Next chapter is here! Now in Akame's world being presented here. Admittingly, it feels strange making these chapters focus on each world and stay in that one each chapters when I used to just switch whenever I feel. Although for the sake of not confusing the readers, I'll make things a bit more streamlined. I am hoping you all enjoy the story like this.
Village...
Only a long walk away until they reach the Capital. Until then, team visit the nearest snowbound village to prepare them. The elder of said village along with the people around them take notice of the team's weapons. Nora in particular became everyone's favorite. A middle aged blacksmith inspects Nora's weapon. "My word...This is quite some weapon you have. I never seen a cannon this sophisticated before. What's this?"
Nora then panics once he notices the button. "Wait don't touch th-" The man pushes the button and the sudden jolt of the transformation causes the hammer to spin around and knocks him to the floor, much to everyone's surprise. "That's gotta hurt..." Nora chuckles. The grown ups would try to check if the blacksmith is fine, while the more younger villagers just laugh.
Outside the Village Elder talks to Akame. "That should be enough for your trip."
"Thank you." The former assassin bows to him respectfully. She notices the amount of money and food given to them through the bags given to them. "You didn't have to go this far just for us."
The man in the black coat and white beard shakes his head. "Oh no. We have plenty to go around. After all, it's thanks to the efforts of our prodigal son that allowed us to thrive. Akame's eyes begin to show hints of regret realizing who he is talking about. "Even after all these years we sent him to the Capital, we still wait for him, to give him a heroes welcome."
This gave the former assassin pause. She heard of this village before. From a close friend. His home. "Excuse me..." She walks off to meet with her new companion. The blonde leader Jaune was watching Nora and Ren commune with the locals. "Jaune Arc?"
"EEP!" Jaune just can't sense her presence for the life of him. "How is she this sneaky?!"
Akame ignores his screech. "That is your name right?" The young man nods in response. "Since we're going to travel again, I'm sure you wish to see the map again." Jaune has his composure back and looks at her map of the continent. As he observes its contents, she points to the east ocean. "I haven't left the continent, so I wouldn't know what goes on outside of it. But if you can look carefully, perhaps you can recognize the oceans far off the right or the left?"
Jaune scratches his head. "Yeah...about that...I doubt that we'll find Mistral anywhere..."
Akame tilts her head. "What do you mean?"
Jaune sighs. "I just...have a feeling that...our home could be farther away then I thought...Like, we just got pulled out of our world or something." Jaune remembers the moon last time. It was a perfectly full moon. In his world, half of it was shattered to pieces.
Akame closes the map. "Then let's go to the Capital. My boss should know more about the other countries more than me."
"That's great. Thanks." Jaune felt lucky that he could rely on someone this fast while being lost in this strange new world. Sure she may have not explained much about herself, but she seems very nice. In some strange way, she reminds him of his old friend Pyrrha. The group sets off for the Capital.
Once she steps foot off the villages area is when she begins to realize something. She has never been in the Capital ever since the war's end. It brought up...too many memories. But she shook it off. Telling herself that she is coming back, strictly for business. "This could be a long walk..."
Nora thinks what she can do to make the journey better. "Oh! I got it! I know a song that gets on everybody's nerve, and this is how it-"
"Nora!" Jaune and Ren shouted. "Please no singing..." Ren silently begged.
After an hour of walking and taking snack breaks, the group notice something in the distance. In their eyes it look like a tall castle. But the more they walk closer, and see the many layers revealed. Once they see the whole structure, they stop to see it in its full glory. A multi-leveled building that stands a large palace, surrounded by walls. Standing high above the many cities that surround it. "Whoa..." Jaune, Ren, and Nora look in amazement. They barely seen anything this big where they come from. Although they heard of the majesty of Atlas, this blows anything they personally see to the water. It looks bigger than even their old academy.
The group reach their destination. They walk through the city. Jaunes team look around this environment. Although its not the most primitive city they seen, but they have been in larger cities. Nora looks around the lively environment. "Wow, everyone seems very happy here!" Noticing a lot of people greeting each other.
