Akame Ga Kill - Garou

The evening air was cool as Akame walked through the streets of the Imperial Capital, her face hidden beneath the hood of her cloak. It had been days since she left Nightraid, and she had spent most of that time wandering without direction. Now, however, she had a goal—perhaps her final one.

There was nothing left for her. No purpose, no hope, nothing to live for. If that was the case, she decided, she would seek out her younger sister, Kurome. She would see her one last time and, if fate decreed it, accept death at her hands.

But approaching the Royal Palace was impossible. The entire capital was crawling with soldiers, spies, and assassins, all hunting for her. She was a traitor to both the Empire and the Revolutionary Army now. Every step she took was dangerous. If she wanted to see Kurome, she would need help.

And so, she decided to find Garou.

The last she had heard, he was staying at an orphanage, a fact provided by the Revolutionary Army's spies. If he was still there, perhaps he could help her. Perhaps he will do it on the behalf of her sister.

When she finally arrived at the orphanage, she took in the sight. The front yard was lively, filled with the laughter of children playing. The simple yet sturdy building radiated warmth. Sitting on a bench nearby was an old man, a peaceful smile on his face as he watched the children.

Taking a deep breath, Akame stepped forward and approached him. "Excuse me," she said quietly. "Does Garou still live here?"

The old man turned to her, studying her carefully before nodding. "Yes, he does. But he's outside at the moment, training his students."

Akame hesitated before asking, "Would it be alright if I waited for him here?"

The old man smiled warmly. "Of course. You are welcome to stay." He then tilted his head slightly and asked, "If you don't mind me asking, what is your relation to Garou?"

She thought for a moment, unsure of what to say. "I fought him once," she finally admitted. "He defeated me. But... I am nothing to him. I only hope he can help me with something important."

The old man hummed in thought but said nothing more. Instead, the two sat in silence, watching the children play as the evening sun cast long shadows over the yard.

Before long, a voice called out from inside the orphanage. "Dinner's ready!"

The children cheered and rushed inside, their energy boundless. The old man rose from his seat, turning to Akame. "You should join us," he said kindly.

Akame shook her head. "I'm fine. I'll stay outside."

The old man chuckled. "Garou might take a while. You'll be waiting for some time. You're a guest here, young lady. Come, eat with us."

Akame hesitated. She was used to enduring hunger, but her body reminded her that she hadn't eaten properly in days. Reluctantly, she nodded and followed the old man inside.

The warmth of the orphanage embraced her the moment she stepped in. The simple yet cozy dining area was filled with the chatter of children. Himiko welcomed Akame warmly and guided her to a seat. Despite herself, Akame found a small comfort in the scene around her.

______________________

The sun dipped behind the horizon, casting a warm glow over the vast training ground. The twin disciples and the little emperor lay sprawled on the ground, their chests rising and falling heavily as they struggled to catch their breath. Not far from them, Esdeath, her team, and Budo were nursing their bruises and sore muscles. Despite their prowess, none of them had escaped unscathed from the grueling training session.

Only Garou stood tall, his piercing gaze surveying his exhausted students. He nodded approvingly. "That's it for today. You all did well. Get some rest."

The little emperor, though weary, forced himself to stand. He dusted himself off and turned to Garou. "I will go to the orphanage to greet the grandmaster. I haven't seen him today."

Garou crossed his arms, raising a brow. "You don't need to do that every single day, brat. The old windbag doesn't care for formalities."

The little emperor shook his head. "It's a matter of respect and etiquette. It's the least I can do."

Garou sighed but smirked slightly. The boy had proven to be much more than he initially thought. When they had first met, Garou had dismissed him as a fragile, sheltered ruler. But with each passing day, the emperor continued to surprise him. Perhaps, in time, he would become a great and just ruler.

Gathering their things, Garou, the twins, Budo, and a small detachment of guards made their way toward the orphanage. Esdeath and her team, still recovering, opted to return to their quarters to rest.

By the time they reached the orphanage, night had fully descended, the stars twinkling above in the clear sky. The moment they arrived, Garou's sharp eyes caught sight of a hooded figure sitting outside. Next to her, Bang sat with his arms holding a cup of tea.

Even in the dim light, Garou could recognize the woman, he walked closer to them and said "What are you doing here?"

Akame looked at Garou, her eyes filled with a mix of hesitation and something else—perhaps resignation.

Silence stretched between them for a moment before Bang finally spoke. "She's been waiting for you." His voice was neutral.

