Hey guys, I'm back with another chapter! I apologize for the wait for this chapter, but I've been extremely busy lately. With work, school, and updating my other fics, I've had very little free time. But to make up for the long wait, I'm planning to write two to three chapters in a row for this fic before I update my other fics. So you have that to look forward to. This fic is almost at 300 followers and favorites, which is totally awesome. Thank you all for your continued support and patience. So with all of that out of the way, let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Teigu
Disclaimer: I don't own Akame ga Kill, or any of its characters.
(Five Days Later; Night Raid's Training Grounds)
"Faster." Akame ordered, as she quickly swung her training sword at Tatsumi. "You must anticipate your opponent's moves, and prepare a proper counterattack." The red-eyed assassin swung her sword; aiming for Tatsumi's left thigh. However, Tatsumi was prepared for this, and blocked Akame's attack. Taking the initiative, Tatsumi horizontally slashed his training sword. Akame was caught off guard by the speed of the attack, and barely managed to jump out of the way in time; the attack missing her stomach by only a few inches. "Good. You almost hit me with that last attack. You've improved greatly in the time I've been training you, Tatsumi."
"Well you're a really good teacher." Tatsumi complimented, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Now let's go again. I still have enough energy for one more go."
"Alright, but I won't be holding anything back." Akame said, as she raised her training sword. "Prepare yourself Tatsumi." Then in the blink of an eye, Akame sprang into action.
Off to the side, Sayo watched the pair spar. She was amazed by how much stronger Tatsumi had become since she last saw him. Tatsumi was so much faster than she remembered, his attacks and slashes almost seemed to blur. Sayo could also tell that there was much more power and precision behind Tatsumi's strikes. Tatsumi also appeared to have changed mentally as well. He could still be loud and childish at times, but Sayo noticed that Tatsumi was now much more serious and focused. It was almost as if he was training so hard to achieve some type of goal.
"How is the new leg treating you?" A sweet voice snapped Sayo out of her thoughts. Turning her head, Sayo saw Sheele standing behind her. The purple-haired girl had a bright smile on her face, as she awaited Sayo's reply.
"Oh...it's good...I guess." Sayo replied, as she glanced down at her prosthetic leg. The mechanical left leg was blood red in color, and was similar in design to Najenda's prosthetic arm; lucky for Sayo the mechanical leg she was given was much more slender than Najenda's bulky arm. "I still can't quite run with it, but I can walk around just fine. It's still really weird not having a left leg, but I guess I'll get used to it eventually..." Ever since Sayo had awoken from her come, Tatsumi and Sheele were the two people who were constantly helping her. The purple-haired girl was almost always at Sayo's side; helping her with anything she needed. "Thanks for asking Sheele."
"It's no problem. We're friends, right?" Sheele asked, causing Sayo to chuckle lightly.
"Yeah, we're friends Sheele." Sayo answered, as she smiled at the purple-haired girl. "So, I'm supposed to be training with Akame today?"
"Yes, you'll be with Akame and Tatsumi will be with Mine." Sheele replied, adjusting her glasses. "But I don't think Akame will train you too hard, because you're still getting used to your new leg."
"It's fine, I want to be useful around here. I just hope I'll be able to go on missions soon." Sayo replied, as she returned her attention to Tatsumi and Akame's sparing match. "Tatsumi told me about his first mission. I want to be able to do something like that. Help rid the capital of the scum that run in, you know?"
"Don't worry, you'll get your chance soon enough." Sheele said, before she headed back into the base.
"I can't wait to start making a difference." Sayo thought, watching Akame and Tatsumi lock swords again.
"Alright, I think that's enough for now." Akame said, as she lowered her sword. The red-eyed assassin was seriously impressed by Tatsumi's growth. He had actually almost managed to push her to her limits during their last sparring session. "You're improving quite rapidly Tatsumi. Keep it up, and you'll be a true force to reckoned with on the battlefield."
"I couldn't have done it without your training, Akame. Your skills are amazing, and I plan on learning everything you can teach me." Tatsumi said, completely missing the slight blush that spread across Akame's face.
"Why is my heart beating so fast?" Akame thought, as she clutched a hand over her rapidly beating heart. "My face feels flushed as well. This has been happening ever since Tatsumi returned safely from his first mission. Every time he compliments me, I feel all giddy and elated. I don't understand what-"
"Oi, you okay, Akame?" Tatsumi asked, noticing that the dark-haired assassin had spaced out.
