Hello! I'm literally in the middle of my exams at the moment, so don't expect this chapter to be as long! I know I know I apologise formally, but this shit is apparently important for achieving higher grades and stuff so yeah, study study study!

short chapter guys sorry x

anyways:

"Tadaima!" Tatsumi voiced to a still room, virtually lifeless. There was no signs of people what so ever in the room, except a shrivelled black coat residing on a dusty leather couch. Outside the rain exponentially fell into the cobblestone pavement with a little rhythmic patter adding to the sound of cracking thunder.

"Maybe she's gone out? Best to leave her to it for a bit." Tatsumi muttered, throwing off his thoroughly soaked coat and boots, seating his exhausted self at the round dinning table with a low groan. His head collapsed into his crossed arms above the oak's surface and his hair bundled around him. The brown locks had grown out considerably since the start of their journey, now a hefty length.

"I've got less than four days until this guy... whoever he is...comes for me." Tatsumi sighed.

"I've eliminated one out of the...how many I wonder? there was that first assassin by the bridge we encountered, and fled...then...Astaroth...who's now dead, and who else? " the young man pondered over his question as a nearly invisible presence entered the room, slipping in by the window ceil.

"There can't be that many people out to get me. I'm definitely facing that first hooded man in a matter of days, but can there really be anymore assassins after us? He'll probably throw everything he has at us before then...but... I reckon this guy might run out of fighters soon."

"What's wrong darling," a voice spoke as he felt a reassuring warmth from a certain somebody's hand grace his cheeks. without looking up to observe, he nestled his face deeper into their embrace, cupping his face so gently.

"Oh...Akame where did-" His words caught in his throat at the sight of the beautiful woman gazing intently into his brown eyes with her own blue globes.

"S-Serana?! How did you even-" many questions arose in his head, and a million unnecessary thoughts popped out from nowhere. How did she even gain access to their inn room? Or what was she doing here at this moment? Where was Akame? It was oddly suspicious, but he couldn't rebel in any way.

"Shhhhhh...quiet honey...you talk too much..." The brunette whispered slowly, winking at the immobilised young assassin. What could he even do? He was literally frozen, unable move anywhere and do nothing but stare and blush. "What...the hell is happening..." He uttered, only to have to slim fingers stop his lips. Her vanilla scent was intoxicating enough, and now that she leaned in closer it sent his mind hurdling paces ahead.

"Didn't I say hush...It doesn't matter right now...all that does...is...I'm here." Her movements were hypnotic, and her lips kept inching closer and closer to his. Just before reaching him, she pulled away, swinging one luscious leg over Tatsumi's waist and seating herself upon him, both hands propped on his broad shoulders. It gave a glorious view, but made him feel guilty beyond belief.

"I think...I need to repay you for your...service before...what do you say...Tatsumi?" Serana cooed as she amusingly watched his dry lips quiver at the contact of her sweet breathe.

"I-I can't...I'm with some-"

"Akame? Oh how sweet of you to be thinking of others in this situation. that tone was incredibly hard to resist, like she was dragging him into her clutches. Always looking out for others, aren't you a gentlemen." Her, knowing Akame's name was a clear indication something wasn't right at all.

"H-H-How do you k-know Akame's-"

"Stopppp talkingggg..." She slurred, Clasping her lips over his own in sweet moulded onto his mouth with passionate force until everything faded to black.

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Akame sat there, lifeless whilst staring straight ahead, both eyes dangerously narrowing at a certain disgusting sight. What shocked her even more was the fact that nobody cared to help, in the middle of a crowd no one gave it the slightest amount of attention. Was keeping slaves and beating, abusing, torturing them a common practice? The lone assassin stood her ground, peering from a darkened alley through the large mass of civilians, going about their daily duties and such. High above light drizzles of rain spat form the grey clouds, only just reaching Akame. It was yet another miserable day in the great Iron City.

She kept her sight upon the scene as an elderly looking man, with a round stomach and beefy looking legs senselessly grant the helpless Slaves with another caning, leaving deep glistening red cuts to sprout upon their backs. The poor victims were all tied up by the hands, forced to kneel their shins on freezing, rough gravel, grazing their flesh while each was beaten or punished. They all wore tattered clothing stained with grime and purple bruises, the result of constant assault. It was now or never, as Akame made the choice she always did between her two options. Leave it be, or change it. She always took the effects upon lives and casualties into consideration before acting, and now one side's importance weighed far more than the other.

