Hey guys, I'm back with the next chapter of this story! I'm glad to see that you all seemed to enjoy the last chapter, despite it being largely a filler/setup chapter! This chapter will pick up where the previous one left off and will have Akame and Kurome's final confrontation. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that! Once again, we're in the last three volumes of the manga, so we're getting pretty close to the end of this story. If I had to guess, there are more than likely nine or so chapters left to finish this story, including an epilogue.

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Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!

"Speech"

"Thoughts"

Teigu

"Incursio"

Disclaimer: I don't own Akame ga Kill or any of its characters.

(The Next Day: Night Raid's Hidden Base)

"I really wish you two hadn't left without me, I would have backed you both up..." Tatsumi said in a mildly annoyed tone, glancing at Akame and Leone as he poked at his food. Both of his lovers avoided his gaze and nervously fidgeted in their seats. Seeing that both girls seemed to be regretful about leaving him behind, Tatsumi released a light sigh. "Well, it's in the past now, no point getting upset about it." Tatsumi quickly flashed Akame and Leone a smile that seemed to brighten their moods. "I'm just glad you're both okay."

"I'm sorry we didn't bring you, Tatsumi..." Leone said before she took a bite of her meal, frowning when she gazed at Tatsumi's Incursio eye. "But with you...condition...we didn't want you pushing yourself any more than you need to."

"Leone's right, Tatsumi." Najenda said, grabbing a dinner roll off her plate and taking a quick bite. "We can't have you fighting until the final battle. You'll need to be at full strength."

"You can only use Incursio a few more times..." Akame added before she finished cleaning her plate, leaving nothing behind. "You need to choose carefully when you use it."

"I understand that...but when I can't help out..." Tatsumi muttered, hanging his head slightly as he stared down at the table. "It makes me feel like I'm the only one taking it easy."

"What a load of crap." Mine said with a huff as she grabbed her fork, her hands trembling less than they had been previously. "I'm not doing shit around here either, so you have nothing to feel bad about."

"I'm glad you're trying to make Tatsumi feel better, Mine...but it's a bit different for you." Sayo chimed in, setting her fork down and clasping her hands together on top of the table. "In your current condition...at least for now, you can't fight."

"Bah! She'll be back in the field in no time!" Cosmina cheered with a large smile as she leaned over and wrapped an arm around Mine's neck, pulling the perturbed pink-haired sniper close and patting her shoulder. "With Sayo's help, her shot has been improving every day!"

"That's good to hear, I'm so glad you're getting better, Mine. And thank you so much for helping her, Sayo, Cosmina. You're both a massive help." Tatsumi said, causing the three girl's faces to flush slightly. Turning his head, Tatsumi glanced at the empty seat at the table. "Looks like Chelsea is still out on her mission."

"Don't worry, Tatsumi. Her target this time is pretty low risk. So, she'll be back safe and sound." Najenda reassured her subordinate before smile smiled and patted the top of Tatsumi's head. "And don't get upset about not fighting because we'll really be putting you to work during the final battle."

"See!" Leone cheered energetically, leaning over and hugging Tatsumi's head between her massive breasts. Tatsumi was more than used to this treatment from Leone by now, but he still enjoyed the love and attention every time. So, while Tatsumi outwardly seemed unfazed, he enjoyed her affection. "Good for you, Tatsumi! We'll be working you real hard soon!"

"Tatsumi has done a fine job on all of his assignments, especially recently..." Akame said before she excused herself and stood up from her seat. "He deserves a break for now, even if it's a brief one." With a wave, Akame began to walk out of the room. "Thanks for the meal."

"Akame seemed a little...off." Tatsumi pointed out, his brow furrowing as he stared at the door the red-eyes assassin had walked out of. "She even ate her food slower than usual."

"That's because she'll be meeting with her little sister tonight." Leone explained as she kicked her feet up and leaned back in her chair. "She ran into Kurome last night when we were out on patrol and ran into that Dark Squad."

"So, it's happening tonight..." Tatsumi muttered, stroking his chin as he stared down at the table. "A battle between sisters...or maybe not. I need to contact Esdeath and let her know. She may be able to stop them from fighting." Looking back up, Tatsumi turned his attention to Najenda. "I'm guessing you gave her permission for this, right boss?"

"Kurome has always been one of our targets..." Najenda said as she paused for a moment and pulled out her pack of cigarettes. Tapping the bottom of the pack, Najenda grabbed a cigarette between her lips and lit it. After taking a short drag, Najenda exhaled a large puff of smoke. "If we can remove her from the equation, that's one less problem we'll have to deal with during the final battle and will further weaken the empire's ability to fight."

"C'mon boss, there's no way one soldier can influence the outcome of a battle." Cosmina pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, I mean Esdeath definitely could, but there's no way Kurome is even remotely close to her level."

"Of course, you are correct, Cosmina. And I most certainly don't want to risk Akame getting killed...but this is a personal matter for her." Najenda explained as she took another drag of her cigarette, before tapping the ashes into a nearby tray. "When Akame first joined the revolutionary army, she gave me one condition. I was to give her free reign in all matters regarding Kurome. It seems now is the time for me to fulfill that condition. So, I'm allowing Akame to handle this situation however she pleases."

"What about you, Tatsumi?" Sayo asked, glancing over at her childhood friend, a conflicted look in her eyes. "What do you think about all of this?"

"Whatever Akame decides to do...I'll back her up." Tatsumi replied as he looked at everyone at the table, none of them seemed to be surprised by his response. "As the boss said, this is a personal matter for her. So whether Akame decides to kill Kurome...or save her...either way, I'll do everything in my power to support her. "

"Heh, there's no way we could stop Akame even if we wanted to." Mine said with a chuckle, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders. "So, it's best to just have her back right now."

"I even managed to work out a deal with command. In the event that the empire is defeated and Kurome is still alive but no longer a threat...as long as Akame looks after her, the revolutionary army won't persecute Kurome for her crimes." Najenda added, extinguishing her finished cigarette and lighting another one. "This is also a part of the free reign I gave Akame. She's been working hard to reach this goal."

