(A/N: "IDK why but this song just feels like it would play during the fight below)

After killing his 15th General, Dairoku was making his way into the forest, where'd he meet up with his Vampiric girlfriend. Though as he walked through a more vacant area of the Capital with his cloak up, he stopped in front of a particular shop. It seemed quite fancy and expensive but saw what they were selling; Jewelry.

Athena: "Oh? Planning something big, Master?"

Dairoku: "You could say that. I brought my wallet, right?"

Athena: "Yup. And you have more than enough for your plan thanks to the earnings from your Assassinations."

Dairoku: "Good. Let's do this then." He entered the store, his face displaying a determined expression.

CHAPTER 55: KILL THE PAST

Leaning against an oak tree within the forest surrounding the Capital was Dairoku, twirling a fire dagger within his hand and his left golden clock eye ticking before stopping. With the help of Chelsea, he had managed to kill 15 Generals. He had told Chelsea to return to base while he waited for Akame. It was strange... Akame never took this long on a mission, which rose his concerns and suspicions. However, hearing metallic footsteps approaching him caused he glanced to his side and saw glowing mechanical blue eyes getting closer before they vanished, being replaced by two familiar organic red eyes that glowed in the dark; it was his Vampiress. Making his Fire Dagger vanish, he turned to face her.

Dairoku: "How'd it go? You took way longer than normal." The response he got was his girlfriend lunging into his chest, burying her face into him. "Hey.. Are you alright..?" He received no response but the feeling of his shirt getting wet was enough. "You were talking to someone about Kurome.. Weren't you..?"

A simple nod was all he received, causing him to look up through the trees and to the sky. He wrapped his arms around her, sliding down on the tree with Akame following him. He knew she had to vent some of her emotions so they'd stay like this for a few more minutes before she was ready to head back..

Meanwhile in the Capital, Wave with his Grand Chariot armor deactivating, returned to the Palace where a worried Kurome was waiting for him.

Kurome: "Wave!" He slightly looked up at her.

Wave: "Kurome..."

Kurome: "They've penetrated the Palace's Defenses.. Apparently it was some survivors from the Northern Tribe."

Wave went into deep thought at that, however, Kurome noticed how Wave has been acting a bit awkwardly around her which rose her suspicions. Truthfully, after all Akame told him, Wave had a difficult time looking Kurome in the eye. So you know what she does? Grab hold of his shirt and rip it off of him, leaving his chest bare.

Wave: "H-Hey! What the heck are you doing!?" He covered his chest with a blush.

Kurome: "Some of them have weapons coated in Poison. So you need to keep a watchful eye about even getting scratched or grazed by one.."

Wave: "Well I do have Grand Chariot, so I should be fine.." It seemed that slipped past Kurome as she looked a bit sheepishly surprised.

Kurome: "Ah! I guess so, don't you?" Soon the two entered a slightly awkward silence as Kurome was staring at the male's well built chest. Getting mesmerized by it, she slowly ran her hands along him, a small blush appearing on her face. "Wow... you're way more ripped than I thought.."

Wave: "W-Well I was born by the sea, so I have a swimmer's body." Trying to break the awkward tension in the room, Wave decided to speak up again. "Hey, Kurome... The deciding battle is just around the corner.. But I suppose even now, fighting Akame is at the top of your priority list?" Kurome smiled at that, but much to his dismay, it slowly became a warped one.

Kurome: "Of course! I want to kill big sis myself before she gets killed by anyone else. But if I were to lose and get killed by sis too, then I'm okay with that. Either way, after that, we'll be together forever... so I wanna fight her as soon as I can." To her confusion, Wave facepalmed at that statement. "Wave...?"

Wave's thoughts: "She's talking batshit crazy too... I can't let these sisters meet... There must be something I can do..!"

Unknown to them, listening behind the corner was Lauren and Artemis who had concealed their auras to stay hidden. The Golden Dragon Empress looked at her partner, who's straight facial expression said it all.

This HAD to stop. Otherwise, it would be Kuraime and Akaruime all over again.

