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: Seasonal greetings, everyone! It's slightly early but please consider this chapter a Christmas present from me to all of you. Thank you everyone for your support throughout this year and I hope you have all enjoyed the story thus far.

And of course, a special thank you to all the reviewers who delivered thoughtful feedback.

RevansStories: I know I said this already, but thank you for betareading this chapter. Without your help, I wouldn't have achieved the characterization of the characters as I have here. So thanks again.

KrIsSs92: I can understand why you may feel underwhelmed by what Tatsumi has accomplished so far. It's just I haven't really gotten too far with him yet, seeing that there are so many other colorful characters in the Akame ga Kill series that are waiting to make an appearance. Still, I do intend to develop Tatsumi's characters more; you may not see dramatic development immediately but it's there and it'll be steadily shown. Still, I'm really pleased that you gave me your honest opinion as I agree with you. Don't worry, your comment didn't offend me. In fact, it helps a lot.

Ultimatrix bearer: The poll will be up for about two more chapters or so. I'll definitely tell you when I'll be closing it when that time approaches. And from your wording, I'll take it that you didn't like what the anime did with Tatsumi and Mine, is that right?

SeihoTheNeko: I understand that it's an example, though I couldn't help but imagine the possibility (maybe I'll try a one-shot or something like that in the future if I have time). Yeah, Najenda isn't going to sit around after hearing what happened, nor is she going to be too happy about it. You're also right about Kurome being possibly more of a threat than ever before. Even if we disregard every other factor, we can't forget that Akame has already killed her sister once before. Imagine her psyche if she has to go through that again. And as for Yukio… well, you'll find out what happens in this chapter.

Commonwealth1991: Wow, you gave such a long and thought-out analysis! I cannot thank you enough. It just won't do your effort justice if I simply gave a short reply here, so I've decided to supply my responses through PM.

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(Beta read by RevansStories)

Chapter 21— Kill Esdeath's New Group II

"Something gently touching—

You're so intent on seeking it out,

that you can't even see your fate yet, with such innocent eyes."

-Zankoku na Tenshi no TE-ZE (Neon Genesis Evangelion OP)

...

"Prompted to come with you and your eternal innocence.

As we dive into the end of this spiral-like path.

Let's go to a place we cannot return from."

-Miniature Garden (Hakoniwa no Gakuen OP)

Location: Near the Imperial Palace. Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 99).

Bearing an errand from the Prime Minister, Tatsumi made his way up the small hill with a folder in one hand. His cowlick leaned to the side, swaying in movement with the grass strands around his feet. The breeze tickled his face. It was a pleasant feeling and he was tempted to linger around if not for the job he was forced to do.

That's right. He had a job randomly passed to him.

It all began in the early morning, when Tatsumi happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He bumped into Honest on his way back from the Imperial library and was then made to search for Esdeath, who was surprisingly not in her chambers. Tatsumi wondered if he should blame his luck, considering none of this would've occurred had he not accidently fall asleep while reading a historical book late last night.

'The Prime Minister must think that because Esdeath likes me, I'm some sort of magnet that can pull her in whenever I want… Damn him! I really do hate him! But I've no chance but to work for him, at least until I can secure myself a good position to take him down.'

There was one of the strongest of all urges to clutch his head in utter exasperation but Tatsumi decided to feign composure while passing a couple of servants at work.

Compelled to broaden the range of his search, the young sergeant wandered around aimlessly until he encountered Mamoru at the palace gates.

'Huh, Mamoru-sensei? What's he doing here? I really don't understand him at all. But come to think about it, barely anything he does makes any sense to me. He's a lone wolf and all, so I thought he would send me off at first chance. But he seems so against the idea of Esdeath taking me in… so much that it took them two whole days until they reached a consensus. Maybe it just because both of them have their own way of doing things but still… why did neither of them tell me about it beforehand?!'

There was once again one of the strongest of all urges to clutch his head in utter exasperation but Tatsumi decided to feign composure while in front of his mentor.

Mamoru was conversing with a strange man dressed in a lab coat, though Tatsumi couldn't make much out of it since his attention was torn from the conversation to several masked men coming his way. Startled, Tatsumi watched as they carried a human-shaped figure wrapped in blankets on a stretcher. Noticing that the guards at the gate permitted entry, the young sergeant asked no questions, even though he thought the sight was beyond strange.