"I guess we really should just let Akame handle this..." Sayo said as she released a light sigh, her brow furrowing slightly. "Mine's right, there's no way we could even stop her. I may not like the idea of Akame possibly killing her sister...but this is a personal matter for her and we shouldn't interfere."

"Tonight won't be a dogfight. It'll be two sisters facing off one-on-one." Najenda said, pausing to take a long drag from her cigarette before letting out a long exhale. "If she does succeed in persuading Kurome, it won't hinder our plans. The best possible outcome would be if we could resolve the situation with no bloodshed."'

"That's why we need to have Akame's back on this one and support her no matter what her choice is." Leone said as she put her feet down and leaned back forward, resting her heavy breasts on the table. "I know that Akame doesn't want to kill her little sister...but all that matters is Kurome not being a part of the empire anymore, one way or another."

"But we have to assume that Kurome will refuse and they'll end up fighting to the death." Mine said, letting out a short huff and crossing her arms. "If Akame knew that convincing Kurome would work, she wouldn't have distanced herself so much from her."

"Exactly. That's why no matter what, we support Akame." Najenda said, before blowing out another puff of smoke. "We're prepared for whatever happens."

"I'm with you all on this." Tatsumi said as he clenched his fists, gazing at each of his teammates gathered around him. "If Akame is deadset on confronting Kurome, then no matter the outcome, I'll lend her my strength. Because this is the decision Akame has made."

"My, he really has grown up..." Najenda thought with a small smirk, staring at Tatsumi with a mixture of surprise and pride. "The old Tatsumi would have wanted to avoid conflict between those two sisters at all costs. He'd make a huge fuss about trying to stop it. But now...he's accepting that sometimes, there isn't always a peaceful outcome. I'm proud of the progress he's made...but it also pains me greatly, to see him have to mature so much in such a short amount of time. We really do need to put an end to this era."

"I love Akame and I'll support her, no matter what she decides to do." Tatsumi said as he stood up from the table, locking eyes with Najenda. "If she has to kill Kurome...it's what needs to be done. But I want to do everything possible to avoid that outcome. And to do that, boss, I need you to send a message for me to the rebel army HQ."

"Oh..." Najenda said with an intrigued look in her eye as she leaned in a bit closer. "What message do you want me to send? And to who?"

(Twenty Minutes Later: Just Outside Night Raid's Hidden Base)

"I figured you'd be out here somewhere..." Tatsumi said with a smile, spotting Akame sitting against a tree. A gentle breeze blew past her as she stared at the setting Sun. "Shouldn't you be getting some rest?"

"Tatsumi...I had a feeling you'd come out here." Akame said as she watched her lover walk over and sit down next to her. "When I think about tonight, I can't rest at all."

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that." Tatsumi said, reaching out and gently gripping Akame's hand as he gazed into her blood-red eyes. "I'm coming with you."

"No, you shouldn't..." Akame said as she slowly shook her head. "This is between Kurome and me."

"I know that. It's your own problem." Tatsumi said, giving Akame's hand a quick squeeze as he scooted a bit closer to her. "But you seem to forget that I love you, Akame, we're in a relationship together...so, your problems are my problems too...and as your lover, I want to help you."

"But..." Akame muttered as her face flushed bright red, Tatsumi's words causing her heart to flutter a bit. "I told Kurome to come alone."

"Yeah, that's why I won't bother you two. No matter what the outcome." Tatsumi said, deciding that it was best to not tell Akame about Esdeath possibly showing up. He hated deceiving Akame, but if there was anyone who could ensure that the situation ended without bloodshed, it was Esdeath. "But we can guarantee that she'll come alone, right? Even if Kurome wants to, somebody may follow her. So, if that happens, I'll get rid of them. I'll make sure you have your alone time with Kurome."

"Tatsumi..." Akame breathed out as she felt tears start to sting her eyes, before quickly wiping them away. "But the boss told you not to do any fighting before the final battle."

"That's because she's just worried about what I went through the last time I equipped Incursio..." Tatsumi said, grabbing Incursio's blade and staring down at the jewel on the hilt. "And that teigu doctor said I can only last four more uses...so I'm supposed to avoid using it. But I trust Incursio. If he says that he's figuring out a way to help me...I know he'll pull through. So, even if I have to use Incursio tonight, I'm not gonna regret it!"

"Your trust in me partner is greatly appreciated. I will ensure that you aren't overtaken by my armor's side effects, no matter what I need to do."

"I was kind of annoyed that you and Leone left me behind last night. So, I'm tagging along for sure this time!" Tatsumi said in a determined tone as he set Incursio's blade down, gazing at Akame once again. "It's not like I'm trying to die. I have you and the other girls. I don't intend to use Incursio more than four times unless absolutely necessary. But with the power I have, I can't just sit around our base being coddled while you all put your lives in danger. If something were to happen to one of you...I'd...I'd..."

"Thank you, Tatsumi. You're so kind..." Akame said with a small smile, before reaching out and grabbing her lover's hand once again. "That's one of the things I love the most about you. I don't want you to risk equipping Incursio, but I'm not changing my mind." Standing up, Akame unsheathed her teigu. "Mursama holds my trump card. Even if I can't use it as I am right now."

"Mursame's trump card..." Tatsumi repeated as he stared at Akame's blade which seemed to shimmer in the afternoon light. "I don't think you've ever told me about it."

"In order to access Mursame's trump card, I must renounce my humanity...at least that's what I've been told." Akame explained, causing Tatsumi's eyes to widen in surprise. "I believe it means that if I kill enough people, my heart will eventually become like a demon's, and I'll be able to use it. That time may come during the final battle against the empire." With a dramatic flurry, Akame resheathed Murasame and turned to face Tatsumi. "Wave from the Jaegers told me that I'm crazy for wanting to kill Kurome...perhaps...that's why I can wield Murasame."

"But...you're going to at least try to convince Kurome, right?" Tatsumi asked as he stood back up and stepped closer to Akame. "You can't just attempt to kill her right away."

