So I never intended on adding another story to my rotation but I'd made a promise to myself to finally watch Demon Slayer starting on January 1, 2025, and, well, as you can tell I clearly liked it enough to get this crossover idea in my head and I couldn't really focus on other stories until I at least drafted and planned some of it. Now it's at the point where I've drafted enough to begin it's uploads so here it is. In keeping with how I generally do crossovers, this story will follow my usual style of inserting the characters from one series (and only one this time) into another and seeing how it plays out. As such, this story will follow how 5 characters from Akame ga Kill would fair in the Demon Slayer world if they were sent there by an Imperial Arms that is naturally non-canon and used for that purpose. As with Akame ga Clover, my other Akame ga Kill crossover with only one other series, this one will begin in the Akame ga Kill world before moving onto the main world at the end of the first chapter. Similarly, I will be following the anime and not the manga so the ending is based on the filler plot with some changes to make it work, as well as of course this not being a rebirth fic like Akame ga Clover is, and as such I will be using terms like Imperial Arms instead of Teigu in it and keeping Erastone as a ring and not a crown. In addition, while it's not likely to come up often, I have read Akame ga Kill: Zero, so I may make the occasional reference to that series. Also, as any who have read my other stories that feature Akame ga Kill, I do not ship Tatsumi and Mine but rather Tatsumi and Akame and that will be a pairing in this story but more on the pairings at the end of this chapter. Lastly, due to the nature of this story, I will only be using the 5 Akame ga Kill characters who are sent to Japan at the end of this chapter in this crossover. It was initially only going to be 3 but 2 more were added in the planning stage as they were necessary in setting everything up and allow me to do more when everyone gets to Japan. On a separate and final note, I do believe that this is the first crossover of these two series on this site so do enjoy that as well. Anyway, that is all that I have for this opening summary so I'll leave this off here. Please sit back and enjoy the first chapter in Assassinating Demons.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.
Chapter 1: Goodbye Cruel World
"He did it." Wave said awe in his voice as he looked up at the giant Imperial Arms that the Emperor was using as a gout of what looked like blood shot out of the middle and its rampage came to an end while Tatsumi hovered above it in his evolved, broken suit of armor. "He actually did it. He beat that thing and ended the Emperor's rampage."
For his part Tatsumi was above and in front of the monstrous Imperial Arms, which unbeknownst to him was called Shikoutazer, his face mask destroyed and blood running down and coating his face but he wasn't idle. Shikoutazer was something he'd never faced before but between his training, Su's advice during said training, Wave's assistance, and Incursio evolving, Tatsumi had beaten the Emperor's Imperial Arms.
There was no doubt in Tatsumi's mind that with the single action of defeating Shikoutazer, he'd ended the war and the Empire as the only real threats left were Esdeath and Honest but Akame and Leone were dealing with them so Tatsumi trusted that they'd be handled accordingly. However, despite this realization, Tatsumi had instantly seen a problem with his victory.
That problem was of course with the giant defeated it was now longer operable and thus could no longer stand on its own. That meant that soon gravity would take over and it would fall down, which given its size was not going to be gently.
In the moments following his victory, Tatsumi wasn't sure which way Shikoutazer would fall. However, from his vantage point above it, Tatsumi could see that if it were to fall forward it would fall onto still intact buildings and the innocent civilians who were there but if it were to fall backwards it would crash into the already ruined Imperial Palace that only had Leone and enemies in it.
It was clear to Tatsumi which way it had to fall. So before it began to fall one way or the other, Tatsumi flew around and with all his strength blasted forward, arms out, and slammed into the face of the giant doing all he could to assist it in falling in the right direction.
Inside the still living Emperor complained about losing but Tatsumi ignored it as he yelled and pushed with all his might, Incursio cracking as he did but he ignored that as he put all he had left into aiding gravity by tipping the monster back just enough to ensure that it fell backwards and onto the Imperial Palace. That was the safest place for it fall and Tatsumi fully trusted that Leone would be able to get of the way of it so he didn't let up for a moment as he tried to push it back. However, it wasn't easy and Tatsumi was at the end of his strength so he wasn't sure if he could do it.
That was when a blur of blue shot through the air below him and rammed into the face of the giant Imperial Arms at full speed. That blue blur was of course Wave once again in Grand Chariot. He'd seen what Tatsumi was doing and understood why Tatsumi was doing what he was doing so Wave had used the last of his own strength to activate his Imperial Arms one more time to aid Tatsumi but unlike Tatsumi, Wave didn't have wings or flight. Instead, he relied on the speed of Grand Chariot and the surviving buildings to rush up and use sheer momentum to add all that he could to Tatsumi's efforts.
The force of Wave's impact with the head created a loud boom that shook the Imperial Arms and most importantly tipped Shikoutazer slightly backwards while Wave himself bounced off as Grand Chariot's helm shattered revealing Wave's bloody face as he began to fall to the earth below. However, that single move was enough to tip the scales and with one final blast that broke Tatsumi's arms in multiple places from his wrists to his shoulders he was able to win the battle and tip the Imperial Arms back onto it's heels so that the scales were on his side and that gravity would the rest.
Tatsumi coughed blood that splattered the face of Shikoutazer but grinned as the Emperor's Imperial Arms fell backwards and towards the Imperial Palace where it wouldn't hurt innocent civilians. With that, Tatsumi knew that they'd done it and he began to fall as well. Incursio was in bad shape but still on him and so he used what little strength he had left to turn down and lunge for Wave where he was falling below Tatsumi.
