This chapter is sponsored by Zank the Executioner.
Hello guys! :) I'm back with another chapter! I don't really have anything important to say, so let us skip right ahead! Enjoy!
Soul in the Dream
CHAPTER 13
(Normal POV)
After an hour of patrolling without success, Akame, Tatsumi and Hitomi decided to take a break. They sat on a nearby bench and began to eat and drink some of the snacks Akame brought with her.
"I don't think he's coming tonight, how about you?", Tatsumi asked his comrades.
"I dunno...", Hitomi smirked. "I mean, we are three defenseless teenagers, right? The perfect targets for a madman."
"I don't think our weapons can convince someone we're defenseless...", the brunette deadpanned.
"Oh, come one, don't be like that.", the blonde pouted.
"Either way, we have no choice but to wait patiently, right?", Akame added.
"You guys are no fun...", Hitomi sighed.
"... Excuse me for a minute.", Tatsumi said, putting his drink down. He rose from his seat in the direction of a nearby alleyway.
"Taking a piss, huh?", Akame noticed, making the boys sweatdrop at her forwardness.
(Hitomi's POV)
Not really having anything good to say, I munched on my snack as I sat beside Akame, waiting for Tatsumi to renew his kidneys. However, after two or three minutes, I began to wonder why it was taking so long. Being a guy myself, I knew from experience that taking a leak took less than a minute. Normally, at least...
"Be right back.", I told Akame as I got up. "I'm going to check if he somehow drowned himself." She nodded without a word and I made my way to the alleyway Tatsumi went to. But when I approached, I heard Tatsumi say 'Wait!' and then heard footsteps running away from here. I quickly made my way to where Tatsumi was, and saw him running off in another direction. I wanted to go alert Akame about this, but...
'I don't have time!', I thought, bolting after my brown-haired friend. 'If it's Zank, he's in big trouble!'
After a bit of running, I finally caught up to him and...
"What the fuck are you doing...?", I deadpanned. Tatsumi was hugging a tall, strong-looking man like if he just met a friend for the first time in years.
"How passionate.", the man said with a smile, showing off his white teeth. "It seems I showed you something nice..."
"Huh?!", Tatsumi, surprised by the man's tone of voice and tilted his head, facing the mysterious man's.
"Good evening.", the tall man greeted.
"UWAHH!", Tatsumi yelled, quickly getting away from the man. "Sayo turned into a strange old guy!"
'Isn't Sayo dead?', I thought. Of course, I didn't say it out loud. I'm not that evil. "Welcome back to reality.", I smirked. "How was your trip?"
"Not now, Hitomi!", my friend said, recomposing himself. "I got a bad feeling about this guy."
"Your hunch would be right.", the man said with an ominous smile. "Rather than calling me 'old guy', I would prefer..." While speaking, two big blades sprouted off his sleeves. "that you affectionately call me Zank the Executioner!"
"Oh-oh... shit's gonna get real...", I muttered, reaching for my sword.
"You've been separated... If you wait, she'll eventually show up...", Zank said, pointing one of his blades at Tatsumi. "But will you live long enough for that to happen...? Is what you are thinking, right?"
'What the...', I thought, confused. I then noticed that between his two crest-looking patches of hair was situated a sort of green eye... 'Wait... can he read our minds with that? Is that a Teigu?'
"Bingo!", Zank suddenly exclaimed, seemingly happy that I figured it out. "Teigu 'Spectator'.", he introduced. "One of it's five sight abilities, 'Insight'. I can read your thoughts by seeing your facial expressions, body languages, and stuff like that. Think of it as an extreme form of observation."
"Holy. Hell.", I slowly said. "This is awesome!", I exclaimed, surprising Tatsumi with my burst of enthousiasm. "What more can it do!?", I asked Zank.
"Oh, are you perhaps interested in my Teigu?", Zank smirked.
"Information is key, right?", I smirked as well. Tatsumi tried to talk me out of conversing with the target, but I couldn't help myself. I liked what I saw... no pun intended...
"Finally someone willing to talk with me.", Zank said. "You see, talking is one of my hobbies."
"An underrated but fun hobby if I do say so myself.", I agreed, nodding my head.
"Stop talking with him! He's the target!"
"I'm starting to like you more and more, assassin.", the Executioner continued. "Very well, I'll inform you about the magnificent things my Spectator can do!" I smiled and braced myself for the flow of information. "I already told you about my 'Insight' ability, so I'll go directly to the next one."
"Go ahead, I'm listening."
"I don't even want to hear it!", Tatsumi shouted, running towards Zank to attack him.
