Disclaimer: I own nothing but my O.C.s
Enjoy!
After Night Raid finished their mission involving the rich family, Alan was in the meeting table room with Sheele who was reading a book that read One Hundred Ways to Cure Being an Airhead. Alan was deep in thought trying to process what happened last night. Hearing the horrors of the Empire was one thing for him. But witnessing what he just saw was a nightmare. Alan figured that there were places similar like that around the Capital and wanted to end it.
On the other hand he was amazed that the new guy called Tatsumi was able to survive Akame's sword Murasame. He heard that the sword carried a deadly poison that would kill a person if touched by it. The thought of it still scares him when he was so close in being killed by it.
"Was that the first time you killed someone? You look tense." Sheele asked starting a conversation.
"What? Oh, no it wasn't. Last time, I was trying to protect someone." Alan answered.
"What happened?" She asked. He thought for a moment and decided to share his story.
"While I was in Koryo academy, we got attacked by an organization called the Rebels. Nothing like the Revolutionary Army we have here. One of their soldier's tried to attack Akira. But I managed to stop him by killing him. I didn't realized it until a little later." Alan explained.
"I knew that I would have to take lives as Overseer. But I was never ready for it. I just wish there were other ways." He finished.
"I understand how you're feeling and it's a good thing that you do. It's what makes you human." Sheele said.
Alan looked at her.
"You wish to find ways to avoid killing unless you didn't have a choice. I'm sure people like Tor and Akira feel the same way. But sometimes it has be done if you wish to save innocent lives." Sheele explained.
"I know but it doesn't make it any better." He said looking down.
"If you're ever in pain, I'll be there to help you." She smiled kindly.
"Thanks Sheele, I appreciate it." Alan smiled back.
When finishing his story earlier, Alan realized it's been past three years since he fought K and Chrome. After the killing game. Chrome disappeared and hasn't shown up since. Alan had a feeling of seeing him again during those years but could not wait any longer for his next encounter.
"Where could he have been after all those years?" Alan thought. His thoughts were interrupted as Leone and Tatsumi entered the room.
"Hey Alan, hey Sheele." Leone greeted.
"Hey Leone. You showing the new guy around?" Alan asked.
"Yep" She nodded happily.
"Hey! I never said I'd joined!" Tatsumi replied.
"Oh, you still haven't joined after what's happened?" Sheele asked.
"He still hasn't decided but I was hoping that you would be able to convince him." Leone said.
"Well, since you know where our hideout is, if you don't join then we'll have to kill you." She stated.
"Is that supposed to convince me or a threat?" Tastumi asked nervously.
"We just had a talk about this and she already starts threatening him?" Alan thought.
"Why not think about it while Leone shows you around." Alan suggested.
"Yes, take some time to think it over." Sheele said then went back to reading her book. Tatsumi glanced at the book she was reading.
"One Hundred Ways to Cure Being an Airhead." He read.
"How did I end up with these weird people?" Tatsumi thought. He noticed Alan looking at him.
"Wait, you're the guy who saved me from that Akame girl." Tatsumi said.
"Yeah, it was a close call. Name's Alan, nice to meet you by the way." He introduced.
"Um, yeah. You too. I'm Tatsumi." He said starting to feel less nervous.
"At least this guy seems normal." Tatsumi thought.
"WHAT THE HELL!" A familiar voice exclaimed. They turned and saw Mine.
"Leone, why did you bring this guy to our hideout?" Mine demanded pointing at Tatsumi.
"He's one of us now." Leone answered.
"I don't remember agreeing to that." She responded.
"Really? Cause I thought your opinion was not needed." Alan remarked.
"Shut it, Newbie!" Mine shouted. She approached Tatsumi and looked at him in the eyes.
"You fail." Mine said as she turned around. "Getting our last four recruits was bad enough. There's no way you would fit in with us. I can tell by looking at you.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Tatsumi replied angrily.
"Don't mind her. Mine just thinks she's in charge." Alan said. Leone quietly giggled.
"What was that?!" Mine exclaimed as Alan smirked at her reaction.
"Sounds like you two are having fun." A female voice said. They turned and saw Akira standing at the door.
"Oh hi Akira, what brings you here?" Alan asked.
