Chapter 2: A New Beginning
The Reincarnated Huntress

Minor reediting as of 11/7/21
Outdated A/Ns.

A/N: Yes, The chapter title is a reference to another RWBYxAgK fanfic and I plan to do more. I decided to be as quiet about the event of the future as possible. The only thing I'll reveal is that I don't want to fall into the pitful of RWBY and Akame ga Kill fanfic will a character(s) follow the canon story like a rail shooter. Also, there will be OC's-WAIT DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE!

OC's are mostly supported except one because I have to make her an OC. After all, we don't have much canon info on her. That is as much hint as I'm willing to give. The other hint is that the character, Umber Karolina isn't an OC. Because her real name in the canon is a cover-up, a false flag. You wouldn't know unless you follow Roosterteeth panel/twitters/etc or lift it off the wiki.

Which I have been doing because I haven't watched RWBY since season 6 ended and Akame ga Kill since it ended. I may have to rewatch and reread the manga later.

Also pairing, Besides the obvious and canon, I'll keep it ambiguous.

Xiao-Long Household

The Morning After

"Hey Tai! RayRay! I'm home!" Summer shouted. She walks into the Xiao Long-Branwen residents with a blinding smile," Where are my favorite nieces at?"

Summer's beaming smile slowly dropped into a frown when she senses the atmosphere of the house was off. Raven wasn't complaining about the dumb nickname and calling her a dork.

An endearing dork to be exact! Taiyang wasn't around to welcome her with an unfunny pun or two. Now that he's a dad, Taiyang wandered into the unholy territory of dad's jokes! Oh, the horror! Okay, maybe Summer is being a little mean, but spray firing until you hit the target isn't how jokes work.

The silver eye warrior reminisces about the old-time. When they were together as a well-oiled team, STRQ is considered the greatest huntsmen team on Vale. She wishes the team can get back together for old-time sake.

She walked up to the stairs and heard a baby cries.

'It must be Yang,' Summer told herself,' Akame would rarely cry.'

Summer fine-tune her ears to listen to the source of the crying.

'Yep, Yang.'

"Tai?" Summer hurried into Tai/Raven's room and shoved open the door. The room was messy and a constant dark overcast permeated the room.

Before the huntress was a broken man, His shoulders slouched and staring at a letter on the counter. He held Yang in his arms as he patted her back.

'She left us.'

Summer hated to see the souring relationship between Tai and Raven. All she wanted was to get the team back together. But as of late, Qrow becomes more distant and Raven angrier.

Raven wanted to return to her tribe and hated being reduced to a housewife. She thrives on her ideal of survival of the fittest and four years in an academy isn't enough. She has responsibility for the family that raised her since birth.

It was a tradition in their tribe that the more stoic demeanor are the most likely to be cold-blooded killers and the calmest when making the tough decision. Raven mentions the life a bandit is of opportunity, and a bandit leader must know when to attack. They must kill without hesitation and take what they can. More importantly, they must know when to let go of pride and sacrifice for the survival of the tribe.

Summer was sheltered and grew up relatively happy. She didn't understand the difficulty of the Branwen twin's childhood, but she wishes to know and received two completely different viewpoints.

Qrow hated the life of a bandit. All they do is hurt others for their selfish gains. The comfortable life he lived as a student of Beacon is better than raiding and scavenging for supplies. It was even obvious the murderers and thieves favor Raven more. Why? Because of Raven's calm temperament since birth. The tribe views it as a blessing. Thus, Raven was indoctrinated into the lifestyle more thoroughly unlike Qrow.

The white huntress recalls the snippet of the twin life. She was surprised Raven didn't leave as soon as the kids are born. Summer thought Raven made a complete one-eighty until she notices how unhappy she was being a wife.

"Tai, Where's Akame?" Summer realized a red-eye toddler isn't nearby.

"Raven always said she has potential. Summer, She took her. Akame has gone to live with a bunch of criminals," He spoke monotonously.