"What? Oh yes, I'm fine!" Akame said, as she became even more flustered. "Well, let's get started on breakfast."
"I don't think so!" Akame and Tatsumi turned to see Mine walking towards them. "I'm training you now! Get ready, because we're heading to the capital."
"The capital? Why are we going there?" Tatsumi asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"It's bad enough that I'm stuck training you! So don't start questioning me!" Mine exclaimed, as she turned to head back into the base. "Hurry up and get ready, we're leaving in fifteen minutes. I'll tell you why we're in the capital when we get there."
"*Sigh* Sorry Akame, but I guess I can't help you make breakfast." Tatsumi said, rubbing the back of his head.
"It's fine." Akame said, as she turned to face Sayo. "Hey Sayo, can you help me with breakfast?"
"Uh sure thing. I may not be as good as Tatsumi, but I'm pretty competent in the kitchen." Sayo replied, walking up to Akame and Tatsumi.
"Excellent. Then this will be the first part of your training." Akame said, as she led Sayo towards the kitchen.
"Well I better get ready." Tatsumi said, making his way towards his room. "I have feeling this is going to be really good...or really bad."
(Four Hours Later; Imperial Capital)
"So I'm finally back in the capital." Tatsumi said, as he glanced at the crowds surrounding him. "But now that I really look, everyone seems so sad."
"Well it makes sense, since they're under the government's boot and there is a recession going on." Mine pointed out, walking ahead of Tatsumi. "Now stop looking around so much; it'll make you seem suspicious. I told you one of the reasons we came to the capital, is so that I can teach you how to be stealthy and inconspicuous. You have to blend in with the crowds, and not draw any unwanted attention towards yourself.
"You're right." Tatsumi said, as he caught up with Mine. "So, is it really okay for us to be walking around in broad daylight like this?"
"Sure." Mine replied, pointing to a series of wanted posters on a nearby wall. "The only people on the wanted posters are Akame, Sheele, Bulat, and the boss. The rest of us are free to walk around the capital."
"Wait a second..." Tatsumi said, as he peered at the middle poster. The man looked sort of like Bulat, but at the same time was totally different. "You're telling me that's Bro?!"
"Yeah! Now stop fucking yelling! We're supposed to inconspicuous dumbass! " Mine hissed, slapping Tatsumi on the arm. Releasing an annoyed huff, Mine crossed her arms over her chest. "He changed his image after joining night raid."
"That's a pretty big change though." Tatsumi commented, as took one last look at the wanted poster.
"*Sigh* Well now that, that's cleared up we still have a mission to complete." Mine said, crossing her arms behind her back.
"You're the boss, Mine. So lead the way." Tatsumi replied in an enthusiastic tone.
"Alright! Are mission is check up on the capital's condition. But remember we can't be suspicious when making our observations." Mine said, turning towards a nearby shop. "If you do well, I have something special I can show you when we're finished."
"I have a bad feeling about this." Tatsumi said, as he slowly followed Mine into the clothing store.
(Three Hours of Pure Hell Later)
"Mmm, we sure bought a lot." Mine said with a content smile, sipping some of her tea. "I knew pink would be this spring's trending color."
"Sure thing." Tatsumi said, his voice exhausted and his eyes filled with a blank stare. The young man had been dragged around by the pinkette for the past three hours. Going from store to store, and buying ludicrous amounts of clothes; which Tatsumi was forced to carry. However, Tatsumi didn't particularly dislike Mine modeling some of the outfits. He had to admit that she did look really cute in most of them. But that didn't excuse her basically making him, her pack mule for the past three hours.
"Ah, it's so nice to kick back and relax every now and then." Mine said, setting down her tea cup. "Well good job Tatsumi, mission complete."
"W-What..." Tatsumi said, as his eye began to twitch. "Are you fucking kidding me?! That wasn't a mission, it was just a stupid shopping trip!"
"What did I say about drawing unwanted attention?" Mine asked, slapping Tatsumi across the face to calm him down. "It wasn't just a useless shopping trip. We just used a shopping trip as a cover up, so that we could do our observations without looking suspicious." Tatsumi's eyes widened when Mine said this. "Look on the street corner behind you, but don't take too long; just a quick peek." Doing as he was told, Tatsumi quickly glanced at the corner behind him. But all he saw was a normal looking man standing there, reading a newspaper. "You may be thinking that guy doesn't look suspicious. But he's been following us since we arrived in the capital."
"Do you think he knows we're with Night?" Tatsumi asked, as he noticed a hidden sword on their stalker's hip.
