*Knock Knock Knock*

"Hm?" Esdeath looked up from her desk, hearing someone knocking.

"H-Hey! I said you can't go in there!"

She could also hear Wave calling out to someone.

"Sorry, Don't care." Who that was knocking talked back, and opened the doors anyway.

And Esdeath immediately recognized them.

He was Teen with a long black overcoat that reached the back of his knees, with a darkish red shirt and black long pants and leather boots. Alongside short black hair and...shades indoors.

"Ah! Ash! Glad you could finally make it." Esdeath greeted the teenage boy.

"Yo! Sorry about coming so late. Got held up a bit more back in south." the boy named Ash waved at the general.

"M-Ma'am, you know this guy?" Wave asked.

"Why yes. He is the teammate I told you about that was held up outside of the capital on a mission." Esdeath explained "Or did you already forget that?"

"U-Um, no." Wave stuttered.

"Yeah yeah yeah sure you didn't." Ash brushed wave off "SO! Where's the rest of the gang?"

"Actually, You've come at the best time. One of our members along side his entire personal army and henchmen has disappeared." Esdeath explained as she began to walk out of the room "And we've been having some unique problems lately."

"Do tell." Ash followed while Wave just silently followed along.

'...who is this guy anyway?' Wave mentally asked himself.


"Everyone, Meet Ash, Our last member." Esdeath introduced.

"Sup',Sluts?" Ash coolly waved.

"E-Excuse us?!" Seryu gasped at what he called everyone.

"Are you referring to us?" Kurome asked with a glare.

"Hey, You said it not me." Ash laughed.

"Why this little!" Wave angrily stomped over to him before Esdeath got between the two.

"Enough. Ash, Control your humor. Wave, calm down." She strictly ordered.

"Hey come on! Just having fun." Ash said "But anyway, Nice to meet ya'all."

"It's quite nice to meet you ask well." Bols politely greeted.

"Indeed." Run said, not sure of how to think of the new member.


"Man this place looks expensive." Ash complemented as he looks around alongside Kurome, wave and Seryu, still with his shades on indoors "Where all the food at tho?"

"Kitchen." Kurome answered

"And where's that?" Ash asked.

"...Down the hall." Kurome answered.

"Which door? there's like a dozen doors down the hall." Ash asked.

'The hell's this guy's problem?!' Wave thought 'He just shows up and acts like he owns the damn palace, then he just does and says whatever he wants. and most importantly,'

"Aren't you gonna take your glasses off?" Wave asked "We're indoors you try-hard."

"Huh? My shades?" Ash asked "And Why are you callin' me a try hard?"

"Cause you're literally a try-hard to look cool!" Wave yelled.

"...I can't take these shades off. No matter what." Ash said, in a grimm tone.

"W-Why?" Seryu asked.

"Because, They hide a DARK, TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE and NIGHTMARISH Secret!" Ash said in a scary way, making the three spooked.

"W-What is it?!" Wave asked.

"...Wow, You believed that?" Ash laughed "There's nothing bad about my eyes dummy. I just have a rare condition that too much natural light can easily damage my pupils. That's why I gotta have these shades on all the time. Sometimes even at night!"

"O-Oh..." Wave said and they all sighed.

"...Buuuut...there's something interesting around the capital lately." Ash said as he pulled out the Red Reapers wanted poster from his coat "Everyone's apparently goin' NUTS over who ever this night raid mascot is. Care to fill me in please?"

"...That's the Red Reaper." Seryu started, with a hint of anger in her tone "One night, She appeared and mascaraed so many good soldiers and even escaped General Budo. She's also seen disturbing the peace and killing innocent and good men that help the empire."

"We've heard she's practically a monster. And get this: They say she could turn into a gust of flowers! How crazy is that?!" Wave explained further.

"...What...Kind of flowers?" Ash asked.

"Roses." Kurome answered,

"...Red hood. Has a Scythe. Turns to roses..." Ash said to himself "...That's pretty interesting."

"But no matter what, We WILL bring that monster to justice!" Seryu proudly announced.

"Good on you!" Ash gave a thumbs up "So is there anyone else I should know about here?"

"There's also the Generals girlfriend." Kurome pointed out.

"Girlfriend? Damn I thought the Ice queen would be single with her hobbies." Ash said "Who'd that be?"

"Her...Name is Ruby." Wave mumbled.