Ren also notices the amount of positivity. "I don't think we entered a city with this much positivity." Usually there's at least one worried person in one of the villages they encountered, after the Fall of Beacon. They even notice a huge canal from afar.
Nora then has the idea to ask Jaune something. "By the way, where are we anyways?"
"We're at the Capital." The blonde simply replied.
Nora raises her eyebrows. "I...sort of got that. But seriously, where are we Jaune?"
Jaune thought about it. And realized Akame didn't tell him exactly its name. "Wait..." He walks towards the leading Akame. "So what is this place called again?"
"The Capital." Akame bluntly said.
The blonde raises his brow. "Seriously, what is this Capital called?"
The assassin begins to be confused. "The Capital? Why ask?"
Jaune is stunned. "This is defiantly not our world. It feels like they got lifted to a show where the writers couldn't think of a name for their locations!" "So...um...who's that friend your talking about?"
"She was my boss. She knows her way the world." Akame said with no problem. She wondered why Jaune made a big deal out of the Capital's name.
"You don't say." Jaune is still clinging unto hope that he could go back where he came from and find Ruby.
Akame looks up to see a brand new district just in front of them. "We're almost there. We just got to get past Shisuikan."
Jaune would stand, stiffened. "They have names for their cities but not their whole nation?! This is defiantly not like Remnant..." Just then someone bumps into him. Someone small. "Huh?"
The one who bumped on him was a small girl. Pink short hair, wearing a matching pink hat and coat. "I-I'm sorry!" She quickly bows to him, pleading to be forgiven. "I was following my friends and I was trying to keep up and...I'm so sorry!"
Jaune awkwardly tries to assure her. "H-Hey, its fine. Really. No harm done."
Not listening, the girl quickly grabs her own gold coins and presents to the blonde young man. "Here! This should make up for bothering me!"
The Huntsman stood there, feeling even more awkward. He isn't used to someone being like this in front of him. Usually it's him that's on the other side. "I said its fine didn't I?"
"Air!" Just then they hear another girls voice a few meters away from them. They turn to see two more girls around the pink girls age. The one calling is wearing navy blue hat, coat, and boots. Same with the other one, this time yellow. "Come on! Lets go!"
"Alright Luna!" The pink girl named Air replied. She turns back to Jaune and bows one last time. "I'm sorry!" She rushes out to see her friends.
Seeing her run back got Jaune slouching for how he didn't ease the girl. "Oooh...how many times do I have to say it to her?"
Nora slides in with a cocky grin on her face. "Not good with kids Jauney boy? Can't blame them."
The leader jolts in offense. "And what does that mean huh?"
"Lets go." Akame reminds everyone that they aren't here to sightsee. Awkwardly standing there, Team JNR decides to follow without saying a word. Her tone is dead serious. Almost inhuman. They feel like they can't say no to that. Which was strange since Akame seemed alright before.
Inside a lone room, a young woman in white hair, blue eye and an eyepatch sits alone. Glaring at what she could described but a metal sphere with the number 007 on it. It is a complex frame that gives many Imperial Arms she seen a run for their own money. Its a strange looking device that she has no idea what it even does. It merely appeared in front of her through a vortex she can't describe other than being a literal darkness that came out and then disappeared once it spit out its so called 'gift.' A lot has been going on. Ever since the Empire fell and went through a new regime.
Months ago...
Najenda walks over to a prison cell, holding on person. A child. The one who inadvertently caused so much pain and misery without knowing it. He was known as the Emperor, Makoto. However at this moment, he is now the former Emperor. Days before, he was unknowingly allowed oppression to the people of the Capital and beyond. All cause of his Prime Minister manipulated him for years after poisoning his parents. However, the people still will never forgive the pain and misery done in his name. So they all took a vote on his fate.
"An execution?" Makoto would be told by Najenda. He was going to be killed, yet he doesn't freak out like any other man. He merely acted calm. "And just when you think an Emperor's job was done..." Najenda would see him be dragged out of his cell, with Makoto assuring them he is going through with this with no resistance. She thinks to herself that he must be scared out of his mind.
Then she hears a knock on the door. "Madam! You have visitors." She hears one of her subordinates reminding her of visitors. She wonders who it is. They would never bother her if its just any random person. This must be someone she knows.
