Hey everyone, I'm back with another chapter for this fic! I'm glad to see that pretty much all of you enjoyed last chapter and Tatsumi finally revealing his secret to everyone. Also, I'm happy to see that a few of you managed to correctly guess that the video game I was referencing last chapter was Bioshock Infinite. That whole nose bleeding scene came to me out of the blue while I was writing, and I thought it would be a nice little addition to the story. Well this chapter will pick up where the previous one left off in the manga, and will start the next big arc in this story, which will eventually lead to Night Raid and the Jaegers first big battle. This fic is also about 60 followers away from hitting 2,000, so once again, thank you all for your continued support and patience.
P.S. Sorry this chapter took a little longer to get out than I expected. I actually got a Nintendo Switch for Christmas, along with Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey, so that has been eating up a ton of my free time.
P.P.S I just started college again, so my speed will likely decrease, but just be patient and I'll eventually get new chapters out.
Well that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Teigu
"Incursio"
Disclaimer: I don't own Akame ga Kill, or any of its characters.
(The Next Morning: Night Raid's Meeting Room)
"This is our latest mission..." Najenda said, dropping several manila envelops full of vital information onto the center of the table. All the members of Night Raid grabbed their own envelope and began to read through its contents. "It involves a religion called "The Way of Peace." They have followers all across the country, from rich to poor."
"Thats the one that preaches good deeds will lead to a long and prosperous life?" Chelsea asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice, as she skimmed through one of the papers. "After a while all these religions start to blend together."
"You know..." Tatsumi said, setting his envelope back down onto the table. "I'm pretty sure this religion spread all the way to my village too..."
"Yeah, I remember a preacher coming to our village a couple days before we left..." Sayo added, as she intently read the files Najenda had handed out. However, no one in the room could see that Sayo was also discreetly holding onto Tatsumi's jacket, her hands still shaking slightly. Despite Tatsumi comforting her most of the night, Sayo was still slightly traumatized by the previous day's events. "That guy was really pushy with this stuff...he'd heckle people all day and night."
"We also got those figurines from the village chief as we were leaving the village." Tatsumi said, placing a hand over his heart, where he used to keep the idol. A teasing smirk spread across Tatsumi's face, as he locked eyes with Akame from across the table. "If I remember correctly, that figurine was the only thing that stopped Akame from killing me the night I met her."
"C-Could you please not bring that up?" Akame muttered, as she turned her head away to avoid Tatsumi's playful gaze, her face flushing red in embarassment. "I hate thinking about what might have happened if you didn't have that thing."
"Alright you two, that's enough messing around." Najenda said, snapping her fingers to get everyone's attention once again. " Over the past decade, The Way of Peace has been drastically growing in followers. It's become quite a substantial force on the east side of the capital. We've received word that The Way of Peace will soon lead an armed uprising, in others words, a religious revolt. We will use this to our advantage."
"Hold on second..." Tatsumi interjected, as he abruptly stood up from his seat. "If such a large uprising occurs, countless people will lose their lives. Shouldn't we be trying to stop a revolt like this, or better yet, have them work with us, instead of acting by themselves?
"The empire's corrupt government has mistreated the people for far too long..." Najenda explained, taking a brief pause to have a drag of her cigarette. "Even if we tried to silence this revolt by The Way of Peace, the people's anger would simply flare up somewhere else. Inviting them to join our cause wouldn't work either. These people are restless and upset, they want immediate action. They're not just gonna sit around and wait for us to make tactical and calculated moves. They'd rather just storm the gates and take matters into their own hands." Holding out her mechanical arm, blew out a puff of smoke and clenched her fist. "This nation has reached its boiling point."
"I see...I get it..." Tatsumi said in a dejected tone, as he slumped back into his seat. Clasping his hands underneath the table, Tatsumi stared down at his lap and grit his teeth in frustration. "I guess there really is no way to avoid unnecessary sacrifices..."
"That kid...his heart is too kind to be in this line of work..." Chelsea thought, leaning against a nearby wall and staring at the conflicted look on Tatsumi's face. Swirling her sucker around in her mouth, Chelsea released a light sigh and walked over to Tatsumi. Gently slapping Tatsumi upside the head, Chelsea pointed back to files they had been given. "Listen Tatsumi, I know you're upset right now, but I suggest you let the boss finish and read what's in this envelope."
