Disclaimer: All characters from Akame ga Kill that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Takahiro and Tashiro Tetsuya. I do not own anything in regards to their creation; I have Takahiro and Tashiro Tetsuya to thank for that. Nevertheless, the OCs that do appear are of my ownership.

Author's Notes: Sorry about the big delay but both my beta reader and I have been really busy. On that note, I have come to deliver a piece of sad news. It is unfortunate that Shuzuka, our trusted and helpful beta reader for this story, has decided to withdraw from beta reading future chapters due to the compacted things going on in life. Nonetheless, I would still like to give Shuzuka a big shout out for all the assistance up till now.

But due to this turn of events, there may be errors scattered in this chapter, especially towards the end. So please bear with me if I make any mistakes or errors, especially in terms of the language (spelling, grammar, etc.). Also, feel free to point out any mistakes to me since that would be most appreciated.

Now, I would like take some time to thank the readers who have submitted a review. Your feedbacks are very welcomed and have helped me a lot.

And without further ado, I bring you chapter 10.

(Mostly beta read by Shuzuka)

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Chapter 10—Kill the Apparition

"If your past is chaining you down, then oppose even fate.

Raise your fist to the heavens and sacrifice even your life.

An engraved soul exists so that it can return to this world."

-Arrival of Tears. (11 Eyes OP1)

Location: Imperial Palace (Library). Time: Noon. Year: 1024 (Day 67).

With his boots pushing against the edge of the table while leaning on his chair, Tatsumi let out a yawn and stretched his arms to get rid of the numbness. A small grunt came from the back of his throat as he let his writing stick clatter onto the table that was piled up with papers.

'Argh, the first thing I do after promotion is paperwork. Talk about boring.' Before this, Tatsumi would never have thought that collecting data could be so mind-numbing. Ever since being assigned to the Imperial Library for information gathering, Tatsumi had yet to step a foot outside the room. He felt trapped surrounded by the shelves of books arranged and stacked in chronological order, and was longing to renew his senses through training. He would've heeded the temptation too, if not for Hidou's threat.

"You're helping me with my research. Until I'm done, you're not going anywhere. And if you try to take a step out of this room, I'll incinerate you on the spot."

With his attention devoted to unearthing the weaknesses of Night Raid, Hidou forced Tatsumi to help out, regardless of the sergeant's consent. Deeming that knowledge was essential for victory, Hidou spent the past month browsing through the records of Night Raid's previous targets. Much to Tatsumi's horror, the list of victims went on and on, well over hundreds. They just seemed to prove how dangerous the group of assassins was.

'But this is boring. I've filed through these documents twice now, and I found nothing relating to Night Raid's weaknesses. Ugh, this is so boring that even Mamoru-sensei decided to ditch.' Tatsumi heaved a sigh. Just prior to lunchtime, Mamoru had left the room, claiming that he was going to collect their lunches from the kitchen. In that split second, Tatsumi could've sworn that he saw Mamoru's lips twitch in a barely decipherable smirk.

'I'm starving. What's taking Mamoru-sensei so long? The kitchen isn't on the other side of this planet.' Tatsumi sighed again, exasperated.

"Flyer Boy… Has someone ever taught you to brush your teeth? Your breath reeks so bad that it's ruining my concentration. I'll let you know that I'm on the verge of a major breakthrough here." Hidou shuffled the papers in his hands, his nose wrinkling. Although he was exaggerating, he wasn't lying when he said that he was nearly there. After all, his intellect was not something that should be underestimated. Time and again, he demonstrated his astuteness on battlefields by discovering flaws in the enemy's formations. His ability to interpret situations during critical moments was what made him so well-known, even amongst the strongest generals.

"Flyer Boy? I've told you more than a hundred times to stop calling me that!" Already restless from the lack of activity, Tatsumi bristled and stood up. If only looks could kill, then Hidou would be long dead from all the glares that Tatsumi had given him. "My name is Tatsumi! T-A-T-S-U-M-I!"

"Pfft, you're so dumb that you can't even get your own name right," scoffed Hidou, "Let me spell it out for you, F-L-Y-E-R B-O-Y."

"Why y—" Tatsumi, tempted by a quarrel, opened his mouth but was cut short when the library door opened to allow entry for Mamoru.

The general dressed in black was carrying a tray consisting of steaming warm broths and three loaves of bread. It was nothing compared to the delicacies fit for one in the general class, but neither Mamoru nor Hidou complained; they couldn't afford to be selective when on duty.

Tatsumi made no objection either. Having gone past his usual lunchtime, the new sergeant gratefully accepted his portion before returning to his spot. On the whole, eating was prohibited in the library, but one direct glower from Hidou had made the librarian turn a blind eye. Apparently, Hidou had his way of being rebellious.

"Anything?" Mamoru spoke in his standard tone as he placed the remaining two bowls on the desk in front of Hidou.

"Hmph, you slacker… Hoping that I'll do all the work? Well, I've got news for you; you can go to hell for all I care," Hidou hissed as he tore his loaf in half, finding Mamoru's behavior in no way negotiable. He took a bite of the bread and supplied an accusing glare at his coworker. "Ugh, did you piss on this? It stinks like you!"

One traitorous eyebrow rose towards his hairline as Tatsumi suspiciously sniffed the food in his hand. As far as he was concerned, he caught no scent that supported Hidou's claims. In fact, the aroma was so delectable that he took another mouthful. 'This is really good. Our village never had bread that tastes this good. Most of the stuff back home is like rock-hard.'

"Nonsense. There was a holdup." If the Silencer was offended by Hidou's remark, then he made no indication as he slid a folio across the surface of the table. The file spun in rotations of 360s, only to stop directly in front of Hidou.