Summer approached Tai from behind and wrapped her arms around him.

"It will be alright," She spoke calmly and Yang crying stopped, "Yang still here, I'm with you. What Raven has done is undefendable."

"I know," He lamented, "I'm glad you're still here."

"I will never leave you, Tai," She smiled and released him. Tai turned around with a smile on his face.

"I'm heading downstairs to make you something to eat."

"Thanks, Summer."

The trip to the bandit hideout in the Anima mountains was a quiet affair. The temporary base is surrounded by wooden logs, sharpened at the tips.

"Bosso! You're finally here!" A man with dirty blonde hair and a leather jacket commented.

"The fact you're calling me boss mean one thing," Raven answer back, "I'm too late for the funeral?"

"Funeral spot too hot right now," He nodded at the wooden gate as it opens, " Mr. Branwen decided to name you as heir."

"As expected of a weak man," Raven grimaced sourly.

Akame felt her blood run cold.

General Esdeath.

'It can't be could it?', Akame was shocked hoping the psychotic ice queen wasn't reincarnated as her MOM,' When I'm strong enough I will have to kill her. A monster like her should never exist in this world!'

The mother and daughter walk into the encampment of makeshift tents. The tribe members gathered around their new leader to welcome her back. A few started to make comments about the baby wrapped on her back.

"Is that a baby?"

"The kid better prove what it takes to roll with us."

" She's so cute! She has her mother's eyes!"

"That's one of the twins?"

Akame watched the people crowding. She was uncomfortable with the attention as if she was a circus act; not counting the time she was a circus act in her past life.

Her vision is limited to the people behind her. Akame analysis their clothes and hardened expression.

'These people have all killed. So this is my new life.'

Raven entered a spacious tent and found a crib next to the bed. She set the former assassin down and spoke softly.

"I foresee a powerful warrior in your future Akame. I'm sorry I have to take you away from your sister," She grieved, "But I need a powerful warrior to avoid an unwinnable war."

'An unwinnable war? Avoiding it?' Akame noted how unlikely Esdeath would run from battle. The assassin looks at it from another angle,' Either the time in this world changed her or she isn't Esdeath. When I'm able to talk, I will find the truth.'

Raven gently stroked the baby's forehead and headed out. She steps in front of the small crowd.

"I want two girls with experience taking care of kids to watch my daughter and the next plan is the same as usual, We shall survive in this world by any means necessary," She commanded," We are viewed as murderers and thieves by the world. But all I see is family. We follow the law of nature, not the law of society. Thus, when their precious society falls, We shall reign uncontested. This is the future, I have seen it."

Raven hung on the last word, recalling an unstoppable force.

"There is no path for us in the mundane world. We will work as one, that even the mighty Altesian military can't stop us. I ask of you for loyalty and trust. If you believe that you are strong, follow my every word and I'll bring forth untold riches."

The cheers of the crowds reverberate throughout the camp.

"Now first mission, We have militia transports coming through the road to Oyayume. Our rivals are within the area and Mystral Militia doesn't take kindly to thieves."

Akame ignored the next words of her mother. She was too troubled by the speech.

'I have killed many bandits and they're all low life. Rapists and murderers doing what they want. But Raven, my mother, sounds like this world hides something powerful. I'll play along for now. I need to train to be strong again and I will learn everything about this life.'

The two girls Raven assigned to take care of Akame enter moments later held a smile as they casually talked.

"She's really is amazing isn't she?" the first girl commented.

"You can always count on a Branwen to look out for us outcast when society doesn't," the second girl nodded in agreement as her cat ears twitched.

'Cat ears?'

Four years later

Akame PoV

This isn't the future nor a different continent. I'm not in my world anymore. I don't know if I should feel sad that I wouldn't know how Wave and Kurome are doing. My memories after I left the Empire are incomplete.

Would this mean the curses finally kill me? How am I going to change Tatsumi back to his human form? Did I fail?

