Disclaimer: All characters from Akame ga Kill that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Takahiro. I do not own anything; I have Takahiro to thank for that.
Please bear with me if I make any mistakes or errors, especially in terms of the language (spelling, grammar, etc.).
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Chapter 14—Kill the Menace
"Do those who revolt against a justice,
that's been repainted to match someone else's ambitions, really considered "evil"?
This reality is too much to process, and lies at the very bottom of despair,
but even so, I'll go up against it!"
-Konna Sekai, Shiritaku Nakatta (Akame ga Kill ED 1)
Location: Capital. Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 68).
With his back hunched and shoulders slouched, Tatsumi swayed like a feeble leaf fluttering about the cool breeze. His feet dragged on the soaked pavement as he trekked behind Mamoru and Hidou. The young sergeant was fighting a losing battle against the heavy fog that had gathered inside his brain. His eyelids dropped with each second, and the dark bangs that colored the skin underneath his dulled green eyes were becoming all the more apparent.
Tatsumi yawned loudly, a hand covering his mouth.
All the vivacity he usually possessed was currently non-existent. Truthfully, Tatsumi felt like punching the general for dragging him out of bed. Was Hidou an insomniac? It certainly appeared that way to Tatsumi. The sun's radiance was just peaking over the horizon; it was far too early for the Wildfire to be up and searching the streets.
Returning to the abode he shared with Mamoru late last night, Tatsumi was stunned to find Hidou slouched on the couch, drinking a warm cup of tea. Apparently, the weather had deterred the general from his investigations and he retired from his search, but not before dropping by for some of Mariko's famous homemade tea. The sight of the Wildfire rudely greeting him upon his return annoyed Tatsumi to no ends. If anything, he thought that Hidou should've at least provided more assistance, considering that he was the overseer. Maybe the outcome would've been drastically different had the Wildfire truly bothered.
And to irritate Tatsumi further, he was held responsible for abandoning his post and letting Night Raid escape. Tatsumi protested that Seryu required additional backup, but was rebuked by the Wildfire straight away. It was becoming obvious that the general cared little for his subordinates; in fact, Hidou seemed more upset that his plans were thwarted rather than the casualties reported.
'The sick bastard… He doesn't care about his men at all! He's just using us to achieve the desired outcome. He finds his plans flawless, and blames anything that goes wrong on his subordinates. I really don't like him at all. How is someone like him a general?'
So lost in thought, Tatsumi was oblivious that his seniors had suddenly stop. There was a surprised yelp that escaped his lips when he bumped into Hidou's back. It was followed by a startled hiss and the feeling of something wet splashing onto the cuffs of his pants. Realization soon drew in and his pupils drifted down, taking in the puddle that the Wildfire had stepped on with a sheepish look.
"You want to die that badly, brat?" Hidou's head instantly whirled around, his lips pulled back in an intense snarl that frightened even the hounds around him. Anger exuded from the general like an erupting volcano. Too incensed to even think about self-control, Hidou shy his foot away from the water and pulled an arm back, knuckles cracking as he formed a fist. "If there is one thing I can't stand beside idiots, it is damn filthy water!"
Hidou threw the punch with a jaw-breaking force, intending to knock Tatsumi out cold. But before he could break any bones on the new sergeant's face, he felt his wrist being viciously grabbed by an iron-like grip.
"Mamoru!" A low threatening growl came from the back of Hidou's throat. Irritation was made public as he spat out the name of the one who had prevented him from landing the hit. He didn't think that Mamoru would care enough to interfere, especially since this had nothing to do with Mariko.
"Cease your childish grudge. It's tiresome," commented Mamoru, releasing his hold on the other general. With a look that told Tatsumi to apologize, he then withdrew his now scorched hand into his pocket. His impassive features didn't fade, though it didn't make the blisters any less painful. Hidou was mad; there was no denying the power he put in that punch. Had it actually landed on Tatsumi, then the Silencer was certain that his apprentice would be out of commission for the entire day.
"Sorry." Tatsumi understood his mentor's unspoken demand and lowered his head, a genuine gesture asking for forgiveness. He certainly liked Hidou no more than Honest, but he had enough common scene to realize that he was the one responsible for the morning quarrel. Knowing Hidou, things wouldn't end unless Tatsumi apologized first. Besides, Tatsumi was too tired for a fight and couldn't care less. It was better to get it over and done with.
Hidou's glower didn't fade from his face. If anything, his look was morphing into something uglier.
