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: I'm back, everyone! With this chapter, I'm proud to announce that this story will no longer be on hiatus. However, as I do not have a fixed schedule at the moment, there won't be the usual regular update once per month. But progress of the story will still be made so feel free to check my profile to get the details.

Now in this newest arc, we'll be primarily focus on some of the unresolved mysteries and strange occurrences that happened in the second arc, especially the events that occurred in chapters 21, 24, and somewhat 28-29. Hopefully you'll all look forward to the reveals and enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoy planning and writing it.

Much thanks to Celestial stratos, Ultimatrix bearer, SeihoTheNeko, UzumeofGamindustri, fate96, and EpicMe3000 for the lovely reviews. Just want to let all of you know that I do appreciate the feedback a lot.

Celestial stratos: Well, Yukio won't be able to hide his identity forever. Sooner or later, Najenda will get suspicious. As for whether or not Susanoo will tell Night Raid, that'll depend on if he's given the order to do so. He is Najenda's Teigu now.

Ultimatrix bearer: Thanks for your review. It's great to know that the last battle was hype for you. But now it's time for a wind-down chapter. Hopefully, you'll find this one interesting/enlightening.

SeihoTheNeko: Good news, this story has survived the feared hiatus (though I'm sure you would know this the moment you clicked into the story, lol).

Great observation! I was hoping that you would be able to notice how Akame 'going berserk' here is quite different from what you would expect. This chapter is going to delve deeper into what happened and with any luck, answer your questions so that your confusion may be cleared.

UzumeofGamindustri: It's a pleasure when new readers leave their opinion on this story. Thank you so much. I'm glad that you like how the events are taking place. Tatsumi's absence in Night Raid is indeed affecting how things are playing out. But so far, Yukio and Akame has managed to push forward (or have they?) :P

fate96: Thank you for taking the time to review. I love it when new readers decide to leave their feedback and acknowledge the story.

EpicMe3000: You've brought up a critical point about the last chapter. It is worth noting however, that while Akame's transformation is like that of her trump card, there are also disparities here, such as her being more demonic and merciless as Yukio had described. But yes, the question is whether or not she drew the forbidden power out once more willingly. Although her cutting herself is still a big possibility lol, especially considering how she was poisoned. ;)

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(Beta read by Revan the Edgelord)

Chapter 30— Kill the Flight

"Eventually, those clear red eyes will be taken by this cruel darkness.

So I'll stay by your side each and every day.

With my battered heart burning, and you by my side,

I want to cut a path to tomorrow,

Taking everything inside this feeling and piecing through."

- Black Bullet (Black Bullet OP 2)

She had to hurry. There was hardly any time left.

She had to hurry. Before she was replaced.

How such knowledge arrived was unknown but it was all that was needed to fully heighten her alertness. Her eyes darted around, her pupils forcing down the murderous glint that tried to surface.

A low growl traveled from the back of her throat as she brought her sword to counter the incoming weapon. The two blades scraped each other, causing sparks of friction that temporarily rained on the wielders.

Her opponent was skilled, being on par with the ones she was distinctively familiar with. But she was better. So much better that she could win without any effort. It was a given fact but her ability to act was hindered by 'her will'.

The shadowy outline leaned its weight towards the side and broke free from their stalemate. Adapting to the change fast, she spun on her heels and attempted to slash at her foe before it could retreat. She narrowed her eyes as her move was swiftly halted by the very same blade.

Her footing shifted in a similar way to the shadow and she retreated from the contact. Leaping backward, she noticed something of a small statue sailing towards her head. She ducked and followed through her motion with a swift block of the blade coming hard for her throat.

Then, the unexpected occurred.

The smaller foe ricocheted from a tree and pounced on her. She quickly swiped away the shadow's sword and made an attempt to eliminate her opponent.

She cut down leaves.

A boot found its way into her stomach. She crashed to the forest ground with a startling impact. Barely was there any time before she sensed someone bearing down on her. Handicapped and unable to release her true potential, she rolled to the side. The opponent's katana nicked her leg instead of impaling into it.

Presumably encouraged by the first drops of blood, the shadow pressed for more and she leaped back onto her feet to prevent from being skewered.

Minutes passed and she grew more impatient. She countered each strike and settled with a defensive stance. Not only was it infuriating that her opponents were aptly utilizing the terrain to their greatest advantage, but her mental restricts also proved to be insufferable.

She wasn't supposed to be outmatched. She was meant to outclass them by an insurmountable amount. However, try as she might, she couldn't retaliate at full strength. Instead, she found herself receiving minor damage from claw scratches.

She noticed how the ground came to a stop a few steps before her. Her first thought was a rather strange comparison, one that ridiculed how a commoner would've given in to the innate surge of terror. Then the derisive emphasis came, telling her that she was above the realm of such a pathetic feeling. Still, her body favored the habits developed over the years and she found herself skidding to a natural stop. Her feet were planted firmly on the ground so that she could face her foe in a defiant stance.

The shadow shot through the trees and launched an attack. She countered immediately, letting each blow rebound with sufficient force. Following the rhythm of her opponent's swordplay, she settled with a dance that was complex and deadly.

The two blades flashed and collided with each other. The sharp shrills of scraping steel echoed into the forest.

The similarity in their swordplay was uncanny. Either could land the decisive blow, their attack pattern always timely predicted by the opponent. However, while their style was the same, their position was not. In order to avoid a diagonal slash that descended with impetus, she mechanically took a step back.

And then…

There was nothing solid underneath her feet.

'Her will' gained dominance and surprise reigned superior. It manifested in the form of widened eyes. As gravity yanked her downwards, she finally took a good look at her opponent.

That blade…

That 'thing' on the shoulder…

That appearance…

That look…!

Her thought processes were forcefully terminated by the impact with the cold river. Swallowing mouthfuls of water, it wasn't long until her body was swept away by the fast-moving currents.

Location: Somewhere southeast from the Capital (In the Sky). Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 108).

"Akame-chan sure is cute when she's asleep." The cheery voice sounded like soft music in Yukio's ears, prompting him to turn his head around.

With the wind toying with his bangs that tickled him, he had to lower his eyelids slightly as he regarded the speaker, Chelsea. The newest addition to Night Raid was a young woman who had pale skin and auburn hair that descended behind her back. Her red eyes, which radiated with mischief, were a lighter shade compared to Akame's. She was donned in vocalist-like clothing consisting of a white long sleeve shirt with a red ribbon tied around her white collar, a red checkered mini skirt, and black leather boots. In completion with her attire, she wore a black vest as the top layer and a pair of headphones on her head as an additional accessory.

