Hello guys! ^^ Back with another chapter for you! And don't worry, after the Zank part, Hitomi'll be less of a 'supportive character' like he is now :/
In any case, enjoy! ^^
Soul in the Dream
CHAPTER 12
(Normal POV)
"Please... please don't kill me!", a woman whimpered, looking at her left, where rested the beheaded body of her boyfriend. She was being held by her neck by a large blonde man. He wore a headpiece resembling headphones and another headpiece on his forehead that resembled a closed eye.
"Oh, come now.", the man whispered. "It's your own fault for walking around at this time of night. Didn't your parents warn you about the scary monsters that come out after dark?", he asked.
"I'll do anything!", the girl begged, tears pouring out of her eyes.
"Really? You would be willing to do anything I asked?"
"Yes! I will ! I'll do it, so please!"
"And what if I told you I want to see your head separated from your body?", the blonde man grimly asked. "Would you be willing then?"
"... Huh...?", the woman said before she felt a sharp pain at her neck.
"Mmmmm... happy, happy.", the man muttered as the woman's body fell on the ground. "I just can't stop doing this."
(Hitomi's POV)
It has been a little more than a week since I've joined Night Raid with Tatsumi. Honestly, it felt good to be part of a group like that. Friends all over the place and I could put my fighting skills to use. Oh, and girls everywhere. Seriously... we have 4 guys for 5 girls. That's pretty good.
Right now, I was eating a cereal bowl for breakfast. Lubbock was seated beside me, eating toasts. We were having a very important boy talk.
"What! You saw Mine in her underwears!", Lubbock shouted, apparently not caring if we got caught talking about this.
"Hey, hey! Don't jump to conclusions, man!", I quickly shushed him. "She dragged us in a lingerie shop and was messing around with bras and stuff. As for the rest, it's up to the imagination.", I grinned, poking my forehead to emphasise.
"You lucky bastard... going to a lingerie shop with a girl...", Lubbock sighed, jealous. At that moment, Leone entered the room.
"Hey guys~ What'cha talking about?", she asked with a friendly grin.
"Oh, nothing much.", Lubbock said, shrugging away the question with his hand.
"He's picturing Mine in her underwears.", I grinned.
"Hey! That is NOT true and you know it!"
"Why Mine, Lubbo?", Leone asked with a smirk. "She's so small... Anyway, you'll continue this another time. The Boss wants us all to come in the meeting room."
"Can I at least finish my cereal bowl? Breakfast is important.", I tried giving my gentlest smile at the lioness.
"No time, it's for a contract. You'll finish it later." God damn it.
"Fuck it, I'll just bring it with me.", I said, grabbing my cereal bowl and heading towards the meeting room, followed by Leone and Lubbock.
"Hey, Boss. What's up?", I addressed Najenda, munching my cereals.
"We have a new target, Hitomi.", she replied. She was sitting on her chair as usual. It's like her 'meeting chair'. I want one...
"Oooh, so what is it this time?", I asked, happy to go out a bit. "A corrupted government member? A serial killer? A rapist? My grandmother?"
"Why would we kill your grandmother?", Tatsumi sweatdropped.
"We can't. She's already dead."
"Oh..."
"Returning to the matter at hand, your second guess is correct.", Najenda nodded. "The target is the rumored serial killer that is plaguing the Capital. Late at night, he suddenly appears and chops off the victim's head.", she explained. "It's unknown how many dozens of people he has killed so far."
"Is he the guy that killed these Imperial guards the other day?", I asked. She nodded, confirming my thoughts. "I think I know who it is...", I pondered.
"There's no mistake, it has to be Zank the Executioner.", Lubbock spoke. I nodded in confirmation. I remember having a class about him back when I attended school. He's no pushover.
"Who's that?", Tatsumi asked.
"You don't know?", Mine asked with a teasing tone. "You really are a country bumpkin, huh?"
"Pardon me,", Sheele spoke. "but I don't know either."
"I think you've just forgotten, Sheele..."
"So, what kind of monster is he?", Tatsumi asked again.
"Zank the Executioner.", Mine cut the teasing tone and explained. "He originally worked at the Empire's greatest prison as their executioner. Because of the Prime Minister, there were many people to be executed."
"In short.", I cut, still munching on my cereals. "He cut so many heads that he went completely loco and was beginning to enjoy killing random sentenced people. Is that right?"
"Yeah.", Mine nodded. "Executing prisoners started not to be enough for him, so he became a serial killer."
"He disappeared right around the time that a detainment force was sent out to find him...", Bulat added. "Who knew he would head to the Capital?"