"Hidou, we're wasting time," commented Mamoru nonchalantly, though his monotone held ample intensity that left little room for an argument.
"Tsk, fine. Since you apologized, brat… I'll overlook it. But the next time you don't watch where you're going, I'll gouge your eyes out." With a disgruntled huff that dismissed Mamoru's unblinking gaze, the Wildfire turned around to consider the two-storey house with a pentagonal roof. Anger was still predominant in his veins, but he knew that the Silencer was right. They had a job to do.
It was no accident, nor was it a coincidence that they planned to inspect the house before them. It was a place that held no value for military purposes, for it was only an abode for an old doctor. Therefore, the fact that Hidou had set his sight on the very structure showed that it was no random event. The general suspected that suspicious activities took place last night inside and that the doctor was conspiring with Night Raid. The fact that his dogs were barking and growing restless only supported his hypothesis.
"Alright then, let's pay the person here a little visit." Putting a finger up to hush the hounds, Hidou pushed open the fence and entered the front yard, all the while kicking away the empty bottles in his path.
Perhaps it was because of his foul mood or he deemed it pointless, but Hidou didn't knock. With one mighty kick, the frail rectangular door flew off its hinge, crashing into the wall on the left. The clamor vibrated into the house, startling the occupant inside.
"Did you really need to do that? Couldn't you act more civilize and knock?" Tatsumi asked as he followed Hidou in. To apologize to Hidou was one thing, but to allow the general to do as he pleased without any regards was another. The sergeant sweat dropped; were all generals prone to destroying others' properties? In a span of one day, he saw apple crates sliced into two and a door smashed down. If he didn't know better, he would've believed that the word respect didn't exist for those of general rank.
"What are you, an idiot? Knocking will only warn them. If Night Raid is here, we would've announced our arrival," the general chided with a click of his tongue.
'And you barging down the door won't have the same effect?' Tatsumi secretly retorted. Naturally, he didn't say it out loud, lest Hidou retaliate with another round of verbal spat or worse, an act of violence.
"J-jus w-what is the meaning of this!"
The voice brought Tatsumi's attention to a physician wearing a traditional doctor's garb and glasses, who was making his way down the stairs. His hair that was bordering gray was dripping with water, a clear proof that he was showering when the three barged in. Apparently, Hidou generated enough commotion to force the doctor out of the bathroom in a hurry.
"Look here, what a surprise! Seems like Flyer Boy isn't the only one who didn't get much sleep," Hidou remarked with mock surprise. The general's acute eyes could perceive the weariness in the doctor's posture, something that he immediately took notice of. "Old geezer, it sure has been a while. Remember me?"
"Hi-Hidou?!" Dr. Takito halted his steps and nearly toppled down the stairs. Gawking at the sheer incredulity of meeting an old associate here, he took off his glasses and wiped them with his sleeve. He warily replaced his seeing apparatus back on, squinting to get a better look at the masculine face that had once been uncontaminated by greed and malevolence. He searched the Wildfire's features, looking for any remnants of the fun-loving curious boy he knew. There was nothing; the man before him was not the same troublemaker who he would patch up after a street fight.
"It's General Hidou, old geezer. Know that I'm not the weakling who was abused and sold as a slave. Those pathetic days, like you and the other brats from the slums, are all history to me. Thanks to Esdeath-san, I managed to raise my head from the dirt. I now stand as one of the strongest generals in this country." Contrary to many who would be nostalgic when bringing up their past, Hidou's voice held nothing but disgust as he reminisced. Disinclined to continue the recollections, he allowed his gaze to sweep from the doctor to the fireplace. The fire was roaring and was emanating sufficient warmth. 'I'll admit that it's a breezy morning today, but that's hardly an excuse to turn this house into a boiler room. Unless of course, he needs the fire for something other than warmth; something like erasing unwanted evidence, for example.'
Hidou made a mocking gesture towards Tatsumi and Mamoru with his arm, his eyes still on the burning flame. "Let me introduce you to my colleagues. They're the ones causing the ruckus with Night Raid last night and also the ones stupid enough to neglect obvious underwater channels that could be used as escape routes."
"At least we gave chase. You didn't even try because of the rain," Tatsumi muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Glaring daggers at the new sergeant, who responded casually with an uninterested yawn, Hidou huffed stingily before turning back to Dr. Takito. "Of course, the two idiots caught no one, but certain clues brought me here. Well, I hate beating around the bush so I'll be straight. Where are they?"
