Heather was given her tea by a maid in blonde hair, wearing black gloves, and with pale skin. She asked, "Is that Kirumi Tojo?"

Hanajima said, "Yes. A corrupt maid. She speaks like the former US President, and acts as de facto Prime Minister. So, after she died, I reprogrammed her brain… and everything."

June asked, "She's a robot?"

Hanajima said, "No."

Kirumi moaned, as her eyes were blank and her lips curled up. "Hnnnnnnnnnnngh… Grrrrrrrrrrrrr…" Kirumi Tojo, the Ultimate Maid, is Hanajima's undead zombie slave. She added, "But she does bite, if she gets agitated. She still doesn't like being called Mama."

Heather shivered, "Dude…"

June sighed, "For someone who was a maid, programmed by lies… She deserves every bit of it." She nodded, "She got hers… despite that she acts this way."

Hanajima grumbled, "Meh… It's terrible. Reprogrammed to be a D**** T****, making Japan great again. Haven't this world suffered enough with these despair-ridden hellscapes?"

June sighed, "We're lucky that he got what he deserved. But you never can tell. Not the first time we ever suffered hell."

Heather and her daughters have tea, as Heather said, finishing her cup, "Well, the last story we made… It reminded me of Akame ga Kill. You know… how almost everyone dies."

Hanajima said, "Yes. And you created something special." She glared, "Everyone died, except Akame. Horror of war, losing your life, for the sake of peace… Bulat… Mine… Lubbock… even Chelsea… even… even…"

June asked, "Wait, isn't this another Story of the Dead? Why couldn't you abuse Kurome? She killed her."

Heather stated, "Well, it's debatable. Kurome is alive in the manga. Screwy reboots! I wish they'd reboot the fucking anime!" She slammed her teacup down, shattering it. She pouted, "Sorry."

Hanajima snapped her fingers, as Kirumi picked up the shards with her hands. Heather continued, "Well, as I was saying, we did something like that before, but we never officially called it a Story of the Dead. We had no idea. The only characters that lived were Akame and Wave. That was it. I'm not counting Najenda. She's obviously dead." She took the book, and added, "Chelsea was bad news… She died, too soon… and remembering her death… horrifying… yet profound."

SLASH!
Chelsea lost her left fingers, and her Imperial Arms shattered. She winced, "Ungh… No!"

SLASH!
Chelsea also lost her right arm, during an attack from Kurome's puppet.
BANG!
She was shot in the back, gushing out blood from her stomach and mouth.

And after she died, the puppet decapitated her, and left her up in a flagpole.

Heather narrated, "And, in doing so, created a Dead Meme - Chelsea Lollipop."

Hanajima bowed, "I believe we gave her something to praise her… for her sadness. Icebat revived her, as did Miz-K. But a sex robot won't do, if they are decapitated…"

Beth smirked, "And next, I bet this involves a story about Chelsea coming to life, with her head back on…"

Heather grinned, "Oh, believe me… It's much worse. Bethany Nevins, I think you need to hear more to the story about Chelsea… and how she came back to life."

Beth asked, "OH? Lemme guess… Chelsea is turned into an android, and gets a new cyborg body? OR… go the DIO route, and get her a new body."

Heather smirked, as she was shrouded in a dark aura, "Oh, it's much, much worse… I, Heather Dunn-Nevins, will tell you Chelsea's Dark Tale… You've been warned, young lady."

Beth jeered, "Try me, Mommy! BLEH!" She stuck her tongue at her with a raspberry, as the story begins.

In a city, miles from an imperial castle, a female figure appeared from the shadows, and rushed to the town square. A head was latched on top of the flagpole. The girl chopped the flagpole down, and then grabbed the head. She hugged it and whispered, "Chelsea…"

Chelsea's head was all pale and dead, with her eyes closed, and her long hair flowing and destroyed. She whispered, "I will bring you back. Someday… I will… Let's bring you back again…"

The girl vanished, as she carried the dismembered head into the forest. She was never seen again, as does the head. But it was unknown if it would return.

XXXXX

The next morning, a girl in long black hair was holding the head of Chelsea and said, "I'm sorry this happened to you…" It was on display in a glass box, as she prayed, "Forgive me…"

She kneeled and prayed, hoping she would reunite with her friend. Chelsea's eyes remained closed, as Heather appeared from the reflection.

"Familiar?" She appeared in an empty room, "Meet Chelsea, a young happy-going girl that wants to be a soldier, like her friends. However, you're probably wondering why she's just a head. Well, she's dead. The End. Or is it?"

Cut to the girl in black hair, as she sniffled, "I wish to get you a new body… but if only I can find someone to help you… before they come along, and take the head back. It's too late to bring back your body."

She bowed her head and sniffled, "Forgive me… Chelsea…" She sobbed, as she tried to bring her back. But then, a female figure appeared, holding up a black scythe. She then appeared to the girl, and she looked out the window. The shadowy figure walked closer, and then she screamed, "AAAAAAAAGH!"