Wave had accepted that his gambit might result in this and between the damage that Grand Chariot had taken from both when he'd come to aid Tatsumi and the Revolutionary Army and just now, he was sure that he wouldn't survive the fall. However, that was fine with him because he'd done what was right and protected the citizens while giving Tatsumi the aid that he needed to ensure that as many people as possible survived. At least that was what he thought until Tatsumi's hand suddenly grabbed his arm despite a yell of pain coming from Tatsumi as he did so.
"Tatsumi?" Wave asked stunned both from slamming head first into Shikoutazer and what Tatsumi was doing as he looked up at his friend and saw the grimace on his face as blood ran down and dripped onto Wave's own bloody face. "You can't, we'll both…"
"Shut up Wave!" Tatsumi shouted as he powered through the pain. "Grab my arm. I can't stop us from falling but I can slow us down which with our Imperial Arms might save us."
"But your arms?" Wave asked. "How can you even grip."
"Incursio has enough support to keep them functional enough for me to grip you though it's really painful to do so." Tatsumi said as he pulled himself towards Wave as they fell. "But it's just pain so I can manage. We're not dying today! I have a promise to keep to someone special!"
Wave just blinked up at that but by then Tatsumi had reached him and pulled his friend into a bear hug as they fell. As they did his wings extended and Wave gripped him as best he could. Their speed dropped slightly from the air resistance but all Tatsumi could really do was arrest their descent and hope that that was going to be enough to save them.
"No! That was supposed to be the Emperor's Imperial Arms! Only his bloodline can use Shikoutazer!"
Minister Honest surprised shout came from where he was standing on the rubble of the Imperial Palace that he'd climbed onto so that he could watch the destruction that the Emperor was wreaking upon the Capital. He had been cheering it but now that Shikoutazer had been defeated his hands were on his head and his eyes wide.
Until this moment it had been a beautiful thing to watch the Emperor unleash the strongest Imperial Arms in the Empire and use it to destroy the Revolutionary Army and put the civilians back in their place so that Honest could continue controlling the Empire through the boy. Of course it had been a risk to unleash this weapon but Honest knew that he had to take it if he was to win and for a glorious while it seemed like the case.
Alas one of the bastards attacking had somehow managed to render it inoperable and thus it was no longer a threat to the forces that had attacked the Capital. True, General Esdeath was still alive and there was a final failsafe card that only Honest knew about that he could use, along with a handy escape tunnel to get him out of the Capital where he could gather his stashes of wealth and flee to a new country should even his failsafe card fail, but the Emperor's Imperial Arms had been their best bet to avoid all of that. Now it was no more and Honest was stunned.
That shock turned to panic when he realized that the Imperial Arms wasn't falling forward and onto the city but was instead tipping backwards and had crossed the point of return. With it's size, Hones was in its landing zone but thankfully it was so big that he had time to get out of the way. Honest would use that time to activate the failsafe and then hide to see how the rest of the attack played out while going over his various avenues for when the fighting ended depending on what the final outcomes could be.
"Right, time to make myself scarce." Honest said recovering from his shock. "To the…"
"Where do you think you're going you bastard!"
The female voice shouted at him from behind and Honest yelled but just as he turned his head he saw a flash of yellow and suddenly he was in a full nelson. As the strong hold closed and held him tight, Honest felt two things, well three as the first was a set of large, impressive, breasts that pressed into his back but he didn't have time to note more than that before he let out a scream as what felt like several claws pierced him in the back of the neck and upper back on either side of his spine.
Leone panted as she held the screaming Minister as she let her Imperial Arms heal her remaining injuries. She'd been fighting that angel winged bastard, Run if she recalled what Tatsumi called him, when the Imperial Palace was suddenly ripped apart from within by the activation of what Leone could only presume was the giant suit of armor, clearly some hitherto unknown Imperial Arms, that was currently falling down towards her and Minister Honest.
The destruction of the Palace had forced her and Run's battle to end and she'd been trapped in the rubble for a while. However, she'd finally managed to break out of it and when she did she saw the Minister standing and yelling praise at the destruction that the giant Imperial Arms was wreaking on the city clearly believing that with the monstrous thing on his side he'd won.
All that didn't matter to Leone, she forced herself forward despite her wounds from getting out of the ruined Palace as she knew that they'd heal with Lionelle still active and used the opening that Honest had unexpectedly given her to finally kill him. If she did then one of the final threats would be over and they could focus on the very last one, Esdeath.
Thankfully, she'd managed it and with her claws in the Minister as he screamed in shock and pain she was going to rip outwards and likely take his arms off in the process. He'd die quickly and then she'd be able to regroup with the others and figure out what was going on with the giant Imperial Arms and see what the status with killing Esdeath was.
Thankfully, whatever the giant was, it was clearly no longer a threat now that it was falling back towards the Palace but as Leone watched it fall she knew that she had time to rip apart the Minister before it hit them. At least she thought so but as she looked she saw a winged figure falling while holding something and her keen eyes that Lionelle gave her showed her that the winged figure was Tatsumi.
How he'd changed Incursio was beyond her, though not unexpected given what Tatsumi was capable of, but at the moment none of that was Leone's concern. No her concern was that Incursio was clearly badly damaged and that Tatsumi was falling too fast for Incursio to protect him and whoever he was carrying.
