New Allies: Old Friends and Enemies II
"Any concerns?" Reeds asked, looking at the Night Hunters and their stunned reactions, seeing them alive once more is an improbability the Night Hunters still struggle to comprehend to the point that it is surreal. "Good. If anything I will allow for them to speak for themselves. Sheele, Chelsea, please introduce yourselves to your team." Reeds gestures.
"Good evening, everyone," Sheele bows in front of the Night Hunters and brings herself back up. "Let us work together like the olden days today, ok," Sheele introduces herself effectively to the group. She turns over to Chelsea. "It's your turn to introduce yourself Chel... sea? Where'd she go?" Sheele asks as Chelsea disappears from Sheele's view and reappears behind Mine and Tatsumi. Sandwaching herself in between the two and wrapping her arms between the two.
"My goodness, it has been way too long since we last saw one another. I promise I will not leave anyone of you guys alone," Chelsea tells the two, happy to see her friends once more. Both Mine and Tatsumi are at a loss for words as neither couldn't come up with a word from their initial shock. Feelings of anger, pain, and regret of Chelsea's death seemed to have been washed away as they reunited with her, being awe-struck by her. "If there is anything that I can do to repay your guys troubles then just tell me and I'll find a way to do it," She lifts her head back and glances at the silent Akame and stunned Lubbock. "Hey Akame, hey Lubbock. The deal also applies to you two as well." Chelsea continued. Akame couldn't come up with a word, her dismay attempts to overwhelm her but does not let herself be consumed by the pain of reunion.
"Chelsea," Kurome stands up from her chair. "So that is your name, isn't it?" A dark aura emanates from Kurome, one that hate and revolution manifest against another. Chelsea's happy smile quickly turns into an anxious look. Chelsea stands up back to the wall with what is paramount to fear gripping her.
"Merde," (Shit) Chelsea curses under her breath as a pang of fear gripes her. "Uhhh, hi Kurome. I see you're doing well. Is your neck feeling better?" Chelsea nervously chuckles. "Why don't we let bygones be gone?" Chelsea tells Kurome. "Is that how you say it, let bygones be gone?" Chelsea glances at her old comrades, trying to get away from the room before her own life is cut short once more.
"My neck is fine. But now that you are here, I can kill you again with my own two hands!" Kurome lunges forward, tackling Chelsea to the ground. Kurome wraps her hands and squeezes down on Chelsea's neck. Chelsea wraps her hands around Kurome's wrist to try and free herself. Anderson reacted to try and push the two off of each other with Wave and Akame assisting in removing the enraged Kurome off of Chelsea. Sheele, Mine, and Tatsumi helping Chelsea: coughing with a terrified face.
"Sit her down!" Anderson commanded, with Kurome struggling to free from Akame and Wave's grasp. "Are you ok Chelsea?" Anderson asked.
"Yeah *cough-cough*," Chelsea responded. "I more or less expected a reaction to happen, but not like this," Chelsea claims. Lubbock presents a glass of water for Chelsea to clear her throat. "Ah, merci." (Thank you) Chelsea drinks the water. Chelsea drinks the water too quickly becoming a block in her throat before coughing out even more. "Why is everything trying to kill me today?!"
"I am so sorry, Colonel," Anderson apologizes. "If I knew she reacted that way I wouldn't have brought her in." Anderson continued whereas Reeds downplayed his apology.
"Worry not, Anderson. We all do things in the heat of passion without rhyme or reason," Reeds reassures Anderson. "Keep things under control as I hope not to attract the attention of security here. In the end, I am hoping for the unit to work together with no problems as we will be working further on missions in the future. Which may include long-distance disconnection in enemy territory. But I don't think they are ready for either the Reich or Burgundy yet. And God forbid the Soviet Union." Reeds comments close to Anderson, keeping them an earshot away from the commotion.
"Can someone tell me what is happening? Because what in the hell is that witch doing?!" Kurome points at Chelsea. "I thought I had her killed and her... her head was on a spike in the middle of the town square. Her body was disposed of after they dissected her like a frog that she is!" Kurome continues but is visibly seen being calmed down by Wave and Kurome.
"I know your previous organizations were at war, but can someone try to fill me in on what is happening," Anderson orders to understand the animosity despite meeting for the first time. "So, answer the question. What is with this sudden animosity?" Anderson walks in front of Kurome with an interrogative tone in his voice.