She grabbed the head, and then ran out. She fled the village. As for the figure, she would walk off, aimlessly, following the girl. She was long gone, as the figure was chasing after the girl.

Years passed, and the girl arrived at a small city in Japan, away from her home. She carried the head in a bag and sniffled, "Not again… Every time I tried to bring you back, she came. I have to bring you back… If you just say something…"

She arrived at the city square, viewing some buildings. However, she couldn't enter, because she'd be caught for harboring a head.

(Heather): "So ends the story of how Chelsea's head was rescued. Her savior is just about to enter her own headstrong problems… in a "Tale of the Bizarre".

Tales of the Bizarre #68:
Head Games

One spring morning, two girls were walking to school together. One was wearing a school uniform with a green hoodie and a skirt, with short dark blue hair, and another was with short apple green hair, up to her neck, wearing a blue sweater over her uniform.

"So, ya interested in a feast, after school?" The girl asked her.

The green-haired girl said, "No, thanks. I have to catch up on my anime."

"Right. Some other time?"

"Nah, can you pick me up a to-go meal? I wanna get that swell collector's prize."

"Sure-." She stopped, as she saw a figure from a distance. She was wearing a black and red school uniform, and holding up a lollipop. However, she was without a head.

The girl whispered, "Whoa, fam… Hey, Nanao, look at this."

Nanao saw the figure, but vanished. She whispered, "No way…"

Yamabuki said, "You don't think it's a-."

"No, let's not. Anyways, let's hurry to class." They raced off, heading to school. The headless girl walked off, as she wandered around Mizaki City.

XXXXX

After school, the girl arrived, carrying the head, as she approached the school gates. Yamabuki & Nanao were leaving, chatting with each other. The girl said, "Excuse me. But… Can you please…?"

Yamabuki asked, "Can I help ya?"

The girl said, "Here. Take this. I hope you mind finding a way to fix this. Please, I beg of you…"

Nanao asked, "What's wrong? You look shaken."

The girl bowed and said, "It's nothing. Meet me at the train station, tonight. I'll explain, once we arrive. OH! DO NOT! Open that bag!" She ran off.

Nanao whispered, "I wonder what's in it…"

Yamabuki said, "I have a bad feeling about this. Nanao, we better do as she says."

Nanao agreed, feeling curious, "What I want to know is what's in this bag."

They walked off, as night was about to fall.

XXXXX

Hours later, they arrived, wearing casual attire, and approached the train station. Yamabuki, in dark green clothes, called, "Hello? We came fer ya, like ya said."

Nanao called, "Yeah! Can you tell us what's inside?"

The girl appeared, glowing red eyes. She said, "You brought it. Good. If you kept it in your rooms, she'd likely kill your friends."

Nanao asked, "What is in this bag? You should've tell us, sooner!"

The girl said, "If I did, you… You wouldn't accept it." She offered, "Open it."

Nanao giggled, as she opened the bag. Her eyes widened, as she saw the contents of what was inside.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" She pulled out a human head.

Yamabuki shrieked, "WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?"

The girl said, "That's Chelsea… She was my friend… and they killed her. I wanted to bring her back, but… But I fear that they will come and get me…" She explained, "My name is Akame. I wish to offer help into saving my friend, only get her a new body and a life… and also… uh… maybe redo her hair?"

Nanao said, "Well, I can't heal her. She's dead."

Yamabuki smiled, "Don't worry, we'll see what we can do. We trust in ya."

"YAMABUKI! I said NO!"

"Dude, ya didn't even say "NO!", fam! Besides, does she even know your healing powers?"

"It can't revive the dead, you know!"

"Point taken…"

Akame bowed, "Please… Do you know of someone that has the miracle to bring her head back? I want her to wake up again…"

Yamabuki said, "Alright. Tell us yer story."

Akame told her about Chelsea. She was upset, as she held the head:
"Chelsea and I were friends and partners. We worked together as assassins, fighting against a cruel and corrupt kingdom. One day, on patrol, Chelsea met with an evil woman that was hurting a poor boy and girl. Chelsea was able to subdue her and kill her, using her needle weapon. But what she didn't realize was that the old abusive woman… was a witch. She woke up, days later, and found out about the woman that hurt her. She wanted children for her supper, but was thwarted. She was able to locate her, but she could only find her headless body."

"How did she die?" Nanao asked.

Akame said, "Was gunned down. Then she was beheaded, and her head was posted up on the flagpole, as a sign for monarchy; a message to us, if they crossed us again. Since then, I moved on from the grief… and the evil kingdom was no more. Only… Only, Chelsea had returned, and she was just a headless body."

Yamabuki whispered, "Wow… She's headless? What does she want?"

Akame said, "She wants the head. But I didn't want to. I wanna give her a new body, since her old body is decayed, but… lo and behold, her body came back… and tried to kill me. The witch put a curse on the corpse of my dead friend, after finding it. And then said that she wants to be reborn, once she regains her head."