"What are you talking about?" Dr. Takito didn't need to fake a gasp; he was overcome with shock that Hidou would suspect him so soon. Did something give him away? His eyes wandered briefly towards the hearth and then back to the stairs, all the while unaware that the Wildfire was trailing his gaze.
"You can't fool me," the general said, his voice dripping with contempt. He playfully flicked his French plait behind his shoulder. "The heavens opposed us last night, washing away all traces of blood from the ground with that thunderstorm. Besides, those sneaky rats know to cover their trail well, making my hunt extremely difficult… but not unachievable."
"What are—" Dr. Takito continued to play ignorant, though he was interjected by Tatsumi.
"Akame of Night Raid," the sergeant began abruptly and reached into his pocket to pull out a crumbled piece of paper. He unfolded it, showing the physician a map of the Capital. Red lines were marked in a random manner, spreading across the vicinity. However, closer examination showed that the scribbles were actually a route taken by a certain assassin.
"The notorious killer was spotted downtown yesterday and I gave chase. I marked the places that I followed her… well, until she vanished in this alleyway." Tatsumi pointed to a specific spot on the map.
"When you look at it, it seems like she was just blindly running away and trying to elude capture. But that's not really the case." As Tatsumi held the map vertical, Hidou ran a finger around the center district where there were no red lines. "She's a seasonal assassin, that one. Her route seems random but in actual fact, she planned it all. She wants us to believe that she had no sense of direction at that time. Anyone else would be fooled, but one look and I know that she was carefully avoiding the Capital's plaza and the surrounding streets. And guess what, that includes the very same street that you live in, old geezer. Doesn't this sound suspicious?"
"What are you trying to prove? The fact that we've a serial killer and assassins terrorizing the streets is a matter of top priority but I don't see how it personally involves me. Just because my area remains free from killers doesn't mean that I'm a conspirator!" Dr. Takito protested, "You can't go to innocent citizens and demand for information that they don't know. As a matter of fact, I do not like being accused."
"Hmph! I don't go pointing a finger at people without any evidence," Hidou countered as he took out a purple piece of fabric from his pocket. The material, ripped and stained with blood, was the trigger that caused the doctor to sweat profusely.
Hidou grinned, "You recognize this, don't you? Because of the map, I was able to narrow my search considerably. But even then I wouldn't have been able to pinpoint this place without this. A piece of clothing from one of the assassins in Night Raid, found wedged between the teeth of the biological Teigu that fought her. Now, the dogs outside have picked up on the scent from the fabric and led me to you."
"Huh? That's not possible though. You said it yourself, Hi—General Hidou, that the rain washed away all traces of blood from the ground. You shouldn't have been able to track anything by scent," said Tatsumi, opposing the thought of condemning an old man. Who were they to say that the old man was indeed guilty? From his perspective, Hidou was just keen on playing the detective and was gathering evidence that he alone deemed convincing.
"This is why I hate idiots. People like you will never understand my reasoning," Hidou scoffed, "I never said it was unachievable, just difficult. It would indeed be stupid to track by scent alone if we had to search the entire Capital. But once the area we need to search is reduced, it becomes possible to track by scent, especially if the killer is getting some sort of treatment somewhere. Dressings, salves, clothing, towels, sheets, and even the air itself would be infused with the scent of blood. The rain may have washed away any traces from the outside, but here… I'm certain that the smell can still be detected in here. It's faint, but it can still be picked up. It's the reason why my pack of dogs has gathered in front of your house, old geezer."
"N-no, you can't possibly..." Dr. Takito backed away from the three, fear apparent in his voice. He thought he was being careful when he took the time to dispose of the medical equipments and apparatuses for Sheele's treatment by burning them. Needless to say, it seemed that he and Night Raid were too reliant on the rain, having overlooked the slim possibility of the Empire actually conducting an investigation on individual houses.
"Jackpot! Now old geezer, why don't you tell us everything you know? Where is Night Raid?" A triumphant smirk played on Hidou's lips, akin to a predator cornering its prey after toying with it. The general didn't bother to search the house directly, knowing that the assassins had probably taken flight by now. In fact, he presumed that they left earlier, since both he and Mamoru couldn't sense another presence save for their own and the doctor's.
