"Our next target will be the rumored Serial killer." Najenda informed as everyone gathers in the meeting room "He appears during night, and beheads his victims and then disappears."
"Most of them were capital Guards right? He must be strong." Tatsumi pointed out.
"No doubt about it, It's "Zanku the Executioner"." Lubbock stated.
"...Who?" Tatsumi and Ruby both asked at the same time.
"You don't know who that is? You really are a countrybumpkin." Mine said.
"Um, Hello? Foreigner girl from another country here?" Ruby asked.
"I didn't mean you! Just him!" Mine yelled.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know who that is either." Sheele said.
"that's because you forgot!" Mine yelled.
"Can't you just simply explain who this is?" Ruby asked with a sigh.
"He originally worked in the largest prison in the kingdom as an executioner. And because of the minister, he had a lot of people to execute every day over and over again. It went on for so long that it became second nature for him." Mine explained.
"...So now he's a psychopath that wants to behead innocent people. right?" Ruby asked.
"That's about it." Mine nodded.
"Never thought he'd appear here in the capital tho." Bulat said.
"Then lets find this guy and take him out!" Tatsumi declared.
"Tats, no. I've been involved with this Kind of lunatics before. And fighting someone like him alone isn't safe " Ruby said, Talking from her experience with Tyrien.
"What she said." Bulat agreed "He stole a Teigu from the Prison before he escaped. So it's best we go out in teams."
"Before that. Tell me Ruby, How has their Aura training gone by now?" Najenda asked.
"Not much, but I managed to teach them everything I knew by now." Ruby answered.
"Good. Move out!" Najenda ordered.
And through night time, Ruby was paired up with Akame and Tatsumi.
"We'll be in charge of this district." Akame said.
"I guess the people are out of the streets because of the mass murders. That makes things easier_" Tatsumi tried to speak.
*WOOSH!*
Before Ruby grabbed them both, and bursts on a rooftop with her semblance.
"W-Whoa! What the-" Tatsumi gasped before Ruby gave him a shush signal, as they watched a group of guards running through the streets.
"...Capital Guards." Akame said.
"Guess we should have expected them to be around here too." Ruby said.
After they jumped down from the rooftop, Tatsumi finally came out and asked something that Ruby kind of forgot about.
"Hey, Can I ask you something?" Tatsumi asked.
"Don't worry. I brought enough Rations for all 3 of us." Akame gave a thumbs up.
"That's not what I meant!" Tatsumi said "I just wanted to ask...What's a Teigu?"
"Oh right! I heard about those too a while back!" Ruby said "What are those?"
"...This." Akame bluntly said as she showed her sword.
"...I don't get it." Tatsumi sweat dropped.
"More context please?" Ruby asked.
"A thousand years ago, The first emperor who stablished the Empire began to worry. He wanted to protect this country even after he was gone, so he ordered his most brilliant minds to create weapons for the protection of the country. By gathering not just powerful Danger beasts, but rare materials too to create 48 weapons, and named then 'Teigu'." Akame explained in full "But 500 years ago, a civil war broke out and at least half of them were destroyed or scattered all over the country."
"So everyone in Night raid carries one of those?" Tatsumi asked.
"Yes. All besides the boss and you two that is." Akame pointed out "For example, My Teigu is called 'One cut kill: MURASAME'. It has a curse on its blade that poisons anyone it cuts with a instant death Venom that has no cure."
"Th-That thing can kill ANYONE with just one cut?!" Tatsumi gasped while Ruby gulped, both reminded of their fight with Akame.
"That aside...It sounds pretty powerful." Ruby said.
"That's not the case." Akame said "It has some weaknesses: If I cut myself while I try to clean it, I might die."
"Oh...Right." Tatsumi nodded.
...But Ruby seemed to be deep in thought for some seconds
"...Have you tried to clean it with ARMORED GLOVES?" Ruby asked.
...Akame just stared at Ruby for her idea
"...Ruby, You are a GENIUS!" She suddenly praised.
"Ha ha ha! I know I am!" Ruby proudly gloated.
"Heheheh...Yeah I guess you are." Tatsumi laughed.
...however, meanwhile...
