Najenda sighed, as she leaned back on her chair as she waited for her visitors. The office she had set up was practically swamped by paperwork. It wasn't like this before. Even though the Emperor had been executed a week ago, there wasn't much to go over. The reason why she had this much work was due to the information she had received.
Less than a few days after the Emperor's execution, word had travelled far and wide to different nations; how the treacherous leader had finally died. However, despite mostly keeping to himself, the terror of the emperor had spread far out, his reach affecting even those that lived miles away. The first letter she received was from the nation of Hokuto, and she felt as if she was socked in the stomach.
Why? Because it was a declaration of war.
And it wasn't just Hokuto. The nations of Seito and Touto also sent their own declarations as well. But what astounded her the most was that none of the letters told her anything of why. They pretty much just said "We're about to invade. Good luck." Nothing about the tyrannical actions of their former leader, or even anything about possibly seizing resources for themselves. Just the announcement.
She had helped organize the soldiers and rallied them. They had fortified the Capital ever since the previous war had ended, and now they were on the verge of a second one. They prioritized citizens first, handing out supplies and routing escape methods for them. And as an extra precaution for the possible rebellion, she had stationed the most untrustworthy at the frontlines. She let the worst of the prisoners free to join the frontlines as well. The lowest of the low were sent out to the furthest encampments to patrol them, as far away from the Capital as possible.
This turned out to be a well thought out move, as they were all slaughtered.
Najenda received the reports of the result, and to her surprise, they said that it was all done by a single armored figure, coated in black with mismatched eyes.
She had more spies report to her, and figure out more about this mysterious figure, and why he did so.
Did she regret sending those soldiers and criminals out there to die? No. This was war. And she had already done background checks to make sure they wouldn't be missed. She wouldn't repeat the same mistakes as the tyrannical leaders that once kept the Capital trapped in their iron fists.
With various reports coming to her, she found out just who this mysterious figure was. While they couldn't pinpoint down which one exactly, the mysterious figure hailed from one of the three nations that had declared war on them. With all the descriptions and evidence, it made it clear that the mysterious figure was a Kamen Rider.
Kamen Riders were legendary masked armored warriors that fought to protect the weak. However, the fact that this Rider had fought against the soldiers of the Capital made them their enemy. Did this mean that they saw the Capital as a threat needed to be taken out for the greater good? She only hoped that she could talk things out, but she had learned that sometimes that just wasn't possible.
The spies had also reported that the Kamen Rider was equipped with strange trinkets known as "Fullbottles" and a device called a "Hazard Trigger." They were nothing like the Teigu they were once familiar with.
With the first attack from them, the Revolutionary Wars have begun.
While she didn't want to involve them, not after everything they've gone through, she had no other choice. With three nations on the attack, and the possibility of more brand new methods of battle, she needed reliable and trustworthy allies.
And thus, she waited, until she heard a knock on the door. She didn't smile as she walked up to open it.
"It's been a while, Boss."
Standing on the other side was a black haired girl with red eyes and markings all over her body, as well as a shorter pink haired girl.
"Akame, Mine." Najenda greeted them. "...where's Tatsumi?"
Mine simply walked over and opened the window, as a huge dragon peeked in.
"...ah." Najenda said, realizing Tatsumi wouldn't have been able to make it through the front door. "Right."
There was a booming laugh that she could've only assumed was Tatsumi's. Rubbing the back of her head, Najenda cleared her throat.
"I don't suppose I have to tell you why I called you all here today." Najenda said.
"Because of the new war that broke out, correct?" Mine asked. "With the Capital being forced to take on three nations at once."
"Yes." Najenda said. "However, I only called you here to ask for feelings on the matter. I'm not forcing you to join in this battle-"
"I'll fight alongside you once more, Boss." Akame said.
"Tatsumi and I don't want to." Mine admitted. "But if we don't, could we really call ourselves former members of Night Raid?"
Najenda widened her eye at Mine's words. "But Mine, you're not in the best condition to fight-"
"If Mine and I don't fight, there won't be a future for our children." Tatsumi said. "Please, let us help. Besides, you'd want a big guy like me for the firepower, right?"
Najenda sighed, but Tatsumi did have a point.
"Very well." Najenda said. "I can only hope that with the three of you helping, the bright future for the Capital can truly come to pass…"
"Make that six." Came a voice.
They all turned to the doorway to see three more figures. A well endowed girl with blond hair, a black haired girl that looked like Akame, and a young man in a blue coat.
"Leone? Kurome?" Akame asked, eyes widened.
"Heyo, Akame!" Leone said, as she and Kurome pulled Akame into a hug. Wave on the other hand, walked up to the dragonic Tatsumi in the window.
"So this is what Incursio did to you, huh Tatsumi?" Wave asked.
"Yeah. Pretty much." Tatsumi confirmed.
"That must suck." Wave noted.
"I've grown used to it." Tatsumi said, shrugging.
"What are you three doing here?" Najenda asked.
"Well, word travels fast, y'know?" Leone said as she stopped hugging Akame. "I've been hiding out for a while to heal up when I heard about the whole war thing. And you can't get into a battle without me!"
"Likewise." Kurome said. "I want to help the person that my sister fought so long and hard for."
"Leone… Kurome…" Akame said, softly smiling.
"And since Kurome insisted on going, I had to tag along." Wave said. "And I'm pretty sure someone with two Teigus can be a pretty big help, yeah?"
"I suppose so…" Najenda said.
"So I guess that's settled then!" Leone said with a smile. "Say hello to the new and reunited Night Raid!"
"But Wave and I weren't part of Night Raid." Kurome said.
"Well you are now!" Leone grinned, as Tatsumi and Mine laughed with her.
"With six, I'm sure the sides will turn in our favor." Akame told Najenda.
"All six of you were expertly trained, and we now have the power of three Teigu on our side as well." Najenda said. "The outlook of this war has just become much more hopeful."
"Then how about we celebrate this reunion by going drinking?" Leone suggested, before turning to Tatsumi in the window. "Hey Tatsumi, you can drink alcohol as a dragon, right?"
"Are you seriously going to try and swindle him again? As a dragon?" Akame asked.
"We're friends Leone, but you stay away from my husband." She said, protectively holding her arms out in front of Tatsumi.
"I can ask several chefs to prepare a feast for you." Najenda said. "Consider it my treat for your support in this upcoming war."
"Whoo! You're the best, boss!" Leone said. "Let's go, guys!"
They all started to leave to prepare themselves for the upcoming battles starting tomorrow.
"By the way, Mine." Kurome asked. "So you ever do anything freaky with Tatsumi and that big dragon di-"
"Shut up! Don't say anything else!" Mine yelled, face turning red.
Najenda chuckled as they all left the room. She did intend to join them later, but for now, she simply sat back down.
"This really is a nostalgic feeling." She said, leaning back. "I can only hope that we'll all pull through this alive."