---Night Raid's hideout---
"Does that mean that the one I have met before was this man named Akashi?" Sheele asked Najenda while tilting her head.
"Yes, *sigh* I really want to have a talk with him. We aren't enemies but neither we are allies. The relationship between our organization is extremely fragile, the only thing that probably is stopping him from making enemies out of us is Akame and maybe even me but I doubt that since my relationship with him is more of an acquaintance rather than a friend. Hell, he even has a better relationship with Esdeath than me, which is the thing that troubles me the most." Najenda confirmed it with a small nod before she started saying this with a serious expression.
"...I think that Kurome wouldn't mind it that much if he decided to go against us." Akame added while shaking her head with a bitter expression.
"How can you say that? Isn't she your sister? Even if you two had your bad moments, she still definitely loves you." Lubbock exclaimed with a slightly surprised expression.
"I know she does, although sometimes even I don't believe it myself however that's not the point. She would definitely be sad but I believe she would follow Akashi...I have seen those two, how they look at each other..." Akame explained.
"Does that mean your sister and him...?" Lubbock asked with an uncertain expression.
"No, even I was able to see it. It's clear as day but you haven't met them personally so I don't really blame you for thinking like that after hearing Akame phrasing it like that. They both love each other but...simply said there is no lust between them if you understand." Green corrected Lubbock.
"So like siblings? I see..." Lubbock muttered with a thoughtful expression while holding his chin.
"Anyway, Sayo was your name, right? Can you tell me anything about Akashi that we might not know? It doesn't matter how stupid it might even sound, just say what you can think of." Najenda turned back at Sayo after getting distracted for a moment.
'Well, he didn't say anything important or serious...As long as I don't talk about layout of his mansion, I think it is alright.' Sayo thought before she decided to speak out.
"Um, we haven't really talked that much but during the time he treated my injuries, we talked a little bit. As any curious woman, I have asked about his romance life since his...fiancee just died. But that wasn't before I asked why she was even his fiancee, to begin with. It is apparently widely known in the Capital that it was "political" marriage so I also asked if he thinks if they might try to force any other marriage onto him." Sayo began retelling what happened with a thinking expression and folded arms.
'Most of the things I already know but hearing it from her perspective is still good. I doubt they will try to force anything since he is already someone too strong. The same way as none would dare to force marriage onto Esdeath. Wait! ?! No, no, no! I hope I worry unnecessarily about this.' Najenda thought with a calm expression while occasionally nodding her head but then she thought of something concerning Esdeath and Akashi and her expression immediately became shocked.
"P-Please continue. Is he perhaps interested in anyone?" Najenda asked with an unnatural tone and everyone noticed it as they looked strangely at her however she was simply misunderstood here.
'?! Is she interested in him?! NOOO!!' Lubbock who heard her words froze in place and in a few seconds he kneeled down with tears in his eyes, making everyone look even more strangely at him.
"Eh...He said that there is someone he is interested in and their relationship is apparently also very good. I think they are already secretly in a relationship because his expression immediately softened when I asked him that question..." Sayo answered with an uncomfortable expression when she noticed how intensively Najenda was staring at her.
"And who is it? Did he say anything that would indicate who could it be?" Najenda asked hurriedly while unconsciously nearing Sayo. By this time, everyone was already startled by her actions but Lubbock on the other hand started already crying.
"Um..."
'How the hell should I know?! How many women exist in this world anyway?!' Sayo thought, slightly irritated by Najenda's endless questioning that felt more like an interrogation.
"He said that it was a bit complicated, that is, her status is complicated." Sayo said, resolving herself to refuse in case Najenda asked for more information.
'complicated status...?'
"*Sigh* haha, it isn't Esdeath. My worries were for nothing, haha" Najenda sighed in relief before she started laughing like a madwoman.
"Huh?" Everyone looked at her with a surprised expression except for Tatsumi and his friends who had no idea who Esdeath is. Only now everyone understood that they just misunderstood Najenda.
After that, Najenda explained everything about their goals to Sayo and Ieyasu since Tatsumi already knew. At first, they hesitated to join in, especially Sayo and Ieyasu after experiencing something like that but Najenda took out some older cases of something similar happening and even much worse things which made even regular members of Night Raid narrow their eyes in complete disgust. It wasn't a surprise when the trio who weren't accustomed to such things had horrified expression on their faces.
"Such things...how is it even allowed?" Tatsumi muttered with a horrified expression.
"It isn't, at least on the surface but everyone knows that as long as they don't do anything in front of thousands of people, they will do just fine with some money to keep others silent." Najenda explained.