"No, but he probably is an informant for the government. He probably heard you yelling about Bulat earlier, and decided to scope us out for awhile." Mine said, taking another sip of her tea.
"Shit...I'm sorry Mine. I almost got us caught." Tatsumi said in an apologetic tone, as he rubbed the back of his head. "I guess I still have a lot to learn."
"It's fine Tatsumi, you just have to be more careful from now on. You're just lucky I came up with that shopping cover up quickly. We're here for me to train you, and that's what we're doing. This was a good learning experience for you." Mine said, causing Tatsumi's eyes to widen. "As soon as I finish my tea we can go. Like I said earlier, aside from the early fuck up, you did rather well. So I think you earned that special reward I promised you."
"Is...Is this really Mine?" Tatsumi thought, as he stared at the pinkette with wide eyes. "I expected her to yell at me for messing up and complaining. But, she's...she's actually being nice to me...I could really get used to this side of Mine.
"Alright, let's go." Mine said, setting down her empty tea cup. Tatsumi quirked an eyebrow when Mine offered him her hand. "Well...What are you waiting for? Hold my hand."
"W-What?" Tatsumi asked, as a slight blush spread across his face.
"Ugh, don't get all worked up. That guy's still watching us. Since I made you carry my things, it probably made you look my boyfriend." Mine said, causing Tatsumi's blush to darken several shades. "So, you need to hold my hand to make it look like we're a couple."
"O-Okay." Tatsumi said, as he audibly gulped. He hesitantly reached out and took Mine's hand. "Wow...her hand is so...small."
"Now let's get out of here." Mine said, leading Tatsumi down the street. The pinkette kept her face hidden, so Tatsumi wouldn't notice the faint blush spread across her face. "Damn it, why the hell am I blushing? And why was I so nice to him earlier? He's just a newbie, and he almost blew the mission! Gah! Why does his hand have to feel so warm and comforting?!"
"Oi Mine, what's going on over there?" Tatsumi asked, as he noticed a large crowd that had gathered to their right.
"Probably just a public execution for someone who challenged the empire." Mine replied, walking Tatsumi towards the edge of the crowd. "It's a pretty normal thing to see in the capital."
"T-Tha's horrible..." Tatsumi said, as he felt sick to his stomach. Before Tatsumi and Mine were several people crucified in the middle of a highly populated area. Dozens of people gathered around to gawk at the gruesome display. As Tatsumi stared at the horrifying demonstration, he was reminded of the images he had seen of the red-haired girl's head impaled on a spike. "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"You have to maintain your composure." Mine whispered, gently squeezing Tatsumi's hand. "People in the capital are used to seeing things like this, so they aren't affected by it anymore."
"Y-You're right." Tatsumi said, as he adverted his eyes. "I have to keep calm."
"It's because of the minister that things like this happen." Mine said quietly, hanging her head so that her pink locks covered her eyes. "It was thanks to his underhanded tactics that the current young emperor won his seat on the throne. But I...I definitely won't end up like them." Mine looked up with a defiant look in her eyes. "I'll definitely survive...and see this fight to its bitter end."
"The minister huh? He must be some kind of monster!" Tatsumi thought, before Mine tugged on his arm.
"Come on, we've seen enough of this." Mine said, leading Tatsumi back onto the main road out of the capital. Occasionally as they walked, Tatsumi would nonchalantly glance around to try and see if they were still being followed. After several minutes of not seeing the man from earlier, Tatsumi figured he must have given up on them.
"Hey Mine, I don't think that guy is following us anymore. So you don't have to hold my hand anymore." Tatsumi said, as he tried to release Mine's hand. However, he was surprised when Mine gripped his hand even tighter.
"I want to be sure, so just wait until we're out of the capital, okay?" Mine asked, not turning to face Tatsumi. "Damn it, I can't tell him that I actually like holding his hand."
"Uh, sure thing Mine." Tatsumi said, as he let Mine guide him out of the capital.
(Four Hours Later; Back at Night Raid's Hidden Base)
"Alright, I promised I'd show you something special." Mine said, leading Tatsumi into a semi-hidden room near the back of Night Raid's base. Entering the room, all Tatsumi saw were several human shaped targets in what appeared to be a long hallway.
"Mine, what is this place and what are we doing here?" Tatsumi asked, as he watched Mine walk over to a nearby chest.
