I was looking over chapter four of the manga and that is basically Mine's and Tatsumi's character development/relationship development. There really wasn't any area to include Akira too much, so I ultimately decided to skip it.

So this chapter will continue on with the Zanku the Executioner chapter. But man, did I have fun making this one. Anyway, onto the chapter.

And don't ask for when the next chapter will come, or what happens next. You know who you are. 

---

Some days had passed and during that time, they eliminated a key figure in the Empire. The Prime Minister's distant relative, Iokal. With him out of the way, they chipped one more piece off the log on the tree the Empire stood on.

Currently, everyone was in the meeting room. As per usual, Akira was leaning up against the wall with Fenrir next to him. Everyone's attention was on Najenda, who leaned forward in her chair.

Najenda: "This next target is the serial killer from the rumors. He appears randomly at night and beheads his victims. There's no telling how many dozens he's killed already."

Tatsumi: "But a third of them have been members of the guard, right? He must be strong."

Lubbock: "No doubt about it, it's 'Executioner Zanku.'"

Akira: "Zanku? Oh, him."

Tatsumi: "Who's that?"

Mine: "You don't know? You really are a country bumpkin, aren't you?"

Sheele: "Excuse me. I don't know either."

Mine: (sweat drops) "Sheele, I think it's that you just forgot."

Akira: "I remember now. Zanku used to work as an executioner for the largest prison in the Capital."

After the brief explanation, Tatsumi shivered a bit. 

Tatsumi: "I don't blame him..."

Mine: "So, beheading for the jail wasn't enough for him and he took to the streets."

Bulat: "As soon as the subjugation corps was organized, he disappeared, but... I never thought he'd show up in the Capital."

Tatsumi: "So he's a dangerous character. Let's find him and take him down!"

Akira: "Don't get so fired up now, brat. Rushing in without a plan of attack will just get you killed."

Bulat: "He's right, Tatsumi."

Tatsumi: "Aniki?"

Bulat: "Zanku stole a Teigu that belonged to the prison head. And now he's loose on the streets with it." (pulls Tatsumi closer) "We have to act in groups of two...or else you could be in danger.~"

Tatsumi: (thoughts) 'I feel in danger for a whole other reason right now.'

---

Due to the uneven amount of groups, someone would have to be alone. Akira volunteered for that, so he went on patrol by himself.

But he wasn't entirely alone. Of course, his wolf companion accompanied him on this mission. Not only that, his area of patrol was quite close to Akame's and Tatsumi's designated area, so at the moment, he was traveling with them. As they walked down the street, Tatsumi was glancing around the area.

Tatsumi: "I guess the residents don't come out on the account of the killer."

Akira: "Obviously. I wonder what made it obvious, dumbass."

Tatsumi: "O-Oh, right."

Fenrir then sniffed the ground and looked up at his master. He nodded and the two dashed for the nearby alleyway. Tatsumi was confused and was about to ask before Akame put a hand over his mouth and they rushed towards the opposite alleyway.

Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, he heard footsteps. Lots of them. Along with the clanking of weapons and armor as they made their way down the road, bumping into things.

Akame: "Capital guards. We have them to deal with too. So be careful."

Akira: "Fenrir. Keep your senses sharp."

Exiting out of the alleyways, they continued to patrol the streets some more. Tatsumi kept eyeing the Teigus of Akame and Akira, the key of Harvester hanging from Akira's belt and the sheath of Murasame with the blade in it being held tightly by the ravenette.

Tatsumi: "Can I ask something before we look for him?"

Akira: "If it's for the bathroom, head for another alleyway."

Akame: "Don't worry. I brought provisions."

Tatsumi: (deadpan) "That's not what I was going to ask. What...what is a Teigu?"

Akame/Akira: (holds up respective Teigu) "This."

Tatsumi: "...I don't get it."