'I've seen weird things before but that was awfully bizarre. What was on that stretcher? Was it someone who's dead? Who are those masked people? They looked so inhuman, with their body proportions all over the place. It's like I'm caught in some kind of horror film… because why else would that scientist wink seductively at me?! Argh! And here's another thing to add to my growing list of why the Capital is beyond the definition of strange.'

There was yet again one of the strongest of all urges to clutch his head in utter exasperation but Tatsumi decided to feign composure as Mamoru left the scientist to approach him, while wearing his usual indifference.

For the first time since he woke up, something turned out in Tatsumi's favor. The Silencer offered a few possibilities of where Esdeath could be. Following the advice, Tatsumi found himself filled with a sense of direction.

With the busy morning fresh in his mind, it was no surprise that Tatsumi's eyes lit up the moment he found the person he was looking for. Dressed in her usual general attire, Esdeath stood at the base of the small hill on the other side. Her long overflowing hair, caressed by the breeze, was sparkling under the morning sun. Tatsumi found his breath stolen immediately, memorized by the radiating beauty that was the Ice Queen.

Nevertheless, what he then noticed caused his eyebrows to crease. Esdeath's cap was slightly lowered, shielding her eyes from his sight as she brushed a hand across the surface of a gravestone in front of her. At that, the shimmer within Tatsumi's bright green pools died down like extinguished flame. What lay beyond the hill was a graveyard, with countless gravestones lined in countless columns and rows.

"Liver. Nyau. Daidara…" Esdeath muttered, her tone neither soft nor stern. The names were uttered in a way undecipherable by Tatsumi, almost as if Esdeath didn't know whether to be disappointed or sad.

The general gripped the side of the stone tablet that was shaped like a cross. It was one of the three graves recently dug, where the scavenged remains of her subordinates were given their final resting place. "You three lost, which means you were weak. It's only natural that the weak are eliminated."

"What're you saying?" Tatsumi shouted his inner thought before he realized the blunder. Nonetheless, the truth was that her words did not set well for him. As one of the three courageous adventurers set out to save their village from poverty, he was prepared to risk his life to accomplish their shared goal. It was the reason why he sought to enlist in the military despite knowing that he would be travelling to warzones in the possible future. He was determined to fight for not only the people in his village but also for the people of the Empire. So imagine how disappointing it was to hear the person of the rank he inspired to obtain muttering offhanded remarks and condemning the supposed weak.

With convoluted feelings, the new sergeant took the last few steps and stopped behind Esdeath. The Ice Queen spun on her heels until she came face to face with the young man who managed to captivate her.

"Tatsumi." A thrilled smile danced on Esdeath's lips. "What a surprise. I did not expect you to come to me this early in the morning. As much as I do love seeing your face, you do understand how vulnerable you are now, right?"

"W-what…!" Her meaning hadn't managed to sink in before Esdeath closed in faster than Tatsumi could blink. Her form seemed to momentarily vanish from his view, only to reappear a second later behind him, with an arm looped around his waist. Tatsumi's first innate response would be to recoil and leap back, though he dared not move. An ice shard shaped like a dagger was suspended dangerously close to his neck. He could feel the cold air emitting from the crystallized weapon, which was a clear contrast to Esdeath's warm breath as she whispered into his ear.

"You see, Tatsumi. You need to learn that inattentiveness can cost you your life. An assassin could be lurking amongst us. General Mamoru informed me about the existence of a possible shape shifter, a Teigu user, working for the rebels. I'm sure you can understand the implications." When that was said, Esdeath withdrew herself from the nervous teen and dissolved the ice shard she had in one hand. Perhaps it was because he had never been swindled or deceived before in his small village, but Esdeath believed that Tatsumi was far too gullible for his own good. Although it was a trait she found endearing, she didn't want it to invite unnecessary carelessness. "I'm not telling you to attack anyone who approaches you but it's imperative that you come to recognize the relationship between the predator and the prey."

"…" Tatsumi said nothing, his pupils dilated. Instincts had placed his hand on his sword's hilt and while his grip was firm, shock had rendered any motion ineffective.

