Empires and great cities eventually fall. Just as humans decompose and wither away. It's a natural way of life, just as it always has been. 

The Imperial Capital had flourished for thousands of years, and it was now a decaying hell. Many monsters known as Danger Beasts plague the area of the wilderness around it, but everyone knows that the real monsters live within the Capital. The true monsters are those with the skins of humans. And the Capital is infested with many of them.

However, this evil may go unpunished by god, it's always disposed of by those that live in the shadows. Those that live in the darkness make their living by killing.

---

Many months had passed since Akame's defection from the Empire. Instead of fighting with the corrupted, she now fought against it. She is know Akame of the Revolutionary Army, assassin of the assassination unit, Night Raid. 

She and her team had received orders from their boss, the former general of the Empire, Najenda. Their target was a corrupt noble family in the Capital. This particular family would lure those from the countryside with sweet words into their home. And the next thing those countryside people knew, they'd be tortured play things for fun by this family.

It was late at night, a blood red moon hovered high in the sky. A brown-haired boy could be seen running through the halls of the targeted noble family with a sword on his back. He soon stops short, turning to look out the window as his eyes widened as he gazed up at the blood red moon.

???: "Night Raid!"

In the sky, Night Raid stood on some string created by the green-haired person of the group, Lubbock. He was hunched over, seeing three guards run out of the mansion below.

Lubbock: "Three guards. They're our targets too. Akame-chan."

Akame: "...I will send them to rest."

Gripping her Teigu tightly, Murasame, Akame begins to fall backwards, an armored man, Bulat, following suit. The two landed on the ground, Bulat making a loud impact as the three guards stared at the two with nervousness.

While Bulat was intimidating them just by standing there, Akame began to walk towards them with an emotionless look, her unsheathing her katana.

Guard: "Okay, boys. Don't let that sword of hers touch you."

The first ran forward with his sword, Akame making no effort as she took Murasame and made a small slice on his neck. The first guard drops dead, him succumbing to the poison inflicted by Akame's sword. The second guard then drops to the ground dead as well as Bulat had thrown his spear forward, it piercing the second large guard as blood flew in the air.

Seeing his two comrades die right in front of him, the third guard turns around and heads back for the mansion. But he didn't get far, a hole in his forehead appearing as a bullet of spiritual energy leaves his head. Smoke rose from a gun barrel, a pink-haired girl holding a sniper. This is Mine, wielder of the sniper Teigu, Pumpkin.

Mine: "Pathetic. Deserting under enemy fire."

Lubbock: "Nah. That was just plain old running away." (thoughts) 'Who wouldn't in this situation?'

The brown-haired boy that was watching from the window watched with shock and horror. The mansion guards were taken down like ants, him turning down the hall.

???: (thoughts) 'They were massacred...in seconds!? At least...at least I've got to protect Miss Aria!'

As Akame proceeded to the back, another figure was in the treeline. His icy blue eyes illuminated in the dark, a large blade on his back as a hood covered his face. Something hung from his waist on his belt, it looking like a key. Turning his head towards the back of the mansion, he quickly takes off in that direction.

In another hallway, the the head noble was being held up by the neck from a blonde woman with lion features. The lioness, Leone, watched as the noble struggled to breathe and shake his way out of her grasp.

Noble: "S-Spare me...I have...I have a daughter...!"

Leone: (grin) "Don't worry. You'll be seeing her soon on the other side."

Noble: "Not my daughter...! Have you no mercy!?"

Leone: "Mercy...? No idea what you mean."

The blonde woman then snaps his neck, the noble going limp in Leone's hand. In the woods out back, the daughter of the noble, Aria, was being led to the other side of the woods. Arriving to a clearing, there was a storage shed on the other side. As they were about to head in, they turn around as they heard panting noises. It was the brown-haired boy from the window.

???: "Miss Aria! There you are!"

Aria: "Tatsumi!"

Guard: "Perfect timing! We'll seek shelter in the storage shed and wait for the authorities! You hold off the enemy until then! Got it!?"

Tatsumi: (scared) "That's a little much..."

The brown-haired boy, now known as Tatsumi, heard something land behind him. Only a few feet away from him was a cloaked figure, the hooded person grasping the handle of the sword that hung from his back.

