Akame: "I didn't know there were hot springs around here." The ravenette commented as her bare figure sat on the edge of said Hot Springs, while she was tying her long hair into a ponytail.

Poney: "I heard they work wonders for back pains, Kuraime~" She gave a sly smirk to the purple-eyed girl, who was also fixing up her hair, but she soon looked at the auburn-haired girl, with a slightly annoyed expression on her face as she knew what she was getting at.

Kuraime: "Don't tease me Poney. Besides, my breasts aren't much bigger than Corey."

Cornelia: "Hmm, But I feel like they're growing. It might be a side effect from all you've ate as of late." She suddenly added on. Kuraime's head snapped towards the blonde, wither face going red.

Kuraime: "H-Hey!" Poney and Akame both began to laugh while Cornelia merely gave a cheeky smile before she simply blew a kiss towards her.

>Chapter 8: Change Meeting<

After intercepting the Revolutionary Mercenaries' ambush, the Elite found a hot springs and made the collective decision to stop at it for the night and take a relaxing dip. The girls of the group went first, while the guys were setting up camp nearby and waiting for their turn.

Akame: "I'm still surprised at what happened back at the river. To think that we would be ambushed by an armed group there..."

Kuraime: "That was the first time for us as well. They're starting to target us."

Cornelia: "Like papa said, we're becoming target's as well."

Kuraime: "Mm... We can't get reckless. Otherwise, we'd be done for." She crossed her arms as Cornelia nodded in agreement. Poney suddenly shot up with her fists pumped and a confident grin on her face.

Poney: "Bring it! We'll turn the chairs on them, just like last time!"

Kuraime: "It's 'turn the tables', Poney."

Poney: "Shut up, Kuraime! Who cares what it is!? Take this!" She yelled and suddenly tackled Kuraime, causing a big splash as the ravenette yelped out in surprise.

Kuraime: "A-Ah! H-Hey, don't-Ahahaha! S-Stop that tickles!!"

Akame: "Hey! Let me join in!" She excitedly jumped into the fray, with Kuraime squealing as she let out a louder burst of laughter from being tickled all over her body by the two girls. Cornelia, who was watching them, laughed at the display.

Cornelia: "Hey, hey." She waved at them while standing up. "We should leave soon so the guys can have their turn." The moment those words left her mouth, Akame's eyes widened as a light bulb lit up in her head from the sudden idea she had.

Akame: "Hey! Why don't we try sneaking up on them? A game to see if Chief and Dairoku would notice us!"

Poney: "Oh? Sounds super fun! If they don't, we'll all call them 'Small Fry'!" She said, mimicking the Blonde-male's tone of voice while Kuraime just scratched the back of her head and lightly laughed.

Kuraime: "Haha... Big bro would probably have you in a headlock and prevent you from eating if you called him that."

Poney: "Heh! I'd like to see him try!" She boasted, her hands on her hips with a grin that beamed with confidence.

>Meanwhile<

Guy: "Ugh, those girls are taking forever. Just finish in five minutes and get out already." He complained.

As for the boys of the group, the four of them were seated around a campfire they created in the center of their temporary camp. Green sat with a piece of firewood in his hands, while Najasho, as usual, was reading a book. As for Dairoku however, he also had a book, only this time he was writing in it, making a Diary entry. As for Guy, well he was tied to one of the many trees that surrounded them.

Najasho: "No, a bath should take forty-five minutes." Dairoku rose an eyebrow at the blonde before shaking his head as Green tossed piece of firewood into the flame.

Green: "Guy, your baths are too short. Chief, yours are too long."

Guy: "Seriously, when's pops gonna come back? I want to go into Toushi Town already."

Green: "We get to stay in an inn that serves great local food as a reward for our recent work, right?"

Guy: "Right!" he grinned. "And the hot spring street has a brothel, too." The other three guys gave him almost disappointed looks, mainly since they were able to predict his true goals so easily, again.

Dairoku: "Why am I not surprised..."

Najasho: "Predictable Small Fry."

As he was sitting across from the blonde, Dairoku barely glanced upwards as he saw a couple of dark figures hiding behind the trees. As he sensed no bloodlust or anything malicious in that fact, he assumed it was the girls trying to sneak up on them unnoticed. And considering that Najasho didn't seem bothered, but slightly glanced towards the black-haired male, further proved his theory. The two just silently agreed to play along.

Guy: "Hey, I need to take a piss. Can you untie me?"

Dairoku: "Maybe work on your shit excuses to perve on the girls first." He bluntly answered, to which the bounded male gritted his teeth but before he could respond, Green suddenly interjected.