"Chelsea..." Tatsumi muttered, as he stared up at the auburn-haired assassin in surprise. Seeing a playful grin spread across Chelsea's face seemed to lift Tatsumi's spirits. "Alright, I'll hear the boss out."
"Good boy." Chelsea said with a smile, patting Tatsumi on the shoulder, before she returned to leaning against the wall.
"You remember when that tribe tried to revolt? And all then all that nonsense with the Hero of the North?" Lubbock continued, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yeah, but weren't both those revolts stopped by Esdeath?" Tatsumi asked, quirking an eyebrow in confusion. "What are you getting at Lubbock?"
"Well I believe those revolts only failed because they tried to take on the empire by themselves." Lubbock replied, as he tossed his envelope onto the table and stood up from his seat. "Even with Esdeath on our side now, the empire is still immensely strong. After enough the time, The Way of Peace's revolt will be stomped out...and a great amount of blood will be shed."
"That's where we come in." Najenda said, slapping her hand onto a map that was on the table. "As soon as the The Way of Peace starts their revolt...we'll attack along with the allied tribes to the west. This will force the empire to fight with enemies on both the inside and outside. Even so, they'll likely be able to hold out. So, to deal the finishing blow, the revolutionary army will start its own uprising in the south. They'll march to the capital and overthrow the emperor and this corrupt empire."
"I get it now..." Tatsumi said, as he stroked his chin. "It'll be a three-way battle."
"The empire severely underestimates the revolutionary army." Najenda continued, tapping a specific spot on the map in front of her. "Because the initial rebellion is concentrated in one place...they think that it puts them at an advantage. The Way of Peace's stronghold is in a remote section of the empire. To reach the capital from there, they'll have to break through a number of barriers and forts. But we've anticipated this and have had several spies already infiltrate these forts. In several cases, the viceroys of these forts used to work for the capital before being demoted...so it was quite easy to spread the word. The prime minister and his lackeys will be real surprised when the army passes through this forts without spilling a drop of blood, and speeds its way right to the capital." Balling one of her fists, Najenda's good eye narrowed slightly. "However, the empire still has one trump card up their sleeve. General Budo and his guards will likely intercept the army. But this will also weaken the palace's main defenses at the same time."
"That's precisely when..." Akame said, as she tightly grasped Murasame's hilt. "We'll have our chance to assassinate the prime minister. We'll storm the palace and bury the prime minister. We'll cut the empire down from the inside."
"Yeah but..." Lubbock said with a light chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. "That slimy minister is so sly, he'll probably make a run for it at the last second."
"Don't worry about that, I won't let him." Leone said with a feral grin, as she cracked her knuckles. "He's the main cause of all this evil. He needs to die...and in the most gruesome way possible."
"Well the tribes to the west are willing to help as long as their compensated with the return of their territories." Najenda added, pointing towards a large western chunk of the map.
"Their territories?" Tatsumi repeated in confusion, as he quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Originally..." Tatsumi was surprised when he heard Mine speak up instead of Najenda. Turning to face the pink-haired sniper, Tatsumi's heart ached when he saw the saddened look on Mine's face. "The land in the empire's west belonged to the tribes who inhabited them." Staring down at the floor, Mine squeezed her arm, fisting the fabric of her pink dress. "It's their greatest wish to get that land back..."
"That's right. One of Mine's parents was from a western tribe..." Tatsumi thought, staring at the pink-haired sniper with a hint of pity in his eyes, balling his fists. "I'll make sure those lands are returned to their rightful owners...it's the least we can do if they're going to help us take down the empire."
"Once the empire has fallen and all undesirable laws are lifted, then the people's will be quelled." Najenda said, as she rested her palms on the table and leaned forward. "If we can swiftly bring about the capital's downfall, then there won't be as much bloodshed. So, have I convinced you yet, Tatsumi?"
"Yeah, this really is a great plan." Tatsumi said, nodding his in approval. "Sorry for interrupting earlier."
"The Way of Peace is the key to all of this..." Najenda explained, before take a long drag of her cigarette. "But right now there appears to be some instability within its ranks...their lord is young and has a large amount charisma, but we've learned that his assistant and confidant, Bolic...is a spy sent by the prime minister. Baulk's main goal is to steal away control of The Way of Peace and to stop an armed uprising from ever happening. He's going to kill the religion's lord soon...and become the head of the organization.
