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: Here is the newest instalment to this tale! Now that this chapter is done, I can officially declare that there will be exactly one more chapter to conclude the second arc. I'm already planning a lot of things for the third arc, with some answers to some mysteries and new speculations. And I hope that you will all look forward to reading it and continue to support this story.

But more importantly, much thanks to Ultimatrix bearer, SeihoTheNeko, and Commonwealth1991 for leaving a review that provided their thoughts on this story. I really do appreciate the thoughtful comments as they are indeed what motivates me to write.

Ultimatrix bearer: You're indeed an awesome and observant reader. Yep, that anime reference was thrown in for the laughs, at least for now. Although it will be ironic for Wave if it does happen to him in this timeline. Haha.

SeihoTheNeko: Regardless of how late you are, I really do appreciate your reviews. I can understand your concern for Akame, seeing as she is not someone who yields to her insecurities. She's bottling up all of her worries, even more so than in the original timeline. And that's not going to help her mentality. So yes, let's hope Yukio will understand and take the time to support her...

I really happy that you've noticed the similarities in those scenes since they were done deliberately to draw out some parallels between Wave and Yukio. Those two share the same resolve to help the siblings, though you may also notice that there are disparities in how they are dealing with the issue. While Wave opted to announce his intentions aloud, Yukio's reserved personality prompted him to take a more passive role and stay in the shadows. Still, I guess both of their hearts are in the right place. I was just hoping to make a comparison between the two, seeing as both of them have other people's interest in mind.

Commonwealth1991: Thanks for your continuous support and reviews (lol, I also sound like a broken record but I do want to emphasize the point). As always, your feedback not only lists the aspects of the chapter that you enjoyed but also things that could be improved on.

Yes, the last few chapters are setting up the characters and scenes for the events that are to come. It really pleases me when insightful readers like you are picking up on the themes/elements I'm trying to emphasize for certain characters. In this sense, I suppose I've done my job as the writer. :)

I agree, variation is indeed important. I actually didn't notice that I was using the word 'acerbic' a little too much (well, time to expand on my vocab a little more) so I'm grateful that you pointed that out and I'll be sure to pay a closer attention in the future.

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(Beta read by Revan's Stories)

Chapter 28—Kill the Grave

"As evening gets dark I stop on the hill.

Staring at a stretching lone shadow.

This empty world full of cruelty.

Still overflows in wishes."

-Kazahane (H2O-Footprints in the Sand ED)

Location: Near Night Raid's Hideout (Cliffside). Time: Night. Year: 1024 (Day 107).

Yukio sat cross-legged on the grassy plain, with his head downcast and his shoulders slouched. The soft wind caused light ripples in his bangs but did nothing to hide the brimming sadness within his emerald-colored eyes. The Night Raider had tears trailing down his face as he carefully placed a bowl filled with warm food.

A round stone was wedged into the ground in front of the seated young man, smooth and unmarked. Time waited for no one, and what was before him attested to the fact that he had missed a lot in his absence. Not too long ago, there was only the monument built for Sayo. While the stone seemed lonely, Yukio would much prefer to have the area free of other gravestones. However, that wish was trampled on the moment he saw another stone that represented Lubbock's grave.

'Lubbock… I miss you a lot. I'm sorry. To find out that you were brutally killed by one of the subordinates of my brother's descendant… At times like this, it makes me wonder if life would've been different for you had I managed to thwart Yuudai-onii-sama's plan. Could things have been great for you? Maybe you could've achieved your dream of marrying the Boss and becoming a book lender… I'm sorry. Now that you're gone, there's no way to realize your dreams…'

Wiping away the lingering tears on his face with his sleeve, Yukio continued to stare at the gravestone for a few more minutes before moving onto the one on his right. He gingerly swept the smudge of dirt off the edge of the stone. With tenderness akin to stroking an infant, the young man allowed his hand to wander down the surface, before stopping just above the beef udon that was sitting on the grass adjacent to the rock. The hot stream of air assaulted his fingers, though he ignored the heat and said, "Sayo-san, my name is Yukio. I'm Ieyasu's friend. Sorry if my gift isn't to your liking, but I… um, I don't really know what you like. I want to ask Ieyasu… but he seems distracted lately."