"Yes, I'll try talking Kurome down first." Akame said, gazing up at the clear blue sky overhead as she tightly gripped Murasame. "But if that doesn't work, I'll kill her! That much I know for sure." Pausing to take a deep breath, Akame locked eyes with her lover. "Tatsumi...I have to ask you something...and I know you won't like it...but please listen to what I have to say. If my heart becomes a demon's...and I become possessed by my blade...then I will become an enemy of Night Raid. If that happens...I want you to kill me...you'll have to stop me before I can hurt anyone else."

"I..." Tatsumi said as his eyes slowly widened in surprise before a small smile spread across his face. Reaching down, Tatsumi gripped both of Akame's hands and gave them a loving squeeze. "I understand, Akame...but I have a request for you too. If Incursio can't find a way to return me to normal...and I end up becoming a dragon...you kill me, Akame."

"..." Akame's eyes widened in shock, worry and doubt evident in her gaze. "T-Tatsumi...I don't-"

"Heh, that sounded really dumb, right?" Tatsumi said with a chuckle as he hugged Akame, resting her head against his shoulder. "You made me promise not to die, Akame. So, you have to promise me the same. If Murasame does end up possessing you, I'll find a way to bring you back. And the same goes for me if I end up becoming a dragon. Killing each other...it should be the absolute last resort."

"Yeah...you're right. I'm sorry, Tatsumi." Akame said, wrapping her arms around Tatsumi and returning his embrace. "Let's do our best so we won't have to worry about that happening."

(Several Hours Later: Royal Palace)

"I see." Wave muttered as he stroked his chin, digesting everything Kurome had told him. "That sounds terrible."

"I'm embarrassed with myself..." Kurome muttered, tightly gripping the fabric of her skirt and staring down at her lap. "Even if it was basically a suicide mission, I still wanted to fulfill my orders. At least...we would've been acknowledged then." Before Kurome could be fully engulfed in her despair and frustration, she was surprised when she found herself suddenly lifted out of her seat. Looking up, her face flushed slightly when she realized that Wave was carrying her. "W-Wave!?"

With a smile, Wave carried Kurome across the room and gently laid her down on a bed. Kurome's heart began to race as she stared up at Wave, her mind filling with countless indecent thoughts. As Wave began to lean in closer, Kurome closed her eyes and pursed her lips slightly. However, she was surprised when instead of receiving a kiss, Wave covered her with a blanket.

"Don't get depressed thinking about negative things." Wave said with a small smile as he patted the top of Kurome's head. "Get some sleep. You must be tired from the night mission."

"Not gonna happen..." Kurome said, turning her head slightly and avoiding Wave's gaze. "After what happened, I'm in no mood to sleep."

"Then, how about I sing you some lullabies from my fishing village?" Wave countered with a smirk as he sat down on the bed next to Kurome. "My mother used to sing them to me all the time when I was a kid."

"Huh? You can sing, Wave?" Kurome asked in a skeptical tone, a smile creeping across her face as she quirked an eyebrow. "I don't buy that for a second. I bet they're just so bad that they'll knock me unconscious and you call them a lullaby."

"Don't make fun of me." Wave said with a grin as he playfully flicked Kurome's head. Reaching up, Wave ruffled Kurome's head once again. "I may not look like it, but they rang the bells twice for me at a local singing contest."

"Heh heh, only twice?" Kurome repeated, chuckling and staring up at Wave. "That's not very good."

"Well, I-" Wave stopped mid-sentence when he pulled his hand away, spotting a clump of Kurome's hair in his grasp as his eyes widened in shock. "The side effect's from the drugs...they're affecting her worse than ever."

"Oh, man..." Kurome in a weak tone, the light in her eyes dimming slightly. "It looks like...I'm also running out of time..."

"Don't talk like that! When the final battle is over, you can quit working for the empire and stop taking those damn drugs!" Wave exclaimed, lunging forward and gripping Kurome's shoulders as he stared directly into her eyes. "You've done more than enough already! You need to focus on getting better! We can see a bunch of doctors about it! If we do, we're sure to find a way for you to live a long healthy life!"

"Wave..." Kurome breathed out as she turned her head a bit, not wanting to look at him. "I don't-"

"And if anybody complains, I'll shut them up!" Wave yelled, stepping in front of Kurome so that she was forced to look at him. "You will get better, Kurome!"

"But...I was born to fight..." Kurome said as she released a heavy sigh, resting her forearm against her forehead. "If I stop taking my medicine, my superiors won't see me as an asset anymore."

"You're plenty strong without your damn medicine!" Wave exclaimed in a frustrated tone, pulling Kurome's arm away so that she had to look him in the eyes. "And if our superiors remove you from service, I'll get promoted high enough that I can hire you myself!" After gazing into Kurome's eyes for several moments, Wave soon sighed and turned away from her, hanging his shoulders. "Please...just focus on living..."

"Heh heh...I can't ever imagine you as my superior officer, Wave..." Kurome laughed as she sat up on the bed, causing Wave to shoot her an annoyed look. "You're better off as a grunt."

"No way! I'm aiming way higher than that!" Wave shouted, turning to face Kurome and leaning closer to her. "I'd make a rule that allows you to eat sweets whenever you want! I'd be in a position to do as I, please! It'll be incredible!"

"Wow..." Kurome said as she stared down at the blanket covering her body. "That sounds really nice."

"Doesn't it!?" Wave said with a small smile, resting his hand on Kurome's lap. "We can-"

"My sister will do all the cooking...but she'll probably end up eating the ingredients, so I'll have to help..." Kurome cut Wave off as she continued to stare blankly at the bed. "Natala will do the housekeeping. And Run would make a good bookkeeper." Wave's eyes widened slightly as he listened to Kurome ramble on. "Wave...the truth is, my sister has asked me to meet her tonight." Getting out of bed, Kurome began to walk toward the door. "This will be a one-on-one match."