"Can't we just warn the lord or something?" Tatsumi asked, turning to face Najenda. "Or even extract him and bring him to safety?"
"Bolic's followers have a great deal of authority within the religion..." Najenda replied, as she took another puff of her cigarette. "Besides, the empire has a backup agent in case something happens to Bolic."
"This is why the prime minister is so vile." Chelsea said, her tone dripping with disgust. "Instead of oppressing from the outside like a normal dictator, he's try to pull the strings and control everything from the inside, like a scared little rat."
"This is where we come in." Najenda said, as she pointed to an 'x' on the map. "We're heading to The Way of Peace's headquarters...and we're going to kill Bolic before he has a chance to harm the lord." Reaching into a nearby envelope, Najenda took a specific document. "From the reports we've received, Bolic has been lacing the meals of his followers with drugs a little at a time, slowly turning them into addicts. Our spies have confirmed that his most devout followers are nothing more than puppets. We must put a stop to this."
"I bet he's just fooling around with one girl after another." Lubbock growled in anger, gritting his teeth. "I won't let that bastard get away with it!"
"It's a sin to sneak drugs into food." Susanoo said in a frustrated tone, as he tightly balled his fists. "That's simply unacceptable!"
"Hey guys...I think your anger is a little misplaced." Najenda said, releasing a light sigh.
"Hmph, if we don't do anything all those believers will become desperate drug addicts." Leone said in a dark tone, as she remembered the poor girl in the red light district who had been basically brainwashed using drugs. "I won't let them get away with this."
"Right now the Jaegers are doing everything they can to hunt us down." Chelsea said, tightly gripping the fabric of her skirt. "If we're not careful, sooner or later we'll slip up and they'll capture us. On my last mission I was caught off guard, I would've been in trouble if I didn't have my teigu."
"Then next time..." Najenda said, as she slammed her mechanical fist onto the table. "With Esdeath's cooperation, we'll lead them outside the capital and wage our war against them...and if we're lucky Esdeath will have convinced some of them to join or cause, but I won't get my hopes too high."
"We'll finally have an all out battle." Mine said, her grip on Pumpkin tightening.
"Hopefully 'she'll' be there..." Sayo said with a hint of venom in her voice, as she glared at the quiver full of arrows beside her seat. "I need to kill 'her' for what she did to Sheele."
"Don't forget about me. I have a grudge against Seryu too." Mine said with a grin, playfully punching Sayo in the shoulder. "We'll take that bitch down together."
"Of course." Sayo said, as she returned Mine's grin, bumping fists with the pink-haired sniper. "We'll make her regret fucking with Night Raid."
"I'm glad to see you're both so enthused, but I need your attention." Najenda said, before taking another lengthy drag of her cigarette. "I recently received a special request from headquarters...we're tasked with particularly eliminating Kurome and Bols if given the chance."
"Kurome is a dangerous assassin, so it makes sense that we'd be asked to kill her..." Tatsumi thought, as he watched Najenda put of her cigarette. "But Bols too...that just doesn't seem right...I've read his file...I know he's down some really terrible things...but he was just a soldier who was following his orders...in reality he really is a sweet guy with a kind heart...he doesn't deserve to be roped in with the rest of the monsters in the capital."
"The Jaegers are the prime minister's private army..." Najenda said, lighting a new cigarette. "Despite knowing some of them personally, will you be able to fight, Tatsumi?"
"I'm not gonna try and lie here...if I have to fight against Wave or Bols, I might hesitate to kill them...they both really are nice guys..." Tatsumi replied, as he tightly balled his fists and stared down at the floor. "But I'm no fool..." Raising his head, Tatsumi's eyes were full of burning determination. "They'll both be fighting with everything they've got to protect their comrades...and so will I. You have my word that I will not hesitate to strike them down if they're going to hurt any of you. Despite my personal feelings I'm an assassin, I joined this team knowing full well what would be expected of me. So I'll do it...even if they're not our targets, I'll fight against them and keep my comrades safe!" Tatsumi's impassioned speech seemed to inspire and reassure the rest of the group, smiles spreading across all their faces.
"Good! Very good!" Najenda said with a grin, resting her hands on the table and leaning forward.
"That's some fierce determination in his eyes. I can feel his unwavering resolve to keep his loved ones safe. Now I know that in the face of the enemy, he won't let his optimism cost him, his life." Chelsea thought, as she stared intently at Tatsumi. However, Chelsea's face burned bright red when she realized how long she was gazing at Tatsumi. "Huh? Again...Again I can't take my eyes off him...and my heart is beating so fast...for some reason I can't leave him alone...I just feel so warm whenever I'm with him."
