Always knew

Chapter 33: Always Knew

Eastern Tribe Outside of the Capital

A regiment of line up soldiers stood behind Esdeath. Esdeath's friend Colonel Normandy also stood there albeit shaken from what she'd just seen. Every one of the tribesmen, children included stood outside of their homes huddled up to their parents and some crying. The woman and men were all trembling as fear blanketed the entire village in a cold sheet of horror.

Esdeath had a splash of blood running down her face as she used her rapier to clean her no longer pristine white boots. They were completely drenched in the contents of a body. Esdeath also used a tissue to wipe her rapier clean as well.

She'd just executed a father of three children in front of his mother and children. The village elder could do nothing as they pay the empire a hefty fee for nearly all living expenses. Any sort of defiance is high treason and would be dealt with swiftly. This village is fruitful in some ways but not many and paying the empire is becoming harder and harder.

High Priestess: PLEASE! We haven't any revolutionary soldiers! Our loyalties lie with your majesty! The intel you possess is incorrect!

She yelled with tears streaming freely down her face.

Esdeath: You should know that if our intelligence has come to suspect anything and it reaches the emperor, then our actions are predicated on if your majesty deems it to be truth or not. That means if the emperor deems it true, then it is true.

High priestess: But General Esdeath, we've paid our tributes all in full! There isn't one thing out of place worthy of suspicion!

Esdeath: High Priestess?

Esdeath had asked with a inquiring manner. She walked over to the woman slowly. Upon reaching her, Esdeath grabbed the woman's scalp and pulled it close to her own. Her nails digging deep into the woman's flesh. With a hand full of hair, Esdeath neared the woman's ear.

Esdeath: High priestess, allow me to let you in on a secret.

The priestess swallowed her heart racing with fear.

Esdeath: If the prime minister holds any suspicions that a tribe might've been committing high treason, then in actuality that truly means is that they are to be EXPUNGED!

She finished with a sinister tone in her voice. The woman's eyes shot open with fear and the tears had begun to flow once more.

High Priestess: But why?

She asked with a choked whisper. Her throat filled with sadness and dread at what is about to transpire.

Esdeath: To reduce the likelihood of the poorer villages like these from going into collusion with the revolution of course. Every measure must be taken during war, priestess.

High Priestess: Don't do this please we have new borns! W-w-We'll double our tributes! Triple even!

Esdeath: The prime minister would appreciate the offer but your services aren't needed any longer.

The blue haired general released the woman and pushed her down to the unforgiving dirt.

Esdeath: MEN, LAY WASTE TO THIS TRIBE!

Morning – Imperial High Class District Streets

[Name] had awoke from a great slumber. The night he'd spent with Esdeath was amazing. Esdeath herself was already awake and up. The time for business was now as She'd briefed him on his tasks and sent him about after attending a quick Jaeger's meeting. Esdeath had left before he did and already set out with her soldiers and [Name] was left with various menial things that needed to be done. Esdeath had told him that this was mainly to get him well acquainted with order of things, with him now serving under her. While he is of the Jaegers, he still is a private and won't be doing too many exciting things.

As of right now he was heading to the police station to answer a summons. Apparently two women had come in and asked for [Name] as they'd reported a potential finding of people harboring revolutionary soldiers.

The temperature was smoldering but the sky was beautiful and radiant. A nice day. The numerous well-off people were all cooling themselves off with lavish fans while [Name]'s pores drowned in his own sweat.

Shortly Thereafter - Police Station

He finally reached the police station and saw the two attractive women in mini dresses being ogled at by numerous officers and office workers alike.

The pungent smell of heavy perfume smacked [Name] in his face as he walked towards them. He'd then walked past the two women to speak with the person at the front desk.

[Name]: Private [Name] reporting in. I've got a report asking for me?

Worker: Yes.

He said as he shuffled through piles of well stacked papers. Finally, he planted a report paper down on the desk top for [Name] to grab.

"You hoo!, Private [Name]?!"

One of the women teased as she walked over to him. The other woman followed after the first and both stood in front of him. [Name] face palmed as he realized that he'd recognized this voice.

"We need you to investigate these people who've probably got some revolutionaries hiding out there."

The other smaller women had teased.

[Name]: Fine, I'll head right over.

He said with a hint of irritation. His pinched the bridge of his nose and left with the women following behind him. They'd went out again to the busy streets as the two women had seemingly gotten quite a thrill off of annoying him.

One of them jumped onto his shoulder from behind him.

"How've you been holding up? Big boy?!"

The voice was raspy but lively and still quite feminine.

[Name]: Leone?

Leone: Shhhush.

She locked [Name] in a powerful headlock and whispered to him. Her warm breath traveled through into his ear.

Leone: We need you. We've got that assault coming up and we need all the help we can get.

Chelsea: Yeah, the boss is out recruiting members from the other nations. They hate the empire as much as we do and they're going to help us.

[Name]: Oh, you're Chelsea? I couldn't tell with all that make up on you two.