Tatsumi felt cold slightly, some sort of chilly mist emanating from the person's fingers. Nonetheless, he gritted his teeth as he unsheathed his sword. But Tatsumi's eyes widened as the hooded figure had went past him, faster than he could blink. The guard armed his rifle that was in his hands, firing a barrage of bullets. The cloaked figure grabbed the key that hung from his belt, it briefly changing into flames before it morphed into a scythe. Spinning it in a circle, the figure blocked all the bullets from the guard and was close enough to swing his weapon, cutting the heels of the guard.

The guard yelled in pain, him falling on his back as Aria backed up in fear. The figure picked the guard up by the front of his uniform, lifting the guard's face up to his covered face. The figured opened his mouth and something began to leave the guard's mouth. A green colored aura began leaving the guard's mouth and into the hooded figure's mouth, the figure dropping the guard's corpse to the ground once he finished. The scythe seemed to pulsate with energy, it glowing a sinister green color.

The reaper-like character then faces the blonde noble, Aria flinching in fear as she falls onto her rear. The cloaked figure begins to loom over her menacingly, holding the scythe above him. Just as he was about to swing the scythe down, he looked to his right. Making the scythe dissipate, it returning back to it's key form, he hooked it back onto his belt and took the sword off his back, blocking a strike from the brown-haired boy.

???: "What are you doing?"

Tatsumi: "I remember you now! You bumped into me and my friends all those weeks ago!"

???: (tilts head) "Did I?"

Tatsumi: "Are you mocking me!?"

???: "I suggest you flee this encounter. If you do, I might let you off."

Tatsumi: "But you want to kill this girl, don't you!?"

???: "...What's it to you? If you get in my way, I'll kill you."

Tatsumi: "I can't very well run away now!"

???: "...Then die."

Tatsumi shivered after the person spoke, him seeing a chilling breath leaving his mouth. Before the cloaked figure could lop the head off of Tatsumi's shoulders, he glanced over to Aria. He sees a ravenette speeding over to her, a katana in her hand. The cloaked person let out a small grunt of pain, him seeing something. But he shook it off, kicking Tatsumi in his lower region and speeding off towards the ravenette.

Akame could see this cloaked person heading for her, the red-eyed girl stopping her tracks to face him. And at high speeds, The mysterious reaper's sword comes into contact against Akame's Murasame, the blades grinding against each other as small sparks flew. Akame eyed who this stranger was, feeling some sort of familiarity towards her. In fact, she glanced at the sword the person held.

Akame: "Where did you get that?"

???: "None of your business."

Akame: "It is my business. It belonged to a former teammate of mine, so it doesn't belong to you!"

The red-eyed girl hopped slightly, tucking her legs in and kicking the person in the chest as she maneuvered herself into the air, Akame using the reaper's body to generate momentum in order to propel herself off. As the hooded person let out an annoyed sound, he once again took off the key off his belt, transforming it back into a scythe as he sped off towards the ravenette, the two now engaging themselves in a duel.

Stretching and yawning slightly, Leone was making her way to the storehouse, where the target and Akame should be. However, she perked up when she saw the brown-haired boy, but she was curious as to why his mouth was agape. Following his gaze, Leone's eyes widened as she herself gains a pissed off look, a cloaked person having Akame pinned to a tree, Murasame stabbed into the ground with the person holding Akame against the tree by the neck. Leone growled in anger, charging at the mysterious stranger holding her friend in his clutches.

On Akame's end, she felt a sense of deja vu. In fact, it did feel familiar to her. Mount Hakuba, where she had found her old friends, Najasho and Akira. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 of the Elite Seven being brainwashed and being used by a former Gravekeeper. When Akame looked into the stranger's eyes, she could see them, the icy blue glowing with a dull look., familiar markings under his left eye. Akame's own red eyes widened, but she didn't want to get her hopes up.

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

Her suspicions seemed to be right, the cloaked figure freezing up as his body tensed, the grip on her neck faltering. His sword hand's grip began to falter as well, the figure loosening his grip on the handle. Just as the reaper was about to question the ravenette, he felt a heavy blow to the side of his face. Akame looked on in shock as her lioness friend, Leone, had jumped in, landing a powerful punch on the side of the hooded figure's face.

The reaper was launched away from the two, rolling and skidding across the ground as Leone steeled herself, her narrowed eyes on the figure. She then looked to Akame, concerned as she sees her red-eyed partner hold her neck, the hooded person had having a tight grip wrapped around Akame's neck.

Leone: "You okay?"

Akame: "Yeah...but, don't hurt him anymore. Please. I have to confirm something myself."

While Leone was on edge, she could see the pleading look in Akame's eyes. Reluctantly, Leone began to stand down, but still remaining on her guard.