"I… I-I refuse!" Amidst his terror, Dr. Takito shouted and sprinted for the closest drawer. He was no fool; to be labeled a rebel by the Empire instantly meant a fate worse than death. He would be tortured for information and then executed in public. Left with no other options, he whipped out a handgun that he had stored in the drawers for self-protection. "D-don't come any closer! I'll shoot! I-I know how to u-use this!"
While Tatsumi and Mamoru expressed their surprise with a gasp and a raised eyebrow respectively, Hidou merely crackled in contempt. "Hahaha! True! I don't doubt that you know how to remove the safety hatchet… but can you shoot us? You won't do that, right doctor? Taking a life, I mean."
"…Yes, you're right. I can't shoot you, not matter how much of a scrum you are." Dr. Takito's voice was unbelievably calm despite Hidou's truth. Even as desperate as he was, the physician's morals held strong and he couldn't bring himself to kill anyone. Instead he unlocked the safety hatchet and positioned the gun next to his temple. "But there is a life I can end without any remorse! I won't let you take me alive."
"Shit! Mamoru!" Aware that he was inferior to the Silencer in terms of agility, Hidou cursed and did the only thing he could do. It hurt his pride but he needed Mamoru to act before he was left with a useless corpse. His partner didn't disappoint; even before his name left Hidou's lips, the stoic general took off in a blur.
The physician stood no chance; he couldn't even squeeze the trigger before Mamoru reduced the distance between them and wrestled the gun out of his hand. Not one to take risks, Mamoru proceeded to land a solid hit on the back of the physician's neck. The doctor was out cold by the time Tatsumi hurried in and caught him.
"Target is secured; time for interrogation," Mamoru stated evenly as he turned his cold sapphire orbs towards Hidou, expecting the other general to take over. Despite his extraordinary feat, the Silencer's even breathing and usual attitude gave no indication that he was the one who had apprehended the doctor in mere seconds.
'…Secured? More like knocked out cold… And what's with that robot-like behavior? I don't understand him at all!' Tatsumi couldn't help but comment on his mentor's unique choice of vocabulary and tone as he fastened Dr. Takito's wrists with handcuffs. When that was done, the sergeant rummaged through the doctor's gear, confirming that there were no hidden weapons. "So now what… we check the rooms?"
"No point. It'll be a lot quicker for me to rip information about Night Raid directly from the old geezer," said Hidou as he pivoted his feet around, all the while rubbing his palms together. With his back turned towards Tatsumi and Mamoru, his ruthless smile was unobserved by the duo.
Location: Night Raid's Hideout (Najenda's Studies). Time: Afternoon. Year: 1024 (Day 68).
The quill performed its ballet as it left a trail of black along the white paper. With the last character neatly jotted down, Najenda placed her writing stick on the table. Her violet eye scanned the sheet and over each character, checking for any noticeable mistake. She felt like a child having finished an would-be-marked essay, though there was no denying that any report to the Revolutionary Army was just as important, if not more so. To be frank, it had been a while since she last wrote a report but the lack of practice didn't reduce the quality. She was relatively proud of her calligraphy, which she had to start from scratch after losing her right arm.
Satisfied with her work, she allowed her backside to sink deeper into the chair and closed her eye in stern contemplations. The Revolutionary Army would not be pleased to learn of their recent progress. What was initially thought to be a simple mission turned out to be a disaster, with outcomes that she had never anticipated. Although they successfully retrieved Spectator, they had lost Extase in exchange.
More importantly, half of her subordinates suffered injuries, from bruises, broken limbs, damaged muscles to fatal wounds. From previous knowledge, Najenda presupposed that Akame would take a week to recover while Yukio would require two weeks or so. Mine's broken arm proved to be more troublesome and a minimal of three weeks were needed for the bone to heal. As for Sheele, it was safe to say that she would be out of commission for at least a month. It was no short of a miracle that Sheele survived.
The assignment left its ugly marks on her subordinates and blemished Night Raid's stainless record. Najenda couldn't care less about maintaining a perfect and flawless record. What troubled her was the way Hidou operated. Even whilst hiding in the shadows, where her subordinates had clear advantage, Hidou still managed to formulate a plan that cornered them like trapped rats.
'It's just plain luck that Hidou and Mamoru didn't know about the underwater channels. From what I heard from Lubbock, it was those channels that prevented their capture… However, one should know better than to rely on the same trick again. Hidou is far too vigilant to—'
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three rapid taps on the door dragged Najenda away from her unfinished reflection.
"Boss, can we come in?"
