Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of The Lioness and the Wolf. Enjoy the 6400-Word chapter. I do not own AGK, Takahiro, Square Enix, and a few others do.

(Empire)

Jace felt a weight across his back before he sighed, knowing what was growing on his mind before now.

He cracked his spine, knowing only what would become of it at the end of the day, not at all knowing what would become of himself at the end of the day.

"You good?" Jace heard from Leone as he paused to think, knowing what was growing on his back as he cracked his spine.

Leone said nothing, knowing what would become of it. She straightened up as did he, knowing what was becoming of it all, she would not allow it to end, not now when push came to shove.

She watched as Jace grabbed his coat, the former colonel donning it as he looked at her.

"Last chance to back out… Before we all go crashing down the hill." Jace stated before he hummed, knowing what was going on.

He had not been able to act, he would not for now… Too much was on the line if he failed… Far too much was growing on her mind before she let it end.

She was too relaxed for now as she paused to let it come down to it. He was silent, very silent, knowing only that he could act was not enough.

"You are itching for a fight," Leone said. "So am I. I ain't leaving when there is still work to do… And I do not leave jobs half down." Leone stated with a sigh as she thought of it at the end of the day.

Leone was too interested in the next mannerism it could have been dealt with for now. She stood fully upright, knowing what the next move would be.

She had zero desire to end it for now, knowing what would become of it at the end of the day.

She had zero desire to let it all end. She had been interested in it for now, knowing what was growing at the end of the day.

She was exhausted, knowing the next idea would be easy enough to deal with for now and for good reason.

If Jace feared something? It meant bad news for her to begin with.

Jace did not even know what was growing on his mind… She had a lot of things on her brain and all of it was not going to be enough to make it worse.

She sighed, knowing what was going on and not wanting it to get into the case of not wanting it to end.

She had to let it all end, not once would it decay, not once. She would be able to think, all of it? All of it ended well enough and that was good enough for him at the end of the day.

There were a lot of things which need needed to be dealt with not when now when it was all said and done and figured out when it was all said and done when it was all said and done.

She seemed to be dealing with it to the end of it.

Leone could only grasp to look downwards to the ground, something which needed to get the drop on it either damn way, there was something that needed to be dealt with.

The girl clicked her fingers. She clasped her taloned hands on her sides as she sighed and shook her head. All of this? Every single little second of pain and suffering.

Jace for his part seemed intent on dealing with it to its natural conclusion. Each little second of the day… There were a lot of things that needed to be dealt with for now.

All of it seemed to be harder and harder. She would not be able to relax, to let it be done and dusted. The two of them slowly and surely seemed to walk forward, knowing that was harder and harder to think of it.

All the chaos was growing harsher and more painful in her brain like she was too dealt with for now.

Jace hummed, knowing what was growing on his mind. Each little part of the soldier in her seemed to be relaxed, however. you could not kill a soldier so much as wound them.

Leone looked at him as they walked, she could tell each little second of the day. This all seemed to be over to the end, such chaos would become harder and harder to impress upon them.

There was chaos, a pain that needed to be dealt with for a good reason. There were a lot of things that needed to be over with for now.

All of it seemed to be over as Leone hummed, letting it all end peacefully. She could not have understood it, would not handle it. The chaos which he thrived on? it was not yet done and there was more to it there than there should have been. Even he could not have dealt with it yet, knowing what was handling itself.

"Tired?" Leone asked as he nodded and shook his head. "Like I said, we need sleep. If the boss is so cranky? You can tell her I was drunk again; it would work for the most part." Leone stated.

"Wouldn't fool her well enough and you know it, that's why I ain't doing it. That? And it's a crappy lie, there are better ones than that and you know it." Jace said.

She laughed, guessing that Jace was tired and he was rambling but it was clear that he cared enough to want her at her best and brightest.

All of it hurt but there was at least some desire to see it end… Some desire to let it end, for now, a desire to be above this, above what came next… To have it come so soon? This sort of thing was beyond it, beyond them all, either way, knowing that did not help.

Jace sighed, feeling her claws on his side. He knew damn well what was at stake and had zero desire to let this end the wrong way.

If they were to win or lose? It would be nicer and nicer… This sort of chaos was something that a rebel like him was used to… Even if Leone drove him up a damn wall at the end of the day.