A single glance was all it took for Hidou to have a good idea of what was inside. With the Imperial stamp sealing the top flap, there was no doubt that it was another confidential order from the Prime Minister. Hidou snorted in derision at the thought of another worthless errand. 'This better not be another stupid request about coming up with a concoction that keeps his stash of meat fresh.' Not interested in the trifling matter that Honest considered dear, Hidou pushed the folder aside and took priority with the documents on hand.

"Whatever he wants, it's on hold." In one pretentious action, Hidou swiped the papers across the table so that they spread like jam on bread. "Pay close attention to what I'm about to tell you."

"Go on, we're listening," Tatsumi urged, gulping down the last of his loaf in a hurry.

"I examined all the case files about Night Raid's previous crimes and I've discovered some patterns, including the number of people in their little group."

"How many? Ten?" Tatsumi estimated.

"Less. Seven altogether actually, and with at least four of them being Teigu users," Hidou paused and held up two illustrated documents, each being a sketch of the victims. "Take a close look. These bodies are so messed up that it makes me think that there are two more Teigu users in Night Raid, one a veteran and the other, a greenhorn. I'm also suspecting that the former is an expert in mêlée fights."

His lips pursed in deep consideration, Tatsumi took one of the papers from Hidou and read it. It was a recent case about one of the southern estates being attacked. This particular crime was initially deemed as confidential, since a vast number of unidentified corpses were discovered in the area. However, due to it having a possible connection with Night Raid, Honest allowed Hidou to access the documents.

Tatsumi tapped his chin thoughtfully. 'Let's see… Asuya Osada. Male, age 53. He died from a broken neck, and there are similar results from different cases. Hidou is right, whoever this assassin is, he or she is a pro in close combat.' Tatsumi considered the possibility. All of the corpses sustained abnormal damage. No ordinary human could accomplish such a feat without the use of an Imperial Arms.

"The new recruit is likely to be the other Teigu user." Letting himself end on a high note, Hidou tapped the document recording Ogre's case. "Captain Ogre died from heavy blood loss. I went and inspected his carcass and identified the murder weapon as double-edged axes. And since this is the first time where an axe is used, it leaves one conclusion… This is a new member's handiwork. Night Raid was testing out the strength of its new recruits. Pretty bold, I must say… to pick Ogre as their lab rat."

"But a Teigu user? Are you sure?" asked Mamoru. What Hidou said made sense to him, but ultimately, it was all baseless assumption. In any case, the murder weapon wasn't restricted to an Imperial Arms. Any regular axe could produce similar results when wielded by a skilled warrior.

"Idiot. This is Ogre we're talking about." Hidou emitted a low snort from the back of his throat. "Considering how you've personally trained him at one stage, Ogre should be more than ready to take on any ambushers. What's more, his opponent is supposed to be a new recruit, whose experience is nothing when compared to a seasonal fighter's. So, the only way that Ogre can lose is that the assassin had a Teigu that overpowered him."

Tatsumi was only half-listening to his seniors' conversation, his own mind preoccupied. 'The mysterious axe-wielder from Night Raid… That's the one who murdered Orge-sensei? Whoever you are, you can be sure that I'll come for you. I can't let you get away with murder, even if you are a trainee assassin.' The bright sparks of vengeance scorched his orbs as he was reminded of Ogre. The Imperial policeman was ruthlessly harsh on him, but it was for Tatsumi's own benefit. Thanks to Ogre, Tatsumi had improved significantly. Even if he wasn't doing this out of gratitude, Tatsumi couldn't allow murder go unpunished. Otherwise, how could Ogre rest in peace knowing that his killer was still in the world of the living, claiming more innocent lives?

"Still, that only tallies up to six. The seventh member is quite low on the profile," Hidou carried on and handed Mamoru several documents. "But there're a lot of victims lately who had slit throats. Judging from the precision of each cut, I think that the culprit is someone who uses daggers." To emphasize his point, Hidou mockingly made a slicing motion with his hand in front of his neck, imitating that of a throat slitting technique. "That's pretty much the gist of it. Now, the question is… how do we use this to our advantage?"

"An opportunity will arise… We'll strike then," Mamoru uttered, absorbing everything emotionlessly. He learned better than to doubt the accuracy of Hidou's information, especially since the general had devoted weeks to researching.

"Tsk, that sounded a lot like what that traitorous Najenda would say," commented Hidou.

"Perhaps so." With a brisk nod, the Silencer grabbed the sealed file, deeming that it was time to proceed with the next phase of their gathering. He tossed the item in his hand to Hidou, who caught it with an irked expression. The Wildfire had hoped that Mamoru would have forgotten about it. It was just unfortunate that Mamoru, being the person he was, was not one to simply neglect a possible order.

Not hassling with the seal, Hidou cursed as he tore the exterior apart and took the enclosed content. His eyes carefully took in every word, pupils widening with each second. "Hoh? What's this? A serial killer is plaguing the Capital at night and is slaughtering random people. Hmm, sounds fun. Let's see… it's uncertain as to how many have fallen victim but a third were part of the Imperial guards. As such, the seventeenth emperor of the Empire, Makoto, has issued this order: every man in the military, regardless of his rank, is to hunt down this killer and reclaim the Teigu that he has stolen from the warden," Hidou summarized out loud before lifting his head away from the paper. His eyebrows knitted together and he wondered how he could use this to his advantage.

Metaphorically speaking, Hidou's mind was a labyrinth of ideas, with each path leading to different possibilities. Whilst some would result in dead ends, others opened up to new contemplations. For the Wildfire, ideas came as naturally as sleeping. However, even he was finding the issues to be problematic. There was already Night Raid to consider, but now he was forced to handle a serial killer simultaneously.

A cryptic smile danced on Hidou's lips. 'I was right about returning. Things are never boring here.'