>>Meanwhile<<

Back with Night Raid, after they had returned, Akame was still a bit emotional stressed from her talk with Wave concerning her sister. Leone offered a massage to help release that stress, to which the Vampiress agreed to. However she was confused to see Dairoku glare at Leone, who stuck her tongue out in smugness.

Currently, Akame lied on the floor of the lounge in her training bra and short shorts, with Leone over her, pressing her palms against the female's back. Dairoku was sitting down next to Najenda, his arms crossed with his eyes closed and Mira with a book in her hand as she sat in her wheelchair. Levi and Chelsea were sitting on another couch.

Najenda: "You even took down General Nouken? I'm grateful."

Akame: "I tried to call Kurome out, but I failed. I'm sorry." She said in a tone of slight sorrow while Dairoku looked at her, frowning.

Najenda: "Regardless, I'd like to thank you for trying to take Kurome down. Your pursuer may have gotten away, but at this point avoiding targets not on our hit list is probably the prudent course of action. We don't want you needlessly getting injured. We've gotten plenty of results already, which means there will be ultimately less victims." Akame said nothing to this, her somber expression still present. "I wish I could properly express these feelings of gratitude..."

Leone: "Well then, how about doing so with a nice sensual, erotic massage~?" She grinned playfully with Dairoku and Akame raising their eyebrows in confusion.

Akame and Dairoku: "Erotic...?" Athena appeared and grinned smugly.

Athena: "Oh I know where this is going." She said as Levi and Chelsea was giggling Mira also looked confused before blushing a bit.

Mira: "W-Wait!" It was too late as Leone slid her hands down and squeezed Akame's rear end, causing a strong blush of embarrassment to form on the Vampiress' face as she swatted her hands away.

Akame: "H-Hey! Y-You don't need to really do that Leone!"

Leone: "Ooo~ Has it gotten bigger and more plump since becoming a Vampire~? How sexy~ I can see why you and Dairoku were feeling horny this evening~"

Akame: "L-Leone!!"

Dairoku: "Leone...?". His voice sounded, sending a chill down everyone's spine, other than Leone herself who only turned to look at him smugly.

Leone: "Yes Dai-Kun~? Gah!!" She was quickly met with a fiery fist to her face, sending her crashing right through a wall. She groaned and stood up, seeing Akame hiding behind Dairoku, who's red eye was glowing darkly.

Dairoku: "How many times do I have to bloody say this... AKAME'S ASS IS MINE AND MINE ALONE! GOT THAT!?" the room briefly went silent before Leone, Athena and Levi burst out in laughter, with Akame blushing quite heavily.

Levi: "HE SAID IT AGAIN!! AHAHA!"

Athena: "That's my Partner alright." Realizing what he said, a blush formed on Dairoku's face as he stuttered before clenching his fists and looking away.

Dairoku: "I-I mean... Whatever! Just keep your fucking hands off!"

Leone: "Fine, fine~ How about I give you that erotic Massage, Dai-Kun~?"

Dairoku: F-First of all, why the hell do you of all people keep calling me that-" He was cut off as Akame suddenly hugged his side, getting fiercely protective and possessive over him as she glared at Leone.

Akame: "Mine and mine alone!" She said, hissing at the end like a Vampire would, causing the others in the room to sweat drop a bit at that.

Chelsea: "Woah..."

Najenda: "Okay then... Anyways how are you feeling now, Akame?" She female smiled normally and opened and closed her hand.

Akame: "Great. It's like the stress got pulled right out of my body. Now I can get back to fighting at full power." The silver-haired female smiled and nodded at her.

Dairoku: "Najenda.." He glanced over to her and managed to get out of Akame's death grip. "With all the assassinations we've been performing, the Empire's not gonna sit by and just watch everything crumble."

Najenda: "You mean Retribution..."

(A/N: "Roll Credits!!" *EERRRRKKKK* "What!? That's not what the book's called?? Oh... shiiiiiitttttt...")

Dairoku: "Precisely. Directly or indirectly, we should expect an attempts on all of our lives around this time period."

Akame: "You mean The Dark Squad... don't you..?"

Dairoku: "The Empire's last major assassination squadron.."