From the young man's perspective, the combination of her fashion sense and natural beauty gave Chelsea the impression of a modal rather than an assassin. Still, that notion was eradicated the moment it sprouted. He had long past the stage of being fooled by appearance alone. Even the most innocent-looking people could be potential murderers, so long as they possessed the strong intent to kill and were willing to dirty their hands.

Since he said nothing, Chelsea took it as a cue to persist with her words. "You know what? Seeing her now makes me wonder if she really is the same girl I saw singlehandedly take down that giant freak."

'There's more truth there than she thinks. Akame's condition troubles me a lot. Her behavior, her aura, and her appearance… Everything was wrong. To be able to fathom what exactly is going on, I need more information from Susanoo. However, just how much details can be shared? Susanoo has awakened as the Boss' Imperial Arms. Even if he considers my standpoint, he must compel to his master's orders... But letting the Boss know too much could be detrimental to the future. What if it causes the future to spiral down onto a path that's irreversible?' His thoughts were a wild storm that terrorized the inside of his brain. Contemplations stacked inside his head until he thought his brain would burst. Wincing slightly, he was forced to abandon the overwhelming deliberations. Contemplating was never part of his strong suit after all.

His concentration found its way back to the present. Distracted as he was, he was not one to forget about his manners. He was in a rare mood where talking was undesired, though ignoring Chelsea was far too impolite for his taste, especially since she was a senior assassin. The woman might be one of the newest additions to the team but he had been informed that she was a professional in the art of assassination, with a reputation that was said to rival Akame's. 'I suppose I should keep the conversation going, if only just to understand my new teammate better.'

"I know. I can hardly believe it myself," he paused, his hand timidly reaching out. The limb was held suspended in midair for a brief moment before he mustered enough courage. He brushed away the strand of obsidian-colored hair that had covered the face of the girl who was using his outstretched legs for a headrest.

"Hmmm. Well, I've only ever heard rumors about how she operates, so I can't judge. But we won't find out anything unless we ask the person in question," commented Chelsea, the lollypop stick in her mouth flicking up and down as she assessed the situation.

'From what I saw in the last battle, these guys are strong… stronger than the last team I was in. But, it's not like all they need is strength to survive. It'll be a big problem if this team becomes dysfunctional because of emotional ties. And looking at the reports, the most inexperienced and sentimental ones are…' Discreetly, her red orbs studied Yukio's forlorn expression before sliding over to Ieyasu.

Near where Chelsea sat was one of the subjects of her concern. Ieyasu was positioned in a small circle with Mine and Sheele, being embraced by a gentle white light of sphere. Both the teen and the sniper allowed a relaxed sigh from their respiratory system as the injuries they sustained in the last battle were rapidly being taken care of. The wounds weren't serious, though they took up Sheele's offer when granted.

"Yeah, you're right…"

Chelsea's musing was dragged back to Yukio when she heard the young man mumbled. The auburn-haired assassin gave a thoughtful look before extending a hand out. Between her thumb and index finger was a candy in a pink wrapper. "Here, I'll give this to you. I can guarantee it's good."

"Strawberry, huh? Thank you." After reading the label, Yukio accepted the gift with a small bow of his head. Removing the wrapper to Chelsea's gift with one hand and his teeth, as the other was supporting his seated form, a thought popped into existence and he was overcome by inquisitiveness. "Um, Chelsea-san. Do you offer your confections to everyone you meet? Ah, I'm not saying that you should be selfish or that you're selfish… I, um… you know, it's just a curious thought."

"Haha!" Chelsea's chuckle was loud, yet it managed to increase her feminine allure rather than make her seem overbearing. "Relax Yukio-kun. I got you. I'm nothing like those petty women who have thin skin. In fact, you'll soon see that I have many faces I can switch to."

"Many faces?" he asked as he plopped the treat into his mouth. Somehow, he was under the impression that the mere saying wasn't what the woman was referring to.

"You'll see soon enough," Chelsea hummed a little before she shifted the topic to a direction Yukio hadn't expected. "But the Boss sure is right about you, Yukio-kun. You're quick when it comes to picking up key points. You're observant… and awfully self-conscious too. Well, I don't really mind. In fact, I think that you being all flustered is cute."

'C-cute?' Yukio's face was dyed red as he nearly choked on his sweet that was melting inside his mouth. He spluttered, "C-Chelsea-san! Su-surely you jest!"

'Ah, he's the type that gets easily flustered.' With that observation, a mischievous smirk plastered itself on Chelsea's face. Her hand waved in a dismissive manner. "Alright. Alright. That was just me teasing you. Consider the prank and the sweet the tokens of our new friendship. Let's get along, okay?"

"I would like that… although I can do without the teasing." A genuine smile graced Yukio's features. It was the first noticeable change in his expression since finding Akame. Seeing Bulat once again had been heartening, though it hadn't been adequate to induce the emergence of his trademark grin.

"Wait a sec! Don't tell me she's won your heart over with some sweets? I thought you already have someone in mind, Yukio-kun~!"

The playful tone startled Yukio and his face immediately turned beet red once more. His head swiveled to the side and he regarded the speaker with a comical and priceless expression, as if he was someone caught red-handedly keeping a stash of porn magazines.

"Oh? So Yukio-kun has already been shot down by Cupid's arrows?" Chelsea snickered with a carefree shrug, though the level of snooping she was prepared for exposed her interest for the topic.

"Nee-san! W-w-what're you saying!? That's n-not it! And why are you so inquisitive? My relationship with A-ahem! Uh… my relationship status isn't meant to go around on the dining table!" the young man blurted out.

"Don't be so cold, Yukio-kun. You should know that your nee-san here is just worried about you. You shouldn't rush towards signs of affection like a moth attracted to light. It could be dangerous, especially for an assassin. That's why nee-san will make sure you're still acting in the right mind… Well, after getting all the juicy details from you that is. So keep me updated, okay~?"

