Here is the fiftieth chapter in this story released in accordance with the release schedule. It's been a while but I'm back and won't be traveling for a few months so hopefully I'll be able to pick things up a bit for the rest of the year. Anyway, the battle Vetto is finally at an end and that means that it is time for the Black Bulls to recover, claim their reward, and head back so let's get right to that. That I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and there are no guest reviews that need a response, though I thank you for your support of my work, or questions to answer so I will end this here. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate. That is it for this pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the fiftieth chapter in Akame ga Clover.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.

Chapter 50: Recovery

"Captain Yami!"

The cry broke the silence in the wake of Vetto's final and permanent defeat. Yami had been looking out over the damaged chamber and at the lifeless, headless, body several yards before him when he'd been broken from his thoughts by the cry from behind him. Naturally, said cry had come from Asta and the magicless boy had launched himself headfirst at Yami and slammed into his broad back coming to a stop and falling to the ground but somehow managing to land on his feet.

"Careful." Yami said as Noelle rushed up behind Asta and pushed him out of the way while Vanessa lowered Akame down and dispelled her threads, Akame's katana vanishing as she was lowered her magic and energy spent. "You…"

"Hey! So you know, we didn't ask for your help just now." Noelle said glaring at her Captain before she turned away so as to not look at him and add in a more muted tone. "I mean you were a massive help; I don't think Akame's final spell would have been enough and getting Asta there may have been a hassle with how Vetto's magic was burning away Vanessa's threads, but you could have at least arrived a little earlier."

"Jeez, what's with the attitude?" Yami asked not sure what was going on with Noelle but her ki was clearly grateful so he left her too it as Vanessa couldn't take it anymore and rushed forward leaving Akame swaying where she was standing as she was still in a lot of pain from the final blow she'd taken and knocking Noelle out of the way with a yell. "V…"

"I've fallen for you all over again Captain!" Vanessa declared hugging him before breaking away and playfully elbowing a now confused Yami in the gut. "What girl could resist such an incredible fighter? Now I know how Noelle and Akame feel when it comes to their men, it's amazing!"

"What are you talking about!" Noelle shrieked trying not to think of a certain gray haired, loud mouthed, moronic brat or what Vanessa was implying with her words. "I don't know that at all!"

"You do, you just don't know it yet." Akame said as she finally got her balance and pushed past her limits to remain standing with almost all of the Squad. "I know I do. Vanessa's right, watching your man fight like that is irresistible and reinforces why you fell for him, certainly does with me and Tatsumi."

"I agree, you were amazing today Akame!" Tatsumi shouted from where he was sitting with the unconscious bodies of Luck, Magna, Kahono, Kiato, and Gio. "Fought all the way to the end just like always."

"See they agree now here you go." Vanessa said producing her bottle again and raising it to Yami's lips and pouring some of it into his mouth to drink. "Drink up Captain, you earned this."

"Later." Yami said and Vanessa seemed to get the hint as she backed off though that might have been because Finral was coming forward eyes closed and looking sad. "Fin…"

"I thought I was done for." Finral sobbed as he fell into Yami's shoulder interrupting his Captain just as Noelle and Vanessa had done. "My life flashed before my eyes and showed me everything that I've been through. I thought that that was the end."

"You were surprisingly useful in battle today." Yami said holding the back of Finral's head his words hitting home and causing Finral to back up and look at Yami. "You found your style and place just as I knew you would."

"Thank you Captain!" Finral said still sobbing before yelping as he was forced out of the way by Grey who was still in her real form her hands over her face as she addressed her Captain for the first time like this though she still couldn't look at him. "Hey!"

"Um, th, that was amazing Captain Yami!" Grey said her voice loud and nervous as she continued to hold her head in her hands while ignoring Finral's protest before she rushed away. "Ah! I actually talked to him as me!"

"Er who are you again?" Yami asked still confused as to who the blue haired girl in a Black Bull robe was. "I don't recall…"

"Wow!" Charmy squealed interrupting Yami's confusion as three of her sheep cooks that had appeared after Vetto's death carried her over to Yami so that she could leap onto her Captain and hold onto his chest. "You were unbelievable out there Captain! I'm going to make a feast for us when we get back!"

"Hey fluffy sheep, when'd you get here?" Yami asked as said fluffy sheep parted so that Gauche could approach.

"Captain." Gauche said causing Charmy to jump off Yami and onto her lead sheep. "It's over now so can I please go and see Marie? She must be missing me and I have to tell her of how amazing I was today; I'll be her hero all over again."

"Take the hint." Yami said bluntly. "This is where you tell me how great I am and how I saved you all."

"Did you expect any less Captain." Akame said getting Yami's attention especially because she hadn't walked over but as he looked at her she gave her Captain a small smile her ki racked with pain which explained why she wasn't moving. "Sorry, my energy is past its limits but thank you, you save the day at the end. Even with my spell and Asta's Anti-Magic we might have failed without you as I doubt I could have cut through that magic and I wasn't ready to die again. You saved us, we won't forget this."

With that Akame bowed to Yami in a gesture he would have associated with his homeland, one of formal respect and gratitude, fitting for a fellow katana user. Yami just nodded back at her as the others who could move swarmed around him.

"I can't believe that you took Vetto out with just one hit!" Asta said falling forward and resting his head on Yami's chest as Akame rose while suppressing a grimace at the move and felling a few of the partially closed cuts on her body open up again. "Your so awesome Captain Yami! I, er, well…"

"Alright that's it, I'm done now." Yami said drawing his katana in a swift move that caused most of his squad to yelp and Asta leap back his arms moving despite their condition before they ran off, well almost all as Gauche stayed around. "Leeches. Still, I was able to do all of that thanks to seeing how much effort you all put into that battle so well done."

That got to the Black Bulls and they all regrouped and formed a line where Akame was waiting for their Captain. Yami just nodded and headed over to them but as he did Gifso made his way over to the Black Bulls and before Yami could say anything more to his Squad the High Priest suddenly began to cry getting Yami's attention.