Green: "I'm not going to let you see them naked, Guy!"

Guy: "Tch... why don't we just go together?" He muttered and leaned his head back against the tree's bark before he realized something. "Hey, Green. You got really worked up when you said, 'I'm not going to let you see them naked'."

Najasho: "He's right." Green's eyes widened as he suddenly stood up.

Green: "W-Wha... T-That's...!"

Dairoku: "For once I agree with him. You're not the type to get so worked up over something like that." He looked up from his diary and towards him. "What, you falling for one of them or something?"

In an instant, the glasses-wearing male's face went red as he began to struggle to find words to try and defend himself, but ultimately failed. Instantly, Guy glared at him.

Guy: "Are you after Cornelia, too!? First Dairoku and now you!? Let's take this outside!"

Dairoku: "We're already outside dimwit. And leave me out of this this." He scoffed and glanced off, though in his mind, the situation at the river between him and Cornelia played in his mind. *thoughts* "Tch... Enough with showing me that!"

Green: "It's got nothing to do with Corey!"

Guy: "Then Kuraime? Her Kill Rank is No.8, but her tits and ass are No.1!" In an instant, a fireball was shot at Guy, barely missing his head, and dissolving in the forest. He looked at Dairoku. "Watch it you asshole!"

Dairoku: "Then watch where your fucking eyes linger!"

Green: "It's not Kuraime either!"

Dairoku: "Well I highly doubt that it's Poney. You'd have to be crazy..." He casually said, well aware that Poney could hear him.

Poney: "Dairoku you-!!" She grinded her teeth together as Cornelia and Kuraime lightly laughed.

Kuraime: "I'm sure big bro's joking..."

Najasho: "Or could it be..." Green gritted his teeth out of fear of what the blonde would say. "...that you actually don't want Guy to see the other women naked, and that's actually all there is to it?"

Dairoku: "Eh... That's a possibility."

Guy: "What!?"

Green: "No!" He exclaimed before sighing deeply. "I don't want there to be some weird misunderstanding... Fine then, I'll tell you." With a deep breath and the other three guys watching him, he turned away to the side, his face becoming more red. "Akame... It's her. I began having feeling for her recently."

All three of the males fell silent. Guy's expression displayed pure shock while Najasho, while stoic, his eyes displayed that even him was taken aback by this sudden info drop.

Guy: "Woah... you're not kidding. Not with a face like that."

Najasho: "... That's a surprise."

Unknown to the others however, Dairoku just stared into his diary, but the hand gripping his pen suddenly tightened its grip on it a bit at the mention of Akame's name. From the girl's point of view, they were all surprised to hear Green open up about his feelings, especially Akame.

Akame's thoughts: "Green felt that way about me...!? I had no idea."

Poney: "Heeey! Way to go, Akame~" She elbowed the ravenette playfully, who stammered on her words, dumbfounded.

Cornelia: "Green thinks of Akame as... Akame is shocked!!!" she quietly geeked out, holding her reddened cheeks with excitement while Kuraime merely sweat dropped as she watched the blonde. "What's gonna happen? What's gonna happened!?"

Kuraime: "... I never took you for the gossiping type, Corey... You're getting more worked up over this than even Akame is..."

Guy: "So, why do you like Akame?" The girls looked back and listened in carefully.

Najasho: "We'll listen to you to pass the time."

Green: "It's a pitiful story, so prepare your handkerchiefs." He pushed up his glasses. "That's right, it was about half a year ago..."

As Green proceeded to tell his story, Dairoku began to tune him out as he was staring into the diary in his hands, finding himself getting lost in his own thoughts.

Dairoku's Diary...
Entry #2

"We had managed to intercept a group of Mercenaries from the Revolutionary Army along Hakurou River, who were planning to ambush us. But thankfully, we foiled their ambush with one of our own. All of us would attack the ones in the boats, while Akame, with her superior ability to hold her breath for long periods under water, waited in case any stragglers tried to escape by diving. The mission was an easy success, however the fact that they had the intention of ambushing us means that the Revolutionary Army has set its sights on us. That means... we have to be on our guard. Anyone unfamiliar to us that we run into can be a spy for the Revolutionary Army. Trust no one unfamiliar and stick close to each other. If we fail that, they'll be able to pick us off one by one... No, I can't let that happen. I won't let any of them die... Not after last time... Not after her... Tsukushi..."

Green: "That day, I discovered my armpit fetish, and began looking at Akame's armpits whenever I had a chance. And the next thing I knew, I realized I had fallen for Akame too. Isn't it pitiful...?"