"Come in." Najenda said softly, as her door opens and reveals four people shows up. Three are new. But one of them she recognizes. Someone she knew well. She smiles, seeing this black haired girl she would know for many battles. "Akame. What a pleasant surprise."
Akame lets out a big smile to see one of the only ones alive in her life. Her former leader she trusts with her life. "Its good to see you again boss."
Najenda chuckles a bit, remembering the old days. "Hey now. I'm not your boss anymore, remember?"
"Oh! Right...Sorry." The former assassin felt a little disappointed but understands how things changed since they parted ways. Jaune could easily tell she looks up to this person.
Najenda then lays her eyes on Akame's companions. "And who are your new friends?"
She then presents the blonde, the raven hair, and ginger behind her. "I just found them lost in a forest on the east."
"Lost? I see." Najenda said with interest. "What was your destination then?"
After getting to see this stern but caring figure Akame trusts dearly, Jaune steps in. "Actually, we were trying to get to Haven Academy in Mistral. We also lost a friend on our way there." He said as respectfully as he can.
Lost. That was something she didn't expect since the Capital is the most well known location in the country. Possibly the world. They should have heard from it by passing mention. "Really now? Can you describe who she is?"
Jaune begins to describe his friend. "She wears a black and red dress, black hair with red accents. She also has bright grey eyes. Oh, and she carries around a large gun that transforms into a scythe."
"Well that was a mouthful." An oddly fashionable girl if she heard of one, but not familiar. "I'm afraid that I never seen a girl like that before."
Not the answer the blonde was looking for. "Oh..." Jaune feels the weight of disappointment yet again.
Seeing this, Najenda quickly assures him. "But I'll send some people to try and find her."
"Really?!" Not expecting this much kindness quickly.
"That's what I said right?" Najenda said frankly.
"Thanks a lot! Although...I don't think it might be easy..."
"Hm...?"
"Ah, its nothing." Jaune felt like Najenda won't understand what he means.
Najenda then looks at the three visitors. "Hm..." They are young, but she can tell they went through some battles. Still, the inexperience is apparent. But the blonde one does interest her. There is something in his eyes. "Actually, I have a question for you."
"Um, sure?"
Najenda then picks up the small device she found. "Does this look familiar to you?"
Jaune gets startled when see's it. It looks kinda like that source the robot that attacked him relied on. Like a battery. Although this one is bigger and with the numbers 007 on it. "It...kinda looks familiar..." Even Akame notices the resemblance to the small one she saw.
Najenda then stands up. "That's all I need to hear."
As she walks over to her shelf, Akame was confused. "Bos-Najenda?" Correcting herself.
The silver haired former revolutionary opens one of her shelves and reveals more smaller devices that Jaune and Akame definitely recognized. "Yesterday I found the numbered device on the road. Last night I heard many of my men found the smaller ones in random places around the Capital. And I got word that I wasn't the only one who found them. Whatever these things are, they must have some sort of connection with you and your home. At least that's my guess."
Jaune was shocked yo hear this. And then starts thinking about this. Those things can't belong back to their home. Or maybe its another secret that some certain people didn't bother telling him which resulted in the death of his loved one. Just the thought of that made him more determined to find those things and find out why are they here in this world. "I don't know if they belong in our world. But there is a chance. And you want us to get them right?" His tone changed to be more quiet and serious. His teammates notice this and even Akame was caught off guard of this sudden change.
Najenda notices Jaunes tone shift. He's now dead serious. There's no doubt about it, he lost someone in his life, and it took a toll on his life. Its like seeing most of her former members of Night Raid when they started off. This interests Najenda. Even making her feel nostalgic. "That's right. Whatever this device is, this could hold the key to your destination."
Jaune has a feeling as well. He knows that Ruby will have to wait. He has to come back home, where he belongs. "Well...it's better than nothing I guess..."
Akame notices Jaunes determination. Its just like...She could remember herself crying over a bloody body, surrounded by debris. "...YOU GAVE ME YOUR WORD! YOU GAVE ME YOUR WORD!...tatsumi..." These memories still linger in her head. She already knows that he is similar to him. This time though, she won't let him die.
