Final Chapter
Northern Feelings
I hated my dad.
Dad was a monster. Everyone called him a warrior, a hero in their eyes. I used to think so as well, but I never did like killing humans and taking them alive as sacrifices. Mom didn't like it, but she was just the wife of the leader of the Tsuya clan. I could never forgive him; He cared more about his ethnic ego, than his own family. Maybe that was the case for every 'family' in the north.
V'yenta was born about a year after mine. I wasn't sure of my birth, but I didn't care. Birthdays were never celebrated in our clan. To me, I believe that I was simply born to take his place, but it never was the case. Mom would always spoil me, which my father hated since he saw it as 'softening' me up. They've healed, but not the scars on my brain. My hatred for him runs very seriously, even after my clan was annihilated. Literally.
He was always boastful, disappointed in his family's kindness. He would always scold and say hurtful things to V'yenta, calling her a 'waste of life'. Of course, to avoid his wrath, my mother wouldn't do anything. Could I blame her? No. Deep down, as much as I looked down on her actions during those times, I still love her deeply. In contrast, I was abused the worst. I feel that it was because I was a male, but still a weakling. Many of the other boys in the tribe were much bigger than me and some were already hunting danger beasts.
Being beaten was the most common kind of 'punishment'. Years of abuse made me hate him, and that meant it was an everyday thing for mom to tend to my bruises.
I could remember my worst moment with my father. He was in a very hot argument with my mother and when he had smacked her, I stood in front of her with my arms out. I must have been just an eight year old back then. When I was an obstacle in his way, he turned his hatred to me and 'hooked' me. Turning his anger to me, he grabbed me by the hair and.. tore off my clothes. When I had nothing left, he threw me down near my mother and called me a 'pathetic excuse for a male', seeing me as a unworthy son and weakling.
Never in my life, will I ever meet anyone as twisted as that man I called 'dad'.
It was three years, after that incident, when the capital passed by the north.
That was when the battle truly came. My home was hit first. When I had awoken up in the dead of night to the sounds of screams and battle roars, mom was holding the tent's flap as she peeked outside. My dad and V'yenta were nowhere to be found. She looked so terrified at the time; she grabbed me and hid me under a sheet under a bed. Mom was scared.. but she smiled at me, which I could never understand why.
I said to her, "M-mom..?"
"Stay here, dear." Mom ordered.
"B-but, everyone is screaming outside.."
"I have to go get your sister," She said to me, hugging me one last time, "Don't worry, I'll be okay.."
With that, she left. I didn't realize until later, but that would be the last time I would ever feel my mother's warmth again. I didn't believe that she would be dead before I could feel her presence again. After a minute or so, I heard her scream. Worried for her fate, I shot out of the sheets unwillingly and ran out, screaming for her.
It was a sight I would never forget.
The Imperials had killed almost everyone, with the exception of the several tribals whom they allowed to live. The tents around me burnt with a raging fire, and many of my people's bodies had been impaled through sticks. I saw my mother, being held down by several men who had very carnal looks in their eyes. I was terrified for her; I knew what they were going to do to her.
I did the only thing that any idiotic child would do.
"Mom!? Mom!" I ran towards her, with no success; one of the men shoved me into the ground and held me down with his boot, pushing down harder by the second.
"Heiyoru, no! Please let him go! He's just a child!" She begged, tears streaming down her face.
"Pathetic."
That was the first time I saw her. That fucking bitch. This was one of her first conquests during the war, and unfortunately, Tsuya village was the most ravaged. Esdeath, the General of the Imperial army. Riding upon her horse, she stared at me with a somewhat despising look, but it was laced with a hint of intrigue as well. Getting of her mount, she walked up to me, looking down on me with a pleasured smile.
"Know that this is what happens to the weak, boy." She said to me, before turning her attention to her men, "Now, you may indulge yourself to your hearts."
I knew what that meant, but I didn't want to believe it.