"What's up old man?" Yami asked Gifso.

"It's just that you, Captain Yami Sukehiro, all of you Black Bulls in fact, did it." Gifso said through his tears. "By defeating the Eye of the Midnight Sun, you have indisputably won the game!"

However, before anyone could point out that the arrival of the Eye of the Midnight Sun during the Battle Royale, which the Black Bulls had been on the brink of winning anyway, had effectively ended the game, Gifso fell to his hands and knees before them and bowed deeply tears still streaming down his face. The action was surprising and no one said anything, which was good because Gifso wasn't done yet.

"And for saving the Underwater Temple and its people, you have my gratitude!" Gifso said through his tears. "You save all of our lives today so thank you! Thank you so much! So, as the High Priest of the Underwater Temple, please, allow me to grant you a reward. You can have anything so long as it is in my power to grant it!"

"What we want is what you originally promised us if we won, that's all that we want." Yami said as they all looked at Gifso though they would also need healing, food, and rest but that was a given after today's events. "You agreed to give us the Magic Stone if we won your game so give it up."

"About that." Gifso said as he rose to his feet tears still running down his face. "What on earth is a Magic Stone?"

"Huh?" The Black Bulls asked in unison.

"Don't play dumb old man, you're too wily for that." Yami said his anger starting to build. "You know full well what I'm talking about. You said as much when we arrived, told us that if we wanted it we had to play and win your game first so you know what it is or are you senile now?"

"Oh, well, yeah the thing is I only said that you were seeking it because I heard you talking about it with my magic." Gifso admitted. "And as I wanted competitors for my game, especially surface dwellers as we rarely get visitors from there, it seemed like the best thing to say to get you guys to play. You really went through all of this for some rock? Why is it so special that you'd do all this just for something like that?"

"Why you little…" Yami began his left hand going to his katana.

"Now hold on you wouldn't hurt a frail old man now would you?" Gifso said quickly.

"If he lied to me and tricked me then of course I would." Yami said. "And besides you're far from some frail old man. Gauche, Akame, either of you got magic to help. If not, can someone get Tatsumi's sword."

"He's getting in the way of me seeing Marie, I may be out of magic but I can just beat his ass." Gauche said. "Keeping me from Marie is a capital offense."

"Give me a moment Captain, need to use Mana Zone right now if I'm to use magic as my personal reserves are out as well." Akame said but as she tried to move she felt her legs start to buckle. "Hold on, Noelle support me. Looks like this will be pure magic, I can't hold Tatsumi's sword at the moment."

"What!" Noelle said as Akame tried to lean on her forcing the royal to put an arm around her waist and help her remain standing. "This is not what royalty should do."

"Just pretend that I'm Asta then." Akame said not bothering to argue with Noelle's attitude as she focused on the man around a now pleading Gifso while Noelle went bright red. "How bad should this be Captain? I'm not into torture or anything but he did trick us so I can help rough him up a bit. I'm not sure what to do though."

"Just a few scratches." Yami said. "That should…"

However before Yami could finish Nero suddenly flew into the chamber and at Asta where she, though they all still thought that the bird was male, suddenly started to peck Asta in the forehead like she usually did when she was trying to get a point across to him, or was annoyed with him. However this time she had a blue stone with a hexagonal and pentagonal cut in her beak that she was using to peck Asta. Nero showing up was a surprise as none of them had realized that she'd tagged along with them to the Underwater Temple and the fact that she had a stone only added to their surprise.

"It's been so long! I haven't felt that pain since Saussy Village, pretty much identical in fact." Asta said through his screams as they all looked at Nero who finally relented and flew up to hover in front of Asta and he noticed what she'd been using to peck him. "So that's where you've been Nero, you went to find the Magic Stone. Good job, the old man didn't know what it was which was a problem."

"Oh so that's what the Magic Stone is." Gifso said looking at the bright rock in Nero's beak. "Well in that case you're more than welcome to it, that's your reward so take it. Don't be shy about it."

"Trust me we weren't planning on being shy." Yami said as he held out his hand and Nero flew to him and deposited the stone in his palm before flying off again. "Alright, got it. Now our mission down here is complete."

At that Yami paused and put the Magic Stone away in his pocket as Gifso sighed in relief. It was over, they had the Magic Stone and had protected the Underwater Temple from the Eye of the Midnight Sun who'd come for the Magic Stone as well, killing one of their top members in the process. There was really only one thing left for Yami to say to his Squad.

"Listen up gang." Yami said after his pause as he took his cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled. "Good job."

The words hit home and they all smiled, including Tatsumi who was still holding onto consciousness in the wounded line but hadn't been able to get up since sitting down and that wasn't changing anytime soon. They really had done a good job and as one they all responded to their Captain's words.

"Sir!" The still standing members of the Squad said as they saluted and the mission truly came to an end and with that the ability to relax which meant that any lingering adrenaline drained from their bodies and it all hit them.

"Good but now that I can relax all my strength…" Asta said but didn't finish as he collapsed.

"Yeah I'm with you there." Akame said her legs going from under her and her eyes began to roll back into her head. "Let me down easy Noelle."

"Asta! Akame!" Noelle said worried and letting go of the latter so that she fell to the ground out cold.

"Can't hold on, Marie's not enough." Gauche said as he fell to his knees. "No more magic left."

"Same." Vanessa said doing the same as Gauche.

"Me too." Finral added.

"And me." Grey said her hands back over her face as she fell to her knees as well.

"I'm so hungry." Charmy said falling onto her chest. "Need food."

"They're dropping like flies!" Gifso exclaimed. "Come now, we must see to your magic and wounds right away."

"That would be great old man, guess this is a good time to…" Tatsumi called out but the last of his efforts were done and he passed out where he was seated his hands flopping to his sides and leaving only Yami and Noelle standing.