[Name] gently got Leone off him and fixed his garbs. He whispered back to them.

Leone: We look pretty good, don't we?

They both walked ahead of him and posed.

[Name]: Eh.

Both: WHAT?!

Hidden Night Raid Base

Upon walking down, the stairs to an abandoned section of an old library, he'd seen Nightraid's new home. It was a secret living quarters of sorts. It was well lit with the chandeliers above and plenty of space with furniture spread throughout. As they all got home, the first person they saw was Akame. Who there to be the first to welcome her friends. Mine then too greeted [Name] and threw them all various snacks as they began to conversate.

Akame: Were outfits that skimpy necessary?

Leone: Well yeah. It'd make us stand out just the perfect amount.

[Name] then felt a massive rush of energy course through his body. He sensed an immeasurable power nearby. The energy was dense and powerful. It was like he was soaked with a dark energy that was plastered everywhere. He decided to ignore it even though his Life Seal had begun to activate itself.

[Name]: Hey Akame.

Akame: Hello [Name]. We're glad to have you back.

[Name]: I'm glad to be here. It tells me that you guys are closer to the empire's final hours.

Akame: Yes, but for right now Najenda is gone looking for reinforcements. We only have about two more weeks until the assault and we're going to need you.

Leone: We already have a bunch of allies in a lot of fighters in the walls. Even some group of orphans sought us out to help us.

[Name]: Orphans?! I fought some yesterday.

Leone: Their leader was a red head?

[Name]: Yes.

[Name] sighed. He'll have to let the boys do what they're going to do. He can't save everyone. Kasumi was likely with them at the time they started colluding with Nightraid as well. The only thing [Name] truly cares about is keeping her safe from all these things for a long as possible. He's finally gotten her back and now it's time to resume his previous goal of bringing down the empire. Esdeath has and will gave him updates on the empires movements in and out of the capital and he'll relay the information.

[Name]: Most of the powerful imperial personal are outside of the capital. The rumors say that since the western castle surrender to the revolution, that many settlements are going to harbor you guys.

Chelsea: False leads given out by revolutionary supporters. It'll throw them off for a bit but not for too long.

Mine: The supporters are the ones making these false leads to. We're aren't telling them to do that.

Akame: Right. Pretty soon the empire's going to get wise. We're going to end up fighting off too many people from each side. Faide, Budo, The Wild Hunt, The Red Sun, The Jaegers and lastly Esdeath. If even ONE move we make gets detected we'll be snuffed out.

Mine chimed in again as she plopped down onto a nearby couch.

Mine: With the way things are now, we won't last another month if what you're saying is true [Name]. They'll slaughter all those innocent people just for thinking we're there.

Akame: That's why this is an all or nothing gamble with this final assault. To save as many lives as possible. The assaults going down in another two weeks.

[Name]: I get you. We're nearing the end. So, we need to play it safe. I can't stay with you because Esdeath has me on a leash. If I'm gone for too long she'll know it. Although I made sure there wasn't a spy following me there's no way I can be for sure. When's Najenda coming back?

Leone: She be another day or two.

[Name]: Okay, I'll keep in contact with you. I'll give you written info on a few imperial targets if I can. This guy Koukei he's good with info but he's too dangerous to be left alive. Syura, the prime minister, Budo, the Jaegers, and Faide have to go along with the other officials.

Akame: And Esdeath...she's finished.

[Name] felt bad saying that as he'd grown to like Esdeath to a strange extent. He didn't really want to kill her. If anything, he wanted to maybe reform her into a better person. But given the things he's seen and heard that might not possible or even feasible.

This visit was strange. With him feeling this power and him knowing how dire the situation with Nightraid is; he didn't know which one is more out of place.

Afternoon - Ruins of the Eastern Tribe

Esdeath sat, legs crossed on the ruins of what was a home. She sat there getting a good view of the now nonexistent tribe. She saw a few nice sights. She saw a high stack of bodies being thrown together but her elite troops, iced out homes, and burning homes. Some of the burning homes had charred human remains laying outside of them as they attempted to run out of their homes.

The colonel stood there quivering at seeing such savagery. She wanted to stop Esdeath and reason with her. However, she was too afraid. Esdeath was too brutal for her to be convinced otherwise.

Numerous severed limbs sat scattered throughout the lands as she jumped down from the pile of wood. She'd left the high priestess in a nasty heaping mess of what used to be a person. After that she'd set her sights on the fighters and allowed the soldiers to take out the families.

She had a little fun too however. Beheading and bisecting a few people here and there but it wasn't all that fun if they were running, which they were.

Esdeath: Colonel?

Normandy: Yes, General?!

Esdeath: Why didn't you assist us?

Normandy: My…apologies….I'd-I felt that-

Esdeath: DON'T do it again. If I ask something of you, you're expected to perform.

Normandy: Yes, General.

This wasn't satisfying, she was hoping that the Nightraid would be here but she knew better. She thought to herself "It won't be long now Nightraid" and she smiled at that.

Esdeath: We're heading back to the capital!