"Don't touch my mom!" I screamed, my eyes flowed with tears and rage, digging her heel into my head in annoyance, she sounded more taunting than angry.
"I want you to experience how it feels to be feeble, because being strong is the only thing that truly matters. You are weak, and this is what happens to the weak, so become strong!" She yelled, taking her boot off my head.
"Heiyoru, everything is going to be okay!"
"Mom..!" I squeaked, crying.
With that, the men cackled wildly as their hand began to.. trace along her contours. Somewhere in me, I couldn't close my eyes. I was too scared to hear what would make me snap, and I was too frozen to stare away. She screamed and writhed with all of her might, but there was nothing she could do. There was nothing I could do. When I heard the rip of her clothes..
"STOP!"
I don't know what happened next. Whether I passed out or simply don't remember, I'm grateful for not knowing the details of what happened to my mother. Some memories are best left alone, and this one was highly emphasized. I could never find her body, even when I had awoken in the middle of a blizzard. Months after my village was annihilated, I killed dozens of danger beasts and consumed that way. That was no way for anyone to live, but I wanted to for just one purpose: to kill the murderer of my mother.
The animals that I had torn apart were quite small, but there wasn't much I could eat off.
For two months, I lived like this. Until the Revolutionary army found me, and I didn't realize, until now, how much of a waste of time it was being with them. It was just one person who found me, who was with his battalion to intercept the Imperial forces within the area.
Derwin found me in a small cave. I was all but bone and my mouth was spread with dried up blood, sitting around bones of the animals that I had torn apart. Obviously, he took me in. A month after being cared for, he asked if I wanted to join the rebellion against the corrupted capital. If I declined his offer, he told me that he would understand and send me to an orphanage.
To me, an orphanage didn't sound like the life that I wanted. In a heartbeat, I shook his hand and willingly joined. I spent the next year knowing more about my enemy and how to combat. Not only he had saved me, but he also took care of me and taught me everything there was to know about battle.
So why, of all times, would he become a leader of a rebel group now? After everything we've been through!?
I used to think that he was a father that I had always wanted..
But now, its like meeting my deadbeat dad all over again.
Only this time, I was going to kill him.
If the information is correct, Heiyoru must be returning to his camp, although he may be walking into a trap. Please be safe..!
Rushing to her destination, Akame hoped that Heiyoru would be intact. It was quite natural for her, to detect the sense of danger with ease. In this case, her senses were going crazy. All by himself, and so suddenly. Last night, his mood did not appear to reflect on the urge to depart. Hardly, so why would he suddenly act now? The assassin was expecting for find answers, as there was a tense atmosphere within the air, despite the cold.
Akame's feelings were already clear, as she saw Heiyoru as a friend. Possibly even more so.
Loneliness could only do so much, and half a year of being alone truly affected her cohesion with others.
Yet, when she had met Heiyoru, she didn't feel so.. uncaring towards him. Not as much as other strangers anyways. Despite the first bitter moments between them with the name-calling and insulting, she was surprised how quickly they both warmed up to each other. How quickly she felt with him.
To feel something like that again, being with another person, meant everything to Akame.
Maybe that's why she..
She looks kind of under-dressed for this weather.
Look, you're going to freeze and get a goddamn cold!
Thanks..
..couldn't let him go; she lost almost everyone close to her, and maybe that fellow she had met in a stinky camp in the north was all she truly had left. Deep down, she didn't want those memories to be the last of them.
Most of all, she never got to thank him for helping her the entire way.
That was more than enough of a reason to go and assist him.
Eventually, she saw the camp in the horizon with smoke arising from it. Akame had rushed towards the New Imperial encampment very quickly, as it took longer when both Heiyoru and Akame left from there to Yoneru Village. Gripping Murasame's scabbard tightly, she nodded with assurance and ran towards the camp. She was barely within the vicinity, and the red-eyed killer could smell a rather putrid, distinctive smell: burning of bodies.