Najenda notices Akame's own serious look on her face. She no doubt she is remembering her fallen comrades. "Akame..." Focusing on the task at hand, she goes back to her seat and explains something. "Things changed since you left. Things are now peaceful, there are some gangs that wish to take advantage of this time of relief. But thanks to the buffed security, not much gangs were able to be successful. But one gang persisted to become a nuisance. They call themselves, The Leapers."
Akame listens carefully as this was important for her to know since her exile. It was indeed wishful thinking for this peace to last. "Are you saying this group has one of these devices?"
The current General nods. "That's right. With their malicious intent, they could be either messing with it, or properly using them as weapons. Either way, we mustn't let them keep it."
Akame looks at her sword. "I see...So its another assignment."
"Don't get too into it Akame. This won't mean that you will be working for me. That is of course if you truly want to be a part of my force." She would remind her former assassin.
Akame thinks about it. Back then, she felt like she needed to go her own path. But now, she suppose she can stay with the boss for a little longer. "I'll think about it."
Jaune looks at the coils, understanding the importance of the mission. "Okay. So we just take care of those guys, and then we get those little doohickey's. Simple enough."
Ren nods. "I agree."
Nora fist bumps the air. "Alright! Lets! Do! THIIIIS!"
Najenda then smirks. Liking their enthusiasm. "Well then you better hop to it. Or should I say, 'leap' to it." And just like that, the whole room paused like something died. "What?" Najenda expresses confusion on their reactions. She still finds this funny. As does her other puns.
"And I thought Yang was bad..." Jaune whispers to himself.
"Eh heh heh heh...I get it." Nora giggled. Although mostly finding the pun amusing than laugh out loud funny.
However it seems to be good enough for Najenda. "Well at least someone gets it. Now I'll give you the plans in a few hours. In the meantime, I insist you stay around."
"Ah gee, thanks." Jaune rubs his head, grateful with the hospitality.
Just as the group is about to leave, Najenda speaks up. "Actually...Akame. May I speak with you in private?"
Despite the confusion of JNR, Akame doesn't hesitate with her answer. "Of course." She nods and turns to Team JNR. "You can go on without me."
As the group walks through the hallways, Jaune looks around the fancy scenery of columns, pillars, chandeliers, and overall ivory setting. "Wow..." He's never been in a place like this before. He wonders if Atlas is anything like this.
Nora then looks to see an open view on the city below and she was all kinds of excited to see it. "Wow! Look at this guys!"
The boys see what she is seeing. "Whoa! I knew this place was big but...the buildings look like ants from here!" Jaune expresses his own amazement. Just when this place couldn't surprise him more, something else amazing reveals itself.
Ren watches the view carefully. "This structure seems to be made to govern everyone below." This made him think deeper into this. "This place seems to have a long history. Perhaps we should ask more about it next time we get the chance."
Jaune listens to his friend. "Yeah..." He never did know much of his own worlds history. Although after everything, he is in the mood to learn more things. Just then he turns around to see Akame walk towards their direction. She seems really focused now.
"Lets go." Akame simply said as the team paused to see how serious she sounded. Makes them wonder what did she and this Najenda person was talking about. He then notices something. She doesn't have her sword in her hand anymore. He noticed how she always has her red marked sword in hand. Not right now though.
Time passes and the team find themselves sneaking around the forest at night. JNR follows Akame through the forest. Jaune walks walks towards the leading Akame. "So what do we do?"
She simply replies as she continues walking. "You and I will infiltrate the base. Nora and Ren will stay here and wait until we need them." She then adds on. "I can tell you have experience in combat. But beware. The Capital was home of the most dangerous killers. There is peace recently. But listen to my words carefully." She finally turns to them so they can see her one eye in her right side. The team would be startled by her glare as it feels like her glare just stabbed through their hearts. "Be. Careful."
Jaune nervously stutters. "Uh...y-yeah...Of course." Akame then simply leaves with Jaune following. "Okay. If something happens inside, you guys jump in." He quietly tells them.
