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.

Author's Notes: YES! I've finally received 100 reviews for this story, along with 154 favorites and 166 followers. It really makes me happy to see that there are this many people interested in this tale. So a special thank you to everyone reading this, as I wouldn't have the same amount of motivation without your reviews and interest.

Wacko12: I believe I answered your questions through PM so I won't repeat myself. And thanks for reading.

RevansStories: Yes, you're right. Casualties are unavoidable in AGK, so a death was bound to come sooner or later. :( Although I agree that it's sad that Lubbock had to draw the short end of the straw, at least his sacrifice wasn't in vain since Ieyasu and Akame escaped with their lives. And I'm glad that you considered the last chapter impactful enough to keep you on edge.

Ultimatrix bearer: I do hope that you'll consider this chapter to be awesome. It's definitely sad and somewhat exasperating whenever a story featuring Akame gets abandoned, especially since there aren't too many stories of Akame being the lead character in the first place. That's why I have no intention of abandoning this fanfic no matter how busy I may get.

Drew Luczynski: I have to admit that your comment makes me proud, seeing as I managed to pull out an unexpected turn of events.

SeihoTheNeko: It was sad for me too when I was writing the last chapter. I'm definitely gonna miss writing Lubbock but I'm afraid it can't be helped. Hmm, so you believe that Akame is experiencing the same thing as Yukio? That's an interesting thought, though I won't say anymore for… reasons.

Commonwealth1991: It seems that most of the readers thought that Lubbock would take home a splendid win, so I'm pleased that it did not turn out as you and the others had expected (Poor Lubbock though). Your perspective is indeed correct; Lubbock's death is meant to imply that things are definitely different this time around, no matter how much some scenes resemble their canon counterparts. It just took me 18 chapters to properly convey that message though, so I hope I'm not too late in that regards. And LOL, jumping off a cruise liner is very extreme, as Yukio can probably attest to that. But please do keep speculating as some of the answers and reveals will be provided in the next few chapters.

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Please bear with me if I make any mistakes or errors, especially in terms of the language (spelling, grammar, etc.).

Chapter 19 — Kill the Onus

"Losing sight of someone so close to me.

The pain I can't speak of creates a wall,

Though I escape to this beloved habit.

Embracing a contradiction, my heart flares with heat.

I'm in pain, who's at fault?

It's not somebody's weakness but mine.

But you won't disappear, you know?

Won't you show me the future?"

-Kanashimi wa Dare no Negai Demo nai (Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II ED1)

Location: Near Night Raid's Hideout. Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 94).

"This is preposterous" said Najenda bluntly, which Bulat responded with narrowing eyebrows.

Najenda evaluated the Man-Slayer carefully. Due to the leather coat he wore, she couldn't see anything below his collarbone. But even so, she was convinced that the majority of his body was covered in thickly wrapped bandages due to the grievous wounds he received in the fight against The Three Beasts. She only caught a few glimpses of the injuries that Bulat sustained when he staggered back to the hideout three days ago, but that was enough for her to decline his request.

"I can't believe you want to go in my stead. You're in no condition to make the trip to the Revolutionary Army's Headquarters." Stating facts, Najenda tightened the grip she had on her military knapsack that stored The Three Beasts' relics as well as the whip Teigu that Yukio had collected. As expected of its appearance, the Double Bladed Axe: Belvaac was extremely heavy, and simply carrying it around could put strain on a person. As a former Imperial general, Najenda had little issue transporting the relic, though using it as a weapon was beyond even her capabilities as she was not chosen as its wielder.

"I thought we've been through this already. You know what I'm capable of," Bulat countered, running a hand down his pompadour. Unfortunately for him, the winds were being persistent, constantly ruffling his combed hair and ruining the style that he'd come to adore.

"The circumstances have changed. Because of the past few incidents, we can't afford any carelessness. Don't you understand? Given your condition, it is far too dangerous for you to go. I don't want to lose any more valuable subordinates if I can help it." Najenda's gaze burned holes in Bulat as she searched for any signs of hidden discomfort from him. Alas, she had to grudgingly admit that he was concealing his pain well; Bulat stood tall, muscles bulging from under his leather jacket as he placed both hands into his pants' pockets.

"Then who else? Because you can't, Boss. You're needed here. As our leader, shouldn't you stay and raise the team's spirit? Everyone's pretty down, you know," Bulat rejoined, not letting the argument end flourished his arm to the right, where Night Raid's hideout stood vaguely noticeable from his position.

Najenda's brows instantly shot up in surprise. In spite of everything, the usually collected woman could formulate no rebuttal. Notwithstanding their victories, the heavy blows dealt by the Empire had left Night Raid devastated. Most of her subordinates were nursing both physical and mental wounds.

Truthfully, even Najenda herself was somber. Lubbock's death had adversely affected her state of mind. Despite having believed that she had prepared herself for the worse, she couldn't hold back the substantial anguish and contrite. Lubbock had been a part of her life since he was a kid. But now, she had nothing but the past to remember him by. 'Even though I'm not really alone… this extent of loneliness is something I'll never be able to get used to. We were… always together, after all… But all I can do now is keep a part of you with me in my memories until the very end, Lubbock…'

"I'm standing firm, Boss. I'll be fine. I have the best chances anyways. The Revolutionary Army recognizes me," Bulat persisted, claiming the upper hand in the verbal confrontation. Having accompanied Najenda and Lubbock to the rebel's headquarters, Bulat was one of the few Night Raiders who the Revolutionary Army trusted completely. Even Akame, who had proven her fidelity time and again subsequent to joining, was still deemed a possible threat. The leaders of the army were still wary towards the red-eyed assassin, for reasons that Bulat couldn't fathom. Owing to this, Najenda had never once brought Akame along, despite the girl's role as the vice-leader of Night Raid.

'Besides, it's not like Akame can go in the state she is in now… Losing Yukio-kun and Lubbo at the same time is too much to bear,' the owner of Incursio reflected darkly. He could still clearly recall the distress within her crimson eyes when he retold the incidence on the ship. Akame had stood immobile, with an expression that Bulat had never seen before, one that reminded him of someone standing before an execution platform.