That was enough for her thoughts to confirm that there was truly something wrong.
Commotion could be heard as she ran through the makeshift pathways made by the soldiers. As she was still running straight, three men in blank white armor took notice of her. They must have know who Akame was because they immediately froze and stared at each other with doubt. However, they would most likely suffer a much worse fate if they ran away. There was no choice.
Roaring, the trio attempted to lunge at Akame with their swords and axes. Taking notice of the enemies in front of her, Akame drew her weapon once and moved so flawlessly and quickly, it was as if she had blinked behind them. A red line appeared on their necks, eventually spurting out shocking quantities of blood as they all fell over, dying within seconds. Sheathing Murasame again, she returned her attention to where to find Heiyoru.
Then she heard it.
"Quick! Don't let him get to the boss!" She heard faintly from a distance.
Tailing target.
"COME BACK HERE!"
"What the hell is wrong with this kid!?"
"He's fucking insane! GAH!"
Heiyoru felt that everything he had fought for was all for naught. How, in all of his time in battle, was unable to find any sense of trickery in the person he once called his leader? Was him meeting Derwin, being saved by him, just a coincidence? The teal-eyed soldier found no need to hold in any kind of emotion, and let it all out in a physical, bloody way. Bashing every Iceshard scum with the blunt of his shield and cutting apart body parts, his current incentive was to kill Derwin. Without him, these rebels would most likely be easy prey.
After all, he knew how capable Derwin was, in terms of leadership and war.
He wasn't a captain for nothing, and just being so was quite the understatement; Heiyoru had fought battles that appeared all but futile, but he and his allies would always break through, thanks to Derwin's strategies. Derwin was smart, Heiyoru would admit that.
But that wasn't going to stop the young man from killing him.
Eventually, his rampage led him out in the center of the camp, which was where all of the equipment was checked along with supplies, leaving behind a trail of dead bodies. Blood was splattered all over Heiyoru's clothing and it became much more tattered with the distinct lacerations which he had neglected to pay attention to during his frenzy. It appeared that the injuries he had sustained a few days ago were beginning to take a toll; Heiyoru could feel aches all over, and his left forearm was just.. going absolutely insane with sharp pain.
Shrugging it off, to an extent, Heiyoru proceeded to scan around the area. Taking heed of a shuffling noise to his side, getting louder, he immediately raised Escutcheon's shield and was shoved back several feet, just barely maintaining his balance. Derwin had shot some type of palm at him, with an engraved armband appearing to be the source. Heiyoru didn't believe in magic, but he did hear about certain Teigus that could enhance the strength capabilities of a human.
However, he had never known about Derwin using a Teigu, let alone have one. He had heard rumors about Akame, how the killer of the General Esdeath was known to drift from region to region to take away any Teigu that were in the wrong hands. It sounded quite time-wasting, to just travel place to place to find weapons that may or may not even exist.
But now, Heiyoru had now learned, the hard way, that using Teigu took responsibility. Escutcheon was a very powerful defensive-oriented Teigu, but it had its own limits. Heiyoru didn't feel so high on energy, so he wanted to restrict his use on Escutcheon's phases. He just didn't expect the fight to extend so far to a Teigu-on-Teigu fight to the death.
"Very nice block, terrible form." Derwin crossed his arms, walking in circles in correspondence to Heiyoru's movement.
"Says the one who ran."
"Was in the moment, don't blame me," He teased, shrugging, "y'know Heiyoru, I thought I had a good feeling about you when I picked you up from that shitty cave you lived in. Yet, you got 'persuaded' by that red-eyed bitch and well.. you know the rest."
"Her name is Akame." Heiyoru growled venomously.
"Right, right, the 'bitch' who loves to righteously put her nose in everything!" Derwin snarled angrily, stomping the ground like a child, "..oh, what I wouldn't do to put my hands on her and squeeze the life out of her..!"