An attractive wink came from Leone and as naïve Yukio tended to be, he had learned not to become ensnarled in the woman's charm. After all, it was one of her specialties, as her current posture highlighted. The blonde was lounging around, her body stretched out in a way that one would think she was sunbathing as she absorbed the warmth from the sunlight. A hand was casually supporting her chin as she rested on her side, an enthralling position that would've driven Lubbock insane. Even Yukio had to admit that he felt heat enter his brain at the sight. If he didn't know better, he could've sworn that she was far too relaxed, as if she was at home on her bed instead of being on top of an exotic Danger Beast that was flying many feet above the ground.

"I can't believe you actually managed to construct an excuse that sounds somewhat reasonable," Yukio muttered, almost tempted to roll his eyes. "And people say that curiosity kills the cat."

He resisted the temptation, though couldn't prevent one of his eyebrows from twitching when Leone purred like a lazy cat upon his remark.

"Ohhh, so you're a popular one, are you?" teased Chelsea as she nudged Yukio in the side with her elbow.

"I-I-I…" Being the target of the two older women's teasing, Yukio could barely formulate a rejoinder. 'I understand that they're killing time, but why am I their prey?!'

"Of course he is," Leone cut off the stuttering young man and licked the bottom of her lip. "Fufu, before he was taken, I had plans to mark him. Who wouldn't want someone this adorable?"

"I know I wouldn't. I'm sure there're many better men to choose from." Hearing Leone's comment prompted Mine to open a lazy eye and take a peek at the source of commotion. As usual, her remark was overfilled with haughtiness, if her smirk alone wasn't enough of an indication. "Tsk, the three of you are acting like complete idiots. And you call yourselves professional assassins? What a bunch of children you are! You're all so immature."

"Are you sure you should be the one to call us out, Mine? With that waspish tongue of yours, I'll say you're no better," Chelsea retorted playfully, her head tilted upwards to view the sniper in an arrogant manner. "In fact, at the rate you're going, you'll never get yourself a boyfriend."

Leone stifled laughter with her hand while Yukio was briefly entertained by the idea. Try as he might, he couldn't imagine what kind of man could actually earn Mine's approval to be allowed the 'privilege' of a date, let alone her hand in marriage.

"Hmph! Right back at you," Mine huffed.

"Maybe so, but at least I know how to sweet talk my way out of things. Take Yukio-kun here as an example. I bet he's already more comfortable with me than with you." Chelsea shrugged her shoulders and gave a mocking hoot before deciding to drop the final attack that would secure her victory. She lowered her gaze and pointed an index finger at Mine's relatively undeveloped chest. "Besides, anyone with common sense would pick me over a tsundere who's as flat as a board."

"Y-You!" The urge to wrap her arms around her petite body was strong, though Mine could only grit her teeth in frustration when she realized that there was nothing she could do. Once 'the sphere of healing', as Sheele called it, was activated, the enveloped targets would remain immobile until the healing process was completed. Regardless of her protests, her body would remain motionless until Hirasaki's powers subsided.

Mine's helplessness must have been apparent to Chelsea, for the latter stood up and approached the sniper with an impish expression. Despite the fact that they were many miles off the ground and that a single misstep could be fatal, the woman was fearless as she strolled over, her long tresses trailing in the high winds. Holding up her hands, she wiggled her fingers in a way that drove chills down Mine's spine.

The sniper's pink orbs revealed the slightest hint of apprehension. "W-wait a minute. Get away from me! No. I'm warning—Ah! Hahahahhaha!"

A moment later, the panicked cry was substituted by uncontrollable laughter and feeble protests as Chelsea probed for the sniper's sensitive areas with her fingers. To any outsiders, it would seem as if she was giving the pink-haired girl a thorough body massage, though that was probably the last thing she had in her mind as she subjected Mine to relentless tickling.

"Wow, you really are flat. Ha! Oh? You're so ticklish, I thought so~. Hmm, did I hit the spot? See, you're a lot cuter when you're like this, Mine-chan~!"

"Ha…haha. S-stop. Not there! Ah! Hahaha! Ah! I can't… Haha! No more! Sheele! H-help me!" Desperate as she was, the sniper's haughtiness vanished and she called for help.

"Chelsea-san, I'm having trouble concentrating with all the noise Mine is making," Sheele said softly, coming to her partner's rescue. Being the one using Hirasaki, she was rendered immobile much like Mine and Ieyasu, with her palms cupping around her Teigu as she sat on her knees.

Fortunately for Mine, the auburn-haired woman stopped upon those words, but not before patting her on the head like a master would do to a cat. In response, the petite sniper glowered with as much viciousness as she could muster. It was a glare that would've deterred most, though Chelsea merely giggled.

'Is this what girls do for fun?' The notion loitered around for a few moments before Yukio shook his head to refute it. It certainly couldn't apply to all females, for he could never imagine Akame participating in something as jovially childish. Taking his eyes away from the two girls, his gaze then landed on the smiling Sheele before shifting towards Ieyasu, who was visibly relieved. Yukio sweatdropped, having an irking suspicion of what was going through the teen's head. 'Ieyasu, you… don't tell me you're also ticklish?'

"You know, Yukio-kun. You can always join in on the fun," Leone suggested, having gotten herself comfortable cross-legged after testing out several different positions.

Well aware that Akame was still sleeping, Yukio shook his head and replied, "Maybe later I will."

"Leave Akame here. I'll look after her. It's not like she's gonna disappear the moment she's not resting on your lap. At this rate, you're going to get cramps."

"No, it's alright. I'm fine." Yukio decided to conclude it there, leaving out parts that troubled him. Truthfully, a part of him secretly desired the current arrangement, if only because of the self-satisfaction that he was of some use to the quiet and fortified assassin.

'Being a headrest is all I can do for Akame at this point... No, can't think like that. There has to be more. If I have the time to lament, then I should use it for something more efficient. I have to work much harder!' With a soundless sigh, Yukio released the last of his self-reproach and began to gather his recollections. He revisited the events during the last battle, taking mental notes of actions he should've committed and mistakes that could've been avoided.

Seeing that Yukio was lost in his own world of deliberations, Leone let her attention wander aimlessly until her gaze landed on Akame. It was then she realized how the younger girl's features were quite the contrast to the sharp and passive appearance she would usually present to the rest of the world. Akame's stoic mask had vanished, leaving behind a relaxed countenance.

How long had it been since Leone last saw her like this? The question popped into existence but the assassin wasn't given much time for contemplations as Akame shifted in her unconscious state. The blonde's eyes bulged and her mouth dropped. Had she been drinking, then it was guaranteed that Yukio would've been drenched in spat-out liquor.

