fucking business. Her boss' insistent shouting was intolerable at best and Akira absolutely had no problem with tuning him out.
I NEVER asked for this! Akira thought irritably, still 'looking' at her manager but her mind was obviously somewhere else. Even if I did manage to explain everything to him... What are the chances that he's going to believe it? And those late instances was because of-
"Are you even listening to me, you bitch?!"
All of a sudden a hand lashed out, catching the redhead's cheek, his heavy signet ring breaking skin. A series of startled gasps followed soon afterwards from the customers in the restaurant. The kickboxer falls to her knees from the sudden impact and her boss looms over her, and almost without warning the man put his boot on top of her head and forcibly pressed down hard enough until Akira looked like she was on her hands and knees, her forehead and the better part of her face facing the wooden floors of the establishment.
From outside Leone, Lubbock, and especially Takumi were seething in anger as they watched the scene before them from one of the restaurants' windows, they could also hear Akira's manager rants loud and clear from the outside. As if humiliating and insulting the redhead in front of the customers wasn't bad enough...
"Bastard!" Lubbock growled out as he practically pressing himself further to the glass, hoping that maybe he'll be able to phase through and tear the man to pieces.
"Take a number, Lubbock." Leone read his body language and she immediately followed suit, starting to crack her knuckles. "I'm getting first dibs on the son of a bitch!"
The greenlette boy backed off from the window. "Fine, but only if I can get the final blow! Deal?"
The blonde didn't need to be told twice, smirking in response. "Deal."
Before the duo could leave however, Takumi managed to grab a hold of Lubbock's coat and Leone's scarf, stopping both assassins in their tracks. "Takumi-"
"Not yet." The ten year old boy spoke suddenly, surprisingly calm, despite of what's currently happening. "You're about to see just how much my sister is capable of, you'll see..."
I'm not sure what to think. It's insane on how many people look down upon one another in the Imperial Capital. It truly is rotten down to the very core... Akira thought in a daze as she gritted her teeth, balling her fists in anger. I think the worse thing is when people are greedy with money and power to the point where they take it upon themselves to take it a step further by trying to make a person's life a living hell.
"This is how it should be." Her boss claims, removing his boot from her head. "With you in a position of submission and fealty before me. You are not fit to lick the dirt from my boots, Akira. Stand up."
The redhead made no move to do so, her face still facing the wooden floors and her body remaining on her hands and knees. Most of the employees, including myself, had to work day in and day out. More than half of us have worked while their sick or injured on the job, and some just can't afford to take time off. Facing rude customers more often than not and to top it off we have to deal with this slave driver, who ducks our pay for every little mishap just for the thrill of it all...
"Stand. Up." The man ordered again.
The kickboxer did not comply, however she did turn her head to the side, resting her cheek against the floor. Noticing the fact that even though EVERY single customer's attention was on the two of them, none of the patrons made a move to stop this public abuse, though some more than not had rather horrified expressions on their faces.
I just love how they KNOW this is wrong, and yet they don't do ANYTHING to stop it! Whether it's from fear or they just love the show... People like that, even when it isn't that bad, are the worse part of living in the Capital. Akira realized. Most of the time you have to sit there with a smile on your face as someone insults you. Until it gets to a point where everything just boils over... We just have to let them call us names and be rude to us and act like it doesn't hurt. But I have seen my co-workers run into the kitchen or bathroom and cry just because of something a customer said to them, and sometimes...from our manager's abuse. I never expected someone to be so rude and cruel, especially when these people did nothing to deserve it...
All of a sudden, Akira felt a hand grab a fistful of her hair and her boss forcefully pulled up until the redhead sat back on her knees. The man lashes out with a booted foot, kicking her in the stomach. A cry of pain turned into a dry heave as Akira struggled to bring air to her lungs, hanging by her hair as she tried her best to stay conscious. Her manager raises his leg again and the kickboxer burned with rage. No one deserves such treatment!