There was no answer as predicted, though he continued, "Please accept the offering as a sign of forgiveness. I've ignored you up until now because I was too much of a coward. I mean, you remind me of my first mission. I found your body only minutes after soiling my hands with blood for the first time. But you know, I'm glad I came here tonight. It's strange really, but I feel we could've been great friends. So, um… as a potential friend, I'll do my best to help Ieyasu. I don't know how much I can do for him, but I'll try—"

"Yukio-kun, you're still awake?"

The familiar voice of Sheele startled Yukio and his heart shot past his ribcage. The way that the members of Night Raider, particularly Sheele and Akame, could approach someone so effortlessly was mildly disturbing. The woman's footsteps were noiseless, almost as though she was hovering just out of the reach of the delicate grass. It was just as well that Yukio was a comrade rather than a foe.

"I couldn't sleep." He rotated his head around to regard his comrade with a curious look. "What about you, Sheele-san?"

Sheele stood a few paces back, seemingly tentative about her intrusion. In one hand, she held some white carnations, separated into two bundles. Gripping onto the edges of her woven poncho with her free hand, her purple eyes reflected worry from behind her glasses.

"I'm the same as you, Yukio-kun." The purple-haired woman came within reach of the graves and placed the flowers beside each gravestone. She would often come at night, when everyone else was asleep. However, it would appear that someone else beat her to it tonight. As she placed her flowers, she noticed the offerings Yukio placed. "That dish is Lubbock-kun's favorite. Is this why you were saving up some of the seafood from dinner?"

"Yeah," Yukio answered softly, plucking out a strain of grass with his fingers. He was sourly mistaken to have thought that he had been acting discreetly when picking out some of the dishes during the welcoming party. His action did not escape Sheele's notice; the purple-haired woman could be so observant every now and then, which was just as confronting as it was bemusing. It was just one of the many things that he couldn't fathom about Sheele. As obvious as an airhead she was, the woman could be so unpredictably perceptive in certain aspects.

"I'm sure that Lubbock-kun will appreciate your kindness," she said softly.

"I hope... But food tastes better when you're enjoying it with others…" Yukio halted his words as his eyes left Sheele to behold the night sky. Only a few stars managed to bypass the dark clouds that blanketed the heavens. The feeble lights from the stars flickered, stubbornly refusing to relinquish its luminosity. However, Yukio knew that the effort would be futile if the winds from the east continued to send clouds over. Surprisingly, the bleak firmaments seemed to resemble his current mood.

He swallowed and muttered, "Sheele-san, I can't help but think that Lubbock isn't dead, that I'll see him again tomorrow."

"Yukio-kun…" Becoming aware that Yukio was merely putting on a brave frontage in front of the others, Sheele took a spot behind the young man and wrapped her arms around him, capturing him in a gentle embrace. As Yukio's puzzled gaze came to meet her, she allowed a wistful smile on her features, all the while letting the blond rest his head against her. "It is difficult, but you must realize that Lubbock-kun won't be coming back. They are in a world beyond our reach, just like the stars above us."

"I… know, but it hurts to think that all we're left with are these unnamed graves." There was a touch of helplessly etched onto Yukio's tone as his tearing orbs landed on the gravestones. Since Night Raid operated in the shadows, none of their dead comrades could be recorded in the Revolutionary Army. But more importantly, it was vexing that due to the circumstances, Yukio wasn't even permitted to engrave Lubbock's name onto the stone.

Once the memories of the deceased faded away from the livings' minds, what would become of those buried under the soil? The deceased would be erased by time and history, left forgotten and abandoned.

The idea became unbearable for Yukio, who at least wanted some form of physical records, something tangible, to remind him and everyone else of Lubbock's heroic sacrifice.

His jaw tightened. "I want to do everything I can to keep him alive inside my head… I'm sure the others and you feel the same way. But what happens after we pass on? There's no permanent record of Lubbock anywhere! His achievement means nothing for the future generation. He'll just be an unknown and forgotten stepping stone for the revolution. His life would've been made as bland as his grave!"

Sheele's gaze followed Yukio's with a forlorn expression. After a moment of serious musing, she decided to voice out her opinion. For once, there was a sense of wisdom in her calm voice that detained Yukio's undivided attention. "Yukio-kun, there was an interesting book I read once. I don't really remember what it's called, but some of the concept it told caught my attention and I took it to heart. Please listen to it."

"Go ahead."

"A grave is not simply a place to bury a body or ashes. I believe it is necessary for the hearts of the ones left behind. People need comfort and danger can weaken the heart. A grave is a place of reassurance, a place where hearts can find peace. Therefore, I don't think you should detest it. Instead, you should be at ease knowing that these graves are built in remembrance of our good friends, even if they are temporary."

