A few days had passed since Air's departure. Since then, it had been the same thing. Wake up and go on missions.

But with each day without Air, the two stoic assassins felt lonely for a bit. Like, a part of them had just suddenly disappeared and withered away. In the end, they had to readjust to the life before Air came into their lives, continuing onward.

Fast forward to the present, Night Raid stood outside their new base that was just outside the Capital, fifty kilometers northeast of it to be exact. 

Tatsumi: "It doesn't really feel like... A new hideout to me."

Akame: "When you consider how hard it is to find and how easy it is to flee from, it's a lot like our former hideout."

Akira: "Simplicity at it's finest."

Mine: "I'm so glad it also has a hot spring."

Leone: "We should pour ourselves a drink there when we finish work."

Chelsea: "Sounds great.~"

Tatsumi: (mutters) "I'm going to lose my head..."

The sound of whirring wires could be heard, Najenda turning her head to the green-haired assassin. A look of joy was on his face as he gives the former Imperial general a big smile.

Lubbock: "Najenda, I've finished putting up the barrier around the hideout!"

Najenda: "Good."

Soon, Susanoo comes in shortly, a shovel in hand.

Susanoo: "I've finished digging the secret emergency passage."

Najenda: "Oh! That was fast. I knew you could do it, Susanoo. Now, our hideout's basically up and running."

Lubbock: "Gyah!"

The green-haired pervert then zooms up to Susanoo's face, making the blue-haired Teigu confused. He then growls in annoyance, screaming at him.

Lubbock: "Don't think you've won!"

Susanoo: (even more confused) "Hmm? What are you talking about?"

Tatsumi: (grin) "So this is our new hideout."

---

Having settled in their rooms and dropped off their things, Night Raid soon assembled back in their meeting room. As how it was before, Najenda was settled in her chair, the rest of Night Raid in front of her.

Najenda: "I knew we just got back on our feet. But our new target this time is a new variety of Danger Beast. In most cases, they've been moving in herds. And they exhibit signs of intelligence, albeit slight. They're so physically sturdy that even the most tried-and-true fighters have been given a run for their money. They've been found lurking in mines and forests to the south of the Capital, eating people and livestock with a voracious appetite. It seems the Jaegers and Imperial guards have been driving them out on a daily basis, but their numbers must be plentiful because there's a lot of them left."

Mine: "If the Empire's got their hands full with them, then it's probably not a trap."

Akira: "From what I've heard from rumors, they've but their actual objective of hunting us down on hold and focusing all of their might on quickly taking these new species out."

Najenda: "I know it sounds like we'll be helping the Empire out, but...will you still do it?"

Tatsumi: "Of course! This is a special exception!"

Akame: "From what I've heard, this is a band that must be put to rest asap."

Leone: (sigh) "I hope that we don't run into any soldiers along the way."

Najenda: "We are Night Raid. So we'll move at night while the Empire sleeps."

Leone: "Oh, right."

Everyone then turn their heads to the auburn-haired girl, who had let out an audible hum. Chelsea was leaning up against the wall in the back, a lollipop in her mouth as usual.

Chelsea: "So we'll be facing serious dangers taking out monsters... We should just leave it to the Jaegers to take care of. You guys have a habit of being too optimistic..."

Tatsumi: "I know what you're trying to say. But these beasts could be attacking someone as we speak. We may be assassins, but we're on the side of the people. The sooner we exterminate them, the more lives we can save!"

Chelsea stares at Tatsumi for a bit before she let out a sigh, shrugging as she shook her head.

Chelsea: "Oh, well. I thought you might say that. Fine, fine."

The blue-haired Teigu nods at Tatsumi's determination, but soon spots something. His neat freak personality was kicking in.

Susanoo: "Tatsumi... I have something to tell you..."

Tatsumi: "Su-san...?"

Susanoo: "Your fly's open. It's distracting, so please zip it up."

Tatsumi: "Ah!"

The brown-haired teen blushed in embarrassment, noticing everyone was staring at him. Lubbock and Leone were struggling to contain their laughter while Mine looked away, a tint of red on her cheeks. Akira and Akame kept their usual stoic looks.

