Author's Notes: Wow! 56 favorites and 68 followers… the numbers have certainly increased since the last chapter! I'm really contented to see that there is a growing number of readers who are interested in the story and have favored and/or followed it. It really is motivating.

A special consideration and thanks to all the readers who have offered their time and gave a thoughtful and constructive review/feedback. I would like to apologize to any readers who I didn't get around to answering your reviews and questions. However, your comments are highly regarded as they are really useful for improving this story.

To "Otherguy14": Thank you for picking up on the mistake relating to the 'day'. It's something that I've overlooked but is relatively important. Hence, I'm grateful your correction.

And lastly, I would like to give a huge round of applause to Shuzuka for proofreading this chapter. Despite being overly preoccupied with life right now, Shuzuka continues to be supportive and has helped me tremendously. Thank you, Shuzuku.

All characters from Akame ga Kill that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Takahiro and Tashiro Tetsuya. I do not own anything in regards to their creation; I have Takahiro and Tashiro Tetsuya to thank for that. Nevertheless, the OCs that do appear are of my ownership.

(Beta read by Shuzuka)

Without further ado, I present chapter 8.

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Chapter 8—Kill Authority

"I'll let my racing impulses lead the way, towards a boundless world,

believing this changing fate holds the answer.

With the unchanging dream I vividly drew out that day,

I will, by all means, surpass all the limits I felt in me."

-Skyreach (Akame ga Kill OP1)

Location: Close to Night Raid's Hideout (Lake). Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 20).

In a sealed off valley secluded from the forest by the surrounding mountains, an uncontaminated pool of water shimmered brightly under the sunlight. Streams from the rocky overhangs trickled down the lake like tiny cascades, creating a constant noise of splashing water.

Standing on a large rock close to the shore, Ieyasu and Yukio speculated the view open-mouthed. The weariness from their longsome trek through the undergrowth was forgotten as they observed the exquisite scenery.

"This is remarkable," Yukio breathed out softly, sliding his basket off his shoulders. Taking care to avoid flattening the flowerbeds beside him, he placed the empty basket on a patch of hard soil.

"I know right. Who would've thought that the forest was hiding this," agreed Ieyasu wholeheartedly.

"Today, we'll eliminate our prey at this lake."

Akame's voice gained the boys' attention and they whirled around to face her. Their expressions immediately changed into shock and horror, for what they saw was Akame with her tie already removed. The female assassin was in the process of taking off her dress. At once, Yukio and Ieyasu became flustered and began to shy away, waving their arms in all directions.

"Whoa! Is this a strip club!?"

"Akame, h-hold on!"

Bemused by their behavior, Akame undressed herself and exposed the white swimsuit she already had on. She blinked and raised a questioning eyebrow, genuinely oblivious as to how misleading her action was. "Why are you panicking?"

"…Oh, you're in a swimsuit," Yukio stated the obvious. For once, he didn't know whether to be mournful or grateful. As much as he wanted to shake off the inappropriate notion, a part of him secretly wanted to see Akame in her birthday suit. The recent knowledge from Lubbock's books had affected his adolescent mind, pulling him into a world of fantasies. Nonetheless, he deemed these thoughts as reproachful and disrespectful to Akame, and compellingly shoved them away before crushing them with a mental image of his foot.

"Akame, what happened there?" asked Ieyasu. As this was the first time that he had seen Akame without her long sleeve coat, he was a little puzzled when he noticed the bandages that were firmly wrapped around her arm. The covered area was relatively large—from her right shoulder blade to just above her wrist. The dressing was stainless, so Ieyasu assumed that it was an old injury. But if so, why did Akame swathe it up?

"It's nothing worthy of any concern," said Akame dismissively, reluctant to give details. The less someone knew about Murasame's strange effects, the better it was for her. Until she could ascertain the cause, she had decided to keep her condition a secret in order to avoid troubling her comrades.

'Another one full of curiosity.' She shook her head once, guiding herself back to the task at hand. "These clothes allow the most underwater mobility. Our objective today is the Koga tuna."

With that, Akame walked towards the edges of the water and leaped into the air. She habitually somersaulted twice, straightening her body and stretching her arms outwards just before hitting the water.

A perfect dive!

Yukio stared, impressed.

"Koga… tuna? Wait just a sec! Yukio, Akame can't possibly mean the rare and dangerous fish that live deep under the waters!" exclaimed Ieyasu. Gulping nervously, he cast his sight on the seemingly peaceful surface and wondered if a war was breaching under the water. His previous encounters with them during fishing trips warned him of how territorial Koga tunas were. To catch one in its natural habitat with bare hands was simply asking to be bitten. Confident that Akame had just jumped the gun, he was left gawking when several of the said aquatic fish were tossed out of the water. In an upturn parabola, they landed inside Akame's empty basket one at a time, as if already well rehearsed for the stunt. "You've got to be joking!"

"Remarkable! That was eight in one go!" At the same time as Yukio's comment, Akame resurfaced for her needed intake of oxygen.

Her face and cleavage above the water, Akame swatted away the lingering droplets of water with a toss of her head. She inhaled a lungful of air, all the while waiting for her two apprentices to divert their attention from the basket.

"Dive into the depths of the lake and mask your presence. The moment your prey comes by, attack. Commitment is the key, can you two do it?"

"Let's do this!" Both boys shared a look and announced in unison. Tearing off their clothing, they ran straight into the lake, welcoming the blessed feeling of the cool water on their skin.

"To mask your presence is basically trying to make yourself undetectable by the enemy. To put it plainly, you must become one with your surroundings." Yukio took a deep breath and recalled Akame's teachings. Keen to start, he submerged his body into the water, eyes narrowing into slits as he adjusted to the greenish-blue environment around him. He scanned the area and was rewarded upon noticing a dark shape swimming leisurely to his right. 'There! I see one!'

