Akame Ga Kill - Garou

Akame stood in a dark, endless void. Shadows coiled around her, stretching and shifting as if alive. The air was thick with silence, but she could feel them—watching. When she looked up, figures materialized from the gloom, stepping forward with measured, deliberate strides. They were familiar, hauntingly so.

At the front of the gathering stood the man she had once called father, her mentor and leader of the Imperial Assassins. His piercing gaze bore into her, cold and heavy with disappointment. Behind him, her former comrades formed a silent line, their faces unreadable, yet their presence overwhelming.

"You betrayed us," her mentor's voice cut through the void like a blade. "Betrayed the sacrifices of your friends, all for what?"

Akame clenched her fists, her breath steady despite the weight of his words. "The Empire was corrupt. It was an evil regime that needed to be dismantled."

Her mentor sighed, shaking his head. "And where are you now? What has your path led you to?"

Before she could answer, the figures before her began to dissolve into dust. The ashes swirled in the air, shifting, reforming, and suddenly, a new set of figures emerged from the void.

These were different—faces she had come to cherish, now twisted in death. The members of Night Raid. At the forefront stood Sheele, her gentle eyes filled with sorrow, and beside her, Bulat, arms crossed, his usual warmth replaced by a somber expression.

Sheele stepped forward, her voice soft but unwavering. "Did it matter, Akame? Did our work… did our deaths have any meaning?"

Bulat joined her, his voice heavier, more resigned. "I defected because I saw the horrors the Empire committed, but if the other side was the same… then what?"

Akame felt her chest tighten, her breath growing shallow. She wanted to speak, to answer, but no words came. The darkness around her pulsed, pressing in, suffocating. The faces of her fallen comrades stared back, awaiting a response she didn't have.

Then, a cold sensation gripped her heart.

She woke up.

Gasping for breath, Akame sat up abruptly, her body drenched in sweat. The dim glow of the moon filtered through the window, casting long shadows across her room. Her hand trembled slightly as she touched her forehead, her heart still pounding.

Another nightmare.

But even as she tried to steady herself, the lingering weight of the dream clung to her, a whisper of doubt curling around her soul. She had long accepted the burden of a survivor, the ghosts of her past following her every step. Yet, never before had they questioned her so directly.

Did any of it matter? Did she make for any of the injustices she contributed to during the imperial days?

The thought that she only contributed to more injustices chilled her more than the nightmare itself.

______________________

The next morning, Akame sat quietly on the outskirts of the camp, her crimson eyes watching the revolutionary soldiers and medics move through the area. They had come to assist Nightraid, tending to wounds and providing much-needed supplies. The camp was alive with murmurs and the clinking of equipment, but Akame remained still, her mind elsewhere.

From a distance, her teammates observed her. Leone leaned against a tree with her arms crossed, her usual carefree grin absent. Lubbock and Tatsumi stood beside her, their expressions equally concerned. They all knew something was wrong.

Later in the day, Najenda gathered Nightraid for a strategy meeting. The members sat in a loose circle, some standing, some crouched on crates, as their leader addressed them. "We've been pushing ourselves non-stop, and the losses we've suffered have taken a toll. We need to recuperate properly, and I will be seeking new recruits to reinforce our ranks."

No one objected. The recent battles had left them all exhausted and with Mine and Chelsea leaving Nightraid. They now have only four Teigu users left on their side.

Then, Najenda's gaze settled on Akame. "That brings me to something else we need to discuss." Her tone was calm but firm. "Akame, we're all worried about you. It's obvious that you're not doing well."

Akame didn't respond. She simply stared at her leader, her expression unreadable.

Najenda continued, "We've talked it over, and we believe you need to take a step back. You should rest away from any assassination work for a while."

A flicker of surprise crossed Akame's face. "...What?" Her voice was quiet, almost uncertain.

Leone stepped in, offering a rare gentle smile. "You've been carrying so much weight on your shoulders, Akame. You need to step away for a bit, just to breathe. We all think so."

