Hello Readers and welcome to chapter 10 of this story!
Let's go straight into the reviews!
muratira: Firstly, thanks for this review. It was very informative and useful, so again thanks. For the Air, Fal and Luna I'm confident I could write them into the story given that they only have the barest skeleton of a character. I can see them all trying very hard to gain any form of power for the person who saved them and so that it never happens to them again.
The problem is getting Esdeath to agree to let Harry keep around and train three weak people, as we all know her views on the weak, and I image having to make Harry give quite a few concessions for her to agree.
As for romantic feelings from the three it's something I could probable weave into the story well enough and is even a logical next step for them emotionally. However I will point out that there is a reason romance isn't one of the genres. It's meant to be a more background thing.
Thanks again and do feel free to give any constructive criticism, even if you think it irrelevant. You may well have spotted something I missed or give me an idea for the plot.
sinnerlust: I agree that yes the new government couldn't keep Night Raid around. I don't think they would go as far as to kill them, as in the manga both Tatsumi and Mine survive as well, but they would put them out of sight of the Empire's citizens. Because despite their actions the members of Night Raid knew it would have to be forgotten. They are too much of a black stain against the new government to be allowed to remain.
The assassins of Night Raid are those who threw away their morals so others didn't have to. I believe in the manga they all specifically tell Tatsumi that they are NOT heroes and never will be. Finally, please, please, please use grammar in your reviews. They are kind of hard to translate. But thanks anyway.
Tsunashi777: Thanks for this review. It was clear and easy for me to figure out what you we're trying to say. As for the three it would be slow going, and they would still be fairly weak, in Jaeger terms, by the time Esdeath and Harry return to the Wizarding World.
It's quite possible for me to take them along and have them capable of magic though as a kind of power equalizer. I can also see them doing something reckless like going Stylish in order to gain more power so that they don't have to be weak and can be of use to Harry as well as keep Esdeath satisfied.
As muratira said Esdeath is unlikely to care, and even agree with the idea, but would dislike the three simple because they were, to be blunt, weak. The only reason she would give them a chance is because they would be loyal to Harry she could use it to get some concessions out of him.
Imperial warlord: And a thanks to my most loyal reviewer. Really you have no idea how quickly this story would have hit the discontinued pile if it wasn't for you in those first chapters. Anyway, thanks for pointing out that little mistake. I've been reading the manga and because its, you know, black and white his hair just looks blonde. Thanks for pointing out that it's actually brown.
Lost-Lovegood: Thanks for this. Simple, straight to the point and very encouraging! So far I haven't had any negative reviews for the idea so I am going to follow through with it. There are some small things that need to get hammered out, see muratira's review and my response as well as the bottom of the chapter, which I would appreciate some opinions on. And yes, colour coded characters are awesome as long as a story doesn't have too many of them. Thanks again for this review!
Finally it also appears that I forgot to replace my prologue with the one where I fixed the cardboard/cupboard problem. Sorry about that everyone who pointed it out to me.
And now, onwards with the story!
I do not own, in any way, shape, or form Akame Ga Kill or Harry Potter.
-T.G.O-
Chapter 10: The Art of Bandit Slaying
"So in the end he couldn't use the Teigu after all. Pity, he had some decent skill that could easily have been honed to perfection if he was given enough time and effort."
Esdeath stood before the rest of the Jaegers, Harry rocking on the heels of his feet at her side, in a rather empty looking room with only a table in the middle as furnishing, as she spoke to Ran.
He nodded his head in confirmation.
"Indeed. He seemed to have some previous knowledge of Teigu, but he had no compatibility with Extase. Without a Teigu he would just hold us back so I let him leave. I hope you don't mind."
Esdeath just nodded.
"It's fine. You are correct that without a Teigu he would have just slowed us down. It's unfortunate but it seems the Prime Minister will be getting this one."
She let out a soft sigh of annoyance before turning her gaze towards Stylish as he rubbed his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Maybe not just yet. I could try to give it to one of my…minions, and see if they can use it. If not I could simple play around a bit to see if I can make one of them compactible. Either way we won't have to give up the Teigu any time soon."
A grin stretched across Esdeath face.
"Go ahead. If you can find a way of making the Scissor Teigu useful to us then do whatever you like. As long as it's not to another member of the Jaegers without permission."
She stopped for a moment before sending a thoughtful look down at Harry.
"Or Harry even if he isn't officially part of the Jaegers yet."
