Green, Poney, and Kurome stood in shock. Not only were their opponents were people they've encountered, or rather people that have a bone to pick with them, they have two of their allies who were considered dead. Sweat pooled down the three's faces as Najasho and Akira were releasing killing intent, staring down their former teammates.

While Kurome and Poney were distracted at staring at Akira, Meela and Lorris had rushed in at the two of them. The two girls of the Elite Seven were quickly alerted, turning their attention to the twin girls as they dodge attacks from their dual blades. But Poney and Kurome let out small grunts of pain. Lorris and Meela were quick enough to graze them on their arms, shocking the three assassins of the Empire. As Green watched with shock, he was interrupted from his thought process, turning his attention to Akira.

The icy blue-eyed teen had rushed forward, drawing Gin's sword off his back. Green was about to go on the defensive before Akira turned his head to Mudi, his head motioning for him to go stand guard at his side. So Akira quickly side-stepped, him heading back to Mudi and standing next to Najasho, his sword resting on his shoulder.

Mudi: "Give them gruesome deaths, everyone...like you did those spies!"

Lorris: "It's another race, sis! Let's see who can execute the most garishly!"

Meela: "You're on. Let the brutality begin!"

Poney: (tick mark) "Don't get cocky with us!"

Kurome: "You're the ones who will be executed."

Mudi then orders Akira and Najasho to charge at Kurome and Poney to kill them. The two do so, leaving Mudi vulnerable. Green took this chance and unleashed his Shingu, Sidewinder. However, Najasho was quick to notice this, the blonde teen turning to Akira. Akira simply nods his head, Najasho nodding back as he rushes back to Mudi, knocking the attacking end of Sidewinder away with his Shingu, Water Dragon Sword.

Mashiro stood off to the side, a good distance away from them, whipping out a revolver that looked similar to Prometheus. She fired a shot, but Green was able to dodge it, shocking Mashiro.

Mudi: "It's pointless, boy."

Mashiro: "Actually, it isn't. By attacking you, he's restricting one of your doll's movements, and you let the other one have a bit more freedom. Not only that, he's figured out my gun's pattern so as to crack his whip after I've fired it."

Mudi: "He really is one of the assassins who took out our comrades."

Green: (thoughts) 'They've figured out my tactic...but that's not all.'

Mudi: "It is still no use. Even if you focus on me, the sisters and your old comrade will kill your friends. A person's grudge! It's an immeasurable source of power!"

Over with Kurome, the black-haired girl was struggling. Not only was she having to deal with Meela constantly trying to strike her and kill her, she was also having to deal with Akira. She knew of his skill, considering he was ranked No. 2 and was personally trained by Gozuki, as well as Esdeath.

Kurome parries one of Meela's blades, but the Oarburgh girl had the other, slashing Kurome's shoulder. Akira then came in from the side, doing a spinning kick as he sends Kurome skidding across the ground, crashing into a tree. Meela laughed with glee as she goes for a killing blow, but Kurome was quick to recover, her slashing her katana as she parries the two attacks from Meela, the Oarburgh girl having to head back and stand next to Akira.

Meela: "We're wearing you down, slowly but surely. This is punishment by fine mincing. The suffering of losing our loved ones felt as if our bodies were being torn to shreds. So I want you to feel the same way!"

Kurome grits her teeth as blood dripped down her forehead, her preparing to attack once more. With Poney, both her and Lorris were constantly dodging each other from each strike they sent towards each other.

Lorris: "Just get cut already!"

Poney: "You just get kicked already!"

Mudi: "Mashiro-san! Let's synchronize our breathing. We're going to have him attack for us first."

Green: "Not if I can help it!"

As Najasho had dashed forward towards Green, Green sends it towards Najasho. The blonde teen deflects the blade by slashing it away, Green turning as he has the whip heads towards Mudi. But as he was labeled No. 1, Najasho had jumped back with quick speed, knocking the whip away once more.

Back with Kurome, Meela and Kurome kept circling each other, Akira standing off to the side as he waited for his opening to strike. The two girls kept parrying each other's blades until Meela made a mistake. When she slashed her two blades, she missed, Kurome taking this chance to rush in. And with great speed, Kurome had slashed Meela's throat, leaving the young girl shocked and Akira's eyes to widen in slight surprise.

Meela: "I...I...I've been cut...!?"

Kurome: "I know the feeling of wanting to chop a despised opponent to bits, but...it's time you gave it up."

Meela: "I...I can't die!"

Turning her attention back to Kurome, Meela dashes forward, overcome by her grudge and get revenge. But because it was so obvious, Kurome had anticipated it and raised her sword over her head. Once Meela got close enough, Kurome had quickly brought it down, slashing right through Meela's shoulder. She then took her blade and drove it through Meela's body. 

Lorris: "Sister!"

Mudi: (shocked) "What!?"

Green: "The more you try to draw out our deaths, the more unnecessary moves you make, leaving you open to attack. That's your weakness. If you'd actually been serious about killing us, this would've been over a long time ago."

Kurome and Poney now surrounded Lorris.

Kurome: "Let's attack from both sides and finish her off!"

Poney: "Got it!"

Green: (thoughts) 'I managed to buy us time talking to him too. We win.'

