Chapter 57: For the Dawn

A/N: This entire fight took a span of 3 chapters.

Now that I have finished rereading my story. It could have ended 40 chapters ago.

She flew back while the bullet nicked my leg. It threw off my momentum enough for me to miss her neck by mere centimeters. I could have ended her right then and there. An aura slash at this range wouldn't have beheaded her but left a deep cut. I had to pull back the killing intent consciously.

This is a simple match.

I landed back on the deck and zigzagged away from the bullet rain. The crackling of empty shells hitting the pavement never happened.

Those rounds aren't normal; They're energy projectiles. They must be expensive to make and produce. Eventually, She stops firing when the barrel is overheating.

I estimate the duration of this 12-second rain was worth a small fortune.

Silver bullets to take down a monster.

Ironwood is telling the world I got Grimm's blood without telling them. I hope never to find out how badly it hurts when my aura is down.

"Why don't you come down here and fight," I threw an aura slash. She drifted out of the way.

"Said the girl with more aura than a whole classroom of Academy students," She threw a slash of her own.

I shot a concentrated shot from Rosetta, dispelling the slash.

Another high-level technique from a sixteen-year-old. The internal bleeding she gave me with those gloves must mean she mastered internal destruction, too.

Quite the prodigy I am.

She's about four stories high. I would have no issue reaching her. The problem is my mobility in the sky. I could use momentum from my slashes to adjust but flight would still be superior.

I stood in place. She looked down at me. We're both considering our next move and the victory condition.

I need to ground her to increase my chance of victory.

She needs to win by aura break.

On paper, my condition sounds easier to pull off. Akari is me but she doesn't know she is me. If I dyed her hair and gave her contacts, she could have passed as an older sister. Besides her eyelashes being puffier than mine.

She is tightening her grip on Odachi. Even her head shifted down slightly, her lips pursed. Those heterochromatic eyes are laser-focused.

Akari won this silent battle.

Fatal Gambit would be pointless. I can see a faint glow of Winter's aura on her. The Schnee must have figured out a way to imprint Time Dilation as well as unknown buffs.

I'm at an impasse.

There is nothing I can do without being shot down or rag-dolled in the sky. She has mobility.

I can't outshoot her. She got the better range.

I can't be aggressive or defensive. I'm on fumes.

I can't deceive her. Hell, She beat me at my own game faking Winter rage and that string trick.

Akari is buffed by a lot of unknown glyphs.

Buffs?

That's it! They can't last forever.

How do I know?

Outside of those games I play with my uncle and sister, Only a few seconds have eclipsed our stare-down.

Akari is going to attack first before whatever glyphs she is empowered by wear out.

Do I take her head on and risk losing the game of chicken? No, I got a better idea.

The hole I got knocked onto the deck is a few steps behind me. She fired up the jetpack and I retreated down the hole.

A half second later she would have tackled me. I pulled myself back up and shot at her jetpack as she flew overhead.

It pings off harmlessly as a blue shield automatically responds to the rounds.

"What?"

"Hardlight shielding!" She screamed out of range of my pistol," It responded to oncoming threats."

I deflected four bullets from behind me, sending them back to the sender.

An Atlesian drone exploded and a few dozen more appeared into view. Most of which are flanking Akari. These drones just changed my battle plan.

Is this what it feels like to fight myself?

This is getting us nowhere.

Akari PoV

"This is getting me nowhere," I uttered and secretly gave another command to the specialists within the ship," Deploy sentry guns. I don't want her hiding in the hangar."

If she had taken my charge head-on, She could have sliced a wing, overpowering the hard light and the durable material.

She took the gamble and jumped for cover.

I wanted to reveal my backup by shooting her in the back, peppering her with more rounds soon after. But the way she moved. She'll 'return to senders' all my bullets eventually. I only have more than four minutes until the enhancement wears off.

Time Dilation: The world is moving in slow-mo.

Wind Defense: I'm not affected by wind.

Weight Manipulation: She makes sure all my gears and weapons are lightweight.

Ember: Winter pumped her aura into the glyphs so it stays even after she's depleted.