Hearing that, Yukio couldn't help but smile a little. It was an intriguing way to put it; no wonder it left such an impression on Sheele that the normally forgetful woman was able to remember the exact words. Rather than lament about what was unchangeable, as it was the unfairness that fate had cursed them with, Yukio should make the most of what could be done. Lubbock died for the sake of creating a better future for the living, so it was up to his comrades to carry his wishes. In any case, trying to wish for the dead to breath was simply impossible. "You're right, Sheele-san. They are just graves, but they do serve to fill the voids in our hearts. If I imagine the cup as half-filled instead of being half-emptied, then my perspective of the whole ordeal can change."

"Yes. Although they can never properly fulfill the completeness of having our friends around, Lubbock-kun and Sayo-san's graves are better than having nothing at all. I guess it's something we, as assassins, must deal with. This line of work is painful, isn't it?"

"…I never thought that Sheele-san had such a rough past."

"Yeah, and this isn't the full story. If you want to know more, you'll have to ask her yourself… It's hard to imagine, isn't it? But most of us have our own reasons to join Night Raid."

With the conversation between him and Leone evoked into mind, Yukio found his curiosity linger on Sheele. From what he could tell, the woman seemed to have experienced a sentimental loss at some point in her early life. While it was frequent in the assassin trade, Yukio could discern a subtle difference in terms of outlook when comparing Sheele with the rest of the group. Each member of Night Raid had their distinctive means of dealing with losses, but Sheele's approach seemed to be that of acceptance. The woman was able to move on because she had accepted everything that happened. Despite the awful and terrible things fate hurled at her, she made no objections and instead continued to live her life in a way that she saw fit. Frankly, Yukio couldn't think of how and why a gentle and optimistic person like Sheele would participant in this horrendous bloodshed. The thought bothered him so much that he could no longer hide his curiosity.

"Sheele-san, why did you become an assassin?" he asked timidly, with his inquisitive nature getting the best out of him.

"If I were to start from the beginning…" Sadness. That was the only word that came to Yukio upon hearing Sheele talk about her past. "I grew up in the Capital's downtown district. Ever since my childhood, I've been clumsy and bad at everything. In my life, I couldn't take pride in a single thing. She probably has a screw loose in her head somewhere. People often said things like that about me."

"Well, they're wrong… Being clumsy doesn't mean that you have a loose screw," said Yukio. "Besides, this is a part of your inimitable personality, Sheele-san. You may be clumsy but you are also kind. I… I wouldn't trade you as a comrade for anyone else in this world."

"Thank you, Yukio-kun. Your words mean a lot to me." A smile genuine smile danced on Sheele's lips that reached her purple eyes as she acknowledged Yukio's attempt at reassurance. "You are a caring person too. You remind me of the person who was kind to me. She wouldn't make fun of me no matter what mistakes I made. She told me that I don't have to change, and that I should always be the person I am. The time I spent with her was the only time I was truly happy. Until that day…"

There was an unmistakable sense of wistfulness as Sheele paused and reclined her face in Yukio's blond hair. The sudden action startled Yukio, and though he had the strong urge to break free from the intimate embrace, he went against his reflexes and allowed his tensed muscles to relax. He highly doubted that his unruly hair was a comfortable pillow, but he understood that Sheele needed some physical support before continuing her tale.

"Sheele-san, it's alright to stop here," Yukio said, casting his gaze towards Sheele without tilting his chin up. Naturally, he couldn't see Sheele's face from this angle, but he could feel the woman slowly shaking her head.

"It's alright; I'll finish." Sheele removed herself from Yukio and sat up straighter, as if that alone would reinforce her mindset. "I was with her as usual at her house. A man appeared at the door. He was my friend's former boyfriend. He resented her for leaving him and began to get violent in the house. Eventually, he grabbed her neck and started to strangle her."

'He decided to kill her because he was dumped!? What in the name of the emperor happened to the peace-loving nature of the people in the Capital?' Hearing that, Yukio's eyes widened and he instinctively gulped. He could tell that this was where the tragedy occurred. "What happened next?"

"The man was high from drugs and I was the only one who could save my friend. I was surprisingly calm. I got a knife from the kitchen. The man wasn't on guard… so I aimed for his throat. He died immediately. She was shaking from what had just happened. But in contrast, my mind was clear. In the end, the incident was ruled self-defense. But I never saw my friend again."