As soon as Tatsumi finished zipping up his pants, the two containing their laughter soon burst out laughing, Leone having to hold her sides, with Lubbock moving all around him, taunting and teasing him.

Leone: "After you were sounding so brave, how lame!"

Lubbock: "Hey, hey! How's it feel? How's it feel?"

Mine: "That's what you get for talking big!"

Tatsumi: "Sh-Shut up!"

Akame: "I'm sorry, Tatsumi."

Tatsumi stopped being angry at the three before he looked to Akame. The raven-haired girl kept looking to the side, a sheepish look on her face, Akira still standing next to her with a derp, but stoic look.

Akame: "I'd noticed it, but I thought it was a fashion statement."

Tatsumi: "I'm not that daring out of the box!"

Akame then crouched down, catching Tatsumi off guard as he sees that her gaze was set on top his crotch area. He then covers it, trying to block her view. 

Akame: "From now on, I'll be more dilligent about keeping my eyes peeled for it."

Tatsumi: "Nooo...! Stooop it!"

The green-eyed teen then backed away in surprise as Akira had suddenly appeared in front of him, the black-haired teen having a poker face on.

Akira: "If you don't want Akame to do it, do you want me to? Surely you'll feel better if it's a guy keeping an eye our for you."

Tatsumi: "No! That's even worse!"

Akira: "What're you so shy about? Now, tell me what time, so I can start monitoring you."

Tatsumi: "Huh!? What the hell are you talking about!?"

Lubbock: (teasing): "I want to save the people! With my fly open!"

Tatsumi: "Ah! I'll kill you both!"

Leone: "Don't worry about it. Your fly's open for the sake of the people, right?"

Najenda let out a puff of smoke from her cigarette as she and Chelsea watched the scene. Tatsumi was violently shaking both Lubbock and Akira, trying to strangle them while the two boys weren't doing much to get out of it, Akira having his poker face on still. Leone and Mine were still laughing at the three while Akame was trying to pull her boyfriend away.

The one-eyed general let out a chuckle before she turned her head to Chelsea.

Najenda: "This is how my men are. Don't let it get to you, Chelsea."

Chelsea: "That's fine, but... I'm worried. I saw the records. Sheele and Bulat were like that... I'm afraid that someday... That same optimism will cost Tatsumi and their lives..."

All while this was happening, Akame could see the small twitch in Akira's lips as they went upwards. A small smile was coming to his face, the red-eyed girl noticing his progress so far. He hadn't smiled like that since the beginning, when they were all with each other on Mount Rousei. Their first family.

He was finally beginning to grow closer to them. Just watching this, Akame couldn't help but let out a smile either, the icy blue-eyed teen catching wind of it himself. His smile only grew wider.

---

Imperial Capital, Palace Courtyard

Both Esdeath and Run were in the palace's courtyard, the blonde man standing behind his captain, waiting for her beck and call. The icy general was hunched forward as she was tending to a patch of flowers.

Esdeath: "Run. I want to talk to you. According to what the Minister found... Those Danger Beasts were originally human."

Run: "I knew it... I thought their physical characteristics were awfully close."

Esdeath: "Men were turned into Danger Beasts... Only a Teigu user would have the power to do something like that..."

Run: "It's quite possible that those Danger Beasts are the results of the doctor's experiments. They only started appearing shortly after he went missing."

Esdeath: (tilts head back slightly) "Do you have any other reasons behind your theory?"

Run: "When I checked out his laboratory...I thought it was too spotless. Even though he was supposed to have been researching a number of things... The inside of his lab was quite immaculate and undisturbed."

Esdeath: (narrowed eyes) "Are you suggesting he had another lab elsewhere...?"

Run: "Yes. Perhaps the things he'd been keeping there got out. It's also possible that there's a completely new third party Teigu involved... But that's just too crazy to consider."

Esdeath: "..." (thoughts) 'Just as I thought. Run is very handy off the battlefield as well.'

Run: "That suggests even more strongly, the doctor didn't encounter the enemy to find Tatsumi. Rather, after finding the enemy's hideout, he engaged in the attack with the hopes of gaining materials for his experiments, only to be wiped out."

