A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter!

Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: HATRED AT NIGHTFALL

Yukino soon removed her clothing as the rest of the Sabertooth members watched silently. "Yukino..." Frosch mumbled.

"Please be quiet, Frosch." Lector said.

Yukino's blue Sabertooth guild emblem was located on her left waist. "Erase your guild emblem." Jiemma demanded.

"Yes, sir." Yukino complied. "I wasn't here for long, but thank you for everything."

"Get out of my sight, trash." Jiemma ordered.

Later, Sting and Rogue were soon seen walking with their Exceeds in front of them. "Our master sure does go to extremes, y'know?" Sting said.

"It couldn't be helped. This is why we're the strongest guild." Lector stated.

"Fro is sad..." Frosch said.

Rogue looked at his partner for a moment before stopping in his tracks. "Is this what a "guild" is?" He questioned, making Sting look back at him. "Yukino was a comrade."

"She's gone 'cause she's weak. The strongest guild doesn't need her, right?" Sting countered before he continued walking.

"Come to think of it, I hear the lady is replacing Yukino-san." Lector informed.

"Oh! Now that's what I call the strongest five members!" Sting exclaimed.

"Rogue..." Frosch called his name, causing Rogue to look down at the Exceed. "Fro is weak. Is Fro gonna disappear too?"

"You're not going to disappear, Frosch." Rogue replied as he smiled. "Because I'm with you."

Frosch nodded in agreement. "Right! Fro's not gonna disappear!"

Meanwhile, Akame, Zack, Hana, Chii, and Jim were walking back to their inn. "Man, I'm ready to crash." Akame stated.

"We do got a long day tomorrow." Zack agreed. "I know Julian and Aly went back to the inn first, but where did Zeke disappear off to?"

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen him." Hana replied.

"Does he got a secret lover we don't know about?" Jim wondered.

"He did say he wanted to spend a little time alone. If he's with anyone, it's probably Erza." Zack stated.

Akame then noticed something. "Somebody's in front of the inn." He announced.

"You're right. Who is it?" Zack questioned.

"You guys have good eyes..." Hana muttered, squinting her eyes to see what they were looking at.

The figure was soon revealed to be Yukino with a suitcase, shocking Hana. "You're..." Akame trailed off.

"...Sabertooth's..."

"...Celestial Spirit Wizard!"

Erza and Ezekiel were sitting on some stairs with Millianna. "Actually, I thought I'd surprise you by revealing my identity when we won the tournament, but I couldn't wait that long to see you, Er-chan!" Millianna claimed, resting her head on Erza's shoulder.

"Good grief... Zeke, how did you know it was Millianna?" Erza asked.

"Milli and I had a few interactions in the seven years you were gone. She was surprised I was alive." Ezekiel replied. "Considering Jellal told everyone that I had died." He added in his head.

"Anyway, that Kagura on your team is some kind of strong..." Erza stated.

"You can say that again. In fact, when she gets serious, she may even be stronger than you and Ezekiel-kun combined, Er-chan." Millianna said.

"I'd love to spar with her sometime." Erza said.

"So would I. She seems like a worthy opponent." Ezekiel agreed.

"You may get your chance during the tournament. Although Kagura-chan may not go all out here at the Games..." Millianna informed.

"Really?" Erza asked in surprise.

"You saw her sheathed sword, Archenemy, right?" Millianna questioned.

"That's a daunting name for a sword." Erza responded.

"She made a vow to only unsheathe her sword to cut down one person, like the name says. Someone she holds such hatred for that they can't co-exist in this world... The man that stole everything from Kagura-chan... That sword is meant to kill Jellal." Millianna said.

Erza's eyes widened while Ezekiel scoffed. "Yeah, I kinda figured." Ezekiel claimed as Erza looked at him. Ezekiel glances towards Millianna. "She wants to avenge Simon, correct?"

Millianna nodded as she grinned. "I know. You feel the same way, right, Er-chan, Ezekiel-kun?" She asked as Erza didn't respond. "Right?"

Millianna closed her eyes. "I hate Jellal, too..." She confessed. "He used us... and murdered Simon. I'll never forgive him... I'll never forgive him! That's why I joined Kagura-chan's guild."

Erza and Ezekiel were walking back from their talk with Millianna. "...how long will it go on?" Erza asked herself.

Ezekiel sighed. "I understand their feelings in some way." He admitted. "You can't change how people feel about Jellal, Nee-chan. Nor can you force them to forget the past. Only they can do that."

"I know." Erza said.

Meanwhile, Akame, Zack, Hana, Julian, and their Exceeds were across from Yukino. "You came to see me?" Hana questioned.

"Yes. I'm here on very important business with you, Hana-sama." Yukino replied.

Akame had his arms crossed. "What does Saber want?" He asked.

"Will you calm yourself? Let's hear her out." Chii told her partner.

"I know I have a lot of nerve approaching you..." Yukino sets her two gold keys down. "...but here. The Key of the Fish and the Key of the Scales. I would like you to take them, Hana-sama."

"Huh?" Hana said in confusion. "But... I can't accept them! W-Wait! Why me, anyways? Wouldn't Lucy-sama be a better fit?"

"You only have silver keys, correct?" Yukino questioned.

"Yeah, but..."

"I made my decision to give you these keys after the tournament was over." Yukino said.

"The tournament ain't over!" Akame argued.

"My tournament is. I believe Minerva-sama is going to take my place. Then the team will be made up of the five strongest wizards who changed Sabertooth." Yukino explained.

"That's..." Jim trailed off.

"Then you weren't one of them..." Chii came to that conclusion.

"I was still a newbie. They only appointed me to be on the team because Minerva-sama was out on a job." Yukino said.