"Nature demands vigilance. Otherwise, the predator may find themselves becoming the prey. You do understand that, do you not?" Esdeath reached for Tatsumi's shoulders and shook the speechless boy, pulling him back into the present.

"I got it." Fighting back a gulp, Tatsumi's hand slowly inched around his throat. A droplet of sweat trailed down the side of his face when he realized how close to death he had been. Although he had managed to grab onto his weapon, there was no way he would've reacted in time to intercept Esdeath's advance. No, it was more accurate to say that he 'could not' rather than 'would not'. The sinister aura that suddenly emanated from the Ice Queen was like a deadly viper, squeezing his body and rendering him immobile. That minuscule display of her terrifying strength was so life-threatening that even Akame's Murasame paled in comparison.

'That was too close... When was the last time my heart felt like it was going to explode?' The answer to that question clicked into place when he finally managed to calm down. He thought he had encountered what he considered were extreme killing intent when he fought Akame and trained with Mamoru. But Esdeath's was beyond this world, so baleful and merciless that it appeared inhumane.

"Good," Esdeath nodded once, pleased with his response. "Now, where were we?"

Tatsumi stiffened briefly, brows furrowing minutely to consider his next words.

"Tatsumi. If you are dissatisfied with something, then say it. Do you have an issue with my line of thinking?" As expected, Esdeath interpreted Tatsumi's expression as reluctance and was quick to pinpoint the source of the problem.

Subtlety was obviously not what Esdeath wanted so Tatsumi cut straight to the point, the source that had stemmed the earlier outburst. He flung an arm towards the graves and bit the bottom of his lip. "Shouldn't you be upset that your subordinates die? Yet you call them weak and just left it like that. Is this what you and the Empire think of people who lost their lives while trying to defend this country? You think so little of them."

"Tatsumi, my thoughts are not influenced by the Empire. There's a difference between feeling empathy for the fragile and sympathy for my loyal subordinates," replied Esdeath, not in the least offended by the accusation Tatsumi aimed at her. Instead, she merely gestured towards the graves.

Following her gaze, it was then Tatsumi noticed some flowers left beside the graves. Left in no doubt that Esdeath was the one who left them, the young sergeant was hit with a realization. 'She does care to a certain degree but she's also realistic enough to face the facts… is that it? If that's true then maybe I can—'

"Don't be mistaken. I'm not one for mercy. Know that the strong devours the weak. Such is the way of natural selection." In an uncanny manner that refuted Tatsumi's speculations, Esdeath spoke as her cerulean eyes lost all semblances of human qualities and glistened like a predator. An air of animosity stirred and surrounded the Ice Queen, encasing her inside a veil of vicious killing intent. "My subordinates were defeated by the strong. The 'why' and 'how' you love to ponder on means nothing. Just understand that since I am stronger, I will personally seek to avenge their deaths. There's nothing else that can be done other than that."

He supposed he could accept that, seeing as Esdeath was indeed correct. The ones who died could not return to the world of living; even the law-bending Teigu possessed no such ability. Still, a part of him remained unsatisfied, which prompted the next sentences to leave his lips before proper thought. "Does that mean you will avenge me too if I die… since I'm officially one of your subordinates now?"

"That day won't come," said Esdeath, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're not weak, you're strong. That I'm certain."

Tatsumi bit the inside of his cheek, contemplating if he should proceed with his inquiry. It wasn't like he was desperate to delve into the topic but there was a fraction of him that was indubitably curious. 'She's the best I have since Mamoru-sensei is not so willing when it comes to talking. I want to know more about the mindset of the people in the Capital. I want to understand the truth. I know that the Capital isn't filled with hopes and dreams. But how does the Empire raise its generals? Why are there soft murmurs about the Capital being corrupted? How far does this corruption go if it really does exist?'

So many questions flooded his head and Tatsumi decided to probe deeper. He took a deep breath. "Theoretically, then. What if I'm caught in a situation where death is certain? I mean, even the best can have a bad day, right?"

"If so, then you can rest assure I will protect you. I won't allow anything harm you."

Her words, spoken with ample confidence, left no room for Tatsumi to dispute. With a streak of red decorating his cheeks, the young boy briefly wondered what life would be like if he received the protection of the strongest general in the Empire. While his pride as a man protested that such treatment was unnecessary, there was no denying that it made him happy. 'It's not the answer I was looking for but… is it really so bad? I'll need more time to see for myself.'

