A Cruel World: Part I

✧✦✧✦✧Asano's PoV✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

(It was the most brutal and saddest time of my life. When I got home and was expecting a common welcome home from my parents. I see both of their decapitated heads, lying on the ground and welcoming me, instead. Whilst my sister was sitting above their body, smiling and looking at me with intent, and has this sadistic smug face as she watches my frightened reaction. She was so evil...)

The world was cruel to me...

My mother dislikes me and my father never talks to me. Yet whenever I do something wrong, even if it's not my fault, he whips me as punishment. At school, I don't have any friends. My teachers always make fun of me and the school bullies always pick on me. My younger sister on the other hand, never did anything wrong against me, however, she's my parent's favorite. So, every time I see her, I keep glancing at her with a glare.

My name is Akame Asano, and this is my cruel world...

It's morning, I woke up by myself because my mother wouldn't care if I got late in school.

At breakfast, my father was just reading the newspaper, while my mother is just eating quietly. I was also just eating quietly, when suddenly, my sister spoke up, "Dad! Do we get to train, later?"

Our father smiled, "Of course we will. Same training as always with your sister."

My sister cheered, as well as my father. But as soon as he switches his eyes at me, his smiling face changed to a frowning face as he asked me, "Akame, return home early after your school for your sister. Ok?"

I replied with a nod.

My sister looked at me with a grin, "That's right, sis! I'm looking forwa-"

But before she even finish her sentence, I quickly get up, "I'm going now..."

I immediately get up and left their table without respect to show them that I don't care. For them, I looked like a brat, but for me, it's an act of revenge for not being nice to me. However, I believe it's still not enough. I'll show them sometime what a real revenge is...

As soon as I get to school, I met with my bullies before the gate.

There were 3 girls bullying me and they were a group. They smiled at me as they met me. Their leader is named Kanzaki, the other two is named Uehara and Aizawa.

Kanzaki says, "Well, well, well... Look who's early."

"Ahh, nuts! We made it early so that we can drop a prank on you." Uehara says.

Aizawa raised an eyebrow, "Looks like we'll have to do it here. Luckily, there are no one around here, yet."

"Do it, Aizawa!" Kanzaki shouts.

Aizawa quickly splashed me with a water from a bottle she was holding.

I stood there doing nothing while they were laughing as they left. I headed to the bathroom to dry my clothes after, but it's too impossible and the class is about to start. So, I instead headed to my class, soaked in water like a wet rat.

As soon as I sat in my seat, my classmates began to laugh and gossip with one another. My teacher then comes in next.

My teacher was also an asshole. He puts his attention to me as soon as he enters, seeing me wet, "Looks like somebody wet herself."

My classmates began to laugh hysterically at me. Meanwhile, I was just sitting there in the corner, waiting for them to move on. I felt embarrassed, but also feeling like my boiling blood is about to burst. I can feel it flowing all through my veins. I believe soon I won't be able to handle it anymore. I-I just wanted them to die...

During lunch, I eat only a bread because my mother never packed me a lunchbox. I bought it at a near mini mart as I make my way to the school, earlier this morning. I was on the rooftop alone, waiting for the bell to ring, but at the same time, thinking of what would happen to me in the future. Because, I just couldn't take it anymore...

During every classes, my teacher always asks me questions to embarrass me in front of the class. During every dismissal, my bullies trips me and makes fun of me before I go home.

After all of that, as soon as I got home, my father is next. He was waiting for me right at the gate and there, he scolded me, "You're late! I told you to come home early!"

He then slapped me... I saw it coming, so I just looked down and apologized to him. Then, I head to my room to change clothes, after.

My family is running a Kendo Dojo to train Kendo trainees who will be participating in international tournaments. My father wished his daughters to participate as well, that's why he kept on training us. Our family also has a blood line of samurai who've sworn loyalty to the emperor a long time ago. That's why we also had earned respect among our neighbors.

My training is more on training my younger sister. As soon as we start, my father asked me to be gentle with my sister, for he will be watching our battle.