"Understood." Ren said with a nod. Nora gives an enthusiastic thumbs up. As they stand behind the bushes, they see Jaune follow Akame into the enemy base. Not anything they aren't used to due to one of their lessons involved criminal acts back at Beacon. Although the area they are in felt vastly different. Not to mention Akame's warning, it makes Ren feel a bit uncertain if this is gonna be an easy job. Nora then pokes Ren's shoulder. "What is it Nora?"
As serious as this situation seems for Ren, Nora seems to know how to make things less so somehow. Ren always did like that about her. Mostly. "So does this mean that Akame is our leader now?" She asks the sudden question.
As sudden as it is, its not completely out of nowhere. "Well she does know about this environment better than we do." Ren replies.
Nora then continues. "Well yeah, but...I feel like Jaune hasn't had the chance to...'really' lead, you know what I mean? First we have Ruby, now this random chick. No offense to her, I am a random chick too."
Despite her usual nonsense, Ren does indeed see what she means. "Huh...good point. I know Jaune can be a good leader. So far he's been working as our strategist ever since we started. Sure, he had to learn through it, but I have confidence in him."
Nora sighs, feeling bad for her leader. "Yeah! I know that he can lead us to victory!"
Their conversation continues. "But there is another problem with his confidence. After what happened to..." Ren paused. Not wanting to upset Nora by just mentioning her. But she does get what he was about to say and just frowned. Even after this time, it still hurts remembering that their forth member isn't with them anymore.
Back with Akame, she silently leaps up to the roof. She looks down to see a surprised Jaune. "She jumps very high!"
"Climb up quietly." Akame said softly. Jaune nods and slowly climbs up a barrel next to the base. He tries to mind his slow movements, only to slip up. "CLUNK!" Jaune's body froze, as he looks around to see if anyone heard them.
"What was that?"
"Must be some stray, never mind that."
Jaune lets out a sigh, relieved those guys are pretty lazy. Akame however is not amused by this. But moves on. She slowly walks towards the roofs window. She sees the gang. Najenda was talking about. The spiky green mohawk with shades seems to be their leader judging from how he carries himself with confidence. The others seem weary of his presence, Akame deduced.
He would bang the table, getting everyone's attention. "Gentlemen. I realize that things haven't been going well since we started. But fret not my friends. For I have found something that will lift us from our problems. A way to build our own Imperial Arms!"
This has Akame widen her eyes a a bit. Such a thing can't be possible. One of the goons also share the skepticism. "Yeah right! Those things were a gajillion years old, and all the creators are dead!" He then snaps his fingers, and his female assistant gives him what looks like a gun. A custom looking gun with a coil attached on the side.
"What's that?" The leading skeptic asks.
The leader of the Leapers grins. "This is my special weapon. With unlimited energy. Never runs out of ammo. And power to destroy everything in its way! Including the strongest armor and weapons!"
Most of the thugs raise their eye brows. "Your kidding right?"
"No joke!" The leader then aims it around, showing it off. "This is gonna bring us to the top!"
The top critic has enough of his ramblings. "Listen. Everything has a limit. You can't just find some little itty bitty thing and claim it gives you unlimited energy."
The leader smiles. He then quickly aims and shoots the man who challenged his claims, straight to his head. But then something happens, causing all the men, and even Akame to gasp. The man that got shot's head has blew up. Everyone begins to panic. "Oh, and did I mention that these things pack a huge punch? With enough configuration, we could destroy tanks!" Akame stiffened hearing him. She begins to realize how serious this became. She now knows what she has to do, despite Najenda's orders.
Earlier...
"Don't kill?" Akame said in confusion. She would never imagine Najenda say this considering their old professions.
Najenda puffs out a smoke after getting her cigar. "I realize that it might be too much to ask for. But ever since the fall of the old Empire, people has been easily panicking about us ending some criminals lives. I promised true peace, and I doubt it can be achieved if I am constantly challenged by critics who doesn't trust me by my past." Recalling the trouble she went through getting her position of General back. With Night Raid being treated as criminals, and her hand in its creation being revealed sooner than later. Najenda tries to hide her anger and frustration. "I know that we have lived through killing those who deserved it. It did brought us peace, but we live in a peaceful time now. I know it may not suit you well. But please, at least try not to." She implores Akame, hoping she would understand.