Esdeath: "Perhaps he was... Even crazier than I gave him credit for..."

Run: "But there must be a limit to these Danger Beasts. Even now, Seryu and the others are working to exterminate them."

Esdeath: (stands up) "The problem doesn't end there. The real question is, did they really get out on their own...? Or did someone let them out with a key?"

Run: "I see. I will keep looking into this matter."

Esdeath: "I leave it in your hands. This problem may go deeper than we think."

Run: "Still, commander, it's rare to see you tending to the flowers..."

Esdeath: "Hmm... Ah, yes. This flower possesses components which, when applied to a wound, induce a terrible pain. We can use it as a mild torture device."

Run: (close-eyed smile) "...That's good to know."

Just outside the Capital, the Jaegers were roaming in full force, doing their best to exterminate the new Danger Beasts. Running up to a group of them, Seryu and Koro engaged, the auburn-haired girl having Enma's Spear of Justice out.

Seryu: "You incarnations of evil who threaten the people here! Koro! Number 1!"

The dog-like Teigu bit down on Seryu's arm, switching Seryu's armament. Taking it's mouth off the girl's arm, Enma's Spear of Justice was no longer there, now replaced by a spiked ball that was attached to a chain, which was attached to her arm.

Seryu: "Shinkou's Ball of Justice!"

Letting the flail move to the side rapidly, the spiked ball relentlessly mowed down the humanoid Danger Beasts. Their legs and limbs were torn off as the spiked ball cut them up, Seryu's signature wicked grin on her face. 

Seryu: "Koro! Eat the weakened evil!"

Doing as it's master ordered, Koro charged right in and devoured the downed Danger Beasts, some of them trying to resist. As Koro was munching on them alive, from the treeline was a cloaked figure.

He seemed to be staring at Seryu, whom was petting Koro's head after the biological Teigu had finished devouring what was there.

???: (thoughts) 'So that's the rumored Jaegers. I see. They are strong. Well... Even so... The ones I'm summoning are stronger. Until they're gathered... I think I'll spend a little more time... Entertaining myself with my little toys.~'

---

Later that night...

Lubbock: (groan) "I can't believe I got paired up with two dudes."

Tatsumi: "No need to mope about it."

Akira: "And shut up before I shove my foot up your ass. You're being a nuisance."

The three boys of Night Raid were currently walking up the side of a mountain. As Najenda had instructed, they would move under the cover of night in order to hunt down these new breed of Danger Beasts while the Empire was resting.

Before Lubbock could bite back, he yelped in slight pain, Fenrir having bit him in the ass. He goes to slap the dog before he freezes, seeing the icy death glare from the wolf's owner. Akira then whistles to his wolf companion, the wolf letting out a small bark before it runs up to it's owner and walks alongside him. Before they departed, Akira had wished for Akame to take Fenrir with her. While she did appreciate that he was worried for her, she reassured him that she'd be fine, considering she'd be with Leone. 

In the end, Akira ended up losing the argument and Fenrir went along with him, Lubbock, and Tatsumi. The only thing he disliked about the pairing to the other two boys was that he felt like he was babysitting them.

Lubbock: (looks around) "I hope there aren't any soldiers out around here."

Akira: "I doubt those cowardly bastards would be out here."

Tatsumi: "Besides, the report said they retreat back to the Capital once night falls. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Lubbock: "Hmph. You know, a certain amount of cowardice is necessary if you want to survive as an assassin. Najenda said so herself. So don't you two forget it."

Akira: "You're not the only one who learned that lesson, dumbass. There's a difference between a Capital soldier and a assassin. One of them has no balls to take on something to begin with."

Tatsumi: "...That reminds me. I was thinking about it today, but... You're the only one who refers to the boss by her real name."

Lubbock then realizes that all eyes were on him, seeing Akira's and Tatsumi's gazes set towards him. However, really only Tatsumi had the curious glint in them. He then began to blush, clearing his throat as he tries to diffuse his current situation.

Lubbock: "W-Well, yeah. She and I... She and I know each other since back in the Imperial army."