My sister and I kept parrying each other. She tries to hit me on my head, but she always fail. That is why she instead tries to hit the other parts of my body.

We kept parrying and parrying. I tried to parry her side attacks, when suddenly, she landed a hit on my head. It was a successful hit, but also a painful one.

My anger began to rise up as I glare on my sister. As soon as the second round started, a glimpse of Kanzaki and his friends suddenly showed up. My anger rose up, even higher than before. I began to swing my sword down, painfully hitting my sister in the head 'till she was knocked down.

It was an accident. I didn't mean to hit my sister painfully. My mind was clouded by anger, but my father believed it was intentional. My father then shouted at me, slapped me and even scolded me with harsh words.

My sister tried to stop him and told him it was an accident, but my father slapped me again and continued to believe it was my intention all along.

I was about to cry, but felt embarrassed after they saw my tears. So, I instantly ran away and headed to my room. It was at that moment, my rage and anger is pumping all through my veins as if I've hated my life, my world, and everyone. There's nothing that I could feel that whole night except rage.

The next day after. Same morning, same faces at the table. I looked at my younger sister and saw her looking down as well, but our mother is trying to cheer her up.

Feeling jealous and annoyed, I began to gnarl silently as I watch them with glaring eyes and gnashing teeth.

My fists began to clench tightly, 'Why..? Why is she doing that in front of me..? Why does she never do that whenever I'm down by myself, yet she does it to my sister..? Just why..?'

So, I quickly stood up and said, "I'm going now."

Before I was about to leave, my father halted me, "Wait!" I looked at him and expected something nice from him, but I was wrong, "--Don't come home early. We don't need you in training anymore."

I clenched my hands tightly as if I wanna punch him hard. My sister tried to talk to our father about it, but she fails. His judgment is final. So, me and my sister will never train anymore.

At school, same things always happens. I get to be bullied and my teachers embarrasses me in front of the class. The only difference is that I'm not in my wet clothes.

As soon as the teacher dismissed us, I was about to leave the room, when suddenly, Kanzaki blocked the entrance and had a little chat with me.

"You wanna come with us?" She asks.

Aizawa and Uehara is just right behind her. I bet they are planning something against me, but... What's new?

I felt disowned by my family anyways, my teachers and my schoolmates make fun of me anyways, and these bullies are no different from them. They are all part of my cruel world and that includes my sister... If I go home and sees my sister, I will feel jealousy over her. So, if I don't go early, maybe it would be better? But then again, what's new?

I decided to go with them. Kanzaki cheered with Uehara and Aizawa. It looks like their plan is a success, but I wouldn't mind... After all, what's new?

We headed to a mall. Kanzaki led the way while Uehara and Aizawa held both of my hands.

Kanzaki then says, "Let's eat! Akame, it's my treat!" She winked at me as she says that. I on the other hand, felt uncomfortable for what they are planning.

We had a Takoyaki and she really did treat me. After that, they bought me a milk tea. She was being nice to me and I had no idea why.

We then played at the arcade, then we window shopped everywhere at the mall. After that, we saw a shop full of different kinds of keychains. I was amazed, but also looking down because I couldn't go there nor buy anything.

Aizawa noticed me, "Wait! Look at Akame, she's looking at that store."

Kanzaki realized that I must've wanted to go there. So, she grabbed my hand and pulled me all they way to the store, "It's my treat. Go! Buy whatever you want. Just don't make it costly." She said.

My eyebrows furrowed as I looked at her dubiously, "Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

She replied with haste, "Just go! I'll explain later."

So, I just go with the flow. As I browse around, I saw a black katana, capturing the attention of my eye. It can be removed from its scabbard, and at the same time, it's bladed edges are covered in red.

It was so beautiful... Seeing a black katana with its sharp edges covered in red, is like it has seen blood before.

I also saw another keychain in a pack and it was a dual katana. It has blue hilts and black scabbards.

I was thinking of buying one for my sister, so she could have one as well. I realized I should've forgave her, because it was never her fault to be our parent's favorite. If anyone who is good to me, it would be no other than my younger sister.