"Why you little cunt!" Honest spat as he finally got himself under control and began to activate one of the rings that he was wearing which was actually an Imperial Arms called Erastone that could deactivate the powers of any Imperial Arms that the eye within the ring saw, which given his position in the woman's arms would point at her. "Try this on for…"
"Sorry, can't rip you apart so this will do." Leone said as she made her decision and suddenly spun on her heel as Honest was speaking causing him to let out a scream and loose his focus on activating Erastone. "It will still kill you so all good."
As Leone finished speaking, along with two more rotations to build up her speed as much as possible, she launched Honest upwards and at the falling Imperial Arms. He screamed as he was thrown but Leone didn't focus on that, instead she backflipped onto some of the rubble that had piled up behind her and into a crouch as she focused all her enhanced strength and launched herself up and at the head of the massive Imperial Arms as it was falling not looking at was going on with the doomed Minister as she focused on saving Tatsumi.
Honest knew that he was going to die, there was no way around it. Even if he did miss the falling Shikoutazer, which given that it was now fully in his field of vision he wouldn't, he'd still fall to the ground from a height that would kill him.
So, even as he screamed and hurtled towards the back of Shikoutazer helm while cursing Night Raid, he reached into his coat and pulled out a special item that he kept in an inside pocket, his impending death and what the item would do ensuring that he didn't notice the pain from Leone's claws. If he was going to die then the least that he could do was activate his failsafe card as a last resort and get rid of the few surviving key revolutionaries as a last fuck you to them. He may have lost but he'd make sure that they didn't win this war either.
With that as the last thought in his mind, Honest pulled out the item in his pocket, primed it, and then tossed it to the side just as he neared the metal of Shikoutazer. He didn't see the explosion or bright red smoke that it caused, which was his signal to his secret asset to activate this failsafe plan but he knew that it would happen. That was enough for Honest and he grinned as he slammed into the helm and his world went black. All that was left of Minister Honest was a red smear on the back of Shikoutazer's helm as it continued down to the ruins of the Imperial Palace.
Tatsumi grunted as he did everything he could to arrest his fall but it was no use. He didn't have the strength left to use the new flight feature of Incursio and even if he could, he wasn't even sure that Incursio would hold out if he did, or until he and Wave hit the ground for that matter. Still, he did all that he could but he was slowly resigning to his fate as the ground rushed up to meet them.
"I'm sorry Akame, I failed to keep my promise to you." Tatsumi whispered, his words being ripped away by the air as he fell so that Wave didn't hear them though Wave's own injuries were starting to affect him anyway. "I don't think that I'll survive so I won't be able to tell you how I feel."
Tatsumi still struggled with all the strength that he had left to slow his and Wave's fall but even as he did his thoughts went to his raven haired teammate and friend. He'd promised Akame that he'd survive having done so first after Sheele's death and again after Kurome's while she'd promised to come back alive when she'd set out to kill her sister but it looked like he'd fail to live up to his promise. That was a shame because beyond surviving he'd hoped that in the aftermath of the war, once they'd won and begun to rebuild the Empire, he could tell Akame how he felt about her.
He'd not realized it until after Mine's death, until after her own confession and attempt to kiss him as her last act before she died in his arms, but in that moment Tatsumi had realized that he couldn't reciprocate Mine's feelings because he was in love with someone else and that someone else was Akame. When he'd fallen for Akame was a mystery to Tatsumi but he had and he'd hoped that after the war was over he could confess his feelings to her.
Alas it looked like he'd fail to keep his word. Tatsumi was sure that he was about to die and thus break his promise to Akame with the only silver lining being that she wouldn't have to see the moment that he failed or worse catch his body as he died, that would hurt her too much.
"Tatsumi!"
Tatsumi heard the familiar roar even over the wind whipping in his ears and his eyes snapped open in time to see Leona barreling at him and Wave from the side her arms wide and Lionelle clearly active as she soared through the air towards them. He didn't know how she'd gotten here, the last time Tatsumi had seen Leone was when she'd remained to fight Run in the Imperial Palace while he and Akame carried on towards the Throne Room, but she had so he presumed that she'd won and that Run was dead.
While he knew Run from when Esdeath had first kidnapped him and knew that the Jaeger was a decent man, in that moment Tatsumi couldn't care less. He was just grateful that Leone was here and he smiled as she reached them and slammed into the boys, her arms going around them and holding them tightly as her momentum hurtled them up and to the side.
Leone had reached them by landing on the faceplate of the giant Imperial Arms after her initial leap and then watched the boys fall, she'd guessed by the armor that the other guy was Tatsumi's friend Wave who'd defected after Akame had killed Kurome and had clearly come to aid them against the Empire, before leaping off it and at the boys. It had taken timing and skill but Leone was a master of both and as such easily reached the boys, calling out to Tatsumi as she did so that he knew she was there right before she grabbed them.
Now she had them and as she held the boys, first Tatsumi's and then Wave's armors shattered as the last of their wills to keep their Imperial Arms active vanished. While Leone didn't know how Grand Chariot worked, she did know that it was based off Incursio so it should be fine in the long run as it returned to its key form which like Incursio was a sword only a different style of sword to Incursio.
Regardless of whether the two armor based Imperial Arms were ok or not, the fact that they were no longer active helped a great deal as it made things easier for Leone. With the armor gone, she was now able to heft a now near limp Wave onto her left shoulder and used her right arm to hold Tatsumi close to her as she began to fall towards the ground. As she did, she felt Tatsumi's arms snake around her back and holding onto her as best he could though she could feel how weak they were and the moans of pain that escaped his lips as he held her told her that they were broken.