He moved his arms and legs in coordinated motions, pushing through the body of water. He was in luck; the tuna had yet to detect his approach. Inexperience in this activity caused him to lower his standards. Not anticipating an achievement like Akame's, he decided to settle with just one tuna. He could always come back down again after. Motivated by that thought, he silently trailed after the tuna, his presence masked before lashing out. The slippery scales came into contact and he immediately dragged the fish towards his chest, trapping it in a bear-like hug. A tiny bubble escaped his lips amidst the excitement and he broke through the surface for air.

"Akame, Ieyasu! I caught one!" he exclaimed.

"Dodge!"

Yukio failed to react, too stunned by the voice ringing from above him. Without delay, Ieyasu crashed down on him with the force equivalent to a cannonball, driving the young man's head back into the water. Yukio splattered and coughed, thrashing wildly to keep his body afloat.

"Wh-what's the deal, Ieyasu!" demanded Yukio as he hacked up water from his lungs. That was close; he thought he would've drowned.

"I was fishing," Ieyasu said frivolously. Unlike Yukio who took Akame's advice to heart, Ieyasu was blither with this exercise and saw little significance to it. He instead decided to have some fun by trying to imitate Akame's dive. Unbeknownst to him, Yukio had chosen the exact spot to resurface. Ieyasu knew that while he was to blame for this near-accident, he ought to think that his last minute warning was adequate. As an assassin, Yukio should've been more alert. Perhaps, Ieyasu mused, this particular senior had awfully slow reflexes.

"You won't catch anything like that. With that kind of flashy move, you'll only scare the fish away," chided Yukio, mildly exasperated that Ieyasu was so dense. The young man might not be an expert, but it certainly didn't take much common sense to realize that Ieyasu's method was having an undesirable effect.

A sudden shift of weight in his arms caused Yukio to glance down, and he grunted when he comprehended that his tuna had escaped from his clutches. In a moment of frustration, Yukio forgot about his composure and flung his arm out, spraying Ieyasu with a wave of liquid. "Man, I lost it!"

"Hey! Don't go hosing down people just because of a little setback! I didn't even do it on purpose!" Not one to apologize willingly, Ieyasu fought back with the intention of drenching the older boy. In a few exchanges, a small quarrel escalated into a water fight that warded off many underwater creatures.

'They are fleeing before I can reach them.' Meanwhile, Akame found the scuttling prey's behavior to be odd. Tracing the root of the occurrence, she resurfaced from her underwater exploration and was… immediately met with a torrent of water at full force. Not knowing what had just transpired, she simply blinked quizzically before turning towards the two culprits.

"Whoops… My bad! Wrong person!" Ieyasu gave a dry laugh.

"Akame! Um, sorry abo—" Yukio was never given the chance to finish since Akame interrupted.

"It's inconsiderate and offensive to ambush someone like this... Perhaps I should retaliate?" The assassin tilted her head to the side with a look far too innocent for Yukio's liking.

"Um, I-we…" Yukio gulped. The blank look that Akame supplied gave nothing away. There was no sign of anger or irritation in either her voice or her attitude, and that was what terrified Yukio. Her emotions were completely sealed away; he couldn't even try reading her to interpret her true intent. 'Uh-oh, Akame is only supposed to be like this when assassinating her targets.'

Much to the young man's dread, Akame submerged her head back into the water. In that instant, hundreds of possible outcomes presented themselves in Yukio's head and frankly, none of them appealed him in any way. He searched his surroundings, trying to key into Akame's presence but to no avail. "A-Akame, you know what? It still unnerves me that you can mask your presence effortlessly. I give up. Can you please just com—Waah!"

If it was any other time he would have been embarrassed by his high-pitched scream, but there was little time for belittling as something slammed straight into him and Ieyasu, simultaneously knocking them both onto the shore. An enormous shadow crushed down on them, their mentor's unique choice of weapon effectively burying them underneath its body.

Thud!

Location: Night Raid's Hideout (Dining Hall). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 20).

"So in the end, Akame caught a school of fish while you two came back empty handed," Najenda remarked casually, one hand reaching out to grab some fish off a plate. "Although this is your first time, I'd expected more. I'm rather disappointed that a single tuna is all it takes to knock you two out cold."

"Ha! The two of you getting owned by a king Koga Tuna! Now that's something I wanna see!" Leone teased as she pointed her chopsticks at the two boys. "Well, at least next time you'll know how to pound someone down in a water fight. Hahaha!"

"Still too naïve," commented Akame coolly, suddenly taking an interest in the head of a tuna resting on her plate.

With bruises evident on their skin due to the incident, Ieyasu and Yukio hung their heads in shame. As the leader of Night Raid, Najenda didn't take insubordination lightly. Even supposing that the boys were her newest recruits, discipline was something they had to learn, and fast. Getting sidetracked with no valid reasons was reprehensible.

Perhaps it was a feature acquired from spending ample time with Esdeath, but Najenda was also strict on imposing penalties when deemed necessary. However, since she was lacking creativity this time, she chose the simplest but one of the most effective punishments. Whilst she, Leone, and Akame enjoyed their evening meal, Yukio and Ieyasu were made to stand and observe.

"Though I hardly think this is sufficient, I don't want hunger to be the reason for your failure on your next mission." Najenda wiped her mouth with a napkin, contemplating on her next words. "Now, what do people normally say at times like this?"

"…I'm sorry, Boss. It won't happen again." Taking the cue, Yukio apologized and swallowed, though not out of fear as Najenda would have liked. Instead, it seemed that the scents of tuna, salad, and steak were teasing his nose and making his mouth water.