Yukio had his lips pursed as he tried to rack his brain for words of support. Emerging blank, he inwardly heaved a sigh and rotated his body so that he was facing directly to Sheele. He could do nothing meaningful verbally but that didn't mean that he couldn't show his support through his body language.

Sheele gave him a grateful smile before continuing, "And then, a few days later, the man's friends came to avenge his death. We already killed your parents. You're next, they said. Although I was being threatened, my mind was surprisingly calm again. I killed the men, one after the next, with the knife I kept for protection. That was when I realized... the screw that was loose in my head… made me a talented killer. I can help rid society of garbage. There's something I can be of use for… When the Revolutionary Army recruited me, I was a freelance assassin in the Capital. Lubbock-kun sought me out and it wasn't long before I was assigned to Night Raid."

Yukio was only half-listening to how Sheele was recruited into the Revolutionary Army. His thoughts lingered on what the woman said about discovering her talent as a killer. It just seemed like an innate ability that Sheele was bestowed with to compensate for her daily ineptness. Whether or not it was a cruel twist of fate was something Yukio would never be able to fathom, though it wasn't long before he realized something. The way that Sheele was able to maintain perfect composure after her kills meant that she was practically a born assassin. She could turn her emotions on and off like a switch without any conscious effort.

The young Baransu's wielder couldn't imagine how ridiculously powerful and lethal Sheele would've become if she had been one of the 100 children trained by the Empire as Imperial assassins. There was a possibility that she could've exceeded Akame as a killer. 'As good as Akame is at assassinations, I seriously doubt that she was as calm as Sheele was when killing her first target. The look of empathy and angst she gave me back then when I killed Aria's mother was unmistakable… she was thinking about her first target then too…'

Yukio let his musing finished there and redirected his focus back to Sheele, who climbed back onto her feet once she had finished telling her story. He watched with growing wonder as she dusted the bottom half of her lilac cheongsam, freeing it of any loose grass pieces. The woman was somewhat cautious when bending down to touch her knees, thus confirming Yukio's unannounced suspicion. 'Even supposing that Hirasaki's effects sped up the healing process, Sheele-san is still recovering… And yet, she is going around with offerings and comforting me. Not to mention that she is the one who healed most of my wounds. Ugh, I'm pathetic in comparison.'

"I would like to thank you for listening to me, Yukio-kun. Rather than keeping things that trouble you locked inside your head, I think it's less burdening to talk to others about your problems every now and then." With that, the older assassin held out a hand for Yukio, beckoning him to reach out for it.

"No, Sheele-san. I want to thank you for telling me all this." Yukio was a little hesitant at first, but the woman's hand was persistently suspended before him. Taking the cue, he finally relented and grabbed onto her. He was mildly surprised when Sheele helped him up without much difficulty, as though he weighed no more than a cat. 'Ah! If I remember correctly, Extase weighs… a lot. I'm probably as light as a feather when placed on the scale with i—.'

BOOM!

Yukio's thought was cut off abruptly when a deafening explosion pierced his eardrums, prompting him to whirl his head to the source of the sound. Pillars of smoke could be seen coming from the third floor of Night Raid's hideout, where the wall had crumbled away to leave a gaping hole. The young man stared, shocked, as a beam of yellow light exited the hole and left a horizontal streak across the night sky.

"That was Mine's Pumpkin!" Sheele exclaimed, concern apparent in her voice. The woman wasted no time and began to rush towards the direction of the base. Judging from the attack, she had every reason to believe that the sniper was engaged in a fight.

'I-intruders!' In his bewildered state, Yukio's brain kicked itself back into action and one word filtered through. That alone gave him the initiative he needed to pursue Sheele. He forcefully locked away all his fears, with determination now plastered on his features. His home and family were in danger... and he would be damned if he just observed idly from the sideline.

"I'm coming too, Sheele-san! Turbo Trot!" Yukio ensured that Baransu's string was slipped around his finger and accelerated.

Location: Night Raid's Hideout (Corridor). Time: Morning (Past Midnight). Year: 1024 (Day 108).

Night Raid's hideout was under attack.

It happened so abruptly that there was no time to ponder. Yukio responded to instinct and confronted the intruders. He darted across the corridor on the first floor. His body was mostly healed, so he found the strength needed to swipe at any foes that got too close. But his attacks lacked the lethality common to an assassin; there was no fluidity. A rare sense of exasperation rose to the surface. He could only compel his body to outrun the mob of enemies.