Apparently, Tatsumi had a different point of view. Rather than seeing this as an opportunity, he deemed this to be a pressing situation. In spite of everything, his concerns were primarily the safety of the people. Innocent citizens were being slaughtered as a source of entertainment, and that was unforgivable. "We can't let him get away with this! Let's go and take him down."

"What makes you think you're suited for this job? Don't make me laugh. You don't stand a chance against him." Pulled out of his thoughts, Hidou snickered and was quick to hurl insults.

"We won't know until I try. More importantly, people are being killed! We're defenders of the law, aren't we? So that's why I believe we're on the people's side! I want to defeat the serial killer as soon as possible, so we can save even more people!" Tatsumi shot back. The tolerance he had for the ill-mannered general was waning and he had to refrain from landing a punch on the smirking face. Tatsumi had to admit that the general was specialized in riling up others. Even Ieyasu had never gotten on his nerves the way Hidou did, and so effortlessly nonetheless.

"Right now, this task is beyond you," Mamoru interrupted sternly, not in favor of Tatsumi's reckless decision. Aware that a valid reason must be offered to appease his apprentice's edginess, he spared Hidou a fleeting glance, one which plainly requested the other general to elaborate.

Although the two seldom got along, Hidou was perceptive enough to realize his comrade's unspoken cue. Mumbling something about his disdain at being ordered around like a dog, he obliged after some reluctance. "The serial killer is Zank the Executioner, who originally worked in the Empire's largest prison. After years of beheading people, it sort of became his habit. Since beheading people in prison wasn't enough, he began to kill at random. Two years ago, the Empire sent out a search team, led by Mamoru, to catch him. The team came back empty-handed. Zank somehow managed to escape and disappeared from our sight… well, until now that is. Still, he's no fool to return unprepared. He has to be far stronger than before."

Hidou paused and licked his chop, his hand reaching for the tattoo on his right arm as he tenderly rubbed the mark like a mother soothing a child. "Specifically to the point, Zank is a Teigu user. When used correctly, most Teigu have the power that can surpass a thousand men's. So how can you, a feeble little brat, hope to defeat such an opponent?"

Tatsumi grounded his teeth in frustration. Though the need for rebuttal was great, deep inside he knew that Hidou was stating facts. Regardless of his skills, battling someone with weapons on par with a thousand men was impracticable. Teigu are a critical component in this case and it appeared that only Teigu users could rival another in combat. To be blunt, Tatsumi felt useless in this situation. 'Damn it! I need one of those ancient relics now and… wait a second?' The newly promoted sergeant took a sharp intake of breath as a thought suddenly clicked in his head.

"I understand what you're saying, but Zank is an Imperial Arms user, right? Seryu told me that if two users fight, one is bound to die. It'll be dangerous for the both of you if you were ambushed by Zank. That's why I should go. Even if I can't beat him, I can be some sort of bait to lure him out and distract him!" Tatsumi volunteered, placing his fist on his chest. Whilst having considered the risks as he declared his thoughts, he dismissed his uncertainty straight away. As one of the three chosen on the expedition to save his village, Tatsumi had been prepared to gamble his life for other people. If endangering himself could save many lives, then he would do so without any regrets whatsoever.

"Tch, stupid Teigu law and its curse; the exceptions are there, but still… what a pain in the ass. Well, come to think of it, your plan isn't all bad. It's worth a shot." Much to Tatsumi's surprise, Hidou was actually being supportive.

As an experienced and well feared general, Hidou sneered at the notion that he or Mamoru could be ambushed by an amateur like Zank. However, he was in the same mindset as Tatsumi when it came to setting up bait for the executioner. From past incidents, Hidou presupposed that the serial killer had a penchant for targeting lone victims on the streets at night. He would quickly decapitate the target, before retreating back into the shadows. It made it extremely difficult to track him down.

Crossing his arms, the Wildfire contemplated on the idea before emitting a haughty laugh. "On second thought, it's a terrific plan! But rather than using Flyer Boy as bait, we'll cast our nets wider and use this chance to take down both Zank and Night Raid."

Both Mamoru and Tatsumi stood from their chairs spontaneously, astonished by Hidou's sudden declaration.

Unable to follow the general's intention, Tatsumi glanced towards Mamoru and noticed that his mentor had a genuinely puzzled eyebrow rising above his hairline. Although he didn't open his mouth to speak, the Silencer's unblinking gaze demanded an elaboration.

"You don't get it?" Hidou snorted and shrugged a shoulder, mentally noting that he should find more intelligent coworkers in the future. As though speaking to children, the general slowed down and carefully pronounced each syllable of his words. "We'll use Night Raid to lure out Zank. With a Teigu up for grabs, Night Raid would have to get off their asses. So, all we need to do is trap them."

"Here, this will be useful then." With a nod to show his understanding, Mamoru reached into his sleeve and rummaged through his inner pocket for the map of the Capital. He unrolled the scroll across the table and pointed to regions marked with the logo of the Imperial police. Formerly the Captain of the Imperial police before his promotion, Mamoru was familiar with the security layout of the Capital. "They mainly cover the main streets."

"Hmm, so the alleyways are poorly managed?" asked Hidou, his eyes fixed on a narrow laneway on the map.

"Searches are conducted there… Risky however," Mamoru said, giving one of his rare but short elaborations.

"So in other words, there were casualties. If that's the—"

"Wait, so are you two saying that we should place more guards in places close to the alleyways where Night Raid and Zank are likely to show up at?" Finally comprehending the situation, Tatsumi was quick to join in. The new sergeant shook his head. "No, that's not it… you're actually saying that we should rearrange the security so that we indirectly force Night Raid and Zank to appear within the confines of certain places."

"Took you long enough," Hidou scoffed. The Wildfire's tongue made one rapid loop around his lips as he permitted his mind to wander. The thought of capturing the members of Night Raid alive and forcing them into submission with torture sent excited chills through his spine. Just how much pain can the notorious assassins endure before they succumb? It was certainly a noteworthy notion.