Stylish nodded in agreement, sending a brief glance towards Harry.
The Jaegers turned around as one as the door behind them burst open, revealing a flustered soldier carrying a clipboard in on arm as his other hand came up in a salute.
"Esdeath-sama! I have finished the report regarding the area around Gyogan Lake, as you ordered!"
Esdeath nodded with a smirk.
"Perfect timing."
She looked at the Jaegers before walking over to take the files from the soldier.
"Make sure your ready, you guys. Your first big job has arrived."
Taking the files and dismissing the soldier, Esdeath walked over to the table, Harry walking over to stand at her right as she unrolled a large map. The rest of the Jaegers moved around the table as Esdeath pointed out a location near the centre of the piece of paper.
"We have recently come to learn about an old fortress that's currently being inhabited by a large group of bandits on the shores of Gyogan Lake."
Looking down at the map Seryu nodded her head and turned towards Esdeath.
"Of course! We always suspected that those vile evil-doers had a hideout on the edge of the Capital! We never could find them!"
Esdeath gave her a smirk before turning back to the group as a whole.
"For now we will be putting off the hunt for Night Raid for a little while to destroy these pests. Better to deal with the enemy we can see first."
She turned towards Bols as he raised his hand shyly.
"What are we to do if the enemy decides to surrender, captain?"
Harry grimaced slightly as Esdeath responded to the query. There was no surrender with Esdeath.
"Surrender is a tool only for the weak. It is nature's way for the weak to be removed from the world. We will be killing them all."
Seryu giggled, a disturbingly pleasant sound as she laced her mechanical fingers beneath her chin.
"To be able to massacre evil-doers before they commit acts of evil…I am truly happy that I have become a part of this group."
Across the table from her Wave shivered and complemented how horrible wrong the scene looked as Esdeath gazed down at the girl, who stared up at her with sparkling eyes.
"You may slaughter them all to your hearts content."
Harry pointedly ignored the entire transaction, trying to desperately pretend that there was still something pure and good and right in the twisted world he now lived in.
Esdeath turned to face the group before her as a whole, Harry snapping back into attention as she spoke.
"I have one last thing to tell you before we move out. Each of you will be required and expected to eliminate dozens of people as a part of the Jaegers. This is the type of work we will be doing from now on. I'm am already aware of Harry's acceptance of this…"
She shot a brief look at Harry below her, their eyes meeting briefly when he looked up.
"…so are you all fully prepared to do this?"
Bols stood straight as he answered, voice serious, devoid of his normal shyness.
"I am a soldier, I will follow all orders given, even for this kind of work. Even if it means I must kill."
Beside Harry Kurome picked up her sword from where it was leaning against the table.
"I am the same. This is merely an exercise in following orders. That is how I have always thought of it"
Gripping the hilt of his blade and gazing at it, Wave crushed his doubts and rising fears.
"I was able to join up as part of the navy because of a certain great man's patronage. If I were to ask him how I could repay such a massive favour he would have said 'Just do your best and fight for your country. That's all you need to do'. So I can do it, even if it means my life!"
Slung the blade over his shoulder, sliding it into it sheathe as Esdeath turned her eyes to Ran.
"For the sake of making sure my desires grow into fruition I must continue to rise higher and higher, even if it means I have to do things which aren't the purest of deeds. Looking at it that way, I wish nothing more than to complete this mission."
Esdeath nodded and turned towards Stylish.
"And what about you, Doctor?"
A slight shiver of warning ran down Harry's spine as Stylish stepped forward, straightening his tie.
"My guiding principle is quite simple. The pursuit of Style!"
Harry step a little more behind Esdeath as the man started to straighten his shirt.
"Do you understand now, Esdeath-sama?"
Esdeath gave him a blank look.
"Nope, not in the slightest."
Stylish sighed, closing his eyes in remembrance.
"From the very moment I saw you, Esdeath-sama I knew it. That incredible, unfathomable strength. That harsh, ice-cold cruelty. It was as if a Goddess was descending from the heavens!"
The members of the Jaegers twitched, desperately trying to erase the memories of the odd poses the man took during his speech. Harry placed Esdeath firmly between him and the man, tugging on her arm.
"Esdeath, for some reason that man scares me more than attacking the Northern Citadel did."
Esdeath just gave him a sympathetic look.
"Entirely understandable. Somethings should never have existed."
She turned back to the rest of the Jaegers.
"There are no doubts among any of you then. That is good."
She turned on her heel, walking towards the door with a confident stride.