Leone chuckled as the two walked towards their appointment. He could not for the life of him seem to understand what was going on… Not much, not when he dealt with it for now… There was such a chaotic little pain in the teeth which needed to be addressed.

'This woman almost makes me pity Matias… No, I take it and I will make sure he faces justice… Then and only then will I back off.' Jace thought as he sighed.

He could not allow her to end it, he could not allow this to end… Even then? There were a lot of things, a lot which needed to be assumed and dealt with now.

There was amusement written on his face… Some amusement was almost wiped off.

(Najenda's office)

Najenda was not stupid. She was not stupid at all, there would always be warlords trying to prop themselves up as the new ruler of the empire. She had seen a thousand, all of which had failed because they lacked Honest's ability to strategize and Esdeath's fear-mongering which made her so powerful.

Matias was someone she had not known until recently. He had been a speck before Esdeath kicked it and a soldier who would have been butchered a thousand times if she had been around.

Now? without the two leaders of the empire? He had been able to run amuck, to fight, and to act… There was a lot of chaos that needed to be dealt with… Something that needed to be addressed.

Without Matias? She would be able to move forward with helping the empire rebuild… But it had cost her friends she had needed and her allies.

'All of Night Raid… Dead besides Akame and Leone. The only two left beside them and me… Damn it, why did all the good soldiers die back then?' Najenda thought to herself before she relaxed as she paused to think.

All of it? All of it seemed to be dealing with it sooner or later. There was a lot more to it and that seemed to be a very personal reason.

There was something else, something that needed to be dealt with either blasted way now, knowing what was going on.

Either way? It did not end. Either way? It could not and would not be the end of their schemes as those were just beginning… The only problem with this was that it would become crashing to the ground, wrapped in a small quandary of problems.

All of it only served to push Jace further as a warrior, knowing that such a thing would be done and dusted, that it would not end at all.

"You think I can get something to drink before we talk to the boss?" Leone asked before she looked to the side.

"Leone, I do not think she cares if you drink. You are the one who worked for her right now." Jace stated as Najenda seemed to be smirking.

She knew what was going on, she did not wish to relax once more as she thought of what was going on. Perhaps there were more problems once again as she relaxed for now.

"You can come in, Colonel," Najenda stated before she paused to think and to act.

She knew that every single little step was to push her further ahead before she collapsed from exhaustion. This was not going to be dealt with for now as she clicked her fingers.

The two entered the room, and there appeared to be a few seconds of silence, knowing what would become of it once again. Leone seemed to keep growing before it came crashing to the ground.

Leone seemed to be done and dusted, she smirked, her arms under her chest as she smirked. Jace only seemed to relax, tired, and interested in the monster that was next to her… This would end once more.

Leone hummed to which he yawned and then he paused to look downwards once again.

"You tired?" Leone asked before he looked at Jace.

"Yep, yep," Jace said before he sighed and then looked to the side.

He looked so tired that he would just collapse into the ground. He was tired, very tired at the end of the day. She could tell neither was on edge before she relaxed once again.

The aura that was in the air was entirely relaxing to them. She knew the work of being an officer and she envied them on the battlefield before she sighed to try and think of what was happening in her mind.

She had been too interested in the next move they would make, knowing what was growing once again as she paused. She had stood on ceremony for such a time which needed to be decided for now.

All of it? All of this had to be done in one way or another, this would be over.

"So… We just going to let this happen or are we going to move on with the meeting?" Jace questioned in a tone that was half joking and half not.

It was amusing to him but he looked at Leone with more interest than he had before now as there was little to nothing else on his mind besides ending this.

Leone would come down to try and figure it out as he paused to let it all spill out. There were a lot of things that he needed to deal with for now as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

It was such a thing that he could not let it be ended for now as he sighed and then looked to the side. This was a very hard pill to swallow.

"She thought we could come in whenever we wanted to… And I said we cannot." Jace said.

"Because we're exhausted… Dude, you have never slept before as a rebel, have you?" Leone asked.

"Doesn't mean we can let Matias get away," Leone stated before she looked downwards at the end of the day.

Jace laughed, knowing that he was out of luck, out of options when it came to that. He had a lot of things he would rather be doing, there was very little he could do, so little that it might as well be nothing… However? In his mind? it was nothing compared to what he had to deal with.