"Wait..." Wave said, dashing in front of Kurome and blocking the doorway. "No, don't go."

"Why not? Let me pass..." Kurome said in a somewhat monotone voice as she stared up at Wave. "We're on the same team."

"It's because we're on a team that I'm stopping you." Wave said, tightly balling his fists in frustration. "I can go with you! I will protect you!"

"Wave..." Kurome said as she reached up and cupped Wave's face. Then, Kurome did something that caught Wave completely off guard. Standing up on her toes, Kurome leaned forward and captured Wave's lip in a tender kiss. Wave was so stunned that he simply stood in place, not knowing what to do. However, Kurome's kiss was merely to distract Wave. Cocking her fist back, Kurome hit Wave in the stomach with a powerful punch. "I'm sorry. If you're my friend..." Kurome watched as Wave collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. "Then, let me do as I please when it comes to my big sister. I want to fight with her one-on-one and settle things between us."

"Ku...ro..." Wave struggled to say, his vision starting to fade as he watched Kurome exit the room. "me..."

"I'm sorry, Wave..." Kurome thought as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Stopping for a moment, Kurome pressed a finger against her lips as her face flushed slightly. After a few moments, Kurome took off running down the hall. Grabbing Yatsufusa and a container full of her drugs, Kurome put on her jacket and dashed out of the palace. Stepping out into the cool night air, Kurome popped one of her drugs into her mouth. "Just wait big sis...things end tonight."

After about twenty minutes, Wave's eyes snapped open and he quickly sprang to his feet. His head darted around the room looking for any sign of Kurome. Seeing that Yatsufusa and her jacket were gone, Wave knew that Kurome had surely left to fight Akame. Without a second thought, Wave began to sprint at full speed out of the palace.

"I have no one else to help me! So, I have to find Kurome on my own!" Wave thought, running through the mostly deserted streets of the capital. "She couldn't have gotten very far! They're probably going to fight somewhere close by!" Rushing past some surprised guards at the capital's gate, Wave disappeared into the surrounding forest. "The sounds of explosions, clashing blades, yelling...anything! I just need one hint and I'll find her!" Wave grit his teeth and tightly balled his fists as he remembered the kiss Kurome had given him. "Where the hell are you, Kurome!?"

(One Hour Later: Giyo Forest on the Outskirts of the Capital)

Despite its relatively close proximity to the capital, the deepest part of this gloomy forest is known to be inhabited by ferocious danger beasts. It's because of this that most people stayed far away from the area. Akame however, walked through the forest completely undeterred and unafraid. It didn't take her long to find a series of ruins near the center of the forest. Then, in the center of the ruins, Akame spotted Kurome sitting on top of a partially collapsed pillar, apparently waiting for her to arrive.

"Big sis!" Kurome exclaimed with a bright smile when she spotted Akame walking toward her. "You finally showed up! I was starting to worry you wouldn't come!"

"Kurome..." Akame muttered, stopping several feet away from her younger sister. "I wouldn't miss this."

"Hmmmm..." Kurome hummed as she cocked her head slightly, gazing at the nearby treeline. "I sense someone nearby."

"Sorry about that..." Akame said, releasing a light sigh as she stared at the trees as well. "Two of my teammates came with me. But don't worry, they won't interfere with us. They'll only step in and stop anyone that tries to interrupt us. They understand what we want."

"So, you've got people who will see you off, got it." Kurome said before she hopped off the column. "If you say so, big sis." Reaching behind her, Kurome pulled out a small pouch full of her sweets. However, these ones weren't infused with the drugs she took. "I brought these. Want one?"

"Sure..." Akame said with a small smile, taking one of the sweets and eating it. "Why don't we talk for a bit?"

"How odd..." Leone muttered as she poked her head out from behind a tree and observed Akame and Kurome's interactions. "They came here to kill each other...but they're eating sweets."

"They do have a strange relationship." Tatsumi agreed, leaning against the tree as he crossed his arms. "Despite being enemies...they still trust each other."

"Well, I don't sense anyone else for now..." Leone said as she released a light sigh before she moved over to stand next to Tatsumi, leaning her head against his. "But we'll have to wait and see."

"I'm glad Esdeath isn't here yet, that will give Akame and Kurome a chance to talk...and maybe work things out between them peacefully." Tatsumi thought, wrapping an arm around Leone's waist and pulling her a bit closer. "But if they can't...Esdeath will be able to stop them and hopefully help Kurome see reason."

"This place brings back so many memories..." Kurome said with a small smile as she gazed at the dilapidated ruins surrounding them. Both sisters were currently sitting next to each other on top of a mostly intact wall. "We used to train here all the time after we were reunited."

"We really did everything together." Akame added, leaning her head back and staring up at the countless stars in the sky above. "Heh, I remember we even took baths together."

"That was usually your idea." Kurome said with a chuckle as her smile widened. "You'd even sleep in bed with me sometimes. Every day was tough...but it was fun because I was with you."

"Yeah..." Akame muttered, lowering her gaze and staring at her sister now. "It really was."

"Hmmm...being here with you really calms me down..." Kurome hummed as a gentle breeze blew past both sisters. Her expression darkening, Kurome grabbed ahold of Yatsufusa. "Why don't we stay together after this as well, sis."

"Sure...if you come with me...or even just left the empire..." Akame said, locking eyes with Kurome as her usual serious expression returned. "We can be together forever."

"That's a tempting offer, sis, but I've got to prove how strong we are...how useful we are..." Kurome said in a menacing tone as she gazed at Akame with a twisted look in her eyes. "We have to fight for the empire! Otherwise...I'll feel too sorry for all those who've died. How about you come back to the empire instead, sis?"

"I can't do that..." Akame replied, slowly shaking her head as she released a light sigh. "I've got too much I care about out here...and the empire is too far gone."

"I figured as much, but I had to try." Kurome said as she hopped off the wall, landing on the ground with a dull thud. "I had a feeling you'd say something like that, I still find it funny though."