"Aaaaah~~~~ So cute...So precious...so beautiful!" A man praised from far away...somehow able to see Ruby
"That girl...Her head almost feels TOO GOOD to be mine! That hair color! Those Eyes! That smile! That cuteness! ALL SO PERFECT!" The man rambled on and on like a psychotic stalker, praise after praise all for Ruby...Actually, Praise after Praise for Rubies Head mostly.
"I muuuuuuuuust HAVE IT!" He declared, his smile reaching ear to ear "I'll make sure it won't decompose, rot, decay or even get hurt! A head as perfect as that is too good to just leave! Have no fear my dear little sweet cute girl...your head will soon be in good hands~~~~~"
But he then suddenly looks over to the others who were patrolling the capital
"But...Who should I go after first? Hmmm..." He then looks at Tatsumi "I know, The weakest one first~~! He seems to be pretty close with her...I can't wait to see her face distorted in pain and shock after I showcase his head to her!"
"Guess it makes sense he wouldn't just come for us right away." Tatsumi said as all three of them sat down and eat some rations. All the while Ruby cutely munches on a chocolate bar.
Until Akame pulled out a napkin and cleans Rubies mouth out of the blue
"Eat slowly." Akame scolded as she cleans Rubies mouth.
"...I'll be right back." Tatsumi then stood up and began to walk to a nearby alley.
"Nature calls?" Akame asked.
"Uh..." Tatsumi was dumbfounded.
"Akame, you're not supposed to ask that. Specially if you're a girl." Ruby pointed out while Akame just shrugged.
So as Tatsumi walks away, Ruby finished off her Chocolate bar.
"...So, How did things go between you and Leone?" Akame asked.
"A loh bepher da i thoth!" Ruby answered with a mouth full of chocolate.
"Swallow first." Akame scolded with a serious face, which was somehow still cute.
Ruby gulped a she was told "A lot better than I thought! She was really shocked that she was like a second version of my dead sister...but we're all good now."
"I see. That's good to know." Akame said with a smile of relief.
"...So...Akame...Out of Curiosity, Does Leones Teigu involve that one time I saw her with Cat features?" Ruby asked.
"Lion Features. Not cats." Akame Corrected "Leones Teigu lets her transform into a beast, Instantly increasing her physical abilities and also sense of smell."
"Ooooooh. That explains a lot now." Ruby nodded "Oh, by the way. Has anyone ever tried to upgrade one of these Teigus before? You know, like add something small to them?"
"No. Why would you ask that?" Akame asked "...You want to upgrade our Teigus so they can be more like your scythe."
"N-No just small upgrades!" Ruby said.
"Ruby. It's best if you don't try to meddle with Teigus like that. You might get hurt." Akame warned.
"Don't worry! I already have something planned for you!" Ruby said "And I'm not gonna turn your sword into a gun okay?"
"That's good to know." Akame sighed in relief.
"I just want to make you a Sheath, with a trigger and ammo clip fused into it, so every time you pull its trigger one bullet gets shot inside the sheath and shoots your sword out so fast you can quick-draw faster than ANYONE!" Ruby explained further.
(Just imagine JetStream Sams gun-Sheath from Metal Gear Rising and you get the idea.)
"...I'm instantly worried again." Akame sweat dropped.
"Awww come on! I'm an weapon expert! I know what I'm doing." Ruby assured.
"I'm just...I'm not sure how to even work with how that...Wait...Why isn't Tatsumi back yet?" Akame Suddenly asked "He should have been back by now."
"...Uh oh." Ruby said as they both ran to the Alley way...only to find it empty "...Where did he go?"
Tatsumi ran through the alley into a clearing, where a familiar girl stood in the center of.
"S-Sayo? Is...That really you?" Tatsumi asked in shock as he approached 'Sayo'.
"It's...Really you isn't it?" Tatsumi said with some tears "I'm just glad your here!"
And he went in and hugged the so called 'Sayo'.
"...Awwww how nice~~~" Then a man appeared in Sayos place, smiling down on Tatsumi menacingly "I seems like you showed me a bit of your sweet side~~."
"...Eh?" Tatsumi just looks up at the man dumb founded "AAAH! SAYO TURNED INTO SOME OLD DUDE!...Oh...Thank god Ruby isn't here to hear that..."
"Don't call me old lover-boy~. How about this instead: Your friendly neighborhood executioner~~" Zanku gigled.
"...So...You're the guy!" Tatsumi said as he pulled out his sword.