Akame thinks about it long and hard. After everything she went through, it was strange to say the least, but ultimately, she understands Najenda's situation. She nods. "Understood."
She puffs another smoke. "I'll grant you a katana to make sure you don't kill them immediately. If you must disarm them, so be it."
"Of course..."
Present...
Despite switching her Murasame with a regular weapon, she doesn't need Murasame to kill these goons. She has no choice. After seeing what kind of damage this new weapon can do.
Jaune was startled by what he saw too. "Jeez...that's brutal...what do we do now Aka-" But then Akame stood up and grips her sword. "Wait! What are you doing?!" Without hesitation, she kicks the window down and lands on the very table where everyone was sitting, startling everyone.
"What the?!" The leader sees this black haired mystery, but one glance on her red blood eyes, and all of his confidence then shifted to fear. "I-I-It's her! The Red Eyed Killer! Akame!"
"Eliminate..." Her voice sounding like death itself.
The men panics as they reach for their guns. But Akame doesn't give them a chance. She slices one's hands off, then aims for her first victim's throat. The one nearest to him panics, unable to focus. That moment of hesitation proved fatal with her swiftly cutting his head off. Jaune's eyes watch in shock to see the sudden death in front of him He had to turn away and prevent himself to hurl. "She's...too fast...I can't predict where she will move next..." Once he could see a glimpse of Akame, her eyes are soulless, remorseless, and devoid of feeling. It's like she switched off from being human and became an unfeeling killing machine.
As she kills the last two goons, spraying their blood across the room, the Leader exits the room and into the warehouses crate room. He looks around for a hiding spot, and hides behind one of the crates of supplies they stole. Akame shows up in the room, looking around. She calmly inspects the room. The leader of the Leapers readies his gun, but has a hard time breathing right. His men were known for their athleticism, but when under pressure, they can't do anything, unlike Akame. But then he calms himself, and gets ready to take down the assassin before she even notices. He brings out the gun and aims. "I really don't understand why people are still using swords. I don't care how powerful they can be, a gun is still a gun!" He shoots his new gun.
Akame hears the gunshot, she quickly gets ready to deflect the bullet. But once the blade makes contact with the high speeding bullet, her sword breaks. "What the?!" Her eyes widen to see her new sword shatter before her eyes, with its shards fly everywhere.
"HEHEHEHE! How do you like that?!" He keeps on shooting, causing Akame to jump out of the way and roll behind a crate. "Hey! What's the matter? Afraid of me now that your sword is gone?" Akame thinks about a plan. She wishes that she brought Murasame. Or maybe she was fortunate. Who knows if it even can handle that kind of power. She never seen such power put into one bullet. Just because of one little device the boss found on the ground. "Come on! You killed a lot of my friends! Its only fair that I kill you! You think you overthrowing the Empire makes you special? Well your wrong! Your going to die someday, and no one will miss you. No one will even remember you even existed! You chose this kind of life yourself you know..." He breathed heavily, with adrenaline almost overtaking him.
Then suddenly Akame jumps out of her hiding spot before he could react and throws her broken sword straight to the Leaders chest like a dart. He looks at the sword lunged on his chest, unable to process it, but what can he process is the pain. Akame then dashes forward and kicks the sword even deeper towards his chest, penetrating his heart. Spitting our blood, and then falls down hard. After gargling blood from his throat, he eventually dies.
Usually Akame would say that her mission was complete, but after killing these men while her boss told her not too, she's not sure. After looking at the devastation she brought with the blood all over the floor around her, she couldn't help but feel defeated. She let her emotions get the better of her. Just then she sensed something. She looks towards the door and see's Jaune standing there, shocked at the sight he just witnessed. Akame walks towards him, but he steps back, causing her to stop. There's no doubt about it, he's scared of her. "I-I'm sorry you saw that..." She forgot that Jaune maybe not the kind of person that's used to seeing a lot of killing.
Jaune tries to calm himself. He could see sorrow in Akame's eyes. "Its...fine..." They silently leave the area.
