Northern Area of the Empire, Taigen Town

Sabitini: "Ladies and gentlemen! Next, please welcome Sabitini's promising duo, and please enjoy their acrobatic balance show! Here we have Akame-chan and Akira-kun, who will be doing their best!"

Akame: "Hello, I'm Akame!"

Akira: "And I'm Akira!"

In this town, a circus event was going on. Sabitini had introduced the two children, both having black hair, but the boy had icy blue eyes. In fact, you could almost feel a cold chill coming off from the child every time he spoke.

The crowd started to cheer wildly, the children juggling a variety of items. Whether it be jars or knives, they did it at blinding speeds, a normal eye wouldn't be able to catch up with it. 

Sabitini: "Amazing! Keep going!"

Random Guy 1: "They're still just little kids, but they're so amazing." 

Random Guy 2: "The look good, too. Looking forward to seeing how they grow up."

Sabitini: "Now you may be wondering how can these newcomers pull of such moves!? They were part of a different traveling entertainment group before! After they lost their parents in an accident, they were looking for another group, and that's when they ran into us!"

The red-eyed girl, Akame, then ran up to the blue-eyed boy. Akira lifts the girl into the air as Akame then stands on his shoulders, the ravenette balancing some plates on a few sticks. Once again, the crowd cheers wildly as gold coins start to rain in from the stands, the children having all smiles.

After the show, the children and their leader, Sabitini, head back to their tent and meet up with the rest of their traveling circus group.

Sabitini: "Our show was a success in this town, too. Traveling entertainers can earn a lot of money in times like these."

Amuria: "And the addition of the new kids was huge!"

Natalia: "Yep, they make a good intro. They hype up the main event, my dance, too."

Sabitini: "Even if it's the truth, the way they joined us works in our favor too. We got a lot of sympathy money because of Akame and Akira."

Dangan: "We have to think of the best way for us to use them, Kouga."

Kouga: "Yeah."

Outside the tent, Akira was sharpening his knife, finishing it up as he begins to balance the tip of the blade on his index finger.

Akira: "Akame, did you see the message we got while we we're performing?" 

Akame: "Yeah...isn't that dangerous?"

Akira: "I'll be fine. It's not like I'll bleed to death, or anything. Anyway, did you see what Father said?" 

Akame: "He said that 'there's a very good chance that the target will take the bait tomorrow.'"

Akira: "Hmm...this soon, huh?"

Akame: "Are you not nervous?"

Akira: "Nervous? Heh..."

The icy blue-eyed boy twirls the knife into the air before he catches it, putting it in it's sheathe as he faces Akame with a sadistic grin, his eyes dull. It was clearly different from the face he had on while performing.

Akira: "I'm just itching with excitement."

Akame: (stomach growls) "...I'm getting hungry."

Akira: (sigh) "Not even surprised. You're always like that."

Akame: "It'd be best not to have anything, though."

Akira: "I suppose."

Amuria: (exits tent) "It's about time we started making dinner. Akame-chan, you can have seconds today!"

Akame: (stars in eyes) "Really, Amuria!?"

Akira: "Aaannnd there she goes."

Amuria: (kind smile) "Master said good things about you two. You're a big help to us."

Akira: "No, I'm pretty sure you're the ones helping us. We thank you."

Amuria: "Since you joined us last month, we've definitely earned a lot more money. Be more proud of yourselves!"

The two children smile, innocent looking smiles. But it was merely a facade. Deep down, the boy was itching to kill them. The girl, however, was hoping none of it was true.

After dinner, the group began to clean up. Their attention was then brought to Kouga.

Kouga: "We're going to the next town tomorrow. We'll be leaving right at sunrise. We'll want to be in the next town by nightfall, just to be safe..."

Akira: "This is because of the infamous bandits of the Shiranui Mountains, right?"

Kouga: "Yeah. Even some of the northern tribe has joined them. They just do whatever they like. We're pretty far from the Shiranui Mountains, so we'll probably be fine, but, just to be extra safe..."