Almost as if on autopilot, Akira gritted her teeth and rose up from the ground, she curled her right hand into a fist and planted it with much force as she could muster at the base of the man's breastbone. He grasps and releases her hair as he falls to his knees, struggling to breathe.
"Hmm. It seems our roles must've switched, boss!" The redhead couldn't help but comment out loud for everyone on the restaurant to see and hear. She then smirked. "Now, it's your turn to kneel..."
Her boss looked displeased in more ways than one, giving Akira the best glare he could muster.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Oh, I'm sorry! That was very rude of me! Here, let me help you." The kickboxer helped the man up and she then leaned forward a bit, offering her face while still having that smug smirk of hers, having her arms down at her sides as if not to put any resistance. "I'll make it easy for you, you can try and get one punch in, if you're fast enough."
Her manager seemed to have taken the challenge. The man started out with a punch only to be swiftly caught by Akira within seconds. He was about to pull his fist away, but couldn't due to the redhead's firm grip. Her boss then lifted up his other fist, which proved to be inevitable seeing as he got the same result as before. The kickboxer kneed him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him again before releasing his left arm and proceeded to bring down her elbow with enough force to his right arm, effectively hearing the satisfying sound of bone snapping under pressure. The man wailed in agony as Akira finally released him, letting him writhe in pain as he had fallen to his knees yet again.
Honestly, I'd like to do more but... That should be enough, I suppose. The redhead thought rationally After all, the poor bastard just humiliated and kicked her around in public. There was no need to go overboard. "By the way, you can't fire me because I QUIT!"
As Akira spoke her last words to her old manager, she turned to leave the establishment and as soon as she did...she felt an Aura intent. Her body seemed to go into overdrive as she pivoted and grabbed a hold of the man's good arm. With a sharp intake of breath, the kickboxer used all her strength to flip the tall man on his back. His landing wasn't so soft seeing as his back banged against one of the restaurant's tables, making it break under his weight and effectively startle the customers occupying it.
The redhead loomed over the man as he groaned over his injuries, waiting to see if he was going to move again, but he didn't. "And stay down..."
As Akira left some customers and employees alike stunned at the events that just unfolded, she made it outside and reunited with the others.
"Sis, you were awesome!" Takumi was the first one to come and hug her, having a huge grin all the while.
The kickboxer merely smiled in return and hugged him back. "Thanks, little man."
"I've got to admit, I'm impressed." Leone praised as she crossed her arms. "And here I thought you were going to just stand there and take it, but you've handled the situation so well. Lubbock and I were close to barging in there to take care of him ourselves." She admitted.
"You're alright though, right Akira?" Lubbock asked out in concern.
"Yeah, I'm just a tad sore is all." Akira reassured, and she then tried her best to stifle a yawn. I guess I'll leave my escape attempt for tomorrow... "I'm tired... And Takumi and I don't have anything more to take care of in town, so can we just head back? Please?" Tomorrow for sure. She mentally decided.
Night Raid Hideout, Outside Forest/Mountains (First Attempt)
"Uh sis, can you tell me again on why we're out here on the mountains?" Takumi asked her, wearing a backpack and carrying most of their other belongings with them.
Akira merely giggled at her little brother's silly question, wearing a backpack as well while carrying her fair share of their things. "We're going camping silly! We might as well go out and explore Mother Nature at its finest. Besides, when was the last time we got to out like this as brother and sister?"
"Never." The redheaded boy responded dryly, he wasn't mad but his reply was understandable seeing as his sister never had the opportunity to do such activities with him because she had a part-time job to think about at the time.
They really didn't have much, but it was still a bit concerning seeing as his sister packed nothing appropriate for their supposed 'camping trip'. If the ten year old didn't know any better, he'd guess that his older sister wants to escape. Why? He does not know. Regardless, he will go with the flow and go along with whatever his sister wanted to do for the time being... After all, it was good to be spending time with her like this.