'Man, just where are the others?' He and Sheele were separated not long after they entered the base. The swarm of enemies came at them in all directions and before he could stop her, Sheele had taken a quick turn. She rounded the corner faster than expected. He tried to follow, though the route for pursue got blocked immediately after.

Knowing the purple-haired woman, he suspected that she was most likely going to regroup with Mine to provide some close-ranged assistance. That being said, he couldn't reach them. The attackers, who all looked disturbingly identical with a plain white mask donned, flocked the stairs and denied him of passage. All of them had the clear intent of running their metallic claws down his body. 'This is like a zombie apocalypse from Lubbock's stories!'

His footwork was light and rapid. A bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face. Both exhaustion and the enemies were catching up to him. He had no other choice but to keep on running.

For all their secrecy of hiding their identities, they made their objective easily understood. They were trying to isolate the Night Raiders, presumably under the belief that they could be rendered helpless when alone. While such was false for assassins like Akame, Sheele, and Leone, Yukio couldn't say the same for himself. He wasn't conceited enough to think that he could keep dozens of enemies at bay.

More importantly, he didn't need to be a genius to figure out that they were mechanically enhanced for fighting, with their bulky forms and their abnormal endurance. That much was proven when he had hurled a dagger at one of them and lodged it in his knee. His triumphant sensation was rapidly replaced with a gasp as the supposedly crippling blow was inadequate. The man got straight back up after and was not showing any signs of limping.

Letting his legs and memories guide him, he spared a glance at what was behind him.

"Capture, capture," the men chanted in unison.

Feeling like he was a lamb in a wolf's den, a pool of sweat gathered on his back.

"It's rather unfair that you're exploiting your numbers as a means of oppression… I order you all to stop and reflect upon your behavior," he objected lamely and grimaced when he was ignored.

Instead, the enhanced soldiers all charged at him with their claws readied. Worse, more appeared around the corner that he was heading towards.

'T-this isn't good! I'm surrounded! Plan B!' Diving for the nearest window, Yukio shielded his face with his arms as the glass shattered around him. He was immensely glad when his feet found solid ground within two seconds. Briefly appreciating the fact that he was still conveniently on the ground floor, he reentered the base through the nearest opened window.

No one chased after him, with all of his pursuers cramped around the broken window. Despite their enhanced strength, Yukio noticed that their intellect was lacking as they all tried to squeeze through the tight space all at once.

'Good, this will work in my favor. Alright! And the coast is clear he—huh?'

The ceiling shook and broke like an eggshell as more soldiers leaped down from the second floor. Yukio glanced up to see numerous bulky forms descend. Much to his horror, none could be recognized as his allies.

'This is not my lucky day! Run!' Wasting no second thought, he scampered in the opposite direction. He skidded around the corner and ran into another masked man. He crouched low, using his small frame to escape the sudden attack. He slid in between the assaulter's legs, delivering a low slash that left the man temporarily crippled in the process.

'That was too close. Man, this cat and mouse chase won't end unless someone finds the mastermind behind all this. Based on how the enemies are moving, the one controlling them must be near if they are monitoring the progress being made. However, I don't know what method they're using to spy on us, nor do I know where their whereabouts is. For now, I should regroup. I'm inept against so many opponents.' Getting his priorities straight, he took a turn to the left and headed for the dining room, where he had last seen Ieyasu.

Considering the amount of alcohol the headband-wearing teen drank, Yukio was willing to bet that he would still be there, unconscious. In short, Ieyasu was an easy prey right now. 'I need to find Ieyasu first. The last I recall, he's out cold. Ugh, what was he thinking, competing with nee-san? And he's underage too…'

He hit the jackpot when he found Ieyasu slumped back on a chair in the dining room. A sigh of relief left his lips when he saw that his comrade was unharmed. The enemy had yet to reach the area, providently giving Yukio some time to recuperate. Even now, his short stamina remained an irksome problem. He provided himself thirty seconds to regulate his breathing before walking up to Ieyasu.

"Ieyasu, wake up. The base is under attack!"

No response.

"This isn't the time to sleep! We'll be trapped if we continue to stay in this room." The young man tapped the teen on his shoulder. It was no exaggeration. The room only comprised of a single ellipse-shaped window. Unlike the ones in the corridor, the layer of glass was thick. Even with a weapon, it would take several solid blows to break the glass. Hence, that left the door as the immediate retreat route. Nonetheless, Yukio feared that the enemy would find them and block the exit.