Recall: I can recall a weapon if it leaves my hand.

Sheath: The glyphs become transparent, nearly invisible.

The glyphs can still be broken if struck. This is honestly the secondary purpose of this armor. It hides and protects the various glyphs throughout my body. They can still be spotted if someone looks closely.

I can't get over how amazing my mentor is. She even created a few of her own. Sheath and Wind Defense are her creations. The Schnee ancestors never came up with it.

Stalemate and stare down again.

Who is Akame Branwen?

I never fought someone who psyched me out like this. She can't read my face and that damn mask is hiding her.

She must have researched me. I have, too.

We should be going all in right about now…10 seconds have passed.

11 seconds.

12 seconds.

My opponent tenses up and briefly looks down.

How the hell did she know I set a trap?

It must be that fake admiral of hers.

"Connect Request ID: WINTER SCHNEE," The earpiece AI buzzed.

"Connect," I responded.

"Sentry defense has been set up," She answered," Still no luck figuring her out?"

She doesn't care how adept at dodging bullets the demon is. Captain Tanner and Alpha Company got a beating just to prove she is powerful but still has limitations. Instead of the tribe's propaganda that she is a force of nature.

"No, it's like I'm looking at a mirror and asking to find the difference," I responded.

"You two aren't related somehow? Maybe you're a Branwen branch."

"Am I going to get arrested if it's true?"

"Absolutely…Not," Akari knew Winter was smiling widely on the other end," You got a whole Academy and R departments depending on you. We're cheering you on."

I set the drones to laser mode. The laser will burn through their dust cell fast, forcing them to retreat sooner. Akame is less likely to block or deflect those kinds of attacks. She would have to hold the blade up and guide the beam to where she wanted.

The problem is there are twenty of them coming at her.

Simultaneous shots…

I need to keep her off balance at all times.

I don't know what she is planning but those eyes mean she has her plan.

She shot a few drones and I fired the beams.

It came at her at hypersonic speed while she reloaded with one hand. Yet, she weaved through it and kept firing. She took down a few more.

I rushed in and dueled her. I won't let her destroy more of my drones.

My Odachi came down first but she hit back with much more force.

I got pushed despite my jetpack going at full force; Beams of lights forced her away.

She flows around the beams like water, shooting a few more down with decent shots.

The report didn't mention a range weapon until it was too late to adjust the battle plan. More importantly, We never expected her to be okay enough to shoot mid-range at small moving targets. Four shots per drone is an awful ratio even for the chaos of battle.

It is subpar by huntsman standards; Above civilian aim.

She reloaded again.

Akame already used two mags. There are still 16 more to go and I doubt that outfit holds enough mags.

The look of annoyance could mean she is either on her last one or close to it.

I pulled the drones higher into the sky with the visor HUD. Another wonder of Atla's advancement.

Akame got a few lucky shots and took down two in one. She downed another after three shots. I kept her distracted.

13 more to go.

They formed two circles, a smaller one inside the larger one. The drones spun around each other awaiting my order.

I fought her with both the Odachi (Light Blaze) and the multifunction long gun (Purge Reign). These don't belong to me but are loans from two students, Lucia and Mato. I never have a weapon to call my own.

I need to check in with Mr. Scarlatina and his daughter if they have made a breakthrough yet.

I bought a wing forward to deflect a few rounds and fired Purge at Akame. Even with machine gun mode, it wasn't enough. The bullets are all intercepted.

She threw an aura slash and I moved out of the way. Those could easily slice my wings.

I moved spastically avoiding more of her attacks. Akame struggled to lock it while she avoided the beams from above.

I'm significantly faster but only because of the enhancement.

I rushed back to the same result.

Akame is still far stronger even as her movement starts to show fatigue.

She parried a low strike and came for my neck. I thrust back. It was a feint as she blitzed into my defenses, sending an elbow into my abdomen.

It rattled my bones like the impact of a mallet. A hit like that would have liquefied a non-aura person's organs.

I skidded across the deck. The array of drones failed to stop her from coming at me again. I lifted the Odachi to defend.

"Crap!"