"According to some witnesses, Night Raid prefers working in small groups of two to three," Hidou informed. "This means that they'll be in several places at once. We'll have to use the Imperial police officers as moving barricades to reduce the number of districts available for access. With each passing hour, I'll give them a signal to close in on the palace. Come midnight and we'll have Night Raid cornered if everything goes according to plan."

"They are going to be the perfect targets for the firing squadron at the palace. It's gonna be like a public execution," Tatsumi realized, taking his time to process everything. He rubbed his chin with his finger and furrowed his eyebrows. While Hidou's plan lacked complexity, it was direct and most definitely feasible. "You intend to get them all at once?"

"Exactly. It'll save time. But that's when they'll probably strike back with everything they have. That's understandable," Hidou shrugged, a devious smirk playing on the corner of his lips. "All humans give their puny efforts and struggle in a life-and-death situation. Well, that'll make victory all the sweeter."

Location: In the Capital (Southern Region). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 67).

Devoted to their mission assigned by the Revolutionary Army, Night Raid, unaware of the traps that awaited them, was deployed into four groups of two as they hunted down their target. Finding the vacancy of the streets suited for their purpose, they exposed themselves out into the open in order to lure out Zank.

"We're in charge of this section," Akame informed the young man who trailed behind her. The female assassin had a map in one hand and was glancing around to confirm the direction. Despite being born within the Capital, Akame had spent the majority of her time in hiding. Therefore, like a foreigner, she barely knew her way around the opened streets and had wisely decided to borrow a map from Lubbock before leaving.

"The Capital's citizens are so scared of the Slasher that they're staying indoors." His voice sounding coarser than usual due to the skull-shaped mask he had concealing his face, Yukio counted the number of lightings he saw as he passed each house.

Terrified of the serial killer, the majority of residents had taken shelter within their homes, unknowingly simplifying the assassins' investigation. Rather than lurking in the shadows, the members of Night Raid were free to move around unhindered.

"Akame," Yukio called out. The years he spent in suspended animation seemed to have made him loathe the quietness. The deserted streets were unnerving him, and so he encouraged his mentor to speak.

"Hmmm?" Akame's eyes shifted to her right, but otherwise made little effort to acknowledge Yukio.

"Well, I heard that Boss called you in again this morning." Yukio scratched his head and drew a long breath. "Is she still going on about that incident?"

"Hmmm, I suspect so, though she wasn't being direct. Boss merely asked me if there was anything I wanted to tell her in private. I guess it is natural that she deems I'm hiding something from her. She just didn't question me directly… not since that day anyway," Akame responded, her eyebrows knitted together from the thought. Ever since the day Najenda had tried to inspect her arm, Akame avoided the ex-general whenever she could. Somehow, the girl felt uncomfortable around her own boss. She was aware that Najenda was very close to discovering her secret—that she was no longer the same Akame whom she had recruited. Regrettably, the incident at the training field caused a rift in their mutual trust. Although Najenda said nothing, the red-eyed assassin knew that her secretive behavior had offended the woman, who was formerly a well-respected general.

"Ah, that's not… good," Yukio paused and bit the inside of his cheek. His response had turned out to be rather insensitive, and it was making the young man feel increasingly awkward. It was obvious that Akame was uncomfortable and so, he tried changing topics.

"Um, back at the base, Boss was telling Ieyasu about the rule with two Teigu users fighting. What exactly was that all about? I don't remember my father ever telling me about this… But then again, I don't really listen to him often enough, hahaha," Yukio chuckled drily.

"…"

That was another untimed question. Yukio berated himself when he noticed that Akame had flinched and tightened her grip on Murasame.

He wasn't onto a good start. Twice he had intruded on Akame's guarded thoughts when he was trying to start a harmless chat. He blew out a hot puff of air through his lips, knowing that he ought to calm down and think carefully. 'Man, I'm so nervous about Zank ambushing us that I keep on blurting out senseless questions! Damn it idiot, read the situation! Akame is also on edge right now… she knows that Zank is no pushover. In fact, he's probably spying on us with his Teigu, waiting for one of us to mess up… and that someone is going to be me if I continue to be nervous.'

While Yukio was being a self-critic, Akame herself was bombarded with notions, though the subject of her contemplations was different to what Yukio would've presumed.

"Ieyasu. If you are ever engaged in a battle with Teigu users and the situation looks dire, then flee. I do not expect you to fight to the death. Remember that we are assassins, not warriors. There is no shame in taking flight. But you must abandon you weapon and renounce your title as a Teigu user."

"Huh? Why is that, Boss? I don't wanna dump Senpu just because I think I'm losing!"

"Then what is more important to you, your life or your weapon?"

"Huh? My life of course… Do you really need to ask?"

"Learn to respect your superior, Ieyasu! Ahem, anyways… I just want you to be decisive if that moment ever comes. It is unfortunate, but it must be done if you want to be spared from an ancient curse that has been passed down with the relics."

A battle between Teigu-users was part of an ancient curse. That was what Akame managed to eavesdrop and frankly, she was beyond baffled. Ever since she was chosen by Murasame, she was told that whenever two Teigu users fought with murderous intent, one of them was bound to die. It was an inviolable rule and she became a witness to the many deaths back in the other timeline. 'I suppose this is good news, but it is infuriating that this was not applicable back then… back when—Wait, why has this never been mentioned before? What is it that is so different this time that ever the Teigu laws were altered…?'

"Akame?" Yukio's voice, though soft, reached her with enough impact to pull her out of her musings.

"…No, I was told that at least one death is certain when engaged in a Teigu battle." Akame finally provided him an answer, though she was unmindful that the young man was more concerned with the frown she wore than her lack of response. So with a slight pause, she then added, "Regardless… I cannot, and will not, be discarding Murasame."