Nanao whispered, "No way… So, you're saying… She's a dullahan?"

Akame nodded, but Yamabuki asked, "What's a doo-la-hand?"

Nanao stated, "A Dullahan is an Irish demon that comes as a ghost, with no head. Like, for example, the Headless Horseman from the fable, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Sad story, but we do know that the Dullahan is just a myth."

Akame said, "It's no myth. My friend is now a headless woman… wanting her head back. But she cannot say why or how. I tried to find that witch, but I had no idea who she was."

Nanao stated, "I see… Is Chelsea here now?"

Akame said, "No… But she turns up around night. Dullahans haunt the world, every night. And some say that if you dare to cross the Dullahan's path, namely Chelsea's path, you lose your head."

"Damn…" Yamabuki sniffled, "Ya learn somethin' new, er'ry day, huh? We'll be glad ta help ya, Akame." She grinned, "Ya're a trained assassin, right? Nanao and I are ninjas."

Akame stated, "I know. I noticed that you have a shuriken in your pocket, thinking you were about to kill me, if I were the enemy."

Yamabuki shivered, "Ehhh… What gave me away?" She blushed.

Akame bowed, "But I trust you. I will keep your identities a secret. Thank you for assisting me in this dire time of need."

Nanao asked, "Uh, I'm not really a nin-." Yamabuki stopped her and smiled, "Think nothin' of it, fam. Now, ya wanna stay at our dorms, tonight?"

Akame said, "No, my apologies, but… I cannot. I'd risk too many lives. If you like, would you stay at my cabin, near the forest? I plan to stay and relocate, if the Dullahan comes back tonight."

Nanao said, "Okay. Say, you must be starving, after your long travels. Perhaps we should get a bite to eat?"

Akame nodded, "Thank you." She gave Yamabuki the head and said, "Here. You stay and guard my head." They left, as Yamabuki asked, "Wait… Save some fer me! At least get me some food, when ya get back!"

Yamabuki held Chelsea's head in the bag, and decided to find a safe place to stay, until Nanao & Akame came back. The sky was dusky, as Yamabuki was worried. She knows that the Dullahan may return, if she comes here at night.

XXXXX

An hour later, the girls arrived at the cabin, with a huge pack of food. Nanao said, "I wish we'd ask Myu to make the boxed lunch for us… But she didn't want to be involved. Well, I wanted to, but I'd risk her life."

Akame stated, "If she did, she'd meet this Dullahan, and lose her head. You told me she was a fan of horror movies. But this is no movie."

Yamabuki grumbled, "I can't believe that I had ta carry the head, and I'm hungry. But that damned head…" Her stomach growled, as she moaned, "I wanna lose my appetite… Why?"

Akame replied, "It's still fresh… but by the time rigor mortis hits, it gets disgusting. I won't carry on, since we're famished."

Nanao groaned, "You mentioned her head's stiffness… and detail… All of a sudden I'm not hungry, anymore…"

Akame went to the front door and opened it. She called, "Come on in. We'll hide out here…"

They stepped inside, as Yamabuki smiled, "No worries. We may have found someone trustworthy." She grinned, "But her boobies… so huge…" She whispered, "First thing, we protect her. It's our only task."

Nanao said, "Hope you know what you're doing. Whoever did this to Chelsea… whatever happens, we will avenge her for Akame."

Minutes later, they relaxed and had an early dinner. She packed three big bento boxes for them. She opened the first box and showed a huge tray of meat. Yamabuki cheered, "SCORE! HUGE MEAT ON THE BONE! JUICY!"

Akame devoured one of them and said, "You said it." She started munching on it, really fast. Yamabuki was shocked, "Wha-? Oh, god, she's so hungry."

"She must be super hungry." Nanao said.

Akame stated, "My appetite for meat is endless. Of course, I never pass an early or late snack." She finished one, and started on another meat on bone. Nanao protested, "Well, don't be rude! Save some for us!"

Akame muffled, "Help yourselves."

Yamabuki smiled, as she said, "Thanks." She whispered, "Reminds me of you-know-who… with the you-know-what…"

They ate some meat, as Nanao said, "Hmm… barbecue meat on a bone, like it's broiled in flames. Must be flame-cooked meat. But it tastes good." She sobbed, as she took another bite, "Like I am tasting something that I missed for so long… like in that anime that a guy leaves his girlfriend for college, all alone…" She sobs, taking another bite.

Yamabuki nodded, but was annoyed, "I've had worse. It isn't how I imagine it. Needs salt."

Akame said, "That's how I cook it. It's 100% pure Danger Beast, which I hunt, every night."

Nanao asked, "This is wild game we're eating?"

"And a very common animal, to boost. It's juicy, if full-grown for like 6 to 8 months. The son of a bitch was vicious, but he almost killed me." Akame said, "But that's how I like my beast meat."

Yamabuki scarfed down the meat and said, "Well, I like it, fam."

Nanao asked, "What kind of meat did you hunt? Warthog? Deer?"