Gifso was true to his word and swiftly got to it. The whole community owed the Black Bulls more than they could repay and it was time to show that as their recovery began.

Several hours later most of the Black Bulls were in a recovery room in the Underwater Temple. All except Yami and Noelle had been taken here and laid out on a series of mattresses on the floor or in Charmy's case on the ledge of the large window that overlooked the town around the Temple while they were treated and started to recover.

Now most of them were lying under blankets and on pillows as they recovered, magical bubbles of water floating on rings of leaves and connected to their arms as they recovered magically and physically from what they'd been through. The only ones not present were Yami, Akame, Asta, and Noelle who were off elsewhere in the Temple either seeing Kahono and Kiato in Noelle's case or dealing with the aftermath of the battle in their own ways as in the other three though both Akame and Asta had been treated for their wounds before leaving.

Tatsumi would be with Akame but his injury was more severe than most and not in a good place for prolonged movement so he was still recovering in the room with the rest of his squadmates. He didn't mind though because it was a nice, relaxing, environmental and all of them had taken their robes off as they lay there with Vanessa stripping down to her underwear as usual and not even bothering with a blanket while Grey was fully covered by hers with only her head peeking out of it though she was still in her real form.

After everything that they'd been through it was one of two things the Black Bulls needed, the other being food and Charmy's wines from the windowsill were letting them all know that that was needed. However, they were still recovering first and enjoying the relaxation as Gauche finally broke the silence with a different kind of complaint.

"This is utterly ridiculous." Gauche said. "We can't go anywhere until Finral's magic is recovered. We're stuck here until then, talk about inconsiderate the stupid good for nothing."

"Hey, I'm right here you know!" Finral said siting up on the mattress next to Gauche's. "And if I'd not used my magic then we'd have been screwed in that battle so just be patient and wait for me to recover."

"Tch." Gauche clicked as he rolled over. "You're keeping me from Marie so what good are you."

"Just ignore it Finral." Tatsumi said not bothering to sit up as his abdomen was still sore so he just remained lying on his back. "You showed your worth today, be proud of that."

"Thanks Tatsumi." Finral said with a smile as he sat up and as he did he looked to the mattress to his right where Grey was, his gaze causing her to yelp and cover her face with the blanket fully hiding her from them. "Today was something for sure. I can't believe I held my own out there and to top it all off we learned what Grey really looks like. I'd have never expected you to be a cute little girl but that's a whole lot better than a big creepy guy who just blows smoke."

"Don't look at me, it's so embarrassing!" Grey whimpered from her blankets and not adding that she was actually older than Finral. "I hate people seeing what I look like."

"She has a point Finral, don't stare at her like she's just a piece of meat or I'll sow your eyes closed." Vanessa said. "Akame once threatened to blind a Golden Dawn guy for almost seeing Noelle naked, she's got the right idea there when it comes to lecherous men staring at women."

"Eh!" Finral exclaimed. "I'm not lecherous."

"Wasn't it partially your fault that the guy almost saw Noelle naked." Tatsumi said. "Akame told me the story though she'd do it again regardless and that includes breaking through a wooden door in the process."

"Well I was trying to get Noelle into a swimsuit and she had to be naked for that so yeah it kinda was." Vanessa said not showing any remorse for it. "But it worked out in the end. As for you Grey, you need to have a bit of courage now that we know your true form or else you won't make it long with that shyness of yours. You are very cute; I'll help you really show it off and if you have someone special then I'll make sure that you catch his eye, or hers if you swing that way."

"Yes ma'am." Grey said from her blankets knowing that Vanessa would help if she asked but she was barely able to show her friends her real appearance without hiding, hell she'd been forced to do that, so dealing with other things that Vanessa could help with was out of the question at the moment even if she did want a certain man with a sister complex to notice her. "I'll try!"

"Inversely you could do with being a little more shy." Magna said sitting up and looking over at Vanessa who was indeed showing how unshy she was. "You could stand to be a bit more modest you shameless witch."

"Oh I'm sorry." Vanessa said her tone anything but sorry. "But am I embarrassing the poor virgin street punk over there? Can't handle seeing a woman like this having never experience it?"

"Who are you calling a punk!" Magna said loudly.

"Wait you're not denying the virgin part?" Tatsumi asked grinning. "Usually you do."

"Shut up Tatsumi!" Magna said turning to him. "You've got no say in this Mr. I have a girlfriend."

"Yes, the only one of us competent enough to land a girl and a hot one at that so I'm sure that Tatsumi isn't a virgin anymore." Vanessa said grinning before looking over at him. "After the other night where you and Akame went for a little moonlit stroll, right? How was the swimsuit that I lent her? It's nice, right?"

"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell." Tatsumi said going red though in fact he and Akame hadn't reached that stage of their relationship that night, though they had gone to a whole new level and were getting close to that point. "And besides, you want to deal with her wrath if I did?"

"Point taken; I'll get it out of your girlfriend then." Vanessa said. "I'm sure she'll need some of my expert advice going forward."

"Awe, please tell me as I really want to fight Akame." Luck said as he began punching the air looking up at the ceiling. "She's really strong so she'll be fun to fight and I want to get back to fighting as soon as possible. Vetto was so much fun even if I didn't get much plus I heard that you've gotten a new upgrade Tatsumi, fancy testing it out against me?"

"Sometime sure." Tatsumi said. "Gotta see how resistant it is to your lightning and adapt to that magic in general but it's going to be a while before I can, still recovering and all."

"I'll wait." Luck said eager for a battle with his strong teammate. "I want you at your full strength after all."

"First we need food to recover." Charmy moaned from the window ledge she was on. "I can barely keep my eyes open at the moment. I'm so hungry. I need food."

"Look at the rest of us!" Magna yelled sitting up but Charmy was ignoring him as she rolled over onto her chest and looked over to the greenery around the water bubble above Vanessa. "You're lucky that you're just hungry! Some of us have serious wounds to recover from!"