There were a lot of questions that Leone had but she'd ask them once the battle was over. For now she had to focus on saving the boys so she she got her legs under her and held them as best she could, bracing for the coming impact. Thankfully, she was falling towards a deserted and clear street so there were no civilians around which meant that it would be a clean landing and Leone grit her teeth as her feet reached the street and slammed into it with a loud boom.
Leone let out a growl of pain as she fell into a crouch but she rode it out as she slid over the street, the soles of her boots getting shredded as she churned up the street under them but they protected her feet as she pushed what Lionelle gave her to the limit and then some to withstand the landing. Finally, and as she neared a T-junction at the end the street which had a building in her way, she came to a stop, a trail of dust and deep groove in her wake but she was fine as she panted and began to heal up as the landing had broken her legs in several places.
That was all worth it though because Leone had managed to save Tatsumi, and Wave, and remain standing through the end of the landing so she knew that she was good. On top of that, Minister Honest was dead and she presumed that the Emperor was either dead as well or had been protected inside the giant Imperial Arms, she didn't doubt that he was the one operating it, and would thus be captured.
With those two taken care of that just left Esdeath but hopefully she'd either stop fighting now that the Empire had been proven weak with its defeat or Akame would deal with her as Leone was certain that her friend was still standing and unharmed. Esdeath was all that was left as far as Leone knew so with Akame still able to fight they were almost there.
"Tatsumi!"
The second, and again female, cry came from behind Leone and she turned, still holding the boys her legs now fully healed, and breathed out a sigh of relief as she saw Akame at the end of the street running towards them with Murasame out and to her side and as Leone had suspected completely unharmed. There was a look of worry and fear in Akame's eyes, both of which faded as Tatsumi groaned in Leone's arms and turned his head to look at her and Leone smiled.
Leone wouldn't deny that she had feelings for Tatsumi. She may have played off her antics like shoving her boobs in his face as a joke, and she was pretty sure that Tatsumi didn't see her as anything more than a big sister, especially seeing as he called her 'sis,' but she had fallen for him early on and even marked him by licking his right ear. However, she knew that she wasn't the only one.
Anyone with half a brain could have seen that Mine had fallen for Tatsumi by the time they finished dealing with the religious cult though she was in denial of it but she wasn't the only member of Night Raid that had. No, Leone was certain that Akame had as well and that while Akame likely didn't understand it, she was deeply in love with Tatsumi. Her reaction to seeing his clearly injured body in Leone's arms showed that to her.
"Is that…" Tatsumi groaned, the pain clear in his voice but he pushed past it and turned his head to see Akame running towards them. "Yeah it is. Sis, put, put me down. Please."
"But your wounds Tatsumi?" Leone asked looking down at him. "Are you sure you can stand?"
"It's my arms that are broken; my legs are fine." Tatsumi said. "So don't worry, I can stand. Wave might be in worse shape though. He hit that thing with his head and even with Grand Chariot that's gotta hurt."
"Alright." Leone said and she slowly and carefully lowered Tatsumi to the ground and helped him stand as Akame neared them. "There, I'll let Akame handle you and help out your friend."
"Thanks." Tatsumi said as he swayed a bit but remained standing though Incursio fell from his hand as he lost the strength to grip it now that he was back on the ground. "For everything."
As he did, Leone backed up and hefted Wave off her shoulder and laid him on the ground to look him over noting that he was bloody, bruised, and given the dazed look in his eyes likely concussed but was still conscious albeit knocked senseless. Tatsumi didn't see any of this though because he was looking at Akame who neared him, sheathing Murasame as she ran.
Akame didn't say anything, she just reached Tatsumi and embraced him, her arms going around him and holding him tightly just as he'd held her after she'd killed Kurome and cried into his chest. This time she didn't cry though, well not tears of sadness at least as she did have tears of joy in her eyes at his survival as she smiled and held him in a way she'd never done before but had realized that she'd want to for a while now, she just needed to finish something first.
That something was saving Kurome. Akame loved her sister dearly, still did even after everything that had happened and what she'd had to do in the end but she'd done all of that because she loved Kurome, because she knew that there was no way Kurome would know peace otherwise.
Perhaps in a different timeline Kurome could have been saved and overcome the brainwashing that she'd been through and the drugs that she'd been duped into taking and gotten addicted to and maybe even found someone who loved her more than Akame did and in a different way, someone who could have helped save her and restore their bond. Alas that timeline didn't exist, though Akame had a feeling who that person might have been that could have saved Kurome when she couldn't, and in the end Akame had had to kill her little sister to end their blood feud.
Of course none of that was easy for Akame and she'd broken down in the end and cried as Tatsumi held her in the rain but she'd needed all of that to put the last bit of her past, the last thing that she had to do before they went after the Emperor and Minister Honest, behind her. In the wake of that night, Akame had come to realize something, something that she'd been unable to do while Kurome was alive and her love for her sister was driving Akame to kill her, she'd realized that she'd fallen in love with Tatsumi.
Akame would be the first to say that she didn't really understand love, at least not in this sense. Sure, she loved her sister dearly, so much so that she'd ended up being the person that she wanted to kill the most as well, and after her experiences with Merraid she certainly knew what lust was, but romantic love was something else entirely to her.
