A/N: Annnnnnnd back on the road to original content! I just want to take the time to thank Forgotten64 because she's really helped me stay motivated the ongoing moths by reviewing every single one of my chapters. Seriously I have no idea where I would be without your support. Enjoy! (PS sorry about the glitch when I first posted the chap! #whyme;-;)

Two people stood at an old open window, the wind from the north blowing the hair out of their eyes.

"So, do you think he'll actually join?" Red eyes had locked onto the target, the newcomer Tatsumi, who was walking with Leone. Akame turned to the golden eyed angel.

"Whether he joins or not, it doesn't matter."

Run raised his eyebrow. "Really?" He said, head turning to look out the window himself. "Because, I think it may, actually." Akame shrugged.

"If you say so." She turned to leave.

"Hunting?" Run asked.

"Mhm."

The Elventh Mile

Tatsumi was what Run would like to call an "open book" so to speak. He was incredibly easy to read. His expressions were filled with too much emotion, his voice pitched like crazy when put into situations, and by no means did his body language help him.

Not really assassin material.

No, where Tatsumi lacked in cunningness, he made up a decent amount of it in his ability. Not skill mind you, he had a long way to go on that too, but his ability to fight and kill. Particularly kill.

Watching Leone lead him to the base, Run had no doubt in his mind that she was making rounds introducing Tatsumi to the team. What he was trying to decide was if he should make the first move and introduce himself, or let himself be found. Sure, the decision might seem unimportant to most people, but it was VERY important to Run.

First impressions were everything. They could make up a person's entire opinion of you based on just a few minutes, or even mere seconds, of interaction. Though, if Run thought about it, he probably didn't have anything to worry about with Tatsumi. So, he decided he would just pass the time, no need in worrying about something that was probably insignificant.

There were more important things to worry about.

Like finding his targets.

Run had hoped he would have started his "little" project sooner, but that had proved near impossible over the last few months, but with adjusting into Night Raid, trying to learn how they tick, and the missions they were sent on, it was safe to say he didn't really have all the time in the world to be scheming.

That's what it was: scheming. As far as he knew, no one knew about his little plot. How could they? They knew virtually nothing about him, other than he traveled a lot, and used to be a teacher in a little mountain village. It really wasn't a lot to go on. The only hard thing about said scheming was actually FINDING the information. He opened his book, turning to the last section between the back cover and blank pages. It was a handy space for keeping notes; not really a place people would expect to find them. He looked over the said notes, refreshing his memory of what he'd found out so far.

Let's see:

Francis Travington

Ricardo Deśmont

Olivia Quinton

Zalma Amen

These were the names Run had collected from multiple months of traveling that he believed had something to do with the incident. Some more than others. His eyes lingered on the last name for a few seconds, and then shook his head. No, he would only go back there if he absolutely HAD to, no exceptions.

"Oi, Angel Boy! You in here?" Leone's unmistakable voice rang through his ears, shaking him from his thoughts. Which he was oddly grateful for at the moment.

"Over here," he called out, and a few seconds later, Leone and Tatsumi were standing before him. Run pitied the boy, he looked on the verge of a mental breakdown. No doubt had he met most of the others already.

"Hey there friend," Leone said with a unsettling smile, signaling to Run something was up. She walked up to him and placed an arm around his shoulder. "I just ran into boss out there, and she said that on my last mission, I apparently took too much time killing my targets! Now tell me how she knew about that, huh?"

Well shit. He hadn't counted on her figuring it out so quickly. He let out an external sigh, and looked at her. "If you're implying that it was me, I'm sad to inform you it was actually not, in fact, me," Run lied. Hey, lying through his teeth was better than Leone after his throat. Leone's grip tightened noticeably.

"That so? Hahaha. Can't tell if you're being serious or lying through your teeth."

"One of my many skills."

Leone let go, finally freeing Run from his near-death experience. Leone just by herself was bad, he didn't want an angry one after his blood just yet. "Anyway," she said, and turned to Tatsumi, who was looking rather cautiously at them. "This guy over here is Run." Tatsumi gave them a puzzled look.

"Um, doesn't his WANTED poster say Angel though?" Run looked to the side.

"We don't talk about that here."

"Oh yes we do," Leone said, and patted Tatsumi on the back. "All in due time, my young killer." Tatsumi gave her a strained look.

"I haven't decided anything yet! But... You'll kill me if I don't join, right?" Run raised his eyebrows in surprise, and gave Leone a look.

"Really Leone?"

"What?"

"That's what you've been filling his head with?"

Tatsumi gave him a confused look. "What do you mean, 'filling my head with'?" Run sighed at Leone, putting his book down, and looked at Tatsumi with honest, earnest eyes.

"I'm sorry if you've been fretting over that, but no, we won't kill you if you refuse to join. We may kill people, but most of the time, if not all of it, is for a good reason. We kind of involved you, not the other way around, so it wouldn't be right. What would most likely happen is that we'd just send you away to a Revolutionary Army base, and then they'd take care of you."

Tatsumi looked relieved. "Really?! Phew, that's a lot off my chest now- Wait. Revolutionary Army? What's-"

"Don't worry, Najenda will explain later. She's more fit to do it than I am." Tatsumi nodded.

"Okay, thank you, that definitely helps me."