"Yeah I'm probably going to have a scar from this." Tatsumi admitted patting his bare abdomen, his shirt and sweater had been ruined so they'd been discarded and he had thick bandages over his abdomen from where Vetto had tried to impale him. "Oh well, Akame won't mind it."

"Food, need food and that green stuff has to be it." Charmy moaned ignoring the chatter as she began to drool. "I wonder how it tastes. What would be good to pair it with? Any suggestions?"

"At least you lasted longer than I did Tatsumi." Magna said ignoring Charmy like she was ignoring them as he lay back down. "I was taken out of that battle right at the start, didn't even get a chance to show what I can really do beyond that combo spell with Luck."

"Well we did our best but we're not at the same level as the others just yet." Luck said. "We've just got to train harder so that next time we can enjoy the whole fight."

"True." Magna said. "We…"

Before he could finish, however, he was interrupted by the sounds of distant cheering coming to them from outside the Underwater Temple. This got all of their attentions and the Black Bulls turned to the window with Charmy sitting up and asking the most important question of the sound, at least to her it was the most important question.

"A banquet?" Charmy asked. "Food? Are we getting food?"

There was no answer to that except an explosion of cheering and Charmy stared as what seemed to be the whole population of the Underwater Temple, the Ocean Dwellers, had gathered outside their recovery room and were cheering for them. This got all of them to first sit, and then stand up, which was painful for Tatsumi but he managed it with only a slight wince at the flexing of his abs, and move to the open window to look out at the cheering locals. Only Grey wasn't standing but her head was out of the blanket as they all looked down at the Ocean Dwellers before them as they began to cheer louder.

"Thanks Black Bulls!"

"You're were all incredible!"

"You saved the Underwater Temple! How can we ever repay you for what you did for us?"

"That was so amazing what you all did! We watched ever second of it!"

The cheers continued as the Black Bulls just stood there, well sat on the ledge in Charmy's case, and looked down at the cheers. It was something none of them had ever experienced before.

"I can't believe it." Magna said over the cheers. "People are actually thanking us for helping them. Usually it's the opposite and they're yelling at us the moment that we arrive seeing as we are the worst of the worst."

"Usually no one knows that I've helped them out." Tatsumi pointed out. "So I can't be thanked. Not that I mind as I understand the nature of what I do for the Kingdom."

"That's because what you and Akame do for the kingdom is unorthodox and not really acceptable." Magna said. "Even if it is needed."

"True." Tatsumi said. "I've always known that I'd never get thanks or recognition for what I do and the role I play in making the Clover Kingdom a better place but I won't lie, this is nice."

"Yeah it's pretty cool to hear it." Luck said smiling at the cheers. "Makes we want to get even stronger."

"That's unexpected but ok then." Magna said surprised at the motivation but using it as he put his glasses back on. "Ok then I'll get even stronger! You're not surpassing me Luck."

"Catch me if you can then." Luck said rising to the challenge with his usual gusto. "I'll still beat you Magna."

"I'd like to see Marie more." Gauche said. "I can tell her about all this when I do."

"I want to work on being less shy." Grey admitted but she was remaining in her real appearance which was a small step forward.

"Wow she's stunning!" Finral said looking out to the cheering crowd and quickly picking up on the cuties in it. "And so is she! and her! And her! So many beautiful women!"

"Sounds like someone's totally recovered." Gauche said. "If you're back to your useless ways then you can at least take me to Marie."

"Can't still not enough magic to make it back to the surface." Finral said waving at the cute women and ignoring Gauche. "We're stuck here for a bit longer so I say we enjoy this. Oh she's gorgeous! So is she! And her! She's also…"

"Tsk." Gauche tsked. "Useless."

"This really is nice." Vanessa said with a smile. "Having someone thank you for helping them, it feels good. Makes me want to hear this again."

Tatsumi nodded at that as he listened to the cheers of the crowd and smiled. This was nice, it was what he'd hoped to hear in the Empire after they won, well that would have been for the brighter future that they hoped to create and not his actions but just to hear it would have been good. However, he'd not lived to see that day, not that there would have been cheers after the Emperor's rampage and the destruction that he wrought upon the Imperial Capital Tatsumi realized, but at least they'd won that in the end.

Despite that Tatsumi had been lucky enough to be reborn and retain his memories, after the block was broken, and to top it off he wasn't the only one given this second life. Now he was with Akame, he'd been able to confess to her and she'd confessed to him so Tatsumi was finally his love and he was going to make the most of it. Hopefully Akame would soon see this and enjoy the moment as well but Tatsumi knew she had to sort something out so for now he'd enjoy this for both of them.

While most of the Black Bulls were basking in the cheers from the denizens of the Underwater Temple and Noelle was talking with Kahono as she recovered from her own injuries with Kiato falling for her not realizing that Noelle was off the market, Asta was walking through a spacious cavern filled with some kind of grass and a few boulders dotted all around with Nero sitting on his head as she often did. His arms were bandaged and in slings but they hadn't been healed.

Apparently the Healing Magic that the Underwater Temple had didn't seem to be able to heal what Vetto had done to his arms so they were going to have to sort it out when they got back to the Clover Kingdom. That was going to have to wait, however, as Asta was walking and thinking on how many crazy things had happened on this mission.

It had been a long and tough mission and it had taken all of them to bring down Vetto but in the end they'd won and gotten the Magic Stone which was the important thing and Asta voiced that to himself and Nero as he walked. That seemed to set the bird off and she suddenly flew off his head.

"Nero! What are you doing?" Asta asked looking at the bird as it flew away. "And where are you going?"

Naturally, Nero didn't respond and just flew away so Asta was forced to follow her while calling out that the stupid bird couldn't just fly wherever it wanted to down here. They were in an unfamiliar place with only one way back to the surface so Nero really should stay close to one of them. Thankfully, Nero didn't go too far as she landed atop a nearby boulder and looked at Asta.