"This is our shooting range. I used it for target practice." Mine said, rifling through the chest. The pinkette smiled when she found what she was looking for. "To answer your second question, I'm going to teach you how to shoot." Tatsumi was surprised when Mine pulled out a pistol, and offered it to him.
"Uh, I'm glad you want to teach me this Mine, but I'm more of a sword guy." Tatsumi said sheepishly, as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You want to become a great assassin, right Tatsumi?" Mine asked, earning a nod from the boy. "Well a great assassin must be well versed in a variety of weapons and fighting techniques. You have to be able to quickly adapt to your surroundings, and use any available weapons. I may not look it, but I'm pretty capable in hand-to-hand fighting, and I know my way around a sword. So expert shooting isn't my only specialty."
"That makes sense." Tatsumi said, as he grabbed the pistol and began to inspect it.
"Oi! Watch where you're aiming that damn thing!" Mine exclaimed, ducking as Tatsumi pointed the gun at her. "The fucking safety isn't on!"
"Safety? What's that?" Tatsumi asked in a confused tone.
"Oh my God, you're a total gun virgin aren't you?" Mine replied, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Do you have a single clue on how to operate a gun?"
"No." Tatsumi answered, as he hung his head. "I don't know anything about these things."
"Great, then we have to start from square one." Mine said, taking the pistol from Tatsumi. She ushered Tatsumi closer, and pointed to a small switch on the side of the weapon. "First things first, this is the safety. Right now it's off. But when I flip this switch the safety will turn on, and the gun won't fire. Whenever you're not fighting, or you aren't using the weapon the safety should be on. This will stop the weapon from accidentally going off and possibly injuring you or a teammate." Mine turned the pistol over and pointed to a small button in front of the grip. "When you push this button, it will eject the magazine." Mine pressed the button, and the clip popped into her hand. "Right now the gun is fully loaded, and there is a bullet in the chamber. This pistol hold twelve bullets in the clip, plus the bullet currently in the chamber, giving you thirteen shots in total." Mine suddenly pulled the pistol's slide back; ejecting the bullet in the chamber. "Now the weapon is completely empty. Next let me show how to properly reload."
For the next half-hour Mine showed Tatsumi everything he would need to know about firearms. She explained how to properly reload, clean the weapon, remove a jammed cartridge, adjust the sights if they were slightly off, properly holster and conceal a gun, and take a gun completely apart. She even went over the various calibers of bullets, and their different damage and penetration levels. Mine even covered where to shoot an enemy if you wanted to incapacitate them, instead of killing them. Tatsumi was captivated throughout Mine's entire presentation. The pinkette was so knowledgeable and passionate as she spoke, that it completely held Tatsumi's attention. While Akame was an expert swordsman, and was the perfect teacher to help him improve his swords skills. Mine was an expert marksman, and was the best person to help him learn the ins-and-outs of firearms.
"Okay, it looks like you picked up on everything I've told you." Mine said, as she handed Tatsumi the pistol. "Now it's time for the fun part. You get to actually shot this bad boy."
"I can do this." Tatsumi said, going through the steps Mine had showed him. "First, load the weapon." Tatsumi grabbed a fresh clip of ammunition, and loaded it into the pistol. "Second, check the safety." Checking the safety, Tatsumi saw that it was turned off. "Third, take aim and focus on your target." Tatsumi took aim at the target in the center. However, Mine sighed when she saw how Tatsumi was holding the weapon.
"Tatsumi you need to calm down." Mine said, as she walked up behind Tatsumi. The young man blushed when he felt Mine's hand on top of his own. "Take a deep breath and relax." Doing as he was told, Tatsumi took a deep breath. "Good, now loosen your grip on the gun." Tatsumi hadn't even noticed that he had, had a death grip on the pistol. "Relax your shoulders and don't lock your elbows." Following Mine's advice, Tatsumi entered into a much more relaxed stance. "Okay, now take aim. When you're ready don't jerk the trigger back; just give it a light squeeze. Also be ready for the recoil. Since this is only a small caliber pistol it shouldn't be too bad, but still brace yourself for it."
"I can do this. Just do as Mine says." Tatsumi thought, raising the pistol once again. He took aim at the bullseye on the target's chest. Taking one last calming breath, Tatsumi gently squeezed the trigger. With a loud bang the gun fired. Even though he was ready for it, Tatsumi still jumped slightly when the pistol shot back because of its recoil. "Did I hit the target?"
"Hmm, not a bad shot." Mine compliment, as she observed the small bullet hole about three inches below the bullseye. "I might make a crack shot out of you yet."