Yukio failed to decipher her hidden meaning for once. He fiddled with the loose button from his white coat and heaved a sigh. "Man, I'm beginning to think that this time traveling thing may be more messed up than I first thought. So many variables! I can't help but think that we've somehow ended up in a different wor—mff!" The last syllable got caught in his throat as his mentor grabbed him by the shoulders.

Footsteps could be heard just as Akame dragged Yukio and pressed both of their backs against the nearest brick wall around the corner. A file of armed policemen marched past not a moment later. Having lost several of their men in skirmishes with Zank, every man was on a lookout for anything that moved. Their eyes darted from right to left; it was a sure sign of anxiety, and the two assassins would've been discovered had they not taken cover.

Akame held her breath and kept Yukio still with her hands as she took a transitory peep around the corner. Only when she was convinced that the street was empty did she release the stiffened young man.

"They're gone," she announced.

"Phew!" Letting out all the tension, Yukio began to dust the back of his clothing while mumbling something about the lack of hygiene in the Capital. When the remnants of cobwebs were removed, he turned to look at Akame with a sense of fascination. Unlike him, she had no problem detecting the approach of the Imperial guards even when talking to him. The disparities between him and his mentor couldn't be made more apparent to him than that. 'This is the difference between a novice and a professional.'

"Man, guess I still need a lot more work. But Akame, are there any good tips? How did you notice them?"

"Sound, ground movement and instinct."

"Uh-huh. I get that the first two takes practice, but how do you train your instincts?" Yukio asked, scratching the back of his head.

"You can't train it," she stated plainly.

"Huh?" The young man blinked. "Then how do you exactly work on it?"

"Once you've encountered enough life-and-death situations, you'll learn to trust your intuition. I suppose you can call it an innate. Everyone has this animal-like instinct; it's simply a matter of distinguishing between false alarms and actual warnings. Understand it, learn how it works, and then trust it… If you can't, you'll die," Akame explained, the sternness in her voice left no room for any distraction as she demanded for Yukio's full attention. Time and again, their foe would resort to underhanded means. At these critical instances, the primal instinct of seasonal assassins was a vital element to their survival.

"…That's not mildly reassuring. I don't think I'll live up to your expectations. Man, talk about pressure," Yukio mumbled, staring down at his boots. His voice was so quiet that Akame would have probably missed it had her attention not been solely fixed on him.

"Instincts will come with experience. Just do your best for the time being and I'll lend a hand if needed." Becoming aware of Yukio's uncertainty, the red-eyed assassin tried words of reassurance. It would be dire for Yukio to lose his developing confidence, especially since they were now on a mission. He would need some levels of self-assurance if he was to prevail against Zank's mental intimidations. "As your mentor, it is my responsibility to guide you and to protect you. Even so, negligence and dependence are forbidden."

"Yes. Alright, thanks… So I'll just have to try and become familiar with my gut feeling." Yukio exhaled a deep breath and adjusted the mask on his face. "I really need some experience. Man, I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I'm kind of hoping that Zank will show up. Yet, I get this feeling that he won't when both of us are sticking together. The reports did say that the Beheader enjoys targeting lone victims in the night."

'Man, I can't believe I said that!' Even as he was talking to Akame, Yukio couldn't help but berate himself. What was he thinking? Was he indirectly telling Akame that he would be fine alone? Sadly, that was the furthest away from the truth. If anything, he was inwardly quaking in his boots at the thought of hunting down an executioner in the night alone.

"You're suggesting that we split up." Akame's hand systematically rubbed her chin as she mulled over the options presented, which truthfully, were close to non-existent. They could either continue to search in two for safety precautions, or split up to maximize their efficiency. Having a faint collection of only finding Zank after Tatsumi had unwittingly acted as decoy, Akame deduced that Yukio's suggestion was their best approach. "I understand. We'll go separate ways then. However, do not thoughtlessly confront the target if spotted. You do know what his Teigu is capable of, don't you?"

"Um, yeah... It was covered in tonight's meeting. Omnipotent Five Sights: Spectator, an obnoxious Teigu with five abilities: Insight, Future Sight, Farsight, Illusion Sight and Clearsight," Yukio grimaced as he counted each ability with his fingers. "Don't worry. I promise I'll be careful. I'll flee if anything goes wrong. After all, I can run pretty fast."

"Point noted. Alright, be sure to avoid a direct confrontation," Akame warned.

"Understood. He's nothing like the average opponents, so I'll definitely be careful. And yes, I'll take flight the instance he becomes too much for me to handle. I may not be on par with you in terms of speed, but I… I'm quite convinced that I can outrun a man like him when my Baransu is activated."

Yukio's comment was no swank. After seeing Baransu's ability first-handed once during their training, Akame had little doubt that he could flee from Zank. But in the worst case scenario, he would have to rely on Baransu's untapped powers. 'He always dodges the question when I ask about the possible repercussions… But hopefully, things won't come to that, especially if I can help it.'

"Good. Let's eliminate our target then." With a small supportive tap on Yukio's shoulder, Akame ended their exchange and took off towards the path on her right.

Yukio lingered behind, watching Akame's back disappearing from his view. Her luxuriant hair gently oscillated in the breeze, rivaling the darkness in hue and projecting a strong sense of solitude as her form merged with the night. He observed the sight pensively and waited until she was no longer in view. Then at random, he picked an unexplored route and headed in that direction.

His heart pulsed with steadiness as he inhaled a lungful of oxygen, ignoring the chill of the cool air. He travelled straight ahead, not caring where he was going. The surrounding houses blurred around him and he savored the whipping wind that ruffled his blond hair while silently acknowledging it as a form of company.

With each growing step, he soon entered a more deserted part of the Capital. An old building that was battered down by the forces of nature towered before him, eerily resembling a haunted house. Upon coming to this era, he had relearned the Capital's layout from Leone and therefore knew that this distinct was abandoned some time ago. Naturally, it was a fitting place for a serial killer.