"Enter." As soon she gave permission, the door opened and in walked Bulat followed by Leone. Their faces lacked the usual vibe and color, as expected having volunteered some of their life force to Sheele. Their reckless behavior was not something Najenda would've approved, but since the circumstance demanded immediate action, she couldn't blame them. She probably would've done the same thing had she been there.
"How are they?" Najenda directed the question to Bulat since Leone didn't seem responsive. It only took the ex-general one glimpse to discern the forlorn expression the blonde wore on her typically smiling countenance. Curious as Najenda was, she chose to address Bulat first, trusting Leone for a full report once she recovered from whatever she witnessed.
"Sheele's condition is stable now. She's in her room resting and Mine is with her. Don't worry, I've got Mine's arm on a sling already," Bulat paused and gave a small chuckle despite the groom atmosphere, having recalled how the sniper had been obstinate with fixing her own arm. Refusing to accept any help from the Incursio's owner, she only managed to tie herself up with the dressing. Needless to say, Bulat was amused in spite of everything.
"And?" Najenda beckoned Bulat to continue, her fingers interlocking as she placed her elbows onto the table.
"On the bad note… Akame refuse to stay in bed and went out hunting. She kept on insisting that having meat will speed up the healing. Meanwhile, Ieyasu and Lubbock are both snoring in the lounge. As for Yukio-kun… the truth is, I haven't seen him all day. The kid has locked himself inside his room. I assume he's sleeping though."
"I see," Najenda nodded and shifted a little in her chair. "You all did well, considering the circumstances. I had no idea that it would turn out like this. The two of you did exceptionally well; you two, along with Lubbock and Ieyasu-kun, were the ones who carried the others back, right? But how frustrating… that I didn't see Hidou's scheme coming from a mile away. If I had, then this wouldn't have happened."
"Boss, don't blame yourself. No one could've guess that all this was just one elaborated trap. Besides, we all know that retribution could happen to us at any time. Everyone here is ready to accept it… thought I'll admit that I was surprised with what Yukio-kun said."
"Huh, Yukio you say? Now what did he say?"
"Let's just say that we found ourselves in a fix while crossing the underground channels. None of us were sure if parts of the channels were inaccessible because of the storm. We had no idea if we're safe or not. Dread constantly crept up on us," Bulat paused and a small mysterious smile graced his features, one that made Najenda's eyebrow perk up in interest. "Some of us made some talks, hoping to ease the tension. Retribution came up as one of the topics and that's when Yukio barged in. That kid, he said this… retribution? It's just a load of nonsense for me. The world has never been fair to mankind since the beginning of time. Life is like a grapevine. The good tasty grapes are ripped from their branches without hesitation while the sour ones linger behind… The ones with selfless intentions never last long, yet the ones with ill intentions live for years. So if we're tearing away the sour grapes and soiling our hands, then why should we face the prejudice and retribution predetermined by the sour grapes' sense of morality?"
"Hmmm, that's deep. Yukio said this? Hard to believe really," commented Najenda. The young man didn't give her the impression of being an artistic poet. But then again, Yukio was inimitable in his own right. His prime traits were that of innocence and sociability. Yet, on several occasions, he was brimming with astuteness that didn't match his seemingly feeble form. For that reason, Najenda couldn't deny the moral principles mentioned in his exemplum. It sounded absurd, but also applicable the more she gave it a thought. "But in a way, he is right. Who are we to discern right from wrong? There are so many interpretations of justice. Perhaps we are all guilty and the world is doomed from the start. Take one bite, and you'll see that each and every one of us is no different. We're all sour to the core."
"That's one pessimistic way to look at it," Bulat said, rubbing his chin pensively. "What's more surprising is that the kid was only half-conscious at that time. I thought he was delirious after losing so much blood. But I do also think that the way his mind functions is different from the norm. From what I've heard, his Teigu does influence his brain every now and then. His intellect can be rather changeable, unstable even."
"Indeed. Baransu is an aberrant Imperial Arms. There's still much we don't know about it… along with many other Teigu." Najenda touched her mechanical arm gently, recalling the awe-inspiring power of a particular Teigu that its wielder used to take her arm. "But… this mission is not unrewarding. The Capital should now understand. It takes Imperial Arms to fight Imperial Arms… Battle with Imperial Arms users will increase. But that means more chance to collect them and understand them. There will be more mortal struggles and more traps ahead of us, but we must overcome them if we wish to succeed."
