Back again

The group continued their journey until they finally caught the glimpse of the Capital in the distance.

*Sigh* Zero released a loud sigh while staring at the Capital in the distance, having mixed feelings.

"Are you not glad that you finally returned, Imperial Police Zero?" Gozuki asked in sarcastic tone with one eye closed, revealing Zero's backstory to the others.

"What?! You are part of the Imperial Police?!" Both Gin and Natala seemed surprised by this information but Kurome on the other hand looked composed.

'Looks like Akame told her about me...I am not sure how to feel about it'

"Well, ha-ha-ha, yeah" Zero released an awkward laugh while scratching the back of his head with closed eyes.

"Then what are you doing, traveling with the select team?!" Gin questioned with an annoyed expression, seemingly reluctant to accept the fact that a member of Imperial Police was so strong.

"A things happened and I was kind of dragged into all that shit." Zero shrugged his shoulders and answered with a nonchalant smile.

"Wha-?!" Gin was left speechless and Natala had to comfort her.

'Are you telling me some rando just joined select team like that' Gin thought with a wide-open mouth.

"Come on let's not waste time." Gozuki said and urged the others to increase the pace. Natala helped Gin walk until she fully recovered from her shock.

.

.

When Zero stepped inside the city...

"Oh! Zero! You are still alive?!" Someone shouted at him and he turned towards the man who just approached him. The others in his group continued walking before stoping some distance away to give him some space to talk.

"Um...Who are you again?" Zero asked while observing the man in front of him who was wearing Imperial Police's uniform.

"Are you kidding me?!! I am your squad leader for fuck's sake! I mean, I used to be since you are no longer part of the Imperial Police. They have crossed you out from Imperial Police and none of was received any news so we just thought you died. Good to see it wasn't the case" The man said in an annoyed tone before he calmed down and explained the situation here to Zero.

"Oh, I see...I was just making fun of you. I wouldn't forget such an ugly face. Anyway, I don't have time for idle talk. I will talk to you later in case a chance will come up." Zero said with a friendly smile which caught the man more off guard as he didn't expect such an insult facing such a friendly expression.

"You-! Just because I am no longer your super-" The man started shouting at Zero who just ignored him and caught up to the group.

"Sorry for the interruption." Zero apologized but Gozuki didn't seem to mind since he could observe Zero's relationships inside the Capital which could in return help him get a better grasp on Zero's character.

"That guy used to be your superior? He seems pretty weak." Gin wouldn't miss the chance to poke seemingly Zero's sore spot as she said with a teasing expression.

"Heh, seems like we should have left you hanging in those tombs a bit longer, with those ti-!"

"Aaaaaa!" Zero's words were quickly interrupted by Tsukushi who placed her hand over Zero's mouth.

"What did you just say?! I dare you to say it again!" Gin gritted her teeth and brought her face closer to Zero.

"Fin-mm by -meh. I said we should have left you hanging there with your MASSIVE T-mhm!" Zero managed to get rid of Tsukushi's hand for a moment but just as he was about to say the vulgar word, she jumped on him from behind, wrapped her legs around his body, and put both her hands over his mouth, ultimately pushing his head back into her own huge chest.

"Haha, let's just go to the Palace, alright?" Tsukushi laughed and suggested while Zero and Gin were glaring daggers at each other. In the end, Natala came to calm Gin down but ultimately received some damage in Zero's stead since Gin needed to vent out somewhere.

"What did he want to say, big sis?" Kurome asked Akame with a curious expression since it was the first time she saw Gin so agitated by her own ally.

"He just wanted to compliment her" Akame replied with a warm smile and put her hands over Kurome's ears just in case.

"I see, Gin has never been good with compliments so I guess her response is natural." Kurome shrugged her shoulders and lost interest in their conversation.

"You can play around when we will get inside the Palace. We will get some time off the missions to recover our strength" Gozuki said which seemingly calmed both Gin and Zero, though Zero had no need to calm down. He was just playing around, even Gin's initial comment that started this "fight" had no real effect on him.

Seeing this Tsukushi got off him and bowed to him to apologize for the rudeness.

"...Hmph" Zero smirked at Gin before following after Gozuki.

"This guy-!" Gin clenched both of her fists while glaring at Zero's back.

"Now, now, I am sure he didn't mean anything bad" Natala patted her shoulder a few times.

"Nope, he was literally trying to make her mad." 'And it seems like he succeeded' Green commented before he adjusted his glasses and followed after the others.

"Grr, you spineless dimwit!" Gin redirected her anger at Natala before leaving him standing there all alone.

"Eh?! *sigh*" Natala just sighed while scratching his head.

The moment they arrived at the Palace, Poney was left in the hands of doctors. The moment she returned a few hours later, she told everyone that it will take her several weeks to fully recover.

"Looks like we will at least get some time to relax." Zero muttered while holding his chin.

"Ugh! Is that all I am good for?!" Poney bumped her head into the pillow on her bed, seemingly more hurt by Zero's words than her physical injuries.