"You want to know why, captain," Kurome points at Chelsea once more, with Anderson standing to the side and looking at Chelsea, who is already standing alone. "That witch tried and failed to assassinate me. She pierced the back of my neck with a needle while disguised as a comrade that she killed before. A close friend that Wave and I knew before being murdered by her," Kurome brings her arm down but a dark smile reveals on Kurome's face. "The funny thing is that I got my revenge on her the second she fell and seeing the Empire collect and dispose of her corpse brought me a sense of relief." Kurome briefly explains her side, recounting the exact elements she witnessed and of what was told to her.
"Is that true?" Anderson turns to Chelsea who affirms everything Kurome had said. Anderson stands up and sighs at the revelation. "You two need to find a way to work together. I forbid any vengeful acts that break unit cohesion," Anderson points to Chelsea. "You get over here and apologize for the attempted assassination," He turns to Kurome. "And you apologize for what you've just done. And let go of her." Anderson tells Akame and Wave, letting go of Kurome and stepping back from her.
"Yes, sir," Chelsea gives an irreverent sigh and walks over to Kurome who still is sitting but is shown to have relaxed and no longer has a contemptuous aura surrounding her. "I am sorry for trying to kill you before and I hoped seeing my head on a spike brought some sort of sick joy," Chelsea bows before Kurome. "We do not need to be friends. But let us work together as a team. As allies and not enemies," Chelsea stands back up and reaches out her right hand to Kurome, presenting her with a smile on her face. "What do you say, allies?" Chelsea promotes an ideal of cooperation. Hearing her apology, Kurome reaches out her hand and agrees.
"Of course, and I am sorry too," Kurome apologizes. The scene brings a soft smile to a few faces as they shake hands to end hostilities. The brief scene of blissful peace came to an end when Kurome yanked Chelsea forward, headbutting her square in the head. The force leaves a mark on Chelsea's head as she lets go of Chelsea, allowing her to fall back and hit the floor. "Weak excuse for an apology," Kurome stands up and walks to a side of Chelsea, towering over her shocked body. "It'll do for now. But if you want to earn my trust to work together as a team then you'll have to work harder for me. Lest you want to end up as a puppet inside of Yatsafusa. If not then best to stand out of my way," Kurome leaves the meeting room before not giving a final message to Chelsea. "Pathetic." Wave follows after Kurome to talk with her.
"Chelsea, are you ok?" Tatsumi, Mine, Lubbock, Akame, and Scheele help Chelsea up who is speaking words incoherently from the hit, neither able to discern if what she is saying is English or French terms.
"God help us," Anderson comments disapprovingly under his breath because of Kurome's actions. Like Tatsumi, he hopes that the unit finds cohesion. Moments passed as the Night Hunters out of the CIA headquarters, being led back outside they entered a Cadillac limousine, bring drove out of the Langley County area. An hour-long drive brought the Night Hunters into a secret facility in the Appalachian mountain ranges of Virginia, one off the beaten path and known to a few in the CIA. Inside the secret facility, disguised as a weather research station, Anderson leads the Night Hunters inside. "This is a state-of-the-art facility that we use to transmit and intercept messages all over the world. More specifically to our allies in the Mediterranean, the Kingdom of England, the French State, and West Africa. For the next five days, you will be training here and more or less learning how to 'get along' after what I saw. For now, just sit tight as your Imperial Arms and personal belongings will soon be arriving." Anderson steps outside to wait along with Reeds. Now alone, the six Imperial Arms users began to unwind from the experience but have even more questions that they have for Chelsea and Sheele.
"So this place reaches as far as l'État français, impressive." Chelsea comments being the first to break the silence, Chelsea observes the facility.
"So you're French now?" Mine approaches Chelsea, curious about her change of tone and substituting words for others in another language. "Because it was easy to tell when you started speaking nonsense."
"I am," Chelsea responded by just as quickly. "I toured all over the French State and parts of Algiers. But the SS-State of Burgundy is a literal no-go zone. Did you know they have watch towers near the border as well as a chain-linked fence from the south up to the beaches in the north," Chelsea comments. "If anything, that is one place I wasn't able to spy on, even with all of my training."
"Is that so? You failed as a spy then." Kurome quips a jab at Chelsea.
"Are you still mad? Was my apology and that headbutt not enough for you? Was my death at the hands of those puppets weren't enough for you?" Chelsea responded with frustration in her voice. "Is there anything you want me to do to keep you off of my back?"
"Jump off a bridge into a shallow river. Better yet, take a vacation to Burgundy." Kurome retorted. But Mine intervened to not escalate a fight between the two.
