Hello it's been a while but I'm still here, we're halfway through the story and a lot is going to happen in the next upcoming chapters, so I hope you enjoy this one, Chapter 25 is on it's way as well so probably next week it will come out. Anyways enjoy the chapter and thank you!

Chapter 24

Operation


Izuku felt a gentle breeze brush his face as he slowly opened his eyes to see the soft dark blue night had gone and what replaced it was a bright blue sky. Izuku slowly sat up as he laid on a cloth that supported his back.

"Ah you're awake," Izuku turned towards the voice as he saw Susanoo packing some things in a bag. Izuku looked at Susanoo as he then started to remember what occurred last night.

"Are- Ack!" Izuku couldn't properly speak, his throat felt dry and sore. He held his throat as he coughed a bit.

"Don't strain yourself, you inhaled a lot of the smoke that the fire produced so you'll have a hard time speaking," Susanoo rummaged through his bag as he pulled out a bottle as he handed it to Izuku.

"Drink some water, it'll help you clear your throat," Izuku nodded as he took the bottle and drank the bottle as his life depended on it.

Izuku then gasped for air as his throat was slightly better than before.

"How long was I out for," Izuku asked.

"You were out for the rest of the night, I could've carried you back to the base but I figure you would like to rest before heading back," Susanoo answered.

Izuku nodded as he started to reminisce about what happened last night. He wondered what caused that explosion in the first place.

'Was it Kitsune, he clearly has a plan with me, but what is it? And why go through all of this? What's the reason behind all of this,' Izuku thought long and hard but couldn't find an answer.

"I'll go see if we can get any food along the way," Susanoo stood up as he carried his bag.

Izuku shook his head as he slowly got up as he shook off the tiredness. Susanoo looked at him as he was unsure.

"Can you walk," he asked.

Izuku moved his legs a bit as he tapped his foot on the ground, "Yeah, I guess I just needed a little rest,"

"I was lucky to have found you there and you were surrounded by a bunch of people," Susanoo explained.

Izuku smiled at Susanoo, "Thanks again for getting me out of there,"

Susanoo shook his head, "It was no problem at all,"

Izuku stretched his arms a bit as he also stretched his back as well, "We should head back to the base or the others would get worried,"

Susanoo nodded, "It's not far from here, we just need to keep heading forward and we'll see the base," he pointed out.

Izuku nodded as he activated 8% Full Cowling as he faced towards where Susanoo was pointing. He then jumped and dashed towards the direction from where the humanoid Teigu pointed towards.

Susanoo followed after as they both headed back.

Meanwhile the Capital Palace


Guards ran through halls as they rushed through getting papers to their desired destination. A young man with dark blue hair and deep blue eyes walked by them as he wondered what was the commotion.

"Wave, there you are," a voice called out.

The young man now named Wave, turned towards the direction.

"Bols? What's going on, why is everyone in a hurry," Wave asked.

A tall muscle man that wasn't wearing a shirt and was wearing a mask that concealed his whole face. He had a scar on his chest as he wore braces around his forearms.

"You haven't heard the news?" Surprised Bols was as he looked at Wave.

Wave tilted his head in confusion, "What news?"

"There was an attack in Talios, one of its taverns was ablaze and a lot of civilians were caught in the fire," Bols explained.

Wave widened his eyes as he now was alarmed, "What! Is everyone alright? When are we mobilizing,"

As a soldier, it is his duty to protect the people at all cost, that is his job as a soldier.

"It's fine Wave, the situation happened last night," he calmed the young man down.

Wave then tilted his head again, "Huh then why did you tell this if it's resolved,"

"Well the Emperor wants us to find the one who saved the people from the burning building," Bols answered.

"What do you mean find, it wasn't one of the military police stationed over there," Wave asked.

Bols shook his head as he pulled out a new wanted paper but instead of it saying dead or alive, it just said alive. Wave looked at the poster as it was a drawn masked man that looked to have bunny ears. The name that was plastered on the poster was the name Deku.

"Deku? Who is that," Wave asked.

Bols shook his head, "No one knows, the civilians described him and also got his name,"

Wave nodded as he looked at the poster again, "But why put a wanted poster for a person who saved the civilians,"

Bols shrugged his shoulders, "I guess the Emperor wants to reward him,"

Wave nodded as he would understand since this mysterious person showed up and saved a lot of civilians.

"Not only that, another group of civilians saw the person stopping petty crimes all around Talios," Bols added.

Wave looked up at him in surprise, "So they're a vigilante,"

"It appears so," Bols agreed with Wave's deduction.