To be honest? There was something about this that made him want to laugh, made him relax before he thought as he clicked it into place and he finally relaxed.

All of it simply amused him and that was fine, completely, and utterly fine. There was nothing left to it where he could or would argue within it now, not that he could admit it for now.

Leone seemed to be dealt with as she rolled her eyes and then looked to the side. She hummed and then looked to the ground, she heard before she paused to look downwards at the end.

Leone hummed and leaned on Jace and then rolled his eyes as she clicked her fingers.

There was a moment of silence as he looked, glancing downwards before Najenda seemed to try and figure it out as he sighed. He would not be able to try and figure it out as he paused to let it come downwards.

He would not be able to relax until they exploded and it burned down to nothing. Whatever happened next? He could not let it happen, but until it was all said and done, there were a lot of things to unpack either way.

He had not been able to stop being amused by her at the end. He was just tired as she admitted it for now. He knew he was going to pass out sooner or later when all of it was over.

Everything he had left would be impossible to deal with for now, he rolled his eyes and then looked to the side.

All of him was tired, very tired. He could barely stay on his feet much less act the way he had wanted to. That? Her proximity was two of the reasons he did not wish this to happen to anyone at the end of the day, knowing the rules.

He remained too eager to deal with it for now, there was a small part of it at the end of the day and that alone might be enough for it.

Leone leaned on him like a sack of potatoes as the two paused, thinking for a moment what was already over at the end of the day… Such a thing? Such an exaggeration of abilities? It would be beyond her idea.

"You are going to have to punish me, boss. I was the one who suggested all that… Mainly because I could not sleep and everything going on was not helping." Leone stated to which she paused.

Her boss could only sigh, knowing that her antics were not exactly that offbeat of what had gone on… There were a lot of ideas, a lot of things that she did not wish to figure out anytime soon.

Jace for his part? Simply sighed, knowing that she was going to be bugging him all day. He could not blame himself as he had known damn well that this all had been something that he had brought upon him from it at the end of it.

He had not been in that position for quite a while… All of it was harder and harder to figure out while pushing it forward like this.

"I know… General Matias has been busy since we last talked." Najenda stated.

The duo both looked at him, almost pausing to think for a moment, knowing that it was surreal… Leone tapped her hands on her feet before she spoke.

"What exactly are we going to be doing out there then?" Leone asked.

"You're going to kill him while we deal with his forces," Najenda stated. "Seems we never get a rest from the hells we create," Najenda stated.

"Matias was nothing back when the empire still existed… My dad knew even if we won. There was always going to be people trying to take over…" Jace said with a sigh. "Without Esdeath and the rest of the heavy hitters? There is not anyone stopping them from trying to take over." Jace stated.

"There is always going to be someone standing in the way, Jace… It is why we did the dirty work." Jace heard.

"Yeah…We always must put these jackasses down… I wish we got paid or had vacation…" Leone stated.

"You were almost dead…" Jace said.

"Pff. If it was that easy to kill me? I would be dead during the war, lover boy." Leone stated.

"I almost regret using that thing…." Jace muttered.

"I wish we could make more of it… Bringing people back from the grave was something that I could have used before." Najenda said.

"If it helps? I have it back at the house… Best as I heard? One-time use… I did not even know whom to bring back with it, to begin with." Jace stated.

He had been silent, tired… Yet? He knew damn well he could afford it now, afford to do much better than this at the end of this day and all such days.

He had been too unable to what was going on as he paused to let it come to the end of the road. He looked at her really for a moment and both knew this.

She looked at him, a devilish smirk that split her lips and exposed her fanged teeth. This was something that needed to be dealt with and done with such haste it needed to be done with for now.

Najenda looked between the two as she realized her friend had an interest in this which had dragged them both into a fight they could not win. She knew her friend cared for all of her was so little to fight for left…. Something like this? The chance to cut loose? There was something between them but she could not pin it down right.

She knew him but she also did not at the same time. Whatever she had wanted from them? It was to be unfamiliar and beyond all words, knowing what needed to be done was something beyond them as well.

It was going to have been something fun as Leone tapped on her knees, knowing what was coming either way.