"I would usually trust your judgment. However…" Eventually, Najenda spoke again, relocking all her emotions into a mental safe. Without another word, she removed her black coat and dumped it onto the grass beside her, along with her knapsack. Now sported with only a suit, she took a step forward and assumed a battle stance, her legs slightly apart and a hand on her mechanical arm.

The posture was all too familiar to Bulat and his eyes narrowed in response. He dug both feet firmly into the dirt, preparing himself for any sudden movement. Najenda was testing him; Bulat was certain of it.

"Reel Assault!" There was a click following Najenda's shout. Her prosthetic hand shot forth, with a broad wire as an axle for rotations. The hand spun in circles, gathering momentum faster than what Bulat had originally anticipated. It soared straight like an arrow, unswerving despite the stirring wind.

"HYAAA!" The Man-Slayer held both hands out and seized the fist with an iron grip. The extension rotated two more times, scraping against his skin and causing sparks to fly. He grounded his teeth, realizing that he was being pushed back. His boots left marks on the hard ground and he let loose a mighty battle roar. He gripped onto the fist tighter, his knuckles white and hands smoking. The mechanical part gave one final screech, and was halted like jammed clockworks.

Bulat released Najenda's fist, all the while stuffing both hands into his pockets. A mere test this might have been, but Najenda was not one to make concessions. The ex-general's blow was vigorous and fast, and it was taking Bulat immense concentration to endure the stinging sensation left on his palms. His hands were raw and they felt worse than getting a second-degree burn.

"How's that?" Bulat asked, keeping his face straight and unrevealing. "It'll take more than a punch to batter my resolve."

"Good, but not impressive," Najenda commented coolly, retracting her hand with another click of the button. Still looking unconvinced, her gaze followed the trail that was left by Bulat, studying it with a growing frown. "Given that I'm only at forty percent of my full strength, I expected more from you. You should've been able to stop my attack without needing to step back."

"Hey Boss, we both know that forty percent of your strength is enough to take heads off. Mine is still attached to my neck, so can't you cut me some slack?" The Man-Slayer's lips curled into a defiant smile, as if already expecting Najenda to make that comeback.

"I would, but you're not expendable. Like I said, I'm not keen on gambling this time around." With an inaudible sigh, Najenda reached into her pocket and grabbed out a packet of cigarettes. She lit one with her lighter, watching the smoke disperse with the wind.

"You make it sound like it's going to be perilous. The worst thing that can happen is being ambushed by a couple of Danger Beasts along the way. And I'm more than ready to take them down. Besides, I wouldn't want to kick the bucket before I figure out what happened to Yukio-kun." Bulat closed his eyes, offering a moment for reflections. When he reopened his dark orbs, the remnant of his smile had vanished, replaced with a countenance that emanated solemn. "He helped me a lot back then, even risked his own life to save mine. I gotta find him and return the debt."

"Hmph! You owe the newbie nothing, Bulat. If anything, he should be glad that you bothered to train him. Argh! Why is that kid so naïve even after everything we taught him?!" An all-too-familiar voice entered both Bulat and Najenda's ears. A second later, Mine made her appearance from the direction of the base, carrying Pumpkin with her newly healed arm. "I can't believe him. Pulling a fast one on us like that. Disappearing off to god-knows-where."

Bulat merely raised an eyebrow at Mine's crude attitude. By now, he was quite used to the girl's capricious personality and understood that her mannerism was simply an outward pretense. She was making herself act like she didn't care about her comrades' deaths. It was her unique way of managing with loss, to conceal the fact that she was low-spirited.

"Ah Mine. You're here," said Najenda, somewhat concerned to see the sniper alone. She flicked a finger at her cigarette butt. "Where's Ieyasu?"

"Oh, him," Mine shrugged and waved an arm dismissively. "The lovebirds are coming. They're just awfully slow, that's all."

"Lovebirds?" Najenda reiterated, a traitorous eyebrow moving up towards the hairline.

"Hey, Mine! What was that? Boss, don't listen to a thing she said! It's nothing like that!" An orotund male voice came from behind Mine, and the three Night Raiders rotated their heads to take in the newcomer, who they immediately recognized upon seeing the martial arts headband wrapped around the messy brown hair.

Ieyasu was holding onto the end of a rope as he guided Spear, who had her wrists tied in front of her, through the undergrowth of the forest. Covered in bandages from nearly head to toes, the boy was walking with extreme caution, carefully avoiding any shrubs and bushes that might irritate his wounds.

Spear walked closely behind Ieyasu. Being blindfolded with a slit of fabric as she was prevented any possible means of navigation. She was obviously feeling very uncomfortable with the treatment, and the clear dependence on Ieyasu was certainly not a pleasant experience. Having swapped her winter wears for a simple woolen jacket, red skirt, and rawhide boots, the woman was also spotted with a few bandages.

"Excuse me? Lovebirds, you say? Over my dead body!" Spear spat in disdain. Not being able to see anything was infuriating, but it did have a certain merit. Her ears were becoming more sensitive and well-tuned as she found herself relying on them more during her forest trek. For that reason, Mine's loud remark didn't escape her notice.

"Of all the nerve!" Spear huffed, wrestling with her bindings a little. "You hit me, bound me, force fed me, blinded me, paraded me in chains, and now you intend to humiliate me with your ill-mannered jokes? You assassins are the worst!"

"Don't say it like that! It's not like I have much of a choice to begin with. I'm really not that bad of a person. Honest!" Ieyasu defended, mildly exasperated that Spear would harbor such bitter resentment. Incontestably, he wouldn't go as far as to say that he was blameless since he was a little forceful in trying to get Spear to cooperate during the past few days. The noblewoman was bent on avenging his father as soon as she had regained consciousness. Incensed, she ignored her injuries and had plans to raid the palace. Any persuasive means Ieyasu attempted was ineffective and the boy was left with one option, namely to restrict the woman with ropes and chains. He had to admit, although reluctantly, that he did end up being more aggressive than he intended. 'She makes it sound like I'm some villain. Well, the good thing is that she's all fired up again. That look of depression when she first got up was so not cool.'