"Really?" Tatsumi asked, feeling a rush of confidence.
"If you keep practicing you might end up half as good as me." Mine gloated, as a smirk spread across her face. "Well what are you waiting for? You still have bullets left in the clip. Take aim and keep shooting until your out. Once we're done with the pistol, I have a few more weapons to show you."
"Today just got a whole lot more fun." Tatsumi thought with a grin, taking aim with his pistol and firing.
(Two Hours Later)
"Damn, Akame was right. You really are a quick learner." Mine said, as she put the various weapons away. However, Mine kept the pistol out and handed it back to Tatsumi. She then dug back into the chest and pulled out a black holster. "You keep this one, and the holster too. That was my first pistol, but I think it's time I passed it on. It may not pack that big of a punch, but if you're ever in a pinch it will definitely come in handy."
"Thanks Mine." Tatsumi said, clipping the holster to his belt. Flipping the safety on, Tatsumi placed the pistol into its holster. "You know, I actually had a lot of fun today; and I'm glad I was able to learn so much from you."
"Well you were a good student." Mine said, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "To be honest I enjoyed myself too. It felt good passing on some of my knowledge. I know I was pretty hard on you the first few days, but now I actually look forward to working with you more, Tatsumi."
"I look forward to working with you as well, Mine." Tatsumi said with a large smile on his face.
"Hey you two." A new voice called out. Mine and Tatsumi turned their heads to see Akame poking her head into the room. "Get ready, we have a mission. I'll brief you two on the way there. Mine you'll be paired up with Tatsumi."
"Well let's get to it." Mine said, grabbing Pumpkin and slinging the weapon over her shoulder. "Looks like you might get to use that pistol sooner than you think."
"Maybe, but I'll try to leave the long range fighting to you." Tatsumi said, as he grabbed his sword and placed it on his back. "I'm technically still under your command, so lead the way."
"When we get out in the field, I'm going to need you to be my spotter, and to watch my back." Mine said, exiting the firing range with Tatsumi following closely behind. The pinkette lead Tatsumi into Night Raid's meeting room, where the rest of their members had gathered. As Tatsumi entered the room, he spotted Sayo standing off to the side. The dark-haired girl look exhausted and slightly beat up.
"Akame was pretty rough on you during your training?" Tatsumi asked, as he walked up to his longtime friend.
"No." Sayo replied in an embarrassed tone, her face burning bright red. "I'm really tired, because I'm still not quite at one hundred percent yet. So I kept getting tired real quickly. But Akame was understanding, and was actually very patient with me."
"Then why do you look all beat up?" Tatsumi asked, as he eyed several bruises on Sayo's arms and legs.
"Well..." Sayo said, nervously rubbing her arm. "I'm still getting used to my new leg. So when Akame led me to this hidden pond...I kinda...tripped...and tumbled down a hill."
"Pfft, that sounds terrible." Tatsumi said, as he tried to suppress his laughter.
"Shut up you ass!" Sayo hissed, punching Tatsumi in the arm. "How would you feel if your leg got hacked off, and you had to use a damn mechanical leg!?"
"Sorry, sorry." Tatsumi apologized, as he flashed Sayo a bright smile. "That was pretty mean of me. But hey everything will get better soon. You just have to give it some time."
"Yeah whatever...jerk." Sayo huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"If you two are done fooling around, we have a mission to complete." Najenda said, as she walked into the room. Night Raid's leader took usual seat, and began to brief everyone. "As you've all heard...we have a new target. This target is a distant relative of the minister. His name Iokal." Najenda pulled out a knife and stabbed it into the table in front of her. "He uses the minister's name to kidnap young girls and beat them to death. He has five guards who share in the leftovers; they're just as guilty as him. This is a very important mission, so everyone is in on it." Sayo's eyes immidiately lit up, but Najenda quickly stopped her. "Except for you Sayo. I'm sorry but you're just not ready yet. Especially after what Akame reported to me. Once you've become more adjusted to your new leg, and you've had some more training, we can let you go on missions."
"I understand Boss." Sayo said, nodding her head. "I guess I kinda got my hopes up."
"Don't worry, you'll be ready soon enough." Najenda encouraged, before she returned her attention to the rest of Night Raid. "Alright! You know your targets! Get out there and rid the world of those scum!"
"Yes Boss!" Everyone cheered, rushing to prepare for the mission.
"Good luck Tatsumi." Sayo said with a smile, as she caught Tatsumi before he left.