"We're about to head into the forest. If we keep a straight path, we should be in town by two maybe three hours tops." The kickboxer informed him.
Takumi gave his sister a wary look. "I thought that we were going camping..."
"We are! We're just going into town to...stock up on supplies!" Akira insisted with an uneasy laugh.
The ten year old was now confused. "But if we needed supplies to go camping, we could've just asked the others-"
"Let's play a game! It's called: SHUT UP and let big sister think!" The redhead announced rather irritably and looked satisfied as her brother had finally shut his yap. "Love you bro!" She added sweetly.
I can tolerate her when she's angry, but she's scarier when she's stressed. Takumi thought uneasily, swallowing rather heavily followed by a sigh. And, DON'T get me started when she gets sassy...!
After a while, the siblings followed a path that many travelers had taken throughout the forest and eventually they kind of hit a dead end of sorts.
"Be careful," Akira gently pushed Takumi back and away from some sort of wired fence, immediately taking notice of it. "They look sharp..."
The redheaded boy merely looked in awe. "Whoa..."
Experimentally, the kickboxer brushed her index finger against one of the threads. Barely a touch and Akira flinched as she inspected her nicked finger, blood was already oozing from it and it stung as if she got a mere paper cut. Definitely sharp. She mentally confirmed to herself, sucking her minor injury. She then vaguely remembered Lubbock pull out a similar kind of thread against her throat that one time. He may not seem like it, but he's very dangerous...
"Are you okay, sis?" The ten year old asked out in concern, taking notice that his sister cut herself.
"I'm fine." The redhead reassured him, she then suddenly gasped as the wired fenced seemed to move, almost as if it triggered some sort of alarm. Lubbock knows we're here! She realized as her eyes widen by this sudden revelation. "Come on, we need to get out of here!" She spoke urgently, grabbing a hold of her brother's arm.
As soon as the pair turned around however... They were met with an unexpected guest. The siblings were face-to-face with a feline-like Danger Beast. It was large in size and has huge horns that grows from the side of its head onward, yellow fur and a lion-like mane, and finally it has three red eyes. The beast growled menacingly as its scarlet eyes peered at them with killing intent.
Takumi shivered in fear and paled quite a bit in comparison. "I-Is that a J-Jackaleo...?"
"Uh-huh!" Akira piped up in response as she along with her brother took a couple of steps back from the Danger Beast, which in turn it got nearer as it took a couple of steps toward them. Isn't Mother Nature just wonderful?! She couldn't help but think sarcastically to herself. "We should try to outrun it," She told her brother. "There should be a river a little to the south of us. I saw it on the way here."
"Can we even outrun that thing?!" The ten year old practically yelled out.
All of a sudden, the redheaded boy yelped in surprise seeing as his sister scooped him up in her arms. "Nope, but we can most certainly try!" Akira shouted out as the Jackaleo lunged at them. She delivered a snap kick to one of the beasts' horns with precise timing, deflecting the Danger Beast away from them as it fell to its side by the attack. The feline shook its head in a daze before looking down at the ground, noticing that one of his horns got broken, which immediately caused the Jackaleo to roar in fury.
The redheaded boy gulped. "Sis, I think you made it mad..."
"Tell me something I don't know!" The kickboxer retorted as she went into a mad sprint throughout the forest while carrying Takumi in her arms.
The redhead ran as fast as her legs could take her, all the while trying to picture the landscape. Sure enough, within a few minutes she heard the rushing of water which meant they were close. Once she made it to the clearing, she made an abrupt stop since she was about to run over the small hill. Sighing in relief, she stopped to catch her breath and judge the direction of the river. The last thing Akira wanted was for her and Takumi to be washed away, but from the looks of things she may not have a choice...
"Behind us!" The ten year old yelled out in alarm.