'If I was in his shoes, I'll choose a place like this for hiding.'

"Ah! Bingo! Bingo! You're spot on." The disembodied voice echoed through the clearing in every direction, startling Yukio. "Have you ever thought of quitting the assassin trade to become a detective? You would've lived a blessed long life. Ah, but that's a little too late now, isn't it? Splendid, splendid!"

The young man's head swiveled around, and the face hidden behind the mask showed surprise. There, standing before him was a bulky figure donned in a long trench coat. Apart from his enormous glistening teeth and short blond hair with two side tresses jerking upwards, his most noticeable feature was the eccentric headpiece strapped around his forehead, giving an impression of a glowing third eye in the dark.

"So you're Zank the Beheader? I'll take a bold guess and assume that you've been monitoring Akame and me with the Farsight ability, waiting for us to split up." Sounding a lot more confident that he was, Yukio felt like cursing when a single drop of sweat ran down the side of his face, a dead giveaway of his inner nervousness. 'Calm down Yukio. Just calm down and switch gears like Akame said. I can do this. Even if he can read me, it won't matter once I activate Baransu.'

"Bingo! So you know about Spectator's ability and its powers to read thoughts? Ah, I see! Your mind is filled with many things. You haven't learned to hide them yet, have you? I can tell that you know more than you're letting on. How splendid!" Zank snickered and whipped out a pair of hand blades that greatly resembled push daggers. "Splendid, splendid! This is certainly going to be fun."

There was no announcement to begin, and none was needed.

'Turbo Trot, activate!' Yukio moved first. He extracted the first dagger from his belt, his other hand lightly tugging the string looped around his index finger. There was a sudden surge of power flowing into his legs and the assassin reached the executioner in six heartbeats.

The young man pulled back his arm and tried jabbing Zank's throat. Instead of flesh though, he stabbed empty space as the executioner dodged by sidestepping. Unrelenting, Yukio unlatched another blade with his left hand and followed through with another swipe.

Swoosh!

Another miss and Yukio immediately pulled back as Zank's blade smashed into the ground that he had been standing on. Yukio slid across the concrete ground, planting both feet down to steady himself.

'He is actually keeping up with me... This isn't looking good at all.' His two consecutive assaults began to take their effect and Yukio found himself panting slightly. There was no doubt that everything just then was a mere warm-up for Zank, a little test to see how strong Yukio was. The realization didn't bode well for Yukio. Even with Baransu, Zank's ability to deduce his moves made him more than a formidable foe. As the polar opposite of Ieyasu, the young man was more of an expeditious tactician than a sturdy combatant. Therefore, he was at a complete disadvantage against someone who could read minds. To stand a chance against the executioner, Yukio would have to first deal with Spectator's abilities. 'That being said, it's harder than it looks. He knows exactly what I'm going to do. Maybe I should find Akame first and… No, not yet, at least not until I've got the first strike in. The experience will do me good and I can't always rely on Akame to babysit me.'

"Ah! You're filled with passion and a sense of duty. Admirable… very admirable. But your determination won't get you very far. My Teigu tells me exactly what you plan to do. It's impossible for you to win. Impossible." Zank pointed a finger at Spectator boastingly. "I can see everything. I can see that you've come up with five strategies against me and two new techniques that you're keen to try. I can also see your distaste for blood, your fear of insanity, your desire to prove your worth, and your growing affect—"

"Silence, commoner! And here I thought I talk a lot!" Yukio snapped with atypical authority latched onto his voice. His ears felt like they were bleeding from Zank's constant babbling. He enjoyed having company, but the executioner's nonstop chattering was proving to be too much for him to bear.

'Man, why did they create Spectator in the first place? I hate it so much!' Yukio fought back the urge to swear. Spectator made him feel exposed, as if he was stripped of both clothes and dignity. His weaknesses and secrets were being read by Zank, who seemed eager to taunt him. Incensed, Yukio pounced forward with knives in hands.

"Well, my hobby is to talk," said Zank. For all his size, he was not deficient in agility as he effortlessly avoided another blow from Yukio. His right blade slid against the blonde's second dagger inches away from his windpipe, releasing a shower of sparks.

Zank grinned, "Splendid, splendid! You planned your first attack to be a feint. The second swipe is meant to be the real cutter. Splendid! It's a basic but effective technique."

Yukio grunted when Zank suddenly pushed forward, smashing his weapon into his dagger.

Clash!

Yukio repositioned his other blade behind his first and crisscrossed them, just stopping Zank's weapon a whisker away from his flesh. At a disadvantage, Yukio's instincts finally kicked in and screamed, 'Run! Find Akame!'

He listened to his inner voice and… failed.

Yukio's eyes widened in surprise as Zank crashed his kneecap with his foot. The executioner's second hand blade flew down, tearing through fabric and cutting into skin. Yukio's mouth dropped open in a scream as he crumbled onto his knees. Red warm liquid instantly leaked from the side of his abdomen. A metallic scent whiffed into his nostrils and for the first time in his life, the young man saw his own blood pouring out before him.

"A… Ah, ah… ah." Yukio's breathing came out as slow huffs, his entire body convulsing from the searing pain. He dropped his daggers, no longer finding any strength in his numbed fingers. Was this what it felt like to be severely wounded? The physical agony sank into his sensory system, bringing along the taste of utter defeat. '…Darn it! I'm no good! Even after all the extra training with Akame and Aniki… I can't be useful at all. All I managed was to screw up again. Is this the end of the line?'

"Splendid, splendid! The moment before you chop a person's head off is always so irresistibly amazing! It is even better when all of his hope has died out!" Zank laughed, having captured Yukio's thoughts with Spectator. "Oh? So this is the first time you're injured this badly? I bet it hurts a lot. Don't worry, I'll put an end to your suffering and add you to my shrunken head collection."