"This...How are we even supposed to earn money for our village in a place like this?!" Tatsumi raised his voice in frustration while clenching his fist while gritting his teeth.
"Tatsumi..." Sayo muttered and both her and Ieyasu put their hand on Tatsumi's shoulders.
After a thorough discussion, they decided to work for Night Raid since it seems to be the best course of action if they don't want to break their morals. Working for Akashi also crossed Sayo and Ieyasu's minds but they remembered his words that he has nothing to do with them anymore. They weren't even sure about his morals so they decided to follow Tatsumi who wanted to join group of assassins.
And that's how their tough training started although they also performed odd jobs like cooking. Not like Sayo minded it since she was accustomed to it, however, the same couldn't be said for the boys who constantly complained about it just to be "threatened" to be "educated" by Bulat himself. Ever since then, they were happily peeling potatoes every day with a cheerful expression.
---Back to Akashi---
The next morning, he got the report by Seryu saying that Aria's mother was found guilty of many crimes and her whole family did many other things but since none of them were alive, all of that fell on her shoulders. "Somehow", this incident and their crimes also got known to the public so, despite her noble status, it was decided that she will go on the guillotine as her sentence.
Seryu also mentioned if Akashi wanted to say some parting words to her, he has time until the evening. The next day, in the morning, would be her last time seeing the sun.
For appearance sake, Akashi went to say his "parting words" and as he expected, she instantly began begging him on her knees to save her. As far as to go touching him on his private parts but he kept his cool instead of slapping the shit out of her, he apologized to her with a "sad" expression that he can't do anything before leaving her in the Imperial Police's hands.
'That's one problem less...' Akashi thought with a cold eyes when he arrived back at his mansion. He was currently outside in the garden where he saw a few kids training under Ichika's supervision. All of them were making great progress and most importantly, all of them were hardworking. Seeing that there is no need to disturb them, he just smiled while looking at them before he left to find Kurome.
He found her behind the mansion on the training grounds that were well isolated from the public's eye.
He waited for her to complete her training without interrupting her.
From what he saw, Kurome was already able to shoot small thunderbolts from the tip of her sword, she was also able to coat her blade in the lighting. However, she was still struggling a bit with controlling its power but that wasn't surprising at all, after all, it was a weapon on Teigu's level and she obtained it just a few days ago.
"You are making a good progress" Akashi praised her with a smile when she stopped training on the special dummies crafted from tough Danger Beast's materials.
"Not good enough..." Kurome replied with a slightly sad smile while shaking her head, denying his praise.
"Don't be so hard on yourself...Is this because of your sister?" Akashi asked with a more serious expression.
"...*sigh* She grew strong in the past weeks so quickly. She improved so much despite having that strong weapon that can kill anyone with only one scratch." Kurome admitted with a frown while looking down at the ground.
'It's not like you are weaker than her...but I guess that's not what bothers her. Still, I must admit that Akame improved a lot ever since she joined Night Raid. Being among the fellow Teigu users has its benefits, it seems.' Akashi thought while looking at Kurome.
"It just shows that both of you are sisters. She didn't stop improving after obtaining a really strong weapon. You on the other hand worked extremely hard even when you had no weapon at all and now that you have a weapon on par with Teigu, you are working twice as much harder. Mastering new Teigu isn't easy feat especially when it involves controlling the combination of 2 nature's elements" Akashi said with a small smile while patting her shoulder.
"I guess you are right." Kurome smiled back but it was apparent that she was still slightly bothered by it.
"You know what...You need a real opponent, someone to push you forward and past your limits." Akashi said while drawing his sword with a wide smile across his face.
"A-Akashi Nii-sama?!" Kurome exclaimed with a bit uneasy tone when she noticed him drawing out his sword.
"Look out!" Akashi shouted and slashed down his sword at Kurome's shoulder and she immediately reacted by jumping back away from him.
"Thank you, I truly appreciate that you want to help me with my training!" Kurome said with a happy smile while readying her weapon in both hands.
"Hm? You got it wrong, this is not a practice..." Akashi rested his sword on his shoulder and said.
"No...? " Kurome muttered while raising her eyebrow in confusion.
"No, this is a real battle and if I will win, there is a need to be punishment. Of course, I won't kill you but it must be something on an equal level. How about the entire afternoon of tickling?" Akashi replied with a wide smile, maybe even slightly sadistic smile.
"?! I-I don't think there is any ne-" Kurome's eyes opened wide in horror and she took a step back while saying with a forced smile and closed eyes but before she could finish...
"Nonsense!" Akashi shouted with a smile and already kicked off the ground, rushing towards Kurome who was forced to get into her defensive position.