Jogging back to the rendezvous camp after his encounter with the mysterious stranger, Akira arrived to find his cousin at the cliff they were once overlooking the whole forest. But to his surprise, she wasn't there, to which he concluded that she must've joined the battlefield.

Turning his head over to the various tents behind him, many of Yomihime's men came back, some supporting others that had suffered serious injuries, whilst some only had minor. Walking back down the slope, gently pushing through those that were in his way, he grabbed one of the soldiers that were usually one of the ones that responded to her only. Grabbing him by the top front of his light armor chestplate, he shoves him up against a nearby tree.

"Where's Yomihime?" He demanded.

"I don't take orders from you," the soldier sneered.

Unsatisfied with the response he was given, Akira easily picks him up and tosses him overhead. The Tenrou soldier temporarily found himself suspended from the ground, nearly shrieking to the top of his lungs as he was then being plunged down onto the dirt ground rather forcefully. His sound of impact lets out a loud thud, the crash being strong enough to shatter and crack the backside of his armor with his greaves and braces coming undone. The man coughed, soon letting out an "oof" as Akira had planted his foot onto his chest and grabbed his arm, lifting it up.

The other soldiers were alarmed by the sudden commotion and had frozen, staring at the predicament, unsure of what to do. Staring down at him, Akira simply gives the samurai soldier a cold look, occasionally jeering his hand to twist the arm he was currently holding.

"You know, I didn't earn my reputation as being an assassin for nothing. The last time someone said that to me, they ended up on the floor, bleeding out in the most painful way possible. So let me put it to you this way. Piss me off and I'll fucking cause you pain that you wish you were dead. Are we clear?"

He nodded fearfully, suddenly reminded of his own commander's fury. "Y-Yes, sir! I won't such things ever again, sir!"

"Good. Now, then. Let me rephrase that question again." He made another tug and jeering motion with his hand again, threatening to twist and break the bones. "Kindly tell me where my cousin is or else I'll break your damn arm."

"I-I don't know! A-All I k-know is that she went down to fight the enemy herself! I swear, that's all I know!" He fearfully spouts.

Akira tilts his head, "Are you sure?"

The soldier nods feverishly, "Y-Yes, it's true. I-Isn't that right, everyone!?"

The rest of the soldiers nod their heads. Obviously, these troops weren't one to question the orders of their commander, that much was certain. At first, they had perceived Akira as someone who was just receiving special treatment, though with the display he was now doing to one of their comrades, they knew not to mess with him or else there were consequences. Akira hummed, then looking down to the samurai man.

"Fair enough. Consider this your warning not to fuck with me, however." He snaps the man's wrist, making him cry out in pain.

Letting go of the soldier's hand, who continued to wallow with pain as he held and cradled his injured wrist. Walking back toward the cliff, he shook his head at their stupidity.

"Fucking idiots," he muttered.

--: 8 | The First Victory :--

Having arrived at the scene of the battle, Akame stood in front of Hinowa as she brandished herself a normal katana. Her black hair flowed with the rising dust as the wind blown in from the side, her red eyes sending a piercing glare over toward Yomihime, who was unfazed by such a shivering glare that most normal people would falter under. 

Turning her head to Hinowa, she spoke. "I will assist you, Hinowa."

"Akame, how...?" Hinowa whispered.

"First mission... In your first battle, the likelihood of dying is high. I couldn't ignore this feeling in my heart, so I pleaded with the Elder to let me come here. In exchange, he is watching over my daughter."

Hinowa gained a pitiful smile aimed toward herself. "...Thanks." 'Even though her wounds probably haven't fully healed yet...'

Yomihime looked at Akame with confusion, that name ringing within her mind as it seemed familiar to her. Where did she hear it from again?

Although, she didn't close pay much attention to it as her eyes were drawn to the marks all over the red-eyed woman's body. Not only that, it was like she could sense something. Sense that she wasn't human at all.

"You. You're like me?" Yomihime asked, readying her weapon.

"I owe this girl my life," Akame responded, getting into her own stance. "I won't let you cleave her."