Flashback

Lubbock: "...I...was the fourth son of a local merchant. All my life, I'd gotten whatever I wanted. I was good at whatever I tried my hand at. I was bored with the world."

Tatsumi: "That really makes me hate you."

Akira: (deadpan) "Your life sounds like an ass."

Lubbock: "Well, it's about to get heart wrenching, so listen up!" (resumes story) "That was when... Najenda was posted in my region."

In Lubbock's memory, a carriage had stopped in front of his manor. His eyes had lit up with amazement, as if he had seen the most beautiful thing in the world. Stepping out of the carriage was a young girl, around her mid to late teens. She had silver hair with light purple eyes, her silver hair put into a long, braided ponytail.

It was the young Najenda, before she became a general of the Imperial army.

Lubbock: "It was love... At first sight. So I signed up to be a soldier... And used my natural prowess to get promoted to her right hand soldier."

Flashback End

Tatsumi: "So that's the reason you joined Night Raid."

Akira: "Hmm..."

Lubbock: "Heh. Was out of love for her, you could say...? When she left the Empire, I falsified my records to show that I had died and followed her. I amaze myself... But my efforts will never be rewarded. It's sad, really... So did my story bring tears to your guys' eyes?"  

Tatsumi: "Lubbo..."

Akira: "Well..."

Flashback, Akira's Memories...

Green: "Fine then. I'll tell you. ...Akame. It's her. I began having feelings for her recently."

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

Najasho: "That's a surprise."

Guy: "So why do you like, Akame?"

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

Akira: "Y-Yeah..."

Green: (pushes up glasses) "It's a pitiful story, so prepare your handkerchiefs. That's right, it was about half a year ago. That day, I discovered my armpit fetish, and I began looking at Akame's armpits whenever I had the chance. And next, I realized I had fallen for Akame, too. Isn't it pitiful?"

Guy/Najasho/Akira: "..."

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

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

Akira: "Even I have to apologize."

Green: "And why are you two apologizing!?"

Flashback End

Akira: "No. Not really."

Tatsumi: "You should quit peeking in on other girls while they're bathing, then!"

Lubbock: "Huh!? Having a crush and wanting to see other cute girls are two separate things, okay!? You don't know what you're talking!"

Tatsumi: "That's why you'll never win her love!"

Akira: "Which reminds me... If I ever catch either of you two peeking on Akame in the baths or anywhere, I'll skin you two alive and then feed you to Fenrir. Got that?"

Tatsumi/Lubbock: (sweat drops) "Y-Yeah..."

Akira: "Let's go. We've wasted enough time as it is."

Lubbock: "Tch. Whatever. Just you wait. I'll woo her one of these days."

Tatsumi: "When you do, I'll treat you out to whatever you want. Still, I don't see any Danger Beasts around here. Maybe they've been hunted to extinction in the mountains."

Akira: "I highly doubt that."

Lubbock: "I've set up threads, but I haven't caught any prey yet."

Tatsumi: "That does it. If it's safe here, then I'll use my Teigu to scope out the summit really quick."

Lubbock: "If anything happens, you come right back here."

Akira: "He's right. If you encounter them, head back here as we'll have a better chance on taking them on together."

Tatsumi: "Got it. I'll be right back."

The brown-haired teen stabs Incursio's key into the ground, Tatsumi transforming into the suit of armor. The two boys watch as he ascends upwards, now having disappeared from sight.

Not even a minute later, Lubbock's wires began to move, making a twanging noise.

Lubbock: "An intruder coming from the base of the mountain... To the top...!?"

Akira: "The hell? It's only one person, but he's moving so fast...!"

Lubbock: "It's not normal."

The Ice Cold Reaper quickly grabs Lubbock and covers his mouth, dragging him into a crevice nearby. Fenrir was instructed to hide somewhere as well, hiding behind a rock that covered his body well. The two boys watch as a cloaked figure zoom quickly up to the top.

Both Lubbock and Akira would soon move to the trees and wait there, retrieving Fenrir on the way. They noticed that Tatsumi hadn't come back down from the peak. As far as they could tell, something wasn't right. 

Little did they know, a new threat was beginning to stir. The question was, when where they going to appear?