Wave wondered why a vigilante appeared out of nowhere all of a sudden. Wave thought about all the events since he joined the Jaegers. His new teammates, but not too long ago, they already lost a comrade.

"Oh by the way Wave, did you catch General Esdeath?" Bols asked.

Wave shook his head as he didn't see the crazed ice devil.

"Where is she now," Wave asked.

"I assume she's being debriefed by the Emperor of the situation at hand," Bols answered.

Wave nodded as he took one glance at the new wanted paper.

'Deku… huh,'

Throne Room


As Esdeath kneeled in front of Emperor Makoto and the Prime Minister, Honest.

"General Esdeath, I know you are busy with Night Raid, but I have a request for you," the Emperor kindly asked the General.

"And what would that be your Highness," she replied with her question.

"Safely capture and escort the vigilante: Deku to his Highness," the Prime Minister answered.

Esdeath looked up at the two as she had a questionable look on her face, "Does that vigilante have taken your interest, your Highness,"

The Emperor nodded, "His deeds need to be rewarded handsomely, many of the civilians were requesting him to come back to the district,"

Esdeath nodded but looked at Honest as he had another look on his face, a face of disagreement.

"General Esdeath, this could also be a replacement for the boy who ran away from you," The Emperor suggested.

Esdeath shook her head as she looked up, "Apologies, your Highness but no one can replace my love for him," she rejected the offer.

"Oh, I see then, it's a shame but if that is what you want, just don't forget this mission," The Emperor reminded.

"Understood," Esdeath responded.

"Is this really necessary your Highness," Honest questioned.

The Emperor looked at his Prime Minister, "What do you mean?"

"For All we know he could be a spy for the Rebels," Honest proclaimed.

"Nonsense Prime Minister, a rebel wouldn't go out of his way to save civilians," the Emperor rejected his proclamation.

"A-ah, I suppose you're right your Highness,"

In the Garden


After the meeting with the Emperor, Honest and Esdeath met alone in the gardens as they stood outside of the throne room.

"It seems you don't support his Highness, Honest," Esdeath deduced as Honest was furiously biting into a piece of meat.

"That vigilante is going to cause problems, not only will he be the peoples idol but he'll also instill in the people that they could resist against the Empire!" He ranted.

"I want him dead, I don't care what you do, just get that vile rodent out of His Highness's sight, we already have a handful dealing with the Revolutionary Army, we don't need to deal with civilians rebelling," Honest ordered.

"And what do we tell his Highness once he knows he's dead," Esdeath looked at the man.

"Well just tell him he was a spy for the Revolutionary Army and sought to bring down His Highness's hierarchy," Honest answered.

Esdeath looked at the flowers in the garden, remembering her reunion with Tatsumi that was short-lived as they got separated again. It infuriated her that she finally found him and yet he kept getting away from her, but that didn't matter to her.

She grinned, "Before we kill the Vigilante, if he does turn out to be a threat to the Empire, I would love to torture some information out of him,"

"Do whatever, just make sure he's out of my sight and not a hassle," Honest then walks towards the throne room as Esdeath smiles sadistically.

"I cannot wait,"

"That smile is horrific General," a voice came from behind her as she turned around to see a tall broad man with combed blond hair and dressed in full dark navy armor with a red cape attached.

"Ah, General Budo, nice to see you,"

"Are you going to defy the orders of his majesty," he asked in a serious tone.

"Why would you ask," Esdeath gave back the same tone.

"I would prefer you didn't kill that Vigilante, he could be a great asset in the Empire," he answered.

"Oh? Have you taken interest in this fellow," she asked with interest.

"Perhaps, a brave fellow but refuses to show his identity, selfless in fact," Budo answered.

Esdeath thought about this as she would like to fight this Vigilante but if Budo trained him up a bit he could be a fun sparring partner.

"Very interesting,"

Night Raid Base


As Akame sat near the river by the base while Eri was next to her helping her put the fishes that she caught for their daily fishing. But she was just staring at the river, trying to aimlessly search for something as it seems but what she was searching was not in the river but in her mind.

The river reflected herself, all you could see was a mirror version of herself but in her eyes, she saw a girl stained with innocent blood, her blade cut down the ones she called family. She remembered the time where she was with the Elite Seven, her first mission.

To cut down Martha, a mother figure to Akame. Her first mission as an assassin, a painful memory that she never forgot. All her previous comrades that died, she held onto their memories as she continued to walk on the path filled with corpses. She gripped the fishing rod tightly as she remembered the one she dearly loves, her precious little sister, Kurome.