Sleeping through the night, the Sabitini group woke up at sunrise and packed up and left the town to head towards the next one. It was silent for the most part, Sabitini sitting at the front as he drove the carriage.

Natalia, Amuria, Kouga, Dangan, Akira, and Akame were inside the tent. Currently, the bald man, Dangan, was crouching on the floor of the carriage as he held his head.

Dangan: "Oh shit...it's happening...it's happening soon! Everyone, get away from me! Run away!"

Kouga: "Hmph. It's just motion sickness, isn't it? You're so melodramatic... (sigh) Why aren't you more like Akira over there?"

Near the entrance of the carriage, Akame was currently patting Akira's back, the boy currently throwing up out of the carriage. He began to rise, thinking he was done, only for him to hold his mouth and lean back down again and puke.

Amuria: "Are you two okay?"

Akira: "S-Sure...just fine and dandy..."

Natalia: (sigh) "Geez, you two are so pathetic."

Akira: "Hrrk...! Natalia, you try dealing with motion sickness! Oh no..."

Facing the outside again, Akira once again pukes as Akame sweat drops and continues to pat his back. Dangan grew a visible tick mark from Natalia's remark, but he soon grinned, an idea popping in his head.

Dangan: "Whoa! A snake!"

This causes Natalia to shriek, quickly grabbing Akame and the two huddle together on the other side of Dangan. Akame then picks up what Dangan was pointing at.

Akame: "Natalia, this is just a piece of rope."

Natalia: (starts to strangle Dangan) "Why you baldy bastard!"

Dangan: "Gaah!"

Kouga: (deadpan) "Of course this would be the outcome. Why are you such a bald idiot...?"

Akame: "Akira, did you not take those crushed herbs meant for motion sickness?"

Akira: (belches even more) "Wait...we had those?"

Akame: (sigh) "Why is it that you forget the things concerning your motion sickness? Here. You have some too, Dangan."

Dangan: "Ooh! Thanks, Akame."

Amuria: "Isn't that valuable to you? Are you sure?"

Akame: "No, it's just made of herbs from the roadside, so it's fine."

Amuria: "You're so kind, Akame-chan."

Suddenly, the carriage came to a complete stop, causing everyone to lurch forward. Akira was sent back into the carriage, him tumbling backwards as he face plants into Amuria. Distressed, Kouga grabs his sword and runs out of the carriage, his eyes widening in fear.

In front of him were none other than the bandits of the Shiranui Mountains. 

Bandit 1: "Kehehe...so this is the famous traveling show-group."

At this point, Akira had recovered and the rest of the Sabitini group had gathered outside. Some of the group members were already trembling with slight fear.

Bandit 1: "Ah, and there are lots of beautiful ladies, too."

Bandit 2: "So we can loot both money and women. I'm glad we took this excursion."

Sabitini: (thoughts) 'Why...why are bandits in a place like this...!?' (normal) "There's no choice but to fight! Everyone, grab a weapon!"

Kouga: "Akame, Akira, get behind me!"

Bandit 1: "Oh? You want to fight?"

Bandit 2: "Well, the outcome will be the same either way, but can we just go with the usual routine then, boss?"

Boss: "Yeah. Kill all the men. As for the women, cut their ankle tendons so they can't run away, and capture them."

Sabitini: "You bastards...!"

Akame then slowly walked to the front, Akira keeping a straight face while everyone looked at her worried. The bandits were confused, watching the girl as she walked towards them with her hair covering her eyes.

Akame: "Do you...do all these things, like the rumors say?"

Kouga: "He-Hey, Akame!"

Boss: "Ahn? Of course! Our bandit group even silences crying girls! We'll capture you too, little girl and make you our toilet--"

The main ring leader of the bandits was cut off, blood dripping down his neck as Akira had dashed forward. The dagger in his hand was covered in blood, the blue-eyed boy turning his head slightly as they could see the sadistic grin on his face.

Akira: "Oops.~ Did I kill him too fast?"

Bandit 1: "Wha...what do you think you're doing brat!? Use the guns! Shoot them!"