"Let's not go overboard," Mine tells the two, seeing there is nothing else she can do Kurome leaves. Mine turns to Chelsea. "In seriousness, Chelsea. You do not know how happy I am to see that you and Sheele are alive," Mine's tone changes with a sense that she might cry tears of joy. "I do not know how to say this. But I'm glad that you are back." Mine's words pierce Chelsea's heart but Chelsea's personality never changes.
"Mine," Chelsea seizes the opportunity and jumps onto Mine's back to tightly embrace her. "It indeed has been a while. The way you spoke sounded like a confession," Chelsea's comment and actions ticked Mine off a feeling she hadn't experienced in a while. "What is the matter lil' baby? Ha." Chelsea's comments cause Mine to try and force her off.
"Get off of me!" Mine complains trying to get Cherlsea off of her, throwing out any preconceived statement and warm feelings she had for Chelsea. "Gahh! You are so annoying! I hate you!"
"I'll let go if you tell me something," Chelsea leans closer to Mine's ear. "Have you and Tatsumi hooked up yet or is he still in the market?" Chelsea whispers into Mine's ear. Her statement made Mine blush red. But she stuffs her embarrassment down by grabbing onto Chelsea's arm tightly and pulls forward to remove Chelsea by flipping her onto her back and allowing her to land on the cold ground again. "Why..." Chelsea responded with a raspy voice.
"I told you to get off of me didn't I!?" Mine yells at the dazed Chelsea, flustered and annoyed by Chelsea's antics.
"It's a shock you know," Tatsumi approaches Sheele who decidedly sat on a couch away from the commotion. "When Mine told us what happened, it came as a shock that it broke even the strongest of us into tears," Tatsumi tells Sheele, immediately she knew she had a few persons in mind that would mourn for her. "It's a miracle and relief that you're here now." Tatsumi continues with Sheele accepting his comments.
"It's okay Tatsumi," Sheele turns to Tatsumi. "I apologize if my death has caused any complications for you guys," She apologizes to Tatsumi though he brushes her apology off, knowing that it was unwarranted. "But what I am proud of is how you all progressed and developed as assassins and as people," Sheele glances over at Mine who sits in between the two. Sheele glances her gaze away and bows her head slightly forward. "It has been a while Mine. It's good to see you again." Sheele lifts her head back and glances over at Mine.
"I was heartbroken you know," Mine comments. "When you died I swore revenge on the woman who killed you and I did get revenge for you and Chelsea," Mine continues, turning to face Sheele. "But I'm joyful to be with you once more. If you hadn't saved me then we wouldn't have brought down the Empire. I am in your debt, Sheele." Mine's comments touch Sheele's heart for their reunion. Sheele then wrapped an arm around Mine.
"I know what I've done caused grief and sorrow Mine," Sheele leans in closer. "But in exchange, you've changed and grown into a great assassin that even made the Empire tremble. I don't regret sacrificing my life to save yours and seeing you grow. You don't have to be in my debt. If anything. Let us work together once more. Although, I would have to start catching up." The two smile once more at their reunion. Finally being able to work together once more. The sight brought a sense of movement in Tatsumi.
"Sheele and Chelsea are back. That isn't a bad thing. Seeing them work together again would certainly be interesting," Lubbock comments, standing by Akame's side as she, Wave, and Lubbock observe from a glance. Seeing Mine, Tatsumi, and Sheele getting close to know one another once more and Kurome prodding a knocked-out Chelsea with a sharpened pencil to confirm if she was dead or not. A smile is brought onto Lubbock's face. "Now that we got most of the team back all we need are Leone, Susanoo, Bulat, and Najenda for the whole gang to reunite. I bet Leone is off somewhere causing trouble. But if they are here, then what could they be doing? What do you say Akame?" He turns to see her with no emotions on her face.
"You know you two are lucky to be able to reunite with your colleagues again," Wave comments. "I'm glad to be by Kurome's side once more. But I wish to see my old colleagues' faces once more." Wave envisions the faces of his allies from the Jaegers. "I accepted the fact that Esdeath is a nazi puppet. But I just wonder where the others could be," Lubbock glances downward. "I just hope that if they are here then they're safe. Perhaps you can make amends and see fit that we work together to stop Esdeath." Wave continued.
"The reason why we fought hard against the Empire was to keep their memory alive. When we formed Night Raid, we knew that our records would not be kept by the Revolutionary Army, for they wanted us to remain hidden and erased from history," Akame interjects. "Finally, as we've begun to lose more members it was important that those who remained would fight on for them," Akame glances at her friends once more. "But now that we're here. I could only imagine what the future is in store for us. I believe that we may need to continue fighting to free the people here, just as we did in the Empire," Akame glances over at Wave to see him being silent and silently starting to brood. "As you've said. Let's hope the others of the Jaegers are safe and aren't part of the Reich." Akame tries to cheer up Wave.