Akame began to slowly walk towards the hooded figure, the person's hood now off his face. He began to rise, slowly, leaking intent of bloodlust coming off him. Once his face came into view of the moonlight, Akame gasped, putting both hands on her mouth as she began to get teary eyed.

While still doing missions for Night Raid, Akame had been looking for any leads concerning her old partner. Her old friend from the Elite Seven...her now realizing who she should have loved back then. She felt terrible for neglecting those feelings he had always kept locked inside of him, and now here he was, her ready to start over with him.

Akame: "Akira?"

Akira was caught off guard at the sudden mention of his name, but he soon regained his emotionless look, him showing hints of anger as he grabbed his sword and dashed forward. Leone thought her friend was about to die, so she prepared to engage him as well. But Akame held her hand out, telling Leone not to come, the blonde once again reluctantly obeying. 

Once he had dashed forward, Akira stopped, his sword's tip just barely inches away from Akame's neck. Akame stood there, slightly nervous as she watched Akira's eyes move from up to down, scanning her from top to bottom. He seemed to be analyzing her. Still on guard, Akira slowly lowered the sword away from Akame's neck, Akame slowly lowering her guard.

Akira: "...Who are you, and how do you now my name?"

The ravenette expected for her icy blue-eyed friend to reply with a calm and welcoming tone, but considering what happened with the brainwashing of the Retribution Group's leader, Mudi, Akame wasn't at all surprised when he asked with a demanding tone.

Akame: "Do you not remember, Akira? I-It's me...Akame. Do...d-do you not remember the days, weeks...years we spent together in the Empire's assassination unit?"

The icy blue-eyed teen gained a puzzled look, him mumbling Akame's name as she nodded slowly. He then closes his eyes, him seeming to be remembering something.

Flashback

Red-Eyed Girl: "What?"

Akira: "N-Nothing. It's just...it looks good on you. But...with what's happening now, I don't think we'll have time for things like that."

Red-Eyed Girl: "...Yes...of course."

Akira: "Maybe when all this is over, we'll head back to Martha to check out some more, yeah?"

Red-Eyed Girl: "Perhaps."

Flashback End

After looking at this new memory, the girl in it looking very similar, if not, identical to the person in front of him, it caused Akira to make a small smile. But just remembering it made him have an intense pain surge throughout his head, causing him to scream in pain as he drops his sword and hold his head. Akame began to look on in worry, instantly concerned as she ran up to him, holding him by the side of his shoulders.

Soon after the pain stopped, Akira fell unconscious, causing Akame to hold onto his unconscious form. She then got down on her knees, holding Akira's body upright as she saw his face, Akame soon having tears as she began to wept. It had been so long since she had seen someone from her old team. Not since she was forced to abandon her own sister when she was shot and fallen into the river she was trying to escape into. In fact, she didn't know the fate of Poney, the former No. 5 of the Elite Seven. She wasn't sure if Poney was alive or not. But seeing Akira now, it brought Akame a sense of relief that one of her old friends was alive, her burying her face in his chest as she began to weep even more. Leone looked at her friend with sadness, but was also confused. Many thoughts were running through her mind. Such as, "Who is this person?" and "How much does she mean to her?" However, this moment was cut short.

Tatsumi: "What the hell is going on!? I don't know who the hell that guy is, but why are you guys attacking an innocent girl!" (points to Leone) "And you're those boobs from earlier!"

Leone: "That's right! I'm the pretty lady from before.~"

Akame wasn't surprised at her friend's change of attitude, but right now, she was concerned for her blue-eyed friend. When she went back to looking at his face, she was quite surprised as to how good looking he is. She didn't pay attention to such features back then, the only thing on her mind then was to reunite with her sister. But now, she will take all the time she would need to spend time with him, Akame brushing some of his hair out of his face, smiling down at the peaceful scene as he slept.

Tatsumi was aggravated, him shaking with anger as earlier in the day, the blonde woman had swindle him of his money. However, he was caught off guard when Leone changed her attitude from cheerfulness to a serious tone.

Leone: "Kid. You were afraid we'd kill an innocent little girl, but..."

Aria began to shift uncomfortably in her spot as Leone began making her way to the entrance of the storehouse. Bringing her leg back, Leone thrusts it forward, kicking the metal doors down with force as it revealed the scene inside.

Leone: "I wonder if you can still say that after you see this. Take a good look. This is the dark side of the Capital."