"Honestly don't go too far or else you'll get lost and stuck down here." Asta said to the bird. "It's a maze that would be hard to get out of so don't come crying to me if that happens."

Nero didn't dignify that with a response, she just moved her right wing and pointed out to the other side of the boulder. That confused Asta and he moved up to the bird wondering what Nero was up to.

"What's wrong?" Asta asked as he reached Nero but before he could say more he noticed what Nero was pointing at and his voice fell silent.

On the other side of the boulder was the line that Yami had cut into the ground with his spell showing that he was in the cavern where the battle with Vetto had taken place. That wasn't all though, in the line a small mound had been formed and a lit cigarette was sticking out of it and in front of it were Vetto's feet. A white cloth was over the rest of his body and judging by the shape his head had at least been placed back where it should be placed but otherwise the body hadn't been moved.

Standing before it, his eyes closed, head slightly bowed, and right hand up in some kind of gesture that Asta didn't recognize but thought he'd seen before back in the cave near Nean after the Light Mage had first been defeated, was Captain Yami. Another cigarette was in his mouth but he seemed to be silently praying. Standing behind him and slightly to the side was Akame. She wasn't doing the same gesture but her head was bowed, eyes closed, and hands clasped before her at her waist as she too took a moment.

It was a sobering sight, not that Asta hadn't seen death before as he had both in Saussy Village when that fanatic had killed himself and the other two captured criminals and later when he'd gone on that mission with Tatsumi and Akame and learned what they did for the Kingdom and their past, but this was different. Asta wasn't sure what it meant but he knew he shouldn't talk as he slowly approached as Yami finished doing whatever it was that he was doing.

"What do you want, kid?" Yami asked as he lowered his hand and opened his eyes while Akame just turned her head to Asta her red eyes opening and fixing on him her expression unreadable. "We were paying our respects."

"I should have known that you two would sense me here." Asta said looking at them and noting that Akame was only wearing her skirt as her whole torso and arms were covered in tight, white bandages showing the extent of her wounds though she did have her Black Bull robe over it. "My ki gave me away didn't it?"

"You can't hide your ki so yeah it was obvious." Akame said simply. "But you didn't interrupt this memorial so thank you for being respectful."

"That doesn't matter." Yami pointed out as he turned his head to glare at Asta. "I asked you a question so answer it or I'll mess you up."

"What!" Asta yelped his eyes wide at Yami's glare, and Akame's cool stare didn't help, but he recovered quickly. "Well, er, you see, it's just, what with us leaving tomorrow and all, I wanted to check the place out a bit before we left as we might not be back here for a while. I've been poking around here and there that's all."

"You some kind of explorer now then?" Yami asked. "Well find anything interesting at least?"

"Or tasty?" Akame added. "I'm pretty hungry right now."

"Actually yes." Asta said excitedly. "I found this cool fossil that was shaped like a shell. Then I was nearly swallowed by this giant sea anemone and got absolutely swarmed by all these sea roaches."

"Gross." Yami said.

"This sea anemone, where is it?" Akame asked. "Take me to it so that I can kill it and Charmy can cook it up for us. It sounds like worthy prey."

"Oh and there are these." Asta said and he shifted his slings to reveal three flowers, one purple, one near royal blue and one light blue that he had been holding in them. "I found them while exploring and thought that they were really pretty and, well, maybe…"

Asta trailed off as Yami and Akame looked at him but he didn't pay attention to that as he walked forward and crouched down in front of the mound that had a lit cigarette in it realizing that it was the memorial that Akame had mentioned. He then deposited the flowers there and knelt for a moment as he looked over Vetto's body.

"You know, I can't forgive them for what they've done, the Eye of the Midnight Sun that is." Asta said after a moment as he remained kneeling. "But still…I don't know what it was but I get this feeling that maybe something unforgivable happened to them as well. That's why they hate humans so much and only care about getting revenge on us. His ki was evil but I could feel the pain in it when he spoke of what he'd been through so it felt real to me. It doesn't justify what he did or tried to do but in the end I think that Vetto was the one who despaired the most."

Asta's words hung in the air for a moment as Yami and Akame thought on them and Asta rose back to his feet. Yami took the time to look away and exhale smoke before he spoke again.

"Hey kid, you know that you're an idiot, right?" Yami asked.

"Huh?" Asta asked in response.

"I said that you're an idiot." Yami repeated. "Aren't you? Answer me or I'll mess you up."

"Yes sir, I'm an idiot Captain Yami!" Asta said his eyes white. "Though why do you keep saying that?"

"Good because an idiot doesn't have to think to deep about this kinda stuff, got it?" Yami said walking over to Asta, his left hand out as if to grab Asta's head causing him to flinch but instead he just rested it there surprising Asta while not answering Asta's question. "You just focus on following that dream of yours, alright."

"That's it?" Asta asked. "My dream?"

"Well for now anyway." Yami said pulling his hand back and down which moved Asta's headband to over his eyes. "That should be your focus for the time being."

"Ah! I can't see!" Asta wailed. "And I can't pull my headband back up with my arms like this! Come on I've got two broken arms remember? Hey, Captain, little help here, why is your ki walking away? Where are you going, you can't just leave me here like this! Akame! Help!"

"Hold still." Akame said with a small smile as she moved in front of Asta as he panicked but the move that he felt by reading her ki and her words allowed him to stop so that she could raise her arms and move his headband up. "There you go."

"Thanks." Asta said blinking his eyes open as Akame took a step back and he noticed that they were alone. "Huh, he's already gone."

"The Captain?" Akame asked. "Yeah but that's to be expected."

"What do you think he meant by my dream?" Asta asked looking at his senior squadmate. "And focusing on that? I can do that and think on deep stuff like this, right?"

"That's up to you to find out." Akame admitted. "But I agree that you should focus on your dream for now. Become the Wizard King, Asta, this nation needs you to be it more than you realize. Rise to the top, acquire the power to affect real change, and then you can focus on things like why Vetto was the way he was."