Akame katana came down hard, slamming me into the ground and bending the reinforced top.

She lifted the sword high again. My opponent intends to take this battle back into the hangar. I can't allow it because I would be caught in the crossfire. Those sentries aren't under my control and are on autopilot.

I'll be mag-dumped before the technician can react to shut them off.

After that, my drones will have to come down and be more valuable to her attacks.

Think, Akari, Think!

I got one or two more swings before the bullets hit my back.

Eureka!

She is stepping on one of my wings, the blade feathers to be exact. A big mistake on her part. I can launch those away.

A split-second decision was made. I launched the feather she was standing on.

Akame tripped.

I swing Purge in an arch.

It smashed her across the jaw.

I boasted away and off the ship. I recovered and flew back up to meet my opponent again.

Another pause in the battle and another stare down.

Akame: 12%

Akari: 30%

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! This is frustrating!

I have 3 mins left of the enhancements.

Gods, I hate fighting this demon…

"Come on, Akari!" A single specialist yelled.

"Take her down now!" More cheers erupted.

"AKARI! AKARI! AKARI!" They're chanting for me. All of my comrades.

It drowned out Ironwood's call for order and discipline. Even the most uptight sergeants are joining in on the action.

The demon took several steps back, quickly picked up pace, and sprinted full force.

Wait? Why is she running away from me?

I fired beams at her but she weaved past them, swan diving off the airship.

What the-

I flew toward the edge expecting her to abandon the ship for the city. That can't be?

The academy has been loose with the rules but an affix area is set in stone. Even the battle with the formerly invincible girl was over the ruins of the tower. The usage of drones and sentries hasn't been clarified either. I'm not swarming the skies with drones because of the computing power and the risk of stray rounds.

I kept my distance in the sky while peering over the edge. I wasn't falling for the 'hang on the ledge for a sneak attack' trick!

Odd?

She shouldn't possibly fall fast enough to evade this battlesuit detection. She must be inside the ship!

This sneaky coward.

Hmfph! Well fine then…

I wouldn't want to fight me either.

I was about to contact the General to check cams when a black blur rushed out of the opposite end.

"Huh?!" I gasped.

She uses the force of her slices to propel herself around and up. Is that even physically possible?

I ordered the drones to fire as I charged forward. A single beam should halt her momentum and thirteen of them are approaching her.

She dodge every one of them but not me. I spun and slashed her with my wings across the abdomen and sent a spin kick to her temple.

She is off balance in the sky. Another beam came down at her. The next result is clear. She will crash back to the ship.

That's what was supposed to happen.

Akame transforms her gun into a bat and smacks the beam at me. She off-balanced the momentum with a powerful downward slash.

I crossed my arms to activate the hard light shield. The beam dissipated with barely an issue.

Suddenly, A foot landed on my face.

Akame PoV

And now we switch.

I wanted to save the silver dust crystal for Vernal to study. I don't have anyone else under my command with scientific intellect besides her. Atlas has a monopoly on the brightest mind on this planet.

I need this to work. I don't know what type of reaction silver-eyed crystal makes but I can take an educated guess. I've been struck with many different kinds of dust all with distinct types of damage. It burns and has kinetic energy meaning it may be based on earth and fire dust. Yet, the aftereffects freeze the affected area like ice.

This new Dust should still react the same way when in the presence of aura with the exemption being my aura.

So I'll use her aura instead.

I put Rosetta on my lower back holster and reached for the dust crystal.

The foot on her face is for maximum disrespect. The light taps upward followed by flipping the bird, even more so. I didn't push myself too far back or else she'll put bullets inside me.

Those rounds aren't aura-infused so it would be a dupe against a dust crystal.

I want her to swing that odachi.

I'm thankful this frilly skirt has pockets.

She swings and my eyes catch the telltale sign of an aura slash. This is going to hurt both of us but I can afford to give up more. I'm willing to be a little more insane.

I toss the dust crystal as a slash of aura leaves the odachi.

A blinding white light consumes both of us in an instant.

Akari PoV

I-How did she get ahold of a crystal?