"You got separated from your partners. Do you have enough time for them to catch up?" Zanku asked "That's what you're thinking right?~~"
'What the...did he read my mind? wait, that weirdo eye thing on his forehead...is that the teigu?'
"Ding Ding Ding! Correct!" Zanku Praised, shocking Tatsumi more "It's called 'Spector'! one of it's MANY abilities is 'Insight'. Just by your expression, I can see your thoughts!"
"...you sure talk a lot huh?" Tatsumi commented.
"Oh, It's a hobby of mine~. While I'm at it tho, I managed to find you with Spectors 'Farsight' It lets me_" He then easily dodged an attack from Tatsumi while he was still talking "Even See through mists of fogs!"
Tatsumi gasped before jumping back.
"Hohoho. How Delightful~. You tried to get me talking so you could attack me while I was distracted~." Zanku mocked.
Tatsumi held his sword tighter, and poared some Aura into his legs and dashed forward faster than before!
"...Eh?" Zanku, slightly surprised, dodged out of his way "You're faster than I thought~. Did you use some kind of special trick?~"
'He can't read my mind about Aura?' Tatsumi thought.
"Aura?~~ ooooh Tell me MOORE!" Zanku said.
"Aw crap." Tatsumi cursed for letting him find out about his Aura.
But putting that aside, He quickly used his Aura again to attack Zanku from_
"You'll go for my ankles first!" Zanku said as he dodged his attack "Then swing upwards toward my chin!" And then dodged another swing "And you'll go for a fake stab~!"
Catching Tatsumi off guard, he slashed his blades at his stomach...which Tatsumi came out unharmed to Zankus Surprise!
"OW!" Tatsumi grunted as he fell back, but rolled up soon right after "ooow owowow ow OW that HURT!"
"...You should be bleeding right about now." Zanku Curiously pointed out "...What is this? I should be able to see what you used to avoid that damage...It should be that Aura right? Then why can't I see anything?"
"...Hah...Guess your gizmo is busted!" Tatsumi mocked as he stood up with the pain gone thanks to his Aura "Shit...This Aura thing Is really awesome!"
"...Who gave you that Aura thingy?" Zanku playfully asked, Causing Tatsumi to think about Ruby for just one split second unconciously "Aaaah~~~~ It was HER! Ooooh how beautiful~~~"
"...Say what?" Tatsumi asked completly freaked out.
"I meant that Girl in the Red Hood~. Ruby right? OOOOH what a Beautiful name~~" Zanku explained.
"...Ruby?" Tatsumi gasped.
"Yesssss~~~ She is BEYOND Delightful. You see, I haven't seen a head as PERFECT as hers! That face, her eyes, that hair, that smile, the way she likes to eat stuff, it's all so CUUUUTE!" Zanku Ranted.
"...Oh god...you're a stalker too!" Tatsumi accused "I knew you were crazy, but THIS much crazy is just GROSS!"
"Oh you can't judge me lover boy!" Zanku said "I've read your thoughts you know~, I've seen those lovey-Dovey dream dates you've imagined with her in your day dreams~~~~"
"H-HEY! YOU ASSHOLE! THOSE WERE PRIVATE!" Tatsumi yelled with his face red as a tomato "A-And...I-It's not like I LIKE HER Like her-Oh god am I becoming A Tsundere?"
"Why did you think I came after you first?~ not just because you were the weakest one, because you are pretty close to her~. And when I display your decapitated head to her, Her face will be twisted in so much sadness that It might make my heard beat out of my chest~~!"
...Tatsumi felt Rage building up inside him because of how this lunatic was talking about Ruby.
"And After I get her head too, I'll take GOOD CARE of it~~~. I'll keep it for the rest of my days, keeping it fresh and safe~~! She'll be the BEST head I've EVER collected! BEYOND DELIGHTFUL!"
"...I'm gonna start kicking your ass now." Tatsumi declared, trembling with rage and anger.
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't~~" Zanku Mocked.
"Where IS he?!" Ruby asked herself In panic as she dashes through Alley to alley, Unable to find a trace of Tatsumi.
"Ruby!" Akame Called out to ruby from one of the Rooftops "I found him! He's with Zanku on that Direction!" She informed as she pointed to the other end of the district.
Ruby nodded before using her semblance to first dash up toward Akame and then grab her and dash away to Tatsumi right after.