Her sister, who soon will have to battle and maybe even stain her blade with her blood. The thought dawned on her, how much it hurts to fight the one she swore to protect with her life. Akame was then snapped out of her thoughts as Eri placed a hand on her lap.

"Akame-san? Are you okay, you look sad," Eri asked as her face filled with worry for the assassin.

Akame gently smiled to reassure her, "I'm fine Eri, thank you,"

Eri looked at her then smiled at her, "It's okay Akame-san, I'm not going anywhere,"

Eri brightly smiled at her, and as soon as she smiled at Akame, Akame's eyes widened as Eri's smile was similar to Kurome's. For some reason, Akame saw her little sister in Eri.

'Why…?' She asked herself.

'Why am I seeing Kurome in her,' Akame was confused with herself, she couldn't understand her feelings at the moment.

"Akame-san? You're crying!?" Eri panicked.

Akame lifted her hands to her eyes as she felt wet drops near her eyes. She looked back at the river to see her reflection. Streams of tears were flowing as she closed her eyes.

"Akame-san?"

"Onee-chan?"

Akame opened her eyes once again as she looked down at Eri again. She smiled as she wiped her tears away. She wrapped her arms around Eri as she held Eri gently but tightly at the same time.

Eri was confused and worried, why was she crying? Eri thought if she did something wrong but no that wouldn't be the case.

Eri didn't ask, all she could do was return the favor as her little arms wrapped around Akame's waist as they both embraced.

Inside, Akame was hurting, because one day… she'll have to drive her blade into her little sister.

Inside the Base


Najenda sat at her desk as she looked at the new wanted poster that was issued by the Empire this morning. She sighed as she set the paper down.

"Well this isn't what I expected," Najenda sighed as she rubbed her forehead.

On her desk was the new wanted paper of Izuku, or known as Deku: the Vigilante of Talios. When she meant to help the Empire, she didn't mean by this but it isn't bad news about his sudden appearance.

"Well this isn't necessarily bad news, he started to spur something into the civilians," she muttered.

"Boss?" A voice could be heard in front of her. Najenda looked up to see Sheele in front of her as she had a curious look.

"What are you looking at?" The airhead asked.

Najenda just set the paper down for Sheele to see clearly. Sheele walked up to her desk as she looked down to see the paper.

"Why is Izuku on a wanted poster now?" She asked.

"Well, he did save 60 people from a burning building," Najenda blurted out.

Sheele looked up from the paper as she looked bewildered.

"He did that?!" Sheele said, surprised by the news.

Najenda nodded as her face formed a smirk as she thought about his world, "I guess he just couldn't help himself,"

Najenda then realized one thing that she completely forgot, "By the way how is Tatsumi? I heard he encountered Esdeath when he was on recon with Lubbock,"

Sheele just tilted her head, "That happened?"

Najenda then realized who she was talking to, "Ah… nevermind."

With Izuku and Susanoo


As the two pushed through the trees, they reached the hideout as they landed in front of the building. Izuku planted his foot down but then started to lose balance as he barely caught himself falling.

Susanoo caught on as he looked at the hero, "Good thing we've arrived, you should get some rest once we head inside,"

Izuku nodded as he shook off the fatigue as he walked towards the door. As he opened it he was instantly tackled by Lubbock and Tatsumi as the three fell on the ground.

"What the?! Tatsumi, Lubbock?!" Izuku had a surprised look.

"Izuku! Help us!" Lubbock exclaimed.

"Damn it Lubba, the hell did you bring me into!" Tatsumi shouted at him.

"Hey don't blame me, you said you were curious," Lubbock defended himself.

Izuku looked at the two of them, more confused with the situation, until he felt a chill aura coming from the building.

"Ah… there you guys are," Izuku heard a ominous voice as he looked past the two to see Mein, Leone, and Chelsea.

Izuku then shivered as he looked at the three only to be met with a cold gaze from them. Lubbock and Tatsumi froze as they hesitantly turned their heads towards them.

"Looks like we've gotcha now," Leone hissed as she cracked her knuckles.

"Lovely, then let's put a hole in them or two," Mein loaded Pumpkin

"Nah I think cutting their family 'jewels' would suffice," Chelsea smiled ominously.

Lubbock just held his hands up, "Come on, we can talk about this, right Tatsu-"

Lubbock turned his head only to see the brunette gone.

