It was a warm summers day Mukuro was standing next to a grave. She remembered her late friend Makoto Naegi. Who had passed away after being caught in an explosion.

She let out a sigh she couldn't believe a few years have passed since his death.

Mukuro shook her head and looked up at the sky. "You better be having a good time up there Naegi." Then she put her head back down and looked at the grave again. "If the afterlife exists that is."

Mukuro's phone began to ring. She took the phone out of her pocket and saw it was the Empress Kyoko Kirigiri that was calling her.

Mukuro was Kyoko's elite solider. Mukuro was highly skilled and done many missions on Kyoko's behalf. The two had a close friendship they were both 22 years old.

"Hello, Kirigiri," she said.

"Hello, Ikusaba," Kyoko replied. "I need you to come to the Imperial Palace later on. I have a mission for you and Reaper."

"Just give me the task, and I will get it done by myself," Mukuro replied. "You know how much I hate working with the guy."

"Are you disobeying my orders Ikusaba?" Kyoko replied emotionless.

"No, E-Empress," Mukuro replied nervously.

"Good, I will speak to you later. I have meetings I must attend to."

The phone call ended, leaving Mukuro to stare at Makoto's grave.

Imperial Palace

Kyoko was in her private quarters. She put down her phone and sighed. "I wish being Empress was easier."

Kyoko was the Empress of Japan after her father stepped down due to health reasons. She was loved by most people in Japan. But she did have her enemies.

There was a knock on her door.

"Enter!" She shouted.

The door opened, and a person who wore a black mask walked in. The person in question wore black body amour along with black trousers. They also wore black gloves to hide all traces of skin. The mask was fitted from the neck up, covering his whole head helping him to breathe. The person was the same height as Kyoko.

"Empress it's time," the masked person said with a deep voice thanks to his mask.

"I know Reaper you don't need to remind me," Kyoko replied, annoyed. She grabbed her phone and stood up. She left the room with Reaper following her.

They reached the briefing room, Kyoko took her seat. She saw Kyosuke, Taka and Celestia sitting at the table.

Kyouske was the Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, a school that Kyoko went to in the past. Taka was the Prime Minister and ran the day to day dealings of the country. But Kyoko was still in changed. Lastly, Celestia was Kyoko's top spy.

Reaper stood behind his Empress with his arms folded.

"Good day to you all," Kyoko said.

Kyosuke, Taka and Celestia all stood up and bowed before sitting back down.

"Now the reason I have summoned you all here today is, thanks to Ludenberg, we have found a person who has ties with the Despair Core."

"Who?" Taka said, looking at Kyoko and then Celestia.

"Our former classmate Sayaka Maizono," Celestia replied emotionless.

"Maizono?" Taka said horrified. "But how? Why her?"

Celestia looked dully at Taka. "Do you not remember who Maizono had a crush on?"

"Yes, I'm aware," Taka replied. "But I don't think Maizono would be that type of person to join the enemy to have the Empress killed so Maizono can get her crush too herself."

"There are fools out there who would do anything for love," Reaper said. "Love is for the weak."

"Anyway," Kyoko said. "We are making plans to capture her to see if we can find out where the Despair Core HQ is."

"I say we kill her," Reaper said bluntly. "Maizono has betrayed you and the Empire. She was your former classmate, after all."

"Reaper that is enough!" Kyoko said firmly without turning her head to look at the masked person. "She is a good woman at heart, which was twisted by the lies of their leader."

"You're too soft," Reaper replied. "We should slaughter them all!"

"Enough, Reaper! I will not warn you again!"

Kyosuke looked at Reaper in disgust. "You should show more respect to the Empress. You should consider yourself lucky that you can stand beside her. When you hold no rank within this Empire."

"Calm down, please!" Kyoko ordered as Kyosuke turned his head away. "Now then," she said more calmly. "I will be sending Iksuaba and Reaper on a secret mission tomorrow. Ludenberg has found a bar that is a secret hideout for the Despair Core."

"Do you have any idea who is running it?" Taka asked.

"I don't know," Celestia replied. "That is the only thing I haven't been able to find out."

"If Maizono is with the enemy, then I fear for the others who might have joined the enemy's cause."

"Like Makoto Naegi?" Reaper replied. "I've heard from people he kept vanishing at the moments when the Empress was attacked in the past. I've read the reports to back this up."

Kyoko closed her eyes when she heard that name.

"There was no solid proof that he led the secret attacks against the Empress," Celestia replied. "Besides, it would be odd for him to try and kill the woman that he loved. Although I must say, you seem to hate Naegi with a passion, why is that?"

"Because he was traitor to the Empire," Reaper replied bluntly. "Regardless if there is proof or not. His vanishing act always causes the Empress to be attacked. So, therefore, he is a traitor."