Akame said, "A cross between a panther and a vulture. Sort of a demonic beast."

Nanao's eyes widened, as she asked, "This is… a mutant hybrid?!" She spat out and gagged, "EUGH! DISGUSTING! THIS IS BEAST MEAT?"

Akame sighed, "It's good for me, anyways."

After they finished, Akame suggested, as she was in her white sleeping gown, "Anyways, we're going to camp here for tonight. One of you will watch over the land, in case the Dullahan returns. She usually comes in moonlit areas, during clear and starry nights."

Nanao asked, "Why call it a Dullahan? Just call her Chelsea!"

Akame said, "She's not Chelsea, anymore… but you can be sure that she won't stop, until she gets her head back. The head is Chelsea, but I wish that she spoke to me, once she is now a head… but her spirit could be speaking to me."

Nanao said, "I'm sure that it's fine. Chelsea will rest, once we end this demon."

Yamabuki was in her ninja outfit, as she replied, "Been a while since I wore this… in any case, I did clip my hair, ta make myself more mature. But still…" She armed herself and said, "I'll handle the first watch. You two stay safe in here. I'll be keeping an eye out."

She stepped out, holding her paintbrush in her arms. Akame asked, "Is she that energetic?"

Nanao sighed, "You never met Yamabuki Suou, for far too long… Even so, I'm glad to be friends with her." She rubbed her head and moaned, "I'm really sorry that I cannot save Chelsea, too soon. Whatever caused her to act this way… Yamabuki will find out what's wrong."

Akame said, "Yeah. Anyways… I'll be fine. By the way, if you're a ninja, what powers do you use to fight villains? I'm curious to know."

Nanao pouted and said, "Well, I'm good at using a bow and arrow, but… my main jutsu is healing. I have healing powers, but I'm still learning. I should've saved your friend…" She held the head and said, "Even if I do this…"

Her hands glowed, and healed the head of Chelsea. She continued, "…I couldn't save her. I cannot use my powers to revive the dead."

Akame said, "Interesting. So, is it rare?"

"Only two. Just me and Iroha Yabu, a friend." She placed the head down and said, "But I wish that healing ninjas exist more often, than become extinct. At first, I'm ashamed of my powers, but when I met my friends, I didn't want to be shy anymore. I know you had this sort of weird experience, but with me, it's terrible."

"To me, it's not." Akame said, "Though, I kinda wished that I had an ally that heals all wounds. Don't worry. We'll save Chelsea, together."

They waited, as night finally fell. Yamabuki searched in the forest for any signs of the demon's presence. She armed herself with her brush and said, "No signs of the Dullahan. Man, it feels like I'm in Sleepy Hollow." She walked down the pathway and searched through the dark forest. Slowly and softly, she tread on through the dirt path, searching for anything that moves. "It's too bad that we're not in the countryside. Akame says that she appears at night. So… She could be anywhere." She then held up a sheet of paper, showing Chelsea's head. She then said, "If only I had answers. But… I can't use my jutsu to ask questions… if she's just a head. And it takes time ta draw her entire body. Akame never told me Chelsea's measurements. It can work, but… it's crazy."

She heard a twig snap, and gasped. She turned around, and saw a figure in the distance. She was walking down the road, armed with a black scythe. She kept walking, as she approached the view of the girl walking. It was a headless woman, wearing her outfit, and armed with her weapon. It was Chelsea's headless undead corpse - The Dullahan.

Yamabuki whispered, "That's her." She held up the paper and quickly drew in her body. She nodded, "Bingo! I got her outfit… only… only I have ta put in more detail. Akame will thank me fer this." She crept off, as the headless corpse stopped. She sensed Yamabuki's presence and slowly walked towards her. Yamabuki heard her, and gasped in horror. She panicked, as she whispered, "Don't run… Don't run… Don't run, show no fear…" She dashed off, as she bawled, "WHAT A COWARD I AM!"

She ran away. The demon chased after her, swinging her scythe. Chelsea leapt off, and stopped at Yamabuki's path. Yamabuki shrieked. The headless woman raised her scythe high and decapitated Yamabuki.

SLICE!
Yamabuki's head fell off, as it dropped to the ground. The headless girl picked up Yamabuki's head and walked off, leaving her headless corpse behind. She disappeared into the night, taking Yamabuki's head with her. After the headless Chelsea vanished, so did Yamabuki's corpse. It was a puppet of her. Yamabuki reemerged from the bushes and sighed in relief, "Thank goodness. She wanted a head, but she'll get wise on me, when she learns that the head was a fake." She rushed off, "I have ta warn the others. Dammit! Of all places fer a Dullahan!"

Yamabuki returned to the cabin and went inside. Yamabuki sat down, as Akame and Nanao were fast asleep. Yamabuki said, as she held up her sketchpad, "Well, one less page in my arsenal… At least I can rebuild her body, using my jutsu. Once I fix her portrait, I'll use my jutsu to revive her, and ask a few questions. For starters, why is she a Dullahan?"