"What do you mean?" Asta asked a bit confused.

"I can't speak to much, as you know this isn't where I'm originally from, but I can speak to my experience." Akame said using her ki sensing to confirm that they were alone so they could speak freely about her past life. "And there are similarities between the Clover Kingdom and the Empire of my last life so I don't doubt that this Kingdom did something unforgivable to Vetto and his people. I know that the Empire did many unforgivable things and I helped them do some of those things."

"Does that mean you understand what I was trying to say?" Asta asked. "That Vetto despaired the most because of what happened to him."

"Not really, I can't personally understand something like that as I never suffered an atrocity." Akame said shaking her head. "In my previous life I was sold as a slave along with my sister at a young age, put through a brutal and violent test that few survived, and then separated from her as I was trained to be an assassin for the Empire."

"You said back when Noelle and I were with you on that mission." Asta said recalling the story of Akame's past life. "And then you went through something similar here."

"Similar but different because back then I was a tool for the establishment to keep order while here it was more clandestine and unsanctioned." Akame said. "And besides, I had feelings here that something was off because of my past life. However, the first time around I didn't and back then the Empire brainwashed me into thinking that they were doing good and protecting it. It wasn't until I started to see the real Empire that I realized what was going on."

Akame paused to see if Asta was going to say anything but he didn't as he was paying full attention to here. Akame appreciated that and continued.

"I'd had my doubts before that but when I saw what they did and learned more I started to question things." Akame continued. "Finally, after another comrade who was the only one on my team that I could safely confide in was killed while we were facing the remnants of our past actions, mainly mine as they were the few survivors of groups that I'd wiped out without his help, I became fully disillusioned with the Empire."

"Which led you to switching sides." Asta remembered. "After meeting that Najenda woman."

"Correct, I was sent to kill her but really it was to talk and she was what I needed to change sides as she swayed me with her words to finally defect." Akame said with a nod. "I didn't go with her then, though, as I tried to get my sister and my sole remaining teammate to join me but Kurome's conditioning was too great and Tsukushi's loyalty too great so they wouldn't come. I've got a chance now to save Kurome thanks to you and I'll take it in this life but that's not relevant now. What is is that I know what can lead to great despair like that and I wouldn't be surprised if Vetto experienced it at the hands of the Clover Kingdom."

"It changes someone, doesn't it?" Asta asked. "Evil can be bred from an act of evil done upon a group."

"It can be and I've seen it first hand, Esdeath was especially skilled at that." Akame said with a nod. "She'd always leave a few alive when she suppressed rebellions so as to foster even more hatred and thus lead to more war because she lived for that. When you're the sole survivors, especially if you were peaceful and attacked without reason or worse betrayed by a perceived ally, well it can instill a hatred that can't be overcome. It doesn't justify actions future actions of revenge but it does explain them."

"That Esdeath woman sounds like a real piece of work." Asta said. "Who would deliberately do something like that?"

"You don't know the half of it with her and hopefully she's not been reborn here so you never have to meet her." Akame said. "Anyway, I get that kind of despair and you're not wrong in that Vetto probably was the one who despaired the most. I read his ki as well and your assessment is correct. I am certain that something happened, something unforgivable, and it turned him into that."

"So what can we do?" Asta asked. "About that?"

"We can't change the past, there is nothing we can do about what happened to Vetto and his people." Akame said. "But what we can do is learn from it so that we can change the future and ensure that it doesn't happen again. In my last life I tried by being an assassin first for the Empire thinking that I was doing good and then against them doing actual good albeit via murder."

"You, er, kinda still do that." Asta pointed out. "Only well…"

"Yes I know that I've not changed much but this is all that I'm really good at is killing." Akame said as Asta trailed off her voice dark and sad at the same time. "But the difference is that the Empire was beyond saving and had to be torn down because the rot had gotten in too deep but that's not the same for the Clover Kingdom. Yes there are problems here, bad ones when it comes to class, but thanks to people like the Wizard King we are on the right path and can avoid the mistakes of the past. There is a chance for change from within this time around, for me at least, so we should take it and that's where you come in."

"Me?" Asta asked.

"Yes you." Akame said and to Asta's surprise she gave him a small smile that reached her eyes showing that it was genuine and a flicker of hope burned in Akame's red eyes. "You're like Tatsumi, Asta, you're special. You make those around you better, lift them up and bring out the best in them when they thought that they couldn't do more than they were doing. Tatsumi did that for Night Raid and made us more than just murderers but he can't do that for the Black Bulls, at least not the way you can."

"He can't?" Asta asked surprised. "Why not?"

"Tatsumi and I come from a life of blood and death, it's all we know." Akame said sadness coming into her voice again as she looked down at her hands and the bandages on her forearms. "Against the Empire that was what we needed and Tatsumi truly shined but in this life and as Magic Knights, we aren't suited for that kind of change. At least not from within the system."

"What do you mean?" Asta asked. "You are changing things. Yes it's through murder and I can't say that I fully agree with it but there are results to it even if I wouldn't do it myself."

"And that's what makes you the best person to change this world." Akame said looking up again and meeting Asta's eyes. "I don't deny what I am and I know that you disagree with what Tatsumi and I do but we will continue to do our part and for once my skills are being put to actual good use for a Kingdom but what we need is a true force of good at the top and that's you Asta."

"You think that I can be that?" Asta asked.

"I do, I realized it back in Nean when you stopped me from killing Kurome again and seeing you fight Vetto to the end and how you analyzed him I know now for certain that you can be that." Akame said smiling again. "Follow your dream, become the Wizard King, and change the Clover Kingdom for the better. You've already started with the Black Bulls; you've turned this bunch of slackers, drunkards, misfits, and failures into a true Magic Knight Squad so I know that you can do it. Hopefully when you do Tatsumi and I can just be normal Magic Knights when we serve the 29th Wizard King but until then you have my support and my katana in ensuring that you reach your dream."