Later the night, Akame, Leone, Dairoku, Levi and Najenda stood out a bit away from the Hide Out. This nights assassination objective was to eliminate The Empire's Dark Squad.

Akame: "Being out late tonight is going to be dangerous. Let's handle this quickly. Dai and I will be your escorts."

Leone: "Tatsumi and the others are exhausted and sleeping pretty... so I'll go this time. My sense of smell will become in handy for this assignment anyways."

Levi: "All of this spying and stealth is getting boring. I wanna have some action now." She said with a small grin as she rolled her shoulders. Akame smiled back at them.

Akame: "Thanks. We owe you one."

Najenda: "You'll both be fighting against your former comrades.. but remember, you're not expendable."

Dairoku: "Oh we know; all the more reason for we to get this done. This will be quick and painless." He gave her a thumbs up as Akame smiled at them and gripped Ketsuekime.

Akame: "This is the lives we have chosen..."

Dairoku: "And we plan to live it to the fullest."

>>Later<<

Walking through a dark alley in the Capital was Kurome, her light gray coat on with the hood over her head. She was approaching a platoon of masked people, wearing clothing that were exactly colored and styled like her own; This was the Empire's Dark Squad. Taking her hood off, she revealed herself to them with a bright smile and they immediately recognized her.

Dark Squad Member 1: "Kurome..!"

Kurome: "It's been a long time, everyone!"

Dark Squad Member 2: "Yeah, it's been forever! Are things going well with the Jaegers?" They crowed around her, with some patting her head, causing her to laugh in joy before she began telling them about her experiences with the other Jaegers.

Dark Squad Member 1: "Hmm..? There's less of you now...? And Akaruime... died..?" Kurome somberly nodded her head as she gripped Himitsume tighter. Akaruime was also a member of the Dark Squad, alongside Kurome before joining the Jaegers. Despite her outfit being different, the Dark Squad was like another family.. like the one that she lost.

Dark Squad Member 2: "Hey, Akaruime's sacrifice will not be in vein! We'll avenge her!"

Kurome: "Yeah.." She looked down at Himitsume, its dark green aura consuming her as her pupils glowed a dark green. "We definitely will. Right, Hima?" Hima was the nickname Kurome gave Himitsume, like how everyone referred to Ketsuekime as Ketsu.

Dark Squad Member 3: "Mine and Cena and Rico... They had grown weak, so they were disposed of. Joe went through the inspections as well, and we're pretty sure he didn't make it."

Kurome: "I see... That's something I'd never want... to be disposed of..."

Dark Squad Member 2: "And then including those that died in the course of duty... This is what we're left with. Are you holding up physically, Kurome?" She looked a bit surprised but smiled brightly at them.

Kurome: "Yup! For now, at least."

Dark Squad Member 1: "Phew! That's a relief!"

Dark Squad Member 2: "If this goes to war, the Empire's gonna win for sure!! We're gonna give it our all!!"

Kurome: "Yeah.. Commander General Esdeath definitely has something up her sleeve. After seeing what she has in store, there's no way we can lose."

Dark Squad Member 1: "Ooo, how exciting! She's finally able to fly in the air isn't she? I wonder what she'll do next?"

Kurome: "By the way, Kylie is leading you guys now, right?"

???: "That's right, Kurome-Cchi. It's been a while!"

The ravenette turned around upon hearing the voice, only for her eyes to widen in disbelief. Standing there was a male who wore a similar outfit to her, it being primarily black with red gauntlets and side skirts that held dual blades. His face however, seemed that of a middle-aged man.

Kurome: "Wha! The side effects of the drugs are really beginning to show..."

Kylie: "It's nothing compared to the bad effect they have on my mood.. probably from all of the changes they're causing in my hormones. I mean, I'm still a teenager for crying out loud! Ah well.. I'm still able to fight, so I guess I can't really complain about what basically amounts to luxuries... right?" Kurome's expression changed and she nodded.

