2 June 1963
Reykjavík, US Protectorate of Iceland

"Come on baby. Just one kiss... you Icelandic girls are nothing like the country girls back home," A drunk American soldier hugs closely at an Icelandic woman he just met, attempting to get a kiss from her and trying to woo her to be in bed with him. "Come on kiss me. I promise to give you a good time! Furthermore, you get to have an American citizenship over your crummy Icelandic one" He continued.

"Farðu af mér, þú drukkni Bandaríkjamaður." (Get off of me you drunk American) The woman cries out.

"Heh, I like 'em feisty." The drunk American soldier continued. Before he continued a young male Icelander trying to get in between the two, pushing the American off and into his squadmates "Piss off boy, Can't you see I'm trying to have fun? You people should be grateful that we liberated you," The drunk American soldier exclaimed. "And the way she is dressed and looked at us, you know she wants me and the boys."

"Go home Ami! Go home! We don't want you here!" The Icelandic man ordered, switching to English. "Go home! You people caused too much trouble and we don't want to be in your war. Go and never come back!"

"And what... let the nazis take over? You should be happy that the land of the free protected you!" A private responded. "So learn to be grateful, boy." The private pushes the Icelander man back.

"I prefer nazi security over the treatment that you barbarian colonizers call freedom." The Icelander man pushes back as he continues to protect the female Icelander. His comments ticked off the Americans.

"What did you call us boy?" The drunk American responded. "Like we said, we fought to free you people so you ought to be grateful. Because if not then we'll gladly bomb the living shit out of your island so that you will be sent back to the stone age like the ingrateful shits that you are while we'll be riding high. So shut up, let us bed your women, and you can go on your merry way. How about that." The drunk American continued at the annoyance of the Icelanders, with one of them grabbing the woman back.

"Heil Hitler, Americans, Sieg Heil!" The Icelander man flashes the nazi salute as he tries to save the woman but is punched down and begins to be beaten.

"Get that nazi hick!" "Show this Aryan wannabe the true meaning of freedom!" "Fuck you-you fucking Nazi!" The squad of American soldiers began to beat and kick down the Icelandic man who flashed them the nazi salute beating him to the terror of the Icelandic female.

"That's enough!" Wave, passing by, calls out and pushes the American soldiers dispersing the others back from the Icelander. "You should be ashamed of yourselves! Is this how you are supposed to act? Beating the men and harassing the women? You should be ashamed of yourselves for acting this way!"

"It's only right to punch down nazis boy," One of the Americans called out. "They're supporting those who killed our people. It's only right that these nazis get a good beating as to know where their place is and to stop supporting this idea. And whose side are you even on anyway? So fuck off civilian or else." The American soldier continued.

"Nazi or not, they're still civilians and you have no right to harass them!" Wave continued.

"WAVE!" Lubbock crosses the road after seeing Wave confront the Americans on behalf of the two Icelanders. "Wave, we can't get involved!" Lubbock confronts Wave. Not long until the MPs arrived, the two Icelanders had already fled, but the American soldiers pinned the blame on both Lubbock and Wave.

"That's them officers those two are the ones that began to attack us!" The drunk American pins the blame. Apprehending Wave and Lubbock they are moved to the back seats of the MP's Ford Taunus P3. Minutes pass by as the two are promptly thrown into a cell.

"You just have to get involved didn't you," Lubbock comments disapprovingly against Wave. "Now look where we are."

"It didn't matter. If I hadn't intervened that man would have died and a lot worse would have stemmed from there," Wave replied. "Thankfully we were chosen to make that food run, and we found out what was happening."

"That sense of justice is why we ended up here," Lubbock replied. "I would have favored to let them beat up a nazi sympathizer if it meant us not being locked up." Lubbock leaned back against the wall.

"Sympathizer or not, they should not have resorted to violence," Wave responded. He stood up and walked to the metal bars holding him and Lubbock behind. "You still have Cross Tails on you?" Wave asks but Lubbock pointed at the MP's playing with the Imperial Arms. "Dammit." Wave curses under his breath.

"Hey, shut it in there," An MP walks closer across from the jail cell of the two. "You journalists should know better than to get involved. You'll make your country look bad." The MP mockingly tells Wave as they mess with the film in his camera.

"Hey be careful with that, it's expensive-" Wave tries to warn the MPs but fails to do so as the MPs break the film and the camera lens, with one of them saying oops.

"Look at them, it's like seeing two monkeys in a zoo." Another MP jokes as the rest laugh. The MP closest to Wave and Lubbock's looks closly at Wave.

"You know boy... you look like a wetback," The MP turns to his friends. "Hey fellas, doesn't this boy look like a wetback?"

"Holy shit he does!" The MP squints to get a better view. "Despite having an English-sounding name, he looks more Mexican or a WOP," The MP continues. "Now which is your real name? Pablo, Miguel?"