Yukio gave Zank no acknowledgement. He merely squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for the worst.

"Ohhh! I always love the despair on my opponents when they know they can't win. I'm excited to see the look on your friends' faces once they see your shrunken head. It's an entertaining thought, don't you think? Maybe I'll show them an illusion of your final moment? That'll catch them off guard. Ah, all the members of Night Raid as part of my collection! How splendid!"

'…H-he's going after Akame and the others next! And my d-death will be used as a distraction! No… can't let that happen… I refuse!' Compelling his eyelids to open, Yukio's palms formed fists and he applied enough force for his knuckles to turn white.

"…I-it's true that you got me good. But Night Raid will never be defeated by the likes of you!" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. Zank's remark had sparked his defiance and he scowled at himself for being so close to giving up. "For the sake of Night Raid's reputation, I can't let myself lose like this! I am… an assassin too!"

The sudden burst of determination coming from Yukio surprised Zank. It would seem that he had inversely provoked the young man. The executioner took note of this drastic change with a malicious grin. "Oh, that's very valiant of you. You don't want to let your friends down, huh? Splendid, splendid! Youths these days are so loyal to each other."

"I can't afford to dawdle; I must play my part in this revolution…" Yukio's mind replayed his own words like a broken tape recorder. He grunted and stood up shakily but nearly collapsed again. His eyes narrowed into slits and he forced himself to stay strong. He certainly wasn't going to accept defeat and risk being a burden to Night Raid. Somehow, the possibility of dying didn't seem as intimidating as the thought of being useless. 'That's right… I'm a part of Night Raid. Even if I'm expendable in this war, the least I can do is not tarnish Night Raid's name. I'll take him down, no matter the cost!' With his mind set, Yukio threw caution to the wind. He was going for the kill, regardless of the outcome. Damn all consequences!

"Yukio-kun, you know what? You've got real talent when it comes to astuteness and adaptability, but you're too on your Teigu. You can't always use it to enhance your reflexes to pull off maneuvers. Unless you compensate your strengths and weaknesses, you'll end up having a lot of trouble in battle. And one day, that dependence may cost you your life." That was Bulat's first evaluation of Yukio as a Teigu user after their training sessions. As a veteran, the Man-Slayer was quick to point out his incompetence. Bulat was correct of course. Because of his fragile form and timid personality, Yukio grew up to rely on his Teigu, as though it was his ultimate means of cheating in life. He only needed to accelerate and speed through the misery of life. 'Here's a thought, Yukio-kun. How about trying to get through the challenges of life without resorting to Baransu's abilities straight away? If you can get rid of the habit of being so dependent on your Teigu and rely more on your own skills, then I'm sure you can become much stronger in time. I look forward to seeing it.'

'Yes. You're right, Aniki. I know I often use Baransu for the littlest of things. But please understand that right now, I can't be independent. In order to win, I must do this!' Despite knowing that his senior wouldn't hear it, Yukio still made a mental assertion as his hand reached for his Teigu, capturing it in a vice-like grip.

"The spherical heavens and the contaminated soil, everything shall be balanced." His whispered chant was left inaudible and scattered by the gentle breeze as soon as it left his mouth.

"Hoh? You're finally going to take this seriously? Splendid, splendid. I'm beginning to like your determination," commented Zank.

"Let all asymmetrical properties become mirrored. Let all disproportions be erased." Yukio ignored Zank's obvious jeer and flung Baransu down in a downward arc, neatly catching it as it retraced the string. The sequence was repeated thrice, with each launch having more momentum than the last.

"I'm definitely adding you into my collection." The executioner removed his long trench coat and flexed his gloved fingers. Beneath his long sleeves, his muscles involuntarily tightened as he prepared himself. So certain of his victory, the thought of attacking Yukio before he finished his enhancement never crossed Zank's mind. The executioner was convinced that he would win regardless.

"As on demand, Scale Tipper: Baransu, I shall barter with my sight." Yukio exchanged his Teigu for another set of daggers, but with Baransu's string still latched around his finger. Blood oozed from his wound like rivulets, but he suppressed the pain by gripping onto his weapons firmly. 'Just concentrate on the battle. Ignore everything else.'

'Intellectual Schnelligkeit activate! Turbo Sprint activate!' Gambling everything on this last assault, Yukio used Baransu to simultaneously accelerate both his mind and his legs. It was presumably the worst decision he could ever make, but sheer determination overtook his rationale.

Under normal circumstances, he would only allow a part of his body to be enhanced by Baransu. He was fully aware that the Imperial Arms took a heavy toll on his muscles and would quickly rob him of his energy if used incorrectly. However, to ensure Zank's defeat, partial enhancement was insufficient and so he was forced to surpass his set limits.

'It's just as Aniki said, I'm slow in the flesh. But because of this, I can use Baransu in a way that no one would think is possible. The fact that I'm dependent on it means that we're 100% compatible!' Yukio crouched down low, knees bent as fatigue wormed its way through and his brainpower accelerated to go beyond that of any ordinary human. He shook his head once to push away the drowsiness and dashed towards Zank in a flash, dipping and weaving to the left before running his dagger across the executioner's upper torso. 'The repercussions are going to be ugly so I have to finish this off quick! At this rate, I'll be done in ten minutes!'

Even with Spectator's Insight, Zank only dodged by a whisker. At the sight of such astonishing velocity, the executioner could barely mask his bafflement as the edge of Yukio's small blade nicked his cheek.

'Impossible,' Zank thought. To this very day, there shouldn't be anyone who could bypass Spectator's powers. Absolutely none! Zank narrowed his eyes when he saw a flash of afterimage that loitered behind after Yukio had moved. The realization clicked at once. 'I can still read his mind, but he's thinking too fast that I can't interpret them in time!'