"...R-R-Ruby?" Ash suddenly stuttered in shock for some reason.

"Yeah, We...Kinda lost her around a week ago." Wave explained.

"YOU lost her." Kurome corrected.

"I'm sure she's fine! They say don't judge a book by it's cover, remember?" Seryu said.

'...This just keeps getting more and more complicated.' Ash thought to himself.


A day later, Bols, Wave and Ash were by a road, saving a carriage from the new Danger beasts that had appeared.

"Phew," Bols sighed as he burned down the last remaining Danger beasts with his flamethrower, and then faced the civilians in the cart "Are you okay?"

"EEEEEEEEK!" The two men screamed in fear when they saw Bols' mask.

"Chill out." Ash said as he appeared next to them, seemingly just chilling "He's with the good guys."

"R-Really?" One of them asked.

"Please come this way!" Wave said as he led the two civilians toa safe place.

"...Bols?" Ash called out.

"Yes?" Bols answered.

"Take that crap off your face." Ash demanded as he reached out toward Bols' mask.

"W-Wait don't please!" Bols pulled his head back.

"Look, People will keep getting scared if you keep that on. I don't really wanna calm them down all the time man." Ash said with annoyance "What, you disfigured or somethin'?"

"N-No! Not at all." Bols answered.

"...Then Why do ya keep that on? It makes you look kinda dumb man." Ash bluntly stated.

"I...Have my reasons." Bols answered.

"...forget it, you go on ahead. Imma check the scorched monsters you left behind for a bit." Ash said as he walked away toward the burned Danger beast corpses and waved at Bols "I'll catch up!"

"Sure." Bols nodded and he walked off.

Ash was finally alone. He kicked one of the burned danger beasts for a bit and was awfully silent.

"...You there yet?" He called out.

"I'm here." A voice talked back...from the trees, or shadows.

"Good. What could you find?" Ash asked.

"Everything about the Jaegers. As you requested."

"And The Red Reaper?" Ash asked.

"She is...very unique in the eyes of both the public and the empire. But are you sure both the Red Reaper and this...Ruby Rose are the same?"

"The details that I have on the red Reaper all check out." Ash said as he began to walk away "Keep the others under their leashes. Don't let them act out without orders. Or else, It's either YOUR head on my wall, or THEIRS."

"As you wish."


Meanwhile, Back in Marg highlands, Chelsea Grunted as she fell down in pain.

"...You're REALLY not good at this are you?" Ruby sighed, seeing their training was NOT going anywhere what so ever.

"I'm Trying okay?!" Chelsea said as she stood back up "I've never been the fighter type."

"And if you keep being not the fighter type you'll end up dead one day." Ruby harshly stated "Do you at least know how to use a weapon beside your needles?"

"N-not really." Chelsea answered.

"Seriously? Nothing?" Ruby asked "Like, Maybe a Hand gun. With a knife or a hidden wrist blade? These two combo really well along side disguise abilities as far as I know."

(Not just referring to TF2, but also 40K. Look it up.)

"I'm telling you, I don't know how to." Chelsea answered "I've never had to fight head on or be directly involved in a battle."

"Well that needs to be fixed. Or one day, when your face to face with an enemy you'll end up dead in a second."

"I'll just_" Chelsea tried to shrug it off like usual, however,

"No. You won't be able to escape. You won't be able to run. No one will be there in time to save you." Ruby repeatedly pointed out flaw after flaw in Chelsea's idea "And, You'll end up dead no matter what you do or try unless you learn how to fight back. Understood?"

"...Y-Yes." Chelsea nodded.

"Good. Now come at me again." Ruby ordered "Oh, And we'll be at this ALL day until you at least manage to land ONE Punch on me."

"ALL DAY?!" Chelsea gasped.

"Oh suck it up. I had to go through the same training and look where it got me." Ruby proudly gloated "You should have seen my Sister. She'd punch a hole through a Danger beast if she was still here. She taught me some stuff herself too!"

"...Actually, I'd hate to meet your sister. Cause you'd probably leave my training to her instead." Chelsea groaned.

"Wellllll...funny you should say that...You...kinda should know how she is already." Ruby chuckled.

"How's that?" Chelsea curiously asked.

"Listen up." Ruby then moved forward and whispered something into Chelsea's ear.

"...R-Really? Like, OUR Leone?" Chelsea asked in surprise.