"Well Ieyasu, it looks like the lady isn't very fond of you," Bulat grinned, with the faintest of red sweeping across his cheeks. "But this means that a hidden alternative presents itself… You see Ieyasu, at first I wasn't that interested but after so much that happened during our campaign, I'm—"

"Ack Aniki, no... You're being so weird that it's not cool," Ieyasu groaned, a hand flying to cover half of his face. "Come on! I'm only trying to help! Why can't anyone understand that I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart?"

"Hmph, don't complain. You brought this on yourself. No one asked you to bring a loud vixen into the house." Mine folded her arms and sniffed in scornfulness. "Thanks to the ruckus you two made, I couldn't even sleep a wink. And poor Sheele thought our hideout was under attack. What were you two even doing in the middle of the night?"

Spear's palms clenched into fists, and she felt a vein popped in her head. Her etiquette was thrown out the window and she felt the need to retort.

"Loud? Me? You're the most deafening one here. You have no right to criticize." Despite everything, Spear tilted her head towards where she assumed was Mine's direction. Her lips pursed in disgust, displeasure pouring from her features. Just who did that haughty commoner think she was, passing judgment on her when she knew close to nothing of her predicament. She had just lost her father to an Imperial general, for crying aloud! Yet, she had no opportunity to express her heartache during her miserable time in a cramped room of Night Raid's hideout, completely trussed and helpless.

"Say what? You've got a bone to pick with me, huh?" Mine's intonation rose with the rhetorical question, her breathing heavy and deep. Without thinking, she habitually glared daggers at Spear before realizing that the receiver of her hostility couldn't see. Rapidly altering her approach, she made her irritation known with a scoff. "This is why I can't stand wealthy spoiled brats. What do they know about this corrupted world and its people?"

"I hardly think you're that well-informed, since you're constantly making selfish remarks. So don't act like you know everything," retorted Spear.

"Oh, yeah?" Mine gave a disgruntled snort and folded her arms. "So you think you know better, huh? Hmph… Can't really argue with that, seeing how you nobles have private classes while the rest of us are starving out in the streets. I bet that all those classes ever did was poison your brain, teaching you how to be egocentric and brainwashing you to believe that the world revolves around—"

"Ack! Would the two of you just cut it out?" Ieyasu stepped in between the two girls, his arms stretched out. He was seriously beginning to doubt the definition of a suitable candidate in Najenda's perspective. Why couldn't the silver-haired woman assign Akame, Sheele or Leone as the escort? More importantly, placing two prideful women in close proximity was definitely a terrible idea. In his opinion, Ieyasu would've rather gotten lost in the woods than being struck with the two quarrelsome girls.

'Just where is nee-san when you need her? But these two…' He attempted a small casual smile and said the first thought that came into mind. "Can't we all just get along? You two are acting like stupid three-year-olds."

"Shut up! This is your fault!" Surprisingly, the two girls had the same opinion on the issue as they both pitted the blame on the boy in unison.

While Spear had only prepared a verbal assault, Mine was more belligerent as she tried to clobber Ieyasu by swinging Pumpkin around like a flyswatter. Ieyasu instinctively back away, pulling the rope that attached him to Spear. The noblewoman stumbled and it was only reflex that allowed Ieyasu to catch her in an embrace.

"Ah!" Spear didn't take Ieyasu's assistance too kindly. There was an instant scream that startled several birds roosting on nearby trees. They spread their wings in haste and took to the blue sky, squawking at the top of their lungs while doing so. Yet, their piercing cries were overlooked as Spear kneed Ieyasu in between the legs.

With strangled sounds emitted from the back of his throat, Ieyasu collapsed onto the grass in a manner that aroused empathy from Bulat, who winced slightly. The boy's hands intuitively made their way between his legs. "Ar-ah… Hell, are you trying to rob humanity the p-prestige bloodline of this Ieyasu-sama?"

At that, Mine burst out in laughter and noticed from her peripheral vision that even Spear couldn't suppress the smile that was growing on her features. The sniper poked Ieyasu's head with Pumpkin's barrel lightly. "Ouch, that looks painful. But if you have the wits to crack a joke, then I'm sure you'll be fine. Just be grateful that you still got a chance in the future. Well… as long as I don't introduce Pumpkin's firepower to you that is."

"Argh Mine, you're freaking heartless. So not cool," Ieyasu croaked.

"Alright, that's enough. Looks like you all had your laugh. Perhaps we should get this underway then." Having watched the quarrelling scene unfold before her, Najenda clapped her hands and chose to step in.

The former Imperial general's one eye then travelled to Spear and briskly finished her scrutiny of the woman. Inhaling one last breath of her cigarette, she dropped the butt and crushed out the tiny flare with the sole of her boot.

"Spear, right?" she asked.

"…That's correct. And you are?" Detecting the seriousness and authority of the speaker, Spear responded in the same fashion, losing all traces of the informality in less than a second.

"I'm Najenda, a former general of the Empire and the current leader of Night Raid."

"Najenda?" Spear's tongue tested the name and she quirked an eyebrow. It rang a bell. Her father had once mentioned how renowned the silver-haired general was before she defected, foolishly tarnishing her former reputation for the sake of joining the rebels in pursue of impracticable changes. "I've heard of you. You are—or should I say, were—a redoubtable sniper and the owner of Roman Artillery: Pumpkin. They say that you've never missed a target before and that your expertise is what earned you the nickname the Silver Lynx."

"Lynx-eyed indeed," Najenda commented sourly, her gaze drifting towards the Teigu that Mine was holding. With an inaudible sigh, she flexed her prosthetic fingers and continued, "Now Spear, subjectivism aside, tell me your honest opinion of us. Are we so malicious that we do not deserve a chance to be heard?"

"It… it depends." Uncertainty filled her voice as Spear spoke. Before she would have never considered giving assassins a chance to explain themselves, but everything was so jumbled up in her mind. No longer was there a clear distinction between friends and foes. She never thought the Empire would outright attack them, and the price for her foolish belief was the death of her father. Ironically, amidst her despair, it had been the very people she sought to apprehend who rescued her from Hidou. It made Spear reconsider certain things about Night Raid.

Spear took a deep breath and said, "I'm willing to listen… but it doesn't mean I approve of you. Regardless of your reasons, you've killed so many people; there is no way I can forget that."