"It's time to move out! Come on Harry, you're with me. It would be a good idea for you to observe how your new team mates fight."
Harry nodded, not that she could see him with her back turned, and hurried forward, taking his place beside her as she swept from the room.
-T.G.O-
The fortress sat, a squat, ugly thing, at the top of a long series of stairs, wedged between two cliff faces and framed by the setting sun.
At the bottom for the stairs the Jaegers, minus Harry and Esdeath, were assembled, looking up at the target of their mission.
Ran was the first to speak, still observing the fortress as he did.
"We have memorized the layout and all the enemy positions, so what kind of strategy do we intend to use?"
Seryu crossed her arms cross her chest, grinning up at the enemy stronghold.
"Justice, demands that we do it fair and square and attack from the front!"
Sitting on the rock face above them, Esdeath and Harry sat side by side, observing the group.
"This will be the perfect place to observe their fighting abilities from."
Harry nodded distractedly in agreement, more concerned about why she hand placed her hand on top of his.
To be honest, she didn't know why she had done it either, but neither were particularly distressed by it, merely confused, and it was oddly comfortable, so they let it be, instead focusing on the rest of the Jaegers as they approached the fortress just as the sun began to sink beneath the horizon.
The Jaegers watched as a shout rang out before the fortress gates slide open, emitting a wave of masked bandits towards them, weapons raised as they stopped in front of the Special Police Force.
The bandits prepared their weapons, laughing and jeering.
"Hey, did you lot even know where you were going when you came here?"
"You have some real nerve coming in from the front!"
"You don't really think you'll leave here alive do you?!"
The Jaegers stayed silent, blanking out the bandits' words as they prepared themselves.
One of the men leered over at Kurome and Seryu, jeering.
"Hey, they have some real cuties with them. We are going to have so much fun with those two when were done with their little buddies."
The bandits laughed in an ugly fashion as Wave went to step forward, reaching for the blade slung across his back just as Seryu, ignoring the bandits' comment, began to walk towards the assembled men.
"I'll clear the path to the fortress using the combined power of mine and the doctor's Teigu."
She held her arm out back towards Koro who was trailing behind her.
"Koro! Number five!"
Koro suddenly grew until its head was large enough to swallow a man, massive teeth slamming shut on Seryu's arm, halfway between her shoulder and elbow
A twisted, demented grin formed on her face, her expression darkening drastically as she spoke.
"After I lost my arms to the vile Night Raid the doctor blessed me with a new power."
Koro began to jerk back, revealing a metal something that was now attached to Seryu's arm just as the bandits, finally realising that, yes, they were in fact meant to kill and/or capture the group in front of them, charged forward with loud battle cries.
Koro feel backwards, finally off Seryu's arm, revealing a massive drill like construct attached to her, starting where Koro had bitten down.
Charging forward to meet the approaching bandits, Seryu drove the drill attached to her arm forward towards the approaching bandits.
Said bandits suddenly realised they shouldn't be trying to run at the sharp, pointy, spinning weapon of death and tried to leap out of the way.
They were far too slow.
Seryu's drill pierced through flesh and bone like paper, tearing massive holes in the charging bandits bodies, ripping them to pieces as she charge forward, thrusting her weapon through everything in her way.
One of the bandits stood away from the massacre, move agape.
"W-what the hell is that!?"
His questioning was quickly brought to an unfortunate end as Koro dived past him, biting off most of his left half as it went. The man had a moment to complement the burning pain in his side before he died, slumping forward to the ground in a puddle of his own blood.
Up at the fortress gates the bandits, realising that this was a very legitimate threat, began to move, one of the guards shouting out orders.
"Shut the gates, quickly, and someone go warn to boss!"
Behind the man the solid gates of the fortress slammed shut.
Seryu, having finished her slaughter of the bandits, simple threw a hand out behind her, calling out for Koro once more.
"Koro! Number seven this time!"
Koro chomped down on her arm again and she drew it forth over her head as she charged, coming to a halt as her latest choice of weapon left Koro's mouth, swinging it over her head and in front of her.
It was a cannon, with a barrel almost twice as tall as she was, a handle on the top of guns main body allowing her to balance it with her spare hand as she aimed it at the gates.
There was a flash and a crack as the barrel spat fire.
A loud explosion destroyed the silence of the evening as the gates were torn apart, a massive hole basted in the middle as they crashed to the ground, large cracks running through the walls they had been connected to and the bandits nearest to them tumbling away.