Whether or not Najenda intended the last part of her sentence to motivate Leone remained unknown, though the blonde was finally able to snap out of her daze. Frankly, Najenda's words were the last thing she wanted to hear after witnessing the gruesome display during her reconnaissance. Nonetheless, she also understood that the Boss needed to hear her report, no matter how unpleasant it would be. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Leone finally became an active participant in the conversation. Her voice started off soft, but quickly grew harsher as she continued, "Boss, I… The old doctor has been… murdered and crucified in the public execution grounds."
Leone heard Bulat's sharp intake of breath but chose to ignore it. No doubt that the man-slayer was also taken aback by the news and found himself at fault. In Leone's heart, she knew that they were the ones to be blamed. If only they had kept Dr. Takito out of the loop, then he wouldn't have been brutally tortured and slaughtered like a livestock. "His body was completely mangled and disfigured, with strange slashes trailing his entire body. I… I assumed that it's a secret code. Here, I wrote it down."
Najenda accepted the note from the woman, her eyebrows instantly thickening as she examined the messy handwriting. Leone's imitation was not perfect, though Najenda could still recognize the code typically used by Imperial assassins. Whenever face to face communication was impractical, written messages were commonly used by the qualified killers raised by the Empire. As a former Imperial general, Najenda could make out some of the coding but couldn't decipher everything. She inwardly snorted, annoyance briefly tracing the outline of her facial appearance as her eyebrows puckered. 'Hidou, huh? So he has done his research. If I'm not mistaken, Night Raid is clearly the recipient of his message. He seems to know my subordinates' past quite well.'
"Leone, go get me Akame," Najenda commanded, albeit not without some hesitation. If possible, she would much rather send Bulat and allow some time for the blonde to recover from her depressed state. However, Najenda knew that Lionelle was more appropriate for conducting searches than the combat-equipped Incursio. "She should still be out hunting. You know the usual places."
"Roger that!" Upset or not, Leone was not one to overlook the urgency of this situation. She could feel waves of anger crashing into her soul, making her hungry for vengeance. But in order to take revenge on the one responsible, she had to first understand the content of the note and who the sender was. Transforming into her beast form, she took a sniff with her heightened sense of smell and was off in a flash, leaving the door half opened in her haste.
Leone and Akame took longer than usual to return. By the time they entered the room, Najenda's cigarette was one-quarter of its original length. She supposed she should've expected the delay, considering both assassins' injuries and mental states. The pair appeared tired from their brisk journey and the blonde even had twigs and branches adorning her wavy hair. Not exactly the best hair ornaments, but Leone was too preoccupied to care. Najenda could only guess that they had returned at full throttle.
"Boss. You called me?" Akame's face was etched with slight concern as she approached her superior. Leone had literally dragged her away with no explanations, forcing her to return immediately with the proclamation that it was an emergency. Having assumed the worst scenario, the raven-haired assassin cut straight to the point, ignoring formalities for once.
"Decode this for me," commanded Najenda, her prosthetic hand reaching out to Akame with the paper.
Akame took the item with her left hand and a single glimpse brought a nostalgic feeling. Back when she was still a member of the Elite Seven, she and her comrades would spend their leisure time scribbling secret messages as each took turn to decipher them. More often than not, the messages would turn out to be short compliments or long strings of insults. At one point, Akame received a confession from her fellow teammate, Green. Although she ultimately shrugged it off, it still warmed her heart whenever that recollection surfaced. After all, it was one of their rare means of entertainment they had back then. As assassins, fun came sparingly while death and pain constantly crushed their child heart.
As she read though, the wistfulness vanished and was replaced by tension. This wasn't just any message; it was a warning, or a threat if she was being technical. The meaning inscribed disturbed her and the piece of information it delivered flooded her with a sense of sadness that felt foreign to her. An emotion and memories that should be hers, yet she was so unfamiliar with. She didn't know Dr. Takito, and while she sympathized with Leone, there shouldn't be the urge to shed tears. A moment of grief, perhaps, but not lingering melancholy. Yet the recollections that surfaced her mind begged to differ. Scenes where she interacted with the doctor appeared one after another, reinforced by the strange sorrow that she was experiencing.
"Dr. Takito… passed away?" It was a rhetorical question that needed no confirmation, for the certainty in Akame's tone gave sufficient indication that she was merely expressing her astonishment. Nonetheless, Najenda nodded solemnly while Leone and Bulat hang their head.