Before she had a chance to register what had happened, Akira barely had time to move just as the Jackaleo roared and slammed into her back, the animals' razor sharp teeth digging into her flesh. It all seemed to move in slow motion. Before she had a chance to even register the pain Akira, Takumi, and the Danger Beast fell over the hill onto the rushing river below them...
Her muscles burned by the time Akira woke up and felt solid ground underneath her. The redhead discovered that she was laying on her back, using her apparent torn pack as a pillow for her head. She looked around for a bit only to discover that she was on a river bank, and she then realized something else. I'm not injured.
"Sis, you're awake!" Takumi's relieved voice could be heard as he approached her. "Are you alright?"
The kickboxer shakily nodded as she slowly sat up. "Yeah, somehow. What happened to the Jackaleo? And this might be a stupid question, but... How come I'm not injured?"
"Dunno. I asked Akame the same thing when I woke up and she told me that there wasn't one when she found us. And apparently, according to Akame you didn't get hurt by the Jackaleo because your pack is what saved your life." The redheaded boy responded. "You were very lucky." He added.
That explains some things. The Danger Beast must've either got washed away by the river or maybe it ran away once it felt Akame's presence. Akira deducted in her thoughts, she then remembered something. Wait a minute... Akame? "Did you say that Akame was here?"
"Yep, she's right over there by the fire." Takumi replied almost casually.
Lo and behold, Akame was by the fire and looked rather delighted since she was preparing some tasty Koga Tuna.
"So, she was fishing the entire time?" The redhead asked.
"Oh, no." The ten year old laughed and began to explain. "She was on patrol, looking for us, and she stumbled upon us washed up by the river bank. Akame even told me that some of the Koga Tuna got fished up with our packs when we got washed up here."
Which means, my escape attempt failed. Great... Cause what are the chances that Akame will just let us go? I have no choice but to go willingly back with her. The kickboxer groaned at the thought, but there was a bright side of sorts. There's always tomorrow...
The following day... (Second Attempt)
Why, oh why... Why is it ALWAYS me?! Akira thought to herself exasperatedly, trying to keep herself and her brother, who's currently sitting on top of her back, aloft from the spears that practically screamed "death" below the pit fall they've fallen into. Oh, that's right. I'm an older sister and it is the older siblings' job to make sure that the younger one doesn't get in danger. She reminded herself.
Evidently, day two of her escapade started out well but eventually Takumi wasn't paying attention to his surroundings and on the path he was walking on. And thus, that's how the siblings ended up here...in another one of Lubbock's traps. In a pit fall with spears at the very bottom of it...
The redhead tried her best not to freak out on the inside as she was literally face-to-face with one of the lances, and she could even feel a prick of a stab against her abdomen. If she did, she will lose her balance and that would be the end of her no doubt, and possibly Takumi as well. She strained body to get a better hold of the wall, digging her fingers and the soles of her sneakers as much as she could in the soil to keep herself aloft.
"T-Takumi, start climbing." The kickboxer ordered.
The ten year old chuckled a bit shakily. "I don't know sis... To be honest, I'm too scared to do anything else. You know, in case I screw up."
"Stop giving me sass and just do it!"
Sometime later, the siblings managed to get out of their predicament. Takumi lay on the ground to catch his breath and Akira was about to do the same until her foot brushed up against a small pile of leaves... Akira's ankle gets caught on a rope. "What the-" All of a sudden, the kickboxer felt her body get swept up from under her and the next thing she knew she was upside down. "Dammit Lubbock!"
"Sis, how the heck did you get up there?" The redheaded boy asked, practically yelling at her.
The redhead pulled herself up a bit, feeling a bit of strain against her abdomen, until one of her bandaged hands finally took a hold of the rope. She fiddled with it for a couple of minutes, but as it turns out...she couldn't get down. I wish I had a knife... Akira sighed as she mentally scolded herself for her carelessness. "Just help me down. Please?" She begged her little brother.
"Don't worry sis, I'll get you down in a jiffy!" The ten year old promised. "In fact, I could get Big Sister Leone's help!" He suggested as he turned around and started running towards the direction of the hideout.