"I'll make this as painless as I can," Yukio said as much to himself as the panicking executioner.

"As if I'll let you, brat!" The executioner lashed out, letting his rage dominate him.

Clash!

Yukio blocked. The two weapons touched and slid against each other before the young man bent his knees. He abruptly changed direction, nearly catching Zank off his feet. Swinging both arms back, Yukio was a blurred outline as he drove two paralleled slashes down on his foe.

Zank barely had time to register it, let alone move away. Instincts saved him and he desperately dived to the right. Without wasting a second, he retaliated with a thrust, half expecting to follow through with consecutive swipes.

'About three minutes left!' Aware of his own limits, Yukio changed tactics the moment he saw the approaching blade. Rather than evading it, he recklessly disposed his dagger and met Zank's blade with his bare hand. There was a sickening sound as the tip penetrated his soft tissues. Crimson fluid spontaneously squirted around everywhere. Pure agony shot through his arm, causing Yukio to cry out. Beads of sweat rained down on his face and a wave of nausea hit him, but that only had him clutching onto the metal as if his very existence was depended on it.

"T-this is checkmate, Zank! You can't escape anymore."

"I won't die! I'll destroy you before you can even attack!" Realization drawn on Zank and his composure crumbled, his lips pulled back into a ferocious snarl. His free arm hoisted his blade up, ramming it down on the young man.

'I'll counter it!' A weary grin tugged the corner of Yukio's mouth as he felt a tingle through his veins, a sure indication that his blood was pumping a vast amount of adrenaline into his systems. His arm flung out in an expeditious movement that replicated the swiftness of lightning. At the same time, he tilted his head to the side, scarcely escaping from decapitation. Before Zank could counteract, Yukio's dagger pierced through his left limb, disembodying it from the rest of his body.

"AH!" A pained howl from Zank rippled through the area. His face contorted from shock to anguish as he searched for his missing arm, only to find it lying on the ground several feet away, along with his attached hand blade.

"Checkmate!" Yukio didn't stop there. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he continued to move his arm in a curved arc. His blade flashed in a mixture of silver and red as it headed for Zank's throat.

"I refuse to be killed by you! Damn you! Damn you!" Seeing his life of beheading people flashed right before him, Zank was consumed by horror. The voices of the victims who called for his demise were sneering at him, welcoming him to hell. Panicking, Zank had no choice but to use his Teigu once again. "Illusion Sight!"

'No! Crap!' Yukio, for all his careful planning, had neglected this ability of Zank's. His eyes widened in shock. At this range, he was fully susceptible to the hypnosis. As though suddenly halted by an invisible force, his dagger stopped an inch away from Zank's pulse, despite his brain's protest.

The world around him began to fade away, its colors lost to him as everything rotated in a series of black and white. Yukio tried his best to resist Spectator's powers. His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air on land. The backdrop around him collapsed, seemingly like ice sculptures melting into liquid.

Amidst the spinning world, the young man could feel an excruciating pain from his hand. He fought back a scream, his pupils condensing as he scanned his new surrounding. There was nothing around him but darkness; he couldn't see Zank nor feel the executioner's blade lodged in his palm anymore.

"Yuki-kun."

Yukio's breath was caught in his throat as the familiar nickname left the lips of the person who he thought he would never see.

'I-impossible. She can't be real…' The mere thought had his body trembling in a mixture of anticipation and fear. Eyes clouded with salty tears, he painstakingly turned his head to the side and saw a figure enveloped in an eerie glow, as though she was holding onto an invisible lantern in her pale hand. It was then he saw her clearly; it was the woman who only appeared in his dreams.

In addition to flawless alabaster-white skin, golden tresses descended like a river of rich honey behind her back, intensifying her beautiful features. Her emerald eyes shone with benevolence that no portraits hanging from Yukio's old room could replicate. Donned in a simple white gown, she was a divine being from heaven, having arrived to comfort him.

Yukio opened his mouth, and gawked out the single word that he had cherished since his childhood.

"…M-mother?"

Night Raid Members Remaining: 9

Mission: Take down Zank the executioner and retrieve the stolen Teigu

Participating Members: All excluding Najenda

Result: Ongoing

Rewards: none

The Four Present in the Capital: 3

Author's Notes: I hope that the length and content of the chapter can compensate for the long wait.

Now, this section is dedicated to recapitulating the relevant plot events. Here are some things that can be reviewed over or considered for this chapter:

-The confidential case that Tatsumi read about is actually the incident involving Aria and her family. In other words, Tatsumi had no idea how closely involved Ieyasu and Sayo were in that case.

-In regards to the Teigu rules, Akame has realized the changes and is quite puzzled by them, though she believes that they may actually be advantageous. However, this has also prompted her and Yukio to speculate that they have entered a parallel universe (?).

-Although Yukio's combat abilities have drastically improved, he is still not suited for battle like Ieyasu is and instead prefers indirect assaults and ambushes.

-So far, it can be noted that Yukio uses Baransu mostly for speed enhancement. The known techniques of the Teigu include: Turbo Trot, Turbo Sprint, and Intellectual Schnelligkeit. Its trump card, Taimugyaku, can only be used once but is capable of distorting time and space.

-Apparently, the one who is currently the most dear to Yukio is his mother. And in the next chapter, their relationship will be further elaborated.

Preview- Kill the Teigu User: Fragments of Yukio's past are revealed as the other members of Night Raid find themselves caught in the middle of a deadly and well-devised trap.

Seryu: "Finally, we finally meet, Night Raid!"

Tatsumi: 'I can't let my guard down for a moment. Mamoru-sensei entrusted me with this task.'

With that, the advantage went to Zank. Almost immediately, the executioner seized the chance and lashed out, hands aching for blood.

Zank: "It seems that we're both down to just one arm, right?"

Akame: "Sheele… Mine…"