Ryu was practicing his Imperial Arms seeming to sweat way more than he usually did, which was most of the time nothing. A month had passed as the poison had taken much longer to go away than he had ever expected.

Ryu: Ugh, that stuff messed me up pretty bad.

Tatsumi and Lubbock were doing push-ups with Akane and Leone on their backs.

Leone: Then maybe you should take it easy?

Ryu: Tits McGee, it's me for crying out loud. There's no way I'm gonna sit down and just watch training. Pic up the pace boys, or I might just put boulders on your backs instead of the girls.

Mine as well watched with Bulat in crutches.

Bulat: Gotta say hunky, you boys have got energy.

Tatsumi: Yeah well I realized that Incursio takes a toll on me. I am only go invisible for a second at best.

Najenda: Good, you're all here.

Leone: Boss!

She had on a large bag.

Najenda: I'm off to the revolutionaries main base. I'm thinking they'll need the two weapons we got from the three beast aside from the axe.

Sheele: Why's that?

Ryu: Funny enough a two days ago I gave it to Bro and surprise surprise, it was a perfect match.

Bulat: I'm pretty good with an axe too if I do say so myself! And Tatsumi has a great bond with Incursio. He may even surpass me soon.

Najenda: Akame, I'm leaving by you in charge. I want everyone to buckle down and train hard.

Akame: Ok, whatever.

Tatsumi: Hey, can you be serious?!!

Lubbock: Ah don't worry too much Akame always gets the job done anyway.

Najenda: I'll also try and recruit a few new members.

Ryu: I guess with Sheele and Bulat still recovering it makes sense. And I guess me but I still count as a few hundred of those trained soldiers weakened.

Lubbock: We get it, you're a force of nature.

Najenda lit a cigarette before she began walking off.

Najenda: Oh, and don't get any ideas about tackling Esdeath head on while your like this Ryu.

Ryu: -_- Shut up. I'm looking for a challenge, not my death.

TIME SKIP!!

In the Imperial City

Ryu and Tatsumi were walking towards a Cafe that had the sign night. Conveniently Lubbock was there as well wearing a butler uniform.

Ryu: Yo.

Lubbock: Come on in.

They all went inside and and Lubbock pushed a few books on a shelf revealing a secret passage.

Tatsumi: Woah. This really is like a secret base.

Lubbock: Yup, my pride and joy.

Ryu: Unless you built this thing yourself than don't ever say that.

Leone: HELLO~!!!! Welcome to our Imperial Secret Base!

Tatsumi: You're not being very secretive!

Ryu looked closer and saw a familiar face along with Bulat and Leone. Only that face came with white hair and blue eyes.

Ryu: ... Sheele?

Sheele: Uh huh, but in public now you've gotta call me Shelia. How do you like the new look?

Ryu: Hm, smart. Dyed your hair and switched your glasses for contact... Did you just say Shelia?

Sheele: Yeah, why?

Ryu: Nothing just... For some reason I feel nostalgia.

Shojo: The Kaiser in you is dancing for joy.

Bulat: What about me Ryu?

He looked at Bulat and finally noticed his hair was tied in a ponytail, and was a dark shade of green.

Ryu: ... You sure a ponytail was the move?

Leone: Told ya!

Lubbock: Anyway they've got a poster of Mine now. So only you Tatsumi Sheele and Leone can go out.

Bulat: ... So I guess that means-

Ryu: Dye your fucking hair to a lighter shade B.

Bulat: Now who told who Leone?

Ryu: Yeah plus the Jaegers are being talked about. *Sigh* I know what the boss said but I'm kinda itching to tear some heads off already.

He opened his fist revealing his white flame.

Ryu: I'm fire and she's ice. I've got literally an infinite amount more in my bag of tricks than she does, there's no way she could beat me even when I only get to 25%.

Tatsumi: Ah- put that away! It's super hot!

He noticed they were all sweating from just the intense fireball.

Ryu: Oh, my bad.

He dispersed the flames before laying down on a couch. That's when Leone looked over Ryu who opened an eye.

Ryu: Something you need Tits McGee?

Leone giggled as she had a mischievous grin.

Leone: I think you know what I want.

Ryu: -_- If it'll get you off my back for a bit then fine.

Without any warning he kissed Leone in the lips making her blush. Everyone else's mouthes were open wide as he pulled back from Leone laying his head back closing his eyes.

Lubbock: I HATE THE FACT THIS GUY DOESN'T EVEN TRY!!!!

TIME SKIP!!

At a Battle Arena

Ryu and Tatsumi had gone to a tournament to one: Win money, and two: Finally see what Esdeath even looked like. Ryu was currently in a fight as he won with little effort in one punch.

Ryu: -_-

Lubbock: He seems bored.

Leone: He really is, but that frown is gonna turn upside down in a sec. Or at least straighten out.

Ref: And for that last match we have Ryu and Hunter vs Tatsumi the Blacksmith!

Ryu cracked his neck seemingly a little less bored.

Ryu: Try to last longer than our usual spars alright Tatsumi? *Yawn* I need something to wake me up this morning.

Tatsumi: Fine, but I'm gonna have to get serious real fast since it's you.