Akame's hand subconsciously formed fists and the sound of crumbling paper could be heard. It was at this point that she remembered she had yet summarize what was written on the note. Returning the paper to its original form, despite it being wrinkled, she decided to skip over the unnecessary profanity and detailed descriptions about what the Empire would do to their captives. Instead, she translated what she deemed important and spoke out loud. "You rebels are stubborn to the core. This old geezer had nothing worthwhile to offer in the end. I assume he is a mere pawn then. How sad, that he was reduced to a shivering mess… You assassins are different thought, right? You will put up a brave frontage. Ah, I can only imagine the entertainment I'll receive from you once I—and then he simply goes on and list torturing methods."
"Is that all?" asked Najenda, equally disturbed and surprised that Hidou had managed to carve that much on someone's body.
Akame skimmed through the messy writing once more before she continued, "You can run and hide all you want, but they're all futile struggles in the end. There is no escaping me. I'll tow you out of your rat holes and show you what true terror really is. Remember this if nothing else… fear me, worship me, and beg in front of me, for I will deliver to you the rawest form of pain. And trust me, what I did to the old geezer is simply the appetizer."
"HIDOU! THAT BASTARD! How DARE he?! He tortured and killed the old geezer!" Leone snarled, her sharpened canine jabbing out from the corner of her lip. Her body shook with irrepressible rage. Only the fragment of discipline and intellect left prevented her from storming the palace and confronting the Wildfire.
Bulat watched Leone carefully, ready to make a move if the woman was to act on impulsiveness. The blonde was usually uncontainable when driven by anger so he was mildly surprised when she suddenly reverted back into her human form. It seemed that her human soul had won the battle against her animal instincts in this mental divergence.
"Boss." Leone snatched the paper from Akame's hand and slammed it on the desk. She stared unwaveringly at Najenda, a feat normally infeasible for her due to the general's dominating gaze. Her emotions held her down this time and she spoke with clutched teeth, noticeably attempting to calm herself down. "Boss. It's bloody obvious that Hidou is becoming our number one obstacle. Not only did his plan nearly killed Sheele, but now he's gone and done it! The old man, Dr. Takito, is like a dad to me. I've known him from the slums since my childhood. I can't just let that sorry excuse of a general mock him. I can't, and I won't! So Boss… assign Hidou as one of our assassination targets. Give us the order to rip him to shreds!"
Najenda exhaled a pillar of smoke and stared back into the golden suns that were fiercely burning with sentiment. "Of course it's in my right to assign targets. The Revolutionary Army will have little issues with us targeting the generals of The Four. However, jumping in without a plan will only increase the body count. As much as it pains me to admit it, we're not strong enough to confront The Four yet. Taking Hidou head on now is no different than me ordering you to commit suicide."
"Grrr." A low growl emitted from the back of Leone's throat.
"Leone, Boss is right," Akame added as she fisted her left hand. "I came across one of the generals last night. Although our exchange was transient, he completely caught me off guard. He's strong, Leone. Stronger than most foe I've faced before. A direct confrontation won't work."
Leone visible flinched at the comment. Digging her fingernails into her palms, she savored the pain as she drew blood. "Yeah, I know… I know that we aren't strong enough yet. And I know that if I continue to be sad, it still won't bring back the person I lost… So," she paused, took a step back and slammed a fist into her palm. "I'll just have to train even harder and level up. Once the time is right, I'll give that bastard something worse than death. Boss, promise me that you'll let me have him."
"When the time comes, I'll let you act accordingly. But for now, I'm sure that if you desist from your usual recklessness, an opportunity will come. We'll seize that opening and we'll emerge victorious!" Najenda ended it on a fortified note, having decided to leave some part unsaid. 'For now, all we can do is rest and heal. As much as I hate to admit it, the Empire has won this round and we're reduced to licking our wounds in defeat. Until we're prepared, I can only hope that Hidou will not act on his words.'
At that time, little did Najenda know that Hidou was not the only impending danger to Night Raid…
Location: Northern outskirt of the Capital. Time: Dusk. Year: 1024 (Day 68).
On a cliff situated north of the Capital, an auburn-colored Danger Beast with the appearance of a dragon and gargoyle crossbreed stood. Its scaly wings easily stretched over three people and its muscular body gave off strength. However, the beast lacked zeal, its dark eyes were dull and listless. Now merely a submissive slave bound in chains, its days of terror were over. No longer was it a feared creature of the skies. With its head lowered, it was waiting patiently for its master to dismount from its durable back.
