CHAPTER 8: NEW ARRIVAL

The entire trip home was awkward. Returning to the hideout was uncomfortable. Everything felt out of place. Mine wasn't even sure what to say regarding this whole situation.

Bringing Sanfred to the hideout was a terrible idea. She couldn't believe that it was happening. After speaking with Leone, she had hoped that her friend would back off. Instead, Leone was incredibly friendly to Sanfred, as if there was nothing wrong with him. Mine tried to tell Leone the truth… but it didn't come out quite accurately. Leone knew that Sanfred was involved in her abduction previously. That alone was dangerous knowledge.

Even with potential danger ahead, Sanfred barely spoke a word. He was calm, polite, and responded to all of Leone's questions. However, Leone wasn't asking him any details about when he tried to bring Mine in for the reward money. Mine saw right through that. She knew that Leone was clever enough to steer clear of that subject. What she wanted was to get Sanfred before the General.

Once that happened, there was a strong chance Sanfred would be executed.

Mine had to grapple with the details. She did genuinely like Sanfred. As extraordinary and inconvenient as her crush was, she was already past the point of acknowledging it. Now, she had to figure out how to make sure that her comrades didn't slay him. Sanfred was a great warrior, but he didn't stand a chance in battle against Night Raid. Akame alone would annihilate him if she decided it was justified.

That meant Mine was going to have to do the unthinkable. Most likely… she was going to have to confess her feelings to Night Raid. They would mock her, laugh at her, insult her endlessly after it was over. Stockholm Syndrome Genius Sniper. She could already envision the endless awkwardness.

Upon arriving at the hideout, Sanfred remained quiet. He wasn't voicing his thoughts about anything, even now.

"Come on," Leone spoke up, laughing as she often did. "Tell me what you think?"

"Looks like a giant mouth," he commented.

"For a man of few words," Leone replied, "I was expecting less of a little kid response."

"Yeah," Sanfred said, looking away evasively. "I'm not really good with giving bold responses."

"Let's hurry up, already," Mine said anxiously, "There's a lot to discuss inside."

Sanfred locked eyes with Mine for a few moments. He looked intrigued by what was to come. However, he noticed that Mine was incredibly uneasy.

Upon seeing Mine's mood, Sanfred began to review the situation. He had promised to show more care for aspects in life, but so far, he hadn't done that. It made him feel guilty, and he felt the urge to honor his own vow. Mine was stressing out, and he had a good guess as to why: Sanfred was going to be on trial for what he did before. Night Raid wasn't going to just welcome him into their organization. Even if they did, he didn't really want to join. There was so little logic in him coming to this place.

Yet… here he was.

That made Sanfred reconsider his previous thoughts. Clearly, he was drawn to Mine. She was somehow able to get him to go along with the crazy shift in developments that resulted from their chance encounter. But that wasn't really the problem. The issue now was that he was entering a nest filled with scorpions. They had stingers… and they had his scent. He had offended their organization. They would kill him.

So… the decision. Sanfred had to address his instincts telling him that his life was at risk, but he also had to honor his word to Mine where he promised to express more care for what she held dear.

"Welcome back," a masculine voice spoke up.

Sanfred looked around but saw no one.

Suddenly, a robotic figure appeared, as if he'd been invisible. "Don't worry. I am invisible!" he declared.

"It's less impressive when you announce it out loud," Leone said with a laugh.

"Oh, right. Still, I saw his face. He was freaking out for like two seconds there."

Sanfred did continue to stare in surprise. "An Arms user?"

"We all are," Leone mentioned. "Thought you would have figured that out by now."

"I suppose I should have known." Sanfred nodded, keeping his opinions mostly hidden.

Mine kept her eyes glued to him. She was concerned with his reactions. After their conversation, she was hoping that at least he would be impressed by the Imperial Arms he saw. This entire place… it was her life.

As if he read her mind, Sanfred stood up straight, gazing ahead, almost proudly. "Looks like quite a hideout," he spoke in astonishment. "At least, you guys have picked a location that's nice and isolated."

"Aw, thanks!" the no longer invisible assassin replied in friendly fashion. "My name is Bulat, but you can just call me Bro."

"Santo Federico… but I go by Sanfred."

For some reason, Mine felt offended to have not known that information beforehand. She didn't even know Sanfred's last name. Which was fine because she had disowned her own last name. Based on Sanfred's stories about his family, he wasn't exactly on good terms with them.

"Sanfred, follow me." Bulat led the cavalry now, bringing the group of four toward the entrance to the building.

Once they climbed the final hills before the fortress, the rest of Night Raid was standing outside. The full moon shone down upon them, as the elite assassins demonstrated their coordination. There were five others, all standing in different spots, equal distance apart from each other, weapons in hand.

"It's about time we meet this new fellow," Najenda, the woman with one eye and a metallic right arm spoke up boldly, taking the lead. "You may call me the General. What is your name?"

"His name is Santo Federico," Bulat answered on his behalf. "He goes by Sanfred."

While the new arrival looked irritated to have Bulat speaking for him, he nodded and acknowledged the introduction. "Nice to meet you."