"DAMN IT TATSUMI!" Lubbock screamed as he run for his life

The three chased after green head as Izuku just watched all of this occur. Susanoo had already headed inside to prepare lunch for everyone. Izuku would've tried to help if it weren't for the girls trying to kill them.

Besides Izuku was exhausted, he felt his legs were giving in. He needed to sleep a bit. Izuku headed inside as he walked straight to his room as he didn't even bother trying to change out of his suit, he jumped into the bed and fell into a deep slumber.

Meanwhile


After Akame and Eri were finished fishing, they headed back as Eri held Akame's hand the entire walk. Akame didn't mind at all as she enjoyed the little girl's embrace. They then exited the clearing as they then saw Mein, Leone, and Chelsea in front of Tatsumi and Lubbock. Akame and Eri looked at the situation as both the boys had bruises all over their faces.

"Hm? Oh hey Akame, Eri!" Leone waved at them.

Eri waved at them as she smiled. Akame did as well, "What happened now,"

"These idiots decided to prank us, so we thought we'd return their little trick," Mein answered.

Akame hummed in response as she looked at the two, the two in question were pleading for Akame to help them.

Akame only had a neutral look and just clapped both of her hands as she bowed her head.

"Good luck"

"That's all you have to say?!" Lubbock shouted.

"Oh shut it Lubba," Chelsea glared at him.

Leone then looked at Akame and Eri as she smiled, "Oh yeah Izuku and Susanoo just returned,"

Eri perched up as she heard Izuku's name, "Really, Deku-san is back?"

Mein looked at Eri and smiled, "Yep, you can go see him but you'll have to ask Susanoo where he is now,"

Akame nodded, "Thanks," as the two headed inside as Akame had a slight blush on her face when she heard Izuku was back.

Leone smirked as she saw Akame's facial expression.

Inside


Akame and Eri went to the kitchen as they saw Najenda, Sheele, and Susanoo at the dining table. As usual Susanoo was preparing the food. Najenda looked and waved at the two.

"Ah hello you two, seems you caught quite a haul," Najenda stated.

Akame nodded as she set down the basket of fish as she brought it over to Susanoo.

"Thank you Akame, now we'll have more for dinner," Susanoo applauded her.

Susanoo looked at Eri as the little girl jumped at the sudden gaze.

"Eri, will you help me with preparing lunch," he asked.

"Huh? But I wanted to see Deku-san," Eri pouted.

"It appears Izuku is exhausted and he can't see you right now, that's why I am making lunch right now," Susanoo explained.

Eri widened her eyes as she then had a sudden change of mood, "I'll help,"

Akame smiled as she then turned to Susanoo, "I'll go check on him,"

Susanoo was about to interject but then, "That's fine, well help around here," Najenda spoke before he could say anything.

Akame nodded as she went out of the dining table and headed towards Izuku's room.

"Boss, why did you stop me," Susanoo asked.

Najenda shook her head, "Because you would be interfering with a personal matter that she needs to take care of," she smirked.

Sheele looked at the dining room exit as she softly smiled, "I haven't seen Akame smile like that before,"

Najenda smiled as she remembered her first encounter with the assassin. She remembered it like it was just a few days ago. The day the girl finally sought what she questioned and finally followed her heart.

Though when Najenda remembered that Akame hardly ever smiled and constantly trained, though that changed when a certain young man showed up.

Hallway


Akame walked towards Izuku's room but as she walked she remembered all her moments with the young hero. The day they first met, his first mission where he came back alive along with Tatsumi. The time where Izuku and her fought against Zank, where they sat by each other.

Where he proclaimed to be her… Akame realized that her feelings started to spark when Izuku said those words to her. The words that gave her strength to push forward. Akame stopped in front of Izuku's door as she knocked on it twice.

"Izuku?"

There was no response as Akame waited for a bit until she grabbed the handle and opened the door. The sun shone in the room, illuminating the space with bright light. Akame looked around the room to see his spare clothes still there as Akame turned towards the bed to see Izuku still in his suit, sleeping away.

Akame gently smiled as she walked over to the side of the bed. As she grabbed a spare blanket and covered him with it as she then saw his scarred hand. She remembered the first time he talked about it, repeatedly using his power over and over to the point where his hand was messed up.

Akame gently grabbed his hand as she also remembered the time where he and her fought Zank. How he went past his limits to help her even though he was already badly wounded. Akame admired his selflessness but also worried about him. He would sacrifice himself for the ones he cared for and for the innocent, without a second thought.

Akame felt saddened that he would just abandon his own safety for the sake of others. She gently placed his hands down as she got up and headed to help with lunch. She looked back at the hero as he slept peacefully. She smiled once more as she left the room.