"GAH!" Tatsumi Grunted as his Aura kept tanking Damage for him, But he could feel it that he was starting to run out of Aura.
"hehehehe~~ How very delightful~ It seems like no matter how much I cut you, you won't Bleed. But you can't leep that up forever now can you?~" Zanku asked
"But once I finally start making you Bleed, Ooooh~~ That girls expression would be truly priceless~~!"
"SHUT IT!" Tatsumi yelled "Like Hell I'm gonna let an psychotic asshole like you have his pedophile way with Ruby!"
"...Pedophile way?" Zanku repeated, very much confused at Tatsumis choice of words.
'...At this rate, I won't be able to keep up my Aura.' Tatsumi thought to himself, not caring if Zanku could hear his thoughts 'If that's the case, then I'll put all the Aura I have left to use!'
He gripped his sword tighter And used the last bit of Aura that he had left to Dash straight at Zanku.
Zanku, surprised by his speed, swings his blade at Tatsumi too as they both passed each other.
*Sssssss*
"Ah..." Tatsumis body felt heavy as his body glows in a small Gray Color, While Zanku had a Cut on his cheek!
"That's ONE!" Tatsumi then dashed back at him again, Shocking the killer more!
He swung again while Zanku was off guard...and Zanku swings back, placing a cut on Tatsumis stomach while Tatsumi managed to slash at his shoulder too
"And TWO!"
"AH!" Zanku grunted in pain of his shoulders wound "Shit...You Brat!"
"Hahaha...Dumb ass. Aren't you an executioner? You went for my stomach instead of my head~" Tatsumi mocked as he fell on a knee, gripping his bleeding wound on his stomach
"You Suck at your job~"
"YOU LITTLE_"
*STAB!*
Zanku and Tatsumi both gasped in shock, As Cresent Rose was launched between The two from the sky!
*WOOOOSH!*
And Ruby lands down on her weapon stabbed into the ground, Standing up wide and towering over the Serial Killer with the help of her weapon.
"Get away from my Friend." Ruby Threateningly warned.
"Ruby!" Tatsumi called out.
And suddenly, Akame appeared right behind Zanku and swung her sword at him, Causing him to panic and dodge, jumping back to gain some Distance.
"Y-You guys finally came!" Tatsumi said.
"Good job at riling him up." Akame complimented "As a Psychological battle, It's your win."
"Tatsumi, Can you hold on for a while?" Ruby asked, still standing on her Scythe.
"Y-Yeah, I can manage." Tatsumi said before falling on his side, applying more pressure on his wound "You go get him!"
"...Alright." ruby looked back with a smile, And gave him a thumbs up "Leave the rest to us!"
"Sure..." Tatsumi nodded, Glad that they were here now.
"Aahhh~~~ You are finally here~~~" Zanku began to speak up "My sweet sweet dear~~~~"
"...Who? Me?" Ruby asked.
"You know her?" Akame asked.
"Wha-I've never met him in my life!" Ruby answered.
"No You haven't, But I have been watching you ALLLL night, My dear sweet lovable ruby~~~~" Zanku said.
"What?" Ruby asked with shock while Akame was confused.
"He's been STALKING you all night ever since he saw you tonight..." Tatsumi explained "He...W-Well he just went ON and ON about you because he's a freak..."
"...Really?" Ruby asked Tatsumi.
"Yes~~~ Don't worry~~ Once I have your head, I'll make sure it'll NEVER decompose or rot~~~" Zanku said with excitement "I just can't wait to have you all to my self~~"
"...Disgusting Pig." Akame said, surprisingly angry at his motives toward Ruby.
"...Sorry, but I'm not interested." Ruby said "Specially if it's coming from a lunatic."
"You wound my heart my dear~~" Zanku said "But I wouldn't mind having your friends heads too. It'll be SO MUCH FUN~~~"
"G-Guys be careful! That Eye on his forehead is his Teigu! It lets him read minds!" Tatsumi warned.
"So he's a mind reader too?" Ruby asked "That's just cheating."
"Understood." Akame nodded, ready to attack "But if he can't match our speed, It won't matter."
Then, Akame dashed and Zanku while Ruby used her petal Burst to engulf her Scythe and dash at Zanku, As the Two attack him from both sides!
As Zanku fights the two head on, He is constantly pushed back by Rubies Weapon Range, Akames Skill, And both of their Speed combined.