"I suppose it could be nice," Najenda admitted. "Anyway, meet the rest of the team. Akame, Lubbock, Sheele, and Tatsumi."

The rest of the assassins posed and waved in their own ways.

"Pleasure," Sanfred replied, maintaining his manners.

The entire time, Mine watched nervously. Her mind was a traffic intersection without power for the lights. What could she say that would help smooth things over? It would be best if she could prove to the others that she wasn't making a foolish decision based on her emotions. After all, the lives of her comrades were at stake with decisions like these. If Sanfred threatened any of them, it would be on Mine's conscience.

"I need to be filled in," Najenda said, eager to get a move on. "Who wants to begin?"

"I will," Mine said, quickly stepping in.

"Nah, little one, I got this." Instead, Leone held her back and walked forward, primed and ready to release everything she'd been holding in.

"Shit," Mine thought inside. That seemed to confirm her fears.

Leone had everyone's attention, so she got to it. "This handsome lad here is the one responsible for abducting Mine a month ago. He's the one who attempted to sell her for reward money."

The rage began to build up amongst them, especially when they looked back and forth to see each other's reactions.

"It's not like that," Mine spoke up. "You don't understand."

"Don't understand?" When it came to Night Raid, Najenda was rarely caught off guard like this. "What are you trying to say, Mine? Is this not the man responsible?"

"Well… yes." Mine growled and held both hands up. "But that was before. He saved my life during that time. He's not an enemy."

"Saved your life?" Akame spoke up now. "A clever way to intrude on this sacred base. He acquired your trust, but now he's found our hideout."

"What were you thinking?" Lubbock stammered.

Leone let out an animalistic snarl as she turned to Mine. "Look, Hun. I know you seem a bit… infatuated with the guy… but he's an enemy. No two ways about it."

"He's not our enemy," Mine declared loudly.

While that was going on, Sanfred watched her in bewilderment. This was getting out of hand fast. It was bad enough that he was making the team uncomfortable, but he really didn't want to ruin things for Mine. It was clear he was a black sheep here.

Therefore, he wanted to make his exit. "No need to push for me, Mine," he said, almost pleadingly. "Better off just letting me go."

"But… what about what we discussed before?" Mine was pleading now.

"Well…" Sanfred looked away evasively, but he sighed and nodded. "Fine. You are all members of Night Raid. I've known your identities for a long time now. I am a bounty hunter. I find fliers with rewards in the Capital, and I go after them. I'm an opportunist. Better that than joining their armies and police forces. More freedom this way."

Najenda raised an eyebrow and watched Sanfred closely. "So… you confess to having abducted Mine, and attempted to sell her for the reward money?"

Sanfred shrugged. "Technically I never sold her or attempted to sell her. Of that, I'm ultimately innocent."

"But that was your plan, right?"

"It may have crossed my mind," Sanfred admitted. "Do you not at times consider killing someone, only to let the urge pass by?"

"A fair point," Najenda said with a nod. "Even so, you committed a grave offense by imprisoning Mine. She's one of our family. We can't be so forgiving of that sort of thing."

"I forgive him," Mine pointed out. "I've already dealt with the situation. I faced him and I let out my anger… then I forgave him."

"Maybe we aren't so forgiving," Akame mentioned, already pressing her fingers on the hilt of her blade.

Najenda focused on the obstacle in place at the moment. "Mine? Why are you defending him so strongly? Is what Leone said true? You are… infatuated?"

With a heavy growl, Mine crossed her arms and tried to turn away. But her stubbornness gave way faster than she had expected. Her eyes watered up and she kept her hands down by the sides of her dress. "He's… really nice. And he really did save my life. I don't hate him at all."

Bulat removed his helmet, revealing his face at last. "Do you even have any interest in joining Night Raid, Sanfred? Why did you even come to this place?"

Sanfred shrugged his shoulders, unsure of how to be convincing. "I've never been very good at following orders. That's why I've worked by myself all this time. Even though I had a partner, I got to call the shots. It was liberating having that kind of freedom." With that out of the way, he held his hands up toward the hideout beyond them. "This place, this organization… this world… you are all living in a big place. Fighting a big war. So much conviction. You don't get to live small this way. And living small is my way of staying alive. I wouldn't have chosen this path for myself."

"But why not?" Mine said, addressing Sanfred directly. "Why not try? You're here, and you have great talent. And I'm here. I don't know… what else do you have waiting for you back out there?" After saying it, she realized how ugly it sounded.

Even the normally composed Sanfred was upset to hear it. "I had been expecting a greater understanding from you by now. Guess I was wrong."

"Wait, no," Mine said, struggling to repair her statement. "That's not what I meant. I just meant that you being here means a lot to me. I wanted to show you what I do with my life. I get it, it's different than what you do, but… it's still important."

For whatever reason, that seemed to get Sanfred to simmer down. "Indeed. However, it seems as though your family remains bitter in response to my crime. Therefore, it's only fair that we resolve it."

"Give him a chance," Mine practically begged. "Please."

