No one's POV

After the battle with Merraid Oarburgh, Ryu immediately collapsed to the ground. Because this was his very first transformation into a Vampire Lycanthrope which had took a toll on his entire body. And not only that, his body had a high fever after being stung by one of Merraid's insects.

Akame: Ryu!

Akame whom noticed his pale face took action and she grabbed his body before it touches the ground. She immediately lay down and gently put his head on her lap giving him a lap pillow while also tend to his wounds.

Akame: Why do you always push yourself?

Akame asked in a worried tone for her partner. Even though his breathing is ragged and his eyes were closed, he answered her with a calm voice.

Ryu: To get an answer?

Akame:...

Akame didn't need to ask anymore by what Ryu had meant. After all he had his suspicion about the Empire's background far longer than she had. So it was only natural for him to be thinking like that. After managing his breathing, he silently open his mouth and gave Akame his answers.

Ryu: Akame...

Akame: Yes?

Ryu: From now on, please keep all these uncertainty about the Empire only to yourself and to me.

Akame: Why...?

Akame was visibly surprise when he told her that.

Ryu: I finally remembered everything. About the Empire's background, my missing memory. Especially why Father wants me of all people to be on his team.

Akame: Father?

Ryu: Right now, Father already had his suspicion on you. And not only that, he always keeps an eye on his children. So I asked you to please keep every uncertainties to yourself. Once we finally have a time to ourselves with no one watching, I'll tell you what I know about the Empire.

Akame:...

It was then Ryu finally passed out. Normally she would asked Ryu what he meant only to sensed someone was approaching them. That was why Ryu had ended their conversation quickly, because he didn't want anyone eavesdropping, not to mention Gozuki who always keeps an eye on them. It was then Gozuki, the Elite Seven, and the 4 Rakshasa Demon had arrived on the scene. They all saw an unconscious Ryu and Akame who was holding him tightly.

At first, Poney asked about Ryu's condition in a panicked, but Akame assured her that Ryu is fine just passed out due to fatigue. After awhile, reinforcement known as the Incinerator Squad came by with a Danger Beast that look like a Giant Rabbit. They howled the injured Natala and the unconscious Ryu on top of it.

The leader of the Incineration Squad there named Bols asked Akame what had happened there and Akame gave him a brief explanation.

Bols: So the boy has a high fever brought on by physical trauma and insect stings. Understood.

Akame: I administered first aid, but we should get them to a proper facility for treatment soon.

Bols: Right. We'll take them to the capital with us! The Incineration Squad's prized Fire Rabbit will get us there in a Flash.

Akame: Thank you.

Akame bowed down in a signs of gratitude. Then the Fire Rabbit dashes off into the sky with a Giant Leap that it almost looks like it was flying.

Bols: We were meant to provide backup, but the fight was over by the time we arrived. It's the least we can do.

Gozuki: You guys return to the capital later.

Gozuki addressed to his other children, Akame, Poney, Green, and Kurome whom was left behind to search around the area for any remains of the Oarburgh. Up in the sky, Gozuki spoke towards Bols expressing his gratitude.

Gozuki: I feel bad you were sent out as a backup force for nothing. Tell the Incineration Squad leader thanks for me.

Bols: We're all al part of the same special unit. If the timing had been better, we could've helped each other out!

Bols looked down on the unconscious Ryu at the back and expressed his impression.

Bols: He's an incredible child. To think he defeated the infamous Oarburghs.

Gozuki: That's why he's the strongest in the team.

Gozuki(mind): Still... It was only for a brief moment. But I sense a huge wave of power. Did his Lycanthrope power had awakened?

During the hunt for Merraid, Gozuki was sure he felt a huge energy. He felt it once before, it was when he had recruited Ryu to be apart of his team. Gozuki could only thought to himself about his worries.

(Timeskip)

After arriving at the Capital, Ryu and Natala were treated in the capital. It was determined that Natala would need 6 months to make a full recovery, and he was put in the ICU. Ryu on the other hand had the insect's venom removed from his body before it could spread any further. Though he suffered from intense fever, he was able to recover in two weeks.

Gozuki: Yo, Ryu. How are you feeling?

Ryu: I'm feeling much better—?!

Hearing Gozuki's voice, Ryu sat up and was about to tell him he was alright only stopped mid sentence when he saw Gozuki accompanied by Akame and a giant builded man. Ryu recognized him. He was General Budo, the one who holds the highest-rank in the Empire.

Budo: So this is the assassin who defeated the leader of the Oarburghs.

Ryu(mind): That's General Budo? What is he doing here?

Gozuki: This is Great General Budo. He's the highest ranking officer of the Imperial Army.

Ryu:...

Of course Ryu had already known that. But he just played along and act as a fool without knowing his identity. Budo approached Ryu with stern gaze but Ryu's face was a cool as a cucumber. He was not intimidated in the slightest by the Great General's presence. A normal person would gave tremble in awe, but on Ryu's case, he just stare back.

Budo: Saikyuu asked me to train both you and her.

Gozuki: It's quite the honor to be trained firsthand by the Great General himself.

Budo: I haven't made up my mind about it yet, but I see potential in you as much as I see in this girl. Your name was is Ryu, is it? Put out your hand.

Doing as he was instructed, Ryu held his right hand out. The Great General clasped his hand and the two did a tight grip handshake. Just doing that was enough for the Great General to assess Ryu's unfathomable strength.

Budo: You're even stronger than Akame here...my training probably won't kill you.

Ryu(mind): But why is he bothering his time with us?

Budo: And you're not overcome with awe in my presence. You have guts, kid. I never would have guessed that being raised in the wild could be so effective.

Gozuki: We're honored by your generous words.