Akira: "Not much is known about them. The common knowledge is that the Teigus were created 4,000 years ago by the first emperor so the Empire could live on for eternity. The materials for these Teigus were made from rare Danger Beasts and rare metals, and with the finest craftsmen being summoned from every corner of the world, the emperor's financial power and authority was able to get him 48 of these super weapons that cannot possibly be forged. That's when he named them the 'Teigu.'"

Akame: "Each Teigu is incredibly powerful. Some even posses the strength of a mighty warrior. The emperor's retainers who were granted Teigu became the finest soldiers in the land. But 500 years ago, there was a huge civil war and nearly half the Teigu vanished, scattering across the land. And there you have it."

Tatsumi: "So you're saying... The weapons that you all carry are Teigu."

Akame: "Yes. Besides the boss, that is."

Akira: "It is also worth mentioning that some Teigu possess hidden abilities. Or a Trump Card, if you will."

Akame: "Incursio can activate special properties of the creature was wrought from to make itself invisible for short periods. With such powerful abilities built into them, there is one 'iron-clad rule' that has been continued since ancient times."

Akira: "Yes. When two Teigu users clash with each other with the intent to kill, one will die. There are no exceptions. There can only be one survivor when two Teigu users fight."

Akame: "The target, Zanku, possess a Teigu. When he's encountered and swords cross...there's no chance of both parties coming out alive!"

Tatsumi: (eyes Murasame) "So that blade can kill you with even a scratch!" (looks to Akira) "Wh-What does yours do?"

Akira: "...Keeper of Souls, Harvester. It increases my senses and I can sense one's soul when I'm close by. And you've seen me do it before. I can extract one's soul to empower the Teigu, further boosting my strength."

Tatsumi: "Amazing..."

Akira: "There's a drawback to it, however. The more souls I take, the more of my sanity deteriorates, so it's not a power I want to rely on all the time. Aside from that, I can use the souls to extend my own life force. But it does not grant me immortality. And the Trump Card... No, I'll save it for some other time."

Tatsumi: "How long have you guys had them?"

Akira: "I've had it since I earned the nickname 'Ice Cold Reaper' when I started to murder the Imperial guards stationed in the east. That was many months ago."

Akame: "I've had it for a while. It became famous as a demon blade that can kill with one cut."

Tatsumi: "I'm sure. Talk about invincible."

Akame: "Actually, it has a weakness too."

Tatsumi: "Like?"

Akame: "I have to be careful when I'm cleaning it. If I nick my finger, I'm dead."

Tatsumi: "Right..."

Akame: "In battle, I have to directly cut my opponent for the curse to take hold."

Tatsumi: "Then it must be tough taking on someone who's got on armor like Aniki does."

Akira: "Yes, that is problematic. However..."

Akame: "The world is a place where you have to make your first cut count anyway. You can't go relying too much on your Teigu."

The brown-haired teen looked at the two in shocked. His eyes wide as they continued to walk down the street.

Tatsumi: (thoughts) 'They can't be...much older than me, but...how much bloodshed...have they seen in their life...?'

From A Distance...

On top of a tower, from a high place, a man wearing a rugged and tattered trench coat could be seen at the top. It flowed with the wind, his hands in it's pockets, his crazed gaze cast upon the landscape of the city in the Capital.

It was Zanku, his current smile widening even more. His gaze went from each and every Night Raid member.

Zanku: "Mmm.~ First there's the killer. Now assassins on the loose. This town's one dangerous place. How delightful.~ Now, then... I wonder who I'll behead first."

First, his gaze went to Bulat and Leone, the two on alert as they moved through an alleyway. Next was Sheele and Mine, the pair sitting on top of a roof as Mine had Pumpkin aimed out into the distance.

However, one person caught Zanku's eye. Tatsumi.

Zanku: "That's it. I'll start with...the tastiest morsels first."

Back To The Trio...