"Kurome..." Akame said in a disappointed tone, watching as her younger sister slowly walked away from her. She knew what was coming, but still decided to give one last desperate attempt to convince Kurome. "Please...we don't have to do this...just come back with me. Your friend Wave can come too...we don't have to fight. You don't even have to help fight against the empire...just leave and never look back."

"You always were more stubborn than me..." Kurome said as she kept her back turned toward Akame. "But...the way you fought to change for the betterment of the people. That devoted sister is the one who I loved the most." Reaching up, Kurome aggressively scratched her head. Cackling to herself, Kurome turned to face Akame, a twisted smile on her face. "I can't forgive you, but I love you so dearly...my head's starting to spin just thinking about it. I don't want anyone else to kill you."

"I knew talking to her would be pointless...she's just too far gone." Akame thought, gritting her teeth in frustration as she tightly gripped Murasame's hilt. "I was prepared for this to happen."

"I took an extra strength dosage before I left..." Kurome said with a smirk as her body trembled slightly from the drug's effects. "So, if you try to hold me down the same way you did when you left the empire, it won't work."

"She may be my sister...but I can't hold on to feelings in the middle of a fight." Akame thought, her brow furrowing slightly as she stared down at Kurome. Readying herself, Akame dropped down to the ground. "I must fortify my resolve." Readying her teigu, Akame glared at her younger sister. "As of this moment, we are adversaries. If you truly want to fight, then I won't hold back." Sliding into her fighting stance, Akame prepared to draw Murasame. "If you won't come with me, then...you will rest in pieces."

"Ah, there it is...you've flipped your switch." Kurome said as she unsheathed Yatsufusa. "Then, let's do this, big sis." Akame frowned when she sensed a menacing aura surrounding Kurome. "If I kill you, that just means we'll be together forever...and I'll redeem myself. It'll prove to everyone that the 'non-select team' is just as strong."

"I accept your determination!" Akame exclaimed, drawing Murasame as a strong wind blew between both sisters. "Come at me, Kurome!"

"Okay!" Kurome yelled as she sprinted toward Akame. "We finish this tonight!"

"She's not activating Yatsufusa!?" Akame thought, her eyes widening slightly as she quickly raised Murasame and locked blades with Kurome. Both sisters tried to overpower the other, neither of them giving an inch. The sisters appeared to be having complete opposite reactions to the fight. Akame was completely serious while Kurome was grinning like a madwoman. "Damn it! The drug increased her strength dramatically! I can't push her back at all!"

Sparks flew through the air as Akame and Kurome broke their deadlock, instead repeatedly clashing blades as they tried to find an opening to attack. With both sisters being expert swordsmen, any slashes or strikes were deflected by the other. This went on for nearly a minute, with Akame and Kurome exchanging dozens of blows. However, Kurome was the first one to land a shallow, yet solid hit. After deflecting one of Kurome's slashes, Akame miscalculated and left an opening for Kurome to attack. Instantly taking advantage, Kurome lashed out and managed to cut Akame's shoulder.

"That's super strength medicine for you!" Kurome exclaimed with a maniacal smile as she watched Akame leap away from her, gripping her wounded shoulder. "This stuff is amazing! As I am now, I can't defeat you, big sis!"

"These drugs she took...they're different than her usual ones..." Akame thought, wincing slightly as she felt an intense pang of pain radiate from her shoulder. The cut wasn't deep but it was still bleeding quite a bit. "The strength it gave her...it's crazy."

In the blink of an eye, Kurome rushed forward and unleashed a flurry of lightning-fast slashes. Akame was forced to retreat as she did her best to deflect every one of Kurome's attacks. But Kurome was simply applying too much pressure too quickly, and she managed to find another opening to attack. Unleashing a horizontal slash, Kurome managed to get another shallow cut across Akame's stomach.

"Another shallow cut. It must really hurt, big sis." Kurome said in a taunting tone as she pointed Yatsufusa at Akame. "Next time, I'll put you down for good."

"I...won't be defeated...I've got too much to lose." Akame said, ignoring the pain coursing through her body as she clenched her teeth and slid into her fighting stance. "All this time, I've wielded Murasame as if it were any other blade. Because if I simply relied on it being a teigu, my swordsmanship abilities would have dulled and I'd be dead. But that ends now. I'll kill you with a single blow. I will leverage every ability my teigu has to offer."

"Hmmm...so, she's going to try and graze me, instead of going for my vitals..." Kurome thought as she kept a careful eye on Akame, watching her big sister's every movement. "She's not holding back any longer. This is going to be bad." Taking the initiative, Kurome leaped away from Akame, putting some distance between them. "Fine! If you're going to rely on your teigu, then I will too!" Coming to a skidding stop, Kurome slammed her teigu into the ground. "Yatsufusa!"

Immediately, the ground began to quake as all of Kurome's puppets began to rise out of the ground. The undead puppets charged toward Akame, hellbent on killing her. However, it was Akame's time to go on the offensive as she rushed through the puppets, cutting them to pieces as she sped passed them. As Akame got closer to Kurome, the next puppets blocking her path were Natala and Doya.

"Natala...your body is a mess after all the fights you've been through. And her...her hands are probably grafted from another corpse, so she can't fight at her full capacity." Akame said, dashing passed the puppets and unleashing a barrage of slashes with Murasame. Natala and Doya both collapsed to the ground behind Akame, now missing several of their limbs. "Rest in pieces. Now you can finally rest in peace."

However, Akame wasn't given a moment to rest as another group of undead puppets sprinted at her. But the puppets on the ground weren't her biggest threat. Instead, her focus was on Run, who was floating in the air several feet above Kurome. The other puppets could wait, she needed to worry about Run the most.

"I remember the speed and strength of this guy's wings..." Akame thought as she watched Run fire a barrage of razor-sharp, blade-like feathers at her. Sliding into a defensive stance, Akame's grip on Murasame tightened. "But I've trained to counter you!"

Then, as Run's feathers were about to hit, Akame unleashed a flurry of blindingly fast slashes. With the speed of Akame's blade, it seemingly formed a defensive barrier around her. Akame masterfully deflected every feather, sending them flying away from her. Some of the feathers even struck Kurome's puppets, taking them out effortlessly.