"What a horrible guy!", Tatsumi exclaimed, pumping his fist. "We need to find and beat his ass!"
"Hold your horses, Tatsumi.", Bulat put his hand on the brunette's head.
"... Bro?"
"Zank stole the warden's Teigu before leaving. And from then on became a serial killer." The black-haired man then switched the position of his hand to hold Tatsumi's chin... in a completely suggestive manner... "If you ran into him without your partner... you'd be in big trouble."
'Just enjoy it, Tatsumi.', I chuckled in my mind as I saw my friend's face, who was trying to find a way out of Bulat's 'friendly demeanor'.
A few hours later, Night Raid split itself into groups to search the Capital for Zank. For this mission, I was paired up with Tatsumi and Akame.
"Our search area is down this way.", the raven-haired girl announced after looking at a small map.
"Seems like the people of the Capital are too scared of the killer to come out at night anymore, huh.", Tatsumi noted, taking a look around us. Indeed, the roads were empty and everyone was probably asleep in the safety of their home.
"Well, being killed doesn't look like fun.", I added, putting my hands behind my head. "... I suddenly feel bad for those I've ki-" I got interrupted by Akame's gauntlet going over my mouth, preventing me from talking. She quickly dragged me in an alleyway, followed by Tatsumi. A moment after, a group of guards passed in the road we were in before, their footsteps resonating.
"It's the Imperial guards.", Akame muttered. "Even they are worked up about this. We need to be careful." I nodded and she released me.
"Can I ask you something before we start searching?", Tatsumi said.
"Don't worry.", Akame did a thumb up. "I brought snacks."
"Heh, a pro never forgets her snacks.", I smirked.
"It's not what I meant...", Tatsumi sweatdropped. "Those 'Teigu' things Bro talked about. What are they?", he asked.
Akame pondered for a moment. "Things like this.", she replied, holding off her katana.
"I still don't get it..."
We paused and our black-haired friend took a snack from a pouch located on her skirt. After taking a bite, she started her explanation.
"About 1000 years ago, after the Great Empire was created, the Emperor began to worry..."
'I wish to protect this country forever, but I know I will someday die.', the Emperor had said. 'But... With weapons and armor... even in the far future the Empire would endure... To insure our country lasts forever, we will concentrate all knowledge and create weapons!'
"Legend says that they gathered materials from the most dangerous of legendary class creatures. Such as the ultra rare metal orichalcum.", Akame continued. "The greatest scientific minds were gathered from all over the world. With the Emperor's absolute power and limitless fortune, they accomplished something that would be impossible for the people of the current era. They created 48 deadly weapons, called the 'Teigu'. The abilities of the Teigu were stronger than anything else. Each one holds the power to create a great warrior. It's said that the Emperor's retainers who the Teigu were given to were given most of the spoils of battle during this time. But because of the huge civil war that broke out over 500 years ago, close to half of the Teigu were lost in battle."
"Huh... I feel jealous not having one...", I pouted after our raven-haired comrade finished her tale.
"... What you're saying,", Tatsumi started. "is that everyone has one of these Teigu weapons, right?"
"Yes.", Akame replied with a nod. "Everyone but the Boss. But with such strong abilities built into the Teigu, there has always been one 'iron rule' while using them. If two Teigu users with intent to kill clash, without fail, one of them will be a victim. In other words, if two Teigu users fight, only one will survive."
"That's oddly specific...", I muttered.
"Our target, Zank, has a Teigu.", Akame continued, ignoring me once again, not that I mind anyway. "Even if you both strike at the same time in an encounter, the possibility that you will live is zero."
"Then why did you brought us with you if we can't do anything?", I asked with an eyebrow raised. "I mean, fighting a Teigu user seems like fun, but I want to live, y'know..?"
"The Boss ordered you to go.", she plainly said, making me sweatdrop.
"Yeah... of course..."
(Normal POV)
Far away from the trio, Zank the Executioner was perched atop a building, somehow being able to see the assassins who are after him.
"Hnnnn... In addition to serial killers, now professional killers show up.", he spoke. "My, what a dangerous city this is... so happy, so happy~ ... Okay then... Which neck should I go after first?", he asked himself, looking at each spread out Night Raid members. He locked his view when his eyes stopped at Akame's group. "... It's decided!", he concluded after watching Tatsumi. "The most delicious fruits are the ones that are just about to ripe.", he said before jumping into the city, decided on his new prey.
In case you didn't notice, I skipped the part when we learn about everyone's Teigu. It just isn't relevant for now so let's just assume the boys learned about their abilities offscreen ^^' Until then, have a good day :P