"Thanks Sayo, I'll be back in a little while." Tatsumi said, pulling Sayo in for a tight hug before he went to find Mine.
(Three Hours Later; Ledge About a Half-Mile From Iokal's Home)
"So that's Iokal's home, man it's crawling with guards." Tatsumi commented, as he peered at Iokal's massive home through a pair of binoculars.
"I can nail him easily from here." Mine said, adjusting the dials on her scope. "I'll take his head clean off as soon as he shows his ugly fucking face."
"And I got your back after you fire the first shot." Tatsumi said, as he checked his pistol to make sure it was fully load and ready. "Just leave everything to me!"
"Tch, I'm not really counting on it though." Mine said, scoping in on the house's grand entrance.
"Wow...she's so focused..." Tatsumi thought, as he stared at Mine out of the corner of his eye. "I can feel her determination form here. Mine really is an incredible assassin..."
"I've got eyes on the target." Mine suddenly said, snapping Tatsumi out of his thoughts.
"Alright, I'll get eyes on the target." Tatsumi said, as he raised his binoculars. He immidiately spotted Iokal leaving his home. But there was one problem. Iokal was surrounded by a group of innocent women. "Mine are you sure? There's a bunch of non-targets around him."
"Do you trust me Tatsumi?" Mine asked, continuing to track Iokal through her scope.
"Yeah." Tatsumi replied in a confused tone.
"Then shut up, and let me focus. I promise you I won't hit any innocent people." Mine said in a stern tone, her finger gently resting on Pumpkin's trigger.
"But-" Tatsumi was cut off when Mine suddenly fired. The young man quickly raised his binoculars to track Mine's shot. Tatsumi watched in awe as Mine's shot threaded the needle between of the women's heads, and hit Iokal right between the eyes. Iokal's head immidiately snapped back, as blood sprayed from the gaping hole in his head. "Holy...shit..."
"See...I'm a genius sniper." Mine gloated, resting Pumpkin on top of her shoulder. "Now let's get to the rendezvous point."
"R-Right." Tatsumi stuttered out, still in complete shock over the incredible shot.
Below where Mine and Tatsumi were, Iokal's guards sprinted through the woods; in a desperate search for his assassin.
"No matter what, we have to find the assassin!"
"If he gets away the minister will have us executed!"
"There's no way he could've gotten that far!"
However, the guards came to a skidding stop when they encountered five people waiting for them. A busty blonde haired woman was at the front of the group; a wicked grin spread across her face. "Nice of you boys to drop in. Now it's time for you all to get wrecked!"
(Five Minutes Later; En Route to the Rendezvous Point)
"Ugh! This route fucking sucks!" Mine complained, as she slogged up yet another hill.
"Do you think the others took out all of our pursuers?" Tatsumi asked, following closely behind Mine.
"Those guards were trained at the Temple of the Imperial Fist. So the others may have a little trouble taking them out." Mine said, as she ducked underneath a low hanging branch.
"You're talking about the number one kung fu temple in the empire, right?" Tatsumi asked, when they reached small cliff. The young man quickly got onto his knees, and gave Mine a boost up.
"Well I guess when you're related to the minister you can afford badass bodyguards." Mine replied, as climbed up the ledge. "Iokal could get away with anything he wanted, because of his blood ties. That's what pissed me off the most about him."
"Mine...I wondered what happened in your past..." Tatsumi thought, climbing up the ledge behind Mine.
"Well since you've been so good today, I think I'll tell you a little bit about my past." Mine said, as she took a deep breath.
"Man, talk about convenient." Tatsumi thought with a sweatdrop.
"I was born near the nation's western border." Mine revealed, her eyes getting a faraway look. "I'm actually half tribal. In town I was mocked and ostracized. Nobody would accept me. It was truly a wretched childhood.
"Mine..." Tatsumi thought, as he stared at the pinkette with saddened eyes.
"But...the revolutionary army is allied with the tribes to the west." Mine continued, tightly clenching her fists. "When we make our new nation, diplomatic relations will finally open. More people of mixed blood will enter the empire...and there won't be anymore children who have to suffer the way I did...I won't let anyone discriminate me!"
"Mine..." Tatsumi muttered, as he saw the pinkette in completely new light.
"But when the revolution is over, I'll receive a ton of compensation and retire a celebrity!" Mine exclaimed, letting out a loud laugh.
"And there's the old Mine..." Tatsumi thought, as he hung his head in defeat.