"NO, ANYONE BUT HER!" The kickboxer yelled exasperatedly after him, her adrenaline rush returning almost ten fold as she swung around and was tugging fiercely against the rope. She then realized something. Now, that I think about it... Maybe this is a good time to play as a damsel in distress. "Get Handsome! HANDSOME!"
However, her brother was too far gone by now and probably didn't hear her request so it was too late...
The next day... (Third Attempt)
Night Raid Hideout, Conference Room
"You guys, it seems that they disappeared again." Lubbock announced once he arrived to give his status report. "Akira seems to be getting smarter too with each attempt. And lately, she hasn't triggered up any of my threads." He remarked.
"My, my, she's very tenacious." Najenda spoke impressed, lighting up a cigar. "It's about to be a week since the two of them have been with us. What a waste of talent..." She couldn't help but shake her head with a chuckle.
Quite frankly, I don't blame her... Tatsumi thought to himself as he listened to the conversation around him.
Leone laughed. "You should've seen her yesterday! Akira was livid! She definitely didn't want me to help her get down whatsoever."
"Gee, I wonder why." Bulat said sarcastically as he glared a bit towards the outlaw, who flinched a bit under his gaze.
"I just don't understand why she can't accept the fact that she has to stay here." Mine complained out loud. "It's getting quite annoying if you ask me..."
The brunette grumbled a bit. "More like you're the annoying one..."
"What was that?!" The sniper snapped at him, probably having heard his little comment.
The swordsman smiled innocently. "Oh, nothing!"
"Maybe we were mean to her in some way..." Sheele spoke out in wonder, causing the blonde to flinch yet again and she could swear that she feels the muscular man's blue-eyed gaze boring into her very soul.
"I can't believe it!" The Ex general interjected. "After how well we treated her."
Tatsumi couldn't help but sigh. Again, I don't blame her...
"Anyway Lubbock, do you at least have a rough idea to where Akira and Takumi might be?" Akame asked the green haired boy.
"No clue." Lubbock replied honestly. "Like I said before, she-" All of a sudden, Cross Tail's wires started to become active. He laughed a bit. "Never mind. They're close. And, knowing Akira...she's having another bad day."
Meanwhile...
Lubbock was indeed right. This time the forest was their enemy yet again. Mostly for Akira, since a certain someone wasn't paying attention and stumbled upon Lubbock's trigger thread, before the kickboxer could even process what was happening she ran towards her brother just in time to push him out of the way from an upcoming huge log that was suspended from above the trees. Takumi was obviously safe once again. The older sister however...had to pay the price.
The sudden impact was rather devastating for the redhead since she was hit straight on her torso, sending her body flying towards one of the forests' trees, Akira's back slamming into the tree bark. If she wasn't winded before, then she certainly was now especially since she coughed up a bit of blood as her body limply fell forward. She didn't hit the ground. Oh no, but she did fell into another pit fall... Luckily for her though, it was just a harmless deep hole this time.
"Sis, are you alright?!" Takumi practically yelled out in panic as he loomed over the pit fall's hole, looking down at his sister below. His only response was a groan. Oh good, she's alive! The ten year old thought with a sigh of relief. "I'm REALLY sorry! Again..." He apologized rather shakily.
I can't tell if he's genuinely sorry or if he's doing this on purpose. I swear, if it's the latter... He is so grounded! Akira thought with a vengeance, if that proved to be the case anyway, in the meantime she whimpered a bit. "My aching ribs..." She managed to groan out pitifully. "I can't even feel my boobs... Wait, can you even feel your boobs?" I'm not making any sense anymore...
"It sounds like you're delirious." The ten year old stated from above. "Should I get Big Sister Leone again?"
Just by hearing the blonde's name this time didn't make her blood boil, but it certainly made the kickboxer give out pitiful sobs. Almost as if she was throwing in the towel, but not quite.