"You talk about doing what's 'best' for our people, but you're nothing but crazy."
"Hah! You talk as if you're different," Derwin laughed, spitting at him, "your poor attitude is matched only by your skill."
Heiyoru flinched.
"You're such a child, Heiyoru!" The leader barked, "I mean, you can't take responsibility for everything! You always do try to run away from the problems involving you, let's say for example, that girl you were always with! You can't help but keep trying to believe it could have gone better, and sulk every day about it! It's a good thing, she ain't here to see your pathetic self. You're still just fighting because you live for it."
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MELIA LIKE THAT!"That was the last straw. Heiyoru gripped Escutcheon's key with his right hand and did a horizontal swipe, but Derwin immediately grabbed his right wrist with an unbelievable grip. The teal-eyed boy grunted as his wrist became more constricted as he tightened his grip even more.
"Or.. maybe it's because you just love killing too much. Killing your lover, your sister. Everything around you just dies doesn't it? Must be just a.. thing!" Adding emphasis on the final word, Derwin released his grip on Heiyoru's right wrist, shoving his fist into his chest and blasting him back. All it took was one hit, and Heiyoru was already taken aback by the heavy strike and attempted to regain his breath. Getting back on his feet, he had little time to dodge as Derwin relentlessly came at him again, preparing to strike again.
"Nggh..! Phase 1, Svalinn!" Heiyoru chanted, returning the sword into Escutcheons embedded sheath and twisting the handle clockwise. This conjured a golden barrier around Heiyoru, but when Derwin had contact with the barrier, it blew up into tiny particles and sent Heiyoru on his back. The sword had twisted back into its regular position involuntarily and slipped out of its sheath, falling near Derwin. The beaten northerner nose began to bleed, not from Derwin's physical attacks, as it was but a side effect of the Teigu. Derwin's boot came above the key of Escutcheon, threatening to smash it.
No..! Heiyoru thought as he attempted get to back on his feet. Then, he heard a loud crack. With just one stomp, the sword's blade broke apart into two pieces, rendering it completely useless. Derwin then walked over to the injured Heiyoru and put his boot on the right side of his abdomen, and then-
CRACK!
"GAH! Ugh..!" Heiyoru yelped, a trickle of blood seeping from his mouth down to his cheek.
"Where were we? Oh yes," Derwin crouched down, putting his hands around Heiyoru's neck as he began to strangle him, "give up; no matter what you'd do, you can never run away from yourself! You of all people should know that! People that can't accept their past.. should just die!"
Heiyoru struggled to escape from his grip and found the sides of his vision to become black. Was this it? After all that he had gone through, would this be how he would die? A place where his body would be burned and never found. Maybe he should have told Akame after all; he never wanted to risk herself, despite all of her accomplishments. He just wanted to resolve it all by himself, make himself useful. Perhaps Heiyoru was simply biting off more than he could chew during his entire life. As his vision got more darker, he reminiscence of the painful memories: seeing his mother die, surviving by himself, killing countless men, murdering his own lover, and ending the life of his sibling.
People tended to remember the most painful memories the best.
And some good ones.
Here, eat it.
Ahhmp.
EYAAAAA~!
Heiyoru felt happy.. and sad at that moment, realizing that being with the girl that he had met recently could bring him so much joy. In his mind, he had also realized that he just admitted his feeling for her. Yes, he was very skeptical about it at first, but her constant company day by day began to shine more on the outcome. The boy knew her type: very lonely and easily attached to others, but that made him the same as her too.
At that moment, he felt overwhelmingly sad; he would never see anyone ever again. He didn't want it to be the last.
But it couldn't be helped.
As darkness and numbness began to overwhelm him, he wished he could say sorry to her. For being a negative jerk who called her a 'bitch' at times, for everything, really.
Too little, too late I guess..
SHULK!
Huh..?
"Eliminate."
It can't be..