(With the Other Night Raid Members)
With a loud crunch, Leone broke the jaw of the last remaining guard. Pouncing on the battered and dying man, Leone quickly snapped his neck. When Leone got off her prey she let out a content sigh.
"Ah! I feel so refreshed!" Leone cheered, wiping the blood from her claws. "I had a lot of pent up aggression!"
"They were pretty strong!" Sheele commented, as she slung her scissors onto her back.
"It's quite odd..." Akame said, scanning over the bodies of the dead guards. "Wasn't there supposed to be five guards?"
"Man, I didn't get to kill anyone." Lubbock whined, his cheeks puffing out as he pouted.
"That's because you weren't enough to go around." Leone said, as she shrugged her shoulders. "Or you're just not a good assassin."
"What?!" Lubbock exclaimed, glaring at the busty blonde.
"Something doesn't sit right with me." Akame said, as she gripped her sword tightly. "We need to get to the rendezvous point now."
"What's up, Akame?" Leone asked, walking up to the red-eyed assassin.
"I just have a feeling that last guard slipped past us, and is heading towards Tatsumi and Mine's position." Akame said, as she clutched a hand over her heart. "We have to get there fast, and make sure they're okay."
"Lead the way girl, I'm right behind you." Leone said with a smile, before Akame took off sprinting into the woods.
(With Tatsumi and Mine)
"Hey, I can see the rendezvous point now." Tatsumi said, as he pushed through some bushes.
"I guess that's mission accomplished." Mine said, approaching the large tree that represented the rendezvous point.
"It's not over until we give our report!" Tatsumi said with a grin on his face.
"Tch, you've been spending too much time with Miss Perfect Akame." Mine said, as a small smile spread across her face. But Mine yelped when Tatsumi suddenly shoved her out of the way.
"What out!" The second the words left Tatsumi's mouth, he was sent rocketing back by a powerful punch to his stomach.
"Tatsumi!" Mine exclaimed, as she watched Tatsumi come to a skidding stop almost twenty feet away. The pinkette's eyes filled with rage, as she turned to face Tatsumi's attacker. She wasn't surprised to see one of Iokal's guards staring her down. "You bastard!" Mine's eyes narrowed when she recognized the guard's face. "You were the Temple of the Imperial Fist's assistant instructor ten years ago. No wonder you managed to get past everyone else..."
"That was a pretty impressive shot girlie, but now I have to kill you and your little friend." The guard said, cracking his knuckles.
"We'll see about that." Mine said, as she unslung Pumpkin and took aim at the guard. "You've definitely fallen in status since then!" Mine opened fire on the guard, but to her horror the guard managed to dodge everyone of her shots. "T-There's no way!"
"I got expelled for bad behavior!" The guard exclaimed, charging towards Mine. "I'm going to hand you over to the minister alive, so he can toy with you all he wants. So prepare yourself."
"There's no fucking way that's happening!" Mine yelled, as she reached back for the small knife she always carried on her.
"RAGGHHH!" The guard was distracted when Tatsumi suddenly attacked him. Tatsumi swung his sword at the guard, but he simply blocked the attack and sent Tatsumi's sword skidding away. "Stay the fuck away from Mine!" Tatsumi charged towards the guard, and held onto his waist tightly.
"You little shit!" The guard shouted, as he began to beat Tatsumi's back. Gritting through the pain, Tatsumi reached for the pistol on his hip. Whipping out the firearm, Tatsumi placed it right into the guard's gut and fired several rapid shots. The guard's eyes widened, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Releasing the guard, Tatsumi quickly kicked him away.
"Mine! Finish him off!" Tatsumi exclaimed, putting some distance between himself and the guard.
"Akame was right about you, for being a rookie you ain't half bad, Tatsumi." Mine said with a smirk, as she took aim and fired. Her shot went straight through the guard's temple, killing him instantly.
"You really are a genius sniper." Tatsumi complimented, retrieving his sword. When Tatsumi approached Mine, she noticed that he was covered in the guard's blood from the point blank shots. "Nice work, Mine."
"I can say the same for you." Mine said, as she slung Pumpkin back over her shoulder. "You really saved me back there."
"Well we're friends, right?" Tatsumi asked with a toothy grin, extending his fist towards Mine.
"Yeah...Yeah we're friends." Mine said with a smile, as she bumped fists with Tatsumi.
"And you were worried about him." Leone teased Akame, while they watched the pair from a nearby treeline.