It was a feeling that Akame had never felt for someone before. There were many reason why that might be the case what with all that she'd been through in her life and what her focuses had been regarding Kurome so it wasn't something that she understood at all. True she did know what it was like to be on the receiving end of romantic love seeing as her old teammate, and the only member of the Elite 7 that she'd really been able to confide her doubts about the Empire in had been in love with her but Akame had never been able to reciprocate Green's feelings for her.
However, in the wake of Kurome's death she'd come to realize that what she felt for Tatsumi went well beyond friendship. How or when that happened Akame couldn't say, though it was likely long before she realized that she had them but had been too distracted and oblivious to notice her own feelings, however she had fallen for him. She knew that it was all because of who Tatsumi was and what he meant to her that she had.
Now, Akame wanted to be with him all the time, to live together when this was over, share a house, bed, her meat with, and more. Akame couldn't deny that what she wanted to do with Tatsumi what done with Merraid, or at least have him do to her what she did to Merraid in her failed attempt to seduce the older woman so that she could kill her, and she wanted Tatsumi to see all of her and, well, do other things to her. Hell, she wanted to live a normal life away with Tatsumi away from all of this and see where it all led but that would only come once the war was over.
To say that all this was confusing and a lot for Akame to process right on the eve of the decisive battle of the war was an understatement. As such, she simply did what she did when she was in assassin mode, she flipped a switch and focused on completing the task at hand. She'd come to terms with her love for Tatsumi, accepted it and wanted to act on it when the time was right. With him Akame was sure that she could truly move on from all that she'd been through but that couldn't happen until the war was over and at long last that appeared to be the case.
"You kept your promise Tatsumi." Akame said into his chest as she held him her smile never falling and her eyes closed, things Leone did not miss as she tended to Wave, which included sheathing his sword in the scabbard on his lower back for him, and smiled in her own right pleased to see that Akame had at least come to some level of understanding regarding her own feeling. "Thank you. I was a little worried when you took on that monster but I still had faith that you'd live up to your promise. That means more than you can know."
"Er, Akame, this is nice and all but I, um, kinda can't reciprocate at the moment." Tatsumi said with a slight wince of pain from all his injuries as Akame held him tightly though between his own feelings and the two, noticeably soft, things pressing into his chest which were by no means small, he wasn't really focused on the pain that Akame's hug was causing him. "My arms are broken and, well, there is still Esdeath and Honest to worry about so we're not won just yet."
"Right, you defeated the Emperor but those two remain." Akame said going bright red and backing away from Tatsumi though she was reluctant to do so and looking at his chest to avoid meeting his eyes which caused her to wince at the sight of his broken arms and the blood that covered his clothes. "And you're in no shape to continue."
"Nope, I'm out of the fight so hopefully that is it for me and this war." Tatsumi said and he glanced down to where Incursio was next to him. "Um, Akame, if you don't mind could you help me out? I can't sheath Incursio."
"Oh of course." Akame said and she turned and crouched down to pick up Tatsumi's Imperial Arms, she couldn't use it but she could at least carry it and sheath it in the scabbard that was strapped to Tatsumi's back. "Here."
"Thanks." Tatsumi said as he knelt down and she put it back into its sheath before he rose. "Alright, the Minister isn't really that much of a threat on his own so we can handle him latter, our focus should be Esdeath as she can win this for the Empire by herself. Only you can do stop her Akame, take her out and come back alive while sis gets me and Wave clear of the battle as neither of us can help."
"Good idea, I'll thank Wave for his help in this when I return and I think there's a lot that we need to talk about given how he felt for Kurome." Akame said nodding at Tatsumi's idea. "I promise I'll return alive Tatsumi."
"Well you won't have to worry about the Minister anymore." Leone said standing and helping a still dazed Wave to his feet and coming over to them with him. "So that's one less threat taken care of."
"What do you mean?" Tatsumi asked looking over at her as Wave put an arm around her shoulders to steady himself. "He's dead?"
"Yup, that giant Imperial Arms caused a lot of chaos and he was distracted by its defeat so I grabbed him from behind." Leone said breaking out into a grin as she recalled the death of the man behind so much of the pain and suffering in the Empire. "I was going to rip him limb from limb but I noticed that you were falling Tatsumi so I just tossed Honest at that giant armor thing so that I could save you and Wave. The Minister should be nothing more than a bloody smear on the ground beneath that monstrosity now."
"Good then that just leaves…" Tatsumi began but as he did he felt a chill creep into the air right before the sound of heels clacking over stone reached them and a new voice, one he knew well, spoke. "…her."
"I see that you're alive after taking care of that thing Tatsumi, I expected no less from you. Even now, you are making my love for you deepen with your actions."
All of them turned to see Esdeath striding towards them from the side the other side to Akame's arrival. Her rapier was still sheathed at her hip but none of them were relaxed as this was Esdeath, the final remaining obstacle to a Revolutionary Army victory now that Honest was dead and the Emperor's weapon eliminated. Instantly, Akame's right hand went to the handle of Murasame and gripped it ready to draw it and confront the sadistic General as she alone could fight her.
"I must admit though, there's a strange feeling in my chest." Esdeath said as she walked her right hand going to her heart and feeling it as it beat a shade faster than normal. "It's one that I've never felt before because I've never been happy that someone didn't die when facing a potentially superior foe. Why is this? What am I feeling?"