Another decision with no time to think. Light Blaze bent and melted under the extreme heat and pressure. I let go of the Odachi and charged toward Akame, enveloping her in a bear hug.

The flight system is boosted and overclocked beyond its limits.

She held on tightly to her sword but that finely made handgun was lost in the explosion. The force was too much for the hostler to stay on.

Error messages pop up on my HUD.

The armor cracked and broke first by design.

The speed and strain of both the explosion and descent were too much for the prototypes.

I let go of the Branwen at the last moment, hoping she would crash into the deck and down toward the sentry guns.

I rolled across my shoulders and bounced on the deck. It was a rough, painful landing. My flight system is scrambled and the majority of the glyphs are gone. The body armor is compromised. It is designed to redirect damage like a shock absorber regardless of where it is placed. If aura covers it, it will be the first to break.

Which is why I have an excuse to show off my lovely self.

A strong gust of wind accompanied Akame.

That Branwen is insane!

She almost killed both of us!

She stepped forward, and her mask finally broke. Akame ripped it off her face and tossed it overboard. The demon tries to stand tall but even I could tell she's on her last leg.

My drones started falling from the sky meaning the controls for them were also destroyed in the explosion.

I glance at the aura board on my other arm.

Akame: 3%

Akari: 5%

I've lost.

The scale is set at 15% of the overall aura level for the cutoff point. The exception is Akame's and mine being a massive outliner. Because 15% of Akame's is 1.5% and mines would double at 3%. In a way, We are finally close to being evenly matched.

"First blood or until our aura breaks," we both said at the same time.

I owe Lucia a new sword. I didn't want to risk breaking another weapon so I kicked Purge Reign away.

Akame raised her brow but tossed her sword toward a silver-haired woman. She caught it and nodded. I recognize the woman as a now famous Valish journalist, Lisa Lavender. The only journalist given exclusive interviews with Atlas's number one enemy.

"Finally done with all these tech demos?" She huffed.

I undid a ponytail and tossed the hairband to my opponent. She caught it and knew what to do next.

"No hair pulling," I adjusted and tied my hair into a single high ponytail. I dropped more of my gear including the wings, armor, and earpieces.

"I can honor that rule," She did the same to hers.

This battle has gotten personal really fast. I could pull a few more tricks and so can she. We are both tired of it.

Thus, A final confrontation in its rawest form.

I know she's proficient without her weapon. Meanwhile, I'm trained by masters within Atlas and whoever money can buy. I should win this.

We took a stance.

There will be no luck here.

No third parties, technology, or semblance at play.

It is just going to be us and our innate strength.

Akame took a brawler stance. I start with Wing Chun.

We step closer. She brought a fist out first and I touched it with mine. We took a few steps back.

"I am Akari Efnysien, the last of my tribe and the prodigal child of Atlas."

A brief flash of guilt in Akame's eyes disappeared soon after.

"I am Akame Branwen, the change that this world needs."

"Let's have a fair fight!"

We stepped forward.

Akame swung and I chopped.

My jaw stung and she recoiled in pain from the neck shot.

We fell back and reengaged now making attempts to block each other's attacks. A few more exchanges made it clear who got the advantage.

It wasn't me.

I made a severe mistake.

A fist made its way to my liver.

A flashback of me lying beside a boy with brown hair and green eyes.

The same arm came up to an uppercut.

Another flashback of a little girl smiling at me. She looked just like Akame.

She spun around and kicked me in the stomach. I rolled until suddenly came to a stop.

More flashbacks with no meaning yet felt like everything to me. This time it was a team called the Elite Seven, their image gone and superimposed with Night ?.

I felt a foot on my neck, my hands instinctively reaching at the ankle trying to pry it off.

There she is again. I didn't see Akame Branwen. I saw that woman with her heel on my neck. My vision goes dark and my mind slowly goes blank.

Esdeath…

All these meaningless memories yet somehow the fragments belonging to a nightmare, possibly a trauma, resonated with me most.

I never knew who I was before Atlas found me. These memories felt like pages of a book. Esdeath felt like a mirror the same way Akame somehow is.