Yomihime let out an audible hum. The two women stared at each other for a few seconds, soon after, dashing at each other. Dust had quickly picked up from where they stood, having kicked off of where they were with such force and speed that it felt like they were moving as fast as lightning. In that short distance traveled from each other, their blades met, a loud twang echoing throughout at the air as the sound of grinding steel with yellow sparks emanating off the two swords of the women wielding them. Both held no emotion whatsoever, a loud clanging ringing throughout the area as they backed off before they rushed at each other once again.

They same thing kept happening. Blades meeting and grinding against each other before backing off and rushing at each other again, strike after strike occurring as powerful wind blew in the vicinity. Both Suzumaru and Hinowa were in the radius, feeling the force of impact coming off the two trading blows as they had to cover their faces with their hands to avoid some of the small debris and pebbles being kicked up. Watching these two young women attack each other was mesmerizing, almost like it was because it looked like a synchronized choreographed dance.

It was beautiful, even. Such a spectacular display.

'Our forces made pretty good headway on the battlefield. But... I guess these two are on a much higher level,' Hinowa thought.

She continued to watch the raging clash between the two dark-haired women, taking this moment to analyze and learn from the battle ahead. Still, she was amazed. Amazed by the fact that despite Akame still having an injured body, she was still able to keep up with Yomihime when she herself had to have the help of her friends in order to withstand her attacks. She felt weak in this very moment.

The yellow-eyed woman parries an attack from Akame. "My name is Yomihime."

The red-eyed woman steels herself once more, "Akame."

Both kept such stoic expressions on their faces, almost like they were kindred spirits. Jumping back a bit, Yomihime grasps her Meihou with both hands. A dark aura seemed to have surrounded her blade as she sent a piercing glare over at the black-haired woman in front of her.

"Falcon Sweep."

Akame braced herself. However, she also remained calm. She had her share of near-death before, many times during her work as an assassin for the Empire and for the Revolutionary Army. Especially, during her fight against Esdeath and many other powerful foes. So seeing that she sensed a fatal attack was coming her way, it was relatively easy for her to dodge it. But of course, she shouldn't be careless.

Yomihime took a step forward, "I won't forget your name," she said, slashing the air.

It was like she had dashed forward, the extent of her blade's reach had been increased. The younger warriors watching shivered slightly, feeling the intense bloodlust and the dark aura radiating off of the Tenrou commander. But Hinowa knew Akame. She knew that she wouldn't lose to such an attack.

Rushing forward, meeting Yomihime head on, Akame puts her katana in a thrusting motion. It was at that moment, Yomihime was shocked, Akame having run forward in almost such a reckless manner but able to block her fatal attack and was able to get in close. Akame had used such a huge burst of speed that a huge gust of wind had picked up.

Dashing right past her, Akame then comes to a stop, holding her blade out with finesse. Yomihime grunted, holding onto her upper arm as she glances down at it. 

The color red had spewed out into the air and dripping down her arm, some landing onto the cloth of her clothing. Akame was able to get in and cut her. This angered her greatly. No one had been able to dodge or block her fatal move, letting out angered huffs as she turned around and crouched down. Putting as much power into her legs, as much as she could, she leapt out of the battlefield and into the forest.

Suzumaru's gaze followed her. "She got away...!"

Hinowa, however, ran to her injured friend's side. "Tobari, are you okay!?"

"Yeah," Tobari coughed, resting against a rock as blood oozed out of her side. "I dodged so she wouldn't get my vitals..."

"I'll patch you up in no time!" Hinowa then turns to Suzumaru, "Suzumaru, please keep watch for me!"

"You got it!" He then turns his gaze to Akame. "Shouldn't we go after that girl...?"

Akame shook her head. "That won't be easy."

Suzumaru was about to question why only for him to hear the sound of shattering metal. Looking down, his eyes widened as he sees that the blade Akame was wielding was completely and utterly destroyed. Her weapon had lasted that long in such a fierce battle.

"She's strong," Akame remarked. "This body's too heavy to finish her."