"Wh-what..!? This..!?" Blood spat out of Derwin's mouth, landing on Heiyoru's clothing, before a fell swipe along his neck decapitated him. A curved blade had pierced through his heart, the tip barely touching Heiyoru's chest. It was already obvious that Akame, in the nick of time, had saved his life. Derwin fell over on Heiyoru's left side, immediately dying from his heart being stabbed. It didn't take a genius to know that being stabbed in the heart meant certain death.
Heiyoru blinked twice, letting out a loud and raspy cough as he traced his hand along his throat. His savior, Akame, immediately sheathed her weapon and crouched near the injured Heiyoru. Akame wasn't sure how far he was injured, but she did her best to help him. The assassin put his arm over her neck, and began to carry him slowly. The constant wheezing and bloody coughs indicated that Heiyoru sustained serious internal injuries, but since he was strong enough to get on his feet at least, it didn't seem to life-threatening.
"I.. think.. I take.. everything back.." Heiyoru huffed, coughing between each word.
"We must get you some help, these wounds must not linger." Akame responded, carrying him with her arm around his chest while the other gripped his arm around her shoulders. Suddenly, Akame could hear a distinct noise of foot crunching the snowy ground. Mentally grunting to herself in frustration, she was about to put Heiyoru down and deal with the left over enemies, but then she saw them.
"Hey! Those two don't look so good." Two middle-aged men, clad in the armor appointed by the new kingdom, waved over to them as they yelled. Akame was rather surprised to see reinforcements. She was sure that no one would assist them.
Then she had remembered.
Najenda.
"Whoever.. your friend is.. thank goodness for them..!" Heiyoru chuckled before coughing violently.
"Don't talk..!" Akame hushed him, attempting to prevent himself from making his wounds worse.
The two soldiers walked over to them, their swords in their hands were still prepared in case any more bandits were nearby. Many other voices could be heard through the smoke and grey skies of the north, which were the sounds of relief soldiers sent by a certain friend of Akame's. She laid Heiyoru down on his rear as soon as the men came near them and they quickly examined him, stating that Heiyoru would need to be mended for a week or so.
She didn't really mind; she was just happy that Heiyoru was alive.
Standing back slightly so that the men could do their work, Akame let out a relieved smile towards Heiyoru with slightly pink cheeks. He simply blinked back and returned the favor with a solemn smile that indicated a 'thank you' from the northerner to the assassin.
For both of them, they were glad that the other was okay.
Kind of.
"ARGH! DON'T TOUCH MY DAMN RIBS, FUCK!"
"Sorry, kid!"
Five Days Later..
Akame never really left Heiyoru's side, for the next several days. He had to admit, the girl was more attached to him than he had thought. And honestly, it was a little creepy, but still nevertheless, it was very nice since it gave him company. Heiyoru wasn't much a loner as others thought he was. Being alone.. dulled his mind a lot, especially his cohesion with others.
The red-eyed girl was good company and it gave him time to say his forgiveness to her, including whatever mistakes he did. Surprisingly, he didn't take her for the very forgiving type, being a killer and all. Yet, Heiyoru still wished that she left out the parts where she would feed him and ask him if he.. had any weird feelings in his bottoms. While she cared a lot for him, she was too straightforward with topics such as these, oblivious to how embarrassing it was to talk about.. certain things.
For the next five days, Heiyoru was in a bed. Still mending his wounds. If sustaining physical wounds to his ribs, wrists, and various ones that Heiyoru failed to give time to heal wasn't bad enough, his mind was exhausted from the uses of Escutcheon. The northerner was quite saddened by the loss of his Teigu; he wasn't sure whether it would be possible to fix the blade that Derwin had stomped in two.
After everything that had happened, it was safe to say that Heiyoru was skeptical with his current position. More specifically, being part of the army. He didn't see himself in it anymore, not after what he had found out. The boy didn't believe that he made any difference just being some soldier because he felt that his past tragedies spoke for itself. He never got anywhere just being a regular grunt, and many people close to him died. All because he failed to do the one thing that he promised himself: becoming stronger in order to change the world for good.