So, I grabbed the 2 keychains. One is my favorite black katana and the other one is the two katanas in a pack.

As I make it to the counter, I saw Kanzaki and the rest, whispering with each other. Before I even get close to hear them, they already realized I'm done shopping, so they stopped whispering as well.

Kanzaki says, "Oh, katanas? Your family blood line sure love being a samurai, huh?"

"It's uhh... I guess we do..." I replied shyly.

Aizawa then tried to cheer me up,

"Come on, now. It's all good! So what if it's in the blood line?"

My eyes began to produce tears. It was not a tear of sadness, but of joy, "You guys... I didn't know you can be good, sometimes."

The three of them laughed with each other and I began to laugh with them silently as well. Just as Kanzaki said, she literally bought the keychains I was holding, after.

We were talking about the things that we did as we left the mall. It was that moment of my life where I finally get to breathe lightly. Because it felt like it didn't happen, thinking it was all just a dream. And I do hoped it would stay the same...

We headed to an alley as a shortcut, but then, 4 men suddenly blocked us before we even enter. They were laughing and smiling like creepy perverts.

Kanzaki, Uehara, Aizawa and the 4 men were just staring with each other, when suddenly, Kanzaki asks them, "You're too early... I thought I said to wait us in the next alley?"

One of the guy replied, "You're the one who's late. Have you checked the time? Do you and that girl wants to have a little chitchat before you say farewell to her? Or do you want to join her?"

I was shocked, "What..? What is she talking about, Kanzaki?"

Kanzaki switches her eyes on me, "Sorry. These men threatened us yesterday, that they will have our body. However, I made an agreement with them and told them that I will deliver a cute, young girl instead, in exchange for our freedom. Do you know what that means?"

"And that girl is... Me?"

Uehara and Aizawa began to hold both of my arms as I try to resist. The two men then began to take their hands on me, then the rest of the two guys followed.

As the four men holds both of my arms and legs, one of the guys began to lick me in the face while saying, "Mhm... You're mine now..." He looked at me with a perverted look as he said that. I on the other hand, looked at him with a disgusted face.

I knew this was all just a show. Kanzaki and her friends betrayed me, right after we had fun from a mall... So, I asked myself again, what's new?

I began to cry, I even almost peed myself.

Kanzaki and the rest, saw me being violated. So, they turned around to ignore me, "Come on, girls. This is too gross to watch. Oh I know! Why don't we watch a movie, tonight?" Kanzaki asks.

Uehara bursted out from excitement, "Sounds great!"

I shouted and asked them for a help, "Help! Please!?" But they pretended like they didn't hear anything. They only just continued laughing with each other.

Kanzaki and the rest was then about to leave the alley, when suddenly, two guys in black leather trench coats, blocked their way.

Kanzaki's eyebrows furrowed,

"Who the hell are yo-"

One of the guy summoned a long, sharp object, suddenly stabbing Kanzaki in the stomach before she even finished her question. He then followed it with an upper slash to Uehara, eventually killing her before she even reacted.

Aizawa was left shocked and speechless. She tried to back away, but trips herself instead.

The 4 guys that were violating me, saw what happened, so they began to start a brawl with the two trench coated guys.

One of the guys with a trench coat, smirked as he threw 4 knives at them. Each and every one of the men who violated me, died from a single knife after. They were all hit in the head.

I was speechless as I watch them murder the people who hurt me. I felt relieved and was able to breathe calmly. As the two guys approach Aizawa, I began to ask myself, 'What if this is the answer I've been looking for?"

"-Wait!" I shouted. They halted and switches their eyes at me, "--I... I want to do it!"

I then stood to walk towards Aizawa. As soon as I got close, I began to kick her in the face over and over again, until her face is completely messed up.

I kicked her again, over and over until she lost conscious, when suddenly, the two men quickly stopped me by grabbing both of my arms to drag me all the way to the other side.

One of the trench coated guys says,

"I sense hate, anger, and rage on you... But I sense an even more powerful weapon in you... Where is it?"