The Danger Beast's master was a tall slender woman with gratifying curves that her general's apparel failed to conceal. Despite having just ventured north, her clothing of choice remained unchanged, even when facing the harsh winds and blizzards from the northern regions. She wore a simple white dress with long black sleeves and a pair of high-heeled boots. On the center of her hat and belt was the black cross-like emblem of the Partas Clan, a warrior-filled tribe once known for their talents in hunting down Danger Beasts.
The woman was truly a magnificent sight. Her long blue hair hung down to her knees and swayed gently in the wind, keeping perfect rhythm with her indigo scarf that was split down into two boas halfway. Behind her and three cloaked figures, hundreds of thousands of powerful soldiers stood. They waited patiently for her next command, obedient and unswervingly loyal.
Her cerulean eyes caught the small distant walls of the Capital and her lips curled into a satisfied smirk. She wasn't usually one captivated by the landscape, but this time, she took deliberate care to take in the dazzling view of the kingdom that was shimmering under the setting sun.
"Capital, I'm home," she announced exultantly, the aura of a regal emanating from her curvaceous form.
With The Four assembled together, a war was breaching between Teigu users. For the owl, there were no guarantees of its success against the unpredictable forces of nature. Would the night predator glide safely over the horizon, or would its wings be clipped from the ordeals to come? There was no definite answer, though only time and fate could truly tell whether or not the revolution would succeed…
So for now, the owl soared onwards and into the unknown.
Night Raid Members Remaining: 9
Mission: None
The Four Present in the Capital: 4
Author's Notes: Wow! Now that this chapter is done and I look at the date of my last update, realize that's it has been months. I honestly didn't think this chapter would have taken so long, especially since it is meant to wrap up the first arc. That's right, chapter 14 brings a closure to arc 1: The Return of Night Raid and with Esdeath's return, the stage is finally set for the next part of the story.
Speaking of the next chapter, I've put up my story progress on my profile. I update them from time to time so if you're interested to see how the next chapter is progressing, feel free to check it.
Also feel free to leave a review or PM me with any feedback, comments, questions or even criticisms you have about this story.
And before I forget, I would also like to thank the kind reviewers who gave feedback about the last chapter.
Commonwealth: Thank you for your constant reviews. They're really helpful. I'm glad that at least some readers read through my author's notes and commented about the Fairy Tail vibes coming from last chapter. Like I said before, it was the part that displeased me the most. So your opinion on it was appreciated. I'm also pleased that you took notice of Hidou and Mamoru's flaws, as having four super OP generals terrorizing the Capital isn't really my intention. I like to balance things out, in both personality and power levels.
SeihoTheNeko: Thanks for the review and sorry for the delay. I hope that this chapter is worth the wait though. I know that you're curious about what's going to happen to Tatsumi now that he's with the Empire but I really want to avoid giving spoilers, especially about the pairing. The only thing I can say about Tatsumi right now is that even with Ieyasu's convincing, it won't be easy getting him to join Night Raid. As of now, he has had nothing but bad encounters with the assassin group. Ultimately, while he is beginning to understand that the Empire may not be all "good", neither is Night Raid in his opinion.
Trollzillathefirst: It's pleasing to know that you decided to give this story a shot even before seeing the anime. I hope that the story will encourage you to see the anime and maybe even read the manga. Personally, I thought the manga ending was better despite having enjoyed the overall anime.
Shade169: Thank you for your review and particularly your opinion on the chapter. That last part has been bothering me while writing and I'm surprised that you didn't think it was bad. You're right though, dark stories can have their moments as long as it isn't so frequent that it drains the feel from the entire story. Your comment really helped make me look at the last chapter from a new perspective, so thank you.
DamianKastle: Indeed, the anime ending is what inspired me to create this fanfic and I suppose even the manga ending isn't all happy and sweet. While it would be nice to see the members of Night Raid living happy lives and chasing their dreams, this isn't exactly what this story is about. But maybe I, or someone, could try to write something like that. It would be pretty cool and interesting to see a what if 'Night Raid wasn't an assassin group and the members actually all lived' scenario.
Preview: Chapter 15—Kill the Distance
Mamoru: "Beware of the owl though,"
Najenda: "I cannot fathom her motives. Currently, it seems she is obsessed with her work at the Government's Torture Facilities."
Akame: "Yukio, please remove your coat."
Yukio: 'Saving Aniki will be no easy task. I'm not just going against The Three Beasts in this regard, but also fate itself.'