At that Akame turned and began to walk off, she'd said her peace to Asta and knew that he'd understand it when he had time to think on her words so it was time to leave and return to Tatsumi and get some food. It had been a long day and she could use something to eat, especially down here where she was sure she'd get to taste fish she'd never get to eat on the surface.

"Wait, what do you mean by that Akame?" Asta asked calling out to his senior as she walked away. "I will be the Wizard King, I made a promise when I was young and I will hold myself to it, and I thank you for your support and faith in that but I don't get the normal part."

"Asta, you know full well what Tatsumi and I do for the kingdom." Akame said stopping and turning back to him and he felt the seriousness in her ki and saw it in her eyes. "Hell you've seen it with your own eyes when Tatsumi carried out Venalia's execution so you know what we are."

"What you are?" Asta asked. "You're Magic Knights, you're my friends and squadmates, I know what you are."

"That we are but that's not all we are." Akame said. "We're nothing more than murderers who kill those who need to die to make the Kingdom better. We do this because we have to and can do so, not because we want to. When we die no one will remember our names, there will be no tales of our actions, we will die in obscurity our contributions not known but we're fine with that because this nation needs a leader, someone who can be that hero remembered for generations to come. That will be you Asta because you will become the Wizard King. You will change this Kingdom and make it what it should be. Then we can just be normal Magic Knights."

"I can't say that I agree with what you do, you know that, and if I do become the Wizard King I'm not sure that I can sanction such actions." Asta said. "But…"

"But nothing, we do what we have to but that doesn't mean that we like it." Akame said seriously cutting Asta off as she voiced her own personal views that she'd only ever spoken to Esdeath in their duel and Tatsumi in private after their reunion but Asta had a right to know them. "No one has a right to take another person's life. That's what I believe and that is the world that I want to see someday. I didn't in my last life but with people like you leading the way I know that I can in this one."

"Er…" Asta began seeing the contradiction in Akame's words.

"Yes, I know that that's hypocritical coming from an assassin with more blood on her hands than anyone in this Kingdom." Akame said. "I've long lost track of the number of lives that I've taken, and I don't hear their voices, but I have never had the right to do that. I am what I was made to be and I did what I had to, I don't regret the lives that I've saved by killing people or the people I've protected with my blade. I will always protect those dear to me and use my skills to make this world better but when you become the Wizard King I won't have to kill except in battle. Asta, follow your dream and then, when you become the Wizard King, you can make sure that there are no more Vettos created by this Kingdom."

With that Akame turned and walked off leaving Asta alone in the cavern with just Vetto's body and Nero who was still on the boulder for company. He'd never really discussed what Akame and Tatsumi did with either of them, nor it was something he could never truly understand, but it did give him a lot to think about. Both Yami and Akame's words had done so and so Asta would do just that as he walked away to find a place to think on everything as the Black Bulls time in the Underwater Temple neared its end.

"Well this is it." Yami said as he and the rest of the Black Bulls, all healed other than Asta's arms which were still in slings and dressed in their robes once more though Tatsumi was shirtless with bandages around his gut. "See ya."

It was the next morning and the Black Bulls were fully rested, fed, recovered, and ready to head back to the surface. After his little chat with Akame the day before, Asta had gone to the roof of the Underwater Temple and laid down on it to think on everything that he'd just discussed with her and his dream of becoming the Wizard King.

However, he knew that it wasn't just his dream, it was Yuno's as well and he was competing with Yuno for it and right now he felt like he was behind his rival. That would change and Asta swore that he'd get his arms healed up, continue to get stronger, and that he would be the Wizard King. He was motivated now more than ever to achieve his dream once the Black Bulls returned to the Clover Kingdom.

As for the rest of them, they'd enjoyed a delicious feast in their recovery room that had been provided by the Ocean Dwellers while said Ocean Dwellers kept cheering for them. Akame had returned during the feast and she and Charmy went all out with the new food while the others ate plenty on their own, and in Vanessa's case drank plenty as well, before going to bed to let the last of their magic recover.

Now it was morning, at least they thought that it was morning, and so it was time to leave this place. They'd gathered in front of the Underwater Temple, at the base of the stairs that led up to its entrance, and were greeted by the entire population of the Underwater Temple who'd come out to see them off hence Yami's rather brief goodbye.

"And thanks for everything." Asta added. "You patched us up when we needed it the most."

"It was the least that we could do after you saved our home." Gifso said as his son Gio waved at them while Kahono and Kiato stood to next to their father and behind their grandfather, the former with bandages around her neck and the latter on a crutch as they too had yet to be fully healed from Vetto's wounds though Kiato was keeping his foot magically preserved just in case it could be reattached. "Please come back whenever you want, you're always welcome here."

"Yeah come back, okay." One of the denizens said while Gio cried and complained about being the strongest mage in the Underwater Temple but never being able to show off his attacks. "We're expecting you, 'kay."

"Oh we will, especially with the good booze down here." Vanessa replied waving back before she looked to Charmy next to her. "Hey Charmy, how are the captured Midnight Sun minions holding up? Vetto's body is easy for you to transport but they rest of them are still alive minus the one that Akame and Tatsumi killed."

"Oh yeah what happened to that body?" Akame asked. "I didn't see it when I was looking around the Temple yesterday."

"It was taken out to be fed to the sharks and other creatures down here." Gifso said simply. "I suggested that your Captain take it as well but he refused so we made use of it to help out the local ecosystem."

"Vetto had some strange transformation and this sinister, unknown, magic, so an autopsy might yield some useful information, but the lackies clearly don't have anything special about them." Yami said. "The ones we captured alive though might be of some use once Mushroom Head uses his magic on them. The last two knew that there was a Magic Stone here and there's at least two still out there according to Julius so interrogating them makes sense."

