A/N: Well, I certainly wasn't expecting to get placed on so many author alerts and get as many views as I did. I definitely appreciate the love, AGK fandom. As a bonus, I'm releasing this chapter early (I wasn't planning on releasing it until Friday) as a thank you, as well as to let you know that, yes, I intend to write and finish this fanfic. Stay tuned, as there may be some elements adapted straight from the manga as well. Also, I'm sticking with the name Teigu for Imperial Arms…it's easier to type.

The coliseum had been fresh in their minds. In the months since joining the band of assassins, Tatsumi had watched as the Night Raid was cut down to half of what they used to be. But it had been a long time since the last person died – it was as if fate had decided to make up for lost work. Lubbock and Susanoo were officially counted amongst the dead. He came for a sense of purpose. Now, it seemed that he was too weak to even be marked for death.

The silence permeated the room, save for the slow-burning hiss of Najenda's cigarette. She held such a calm demeanor on her face. Surely she was hurting, but couldn't she have shown some remorse or compassion.

Tatsumi balled his fists, turning away from her.

He doubted that she even moved from her tiny throne. Leone and Akame would have noticed his actions, but even they wouldn't say anything. Akame was probably even more straight-faced than their boss, given that she actively suppressed her emotions – he wished he could've been able to do that. Instead, what he felt in his heart was overwhelming. They had lost too many people.

Sheele.

Bro.

Chelsea.

Su.

Mine almost joined that list. He couldn't stand to have another person dying in his arms. Why did she even come in the first place? Thoughts had traveled back to hours earlier, when he was at the mercy of Esdeath's sword. No, it wasn't just Mine…what remained of Night Raid had attacked the coliseum in order to rescue him.

"All of this…just for me…"

"Don't be so self-absorbed," he had heard Najenda say behind him. He hadn't realized that he was speaking aloud. "We couldn't allow you to be executed in such a public manner. It would've demoralized the rebellion. We're all prepared for the worst to happen."

The ring of truth in her words settled in his mind. But the way she casually spoke, as if he were just another objective…it bothered him. He certainly wasn't human, but Susanoo was still a comrade, and he died in the melee that followed the chaos of battle. The boss was right. In the long run, the rebellion couldn't afford to suffer any demoralizing losses – the fighting that occurred in the coliseum was sure to bring some good news and raise their morale. But that was a rational way of thinking – Tatsumi didn't want to think rationally right now.

Looking at Najenda now, seeing the calm demeanor on her face – it had unsettled him.

She took another long smoke before exhaling. "We were also able to eliminate Budo. He's been a thorn in our side for a long time now. Our gains outweigh the losses."

There were times when he appreciated the honest rationale that Najenda made.

This was not one of those times.

"How can you say that?!" Tatsumi snapped.

Leone fixed him with a gaze, stepping in the conversation. "Tatsumi, it isn't like the boss isn't hurting. She lost Susanoo. In fact, we're lucky that was the only loss we've had, given the circumstances."

Another puff of nicotine smoke.

Najenda's steely gaze remained the same. "Don't worry about it. He simply fulfilled his duties as a Relic. But more than that, Tatsumi, you said that you had to save Mine's life. What did you mean by that?"

Tatsumi lowered his head. The pigtailed sniper had been unconscious ever since he laid her on the ground at her request. Before the meeting with the remaining Night Raid members, he was at her side with Akame. They couldn't have known that she was dying. No, she hadn't just been dying.

"After we escaped the coliseum, Mine died. Her heart stopped…she wasn't breathing…"

"What, did you give her CPR?" Leone joked.

At another time, it might've lifted the mood in the room. But with the recent loss finally taking their tolls on everyone, the humor fell flat in the dead silent atmosphere. The fun and games weren't the same without the other members. Tatsumi stared at the ground for a long moment, trying to form the words that he needed to say. Too many emotions ran through his heart and his mind was clouded with so many questions.

"No, it was a Relic that offered its help. A fox…it said that it could save her life if I fulfilled the arrangements of the contract. I agreed and it disappeared in a white flash."

Akame had stepped forward. Somehow, the feeling of her hand on his shoulder calmed him. "What kind of contract did you agree to?"

"Possession."

There was no way to take back the words that had left his lips. Without the rushed emotions that he felt earlier to drive his actions, he knew that the decision was rushed…that it was made with little thought. Doubting a Relic, from what little he already did know about them, didn't seem like a wise course of action. The worry of the others' reaction to this news had scared him nearly as much as losing Mine.

All that emotion from Mine's supposed final words had left him drained.

'Let the others judge me,' he thought. It was a decision he made because he couldn't stand to lose somebody else.

"I'm not sure if we'll have the time, but I'll try to ask someone in the Revolutionary Army about this Fox Relic," Najenda stated, rising from her throne.

The expression in her face – it wasn't anger, or disappointment. It was difficult to place exactly what she was expressing on her face.

She looked at her right hand, flexing the metal prosthetic fingers. "The army is marching. We still have final preparations to make. Tatsumi, I know you're worried about Mine, but stay focused. And stay on guard. I've never heard of a Relic that can possess…but it likely was made for combat functions as well."

"Understood."

"You and Akame go into town this evening…we need to see what is going on. Take the time you need before you head out."

-Akame ga Kill-

It had been long…very long. To feel like a human once more – it was such a foreign experience that pleased her greatly. And this time, she had chosen a subject that was still in her youth. Oh, the passion that burned in this one. The fire that brimmed in her personality was a huge catch.

She couldn't remember the last time she had acquired such a promising host. The last time, there had been a war with which she had no interest in. War was brewing here again. But again, it served no interest to her. It wasn't a function that she was equipped to care about.

No, she had another function, but getting used to a new body took time.

The personality of this one…

What was her name?

That young man called it out many times after she kissed him.

Kiss…

Kiss…

What would that feel like?

Her name…it was Mine, wasn't it?

Such an odd name. But she was not one to judge. That was not her function. A contract was made and she was apt to fulfill it. The girl smelled of many things…sweet things…angry things…sad things. The scent of gunpowder had hung around her when she first approached the girl. Seeing the fresh memories, it became clear that she had a teigu. A weapon. One that ran off emotion.

Emotion…

Romance…

Love..?

That was when she felt the personality of Mine. Mine was beginning to awaken. The fox toyed with the idea of leaving her. But she didn't want to destroy the girl's mind. That was fate of her existence – leaving her host always left them as a deranged shell of themselves.

For now, she would sit back and learn.

There were battles to come. She wanted to experience these, too. How would it feel to be a human? She would experience that as well once she learned all she needed to know.

This was her nature, and to go against it was inconceivable.