"Still. Even if they are, I do not think I have it in me to hurt them. I would much rather be burned and wounded rather than fight them," He continued. "It was different with Tatsumi as I only saw him as a foe against the Empire. Which in the end made it easier for me. But if I were to face my old team: Dr. Stylish, Bols, Seryu, or even Run, I don't think I would bring myself to fight them." Wave's concerns brought some light to Akame on what he may and Kurome may have to deal with should they ever encounter them. Moments passed as Anderson and Reeds announced the arrival of their Imperial Arms.
"Now that your Imperial Arms have arrived. I'd say it's time for you to start your training. Grab your Imperial Arms and meet outside of the facility. Each one of you will be sparring." Reeds informs all. Moments later outside, by a hat draw Sheele and Akame were chosen to spar. "You have three minutes. Victor is the one who lands a killing blow but does not kill. Now... begin!" Quickly Sheele adjusts her glasses and changes her personality to that of a cold and impassive, she charges forward with Extase raising it for an upward strike. Akame perries to the right and strikes Sheele with a wooden katana but she blocks the strike with Extase. Akame uses the force of the strike to push herself back to avoid Sheele's frontal attack. In the sparring Sheele favors a method that requires her to be upfront and close as to catch her enemies off guard to strike them down but also uses Extase to block bullets, contrary to Akame who prefers a quick strike that allows Murasame to work at its fullest extent. But for now, she spars Sheele with a wooden katana that she owns.
On the sidelines, Lubbock, Mine, Tatsumi, Chelsea, Wave, and Kurome watch the spar.
"She's been living on this Earth for over three years, joined a pacifist religion but still fights like a cold assassin. What an amazing contradiction," Chelsea comments observing how Sheele fights, relating to the file she read about her. "Hey Mine, want to make a bet. I bet you ten dollars that Akame beats Sheele."
"Seeing as how Akame is stronger than Sheele, she and I were great friends. Let's make it fifteen. You owe me fifteen if Sheele wins." Mine responded, raising the gamble for a greater earning.
"Don't get your hopes up just yet," Chelsea scoffs and raises and bends her arms to the side, shrugging Mine off. Seeing her left hand out in the open Mine saw a golden ring on her ring finger. She grabs onto it and observes the ring closely. "Hey!" Chelsea pulls her hand away. "Only I get to mess with others, not the other way around." She responded with shock in her voice.
"What is that ring for?" Mine asked. "And why are you hiding it? Hmmm? Did you stoop low to steal this from another?" Mine becomes suspicious of Chelsea's ring.
"It was a gift. From a... um...," Chelsea stammers until Mine takes the teasing advantage from Chelsea: the tease master.
"A gift from who? Hmm." Mine takes interest similarly to Lubbock who also saw her ring. Not wanting to give her the satisfaction, Chelsea deflects the question.
"Well, Mine. In this life, I was able to advance more in life than you. So we'll just leave it at that.
"If anything, I'd say that you were or are hitched," Lubbock joins in. "Come on tell us."
"Listen, I was not hitched or whatever that means. I didn't do it because I liked him or anything. Okay!" Chelsea continued but her flustered-ness exposed herself
"And who is that him in question?" Mine presses on but realizes too late that Chelsea's flusteredness turns into annoyance.
"Ta gueule!" (Shut your mouth!) Chelsea turns around and storms off "Salut!"(Goodbye!) Chelsea bids farewell to the others. Chelsea enters the building facility alone and looks at her ring. "I forgot to take this off. But there isn't a good moment to remove this ring. *Sigh* Might as well keep it on until I can find a good place to put it away," Chelsea laments. "I promise I will find you again. Just hold on a bit longer and I will return to France." Chelsea mutters under her breath.
"What's her deal?" Lubbock asked after seeing Chelsea steps out turning to see the spar. "It was just a bit of teasing. I didn't think she would react that way."
"No. It was my fault." Mine responded. Hearing an expression of pain, Mine turns around and sees Sheele being tossed down after Akame used her wooden katana defeating Sheele with an upward strike, sending her flying in the air and collapsing to the ground. Reeds announces Akame as the winner. "SHEELE!" Mine collapses on all fours, saddened by the loss of Sheele's match and her fifteen dollars.