(Several Days Later: Imperial Palace)
"What will I do..." Esdeath thought, sitting in the middle of a large room by herself. The blue-haired general was pondering her plans, as she blankly stared at the wall ahead of her. "I don't have any openings to leave this godforsaken place without raising suspicions...and I haven't made any headway in convincing my men to possibly switch sides with me. I need an opportunity-"
"Commander Esdeath." Run said, as he walked into the room, pulling the blue-haired general from her thoughts. "It appears that two members of Night Raid, Akame and Mine...have been spotted along Romary Highway to the east."
"Hmmm, looks like I may have found my opening." Esdeath thought, standing up from her seat and putting on her cap. "Go assemble all the Jaegers."
"Right away." Run said, as he briefly bowed, before exiting the room.
(Ten Minutes Later: Capital's Front Gate)
"So do you think Najenda's predictions are gonna be right?" A revolutionary spy asked his partner, gazing down at the files they had been given. "They're putting a lot of faith in this plan."
"Well Najenda's judgement is usually spot on." The second spy said, just as the front gates began to open. "Hold up, someone's coming out of the gates." Both spies were surprised to see Esdeath and the Jaegers speed out of the capital on horseback. "That's definitely Esdeath and her Jaegers. All six of them are heading east on horseback. Get that all written down."
"I'm on it." The first spy said, quickly scribbling down a field report to send back to Najenda. "Huh, looks like this operation really is playing out just as Najenda had predicted." Finishing the report, the first spy handed it to his parter. "Here, it's all set."
"All right." The second spy said, as he grabbed the report and placed it into a small container, before letting out a loud whistle. A few moments later, a pitch black falcon dove down and landed on the spy's arm. "We're counting on you Marg Falcon." Attaching the document onto the falcon's leg, the spy released it back into the air. "Get that intel to Night Raid!" Watching the falcon fly off into the distance, the second spy released a heavy sigh. "Assassinating the leaders of a religious organization and battling the Jaegers...these missions will push those assassins to their very limits. Please survive Night Raid!"
(One Hour Later: Cliff Overlooking a Lake to the East of the Capital)
"So there's six of them in total..." Najenda muttered to herself, gazing down at the intel she had received from the revolutionary army's spies. "That means Esdeath deployed all the Jaegers...is she going to take this chance to make her escape? If so...how will she do it?" Najenda idly petted the falcon that was perched on her arm, crushing the slip of paper in her hand. "If I account Esdeath's speed and assuming they've figured out our route...they should be here by tomorrow. Hopefully by then Esdeath will have convinced at least one of her men to leave the empire, that will make our lives easier and be a weight off Tatsumi's shoulders." Standing onto her feet, Najenda raised her arm and allowed the falcon to fly off. "All right! It's time to get to work!" Spinning around, Najenda came face to face with Akame and Mine, both of them dressed in bikinis. "We've just received word from our spies. You two will stick to the plan, draw as much attention to yourselves as you can."
"No problem boss." Mine said, as she adjusted Pumpkin's strap, before glancing down at her bikini. "It's a shame we won't be able flaunt or suits for Tatsumi. I bet Leone and Chelsea are having a nice time teasing him right now."
"I wanted Tatsumi to compliment my bikini too." Akame said quietly, her face tinting red in embarassment. "I got this bikini because I thought he'd like it."
"Those two..." Najenda thought with a small smile, as she watched Akame and Mine continue to banter about their shared lover. "They've been fighting pretty much their entire lives...neither of them has really gotten to experience simply being a girl...hopefully once this war is over they'll be able to settle down and find true happiness."
(Same Time: Lake Below)
"Oh man." Lubbock said underneath his breath, practically drooling as he blatantly ogled Chelsea and Leone in their bikinis, both girls acting carefree and playing in the lake. "Seeing the girls in their swimsuits...water glistening off their bodies...I can die happy now."
"Oi, watch where you're looking." Tatsumi said, as he slapped Lubbock upside the head. "Don't forget that we're still on mission...and that one of them is my girlfriend."
"Is Mr. Harem getting jealous?" Lubbock teased with a smirk, earning him another slap on the head. "Okay jeez, I get it."