She barked at her soldiers who now stood in attention prepared to follow her every command.

Evening – Imperial High Class Rooftops

[Name] sat atop a building, a very tall building. It overlooked just about every square inch of the entire capital through every district. The vibrant lights filled the darkening sky as he stood there for a moment of introspection. However, he felt something.

"[Name]?", A voice had called out.

[Name]: Yeah, Who's there?

He said looking around to find the source of the voice.

"I'm right here." The voice responded.

[Name]: Where's right here? Who is this?

"It's me you fool!", The beast yelled.

[Name]: Oh hey, it's been a while. I know what you're think and I was going to comeback for-

"Save it..I know I've been watching you all this time." The beast said.

[Name]: Then…did you see what happened? The other night?

"[Name], I'm not contacting you to let you know how bad you did. I'm just going to be serious for a moment to tell you that I don't have much time left." The massive creature said.

[Name]: What? How?

"Remember, I'm tethered here by the well of energy. The energy is leaving and me contacting you uses more energy than I have to spare. Soon, I'll be gone and I want to make sure that this empire is free of mass corruption."

[Name]: I'm trying. But there's only so much I can do by myself.

"That isn't the problem. You're in danger. In danger from Tatsumi."

Night – Imperial General Hospital

Kasumi had woken up in her hospital bed with bandages wrapped fully around her head. Her jaws and cheeks were hurting and felt her body somewhat hurting. She suspected that this was only half of the pain she should be feeling. She realized that she was now in the care of the hospital.

She saw someone come in and stand at the door. She didn't care to look at the doctor. She knew that she'd failed and gotten captured so the worse things were yet to come.

The person just stood there so she then being irritated shot a hard look at them. When she did, her mind nearly emptied. The person she saw was no doctor. It was the man who she looked up to, trained with, and lived with.

[Name]: Hi.

She brought out her inner child, had her arms outstretched reached from him. Reaching out as though she wanted to be picked up. He obliged and ran to her. He then gave her a light embrace. She however, didn't care and grabbed onto him like a sloth. She hugged him as tight as she could.

Kasumi: Where were you all this time?!

[Name]: It's a long story. But I'm here now.

Kasumi: Is Rom with you?

[Name]: He didn't make it.

Kasumi: Oh. . .I figured that if you made then he might've.

[Name]: I'm going to miss him too but we have to keep going. I was somehow able to keep my job in the empire and now I'm enlisted into the military.

Kasumi: Really?! That's amazing!

She held her mouth in pain and laid back.

Kasumi: This means you can help us.

[Name]: Help us?

Kasumi: Yeah, I have friends who're fighting the empire. I got captured by a Jaeger and now I'm here. So, as soon as I'm better we'r—

[Name]: Stop. I know you want to help. But this isn't for kids to do.

Kasumi: I'm not a kid. I'm-

[Name]: 13 I know.

Kasumi: I'm 14 now, Mr.

[Name] then became dejected. He'd forgotten her birthday throughout his travels. He's had all of this time to remember it and yet he didn't. He placed a hand on hers. He then with his other hand lightly caressed a nasty welt on her face.

[Name]: I'm sorry…That I forgot.

She placed a hand on his in return.

Kasumi smiled.

Kasumi: I forgot yours too. So that makes us even.

He smiled and kissed her bandaged hands. But he then stirred the direction of the conversation back to the matter at hand.

[Name]: Kasumi please stay out of this. I don't want you doing this stuff at all. I know they mean well, but they're going to get killed!

Kasumi: One lady once told me that if people that feel they're being mistreated need to revolt and that's what I'm helping them do. Because I was mistreated! I lost my home and family TWICE because of the empire.

[Name]: I know that! But you shouldn't be out here doing that! You'll be killed! Kasumi come on, if you have any sort of love for me then you'll do what I'm asking.

Kasumi: I do love you Mr. and that's why I won't.

[Name] sighed.

[Name]: That's enough of this for one night. Kasumi, I'll come back to visit you soon. I have business to take care off. I'll see you later.

[Name] let go of Kasumi's soft hands and got up. He in anger decided to leave the room. As he'd begun to walk out of the threshold she spoke.

Kasumi: Mr?

[Name] stopped.

Kasumi: I knew. I always knew you were the shadow. You gave hope to people all over the district and then I did after you. I studied you ever since I first met you. All your movements, that's how I knew. So, I have something to ask you.

[Name] already beyond the point of shame of her already knowing waited for her to finish her words.

Kasumi: Last night, I fought a man who's touch felt the same on my face. You were that Jaeger I fought last night, weren't you?

[Name] left. He didn't say a word. He couldn't lie or make up an excuse. He was too busy fighting back tears and he would've given his cover away. She would've deduced his answer as a lie and likely change her opinion of him. It would've changed from an up standing and good man he was to that of a fearful and lying man, he is now. His silence was just as damning. She knew that he was the Jaeger but she still loved him just the same as she'd always had from the beginning. She knew that this hurt him just as much if not more than it did her to do the things he does to keep her safe.