'Akame is good. She's had so much battle experience over the years.' Zanku thought 'But Ruby...Ooooh...She's just great~~!'
Zanku managed to kick them both back, but Ruby backflips and fires off her bullets at Zanku! Which he dodged by a simple side-step!
"No use~~ I already knew your scythe was also a gun the moment you entered my line of sight!" Zanku mocked "You might as well throw away those 7 other clips you have stored up~~"
"Damn." Ruby cursed, angry that not even her magazine capacity was safe from his third eye "What do we do?! through a brainless person at him?"
"...That can work." Akame said, Before...Her expression goes calm and hollow.
"Oh? You've completely cleared your mind." Zanku said "But that won't work. My Spector has another ability called 'Foresight'. with Even a small twitch of a muscle, I can tell what you'll do next~~"
Akame then dashed at Zanku as the two clashed, only for him to slash his blade up at her, causing her to jump back.
"Uh.." Akame said, looking down on her left leg which felt a little stung "...Was I...?
"Oh yes, My blade DID connect with you~~" Zanku said with a twisted smile, shocking Ruby and Tatsumi "But it seems like you have this...Aura stuff that The boy over there had. No matter, I'll just cut until it goes away like how it did with him~~!"
'Crap, He's really good.' Ruby said with a sweat-drop.
"But I must say, This is truly unfair~" Zanku said "With that sword of yours, Aura and double your numbers, this battle is trully unfair~~"
"You can read our minds, So we're practically evenly matched." Akame stated.
"And you're wounded too. But that's not slowing you down is it?" Ruby asked "I'd say Fair or unfair doesn't even matter to you, considering that you can't even feel pain apparently."
"Oh~~ You make me Blush my dear sweet Ruby~~~" Zanku said "But before that, akame, Tell me...How do you deal with the Voices?"
"...Voices?" Akame repeated.
"Like...The Voices in your head?" Ruby asked.
"Oh no...MORE than that...The Voices of the people you've killed~" Zanku explained "When ever it gets quiet, You can hear them crawling from hell toward me, Telling me to join them there."
Ruby just stares at the man in shock, unable to believe such a thing.
"I started hearing them after I started out as an executioner. They only got worse from there on. I try to cancel them out by talking over them. But I wonder how do you_"
"I don't hear them." Akame cuts him off "I don't hear any voices."
"...What?" Zanku gasped in surprise.
"Because She's nothing like you." Ruby spoke up as she walks between Akame and Zanku in a protective manner "Don't even try to pin Akame as the same type as yourself. People like you only kill innocent people for fun or for some delusional reason. And unlike you, She's far from a bloodthirsty killer."
...Akame couldn't help but smile at how Ruby defended her against the serial killer.
"...How disappointing...Oh well!" Zanku shrugged it off "I guess I'm done wasting my time here!"
He then dashed at the two prepares to attack, But he then surprised the girls by jumping upwards and slashing his blades at the two, causing them to block. but he still pushed them both away from each other with his swings!
Akame is pushed all the way back to Tatsumis side, while Ruby is separated from the two with Zanku in her way.
"Now, Ruby...I can hardly wait now." Zanku said with excitement, and his third eye opened wide "Now! Show me the pain and agony in your face~~!"
Ruby had to close her eyes as she felt like some kind of purple mist get's thrown at her. But when she blinked her eyes open...
*...Clank!*
...Cresent Rose just fell from her arms onto the ground...as her eyes were widened in shock, Horror, sadness and fear.
"R-ruby?!" Tatsumi called out.
"Ruby? What's wrong?!" Akame called out too.
"It's no use~" Zanku said "This one last ability is called optical illusion. It shows the victim the most precious person to them instead. And...I'm guessing it's brought back some very bad memories for her~~~~"
Ruby began to breath in and out...her arms shacking in fear and shock...her heart beat out of control...tears forming on her eyes.
"Ruby! Pull yourself together! It's not real!"
"HAhaha! It's no use! Or haven't you realized yet?~" Zanku looks back at the two "She's having a Panic Attack~~~~"
"Panic...Attack?" Tatsumi gasped while Akame is shocked.
"I've seen it happen so many times~ some of my Victims would spasm out and look just like her when they came up with a Panic attack." He smiled sinisterly "And hers...OOOOOH~~~~ HOW BEAUTIFUL! The terror in her eyes is so sublime!