"Because the woman that I killed was a Dullahan, too."

"Huh?" Yamabuki asked, "Who said that?"

"It's me, traveling ninja." A female voice said, "I'm sorry, but… I'm over here. Eyes here. On the table!" She called out, as Yamabuki called, "Who are ya? And keep it down! They're sleeping!"

"Sorry… I'm next to the girls, above the table."

Yamabuki gasped, as she covered her mouth. She whimpered, "N-N-NO… Don't tell me… Y-Ya're… a-a-a-a…" She was frightened, as she saw Chelsea's head. It suddenly came to life. She called out, "Hi…"

Yamabuki shrieked, "KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The others woke up, as Nanao moaned, "Nnngh… Yamabuki, will you keep it down?" She saw Yamabuki, scared and panicked. She asked, "What's wrong?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha… Talking… d-d-dead… head… Che-Che-chelllll… B-B-B-B-Bodyless…" She stammered, pointing at Chelsea's head.

Nanao barked, "Oh, don't be silly. Chelsea is dead. She's just a head. Isn't that right, Chelsea?"

"Sure I'm a head." Chelsea's head said.

Nanao smiled, "See? She can't talk, beca-?" She paused, and then widened her eyes in fright, "The h-h-h-head… It's… IT CAN TALK?!"

Akame gasped, "No way! Why? HOW?"

Chelsea barked, "YOU tell me, Akame! Why the hell did you take only my head?!"

Akame sobbed, "It's… It's only you… You're alive."

Yamabuki stated, "Yeah… I'd… rather not talk about yer body, fam."

Chelsea moaned, "I was afraid of this." She explained, "Akame, who are your friends? They must've seen my former body, earlier tonight."

Yamabuki said, "Chelsea, I'm Yamabuki Suou. I work fer MEA, and am a member of the Ninja Seeking Club. I believe that Akame's story about yer body is true."

"It is?" Nanao asked.

Yamabuki said, "I saw it with my own eyes… a cute moé girl with a firm build, who once had a head like yers. In short, I saw yer body, or rather, a Dullahan."

Nanao gasped, as Akame whispered, "It came here, just now?"

Chelsea moaned, "I was afraid of this. It won't stop until my head is recovered. The former body of myself, it was haunted by the spirit of a Dullahan… only after I killed the woman…"

Yamabuki said, "You killed someone, only because she was a Dullahan, too. What happened?"

Chelsea said, explaining her story, "It was long ago, before my apparent death. I was assigned to attack and kill a woman in the forest. She was the same woman I ran into, a while back. After I slowly killed her, she told me… of a curse that befalls upon me. She said that if I were to slew her, then I must survive for a whole year… and must live for others… or be cursed as an undead force, for the rest of my life."

"And your death happened, too soon?" Nanao asked.

Chelsea said, "Two months, to be exact… This was before I joined Night Raid. Only, I had no idea she was a Dullahan…"

Chelsea, who was whole at the time, stabbed the lady in the neck with a needle. The lady dropped to the ground, only for her head to fall off. She gasped in horror, "What? Her head… Was she dead already?"

The lady's head hissed, "You fool… You would intervene with my time on Earth? You should know better than to kill me. I had time to make it right, only-."

"How can I? You killed innocent lives! That's what my boss told me!"

The lady got up, without her head on. She picked up her head and snarled, "Then you shall take my place… NO living mortal can take my head, and claim it as a trophy. I will take yours, if you dare take my life!"

"NO! PLEASE! Not that! Spare me!" She kneeled and cried, "Spare me… Please…"

The lady hissed, "Very well… YOU shall take my place… In the event of a certain death you make, within a year, you will be cursed by being forever undead… Survive, and you are spared. Kill me, and wait a year, but YOU must make things right for yourself. After all… I'm simply a zombie…"

Chelsea narrated, "She wasn't a zombie. I had no idea what it was, until later. After that, the lady died, and I was given her curse. To make matters worse, I was a sitting duck. So, I joined Akame's ranks."

"But…"

Chelsea's head was on a flagpole, impaled up high.

Yamabuki said, "And that's when ya died, two months later."

Nanao asked, "What killed you? How did you lose your head?"

Chelsea said, "Fate. It was fate… that, and a soldier that beheaded me, after she sliced off my right arm, my left hand, and put a hole into my stomach. I knew it was all fate… because I knew later that the woman was a Dullahan. She predicted my own fate, as much as hers."

Akame said, "Your body was turned into compost, after that; that, or some beast devoured your headless corpse."

Chelsea stated, "You cannot kill what is already dead. The damned Dog Beast ate my body, but the body cannot be destroyed. The damage was already done." She growled, "Fools! They had no idea I was cursed, suffering from a hex that a Dullahan gave me!"

Nanao shuddered, "Eugh! And no one asked you? You never told anyone?"

Chelsea said, "If I did, then I'd die easily… Plus, no one would believe me…"

Akame shouted, "Then why didn't you say anything? I would've helped you save yourself! That way you can finally rest!"