As horrific as her miasma is; She is my last hope to win.

Ice.

Cold, dark, ice.

I let it infect my every cell because this must be who I once was.

That face…

That lovely face of hers held no emotions. It is as empty as a blank canvas begging to be expressed. I want to repaint it with her blood.

I will show you MORE PAIN!

I let go of her ankle and pushed up against her foot. I lifted a few inches off my neck, enough for me to breathe.

There it is! A sliver of change in her eyes! It was thrilling to see! Almost pleasurable!

Before I can relish it any longer, my consciousness slips.

Ah—

I wanted to see more.

Akame POV

What. The. Fuck.

WHAT THE FUCK…No…

No bad. No cursing…

What the hell was that?

I will give her props. She isn't a bad fighter, it's just that she faces off against me. Akari got a hit in but that's about it.

It seems her martial skills don't transfer as well as her weapon skills.

I'm not a true master of hand-to-hand combat. The honor goes to my Dad and Yang, one day. I have experience and a life-or-death mindset on my side.

Akame: 2.5%

Akari: 0%

I gambled my life with that dust explosion and won.

She gambled her victory with a final confrontation being hand to hand and lost.

It isn't a bad gamble either. She's older and taller thus having more reach, less exhausted, and professionally trained.

I waited for the announcement but it never came.

I turn toward the crowd but everyone remains silent. The cold stare of the specialists kept even the journalists and correspondents from cheering.

"Move!" The PA system squeaked. It was a distant, familiar female voice.

"The-how did you get in! Drop the sword or I'll-," Ironwood shouted.

"AKAME BRANWEN IS THE WINNER OF ROUND 3," There was a brief struggle on the bridge.

I couldn't see what was going on from this angle.

I picked an amazing journalist.

"Runnn!" She screamed as the commotion in the background continued," Don't you dare touch me!"

The voice starts to get more distant followed by Ironwood shouting and finally cutting the mic.

I hope she makes it out unscathed. My people will raise money for her bail if she gets captured and if her network fires her. I'll hire her on the spot.

Wait, SHE HAS MY SWORD!

I dash toward the bridge before she gets arrested.

No, she isn't here.

I scan the bridge to find nothing besides the crew. Ironwood ran off somewhere.

I need to search the rest of the ship.

Ironwood raised his arm and blocked my fist.

"Are you serious?" He deadpanned.

"Sorry, my hands tend to fray when running," I smiled, trying to push past his defense and into his jaw.

"I won't reveal where your collaborators are," He pushed me back.

"They're innocent civilians who have my sword," I took a few paces back," And my battle is not with you."

I kept searching.

I know Lisa wasn't a Huntsman or trained Militia in her previous occupation. But she was a track star in high school and university.

That lady can run and juke apparently.

I want to stop and catch a breather but wasting another moment risks being completely unarmed next round.

Next round…

I'm only at 2.5% of my reserve.

Public image or not, I'm never going to make it unless team RRED is the only one I fight. I want to be anywhere else but here. If only these battles were rearranged. I ran the potential challengers through my head.

Ozpin is the likest meaning my defeat is certain.

There could be more students and regardless of strength, I have a chance.

It could be a Vale huntsman and the least likely. I have a record of all the Vale graduates in this kingdom. They are all accounted for per our deal.

I'll know if one of them joins.

I'm sure my dad isn't part of it. If he is, I'll surrender on the spot.

Which leaves…

I turned the corner and paused.

A black bird stared back at me with its red eyes. My mind is acting up again.

Leave me the hell alone, You're just an illusion.

The raven disappeared into a plume of black smoke.

I breathe in and out.

Militia…

She Is on this ship and protected from me. I want to keep it platonic with her, especially since I'm with Sun. I was pushing it with Mercury but my 'flirting' was to make sure he picked the right option.

It's decided then.

I want to seek out Militia and give her my final goodbye even if I need to yell it over a wall of guards keeping us away. We said goodbye once but I need more.

I turned around, avoiding the new crews and soldiers up ahead. They're running around the ship like headless chickens looking for me and the rogue journalist with her cameraman.