"Just thought I'd say hi on my way to the hot springs." She said.
"You really enjoy those don't you?" He asked.
"How can I not? They're very relaxing." Akira said.
"I can understand that." Alan replied.
"You know you can always join me if you want." She teased.
"I'd rather not." Alan said as he turned away blushing.
Akira and Leone slightly giggled. Akira then noticed Tatsumi.
"So you're the new guy. It's nice to meet a new member. I'm Akira Yuuki." Akira said.
"Oh, I'm Tatsumi." He responded back.
"Akira loves adventuring and has a habit of teasing people. Especially her partner, Alan." Leone said.
"Did you really have to mention me in that way?" Alan asked annoyed.
"Anyway, let me continue showing you around the place." Leone said as she grabbed Tatsumi's arm and left with him.
Tatsumi followed Leone as she continued showing him around the base.
"This is the training ground where we blow off some steam and look who's sparring with each other. The big guy is Bulat. The other guy is Tor."
Bulat had his shirt off while Tor was in a t-shirt and shorts.
Tor ran towards Bulat and started punching him rapidly. Bulat was blocking them all with his wooden spear. Bulat swung his spear with force. It knocked Tor back against the wall.
"What's wrong Tor? I thought you were stronger than that." Bulat said.
"Believe me, I'm just getting started!" Tor said as he got up and continued the offense.
"That's it!" Bulat encouraged as he was about to swing his spear again.
"Blaze on!" Tor shouted as he summoned his shield to where the spear was about to hit him.
Tor blocked it and got close to him and used his martial arts skills to throw him on the ground. Bulat quickly got up and put more strength with his spear. Tor blocked it with his shield but was pushed back by its power and fell to the ground.
"Amazing. These two are strong." Tatsumi thought as he witnessed the sparring match.
"Not bad. Your technique almost had me there. Keep improving on that body and you might get stronger than me." Bulat smiled as he was sweating.
"Thanks Bulat. That was great match." Tor replied in the same state.
"I told you call me Bro or Handsome." Bulat reminded.
"Oh, right. Sorry Bro." He said.
Bulat noticed Leone and Tatsumi watching.
"Oh, you're the kid from the other day." Bulat said as he walked toward them.
"Have we met?" Tatsumi asked.
"Huh? Oh I should've figured you wouldn't recognized me without my armor." He answered.
"Name's Bulat. Pleasure to meet you." He introduced holding out his hand.
"And I'm Tor." He introduced.
"Uh, hello I'm Tatsumi." He said shaking Bulat's hand.
"By the way, he's gay." Leone mentioned which caused him to let go of his hand.
"Ha, come on, don't give him the wrong idea… yet." Bulat said as he blushed.
"I can think of a lot of wrong ideas." Tatsumi thought.
"Still so weird!" Tor thought stuttered by his response.
In the hot springs. Lubbock was laying on the ground hiding. He saw Akira entering the bath and was about to undress.
"Yes! It may not be Leone. But Akira is the second best choice! What I will give to see those boobs of her." Lubbock said quietly.
"Then… how about you give me two fingers." Leone said as she was behind him. He screamed in pain and Leone pulled his arm as he was on the ground.
"You never learn." She said.
"I'm not giving up damn it!" Lubbock yelled.
"Then how about I break your arm." Leone said.
"You're good Akira! I made sure this pervert isn't peeping on you!" She called.
"Thanks Leone, remind me to pay him back later." Akira responded.
"This idiot is Lubbock." Leone introduced to Tatsumi.
It was already sunset. Tatsumi was following Leone by a river.
"I'm not sure how much more I could take." Tatsumi complained.
"Don't worry, the next two are adorable. So you won't be disappointed. They're over there." Leone pointed in that direction. Tatsumi looked and saw Akame and Julie eating pieces of a giant bird that is cooked on a fire.
"Aren't they cute?" Leone commented.
"Hmm?" Akame turned around.
"Wait, did these two kill that evil bird themselves?" Tatsumi asked shocked.
"Akame grew up in the wild and Julie started to get pretty good at hunting." She explained.
"Leone, you eat too." Akame said tossing a piece of meat to her.
"Thanks." She replied.
