Chapter 17: Family

A/N: I'm hype for RWBY: Queendom. Mostly because Weiss giving off Esdeath vibe. THAT Weiss looks like she could fight Akame and win.

My eyes could barely keep up with her.

She is fast.

She could even be faster than I am.

I have almost no opportunity to strike before I'm overwhelmed.

Left. Right. Back. Front.

She's everywhere.

Almost simultaneously.

Her movement seems random.

I concentrated on her steps and imagined where she would land next. I started thinking like my target. All the while using my experience eyes to discrete the movement. It took me a second to fully grasp the pattern and bid my time.

Left.

Right.

Back.

FRONT!

I shot both arms out with lightning speed.

She can't evade me this time. My sister already knows what will happen next.

Target…Pacified-sorta.

She was still vibrating in my hands. It felt like the world was shaking. I'm struggling to hold her.

"Ruby!" I raised my voice," Calm down!"

The string of Valish coming out of Ruby's mouth sounds like a different language. My Valish is good, even the language of the empire was a variant of Valish, but what is she saying?

Fine Ruby.

I could speak a different language, too.

"ローズルビー、落ち着いてくれませんか," I commanded in Mistranese.

"What?" She tilted her head. Ruby stopped vibrating in my hands.

"Nani?" My dad laughed," She said calm down, Rube."

I am grateful that my dad knows fluent Mistranese. It makes it easier to get away with talking about sensitive topics like Umber's adoption status. The only other person that speaks Mistranese, besides Umber, is Yang. But Yang is only a beginner.

I slowly retracted my hands from Ruby's shoulders.

"I can't calm down after seeing that!" She dramatically pointed at the video on Dad's computer.

As expected, the video spawned gossip that not even Ruby could ignore. Yang had already gotten it out of her system yesterday. Which is good for my sanity.

I'm already dealing with a fangirl and a fanatic.

Damn you, Dark God.

"I didn't know my big sister was that strong!" Ruby turned to Umber," Did you know?"

"Akame is the most badas-"

"UMBER!" I cut her off. Ruby is too pure to hear your swears.

"SHE THE GREATEST WARRIOR EVER!" Ruby was now holding Umber's hands. They started leaping together in joy.

"I know right!"

Yang's sweat dropped and Dad chuckled.

Dear God of Darkness.

Please, Let me redo my life.

I mentally prayed even if he couldn't hear it. I need to look at the moon and call out to him. Yet, I could predict his answer if he somehow heard me.

'This is your problem. Handle it yourself, mortal.'

"Dad lemme see something," Yang bent over and reached for the mouse.

A single click below the video was the like button.

Yang don't…

"Let's check out the comments!"

Why Yang?

The damage has been done, and there is no undoing it. There's now visual proof that I'm not an over-exaggeration. This newfound attention can be detrimental and beneficial to me.

"No," My dad gently pushed Yang's hand aside.

"Why?" She questioned.

"Because half of the comments are a toxic battlefield," he reasoned.

"And the other half is thankful for her help," She countered," I'm only going to show my shorter sister the good comments."

"Must be hard to come by," I lamented.

Yang and my dad share a look at each other.

"Want me to tell her or you?" My dad requested.

"You're the skeptical one!" Yang pointed out.

"Fine," he sighed," There is a lot of misinformation, misrepresentation, and emotions going around Remnant. Akame, Let me tell you how I feel about it all."

We look directly into each other's eyes, and it feels like we are alone.

"You're a hero, Akame," he smiled," And my little girl. You have been blaming yourself, but remember, Everyone makes mistakes. Please stop thinking the world is against you."

I wanted to speak, but the words got caught in my throat. It's just a simple prep talk to make me feel better. There is nothing to cry about.

I bear in mind Umber is behind me. I must keep up the act when she's nearby. She can't see me being weak and emotional.

"I will learn to accept my mistakes, Dad," I explained," It's everyone taking advantage of my mistake is the issue."

"Ummm," Ruby joined in," Did Akame do something to get her in trouble?"

She doesn't know?

"Yes, I did a lot of things," A lot of things I regret doing and should've taken care of sooner.

"She-"

"Umber," I snapped my finger.

"Oh right," She stepped back. I told her in advance to stay quiet. I remind her that anything she says about the tribe and my exploit could endanger us. A snap of a finger, even without sound, is my cue for her to stop talking.

"Could you apologize?" She looked at me with wide eyes," Dad always said that honesty and apology are the way to go."

I wish it was that simple Ruby.

"I'll think about it," I smiled.

"Impressive," My dad cheered," Even slowing the video down to one-fourth speed, I could barely see how fast you're moving."