Akame walked in the hallway as she had a trip down memory lane, all the events that occurred in her life. The day she was sold to the Empire with her sister. The day where she got her first kill, the day she slew her mother-figure, and the day where everything started to come rushing at her.

"I'll be your Hero…"

Akame thought about those words, if he was going to save them from their darkest times… who was going to save him from his?

Akame stopped as she looked out the window as those words played out in her head. Akame looked at the sky as she tried to find the answer but she couldn't think of it.

Akame shook the thought away as she headed towards the kitchen. While she arrived, she saw everyone there already. Sheele, Mein, and Chelsea are already eating their meal. Tatsumi and Lubbock rapidly devoured their plates. Leone and Eri talking as Najenda chimed in from time to time.

"Ah there you are Akame, is Izuku not joining us?" Susanoo asked.

She shook her head, "He's resting right now, I'll bring his food once everyone is done,"

Najenda saw this opportunity as she then looked at Eri, "Eri, how bout you bring Izuku's food to his room," she suggested.

Eri smiled as she vigorously nodded. She got up from her chair as she reached for Izuku's plate as she then grabbed it and headed straight towards Izuku's room.

"Why the sudden suggestion Boss," Tatsumi asked.

Najenda looked at Akame as she saw the seriousness in her eyes. Akame went to sit down where Eri was as everyone in the room shifted their attention to Najenda.

"This conversation cannot be heard by those two," Najenda answered.

Tatsumi was about to speak but Lubbock stopped him. Lubbock looked at Tatsumi and shook his head.

"In three days, we will be commencing an operation," Najenda announced.

"Our targets are the Jaegers, Bols and Kurome,"

Akame widened her eyes as everyone in the room looked at their boss with tension.

"We're drawing near towards the Empire, the only obstacle is the Jaegers, we take them out, the Empire is as good as dead," Najenda stated.

"Well guess that settles it then huh," Leone leaned on her chair.

Tatsumi looked at his plate as he remembered his time with the Jaegers, he's going to see them again but this time as enemies.

"Prepare what you need but there is one crucial objective that you must do," Najenda got their attention again.

"What's that?" Mein asked.

"Keep Izuku from ever knowing about this operation," Najenda stated.

Everyone but Chelsea and Akame were surprised.

"Hold on, why? Shouldn't he know this, he's a part of this team," Tatsumi argued.

"Did you forget his ideology? Tatsumi." Chelsea asked.

"The guy refuses and hates the idea of killing and yet he's in a group full of assassins, and don't forget he's an Auxiliary, he doesn't need to know about this operation," Chelsea countered.

"But-"

"It's for the best," Akame interrupted.

Leone and Tatsumi looked at Akame with surprise.

"If Izuku caught on about this, he would try to call off the operation, we're lucky that he doesn't know about Kurome," Akame added in.

Najenda looked at Akame as she could clearly see in Akame what she was feeling.

"That's right, any word gets out of this operation to Izuku or Eri, they'll be difficult to shake off," Najenda jumped in.

"I have a question," Susanoo raised his hand.

They all gave their attention to him as he stood there.

"When the day of the operation commences, what will Izuku do?" He asked.

"I'll be sending him on a recon mission around a village that's by a nearby Imperial camp, he'll be assisting on a search and rescue mission on a fellow Revolutionary," Najenda explained.

"Will it keep Izuku that busy though?" Lubbock questioned.

Najenda shook her head, "Probably not, the boy is pretty good at getting the job done, for all we know he could finish before the operation starts but lucky I have two scouts watching him just in case if he does finish his mission quickly," Najenda elaborated

Tatsumi still didn't want to keep this from his friend but Izuku isn't a part of their path, he hasn't stained his hands yet and Tatsumi plans to keep it that way.

He sighed as he looked at Najenda, "Alright, I'll keep it a secret, but what if things go south, are you sure we don't need Izuku on standby just in case someone's in trouble," he asked.

Najenda shook her head, "We can't always rely on him when we're in danger, this is for the best,"

Tatsumi nodded but there was sudden guilt, he didn't want to have to keep this operation from him but if it was for the best then it had to be done. Najenda smiled at Tatsumi knowing he was in on the plan as she looked at the others.

"Any other questions?" She asked.

Everyone shook their head as Najenda nodded and stood up, "Alright, remember, this operation will commence in three days, prepare for the worst,"

"Roger!" They responded.

Akame then looked down as she was preparing for the battle to come in three days.


End