"Oh, I don't mind.", the target said while avoiding his strike. He then turned his head towards me as he explained his Teigu's second ability. "The power I used to find you was 'Farsight'. Whether it's night, or foggy, I can see you clear as day!" He stopped talking when he blocked one of Tatsumi's strikes. "So happy! You figured you would try something because I was talking to your friend?", he asked Tatsumi. "Useless. Completely.", the Executioner stated as he pointed to his Teigu on his forehead. "Because I can see everything going on in your head. You step into my space and attack with a slash from above, and try to end it with an upswing of the blade to my midsection...", Zank continued, dodging or blocking each of Tatsumi's strikes. "Which is... a feint...", he said, suddenly ducking to avoid yet another strike. "... to leave me open for your thrust to my windpipe."
'Okay, it's getting pretty bad now...', I thought, unsheathing my sword. 'Time to kill Zank-sensei.'
"So... is that what you were thinking?", Zank asked, a wicked grin on his face. He was about to slash at Tatsumi's midsection, but I quickly interjected and managed to block his strike before it could hit my friend.
"Sorry, sensei,", I said with an apologetic tone. "but I'm afraid we'll have to skip today's lesson." When I sensed that Tatsumi falled back, I quickly followed suit to distance myself from the Teigu user.
"So you want to take his place, I see.", Zank said with a grin. "I will hold a special place for your head in my collection!" He then dashed forward, blades raised and ready to behead me. Following my instincts, I came to a crouch before he could hit me. I then attempted to slash at his arms to disable them, but he easily blocked my strike with one of his blades. "I told you earlier, it's useless.", Zank spoke, that wicked grin never leaving his face. "But don't worry, as I said, I will be sure to keep my student's head safe from all danger... I'm so happy, happy!" Since I had my two arms on my sword's handle, I couldn't block Zank's strike. I felt an extreme pain on the left side of my chest.
"GAAHH!", I yelled as I felt pain like that for the first time in my life. In Zank's surprise of not cutting my neck, I jumped back to Tatsumi's side, my right hand cluched over my wound.
"Ooh, interesting.", Zank spoke in a surprised tone. "You knew I would strike your neck, so you moved out of the way right before my blade made contact. Impressive indeed. However, It only fuels my need for your head! So happy!", he exclaimed, rushing towards me and Tatsumi. The brunette probably knew he couldn't win against a Teigu user like Zank, yet he took his sword and stood in front of me, desperately trying to protect me. Heh... What a good friend.
(Normal POV)
Right before the Executioner could make contact with the two rookie assassins, Zank abruptly halted his sprint as a familiar katana landed right before him, the edge stuck in the ground. Everyone looked up, where the blade came from, to see it was Akame who threw her sword. As Zank stood back, the raven-haired girl landed on the ground and pulled her Teigu out of the stone, pointing it at the Executioner.
"Good job holding him back, Hitomi.", she said, readying herself for battle.
"Akame!", Tatsumi cheered as he helped the blonde teen sit down.
"... Hey, Akame...", Hitomi said with a little weakness apparent in his voice.
"I barely found you in time.", the girl smiled at the boys. "... Just wait there. I'll end this quickly and then tend to your wounds."
"Yes, please.", Hitomi said with a smile. "That would be goo- *cough* *cough* Aw crap, I'm coughing blood..."
"Hey, don't exert yourself...", Tatsumi sweatdropped as he helped remove the blonde's grey hoodie.
"Hmmm.", Zank grinned as he saw his new opponent. "The ill-reputed Akame and Demon Sword, Murasame. I've wanted to meet you, happy, happy."
"I've wanted to meet you as well.", Akame replied, taking a combat stance. "Taking your life is my current mission, after all. You also hurt my teammate, so I'll kill two birds with one stone."
'Clear Sight!' Zank activated another of his Teigu's abilities, this one permitting him to see through solid objects, or in this occasion, clothes. 'I see, she doesn't have any hidden weapons!', he concluded.
"Akame... watch out for Three-eyes' Teigu... on his forehead.", Hitomi warned. "He can... read your mind with that."
"I see.", the girl nodded. "That's the power of his Teigu, huh... But... just because he can read my mind,", she then dashed forward in Zank's direction. "doesn't mean he can keep up with my movements." The two Teigu users' blades clashed in a battle to see who was the strongest. Akame was fast, but Zank was able to keep up with her and block her attacks.
'How masterful...', Zank grinned. 'She has a mountain of fighting experience. And it isn't just her speed, either. She has the arm strength to match...!'
"So... fast..." Tatsumi was bewildered by the display of speed and power happening before him. 'This is... a real fight between Teigu users...!'
"Hey... Tatsumi?", Hitomi said, grasping the brunette's attention.
"What is it, Hitomi?" A smile spread on the blonde's face.
"... I think he missed my lung. That would've been bad, huh?" As he said that, he freed himself from Tatsumi's arms, showing that he already recovered enough to stay balanced without help.
"You bastard.", Tatsumi smiled as well. "You should've just insulted him like you always do."
"... Noted. Guess I'll stay like I am, huh."
Back to the battle, Akame had emptied her head of thoughts to counter Zank's mind reading abilities.