Silence easily passed between them, before Esdeath destroyed it. "Now, Tatsumi. Can you tell me what brought you here? I doubt you came to discuss ideologies."

"That's right! I'm here to give you this." Reminded of his task, Tatsumi handed the folder to Esdeath.

"Hoh? Who made you the errand boy? The Minister?" Esdeath asked, accepting and opening the folder. When Tatsumi supplied a nod, she allowed a sadistic smirk to appear on her features. "Is that so? Then perhaps I should cut off his tongue the next time he orders you without my consent. I shall have him understand that you belong to me now."

'A very direct way of putting it, but I'll save the retort.' Whether or not the Ice Queen was joking was debatable, though Tatsumi welcomed her display of menace. Instead of recoiling with an appalled look, he muttered, "That'll be fantastic."

"Hmm? You don't seem too fond of the man," inferred Esdeath. While she had to admit that Honest was not someone with many praiseworthy qualities, she wondered what could've trigger Tatsumi's great detestation. A few possibilities materialized inside her head, though there was no evidence unless she conferred with Tatsumi.

Tatsumi scrapped his boot against the grassy floor. "Yeah, I'm under the suspicion that he's nothing but rotten meat… Does that upset you?"

"Not at all. In fact, I do enjoy your honesty." Esdeath smiled and ran a finger down the side of Tatsumi's face, only to withdraw when the flustered boy stepped back. Amused by his reaction, the general's genuine smile never waned as she opened the folder she received.

As Esdeath shuffled through the papers, curiosity urged Tatsumi to take a peek at the content. Since Honest never prohibited him from looking, he decided to see what information he could extract. If the document was confidential, then perchance Esdeath wouldn't have opened it in front of him, nor would the Prime Minister have entrusted him with it. Despite that, there was still a slither of hope that he would discover something of great significance, possibly even related to the state of the country. If so, that would save him the time of searching for information in the library.

Aware of Tatsumi's actions, Esdeath inclined the papers so that every word was visible to him. Clearly, the general had no problem allowing him to read the content and it soon dawn on him why.

"Profiles?" Tatsumi blinked, trying to accept the fact that he had spent his entire morning delivering the profiles of six people who happened to have low social standing. Not to mention that each one had certain personality quirks that were jotted down at the last section of their page. Tatsumi supposed he wouldn't have minded as much if Mamoru or Esdeath were the ones who delegated the job. But Honest was another matter altogether. That, and the way that his stomach rumbled in protest reminded him that he hadn't had breakfast.

"Six exceptional Teigu users will arrive today. They are to be promoted, forming a new team responsible for exterminating Night Raid," Esdeath paused and then lightly hummed as if contemplating something. Sliding a glance with unreadable intent in Tatsumi's way, her manner of speech shifted to proclaim a sense of mystery. "And while I'm on this topic, let me tell you that you've also been promoted."

Her sentence hung in the air until Tatsumi registered the message with an exclamation. "Really? Am I a general now?"

It was the mixture of his naivety and enthusiasm that curled Esdeath's lip into a smirk and sparked a twinkle of amusement in her cerulean orbs. "You're getting ahead of yourself."

Visible disappointment came in the form of a slouching cowlick and the Ice Queen couldn't help but admit that it was endearing, even if she didn't understand how he was doing it.

"Be proud, Lieutenant Tatsumi. You're getting closer to your dream. Only those with skills and potential are promoted." As much as she didn't mind his expressive strand of hair, Esdeath would much rather see the boy's face. Therefore, she guided her free hand to his chin and lifted Tatsumi's head until they locked gaze. "Usually, that would be announced in a ceremony. But I'm afraid you would have to make do without, for the Emperor and the Minister have their hands full on important matters and the decision for your promotion is on short notice."

"It's a dire time. I know," Tatsumi said and then shrugged a shoulder, a habit that he picked up from Ieyasu. He took a step back to distance himself, relieved when Esdeath allowed the action and dropped her hand. "I didn't climb the ranks for the spotlight. So the ceremony isn't important as long as the title is official. I need the money I earn for my village. Although gaining a good reputation would help and hopefully let my friends catch my name... Speaking of which, any luck?"