"WHAT!?" Kurome exclaimed, watching as one of the deflected feathers sped toward her. Turning her body, Kurome narrowly avoided the feather, but she also left herself wide open to be attacked. Turning back around, Kurome barely had time to react as Akame was instantly on top of her. Quickly raising Yatsufusa, Kurome narrowly managed to block a swing from Murasame. However, the hasty deflection caused Kurome to misstep and stumble backward. Her eyes widened as Akame pounced on her, ready to cut her down. "I'm done for!"

Closing her eyes, Kurome prepared for Akame to kill her. But after hearing Akame's blade make contact with flesh, Kurome was surprised when she felt no pain. Cracking an eye open, Kurome was shocked to see that Run had shielded her, taking Akame's slash across his back. Blood sprayed from Run's wound as he showed no signs of being in pain.

"Run..." Kurome breathed out as she stared into Run's lifeless eyes, before watching him collapse onto the ground. "I didn't even have time to give him the order to defend me...and yet...he still shielded me..." Gazing at her fallen puppets, Kurome raised Yatsufusa and absorbed the life force she had bestowed upon them. "Thanks you guys, I know that it hurts to move right now..." A faint aura radiated off Kurome as the life force flowed through her body. "I'll handle the rest." Feeling somewhat reinvigorated, Kurome glared at Akame. "Cleaver, big sis. You threatened me with Murasame to get me to activate Yatsufusa."

"Even though Yatsufusa brought eight new threats into the fight...having to manage them all would have made you easier to fight." Akame explained, releasing a light sigh as she stared at the unmoving puppets all around her. "The only real threat was the guy with the wings, but he's dead for good now. Unlike me, who was able to train and adapt to his attacks, he's a dead body that can't improve or change. That's Yatsufusa's main weakness."

"I suppose you're right..." Kurome said with a smirk as she raised Yatsufusa, aiming the blade at Akame. "Then, I really will have to come at you myself and kill you." However, just as Kurome was prepared to resume their fight, a sudden, overwhelming chill ran through her entire body. A terrifying amount of bloodlust caused Kurome's arms to start trembling. "W-What the hell...I haven't felt this feeling since..."

"Damn it, Tatsumi..." Akame muttered under her breath, sensing the same thing Kurome did. However, she didn't seem to be affected by it. "Did you really have to get her involved in this?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I was really hoping you girls could talk things out." An all too familiar voice said as an icy wind blew through the ruins. Slowly turning her head, Kurome was stunned to see Esdeath standing on a nearby rooftop, her pale blue hair and eyes shimmering in the moonlight. Akame seemed more annoyed than surprised by Esdeath's sudden appearance. "Sisters shouldn't be fighting. So, why don't you girls just kiss and make up?"

"General...E-Esdeath..." Kurome breathed out, staring at her former commander in utter shock. "I-I thought you died saving me from that explosion."

"Well, as you can see, I'm still alive and well." Esdeath said with a smirk as she hopped off the rooftop and landed in between Akame and Kurome. Tilting her head slightly, Esdeath closely examined Kurome for a few moments, before she smiled at her. "It's nice to see you again, Kurome. I'm happy to see that you're doing well."

"Why are you here, Esdeath?" Akame asked in a mildly annoyed tone, glaring at the former imperial general. "This was supposed to be just between Kuorme and me."

"Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of one of my subordinates getting hurt when I could have done something to prevent it." Esdeath replied which caused Akame to frown at the prospect of being labeled one of Esdeath's 'subordinates.' "And Tatsumi would be oh so sad if anything happened to you, Akame."

"Wait..." Kurome said, pressing a hand to her head as her mind raced wildly, still reeling from the revelation that Esdeath was apparently still alive. "If you didn't die in the explosion...where have you been this entire time?"

"Oh, that was an ice clone that rescued you from that explosion. I faked my death to break free from the empire and join the revolutionary army." Esdeath revealed which caused Kurome's eyes to widen in a mix of shock and betrayal. "I've been working with the rebels for quite a while now, aiding wherever I can. When we finally attack the capital, I'll be leading the charge. Hitting the empire with a bit of shock and awe."

"H-How could you do something like that!?" Kurome exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes as she tightened her hold on Yatsufusa. "After everything the empire has done for you! How could you just betray them so easily?!"

"Oh please, I was never loyal to the empire. They simply allowed me to fight to my heart's content...and I naively believed that the empire was powerful." Esdeath scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "But someone opened my eyes to how truly rotten and weak the empire is...someone that I love very much and hold dear to my heart. They're the main reason that I abandoned the empire."

"I see...you're just like my big sis then...you're both nothing but dirty traitors..." Kurome muttered in a dark tone, slowly raising her teigu and pointing it as Esdeath. "I'll just have to kill you both...then we can all be together forever."

"Kurome, you can't be serious!" Akame exclaimed as her eyes widened in surprise at how delusional her younger sister sounded. "There's no way you could defeat both Esdeath and me!"

"I'd listen to your big sister, Kurome..." Esdeath warned, a terrifying aura of death and bloodlust radiating off her body. "I came here to end things peacefully between you two. But, I'm still your commander and I won't hesitate to punish you if I have to."

"I don't care if I have no chance of winning!" Kurome exclaimed as she pulled out her case full of strengthening drugs, preparing to take even more of them. "I have to fight! I have to prove myself! I won't-"

"Enough." Esdeath said in an icy tone, before making a sweeping gesture with her arm. A split second later, a freezing wind rushed through the ruins and Kurome's entire lower body was encased in ice. Yelping in surprise, Kurome frantically tried to free herself, but her efforts were pointless. Slowly approaching her former subordinate, Esdeath towered menacingly over Kurome. Grabbing Kurome's wrist, Esdeath tore the strengthening drugs from her hand. "These damned drugs...I always despised them."