"Don't worry about it. We ain't slacking off again. I'll definitely beat Akame in a water fight next time," added Ieyasu.

"That's beside the point," Najenda grunted, aiming a discouraging glare to stop Leone from snickering.

"Um, what Ieyasu meant is that we'll give our utmost effort in our future training." With an inward groan at Ieyasu's irrelevant comment, Yukio tried correcting. Although obviously not a glutton like Akame, the young man was against fighting on an empty stomach and opted to convince Najenda of their—or at least his—sincerity.

"Fine, I'll grant you two a pardon." Detecting the genuineness in his tone, Najenda nodded to consent and gestured towards the table. Both assassins took this as an indication and were instantly snatching food from the plates.

"Now Leone, tell me about the request we received a few days ago," said Najenda.

"Roger that." Leone's gaze reflected solemnly as she took out two profiles and placed them onto the table. "The targets this time are Ogre of the Imperial police, and Gamal, an oil merchant. According to our client, Gamal has been paying Ogre a huge amount in bribes. Every time Gamal commits a crime, Ogre fabricates lies so he can frame another. Our client's fiancé was one of the victims framed and sentenced to death."

"Understood, we'll send them both to their graves." In her attempt to comfort the woman who was freely shedding her tears, Leone had reassured her with a vow. Even supposing that her words were not the best form of comfort, they did offer a glimmer of hope for the woman. As a bare minimum, her lover would be avenged. The mere recollection of the woman's teary face goaded Leone and she felt the urge to growl as she dropped a large bag of gold beside the documents. "This is the payment."

"There's quite a bit in there," commented Yukio, his head perked up. The way the bag had sounded upon contact with the table told him that the amount inside was anything but less. "Just a question nee-san, but how did a widow like her get this much?"

"She didn't steal it, if that's what you're suspecting. I caught the scent of a venereal disease from her," informed Leone, her arms folded across her chest, fingernails unwittingly biting into the fabric of her clothing. "It's all money she earned with her body. Probably sold herself many times."

"Rotten bastards!" Ieyasu slammed his palms down onto the table, shaking the empty plates and bowls. His hands formed fists, the image of Sayo's lifeless form dangling on chains vivid in his mind. "They took advantage of her desperate state! Scumbags!"

"Have you verified the case?" asked Najenda, holding the table steady and disregarding Ieyasu's string of curses.

"They're guilty, no doubt about that. I saw the whole thing from the attic of the merchant's shop."

Najenda lit a cigarette with her lighter and blew out a column of smoke after an inhalation. "Then Night Raid accepts this case. We won't need any abhorrent garbage in the new country. We shall bestow divine punishment."

"The merchant, Gamal, should be easy. But Ogre will be a problem," Leone pointed out as she stood up. Having gathered information on her targets, she knew that Ogre would be no pushover. "Ogre, or the Demon as he is referred to, is a highly skilled swordsman that even criminals fear. Rumors have it that he'd once taken a few private lessons from Mamoru before becoming captain. It's very hard to catch him off guard, so to speak. What's more, he's normally surrounded by lackeys and is rarely alone. He is also cautious. When accepting the hush money, he invites Gamal into his room and when off duty, he drinks on Main Street."

"It seems the only logical time to strike is when he's off duty," deduced Yukio.

"But the police are strict in the vicinity of the palace. It would be dangerous for someone like Akame, whose face is publicly known," Najenda countered. With wanted posters distributed in the districts of the Capital, Akame was regrettably as recognizable as the emperor himself. Even if she eliminated Ogre, she was inevitably going to attract attention on a crowded street. In the worst case scenario, she could stumble upon Mamoru, who unlike most other generals, dwelled near the plaza instead of the palace quarters.

"If Akame can't go, then Yukio and I'll go! We'll show them the awesome power of Night Raid!" Ieyasu declared as he snaked his arm around Yukio, capturing the young man in a bear hug.

"Sorry Ieyasu, but I'm pretty much useless in one-on-one combat. Unlike you, I'm only taught in the art of assassination," said Yukio sternly. Although he personally wanted to deliver punishment to Ogre, fighting the Demon was the same as suicide. Baransu's enhancement would do little to aid him against bulky opponents, and his daggers were at a disadvantage against a large sword. "But, I'll checkmate Gamal."

'Akame certainly has taught him well. He's learning to harness his emotions prior to his missions.' Najenda nodded, pleased. "Yukio, I'll leave Gamal to you then. Akame will provide support."

"Then I'll go with Ieyasu-kun and take down Ogre," affirmed Leone as she pulled the brown-haired boy towards her.

"You can count on me!" Ieyasu declared assertively, voice muffled due to having half of his face buried in Leone's soft mounds. Despite the awkward arrangement, he stuck a thumb out and assured his teammates.

"…Ieyasu, where does all this confidence come from? You have yet to complete your first mission. At this point, arrogance will only result in… death." Having been a passive participant in the conversation, Akame finally spoke. Her warning held a dangerous note, like a knife being sharpened on a jagged stone. With that discouraging admonition, she departed the room without a second glance, with Yukio following after her.

"Nee-san, did I say something wrong?" Ieyasu freed himself from Leone and asked, noticeably stunned by Akame's abrupt change in attitude. While it was apparent that Akame was less expressive than the others, Ieyasu knew for certain that the female assassin was not usually this detached.

"Huh?" Leone shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Akame is just being… well, Akame again. If you're successful today, you'll understand."

Location: Mamoru's House (Main Street). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 20).

Knock! Knock! Knock!