But, the peach-haired fellow didn't see himself fit with any other life. Living a regular life seemed so out of his circle. Boring and meaningless. He wanted to contribute to anything, as long it helped others. And being in this army was the best thing that had ever happened to his life, and maybe his idea on helping the world was incorrect. All of this time, he was indeed helping the people in a different way that he did not understand.
So, he came with a great idea. He only hoped that it would be allowed.
Heiyoru would never forget the tragedies of his life. After all, the most painful memories tended to stick to people the most. Still, he realized that he had to stop sulking about their deaths and the possibilities of saving them. Perhaps events were just meant to be. Besides, if Melia would most likely decimate him in the afterlife if she found out that he kept on clinging onto her. She never thought of Heiyoru acting so pathetically.
She would never want that. His happiness was always above all else for her.
So maybe that's why she would be fine with the present.
"That armband on Derwin, your friend said it was some kind of Teigu."
"Yes," Akame confirmed, "I hope that it will no longer fall into the wrong hands, but there must be more Teigu out there, being used by 'monsters' all over the nation.."
"Gee, it's all about finding them all, eh?" Heiyoru sighed, crossing his arms behind his head as he fell back on his bed.
"If it means that it will help the people, then it will be done."
"Okay, okay, well wait for me." Heiyoru said.
"Hm?"
"Well, I'm not leaving this place without you. 'Sides, you'd probably be miserable without me!" Heiyoru laughed, shooting a grin at her.
"..Thank you, really." Akame placed her hand on her chest and smiled back at him.
"A-ah, I mean I feel like it's the least I could do for saving my ass.." Heiyoru stuttered as his cheeks began to redden.
As they conversed with each other in the tent with a bright atmosphere, Najenda opened the tent flap and nodded at Akame. She wore a trench coat under that green mechanical arm of hers and her black silk clothing. Akame stood up from her chair and respectfully gave her attention.
"Najenda."
"Akame." Najenda returned with smiled with a lit black colored smoke sticking between her lips. She motioned her purple eyes toward the 'bedridden' Heiyoru who, according to her soldiers, wanted to discuss his current position now that his entire division was gone. Najenda immediately thought of just re-assigning him to another division in the force, but seeing his role in the 'Iceshard crisis', she decided to listen to his request, "May I speak to your friend alone?"
"Hm? Of course." Akame nodded and walked through the flap of the tent to leave the former boss of Night Raid and the native to each other.
Najenda took a puff out of her blunt and sat herself on a chair, leaning forward slighty with her forearms laying atop her knees. Heiyoru found her presence to be very serious, and even a little frightening. This was further reinforced by the stern look on her face. The silver-haired woman obviously didn't tolerate nonsense, most of the time anyways.
"You wanted to talk to me about what's next for you correct?" Najenda spoke up first, and rather quickly.
"Yes."
"So talk."
"Well.. I'm kind of leaving the army, but.. not the kingdom in itself." Heiyoru stuttered, attempting to make the most sense possible.
"What do you mean?" Najenda raised an eyebrow.
"I want to help you, but I don't want to be in the army."
"Then you're better off with-"
Heiyoru gave her a suggestive look, nudging his head towards the flap where Akame patiently waited. Najenda turned her head towards the entrance of the tent as well and understood his request. Though Akame was, more or less, known as a 'wandering vigilante' by the new Imperial government, she truly appreciated Akame's support for retrieving any Teigu that happened to be scattered throughout the land. And it only took a few days for Najenda to notice how much Akame had grown on this young man. Though she never really experienced it herself, it seemed that Akame felt happy with the boy in front of her.
Despite being the stern boss she was, Najenda also wished all of her subordinates to experience happiness after fighting so hard for a world of peace.
"Ah, I see."