The reason for the drastic show of disbelief was Akame. No longer curled up, the raven-haired rested supine with her arms stretched out. Her left one shot up to above her head while the right was flung carelessly to the side.

It was a sight that shouldn't have been possible, especially in an opened space.

"Yukio-kun! You can see it, right? Right? I don't believe this!" The blonde shook one of Yukio's shoulders as she spoke with enough franticness to break the young man out of his meditation. However, as much as her voice projected volume, it was swallowed up by Mine and Chelsea's ongoing bickering as well as the howling wind from the altitude.

Still, her words got to Yukio once his forbearance was shattered by the constant shaking. Unable to tolerate it any longer, he seized the woman's hand and pulled it away from his shoulder.

"What's gotten into you, nee-san? Please calm down." Rising a perplexed eyebrow, he followed the direction of Leone's astounded gaze. His frown deepened with his confusion. While he could distinguish the source for the commotion, he couldn't understand the reason. What was so unbelievable about Akame's movement? Granted, it was a strange posture, though he couldn't figure out how it warranted such a reaction. "What's so special about Akame tossing a little in her sleep? Don't we all do that sometimes?"

"Not Akame, she doesn't. She sleeps like a rock. Way too stiff for her to get comfortable. Honestly, I don't even know how she manages to sleep like that."

"Is this because of her harsh training as an assassin?" he asked, having been entrusted with some knowledge of Akame's past. Upon his return and just after his homecoming party, the female assassin had taken him to her room, where she fulfilled her part of the deal they had made together. Although she didn't elaborate on the specifics, there were enough details to get a glimpse of the ordeals that she had to endure in her childhood.

"That seems to be the case," Leone nodded, before looking at Yukio with an odd expression that couldn't be categorized. If the young man had to describe it, then it was something along the lines of: 'you don't know how lucky you are'.

He blinked, before seeking an elaboration by tilting his head in a manner similar to Akame's.

"You know how I was against you using yourself as a pillow for Akame?" When Yukio nodded, Leone continued while her hand unconsciously made its way to her neck. "That's because I was worried about you. Even if she doesn't have Murasame, there's a chance she'll wring your neck out of oxygen in her sleep. But you seem so determined with it and all. So I thought the least I can do is stay around you to make sure nothing bad happens."

"T-thanks, nee-san… I suppose." As instinctive fear took root inside Yukio's heart, he had to compel his body to remain motionless, as to not disturb the sleeping girl. "And I'm assuming you're speaking from experience?"

"Well… not quite the same. But it's similar. There was this one time when she collapsed after taking a dare from me. I told her that I'll get her an extra plate of meat for the next day if she could down a bottle of liquor," Leone chuckled drily, suppressing the urge to shiver at the terrible recollection of a sleeping and drooling Akame rampaging in her killer mode. "And let's just say that was probably the worst idea I've ever had in my entire life."

"…O-okay, so never get Akame close to anything alcoholic. Point noted," said Yukio with a nod, unable to come up with anything else for a response.

"Yeah… Wait, that's not the point I'm trying to get at across!" The attractive woman shook her head, mildly irritated. Given her personality, it hadn't crossed her mind that she was the one who went off on a tangent. "The point is I've known for a fact that she's not defenseless even when she's asleep. This is the first time I've seen her like this. Don't you get it, Yukio-kun? Akame trusts you enough to let her guard down. Right now, she's absolutely unguarded, which is why she hasn't stirred despite this crazy ruckus."

Unable to help himself, Yukio's eyes darted towards Chelsea and Mine at the word ruckus before returning his attention back to Leone. His mind spun as he tried to digest this new information. "Maybe she's really tired."

Seeing that Yukio was noticeably adamant to deny her enlightenment, Leone decided to persist and said, "Jeez, I get you without you stressing on the really. Really, do you really need to do that?"

"Man, alright, alright. I'll stop… So please, continue on."

"This isn't just about how tired she is. I'm talking about an assassin who will sometimes sleep sitting down or standing up. Getting close to her in her sleep was impossible back when we first became teammates. Eventually, she trusted us enough where sleeping in the same room is no longer an issue. But do you know how long that took?"

"A few weeks?" Yukio made an educated guess, though inwardly he knew that his number sounded unreasonable from what Leone was implying. Why else would the blonde be making this much fusses if it wasn't a huge deal?

"Not even close. What took me an entire year only took you three months! Three months! And she was never like this."

"Well… there's got to b-be an explanation for this… Maybe it's because you were… um, h-harassing her or something. Or m-maybe I'm just not considered as a threat for Akame." The stutter was frustrating but he couldn't stop how the words left his lips.

"Yeah, right. As if Akame's sub-consciousness can figure out that you're more harmless than a caterpillar," huffed Leone, getting somewhat impatient with Yukio. "She wouldn't even allow something as small as that get near her. I tried it once for a prank and that poor creature was completely sliced into pieces before it can even touch her."

'I'm not even going to ask why she thought getting one of those nasty creepers in the first place would be a great prank…' With a comedic sweatdrop dangling from the back of his head, the young man decided it was best to leave the notion unannounced. Taking a deep breath, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he tried to summarize what Leone had said, random or otherwise. "So in short, you're fascinated that Akame seems to be all stress-free and appears relaxed in her sleep. Is that it?"

"Exactly," she said as she clicked her fingers, generating a sharp noise that broadcasted her content. She jabbed a finger at the sleeping girl with a broad grin spreading across her face. "And that proves it."

Considering what was said, he pursed his lips in deliberation and his gaze fell back to Akame. It was then that an observation made itself apparent to him, which he immediately pointed out, "Speaking of sleeping postures… Nee-san, don't you think that Akame's is just… well, for the lack of a better term, weird? She's occupying quite a bit of space with that arm there."

"I've seen her do that once or twice before. I really don't really get it myself." Leone tapped her chin with a finger and mused out loud. "Hmm, if you ask me, it's almost like she's inviting someone to use her arm as a pillow, like what a certain someone here is doing with his legs."

Wisely ignoring the suggestive wink that came with the last part of the sentence, Yukio instead placed significance on the first part. "I think you may be correct about the arm pillow part, nee-san. After the homecoming party yesterday, Akame told me a bit about her past. She talked to me about her little sister, Kurome, and how much she loves her. They were inseparable during their missions together. They ate, train, kill, and even slept with each other. With that in mind, it's reasonable to think that this empty space—"

"—is reserved for Kurome, huh?" the blonde finished with a touch of solemn. The usual predatory gleam in her eyes was replaced by a soft light that emitted a sense of sorrow. "Old habits die hard. It must really be hard for her, knowing that they'll be at each other's throats the next time they meet."