"It that a yes or a no?" The red headed boy asked.
The sobs got even louder by this point.
Without thinking about it, Takumi turned around and started heading towards the hideout. "Yeah, you need help."
The next day after that... (Fourth/Fifth Final Attempt)
This week for Akira was DEFINITELY not her week! She was constantly used as a personal punching bag and she did not know just how much she can take. As if being covered in Poison Ivy wasn't bad enough... The insistent sudden rash is enough to make anyone crazy. Just trying to resist the urge to scratch was torture!
How did this happened? Takumi all of a sudden needed to take a dump, but he heads towards the wrong bush... Akira rushes towards him and quickly guided him towards a safer one, but in the process she accidentally brushed up against a Poison Ivy bush. Yeah...
To top it all off, the ten year old had the nerve to say, "I can't believe I didn't get hit with any of those stuff..."
Patience, Akira. Patience. It will ALL be worth it once we make it into town! The redhead mentally reminded herself, pushing down her anger for the time being. However, that still didn't stop her from being bossy. "Shut up and keep scratching my back, klutzy boy!"
Regardless, the kickboxer pushed through with Takumi, who she was giving a piggy back ride as to make sure the boy didn't stumble with anything else, and so eventually they make it into town.
FINALLY!
And as soon as the siblings got there, a random citizen approaches them out of concern considering that Akira looked like crap.
"Excuse me miss, are you alright?" The man asked her.
Before responding to him however, the redhead took a moment to look around at her surroundings and the buildings, just mentally making a note to herself to make sure that it was all real.
"Finally! Civilization!" The kickboxer practically cried out in joy, laughing a bit before catching the man's shoulders with her bandaged hands. "L-Listen, you've GOT to help me! My brother and I have been-"
But before she could even go further...
"THERE YOU ARE~!" A familiar voice called out to them. It was rough, high-pitched, and yet it had an adorable squeak to it.
Oh no... Akira closed her eyes in disbelief, she could feel a pitiful sob part two coming on. It just HAD to be her of all people!
Leone herself suddenly appears out of nowhere, approaching the siblings and the first thing she does is hug the older sibling from behind. Akira's skin crawled with goosebumps. Just having the blonde's breasts being pressed up against her back was admittedly enjoyable but also weird. The redhead just groaned in embarrassment all the while.
The outlaw merely laughed at the reaction she'd just received. "I've been looking all over for you two!"
"Do you...know them?" The civilian asked a bit confused, they seem to know each other from the looks of it but judging by the kickboxer's body language, she seems to want to be anywhere but here and so the man was at a loss.
"Oh, for the love of-" Akira rolled her eyes in annoyance. "As I was saying earlier, my brother and I have been-"
"Oh, yes! Thank you for finding them!" The lion shifter interrupted her friend by putting her hand over the redhead's mouth, muffling her crazy claims. Leone spoke rather gratefully and began to convince the man. "My friend Akira is merely starving and exhausted from our camping trip in the mountains. The last couple of days haven't been so great to her and because of that she's not feeling well..."
The stranger seemed to look sympathetic at the kickboxer. "Oh, my... You poor thing."
If Blondie thinks that she can get away with this, then she has another thing coming! I'm SO close to getting out of this mess! Akira thought exasperatedly as she tried to remove Leone's hand from her mouth, but it wouldn't budge. Alright then... How about this?!
The outlaw not only shivered but her golden eyes widen in surprise for a bit as she felt a weird wet sensation against the palm of her hand, but regardless the blonde managed to keep herself composed as she continued to convince the citizen. Is she licking me? How kinky. She thought to herself with a small laugh.
She reacted, but not in the way I had hoped... Dammit! The kickboxer was really grasping at straws here. And at this point she did everything she could think of, anything to get her out of the blonde's grasp by stepping on her booted feet, pulling at her long bangs, elbowing her ribs, trying to tickle her fucking sides! And Leone HAD YET to release her. Son of a bitch! What is this woman made out of?!