Akame lowered her gaze. "I need your help" she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her eyes.

Garou studied her for a moment before replying "What is this about?"

"I was raised to be a killer in the Imperial Assassination Unit. I killed countless people in the name of justice and bringing good to the Empire. With every life I claimed, I told myself I was contributing to justice. I had friends, people I called family, who sacrificed themselves for our noble goal. But in the end, I realized how corrupt the Empire was, how we were used like tools to further their corruption and eliminate any opposition. We spread nothing but suffering to the innocents," Akame spoke with a broken tone.

Akame paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "So, I defected and joined Nightraid to correct the injustices I had committed, even if only a little. I decided that I would help dismantle the evil Empire. I even killed my own teacher and mentor, the man I called 'father.' I abandoned my own sister. And after our last meeting, I came across a village where the Revolutionary Army was stationed. They destroyed and killed everyone there, claiming it was for the greater good. They said the village supported the Empire, so it had to be eradicated."

Akame began to tear up as she continued, "You were right. I am a tool for killing and nothing more. The Empire is ruled by a puppet emperor and filled with corruption, while the revolutionaries care only about their own benefits and will do anything to win. Both sides harm innocents, and no matter what I choose, it will bring no good."

Akame looked into Garou's eyes and said, "I don't want to continue this anymore. Please help me meet Kurome. She wants to kill me, so I want to at least allow her to fulfill her desire after I betrayed her."

Her words were met with silence. Everyone looked at Akame with varying degrees of surprise. Bang looked at the young girl with pity.

"You came here so I can help you die?" Garou asked with a frown. In that moment, he felt empathy for Akame, her internal struggle resembling his own after losing, to an uncanny degree.

"You're a member of Nightraid?" A young voice drifted from Garou's side.

Akame looked at the boy. She had been so focused on Garou that she hadn't noticed anyone else. The boy appeared young with a ragged look, and Akame immediately concluded he was one of the orphanage children, likely being taught by Garou.

The little emperor had a serious expression that didn't suit his age. Seeing Akame not respond to him, he spoke again, "You said the Empire was filled with corruption and causing suffering to the people. You said the emperor is a puppet. Elaborate!"

Seeing Akame remain silent, Garou spoke, "Tell him everything he wants to know."

Akame looked at Garou, then at the boy, hesitating before speaking. "The emperor is a sheltered young boy who has no clue how bad things are. The Empire is effectively in the hands of the Prime Minister, Honest, who spreads corruption and injustice intentionally to further his control. The capital is filled with darkness, and the innocents are suffering because of it. All kinds of crimes are being committed, and no one can do anything about it."

The little emperor frowned and spoke with a disbelieving voice, "This can't be true."

"It is true," Eren said as he moved closer to the little emperor. "Here at the orphanage, we suffered for a long time. It wasn't until the teacher arrived that things began to change. In the streets, it's a well-known fact that you're a tyrant and a useless emperor."

Eren's blunt statement caused the little emperor's face to darken, while Akame looked surprised. She hadn't realized she was speaking to the emperor.

"And you didn't think of telling me?" The little emperor spoke with anger.

"We didn't think it would help," Eren shrugged, while Ari nodded.

The little emperor turned to look at his loyal soldier Budo and asked, "Did you know about this?"

Budo frowned and said, "I heard some rumors and investigated the Prime Minister, but I couldn't find any proof against him. And with the enemies we have, I couldn't afford to cause internal conflict over rumors, Your Majesty."

The little emperor turned to Akame and said sternly, "Tell me everything you know. I must know what was happening behind my back."

Akame looked shocked but nodded, beginning to speak of the things she witnessed firsthand. The more she spoke, the darker the boy's face became. He was not the only one; even Garou and Bang were disturbed by the tales she told.

When she was done, the little emperor's face was pale, then contorted with rage as he ordered Budo, "Confirm everything you just heard without the Prime Minister's knowledge. If any of this is true, I want to know. I won't let these crimes go unpunished."

Budo had a solemn look on his face as he nodded and ordered some of his trusted soldiers to carry out the command. Meanwhile, the little emperor turned to look at Akame and spoke, "Akame, for all the crimes you've committed, you must be punished."

Akame didn't reply; she had already come here with the intent to die.

The emperor continued, "For that, I sentence you to spend the rest of your life repenting for your crimes. We will find something for you to do that will benefit the people and is not assassination."

Akame stared at the emperor in shock, while Garou and Bang exchanged looks with approving smiles. The little boy had done much better than they had expected.