That finally snapped Dairoku out as he stared at Green with judgmental eyes. It wasn't only just him as Guy and Najasho also were taken aback by this story.

Green: "What!? What's that reaction!?"

Guy: "..."

Dairoku: "The.... Wha... The fuck?"

Najasho: "I'm sorry, small fry..."

Green: "And why are you apologizing!?" Najasho just shook his head and glanced at Dairoku who had a sudden realization and smacked his own forehead with the palm of his hand.

Dairoku: "Oh no..." He groaned as he cringed hard in his palm. As for the reason for his reaction? Well since Dairoku and Najasho knew that the girls were listening in on this, it also meant that Akame heard everything Green just said.

Green: "What!?"

Dairoku's thoughts: "For fuck sakes... I should have paid attention and stopped him before he said that shit. Now, there's no doubt that the girls heard everything... I should go apologize to Akame after she comes back..." He glanced at Green as the guy was trying to figure out why they were reacting the way they were. "Green... you dumbass..."

Meanwhile with the girls, after Green had revealed why he fell for Akame, they instantly retreated to avoid attracting their attention. They all came to a halt to catch their breath, with Poney hunching over.

Poney: "Wow... that was such a shock, we had to get out of there right away... I had a feeling, but Green really is perverted!"

Cornelia: "I thought he'd be more normal... Armpits...?"

Kuraime: "That did surprise me too... But I guess everyone has their own fetishes." She shrugged and sighed before glancing towards her fellow ravenette. "So, Akame. After hearing about how Green felt about you, what do you think?" There was a slight silence before she gave her answer.

Akame: "Well, no matter what the reasons might be, I'm still happy that someone likes me." She then gave a light smile. "However, Green is an important friend of mine, and I just want us to be comrades." The rest of the girls weren't surprised as they were expecting Akame to answer like this. They all just smiled at her.

Cornelia: "Sounds like something Akame would say."

Poney: "Mhm!"

Akame: "Anyways, let's walk back to the camp so the boys can have their turn in the hot springs."

With a collective nod, the four girls began to make the walk back towards the camp. However, after hearing the boy's conversation, Poney got curious before she leaned forwards to look up at Kuraime.

Poney: "Speaking of, Kuraime! Is there a boy you like?" The ravenette's violet eyes shot open wide as she stared at the Auburn girl, shocked at the sudden question.

Kuraime: "H-Huh? W-Why do you want to know? Why not ask Corey?"

Cornelia: "D-Don't bring me into this please..." She muttered while looking away, hiding the faint blush on her cheeks.

Akame: "Actually, I'm curious too. Is there someone you like, Kuraime?"

Kuraime: "Not you too..." she sighed.

Cornelia: "Is it Guy?"

Kuraime: "I'd rather go a full week without eating any meat." She answered with no hesitation.

Poney: "How about Dairoku?"

Kuraime: "I see Dairoku as my big brother, Poney..."

Poney: "But you two aren't related by blood and you could be into that big brother type for all I know!" she exclaimed, with Kuraime stumbling over her words as she was just bewildered and taken aback.

Kuraime: "What do you take me for!?"

Akame: "Hmm... I can't really picture you falling for Green... So that just leaves the Chief."

Kuraime fell silent. The other girls noticed how she didn't seem to try deflecting Akame's statement, and if she was trying, then she was failing to. It only clicked when they looked at her face...

Poney: "So it is Chief you like!?" Again, Kuraime didn't answer verbally. The only thing she did, was give a small, and shy nod. "Woah, I did NOT expect that!"

Cornelia: "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Kuraime's in love with the chief! What's gonna happen? What's gonna happen!?" She held her redden cheeks while squirming her body around.

Poney: "You're gossiping again, Corey!"

Akame: "Any particular reason why you fell in love with Chief, Kuraime?" She asked, walking next to her friend. Poney and Cornelia seemed to calm down as they too looked at the purple-eyed reaper. She took in a deep breath and sighed.

Kuraime: "Well..."

(Flashback)

A slightly younger Kuraime sat on top of a hill, hugging her knees close into her chest as laying in the grass on her left was her newly obtained Shingu, Kizushinrel. Below her were the rest of the Elite, all training with each other while Gozuki watched. The ravenette watched as each of other fellow comrades displayed their skills with their respective Shingu as this was the day that they received their weapons and finally got to test them. Kuraime was no different, however after receiving hers, she struggled not only to lift it, but to wield it efficiently. Despite the weapon type, a scythe being perfect for her fighting style, she just couldn't handle it since it was her first time using an actual scythe. The others, however, were quickly adapting to their weaponry unlike her.