"True, and we don't plan on denying it," Najenda admitted and fisted her hand. "We're eternally covered in blood. We take lives, yes. But we also believe that these stains are meaningful, that what we're doing will bring an end to all suffering."

Spear exhaled deeply again, the faintest shadow of a frown creasing her brows. "Doing things for the greater good, huh? Defend the weak with your power? Is that a proper platitude for you assassins?"

"Someone like you will never get it. In this discriminative world, those—" Mine's retort was cut off when Najenda held up a hand for silence. The sniper bristled at the soundless order but obeyed nonetheless. With her eyebrows furrowed and lips upturned, Mine swallowed her pre-readied comeback and swiveled her head in the other direction, suddenly taking a great interest in the fluttering wings of the birds soaring freely in the sky. 'That's the flock that usually migrates. They look like a tight family, but I wonder how many of the weaker ones are abandoned when travelling across oceans…'

"I see. Let's try a new approach then," Najenda paused and let herself mulled over the appropriateness of her next statement. "Tell me, Spear… was your father as admirable as the rumors say?"

"Why are you bringing this up?" Spear hissed, instantly alert.

Najenda refrained from rubbing her temples with her fingers. Such apprehensiveness, she thought. All she wanted was to find a common ground and yet the woman seemed keen on rejecting her with repulsion. Refusing to resign to Spear stubbornness, the ex-general's insides tingled with an odd sense of steadfastness. One way or another, she was going to get Spear to consider her standpoint. Even if Spear refused to join Night Raid, she had to ensure that the noblewoman wouldn't become an enemy as the bare minimum. 'To think that this would never have been necessary if not for Ieyasu… Although there is always the traditional method of silencing her for good, I would prefer to settle things peacefully.'

"What evil did he commit that warranted such brutal execution? I heard he was burned alive, wasn't he?" she asked sternly.

"My father has done nothing wrong! Do not accuse him of wrongdoing!" Waves of angry radiated from Spear. Without even bothering to free her wrists first, she fling both limbs towards the source of that insensitive question, hoping that she didn't misjudge the distance.

"Watch out Boss!" Both Mine and Ieyasu were caught off guard, their pupils diluting in shock.

Najenda didn't budge as Bulat quickly moved in and blocked the attack singlehandedly, stopping Spear in her tracks. The Man Slayer raised an amused eyebrow, impressed by the way the attack was executed. After all, Spear's slender form gave the misconception of a fighter skilled in speed and weaponry. 'Not bad at all. She's got power… and she's not even a Teigu user.'

Astounded, the noblewoman reflectively braced herself for retaliation but no blows came. Instead, a husky voice reached her ears. "Calm down and listen please, Spear-san. Think about it, why would we bring you all the way out here without a good reason?"

"Then what is it that you want to talk about that must involve my father?" There was exasperation latched onto her voice as Spear jerked her arms free. Her captor released her accordingly, and she could've sworn that the man had smiled at her defiance. She squared her shoulders and stood to her full height. "Go on, I'm listening."

Najenda took that indication immediately, and spoke diplomatically. "Spear, do you not agree that your father was an honorable and good man?"

"Of course," Spear nodded firmly. "He did n—"

"—nothing wrong" Najenda chimed in.

Again the noblewoman nodded, her disdain being replaced by curiosity as she briefly wondered where Najenda was going with the topic. The ex-general's sounded genuine, like she actually respected her father. Spear wouldn't put aside the possibility of the two being former acquaintances. Since Chouri's retirement, he had renounced all his previous ties with the Empire and decided to settle into a peaceful life in an urban village. Thus, Spear grew up knowing little about the Empire and its representatives. Whatever knowledge she had were mainly from idle chats at the dining table.

"I assure you that my father was a commendable man. He had the heart of a saint and I am proud to be his daughter."

"As you should be," Najenda said steadily. "However, he made one mistake… and that was he chose to oppose the Prime Minister alone. In the very end, it was that act that got him killed. Don't you think that's unfair?"

"Do you really need to ask? My veins have accumulated hatred for the Empire. It hurts me to think that my father's murderer is running loose while I'm being held in custody." Venom leaked from her tone, and it was overflowing with so much odium that Spear could've sworn she heard Ieyasu suck in a nervous breath. Ignoring the sound of rustling grass at what she assumed was the young boy finally regaining on his feet, she once again tested her bindings and bit her lip when they refused to let go. The cord bit deeper into her skin, mocking her current predicament.

"I'll have you know that your father's murderer is no longer alive," Najenda informed, half expecting Spear to react aggressively. The ex-general excluded Akame's name, knowing that Spear would've wanted Hidou's life for herself. From that perspective, Najenda thought it would be wise to leave the killer anonymous, lest Spear wanted to confront the red-eyed assassin. But as it turned out, Najenda's concerns were needless, for Spear's surprisingly calm behavior proved her suppositions wrong.

"I see, so Hidou is dead. Good." The noblewoman's head lowered slightly, before startling everyone with a remark. "But the mastermind behind my father's death is still alive. And as long as he lives, I cannot rest easy."

Perfect, Najenda thought with a secretive smirk. Spear's comment led straight to the topic that she initially wanted to cover, though was pushed to the back of her mind due to the antagonism from the noblewoman. Not letting the chance slip away, Najenda quickly said, "Ah, so that means we have a common en—"

"Yes, our common enemy is Honest," Spear agreed instantly, her features having gained a scornful look upon the mention of the Prime Minister. "But that doesn't mean I would sink so low to work with you, Night Raid. No, I'll gather my own army of supporters and we'll destroy Honest's reign. This is all for my father's sake!"

"That still makes us allies. We have the same goal don't we? So why not join forces?" Ieyasu shrugged a shoulder, a friendly grin curling the corner of his lips. "It'll be great to have you with us. You know how an old saying goes; the friend of my enemy is my friend."