"Relief." Akame said simply her guard not dropping as Esdeath came to a halt before them well out of Akame's instant striking range, which given what Murasame could do was necessary, but well within Esdeath's. "You're glad that Tatsumi's alive and not dead."
"But if he'd died then he'd just be weak and worthless." Esdeath said though as she spoke her brows furrowed in confusion as if she didn't fully believe what she was saying and in that moment Tatsumi saw for the first time a small crack in the warped philosophy that Esdeath held and realized that her feelings for him had to be genuine if his potential death actually upset her. "Huh, that would be true but then why am I glad that he didn't die? Why do I feel like it would hurt if he had even though that would have shown how weak he was?"
"Because he's different, even you can see it." Akame said her grip tightening and knowing deep down that it was in part jealousy that was fueling her because she could tell that Esdeath truly loved Tatsumi as well which was a surprise as she'd just thought it had been some strange infatuation with him because of how strong Tatsumi was. "And I can tell that you have experienced it as well. What you feel is supposed to be normal for someone you care deeply about."
"That's Tatsumi for you though, he does have that effect." Leone said, she was resisting the urge within her to flee with Tatsumi and Wave as Tatsumi's demeanor was serious as he stood there looking at Esdeath before him, and Esdeath actually seemed genuinely confused by her feelings. "But you know that, don't you? I mean come on; he managed to make someone like you fall in love with him which I'm sure no one thought was possible."
"He did meet my criteria and I won't lie, I do love him even if I'm new to falling in love." Esdeath said her cheeks flushing which was a whole new level of disturbing to Akame and Leone as the thought of Esdeath being a blushing maiden in love was just too unthinkable to process. "And this has made it more evident that I was right to do so. Clearly the Empire is weak, it's last weapon has fallen and now I alone remain."
"What will you do about that?" Tatsumi asked stepping forward a bit as he pushed past all the pain that he was in. "You are part of the Empire, Esdeath and now it is all but gone."
"Simple, it is weak so it must be destroyed." Esdeath said her face now expressionless. "Just stay there my love, I'll be back soon and then we can be together forever."
"Wait, don't go." Tatsumi said as Esdeath began to turn, his words causing her to stop dead and turn back to him her cheeks going pink again which still disturbed Akame and Leone but there was no denying that Tatsumi's words had made Esdeath bashful. "Hear me out first."
"Oh Tatsumi, even if I'm in the middle of a bloody life or death battle I'll always find time for you." Esdeath said. "What is it my love?"
"There's no need destroying the Empire, it's already dead." Tatsumi said the conviction of his belief in that clear in his words. "As you said, it was weak, not even the Emperor's giant, secret Imperial Arms could save it so it's not worth your time anymore."
"True, it is weak and done for but there are still things left." Esdeath said her own tone shifting into what passed for businesslike for her. "So it must be annihilated, which I will do."
"But that's just what we've just done, we've beaten it and those of us still standing in this rubble are responsible for it." Tatsumi said as he looked around at Akame, Leone and Wave for emphasis. "Well not you but as you can tell, the Empire was weak and had now fallen. It is no longer deserving of your loyalty to it."
"That is true." Esdeath said, she couldn't find fault in Tatsumi's words though it was only because they were coming from him that she was even listening to them to begin with. "What of it though?"
"Well, think of it." Tatsumi said as he began to play into what he knew of Esdeath's warped philosophy on life. "That makes those of us who survived the Empire's death the strong, you included of course, so if we work together we can rebuild it as a place for the strong."
"I see." Esdeath said and she paused to think on Tatsumi's words, something only he could get her to do and even then only because of the current situation as the last time he'd tried to persuade her she'd slapped him. "That is the way of the world, only the strong survive and you are certainly strong my love."
"Then join us now." Tatsumi said his tone serious and he would hold out his hand to her if his arms weren't broken. "I wanted you to do so before when I told you that I was going to join the Revolutionary Army, well I was already a member but I was trying to convince you to join us so I went with that to see if I could. I realized after you told me about your past on that island that I couldn't do that because of who you are but it's also thanks to that that I get you now, Esdeath. I understand what you like and this is it. We've proven to everyone who the strong are so it's time for you, the last of the weak Empire, to leave it and join us in rebuilding a newer, stronger, nation."
"Tatsumi." Akame said worry in her voice as she glanced over at him. "This is still Esdeath, she doesn't have the same outlook for the future as us."
"No she doesn't, I won't deny that, but didn't we all have different reasons for joining Night Raid and fighting the Empire?" Tatsumi asked looking at her and then Leone as they and the boss were all that was left of Night Raid. "We were a mismatched group when I joined but even with our different reasons for becoming assassins we still had a common goal and came together for it. I know that Esdeath has done many unforgivable things but right now there is no reason to fight her and put even more lives in danger. The war is over and even she can see it."
"I'll still fight though; I don't care if people get in the way because if they die from that that just means that they're weak." Esdeath said unhelpfully. "And I don't have a problem killing the weak. If any of you are strong enough to think that you can fight me then go ahead and try."
"Only Akame can do that, she alone has the strength to kill you." Tatsumi said as he looked back to Esdeath while causing Akame to flush at his faith in her. "And I'm sure that it would be an epic duel but there is no need for it. Perhaps once this is done and we've rebuilt the Empire as a good and compassionate nation that doesn't oppress its people you two can fight to the death but for now let's just end the bloodshed, there is no need for more."
"Oh I'd love to see how good she is." Esdeath said looking at Akame. "And the thrill of facing something that can kill with a scratch, that's something that would really see if I am weak or not."