Najenda stared, hardly able to believe that Mine of all people was pouring her heart out. This was the most uptight member of the team. Mine was more of a brat, and she never let anyone off the hook for any foul deed or rudeness. Considering the tough upbringing she'd been through, Mine was the hardest member of the team to win over.

Somehow, Sanfred had gotten her to like him. That wasn't normal.

"I will not force Night Raid to take in someone they do not trust," Najenda finally decided. "We shall put it to a vote. Anyone willing to let Sanfred join our team, raise your hand."

When it went to the floor, only Mine and Sheele were willing to support Sanfred's invitation. The rest waited for the next vote.

"Those opposed to letting Sanfred join Night Raid, raise your hands."

Hands went up from Najenda, Leone, Tatsumi, Bulat, Lubbock, and Akame.

Needless to say, Sanfred nodded and accepted the outcome quickly. "You've said your piece. Now, I will be going."

"Not so fast," Leone spoke up. "Now that you've seen this place… you can't leave here alive."

"Oh," Sanfred replied nonchalantly. "All right. We doing this then?" His hand went to his sword, still ready in his hilt.

Mine saw what was happening… and knew that she had to act fast. "Wait!" she shouted, running over to Sanfred now, regardless of how the others felt.

Suddenly, wires came flying out from Lubbock's weapon, tying up Mine. "Sorry, Mine," he said, legitimately feeling sad about it. "We need to deal with this."

"Get these ropes off me right now!" she demanded.

Apparently, Sanfred sensed that Mine was in danger. He withdrew his sword and lunged, in a lightning flash. The blade went through the threads with tremendous speed. It was a series of swipes, and Mine was freed almost instantly.

"Whoa," Sanfred muttered, glancing at his sword. The threads had been incredibly powerful because his sword was worn out from the maneuver.

"What just happened?" Lubbock stammered.

"He's attacking," Akame announced, bringing out her own sword. "I shall slay him."

There was no time to stop them. Akame surged forward, bringing her sword at Sanfred with blinding speed. He parried her blows, stepping away, shifting in different directions. When he changed direction, it was unnaturally fast. Each step and hop varied in distance, and Sanfred seemed to roll with the strikes effortlessly.

Mine realized that it was the matador style he was utilizing there.

Even so, Akame paid it little mind. She just increased her speed, until she disarmed Sanfred by prying the sword from his hand. Next, she swung her blade, which would kill with one stroke due to the poison.

"Akame, no!" Mine pleaded. "Don't kill him!"

Despite the pleading, Akame was set on her task. She came diving in, aiming for Sanfred's head. He stopped moving suddenly, inviting her to attack. She obliged him, swinging the sword with incredibly speed. Just before it hit, Sanfred got his hand up and blocked the handle, similar to how he had defeated the soldiers in the previous battle. Even so… the end of the blade was in his right hand, with blood oozing out.

Mine gasped and began shoving her comrades aside while racing over to Sanfred at full speed.

"Mine," Akame said, stopping to look back at her friend. "Stay back."

"I won't!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

Sanfred stared at them, confusion in his eyes. The poison began to kick in and his whole body wrenched. "Ah, I see. Clever."

"Sanfred!" Mine went past Akame and held her arms out for Sanfred.

"He's got poison in his blood," Akame pointed out. "Stay back. You will get sick and die as well."

"But…"

Surprisingly, Sanfred pushed Mine away with his left hand, even while he was falling to the ground. "Do me a favor, Rosa. Don't get sick, too."

Mine knew she had to avoid getting caught by the poison. But it was so painful knowing that Sanfred was going to die now… and she hated the feeling of helplessness. "I don't understand… why?" She turned back to Akame, and then the others. "Why? He was a good man. You didn't need to slay him."

A loud gagging sound got Mine's attention. When she turned back, Sanfred vomited on the ground nearby. Certainly not a charming motion, but his vomit was glowing with a black and white aura. Suddenly, he returned to his feet, standing quietly, like nothing was wrong.

"What happened?" Mine stammered.

"I got rid of the poison," he replied calmly.

Akame stomped forward. "Impossible. No one can survive that curse."

Sanfred gazed at her now. "I've already got one curse to deal with. The last thing I need is another."

Najenda began to approach Sanfred now. "What she's saying is that the poison from her blade kills any person if it gets into their blood. Yet you just survived it."

"Yup."

Mine went from staring dumbfounded to growing furious. "Wait a minute. You knew you were going to survive! But you let me think that you were about to die! That's so messed up!"

"Here we go again," Sanfred said, shaking his head. "You really can't just calm down, can you? You just blame everything on me and get all furious whenever you don't fully understand something."

With that, the two of them walked up to each other and resumed their quarrel, yelling and shouting back and forth to no end.

Meanwhile, the rest of Night Raid came together to weigh the situation. "Maybe there really is something to those two," Bulat admitted.

"And maybe we were a little quick to judge," Tatsumi added hesitantly.

"He is certainly an interesting character," Najenda commented. "Anyway, let us keep him under close watch for now. Let's give it a few days and then we'll reconsider our verdict. Sound fair?"

Everyone else nodded in agreement, while Mine and Sanfred continued to bicker endlessly.