I stopped worrying and got back to practicing on the training dummy.

The bokken felt heavy, and my muscle aches.

My mother stood nearby with a proud expression. She knows I have succeeded that expectation of hers.

I want to hate her for her 'survival of the fittest mindset. I haven't participated in any of her raids, and I'll never will! In my past life, I fought to stop the atrocities, I don't intend to commit more.

I know I can kill her.

I help cook her food. If I can find a strong enough poison I can kill her.

We sleep on the same bed. Can I smother her with a pillow? No, My body is still too weak. I can stab her to death.

Yet, A part of me questions the wrongness of the situation. She's my mother and all she has done was care for me. She begins training as soon as I can pick up a sword. Her training was hellish but compared to my old life, It is like comparing a bonfire to a volcano. She made sure I'm well fed and taken care of when she's gone. Even these bands of killers are close.

They almost always remind me of my old team, Night Raid. They are killers, but so was I. The survival of the fittest mindset isn't as set in stone as Esdeath's. I would never tell my mom directly, but she has a soft spot.

I once saw her take in injured people, most likely from the village she raided with the ultimatum of joining them or fending for themselves in danger beast, I mean Grimm, infested forest. Those that refused were coincidentally found by 'Dogs of the Academy'', as my mom called huntsmen, moments later.

Another time, She picked up another child around my age named Umber Karolina when she could have left her to die. It would be less of a burden taking care of another child, but she did.

This is why I refused to get close with the kill even if they appear innocent. If I do, I'll sympathize, and emotion will cloud my judgment.

This is exactly how I joined the revolutionary army.

If I wasn't mentally older, I would've become one of them.

These people are vile killers, yet I'm not sure if I can kill all of them. I made a personal vow to have the right start in this life.

No more killing.

No more losses and heartache.

No more wars and atrocities.

If I become strong enough to end all their lives, the people that cared for me as one of their own, what kind of person would that make me? Raven's been trying to manipulate me, but so far it is for the benefit of survival in this cruel world.

My sense of logic is telling me they all must die to prevent more villages and towns from falling.

I can't let them live.

These bandits must die.

I set aside that vow I made for the good of this world and eliminate them.

Sadly, my heart is telling me something else...

"How much longer mom?" I questions," I'm-."

I didn't finish the sentence when she grabbed a bokken and rushed me.

Instead of flinching, I counter-charged. A ghost of a smile appears across my mom's face briefly.

Our wooden swords clashed with a thunderous roar and I was pushed back. I mentally cursed my still weak physical body. Even if our age is equalized, I would have to deal with her aura and semblance.

My mom always dances around me with all those advantages. I'm stronger than any child, including Umber. I have even successfully beaten a young teen that's triple my size. Unfortunately, my stamina and overall strength have taken a blow in this child's body.

My mom uses her semblance and aura to show how outmatched I am. I wish my aura was unlocked already. I need every advantage I can get.

All my strikes were sloppy because I'm unaccustomed to a weaker body. I can perform the same swing and strikes. I even kept the proper stances and mentality. I only need my body to catch up with the knowledge.

She expects I will be on the defensive for the remainder of the fight. I waited and waited.

Until a powerful strike glance passes my left side. I rushed with an elbow aimed at her exposed face. She ducks underneath it and I counter with a quick leg kick to her right shin. She took the brunt of the impact as I gritted my teeth at the pain coursing thrown my body. It felt as if I kicked the Demon Armor Incursio. It accomplishes nothing besides learning that aura really is armor.

While I was reeling from pain, I learned another usage for Aura. Raven pressed a palm against my chest, and suddenly I was sent flying across the training area.

"That's enough for today," Raven toss the bokken aside, "It has only been six months since we started training. You never fail to amaze me, my daughter."

I spit out blood and use the bokken to stand up.

She took me down in seconds. I knew she was strong but from my observation of her training with Umber and spar with the other bandits, she didn't take any risks with me.

