Akame ga Kill belongs to their owners, Takahiro and illustrator Tetsuya Tashiro, please support the Official Release!

Chapter 3: Guardsman

Capital Outskirts: Ten Years Later

"Earth Dragon!" Shouted a merchant as the danger beast emerged. The monster attacked the caravan as a young brown haired youth charged at the monster and fought with it. What happened next though was unexpected for young Tatsumi. An arrow whizzed past his head and hit the unprotected eye of another earth dragon that began to emerge.

The injured Danger beast screeched in pain as Tatsumi hurried to finish off the other earth dragon to focus on the newly arrived injured one. "How can there be two?!" Tatsumi said to himself. "But they're plenty angry! Whoever shot that one gave me a lucky break!"

Several yards away a young man of nineteen slung his bow across his back, amber eyes watching as Tatsumi quickly dispatched the two Earth Dragons. "Pfft, what I did for him wasn't luck. Him managing to kill those beasts with a few blows that's luck. Even I couldn't do that. I'd need her to help me. I better get back to the Capital though. My shift's starting in an hour." he muttered as he headed towards the gate and waved at several soldiers.

"Morning Gaston, Lefou." He stated as he entered.

"Ah! M-morning Bard!" Gaston stated as the mentioned person chuckled and walked through the streets and the slums. Bard had grown accustomed to living in the capital, but he didn't like how the Empire was corrupting itself to near collapse. He'd dare not openly criticize the root though, it would be like painting a red target on his back. He was just a Guardsman, living in the capital and had a decent Patrol route with some friends he made in the Police division.

The only perk the guardsman had in terms of living here, was his girlfriend. Well, that's how most of the Capital view him with one of the Empire's Strongest. General Esdeath however was currently out campaigning in the North. He wanted to go with just to feel the cold Northern air once more at this time of year.

However, the General left a note that morning telling him otherwise and he fished it out of his pocket to read it again just to have the sound of her voice in his head;

"My Dearest Bard,

I left to go on the Campaign against Numa Seika. With luck I'll be home in about three weeks or less. Be on your best behavior, do not criticize the nobles and don't make the prime minister mad. I wish that I and the three beasts would take you along to test how strong you've become, but I don't want to risk your safety or worse, you ending up lost in the wilderness.

I look forward to when I see you afterwards,

Your beloved Snow Queen, Esdeath

P.S. I hope you like the new armor I'm commissioning for you. I expect you to wear it if you even want me to consider taking you into battle with me Darling."

Bard sighed and shook his head with a small smile as he walked towards the mansion where he, Esdeath and her three subordinates, Liver, Daidara and Nyau lived. "She does like to baby me at times." He muttered as he walked through the busy Capital streets.

An hour later

Bard was whistling a small tune, garbed in imperial guard clothing as he walked the streets of the capital, more specifically the ones near the Palace itself. It wasn't that dreadful a job, however with a group of assassins known as Night Raid on the prowl, his job was even more important to potentially stop any assassinations of the Emperor. Just the Emperor. The Prime Minister as far as Bard is concerned was a toxin.

Esdeath wasn't blind to that fact or his opinions. However she told him he'd kick him out if a toe was put out of line. Unbeknownst to him, it was an empty threat, but Bard, afraid of being abandoned once more, complied to her will.

"Has it really been ten years since my clan abandoned me?" He thought. "Ten years since I met her? What can I do to show my appreciation for her?"

"Hello there Bardulf." Said a gruff voice as he froze in his patrol and turned to a big salute.

"G-Great General Budo sir! How are you this fine day?" Bard asked.

"At ease Guardsman. I was simply checking up on your Patrol." The tall intimidating head of the Imperial Military said. "How is it going in terms of it?"

"It's been quiet so far. But I can't vouch that people are not unhappy." The young guardsmen sighed. "I know I'm probably forbidden to speak freely about the corruption but it's-"

"Making the Empire unstable?" Budo finished. "I know you feel that way but the revolutionary army should be dealt with first."

"Well I haven't seen any sign of it here, or the group of assassins called Night Raid when I get to the young hours of Night." Bard stated.

Budo said nothing but his thoughts deduced his suspicions. "It's because they know the fate of the revolution, and the key to potentially turning Esdeath against Honest is you boy. If any harm came to you from either side of this perilous chessboard Bard, God forbid that from happeneing, only heaven and hell knows what Esdeath could do in violent retribution."