"It's very good. So tasty. So delicious and big." Julie said as she chewing her piece of bird meat.
"Why does she have to say it so strangely?!" Tatsumi thought.
"Did you join us?" Akame asked.
"No." He responded.
"Then I won't be sharing my meat with you." She said.
"I didn't want any." Tastumi said.
"Is everyone jacked up today?" Leone said.
"The boss is back." Julie said.
"The boss?" Tatsumi asked.
Leone went to the other side of the fire and saw Najenda.
"Boss!" She greeted.
"Yo." Najenda waved.
"Welcome back. Did you bring any souvenirs for me?" Leone asked.
"Why would I do that?" Najenda asked.
"Huh?"
"I heard your recent job was done three days over the time limit." She stated.
"Crap!" Leone blurted out and attempted to run. Najenda caught her with her mechanical arm extending towards her and pulled her back.
"I wouldn't recommend having too much fun in fighting. You should know that by now." She stated.
"Okay, okay, I get it! Will you please let me go?!" Leone said.
"Anyway, who's this boy?" Najenda asked as she released her.
"Oh right, I recommended him to join us." Leone answered.
"Really, does he have potential?" She asked.
"Absolutely." Leone smiled.
"Just give it a try. Okay?" She said to Tatsumi.
"What is this, a part time job?!" He exclaimed.
"Akame, gather everyone together. I want the report including the boy." Najenda ordered.
All the members were in the meeting room along with Tatsumi. Najenda was on her chair at the back of the center of the room.
"I see. I understand the situation. Tatsumi, how would you like to join Night Raid?" Najenda said holding out her prosthetic hand to him.
"Are you going to kill me if I refuse?" Tatsumi asked.
"No, but we won't let you leave. You'll stay here and work in our workshop. Either way, you're stuck with us. But I recommend you join." She said. Tatsumi gazed down and clenched his fists.
"Originally, I was going to go work for the Capital so I can save my village from poverty. But the Capital was corrupted." He explained.
"Tatsumi, corruption is what's causing poverty all over the country. Don't you want to destroy the root of the source? Like a man." Bulat asked.
"Bulat was once a high skilled solider in the imperial army. But he joined us when he found out about the Empire's corruption." Najenda explained.
"By eliminating this evil in the Capital. You'll be helping your village. Certainly a lot better than working for those bastards." Alan said. Tor and Akira nodded.
"Alan and his group have had their first experience in the Capital and are already motivated to put an end to it. And he is right, you'll be saving your village from poverty by ridding the rotten people." Najenda explained.
"I know, but… you won't be changing anything by killing a few bad guys. It won't save my village either." Tatsumi said.
"In that case, Night Raid is perfect fit for you." Najenda said.
"Why's is that?" He asked confused.
"There's an anti-empire group called the Revolutionary Army south of the Capital.
"An army?" Tatsumi asked.
They started small but they've grown into a large organization. They needed a unit to specialize in covert operations like recon and assassination. That's Night Raid." She explained.
"For now, we're extinguishing one fire after another. But when the Revolutionary Army makes its move, we'll use this confusion to reach the source of the corruption. The prime minister." Najenda continued.
"You want to kill him?" He asked.
"Then, our nation will truly change." She finished.
"If our nation changed, will the citizens be treated well?" Tatsumi asked.
"Certainly." Najenda answered.
"Then that means, by killing these bad guys and taking out the trash, you're like a team of assassins of justice." Tatsumi concluded.
The members of Night Raid burst out laughing except for Akame and the Protectors who were silent.
"What? What's so funny?" He asked.
"That's exactly what Akira said when she joined. But it's still murder." Leone said.
"There's no justice in that." Sheele said.
"Any day, we may atone for the blood that we spill." Bulat said.
"It's not something I like to do but I will do whatever it takes to destroy this corruption." Alan said.
"The same goes for me." Akira said.
"We all have our reasons for doing this. I assume you have yours as well." Tor said.
"We know what the stakes and we're prepared for it." Julie said.
"Indeed, we all have the resolve. Do you have that resolve?" Najenda asked.
"Will I get paid for this?" He asked.
"Of course. If you work hard enough, you'll make more than enough to save your village." She said.