"So, we kill this guy, save the empire, and then we all go home happy? Boss, you know we are not heroes and you know damn well we are not saints." Leone stated.

"I see you haven't changed a bit," Leone stated with a smirk.

"Could not if I wanted, boss… Hubby wouldn't like that." Leone said as Jace sighed. "What, nothing? I expected at least a little twinge in your face." Leone stated.

"I have been around you quite a bit. It will take a lot more than you to bug me, Leone." Jace stated.

"Don't tempt me, I'll make it harder for you…" Leone purred as Jace rolled his eyes.

"Course you will. I did not even for a second think you will not." Jace stated to which she sighed.

Leone could only say nothing as she paused to know what was going on, paused to know what she would try if it had been done and dusted.

Whatever he tried? Whatever failed? It would be over sometime soon. All of it needed to be done and dusted either way. She tapped on her legs, knowing what was going on and not wanting it to be done at all if it could be helped.

There were a lot of things that needed to be done… A lot more that needs to be decided. Leone could only hope that such a thing would become easier.

She looked at him with amusement, something written across his face as he looked at her. Najenda barely needed to look at them to realize this was nothing beyond pushing them into another sort of security bubble that needed to be dealt with by the end of the day.

All of it just told her that more and more things were ending as a result and this was going to be one of those.

It hurt, it hurt a lot to know the old guard was gone, destroyed, and brushed off… All of them were nothing further than rats caught in a cage, being rattled around. She did not even know what was going on, not that it might help if they did something.

She looked to the side, smirking as she looked at him, more amused with each second.

Leone was tired, she was beaten down by her problems…. Yet? She knew she could handle this.

"Boss? Even if we do not die? We both know how dangerous this is going to be. We are rebels, we are soldiers…. And trash like us must stick together." Leone stated.

"Trash?" Jace asked as he raised an eyebrow and then smirked before she paused to think.

She looked to the side and then thought of something. She could tell that so much was going to be happening next… The fight had to come and it had to be stopped.

Whatever Matias did? They would fight and fight well when it was all over.

"We both know we are going to be on death's door either way… Matias is ready for us…. We both know that all his forces will be prepared for an attack, the most I can do is provide you with a distraction…. You are going to have to kill him yourselves." Najenda stated as they shrugged.

Both knew how dangerous this was, they knew it would be next to impossible for it to be easy. They knew death was probably going to occur even if they tried their best, there was only so much they could do to try and ward off the enemy, anything else would be insane.

Leone looked at Jace as he sighed, knowing damn well that he was probably going to end up leading some insane type of counterattack. He was not ready for it and he might never be ready for it.

All such chaos had to be condemned when it came down to it… They had to fight, they had to be too easily ready for any changes… Changes would simply need to be accounted for.

Leone looked at her boss who looked backwards. She knew damn well that her boss did not know what to say so she said it for her.

"It will be an honor to die for Night Raid if I do die, boss. I have had a good life; I do not mind dying for a cause… Especially if I get to take some of the scumbags down with me at the end." Leone stated before she paused.

She did not know what was going on as she paused to herself. She could not see herself settling down, walking away from this sort of life… But she was mistaken before and she knew she could ill afford to be wrong here when it was said and done.

There were a lot of things that needed to be done and would be done if it was all over for them.

"Are we setting out now or waiting for something?" Jace asked as he raised an eyebrow, guessing that if he wished.

They would have more abilities to relax, something that he knew quite well.

"In four days, we will have cornered Matias. In 3 days? You both hunt him down…. He has several enforcers and such but I have a plan." They heard.

Both shrugged, guessing the plan might doom them but knowing that they would have enough fire in them to get through it now.

He knew more and more that such a thing was coming. He was prepared for it and prepared for something far beyond what had been needed and far beyond what was asked.

Jace cleared his throat and made peace with what he would ask, knowing what would become of it.

"How…. Likely are we to die?" Jace asked, leaning back in his chair. "I know we are likely to die but there is almost no chance we come out of this alive, is there?" Jace asked before he blinked, realizing just how dangerous this was.

"There is an 80% either you or Leone or both will die. Matias is not stupid and he is not someone to take lightly." Najenda stated.

Jace sighed and rubbed at his temples. He thought so and guessed they would probably die. Only a fool would expect to get into a war with foes like this and come out intact.