He still didn't get any reply from Ieyasu.

"Get up!" he urged, all the while shaking his comrade.

"ZZZ…" A loud snore answered his call.

Yukio's eyebrow twitched as he repressed his temper, as rare as it was for him to do so. He abandoned the notion of being gentle and dropped a karate chop on the sleeping teen, expecting the pain to be an effective alarm clock. His assumption was proven wrong when he received a horrible surprise.

"D-damn it, Tatsumi! Take… this! Ugh! I'll have you… *hic*… crying for your mommy!" Ieyasu slurred and thrashed his arm around in wild circles.

The capricious motion caught Yukio off guard. He avoided the first blow by a mere whisker. The consecutive attack, which took the form of a knee, came at him fast and hard. It collided with his kneecap with the shattering impact of an iron ball.

"Gwah! Ah! That hurts!" Yukio whimpered like a puppy, stumbling back with his hand shielding the tender spot. Once more, he felt like cursing his late reflexes as a tear leaked out from the corner of his right eye.

Glaring daggers at the oblivious culprit through blurred vision was pointless. Hence, he thought of another way for retaliation. As petty as it seemed, it would serve another purpose besides venting out some of his annoyance. He grabbed the cup on the table and flung the leftover content at Ieyasu. The cold liquid splashed straight onto the teen's face, causing a pair of brown eyes to snap open in a panic.

"Who the hell did that?!" Ieyasu bolted right up and raised both fists in an intimidating gesture. His groggy eyes absorbed the surroundings around him until they found Yukio, who was standing next to him with an emptied cup. Blinking twice to scatter the dense fog that clouded his mind, it didn't take him long to process the visual information. Doing his best to disregard the water that dripping down from his face, he pointed an accusing finger at Yukio's chest. "The hell did you do that for? So not cool! You better have a good reason for that, otherwise—"

"Shh! Please, not so loud. They'll hear you," Yukio whispered as he hushed Ieyasu, who was still under the influence of the alcohol. The water might have interrupted him from his slumber but from how things appeared, the ax-wielder clearly still had alcohol in his system. He swayed on his unsteady feet and his face was spotted with a reddish streak that ran across the bridge of his nose. Certainly, the signs only amplified Yukio's hoarding problems. A stubborn and strident Ieyasu could be difficult to deal with at most, but a drunk, stubborn, and obnoxiously loud Ieyasu was nothing but trouble.

Yukio cringed when Ieyasu opened his mouth again.

"Who cares if someone else hears me? I want to know why the hell you drenched me!" Apparently, Ieyasu didn't understand the implication behind Yukio's caution for his voice still carried great volume that echoed through the corridor. What he took precedence was not the fact that Yukio had apprehension plastered all over his features, but rather, he wanted the young man to explain himself. In the state of being intoxicated, he was more single-minded than usual.

"Shh, quiet down please. I'm begging yo—" Yukio felt his hair rise at the sound of footsteps. His fear was realized when countless enemy filed through the entrance and formed a circle around them. Backing towards the table to avoid exposing his back, Yukio gritted his teeth and extracted two knives. From the looks of things, the odds were stacked against the two Night Raiders. Not only were they surrounded, but Ieyasu was without his Teigu. 'He probably left it back in his room, which is on the second floor. Man, how are we going to get our way around these things?'

"Whoa, who invited these weirdoes to the party? I thought it was restricted to Night Raid members only." By now, even Ieyasu could detect that something was not right. He flipped the closest chair with his leg and sent it airborne towards the masked men, only to watch in disbelief as the furniture was sliced into two. The pieces of wood smashed into the ground and broke into smaller splinters. As the shock filtered through, his sense of cognition returned. "What the…"

"These weirdoes are the exact reason why I wanted you to keep it down," Yukio grumbled as he quickly passed one of his daggers to Ieyasu.

In that split second, a blurred figure charged at him. The Baransu wielder shoved Ieyasu away and just managed to duck, barely missing the flash of silver that aimed to take off his arm. The metallic claw whistled through the air and he could distinctively feel the air current around him change. He was taken aback when he ended up with a small cut on his shoulder.

"Be careful, Ieyasu," he warned as his comrade regained his balance. "The claws are no decorations; they're so sharp that they can deal damage by slicing the air."

"For a second there, I thought they have some outrageous technique. As impressive as slicing the air sound, it's nothing when they can't land a good hit." That noted somewhat drily, Ieyasu lunged at the enemy with his arms above his head.