"Enough, Reaper!" Kyoko said. "I will not allow you to speak ill of the dead. The time I spent with Naegi in my school days were some of the best times I've ever had."

Reaper didn't reply.

"You talk big for a person who hides behind a mask," Kyosuke said.

"I need this mask to survive, are you that stupid that you keep forgetting?" Reaper replied.

Kyouske ignored the insult. "Why don't you tell us who you are then?"

"I will not," Reaper replied.

Kyoko shook her head. "That's all I have to report. Do you three have anything to report?"

Celestia, Kyosuke and Taka never replied.

"Very well, this meeting is over dismiss," Kyoko ordered.

All three stood up and left the room.

"Reaper take a seat," Kyoko said firmly.

Reaper took a seat and folded his arms.

"Why must you annoy Munakata at every opportune moment?"

"Because I find it funny," Reaper replied bluntly. "Why must you have such a useless person attend these meetings? Munakata is a Headmaster nothing more."

"You know the answer to that question," Kyoko replied. "Munakata was loyal to my father when he was Emperor, and now he is loyal to me. Sure, Munakata is rough around the edges, but his loyalty has never been put into question."

"Whatever," Reaper replied. He stood up and walked over to the door. "Get one of the maids to inform me of Ikusaba's arrival."

"Why must it always be business with you Reaper?" Kyoko asked. "Why can't you loosen up once and a while?"

"Empress, my job is to protect you at all cost. I can not let my guard down even for a second. Naegi was a fool for thinking he could ever protect you. He was weak and pathetic."

Kyoko clenched her fist in anger.

Reaper opened the door and left the room.

Kyoko narrowed her eyes, then closed them. She let out a sigh and opened her eyes and stood up. She left the room and headed back to her private quarters. Once inside, she walked over to a table filled with pictures of her past.

Kyoko looked at one photo in particular. It was her and Makoto in their school days holding hands they were once lovers and were very close.

Kyoko sighed. "I wish we could go back to the old days."

Hours later

Ikusaba was in the briefing room, she saw the door open and watched Kyoko and Reaper walk in.

Mukuro stood up and bowed.

"Please sit down Ikusaba," Kyoko said. Mukuro sat down as did Kyoko while Reaper continued to stand. "Now, thanks to Ludenberg, she has found a bar that is a secret Despair Core hideout. I want you and Reaper to go there tomorrow night and capture if possible the leader of that bar."

"Slaughter the leader of the bar you mean," Reaper said.

"Reaper, we have been over this," Kyoko said firmly without looking at him. "We need information."

"If the leader is working with the Despair Core, then they are a traitor. Therefore, they must die."

"Reaper shut the fuck up will you!" Mukuro snapped. "Let Kirigiri finish!"

"Watch your tongue Ikusaba," Reaper replied. "Also, it's Empress, not Kirigiri, show your respect."

"Reaper enough!" Kyoko said firmly. "Do not make me put you on a weeks holiday!"

Reaper folded his arms and turned away from the conversation.

"Reaper this a direct order coming from me, I want the leader of this bar captured alive understood?"

"As you wish my Empress."

"What about those visit the bar?" Mukuro asked.

"Try and knock them out if possible, I have informed the police about the raid, they will provide the backup. I don't want needless deaths understood."

"Understood," Mukuro nodded. "So, I'm guessing Ludenberg couldn't find out who the leader was then?"

"No," Kyoko replied, shaking her head. "So, you and Reaper will need to do the rest."

"Ok."

"Thank you, Ikusaba. Now I have a special task for you and you only," Kyoko said. "I want you to get Sayaka Maizono and throw her into the cells."

"Why?" Mukuro asked, confused.

"Ludenberg had founds links leading to Maizono having ties to the Despair Core," Kyoko replied.

Mukuro's eyes widened for a few seconds before returning to normal. "I see."

"Don't worry. Taka was as shocked as you. You can begin this task after you deal with the bar tomorrow night. I will provide you with Maizono's home address after tomorrow night task is complete. Please do not harm her in any way if possible."

"Understood."

"Good, you're dismissed," Kyoko said.

Mukuro stood up and left the room.

"I'm disappointed Empress," Reaper said with his back still facing Kyoko. "Why didn't you give me the order to capture Maizono?"

"Because we both know you would kill her on sight," Kyoko replied as she stood up.

"No, I wouldn't," Reaper lied.

"Even with a mask on, I can see right through you. You would kill Maizono if given a chance. Please don't lie to me."

"From my point of view, I would be helping you deal with one less enemy."

"Kill isn't everything Reaper. Even you should know that."

"Whatever," Reaper replied. "Will you need my services for the rest of the evening?"

"No," Kyoko replied.

"Understood, enjoy the rest of your evening Empress," Reaper replied then he left the room as he retired to his private quarters.

Thank you for reading.

I DON'T OWN ANYTHING.