"I know, Right?" Ruby said.


Shortly after, about 15 to 20 kilometers north-east of the capital, Night Raid's new hideout was finally made.

Except for something that Ruby also noticed.

"...Waaaaaait..." Ruby spoke up as everyone stood before their new hideout "...This is the EXACT same hideout as our last one. It's under a mountain too and looks the same."

"That's because this type of bases is easier to hide, and also easy to flee from." Akame explained.

"Oooooooh." Ruby nodded.

"Boss! I've set up all the security strings!" Lubbock said as he ran back to the group.

"Good job Lubbock." Najenda complemented.

"I finished our emergency exit route." Susanoo walked back to the group with a shovel over his shoulder.

"Oh, that was fast." Najenda said "Great job Susanoo!"

"Dang Iiiiiit!" Lubbock groaned as he glares right into Susanoo's face "Don't think this is over!"

"What are you talking about?" Susanoo asked.

'Seriously what is up with him?' Ruby asked herself 'Everytime Najenda complements Susanoo...nevermind, everytime she Complements ANYONE, He's always making a fuss over it. Is he being competitive or-Wait...Waaaaaaaaait...Oh...OOOOOOOH!' Ruby went wide eyes as she figured it out at last.


"I know we've just got our new Hideout, But our new target is a a new breed of Danger beasts." Najenda explained as everyone gathered in the meeting hall "They've been seen lurking around mines and forests, feeding off of people and livestock. The Empire and the Jaegers have been driving them back on a daily basis. But even so, their numbers might still be great."

"...Where did they come from?" Ruby asked curiously.

"My theory is that they are a old race of Danger beasts, buried for about 100 years and only awakened recently." Najenda explained "Or they might even be older. Like about 1000 years old or so."

'...But HOW did they awaken in the first place?' Ruby thought to herself.

"So, Will you all take this job as well?" Najenda asked.

"Of course!" Tatsumi nodded.

"Monster hunting has always been my specialty anyway." Ruby nodded too.

"But we'll also run into the Empire and the Jaegers, remember?" Chelsea finally spoke up "You should just leave it to them to take care of it. You guys are way to optimistic."

"...Really?" Ruby deadpanned "We're Too optimistic?"

"What are you implying?" Chelsea asked.

"You're the one that says she's gonna be alright as long as she can run or escape since she can't fight, right?" Ruby asked.

"what does that have to do with_" Chelsea tried to ask.

"That sounds like the PEAK of optimism to me." Ruby bluntly stated, which caused Chelsea to blush in embarrassment while the others laugh or chuckle.

"HAH! Serves you Right!" Mine mocked.

"WHATEVER! DO WHAT YOU WANT!" Chelsea yelled as she stomped away, embarrassed by Ruby's point.

"Did you really have to do that?" Tatsumi asked mid laughter.

"She'll thank me later." Ruby smirked "...Also, tats?"

"What is it?" tatsumi asked.

"Your flyer is open." Ruby bluntly said.

"WHAT?!" Tatsumi gasped as he sees that she was right.

This caused everyone to laugh harder at Tatsumi this time.

'...Back on remnant, when I threw away my optimism...I guess that was when the 'Red Reaper' was really born in the first place.' Ruby thought to herself as she watched the others laugh at A embarrassed Tatsumi 'I hope Chelsea understands that in order to throw away our optimistic thinking, we'd have to throw away our soul as well. I just hope she understands it the easy way.'


After the meeting, Everyone moved out to hunt the new danger beasts.

While they had to move out in groups, Ruby ended up with Lubbock for some reason.

"Ugh, I can't believe I ended up with the Harem Queen." Lubbock whined.

"Hey, it's not my fault!" Ruby shot back "I never even had a girlfriend before I came to this country."

"Whatever." Lubbock sighed.

'...I guess now's a better time than any to address that.' Ruby thought "So...Lubbock. I want to ask you something and I need you to answer me honestly."

"Fine. Shoot." Lubbock nodded.

"...Do you...Or do you not...have a crush on Najenda?" Ruby asked.

"...HOW DID YOU KNOW?!" Lubbock screamed!

"...Should I just list down how many times you've gotten jealous when she complements someone other than you?" Ruby deadpanned.

"Shit you're right! Who else knows?! Did you tell someone else?!" Lubbock asked.

"Nope. I figured it out by myself. Didn't tell anyone else." Ruby answered.