"Anyways! Our mission today is to assassinate key figures in the Rebel Army's Encampment! We've tried gathering intel in the area many times before, but that's proven to be tricky on their watch! This is S Rank difficulty here! Even so, I'm ordering you to go ahead and force the matter if necessary! There will be sacrifices made! Lives will be lost! Be that as it may, know that we WILL get Vengeance for our fallen all of the same, for our dear Akaruime who's fallen in battle! Just the way it should be!! We'll hit them so hard, they'll think they're cattle in a slaughterhouse!!!"

Dark Squad Member 2: "Ooh! Sounds like a job right up our alley!"

Dark Squad Member 1: "But... Akame might be there... and the Death's Harbinger.."

Kylie: "In that case, if you see either of them, take their heads. That is all. Besides I never cared much for those Eight that were choosing for the Elite Force anyways! As a result of being chosen for that group, most of them perished. Any remaining survivors of that group have no place in the Imperial Army!!" Hearing that caused Kurome to frown as she was very good friends with the ones from that group, especially with Dairoku and Kuraime, the latter recently perished as well. "So you can kill Akame without prejudice! And avoid Murasame at all cost! Its attack power is something you will not live to tell about!!"

Kurome: "W-Wait, Murasame was destroyed by Commander General Esdeath. Big sis is using Kuraime-Neesan's Zodiac, Ketsuekime now." The others looked surprised while Kylie just scoffed.

Kylie: "Hmph, so that emo bitch also fell in battle. How pathetic." Kurome flinched at the harsh tone he used when describing her. "Anyways, the same applies for that dreaded Scythe, Ketsuekime. Avoid it at all costs! As for Death's Harbinger, showing his head to the Revolutionary Army will break them! They'll crumble under the thought of their Trump Card falling in battle! Now then, commence the drug doping!!"

(A/N: "Did I mention I was never a big fan of this guy?")

Following his orders, the Dark Squad along with Kurome began to eat their strength enhancing drugs.

Kylie: "Divide your forces between the east and west before infiltrating!! This way even if half of your fail, the other half will still get through!!" They began to move forwards, with Kylie at the front and Kurome around the rear. The male glanced back at her with a smile. "Hey, Kurome-Cchi! After this mission is over, why don't you come stay at our place for the night? Your popularity hasn't waned a bit, there are tons of people that want to talk to you!"

Kurome: *smiles* "...Sure."

Later, the half of the Dark Squad that was lead by Kylie was dashing though the forests, while the other half was lead by Kurome. As they neared a rock formation, Kylie noticed two figures standing on top of it and came to a halt.

Kylie: "Stop, someone's there!!" It was the two red-eyed Vampires, Akame and Dairoku. Akame had Ajax's armor on without the helmet, so her pupils were glowing a dark purple while Dairoku had on Barbatos' armor, without the helmet, his left golden eye's clock beginning to tick. Kylie however, seemed to have only noticed Akame. "So... she's predicted our route... Akame-Cchi. You're laying in an ambush for us... by yourself?"

Dairoku's eye twitched in anger as he glared at him.

Athena: "Oof, either his eye sight is that of a bat's or he's just being a bitch."

Dairoku: "Most likely the latter.."

Akame's thoughts: "Kurome must be headed towards Leone and Levi's side then..." *out loud* "If we tried to ambush you with a large number, you would have spotted us... By the way, you... Don't tell me you're... Kylie..?" He only grinned.

Kylie: "Correct. I've gone through some trials and tribulations.. That cost me my girlish looks. All thanks to a certain someone abandoning us, that is~"

Dairoku: "Kylie... *realizes* no wonder I've been getting the smell of a bitch from you." Kylie finally turned to look at him and glared at him.

Kylie: "You... Dairoku!? The rumors are true!? Tch.. no matter. I heard what happened to Kuraime. Truly a shame for her to fall in such a pathetic manor.. Well, she was gonna die anyways. I say good riddance to that bitch." He shrugged in a non caring manor while Dairoku's eyes glowed dangerously as Yoake pulsed a threatening aura.

Dairoku: "Say that again... I fucking dare you.." Before he could do anything, Akame quickly placed her hand on his shoulder.

Akame: "Enough!". He voice boomed with anger being present.  "Kylie, I will not allow you to get away with slandering my deceased best friend's name in such away. And trying to lay a guilt trip on us is useless. We did what needed to be done. Reinforcement will be arriving shortly. You should pull back before they find you."