Akame and Tatsumi were sitting on a bench in front of a store, the brown-haired teen having gone inside to get himself, Akame, and Akira some ice cream and crepes. Akira was leaning up against the wall, him fishing out a piece of jerky from his pocket as he tossed it towards his wolf companion.

Tatsumi: "Should've known he wouldn't just show up easily for us. Guess we'll have to be patient."

Akira: "Don't be so eager. He's watching from somewhere. He's doing very well to hide his presence, considering he's not in close proximity to me."

Tatsumi nodded at the advice, going back to drinking his smoothie from the shop he had ordered. Although, he couldn't help but feel being watched. Especially since the gaze is being directed towards him more.

He then cleared his throat, getting up as he sets his smoothie down onto the bench. He then began to shuffle towards an alleyway.

Tatsumi: "I'll be right back."

Akame: "Nature's calling?"

Tatsumi: "Hrrk!"

Akira: "Don't stray too far."

Heading into an alleyway away from the two, Tatsumi began to do what he needed to do. After letting out his fluids, he pulled up his pants and redid the zipper, letting out a sigh of relief. 

Tatsumi: "I'm so jumpy..."

His eyes then perk up. He looked to his left, his eyes widening as he sees someone he knows. Someone he cared about.

Tatsumi: "...Sayo?"

The green-eyed teen had witnessed his friend's dead body back on his first night he encountered Night Raid and Akira. Sayo's body was beaten and bruised all over, covered in blood and was missing a leg. It was a terrifying and sick sight for him to see. But for some reason, despite knowing she's dead, seeing her here, standing right in front of him gave him a sense of relief.

He was then caught off guard as Sayo took off down the other end of the alleyway, causing him to give chase.

Back with Akame and Akira, the icy blue-eyed teen was still leaning up against the wall until he abruptly opened his eyes. Akame caught wind of this and looked to him.

Akame: "What is it?"

Akira: "Tatsumi's soul...it vanished. Something must have happened. Fenrir. Come." (thoughts) 'Tsk. That idiot. Just as I said not to stray too far.'

The wolf barked and obeyed it's master's orders. The two went to the alleyway that Tatsumi had went to, Akame following behind.

Akame: "What's taking you so long, Tatsumi...?"

Her voice then trailed off as she looked into the alleyway. There was no one there, but them two. Akira then crouched down, instructing his wolf companion to start sniffing the area, seeing if there could be any trace of Tatsumi's scent.

Sure enough, there was. Fenrir bolted down the alleyway, Akira following suit. It took Akame a second to realize where her partner had bolted off to before she followed as well.

---

Having been minutes since Tatsumi had departed from his two partners in Night Raid, he had stumbled upon Zanku the Executioner. 

At the current moment, he was beaten and battered. Rips and tears were on his clothes as blood dripped from his wounds. He was too badly damaged from fighting up against Zanku due to the crazed murder having a Teigu.

Omnipotent Five Sights: Spectator. The Teigu granted five abilities that enhanced the user's sight. The first one, Insight, granted the user of reading the opponent's mind, thus granting them the ability of predicting their opponent's next move. The second, Farsight, grants the user to see things clearly, no matter the conditions. It's how he was able to watch Night Raid from high places. The third ability, Clearsight, granted the user to see through solid objects. The fourth ability, Foresight, grants the user to see the slightest movement of muscles on an opponent to predict what the opponent will do next. And lastly, Illusion Sight. Casts an illusion upon the target, making them show the most precious person close to them before their very eyes.

Tatsumi prepped himself for one last strike, putting all of his strength into this one. Both him and Zanku had rushed at each other, Tatsumi thrusting his sword forward with Zanku slicing in the direction of Tatsumi with his knives, which were attached to gauntlets on his forearms.

His attack cut Zanku's cheek, making the crazed executioner to turn around and look at him. Zanku landed a near-lethal cut on Tatsumi's back, the brown-haired teen turning around with a mocking grin.

Tatsumi: "And you call yourself an expert at beheading. You completely missed my neck. What a laugh, you hack."