I watch the screen with the same issue. I can't track my movement. It seems that my semblance heightens all my senses beyond what is normal. Trying to recall that night is as easy as remembering a drunken stupor. I know I killed Grimm capable of destroying whole villages, yet it felt as simple as hunting small game.

If I didn't have my semblance, It would be impossible for me to last even a few minutes in that horde. It is powerful, but I feel enslaved by it. Out of all the semblance, why this one?

Trigger and a target.

Could I trigger it right now? When there is no target to eliminate?

At least I'm not throwing away my humanity, figuratively. Sadly, Salem decided to replace my humanity, literally.

"Umber, I need some cold water."

"Sure, I'll be right back," She left the room. She is going to be gone for a while. There isn't any cold water in the refrigerator. I know she would put a bottle in the freezer and wait.

Perfect.

"You said I'm a hero," I asked in Mistranese," If that is true, what will happen if I step out in public?"

"Depends on where you ask, but this Kingdom is the least affected by biased propaganda. Vale has one of the strongest laws for free media," He spoke quickly, and with vocabulary Yang, a beginner speaker, couldn't understand," From my colleague at work and people around town, Everyone knows you made a mistake and are being used for propaganda. Is that true?"

"Can you two stop speaking Mistranese?" Yang joined in," Kudasai?"

Ruby looks between the three of us like a lost puppy.

"Firecracker," He switched to Valish," Use this as an opportunity to study its spoken form."

"But I'm still learning Hiragana," She stated.

"I am aware, now," I continue to speak.

"Then why do you keep blaming yourself?" He reiterated in fluent Mistranese.

I wanted to tell him everything. I'm not meant to exist in this world, nor could I reveal my greater purpose. I either sound crazy or suicidal. Of course, Continuing on this path is both crazy and suicidal. I want to stop, but I need to keep going.

"Because…," I paused. I didn't know what to say.

"Hey, Akame!" Umber burst into the room with an ice-cold water bottle," I got the water."

Great timing, Umber.

I felt relief at her earlier than predicted arrival. I thought we had any water left in the fridge or freezer. I shrugged it off as an oversight.

"Thank you," I smiled.

"I already opened it for you."

I give her a reaffirming nod and bring the bottle up to my lips.

"There was already one in the fridge, but it wasn't cold enough."

I titled the bottle and let the-

"So, I used ice dust to speed up the cooling!" She smiled smugly," Genius right."

Ice dust? The first gulp of liquid fire slid down my throat.

IT BURNS.

My gag reflex reacted immediately, and I spit it out.

It tasted like acid. I can still feel it burning the back of my throat. Dust ingestion isn't an issue as long as it is in small quantities. I used fire dust to sear steak before and never had a problem! It is supposed to be safe for human consumption.

Human…

…Oh right.

I felt several eyes on me.

I pretend to violently cough.

"Sorry," I wheezed," *cough* It went…down the wrong hole."

They took a glance at the small puddle of water underneath my feet.

"Just clean up right after," My dad scratched his neck.

"No problem," I smiled," Sorry."

I closed the water bottle and noted the fine particle on the bottom. A bit of the water got on my hands, but it didn't burn. I assume dust needs to be inside me for it to hurt.

This brings up a new question.

Why is dust affecting me like this?

I theorize due to my curse, Dust can affect my Grimm side. But that wouldn't make sense.

For example, stabbing a dust crystal into a Grimm isn't going to do much if it isn't activated. It would be no different from stabbing it with a spear. At the very least, it needs a source of ignition for Dust to activate.

Since aura isn't just a shield but a power that permeates our entire body, right down to the bones. Naturally, My Grimm curse wouldn't take kindly to my aura and vice versa.

I internally sigh.

Aura should not exist because of what I become. Yet, I can still feel it. My head hurts the longer I think about it. The only logical explanation is that I have become a hybrid between Grimm and humans.

"Big sister, Akame," Ruby smiled and hugged me," Can I get as strong as you?"

"Unlikely," Umber mumbled.

"I think you can," I patted Ruby," Just keep training."

Something about her is destined for greatness. I can't put my finger on it as I gaze into her silver eyes.

She let go of her embrace.

"Can I keep up?"

"Take the short comment back."

"I'll take it back in 7 years if I'm wrong," Yang teased," shorty."

"We are still growing Yang!"

"Grow faster."

We teased each other until Ruby hopped in between us.

"Let's start tomorrow!" She smiled," We can find some Grimm and-and-"

"Actually," My dad interrupted," Finding Grimm is going to be an issue."

They all looked at him with confusion. I played along.

"Why?" All four of us said.