"Then, I'll join! Let me join Night Raid." Tatsumi said.
"You might not be able to return to your village, you know." Mine told him.
"That does not matter as long as they live happily." He said.
"Very well then. Welcome to the life of Night Raid." Najenda said.
"You're dismissed for the night. Akame, you'll be training him along with Alan. If he slacks off, you can kill him." She said.
"Understood." Akame replied.
"What? Understood?" Tatsumi exclaimed.
"Good luck Tatsumi. Your life depends on it." Leone said.
"I thought my training with her would be done by now." Alan protested.
"You still need to improve your cooking." Akame told him. Alan had his head down in defeat.
"I think it's important to learn how to do your own cooking." Akira said.
"I'm a fighter not a chef." He protested.
"Akira's got a point, Alan." Tor said. Alan sighed in response.
"Well, at least I'm not alone in this." Alan said as he looked at Tatsumi.
"Come on! I want seconds!" Mine called.
"Bring me some too." Bulat said.
"Me too" Tor said.
"I'll take some." Lubbock said.
"Same with me." Julie said.
"Yes, please." Sheele said.
"Are they trying to drive us crazy?!" Alan thought annoyed while Tatsumi was already familiar how to cook but was also irritated by them.
They later returned to the kitchen.
"I thought I was supposed to be an assassin. Not a chef." Tatsumi complained as he was peeling an apple.
"Yeah but you'll learn more about it soon enough." Alan said as he already learned the meaning behind Akame's training but still needed to learn more about cooking.
"What's there to learn about?" He asked irritated.
"No point complaining. I'm just in charge of the food." Akame said as she eats a grape.
"That's just because you could keep sampling the food." Tatsumi deadpanned.
"That's what I said." Alan agreed.
"Not true." She replied as kept eating a few grapes.
"You're a terrible lair." Tatsumi said.
"Look at this, right at the kitchen where you belong." Mine teased.
"What'd you say?!" Tatsumi exclaimed. He turned and saw the six entered the kitchen.
"See ya, Tatsumi." Bulat said.
"Wait? Are you leaving somewhere?" He asked.
"This one is a special assignment." Tor answered.
"Special assignment. Shouldn't I come?" Tatsumi asked.
"You stay in the kitchen. You and Alan can cook something good for me." Mine said then started laughing.
"Don't worry, I'll be make something for the little kid." Alan said adding as an insult. Mine stopped laughing.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!" Mine responded angrily.
"I mean judging from the size. I assumed you were a kid." He said knowing he's adding more fuel to the fire.
"I'm older than you think!" She shouted.
"Then I guess appearances really are deceiving." Alan smirked. Tatsumi was having a hard time not to laugh. Mine was about to lunge at him. But Tor immediately grabbed her and dragged her out with the team.
"LET GO OF ME! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Mine yelled as she was swinging her arms
"Can you please let this go Mine? We got to leave." Tor said as he continued dragging her away.
"We'll see you when we get back." Sheele said as the rest of them took their leave.
"See you later." Alan said.
"Why do you antagonize her?" Tatsumi asked.
"I figured it'll get her fueled up on her mission. Plus I can't help it, I just like making Mine angry." He answered.
"Shall we take lives?" Akame asked.
"You mean hunting right?" Alan asked.
"Of course. I expect you to understand." She responded.
The three arrived at a waterfall and stopped at the cliff in front of it.
"Wow. This place is pretty nice." Tatsumi complimented.
"Today, we'll be catching fish for dinner." Akame stated as she was undressing.
Tatsumi was caught back and fell on the ground and covered his eyes.
"What's the problem?" Akame asked revealed to be wearing a white swimsuit.
"Oh, it's just a swimsuit." Tatsumi said sighed in relief.
"I know it got to me too once." Alan said as he blushed a little.
"Our target is Koga tuna. This is the best place for them." Akame stated.
"You're talking about those big fish right?" Alan asked. She nodded.
"But aren't those fish hard to catch?" Tatsumi asked. Akame dived into the water and began searching for fish.
"Might as well get started." Alan said as he began to take his shirt off and jumped into the water.
Moments later fish flew up out the water and landed in the basket Tatsumi was carrying. Akame came out the water.