Zanku: "Shuuuut uuuuup!"

As Zanku prepared to dash for the fallen brown-haired boy, an explosion of ice occurs in front of him, causing him to jump back.

A chilling mist began to form a bit above the ground, causing Tatsumi to look around. The sound of ice being walked upon as it cracked could be heard nearby. He turned his head behind him to see Akira, his scythe out as the weapon glowed in a eerie green color, his icy blue eyes glowing in the dark night.

Akira: "You really are a dumbass, huh? I told you not to stray too far."

Tatsumi: "Akira!"

Just then, Murasame appeared in front of Tatsumi, just as the ice blocking Zanku shattered as well. Akame had joined the fray, quickly grabbing her blade as she held it to the side of her face, pointing it towards Zanku. A grin could be seen bearing her face.

Akame: "Good job riling him up. As far as psychological damage goes, you win."

Tatsumi: "Akame!"

Akame: "We finally found you. Just you wait. We'll finish this soon and tend to your wounds."

Akira: "No, leave him to me. You go on and tend to his wounds."

Akame: "Huh?"

Akira: (sadistic grin) "Death demands payment. As his humble servant, I'll gladly offer him tribute with Zanku's soul."

The red-eyed girl pondered at the suggestion. She was worried for him. But ultimately, she sighed and nodded. Akira instructed for his wolf to stay behind and lend extra protection for the two, Akira walking forward as he held his scythe menacingly.

As he did so, Zanku began to grin and chuckle himself. He heard the rumors of the reaper who had begun his killings in the east.

Zanku: "So it's the infamous 'Ice Cold Reaper,' an assassin who had begun his carnage in the east, leaving nothing but ice shards at the scene of the murders."

Akira: "Hmm? So you've heard of me."

Zanku: "Of course. I've always wanted to meet you, just as I've always wanted to meet Akame and her demonic blade, Murasame."

Akira: "Well, I can't say I didn't want to meet you. Killing you is also my job."

Zanku's grin widened even more as he activates one of his Teigu's ability, Clearsight. He scanned Akira's body, all over, checking for any weapons hidden on his person. Sure enough, there wasn't. The only weapons he had was the sword that was on his back and his Teigu that he held in his hand.

Tatsumi: "Watch out, Akira! That eye of his can look into your mind!"

Akira: "Is that so? That must be his Teigu's power. If he can look into my mind, it doesn't matter if he can't keep up."

Even if he wasn't faster than Akame, Akira was still quick in his own right. Dashing off the stone floor, he brought his scythe behind him, using his momentum to spin rapidly in the air as if he was a buzzsaw. However, each individual attack was blocked by Zanku's weapons, Akira clicking his tongue in annoyance as he stops his buzzsaw like attack. Putting both feet onto the ground, he uses his strength in his legs to propel himself into the air, launching himself backwards in the air as he creates ice daggers in his left hand as his right held his scythe.

Quickly throwing them, the daggers were thrown at high speeds. But thanks to his Teigu, Zanku had easily saw this through Akira's mind, having quick reactions as he swiftly cuts them down. As soon as he regained his ground, his eyes widened as he leaned backwards, Harvester's scythe flying right over him. Some of his hair was shaved off as it flew over him, the scythe's bladed tip embedding itself into the ground.

Akira quickly lands on the ground, drawing his sword off his back as he charges back at Zanku again, the two now locked in a heated duel as Zanku kept parrying and blocking all of his attacks.

Zanku: (thoughts) 'What skill... He's got plenty of battles under his belt...it's not just speed...he has real strength too...!'

Akira: (thoughts) '...Tsk. Pest.'

Akira lands an overhead strike with his sword, the blade being blocked into a cross guard by Zanku's knives. But Zanku's face morphs to one of slight pain as Akira does a roundhouse kick in Zanku's side, causing him to skid across the ground as Akira leans up against his sword, creating an ice sword in his other hand.