Mudi: "It's true we were arrogant to try to kill you slowly and cruelly. We should have considered how equally matched we are. But you think you've won, don't you? You underestimate our rage!"

Meela: "M-Mera-sama will be avenged...with as many as you...as possible."

Kurome thought she had killed her. Meela then bit something that was inside her mouth. And in a few seconds, an explosion had occurred. Meela had sacrificed herself and used herself as a bomb. Dust had risen up from the ground, creating a smokescreen and obstructing Green's, Poney's, and Kurome's view.

Mudi: "Now! Kill them!"

Mashiro fires her gun into the smokescreen, the bullet hitting Kurome's blade. It caused Kurome's blade to have cracks, rendering it unusable now as it was about to break. Before Kurome could run out of the smokescreen, Akira had entered in, his icy glare piercing through Kurome as he brought Gin's sword down. The black haired girl's sword then shatters, Akira cutting Kurome's arm, making her grunt in pain. 

He then picks her up and kicks Kurome in her chest. Kurome coughed up a little bit of blood, her being sent back and crashing into another tree. She looked up in fear as she sees Akira's eyes locked onto her, him raising Gin's blade over him so he could do a finishing blow. In the smokescreen, Najasho had entered and found his prey, Poney. The girl had a pleading eye, looking at her former leader to not attack her. But Najasho's glare showed the same killing intent.

Green: "Attack him, Poney! You have no other choice!"

Gritting her teeth, Poney began to spin on her heel, readying her foot for a kick. It wasn't until Najasho stopped and faltered, causing Poney to stop and smile.

Poney: "Najasho...I knew you'd remember us..."

Likewise, Akira had stopped, him glancing down at Kurome. Something flashed in his mind. It was him, in a marsh land. He was cooking some sort of boar, him constantly slapping the hands away of the girl in front of him and another girl that looked like her.

Mudi: "What are you two doing!? Swing your swords!"

A small joint of pain then went through their left eyes. Najasho swung his sword down, a betrayed look on Poney's face. Najasho had slashed Poney from her right shoulder all the way down to her left side.

Poney weakly called Najasho's name, causing the blonde teen to look at her. When he did so, for some odd reason, he felt guilty and remorseful. Something was telling him not to kill her. Najasho then turned his head to the sound of footsteps, seeing Gozuki and Akame running towards them. Just as Akame was about to save Poney, she looked to where Kurome was, seeing a black haired boy standing over her, readying to swing her sword down. She gained an angered look as she pulled out her sword, running towards him at full speed and slashing down at him, making the boy grunt in pain.

Akame's angered look then morphed to one of shock, tears filling her eyes. As she stared at the person in front of her, her arms shaking as she dropped her katana in disbelief.

Akame: "A...A-Akira...?"

Akira had a late response on trying to slash down at Kurome, him turning his head towards Akame with a deadly glare. He grabbed the red-eyed girl by the neck and pushed her up against the tree, prepping to drive his sword right through her. Again, he stopped when he looked into her eyes. Akame's red eyes had a pleading look, her holding onto Akira's arm as she began crying.

Like Najasho, Akira felt remorseful and guilty of this. Something was also telling him to never make this girl in front of him cry. No harm should come to her, and nothing should make her sad. His sword arm begins to falter, his grip on Akame's neck now weakening.

Akame: "Akira...it's me...don't you remember?"

His grip on her neck began to falter even more, Akame noticing the guilt in Akira's eyes. When the icy blue-eyed teen tried to say something, he gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, a sharp pain in his head. He then heard voices again.

???: "Hey...if you need someone to talk to, just holler. We're all here."

Red-Eyed Girl: "...Then...do you mind staying here for a while?"

???: "...Very well."

Once the voices subsided, Akira let go of Akame's neck, holding his head in pain as let out small grunts. Akame stood there as she was still in shock. She watched him put up the wall that night. She watched the explosion go off. His body was never mind. So she was confused. Confused as to how Akira still lived.

She went to go help the boy, but Akira opened his eyes, the pain in his head stopping. He rushed back over to Mudi, standing next to him as he continued to look at the red-eyed girl. Soon enough, Najasho rejoined him as well, standing next to him.

Mudi: "We'll settle this next time...but if you defeat me, the parasites within Najasho and Akira will kill them too!"

This causes Green and Akame to gasp in shock. While Akira and Najasho are their enemies, they still wouldn't want to harm or kill their former comrades. Mashiro then lights a few smoke bombs, tossing them to the ground. They then explode, the smoke slowly covering the Retribution Group, and soon, they disappeared.

As much as Green wanted to go after them, he knows Akira and Najasho would just intercept them. Not only that, should the enemy attack them again, he could be gone, so he made the decision to remain here and protect everyone. This was the worst development possible.

Kurome had sustained major injuries, but not to the extent of Poney's, whose were life threatening. With no choice but to retreat, the Elite Seven gather their wounded and head back to their hideout and think about the encounter. However, Akame kept staring at Akira's raven skull necklace, how his eyes showed no familiarity towards her or either of her friends. While it did hurt her, it also filled a resolute reason to keep looking for him. To bring him back. And maybe. Just maybe be with him once more. Maybe make things right.