"Argh, that doesn't make a damn bit of sense." Mine rolled her eyes and slapped her hand on her forehead, almost willing this to be a dream. 'You big stupid country bumpkin! You just went and told rich girl here that you lack the proper schooling to get something this simple wrong. Why do I even bother?' Keeping that thought to herself, the sniper trained Pumpkin on Ieyasu's chest, though she made no movement to pull the trigger. "You're embarrassing us here. Get it right newbie. It's the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"Whoops, my bad! Well yeah, what Mine said." Ieyasu held out both hands in a surrendering gesture and backed away from Mine carefully. Although his joyous grin didn't wane, he felt pools of sweat rain down on his back. He had witness Pumpkin overheat before and therefore wasn't convinced that Mine had her Teigu constantly under control. It would be blood-splattering messy if there was an accidental discharge. 'She's pretty good with the Teigu, but her ego might set things off.'

"Anyways, glad to have you on board," he said, keeping his tone as neutral as he could.

"Are you a fool? I said I'll never collaborate with Night Raid. I'm no assassin, I'm a soldier." There was no mistaking the assurance being portrayed from her voice. Even now, Spear was still a renowned warrior who followed the code of honor. She would never join a gang of killers, even when threatened to do so. In her opinion, dying honorably was far better than to live a shadowed life filled with indignity.

"That suits us just fine," Najenda cut in abruptly, gaining everyone's attention. At one point during their argument, the silver-haired woman had removed another cigarette from her packet and was already a quarter through it. A thin wisp of smoke wafted from Najenda's mouth, like a dragon breathing steams of hot air from its nostrils. "Spear, let me present you with two feasible options. Hear me out won't you?"

"Go on then," Spear urged, finding no harm in listening.

"Your first choice is, like you said, to gather an army of your own that is independent from the Revolutionary Army. I can arrange for someone to escort you to the nearest village and leave you to your own cause provided that you will not remove your blindfold until then."

"So that I cannot expose the location of your hideout, correct?"

"Correct," Najenda nodded, "Let me give you a piece of advice though. Seeing how you're strong willed like Chouri, I have no doubt that you can find success in your endeavor to recruit members. However, I speak from experience that gathering manpower can take years, if not decades. By then, can you imagine how far the Empire has degraded?"

Silence hung heavily in the air as Spear reflected over Najenda's words. As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew that Najenda was telling the truth. It didn't take a genius to realize that it took a great deal of effort, influence, and time to assemble something close to an army. Naturally, there were many who opposed the Prime Minister, but the majority was suppressed and feared Honest too much to even consider an uprising. 'The time I need to gather manpower would mean that hundreds, if not thousands of people will continue to suffer. So, am I really down to one option…?'

"…Another alternative is to accompany my trusted subordinate to the Revolutionary Headquarters, where you shall be on probationary period until you find yourself comfortable. Until then, you can be a mere observer." Not only did Najenda's words drag Spear back into reality but they also concluded her earlier dispute with Bulat simultaneously. From her peripheral, the ex-general noticed that the Man-Slayer was picking up the knapsack that she had left on the ground, obviously taking her comment as a form of consent.

"Will joining the rebels guarantee an opportunity to take down Honest?" inquired Spear.

"Of course." Najenda was unhesitant, reinforcing the truth behind her words.

"…I see. Fine, I'll accompany your subordinate to the rebel's hideout. I wish to see with my own eyes the truth behind everything."

"A wise choice," Najenda smirked before turning to Bulat. "Bulat, I'll leave Spear in your care now. Nuge and his companions should be arriving within the next few days. Take Spear with you and inform them of our current situation. I'm sure they'll make excellent escorts."

"Understood." Passing Najenda's coat that had been placed beside her knapsack back to its owner, Bulat then slung his luggage on his broad shoulder. He came up to Spear and took the rope binding her from Ieyasu. "Spear-san, I'll untie you after we are a short distance away from the base. I trust that you won't have any problems with this? And just to let you know, you'll be staying with me at an inn in the Capital until our escorts arrive."

"Lead the way," Spear nodded, having decided to trust the man. Besides, it wasn't as though she was given much of a choice otherwise.

Ieyasu waved them off until their backs melted into the forest surrounding. The owner of Senpu heaved a disgruntled sigh. He was mildly disappointed that he had allowed a fine lady like Spear slip out of his grasp. Seriously, he thought, he didn't even get the chance to woo her, like a proper gentleman.

'This is so not cool, especially after all the tricks and tips Lobbo gave me on seduction. Ugh, I can't believe Aniki gets to be in the same room as Spear for the next few days… and she's fine with it! Damn, I so want to be in Aniki's boots right now.' Lost in thought as he was, he was unaware that Najenda and Mine were conversing; it was only upon his name being called that he was dragged out of his moping state.

"…Ieyasu can assist you."

'Wait… what?' Ieyasu blinked and was at a complete loss by the abrupt announcement.

"Hmph. You hear that newbie? You should feel honored. Sheele is normally the one who's given such a privilege." Mine lifted her chin in a haughty manner, ascertaining the superiority she had over Ieyasu. She hoisted Pumpkin in his direction, its barrel pointed straight at his chest. "I'm not responsible for any of your injuries during training though, you got it?"

"Of course I get…. wait, what? You're not using me for target practice! Uh-uh, never!" exclaimed Ieyasu, crisscrossing his arms to create the letter x. For a person with the preference of strength than rationale, it was surprising that it took him no longer than seconds to realize the hidden implications. But then again, it was not difficult to make a logical guess; after all, Mine's threatening gesture was a dead giveaway.

"What are you talking about?" asked Najenda, puzzled. "Why would I allow Mine to kill one of our prized recruits?"

"Eh? So you're not trying to kill me?"

"Do you really want me to?" asked Mine.

Ieyasu seemed so confused that she couldn't help but grin. It seemed that her previous aggression and threats had traumatized the boy. He seemed to be more scared of Pumpkin than Murasame, which Mine naturally deemed was the number one killer. It was no understatement that even Akame herself wasn't safe around the cursed blade.

'He's giving a brave look, but he's shivering inside.' As a rare act of generosity towards the boy, Mine decided to attempt reassurance just the one time. It wasn't in her nature, as she insisted, to be nice. Thus, she had to force the words out. "Look newbie, stop taking my jokes seriously. I'm not gonna shoot you so don't have to shit your pants. I just need Senpu's ability to create some targets, okay?"

"…Nope," Ieyasu responded with a broadening grin, with one finger playfully tapping the handle of his Teigu. The way that Mine concluded her utterance with a rhetorical question told him that the sniper was requesting his help. She had no intention of acting on her earlier threat. Therefore, Ieyasu knew that he could risk fooling around and irritate the girl. It wasn't often that he received such opportunity and he wanted to relish the chance while it lasted.