Najasho: "There you are." The ravenette's eyes slightly widened as she looked behind her, seeing the blonde male with his Water Dragon Sword attached to his hip approach her, book in hand as usual. "If father were to find you slacking off like this, you wouldn't hear the end from him, Small Fry."

Kuraime: "Oh... right." She slowly looked back down to the others. Najasho glanced at her silently and noticed her demeanor. Kuraime was always quieter than the others for sure, but she was too quiet this day.

Najasho: "You've received your weapon like the rest of us. Shouldn't you be training with it?"

Kuraime: "What's the point in doing that...?" He rose an eyebrow. "No matter how much I try, I just can't... It's as if Kizushinrel's rejecting me, like I'm not worthy of it. I guess... that just goes to show that I'm more of a liability to you guys."

Najasho: "...Liability?"

Kuraime: "The Elite was supposed to just be the 7 with the highest kill count. I'm not supposed to be here. And with how things have been, with even Poney completely outclassing me, and Akame completely doubling my kills despite our ranks being 1 apart from each other just proves that. I'm sure you can see it, right Chief? With you, Dairoku, Guy and Cornelia at the top, surely you can see it. With the way I am, I'll only bring you guys down... I don't know why Father changed his mind about me..."

The ravenette buried her head into her knees as she let out a deep sigh of defeat. Kuraime always had this determination in her aura ever since she was told that she'd be able to reunite with her sister if she worked hard enough. But now, that determination was gone, dwindling like a dying flame. It was very off putting to see her like this, questioning her own worth and even doubting herself. However, she'd soon look back up to her right as Najasho had placed a hand on her shoulder.

Najasho: "Then answer this. Why do you think Father chose you, despite originally only wanting to have seven of us?" The ravenette looked down again.

Kuraime: "Maybe it was because of these strange powers I have..." She held up her right hand as it became surrounded in that purple glow as a sphere of energy formed in her palm. "But even then, I have no way of properly controlling this and often times, I end up breaking something or hurting someone because of them..."

Najasho: "You aren't wrong there." He answered as she just sighed. But then he crouched next to her so he could look her directly in the eyes. "You have this strong sense of determination and desire in you. I bet Father could see it too."

Kuraime: "W-What do you mean...?"

Najasho: "You always looked ready to tackle the next challenge head on, no matter how hard it may be. Even when all you had was a mere stick with a knife strapped to the end of it and faced down a hoard of vicious Danger Beasts, you faced them, even without our help. That is why father chose you. He saw your determination and could see all the potential in you. Even if you are imperfect now, that doesn't matter in his eyes. You just need to believe in yourself more and never let that flame die out, Kuraime. And I'm sure, the others would reflect my stance on this."

Kuraime was... speechless. Najasho, someone who's known to be ice cold and who'd typically talk down on others just gave her a speech like that. Was it some kind of prank? Or an illusion? Or just maybe... it was all real? At that very moment as she stared into his eyes, she could feel her face begin to heat up slowly.

Najasho: "Now then." He stood up and closed his book, sliding it into his pocket as he unsheathed the Water Dragon Sword from his hip and pointed it at her. "Pick up your weapon."

Kuraime: "H-Huh?"

Najasho: "You want to prove yourself, correct? Now's the chance. If you manage to get me to yield, then it's your win. We can go for as long as you need."

The ravenette stared up at him surprised by his challenge. Her eyes slowly trailed from the blue blade he pointed at her, back to his unwavering expression. Despite her previous doubts, something in her triggered as she then looked down at her slightly trembling hands and reached for Kizushinrel. Like she remembered, it was very heavy. But despite the weight, she slowly stood up, holding her Shingu in both hands as her somber expression became determined.

He saw it, Najasho could see the flame beginning to burn brighter in her eyes. He had to admit, it made him feel a bit... happy. So much in fact that unbeknownst to him and to Kuraime, that he'd show a small smile.

Najasho: "Now come at me and don't hold back."

(Flashback End)

Kuraime: "Since that day, I... started to see Chief in a different light... and I began to realize that I had fallen for him..." The rest of the girls were all speechless by the story, with Cornelia even being moved to tears.

Akame: "Kuraime..."

Poney: "Chief can say those things!?" She was more bewildered by that than anything.

Kuraime: "Believe it or not, but I've seen his more caring side before. Despite of how cold he is, he does care for us. You've seen it too, right Akame?" She looked at the red-eyed girl, who thought back, remembering the time Chief and Dairoku came to comfort her after she had to kill Martha.