"Not yet. I've arranged for the Imperial police to conduct a search. They found no sign of your two friends. Are you certain that they have arrived?"

Tatsumi took a sharp intake of breath. He continued to persuade himself that no news meant good news as he gave a somewhat uncertain reply. "We got separated in a forest but I'm sure that those two would've thought to meet up in the Capital like I did. So they should be somewhere here… There's nowhere else. There just has to be a reason why they haven't enlisted into the military. Maybe there was some kind of trouble and—"

"Calm down, Tatsumi. Fretting over the possibilities won't solve the problem," Esdeath paused and gave some serious contemplation. "As a bare minimum, they would need an accommodation. The Empire does keep a record of its residents, permanent or temporary, for taxation purposes. I should be able to borrow that list."

"I can do the name searching," Tatsumi volunteered, instantly becoming hopeful.

Esdeath smirked, "But that won't happen until your audience with the Emperor in the afternoon."

"Audience?" Tatsumi parroted back, confused. He thought that his meeting with the Emperor would've taken place during the ceremony.

"It has nothing to do with your promotion. The Emperor summons you for an entirely different reason. You are expected to be there and in peak condition. In other words, you should get yourself fed."

"You knew!?"

"I can hear the ferocity of the beast that dwells within you. It's quite impressive," said Esdeath, gesturing towards Tatsumi's stomach with her eyes.

"It's nothing to be impressed about!" At that, Tatsumi went beet red. Aware that Esdeath was amused and wanted a better appraisal of his flustered face, the teen dodged her gaze and faked a cough. "Anyways, do you think I have enough time to grab a bite?"

"You don't have to be punctual. On the contrary, it'll be better if you're late." With that said, Esdeath urged Tatsumi to follow her gait. Perplexed, the teen compelled but also followed through with another series of questions as they headed back up the hill.

Location: Imperial Palace (Front Gates). Time: Noon. Year: 1024 (Day 99).

"Are you sure you're okay? You said you recovered your sight and all, but isn't it too early to push yourself? You don't have to come with me." Wave turned to look behind his shoulder and what he saw only increased his concerns. Yukio had a hand on his chest and was panting profusely, his face soaked with sweat. He gave the impression of someone having run a marathon. Although in reality, he'd only followed the sailor down several streets, passed a few alleyways, and through the main plaza in order to arrive at the front of the Imperial Palace.

The metallic gates that acted as the last barricade between him and the castle was a glorious sight, with a steel fence towering several feet taller than he was. While the two guards in polished armor guarding the door were also impressive to regard, Wave found his focus linger on Yukio. He certainly hadn't expected the aristocrat to be athletic, though he thought Yukio could handle a casual stroll. That was, provided that the young man wasn't burdened with serious injuries.

"Do your wounds hurt?" With one hand grabbing onto a huge sack of fresh fish that was slung onto his shoulder, Wave used his free hand to help support his companion. As expected of one his height, the blond was light and the sailor managed with the weight without any hassle.

"No worries. I'll be fine. I just need to catch my—" The words that the aristocrat wanted to say were left hanging when his body suddenly became tensed. Whatever it was that he realized made him flustered, face aflame. He appeared almost desperate as he tried to pull away from Wave.

Wave did not let go. If anything, he thought that Yukio was being timid again and held onto him more tightly.

"No need to be shy around me. I told you it's fine, didn't I?" Wave reassured casually. He had learned to drop the formality after realizing that Yukio, despite being a nobleman, was not finicky in the way that other people conducted themselves. It was reliving to know, since it meant that he didn't have to be so selective with his words and could be more forthright.

"They're getting the wrong idea…" mumbled Yukio. It felt like he was going to say more when he instead shook his head and pointed discreetly at the gate, all the while staring at the ground like it was the most interesting thing the world had to offer.

Following the young man's index finger, Wave caught the knowing grins of the two guards as they whispered at each other. Although he was too far away to catch their words, the blue-haired sailor was instinctively led to believe that they were gossiping about them. The content eluded him, even though he suspected that it had to do with his upbringing. From past experience, Wave concluded that most people in the Capital were very judgmental. He could still recall the pejorative looks pitted at him when he first arrived, despite looking personable in his fine clothes and robust while carrying his sack of fish in one hand.