Chelsea sighed, "I wish I did, but I never got the chance. If we survived, I would've told you everything, but instead, it was already too late."

Akame said, "Well, I'm just glad you're alright. But still… I cannot bear losing you, Chelsea. I can't."

Yamabuki said, "Ya have to, fam." She instructed, "She wants the head. And she won't stop, until she gets it."

Nanao asked, "But what then? What happens if she gets it?"

Chelsea replied, "I don't know… All we know is that she won't rest, until she gets, at least, one head. She'll do anything for a head… even yours."

They gasped, as Nanao shrieked, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I don't wanna lose my head!"

Yamabuki shouted, "Get a hold of yerself! You suffered so much… but we know that she's here in Mizaki City. We cannot confront it. All we can do… is leave the city."

Nanao asked, "LEAVE?! But we never got to-!"

Akame stated, "I ran for years, to avoid that creature, but exorcising it is not our only option. Even so, Chelsea is cursed, until we find a way to stop the Dullahan."

Nanao gulped in fear, as Yamabuki said, "Please, let me hold the head. I saw her with my own eyes, and I wanted ta end it. Sadly, I'm not sure if it'll work." She asked her, "Chelsea, if I return yer head, will ya rest in peace? Because I've heard stories from Beretta."

"Hey, it's almost like Sleepy Hollow." Nanao smiled, "I loved how they made the hero into a brave man, fighting off a headless horseman… but then again, it was scary… DAMMIT, MYU! Why did you make me watch that?" She held her neck and gagged, "Please, no beheading…"

Yamabuki whispered, "I'm sorry you felt that way." She instructed, "Akame and I will fight the corpse, you hold her head."

"ME?!" Nanao shrieked, "I can't!"

Akame nodded and said, "Please. Chelsea will tell you everything, once we have her cornered. Or, she will accompany you, while you're alone. Don't worry, she's friendly."

"So you say." Nanao huffed, "Me, babysitting a living head."

Chelsea said, "I'm sorry… But I do not wake up, until nightfall. It's nighttime, and my body… well, it hates daylight."

Yamabuki said, "We can destroy the body, if we let it stall fer time."

Chelsea replied, "Too crafty! It's too smart for its own good. It's my body, after all. Please… Don't destroy it."

Akame asked, "Don't? I'm… I'm so confused…"

Chelsea pleaded, "Please… You cannot destroy the body… If you do, I will die…"

Nanao demanded, "Kill it! KILL IT WITH FIRE!"

Chelsea added, "I die, then I want to-."

Akame roared, "OUT OF THE QUESTION! You're getting your body back, and like it! Even if we have to destroy the Dullahan."

Chelsea sniffled, "You mean it? But… Nanao agrees that we cannot let it live."

Nanao asked, "Curious, is that how a Dullahan is destroyed? If I recall, if we destroy the body, then the head goes, too. But…" She protested, "She's NOT a Dullahan! She usually rides on a horse."

Akame asked, "HUH?"

Yamabuki said, "Well… How would ya even know if she's a Dullahan?"

Chelsea confessed, "Uh… Now that you mention it… I once rode on horseback, during one of my kills… and then I usually ride a magic carpet. Mostly, I have roller skates on, whenever I'm on a busy spree."

Yamabuki stated, "Funny. Ya don't have skates on, when I saw yer body."

Akame said, "Never mind that. We have to destroy the Dullahan, before it's too late. Let's go!" They raced off, as Nanao was left behind. She shivered, "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you!"

Chelsea asked, "You have such knowledge… especially for someone who's distant to others."

Nanao stated, "Well, I'm just being helpful to my friend. Yamabuki is cheerful and playful, but she does make smart cracks. Me, I'm usually a sane person. And I'm a nerd."

Chelsea sighed, "Well, you may be right. I usually go by foot, since I'm speedy… but you are right. That woman was a Dullahan, so she obviously was by foot, when she killed me. Strange thing this world can be."

XXXXX

Yamabuki and Akame ran to the forest, as Akame said, "We'll split up and find Chelsea's body. Where was she last, when you saw her?"

Yamabuki pointed at the direction, "That-a-way! I'll take another direction."

They split up, as Akame held up her sword. She whispered, "I hope to God that we save Chelsea. But still… If we destroy her, Chelsea will be saved."

Armed with her katana, she saw the view of the headless assassin, armed with a dark scythe and riding on a black horse, made of the dark shadows of Hell.

"NO WAY!" Akame complained, "Since when did she ride on a horse?" She gasped, "Nanao was right… It can't be a Dullahan, unless…" But before she could finish, the horse brayed in the moonlight, as Chelsea's headless body swung her scythe around. Her cackles were echoing from her neck hole. Akame prepared to strike, but the headless woman scalloped forward. She dashed forward, and Akame leapt out of the way.

"Chelsea! I know it's you!" She cried, "Come home, soon! I want to see you again! I can find a way to save your life!"