"Yeah. This isn't something as petty as the sibling rivalry I had with my onii-sam—onii-san. I just wish there is a peaceful solution to this," mumbled Yukio, carefully correcting himself in fear of giving himself away. The growing suspicion presented on Najenda's frowning countenance as she occasionally glimpsed his way was already troubling him greatly. Chances were he would have to explain himself soon, though he would much rather delay the big reveal for as long as possible. It would most certainly cause a fuss, which was the last thing he wanted.

"If there is, I'm sure Akame would've figured it out by now." Unmindful of his less-than-subtle correction, Leone heaved a sigh and leaned closer to her junior. Before he could pull back in a hurry, she looped an arm around his neck, forcing his face to maintain close proximity to hers. Lowering her volume to the bare minimum, she ensured that the only receiver for the words that came out next was the young man. "I'm taking a guess that she didn't find a way out in the last timeline, right? That's why she was prepared to cut down her sister again in this one."

'What?!' Alarm bells screeched inside his brain. Despite her warning, Yukio couldn't prevent the bewilderment from bursting forth. His eyes widened to the size of Akame's plates for meat and his jaw fell. It was on the tip of his tongue to let loose a startled shout. Fortunately, Leone acted and her hand clamped over his mouth. A second later, his assassin's training kicked in and he bit his bottom lip hard, stimulating pain to dominate over his bafflement.

Leone hissed in his ear, her tone sounding urgent. "Don't get so worked up. Akame told me. I'm the only who knows about it right now. She told me to keep a secret and I did. So don't go blurting out something unless you want the others to find out."

Yukio offered a slow nod to show his understanding. Taking that as a cue, Leone withdrew her hand and he was given the freedom to speak. Mimicking the woman's hushed words, he exhaled deeply and whispered, "That caught me completely off guard, nee-san. Please give me a warning next time. I think you've shortened a few years of my life-span."

"Now you're over-exaggerating," she paused transitory before ruffling the young man's hair with her free hand. "Anyways, now that you know I know, mind telling me what's up with that entire conversation with Susanoo back then? All this secrecy is making my senses tingle… Wait a sec, they literally are…!"

Upon feeling Leone tense, Yukio unattached himself from her carefully and rotated his head like a robot. His vision panned out to what was behind his shoulder and what he saw made both him and Leone gulp. So engrossed in their own conversation, too late were they to realize that Najenda had left the steering to Bulat and approached them from behind.

"Boss!" yelped Yukio.

The former general stood towering above them with an intimidating aura that permeated authority. With her hand on her waist, her one eye seared right into Yukio's in a manner that could only be described as formidable. In that instance, the Baransu wielder felt the fear of a tiny animal being cornered by its natural predator.

"I would like to hear the details too. It's about time you come clean, Yukio. And you too, Susanoo. I'm sensing that there're things you have yet to tell me. Like how exactly do you know Yukio?" As if deeming that her stance wasn't commanding enough, Najenda projected incontestable power into her tone as she first regarded Yukio before allowing her gaze to travel over to her Teigu. "Given the current situation with Akame, both of you will tell me exactly what you know right now. No more secrets."

"Understood."

"…As you wish, Boss."

There was no room for argument so Susanoo and Yukio could only concede, with the latter being reluctant and the former nonchalant as he drew behind his master.

"Good, we'll hold an emergency conference here." Pleased with the responses, the Leader of Night Raid projected her voice outward. Her words carried and traveled far despite the howling winds, successfully capturing the attention of all of her subordinates.

By some coincidence, Sheele had just finished treating her patients and both regained their mobility. Mine's initial action was to retaliate against Chelsea, though she dropped it when she heard her leader. The four assassins made their way to where their Boss stood. Even Bulat, who was tasked with controlling the Air Mantas, spared parts of his focus.

The assassins took a seat to form a disfigured circle, starting from where Yukio and Leone were sitting. Under normal circumstances, they would've been the ones standing while their Boss took a position on her favorite chair. Apart from the fact that said chair was now unavailable, the majority of the assassins didn't think it was wise to stand while on top of a Danger Beast soaring through the air. One misstep and they would topple overboard. The only ones with the confidence and skills were Najenda, Susanoo, and Bulat.

"You two can start explaining now. We're listening." As soon as everyone had gathered, Najenda took it as a cue to begin. As oppressive as her behavior might seem, she knew she couldn't afford to remain oblivious. For a while, she had known that Akame and Yukio were keeping secrets. Yet, she had refrained from questioning them until now, where the situation had drastically changed. It was no longer something that simply involved the concept of trust and loyalty. The sooner she could comprehend the issue relating to Akame in the last battle, the sooner she could figure out some effective procedures. If necessary, she might even have to come up with countermeasures against her own subordinates. The idea didn't appeal to her at all, though she would do what was required of her as the leader of the organization.

"Uh, shouldn't we wake Akame first? This does involve her, after all." Feeling partially responsible for the current situation, Leone directed an apologetic glance at Yukio's direction before speaking up.

"Depending on what this entails, it may be best if we obscure certain facts from Akame. For now, we'll let her rest. Chelsea, lend her your headphones." Unlike everyone else, Najenda continued to stand as she then made a gesture at the device Chelsea wore.

"Sure, just give me a moment." The lollypop lover removed her headphone and readjusted the padding to ensure it would be completely soundproof before passing it to Yukio.

Taking it without a word, the young man slowly put it on Akame. He inadvertently tensed when the raven-haired girl's head shifted a bit from the action but otherwise showed no signs of stirring.

Unsure whether he should be relieved or worried that Akame was still slumbering peacefully, Yukio confirmed that both her ears were covered and passed a discreet glance at Susanoo. The biological Teigu sensed it straight away and his blue orbs met his emeralds in a silent exchange.

For the sake of Akame as well as being averse to letting everyone bombard him with questions, Yukio attempted to implore Susanoo to start the conversation revolving around Akame's condition. Much to his unannounced relief, the biological Imperial Arms understood the implication.

