Prologue

There were times when Akame was tempted to just let her finger slip.

Her trump card had worked its power once, but she knew it was forever out of her reach now. Another cut would leave her the same as her countless victims, pale and dead.

But was that so terrible?

She had only one true friend left within the Empire. The rest, a certain brown-haired boy among them, were nothing but memories now—but that could change in an instant.

Akame's life had ended with Night Raid, anyway; all she lived for now was murder. A life like that tended to tire a person.

In her reclusive dwelling in the forest, her dealings were with mere animals, occasionally Danger Beasts, but her hands would forever be marred by blood. Human blood.

She had kept herself alive, suspended her guilt, for the happiness of the countless innocents struggling through life in the former Empire. Even if she hadn't admitted it to herself during the struggle, she knew that her own happiness had been waiting at that finish line.

That happiness was nowhere to be found. The Empire had entered a new age. No obligations remained.

Her departure wouldn't affect her promise to Najenda. The Empire would rejoice at the death of a heinous criminal, one who carried the wrongdoings of the Revolutionary Army on her shoulders. The world would move on. One way or another, her separation from Tatsumi and the rest of Night Raid would end.

It made sense emotionally—even logic was beginning to cave, buckling towards the same conclusion.

She couldn't bring herself to do it.

It wasn't a fear of pain that held her back. She felt certain that Murasame would deal gently with her, respect her wishes. At any rate, her training had long hardened her to both pain and death. The grief was another story, but it wasn't enough to make her take that final step.

There was more than that, though. Some insidious corner of her mind was convinced, unwaveringly, of an impossible truth.

Tatsumi is alive. He's waiting.

She could not shake the feeling. He was dead; she had seen him die. His broken body had been shattered along with Esdeath's. If he existed, it was as a smattering of water droplets on someone's window, not as the boy she had known. Even so, the conviction stubbornly held on, and that was enough to keep her from unsheathing her sword and slipping.

Besides, they'd promised each other, hadn't they?

Akame smiled wistfully—and tensed, her hand flying automatically to Murasame.

Someone's here.

She frowned, listened again. She would have to be more careful. Daydreaming could be fatal, for someone in her state.

The distant sounds resolved themselves into crunching footsteps. They sounded light, of a child, but Akame knew all too well that age didn't affect the ability to kill.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" a voice called.

The end of the beginning

Hey there!

This is my first fanfiction for the wonderful world of Akame ga Kill, so forgive me if I've gotten any canon wrong. I'm about to uproot half of it anyway—buckle up, I guess. The next chapter, if it's published, will be much longer.

I'd really appreciate it if you dropped a review in the hat. It's my first time writing for this community, and I'm not entirely sure what you guys are interested in reading. How's the story? Suggestions? Want more? Leave a few words behind!

I'll be more encouraged to update if there are a decent amount of reviews. Otherwise, I might just pack up the tent and set up shop elsewhere.

Anyway, thanks for reading, if you've gotten this far. Quick thing:

DISCLAIMER: To all lawyers seeking a court case, I do not in any way own (or claim ownership of) Akame ga Kill or any associated media.