"But why give them away?" Julian asked. "From what I know, those Celestial Spirits are precious to you, aren't they?"

"All the more reason for me to entrust them to Hana-sama. The Celestial Spirits will be happier this way." Yukino answered.

Hana held her hands out. "I'm flattered that you thought of me... but I just can't..." She tried to reason with her.

"You'll have two of the Zodiac Gate Keys. You may have already noticed this, but in the past few years there's been a large drop in Celestial Spirit Wizards. And with the recent Zentopia incident, you, me, and Lucy-sama may be the last Celestial Spirit Wizards." Yukino explained as Hana just started at the two Zodiac keys.

"I just can't accept them. Celestial Spirit Magic is all about bonds and trust. You can't switch owners as easily as that. If Lucy was here, she would probably agree with me." Hana said.

Yukino had a dark shadow casted over her eyes. "It wasn't... an easy decision..." She muttered before standing up. "Never mind. I thought you would say that. I hope we can meet again."

"You blew it." Aly stated.

"You had a rare chance to collect two of the Zodiacs." Julian informed.

"If I was still in Horned Serpent, I would've taken her keys without giving it a second thought." Hana confessed. "But being in Twilight Phoenix, I don't have that mindset anymore. I'm happy with just my silver keys."

This caused Julian to smile. "Come to think of it, I wonder where Akame and Chii went..." Aly realized.

"They ran out after Yukino-chan. Akame-san said he forgot to tell her something." Julian explained.

"Hey! Wait!"

"Wait!"

Akame and Chii rushed after Yukino, who halted in her tracks. "Akame-sama, Chii-sama..." Yukino muttered.

Akame grinned sheepishly. "Um, sorry about before. You're not a bad person after all!" He apologized, shocking Yukino.

"Akame here assumed you were a bad guy just because you're with Sabertooth." Chii elaborated.

"And that's why I'm apologizin'!" Akame argued.

"Apologizing?" Yukino repeated.

"My bad!" Akame gave her a close-eyed smile.

"You call that an apology?!" Chii questioned. "I'm sorry. But for Akame, this is actually being mature."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Akame exclaimed.

Yukino had a dark shadow casted over her eyes. "You ran after me just for that...?"

"You looked really down, so I thought maybe I put you in a bad mood..." Akame stated.

"You didn't. I'm sorry."

"Hey-hey-hey! You're not supposed to apologize to me!" Akame informed.

Yukino soon began crying. "And cryin' just makes me feel even worse!" Akame exclaimed.

"Look at what you did! You made her cry, Akame!"

"I didn't!"

Yukino drops to the ground and covers her face. "I can't hold back anymore... No one's ever been nice to me like this before... I always wanted to be a member of Sabertooth. And I finally got in last year... but now they won't let me go back." She revealed. "I lost just one time... and they kicked me out. I was humiliated in front of everyone... and made to erase my guild mark with my own power. It was so frustrating and embarrassing... My pride and memories were destroyed right there and then! But even so, now I don't have anywhere to go!"

A dark shadow casted over Akame's eyes as he gritted his teeth. "Sorry, but I don't know how it goes in other guilds." He claimed.

"Akame!"

"Right. I'm sorry... It just all came out..." Yukino apologized.

Akame clenched his fist tightly, trying to conceal his anger so he won't lash out in front of Yukino. "I'm from another guild, but as a fellow wizard, I understand. Bein' humiliated, havin' to erase your insignia, it's gotta be frustrating. A guild that makes its family members cry ain't no guild at all!" He declared.

"What are you doing out here, Erza?"

Erza and Ezekiel turned to see Gray. "Gray..." Erza muttered. "Nothing... Nothing important."

"Why are you out here alone?" Ezekiel questioned.

"Until now, I was in the middle of some tug-of-war between Lyon and Juvia and I have no idea what it was about." Gray replied.

"You have no idea what it was about? I wasn't there, but even I have a pretty good idea of what the deal was." Erza stated.

Ezekiel chuckled. "I'm not even in your guild and I know what it was just by seeing it in the Games." He added.

"You must realize by now how Juvia feels about you. Why not give her a clean-cut response?" Erza asked as Gray didn't answer her. "Never mind me. When it comes to love and hate, I've got too much baggage of my own to be giving out advice."

"Did something happen?" Gray asked.

"No. It's late. Let's go back to the inn." Erza answered.

"I should be heading back too. Goodnight, Nee-chan." Ezekiel said.

"Goodnight, Zeke."

Crocus Garden...

Two consecutive blasts were soon heard, waking up Sting and Lector. "What the...?!" Sting questioned as Rogue opened his door.

"Intruder!" He announced.

"Lector, wake up!" Frosch flew beside Rogue.

"Intruder?!" Sting repeated. "All of the members of Sabertooth are stayin' at this inn! Who the hell is it?!"

"I don't know... but they must not be expecting to leave here alive!" Rogue claimed.

One of their members soon crashed in front of them while other members got blasted with red mist, causing them to go flying in the air. The intruder was revealed to be Akame who was punching some more of the members. "Show yourself..."

"...Jiemma, you asshole!" Akame finished, kicking a member up into the air and shocking Sting and Rogue.

"Giving me the silent treatment, eh? That's fine, I'll just kill everyone here!" Akame exclaimed.

Jiemma soon steps forward. "You have business with me, kid?" He questioned.

"So you finally arrive." Akame replied. "I hear you kicked someone out for losin' once?" He asked before chuckling. "That really makes my blood boil."

"Huh?"

"In that case," Akame paused as he pounded his fists together, making red mist appear as he did so. "if you lose to me, you're outta this guild!"

A/N: Another chapter is completed! I'm so close to catching this book up with God Pegasus. With Black Sun, it's gonna be a while.

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.