Ran whistled quietly as he watched.
"She most certainly seems to have the ability to annihilate them all herself, doesn't she?"
Wave just sweat dropped.
"Maybe we should just let her finish them all off."
Behind them Stylish stepped forward, raising a gloved hand to his cheek as he caught their attention.
"Huhu…Those weapons were created by me, you know."
Ran and Wave turned to him in surprise, Wave speaking first.
"You made those, Doctor?"
Stylish just smirked as he held his hand up across his chest, showing off the strange gloves he was wearing.
"The stylish hands of god, 'Perfector'. With these on the speed, as well as the precision of my fingers is increased by several hundred times. They really are the most stylish of Teigu."
He grinned as he pointed at Ran, winking.
"No matter what sort of wound you receive, short of death of course, I'll be able to put you back to one hundred percent. And maybe add in a few weapons into your body as well."
Ran gave him a deadpan look before speaking, his voice completely flat.
"Please do not ever insert weapons into my body."
Wave looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Still it's kind of nice to know that we have someone who can patch us all back together when we get injured, though if you have a support type Teigu, then we will have to protect you."
Stylish lead forward into his personal space, grinning.
"I really hope to see that kindness of yours in private in one day."
He stepped back as Wave shuddered slightly, bring his left hand up and clicking his fingers.
"Please reveal yourselves, my dear enhanced troops!"
All around him figures appeared, muscular men and women wearing only the barest of clothing, revealing long rows of stitches over their bodies. Each wore a blank, featureless mask and were, rather oddly, all in different poses, each one weirder than the last.
Stylish grinned as he watched the other Jaegers reactions.
"These are all part of my private army that, using my Teigu, I preformed enhanced surgeries on. If this were chess it would be rather appropriate to call them my 'pawns'."
Bols looked over the faceless men and women standing around Stylish.
"A teigu that allows you to create things such as your own weapons. That must be a very useful Teigu."
Stylish smirked over his shoulder towards Bols.
"Of course. Making weapons that can rival the strength of a teigu has always been my dream, you see."
Behind them all Ran cleared his throat and held his hand up above his shoulder for attention.
"This is interesting and all but while you were all talking Kurome already went into the fortress. We are meant to be hunting bandits right now."
The rest of the group looked startled for a moment, Waves expression turning to shock as he went to run after her. Stylish just looked annoyed that she had left while she was talking and Bols…Bols was wearing a mask so no one could really tell.
Inside the fortress Kurome stood surrounded by bandits, the corpse of the man she had just cut in half landing on the ground with a thud.
The bandits stepped backwards a step.
"T-this girl…She has a cute face but she's really strong!"
Kurome turned her gaze to the man who had spoken, something twisted and terrible rising in her eyes, showing more of, well, anything than anyone in the Jaegers had seen out of her yet.
Then she moved.
She shot through the enemy forces like a hurricane of death, her blade a mere flash of light as it hacked away limbs and sliced full grown men in halve, leaving only a trail of mutilated corpses behind her.
Watching from their rock of in the distance both Harry and Esdeath watched as the distant figure of Kurome tore through the enemy ranks.
Raising an eyebrow at the massacre Harry turned his attention to Esdeath for a moment.
"The Prime Minister really wasn't kidding when he said they all had certain personality quirks."
Esdeath just grinned
Back in the fortress Kurome gazed around the section she was in, finding only mutilated bodies, and sighed.
"I didn't even have to release my Teigu's abilities."
Her normally blank look transformed into a rather disturbing grin.
"I suppose that if you're all dead, I'll just have to play by switching body parts around, my fun little play dolls."
She knelt down next to one of the corpses, ignoring a flicker as a lone survivor hidden away in a small alley raised his pistol towards her, hands shaking.
She was confident in her ability to evade. He would die soon enough.
He squeezed on the trigger.
A boot slammed into the side of his face, sending him sliding away and snapping his neck in one movement as his assailant let his momentum slide him along to where he came to a stop, with his back to Kurome's.
Wave grinned down at her over his shoulder, to where she was still crouched on the ground.
"No need to thank me. We're a team right."
Kurome just gave her patented blank eyed look.
"I already knew he was there."
Wave gave her a shocked look before a metaphorical raincloud covered his head.
"Seriously! For real!"
On another side of the fortress a line of archers on top of the wall had their bows pulled back as they lined up the bulky figure who was approaching them at a sprint.
One of the bandits raised a hand.