Budo: As soon as your injuries are healed, come to the soldier training grounds with your teammates.

As he said those words, Budo leaves the room leaving Ryu, Akame, and Gozuki behind. Akame then looks to her adopted father.

Akame: Father...that man just now...

Gozuki: Bit of a shock, isn't it? I'm excited to take him up on his offer.

Akame: He said he'd train us, but what about our missions?

Gozuki: There won't be any for a while. We lost a lot of spies to the Oarburghs. I've decided to use this time to bring your skills to the next level.

Ryu: I can't believe the Great General would train us himself.

Gozuki: It goes to show what great work you've all been doing, Ryu, Akame. ...You two should be happy about this.

Ryu: I am. Just a bit surprised.

Ryu showed a rare expression of surprise which he never usually shows. Akame on the other hand only looked down as she sat on the bed next to Ryu. Both Ryu and Gozuki noticed the doubt on her eyes.

Gozuki: Something you want to tell me, Akame?

Akame: When Kurome and I were captured by the enemy... the way Kurome was suffering after her medication wore off was not normal. Is Kurome going to be okay taking medicine that does that to her?

Ryu:...

Gozuki: ...As long as she doesn't stop taking it, she'll be fine.

Akame: But why's she being given medicine in the first place..?

Gozuki: The medicine will make her stronger. They re only trying to keep her safe.

Ryu(mind): Safe my ass. You are just using us as tools and dispose of us if we had no more used for you.

Now that Ryu had recovered his lost memories. All the information he had obtained about the Empire from 'That Woman' in his memories started to flooded his mind.

Gozuki: If she weren't taking it...she probably would have died on a mission before ever getting to meet you again.

Akame: If she has to dose up for every mission, then she shouldn't be fighting in the first place. I'll work to make up Kurome's share. Just let her rest.

Gozuki: No matter how hard you may work, Akame, you can't cover for Kurome. Besides, if you worked yourself nonstop, you'd collapse.

Akame begged even more. But Gozuki gave her a glare.

Akame: I'll show you I can do it! So just let Kurome re--

Gozuki: Has Kurome asked for a break? She hasn't, has she?

Akame: !

Ryu:...

Seeing her expression, Ryu gently hold her hand which Akame held tightly.

Gozuki: That should be something she requests herself. I won't ignore her desire to continue with her missions.

Akame:...Her desire...right.

Gozuki: If you were told to quit going on missions because they would endanger your life, would you want to quit?

Akame:...No.

Gozuki: I didn't think so. In this line of work, it's important to honor the individual's wishes. Anything else you need to ask?

The moment he said that, Ryu silently tighten the grip in Akame's hand imploring her not to asked anymore questions to which Akame noticed.

Akame: No, I'm fine.

Gozuki: Good. Training with the Great General will begin in a few days. Until then, you two have a nice soak and rest up.

Ryu and Akame: We will.

With that Gozuki left Ryu and Akame alone in the room. After waiting for a few minutes to make sure Gozuki really left them, Ryu sigh releasing the tight grip he had on Akame.

Ryu: If you had asked Father about the Empire, he would just grow more suspicious of you.

Akame: Your the one that told me not to.

Ryu: Good. Because there's something I need to tell you. And you gotta promise me not to tell anyone. Not even to Poney and the others.

Akame: Promise.

Finally left alone, Ryu told Akame all the things that he had known. Starting from his first suspicion from after the Gravekeeper's assault. What he had read that day and all about the Empire's corruption.

Ryu: Remember the Capital downtown area? The place where Father told us not to go?

Akame: I do.

Ryu: Those are the place where any innocent and those who pose a threat to the Empire are all dispose there. And not only that, there's corruption in this Capital.

Akame: ?!

Ryu informed about his lost memories. Telling about when he was a child, he was the one to be sold here instead of his little sister. But he lied the part where it was the Empire whom erased his memories. He also kept his kin as a Lycanthrope a secret from Akame. Akame was at a loss for words when Ryu finally finished his explanation. Surprised about the Empire, taken aback that Ryu had a little sister too.

Akame: Ryu... What should I do.

Ryu: For now, I want you to stay silent. Me on the other hand, I need to have a word with someone.

Akame: Someone?

Ryu: I can't tell you yet. Not until I confirm their whereabouts. So until then, Akame. Please don't snoop around at night. Father already has his eyes on you.

Akame: I-I understand.

(Timekip)

Later that night, despite Ryu's warning not to, Akame decided to investigate the Capital's downtown in secret. It was an area that Gozuki had told the children of the Elite Seven to never visit. Grabbing a cloak, Akame moves and leaves under the cover of darkness, heading towards the Capital's Downtown area. And as soon as she arrived, she saw the very same thing she and Ryu would see every time they went to a village. The people were suffering and impoverished.

But what shocked her the most is when she went to the plaza. A woman's corpse was put on display, it being an example of the Prime Minister's execution. It was everything Ryu had told her. People who pose a threat to the Empire were executed here.

Akame(mind): Ryu, everything you said is true. The Empire is making the people suffer. We thought we were fighting for the people's happiness...but now...I don't know what to do. I don't know what move I should make next.

???: What are you doing here?

Akame: ?!

Akame then froze. She slowly turned her head around, meeting Gozuki's gaze.

Akame: Father!

Gozuki: I thought I told you to never come here. And here I find you sneaking in the dead of night...are you going to delinquent me? Just like Akira? I like obedient little children. Like Cornelia and Poney. They are their Father's pride and joy. On the other hand, bad little children who don't listen to me get no mercy.

Each words were dead venom. Akame had a bead of sweat on her knowing she just couldn't waltz her way out of here with simple lie.

Gozuki: Which are you, Akame?