"I'm not joking Lubbock." Tatsumi warned in a surprisingly serious tone, as his eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't care about other girls, but keep your pervy eyes off Akame, Mine, and Leone. I don't think I need to explain to you what they'd do to you if they caught you peeping on them."
"N-No you don't..." Lubbock said in a shaky voice, unconsciously reaching down to cover his groin. "Leone has already explained in absolutely painful detail what she'd do to me and my boys."
"Oi Tatsumi." Leone said in low, seductive tone, as she wrapped her arms around her lover's neck, squashing her impressive breasts into the back of his head. Despite being quite used this treatment, Tastumi's body visibly tensed and his entire face flushed red in embarrassment. "I have a question to ask you."
"W-What is it, Leone?" Tatsumi asked, fighting every urge to take the busty blonde behind a nearby tree and ravish her for teasing him like this. "We're on a mission! We're on a mission! We're on a mission!"
"I just wanted to ask..." Leone said with a mischievous smirk, as she released Tatsumi and took several step backs, standing right next to Chelsea. "Who's swimsuit do you like better? Chelsea's or mine?"
"Oho, I'd like to hear the answer to this." Chelsea said with a smirk mirroring Leone's, resting her hands on her hips. "I'm glad I wore my special bikini today."
"U-Uh...w-well...you s-see..." Tatsumi stuttered out in embarassment, as he rubbed the back of his neck, staring wide-eyed at the beautiful assassins. Leone was purposefully leaning forward, giving Tatsumi a very generous view of her exposed cleavage, her yellow and orange stripped bikini barely able to contain her ample breasts. Chelsea on the other hand wore a pale blue bikini that was adorned with various floral patterns. It wasn't quite as daring as Leone's swimsuit, but it suited the auburn-haired assassin perfectly. "Y-You both...l-look..."
"So..." Both girls said simultaneously, hugging Tatsumi's arms between their breasts, playful grins on both their faces. "What's your answer Tatsumi?"
"Uh...I uh...I-I..." Tatsumi stammered uncontrollably, as his face burned neon red, steam practically blowing out of his ears.
"Why didn't you ladies ask me?!" Lubbock exclaimed, stomping his foot in the sand in frustration. "I'd have shouted both your praises from the rooftops, while burying my head into your bosoms and singing the national fucking anthem! So, why'd you ask Tatsumi instead of me?!"
"Because we know you'd do something idiotic like that. I swear, sometimes you're as easy to read as an open book." Leone said in an irritated tone, as a look of disgust spread across her face. "No wonder most girls are grossed out by you."
"Yeah, if you want to get the boss' attention, you should probably ease up on the pervy shit." Chelsea said with a smirk, before biting down into her sucker, which caused it to break apart. "Or else you're gonna find your fragile, little heart broken." Lubbock stumbled over his words for several seconds, but wasn't able to come up with a proper rebuttal. Huffing in annoyance and crossing his arms over his chest, the green-haired assassin sat back down in his seat. Seeing that Lubbock would be not bothering them anymore, both girls turned their attention back to Tatsumi. "So Tatsumi...you never answered our question."
"Well...it's difficult to...you know..." Tatsumi mumbled, as he frantically looked around, searching for anything to get him out of this situation. The young assassin's eyes lit up in relief when he spotted Susanoo walking towards them; the humanoid teigu dressed only in a pair of swim trunks. "Hey Susanoo-" However, Tatsumi was cut off when Leone suddenly stepped in front of him, her massive breasts swaying inches away from his face.
"Ah ah, you're not getting out this one so easily." Leone said with a smirk, wagging her finger at Tatsumi. "You're gonna answer our question honestly, now stop stalling."
"Shit...she's not giving me many options here...I guess I'll just have to be honest." Tatsumi thought, as he released a light sigh, before he started to nervously scratch his cheek. "Well...Leone...you're bikini looks great...and the stripes and colors really compliment your beautiful eyes. The suit also perfectly shows off your curves and gorgeous body...hiding just enough to tease me with what's underneath." The busty blonde assassin was completely caught off guard by this response, her entire face instantly burning red in embarassment. Realizing the face she was making, Leone quickly spun around so that Tatsumi wouldn't see her.
"What the hell!? I totally wasn't ready for that! I thought he'd just freak out like usual and I'd tease him about it!" Leone thought, pressing her hands to her flushed cheeks, her heart thundering in her chest. "His compliments were so sincere too...I'm so happy right now..."