"Give those back!" Kurome shouted as she desperately tried to take the drugs back from Esdeath. "I need them to be strong! They're the only way I know how to fight! I'm nothing without those drugs!"

"If you're nothing without these drugs, then you shouldn't have them." Esdeath said bluntly, before encasing Kurome's drugs in ice and crushing them within her grasp. Tears poured from Kurome's eyes as she watched her main source of strength crumble away. Gripping Kurome's chin, Esdeath forced the young girl to look into her eyes. "Listen Kurome, you don't need those drugs. You're perfectly strong without them. And you also certainly don't need to prove to anyone else how strong you are. So, just drop your sword and end this pointless fight."

"I...I don't..." Kurome struggled to say as she sniffled several times, desperately trying to fight back her tears. "I need to-"

"Please, just listen to the captain, Kurome." Hearing another familiar voice, Kurome's eyes widened in shock when she saw Wave walking toward them, with Tatsumi and Wave trailing slightly behind him. "Just stop this fighting, it's over now."

"Wave!?" Kurome exclaimed as she stared at her teammate in surprise. "What are you doing here?! And aren't you surprised that General Esdeath is still alive?!"

"Of course, I'm shocked to see that the captain didn't die. Tatsumi stopped me before I could intervene and I've been watching everything from close by." Wave explained, standing in front of Kurome and gently gripping her shoulders. Kurome's face flushed slightly as she gazed into Wave's eyes. "Kurome...up until now...there have been plenty of times I wasn't on the field with you when it mattered most...but not this time. This fight is finished and I'm taking you back with me."

"Wave...I know you've come to stop me as one of my teammates..." Kurome said in a quiet tone as she lowered her head slightly and avoided Wave's gaze. "But...that won't make me happy."

"The old me probably would have said he stopping you out of concern for his fellow teammate..." Wave explained, his grip on Kurome's shoulders tightening slightly which caused her to look back at him once again. "But it's different this time..." Taking a deep breath, Wave wrapped his arms around Kurome's waist and hugged her tightly. The sudden embrace caught Kurome completely off guard and she was too surprised to react. "I love you, Kurome! That's why I want you to stop this fight! I want to keep you safe!"

"Oh my, now isn't this an interesting development." Esdeath said with a smirk as she snapped her fingers, causing the ice encasing Kurome's legs to crumble away. "I'm interested to see where this goes."

"H-Huh?!" Kurome said, staring up at Wave in utter disbelief. "Are you serious, Wave?!"

"Of course. That kiss earlier...opened something inside of me." Wave replied as he hugged Kurome's head against his chest. "A feeling I've harbored deep down for quite a while now...pretty much since I joined the Jaegers. I've finally come to realize that I don't only care about you as my teammate. I love you for the girl that you are."

"Keep her safe?" Akame repeated in a somewhat skeptical tone, her brow furrowing slightly as she gazed at Wave and her younger sister. "And just how do you plan on doing that?"

"Kurome and I will leave the empire for good." Wave answered as he turned to face Akame, locking eyes with her. "I'll take her to those hot springs you mentioned and focus on rehabilitating her."

"..." Akame said nothing for several moments, carefully analyzing every part of Wave. Looking into his eyes, should could tell that he wasn't lying. "I thought you wanted to change the empire from the inside."

"Tch, what a joke." Esdeath said with a dry chuckle as she rolled her eyes. "We're long past that."

"I...I wasn't lying when the I said that...I truly did believe that." Wave said, before closing his eyes and releasing a light sigh. "I planned on working hard...staying on the path Run laid out for me...but more important than that...more important than anything else...is Kurome. She's the most important thing to me right now."

"His eyes...they're the same as Tatsumi's..." Akame thought as she gazed at Wave, seeing his unwavering determination. "He really does love Kurome."

"If I had stayed as I was...only wanting to save Kurome because we're teammates...my feelings never would have reached her! And she'd eventually die!" Wave exclaimed, tightly balling his fists. Opening his eyes, Wave stared intently at Akame and Esdeath. "That's why I'm taking responsibility and ending this fight." Turning his head slightly, Wave nodded at Esdeath. "Thank you captain for stepping in and stopping these two before one of them got hurt...but it's my turn to step up now. I'm staying with Kurome from now on! That's what I've decided! When a man of the sea falls in love, he dives right in head first!"

"How...how dare you...say all this without even discussing it with me, Wave..." Kurome muttered as she clutched both hands over her heart, feeling a throbbing pain in her chest. "I'm happy you want to stay with me, but...I can't just abandon the empire."

"It's fine, don't worry about it." Wave said, turning to face Kurome. "You've done a great job, Kurome. You don't need to keep fighting."

"If you're leaving the empire, then why don't you come with us?" Leone chimed in as she gestured toward the Night Raid members present. "Kurome can be with her sister and you both can help us change this country for the better."

"I just can't. I don't want to fight against the men and women I owe everything to." Wave replied, slowly shaking his head. "I have absolutely no intention of joining the rebel army. Kurome and I will step down from this fight!"

"You're not gonna join either side...even when the final battle is right around the corner..." Tatsumi said as he smiled softly and stroked his chin. "I respect that, Wave. It would have been nice to fight alongside you, but I'm glad you won't be my enemy."

"Thank you, Tatsumi. I must admit, I would have enjoyed fighting at your side as well, you're an excellent soldier." Wave said, flashing Tatsumi a quick grin and giving him a thumbs up. "Kurome is all I need. As long as I'm with her, I'm okay with abandoning everything and deserting."

"You really do love Kurome...and would do anything for her..." Tatsumi said as he glanced at Akame, Leone, and Esdeath. "I understand that feeling very well."

"Akame...please give up on this fight!" Wave declared passionately, locking eyes with the red-eyed assassin. "Entrust me with you little sister! I swear that I'll make her happy!"

"Well...Kurome is cuter than anyone or anything...so, I'm not surprised you fell in love with her." Akame said as she released a light sigh. before narrowing her eyes dangerously. "Kurome, this all depends on how you feel about it. If you say you want to fight...I may not like it, but I'll take you on. However, everything that's been proposed so far has been said on your behalf. You decide what happens next."