Tatsumi watched from the ground, shocked. He hadn't seen much of Akira's skill, and here he was, getting a full display of it. Akame couldn't help but watch with worry. Sure, she's seen Akira fight many times, some of them coming out unscathed and others earning many scars from them. She held one of her hands close to her chest, her other hand held tightly onto Murasame.

Tatsumi: "S-So fast..." (thoughts) 'This...is a battle between two Teigu wielders...!'

Akame: (thoughts) 'Akira...'

Akira: (thoughts) 'Tsk. With him reading my mind, it'll drag the battle out too long. And it's annoying. In that case...'

The black-haired teen closed his eyes and took a deep breath, holding onto his two swords tightly.

Zanku: "Oh? You cleared your mind. Wow! But Spectator has Foresight! Through the subtleties of your muscles...I can see your next move!"

The icy blue-eyed teen then opened his eyes, him giving a dull stare towards Zanku. Once more, he dashed forward, swinging his ice sword to the left and his other sword to the right. But thanks to Foresight, Zanku grinned and blocked the attacks, swerving the two blades upwards as he brought his own weapons up into the air before he slams them down into the ground. Debris flew into the air as he grinned even more, Akira backing up as he clicked his tongue.

Small specks of blood flew into the air as shards of debris had cut his arm. He skids backwards, a dull, but bloodthirsty glare set onto the executioner.

Tatsumi: (thoughts) 'Akira actually got cut... I've never seen that before.'

Zanku: "I see why they call you the 'Ice Cold Reaper.' With that scythe as your Teigu and your with ice powers, it makes things unfair."

Akira: "Is that so? You're the one reading my movements, so that evens things out." 

Zanku: "Tell me, Akira. What do you do... About the voices?"

Akira: "Hmm?"

Zanku: "Come on. I'm sure you can hear them when it's quiet. The cries of all those who've been killed... Rising up from hell. They hate me...and keep telling me to join them in hell. I've been hearing them ever since I was cutting off heads at the prison. But it's particularly bad these days. I try to drown them out by talking over them. But I just wonder how you manage--"

The crazed murderer was cut off by Akira's silence, which was then followed by low laughter. It wasn't until Akira began to laugh manically, causing the other three to look at him like he was crazy. One of his hands sat on his face as he laughed into the sky, his laugh being echoed throughout the area.

He then stopped. His head hung low as he held onto his two swords. He then slowly rose his head up, his icy blue eyes glowing ominously in the dark.

Akira: "Voices? You think I don't hear them? They're practically screaming at me each day to either hurry up and join them or give them tribute. It doesn't help that each time I close my eyes and look down, I can see them clawing at my feet, trying to drag me down to their level. They called me many names. Monster. Devil. Demon... And the thing was... They're right. I am all of those things. I'm nothing but all of those being Death's advocate. That's why... I'll make you suffer so much that no matter how much you beg, scream, or cry for forgiveness or mercy... Nothing will be granted. After all, someone needs to satiate the dead's plea."

The three looked at him shocked. In fact, Akira could hear them. The cries of all those he's killed. Innocents. The corrupted. All of them.

Zanku looked back up, only to see a crazed smile on Akira's face.

Akira: "Better pray that Death grants you mercy. I know I won't."

Zanku: "I see... You and I are both of the same cloth. It's a shame that I won't be the one dying. How sad!"

Spectator opens once more as Akira's dull eyes gaze into the eye-like Teigu. It was then his eyes widened.

Now standing in front of him was a girl. It was a girl with dirty blonde hair that was put into a ponytail with cyan eyes. Despite not knowing who this girl was, he could tell it was someone precious to him. But who was she?

The girl soon faded and it was replaced by another girl. The same blonde-haired girl with blue eyes from his memories.

Akira: "C-Corey...?"

Akame gasped. There was only one person who went by that nickname. The Elite Seven's No. 4, Cornelia. Tatsumi on the other hand was confused as to why Akira suddenly paused.