"Nah he looks more like a Dago. You know one of those Eyetalians." Another MP comments.

"Dago more like deported. Ha! Something they should do for Greasehaired eyetalians like you," They continue to throw slurs and cackle before the MP turns to see Wave giving a mean stare, he pulls out his nightstick and hits the metal bars. "Don't give me that look boy. Now sit back down before I beat you over the head like those spooks who don't know their place," The MP continues to intimidate Wave but he does not budge. He turns to look at Lubbock who is snickering. "What you laughing at cabbage head?"

"In a couple of minutes, that phone will ring," Lubbock turns his head with strands of his hair covering his right eye. "In which you will be letting us free and that smirk will be wiped clean off. That is all."

"You sound confident for a cabbagehead boy. In here you get no phone call for battering a member of the Army. Most likely you fellas will be tried and charged federally. Who knows, we might throw in a couple of charges of you two being nazis. That way you two won't be seeing the daylight again." The MP continues until the telephone rings. One of the MPs closest to the phone answers it.

"Hello? What?" The MP Sergeant's confused face turns to anger as he loudly objects to the orders. "What the hell do you mean 'let the two journalists go'! One of them battered a soldier and another is an accessory!" The MP Sergeant's tone changes. "Yes, sir. Understood," He places the phone back. "Damn Rumbumptious pencil pusher for an officer," He curses under his breath. "Fred open up the cell and let them out."

"This ain't a regular jail Sarg. We can't just let 'em out just like that." Fred the MP objects.

"That's an order." The MP sergeant resserted. Being forced to comply, Fred, the MP opens the door and gestures for them to leave the cell.

"Who did you call?" Wave asks Lubbock as they leave the cell.

"Colleagues." Lubbock smartly responded the two walked out and saw in front of them Kurome with Anderson filling out paperwork.

"Nice for you two to get locked up," Kurome sighs disappointingly. "Kind of disappointed that you got caught."

"You know I could not let them continue harassing the people here," Wave responded. "It is our responsibility to protect the people of this world isn't it."

"It is," Kurome agrees. "But you are conflating the Jaegers with our new jobs here." Kurome added further Kurome turned around and walked to the exit.

"You know you should listen to your girlfriend more often. That way we wouldn't end up in places like this." Lubbock places his elbow on Wave's shoulder with a smug face. But both of their faces quickly turn into pain as Anderson grabs the back hair of their scalps and twists forcefully.

"I should say the same to you two idiots. It's one thing to intervene but to batter an American soldier is a new low," Anderson begins to drag as a how a parent drags their unruly child. "When we return I'll make you two work till you drop." Anderson threatens a promise to the two.

Sigöldugljúfur, Protectoret of Iceland

The cold Icelandic winds blow amongst the fjords and waterfalls of Iceland. Akame kneels just before the banks of a nearby waterfall canyon, deep in meditation. Despite being advised not to venture far from Reykjavík she ventured to the apathetic opposition of her superiors. Akame's focus is centered as she keeps Murusame close to her. Knowing only death in her life her new life is relatively the same but the settings changed. The tamer environment of the new world finds her in a similar situation, more so as a means to get by. The running water masks the noise of an approaching intruder but she nonetheless reacts to it. She quickly unsheaths her Imperial Arms to strike at her opponent's neck. Likewise, Tatsumi grabs hold of Incursio and quickly unsheathes it to block Akame's attack. Seeing who it was Akame launches herself back on the ground and away back on the banks.

"Still sharp as ever, Akame." Tatsumi complimented while sheathing Incursio.

"Tatsumi," Akame noticed as she sheathed Murasame. "I didn't know it was you." Akame walks closer stopping just before him.

"And if it wasn't me?" Tatsumi asked.

"Just the attempt would be enough to scare anyone. However," Akame turns her head over the fjord. "This place is difficult to access on foot and also difficult to access via a vehicle, making it isolated," Akame directs Tatsumi to sit beside her. "Sit with me." Taking her advice, Tatsumi sits on the grassy ground with Akame kneeling beside him.

"This is a nice place to train. Reminds me of when I trained under you," Tasumi breaks the silence as he comments on the scenery. "But this site is even nicer since there are no danger beasts around." Tatsumi continued as she lightly nodded in agreement.

"I would've preferred if they existed. That way we could have trained on a strong enemy. However, this life allows for us to take in scenery like this and meditate in peace," Akame continued as she tilted her head up and gazed upon the stars slowly activating. "In one of those stars... perhaps our old world is still there."

"Is that so? I haven't thought about it in the three years here," Tatsumi responded. "Esdeath and her friends had messed up my perception of this world. But I'm grateful, thank you for breaking the spell Akame." Tatsumi glanced at Akame as he glanced back at the river.