"First you have to swim to the bottom and remain still then strike when your prey is near. You have to do it quickly." Akame stated.
As soon as she finished speaking. A few more fish came flying out of the water and landed in the basket. Alan soon came out of the water.
"Think you can do it?" He asked.
"You've improved your fishing skills." Akame said to him.
"Thanks." He replied.
"Alright then, bring it on!" Tatsumi said eagerly as he took his shirt off.
"So in the end, Tatsumi caught only two fish." Najenda said as the remaining Night Raid members were enjoying dinner.
"I heard from Akame that you took off your shirt and yelled 'bring it on!'" Leone said chuckled.
"I wish I could have heard that." Akira said giggled. Alan smiled and shook his head in amusement.
"You still need work." Akame stated.
"Anyway, Leone, Akira. What did you find out?" Najenda asked.
"All right, the targets are Ogre the imperial guard, Mantis the frame and Gamal the oil merchant. According to our client, Ogre's been taking bribes from Gamal. When Gamal commits a crime, Ogre sends Mantis who secretly works for him, to place false evidence on someone innocent. The client's fiancé was one of them and was put to death." Leone explained.
"This is her payment." Akira said setting the bag of money on the table.
"I didn't think she could give us this much." Tatsumi said.
"She smelled of disease. She must have been selling her body." Leone said.
"I just wish we could've done more." Akira said sadly.
"Is it confirmed?" Najenda asked.
"No doubt about it. They're guilty." Leone answered. Najenda gets a cigarette out and light it.
"Then Night Raid will accept this assignment. The new nation has no room for these scum." She said.
"There shouldn't be too much trouble with the oil merchant or Mantis. But Ogre is another story, he's a demon. He's skilled with a sword that even criminals fear. He's also surrounded by his lackeys. He's never seen alone. He's careful that he only collects Gamal's money in his private room or when he sends Mantis to frame another person. But when he's off duty, he goes drinking on Main Street close to the palace." Leone explained.
"Then we know when to strike." Tatsumi pointed out.
"Yes, but that area is guarded and we can't send Akame since they've seen her face." Najenda stated.
"You could send me and Akira. They haven't seen our face." Alan said.
"Can you do it?" She asked.
"You've seen how good we are in fighting besides I want to take down this bastard." Alan answered as Akira nodded.
"I think we should wait for the others to get back." Akame suggested.
"But we have no idea when they'll be back." Tatsumi pointed out. Akame nodded.
Tatsumi put his hand on the table. "In that case, we should do this mission without them." He suggested.
"You think you're capable of killing Ogre yourself." Najenda asked.
"Huh?"
"With the way you were putting it, it sounded like you want to defeat him yourself." Leone pointed out with a smirk.
"With the way you are now, you can't do it." Akame stated.
"But I'm a skilled swordsman." Tatsumi said.
"I mean that you can't kill people." She said.
"But I already did it once." He said.
"That's because you were blinded by rage. Can you kill a person without hesitation at any time? Alan and Akira have also struggled through this." Akame stated.
"While we sit here talking, Ogre could be framing another person. That's why I don't want to wait. More people could lose their love ones and I don't want anyone else to go through that pain" Tatsumi explained.
"Very well then, you're conviction is admirable. Tatsumi, take out Ogre." Najenda said.
"Well said, you've got spunk!" Leone cheered.
"Good luck on this Tatsumi." Alan smiled.
"Please come back alive." Akira said.
"As for Alan and Akira, you two will deal with Mantis. Leone and Akame will focus on the oil merchant." Najenda ordered.
"Right." Alan nodded.
"Sure thing boss." Leone replied.
"How's that, Akame? I can take care of a challenge!" Tatsumi said.
"You haven't completed a mission until you reported back. If you continue to be overconfident and arrogant, you'll die." Akame said coldly then walked away from him. Alan was silent as he remembered that it nearly got him killed once.
"I'll show her. I just need to prove myself in this job first." Tatsumi thought.
Tatsumi and Leone were at the Capital and were approaching Main Street.
"This is Main Street. You've got the map memorized right?" Leone said.
"I got it." Tatsumi replied.