Tobari yelped due to Hinowa wrapping  bandages around her waist. "Ow, ow, ow. Oh, shit. I wanted her head so bad," she whined.

The red-haired girl stared down at her friend sorrowfully. However, she had become sad for an entirely different reason. Soon after, Tobari notices tears streaming down Hinowa's face, the cyan-eyed girl gripping her hands in the dirt as she gritted her teeth.

"...I'm sorry. I couldn't avenge you. I couldn't even avenge my mother and aunt either... I'm pathetic."

Tobari soon began to cry as well. "Hinowa..."

"Then you should survive this battle and train more." Akame had interrupted and stared down at her. "Save your tears for after you're home."

"...You're right," Hinowa said with a sniff, wiping her tears away.

"And also..."

"Huh?"

Akame held her tongue. "...No... It is nothing."

She wanted to tell her that the act and drive of revenge was a path she shouldn't go down towards. After all, Akame had seen it herself when it came to her husband. That everlasting bloodlust that remained within him, the desire to destroy the Oarburgh organization. It first brewed when he had witnessed their comrade, Cornelia, dead in an abandoned building, slain by someone who she called a friend. But that drive was fueled even more when Akira had learned that the main leader of the clan, Merraid, had murdered another he was close with, Gin.

The rage that had built up within him. That anger she was sensing when began to get closer to his fight between Merriad and himself. It was also the event that led him to his supposed death, where they reunited on opposite sides when he was brainwashed by those of the Retribution Group. It had saddened her greatly to seem him in so much pain like that. But not as much as the pain she felt when he had gazed upon her with those eyes. Those eyes that had forgotten her, without that shine of familiarity.

Akame soon brought a hand up to her chest. Those memories that lived within... Brought so much pain.

Hinowa soon looked to the sky. 'This is a wall I can't scale through determination alone... Bu I will scale it, Yomihime! Just you wait!'

---

Running through the forest with tears streaming out of her eyes, Yomihime was heading back toward her camp. She felt ashamed, defeated.

'The Falcon Sweep is my ultimate move that can send anyone to hell,' she monologued. 'And yet she deflected it... And now, the whole thing's been thrown off. I didn't even get a single head to make up for it.' "How humiliating...!" She screamed sorrowfully. 'I'll remember your names. Next time, for sure, I'll send you to your deaths. Hinowa. Akame...!'

She kept running for what seemed like hours. But she soon came to a stop, hearing a panting noise as she looked up ahead. Instantly, she grew relieved, catching the sight of familiar icy blue eyes coming into view as Akira soon began to slow down as he stopped in front of her.

"There you are. I've been looking everywhere. Come on, let's--"

The black-haired man was cut off. He soon found himself engulfed in a hug by his elder cousin, burying her face into his shoulder as he stood there, stunned. But a few seconds after, taken out of his thoughts by her muffled whimpers, he soon returned the gesture, stroking the back of her head to try and calm her down.

"What's wrong?"

"I failed..." She said lowly. "I made a mistake... And I couldn't even get anything to make up for it..."

Yomihime continued to weep for a few more minutes. It wasn't until Akira had sighed and gently pushed her away. She looked at him confused until she felt a jolting pain hit her forehead, causing her to hold it as she looked at her younger cousin bewildered. But he only held a straight face, his hand slowly coming down after flicking her forehead.

"That's what you're worried about?" He scoffed and shook his head. "That's not what matters."

"I-It's not...?"

Akira turned around. "Of course it's not, dumbass. It's the fact that you came back alive. That's all that mattered."

Her eyes widened temporarily. For all her life, she had been told that nothing mattered more than accomplishing the mission or achieving one's goal. Whether it be her mother or Zuou that had told her that. And yet, all she felt was warmth and this sensational relief from the words spoken her cousin. He wasn't mad at all that she didn't complete her mission. He was simply relieved at the fact that she had came back alive.

She hung her head low, but a small smile appeared. "Th-Thank you... Akira."

Akira scoffed again, but he held a smile as well. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now, let's hurry up and get home. I'd rather not sleep on the hard ground again."

"...Yes. Let us go home... Dear, cousin."