'Can't I catch a break? Why do they look at me like this? Hmm? Yukio said they're getting the wrong idea. What idea? Wait… don't tell me.' Suddenly comprehending, Wave's eyes flew towards the hand that kept his companion upright. Now that he was being conscious of the idea, he finally noticed that he and Yukio were in very close proximity, with the blonde's side pressed right up against his. In his haste to provide assistance, he forgot that they were visible to the public.

Wave automatically pulled back from Yukio. Not having expected the sudden movement, the blond lost his balance and fell onto the ground on his rear.

"Ah! Sorry. Are you okay?" Seemingly both concerned and embarrassed, Wave offered his hand out in an awkward manner.

"Man, please give me a warning the next time," Yukio grimaced and took Wave's hand, almost wearily as if afraid that the sailor would pull an unexpected move. Once he was back on his feet, the young man started to smoothen out the creases on his tuxedo with his hands.

"You want a next time?"

"Argh… No, not really."

"Thought so," Wave grinned. Truthfully, he enjoyed Yukio's company. The way that Yukio would conclude Wave as the victor of most banter without any antagonism was a welcomed change. For once, the sailor found himself in a position where he held the upper hand verbally and didn't need to deal with sore losers.

"You know… You kind of remind me of someone who I get told about on occasions… a friend of my friend's," the blond pointed out, looking exasperated.

A witty response was sitting on the tip of Wave's tongue when he saw a man approaching the palace gates. While the newcomer hid skin by wearing long boots, baggy pants and gloves, he was completely bare on the upper torso. Three deep scars marked his chest and the bulging muscles on his body attested his undeniable strength. Based on his physique, it was no surprise that he was capable of carrying the oversized barrel-like object on his broad back. But what caught Wave's attention was that his entire face was left for the imagination, being completely obscured by a mask.

"Bols-san! I heard you got into the Special Forces. Congratulations!" one of the guards casually greeted the newcomer with a cheerful grin. He was relatively young, possibly around Wave's age. He tipped his headgear upwards with his index finger, as if that action would help the man named Bols identify him.

"Ah, thank you." Contrary to what Wave assumed, Bols behaved in a way uncharacteristic for one his build, twitching his fingers as he spoke. Nonetheless, his mannerism was not the reason why the sailor's eyebrows shot up in surprise. 'Special forces…? Which means he's one of my new teammates?! What kind of people does the Capital have? Even pirates look less scary!'

Aware that there were eyes on him, Bols' head rotated slowly. Then he stared, much to Wave's chagrin. Silence, pure and absolute silence followed. It was so quiet that Wave could've sworn that his pounding heartbeats were audible. It was as if time itself had stopped as nobody moved an inch. Wave unconsciously shivered and dodged Bols' gaze. 'Hey, hey… what's with him? Why is he staring at me? This is bad. Mom, I wanna go home!'

"Um, excuse me… But did you say you're a member of the Special Forces?" Finally, Yukio cleared his throat and broke the spell. With a show of bravery that Wave didn't know was sleeping inside the petite form, the young man approached the taller man. From appearance alone, it seemed that Bols could easily squash Yukio like a mosquito with his bare hands if he wanted to.

"Yes. Are you also part of the team?" asked Bols, a touch of anticipation showing in his voice.

"Uh, not me," Yukio chuckled lightly, a hand scratching his cheek. Sliding discreet glances at the large cylinder on Bols' back, he was quick to identify the weapon as the flamethrower Teigu, Purgatory's Invitation: Rubicante. More amazed than startled that the muscular man before him was a Teigu user, Yukio masked his emotions with a friendly smile and gestured towards Wave with his other hand. "But he is."

"What? This country boy? And here I thought he was out here on a tour!" The older guard of the two exclaimed in utter disbelief, in which the younger one snickered in response.

Dark clouds gathered above Wave's head but he chose to overlook the insolence. Instead, he walked up to Bols, deeming an introduction appropriate now that Yukio overrode the silence. A smile lit up his face as he held out a hand, all the while pretending that the awkwardness moments ago never existed. "Hello! I'm Wave from the Imperial Navy! Let's work well together!"

"…"

"Um, hello? You… you there?" Much to the sailor's confusion, his new teammate didn't reply and only continued to stare at him. Wave shifted his boots on the dusty ground, growing uncomfortable.