From the boy's pocket, he quickly fished out a revolver named Prometheus. Firing two quick shots, he killed one of them with the other bullet missing. The boy let out an annoyed sound, the bandit freaking out before his screams were cut short, a quick slash from Akame, which ended his life.

The Sabitini group looked at the two children before Sabitini himself raised his cane and pumped it upwards.

Sabitini: "Follow those two! We can do this!" 

And with that, a bloody battle ensued. Akira would fire a few more shots with Prometheus, but hip-firing wasn't his forte. The boy sighed with annoyance as he lunged forward, driving his knife into the first one before he quickly took it out and slashed it at the other bandit's leg. The bandit cried in a pain and fell on his back, fear quickly taking over as he looked upwards, Akira looming over him as he let out sadistic giggles.

Twirling the knife between his fingers, he goes to bring it down before he paused and looked behind him. Another bandit went for his head, but was quickly killed by Akame, the red-eyed girl looking at her blue-eyed partner with a kind smile.

Akira: "Tsk. I knew he was there...whatever."

Resuming his attention back to the bandit in front of him, the bandit shrieks in fear and pain as Akira began to repeatedly stab him, laughing as he does so. Hours would soon pass as the sun begins to set, the group having made it to the next town. Sabitini stood in front of his group with a grin, laughing over their triumphant victory.

Sabitini: "Well, well...not only did we kill all the bandits that attacked us, but not a single one of us died!"

Natalia: "I knew you two were athletic, but I didn't think you were that good in fights."

Akame: (munching on meat) "To be honest, the Danger Beasts that we hunted in the mountains were much tougher."

Natalia: (sweat drops) "Growing up in the wild must have been crazy."

Akira: "Really? I don't think so."

Kouga: "Thanks. Because you two fought for us, everyone made it out okay."

Amuria: "We're really grateful for you, Akame-chan, Akira. Thanks a lot."

Sabitini: "Alright, I've decided! Let's have you two join our cause!"

Kouga: (serious look) "...Isn't that...a bit too soon?"

Amuria: "They're just kids!"

Sabitini: "Yeah, it doesn't have to be now. But I want to at least explain who we are. Hey, Akame. At first, we wanted to entrust you two to another show-group as soon as we found one. The reason for that is on the outside, we're a traveling show-group, but we have a hidden identity."

Akame: "Hidden identity?"

Sabitini: "Yeah...our group, all of us...are striving to change this country. Agents of justice, you could say. We ask you, because of your skills...will you lend us your strengths in the future?" 

Kouga: "Right now, the Empire is rotten to the core. The citizens are struggling in poverty, but all the people in power do is chase after more money and power."

Dangan: "There are many other groups like us who are working to change this world."

Natalia: "We're one of those groups. We gather information by disguising ourselves as a traveling show-group and traveling from town to town."

Amuria: "I'm sorry, it's probably too much for you to understand right away, right? I'll explain it to you little by little, so think about it at your own pace, okay?"

Akira: "Amuria-san...we understand everything completely."

And in the blink of an eye, Amuria had a hole right between her eyes. With a betrayed look, Sabitini and the rest look to the two children, Akira having a menacing glare with Akame having a straight face, but hurt look in her eyes.

Natalia: "What are you...!?"

Akame: "We now have evidence. Looks like you've hid yourselves well, but after hearing all those things..."

Natalia looked in shock as her hand was cut clean off, her having no reaction time whatsoever. Akame raised her katana into the air, swiftly bringing it down as she cuts Natalia in half, killing her instantly.

Akame: "Target: Sabatini group. Every member will be buried."

Sabitini: (sweating profusely) "You...could you two be...Imperial spies!?"

Dangan: "Akame! You...!"

In mere seconds, Dangan had dashed towards the raven-haired girl, but she quickly dodged, using her katana to cut his arm off. Dangan begins to bleed as Akira made his way to the tent's entrance.

Akira: (nonchalant tone of voice) "Hai.~ I'll go send the signal."