It's as if she knows how strong I can become and adjust accordingly.

"You say that almost every training session," I fired back, "Mom."

"What I meant is true," She walks toward me with a worried expression, "Daughter, How are your injuries?"

"Brushing and possible cracked ribs."

"And not a single tear shed," Raven examined my wounds, "Come inside, The nannies will patch you up. After that was done, You will take a shower, and report for dinner. I will put a halt to your training for this week. I fear I put too much power into that last push."

"Yes mom," I bowed respectfully.

The rest of the night was uneventful. I converse with my nannies and my mom headed out again. When it's 9, I go straight to bed without complaint and wake up at 6 in the morning to eat. It wasn't long until I found myself bored. I started reading and I wasn't going to play with dolls. Their very few kids in the camp too, but besides, Umber, they're either boys and in their teens. I'm not in the mood to deal with punks.

I try my best to avoid the others, but those close to me like Umber, my adopted 'sister' and the nannies are people I have no choice but to interact with. I didn't want to get close least I want the inevitable betrayal to hurt more.

The first nanny was a widow that watched her family starve to death after the Schnee Dust Company runs their family out of business.

The second nanny is a cat Faunus with a grudge against the same company. She works as a manager in the SDC before the new CEO apparently hired a family member to take her place.

I recall from my reading that the SDC was once an upstanding small corporation that capitalizes on the untaped dust deposit on the continent of Solitas. Dust is an energy source that powered all the technology of this world and contains environmental ability.

That would explain the vial of colored powdered on camp and my mom's sword.

Green dust is Wind/Air.

Red dust is Fire/Burn.

Blue dust is Water.

Yellow dust is Lightning.

Black dust is Gravity.

Cyan Dust is Hard-Light.

White dust is Earth.

Orange dust is Magma.

Those are the primary types.

"Sister!" Umber yelled at me and lifted boxing gloves, "I challenge you to a duel I'll beat you down this time!"

Umber Karolina.

She has brown eyes, brown hair, and tanned skin. A child my mom brought in because she felt merciful. I ask myself if it would have been better if she was left-back with the Grimm. I will convince her to join me when I failed with Kurome.

Next, I intend to find my twin sister Yang one day. If only I know where?

Mom never told me the original continent or kingdom I'm from. I still remember the verdant green lawn and the oak trees. Luckily, the world weather pattern narrows this down to a few continents.

Raven thinks I don't remember my father, Taiyang Xiao Long, or my sister, Yang. But I want to return to them because they are good people. I knew since birth my mom was dangerous. This must be that part of me that wishes for a normal life with a normal family instead of all this. But I must steel my resolve that just this once, mom and her bandits will die.

I wonder how they're doing? Does my twin know I exist?

Rose-Xiao Long Household

Midnight

Yang observes her sleeping baby sister with downcast lilac eyes. She tiptoes around the house. Tai and Summer were asleep in their room, unaware of their daughter's late-night escapade. All but one.

Yang stalked toward the family picture albums in one of the cabinets at the very top shelf. The height differences make Yang nearly give up until she realizes she should find a chair to boost her up.

A pair of red eyes tracked the little girl's stroll until he decides to intervene.

"My little firecracker," A deep voice interrupts her. The light flickered on in the living room.

The little girl jumps in surprise.

"U-uncle Qrow?" She shuddered, "What are you doing here late at night."

"I don't have a permanent place to stay," Qrow shrugged," A life of a lone huntsman means long travels and discounted hotels. I crash here if I'm in the area."

"Oh," Yang looks around, noticing the pillow and blanket on the couch.

"Midnight cookies?" he asked.

"Yes," Yang refused to look at her uncle's eyes.

"Cookies aren't hidden in books," Qrow crosses his arms, "Tell me, Yang, What are you really looking for?"

"My mom."