"Who stole the pouch on this table?" The driver boomed, slamming his fist down onto a wooden board table, cracking his cane. All the civilians averted their gazes and pretended not to notice while the slaves cowered under his brutal figure, tears flowing from their innocent, fearful eyes.

"Target received. Eliminate." Akame paced forward, sliding past people, picking up her speed soon enough. Just as she neared her target, he turned to face her with a snobbish expression.

"Who the hell are-" Those were his last few words.

His whole body was kicked with the forced of a danger beast into the wooden fixture beside him so that his body protruded from the mess after a clearing of dust and dirt. One leg stuck out from the wreckage, blood dripping down from the base of his trouser cuff.

"Target eliminated. Mission complete." With a flick of her wrist the slaves wee freed.

"Run." She gestured, as Akame grabbed a hold of the hefty coin purse dropped to the ground by the slave driver and tossing it over. One young child, brown ruffled hair and reddened face most likely around the age of ten or twelve caught the sack, looking up to his saviour.

"Tank-Thank you Miss." He smiled thankfully and nodded, as she did in agreement. The two older boys pushed their hands together and bowed with the same line, crying happily before bolting off into the crowd. That number of people all stared at the scene, some covering their mouths and others shielding their younglings from the pooling blood. It wasn't another second until the spot where she stood was replaced with dust, and she took to the shadows.

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Tatsumi awoke with dim eyes, barely able to lift their lids. Opposite him, seated, was Serana, calmly playing with her nails and adjusting her make-up without a care in the world. The young man could still taste her burning strawberry lip stick dabbed on his lower lip. His first thought was to break free and engage her, take the target down as quickly as possible, but strangely, he sensed no hostile intentions from the woman.

He could still feel her effect lingering on his mouth. It wouldn't go away, no matter how hard he tried to forget about it. There were two explanations. She was either working with who ever wanted to kill him so badly, or she was going to just kill him for no reason. Most likely the first.

"How long have I been out?" His voice startled the courtesan, or whatever she really was. Serana looked up with a funny expression, then bit her finger. "Why does it feel so...breezy..?"

" Eh? You're awake?! Wait... Oh not too long Honey. Maybe...an hour? I don't really keep track of the time to be honest."

"Yep of course I've been out for that long...another assassin right? Kind of expected."

"I'm not an assassin Tatsumi please! I'm really not cut out for that kind of thing... I'm so uncoordinated that this is the only thing I really know how to do. You know the struggle to secure some coin in this city right? Nothing personal dear.

Talking with her was weirdly amusing. Like it reminded her of a certain someone...or two. Tatsumi had already cleared the thought of her being anywhere near an enemy, most likely just a pawn...or something along those lines. His mind was still hazy from the kiss earlier.

"So what are you then?"

"A prostitute! What did you think?"

"Be serious please. I think I have the right to know because...I'm tied to a chair with my shirt off!"

"Darling Darling... okay fine then...It's a long story that I do not care to tell to most people...so basically I'm a thief of sorts, and since I tried to steal something valuable from your enemy... I owe him. I mean really! I could have died! It's you or me buddy. Sorry about it my dear Tatsumi, you know after you saved me and all."

"Great. This is what I get. You really are good at paying debts aren't you. Al so why the hell is my shirt off? That was really unnecessary. "

"No reason... Just...was bored for a bit..."

"Mmmmmm. Let's make a deal-"

"I don't really want t make anymore deals with you."

"Hear me out! If you escape this alive..." Serana eyed his toned body, scanning him top to bottom. She caught glimpses of the many scars, cuts, bruises and bandages that were wrapped around his torso, making her gulp.

"You can come find me...I'll make it worth your wh-"

"No thanks."

"Meanie!" She squeaked, slipping a piece of parchment into one of his bandage folds.

"I'll owe you one kay? I gotta go honey, before the big one gets here... which will be anytime now. See you soon cutie!" With that she blew a kiss and departed from the window.

"Never ever helping another damsel in distress."

"Who's the damsel?" Another voice spoke. Tatsumi inched his head over to see a very...surprising sight.

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