"There has been a drastic drop in Grimm sightings and attacks. Everyone is worried it might be another hidden horde like in Mistral," He explained.

"Is that why you've been on patrol duty more often this week?" Yang asked.

"Yes," He nodded," I'm not ruling anything out yet. It could take weeks, even a month to sweep the whole island."

The God of Darkness has kept his word.

"Beyond Patch, too?" Yang pouted," Were all the Grimm in one place?"

"No," He continued," Everywhere else still has Grimm. Even Mistral has small pockets in destroyed villages and remote areas. It's just Patch. I can still teach General Ed, but combat class will take a hit."

A thought entered the back of my head. Did I make the right choice?

I'm sure I did.

General Ed will still be taught, and training will be adjusted. I doubt my dad should be laid off because Patch is a haven. This can be an opportunity to create a massive army undisturbed by Grimm. There aren't any Grimm to practice with, but the benefit should outweigh the downside.

"Because Akame is here," Umber smiled," The big, bad Grimm are scared of her!"

She is half right.

"I'm going to choose to believe that," Ruby confirmed.

"Killing Grimm on your daily walk sis?" Yang asked," With Umber?"

"No," I tried to smile," Something else entirely. Umber and I will show it to you when it's ready."

"What is it?" Yang questioned," Why can't you tell me about it now?"

Because you wouldn't understand it.

Normal PoV

1 Day later

Deep within the forest of Patch, A single headstone was meticulously carved; It's surrounded by hand-picked flowers. Further from the headstone is an old house where several years ago, Yang, with Ruby in tow, made a dangerous journey to find answers. They almost died if it wasn't for a dusty old crow.

The same bird reminisced on what he did for the sake of family. He has a damaged red cape and a strong smell of alcohol. He has a recently emptied flask in hand, bags under his eyes, and unshaved.

He looked at his sister's headstone with sadness and pity. She loved her daughter. Raven just doesn't know how to show it. Now Akame is-no-He refuses to believe it.

Qrow has done a lot and never gives up hope in bringing Akame home.

"Rave, I wonder who felt sorry for you?" He lamented. He could've sworn Akame was the one killed, not Raven. She saw her get stabbed in the chest," Maybe those things were messing with my head again."

That is the only possible explanation. Report after the fact was contradictory to what he saw. He just needs proof that discredits all of it.

Qrow firmly believed Tai was the one to create this memorial. It has all her favorite flowers. No one in Vale, especially Patch, gives a damn about Raven. The only people who could have the slightest care are Summer and Taiyang.

The weird thing is the tribe has yet to formally announce Raven's death even after appointing the Spring Maiden as the leader.

'Poor girl is just going to be a puppet,' He sighed. They had to do it anyway. If they reveal Raven has died too soon, there will be infighting. It's a power play to have a weak-willed girl with destructive, magical powers to keep order.

The intel boiled down to Raven appointing Vernal as its new leader as she took her last breath. Somehow! Remaining conscious for two weeks with a hole in her heart.

She wasn't comatose, but wide awake with a lethal injury.

'It makes no damn sense, but the tribe ate it up. They probably know it's bullshit too,' Qrow shook his head,' Bunch of delusional hypocrites. They continue to cling to the past and only care about themselves. Remnants would be much better off if the Branwen tribe died out.'

Qrow briefly thought about desecrating the grave and setting the flowers on fire. Raven is heavily at fault for the insanity. She is no longer his sister after all the crap she pulled. All the lives she took and ruined are on her.

The huntsmen tightly clenched Harbinger.

Yet, He can't bring himself to do it.

Qrow loosens his hold.

He'll never see Ruby and Yang again if he destroys the grave.

'This isn't right,' He thought to himself,' She doesn't deserve any of this. What the hell are you thinking, Tai?'

He can write a whole book on all the crap she has done, but he needs to see his nieces. He hasn't seen them in 5 months. Qrow knows he looks like crap and needs to clean up before meeting family. He just needed to see for himself why there is a lack of Grimm activity.

'I'm a beacon of regret and pain. I should have drawn out a Beowulf or two,' he thought to himself,' And there is no underground activity nor Grimm in the skies. It makes no damn sense.'

Qrow felt a cold tingle at the back of his neck.

He activated his aura in an instant.

Decades of experience screamed at him that something isn't right. A feeling of primal danger.

When he turned to engage, He couldn't believe his weary eyes.

"Akame?"

A/N: Next chapter gonna be more focused on Akame's relationship with Qrow. Akame is someone Qrow can be honest with compared to Yang and Ruby. I'm sure he sugarcoat and even leave out details on his missions. Ijust wish I got this chapter out sooner.