He knocked. Three swift beats on the wooden door, a code that was only decipherable by the person inside. There was a shuffle of feet and the door creaked opened, revealing a young woman with knee-length obsidian hair. She was clad in a simple white dress and brown sandals, her face left untouched by any artificial paint. Her limbs were covered in dressings, concealing much of her fair skin. Parting way to allow entry, she smiled affectionately and gestured towards the dining room with her hand.

"Welcome home, Tatsumi-kun. What perfect timing, I've just finished preparing our evening meal," the woman informed. Her distinctive amber eyes were shimmering with benevolence, an observable distinction from her brother's unmoved blue voids.

"…Yeah, Mariko-san. I'm home." Despite having recited the same phrase every evening for the past week, Tatsumi was still tongue-tied whenever he saw the woman. Her mannerism and attitude were nothing like her sibling's. With the exception of the blue ribbon around her forehead that was made to match Mamoru's red one, there was no further indication that the two shared the same parents. Mariko and Mamoru, they were as different as spring and winter.

"You look exhausted. Did you overwork yourself again?" Mariko inquired with concern written all over her face. She didn't overlook the weariness in Tatsumi's posture as the boy collapsed on the nearest chair in the dining room. "Perhaps I ought to discuss with Mamoru-kun about assigning Ogre-san as your instructor. He is a man known to be very unforgiving and I fear for your health, Tatsumi-kun."

"No. It's perfectly fine, Mariko-san. I'm actually grateful for the training that Ogre-sensei gives me. I'm learning a lot from him: hand-to-hand combat, swordplay, sniping, and even gambling. Just name something and I can guarantee it'll be on the list."

"Oh, first Mamoru-kun and now you. I'll never understand men and their fixation for power and glory. In any case, I'll apply some ointment on you after supper. It'll help unwind your muscles," Mariko offered as she handed Tatsumi his bowl. "But first, you must eat."

"Than—" Accepting his portion, Tatsumi was about to thank the woman when an emotionless voice cut through.

"Onee-san, you're pampering the boy." It was followed by the sound of the front door shutting as Mamoru made his presence known. The general stepped into the room and in one sweeping glance took in Tatsumi and his elder sister with an unreadable façade.

'There it is again,' Tatsumi thought resignedly. Since the day he caught Mamoru's attention, he was constantly under the general's strict supervision. Theoretically speaking, the Silencer was supposed to be his mentor, but he'd offered little verbal advice and instead sent him to the training programs sponsored by the Imperial police. Tatsumi didn't want to be ungracious, but the fact that Mamoru seemed to be ignoring him was a little vexing.

On top of that were the brief interactions with Mamoru to consider. Given that he was indebted to the Silencer, Tatsumi wanted to repay him somehow. Even so, he knew close to nothing about the general, save for the fact that he had a strange habit of expressing things with sentences of no more than seven words. The limitation in speech left little room for Tatsumi to converse with him even when given the chance. Stoic and quiet, Mamoru's presence was as intangible as the air and his words were more precious than gold.

'I don't understand him at all!'

Predictably, Mamoru also displayed a comparable attitude towards the majority. While Tatsumi was left flabbergasted after discovering that the emperor of this country was only a mere child, Mamoru had kept his visit with the Prime Minister concise, simply to reaffirm his oath and pledge his loyalty to the Empire. Once done, the Silencer made himself scarce without waiting to be dismissed.

'Still, I guess he is kind of awesome. Not just anyone can turn his back on the country's leaders like that.' In spite of everything, Tatsumi found his respect for the general growing. It was Mamoru who had bestowed him with this new life. Not only did the general offer him a job working with the Imperial police on night patrols but he also allowed Tatsumi to reside in his abode near the Main Street without charge. If not for his generosity, Tatsumi would've been sleeping on the streets, with nothing rewarding to present to his village.

'Maybe people just have the wrong idea.' In the past few days, Tatsumi had overheard countless rumors about this fearsome general who would mercilessly slaughter any who obstructed him. Although the general had earned a reputation, some people in the Capital often compared him to vigilantes. The reason for this criticism was unknown and puzzled Tatsumi. The man under his assessment wasn't immoral or insane. Even supposing that Mamoru only showed his caring side to his sister, Tatsumi was willing to bet that the general wouldn't kill indiscriminately… or would he?

"Tatsumi-kun, your food is going to get cold if you keep spacing out. Here, try this."

So lost in his reflections, it was only Mariko's voice that dragged Tatsumi back to reality. He immediately thanked the woman as she placed a piece of smoked salmon into his bowl.

"You're welcome. Here, take another piece," Mariko smiled, content to see Tatsumi enjoying her cooking. Her sunlit eyes stole glimpses at her brother as she filled Tatsumi's bowl.

Now, if only Mamoru's happiness could also be stimulated from delicacies, then maybe Mariko wouldn't have to worry as much. True to his namesake, Mamoru was spurred by a desire to protect, and while it was for her safety, Mariko couldn't help but think that her younger sibling had crossed the threshold of injustice by aligning with the Empire. The lengths that Mamoru was willing to go for her still scared her now and then.

"Onee-san," Mamoru's insipid tone cut in. The sight of Mariko indulging Tatsumi as though the latter was a frail child surprisingly irked him, and he decided to give his sister one of his rare but short lectures. "Stop pampering Ta—"

"Mamoru-kun… please save your lectures for your students. I believe I'm older and therefore have authority in this household," Mariko interjected, passing Mamoru a strip of beef. "And I think you and Tatsumi should eat more. All that training is going to burn off a lot of calories. I don't want you two collapsing from hunger."