"What do you mean no?" Mine's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You're asking me for help here. Would it kill you to show some respect? Maybe you can try imploring me with puppy eyes."

"You're pushing it," the pink-haired girl growled. Her twin tails jerked up and straightened out in response, mimicking a cat with its hackle raised.

"Whoa! Puppy eyes okay! I never said anything about glowering like a kitten!"

"Just who are you calling a kitten, you incompetent imbecile?!"

From the sidelines, Najenda observed the quarrel with a smirk. Bickering would do the two well, she supposed. At the very least, it was distracting Mine and Ieyasu from the grief that was dragging the entire team down. Bulat was indeed correct; she would have to do something about this. Slowly, her violet eye drifted behind her shoulder, and she took in the sight of the hideout. 'Perhaps I should check on her later…'

Location: Night Raid's Hideout (Lounge). Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 94).

Leone was by no means a medical expect, but even she could bandage wounds when proper equipment was given to her. With an expeditious knot, the woman secured the freshly wrapped bandages around Akame's abdomen, subsequently eliciting a small intake of breath from the raven-haired assassin.

"Sorry," Leone mumbled. Having perceived the sound, she felt bad that she had rushed the last part of the treatment. She thought that the sight of the painfully swollen flesh on Akame as she applied some ointment would've been an adequate indication to be gentle, but she allowed impatience to get the best out of her. The past few days were hectic as searches for Yukio ended up being unrewarding. With the accumulating stress, the blonde desired some form of refreshment from the pub, namely alcohol to numb her distressed brain. For only then could she truly but momentarily forget and relax.

'Well, all done.' Despite that thought, another small voice resonated in her heart, telling her that her job was left unfinished. Unwittingly, Leone's gaze shifted to the right. Akame was wearing nothing but a black sports bra and shorts, so she could plainly see the gauze around her arm. Supposedly, it was the only injury that didn't require any handling, though Leone knew better. She glared angrily at the bandages, as if that alone would make the dressings unwrap themselves. Naturally, that didn't happen and Leone had to muffle a disgruntled sound with a hand.

'Thinking back, maybe curiosity is killing me.'

Curiosity killed the cat. At the outset, Leone would've snorted at how ridiculous the saying was. However, she now believed otherwise. She was overconfident back then, and her curiosity led her to several attempts at unmasking Akame's secret.

Leone had wanted to settle the issue in a good-natured manner so she attempted her "ain't we friends?" ploy. She was thoroughly disappointed when her target paid little heed to her charm. She subsequently switched to an ambush, though she found her endeavor rather foolish with the following memory. She still had recurring nightmares of when Akame nearly gave her a bad haircut. In the face of Akame's uncompromising glare, Leone finally learned to give up.

Resisting the urge to growl, the blonde rubbed her forehead with two fingers, glad that Akame was seated with her back towards her. It was just so frustrating, seeing the dressings but not being able to do anything about it. Over and above that was the fact that Akame forbid her from touching it. 'The more she tells me to leave it alone, the more I want to see what she's hiding.'

Desiring some diversion, lest she became snooping again, Leone pulled her gaze away and allowed herself to scrutinize Akame's figure. In all honesty, she thought that her friend would look adorable in clothing that could exhibit her curves. While Akame's mini dress revealed a bit, they were too dull for Leone's taste and left the best parts for the imagination. To be frank, the blonde believed that Akame needed a new makeover.

'Jeez, that reminds me…' A few years back, Leone saved a few coins for a white dress that she had deemed fitting as a birthday gift for Akame. However, the girl bluntly turned it down without any hesitation. Leone felt rejected back then, until she noticed that the clothing seemed like a poignant reminder for Akame. Since then, the blonde never questioned Akame's choice of fashion, even as she wondered why the girl's attire looked so bleak.

"Leone, what are you looking at?"

Too late did Leone realize that Akame had crocked her head and was now looking at her, with genuine confusion etched on her face. The woman blinked idly, having been snapped out of her reflections. Feeling rather awkward for being caught like this, Leone grinned sheepishly and clapped her hands on Akame's shoulders. "N-nothing at all. Er, I was just checking your wounds. Tell me, my friend… how are you holding up?"

"My wounds are healing," replied Akame as she turned her body around to face Leone. Her hand brushed against the dressings on her abdomen. "Give me a week or so and that should suffice."

"Jeez! I don't know what to do with you sometimes. In case you haven't figured it out, I'm not talking about that." Leone palmed her face and heaved a sigh, giving Akame a disappointed look akin to that of a teacher seeing a student fail a critical test.

"Then what are you referring to?" the younger girl asked, perplexed.

"Akame." Leone's gaze seared deep into the crimsons, drawing the truth from the sealed-off eyes. Keeping her golden pools locked with Akame's, she gently touched her own chest, feeling the unfaltering pulsing of her own heart. "It hurts more here, doesn't it?"

"…No." An obvious lie that even a three year-old could decipher, and Akame knew how pathetic it sounded to both her and Leone. Her lips quivered and almost immediately, she averted her gaze, using her bangs to hide her fraught countenance. It unnerved her that she was once again being read like an opened book. It remained a mystery as to how Leone managed to interpret her disclosed turmoil. But she was certain of one thing; she didn't enjoy the sense of vulnerability.

Leone watched as Akame's fingers entwined on her lap, a standard gesture that revealed her hidden anxiousness. The renowned assassin was not one to openly express her feelings. However, her subtle body language didn't lie, as Yukio once mentioned after Leone had pestered him about it.

"Spill the beans Yukio-kun. How do you do it? Akame doesn't let people into her guarded thoughts. So tell me, how come you are so good at knowing how she feels? I've been around her for a much longer time than you and even I can't read her this accurately."

"Uh, well… most of the time it's just wild guesses. But if there is one thing I'm thankful for… it's that Akame isn't completely detached from her emotions. Her body language can betray her. If you look carefully, you can notice little things. Her tone and her look would be ambiguous but it's those slight movements from her eyes and fingers that give her away."