Nodding once, Susanoo pulled his gaze downward and studied the subject of their topic with a serious expression. His sight landed on the katana next to Yukio for a few seconds before gliding over to Akame's right arm. The long-sleeved jacket made it impossible to see skin, though if his deduction proved to be accurate, then he could already guess what he would see should he rolled the sleeve up. "I'll say what I know. The situation is unprecedented but I believe that Murasame's curse is in effect. Even as we speak, the wielder is being devoured. The proof to validate my claim should be on her right arm."

'Her right arm? Underneath those bandages, huh?' A similar thought all transpired through Najenda, Bulat, Mine, Ieyasu, and Leone.

Perhaps it was because she never got the chance to see the bandages, for Chelsea's found another point of interest. The woman sucked in a deep breath, all the while being mindful about the lollypop in her mouth. "Being devoured? Can you elaborate on that?"

"The Demon Sword Murasame…" Susanoo spoke slowly with deliberate intent to articulate each word. "As its name suggests, it's demonic in nature. While its twin toys with the vessel, it devours the content. Although the parent Imperial Arms has long since been segregated, its primal nature lingers behind. The trait of the original is still embedded deep within the cores of its incarnations."

"U-Uh-huh… Can someone translate that into something I understand," Ieyasu muttered as he discreetly scanned the people around him. Only when he was certain that the others looked just as confused did he felt a sense of relief. 'Okay good. I'm not the only one who thought that was gibberish. Phew, that means Mine can't call me out on that.'

"You don't say," said Leone, feeling a headache coming from trying to decipher the words.

Noticing all the bemused glances given to him, Susanoo thought for a moment and gave an attempt at rephrasing. "The cause of this phenomenon can be traced back to the blade Yami no ha: Muramasa, from which Murasame is born from."

"Does this have something to do with its forbidden powers? And the rumors that it can cause a cataclysm?" Reminded by how apprehensive his father was in regards to the relic, Yukio decided to take a risk with his inquiry. Despite being the son of the one who created the weapon, he was rather clueless when it came to the ability the blade possessed. For some reason, information about it was kept confidential. It wasn't until he received the right to inherit the throne did his father inform him about the supposed cataclysm should someone use Muramasa. But even then, his father had been rather vague with his wording, almost as though even he wasn't certain himself.

"Not exactly," Susanoo shook his head and continued, "Muramasa is one of the three special cases."

"Special cases?" Sheele parroted back, her eyebrows pulled together.

Bending down, Susanoo inspected Akame's arm with critical eyes as he mulled over on how he should answer the woman. "While all Imperial Arms users are subjected to the danger of being fused with their weapons—"

"One second! Are… you telling me that all Teigu users can be taken over by their own Teigu? Is this what you mean by devour? No one told me this before!" For once, Ieyasu's mind seemed to be on turbo as he comprehended the implications. His eyes enlarged to the size of plates and he rotated his head sideways to glance at the pair of axes he had strapped onto his back. The look of horror was apparent on his face and he appeared visibly torn as to whether or not he should simply hurl his Teigu away as far as possible. In the end, it was his resolution that summoned forth rekindled courage that abolished his fears. 'No. Don't do that. If I get cold feet now, I'll lose the chance to change this country. I need Senpu. And if anything, I won't let what's supposed to be my power control me!'

"'Devour' isn't the word for all other Imperial Arms. The user is merely at risk with the possibility of undergoing fusion with their Imperial Arms," Susanoo tried to reassure as he ran his finger down Akame's arm, probing certain places without a hint of how strange his action would appear to others. In any case, he didn't comprehend the reason for Mine's twitching eyebrows and Chelsea's dropping jaw as he concentrated on what he was doing.

"Yep, that sounds about right. It's practically what happens each time I activate Lionelle. But as long as I'm the one in control, who really cares if I do become a real beast one day," commented Leone while casually tapping on her belt-like relic. Whether she was simply being carefree or optimistic was arguable, though she didn't appear to be bothered in the slightest.

'Don't say it like that or you may jinx it...' Yukio held back the thought from being voiced, considering that Leone would most likely not take him seriously. After all, the woman could be so flippant when it came to matters concerning her own safety. If it meant punishing the wrongdoer and getting a good brawl, she would jump at the chance without a care in the world that she could be heading straight into a trap.

"And I recall hearing something similar from Master Gensei when he handed Incursio to me." Even though he was navigating the Danger Beast in Najenda's steed, Bulat could spare enough attention on the topics being discussed. After a bit of pondering, he decided to supply his own knowledge, no matter how little it might be. "He did tell me to be careful when it comes to donning the armor. Come to think about it, the exact wording he used was 'devour'."

Upon hearing that, a fleeting headache assaulted Yukio before it ebbed away. Considering the pressing matters he had to focus on, such a minor thing would've been better dismissed entirely. However, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. 'What was that? Ugh! What's wrong with me recently? There's something I'm not seeing here…'

Unmindful of Yukio's restless notions, Susanoo withdrew his hand from his inspection and returned to his full height. "If that was his wording, then he might have heard something about Rushifa, the crystal said to be associated with the demons of the netherworld."

At those words, the other Night Raiders was struck with a sense of surrealism. The borders between reality and fantasy seemed to have become an undistinguishable fine line as they absorbed the given information. Nevertheless, they didn't doubt the factuality of Susanoo's words. Aside from the fact that their informant didn't seem to be the type to joke around, they each owned a weapon that defined the realm of common sense.

"Rushifa? Demons of the netherworld? Could it be…?" Being the first one to recover from her confusion, Najenda wore a pensive look as she placed her fingers on her chin, with her elbow resting on her mechanical arm. "The demon blade, the demon armor, and the demon blood. Is there a more literal meaning to these names?"

"Yes. These exact relics were part of an experiment where they were implanted with a fragment of a Rushifa." The biological Imperial Arms folded his arms across his chest before nodding once. "Like Muramasa, Murasame contains the demonic power from Rushifa. It's very difficult to harness, one that is fueled by pain, bloodlust, greed, and fear. It's no exaggeration to say that it's a curse that consumes people with negative feelings and offers them the illusionary incentive to commit heinous sins. In all honesty, I'm surprised the girl has maintained her sense of self to distinguish between friends and foe."

Yukio furrowed his brows in contemplations. The last part was a very valid point. As menacing as Akame's behavior was, she hadn't gone berserk. He was well aware of such because he had been in close proximity to her when she had begun to act strangely. In spite of the murderous intent and bloodthirsty nature that was radiating from her, there was still a glint of conscience lurking deep within her crimson eyes. There was no doubt that she knew exactly who she had to eliminate and how to accomplish such a feat.