"Onee—Mff!" Mamoru tried another protest, though it was in vain as Mariko silenced him by playfully shoving some vegetables into his opened mouth. Knowing that speaking would only exacerbate his predicament, the general swallowed the mouthful and opted to illustrate his irritation with a glare, one which Mariko naturally ignored.

Tatsumi couldn't resist the smile that spread on his face when he noticed the barely perceivable twitch of Mamoru's eyebrow. Even whilst the Silencer had an overall annoyed visage, Tatsumi knew that he was secretly enjoying this show of affection from his sister. In that instant, the heart-warming atmosphere evoked memories of Sayo and Ieyasu. 'I wonder how you guys are doing...'

Much to his dismay, there was no news about his two childhood friends. At his request, an authorized search was conducted under Mamoru's supervision and yet, nothing worthwhile was in the reports. 'But, no news means good news, right? Besides, Sayo and Ieyasu are both strong. I bet those two must be somewhere in the Capital right now, alive and well. If I can't find them, then I'll just have to train harder and attain higher ranks. I'll become so famous that those two will notice and come to me. But first, I'll have to stronger… Hmm? Get stronger. Shit! I've completely forgotten!'

"Is something the matter, Tatsumi-kun?" asked Mariko, "you're all tense."

"Uh," Tatsumi visibly cringed. "I just remembered that the dojo is being renovated as of today. Ogre-sensei mentioned something about meeting him in a different place tomorrow… but I forgot to confirm where!"

"He's off-duty tonight. Go ask him then." Having anticipated a crisis due to the urgency in Tatsumi's tone, Mamoru sounded a little exasperated when he realized that it was only a trivial matter, a small issue that could easily be solved had Tatsumi not panicked and used his head.

"…Oh. Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks for the tip, Mamoru-sensei," mumbled Tatsumi. Embarrassed that his problem was resolved with an utterance of less than seven words, the boy lowered his face to hide his reddening cheeks.

Location: Capital's Red-Light District (A Brothel). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 20).

Perched in a spread-eagled position with his arms and legs gripping onto the support beams, Yukio had a bird's eye view of the empty corridor below. The young man's brows were knitted together as he tried to shun the distractions. The soft moans and coos drifted into his ears and the heavy scent of distinct fluids whiffed into his nostrils, evoking erotic images that surprised even him.

'Man, this is madness! Why is the target in a brothel of all places? Doesn't he know how distracting these sounds are? And why in the name of the Empire am I conjuring these wild images of… No! Snap out of it, I'll foil the plan if I get a nosebleed at a time like this!' Yukio shook his head, compelling himself to erase any supplementary thoughts. Surreptitiously, he stole a look at Akame who was positioned next to him. Unlike him, the assassin was devoted to her task, her face masked with impassiveness. The somewhat awkward setting had no effect on her whatsoever.

'I can't believe I let myself be persuaded to read Lubbock's books! I knew it was a bad idea and yet…' Unable to terminate his thoughts, Yukio blamed Lubbock for his conflicted pubescent mind. If only just to take his mind off, he persuaded himself that the only reason for his internal pandemonium was because of the stimulators that Lubbock had recommended out of boredom. As curious as he was, Yukio couldn't resist turning the pages over… and was bowled over by the contents. 'Just the first few pages had me running into the bathroom for tissues… and now, it's all I can think about! Oh? He's here… took him long enough!'

"Whew! Now that I feel refreshed from the bathroom, perhaps I'll ask to have another go." Gamal the merchant was leisurely strolling down the hallway, oblivious to the danger hovering above him in the form of two assassins. He wiped his greasy hands with a towel, a perverted look plastered on his façade.

'Even a toad has better looks than him.' Yukio scrunched his face in disgust. The plump man under his scrutiny was more hideous than the depiction of him on paper. With a bald and out-of-shaped head, Gamal reminded Yukio a lot of a humanoid reptile on two legs.

Convinced that Gamal was unaware, Yukio jumped down and extracted his dagger, swiping the steel across the merchant's neck, directly on the exposed skin above the hem of his orange kimono. His vital hit, Gamal let out a strangled gasp before dropping onto the ground, his eyes rolled back.

"Gamal the merchant, checkmate," Yukio announced and gave a stiff nod to Akame, who had just dropped down from the ceiling.

Feeling nausea at the sight of Gamal in his own pool of blood, the young man wordlessly bent down and grabbed the merchant's discarded towel. He paid little attention to Akame's observing gaze as he wiped the blood-stained dagger with the cloth.

Why was there so much blood?

Running the towel along the steel surface, the young man gritted his teeth and shut his eyes, remembering that he had yet to offer his prayers to the deceased man. 'We'll do all we can to change this country soon. May you all be reborn in the future where the Empire is freed from its corruption… Rest now.'

Akame critically studied Yukio's behavior once more. In contrast to his first mission, the young man appeared to be unfazed by the kill. There was no fear or hesitation before his ambush; he'd gotten his job done without any qualms. However, she could still perceive the secreted layer of disdain hidden deep within his hardened orbs. His resentment for taking lives was further made public when he tried to clean his dagger. Whilst knowing that the stains would be eternal, he habitually wiped the weapon with the towel.

'In terms of mentality, he is not suited to be an assassin. I'll have to see if I can assist him. As he is now, this weakness in his heart will be used against him… and his death will be inevitable.'

Location: Main Street of the Capital. Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 20).

Despite the corruption, Main Street was eventful as it could be. Residents of all social status were clustered in the area: storekeepers advertising their products, officials patrolling the streets, couples going out on dates, and late workers returning home. The street lights dotted the sides, illuminating the surroundings with golden specks. But upon approaching the outer edges, darkness shrouded the alleyways, warding off most people and concealing any illegal activities.

