(Kuraime's POV)

The next day, I was walking into the kitchen to start creating dinner. However, when I arrived there, I saw something... shocking... On a nearby couch, Dairoku and Akame were sleeping together, with the latter of the two laying on top of the former. Though they looked peaceful, it does leave the question, if they are dating... I hope they are... Both have suffered through so much and need each other to lean on... Especially Dairoku...

CHAPTER 8: KILL THE IMPOSTERS

(Kuraime's POV)

With a battle cry, Tatsumi rushed at me with the wooden training sword. After we had breakfast, he had asked me to train him, which I agreed to. His strikes were powerful, I'll give him that, but their predictable. After I was able to knock him back using my training sword to slash at him, he got back up.

Tatsumi: "A-Again, Kuraime!"  This was like the 8th time and he was getting tired...

Kuraime: "Are you sure you don't want to take a break, Tatsumi? It's good seeing your motivation to better yourself but you need to take a break every now and them."

Tatsumi: "My enemies won't give us breaks and I told you to come at me with everything you've got! I haven't seen you use your >Evernight Raven< once, so come at me like it's a fight to the death, Kuraime!"  he yelled rushing at me but immediately, he ran face first into the fist of Bulat.  "WHAT THE HELL, ANIKI!?"

Bulat: "Shouldn't you mind your surroundings in a fight to the death?"  Tatsumi looked down and clenched his fists...  "You're more fired up than usual, eh? What's up?"

Tatsumi: "Nothing... I just want to hurry and level up my abilities."  He got up and put his fist to his chest.  "I made a promise to Kuraime, that I would survive this war to the end!"

Kuraime: "Tatsumi..."  I blushed and smiled as Bulat gained a grin.

Bulat: "Heh, it looks like you're finally acting like a man! You've grown!"  He patted Tatsumi on the back.  "If you want to get stronger that badly, come hang out with me! I'll show you some stuff!"  Tatsumi's eyes gained sparkles.

Tatsumi: "Aniki..."

Bulat: "And now, onto the first lesson."  He took up a spear.  "Follow me, Tatsumi!"  he began to run off, with Tatsumi right behind.

Tatsumi: "W-With pleasure, Aniki!"  I watched as they both ran off to start the training...

Kuraime: "Good luck..."

As I watched them run off... I couldn't help to think of that night...

(Flashback)

Tatsumi: "I promise you I won't die! I'll keep on living, just so that you won't have to experience this pain ever again!!!"

(End of Flashback)

Then I remembered his smile and my face began to heat up...

Leone: "Oh? What's this? A little bird's fallen in love?" I gasped and spun around to see Leone behind me, a smug smirk on her face.

Kuraime: "F-Fallen in l-love??? I-I don't know what you're talking about!"  I stuttered but it only widened her smirk.

Leone: "Aww you're such a cutie, you know that Kiki? Though I'd watch my back if I were you, I'm not the only one after him~"

She winked at me before she began to walk back inside... M-Me...? In love with Tatsumi!?!? N-No... A-Am I really!? I-I mean... what he said to me yesterday... just sealed the deal.......... W-WAIT...!!!

Kuraime: "BAKA!!!"

>>Later<<

(3rd Person POV)

Najenda: "Everyone is here."  she announced as everyone all gathered in the meeting room.  "I have three pieces of bad news to relay... Listen carefully. First, I can no longer contact the local team."

Everyone aside from Tatsumi, all sweat drop collectively.

Tatsumi: "Local Team?"

Akame: "The empire is vast. We specialize in carrying out assassinations in the capital, but there is another team that handles the area around it."

Dairoku: "Exactly, but if we've lost contact with them... Then the most likely scenario would be death..."  Najenda nodded in agreement.

Najenda: "So be prepared for that... For the time being, I think it may be necessary to strengthen security around the hideout."

Lubbock: "Yeah, I'll increase the range of my threads."

Kuraime: "So what's then next bad news?"  she asked as she crossed her arms. Najenda gained a grim look...

Najenda: "Secondly, Esdeath has finished conquering the north and she has returned to the capital."  Everyone was immediately shocked to hear that.

Dairoku: "I knew she would be quick... but that's inhumane levels of speed..."

Akame: "It was certainly much faster than anyone thought it would be..."  she added on. Lubbock put his hand on his head and began to rub it.

Lubbock: "God... she's always causing so much trouble!"

Najenda: "It seems her army was left in the north to keep watch though..."