Run tilted his head slightly, and smiled. "No problem, it was my pleasure." Tatsumi's eyes suddenly lit up, as if realizing something. Suddenly, the boy grabbed both his hands and held the up to their faces, his eyes sparkling.

"You're normal!"

Run taken aback, leaned back slightly, his genuine smile turning into an awkward one. So Tatsumi more than likely met most if not all of the others already. Leone then decided that moment was a good moment to intervene, and started to drag Tatsumi away, who struggled.

"Alright alright, enough bromancing you two, we have a schedule to keep here-"

And then they were gone. Run sighed and turned back to pick up his book, but stopped mid reach. No, just a bit more procrastinating and then he would get down to business. Right now, he would keep his attention on the new member. How did he know Tatsumi would join? Well... Let's just say he had a feeling.

(((((((())))))))

And Run had been right, unfortunately. He still wasn't comfortable with the fact that they were involving a teenager. Of course Mine, Lubbock, and Akame were teens as well, but they hadn't been civilians up until 24 hours ago. They'd been doing this type of work for quite a while.

Then again, this certain civilian could kill. The question to be asked however was if he would die, how quickly? For all Run knew, the first time Tatsumi was sent on a mission, the boy would die, and Run would never see him again. He shook his head, and sighed. It was like how Bulat had said thirty minutes ago. Anyone one of them could die at any moment, and atone for their sins. Granted the only sin Tatsumi had really made so far was mistake his gender...

The meeting about Tatsumi's initiation into Night Raid had ended, and Run was trying his best to be hopeful for the boy, but it was extremely difficult. Everyone seemed pretty fine with it, save Mine, but Run still felt undecided, as his thoughts could tell.

"Uh, Run?"

The person in question looked over to new member.

"Yes Tatsumi? Do you need something?"

The green eyed boy nodded, and rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah actually. I can't find the kitchen." Run sighed, realizing Tatsumi must have been wandering all over the place without any guidance. Leone's tour hadn't seemed to help him.

"How come you didn't ask Mine? I was sure I saw her leaving the room just as you walked in. Tatsumi started to grumble to himself.

"Like hell I'm asking help from the likes of her."

Run chuckled. "Well, guess it can't be helped then, follow me."

The walk there was a silent one. And unfortunately it was the awkward kind once again. Run really wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, seeing as he didn't really want the boy to be uncomfortable around him, but since Tatsumi could easily die in the next few weeks, he didn't want to feel any sort of attachment whatsoever towards him. He'd gone through those struggles once, and like hell he was going to let it come again so easily.

"Run?"

Well, so much for that plan.

"Hm?"

"I just want to say... Sorry."

Run turned and gave the boy a puzzled look. "For...what, exactly?"

Tatsumi became visibly flustered. "Um, uh, y-you know. Back at the mansion-" And in one swift motion, Run's hand neatly covered Tatsumi's mouth.

"Just never speak of it again to anyone and we won't have a problem."

Tatsumi, startled by how fast Run was, slowly nodded, and Run let go. "Sorry! I just, I don't want the only normal one here to hate me, I guess," he said. Run only shrugged.

"I don't really think anyone that does this kind of is normal Tatsumi, technically speaking. But I do appreciate you seeing me that way." What he really wanted to say was : 'you think I'm normal? HA That's the the best thing I've heard all day. Have another joke?', but he deemed it a less than appropriate answer. Tatsumi seemed to slump at the honest answer.

"Yeah... I guess you're right. How long have you been here though?"

"Me? Well... I'd have to say maybe a little less than six months by now? Five, I believe." Tatsumi perked up.

"Oh! So you're new at this too?"

Run shrugged.

"More or less. I mean, I've been spilling blood long before I joined." Tatsumi resumed his slump.

"Ohhhhhhh..." Run had to hold back a chuckle. Such naive innocence was becoming more and more of a rarity in the shortcoming days, but nonetheless appreciated.

"Here we are," he stated. "I already assume Najenda told you about the rotating shifts in the kitchen now, correct?" Tatsumi may not have been really good at perceiving things, but man, he mad up in his culinary skill. Despite this no one wanted to reassign anyone to a different job, or give Tatsumi another one, but it was too crowded for three people to cook at the same time. The green eyed boy nodded.

"Yeah, I think so. Everyday we switch right? You and Akame on one day, then me and her, and then me and you?"

"Yes, that's correct-"

"Hey Run!" The two males turned their heads down the hallway, to see Mine approaching them. "Boss issued an emergency meeting. She wants us in the meeting room to be debriefed."

Run nodded, and turned to Tatsumi.

"You wouldn't mind filling in for me, would you? Akame doesn't tend to like cooking alone now. She likes the extra help." The youth in questioned look surprised.

"Wait what? You mean I'm not coming?"

"Why would a runt like you be allowed on a mission as big as this?" Mine scoffed, and waved him off. "Now be a good little servant and help Akame, will you? Let the professionals handle this." Tatsumi tensed up and clenched his fists.

"Why you-"

"Okay then!" Run exclaimed getting in between the two. He grabbed Mine and started dragging her down the hallway, the pink haired youth struggling. Run sent Tatsumi an apologetic look. "Thanks Tatsumi! I owe you one!" And then they turned the corner, leaving a confused Tatsumi by the door.