"Wave did most of the fighting while Mine and Lubbock were in support to capture you. Kurome and I eliminated those who were getting close. Thankfully they weren't trained to use the sword." Akame responded, downplaying her involvement.

"I see. Still, I'm proud to serve alongside you guys once more. Fighting here is going to be much like fighting against the Prime Minister. Freeing those oppressed by the nazis." Tatsumi continued.

"I know where you're coming from but I hold my doubts about the nation we're serving but I prefer not to express them," Akame interjected. Akame stands and walks over to her tent, turning on a lantern. Seeing what may be an inappropriate situation Tatsumi turns his head but considers her words. "You want some?"

"Huh?" Tatsumi turns and sees Akame offering him an open bag of dried and salted fish. "Oh, uh, no thanks," Tatsumi rejects as Akame sits beside him again. "It's getting colder you know that."

"I know. That's why I went to grab my coat. I was also hungry so I grabbed this salted fish. I think this must've been my fifteenth or twentieth pack in the past few days," Akame commented to Tatsumi's unsurprised reaction. "So how are things going with Mine?" Akame asked but his reaction was one she expected, a surprised look.

"Well... Mine and I are going just fine, she is still temperamental. But I prefer to have things the way they are. Sheele and Chelsea are keeping her company in a rekindled friendship. On one hand, Sheele: though religious now seemed to not let it interfere. Chelsea still teases Mine but there are times when Mine got the upper hand. But to see those two at it is entertaining to see. It's almost as if we're back in Night Raid," Tatsumi stated as he looked back up at the stars. "I just wonder how the Empire is still doing," Tatsumi's expression changes to one with hope but on a knife's edge. "I wonder if the Revolutionary Army won."

"They did," Akame answered bluntly responded. "I assumed you knew. But the revolution did succeed and I left after slaying Esdeath. Najenda stayed to lead the reconstruction efforts."

"Najenda... I wonder what she is doing?" Tatsumi ponders.

"I believe she is training some soldiers at the moment. She was a general after all, and if she wasn't at Night Raid headquarters then she would be at Revolutionary headquarters." Akame commented.

"But it would be a surprise. If others like Najenda, Bulat, Leone, and Sussannoo were to appear, then it would be a Night Raid reunion," Tatsumi exclaimed. "You know Akame, I wanted to know your thoughts on this. On what is happening as well as now? I'm pretty sure you have an opinion on everything?" Tatsumi asks as Akame ponders on her answer.

"I've already understood the situation," Akame responded. "There is a clear boundary with greyness that I see here."

"That's pretty vague?" Tatsumi responded.

"However, if I could be open. Then I would say this," Akame's statement catches Tatsumi's attention. "I, like Mine, am happy to work with our old colleagues like Sheele, Lubbock, Mine, and Chelsea. However, would it be right for us to do so? We've carried on when they died the first time. Even if it is by our own hands or witnessed firsthand."

"What do you mean?" Tatsumi asked.

"What I'm saying is this. If they were to die on us again, it would be even harder for us to get over their deaths. To see them die once more, would be an even greater curse. Because if we failed to protect our friends and comrades the first time then it would be even harder for us to accept ourselves the second time," Akame's statement catches Tatsumi's full attention because despite the hopes of what Tatsumi and the rest of Night Hunters want to work with their friends it became almost lost on them on the inevitable fact and the greater consequences there be. "I'm not saying this to be a pessimist but what is needed to be said. However, seeing how all of them are now, it would be best to keep it to myself."

"To be honest. I never thought of that," Tatsumi responded. "I take it that you are more of a stoic than all of us. Perhaps it is the best that you said that. And yet it is a greater motivator to protect them where we failed," Tatsumi elaborates. "Take you and Kurome for example. You two are sisters and even had to duel at one point to draw your feud to an end. Where you felt that you failed to save her from the Empire, I can say that you are given a second chance to protect her again."

"I never thought of it that way," Akame responded. "Even so. It would have been better to never be given that second chance." From Akame's response, Tatsumi notices what his words brought her: sadness. In a move, he wraps his arm around Akame distracting her.

"I'd say we take it, and don't worry. I promise I will make sure that all of us reunite in the end together again," Tatsumi's words bring a sense of comfort and relief to Akame's more realistic position. Changing subjects, Tatsumi helps Akame up. "Why don't I help you start packing up? We could arrive before sunrise over the island's capital if we leave now."

"You're right." Akame walks over to her tent and the two begin disassembling and collecting their belongings to return to the rendezvous point in Reykjavík.