Dairoku: "No scrap that. Let him run his ego and fight us. I've always wanted to knock the teeth out of a middle aged first class bitch anyways."

Kylie: "You should hold your tongue, Dairoku. We've got our own reasons for being here, so we're going to have to push through.. by force if need be."

Dairoku: "Then we happily welcome you to try." He said, converting Yoake to scythe form as Barbatos' helmet appeared on his head. *telepathically* "I know this will be difficult for the two of us... but we have to push forwards. Bury your emotions, and let's do this. For Kuraime and our other fallen friends..."

The Vampiress glanced at him, looking through his mechanical red eyes with a look of slight hesitance but her resolve quickly returned from hearing his voice. Soon after she recalled her past, where Gozuki spoke to her about activating her Kill Mode with a catch phrase and then when Dairoku himself, gave her, her signature catch phrase, causing her to nod as her helmet appeared on her head.

Akame telepathically: "Right.. Let's Bury them, together."

Akame (Ajax): "Take one more step, and we'll eliminate you!!"

Dairoku (Barbatos): "Yoake wishes to taste your blood. Say your prayers as I've lost all form of mercy for you!"

The Dark Squad before them seemed startled at their words while Kylie didn't seem fazed. His eyes only narrowed.

Kylie's thoughts: "There's no hesitation in either of their voices... I've got no chose but to pull out all the stops..." *out loud* "Super Strength pill."

He took out another one of his drugs and consumed it. Upon doing so, he gagged a bit and hunched forwards, causing the others to look at him in concern while Akame and Dairoku just coldly stared at him through their helmets. Soon, he looked up, his eyes widened and crazed and blood dripping down the corner of his mouth.

Kylie: "Erase Them. The targets are Akame and Dairoku!"

Dark Squad Member 1: "You fucking traitors!!!"

Dark Squad Member 2: "We'll kill you!!!" Akame gritted her teeth under her helmet at those words.

Dairoku (Barbatos): "Ignore them! I'll make a clearing. Go kill that fucker!"

Akame (Ajax): "..Right!" With their plan, the two armored vampires leaped into the air, with Akame pressing her feet against Yoake's scythe shaft before Dairoku pushed with his might, sending her blitzing down towards the Dark Squad. "Eliminate!"

She yelled with all her might, slashing through the two members that were charging up the rock formation towards them. Some were about to unleash their arrows upon them, before Dairoku appeared in front of them and with one swift swing of Yoake, decapitated them.

"BOOST!"

He then bursts forwards, blood red thrusts jetting out of his armor's thrusters as he twirled Yoake around like a buzz saw, destroying all of the arrows that were unleashed before he got up close and swung Yoake, violently clashing against them before slashing them in half.

"BOOST!"

More charged him with their weapons in hand before one of them thrust a spear forwards, aiming for his head. Dairoku narrowly ducked under it, with it barely missing his eyes before he spun around while being slightly over the ground, slashing them all around him with Yoake.

"BOOST!"

He growled, hearing the sounds of arrows launching towards him. He slashed them apart before he dashed around, letting out a yell.

"Change Star Sonic! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!!!"

His armor purged and became slimmer, entering the Promotional Knight state as he boosted around at high speeds, before kicking off a tall rock formation, with Yoake becoming engulfed and blood red flames before he slammed down on the ground, creating a large shockwave and burst of flames that incinerated all of the Dark Squad Members around him.

Soon after, arrows bounced off of his armor which returned to its normal state. Flames burst from Yoake as he made a single slash, causing an explosion to engulf and eradicate the Dark Squad Members.

As for Akame, she was flying through the Dark Squad Members that attacked her, slashing through them with Ketsuekime, all the while she kept yelling.

Akame (Ajax): "Eliminate...! Eliminate! Eliminate!!! ELIMINATE!!!"

Each life they both took together would cause a ping of emotional hurt in their hearts. These people they were killing were their former allies... children they fought alongside within that forest that was filled to the brim with Danger Beasts. They helped each other escape and with fighting. In a sense, Akame and Dairoku were killing their own family. Soon, the two stood back to back as it rained blood around them, staining their armors and weapons, however, their attention was brought to Kylie, who leaped into the air and crashed down on them, aiming for Akame.