Akame's eyes darted to each of them. There was no hostility in their faces, just concern. But something inside her twisted.

Najenda pressed on, her voice calm yet authoritative. "We also think your current state might be caused by Murasame's trump card affecting you. You should let go of it for a while, for your own good."

Silence fell.

Akame froze. Then, slowly, her expression shifted—hurt, disbelief. "...You think I'm compromised." Her voice trembled, just slightly, but it was enough to send a wave of tension through the air. She took a step back, her gaze flickering between them.

Najenda frowned. "That's not what I—"

"Then why?" Akame cut in, her voice sharp now. "You know Teigus better than anyone. You know Murasame isn't the cause of this. So why are you saying this?"

There was something in her voice that hadn't been there before—wariness, doubt.

Lubbock and Tatsumi exchanged glances before stepping forward. "Akame, calm down," Tatsumi said carefully. "You're overreacting. We're all looking out for you."

Lubbock nodded. "Yeah, Najenda is just worried. We all are."

Akame's fists clenched at her sides. "I will take time to rest," she said at last. "But I am keeping Murasame with me."

Then, without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Najenda sighed and shook her head. "Akame. Wait. Just listen to us." When the assassin didn't stop, Najenda's voice grew colder. "You are making this harder than it needs to be. Are you going to disobey orders?"

The others looked between their leader and their comrade, uncertain. They trusted Najenda, she knew about Teigus more than them and the fact Akame changed after using it was undeniable. On the other hand, they trusted Akame completely, but she is acting strange and showing distrust toward them. They weren't sure what to do or say.

Akame stood firm, her crimson eyes staring at her comrades with a mixture of defiance and sorrow. "I will take the rest you asked for," she said, her voice laced with distrust, "but I am not handing over my Teigu."

Najenda narrowed her eyes, her expression hardening. "Akame, your actions and words don't encourage trust. Are you thinking of leaving us?" The question struck like a hammer, and the others gasped in shock.

Akame's face twisted slightly at the accusation. "No," she denied, her tone firm. "I will stay away for a while, just like you asked." Without another word, she turned and began walking away, not once looking back.

Najenda's eyes darkened as she took a deep breath. She turned toward Lubbock, Leone, and Tatsumi. "Stop her," she ordered, her voice carrying an unsettling finality. "Akame is going to betray us."

The three froze in place, glancing at each other with uncertainty. "Boss, isn't that too extreme?" Tatsumi argued. "We've fought together all this time—Akame wouldn't just betray us."

"She defected from the Empire in a similar fashion, remember?" Najenda countered. "I don't want things to escalate further, but we must be prepared. Try to talk to her, but know that she will resist. And be careful—she might attack."

The weight of her words settled on them. Lubbock nodded reluctantly, while Leone and Tatsumi hesitated before following, hoping this was all a misunderstanding.

The three of them caught up with Akame just as she reached the outskirts of their base. "Akame, stop!" Lubbock called. "Just follow orders and prove you're still on our side."

"We're all friends here," Tatsumi added, his voice pleading. "We should trust each other."

Akame turned to them, sorrow evident in her expression. Her grip tightened on Murasame's hilt before she slowly unsheathed it. The sight made the three tense, their instincts screaming at them to be ready.

Then, to their horror, Akame pointed the cursed blade at her own neck. "I really was going to stay away for a while," she whispered, "but if you really think I need to be removed…" Without hesitation, she sliced into her own skin.

A groan of pain escaped her lips as she fell to her knees. The three stared in shock, momentarily paralyzed by her actions. Then, as if possessed, Akame stood once more. The light red markings that adorned her body deepened into a sinister crimson, her eyes changed, her presence radiating overwhelming sinister power.

The instincts of the three warriors screamed at them—this was danger beyond anything they had faced.

"Goodbye," Akame muttered, her voice distant yet resolute.

Before any of them could react, she moved. The world blurred as she dashed away at an unimaginable speed, vanishing into the distance.

Lubbock, Leone, and Tatsumi remained frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

One thought dominated their minds: Akame had betrayed them.