"*Whistle* Damn that sure was slick." Chelsea said with a playful smirk, as she locked eyes with Tatsumi. "I didn't know you had such a silver tongue Tatsumi...and it looked like you weren't even trying to do that. I must say that I'm rather impressed." Pulling a new sucker seemingly out of thin air, Chelsea put the candy in her mouth and swirled her tongue around it. "So...I heard you compliment Leone...but..." Her smirk widening ever so slightly, Chelsea walked right in front of Tatsumi, making sure to give him an eyeful of her cleavage. "What about me?" Tatsumi hesitated for a brief moment, as he ran his eyes up and down Chelsea's body. The auburn-haired assassin felt an odd sense of pride when she saw that Tatsumi was ogling her. Deciding to tease the young assassin even more, Chelsea leaned forward and rested her hands against Tatsumi's chest, squashing her breasts against his bare skin. "Well Tatsumi...if you're done staring at me...I'm waiting."
"You and Leone just don't know when to quit..." Tatsumi muttered underneath his breath, quickly regaining his composure and letting out a soft sigh. "If you want my honest opinion Chelsea...I don't think you could've picked a better swimsuit." This time it was Chelsea's turn to be surprised by Tatsumi's response, her eyes widening slightly. "The pale blue color contrasts well with your hair and eyes...and the floral pattern show your gentler side...you did an excellent job picking your suit."
"T-Thank you..." Chelsea said quietly, before she turned around and began to walk away, doing her best to hide her bright red face. Once Chelsea was far enough was, she placed a hand over her racing heart. "What's with that guy? Such a silly little compliment like that made me so happy all of a sudden...what's wrong with me?"
(Same Time: Cliff Overlooking the Lake)
"Looks like I was spot on...Leone and Chelsea were definitely messing with Tatsumi...but things got real quiet all of a sudden." Mine said, staring down at the other members of Night Raid below them. "What do you think happen-" The pink-haired sniper stopped mid-sentence when she saw the serious, contemplative look on Akame's face. "What's up Akame? You're just staring at nothing."
"Oh...I'm fine." Akame said, as she snapped out of her stupor. "There's nothing to worry about." Mine was inclined to believe Akame, but she didn't miss the red-eyed assassin nervously squeezing her arm.
"It's about your little sister, isn't it?" Mine asked, causing Akame to lower her gaze and release a light sigh. "Akame...you can tell me."
"Yeah it is." Akame muttered quietly, as she walked over and sat down next to Mine. "She's definitely coming after me...I'll be her main target. So, I can't stop all these thoughts flowing through my mind."
I won't say that I understand what you're going through Akame...because honestly I don't." Mine said, before resting a comforting hand on Akame's shoulder and smiling at the red-eyed assassin. "But even if your little sister dies...you won't be alone. You'll still have Tatsumi and the rest of us, and we'll likely be stuck with each other for a very long time. So be grateful for that."
"You're right." Akame said, as a small smile spread across her face. "Thanks Mine, I feel a little better now."
(The Next Day: Rosemary Highway)
"Najenda is continuing to move east, while Akame is heading south." Esdeath explained, reading the report she had received from her scouts. "They were spotted splitting into two teams when they left this town." Staring down at the field report, Esdeath turned her attention to a map that was laid out near by. "I see what you're planning Najenda...your plan would likely fool most people...but after fighting alongside you for so long I've learned the way you operate...okay I'll play your game and walk right into your trap...you're probably expecting me to do so anyway...besides I need some sort of excuse to escape the empire."
"If you keep going east from here, you'll reach Kyoroku, which is where The Way of Peace is based." Bols explained, as he pointed to a specific spot on the map. "And if you go south, you reach cities that support the rebels. Either way, it seems something is in the works."
"Then if we hurry, we can catch up with them in a flash." Wave added with a grin, gazing at the routes the Night Raid assassins were spotted on. "Let's get to it!"
"We'll get after them Wave, but there's no need to rush." Esdeath said, as she sat on the edge of a nearby fountain. "We've been traveling nonstop for almost an entire day, so we'll stay in this town for a short while to rest and recuperate."
"The general is right, this all sounds far too convenient and we must not be hasty." Run added, crossing his arms over his chest. "There's a high probability that this is a trap."