Chelsea swung around, as Akame struck back. They clashed weapons, but Akame's sword flew out of her hands. She gasped, "Ah! No…"

Akame panicked, and then ran off, heading for safety. Chelsea's body went closer to Akame, and swung her scythe towards her.

Yamabuki was in another direction, as she whispered, "Everything's too quiet."

She raced off, as she sensed Chelsea in the distance. But…

"YAMABUKI!" Nanao cried, as she called, "Maybe… I can help!"

Yamabuki cried, "NO! Nanao, I said to stay back!"

Chelsea said, "She can use her healing powers to communicate with the body. I asked her, and I made a suggestion."

Yamabuki asked, "Wait, you think that this'll work? It's no way to heal a dead body!"

Nanao barked, "Well, it's worth a shot! Where's Akame?"

Yamabuki said, "I don't know, but she's obviously-."

A female cackle was made, as the ninjas gasped in horror. Chelsea whispered, "It's her… or me… My old body."

The headless assassin appeared, armed with a scythe, and with the head of Akame in her other hand. She raised it high and Yamabuki gasped, "No!"

Nanao sobbed, "It got Akame!" She wailed, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Chelsea cried, "DO IT!" Chelsea pleaded, "Heal my head!"

Nanao nodded, as she was shaken, "I have to save you… to avenge Akame. Her death will not be in vain!" Her body shone in a greenish light, and then called out, "Hey, butt-ugly! Heads up!"

Chelsea huffed in disgust, as she was thrown into the headless body, "That's not funny."

The body caught the head. Nanao's healing jutsu surged into the body, and she suddenly was purified. Nanao whispered, "It worked!"

Yamabuki sniffled, "Whaddya know?"

Chelsea put her head back on, and then smiled, "Thank you… Nanao… You really saved my life."

Nanao asked, "So… what now? I'm happy you got your head back, but… What does it mean now? Is it really goodbye?"

Chelsea shook her head and smiled, "No… It's not goodbye… It's…" She armed herself with the scythe and said, "Simply… this… SUCKERS!"

She swiped at Nanao, but Yamabuki pushed her out of the way. Chelsea missed, as she cackled, "Everybody thinks I wanted to be saved. A healing factor was all I need. Tonight was my final night, if it wasn't for Akame, the fool."

Yamabuki growled, "You monster! Ya tricked us, didn't ya?"

Chelsea asked, "So? You never knew the truth, until you look at it, right in the eyes. I'm really a Dullahan, but I wasn't born this way. The old lady that hexed me… Well, you didn't have to worry about her. She was a witch that tried to send me back to Hell! After I died, my spirit wandered free! The witch casted a spell on me, and I died, two months later! I was cursed to haunt the world, giving her heads for her witchcraft, but you can never double-cross a ghost. She let me do her dirty work! I killed so many, and she turned me into a slave to the witch! Well, she got what she deserved, when I used my scythe to decapitate her."

Nanao whispered, "You… You used us… Akame was trying to bring you back, and we helped! Chelsea, you're our friend! Was all this to get your head back?"

Chelsea smirked, "You think so? Well, you're right. But where was Akame, when I was killed?" She held her head up, and Akame croaked, "Help… me…"

Yamabuki roared, "You son of a bitch!"

Chelsea grinned, "Foolish hag got hers, when I killed that old fart, yet I was still cursed. I swore to get my revenge on that witch, but I wanted more! My story was clear, but the witch… she made me her slave! That wasn't part of the deal, so I showed her! Now… I got a NEW Imperial Arms, perfect to slice off heads. Akame didn't save me, back then. And that made me angry. My soul was boiling… to get back at her, because she didn't save my life! She survived! I didn't."

Nanao sobbed, "Chelsea, I'm… I'm so sorry, I really am. But spare us! We saved your body!"

Chelsea held her scythe up and cackled, "Yeah? And your healing jutsu saved me. The whole year… it was how long I had to live, until I gathered a powerful energy! I had a clue that it was you, Nanao Kashima. A rare ninja with healing powers… Your head will join Akame's."

Yamabuki shrieked, "RUN!" They ran off, as Chelsea cackled, chasing after the two ninjas, on horseback. She swung around, swinging her scythe with one hand, and holding her own head on the other. They ran down the forest path.

"WHAT NOW?" Nanao shrieked, "This is one hell-bent girl that hated Akame!"

Yamabuki snarled, "That horrible person! Nanao, don't worry about me! GO!" Yamabuki tripped down, as Nanao ran off.

Chelsea roared, swinging her scythe down, cackling endlessly. Nanao disappeared into the darkness, as Yamabuki sobbed, "Wait fer me… friends…" And then shut her eyes.

Nanao panicked, as she was running through the forest. She sobbed, "I'm in this vicinity of the woods… Remember the story of Ichabod Crane. Once you cross the bridge, the headless horseman is defeated. His power ends." She raced to find a bridge, near the river, but she panicked, "Where is it?"