"Tatsumi, I think you should know about Akame's past." He looked at her. "In her childhood, she and her sister were sold to the empire. They were placed in an assassin training camp with other children and trained to kill. She managed to survive that hellish experience. She grew up as an assassin and blindly carried out the empire's orders. But as she got older, she was seeing the darkness that was hidden from her. She was sent to kill the boss but the boss convinced her to join the Revolutionary Army and to the side of the people. But most of the kids she grew up with have already died." Leone explained.
"Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm a rookie that should listen to the professional killer right?" Tatsumi answered.
"Well, you'll understand soon enough if you manage to live through this." She smiled.
"Good luck Tatsumi!" Leone said as she left.
"Don't worry, I got this." He replied.
Alan and Akira arrived at one of the houses not too far from Main Street.
"This is the place?" Alan asked.
Akira nodded. "From what I heard about this guy is that he takes all of the person's belonging he's framed and goes over them in his home looking for any value in them. Mantis should be doing it about now."
"Okay, now how should we do this?" He asked curiously.
Akira thought for a moment then smiled at an idea.
*Knock Knock Knock*
"Damn it! Right in a middle of something good!" Mantis cursed as he got up from his chair. He was bald and had black facial beard. He also wore a red coat.
Mantis opened the door and saw no one out there. He looked around and saw that the street was empty. He shrugged and closed the door.
"Damn pests. When I find him, I'll make sure he'll be put to death next." Mantis said irritated as he walked back to his room.
"I doubt that will happen." A female voice said. Mantis was surprised by the sudden voice. He looked at his desk and saw Akira sitting on it.
"Hello there." She waved happily.
"What? How did you-" Mantis was cut off as a sword from behind stabbed him. He turned and saw someone behind him.
"This is from all of the people you framed." Alan said coldly. He pulled his sword out of him and he fell to the ground and bled to death.
"That was easier than I thought. I can't believe the window was not locked." Akira said.
"Well, when you've got the imperial guard on your side and covering tracks. It makes him think he's safe." Alan said.
"Anyway, the job is done." She said.
"Let's head back. Akame and Leone should have taken care of Gamal by now." He said.
"How do you think Tastumi is doing?" Akira asked.
"Excuse me. Ogre, sir?" Tatsumi asked with his hood on.
"Huh?"
"I have something urgent to discuss with you." He requested.
"What is it?" Ogre asked.
"Talking about it in the open would cause a problem." Tatsumi said. He led him down to alley where no one was around.
"All right, now start talking. I want to get home." Ogre said.
"Of course… Please let me join the imperial guard! I beg of you! I need money to send back to my home in the country!" Tatsumi pleaded as he's on his knees and bowed.
Ogre sighed. "I should have known it was something like that. Follow the procedure like everyone else jackass." He said as he walked away.
"I tried but… they wouldn't accept me." Tatsumi said as he started to pull out his sword.
"It's not my problem." Ogre replied also pulling out his sword. "You're just not strong enough!"
He was about to turn and attack but Tatsumi was fast enough to slash through his chest. Blood spilled out and Ogre fell down on the ground.
"Just like that!" Tatsumi said. He then remembered what Akame said to him.
"Oh, right. I better get back." He said. Behind him, Ogre got back up and was about to swing at him with his sword.
Tatsumi noticed at the last second and quickly blocked it with his sword. It knocked him back by its power.
"Did you really think that I Ogre the demon would be defeated by pathetic brat like you?!" He shouted as continued attacking him.
Tatsumi kept blocking it until he was sent flying against the wall.
"Let me guess, you're with Night Raid. The anti-imperial dogs that been killing the people in power right? The strong will always rule in this city. I pass judgement on people!" Ogre roared.
Tatsumi jumped high and strike him from above.
"You won't be killing anyone else!" Tatsumi shouted.
Ogre blocked his attack. Tatsuimi was now on the defense and held his blade against his sword.
"Who sent you to kill me? The fiancé of the guy I executed? I'm right aren't I? I knew I should have killed her when I had the chance. I still can if I wanted to. I'll chase her down, get her family arrested and torture them to death as she watches after I kill you first!" Ogre shouted.