As a habit, the current captain of the Imperial police, Ogre, disregarded the unmistakable malevolence stalking the shadows as he ambled down the street.

"Phew, after an intense interrogation, a drink sure hits the spot," the broad-shouldered man said to no one in particular, a reddish streak stretching across his cheeks from an overdose of alcohol.

Being somewhat intoxicated, Ogre's alertness had declined to the point where he failed to detect the two figures prowling behind at a safe distance, monitoring his every move like security cameras. Wrapped in hooded overcoats that kept their faces hidden, their eyes were kept on their prey.

"He's the guy alright," Ieyasu whispered to Leone, checking the poster in his hand for the third time. The muscular exterior and the black hair that was graying near the man's temples bore out the necessary identification for the Night Raider.

"Yep, no doubt. Who else wears four braids on the back of his head?" Leone responded as she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ugh, what's happening to the fashion trend these days?"

"And I'm sure that nee-san is the expert around here," teased Ieyasu. His mahogany eyes roamed on the blonde's lithe form. Even with the extra layer, Leone was still a tempting sight to behold. Ieyasu found his attention glued onto the woman's swaying hips as she moved with assurance amongst the crowd. From that, it was not difficult for Ieyasu to guess why she fancied revealing garments.

"Much better than you think." The blonde woman playfully winked at him before gesturing towards an alleyway with a slight jerk of her head. Even though she wouldn't mind continuing their little chat, she had an obligation on hold. "We'll take plan B. You ambush there and wait for me. I'll act as bait."

"You sure you can handle it?" Ieyasu raised a mocking eyebrow.

"Hey, don't give me that crap. This is nee-san you're talking about."

"Yeah, you're the charming nee-san alright," Ieyasu grinned. "Let's do this."

The two assassins traded a mutual look of understanding and went separate ways—the initiation of their premeditated plan.

Taking his position as told, Ieyasu scanned the surroundings and confirmed that it was indeed vacant. 'No one's around. Apart from this bad smell of trash, there's nothing else here. Sayo… this place sure is a good spot for getting rid of garbage, don't you think?' The boy's dark pools flashed with abrupt intensity as his hand stretched towards his coat. With a tug, he removed his outer layer. Tying the coat around his waist by the sleeves, he exposed the hidden Senpu to the cool air around him. The duel-axe crisscrossed to form an x behind his back and he felt reassured with the weight on him.

"You're very kind, Ogre-sama. To actually help escort a lost lady back home, I can't thank you enough."

Ieyasu's head perked up at the sound of Leone purring, and a boyish grin spread on his features. He shouldn't have even questioned Leone's charisma. The blonde woman's tone held genuineness so substantial that any man would've instantly become ensnarled like moths to a flame. In combination with her beauty, Leone was a fierce beast in terms of steadfastness and bravery. Ieyasu had no doubt that if things were different and Leone didn't involve herself in the assassin trade, then she would've made a fortune as an actress or a model.

"Not a problem at all. As long as I get something out of it you can come to me with whatever troubles you have at any time. You'll entertain me when we get there, right? It's just past this alleyway?"

Ieyasu overheard a gravelly voice and assumed that it was Ogre. The boy bit the tip of his tongue, his hands clenching and unclenching. 'Not yet, wait for nee-san's signal.'

"Of course, this is all part of the bargain. I'll definitely entertain you… but not in the way that most women would. I hope that you're looking forward to some vicious action!"

Ieyasu took that as his cue and pulled out his Teigu, his face sported with sheer resilience. He stepped out from the shadows. "Demon Ogre of the Imperial police, I'm gonna take you down!"

Ogre instantly tensed. Although under the influence of alcohol, his hand automatically made its way towards the hilt of his sword that was strapped onto his belt. His instinct as a warrior not diminishing, the Imperial officer recognized the threat with a snarl.

"A trap, huh? Pathetic!" Pulling out his sword, Ogre lashed out at the closest person. The drastic change of events was more than his drunken mind could handle and he found himself acting purely on instincts. It was ironic though; only a second ago, he was caressed by the woman who he now sought to decapitate.

"Jeez, you're a brute."

Responding to the approaching blade with a daring smirk, Leone leaped backwards and skirted across the ground. Her hands formed fists but she held back the urge to transform. The honor of this fight didn't belong to her. She'd promised Ieyasu that she wouldn't intervene unless the circumstances demanded it. One way or another, Ieyasu was going to accomplish his first mission as an assassin. It would be selfish of her if she interfered.

"Ieyasu-kun! He's all yours! I ain't gonna ruin your fun," she called out.

As soon as the woman had withdrawn to provide space, Ogre realized that his opponent was the twin axe wielder before him. Not fooled by his youthful appearance, the drunken man knew better than to underestimate him. To be willing to bait him into a one-on-one fight, his foe was prepared and probably had some sort of secret weapon. Ogre's gaze landed on the oddly shaped axes that the boy was equipped with. Supposing that his assumption was accurate, the axes must be one of the renowned Teigu that he had once heard about from Mamoru. Only a select few possessed the extremely rare relics. Excluding the Imperial forces and The Four, Ogre knew that only one association within the Capital could wield the weapons. "So, I'll bet that you two are part of the organization that opposes the authorities. You're a member of Night Raid, aren't you?"

Ieyasu didn't bother replying as he studied his opponent. Up close, Ogre was more intimidating than he had believed. With a large star-shaped scar over his missing left eye and razor-sharp teeth, the Imperial police officer was truly creditable to be known as the Demon. 'But, a demon doesn't belong here. I'll send this one back to where he belongs… back to hell!'

With tightening muscles and deep breathing, the two combatants closed in the space and circled each other warily. The atmosphere around them solidified as they focused on their foe in an endeavor to seek for an opening.