Giving a silent praise to the young man for shedding some light on the enigma known as Akame, Leone allowed a reassuring smile to show, even if she knew that the assassin couldn't see it with her head lowered. As she tried searching her features, Leone realized that Akame had been relatively down for quite sometimes, even prior to Lubbock's death.

More often than not, Akame looked sad. Even when surrounded by good friends, she emitted a sense of wistfulness and forlornness. It certainly didn't take Leone long to comprehend that her mental condition had nothing to do with her social awkwardness. It was something different altogether; there was an inexplicable burden that Akame was carrying on her shoulders.

"Look, I know this isn't easy but you gotta stop acting like you're fine." Another sigh escaped Leone and she reluctantly scratched the back of her head. "I'm your best friend Akame. I can tell when you're in pain and I can be the shoulder for you to lean on."

"Leone…" That seemed to have caught Akame's attention, for the female assassin perked up to look at the blonde with an unusual shimmer in her pair of ruby-colored orbs. For the briefest of seconds Leone thought that she caught a glimpse of fresh tears from the corner of Akame's eyes, though it was transitory as the raven-haired briskly wiped her face with the back of her hand.

"Thanks… But I'm sorry, I can't."

"Akame…"

"I mean, it's something I started… so I need to finish it on my own." With a short pause, the red-eyed girl scanned her surroundings. The room was far too capacious for her liking, even with the furniture that decorated the place. "…The base doesn't feel right. It's not the same without everyone. I've really never been able to get used to feeling like this… This pain of losing comrades… I-I…"

"It's all the more reason why you need to tell me everything. I'm here for you." Before Akame could come to comprehend her words of encouragement, Leone reined the smaller girl into her chest. The tender back rubs the blonde supplied eased Akame out of her dumbfounded state. For the first time in days, the raven-haired girl allowed a miniature smile to appear on her visage.

"If I were a man, I would wrap my arms around you and hold you. But for now, we'll just stay like this… at least until you're in the mood to talk. Whenever you're ready, I'll be here listening. I know it's hard, but Night Raid needs the assassin who has conquered her emotions and eliminated Hidou." Even as she said it, Leone couldn't help but be antagonized. Forthrightly, she felt a little irked that she wasn't the one who finished off the accursed general. Nevertheless, blaming Akame would be gratuitous, considering how the two parties were engaged in a Teigu battle at the time. 'No hard feelings I guess. Even Akame couldn't have taken account of everything. She didn't know…'

"…Leone, what if… what if I told you that I knew." As if their thoughts were connected via telepathy, Akame spoke and countered Leone's musing.

The girl's voice was barely audible due to having half of her face obscured from view, so Leone wasn't certain if she had misheard it. As she was still in her human form, the blonde didn't have the finely tuned ears her transformation granted. Regardless, Akame's statement made no sense. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Know about what?"

"…The future," came the somewhat hesitated answer.

Leone blinked twice before she was consumed by the need to express amusement. A low chuckle broke out from the depths of her throat. "Akame, if this is your idea of a first-time joke, then you got me good for a sec. But let's be frank here. Who are you trying to fool? No one can predetermine their future. It's why people should make the most of the present and live life to the fullest. Well, try sticking with the motto; it may help you see things in a different light."

"Leone, this is no laughing matter. I'm serious." The gravity latched within Akame's tone forced Leone to suppress her mirth. Apprehending that there was more truth to what she thought was a lame prank, the older woman's smile vanished and her fair countenance was flawed by the frown that she was now spotted with.

"I know this will sound nonsensical and I'm not expecting you to believe me right off the bat. But in any case, I am serious."

"Akame…"

"The future," Akame paused, contemplating on her choice of words. She needed Leone to understand the gist of her time traveling incident, though she couldn't risk disclosing everything. The future was already branching off into an unknown territory so she feared that her next move would be encumbered by any excessive knowledge she offered Leone.

Nonetheless, Akame needed consultation. As averse as she was to admit it, Yukio could be dead. Fate had its way of being spiteful and while she was still grasping onto hope, she wasn't so delusional to believe that Yukio was definitely safe. The mere consideration had her trapped in an incessant realm of anxiety. Even though she willed herself to be independent, she had come to rely on Yukio whenever she needed company. She wasn't going to deny it; the young man was an incomparable observer as well as a listener. He knew exactly when she desired solitude and when she sought for companionship. In an indescribable way, he was more understanding than she could ever imagine.

However, Yukio was not here, and Akame felt besieged by accumulating sensations that were foreign to her. For once, she felt that switching gears was inadequate.

"The future, our future…" Akame spoke again, continuing from where she halted herself. "…I have hazy memories."

"Wait, wait, wait a second! So you're not pulling my leg when you said you know what's gonna happen?" Leone asked, bewildered. She cast her gaze down on Akame and regretted having captured the raven-haired girl in an embrace. From this angle, she couldn't see her friend's expression, though her voice, despite being slightly muffled, was projecting her earnestness.

The raven-haired girl shook her head stiffly. "I wasn't satisfied with how things turned out. I questioned and challenged fate. As luck would have it, I wound up here again. But in my foolish haste to alter the past, I think I may have caused a greater mishap to our future."

"Y-you crossed the boundary of… time?! Was it a Teigu's powers?" Like a bolt of lightning, the deliberation hit Leone and she pieced together what she knew. Everything—from Akame's abnormal behavior to Yukio's distinctiveness—that occurred in the past three months was connecting together like jigsaw puzzles. "Yukio-kun's Baransu… Yukio-kun once mentioned that it could distort time and space… Oh, why didn't I think about that before? You two used his trump card and got yourselves a one-way ticket back to the past!"

"Yes… Although it wasn't meant to be like this," Akame choked on the last part as she berated her powerlessness. She had made so many mistakes already, and now she unwittingly continued to exacerbate the problem by revealing too much. Still, it was too late to take back what was said. Rather than be troubled, she decided to be candid for all that it was worth. "It's my fault… Lubbock should've lived… He wasn't supposed to die there. I made too many changes… and he died because of my incompetence to change fate. I should have been more careful. I failed him… all over again."