My eyebrows furrowed as I realized that I don't have any weapon other than a keychain that looked like a weapon, my katanas...

As I showed both of my katanas, he then picked the black one, my favorite one.

"Why? That's my favorite one..." I asked.

"Your favorite? Hahaha!" He just continued to laugh.

I on the other hand, looked at him with narrowed-glaring eyes, "I wanna be like you... Someone who kills people..."

"You wanna be like us? Assassins who would kill anyone for immortality? Come prove it, then..."

He then gave me back my keychain. After that, he showed me his keychain sword as it turned into a real one. I of course was amazed.

"That's your first challenge." He said, "--Make that keychain into a real one. Can you do it?"

"Oh and just so you know, that weapon only chooses a specific person." He added.

I nodded, "Ok, but how? Tell me what to do to change this into a real one."

He smiled, "It's simple, just channel your imagination to that keychain and imagine it into a real one. If that didn't change into a real one, then you're not worthy. Just so you know, what you're holding there is a super rare sword, it almost has the same rarity as the Excalibur."

I then took a deep breath and looked closely at the sword with intent. After a while, I closed my eyes and imagined it into a real one. As I imagine it, my hand began to feel some changes, as if I'm beginning to hold a real katana. As soon as I opened my eyes, my hand was then holding this beautiful black sword.

It was still in a scabbard as it turns into a real one. I then unsheathe it and saw the same sword, back when it was just a keychain. However, I also see a reddish-black aura around it, so I asked, "What's this aura I'm seeing?"

He smirked, "It is said that if you see its aura, then you are truly its worthy master, because only you can understand what the sword really wants and what it can do."

I was astonished, "Interesting... Is this sword made for revenge? Empowered by hate, anger, and rage? As if it thirsts for blood?"

He was shocked, "How did you-"

"I can hear it, whispering to me..."

He gulped, "You said you wanna be like us, right? I don't know what you've been through, but I could only sense rage and hate within you. Do you still want to join us?"

I nodded, "That was the first challenge, right? What's the second?"

"Your second challenge is to kill your family. You may kill whoever you want to kill first. Either friends or foes you've hated. Just make sure your family is dead. Also, it's not gonna be our responsibility if you die or got caught by the locals, but in case you survive or let's say you are done, then meet us in this place to know your third challenge." He then handed me his business card.

After giving it, he and the other trench coated guy left.

As I looked around the bloody alley, I saw Kanzaki, still breathing while blood in her stomach continued to drip.

Kanzaki raised her hands to try to reach for me, "He-Help, Akame..."

She was begging for help, but I just looked at her with a smile. I then stabbed my sword in her head through her eye, killing her ruthlessly.

I then looked at Aizawa as she began to wake up. She saw me with a sword and saw others as well, covered in blood. As Aizawa was about to scream, I immediately slit her throat. Ending her life before she even make a noise. I felt an ease in my chest as I kill her. I've always wanted to do this...

I then returned home, with my clothes all ripped.

Mother saw me and asks, "Akame? wha-"

I quickly sliced her head off, beheading her before she even finished her question.

My father then comes. As soon as he saw me covered in blood, he immediately took our family sword and pointed it at me.

I prepared a ready stance and my father did the same as well, as if we're in a kendo duel.

He then glared angrily at me, "I knew this day would come... I knew your hate towards us will finally make you a monster."

My blood began to boil, but I kept my composure calm, "I've been a monster to the family ever since. You never treated me as your daughter..."

He then gnashed and charged at me, but I quickly lean to the right to dodge and parry him. However, what happens instead is that I sliced his sword, eventually slicing his head as well. It appears that the sword could slice through anything.

I looked at their dead body as if I didn't feel any sorrow. I never even had any second thought as I kill them.

I then brought their heads in front of the doorway. I put my parent's body altogether and sat on them while crying and laughing at the same time.

I felt so relieved and was so happy. It was the best moment of my life, but I still have some killings to do. I still need to kill my teachers and my classmates in a way I'll feel more relieved. Then after I do the third challenge, I'll kill my sister...

My sister, Toki Asano...