"The winner is Akame. Next up are," Reeds draw from the hat two slips of paper with names on them. "Lubbock and Kurome. You two come on up and prepare your Imperial Arms. Rules are the same. Three minutes, first to land a killing strike or blow is the winner." Reeds continued with Akame helping Sheele up, still gripping onto Extase.
"You did well, Sheele. I didn't expect you to get some hits in. But I see you still hold on your own." Akame comments.
"Hm. Gratias, Akame." (Thanks) Sheele thanks Akame before being able to use Extase to help herself up.
18 May 1963
London, Kingdom of England
Underneath a pub frequented by all members of English society, with many looking for quick and illegal fun at the expense of others.
"You fucking slag!" An out-of-uniform English Army lieutenant curses at a young short-haired blonde woman as she cackles at his losses in the game of Brag. Reaching her harm over, the young woman drags all of the pound sterling notes and coins in front of her. "There is no way on Jehova's green Earth that you would've won with those cards! Either you are a witch or a cheat!" He points and accuses the woman who holds three aces.
"But I wasn't the one who folded like a bell-end, bell-end." She taunts and continues to cackle at his misery to the point that his actions become more confrontational and aggravated as he slams his fist on the table.
"I know you did something to your cards when you raised the bloody pot!" He continues his accusations but she remains confident in her innocence. Before he could do anything that would be too aggressive, a couple of patrons grabbed a hold of him. "What the, let go of me and bugger off you pricks! Let me at her!" He speaks up as the other patrons mock him. "I'll get you, you slag! I'll remember you!" He flips off the young blonde woman, raising and showing the index and middle fingers and showing the back of his right hand. "I'll get you!" He cries out as he is dragged upstairs and eventually thrown out.
"Get better next time, bell-end," She waves while grinning from ear to ear, with a smug and self-satisfied attitude on her. She rests her grin and is given a new set of cards. "Now, which one of you boys are ready to lose?" She challenges the others who are ready to challenge her in another round of brag. After a couple of extra rounds, the young blonde-haired woman bids farewell to the other patrons before the pub closes down for the night. She walks and opens her bag to count her earnings. "150, 200, 250, 300, 350 pounds in one night," She expressed with glee. "Who knew scamming those army punks would pay out. Now, I wonder what I should do tomorrow? No, perhaps the 25th. That's when the FA Cup Final between Leicester City and Man United," She cackles further as she stuffs the money in her bag. "*Sigh* I could make more from there. Now time to head home and prepare a percentage to the HMMLR and the rest shall go to whatever I want. Thanks Lionelle." She speaks softly as she continues to head home. Walking alone through the London streets a whistle is called out to her.
"You there, miss. Stop right there!" An authoritative voice calls out to the young blonde female.
"OI BIRD!" The same voice of the man she cheated out calls out to her. She continues to walk faster until she hears a whistle blow. Stopping in her tracks, she checks her bag pulls out a set of glasses, and changes her vocal tone. "Yeah, you! Get your arse back here, I ain't done with you!" He calls out. Having no other choice, she turns around and changes her demeanor.
"I'm sorry, but may I ask why?" She asks, acting all prim and proper.
"Don't act like a sweet girl," The man of whom she cheated of his money turns to his brother. "That's the bitch who stole all of my money." He cried out.
"Alright, alright. Listen, lass, if you don't give him back what you took from him then I have no choice but to detain you and bring you back to the station." The law enforcement sergeant directs the young blonde woman as he approaches her.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, sergeant. I never saw this man in my life." She responded, acting clueless.
"Cut the act," The law enforcement sergeant presents a pair of handcuffs. "If you are not going to cooperate then I have to put you in custody," The sergeant begins to walk closer. "You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence." As he places a hand on her shoulder, the young blonde woman quickly grabs hold and slams him down to the ground with enough force to incapacitate him. Seeing her knock out their leader, the other four law enforcement officers draw out their batons and rush forth to try and detain her. But her movements become quicker than their attacks and she beat all of them into submission. The young man, whose money she cheated off of, was not spared as he too is knocked out by her.
"Aw... what happened to that tough act of yours," The young blonde woman drops her voice act and removes her glasses. "An officer of the English Army ought to be more composed than that," She grabs him by the skin of his head. "You're a pathetic worm who uses their family name to leverage whatever they want," She lets him go and his head drops, breaking his nose. "Disappointing. Fortunately, I didn't have to use my armaments to beat them up. None of you would've lived. Ha!" She continues on with her walk back to her home to counter her earnings.