"Phew..." Lubbock sighed "...Y-Yeah. I...really do have a crush on her. It was almost love at first sight even."

"Really?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah. I...was the forth son of a local merchant. I always got whatever I wanted. I was a prodigy at whatever I tired as a hobby. My life was Boring as all hell." Lubbock explained "Then one day, Najenda was posted on my region. Again, It was life at first sight."

"Then you know her longer than anyone else." Ruby guessed.

"You bet. So I signed up to be a soldier and became her right hand man in no time." Lubbock explained "When she left for the revolutionary army, I snuck into the records department and made a false report that I died so I can defect too without any problems. I actually Amaze myself sometimes."

Ruby was actually stunned by his story.

"Oh what would you know? You have 4 beautiful girls chasing after you while I can't even confess my feelings without almost vomiting." Lubbock shrugged as he kept walking "You could say the real reason I really envy you is because you have the practically 3 or 4 times the courage I wish I had."

"...Just tell her." Ruby said.

"Say what?" Lubbock asked.

"No Games. No jokes. No dumb catchphrases and No pervy stuff." Ruby said "Just tell her how you feel."

"Wha- no way! NO! WAY!" Lubbock blushed hard "I just said when ever I think about it I feel like Vomiting!"

"Just calm down, and stay calm, and tell her!" Ruby encouraged "Trust me. If you don't...you might never get the chance to do it considering we all might die by the end."

"...Well...When you put it like that...I guess you're right." Lubbock nodded.

"Alright. This is where we should split up for a bit." Ruby said as she pulled her hood down, covering her face and head "I'll be back once I at least hunt some of them and bring back a sample or two."

"Good thinking. We might need to run some tests on their DNA later." Lubbock nodded "I set up my threads too. Go on. and Be careful."

Ruby nodded and petal bursts away.


After 3 minutes of dashing past the woods, Ruby stopped by a clearing and checked some trails on the grass.

"...They're close...REAL close..." Ruby thought...as she slowly reached back to her Crescent rose "...In fact."

Then, Something attacked her from behind, Only for her to unfold her scythe and slice it clean in half in an instant.

"Closer than I hoped." She said coldly, the new breed of Danger beast fallen dead on the grass.

And knowing that they travel and hunt in hordes, she looked around herself and spotted 4 more walking out of the woods. They looked like giant, bulky humanoid monsters just as she had heard.

"Okay, You freaks." Ruby said with a cold and serious tone "Time to die."


"...Sniff...Sniff sniff...That smell." Esdeath said, while she rides her personal dragon through the sky while on patrol, with her sense of smell somehow greated than the average human being "...Blood. And..."

She flew a little bit lower, and the second smell became much more clear to her, causing her eyes to widen

"...Blood and Roses..." Then, A smirk appeared on her face, before she spotted the source of the smells from above "...I've found you~"


*SLICE!*

And the last Danger beast was left decapitated on the grass while Ruby wiped some blood off her Scythe.

"...They're not all that smart after all. Still, Without Aura they would have been much harder to cut through." She then walked toward one of the corpses and knelt down before it "Now, for that Sample I needed."

*CRASH!*

"WHA?!" She then gasped as she heard something fall from the sky right behind her!

She turned around and through the dust and dirt that was kicked up in the air by the impact...she saw the last person she expected walk through.

"I've finally found you~" Esdeath said, as she walked forward with a smirk "I'm not letting you get away this time."

'...Oh no...' Ruby was frozen in place, Completely scared '...I can't hesitate. She's the enemy. It doesn't matter if I love her, I need to kill her!'

Without a word, Ruby raised her Scythe up ready to attack.

And as she dashed forward, Esdeath did the same with a sadistic smile.

...but...Just As Ruby was about to Swing Crescent Rose...Esdeath simply pushed it aside a bit before Ruby could fully swing it...and She pulled her into a tight, kind and living hug.

"W-wha?" Ruby silently gasped at this sudden action.

"I have you now, Ruby~"

...Ruby froze in her arms, shocked and stunned by her words.

"...You...You Knew?" Ruby stuttered.

"Oh Ruby~" Esdeath cooed as she gently held Ruby's chin, and made her look up at her still one am around her, and now able to see her eyes from under her hood "I've Knew from the Start."

"...From...the start?" Ruby gasped, her eyes wider than before.