A few buildings away, four more children were waiting in the shadows. One of them had blonde hair, him glancing upwards as a flare was set off into the sky. It was the signal sent off by Akira.

???: "Let's go."

Back in the tent, Kouga was currently up against Akame. She kept a cold glare as she kept her katana raised at the ready, Kouga was sweating.

Kouga: "Shit...we didn't do anything suspicious...!"

Akame: "We knew that you were being watched because you were cautious. That's why we became new members instead of investigating from the start." 

Kouga: "You don't feel anything cutting us down!? For one month...we were in the same group together!"

Akame: (crying) "Of course I do! How could I not feel a thing!?"

Kouga: "Then...!"

Akame: "We also! We also wanted you guys to be just a regular show group...but, now that we know that you bring misery upon the people, we can't let you go."

Kouga: (confused) "Mis...Misery?"

Akame: "We'll make it quick and painless. I've been taught how to do that."

Kouga: "Using a child like you...that damn Empire!"

Before Kouga could even attack, Akame moved with blinding speed and she cut him down. Kouga fell to the floor, his life leaving his eyes as he began to bleed to death.

Kouga: "I...I...I promised to change...the country..."

To make sure he wasn't suffering anymore, Akame drove the tip of her blade into his chest, piercing his heart. Kouga then stops moving, Akame removing her katana and flicking the blood off. Sabitini looked at her in fear, the older man now backing up.

He then screams, taking off as he goes for the exit. But he didn't make it far. As soon as he did make it outside, the same boy with blonde hair had drove a sword through his chest, killing him.

Akira: "Dammit, Najasho! That was my kill!"

Najasho: "...Hmph. Take no prisoners."

Akira: (growls in annoyance) "Fine. Oi! None of you take my kills!"

Revolutionist: "Who...who are they?"

Poney: "You criminals and anarchists who bring misery to the people!"

Revolutionist: "You brat!"

The revolutionist goes to swing his sword, but the girl, Poney, had slid, doing a handstand and kicking the revolutionist's face. Her leg strength was so strong that it killed him instantly, making Poney beam in happiness.

Poney: "I wonder if Daddy is watching? I killed one!"

Timeskip

???: "Great. You've killed every single one of them. Great job completing a difficult mission, Akira. Akame."

Akira: "Eh, it was nothing. No sweat, Father."

Father: "They couldn't help but to reveal themselves to you scout you two out after seeing how strong you two were. You've put out another spark of war. You've done a great thing! Keeping working for the country to bring happiness to everyone, just like this. Got it?"

Poney: "Yes, Daddy!"

Father: (grin) "Mmm. Good girl."

As the group began to leave, Akame turning her head to the people who she once called her comrades. Akira notices and puts a hand on her shoulder.

Akira: "You alright?"

Akame: "...Did you feel bad for killing them as well?"

Akira: "They were traitors. I don't feel sympathy for them at all."

Akame: "...I see."

Deep down, it was all a lie. As Akira faced to where everyone else was going, his proud smile shifted to a frown. Despite him eager to end their lives for finding out they were revolutionists, Akira couldn't help but feel sad about killing them.

Through the month he and Akame spent with them, he felt like they were family. And that family all ended tonight.

One thousand years since it's founding...the Empire, because of the corruption of it's government, had many rebellious groups across the nation. 

The secret intelligence agency of the nation grew concerned, and therefore created a group of assassins. The members were all innocent children raised as human weapons.

They all believed that by for each life they took, they brought another life of happiness into the world. 

Not knowing the tragic fate that awaited them...

---

(A/N): And that was the start of an experimental story that has been going on in my mind for a couple of months now. For now, this book will be updated when I really want to take a break from the other books I have going on now. I usually do four books at a time, which is usually three action and one romance, or two action and two romance. For now, this will fill the slot of the Blake Belladonna book because I cannot write chapters for that at the moment. Anyway, would appreciate to let me know what your thoughts and feedback on this. And if you enjoyed this, I hope you await for the next one! Till then.

-okami