"…Ah!" Bols finally snapped out of his stupor when one of the guards nudged his side with an elbow. "Yes! I… I'm really sorry that I didn't say anything. I'm what you call painfully shy… so I was nervous. I'm Bols, of the Incineration Squad. I hope that we can get along, Wave-kun."

"Looks like you've made a new friend, Wave-san," Yukio chimed in, more thrilled than Wave himself at the development.

The two met with a friendly handshake and Wave was mildly surprised by how tender the masked man was when he took his hand. Relief washed away his initial uneasy. Perhaps getting along with his teammates wouldn't be as difficult as he had first assumed. Bols was certainly one with peculiar idiosyncrasies, though he did not seem unapproachable now that Wave could overlook his intimidating figure. 'Whew! Maybe I can do this after all. Who knew that he has a fear of people with that appearance…? The people of the Capital sure are a strange bunch.'

He was so engrossed with his musings that it took a raucous clang of steel for him to return to reality. He looked to the source and saw that the guards were opening the gates, grunting as they pushed. For a moment, Wave was glad that he didn't have their job. It was no wonder why the guards appeared so strappingly fit; the bottom of the steel gate scrapped against the dirt ground, and the sailor could only imagine how much effort it took to fully open it.

"All clear. You guys can go in." Once done, the younger guard wiped the sweat off his face and gestured at the palace entrance.

"Thank you," Bols said, his body slightly bent in appreciation. In the time that Wave was left to his deliberations, he had retracted his hand and requested the guards to allow them access. Enthused, he then returned his eyes on his new comrade and asked, "Are you ready to go, Wave-kun?"

"Please give me a few minutes. Bols-san, you can go on first. I'll be behind you." As much as Wave was keen to start a new life with the elites of the Capital, he didn't forget Yukio. Spinning on his heels, he was about to bid his farewell when his new friend beat him to it.

"I guess this is where we part ways, Wave-san. Thanks for everything."

"Same goes to you." Surprise briefly showed on Wave's countenance, before a smile appeared and replaced the initial emotion. Although from an observer's perspective, the injured young man was nothing but a burden using up Wave's medical supplies, the truth was different in the sailor's opinion. He enjoyed the nobleman's company during his lonesome journey to the Capital. Despite knowing that he would have to make a grand first impression, he was skeptical about how he would be perceived by the people of the Empire, especially after hearing how some had a penchant to be extremely chauvinistic towards outsiders. Nonetheless, Yukio was the one who eradicated his concern and they became fast friends.

"Hey, Wave-san… I um want to know if…" A sudden urgency flickered in Yukio's eyes as he spoke. His feet shuffled on the ground and he shifted the weight of the small sack he carried on his shoulder.

"Hmm? Don't stop mid-sentence." Quirking an eyebrow, Wave wondered if Yukio's hesitation originated from borrowing one of his sacks for his belongings. Although he did specify that he didn't mind, so that probably wasn't the issue.

Still, there was definitely something the young man wants to bring up. Wave felt more convinced the longer Yukio faltered. However, the blond eventually decided against it and simply allowed a smile to descend on his lips. "Never mind… Well, good luck. I'm sure you'll do well."

"Yeah," Wave nodded and placed a hand on Yukio's shoulder. "Take care. Find your way back home. Don't get lost, okay?"

"Don't worry about me… I'm actually more concerned about you, Wave-san. It's easy to look like a fool and get lost in the Imperial Palace after all." Sentimental was the word that popped into Wave's mind upon hearing Yukio's tone. Although it made little sense, it seemed that the young aristocrat was speaking from experience.

"I won't let that happen to me. And I've got Bols-san with me." Wave pointed a finger behind his shoulder, in the direction where Bols had stopped and was waiting.

Yukio grinned playfully and the sight made Wave realize how much he was going to miss their time together. Alas, everything had its end and he was disinclined to keep Bols from waiting any longer.

"Goodbye. It's been great meeting you." His words were met with an appreciative nod from Yukio. Having decided that this was a fitting conclusion, Wave did a 180 degrees turn and made his way into the palace, all the while keeping a hand in the air as a farewell gesture.