Chelsea cackled, swinging her scythe around. Nanao hurried off and blubbered, "THIS IS THE LAST TIME I TRUST A GHOST!" She ran off, tiring herself. She found the bridge and cried, "THERE!"

She ran across the bridge, as Chelsea stopped. Nanao ran away, as she sobbed, "Akame, Yamabuki, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Chelsea hollered, "YOU WON'T ESCAPE!"

She threw her head towards Nanao, and she ducked. Nanao tripped down and sobbed, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She wailed, "HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Chelsea's headless body swung down at Nanao.

SLASH!

The next morning, near the forest of Mizaki City, Nanao's glasses were found, shattered on the ground. And close behind it was a shattered skull. But there was no trace of the otaku ninja. Some say she survived the attack of Chelsea, the evil spirit… but others believed she was spirited away by the Dullahan of Chelsea.

Meanwhile, in the dead of night, near an abandoned village, Chelsea trotted to a cabin and then hopped off. She went to the door and opened it. A figure in red hair was waiting for her. Chelsea was headless, as she held up a huge sack. The red-haired woman smirked, as she gathered the heads, next to a small shelf, with other heads that were preserved from Chelsea's midnight hour. Akame's head was placed onto the shelf, and then Yamabuki's.

"I got a special gift for you, Master…" She held up a girl's head with green hair. "My head is still missing… but I remembered where it went."

The woman smirked, "Put it over there… It's perfect."

Chelsea placed the head of Nanao onto the shelf. Chelsea admired it, and then left to her room. Nanao's head let out a tear from her eye, as she was gone from this world, her life taken from the headless assassin, Chelsea.

…Or is she?

"WAAAAAAA, HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAA!" On horseback, a figure was headless with huge breasts, wearing a black and white ninja outfit, flailing around Akame's Murasame with her left hand. She also had a head in her right hand. It was Chelsea's head.

Chelsea ended the life of Nanao Kashima, along with Yamabuki Suou and Akame, but… Chelsea created another spirit that wanted her head back. Chelsea knew that she would get her healing jutsu to purify her life force, but what she didn't know was that a part of her black magic transferred into Nanao's body.

Nanao Kashima was gone. She was no longer human. She was now… a real Dullahan.

"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

Heather narrated, as she closes the fic, "You heard of the stories of Sleepy Hollow, and what became of the fate of poor Ichabod Crane. Well… This is the true fate… only Miss Nanao Kashima (deceased, or rather undead) has become the one being that Chelsea was. Her life gone forever, her spirit lived on, haunting the woods of Mizaki City, waiting to get her head back, someday. And as for the wandering spirit known as Chelsea, whose head is pilfered by the Dullahan, she can move on, knowing that she has completed her mission, only to realize that the hunter is now… the hunted."

Nanao galloped off into the darkness, disappearing into the night. She was never seen again, until night falls again. Nanao gripped the head of Chelsea, lifeless and with her eyes closed, by the hair.

"Case in point for Chelsea. The headless assassin is now the target for the Dullahan that she took her life from. Who knows when the Headless Ninja would return, awaiting to get her head back from the same spirit that beheaded her? Maybe in a forest near your city… maybe in a countryside… maybe in a big city, hiding in the shadows… or maybe in… the "Tales of the Bizarre"."

After Nanao left, the morning sun rose from the sky.

Beth jeered, "Mom… That's not scary. But YEESH! Losing your head, all for revenge? Hardly."

Heather said, "Well, Sleepy Hollow was based on the idea, next to the Dullahan, which I learned from Durarara. And The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was made in 1820. People were scared easily, back then."

June nodded, as she agreed, "She's right."

Beth huffed, "Alright, you win. But it didn't scare me, one bit."

Kirumi returned, as she garbled, "Morrrrrre teeeeeea… Missssssss?"

Beth smiled, "More please!"

Hanajima smiled, as she sipped her tea, "Seems to me that the little one is invincible. Reminds me of another girl, Myu Momochi. I wonder why I didn't use her, as a victim, yet."

Heather sighed, "I think we need new fandom material."

June said, "What's wrong with Moé Ninja Girls? I think the girls in MNG are cool. We got to meet Yamabuki & Nanao. Shame that they perished in the story."

Hanajima said, "Well, since you wanted to make this something good, how about you pick one from the Moé Ninja Girls' pool, and use her as a victim. And you, little one, can you present us a story, for your macabre?"

Beth huffed, "Macabre-bleh-bleh?!"

"Bleh-Bleh!" Heather jeered, "Let's see you scare us to death, before I even think of ungrounding you, young lady."

June said, "There's no need, Mom." She took the book, "Miss Hanajima, there's no need to choose, since I know the perfect victim. Mom, Hanajima, Sis…" Her eyes shone purple, glowing brightly from her lenses of the glasses, "Prepare to be shocked."

Now, it's June's turn to try a story. Which Tale of the Bizarre will she conjure from the Moé Ninja Girls series, and who will be the victim? Find out, next time.

To be continued…