'I guess that would explain why the Boss decided to emit some killing intent back then. She must've been testing out how far gone Akame was. Dangerous but cunning… as expected.' With that realization, the young man slid a quick glimpse at Najenda. Unsurprisingly, the silver-haired woman appeared unfazed by the magnitude of information pouring into her. Her stance was filled with a calculating composure that could only be possible for one as experienced and skillful as her.

"How long do you think it'll last?" Yukio had anticipated numerous responses from his teammates, ranging from confused ramblings to shouts of disbelief. But he wasn't able to predict the atypical sternness in Chelsea's tone as she suddenly made her musings public. When Susanoo raised an eyebrow as a gesture for elaboration, the auburn-haired assassin removed the lollypop in her mouth. "What you said implies that there'll come a day when she'll lose all her reasons. So how long before then?"

The mannerism which she phrased it gave off a foreboding sense of dread that hit Yukio deep in the gut. He inhaled a deep breath. As much as he loathed admitting it, the rational side of him protested that it was indeed possible for Akame to succumb to insanity in the future.

"This type of situation has never been properly recorded before. So I can't give you the exact time. However, I do know that she is trying to repress Murasame." As if to emphasize his point, Susanoo pointed at Akame's right arm.

Following the direction of his former caretaker's fingertip, Yukio's eyes widened as he caught on. His memories gathered and he was able to piece together the puzzle. "Akame told me that she couldn't use her right hand. We always thought that it was because Murasame is rejecting her. We were wrong… It's the other way around. She's instinctively trying to repress it and that's why it would hurt wherever she uses the blade."

"Then what about the fight with Dr. Stylish? If my memory serves, she had no problem slicing that crazy scientist into pieces with her dominant hand. Even if what you said might be the truth, it doesn't explain what happened back then," Chelsea said, pulling Yukio's sight on her in an instant.

The seriousness presented on her features was beginning to concern the young man. The attitude she displayed was on the other extreme end of the spectrum compared to the sociable demeanor she had prior. While the concept of assassins flipping their switch was nothing new to him, it was still dubious as to which persona was a mask that she donned out of necessity and which was her real self. Then again, there was also the chance that it was neither.

"Sorry, I should've considered more before I point out a theory…" said Yukio as he lowered his gaze, dodging the glimmer of disappointment that was on Chelsea's countenance.

"Regardless," Susanoo cut in, "I was informed that she has activated Murasame's trump card once. The blade has tasted her blood and now, they are one of the same. Even if she is resisting Murasame, its effects are irreversible. From the moment she cut herself with it, she ceased being a human."

"Just a minute! What do you mean that Akame isn't a human anymore? You can't just rule her out of the human race just like that!" Mine protested hotly, aggravated by the topic. Given her family background, she was more sensitive to the way that people were judged based on the blood that ran in their veins. She had always thought poorly of those narrow-minded people and the attached stigma simply because some were different from the majority.

While the newer members were mystified by Mine's abrupt defensiveness, the others like Sheele were aware of the reason and offered a comforting hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Please calm down, Mine. Susanoo-san is just telling us what he knows. I'm sure he means no offense."

"Yeah, but it's true. What Su is saying. Akame's blood smells off," added Leone.

"Speaking of blood…" Susanoo's eyes narrowed into slits and he looked at Yukio with utmost austerity. "Yukio-dono, I believe it is best to keep your distance from the wielder of Murasame. I suggest that you should keep your hands to yourself, especially considering your feelings."

"H-huh?" As mind-boggled and concerned as he was, Yukio failed to comprehend. He stared at the biological Teigu with an expression that could only be described as dumbfounded.

Presumably because of the delivery of his words, the other assassins neglected the manner which Susanoo addressed Yukio and instead voiced their opinions.

"I'm not sure I'm following," said Sheele as she tapped on the rim of her glasses.

"Are you telling me that Yukio is trying to hit on Akame?" exclaimed Ieyasu, stunned.

"What's this? From the dangers of being possessed to the chemistry that exists between Yukio-kun and Akame, that's quite the jump," Leone remarked, unable to contain the temptation to grin despite the gravity of their conversation.

"Ahem." Placing her prosthetic arm close to her mouth, Najenda faked a cough before dismissing her subordinates' ramblings. Sometimes, she inwardly wondered why her group consisted of this many young assassins. As talented as they were, they were still prone to issues that would concern ordinary teenagers. "Everyone, this isn't the time for nonsense. Susanoo here is clearly trying to delve into a serious matter. Isn't that correct?"

"Yes, that's right," Susanoo nodded once and stated matter-of-factly, "I've heard that Murasame's influence is contagious. The effect can vary between individuals. To validate my claim… can anyone tell me if they have experienced unusual feelings recently? An urge to kill perhaps? Or possibly illusions?"

Two answers arrived, one from Najenda and the other from Yukio.

"There was a faint feeling once but that was quickly taken over by a vision related to rotating blades," the former said, finding no harm in telling the others of the incident she had on the training field about two months ago. "Needless to say, I know that it was not a mere illusion. But since I didn't know what to interpret out of it, I had no choice but to put it aside."

"For me… a few times actually. When I feel desperate or angry, I get really restless and even aggressive," the latter admitted with a small gulp. Now that he had the time to ponder on it, weren't there a few occasions when he seemed to be overwhelmed by the need to resort to violence? 'That time in Aria's household. And that other time with nee-san out in the street. And also in the fight against The Three Beast. I remember feeling a very overpowering urge… All those times... t-they were after I made some form of close and lingering contact with Akame! Is that what Susanoo is trying to tell me?'

"Hmm. Is that so? Then, please excuse me." Giving an impression that he had comprehended something of grave significance, Susanoo bent down and grabbed Akame's arm. Under everyone's watchful and curious eyes, he placed his index and middle fingers on her pulse, as if trying to monitor her heart rate. Then, he moved on to Yukio and Najenda before eventually doing the same to everyone else. His eyebrows were pulled into a fine line by the time he was done.

"As I suspected," he uttered.

"What is it?" asked Najenda.

"All three of you," the biological Teigu paused and pointed at Akame, Najenda, and Yukio. "You all have blood with the same properties. It's somewhat difficult to explain in details. However, please note that Murasame finds a great resonance with your blood and soul. Hence, I would suggest that you should be on guard and not to allow the influence to consume you."