They see that Ren and Nora has already took care of the others. "Hey Jaune!" Nora runs over the knocked out goons. Jaune was relieved they are not a bloody mess.
Ren takes notice of Jaune's silence. "Something happened?"
Jaune looks at Akame, and she shares a very worried look. The leader of JNR would wonder what to say. "Uuuuh...well...we..." He brings out the weapon that the leader of the Leaper's used. "We...got the coil at least..." Before they could speak though, Jaune would continue. "Lets...camp out for a bit until they can pick us up..." This has Ren and Nora look at each other, wondering what's gotten into their friend. Akame could only look away in shame.
After some time, Ren and Nora would sit together near the fire as they wait for their back up. All the while Jaune lays down alone, looking at the gun he retrieve, and see the coil on it. He puts it in his pocket as he sighs for an exhausting day. "...Ruby...I sure hope you're okay..."
Like Jaune, Akame isolates herself with the group. She feels that she doesn't belong. But then again, where does she belong to? She betrayed her old team and saw all of her friends die one by one. The memory of Tatsumi though, hurts her the most. It reminded her how unforgiving life can be. In the end, good people die too, no matter how much they didn't deserve it. "Tatsumi..." Many friends she also got to know in Night Raid as well can't stay away on her head, and it is weighing on her.
Jaune would then hear subtle noises close by. A sobbing Akame. If there is something he never thought he could see is Akame cry. Although she scares him, he still can't stand a girl cry. His pride of an Arc and Huntsmen won't allow it. He walks up to her, as she jolts as soon as she sensed him coming. She quickly wipes her tears and breathed in and out. "Hey...room for uh...one more?" The blonde would try to ease the tension early on. Although he was never good at it back home. Eventually, he would cut to the chase. "Uh...sorry for...you know..."
Akame has no words to describe what she is feeling now. She is mostly confused. But since he asked her, she might as well answer. "Its fine...I should've told you..." Speaking honestly.
Jaune shrugged. "Yeah well, you sure are good at it..." Said with a hint of levity, despite the topic.
After a few seconds of silence, Akame decides to let out who she is. Was. "I was an assassin. Before you showed up, this Capital was a part of a horrible war that claimed many lives." She explains, much to Jaune's surprise. He wouldn't know a war was recent in this peaceful nation. Not wanting to tell him the whole gruesome story, she just stops while she is ahead and explains her life back then. "A life of an assassin...is harsh and unforgiving. I threw away my humanity...and yet I still feel the heavy weight of each kill I've done. I know that you and your friends aren't used to my...methods, and I apologize for it. She humbly lowers her head.
Now that he sees her being more human and less killer, Jaune tries his best to lighten the mood. He feels its the least he can do. "Well...I never thought I'd be friends with an assassin. So that's a first."
Akame's eyes widen. Did she heard that right? Did he said he call her his friend? Its been months since her life of isolation took hold of her life, and it felt like a lifetime since she knew what it was like to be with others. "I...I never thought I'd have any friends anymore..."
Jaune brings his best smile. "Never say never." These words lighten up Akame's darkened soul. She never felt this kind of emotion ever since her time with her Night Raid friends. But Jaune really does remind her of Tatsumi to a tee. Not only nice, but gave her hope for a better future. Just then, they notice a chariot of horses show up. Its Najenda's men. Ren and Nora go in first. Jaune and Akame follow suit. "Phew...what a day..." He lets out after a stretch. Akame lets out a small smile. She feels more relaxed and elated now that she is in a group again. But then a flash of memories appear on Akame's sight.
"I've said goodbye to many of my friends, but all of it is nothing compared to the pain you suffered...Akame, you will never lose another loved one again..." Just as she remembered that promise, her smile turned into a frown. Akame could feel the warmth of being with companions she could trust. But then the coldness of reality comes back to her. She then remembers how all her friends ended up. And it fills her with dread. But she kept it inside. Like she always does. She keeps her emotions inside. As she sits with her new friends, she tells herself that she just has to keep herself in check. Like she always do. But how long can she take it until she can't? She does not dare think that. Only continue moving forward.
Unaware of its presence, a dark pulsating shadow watches the carriage go, chuckling.
To be continued...