"I'm sure some action may come your way. Good day Bard." Budo said as he left for the imperial palace.

"Good day, sir." Bard stated as he resumed his patrol. He walked away feeling like he potentially dodged a scolding from the intimidating man.

"I hope Esdeath is having fun up north." He thought.

Meanwhile in the North

Esdeath,

I had a feeling you'd leave me behind at the Capital again. You always seem to think I need to be kept safe. I may only be a fraction of how strong you are now but I'm improving! Seryu and the other members in the Police force think so. No stress though on Seryu's part. I belong to you, no one else as you said."

"All the same she should know her place Liver." Esdeath stated. "But she's a candidate for the all Teigu team I want to form." The young girl had grown into an exceptionally beautiful woman. Tall, shapely, and desirous of all men's dreams. However, her ideals of weak and strong have never wavered, and she has, ever since reaching the capital, developed a 'small hobby' for torture. As for her childhood vows, she made good on them and declared him hers.

"Do you wish for me to keep reading his letter milady?" Liver asked as Esdeath nodded for the former general to proceed.

"Tell Liver and the others I said 'Hi and good luck'. I'll wait for your return. I hold no promises on staying out of trouble, what with some of the unrest going on in this nation today. Come back soon.

Yours Faithfully,

Bard."

Esdeath sighed in contentment. "At least he's behaving nicely without me around. Of course when I get back I'm having a talk with him about not mentioning the new armor in his letter."

"Bard is a busy Guardsman Milady." Liver said as he set the letter down. "No doubt his views of the armor would not fit your liking hence the not mentioning."

"I'll still have to scold him." The General stated. "Maybe freezing him to the wall for ten minutes will do."

"That's no way to making him lean more towards the love and adoration you desire from him." Liver stated. Esdeath only scoffed at his statement.

"I still don't get how she likes him. He's got pretty low stats and rarely levels up." Daidara mumbled as an icicle whizzed past him.

"I'll look into a punishment later for you." The Empire's Strongest stated. "However, we have a campaign to finish and I have a lover to come home to." As she said those words she got up and walked towards a map on a table. Her lips turning into a sadistic smirk as she slammed her hand upon it.

"Let us see what you got, Numa Seika!"

I have Not one, But Two Short Omakes for you! Enjoy!

Omake Antics! No.1: Cuddles

When they were kids

Bard mumbled in his sleep and curled into the tiger pelt even more. He creaked an eye open and noticed a strand of blue hair in front of him. The ten year old's eyes widened as he realized there were arms wrapped around him.

"Wh-what the?!" Bard shouted as a voice mumbled behind him.

"It was extra cold today. I needed another heat source other then the fire." Esdeath said.

"But also because I'm testing the waters for our future together. Fufufu." She thought as the ghost of an obsessive smile formed before quickly fading to a girlish smile.

When They have Grown Up

Bard woke up in the huge bed feeling a someone pull him further against them. "I'm a body pillow again. This is the third time this week." Bard mumbled as Esdeath tugged a bit of the amber eyed man's hair.

"Bard~, that's my kill, let me feed you." She mumbled. Bardulf could only sweatdrop at the plausible hunting dream his significant other was having. The question running in his head was if her dream was potentially his nightmare.

No. 2: Welcome Home!

Esdeath opened her bedroom door after a long campaign in the southern lands, hoping to find Bard writing a journal entry like he does at the end of every shift of guard duty he has, only to find him asleep at the desk with a Bouquet of blue roses. She picked up a letter hidden amongst it that simply stated "Welcome Home."

"Blue Roses?" Esdeath said with a raised eyebrow, "Were you getting in trouble again or trying to steal a kiss from me?~" she leaned and kissed her sleeping lover's cheek as she picked him up and carried him to bed.

"It's good to be Home."

Hope you enjoyed that because now it's;

Review Response time!

Chance Green G King: Hope you like the Cuddling Omake! As for the last part, you can have my word there will be a hard fight for a future together. Bard and Esdeath have a looong way to go before a win is guaranteed.

Animefan260: Oh trust me. It will eventually be told. But I'm going to give out small bits of evidence before presenting the whole story. The truth will be told.

grither55: Yeah, they were just kids way back then. However, they're grown up and now we'll have to see how much Bard means to her as an adult.

tombomb4592: I love Esdeath as a character too. I shall endeavor to do great! Oh and thank you for the review!

As it is still the Holidays I wish you a Happy safe Holidays and as always;

Remember to review!