Letting out a mighty battle roar, he swiped the blade down with energy matching that of a hammer striking against hot iron. Much to his surprise, the dagger only created a superficial scratch across the upper torso before the tip snapped off. But before his opponent could counterattack, Ieyasu landed a brutal kick that sent the masked man crashing into his teammates.

Confusion materialized in the form of a raising eyebrow. He skimmed the chipped blade with his finger, all the while being careful not to draw any blood. "Not cool. Did the storekeeper rip you off with these toys?"

"Man, these aren't as durable as Senpu! Don't wield one like a Teigu. And that one is from the new set Akame brought and gave me tonight…" More or less exasperated, Yukio quickly tossed another dagger to Ieyasu. As soon as he saw the teen seize it by the hilt, he swept his leg across the ground, tripping three men in succession. Without as much as a pause in his movements, he then delivered a precise cut across the jugular of the enemy that pounced at him.

"Aim for fatal areas," he advised Ieyasu, hoping that would suffice as a quick demonstration. While his daggers were created with alloyed steel to reinforce their hardness, they were indeed like toys when compared to Imperial Arms. Using the daggers thoughtlessly and swinging them like a wild caveman would only break them, as Ieyasu had found out in a shattering manner. Still, the blond didn't know whether or not to be impressed, since it had taken Ieyasu no effort at all to destroy his trusty blade.

There was no time to dwell on the matter though. Yukio was forced to dodge. This time, the attack nearly dismembered his arm. There was a gush of wind, followed by his accelerated heartbeats. He retaliated with clutched teeth, letting his body gather momentum as he spun around in a lethal blade dance. His weapon bit into skin with each swipe. A spray of blood flew as three more bodies joined the list of deceased.

Several men replaced the fallen and pulled close. They flanked his left and he doubted his ability to handle them all at once. Fortunately, his rescue came in the shape of a chair. With just a shout of warning from Ieyasu, Yukio swooped low and watched as the furniture smashed into the men.

"Thanks." Yukio passed a quick word of appreciation as another chair flew above his head and collided with more masked soldiers.

"You can thank me properly once we get out of this mess. But damn! Why are these things so flimsy?" Ieyasu held up a broken chair leg for emphasis, then clobbered the nearest man. The wood shattered into many pieces, though the impact was like a fly against a fly swatter in the young man's eyes.

Something flew into Yukio's peripheral vision. He could only grunt when an enemy shot by him with absurd speed, ruffling his clothes.

"Leave that one to me!" Ieyasu took that as his cue and switched position with the staggering young man. Pulling his fist back, the punch he hurled was filled with rippling vigor. The soldier flew into the air and four men fell like pieces of domino.

Noticing how one of the men was pouncing on Ieyasu without his realization, Yukio threw his dagger. The steel pierced throat with precise accuracy. With a gaggling sound, the large body collapsed and was forever silenced.

Yukio's instincts rang alarm bells inside his head. He briskly sidestepped in his endeavor to evade the next attacker. The razor nicked his right arm and ripped his sleeve. Beads of sweat rolled down from his forehead. 'That was close. I barely escaped that. Ieyasu and I are going to run out of stamina at this rate. And that's probably what the mastermind wants… It's very likely that they're trying to wear us out so that we'll be easy to be captured. Whatever it is they want with us, I can't imagine it to be anything pleasant. I need a plan now!'

He was tempted to activate Baransu's ability and accelerate his thoughts when something caught his interest. Out of his peripheral vision, he took careful note of the crack zigzagging across the wall to his left. The gap was only about a mere inch long, just barely enough to lodge a flint in there. The idea of using his dagger first struck to him as ludicrous but the dire situation compelled him to reconsider the slim possibility. Attempting the maneuver would seem like something from an anime scene and the young man certainly wasn't keen to take the risk. However, there weren't any better alternatives; at least, none from his perspective.

Left with no other options, he moved closer towards Ieyasu. The brown-haired teen was doing immense damage to any man that was within an arm's length, though his heavy breathing betrayed his seemingly effortless series of actions.

"Answer me honestly, Ieyasu. If you had Senpu with you, do you think you can overwhelm all of these guys here?" The franticness in his voice was obvious as Yukio gambled everything on the next response.

"Of course! I can take them and a lot more in one... okay, fine… several shots! But the problem here is that I'd left Senpu in my room. Don't you think I would've used it a long time ago if I have it?" Ieyasu's tone matched the blonde's as he slashed at an adversary. The dagger's tip flew into his throat and the android-like soldier dropped to the ground.