"Well don't worry about the minions that we caught." Charmy said as she raised her hands to show that she had 4 small balls of cotton in her palms with the heads of the four captured minions poking out and yelling in their shrunken forms though what they were yelling couldn't be heard by any of them. "They're screaming a bunch but there's no way out of my cotton balls so they can't go anywhere. I'm not really worried about them."

"Damn that is some seriously strong Binding Magic that you've got there Charmy." Magna said. "I've got a good one and Tatsumi's drains magic unless they have more than he does and can overload it but that's something else."

"Plus Charmy can shrink them and thus transport several prisoners at once." Tatsumi said impressed as he'd never really seen Charmy use her binding spell, in fact he'd never seen her use it before and the only time it had been used recently was when she'd used it on herself to sneak into the Capital in Asta's hood so she could eat the banquet food there. "It's gotta be one of the top Binding Magic spells in the Magic Knights if I had to guess."

"Really?" Charmy asked as she looked at the cotton balls in her hands. "Huh, that never really crossed my mind as I've never really had a reason to use this spell until now."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Tatsumi said with a chuckle. "After the Wizard King sees that though, you might get some more mission requests Charmy. That cotton of yours has a lot of uses it seems."

"So long as it has food involved I'm down." Charmy said. "Or my Prince of Provisions."

"Who?" Tatsumi asked.

"Charmy's crush." Akame said. "I think he's in the Golden Dawn."

"Oh." Tatsumi said but before he could say anymore Asta spoke getting his attention even though he wasn't speaking to Tatsumi.

"Just keep at it, all right?" Asta asked and Tatsumi noted that he was talking to the High Priest's grandkids who he'd clearly gotten to know quite well while he'd been down here. "Don't give up on your dreams because there's gotta be a spell that can heal Kiato's leg and Kahono's throat. We've seen magic that can regrow a destroyed arm so there has to be something for you and I'll work hard as well and get my arms fixed up as well then we can all make our dreams come true."

"Yes, don't worry Asta I'll be dancing on this leg again in no time!" Kiato said lifting up his right leg where a prosthetic was currently attached which caused Asta and Noelle to smile and Kiato winked at Noelle though she didn't get why he did that. "You'll be amazed when you next see me, I know it."

"Asta, thank you." The voice was said to all of them in their heads and after some confusion from those who didn't know who it was it became clear that it was Kahono who was using her magic to talk and thank Asta. "I won't give up either. I will be a mainland idol! And Noelle, don't you give up either, it will take time but be patient and trust yourself."

"Alright let's get out of here." Yami said while Noelle completely missed that Kahono was referring to Asta and not something like controlling her magic. "Finral, make us a portal out of here."

"Yes sir, my magic is all restored and ready to go." Finral said his grimoire glowing and holding his hand out to the side so that a portal appeared in the air behind them. "One portal to Raquey ready to go."

"Good finally you're being useful." Gauche said turning to the portal as he was nearest it. "I can finally go and see my darling Marie and tell her about how I saved this place. She'll be so proud of me."

"Um, thank you all for everything." Grey said as she followed Gauche her hands over her face as she was remaining in her real form now though she was peaking out around her hands.

"See ya!" Vanessa said waving. "Let's get a drink sometime."

"Bye-bye, save some good fights for when I return." Luck added as Vanessa left. "I want a rematch with that Water Mage."

"Later guys!" Magna said waving as he followed Luck through the portal.

"Yeah, thanks for all the yummy food." Charmy said turning as and bowing to the Ocean Dwellers before she left after Magna. "It was delicious."

"Yes, truly a feast worth returning for." Akame said smiling as she followed Charmy. "If you need hunting let us know, I'm always down to get some new tasty fish and I will eat all that I hunt."

"Bye."

"Take care."

"Visit anytime."

"We'll have plenty of fresh seafood and booze when you do."

"You'll need it." Tatsumi said grinning as he waved goodbye at the Ocean Dwellers who were shouting their own goodbyes at the Black Bulls as they left. "I'm sure that we'll be back and as Finral's been here now it won't be too hard to return."

Yami just nodded and turned but as Tatsumi was about to walk through the portal after Akame he heard a faint sound. He turned back, as did Yami, and noticed that it was Kahono who despite her injured throat was seeing the Black Bulls off with one of her songs. It was a touching moment and swiftly her brother joined in the song to help her out and soon all of the Ocean Dwellers were singing their farewell to the Black Bulls as Gifso conducted them.

Those remaining smiled and Noelle even turned back having been about to leave with Asta after Tatsumi left and stepped forward to wave goodbye to her new friends. Tatsumi smiled at the gesture and noted that Kahono raised her hand and held up her pinkie to Noelle which she smiled at and nodded. It was a good sign and showed Tatsumi just how much Noelle had grown, no doubt thanks to Asta's influence, and gave him hope for the future of the Clover Kingdom.

Of course they had to make sure there was still a Clover Kingdom around for it to have a future that was better than the present and Tatsumi got the feeling that that might be a challenge after what the Black Bulls had just been through. However, as he walked through the portal back to Raquey and was followed by Asta, Noelle, and Yami he was ready for whatever was to come as they reported in this successful mission. Finally, with Finral bringing up the rear the portal closed behind them and officially ended the Black Bulls' mission to retrieve the Magic Stone from the Underwater Temple.

I think that that is a good place to end this chapter, mission, and arc on. A successful mission filled with growth, battles, and teamwork has come to a close with a victory for the Black Bulls. However, there is no time for rest because they have to report in and who knows what has been brewing back home while they've been away. Well y'all do and so that is going to come as we move into the next arc but for now that is all that I have for y'all so I will leave this chapter off here. That's all that I have for y'all, however, so I will leave this chapter off here. As always, if you like my story then please follow, favorite, review, PM, etc. it is all appreciated and helps me get better and stay motivated to keep producing more content and any questions asked I will do my best to answer both privately and at the start of the next chapter. Until next time.

Stringdog