Although Yukio was reluctant, Leone took the words as a cue to replace the young man's legs with her own for Akame. Ensuring that the girl was rested comfortably and that she was still soundly asleep, the blonde used the opportunity to satisfy her touch of curiosity. "Hey, Su. So when you were going around, were you actually working out whose blood is the same as Akame's? Does that mean that the rest of us are safe then?"

"No, all humans can be affected. However, the likelihood is less than those who share a resonance with Murasame," answered Susanoo before nodding at Leone. "So this arrangement should be safer."

"Is there anything we can do?" Yukio asked abruptly, his head perked up to show a countenance filled with desperation. "What about Akame renouncing her claim to Murasame? There should be other Imperial Arms—"

"I would imagine that she has realized she can't do that. Like I said before, Murasame and she are one of the same. Her soul is tied to the sword. She must be near it."

"Regardless… I cannot, and will not, be discarding Murasame." Akame's words were evoked into the surface of his memories. Due to his diverted attention, he had failed to decipher the meaning at that time. But now that he was given the chance to mull over the message she intended to covey, he realized that the red-eyed assassin must've been aware of such fact from the very start. 'That's why she said those words… Of course she would know… and decided to bear the burden alone. I would've preferred it if she had told me. But even if I had known… I wouldn't have been able to help.'

"Yukio-dono, don't be too discouraged." Sensing the disappointment coming from the young man as he stole glimpses at Murasame, Susanoo thought it would be best if he made attempts at reassurance. Anyone else unfamiliar with Yukio's mannerism would've dismissed his pensive expression as deliberations. But after being assigned as Yukio's caretaker, the biological Teigu had learned how to interpret the hidden signs of vexation and self-berating from him. "I'll do my best to find a solution before it's too late."

"…Thank you, Susanoo," said Yukio, allowing the tiniest of a smile to grace his sullen features as he gently massaged his numbed legs.

"Good, then I'll have Yukio work with Susanoo. The two of you seemed to be the most knowledgeable on this issue. We're counting on you two to find a way to get Akame out of this crisis. Report to me when you find something useful." Having faith in her subordinates, Najenda's tone was brimming with confidence, which prompted everyone to nod with determination etched on their features. With that temporarily settled, she then moved onto the other matter of concern at hand. "Now, Susanoo. I want you to tell me about this odd familiarity you share with Yukio. How is it that you two are acquainted before? And why the honorific?"

Heeding his master's needs, Susanoo was about to open his mouth in reply when Yukio held out a hand as a gesture for silence. Obliging, he watched as the wielder of Baransu narrated the encounter he had with Akame.

It was a tale between the second prince of the Empire and a lost grieving assassin and how, on fate's whimsical nature, they were given a second chance.

Night Raid Members Remaining: 10

Mission: None

The Four Present in the Capital: 4

The Jaegers Members Remaining: 6

Author's Notes (Again): There's quite the exposition in this one unfortunately, so much so that I was so tempted to name this chapter Kill the Exposition. Nonetheless, it is needed and I pray that it did shed a little light on Akame's current situation. There's definitely a lot that is left in the dark but there's now quite a bit for poor Yukio (as well as you guys) to decipher.

Naturally, as expositions can tend to suffer from potential problems such as plot holes and confusion, I would love to hear your thoughts and advices regarding the matter. Therefore, please feel free to leave a review and share.

Oh! And here's an interesting fact - Japanese believe that blood types (the properties in the blood that Susanoo was talking about) are significant because they can be used to predict someone's personality, temperament and even their compatibility with others. In relation to the story, I decided to go along with the resources from the Akame ga Kill wiki. The only blood types I made up are Ieyasu's (which is the same as Tatsumi's) and Yukio's (which is the same as the current Emperor's, and conveniently, also the same as Akame's).

For interest sake, below is a list of best and worst traits for all of the blood types. Looking at them, it's really interesting because they really do give us the gist of the personalities of the current team of Night Raid.

Type A (Akame, Najenda, and Yukio): (best traits) earnest, patient, reserved, responsible, and sensible / (worst traits) fastidious, over earnest, stubborn, and tense

Type B (Chelsea, and Mine): (best traits) active, creative, doer, passionate, and strong/ (worst traits) irresponsible, unforgiving, "going own way"

Type AB (Sheele): (best traits) cool, controlled, rational, sociable, and adaptable/ (worst traits) critical, indecisive, forgetful, irresponsible, "split personality"

Type O (Ieyasu, Bulat, and Leone): (best traits) confident, self-determined, optimistic, strong-willed, and intuitive/ (worst traits) self-centered, cold, doubtful, unpredictable, and "workaholic"

Pretty cool and interesting, don't you all agree? ;)

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

-Night Raid's newest additions include Susanoo and Chelsea, with Bulat returning to the team after meeting up with Najenda at the place where the Revolutionary Army is taking refuge.

-Whenever Hirasaki is being used, Sheele is rendered immobile.

-Night Raid learns that three of the 48 Teigu have been implanted with crystals called Rushifa. Any wielders of these relics have a great chance of being consumed by the demons lurking within.

-As means of precaution, the first Emperor had set up ways to supress the powers of the Rushifa series of Teigu. The demon armor is kept dormant in the form of a key, the demon blood is sealed away in a containment, and the demon sword is now only half as powerful after being divided into two.

-The vision relating to Najenda and the twin blades can be found in chapter 9. Now that the explanation is given, perhaps it is possible to deduce the meaning behind the vision.

-Every member of Night Raid, excluding Akame, is now aware of Yukio's identity as well as the fact that he and Akame are time (parallel world?) travelers.

Preview- Kill the Trickery: While the Jaegers contemplate on their next move after Stylish's disappearance, Yukio discovers that there is much more to Baransu than what he was told about.

Esdeath: "You should aim with the intent to kill. Fear not. I'll take down anything you can hurl at me."

Seryu: "A-are you telling me that… that he's gone? No… No, it can't be. First my parents… and my teacher… and now my savior! They can't all be gone!"

Hidou: "Bravo, bravo. Great deduction, detective."

Yukio: "…Do you think I failed him?"

Susanoo: "Yukio-dono. There is something I've been refrained from informing you because His Majesty had prohibited it. But the circumstances have changed. You should learn the secrets of Baransu, the Imperial Arms that tipped the scales during the decisive war that had given rise to the Empire."