"Stay away from her!" Akame yelled as she dashed forward!
"WHOA NOW~~~" Zanku then placed his blade right under Rubies neck, as she was still panting uncontrollably.
This caused Akame to stop, with Zanku literally having a hostage now.
"N-No...No no no..." Ruby mumbled, tears coming from her eyes as she couldn't understand what was happening in reality.
"Let her go!" Akame demanded.
"Why should I?~ She hasn't looked so wonderful until now!" Zanku said "I just LOVE to watch her like this even MORE!"
"Grrr! You son of a..." Tatsumi tried to get up, but his injury prevented him to.
"Ruby! Snap out of it!" Akame tried to reach out to Ruby.
"Haah...haah...haaah..." Ruby gasps rapidly, still stunned and traumatized.
"Ruby!" Akame called out.
"...N-No...I..." Ruby mumbled, her tears falling from her cheeks.
"Awwww Is it a family member?~~" Zanku asked, Having heard Penny's name too "Or your girlfriend?~~~~"
He leans in toward Ruby, who pushes her head back in fear because of the illusions work.
"Ruby!" Akame calls out again, unable to do anything because of the blade under Rubies neck.
"A...Aah..." Ruby tried to speak, but only horrified mumbles came out.
"YOU HEAD!" Zanku then Prepared to cut her head off "IS FINALLY ALLLLLL MIIIIIINE~~~~~~~"
"NO RUBY!" Tatsumi yelled.
"NO!" Akame screamed!
"A-A-AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Ruby Gave a loud battle cry before kicked suddenly Cresent rose up, and catching it in midair and swinging At Zanku!'
"AH!" Zanku Gasped as he saw the blade coming, and pus his blades up to block!
*SHATTER!*
Only for his blades to break as Cresent Rose makes contact with them!
Zanku Jumped back in shock, seeing his only weapons destroyed!
"H-How?! How did you break free?!" Zanku asked in anger.
*BLANG! BLANG! BLANG!*
"AAH!" Zanku yelled in pain as Ruby riddled some bullet holes into him
"GAAAAAH!" she then just screams in anger and Attacks Zanku again!
With his weapons gone, Zanku was literally defenseless to what comes next.
*SLASH!*
...Akame and watch in shock...As Ruby decapitated Zanku head clean off!
"She did it!" Tatsumi cheered.
"AAAAAAH!" but ruby suddenly screamed again, before slicing Crescent Rose upwards and splitting Zankus body in half too!
"W-Whoa..." Tatsumi gasped.
"GRRRRR!" She Then Growled like an animal, before starting to slash and slice away at the dead body over, and over, and over, and over and over and over again...
"Ruby?" Akame tried to call out, but she then gasped when ruby turned her attention at Zankus decapitated head,
*BLANG!*
And shot it into small little tiny chunks of brain bones and blood, Only leaving Spector somehow unharmed.
"Wh-What...the..." Tatsumi just gasped.
"Ruby! Stop!" Akame walked toward Ruby and tried to reach out to her!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Ruby just screams in rage, before turning around...and aiming Cresent Roses barrel right at Akames forehead at point blank range.
"Wha_R-Ruby what are you doing?!" Tatsumi called out.
"Hah...hah...haah...GRRR..." Ruby just panted and growled, her finger iching to pull the trigger.
"..." akame remained silent...as she stares at not a angry or out of control Reaper...but she can only see a sad, lonely and broken little girl, Scared and lonely...
...Akame slowly places her hand on Rubies Scythe, and slowly Lowers it
"Ruby, It's me. Akame." She speaks "It's Alright...It's over now. He's dead."
"Haah...haaah..." Ruby pants in and out, her hands tensing on her grip on her weapon.
Akame then grabbed both sides of Rubies face, forcing her to look at her "It's okay...I'm here...You can stop..."
"..." ruby slowly drops her bloodied Cresent rose again...and falls into Akames arms
"...Penny...I'm...Sorry..."
"...Penny?" Akame repeated the last words Ruby mumbled "...was it the one Zanku forced her to see?"
"I-Is she...?" Tatsumi spoke.
"It's alright. She just fainted." Akame assured "But we need to leave. now." She said before picking up Spector, and picked up Ruby bridal style and began to walk toward Tatsumi.