"Eat this!"

Inexperience and impatience caused Ieyasu to strike first. His knees bent at a fifty degree angle, he pushed himself off his toes, slashing down with his axe. Ogre countered with his blade, effectively halting Senpu's advance. Not discouraged, Ieyasu grunted and bent his other arm back. Gathering momentum, he swung his left axe towards the policeman's head. It was swiftly ducked by Ogre as he twisted his body to the side.

"A measly twerp like you can never hope to compete with me! In this city, only the strong prevails." Fueled by his demonic holler, Ogre shoved his sword into Ieyasu's Senpu, knocking the boy off his feet. "I'm the one who passes judgment on people! I won't tolerate being judged!"

"Ah!" The impact sent Ieyasu hurling towards the wall. His back crashed into the bricks, stars exploding in his head as he was consumed by transitory blindness. He instinctively took a sharp breath and was relieved that his lungs managed to reclaim the lost oxygen. Ieyasu groaned, his eyes fluttering open when he noticed a blurred object. Just in time to make out the forthcoming slash, he rolled to the side, narrowly escaping the piercing steel.

"Don't you dare underestimate me!" Ieyasu forced himself upright, stumbling a little as he recovered from the blow. His fingers enclosed around Senpu's handles and he took to the skies in a bounding jump. Spinning his body to create more power, he drove both axes down on Ogre in two parallel lines. This was undesirably met with a sword as the metals touched in a match of might.

"Ieyasu!" Leone's anxious cry echoed in the background.

"S-stay back… I've got… this…" Regardless of Ieyasu's aptitude for power, he was outmatched by the bulky Ogre with strapping muscles. His knees buckled as he struggled to keep Ogre's sword at bay.

"Exactly who is your client?" Ogre cynically asked, taking pleasure in the ascendancy of his situation. "If it's recent, it must be the fiancée of the guy I just took out. I knew I should have taken care of her then, too… No, it wouldn't be too late even now. First, I'll find that woman. Then I'll frame her entire family and murder them, one by one, in front of her eyes… after I kill you and your little friend, of course!"

"Try me!" His abhorrence for the man attaining its peak, Ieyasu spat with venom dripping from his tone. Flying into rage, he pushed Ogre away with an undiscovered monstrous force.

"Bulldozer!" Ieyasu rammed his axes straight into the floor in an incredible display of power. The cemented surface shattered like an egg-shell, sending splinters hurling at Ogre, which temporarily blinded the Imperial policeman.

Ieyasu immediately took the chance and counterattacked. The Night Raider charged towards the unguarded Ogre and scythed his body, creating countless zigzagged wounds on his muscular chest. The skin split open and red liquid spewed over the cuts like a dyed waterfall.

"To think there's someone who would defy me like this…" Shock written all over his face, Ogre uttered his final words before death consumed him.

"Bastards like you would know nothing about strength." Ieyasu flicked away the blood on his weapon. "True strength comes in the form of protection. Anyone can use their power to destroy, but to be able to defend the weak and pass judgment on sinners, that's what true strength is... and that's what Night Raid has!"

"Nice speech. But I'll take it that you got this from someone else. So who is it? Bulatcchi? Yukio-kun? Lubbo?" Leone grinned, probing Ogre's body with her foot. 'Hmm, not bad at all.'

"Come on, nee-san. You're ruining the moment!"

"Heh, alright, alright. I'll let you have your glory, Ieyasu-sama," Leone teased. Despite her laidback attitude, she was exceedingly impressed with the boy's performance. Ieyasu not only managed to kill Ogre but also it appeared that he was learning to use some of Senpu's powers. "Anyways, now that we're done here, we should get going. That fight stirred some commotion. I wouldn't be surprised if we have guards coming this way."

"Yeah, let's go," said Ieyasu, agreeing with Leone wholeheartedly. The boy exhaled a long breath, discarding any lingering edginess from his fight. With the overcoat on and his face hidden from the public, he and Leone made their escape, too caught up to notice the approaching silhouette of a brown-haired boy.

"Hey, anyone here? I caught a heavy smell of blood so I came to… O-Ogre-sensei? Ogre-sensei!"

Location: Night Raid's Hideout (Conference Room). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 20).

By the time Ieyasu and Leone returned to the hideout, Akame and Yukio were already in the conference room with Najenda. The two had just submitted their report when the other team arrived with broad grins that told of their success.

"We're back~" The notes deliberately drawn out for stress, Leone sauntered towards Najenda. The woman was enthusiastic as she fulsomely spoke of Ieyasu's accomplishment. "…And that was how it ended. So yeah, he took down Ogre all on his own. Needed no help from me at all!"

"Wow, excellent Ieyasu! You've already unlocked Senpu's primary ability! Senpu is an elemental Teigu that is unrivalled when it comes to manipulation of earth. So long as you're on the ground, Senpu will respond to your calls. But still, to be able to use it efficiently for your first time, that's amazing! At this rate, I don't think it'll be long before you learn how to use Senpu's trump card." With his trademark grin treading his features, Yukio clapped his hands on Ieyasu's shoulders like that of a brotherly figure. Frankly, he was shocked when he heard that Ieyasu had managed to take down a redoubtable opponent singlehandedly, progressing faster than he had anticipated. It was becoming apparent that the boy's capacity far surpassed his expectations. 'Man, just one battle and I can already tell that he's improved so much. I can't even begin to imagine how strong he will become. As it is now, I don't think I'll last long in direct combat against him.'

"And I commend you for successfully eliminating the target," added Najenda.