However, Dairoku quickly parried his attack before collapsing Yoake into its Bladed Tonfa form and smashed it against his two daggers, shattering them instantly. He appeared behind Kylie, before sending a roundhouse kick right to his back which sent him flying forwards to Akame who's armored body had red lightning sparking around it before.

Akame (Ajax): "ELIMINATE!!!!!!!" She yelled at the top of her lungs with whatever shed of mercy she had left and slashed him directly across his chest while sliding to Dairoku's side.

Kylie: "...I may have never been fond of the Elite Seven+... but god Damnit they really ere beasts... This loss is mine... Akame-Cchi.. Dairoku..."

Those were his final words as he fell over, Ketsuekime's curse taking his body over as the black flames coated his body and he fell over lifeless. The two vampires looked at his body, then at the massacre they performed, before gritting their teeth in grief. Soon, they quickly left the area to join with Leone and Levi.

With Leone and Levi, their ambush squad had been battling the other half of the Dark Squad, with Kurome herself struggling against both Leone and Levi. Speaking of, the blonde lioness threw an uppercut to the younger ravenette, who backed away before raising Himitsume to block a strike from Levi, who appeared in front of her, slashing down with Ventus. However, she stopped her attack.

Levi (Srivatsa): "Faked ya!" She said as she suddenly ninja vanished with Leone appearing behind her and striking Kurome's Himitsume with a punch that sent her sliding back.

Kurome: "D-Damn it..!" She looked forwards, her gritting her teeth as her pupils began to glow dark green and a green aura surrounded her and Himitsume. However, she gasped upon spotting Akame and Dairoku standing above her on the cliff, their armors' helmets deactivated.

Kurome: "Sis!! Dairoku!!"

Akame: "Kurome...!"

Leone: "Looks like they made quick work of the other unit. Plus, we've got more reinforcements on the way here." Kurome's eyes widened in shock. She knew that Kylie and his squad as no match for Akame or Dairoku, let alone the two of them together. But to think they'd fall this quickly. She gritted her teeth.

Kurome's thoughts: "They even anticipated the fact that we'd split our forces up into two before infiltrating... This is bad. If we don't pull out, this will turn into a massacre!" She growled a bit before raising Himitsume into the air. *out loud* "HIMA!"

Calling the name of the Zodiac called green energy to rise from it and the ground, summoning five puppets along with Run.

Levi (Srivatsa): "Not this again..."

Leone: "Using corpses as a shield...!!"

Kurome: "Everyone, retreat!!"

She yelled out as Run grabbed onto her and began to fly off into the sky with her. Dairoku gritted his teeth before looking at Akame who nodded as she dashed back before leaping off of his shoulders and using Ajax's wings to flight up Kurome. She was startled and about to attack before Akame holstered Ketsuekime on her back.

Akame: "Kurome! Tomorrow night.. face me one-on-one. Outside the Imperial Capital, I'll be waiting at that place..!" Kurome's eyes widened and sparkled slightly but she nodded.

Kurome: "Okay!"

After the battle and the remainder of the Dark Squad had retreated, it began to rain as Akame, Dairoku, Leone and Levi watched the Revolutionaries collect the dead bodies of Kylie and the others that had fallen before carrying them away in a wagon.

Dairoku glanced to Akame, noticing her hair covering her eyes. He knew that she was trying her best to keep it in but was failing as he saw tears running down her cheeks. He gently brought her into an embrace.

Dairoku: "It's okay.. You can let it all out now..."

It seemed that his voice was all it took as Akame didn't hesitate and broke down, shoving her face into his chest. Her screams of sorrow and pain filled the air as the vampiric male held her closely and closed his eyes. Leone and Levi watched, with looks of sorrow for the two before they placed reassuring hands on their shoulders.

To have the guts to fight and kill their own allies was an impressive feat, one worthy of making them the trump cards of the Revolutionary Army. But at what cost...?

The lives of ones they once considered comrades... friends...

Family...

END