Conceivably disappointed or disgusted by her confession, Leone pushed Akame away and stood up. A small grimace twisted the woman's face as she trudged towards the table and started grabbing the apparatus needed to make tea. Taking a teabag and mixing it with boiled water, she then brought the steaming cup back to the couch. Wordlessly, she handed the raven-haired girl the cup before crashing back down on the seat.

"Leone, I…" At a loss of what Leone was trying to convey, Akame stared at the liquid she held before her, as though it could offer the answer that eluded her. Of course, it did nothing to ease her mind and her eyebrows puckered further.

"Drink. Trust me, it'll help. You're being too self-reproached for my liking." A soothing smile played on Leone's lips. "And if you want to do Lubbo a favor, then wipe away that grim look of yours. You did what you could to avenge him, didn't you? Besides, no one can account the future as your responsibility. You may know how some things will play out, but you're no God by any means. So don't be too hard on yourself."

With nothing better to say and do, Akame heeded Leone's suggestion and forced out a poker face.

"Jeez, I know that Teigu can do crazy shit but it's still hard trying to get my head around this." Leone scratched her head and sighed, "I'll take it that you don't want me go telling anyone else."

"I'm grateful if you can keep quiet. I'll tell the others if I must, but right now…"

"…Alright. I got it so I won't question your decision. I won't tell a soul, that's a deal. And in return, drink."

The deal was more than what Akame could bargain for so she nodded. She blew on the surface before taking a sip of the lukewarm drink. It was a little too sweet for her liking, but she supposed she shouldn't be fastidious. Leone made this for her and it would be ungracious to criticize.

"How was it? You drank everything right?" There was an inexplicable eagerness attached to Leone's voice as she took the empty cup from red-eyed girl. As if needing confirmation, she tipped the object in her hand upside down, ensuring that every last drop had been drunk.

"It's good… and I finished it. Er, did you want some too?" Akame tilted her head to the side at Leone's unusual behavior. She didn't get a chance to think about it, because she felt somnolent as a deep fog of sleep began to invade her brain. Unable to stop herself in time, the young Night Raider's eyelids closed and her consciousness ebbed away.

"Gotcha." Expecting Akame's legs to give way, Leone caught her before removing herself from the couch to provide space. As she laid the girl in a supine position, she took note of the fact that Akame was more or less undressed and she was bound to catch a cold without any covering. It was just as providential that at that moment, Leone saw the sheet of blanket that was resting on the crest rail. Ieyasu must have forgotten it after napping in the room. Grabbing it, she draped the cover over Akame.

With her hands placed on her hips, Leone surveyed her handiwork. Akame was soundly asleep, having reached the state of nothingness that made Leone doubt that even Ieyasu could wake her up. Under normal circumstances, the girl would still be vigilant while slumbering. Her rigorous assassin training ensured that she was constantly alert. However, Leone had mixed enough sleeping pills with the tea to put a horse to sleep for days. She usually kept a stash of the powder with her in case she needed to subdue the enemy. In spite of that, never in her wildest dream did she imagine that it would be necessary to use it on a fellow teammate.

To be on the safe side, Leone was precautious with the deed, having used the sweetness of the drink as a means of distraction. She was well aware that Akame wasn't too fond on extremely sweet things. There was no confirmation, but the blonde suspected it was because the favor reminded the girl of her sibling, who had a proclivity for snacks and sweets.

"Sorry about the sneaky act. But like I said before, you aren't God. Being insomniac isn't doing miracles on your body. Get a good rest. You're straining your body and mind way too much," whispered Leone, despite knowing that Akame couldn't hear her. She gently ruffled the girl's glossy hair, feeling a nag of pity prickling her insides. The way that Akame's brows were thin and narrowed lines above her closed eyelids informed Leone that anguish had pursued her into the dream world.

A low threatening growl emitted from her throat. As much as she wanted to help Akame, chasing away plagued nightmares was beyond her capabilities. It was distressing for her to acknowledge her limitations to assist her friend. Akame was such a professional assassin that many would forget that underneath the mask of indifference was a teenager who had experienced the cruelty of the world at firsthand. And the sad part of everything was that Leone could do nothing but be an observer.

Mission: Deliver four Teigu to the Revolutionary Army Headquarters

Participating Member: Bulat

Result: Ongoing

Rewards: None

Author's Notes (part 2): And done at last! Apart from being distracted by my other stories, I was struggling with the feel of this chapter. That, and the editing process had taken longer than usual as it's quite challenging to write and proofread everything within a month (the major disadvantage of not having the aid of a betareader). Nonetheless, I do hope that the quantity and quality of this chapter is worth the small delay.

And before I forget, I would like to mention that I'm currently at a point where I need to decide the outline of the relationship between Yukio and Akame. The direction their relationship will take is going to have a big impact on the future chapters, especially relating to the actions Yukio is willing or unwilling to take. Thus, I would love to hear your opinions relating this subject. Should the two maintain a relationship as friends or actually develop deeper chemistry? I've placed a poll on my profile page that will be up for the next few chapters.

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:

-Bulat is tasked with taking four Teigu to the Revolutionary Army. These include the Double Bladed Axe: Belvaac, Water Dragon Possession: Black Marlin, Military Music Dream: Scream, and Nature's Slicer: Thorn Whip (the Teigu mentioned in chapter 7, the one that Akame managed to bring with her into this timeline).

- Bulat and Spear are going to meet up with some spies for the Revolutionary Army in the Capital before heading south to the rebel's camp.

-Why was Akame upset when Leone brought her the white dress? That's because the dress resembles the one that Martha (a spy who was like a surrogate mother to Akame) gave her.

- Leone notes that Akame seems melancholy sometimes even when surrounded by her friends. This is because she indistinctly recalls her teammates' deaths. This was first foreshadowed in chapter 3.

Preview- Kill Esdeath's New Group: with the loss of the Three Beasts, Esdeath takes the matter with Night Raid personally and decides to assemble a new team specifically meant to take down the assassin group.

?: 'Don't worry you guys; so long as I do well, I'll be able to have our existence acknowledged even further by the Empire. Who knows, maybe I can bring her back... even if it means cutting her down with my own hands.'

Spear: "Did he just catch and break the arrow like a toothpick?"

?: "I haven't met her yet, but she's quite famous. Even around the rural parts like where I came from. She's one of the generals of the Four. Her name is…"