"Uh-huh." Heiyoru hummed.
Najenda sighed, "Well, I doubt she'd go anywhere without you anyways."
"You could say that again.." He muttered with a nervous chuckle.
"She can be quite.. cold hearted at times, but Akame cares about her comrades, especially you."
"Think I've got that in my head already, can't get rid of it now."
"Just don't-"
"I know, I know, don't ever turn my back on her or you'll kill me."
"No, she'll kill you herself." Najenda corrected, which made Heiyoru freeze in a moment of fear. After their conversation, she stood up and made her way out. Outside, Akame was stood idly, awaiting the end of the conversation between Najenda and Heiyoru. Najenda halted for a moment, taking a second to glimpse at Akame. She smiled at her, mentally wishing her luck in her travels.
He does look a bit like him. Najenda said in her mind, before leaving the perimeter of the tent.
Three months later..
"Heiyoru."
"..."
"Heiyoru." She spoke more firmly.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I wasn't listening." He apologized, putting away his small notebook inside his jacket. It was a few months after they had departed from the north and into the capital of the nation. Heiyoru had assumed that they were going to their next target, but Akame had told him that she wanted to go meet somebody who she neglected to see before she left the capital after the war.
"We're almost there." Akame said to him, moving further towards the dirt road.
"Right behind you." Heiyoru responded, catching up to her.
Heiyoru was only in the capital twice, and that was during and after the siege. He had decided that his attire would have to be more suitable for warmer conditions. Though he kept his utility belt and goggles, his leggings were changed into white cloth pants under short brown boots. Wearing an open white jacket with a collar that reached halfway to his neck under a grey buttoned-up shirt, he also equipped himself with a armband connected with a rectangular piece of metal to add a bit of protection to his left arm. The arm had seen better days.
And of course, after a month of having his weapon repaired, Heiyoru was allowed to keep his Teigu, Shield Gear: Escutcheon. Almost always would his left forearm be taken up by that mixed weapon. It would be an understatement to say that the Teigu was a part of him now. Eventually, the duo were nearing the end of the road as the sun was beginning to set. Nightfall would eventually come and they would have to retire for the night.
"Hey, there isn't anything here!" Heiyoru grumbled.
"No, there is."
"Well, where is this fellow?" He huffed.
"..." Akame let out a slightly pained sound, to which Heiyoru noticed as she pointed at something, "There."
Heiyoru blinked, surprised and disgusted at himself.
A grave, marked with no name.
He felt like the most evil person in the world.
"S-so, who is this?"
"My sister, Kurome." She said rather quickly, and without hesitation.
His heart dropped a little. Heiyoru felt like he was being rather impatient with Akame, not knowing the weight of what this journey meant to her. This was the person who she said she had failed to see after the war: her deceased sister. Now, it seemed like they both had sibling problems, but to the extreme. He idly stood there, speechless. Akame crouched slightly at the cross and saw that someone had left flowers by it, and recently.
Akame had wistful expression on her face, being more affected by visiting her sister's grave than she had predicted.
At this moment, Heiyoru had began to notice the emotional effects.
"I'll.. leave you by yourself, if you need time to process your head."
"Thank you." Akame insisted, in which Heiyoru walked down the road to wait for her.
It only took a few minutes and Akame was already walking away from the grave as she came down the trail. Heiyoru hopped his back off a tree he was leaning against and walked over to her, his eyes locked on her cheek with the faintly red exotic mark. Akame let out a long sigh and nodded, indicating that she was okay. Heiyoru, however, felt something click into his head. Now seemed like the moment to make things clearer.
After several minutes of them walking down the dirt road in the sunset, Heiyoru stopped as he rubbed his hands together nervously, "You got a moment..?"
She immediately stopped and turned around, "What is it?"