"Heh, this is nothing. I'll work even harder to make sure that my success rate is flawless. Next time, I'll even come back without a scratch!" Ieyasu bragged, his head held up and his lips parted in a flattering smirk. Savoring this moment, he was caught off guard when Akame wordlessly approached him and yanked off his clothing.

"Ah! Wha-what the hell? Akame! What're you doing?"As a spontaneous effect, Ieyasu's hands promptly made for his bare chest as he feebly shielded himself from the cold and the eyes of the people in the room. Mortified, the color of his skin changed dramatically to rival the hue of a tomato.

Her exterior never betraying her thoughts, Akame seized Ieyasu by the hands and held them suspended above his head. While her face revealed nothing, she was inwardly amused by this scenario. The way that Ieyasu had stressed the phrase without a scratch evoked the memory of a similar incident involving Tatsumi and she couldn't resist the temptations. In her opinion, Ieyasu was just begging for the event's recurrence. "Leone, Boss, Yukio, hold him!"

"Understood!" Najenda smirked in a very unlike-boss manner and got up from her chair.

"Oh, this looks fun!" Leone was grinning from ear to ear as she grabbed onto Ieyasu from behind.

"Wait, I'm participating as well!" Disinclined to miss out on the fun, Yukio added and assisted Akame with restraining Ieyasu's limbs.

"W-what are you guys doing? You can't possibility be wanting to have…" The idea too absurd to be voiced, the brown-haired boy caught his words but continued to struggle.

As soon as the trio had the boy restricted, Akame pulled down his black khakis, leaving him with nothing more than loose boxers on. She was phlegmatic as she circled around him, inspecting his body for any visible signs of injuries.

"Ak-Akame?" Ieyasu, feeling very uncomfortable under her blank inspection, felt his face set ablaze.

"First missions have a high mortality rate. I'm glad that you're reasonably unharmed. You've done well," Akame complimented. The bruise on the side of his back was not overlooked, but since it was nothing critical, she decided to let it go unannounced. However, seeing that injury on his back somehow made her feel nostalgic. Shaking off the feeling, she tentatively extended her hand, smiling a little as he took it.

"Do you see now, Ieyasu? Cooking is all about communication and the art of assassination is learned by hunting prey. Everything you did was beneficial to you," Najenda explained, sorting out the boy's apparent misunderstandings.

Taking into account of what she said, Ieyasu realized that he wasn't simply made a servant. All the chores and hunting trips he was made to do were actually exercises immensely helpful to his training. Patience, teamwork, and stealth—these were the foundational skills of a killer and he'd managed to learn them in a short span of time, all due to Akame's teachings and the housework he did. "Eh… that makes a lot of sense now."

"Oh? So you're indeed clueless. Though I must say, Akame certainly does a grand job of misleading our new recruits into thinking that they are nothing more than housemaids," Najenda commented, to which Yukio nodded in agreement. "In any case, you're now an active part of Night Raid's roster. I've assigned you with Lubbock. He needs someone with muscles as a support unit."

"Ieyasu, right? Say, if you're interested, I can take you to the perfect spot for peeking on Leone nee-san bathing."

The green-haired teen's whispered comment reran in Ieyasu's mind and he was reminded of Lubbock's perverted grin during their first meeting. He smirked knowingly, suddenly feeling eager to start his sessions with Night Raid's strategist.

'Patience, teamwork, and stealth… I'm guessing I'll need all these soon enough.'

Night Raid Members Remaining: 9

Mission: Assassinate Capital Ogre and Merchant Gamal

Participating Members: Akame, Yukio/Ieyasu, Leone

Result: Eliminated

Rewards: Gold

The Four Present in Capital: 2

Author's Notes: The conclusion of this chapter also draws a close to the poll that I've up on my profile for a few months. From the results, all I'll say is that Tatsumi is the only one currently in the 'safe zone'. However, there is no assurance that the story will not undergo changes in the future.

To the guest reader "Shade169": While I agree with you that Ieyasu's Teigu does seem very similar to Belvaac, as Ieyasu is also an axe wielder, Senpu's abilities are very different. More of the Teigu's powers will hopefully be revealed in the future chapters, something that you can probably look forward to. Also about Tatsumi killing Bulat… that may or may not happen depending on how the story unfolds itself. Anyhow, thank you for your support.

To "Depressed Paperbag": I really appreciate your thoughtful review very much. You have made some fine points, especially regarding the relationship of the protagonists. As I'm still uncertain about the shippings, I've decided to not include romance as the primary genre. However, this doesn't mean that there won't be any chemistry between the characters. It's simple at a slower pace. After all, any romance I believe, should start off at a moderate rate.

Now, this section is dedicated to recapitulating the relevant plot events. Here are some things that can be reviewed over or considered for this chapter:

- To prevent others from seeing the markings on her arm, Akame wraps it with a layer of bandages and tends to wear her long coat.

- Mariko and Mamoru are siblings. It seems that Mamoru's alignment with the Empire has to do with the safety of his older sister.

-Tatsumi is now currently staying in Mamoru's house and is an active member of the Imperial police. However, he has yet to enlist in the military for apparent reasons.

- Ieyasu is currently the owner of Terra's Striker:Senpu, an elemental Teigu that can manipulate the earth. Its trump card is currently unknown. Despite its resemblance to Double Bladed Axe: Belvaac, it possesses abilities that make the Teigu distinctive.

Preview- Kill the Masquerade: Striving to achieve his recently discovered goals, Yukio devotes himself to additional training. At the same time, Najenda is growing overly suspicious of Akame's behavior.

"Switching gears… I'll learn it, even if it means donning on a masquerade," Yukio muttered to himself,

"Akame, what happened to your arm?" As expected of Najenda, she wasted no time with pointless inquiries.