The teen charged at Ryu throwing fast and precise punches an kicks. Although still not fully recovered, Ryu was easily avoiding and redirecting the attacks. A few moments later and he finally seemed to be trying.

Ryu: 'Maybe the poison wasn't so bad after all. This way Tatsumi's giving me just a tiny challenge.'

Tatsumi was about to land a blow on Ryu's face but I a burst of speed he was gone.

Tatsumi: Wha?

Ryu: Still not enough to beat me though.

Ryu chopped Tatsumi on the neck knocking him out cold.

Ref: And that's the fight. Ryu wins!

The crowd cheated for him as Ryu seemed to be slightly surprised.

Ryu: *Sigh* It's been a while since I've heard cheers like this for me.

Unknowingly he a small but genuine smile appeared on his face catching the eye of a woman with blue hair up above the stands.

???: He's the one.

???2: He's our Imperial Arms Candidate?

???: No yes that, but that's not all.

The woman walked down into the ring as Ryu saw this as he slung Tatsumi over his shoulder.

Ryu: 'So that's her huh? I can definitely feel a lot of crazy AND evil in her, more than me. And that is saying something.

ESDEATH!!

Esdeath: Ryu, is that right? That name means Dragon correct?

Ryu: Yeah, it does. 'She seriously seems like kind of a weakling compared to me.'

Esdeath: You put on quite an impressive show. Now for your reward.

Ryu: Y~up. 'Cash is cash.'

His thought process was interrupted as he felt a collar with a steel chain be put in his neck.

Ryu: ... Heh?

Esdeath: Starting today you'll be mine and mine alone.

Ryu: ... I have several fucking-

Esdeath began to walk dragging him as he stood up still processing what was going on.

Esdeath: Let's go somewhere we can be alone, there's too many people around.

Ryu: Ok now I know that-

She pulled him forward and hit him on the back of the neck. Ryu not expecting this was blacking out.

Ryu: 'Sh-Shit... Either I'm weaker than I thought I'd be... Or this Esdeath chick is the real deal.'

He blacked out as she grabbed him. In the stands Leone and Lubbock were slack jawed before the formers rage began to seethe.

Leone: Did she just fucking take Ryu away from me- I mean us?!!

Lubbock: Leone, not here, cause if we do fight we're gonna lose! We just have to get Tatsumi, and hope that Ryu recovers so he can get back to us.

TIME SKIP!!

.....

Ryu: HRAGH!!!!

Ryu shot up with an explosion of flames occurring.

Ryu: Alright that was a fucking cheap shot and you know damn well it was!!

He looked out not only to find Esdeath but 6 others.

Esdeath: Oh, Ryu, you're awake. I could've sworn you'd be out for at least an hour but it was only 10 minutes.

Ryu said nothing as a scorching white fireball with Esdeath's name was on it.

Ryu: I don't particularly like my neck being touched but having it hit is a line that I try not to let anyone cross.

Esdeath: Flames? Could that be an Imperial Arms you have?

Ryu: -_- What else could it possibly be oh powerful Empress of Ice?

Seryu: Watch you how speak to General Esdeath you-

Ryu sent a death glare at Seryu immediately scaring her and shutting her up.

Ryu: Yeah I thought so.

Esdeath: Now now, there's no need for a fight to break out.

She held her own hand out as ice went towards Ryu's flame. Both elements canceled each other out surprising Esdeath the most.

Esdeath: My, I thought my Ice would have been cold enough to completely extinguish those flames without melting.

Ryu: Ok, just start it from the top, and explain why I'm here.

Esdeath: Yes. You see Ryu, I've taken quite a liking to you. As such, you will become mine, as well as a general of the Imperial Army trained by me.

Ryu: -_- I don't exactly need training to be stronger than weaklings.

TIME SKIP!!

Ryu: Why did I let myself come here?

Ryu was sitting beside Esdeath as the Jaegers where in front of a fort ready to take everyone in down.

Esdeath: You are part of the Jaeger reserves, just you watch and learn for future reference.

Ryu: I'm pretty sure I already said how they're a bunch of weaklings before.

His annoyance was not stopped at all as he felt the urge to kill every one of them but knew he couldn't in his weakened state.

Ryu: 'Shojo, how long until I'm strong enough to use Wolf Emperor state?'

Shojo: A few more days give or take.

He felt Esdeath's hand on his seeing her blush.

Ryu: -_- I feel like you don't exactly get fire and ice don't mix.

He said this casually as the Jaegers were brutally killing the opponents.

Esdeath: Ryu, are you nearly as powerful as you claim?

He stood up holding his hand out to a mountain. That's when flames covered his hand as a large fireball went towards the mountain as an explosion disintegrated it.

Ryu: That's when I can only use up to half my strength. Once a little poison's affect has finally stopped in my body I could do that to the entire kingdom if I felt like it.

Esdeath seemed mesmerized.

Esdeath: Amazing.

Ryu: I've killed plenty without the help of any powers so yeah. You seem a lot less crazy than the roomers made you out to be.

Esdeath: Yes. To be honest I haven't been myself lately. I've started to experience love, and well, it feels good.

Ryu: Uh huh. '-_- Not nearly as crazy as I thought at first, but she's definitely still a crazy.'

CHAPTER END!!