"So you mean thy intentionally drew attention to themselves?" Seryu asked, as she idly patted Coro, who was sitting in her lap. "Do you think they're trying to lure us out of the capital to eliminate us?"
"That does sound like a move Najenda would pull." Esdeath mused, an image of Najenda on a past battlefield flashing through her mind. A small smile spread across the blue-haired general's face, as she remembered fighting alongside the silver-haired leader of Night Raid. "She's a fighter who keeps cool, yet has a burning heart."
"That means it'd be dangerous for us to go after them." Wave muttered, as he stroked his chin. "I guess it would be a good idea if we didn't pursue them."
"Oh, I didn't say anything about not giving chase." Esdeath said with a smirk, resting her head on her palm. "This is an opportunity we cannot let slip by. Night Raid has been eluding us for months now, but they've finally exposed themselves. Now is the time to strike them down, even if they've laid a trap for us." Esdeath mentally kicked herself for for saying something like this. "I hate lying to men, it sickens me that I have to do something like this, but I can't let slip that I'm working with the revolutionary army now. For now I must act as if I'm still in pursuit of Night Raid." The blue-haired former general stared at her men, all of them awaiting their orders. "I swear, I'll try to spare as many of you as possible." Formulating a battle plan, Esdeath pointed to Seryu and Run. "Seryu, Run, and Wave will pursue Najenda. While Kurome, Bols, and I will give chase to Akame. Now pay close attention to what I'm about to say and take heed. Always keep your wits about you, and do not hesitate to retreat if you feel like you're about to be overwhelmed. We're on the offensive right now, but I do NOT want this to turn into a suicide mission. They're the last enemies plaguing the capital. Chase them down and take them out!" Esdeath's speech earned her a passionate cheer from all her men. "Alright, we'll move out in two hours. Take that time to rest and relax, get something to eat if you need to. But be prepared to move out as soon as I give word." The Jaegers all nodded in understand and began to disperse through the town. As Esdeath watched her men leave, her eyes narrowed slightly. "This might be my last chance to get through to one of them. Seryu and Kurome are a no go right now, nothing I say will change their minds. Wave is a possibility, he seems to not agree with everything we've been doing, but something seems to be keeping him from leaving." It was then that Esdeath's eyes landed on Bols. "Bols...he's probably my best bet." Eventually making up her mind, Esdeath walked over to the large, masked Jaeger. "Bols, if you can spare a minute, I'd like to talk with you in private."
"Of course general." Bols said, as he set down the book he was reading. "What would you like to discuss?"
"Not here." Esdeath said, gesturing to a nearby alley. "I'd like to talk away from where others might overhear us."
"Uh, sure thing general." Bols said in a slightly confused tone, as he followed Esdeath into the alleyway. "So general, what did you want?"
"Bols...have you ever thought about taking your family and leaving the capital...maybe even possibly fighting for the revolutionary army?" Esdeath asked, catching Bols completely by surprise. "Now I want you to answer me honestly."
"Are questioning my loyalty general? Because I would never-"
"I'm not questioning anything Bols..." Esdeath said, as she slowly shook her head. "Just answer my question. No matter what your answer is, I won't be upset with you."
"I...I..." Bols murmured in hesitation, tightly balling his fists, before he lowered his head. "*Sigh* Yes...it has crossed my mind before...perhaps not fighting for the revolutionary army...but I have thought about getting my family out of the capital."
"Then why haven't you?" Esdeath asked, as she crossed her arms underneath her chest. "I'm sure you've had opportunities before."
"I have...it's just...the only reason I keep doing this job is to keep my family safe..." Bols explained, staring down at his balled fists, as he heard hysterical screams of pure agony in the back his mind. "Every night...no...every time I close my eyes...I'm haunted by the things I've done...the countless people I've burned alive...I can't get their horrible screams out of my mind...one day karma is going to catch up to me...my sins are far too great." Bols paused for a brief moment to collect himself, before he started speaking once again. "You have no idea how much I would love to run away from this life with my family...to escape all the evil I've done...but I simply can't. My family is far safer within the capital...I can't protect them by myself forever...so because of that I must endure this occupation and continue to blacken my soul."
"So you only continue to work for the empire to protect your family..." Esdeath mused, which caused Bols to nod his head. "What if there was a way for you to protect your family? Would you consider leaving the empire then?"
"General...why are you-"
"Answer the question Bols." Esdeath ordered in a serious tone, giving the masked Jaeger no room to argue. "I want the truth."