The brown-haired teen walked forward, his eyes widening at the horrific sight his eyes were seeing before him. There were bodies chained to the ceiling, some upright and some upside down. Some of them were even missing limbs and chucks of their bodies on their lower chests and upper body. 

Rotting corpses were put in cages with some of the deceased clinging to the bars in their dying moments. Below the observation deck, there were tables, a body being strapped to one of them with god knows what sort of torture he went through. Dried blood and the smell of rotting flesh filled the room as he saw everything, even the numerous amount of the torture weapons and tools that were spread around. It was clear to him that something sickening was going on.

Tatsumi: "Wha...what the hell is this...!?"

Leone: "They invite in unidentified people who come from the country with sweet offers and then play with them by torturing them to their death. This is the true nature of the people who live in that house..."

Tatsumi's eyes widened even more as he gazed up at a particular body that was chained and hanging from the ceiling. It was a dark-haired girl with long hair, it being smooth with a single flower in her hair. She was completely stripped of her clothing, her body having been darkened and bloodied. The girl was even missing her entire leg.

Tatsumi: "...Sayo? Come on, Sayo...Sayo...!"

Leone: "So one of them was your friend..."

Thinking no one was looking, Aria turned the other way and began moving so she could escape. But Leone sensed this, her turning around grabbing the blonde young girl by the back of her dress.

Leone: "Whoa, now. You're asking for too much if you think you can run away now, little missy."

Tatsumi: "...That family did this?"

Leone: "That's right. And their guards kept silence about it, so they're just as guilty."

Aria: "Sh-She's lying! I never even knew this place existed! Are you going to believe me, who saved you, or them, Tatsumi!?"

Tatsumi was still unsure of who to believe. But after seeing this gruesome sight, he was leaning more towards Night Raid. It wasn't until a voice called out to him.

???: "...Ta...Tatsumi...it's you, isn't it?"

Tatsumi: "I...Ieyasu!?"

Ieyasu: "That girl approached me and Sayo...and we passed out after eating a meal she gave us. When we woke up, here we were. Th-That girl...tortured Sayo to death!"

Ieyasu then begins to cry in his caged cell, Aria finally slapping Leone's hand away. Her true nature began to show. 

Aria: "And what's wrong with that!? You guys are just useless country bumpkins! You're not different from livestock! I can treat you however I want! And for just a farm animal, that girl had beautiful straight hair and too much attitude! While I have to suffer with this kinked hair of mine! So I made her pay for it! You should be thanking me for how thorough I was with her!"

Leone: "They were just wolves in sheeps' clothing...Akame, you wanna take this?"

Akame: "...Go on ahead. I'm busy here."

Leone: (nods) "...Okay."

Tatsumi: "Wait."

The two assassins looked to the brown-haired boy, his hair darkening his face. He was marching towards Aria, a hand on his sword handle, the blade resting on his back.

Leone: "Don't tell me you're still going to stand up for her?"

Tatsumi: "No...I'll be the one to kill her!"

Taking a big step forward, Tatsumi unsheathed his sword and slashed it diagonally, from her shoulder down to her lower body. Aria screamed in pain before she ultimately fell backwards, dead.

Leone was in a thinking position, her hand on her chin as she watched Tatsumi sheathed his sword. Tatsumi had killed her without remorse, not even hesitating in the slightest. Not only that, she did note that he was able to stop an attack from the cloaked person, it now being Akira. Though, she only caught a glimpse of it.

In his cell, Ieyasu began to laugh with glee, but he soon covered his mouth as he began to cough up blood. Worriedly, Tatsumi ran to his cell and got him out, now cradling the dying Ieyasu in his arms. Akame looked to the scene.

Tatsumi: "What is it, Ieyasu!?"

Akame: "He's in the final stages of the Rubola disease. The wife enjoyed administering drugs to people and recording their symptoms in her journal...there's no saving him."

Tatsumi was shocked at this revelation, but Ieyasu only grinned.

Ieyasu: "Tatsumi. Sayo...never gave in to that bitch...you should've seen her...so I also want to make you proud...up to my last moments..."

Tatsumi's friend had extended his hand up into the air, clenching it tightly. The arm soon falls limp, landing on his chest. He was dead.

Akame: "It was sheer willpower keeping him alive this long."

Tatsumi: (cries) "...What happened to the Capital...?"

Akame's red orbs lingered on Tatsumi for a little bit before she closed then. Picking up Akira's unconscious form, putting him on her back and picking up his sword, she turns the other way.

Akame: "Let's go."