"Ohh? To be without thought, huh?", the Executioner noticed. "Splendid! But Spectator has the ability to see the future as well!" He pointed to his Teigu as he explained yet another ability he possessed. "By seeing the smallest muscle movements... I can see what you plan to do next!" As he said that, he successfully blocked Akame's downward strike. The force was so powerful, the ground below Zank began to cave in. They clashed again for a little bit before Akame stepped back, a small cut apparent on her left thigh.
'An attack hit Akame...', Tatsumi realised. 'I've never seen that before.'
"I tell you.", Zank spoke, his grin never leaving his face. "That sword there... It's almost unfair how I can't take even the tiniest scratch, or else I die, huh..."
"I could say the same to you, seeing as you know what I'm going to do before I do it.", Akame countered.
"Say, Akame... What do you do about the voices...?", Zank asked the black-haired girl, surprising her.
"... Voices?"
"Yes... The voices that never stop. The voices that drift up from hell... The moans of those who have been murdered!" His grin then twisted to be even more terrifying than before. "The ones that bear a grudge... Constantly calling for me to join them in hell."
"Holy hell... This guy is a complete schizophrenic...", Hitomi muttered under his breath. "No wonder he likes talking so much..."
"Since my time as an executioner, I've always heard them.", Zank continued. "But recently, they've been especially loud. I quiet them down by speaking. But how do you deal wi-"
"I don't hear anything.", Akame cut the man. "I've never... heard anything. No voices. Nothing."
"... What?" Zank looked like he was mortified by Akame's answer. "I thought that an assassin like you would share and understand this problem, but... How sad, it seems I was mistaken!", he yelled as his Teigu activated. Akame suddenly widened her eyes, as if she saw a ghost. Before her was not Zank anymore, but a girl her age closely resembling her.
"... Kurome?"
"Uhhhh, what's happening now?", Hitomi asked as he lifted himself up, ignoring the stinging pain in his chest.
"Oh, still alive, I see.", Zank stated after noticing the blonde getting up. "Splendid! The ability I used is 'Illusion Sight'. This ability finds the person most precious to you and shows them before your eyes."
'So Tatsumi must've seen someone he holds dear...', the blonde thought as the brunette had a pondering look, probably thinking about the same thing.
"Akame!", Tatsumi suddenly shouted. "What you're seeing is an illusion! Don't be fooled by it!"
"It's useless, boy. For the one trapped in it, the illusion is absolute.", Zank explained, slowly walking towards Akame, ready to finish her off. "Furthermore... No matter how skillful the person is, it's impossible for them to lay a hand on the one they love most... Die while gazing at the one you love most in this world!" Zank said as he lifted his blades, about to behead the black-haired assassin. However, he was forced to block a strike as Akame actually went to slash him. "Impossible...", the Executioner muttered. "How!?", he yelled. "You should have been seeing the person you love most in this world!"
"The one I love most in this world... is the one I wish to kill most.", Akame calmly answered as she glared at Zank.
'She... What is she...!?' Zank was starting to panic. The battle seemed to lean in Akame's favor. Worst, he noticed his blades were beginning to have cracks in them.
"This fight is almost over...", Akame said, preparing for another attack. "First, I must destroy his weapons.", she muttered to herself as she lunged towards Zank.
"NURAAAAAAHHH!", the Executioner yelled. "You think you can kill me~~~!?" He grunted as their blades clashed. 'I need to kill her first! I can see her next moves, so I have the upper hand!' After another clash, the cracks in his blades started to widen more and more. 'Gah... I need to kill her now! But my blades are going to break before I can do that...!' With a final downward thrust, Akame succeeded in destroying Zank's blades. The Executioner's grin was quickly replaced with a panicked grimace.
"Obliterate.", With this word, Akame swiftly slashed through Zank's throat.
"GAHHH!", Zank made as he coughed out blood.
'Wow...', Hitomi widened his eyes in surprise. 'That girl... really is something else... If I train enough, I could become as strong as her, Teigu or not!'
"So, how about it?", Akame addressed Zank. "You can no longer hear the moans of the dead, right?"
The headphones-looking accessories on the tall man's ears suddenly broke in pieces. He was surprised when he noticed the voices weren't talking to him anymore. "... Hah... happy, happy... I'm thankful to you... Akame..." After he spoke his last words, Akame sheathed her weapon and made her way towards Hitomi to pick him up.
"H-Hey, I can stand now...!", Hitomi yelped as Akame lifted him bridal style.
"You shouldn't exert your body too much.", the raven-haired replied with a smile. "Let me help you." After a sigh, the blonde stopped struggling and let himself be carried by his friend all the way to the Night Raid hideout.
I'm not really experienced with writing battles, but I hope I did okay on this chapter.
Ohh nooooooo, Hitomi actually got hit while trying not to be a dick... I guess having a Teigu against someone who doesn't is kinda cheating...
Anyway! See you next time!