6 June 1963
Greater Germanic Reich
Deutsche SS Truppenübungsplatz Julius Schreck
Brandenburg, Greater Germanic Reich

"Present Arms!" An officer of the 9th SS Panzergrenadier Eis Division gives the order and every man with a rifle holds their StG 58s before them and the higher ranking officers presenting with their SS Eherendegen. "Left Shoulder Arms!" Esdeath's soldiers hold their weapons on their left hand, with the officers lowering their swords just before Esdeath. Esdeath walks in her Waffen SS military uniform and selected regalia as she inspects her troops at a German SS Training Base outside of Potsdam. In each of their faces, Esdeath can see the faces of discontent. Knowing how close victory was, like Esdeath, many are distraught by the loss. Unlike Esdeath, they do not hold the same resolve to stand for Esdeath against their leaders yet her resolve to fight. All men from the infantry regiments to her unit's supply, maintenance, and medical units fight as soldiers. As Esdeath completes her unit inspection she walks up to the podium standing before her division.

"Attention soldiers of the 9th SS Panzergreandier Division Eis," Esdeath announces. "Before the invasion of the American continent, we were offered a grand victory to fight against the Americans. A victory and a fight promised to be grand as it is long. And yet that was taken from us. One month of fighting is what brought down the confidence of an assured victory," Esdeath continued. "However, in the month-long rest, with the sting of defeat still fresh in our minds. We are granted an opportunity to rehabilitate our loss. The sacrifices of our brothers who gave their lives to destroy the decadent Americans and their masters were made in vain as we are forced to pull back. Now, as we prepare ourselves for the fight that is before us let us take heed of what is to be expected. We are not to underestimate the American drive for war. Let us not meet the same failure that has befallen our fallen comrades," Esdeath begins to speak highly. "Their deaths were caused by their weakness of strength. And yet in their deaths and final moments of life, I saw in them the ultimate drive of strength. That is the same I've seen from my first days serving as an officer in 1940 until now," Esdeath then begins to exalt the fallen. "Let us not mourn for their deaths but be strengthened by it. Those who died on the barbarian land of the United States will provide us with their strength, for it is the ultimate Aryan ideal. They are born of the land and will return to the land, their spirits who departed encourage us with their strength to take vengeance on their killers. Pity not the American barbarian for that is what they are, a barbarian. A barbarian race made up of Europe's weakest who scrounge enough to selfishly leave their homelands in search of a dream, which is only that... a dream. A race made up of not just the weakest but of the decadent who moved to engorge further in their neverending greedy lifestyle, both groups are cowardice and only fight like a barbarian who believes that they are the pinnacle of civilization. The very antithesis of the Aryan soldiers that you are and who make a mockery of our ideals and civilization. A state ineffective in creating a harmonious nation of races, a state where we the German SS adopted and perfected their ideals," Esdeath continued as she lifted her right hand and directed to her soldiers. "You heard the news that the Americans arrived once more on European lands and are attempting to revitalize the degenerate spirit of their greed. They will fight like barbarians who act as civilized nation. If they're going to act barbaric then we too shall act like barbarians. Not in the sense of the barbaric American born of depraved sense to excuse their greed but in the sense of your ancestors who brought Rome to her knees. Fight with the same structured depravity that led to your ancestors gaining the reputation gained by the Romans, who later evolved to fight eastwards against the Baltics and the Slavs to the east and the Arabs to the Middle East in the crusades of the Middle Ages, and who fought with greatness even against losing odds since the days of Napoleon and the Kaiser until now, whether it meant victory or death. And now, as their descendants, you men shoulder the culmination of over two thousand years of their struggle and fight. Now, my men of the 9th SS Panzergrenadier Eis Division, let us fight boldly and barbarically like the ancestors of old so that future generations will know of your victories and the glory that will last not just for a thousand years but for the rest of eternity! Pity not the Americans, dare not to grant any Americans the clemency or the opportunity of rest nor surrender. We will bring victory once more for the Reich and we will do so as our reputation will be established throughout the world!" Esdeath then raises both hands. "Then let me ask you one question, my men. Let us fight now, whether it is victory or death. We will bring glory to the Volk, the Reich, and the Führer. Salute if you agree with these words... Do You Want Total War!" Esdeath's statement riles up her men to shout with a resounding affirmation and their salute to Esdeath and the Führer. "Now, with our new shield crest, we of the German SS will march forward until victory or until death!" Esdeath continues to the cheer loud and uniformed support of her soldiers as Esdeath directs a banner holder to unfurl a new SS shield: A black shield with a missing left corner with the core being her Imperial Arms' symbol outlined in white. Esdeath glances with pride at her soldiers for her and a few other German Waffen SS divisions march onto war. "Now, as my division will march onto battle once more we will regain our lost victory. Tatsumi, Akame, I hope you two are ready for I will not be holding back nor will I be making the same mistake again." Esdeath thinks as her men salute Esdeath, the Fatherland, and the Führer.