Tatsumi caught him off guard as he slashed both of his arms off. Tatsumi was in the air and landed on the ground as he cut through him multiple times. Ogre fell dead on the ground. Tatsumi put his sword in his sheath and left the area.
Back at Night Raid base, Najenda and the five members returned. Tatsumi reported back to her.
"You defeated a powerful opponent on your own. Good job." Najenda complimented.
"See that Akame. I did what you wanted me to and didn't get a scratch on me." Tatsumi said proudly to her.
Akame walked towards him and started undressing him.
"What? What are you doing?!" He yelled.
"Leone, Akira, hold him." Akame said.
"Here we go again!" Akira giggled as she got in position. Alan sighed and shook his head.
"Noooo!" Tatsumi yelled as he was stripped to his underwear.
Akame checked all over body and was silent for a moment.
"Thank goodness." She said smiling.
"Huh?"
"Most people died from infections because they're too proud to show their wounds. I'm glad you didn't get hurt. It's hard for people to survive their first mission. I'm glad you're alive." Akame explained holding out her hand. Tatsumi held her hand and squeezed it gently.
"Akame was hard on you because she didn't want you to die." Leone said.
"Learning how to cook helped with your communication and hunting taught you basic assassination. Did you not realized that everything you did was part of your training?" Najenda explained.
"That was the meaning behind her training." Alan said.
"Oh, so that's what you mean." Tatsumi said. He turned to Akame.
"I'm sorry. I got the wrong idea about you." He apologized.
"It's okay. Just keep coming back alive, Tatsumi." Akame smiled.
"Sure, I hope we can build a strong relationship together, Akame." He smiled.
"What kind of relationship were you planning to build with your clothes off?" Leone teased.
"Hey! You're the ones that stripped me!" Tatsumi yelled.
"This reminds me when Alan was stripped of his clothes when he was on his first mission." Akira giggled.
"Why did you have to bring that up?!" Alan asked blushing.
"It wasn't so bad. You were surrounded by a few girls." She teased.
"That makes it worse." He groaned.
"Well, your next assignment will be training with Mine. Good luck." Najenda said.
"Not her." Tatsumi complained.
"Wow, out of the frying pan and into a-" Leone said.
"A minefield!" Alan joked. They were all silent except for Najenda who chuckled.
"You get it right? Minefield because that's her name. Mine as in minefield." He explained. There was no comment and just looked at him weirdly.
"You just had to ruin it, didn't you?" Leone sighed.
"I know your pain, Alan. I tried too and haven't succeeded yet." Najenda said as she placed her hand on him.
As the other half of Night Raid was heading back to base, Mine stopped for a moment.
"Mine, is there something wrong?" Tor asked.
"I'm just getting this bad feeling suddenly." Mine answered.
Omake
The Protectors Name
Alan was at the kitchen table and was finishing a request to Crystal.
"Hey Alan, mind if I ask you something?" Lubbock requested as he sat on the other side of the table.
"Sure, go ahead." He replied.
"You said that your group is called the Protectors, right?" Lubbock asked.
"Yeah, I came up with the idea a few years ago. It was meant stand up against dangerous enemies. But we still trying to grow stronger and we haven't had any luck finding more members." Alan explained.
"Well, Esdeath is certainly dangerous. Hope we're all ready to face her when the time comes." Lubbock thought.
"But why call yourself Protectors." He asked curiously.
"Akira called us all that one time and we're trying to save lives from others. Plus it was the only name I could think of." Alan answered.
"How about Strike Raid?" Lubbock suggested.
"That sounds just like Night Raid." Alan refused.
"Mighty four?"
"We might find more recruits one day."
"Danger Hunters?"
"No."
"What about Avengers?" Lubbock suggested.
"I can't help but feel that name's been taken besides we're not avenging anybody." Alan said but then remembered Tor and Julie's reason for fighting. "Well at least, half of us aren't."
"Z-fighters?" Lubbock asked.
"Look, I appreciate the suggestion but we already decided on the name and we're not going to change it." Alan said.
"Okay, if you insist." He shrugged.
"Something tells me you got that last name from somewhere." Alan said.
"I admit, I got it from some manga I was reading." Lubbock answered.
"Oh, I never could get into it for some reason." Alan said.