"Same, I don't believe anyone has a right to take a life but if hers is the final one that I ever take then I'd be fine with that." Akame said her body tensed and ready to go. "She is the last obstacle that I, er, I mean we need to overcome."
"Hmm, I can see that you are more of a problem for me than just your skill and Imperial Arms." Esdeath said getting a good sense for the black haired assassin and her feelings for Tatsumi, not that she blamed the other woman as Tatsumi was special and it made things more interesting as it meant that Akame was now a rival that had to be crushed. "We can go now and end this. If you kill me then I am weak and the war is over, you win and can claim the Empire and what we both want. If I win, then I'll take everything."
"While I will win that from you regardless, this will be to end the final hurdle of the Empire and build a better nation." Akame said as she got ready her focus on the bigger picture and not killing a rival for Tatsumi's love though she was certain that he could never love someone like Esdeath. "So let's do…"
"No, please, just stop." Tatsumi said his voice serious as he looked from Akame to Esdeath though he didn't get between them as he wasn't that stupid. "This ends, now!"
The force Tatsumi put at the end, the seriousness of his words and conviction in his tone paused both deadly women. Tatsumi was no match for either in a fight, especially with two broken arms, several other injuries, and an Imperial Arms that was still repairing itself, so he couldn't stop them physically even if he wanted to. However, both of women loved him in their own ways because of that and his own personality, his ability to unite people and inspire them to be stronger, better, versions of themselves, his words stayed the pair.
"As loathe as I am to let prey get away, I'll stand down but only because you asked me Tatsumi." Esdeath said after a few tense moments of her and Akame looking at each other though no one relaxed. "My heart is drawn to you Tatsumi, I want you to be by my side, I want us to be together forever Tatsumi."
"And I told you in that cell that I could never be with someone who's only desires are creating war and destruction." Tatsumi said looking at her his words reassuring Akame that she would win Tatsumi in that regard. "If you want to be beside me Esdeath then that is what it will take. Myself and those around me, well other than Wave I guess, may have killed and waged war but that is not our desire. Our desires are slightly different but in the end it's the same thing, to overthrow this corrupt Empire and rebuild it with something new and better for everyone who calls it home. If you cannot cast off your desires then there is no future for us. I'd like to think that even now that that is possible, Esdeath."
"I remember your words well and I also recall that you said that you'd never fight for the Empire and you were right because you have been the greatest force in destroying it, no one played a bigger role than you did my love." Esdeath said while Akame and Leone relaxed a bit because they didn't think that Esdeath was capable of throwing off her desires. "But you also showed me your resolve there when you turned me down and was willing to die by my hand. You have no idea how much that turned me on when you did that."
"I'd rather no know." Tatsumi said which Akame and Leone agreed with. "But I'm also not surprised either."
"Well you did, my heart is yours Tatsumi and right now my only regret is that I've not secured your love in return." Esdeath said and they could all tell that she meant what she was saying. "But there is a chance to do so and you've proven who's strongest. You are not wrong, Empire is dead and while I can't promise that I'll end my desires, I would like to be on the same side as you now that the impediment between us being together is no more. So for you and you alone I will try."
"Did, did she just call the Empire an impediment?" Leone whispered to Akame as Tatsumi and Esdeath stared each other down. "Like something that could be overcome?"
"Well she was loyal to it and he to destroying it so yeah it was an impediment between them." Akame said surprised that Esdeath was actually listening but then again this was Tatsumi and he'd made all of them better so perhaps even someone like Esdeath could be improved if the right conditions were met. "If anyone could do it, it would be Tatsumi. I knew he'd win and survive this so perhaps even this task is within his abilities to achieve."
"Yeah but now you've got a major rival." Leone said causing Akame to turn and blink at her. "We'll discuss this and our plan on that front later. For now let's see if Tatsumi can thaw that heart of ice."
Akame just blinked again as she tried to understand what Leone had said to her before she just nodded at it and then turned back to the man she loved and a woman who like her was in love with him. Esdeath wasn't someone who could be forgiven, she was someone who had to die but if Tatsumi felt that he could redeem her then Akame would trust and support him because like with Esdeath, he held her heart and she had complete faith in him. That and if he failed she could always just kill Esdeath then and be done with her for good.
"Very well, then how about it, Esdeath." Tatsumi said not realizing what was going on with Akame and Leone as he took a step forward with pain that he pushed passed he raised his right arm and held out his hand to her. "Will you defect from the weak, and frankly dead, Empire and join us? Let us end this war now and rebuild this nation, together. Show me that you can be better. Stand by my side now against the weak Empire."
"You know, only you could do this, Tatsumi." Esdeath said as she walked forward causing Akame and Leone to tense but both girls put their trust and faith in Tatsumi to handle it and didn't act though Leone still had Lionelle active and Akame's hand had never left Murasame's handle. "The Empire is dead, you, my love, killed it. If this is what is needed to stand by your side and give me a chance to win your love then I will join you."
With that Esdeath reached him, raised her right arm, and took his hand in hers to shake. She'd rather embrace and kiss him like she had before, or at least hold him to her more than ample bosom, but now wasn't the time. Later she could and she'd beat Akame and anyone else who stood in her way of Tatsumi's heart but for now this would do. It wasn't Najenda but Esdeath wouldn't surrender to her, she would to Tatsumi and with the shake the war was over.