Leone for her part fell silent, none of her trademark snark showing up. Why? She knew they were going to probably die and that meant making peace.

"I want to go home for a bit…. Then we can go back, do you mind meeting us at our place?" Leone asked.

"That small little run-down house? No, I do not. I do not mind; I will do it tomorrow… Bar is down the street." Najenda stated.

She was too silent and she was too famous, too fascinated at the end of the day. Leone was too thrown off before she looked to the side as he paused, thinking of what was growing on before now as she thought.

Jace was too interested in what was growing inside his mind, they had so many details to go over… And so much he had left to comb through.

Leone was able to think of all the ways this could backfire… And she knew exactly what was going through the madness and that would continue to hinder them in ways that could not possibly be dealt with for now.

She had been able to figure out what needed to be done and what needed to occur.

Leone was aware that if they died? Well, Matias would get away and all the work her boyfriend had done to have saved her life would be for naught. She could not let that occur so it seemed she just had to not fail or die at all… Easier said than done but still doable.

Well, hopefully, it was doable. She thought of what was growing on now as she paused to try and figure it out when it came down to it as she wished to be done.

Leone sighed with annoyance, done with it as she wished to try and figure out what was growing on her brain, growing to be done with it all the way.

Leone seemed to try and figure it out as she wished to try and think. She did not want to think of it once more and then looked to figure something out alongside her boyfriend.

Najenda watched as the two exited and Leone gripped his hands, almost clenching them tight enough that his hands might break if he had not tried something.

It was clear to Najenda that they were close enough to deal with. She wished to relax at the time being as she paused to try and figure it all out, she had always been eager to help others.

Now? Now Najenda could tell just how close Leone had been to someone close to her heart… All of Night Raid was dead and gone besides her, besides a few of her friends, and all of them were buried alone, in small doses.

All of it was very much harder and harder to deal with. Leone was too eager to try and figure out how close her boyfriend was to her.

"Jace?" Najenda asked as she paused and thought better and better of not knowing what was to become of it to the end for now.

They held onto each other.

"Take care of my friend… I do not have much family left and I do not want anything to do with the army, but I do not have much left… Does not mean I want to lose them anytime soon." Najenda stated before she sighed and then thought about what was growing on when it came down to it.

Najenda stated before she paused to think of what was growing on her mind before she thought once more. She could not picture Leone being a girlfriend to anyone.

Granted? Leone had also never been the type not to flirt with someone when it came down to it.

Leone was eager to let it come down to him and her, she had lived a good life, and dying was not something she minded once again.

Whatever they faced? She and he would deal with each moment as she paused to try and figure it out. Leone and he both thought about what was growing more as she wished it the best and for the best. She would have fought as much as possible.

Whatever she did not know? It would have been harder and harder for him to consider something like this for now… Eager to think of what was to be done and dusted.

All of it became harder and harder to truly think… All of it became harder and harder to truly believe in, for now, something that needed to be over and done in the best way possible the more effort they put in.

Leone dragged him back, she could tell that he was going to be in trouble, a lot of insanity when it came down to it.

(Outside the office)

Leone was eager to think of the next drink she tried to put down. if she was going to die? She would die enjoying life at the time being.

Leone hummed, looking at Jace who had tired himself out smirking once more. Leone was too interested in what had been done now and for good reason.

Jace sighed and took a seat down on the bar. Leone was too interested in what was going to happen next and then he crossed his arms as he thought of the next move.

Leone watched as Jace seemed to be tired, rubbing at his temples. She was too eager to think for now.

Jace hummed and Leone looked at him, poking a feline finger on the ground as she thought of her next move.

Everything that came next would be harder and harder. Leone? Leone wanted to be so smashed she might as well end up being used as a bulletproof shield.

She did not know what was coming. He? He was still mulling over the options when it came crashing down.

Leone rubbed at her face before she looked downwards at the ground. She thought once more… All of it seemed to be done and dusted, pointing out now and for good reason.

She had been too eager to think of it now and for good reason now and forever…. Now? Now it had been fun, before? It had simply been something to consider now.

"You know you are going to wipe out the entire bank account, right?" Leone heard before she waggled her fingers at him once more and more with each second before she thought once again.