Bulat: "Then it's safe to assume that she wasn't suddenly brought back to deal with the Revolutionary Army, right?"

Najenda: "I can't figure out what her next move will be... Currently, it seems she is throwing herself into her work at the government's torture facilities"  she answered, pulling out another cigarette. Then, she turned to Leone.  "Leone, I want you to go to the Capital and observe her movements."  She got strangely excited...

Leone: "Roger! Always wanted to know what type of person she is after all."  Najenda was about to answer that but Kuraime quickly chimed in.

Kuraime: "She's a homicidal maniac who enjoys nothing more than war and slaughter... Just her aura alone is enough to strike fear into even the bravest of souls; I would know, she came to save me, Akame and Big Bro once. Be on your high guard, Leone because she can take you down, with little to no effort."

Leone: "Alright, alright"

Najenda: "And finally, there has been a string of murders in the capital. The targets are civil officials. The deaths include 4 officials, and 61 bodyguards. The problem is..."  she took out a poorly made Night Raid poster.  "These posters claiming to be from Night Raid have been found at all the crime scenes."

Dairoku: "Honestly... It's funny if people think those are real... They're so fake, it's almost hilarious..."  he deadpanned.

Tatsumi: "But that's obvious isn't it?"  he asked, shrugging  "I mean, for us to suddenly start claiming responsibility seems a bit farfetched."

Najenda: "That's what I thought for the first and second cases too, but... Now it seems that I could have been us..."

Tatsumi: "Why?"

Najenda: "After each incident, the officials have increased security, even so they are still being killed. In the last incident, the former Prime Minister, Chouri and around 30 highly skilled guards were all massacred. As well as his daughter, who was a disciple of the Imperial Fist Temple's Master. No one but us could accomplish something like this is the popular opinion."

Akame: "The Criminals are just as powerful as us... In other words, Teigu Wielders..."  She grimly said...

Kuraime: "Or worse, Zodiac Wielders..."  she added on, equally as grim... Dairoku looked at the two with a grim look, knowing exactly who they were talking about...

Najenda: "Those who were killed were good people who wanted nothing to do with the current Prime Minister... They were people who made the Minister feel ill at ease... In other words, the Prime Minister is getting rid of his enemies and having Night Raid take the blame."

Bulat: "Could this also be a trap, to lure out the real Night Raid?"  he theorized, crossing his arms

Najenda: "I realized this could be a trap... But I wanted to inform you anyway... The officials who were killed were heavily skilled people, who opposed the Prime Minister and would have nothing to do with the Rebel Army scouts. They cared only for their country. Good people like these officials will be essential in creating our new country. We CANNOT afford to lose any more of these talented people! I think we should head out and crush this group of fakes! What are your opinions on this?"

Tatsumi decided to pipe up, with his fists clenched.

Tatsumi: "I... don't really understand stuff like politics, but... Using night raid's name to commit these crimes just makes me sick!"

Bulat: "That's right... Exactly, Tatsumi!"  He said as he grinned and the rest of the team nodded. Najenda then grinned maliciously and got up from her chair.

Najenda: "Okay... We've decided, then... What should we do with these fools who used our name!? Let's go teach them the Law of Assassins!!!"  They all looked at her seriously, ready to end these imposters. 

Najenda: "There are about five officials who we suspect are being targeted. Of those five, only a few have plans to leave the Capital soon. We have narrowed it down to two officials." Then she pointed to Dairoku, Akame, Kuraime, Tatsumi and Bulat.

Najenda: "Akame, Kuraime and Lubbock... Tatsumi, Dairoku and Bulat will provide protection for them!!"

Tatsumi: "Where does the officials we need to protect plan to go?"

Najenda:"The outskirts of the Capital. He plans to board the ship that is anchored at the start of the Grand Canal; the massive luxury liner, Ryuusen!"

Dairoku turned to move out, but was stopped by a certain ravenette grabbing his hand. He glanced back at her, to see her blushing while looking away. He sighed.

Dairoku: "I'll come back to you and we'll talk about our situation..."  Akame's eyes widened slightly as she looked back at him, only to see his serious expression  "... I promise."  She looked at him for a while before smiling and nodding her head.

Akame: "Okay."

>>Later<<

Tatsumi: "HUUUUGGGGEEEE!!!!!"

MISSION START!

TO BE CONTINUED...

—————————————————
So yeah, there's this chapter's revamp. And we all know who's making her appearance in the next chapter.