Tatsumi: "W-What's the matter? Hey! Akira! Akira!"

Zanku: (twisted smile) "Illusion Sight. It's an optical illusion. The person most dear to them appears before their very eyes."

Tatsumi: (thoughts) 'So that explains Sayo!' "Akira! You're seeing an illusion! Don't be fooled!"

Zanku: "It's no use. It only works on one person at a time, but the effects are absolute. And... No matter how skilled they may be... There's no way they can attack someone they love... Die at the hands you love dearest! Akira!"

The blonde-haired girl in front of Akira charged towards him, the girl soon morphing into a girl with raven black hair and red eyes. Like the girl with dirty blonde hair, this girl was precious to him. For some reason, he told himself to never hurt this girl. And yet, he still didn't know who she was.

In the end, his eyes darken as he prepped his sword in his right hand, him stepping forward as he swung his sword forward. The raven-haired girl flinched in pain as blood flew from her wound. But in reality, Akira's blade had struck Zanku's own blade, sparks flying as the crazed murderer was shocked as he backed up.

Zanku: "Why!? You were supposed to be seeing someone you love!"

Akira: "...Even if I did love her, what does it matter? She's already dead. Everyone knows that you can't bring the dead back. At the very least, she's been granted an eternal rest."

Even though he said that, his heart felt a twinge of pain. He always told himself to never hurt that girl, and yet he kept questioning himself why it hurt so much. This kind of pain is what can show weakness.

But right now, that didn't matter at the moment. Akira's grin came back onto his face as he looked at Zanku, him extending his left arm out as he lets his ice sword dissipate, recalling his scythe back to him.

Akira: "It looks like the match is over."

Zanku grew confused, but looked down at his weapons. Cracks started to appear. He then screamed.

Zanku: "I'm not gonna die that easily!"

The two dash towards each other as they were locked into a duel once more, sparks flying everywhere as the two traded attacks. It wasn't until Akira swung his scythe up, the weapons being destroyed as they were reduced to nothing but shards.

Zanku braced himself for death, but jumped in surprise as Akira grabbed his right arm. The icy blue-eyed teen smirked, using his ice to encase Zanku's right arm. And in one quick motion, Akira smashed the ice to nothing but small ice shards, Zanku screaming in pain as blood poured out from his wound. 

Akira kicks the murderer away, Zanku trying to run for his life. But Akira creates two ice knives, simply throwing them as they embedded themselves into Zanku's heels. Zanku couldn't walk anymore, his only salvation of living was to crawl away. He could hear Akira's ice creeping up from behind, the fear Zanku was already feeling beginning to increase even more. His legs were soon encased in ice themselves, Akira simply walking up to him as he raised his leg up and stomps down on one of them, shattering Zanku's left leg.

The murderer once again cries in pain as Akira uses the same leg to have Zanku face him. The crazed serial killer was crying, a sadistic look on Akira's face.

Akira: "What's the matter? Scared?"

Zanku begged and screamed for mercy. He closed his eyes in fear as he awaited his end. Akira ignored his pleas and raised Harvester up into the air.

Just as he was about to bring it down, he felt two arms wrap around him. Someone buried their face into his back as they begin to softly cry.

Akame: "Please...stop...come back... Akira."

His dull eyes then began to relax, him seemingly having been shook out of his crazed expression. He lets Harvester dissipate back into it's key form as he hung it onto his belt. He slowly turned around, seeing Akame still holding onto him. He gently removes Akame's arms off him, him turning back around to face Zanku, who was on the ground, shaking with fear.

Akira then grabs the sword off his back and brings it to his side.

Akira: "...Your soul isn't even worth taking."

Raising it up, he brings it down and plunges it into Zanku's head. The crazed murderer then stopped moving, but not before smiling and muttering something.

Zanku: "...The noise...stopped...how delightful. Thank you... Akira... I hope... You can find your own peace..."