(Later That Night; At Night Raid's Hidden Base)
"Well Sayo was officially freaked out." Tatsumi said, as he slipped on a fresh shirt. "She saw all the blood on me, and thought I had gotten hurt. But I explained what happened, so everything's fine now...So why did you want to talk with me in private Akame?"
"Tatsumi, can I ask you something?" Akame asked when Tatsumi took a seat next to her.
"Sure thing Akame, you can ask me anything." Tatsumi replied, curious as to why the girl was acting so strange.
"Are you telling me everything about your visions?" Akame asked, causing Tatsumi's eyes to widen in surprise. "I can't help but feel like your leaving a few things out...Especially during the vision where you die in my arms...Is there...Is there something you're not telling me? Because I want to help Tatsumi, but I need to know everything you saw in your visions."
"Fuck me! How did she figure that out?!" Tatsumi thought, as he tried to frantically think of what to do. "Should I...Should I really tell her what happened. I guess she's been pretty understanding with everything else I've told her."
"You promise you won't get mad at me?" Tatsumi asked, his face suddenly burning red in embarassment.
"I promise, Tatsumi. Now please tell me." Akame said, as she gently took hold Tatsumi's hand. This only caused the boy's blush to darken even further.
"*Gulp* Well...Wh-When I d-died in your arms...you said...you said...you said you had feelings for me." Tatsumi said felt a tremendous weight lift off his chest after revealing that detail. Now all he had to wait for Akame's response. He turned to look at the red-eyed assassin, and was surprised to see her just staring at him. This kind of worried Tatsumi, because he expected her to instantly be upset with him. "Forget I said anything AkamHMPH!"
Tatsumi was caught completely off guard when Akame pressed her lips against his. The young man's eyes shot open, as Akame wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. Tatsumi had no experience in what was happening, so he simply did nothing for a few moments. But when it finally registered that Akame was actually kissing him, Tatsumi did the only thing he could think of; he kissed her back. Tatsumi cupped Akame's face, and returned the kiss with just as much passion. The pair stayed lipqocked for a few more moments, before they reluctantly parted for air. Both assassins were panting slightly, with intense blushes across both their faces.
"A-Akame...not that I'm complaining...But why did you do that?" Tatsumi asked, earning a smile from the red-eyed assassin.
"What you just told me, confirmed what I've been feeling the past few days." Akame replied, as she gently caressed Tatsumi's cheek. "The rapid beating of my heart. The constant blushing around you. The giddy feeling I get when you compliment me. I think...I think I'm falling in love with you Tatsumi."
"You're...You're in love with me?" Tatsumi asked, his mind completely blown. He noticed that Akame had been acting strange, but he had no idea it had been because she loved him.
"Yes." Akame said, as she smiled warmly at Tatsumi. "I've felt like this ever since you came back safely from your first mission."
"Akame...I don't know what to say...I really like you too..." Tatsumi said, suddenly remembering the vision of Mine confessing to him. "But there's-"
"Ssshhh." Akame said, as she pressed her finger against Tatsumi's lips. "Please don't say anymore. We can talk more later. But for now, just kiss me again." Before Tatsumi could object, Akame pressed her lips against his once again.
"Ah what the hell, who am I to complain? I've got a beautiful girl kissing me. Might as well enjoy this." Tatsumi thought, as he slipped his tongue into Akame's mouth.
(Same Time; Imperial Capital)
"Just like me...they're assassins who use teigus..." A chilling voice whispered, it's owner staring at Akame's wanted poster with a twisted grin on his face. "How utterly delightful...They're causing quite a fuss..."
"Hey you there!" A patrolling guard exclaimed, as he aimed his pistol at the large man at the end of an alleyway.
"You look suspicious! Don't make any sudden movements!" The first guard's partner called out, unsheathing his sword. In the blink of an eye the suspicious man had taken out his own blade, and decapitated both guards. Their heads landing on the ground with a sickening plop; their blood staining the entire alleyway.
"Either way..." The man said with a sadistic and evil smile. "The capital seems incredibly easy to navigate. There's just so many people for me to slaughter...How utterly delightful!"
And done! I think this chapter turned out very well, and is much different than what I originally intended it to be. So there you have it, the first official romance is between Akame and Tatsumi. Their lemon will most likely be next chapter, if not the one after that. So you all have that to look forward to. Next chapter will have the Akame and Tatsumi vs. Zanku fight. So what did you guys think? Love it? Hate it? Don't care? Let me know. Remember to follow/favorite, PLEASE REVIEW, I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK, and PM me any ideas you have for any of my fics. So until next time, I'm outta here!