Leone hummed, watching as Jace seemed to be shaking his head, watching the woman put her hands on her hips once again. Leone was too eager to drink, grabbing a bottle and starting to down it once more.

She was eager to get it all said and done. She and he both thought once more and both times they had tried to figure it out once more.

To be fair? Jace could not argue once more, she wished to think of it once more as she wished it to have been for now…. Something about it all became harder and harder now at the time being.

Leone would not make it funny but she would take his mind off the chaos of trying to not die on the battlefield.

She wished to try and figure it out, yet? She had no answers now or even in a thousand different years. She did not even realize she could not have allowed it to get so far out of control when it came crashing down.

Leone would keep growing more and more amused now before he looked to the side, thinking of it when it came down to it. They had a LOT more to deal with for now when it was all over.

Jace seemed to sigh to himself before he looked to the side, he was bored of it when it all seemed to be done and dusted.

(20 minutes later)

Jace sighed as he rubbed his temples before he looked at Leone, pausing for now, thinking only what would be done now and for good reason. She lay draped across the couch, pausing to think of it when all of it was crashing down to the ground.

"You tired at all?" Leone heard to which she nodded. "Good… We are going to get going sooner or later. I do not like this damn plan at all." Leone heard as she sighed once more.

She did not at all know what was growing on Jace's mind, something about it all came crashing down to it. She looked over at him before she looked to the side.

The massive lion-like woman sighed, tired. Yes, exhausted? Absolutely. It was CLEAR something would end and break now.

She looked to the side, something about it all came crashing to the ground before she looked to the side and then thought of what was growing on her mind. Leone seemed to click into place.

Leone seemed to be eager to think of it all when it was decided for now when it was all said and done.

"You got more to drink?" Leone asked to which Jace shrugged, thinking of what was happening.

"Hmm." Leone seemed to think as she tossed the bottle into the garbage before she looked to the side.

She tapped her foot on the edge of the couch before she looked to the side as she looked once again around the room, an idea that was boring her.

Leone hummed, bored and incapable of doing something that needed to be done and dusted now when it was all said and done.

She rubbed at her temples and cracked her fingers, eager with it all when it was all over. She sighed bored, exhausted, something that was cutting through it all when it all seemed done.

Leone looked over at Jace, watching as his newspaper crinkled, questioning what was happening, smirking to himself before he looked at her and she raised an eyebrow.

She watched as Jace sighed, rubbing at his temples before he looked to the side.

"You should know the general is going to be coming here sooner or later." Leone seemed to hear as she paused to herself.

Still? There were a LOT of different details on his mind before she smirked and then seemed to look at the ground, slowly pushing herself to her feet. She wished to be eager and engaged when this sort of option before she rolled her eyes and then yawned, her incisors poking out of her mouth like little knives.

Leone seemed to be tired of it to the end. She knew more and more that he and she were bound down this damn path, crashing and rolling and kicking and screaming. It was clear to anyone who would listen to what was going on.

She of all people had managed to relax, something about it all had been happening. Something about it all became harder and harder… She and he were able to think of it much more quaintly.

Leone looked over at Jace, taking in the fact that he was beaten down. He was exhausted, very exhausted now… Whatever he held onto? It was something further and further along the path of it all.

She did not care, she knew more and more that each little pothole on the path was nothing now, nothing compared to what was growing in her brain.

"You know, you can talk if you want. I know… I know I have done a lot of stuff." Leone stated.

"Got a lot on my mind, Leone, that's all," Jace stated, silent for now.

He always fell silent when she was able to relax, always being thrown off at the end of the day. Something about it all was odd but she kept whatever she felt deep down.

She did care for Jace, whatever his opinion. She cared and she felt secure in caring about him as much as possible.

The problem was simple, all of them had been thrown off now, all of it was on the message, something about it all made her tired, very exhausted and it was then and there something within her was commonly thrown off.

She looked at Jace as the former Colonel opened the door to their shared house. Part of him was exhausted, that much was entirely clear, entirely off the beaten path… The issue was simple, she had been too constrained to view it with a side of amusement.

She looked at him as he stared at her, he was not entirely in a mood to think… To act, he would do so if she knew he had no choice but he was thrown off.

"If you want to say something? Say something… Cause it ain't going to get any easier."

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will show more of the setup for the final arc of the story. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!