"I...I can't...abandoning the empire...is just..." Kurome struggled to say, tightly gripping her head as her mind raced. Suddenly, Kurome leaped back and unsheathed Yatsufusa. "I won't have it. I've lost so many friends already. All this time, I've worked so hard for the empire. It can't all be for nothing!"

"You don't have to worry about that anymore." Wave said as he snatched Yatsufusa out of Kurome's grasp, catching her completely off guard. Walking over, Wave handed the teigu over to Esdeath. "Captain, could you please take care of this?"

"Of course, Wave." Esdeath said with a small smile as she took the teigu. A moment later, frost began to form on Esdeath's palms as she encased Yatsufusa in ice. Clenching her fists, Esdeath shattered the frozen Yatsufusa to pieces. "There, it's done."

"Holy shit...she just destroyed a teigu..." Leone breathed out in shock, staring at Esdeath with wide eyes. "I'm glad she's on our side."

"You can say goodbye to all those dead bodies now, Kurome." Wave said with a smile as she walked over and cupped Kurome's face. Feeling tears stream down her cheeks, Kurome stared into Wave's eyes. "And if you ever miss them, I'll make you forget all about them." Suddenly, Wave picked Kurome up and gave her a passionate kiss, pouring all his feelings into the liplock. Eventually, when Wave broke their kiss, he held Kurome a bit closer. "So come and follow me, Kurome."

"Even though you're saying all these nice things to me...my head is still such a mess, it feels like it's about to split." Kurome cried, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around Wave as she embraced him tightly. "So please...take me away...and make it so I don't have to think about anything else but you, Wave."

"Of course, I will!" Wave exclaimed, returning Kurome's embrace and hugging her head against his chest. "I promise to make you happy!"

"Thank god..." Tatsumi thought as he breathed a sigh of relief, watching as Kurome cried against Wave's chest. "We managed to avoid any further bloodshed between these two."

"We're going far away from the capital..." Wave announced, looking at the members of Night. "We don't want any part of this war."

"We'll make it look like Incursio took you both out." Tatsumi said as he rested his hand on his teigu's hilt. "We can Yatsufusa's shattered pieces as proof. Once the empire hears the story, you'll truly be free."

"I'm grateful, to all of you..." Wave said with a smile, bowing his head slightly in respect. "No matter what happens in this war, I hope you all stay safe."

"You're amazing, Wave." Akame said as she smiled and exhaled through her nose, crossing her arms. "You did what I couldn't...you saved my little sister."

"No, you're the amazing one, Akame. You fought Kurome with such conviction." Wave said, shaking his head and tightening his hold on Kurome. "We're just running away."

"Regardless, you have my thanks." Akame said as she approached Wave and Kurome, preparing to see them off. "Take care of Kurome."

"Leave it to me." Wave said, shaking hands with Akame. "That's all I'm going to live for."

"Big sis..." Kurome said with a large smile as she held her hand out to Akame. Reaching out, Akame locked hands with Kurome. "When I'm reborn, I hope that I get to be your little sister again."

"I feel the same way. I hope I get to be your big sister again." Akame said as she rested her forehead against Kurome's, fighting back tears. After a few moments, Akame nuzzled Kurome and stepped back. "Live a happy life, Kurome."

"Mmhm." Kurome hummed, enthusiastically nodding her head. Soon, Wave began to carry Kurome away and she waved to Akame. "See you, big sis! Esdeath! Everyone! Bye-bye!"

"I know he used to be our enemy, but I think we can trust Wave." Tatsumi said with a smile as he watched Wave and Kurome disappear into the distance. "He's a good guy and I know he'll make Kurome happy."

"Yeah. He was really pissed when he heard that I was going to try and kill Kurome." Akame said, watching as her little sister got further and further away. "I know that I can trust my little sister to him." Once Kurome was fully out of sight, Akame was unable to hold back any longer and began to break down. Tears rolled down Akame's cheeks as she wept uncontrollably. "Kurome...Kurome..."

"Akame...I know you're sad right now, but you should be glad. It ended without you having to kill her. There's no better outcome than that." Tatsumi said as he lovingly embraced Akame, holding her close and allowing her to cry into his chest. "Then, once this war is over and we're traveling the world together, we'll find Kurome and Wave, wherever they end up. You'll see her again someday."

"Yeah..." Akame managed to say, sniffling several times as she tried to wipe away her tears. "We'll introduce her and Wave to everyone else when we see them again."

"With those two gone, all that's left is the minister." Esdeath said as she stared at the pale moon shining overhead. "We'll make sure this is a country where sisters never have to fight to the death." Walking over, Esdeath gave Tatsumi a brief kiss on the lips before she began to walk away. "Thanks for letting me tag along, Tatsumi, but I have to get back to rebel army HQ. I've got Bols covering for me, but if I'm gone for too long, the higher-ups will freak out."

"Thank you for your help, Esdeath." Tatsumi called out, watching as his fearsome lover waved and disappeared into the forest. "We'll see each other again soon!"

"I'm glad I tagged along, that was nice to see." Leone said with a small smile, clasping her hands behind her head. "I want to see hopeful things like that more often. I want to ride this feeling to the very end."

"She's right. I hope we can all make it through the final battle." Tatsumi thought as Leone made her way over and hugged Akame as well, lovingly smothering both of them. "Scratch that, we will make it! Incursio helped brighten my dark future, so I need to ensure that his efforts weren't in vain!"

And done! With this chapter, we're officially done with volume 13 of the mange, meaning there are only two volumes left. The next chapter will continue Night Raid's fight against the empire as we draw ever closer to the final battle. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that. Unfortunately, I'll be working on my Spider-Man story next, so you'll have to wait a bit before the next updates. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK), PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY P ATREON (I JUST POSTED A NEW POLL ON MY P ATREON, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO VOTE IN IT, PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING), check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and if you have ideas for my stories feel free to PM me. So until next time, I'm outta here!