Well, at least they thought it was but as Esdeath held Tatsumi's hand, enjoying the feeling of it and the warmth that physical contact with Tatsumi gave her in her chest, she sensed it. Her highly tuned battle senses and natural bloodlust alerted her to the sudden arrival of danger and she let go of Tatsumi's hand and leapt back from him, her hand going to her rapier and drawing it in a single, smooth, motion as she turned to the danger.
Esdeath wasn't the only one who sensed it, they all did. They hadn't sensed the approach, whoever the person was, he or she was good at concealing aura and intent, but the moment the attack came they were altered to the person's presence. Tatsumi's arm dropped as he took a step back, Akame drew Murasame her timing slightly ahead of Esdeath's, Leone was still in her beast form so she didn't need to do anything but turn, and Wave staggered back his hand going to his sword but he was still recovering so he didn't draw it.
As they all reacted to the presence there was a whizzing sound and something shot through the air and into the ground right below where Tatsumi and Esdeath had shook before they could see it. A quick glance revealed it to be what looked like a playing card only twice as large and pure white but for a glowing red symbol on both sides.
They all took it in with a glance before looking up to where it was thrown from. It had come from the roof of the building that Leone had almost crashed into when she'd landed with Tatsumi and Wave. Standing there on the edge was a man in a hooded red robe the color of blood, the cowl hiding his face but for his mouth and jaw, and his hand still extended. However as they looked he pulled his hand back and brought his left one up and made some kind of formation with them that none of those present recognized.
"This war is not over but thanks for your treason General, getting rid of you will make things easier for me when I take the Emperor under my wing and continue the Minister's goals once the rest of the rebels are gone." The man said his voice dripping with gleeful malice at what he clearly perceived as a win over them. "But I had to deal with the Incursio wielder and the assassin girl with Murasame first as they are the greatest threats. I'm so happy that all the Empire's enemies are in one place though as I can remove all of you at the same time. Now begone! In the name of the Empire I banish you from this world never to return!"
With that the man thrust out his arms and at them as he broke his fingers apart just as Esdeath created a swarm of icicles in the air and Akame and Leone tensed to leap at him. However, the moment that his fingers were no longer intertwined, the card glowed a bright red and suddenly a large red circle appeared below them that instantly turned black and holding them in place.
"The Empire will live on!" The man cackled from the rooftop his arms to his sides. "So long as I command this Imperial Arms it will never die! I…"
He didn't get to finish as Esdeath slashed her arm and the ice shot up at him peppering the building beneath him and skewering him half a dozen times including through the heart and face. He was dead mid laugh and was blasted back and out of sight. With that, the failsafe that Honest had activated to ensure that the Empire survived even if he didn't was no more. With Najenda and Run both still alive and not present Honest's plan had failed.
Alas it was too late for the 5 who were in range of the attack because once activated it wouldn't end until the intended targets were gone. So, with a sucking sound, Akame, Tatsumi, Leone, Esdeath, and Wave were suddenly dragged down before any could try to think of a way escape causing them to fell into the inky blackness. The last sight of their world they'd ever see was the clear blue sky on the new era that was dawning thanks to Night Raid before the hole closed up and they were all plunged into pitch black darkness.
Well there it is, the first chapter in my latest crossover story. As you can tell, the impetus for this crossover is one of the dozen or so unknown Imperial Arms (around 22 were revealed in the canon) and there will be more on this particular non-canon Imperial Arms in the next chapter as we move through time and space to Taisho-era Japan and the world of Demon Slayer. Initially I'd only intended on this being Akame, Tatsumi, and Esdeath but while planning how Tatsumi would knock back the Emperor's Imperial Arms and survive the fall I realized that I'd need Wave and Leone for that so I added them as well and now they're part of the story. This works pretty well though as it gives me a few more avenues to explore and broadens the story a bit so stay tuned for that. However, these will be the only Akame ga Kill characters in this story as this isn't a rebirth story like Akame ga Clover but rather a relocation story so limited in that sense. It will also, due to what is to come, likely result in Esdeath being a bit OOC when all is said and done as I've done my best to keep her core personality intact but with what I want to do with the story I'm not sure I can do so precisely so she may be a little off though there will be an explanation for it that will be seen over the next few chapters. The last thing to mention here is pairings as I did say I'd explain more in the post chapter note. When it comes to pairings, I don't do cross series pairings, though if characters have flirty/simp-like personalities I do keep those intact so expect some fun Zenitsu reactions, and rarely non-canon pairings (or at least one side canon confirmed pairings) in my work though Akame x Tatsumi is one of my 4 major exceptions as I've always shipped him with Akame not Mine. However, I'm not opposed to some polyamorous pairings in this story as we know there is one canon case of that in Demon Slayer with Tengen so if there is support, I will consider Tatsumi ending up with Leone and Esdeath as well as Akame as I do view Leone as having some level of romantic interest in Tatsumi and we all know how Esdeath feels for him. It's not set in stone, especially as it's going to be a long time before any pairings happen, but it's a consideration if there is interest in it. This is in part an area where Esdeath may end up being OOC given her personality but I do have ideas for how this would work if I go down this path. As for Demon Slayer, things will remain as they are in it and there isn't much romance there to begin with, at least during the main story. That is all that I have for y'all though so I will leave this chapter off here. If you enjoyed it please favorite and/or follow the story, leave a review, or PM me about it and any questions in the latter two I will do my best to answer before the next chapter. Until next time.
Stringdog