All of a sudden, it was over all too soon as Akira purposely got gagged with her blue bandana and her head was instantly covered up with her hood and tightened by her hoodie's strings. She then was lifted up and over, secured on Leone's shoulder as she was being carried away. "Thanks again for finding them, sir! Let's go, Takumi~!"
"C-Coming!" The redheaded boy, who was merely staring and silent the entire time, finally moved and followed the blonde woman home.
Night Raid Hideout, Outside Forest
"Would you PLEASE calm down?!" Leone spoke out irritably, currently in Lionelle's Beast form as to make sure they don't get attacked by any Danger Beasts, but that task was kind of proving to be difficult even for her seeing as Akira kept struggling over her shoulder. "I promise when we get back I'll put you down, if you behave."
"Oh, I'll calm down...after I am out of this damned corrupted Capital!" The kickboxer practically exploded in anger, getting agitated by the second seeing as Leone's lion tail kept swishing against her nose, almost as if taunting her.
"And go where?" Takumi asked his sister, genuinely curious since he's never been out of the Capital.
The redhead growled in frustration. "ANYWHERE BUT HERE!"
"God, and here I thought that Mine was a firecracker..." Leone couldn't help but comment, causing the young boy beside her to laugh. "Seriously though, do you hate us that much?" The outlaw asked rather quietly, but loud enough for both siblings to hear.
The moment the blonde asked her question, Akira stopped struggling. "What do you mean?"
"It's just... It seems like you're not happy, that's all. I mean, I understand your predicament, but the others and I are really trying our best to make sure you're safe, comfortable, and most of all give you a place to call home." The lion shifter admitted to her. "Maybe we can't be family to you, but I was hoping that we could at least be friends..."
"I don't hate you or the others, and that's putting it mildly." The kickboxer confessed, surprising the lioness with her answer. "But~! There is one exception to that category and that's Handsome!" She spoke out giddily for the first time this week, having a goofy grin on her face.
Why am I not surprised? Leone thought with small grin as she shook her head, before a frown ultimately settled on her face. But since we're on the subject... "Akira, listen. T-There's something I've got to tell you about Bulat..."
The redhead's azure eyes light up in delight, squealing like a girly-girl for emphasis. "More details about my man crush! What's not to love?!"
Takumi rolled his eyes as he stopped walking. "Oh brother..."
"That's the thing though," The blonde took a deep breath as she stopped walking as well and so Leone decided to get it over with. "Bulat is actually...gay."
Silence settled between them for a moment, the only sounds coming from the rustling trees due to the wind. It was suffocating and the quiet was slowly evidently killing Leone on the inside, desperate to know Akira's reaction. The outlaw was so nervous that she began to swish her tail again as she waited.
The action seemed to work seeing as her lion tail brushed up against the kickboxer's nose, tickling it and so Akira laughed a bit. "I'm sorry, I think I must've misheard you... Did you say gaga?"
The lion shifter sighed, she knew it would be like this. "No sweetheart, I'm serious. Bulat is gay. As in, he LOVES men!" She went all out this time. "When the two of you met the first time, I didn't even bother telling you because you were so smitten with him, and so I thought that I could...you know, pull a little joke on you..."
Silence fell between them yet again.
This time for sure Leone groaned. "Come on, at least give me SOMETHING! Do you forgive me or do you hate me?"
Sometimes, reality really stinks... Akira thought in dismay, ultimately heartbroken as she looked up to the orange skies above them, it was about to be evening soon. She then felt soft fine fur brush up against her chin. If Blondie wants a reaction out of me then...
Leone let out a wail of pain as her lion tail got bitten by a frustrated Akira.
A/N2: Whelp, that's the entirety of chapter 4 folks! Please let me know what you guys think on your reviews! Next chapter, Leone receives the cold shoulder treatment from Akira among other things... Until next time! :D