If I follow my heart(aura-sensing), I'll find her.

How wrong I am.

"Akame," I turned around and there she was.

She found me first.

What caught my attention first besides her eyes was the lycoris radiata hairpin. The flower everyone associates with me. Followed by a white, dress with a malachite-colored web design.

Militia is similar yet different from her sister despite being identical twins. They could wear the same clothes, the same make-up, the same posture, and the same hair. I'll always find Militia even without my aura sensing.

I need to otherwise they'll pull the same switch trick again.

Those malachite eyes lack the intensity of her sister. The smile resting on those soft lips, a slight hint of sparkly lipgloss, is different from her, too. It never acts smug or spits out arrogant words.

There is that softness and vibrant relief of dawn. The sun slowly rises to reintroduce the beauty of the world under its radiant glow.

I awkwardly raised my left hand to wave hi/goodbye because I didn't know what to do next. It came quickly. She interlocks my raised hands in hers. She leaned in close until her body pressed against mine. The warmth was inviting, and intimate.

She placed her other hand on my shoulder, pulling herself up slightly.

I didn't get a chance to utter anything but a grasp.

Because no words could be accurate to this very moment.

Amidst the chaotic footsteps and shouting, it all fades into fragments as insignificant as if it is hearsay in a distant kingdom. The weakness and fatigue are replaced with weightlessness and renewed energy.

There wasn't the cold, sparse halls of an Atlas airship but a personal haven where nothing but us existed.

I didn't expect it.

I didn't mind it either as I closed my eyes.

The thought of how wrong it was didn't cross me until many moments later.

All I remember was pulling away, the warmth lingering in my heart. The faint sense of strawberry on my lips.

There was only one other person who made me feel this way on a moonlit night.

It must have been an eternity within seconds.

I wanted to return another kiss but stopped. Those eyes of her now have sorrow as if she committed a grave sin.

"I'm sorry but I never got a chance to be bold until I met you. I never got a chance to step out of someone's shadow until now," She rubbed an eye, barely keeping eye contact with me, "Akame, I love you."

The logical and emotional is to respond right back with those same three words. Yet, I become as silent as the darkness of space.

She held back tears as she continued to pour her heart out.

"I know you care a lot about Sun…Mercury and I know what I did was wrong, disgusting, selfish even. I just wanted to find you again and stop meeting you halfway," She expressed, slowly walking back," Akame, Please go out and live the life you want even if it makes you an enemy of my family."

"Militia," Her name left my lip, I reached for her but she kept stepping back.

"Don't make this harder on us. Please, I don't want anyone to die, if you win, spare my mother and sister. I love them, too," She uttered, the water in her eyes threatening to fall.

Just come with me again.

My mouth opened but those words never left.

"I enjoy the time we have together, even with Vernal and Umber's excessive bickering. The life we once had before that, too," She sniffed and turned her back on me. A single tear hit the floor.

"Militia…don't," I took one step forward. The warmth in my heart was slowly being replaced with an unfillable void.

I want to say more, much more.

"I-I'm sorry we can't be together but one day, when all this blows over, I-I…I," She stuttered.

"Will welcome you back," I said. A few simple words were harder to say than fighting a Grimm horde. It is morbid to think the latter would be more comfortable to do, yet I push on," Thank you for everything and this will never be our final goodbye."

"Goodbye, Akame," She turned back one last time, tears in her eyes and a warm smile," May our next meeting never be at the end or the beginning of Remnant."

What did she say? It must just be flowery language.

I didn't ask for clarification as I watched her figure disappear around a corner. The void in my heart and the fatigue returned in full force.

I need to see Sun after this to clear my mind. That kiss never happened and will remain an isolated moment. I feel disloyal between clinging to Mercury and the sudden kiss with Militia.

"Wake up," I felt the handle of my sword poking my arm. I held it and turned my head over to see Lisa and the cameraman.

"Found you," I recovered my composure.

"Please, Ms. Branwen or should I say Huntress. Please, Take us to your bullhead and escort us outta here before they notice the bait," Lisa begged," Please please please."