Leone: "Hmm. Say. Why don't we take that kid with us? I mean, you're taking someone, aren't you?"

Akame: "Hmm?"

Leone: "He's lucky brave, and don't you agree that he's got talent?"

Tatsumi: "Let me go! I've got to bury them!"

Leone: "Oh, I'll carry the bodies back to base later, so don't worry."

Tatsumi: "Huh!?"

Akame stared at Leone blankly, the blonde woman having a nonchalant attitude as she began dragging Tatsumi with her, the brown-haired boy doing his best to wiggle out of her grasp. Just before they could leave, they heard growling coming from the forest. Turning their heads, they see yellow glowing orbs. Making it's way into the moonlight, they see it was a wolf.

It began to growl, aggravated, it's gaze fixated on Akame. The red-eyed girl looked a bit confused before she saw the wolf's gaze, now lingering on Akira. 

Akame: "...This is your master, isn't it? It's okay...I didn't hurt him...I won't hurt you, either."

Akame gently put down Akira's unconscious form onto the grass and began to slowly walk towards the wolf. The wolf still kept growling at her, but she still kept going. The red-eyed girl extended her hand forward, the wolf lifting it's head up and sniffing her hand.

The others thought the wolf would just upright attack her, but to their surprise, the wolf sat down, bowing it's head, allowing Akame to pet it. The ravenette smiled.

Akame: "You're a good companion...caring for your master like that. Why don't you come with me? I can take you and your master somewhere safe."

The wolf seemed to have liked the idea and wagged it's tail, standing next to the ravenette as she picked up Akira. Akame smiled once more and petted the wolf's head before they set off to meet with the others.

Meeting up with the rest of the Night Raid members on top of the roof of the mansion, there were mixed reactions on what to make of the situation.

Bulat: "You're finally back."

Lubbock: (shows pocket watch) "We'd better get out of here soon."

Mine: "You're late! What were you doing!? And what are those?"

The sniper of the group grew awfully confused as she looked to see what Akame and Leone were carrying. Akame kept a straight, but derpy look as she held onto an unconscious boy while Leone had a cheeky grin on her face as she held a squirming Tatsumi, all while he kept trying to wiggle out of her grasp. And then there was a wolf who was happily wagging it's tail next to Akame.

Tatsumi: "Let me go! Put me down!"

Leone: "Some friends."

Tatsumi: "Huh!?"

Leone: "Huh? Didn't I tell you? As of today, you two are part of our team! Congratulations on getting into Night Raid!"

Tatsumi: "...Why is this happening!?"

Akame: "Just give in. Leone said so, so don't ask."

Leone: (pats Akame's head) "As expected of my best friend." (looks to Bulat) "Bulacchi! You take him for me."

The armored man of the group nods, picking up Tatsumi by the back of his sweater.

Bulat: "Up we go!"

Tatsumi: "Unhand me! I'm not interested in becoming a dirty assassin...!"

Bulat: "It's alright. Things will be better soon.~"

Tatsumi: (thoughts) 'What things?'

Akame: "Mission complete. Return to base!"

With an unconscious Akira on her back and a squirming Tatsumi on Bulat's shoulder, Night Raid jumps off the mansion, heading out and hopping along the other buildings as Tatsumi screams in terror, unsure of what his fate will be.

Akame glanced upwards slightly, seeing Akira still there on her back. For once, and very rarely since working with Night Raid, Akame had a genuine smile. This was something that wasn't shown often towards Night Raid, so it was clear to them. The person on Akame's back is indeed precious to her.

---

And that was the first chapter of my Akame ga Kill book. So this book will follow the original AGK story, as the previous book followed the events of AGK Zero, which is the prequel of the original AGK. It's also probably best that you read the prequel book to this as there are going to be references to AGK Zero in this book.

Like the last book, this book will follow the manga. I will not follow the anime storyline as it's completely different from the manga storyline. While they're roughly the same in the beginning, there are major differences in the anime. They skipped out on some things, like the small Wild Hunt arc they had. Plus, the anime had a different ending as the manga wasn't finished at the time, so they rushed towards the end.

Had then done things differently, like maybe done 12 episodes and ended it off there to do a second season later on so the manga could finish, I may have done the anime storyline. But anyway, I know some people were waiting for this book to come out, so here it is. And like I did with the prequel, chapters will only come out when I feel like it, when I don't have any ideas for any of my other books, or more than a week has passed since the last chapter was released.

Anyway, until the next chapter.

-okami