Yukio kept track of the two figures with his emeralds until he could no longer see them. A part of him wanted to follow and investigate the interior but he didn't dare for fear of being caught. Even supposing he could enter due to Wave's influence, which seemed unlikely since the security was designed to be uncompromising, he knew he wouldn't make it far. Moreover, having Incursio in his possession meant that it would be suicidal if a guard decided to check his belongings.

'Grand Chariot and Rubicante… There's a chance I can find out more about the other Teigu users if I sneak in. It's tempting but that's not my first priority. I can't let myself slip up now, not after everything.' With a wistful sigh, he bid the two guards by the gates farewell and slipped into the shadows of the housings that lined the street.

Despite being a beautiful day, the street was almost barren of people. There were a few people passing by occasionally, but none lingered around for too long. Not that it was surprising, considering that those with adequate common sense would naturally want to steer away from the rotting pieces of flesh crucified for public display.

Yukio kept his gaze downcast. It was just terribly cruel. Even envisioning that some were horrendous criminals didn't make the deed any less monstrous. He heard from Leone that barely any traitors and rebels could escape the awful treatment once captured, and Dr. Takito was no exception. Logic deduced that the poor doctor would be nothing but a pile of bones by now, yet that simple thought summoned gastric juice up to his throat.

Clamping a hand to his mouth, he forced the bile back down. The smell of decomposing flesh was permeating in the air, thick and sickening. It reminded him of Aria's hellish storehouse. A flock of crows cawed and locked themselves in a fierce competition. Yukio did not even want to imagine what the birds were doing so close to the mangled bodies. Averse in upsetting his stomach, he urged his bare feet to beat a rapid pace along the dirt grounds.

He got no more than a few steps.

A shadow flew past his peripheral vision. As much as he wanted to dismiss it, curiosity demanded precedence and he cautiously peeked in that direction, all the while keeping his gaze as low as possible.

Numerous birds scattered off in fright and black feathers danced around in the air, casting a veil of surrealism around the figure that stood before the dozens of crosses. In growing disbelief, Yukio's gaze started from her boots to her cap, then to her flowing tresses of lustrous black hair, before setting sight on the plain white mask. His scrutiny didn't go unnoticed as the girl turned her head in his direction. It was in that instant a pair of glistening rubies, shining through the slits of the mask, met his emeralds in a wary appraisal.

Red seared into green.

Yukio could identify the masked person. The color scheme of her clothing that perked out sporadically under the fluttering cape was off but the young man dismissed it as the last of Baransu's repercussions. Otherwise, why else would Akame be wearing white instead of her traditional black garments?

"Akame!" Excitement propelled his legs forward and the rational inquiry about why the raven-haired assassin would be out in the open was thrown to the back of his mind. He abandoned subtle caution and in exchange, was taken by complete surprise when Akame lunged at him.

"Wha—Ack!" Before he could fathom what was happening, he was walloped. There was a jarring impact on his head as stars exploded before his eyes. Utter astonishment crossed his features and then everything began to descend into oblivion.

"A-Akame…?"

The last thing he remembered was a pair of red eyes looking at him like a predator cornering prey. It was filled with a killer's merciless nature, something that Yukio reviled from the bottom of his heart.

Mission: None

Author's Notes (again): Just a reminder that I have a poll up on my profile. I'm currently seeking for the opinions of my helpful readers about which direction I should take the relationship between Yukio and Akame. For now, the poll will be up from about two more chapters. So for those who haven't voted, feel free to drop one in.

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:

-From Tatsumi's thoughts, we can confirm that the reason why Mamoru was delayed during his meet up with Kurome is because of the arrangements he had to make with Esdeath about Tatsumi.

-Some of you may or may not have noticed it, but there was a brief moment where Yukio wanted to dissuade Wave from joining the Jaegers. However, he knew better than to explain the Capital's corruption in front of the palace's gates. So he dropped the subject.

-And I suppose this a good question as any: who attacked Yukio?

Preview- Kill Esdeath's New Group Final Part: 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.

?: "Fools, do you thoughtlessly intend to go on a rampage inside the palace's sacred ground?"

Emperor Makoto: "Ah, so this is what love is all about. I see."

?: 'THEN WILL YOU TRADE YOUR PERCEPTION OF REALITY FOR IT?'

Esdeath: "We are a unique organization ordered to mercilessly hunt and take down the atrocious traitors. Therefore, we are the Special Police Force… We are the Jaegers!"