I could feel my blood boiling in anticipation. If this was the me that was before Night Raid I would be scared, but right now. I can only find excitement in this chance to see how much stronger I have gotten.
"Nypherius, willing to help me out?"
"Any request in specific?"
"A better reaction time is all I need."
"Alright."
I took a look down at my arms, the blood in my veins turned black and pulsated slightly. This feeling that is all too familiar, over my time hunting down military camps Nypherius and I have gotten closer. "Now who first?"
I stood there waiting, going on the offence would be suicide. Plus even if they are my enemies today, they were my comrades at one point. I shouldn't be feeling so excited about this battle to come. "Tatsumi sit this one out, you don't a chance in hell without a teigu." Najenda ordered.
My eyes darted to Tatsumi "But bo.."
He was cut off by Najenda "Shut it, why do you think I'm not going to fight." Tatsumi backed down and Najenda stood by his side. "Now attack."
Braht launched off the ground in what would be high speed aiming Neuntote right at me, but to me he couldn't be going any slower. I held the katana loosely in my right hand waiting for him to get close, once the spear was inches away from my body I swung my blade at the tip of Neuntote redirecting the spear along with it's user. His body missed mine by mere centimeters.
A subtle noise from behind alerted me that someone was approaching. So that's where you were hiding Akame I thought to myself. I spun the katana inbetween my fingers moving my hand behind my back. I could feel the blade spinning in circles as the familiar feeling of metal hitting against my blade swatting the object away. Going with the momentum I received my blade into my left hand and brought it back to my front still spinning it. A flash of light from in front of me caught my attention, I did a backflip and watched as a stream of energy shots flew underneath me, upon landing I weaved through the storm of bullets while reaching down and grabbing my shadow. I pulled it off the ground and held it in front of me letting the shadow absorb everything coming my way. Then there was silence.
"How.. How is that even possible?" I heard Najenda asked. "It's three on one."
I dropped my shadow back onto the ground and stared at the members of Night Raid. All my attackers were now by Najenda's side now. "A lot of training." Was all I said. This battle was exhilarating, I could only feel pride on being able to hold them off like that. I wanted to continue, I want to go on the offensive, I want to take them down. It would be so much fun. That's when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. "Yellow fur?" I asked myself as the object made contact with my cheek. I stood there, unmoved and unperturbed as I realized what it was. My instincts kicked in and I spun my blade in my hand cutting clean through Leone's arm and then kicked her away from me. It took me a moment to realize what I just did. "Leone.." I whispered to myself. How could I do that? I jumped into the shadow realm and grabbed Kaede's hand and ran away with her for as far as my body could go.
"Leo.. why are you crying?" Kaede asked. Then there was a pause. "They were trying to kill you."
I kept running, trying not to think about what Kaede just said. I wanted to believe that just maybe that was a sparring session and that's why I got so excited. I wanted to believe that we aren't enemies.
They all were shocked for a moment, none of them could say a single thing as they watched their target start to cry on the battlefield as he ran into the shadows. Najenda looked at Leone for a moment. "Did.. did he feel remorse?" She asked herself quietly. "Rabac stitch Leone's arm back on." She ordered in a shaky voice. "Let's head back and rethink our strategy, we underestimated him too much." She watched as Braht held Leone up and watched as the bruise on her stomach already start to fade away. Taking one last look at what was just recently a small battlefield she only had one last thing to say. "Please don't become another Esdeath."
"So anyone still want to do a frontal assault on mister demon?" An imperial assassin asked after watching the battle that even Night Raid struggled to gain ground on.
Unanimously four other assassins shook there heads and said. "No thank you."
Kurome was the only one who didn't say anything, she wasn't even eating her cookies. "How did he know big sis was there?"
"Do you think he knew we were watching as well?" One of them asked.
"Enough talking." Their leader ordered. "Try and follow him, and make sure you grab the girl first. We won't have a second chance if we mess up." With that the assassins all shut up and took off in what they believed is the direction he ran.
I was laying under the sun panting. My body was heavy, and I couldn't move anymore. All the energy and excitement I had was long gone. I heard footsteps approaching me. "Kaede?" I waited for a reply as the footsteps got closer. I turned my head and saw Kaede sitting down next to me now.
"Can I ask you a question? Why were you crying? That battle you fought, all of it felt off for you."
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Yes so will you open up to me?" I looked at Kaede's face for a moment, she looked concerned.
"Let me take you back to how I met them first. It started with them as odd as you can say stopping me from killing someone, or really Nypherius. Before we became closer he actually had full control over me. Anyways I was brought back to Night Raid, and welcomed in for a time. I got close to them and started to feel like we were family. Yet, everything fell apart after I let one of them die. They were my friends, and I let one die because I couldn't bring myself to kill one soldier." I felt the weight of a body transfer onto mine. "Kaede? What are you doing?"
"You were shaking." She told me as I felt her pressing her face into my chest. "It's okay Leo, I can understand the rest of the story." She's so warm.
"Kaede in a world where tomorrow is never guaranteed that when you fall asleep you might not wake up the next day. Where do you live?" I watched as she lifted her head up, and stare at me for a moment.
"Simple silly, I'd live in the time of now, and today." She flashed me a smile. The pain from earlier seemed to melt away as I looked at her.
"In the now and today, what would you have done if I never came?"
"Well, we'll never have to know. As long as I stay by your side, I'll be safe."
"I don't have a clean track of keeping people alive." I looked away from her. No matter what, in a battle I'd lose focus on protecting. My focus would be to enjoy the fight and kill my target.
"You've been able to keep me alive." She said, joy obvious in her voice.
"I.. I guess." She's like a bright light. Almost as if she was the sun itself, too bright to look at yet captivating.
"It's not a guessing thing. You have, just look I'm right in front of you, you can even touch me."
"Uhh what?" I watched as she tilted her head slightly and had a smirk growing on her face. This can't be good.
"You can even touch me." She repeated as she grabbed one of my hands and brought it up to her chest holding it there. "Can you feel my heartbeat?"
I could feel my face heat up, and a soft thump against my hand. "Ye.. Yea."
"If you hadn't come when you did. My heart wouldn't be beating. I was more than prepared to kill myself that day." She was ready to do that? Such a thing.
"Kaede.."
"Shh." I watched as she leant down and pressed her lips against mine. As soon as the kiss happened it ended. "Leo.. can I ask you something?"
I could feel a blush spreading across my cheeks. "Y.. Yea."
"If tomorrow isn't guaranteed then why don't we live in the time of now." She was blushing, her face becoming a complete shade of red. I understand why though suggesting that.
"Because we never want to believe tomorrow won't come."
She leaned in so her lips were against my ears. "So let's live like it won't." She whispered provocatively.
"Okay."
"I don't think I can go anymore Kaede." I told her while letting out a yawn. We got our clothing back on.
"Same, I'm getting tired as well." I smiled and grabbed a hold of Kaede's hand interlocking our fingers.
"Kaede… I love you."
I could feel her body pressing against mine with a small weight added onto my chest. "Your heart beating really fast. I love you too Leo." She giggled. "Oh it's beating faster now!"
"Whose fault is that?" I looked down at her and ran my free hand through her hair.
"Hmm who knows." She giggled and I snickered.
I felt myself drifting off to sleep. As my mind went blank I had one last thought. For once I'm happy.
A/N Even in the dark world of Akame Ga Kill love can bloom. How will our new couple face this world? Anyways I hope you enjoyed the chapter and have a good whatever time it is for ya see ya next time.