"Riddle him full of holes!"
The archers released their arrows towards the charging Bols who came to a sudden, screeching halt and dropped the long, strangely shaped flamethrower from its position beside its tank on his back, into his right hand, sweeping the barrel across the air in front of him.
A wave of fire engulfed the approaching arrows, incinerating them until not even dust remained.
The bandits stared in shocked horror.
Pointing the flamethrower up at the men on the walls, Bols let out a small sigh.
"It's all part of the job I'm afraid."
He almost sounded apologetic, which he probable was, even as he fire his Teigu again, sending forth a wave of fire that engulfed the wall, knocking those on it backwards as they screamed and burned.
The wave of fire continued on, incinerating everyone in its path as it engulfed most of the fortress that Kurome hadn't already cleared out, sending those caught in it screaming to the ground as they struggled to put out the flames that even water refused to douse.
The few nearby surviving bandits stared at their former allies in horror as they were reduced to charred corpses, before turning tail and fleeing out the fortresses back gate, running as fast as their legs would carry them from the hell behind them.
Only to be caught by the angel before them.
A hail of feather like objects shot downward with deadly accuracy, each piercing through the back of a different mans' head and out the middle of their forehead, sending their already dying bodies crashing forward to the ground.
Ran floated above them, his right arm outstretch towards his victims and his other holding a book to his chest, as wings made up of pure white feathers connected to disks that floated above his back held him in the air.
He gave a small, grim smile.
"Not a single person will be able to escape this place."
Standing from her place overlooking her forces Esdeath reached back a hand for Harry, pulling him to his feet.
"They are quite impressive. Except Wave, though I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as Kurome had already killed most of the enemies in that area."
Harry nodded silently. No matter how often he saw them, large scale massacres always made him feel a little off, whether it was bandits, villagers or enemy forces.
He gazed over the blazing fortress, home to naught but the dead now as the last rays of the sun cast it in an ominous hue.
The divergence of fate continued to grow.
-T.G.O-
Far away, in a location hidden from the eyes of the world, or most of it anyway, Night Raid was seated around a table analysing what information they had gained from Esdeath tournament.
Akame turned her head to gaze at Tatsumi.
"So they wanted you to try use Extase?"
Tatsumi nodded.
"Yeah, apparently the whole tournament was to try find someone who could use it properly. They got me to try but I couldn't activate it, so they let me go. Sorry for not taking it back with me."
Akame just shook her head at his apology.
"If you had tried then your cover would have been blown and then you would be dead right now."
She swept he eyes over the other, currently silent occupants of the room.
"Is there anything else to report?"
Leone hummed thoughtfully for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, actually. At the tournament and when I was observing her movement for Najenda there was this kid with Esdeath. The first time I saw him Esdeath brought him and ice cream and he was sitting next to her in the top box today."
The rest for Night raid gave her odd looks, before Akame's turned thoughtful.
"What did he look like? He could be the son of someone she knows or someone who survived from her tribe."
"Small, he looked like a small thirteen year old or a slightly larger than average twelve year old. The most distinct feature he had was that his hair was black on one side and white on the other…
"Wait!"
Tatsumi was half out of his chair as he interrupted her.
"Was he wearing a whole load of white? A white trench coat with a black collar?"
Leone nodded at him.
"Yes, both the first time I saw him and while he was up in the top box. Why?"
Tatsumi sat back, a troubled look on his face.
"I ran into him in the Capital after…you know. He was looking all lost so I went to held him and found he was all covered in cuts and bruises. He said he got them from training but vanished before I could get him to elaborate."
A troubled look settled over Akame's face.
"I don't know anything about this. For now simple try to find out as much as you can about him and report back. We'll tell Najenda when she returns and get her to deal with it."
Those sitting at the table nodded silently.
And so the divergence grows larger still.
-T.G.O-
Alright! That's chapter 10 all done!
Firstly, please read my response to muratira's review and give me feedback one how you feel about giving them romantic feelings for Harry. I am fairly certain that I could write in in easily enough, considering their circumstances and the fact that romance is hardly a key part of the story, other that the growing one between Esdeath and Harry. Anyway, please give your views on the idea no matter what they might be. As long as they are helpful they I will find them useful, obviously.
Finally, you must be getting tired of reading this, please give any constructive criticism, ideas, likes, dislikes or simple mistake I can fix. All are welcome and appreciated!
Thanks for reading this and I hope you have enjoyed the story so far!
Goodbye and thanks!