...Everyone waits in Rubies room, as Ruby herself was laying down on her bed with the blanket over her, with Akame checking her for any injuries.
"...She's physicall fine...however..." Akame said.
"What the hell did that psycho show her?" Lubbock asked.
"Is it true that she came up with aa Panic Attack due the results of Zankus Teigu?" Najenda asked.
"Yeah...She just froze in place and began gasping in and out." Tatsumi with his stomach bandaged answered "And then...she started to tear up Zankus dead body without end. And she...She even..."
"...She even turned her weapon against me." Akame finished.
"What?! Did she attack you?" Mine gasped.
"No. She didn't, She just looked...Sad, Scared and..." Akame began to explain "...She was crying too...She also mumbled the name 'Penny'. It...must have been one of her friends who died..."
"...Tsk. If it was up to me, I'd torture that fucker for HOURS for this shit." Leone said in anger.
"Will she be okay?" Sheele asked with worry.
"...I don't know anymore." Najenda answered to everyones surprise "At first I thought she'd be a capable comrade for us...but after tonight's events...It's clear that she is...just a little girl, Emotionally and psychologically damaged and hurt..."
"S-So are we going to..." Tatsumi began to ask.
"No. but We'll keep her limited to house duties until We're sure she is fully stable, for her own good." Najenda answered.
"We better let her sleep for now." Bulat said.
"...I'll stay by her side for the night." Akame volunteered.
"As you wish." Najenda nodded.
As they all left the room, Akame sat down on the bed by Rubies side.
...She carefully caressed her face, staring at her sleeping form.
'...How much has she been hurt like this?' Akame began to ask herself 'She really looked...Broken and sad...Why do I feel like this because of it?'
"Akame?"
Akame jolted slightly as she looked back and saw Leone enter.
"...Couldn't sleep?" Akame asked.
"No. I just wanted to be here with her too." Leone answered before sitting next to Ruby too "...Was she...Really crying? How bad was it?"
"...Really bad." Akame answered "She looked very hurt...it...it was terrible to see."
"...I get what you mean." Leone nodded before holding Rubies hand gently "She honestly looks better when she's smiling, right?"
"...Yeah. She does." Akame agreed "...I...I don't her to be here anymore..."
"...Say WHAT?" Leone gasped at her words.
"Ruby doesn't belong here. She...She's just a broken little girl!" Akame explained "Haven't you noticed? She's constantly telling herself that what she's doing is okay...I can tell that she's forcing herself to deal with all the killing she's doing. The look in her eyes gave it away for me. It's better if she just leaves...She just doesn't have the right heart for this."
"...That's not our Choice. It's hers." Leone said.
"But_"
"And she said it herself, She doesn't want to stand back while innocent people suffer." Leone Reminded "Believe me, I want her out of all this shit as much as you do...but knowing her, she won't just up and stop fighting like this."
"...But...She's...She's just a kid." Akame said.
"Hey, Weren't you a kid too when you were trained to be a killer?" Leone asked "shit, I had to kill someone on the streets when I was just 11 years old! He would have raped me if I didn't. So what's the difference?"
Akame could only remain silent at her points.
"Look, just give her a chance. She's still a kid now, but soon enough...She'll be all better." Leone said "Losing someone, Or EVERYONE that you care about is a hard thing to see. You should know that. But..I guess she just took it MUCH harder than you did. So how about we both help her out?"
"Help her out?" Akame repeated.
"Yeah! If she's really a broken little girl...Then let's build her back up into a happy and cheerful person." Leone said with a smile "Will you help out with that?"
"...Okay." Akame nodded.
"There ya go!" Leone cheered "...Well...Wanna sleep right next to her?"
"What?" Akame blinked "Leone, I don't think all three of us will fit in this bed."
"We'll fit! Trust me." Leone said before she lays down on the bed right next to Ruby "Come on. right now she needs all the comfort she can have."
"...Alright." akame nodded before she lays down next to Ruby too, both of them at both of her sides.
"...Despite all the problems she's dealing with...She's still really strong." Leone said, looking at ruby with a smile.
"...And still hopeful for the future..." Akame added too, as she held Rubies hand tightly "...And...I want her to stay that way."
"Me too." Leone agreed.
And so...for the rest of the night, the two older girls slept by the Red Reapers side.