The huntsmen stood in silence after those words left Yang's mouth. It has gotten so quiet, he could hear both the crickets and Tai snorts with the soft humming of the refrigerator in the kitchen.

He knows Yang wasn't talking about Summer yet he wanted to make sure.

"Firecracker, Your mom is asleep with your dad," He tries to defuse.

"No! I'm not talking about that mommy! I'm talking about the other mommy!"

The huntsmen mentally cursed whoever revealed Yang's real mother. It was meant to be kept a secret for as long as possible. Because how can anyone explain to a little girl that her mother left her and she has a twin?

Qrow heard Summer shift and ran downstairs with Tai following behind.

"Yang? Why are you still awake," Summer yawned putting away the gun-sword she kept beside the bed, "And hey Qrow."

"Hi Summer, Ruby's doing okay?"

"She's fine," Tai interrupted," My sun dragon, What were you screaming about?"

"Nothing daddy," Yang pouted.

"I was gone for a few months so it wasn't me. I gotta say that now before Tai blame me. Little yangry here found out about her," Qrow turned through the shocked couple at the stairs, "How did she find out about Raven if we promise to keep our mouth shut until she's older?"

"What? I have hidden everything relating to her," the blond father gritted his teeth.

Summer Rose felt the tension in the room and spoke up.

"It was my fault."

"How?"Tai's expression softened.

"It wasn't me for say. I ran into some old classmates, and they just casually mention it!"

Tai has a look of betrayal, and Qrow sighed at the uncharacteristic behavior.

'I need to speak with them about this,' He noted and plan to ask Summer in private who the classmates are, "Whelp, There is no need to hide it now. Sit down Yang, I will be the one to tell you about Raven. When I do, I want you to promise me never to search for her."

"Why?", She climbs on a seat on a chair.

"There is a phrase, Never meet your heroes because they will disappoint you. Yang, your mother, isn't a hero. She's a coward and an awful human through and through. She left us for her own selfish desire. She abandoned family and friends. There will be nothing but pain," Qrow claimed with venom in his tone and look at the parents, who stood behind the chair, "Is that all they said?"

"Yes," Summer answered promptly hiding the other secret," They only mention Raven."

Tai was glad that whoever they are, accidentally or not, didn't tell Yang about her sister. Tai long accepted that Akame will never return to them and when she does, he wouldn't like what he sees. As a father, Tai wouldn't blame Akame for her upbringing but blame Raven instead.

'No child should live a life of banditry. If Akame returns someday, I hope she's salvageable,' Tai hoped to see his missing daughter.

"Do you promise me?"

"Yes, Uncle Qrow."

Beacon Academy

Ozpin Office

Hours Before

"It was uncomfortable Ozpin," Glinda complained as Ozpin slipped on his coffee cup, "I have intruded on the private matter of the Rose-Xiao Long family, and filled the girl's head with nonsense."

"I know this is a breach of family privacy, but Raven and the little girl are loose cannons. If Salem forces found them, She will gain a powerful ally and a foothold on the criminal underworld," Ozpin reasons, "It is a risk, but when I first lay eyes on Akame, I sense an old soul. Yang is one of many means to reach them, especially her."

"The quiet toddler? Are you saying she could be some kind of reincarnation like you?" Glinda was skeptical.

"I don't know Glinda," He shook his head," When we find her, I will unravel the mystery."

A/N: I'm regretful for revealing that Akame is the only person to be reincarnated. No, I'm not changing my mind. I just miss the chance to mess with readers' heads when X character acts like Y character, but that turns out to be BS. OR I'm a liar and you shouldn't trust the author's notes.

I plan to write in more detail about everything from Raven's tribe to the world itself. As it turns out, keeping a notebook as I use makes writing easier and less prone to writer block. And I like the notes so far. Because living with the Raven tribe and conspiring to kill them is going to be easier said than done. The tribe going to be built up more and so will Akame as a character. Her current mindset is that she is fully capable of killing but sick and tired of it.

R/R