"I suppose...if the opportunity arose...then I would gladly leave the empire...actually, nothing would make me happier. The empire...is a corrupt and disgusting place right now...full of men far more dangerous than any monster I've ever fought against...I don't want my family to live there anymore." Bols replied, before he hung his head in frustration. "But it's the only place I can truly keep them safe. As long as I keep doing the minister's dirty work, I can protect my family."
"You're a good man Bols, you'd do anything for your family...that much is very clear." Esdeath said with a small smile, patting the masked Jaeger on the shoulder. "I understand that you feel like the only way you can protect your family is by hiding them within the capital's wall, but there is another way." Esdeath noticed that Bols had suddenly perked up. "During this upcoming fight...if we really do run into Night Raid...if you have an opportunity to escape, I want you to take it, don't think or hesitate. Then you need to sneak into the capital, get your family, and then escape down the southern road. After about thirty miles you'll run into a small trading village. Head into the tavern and the tell the bartender the phrase, 'Honest men tell no lies.' He'll lead you into a hidden room in the back, where you'll meet with several soldiers working for the revolutionary army." Bols looked like he was about to speak up, but Esdeath quickly stopped him. "I know you're confused right now and that you have a lot of questions, but you must listen to me very carefully. If you want any chance to leave the empire and escape the capital with your family, then you have to do as I say." Bols stared at Esdeath for several moments, before he slowly nodded his head. "After you meet the soldiers, I want you to tell them exactly who you are and why you are there, do not lie to them. They may try to ask you some questions, they may even rough you up a bit, but I promise you that they won't harm your family. Once they're done, they'll place you under their protection and escort to a more secure revolutionary army camp. There you'll be safe with your family, and if you wish you'll never have to fight again."
"General...this all sounds too good to be true...you have no idea how tempting this all sounds." Bols said in a shaky voice, as he tightly balled his fists. "But if you don't mind general...may I ask you just one question?"
"I have a feeling I know what is, but go right ahead." Esdeath said with a smirk, resting her hands on her hips. "Well Bols, ask away."
"How do you know all this info about the revolutionary army?" Bols asked, as he locked eyes with Esdeath. "This doesn't seem like information they'd want leaking out...and how exactly can you guarantee me and my family's safety?"
"Ah, now isn't that the million dollar question?" Esdeath said with a light chuckle, before wagging her finger at Bols. "But I'm afraid I can't answer those questions just yet. All I can tell you, is that I have a connection within the revolutionary army. However, I'll be happy to answer more of questions once this fight is over. For now you'll just have to trust me." Esdeath stared at Bols for several more moments, before she began to walk out of the alley. "Feel free to ignore everything I said Bols, but if you want to get your family away from the capital you'll follow the instructions I gave you. You're a big man, you need to make an important decision now...I just hope you make the right choice." Stopping at the alley's entrance, Esdeath turned her head to look back at Bols. "Oh, and don't tell anyone else about this little chat, it'll just be a secret between us." With one last wave, Esdeath walked out of the alley. "Now hurry up and get some rest, we set out in an hour!"
"A chance to finally escape this hellhole...and keep my family safe..." Bols muttered to himself, before he reached into his pocket and took out a small locket. Opening the small golden accessory, Bols stared down at a picture of his wife and daughter. Bols weighed his all his options, as he stared at the picture of his family. After a few minutes he closed the locket and tightly closed his fist around it. "It may be risky...but I can't keep my family in that horrible city any longer...I'm sorry everyone...but today I'll leave the empire forever."
And done! AHA! I finally got this chapter out! Well it's official, Bols is now set on leaving the empire with his family, but will he escape safely?! You'll just have to wait and find out! Next chapter will start the fighting between everyone, get ready for lots of action and few surprises! Also, I made a slight change about who the Jaegers go after. In the original story, Esdeath goes after Najenda and Wave goes after Akame. However, I swapped them because Wave does literally nothing in the upcoming fight aside from blocking a hit for Kurome and getting blasted away. I figured that if Esdeath was with the group that pursues Akame, she'll have a better chance to make her escape as well. I'll write one more chapter for this fic before I start work on my Pokemon fic, so look forward to that! Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW(I NEED AND LOVE ALL YOUR FEEDBACK), check out my profile and other fics if you haven't already, and PM me any ideas you have for any of my fics. So until next time, I'm outta here!