"Fine, Follow me," I walked forward, putting Shusen back into its nonexistent sheath. I awkwardly held it in a reverse grip in my hand.

Ruby is going to kill me.

"And the secret is safe with us," Lisa winked.

I sighed.

Relationship drama is the last thing I need.

"Oh and don't forget what's on your shoulder," the journalist nodded.

I looked over.

It-It's the Lycoris hairpin.

Extra: Lisa Threatening a Nosey Reporter

"So scandalous…This can bag me so much money!" A journalist spied from a slightly ajar doorway," And my personal collection."

He snapped pictures with the camera in one hand and had a small camcorder recording the kiss and heartfelt conversation. It has the hallmark of a tragic Romeo and Juliet story, the public will eat it up.

'If only they were a bit more frisky,' he thought to himself.

More so than the enemy-to-lover story which got shot down real fast. The tabloids he works for got a cease and desist hours after the article was published. Sky and by extension his family reputation were at stake over false allegations and poor camera angle.

But this is different.

They're both of age and the proof is undeniable.

He was about to send it in when the other occupants in the room made their intentions clear. The woman slowly lowers herself out of the vents while her accomplice hangs back due to the camera equipment causing noise no matter how careful he falls.

A red blade flourished behind him.

"Hey, Aver, I heard you like 'em young," a soft yet enraged voice calls out to the skewed journalist.

"What?" He uttered as Akame's sword was right at his neck.

The cameraman dropped out of the vents with a loud thud covered up by the distance chao.

"Send it in and you'll be begging for this blade," Lisa winked," Now be a good boy and hand it over."

"Fuck off, Lisa. Give the rest of us some credit. I got bills to pay you bitc-" He got cut off when the cameraman tapped his sidearm.

"AHEM! I should butt in and say you'll piss off Lil. Ms. Malachite and now Huntress Akame Branwen," the cameraman, who was normally silent, explained," Potential disappearance and crippling lawsuit ain't worth it."

Suddenly, A girl appears from the corner, using Trivia semblance to blend into the shadows.

"Indeed, Ms. Aver Apple, resident of 4523 Wallace Lane, 23472, Fenrir, Mistral. IP address and favorite restaurant is Bertha's Sandwiches," Melanie looked up from her scroll," Akame and I wasn't enough for you? Now you're after my sister."

She flipped her scroll around revealing the journalist's entire search history.

If the man wasn't scared before, he was mortified now.

The man paled and handed over both the camcorder and camera. A teen romance was not worth the fallout.

"Thank you," Lisa nodded.

"You all owe me," Melanie sighed, staring longingly at the event before her.

Militia fleeing the scene, a faint wail in the distance.

"Umm, before we go…Could you normally do that?" Lisa sweatdropped.

"No, He's on a registry," the Prime Minister's daughter growled," Priority Watch."

"Not my problem then," She weakly grinned, walking out of the doorway while deleting the recording, pictures, and backups. Lisa dropped both on the floor once she was done.

"I saw nothing," the cameraman closes the door behind him as he leaves.

"Wai, Don't leave-"

"Shut up," Melanie whipped her foot forward and knocked the journalist unconscious," Be glad I'm merciful, trash."

A/N: Yes, That was a Not Like Us reference. It will always be trending. I'm not going to bother describing him so whoever the reader imagines, it's accurate.

At some point in writing, the characters like Vernal(not the Spring Maiden) and Militia look in my mind and become completely different from their canon self.

If I could draw, Mil would have a softer look like an innocent flower. Enough so that she would be mistaken as the younger sister of Melanie. Vernal(Umber) would slowly copy Akame's looks. I reserve the full description for the next fanfic. Everyone else is one-to-one with the show but those two have been developed/integrated into my vision that I could no longer view them as the same in canon.

The hardest part of writing this chapter isn't the romance part. What comes after that is painful for me to continue but it has to be done.

Fun fact about the chapter title.

For the Dawn was a reference to Fate/Apocrypha OST Before Dawn. I listen to it to help finish the battle. It also refers to Akame and Akari fighting for what they believe in as well as Militia representing Akame's 'dawn'.

R