Heiyoru took a deep breath, "Back in the north, I.. kind of belonged to this war tribe you see, and.. I didn't melt into it. It was fitting to say that my life was bad even before my mother died," Akame wasn't sure where he was getting at with this, but listened nonetheless, "seeing all of those people die, seeing people I love die, it makes me wonder about how I'll die one day."
"Hei-"
"I'm still waiting for that day!"
"I won't ever let that happen, never." Akame declared with determination.
"I know you won't, that's why I'm dedicating my entire life you."
"H-huh?" Akame blinked, taken off guard by the statement.
"I've got no one else left, so it's all you." He said sternly, "I'm not gonna lie to you and say that I will never die, but I promise to dedicate my entire life to guiding you through everything! That's a promise."
"Heiyoru.." Akame said as she fully understood his statement and smiled.
"Well, it's best to get stuff like this off my shoulder." Heiyoru scratched his head, chuckling a little before yelping as Akame came close to him and put her arms around him.
"I've.. acknowledged that you won't live forever," Akame whispered into his ear as she embraced him, "S-so will you stay with me as long as you can?"
"Hey, I just said I'm gonna dedicate my entire life to you, so duh~!" Heiyoru grinned and let out a laugh, before calming down, "Of course, dork."
"Mhm, thank you." Akame released her grip around his arms and chest slightly, her cheeks radiating with red. Heiyoru raised an eyelash at her with a confused expression when she responded with a look of embarrassment.
The assassin had received her target.
And she knew what to do with it.
"Wha- MMPH!?"
It had been forever since he felt the lips of another person. He knew that one day, he'd have his kiss again, but he had always assumed he would make the first move. Yet, here he was, having his first kiss with the wielder of the Demon Blade Murasame, Akame. If his friends were alive, they'd probably would never let him hear the end of it. Her lips tasted sweet, almost.. honey-like, and unbelievably soft. In the sudden first kiss of hers, Akame immediately shut her eyes as she made contact. Heiyoru, in contrast, was constantly blinking in surprise, wondering if he was dreaming or not.
Eventually, Heiyoru was the one to break the romantic contact and gulped. Akame breathed heavily through her nose and smiled sheepishly. It was rare sight, but he saw her in a shy expression in which the word, 'adorable' just wouldn't cut in describing it. As they broke apart in silence, Akame was the first to speak.
"That is.. the first time I've expressed my feelings for someone.." Akame muttered.
"W-well, this is the first time I've kissed another girl.." Heiyoru responded, still dumbfounded.
"I apologize for being so.. straightforward with my actions," The raven-haired girl said, connecting his hand with hers, "but that is how I feel, and I hope that you'll acknowledge them..!"
"Looks like that's how it is then." Heiyoru agreed, gripping her hand firmly. He grinned at her with a still red face, and she also smiled, "Long as you don't mind me taking you on date."
"Hm?" Akame tilted her head.
"A-ah, you'll get it one day," He cleared his throat and motioned his eyes towards the bright lights of the capital, "let's get going, yeah?"
"Of course." She confirmed, walking ahead with Heiyoru hand-to-hand.
"Urgh..! You've got such a tight grip..!" Heiyoru squeaked, laughing and grunting along the way.
Both suffered deeply from their pasts and their hearts were damaged as a result. After their tragedies, they attempted to find a new future in the new era, in which they were lead to each other. Heiyoru came from a tribe of warmongers and saw the tragedies of his life on the battlefield, and Akame was raised to live a life of an assassin for her entire life and experienced her worst moments from the deaths of her friends.
Though their moments would not last forever, they were both happy to have met each other, happy to have each other now.
And Happy to be alive.
The End.
A/N:
Very long chapter indeed, and I was somewhat procrastinating. This caused the final chapter to be delayed and published a week later. Still, at least I wasn't dead. I have made an idea about publishing a 'special' chapter for 'Northern Hearth' but I still need to put some thought into it about whether I should do it or leave the fiction as it is.
Nonetheless, thank everyone for reading 'Northern Hearth' and following it all the way!
Until next time!