"Man… A-alright then, here's the plan. I'm going to aim for that crack on the wall and get my dagger jammed in there. I want you to jump and use the hilt as a foothold. Get past the crowd and make your way to your room. I'll stay here and distract as many as I can until you come back. Is that okay?" The question was asked, yet Yukio was far too desperate to wait for a response. The blond took immediate action and flung his dagger towards the crack. His aim flew true and the blade accurately slotted in.

"Go!" The blonde's intonation soared high with the shout, sidestepping left to evade a tackle.

Ieyasu didn't disappoint. He bent his knees and charged towards the wall, somehow managing to scale its vertical surface in an unbelievable display of velocity. His well-built muscles in his legs carried him far and his left foot found its spot on Yukio's dagger, enabling him to propel himself further up into the air.

A boyish shout of glee left his lips as he leaped over the soldiers' heads. He glanced towards his teammate, who looked up at him in awe.

However, the expression was rapidly replaced with fear. The shout of warning that came next was not what Ieyasu had expected. "Watch your head!"

"Wha—Argh!" Ieyasu crashed into the ceiling head first, having underestimated the height of the building.

Worse than the lump on his head was the realization that he was going to fall into the center of the mob. Under pain and duress, he reached out blindly and grabbed onto the pendant lights that dangled near him. His arm muscles bulged underneath the fabric of his clothing and he gathered enough momentum for a swing.

It was nowhere as graceful as an acrobat, though he managed to dig his boots deep into the face of a masked man before landing near the doorway. Contrary to the victorious grin he wore, his heart was pulsing rapidly, frantically trying to recover from the initial shock. He thought it was no less than a miracle that he had succeeded, with only Yukio's eyes and the ludicrous wound on his head as pieces of evidences.

Still, he knew better than to dwell at the moment.

"Hey Yukio, hang in there and hold them off! I'll be back with Senpu soon!" When that was said, he wasted no time and fled the room.

"I'll try. Be careful yourself!" Yukio prepared himself and took a defensive stance. He was completely surrounded now. While some men at the back had opted to chase after the Senpu's wielder, most preferred to target the cornered prey.

'The odds are stacked against me and I'm being pushed back in check. Let's hope I can draw out a stalemate…' Despite the critical situation, his brain provided him with what he thought was a rather amusing but fitting analogy. He was the single black pawn left standing as the final barricade for his king against the entire army of white chess pieces. Certainly, victory was slim at best and there were no redoes in reality.

Hence, it was time he made a move to take a stand.

Night Raid Members Remaining: 8

Mission: Defeat the Intruders

Participating Members: All

Result: Ongoing

The Four Present in the Capital: 4

The Jaegers Members Remaining: 7

Author's Notes (part 2): Here is an important point. Originally, I had plans for Akame to have a heartfelt talk with Yukio by the graves. But that was changed because of the circumstances. At the foremost, Akame is also burdened by problems of her own (as indicated in the last chapter and will be further elaborated on in the next few chapters) and thus won't be the consultant that Yukio seeks. Secondly, I also want some more interactions between Sheele and Yukio to expand on their relationship and their personalities. Hence, this is one of the main reasons why the first half of the chapter is relatively relaxed before Dr. Stylish decided to announce his appearance.

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

-After noticing that something is off about Akame, Yukio searched for her after the feast. However, rather than delving into her concerns, she instead decided to fulfill her part of the bargain now that Yukio returned safely and told him bits about her past. Hence, this is the reason why Yukio knew that Akame was once forced into the Empire's assassination program. While I had an idea for this scene, I eventually thought of doing it 'off-screen' considering how it would be redundant to go through Akame's past again since most of the readers would've already been familiar with the details.

-Sheele's speech about graves is a reference from Inuyasha, a popular shonen by Rumiko Takahashi. (Honestly, it's one of my favorite anime of all times and where my favorite character, Kikyo, originates from). ;)

Preview-Kill the Madness: The battle between Night Raid and Dr. Stylish's soldiers escalates into something that Yukio could only describe as a hellish nightmare.

Sheele: "If only I still have Extase with me."

Dr. Stylish: "Hahaha! As if I'll let you do as you please!"

Mine: "Newbie! Do something! Hurry!"

Yukio: 'They're all gone… What happened back then? Calm down, Yukio. Don't panic. Think rationally... That's right, her right arm!'

Now everyone, until next time!