Akame: "Yeah, I have." She confirmed with a nod.

Cornelia: "S-So." She finished wiping her tears away. "What are you going to do Kuraime?" The purple-eyed reaper thought for a while before she shook her head.

Kuraime: "I can't lie, I'm... kinda scared to tell him. Maybe it because I know that he'd turn me down... However..." She slowly smiled and walked ahead of them. "Even if that happens, I'm just happy I got to know how it feels to fall in love with someone. And if I have to say anything about it, it's a very warm feeling."

She looked back at them, with a beaming smile. The three girls were surprised by this but all smiled back at her. Soon enough, they had returned to the campsite, where Green was in the process of untying Guy from the Tree.

Guy: "Finally, you girls are finished! You sure took your time!"

Cornelia: "Yeah, sorry about that." She scratched the back of her head. Najasho just silently got up and began to walk off as Guy, who was finally free, followed after. Kuraime watched Najasho walk off, with her remembering that memory as she lightly smiled. Green was next but as he did, he slightly glanced to Akame, his face lightly pink. Finally, Dairoku began to walk after them, but as he passed by Akame, he whispered to her.

Dairoku: "Sorry you had to hear that."

Afterwards, he left. Akame's eyes widened in surprise, but she just smiled and shook her head. She should have known better if she thought that Dairoku wouldn't have noticed that she and the other girls were sneaking up on them.

Akame: "Seems like we failed, girls. We've been busted."

Poney: "Wait, what!? No way!"

>The Next Day<

Now with Gozuki by their sides, the Elite, minus Green and Najasho who were forced to stay behind, had arrived in Toushi Town. With Poney in front of them, she rose a fist into the air with a big grin on her face.

Poney: "Now then! To the Inn with great local food, we go!"

Kuraime: "Excited, are you now, Poney?" She looked at the Auburn-haired girl who grabbed her by the shoulders.

Poney: "The food Kuraime!" She emphasized, to which the ravenette sweat drop and glanced away as she was trying to not let her urges take over.

Cornelia: "It's too bad Chief and Green couldn't come."

Gozuki: "Those two are being targeted by spies who have pictures of their faces, so there's nothing we can do. Well, this'll be a nice break. Rest up and then we'll plan our next course of action." Dairoku hummed but glanced at Akame, who had been silent ever since they stepped foot into the town. Before he could say anything however, she spoke.

Akame: "Here too..."

Dairoku: "What is it?"

Akame: "No matter what town we go to, there are miserable people everywhere if you take a close look. Or starved people. Are their lives that difficult...?"

The raven-haired male fell silent and looked around before humming and crossing his arms. Kuraime, who was listening in had also noticed and had began to look around at the civilians around them.

Kuraime: "I noticed too. It's completely different compared to the village that was near our house."

Gozuki: "There's nothing we can do. This is what you call inequality of wealth." He placed a hand on Kuraime's shoulder. "You were all sold by your real parents, too. But even then, you all found the things you could enjoy in your lives and lived them as best you could. If war breaks out, the lives of people like these, who do their best to keep on living, will disappear like trash. If we can protect the people, then the politicians will be able to do something about this."

Kuraime: "I... see..." She answered, though it was clear by her tone that there was still this sense of uncertainty within her.

Poney: "But you're my real father, anyway!" she exclaimed as the man chuckled.

Gozuki: "There, there. That's my girl."

He looked at all the children. All of them displaying some kind of smile. But when he looked at Akame, she had none. She still didn't look convinced as she kept looking at the people of the town. That was fine, she never was the type to praise unlike Poney and Cornelia. But then when he looked at Dairoku, he too began to see some form of uncertainty in his expression. He sighed and looked up as they had arrived at their destination.

Gozuki: "There it is. That's the inn that we will be staying at for a while." While they took the time to admire the sheer presence of the inn before them, two females, a young girl around their age who was accompanied by an older woman walked pass them towards the inn.

Barbara: "Let's stay in this inn, Taeko."

Taeko: "Yes."

Dairoku's eyes shifted to the newcomers. Instantly, his eyes locked with Taeko's as the two would trade silent stares at one another.

Dairoku and Taeko's thoughts: "She/He feels strong..."

He couldn't put his foot on it, but Dairoku had a strange feeling about not only her, but the old lady as well. He had a feeling something was gonna happen but was unsure on whether to tell Gozuki or not just incase his gut feeling was wrong. Either way, he was going to keep a close eye on those two while they stayed in the inn for the time being.

______________________________________

Next Chapter: Assassins