Chapter 1: The Capital

"So much noise," thought a girl peering down from a rooftop, "Even in the middle of the night, the Capital's Main Street is so busy, but I can't get side tracked. I have a job to do..."

The girl, cloaked in black, continued to look through the crowd, until she spotted someone. A boy cloaked in white, he carried himself as if he didn't want to be seen. Then came behind a large man.

"Wait, I recognized that man, he's the one known as General Ogre," the girl thought, "So what I heard was true, Ogre is here. So does that mean that boy is Night Raid?"

The boy then lead Ogre out of Main Street and into a dark deserted alleyway. The girl was perched near one of the rooftops by them, but wasn't close enough to be seen.

"Alright, start talking, I want to get home," said General Ogre.

"Of course," said the boy, then he immediately bowed at Ogre's feet, "Please sir! I beg you to let me join the Imperial Guard! I have to earn money to send to my family in the country!"

"Ugh! I should have known it was something like that," sighed Ogre as he turned around to leave, "Follow the procedures like everyone else, Jackass."

"I tried," said the boy in a threatening tone, as he reached for a weapon underneath his cloak, "But they wouldn't even take my application."

"That's not my problem," said Ogre sensing the shiftiness of his voice and reaching for his sword, It's not my fault you're a puny little weakling!"

Before Ogre could even draw his sword, the boy had already sliced him in the ribs. Ogre then fell to the ground.

"That boy," the girl thought, "He attacked without hesitation or remorse, just like an assassin...He must be from Night Raid."

"Just like that!" smiled the boy as he removed his hood. The boy had green eyes and medium length brown hair with a cowlick that falls with its weight, "Oh that's right I'd better get back to base now."

Just then Ogre stood up and tried to slash the boy with his sword, but the boy quickly blocked the blow with his sword. Ogre's blow was so hard that the boy was push back.

"Did you really think you could slay the mighty Ogre?!" yelled out Ogre as he continued to attack the boy, "A pathetic little snot nosed brat like you?!" The boy was able to block Ogre's strikes until one of the blows sent him flying into a wall. "Alright let me guess, you're one of those Night Raid punks that goes around killing those in power, right? The weak can squeal all they want, but the strong will always rule in this empire boy! Who you deem worthy means nothing! I judge the fate of the people!"

The boy then leapt into the air to strike, "I won't let you kill anyone else!"

Ogre easily defended the boy's strike, pushing the boy back down. As the boy struggles against Ogre, the Captain asks, "On whose orders have you come to me boy? The fiancé of the little worm I just had executed?"

The boy's facial expression turned into rage from Ogre question.

"Guess I was right," smirked Ogre, "I told myself I should have knock off that wench while I had the chance. Well, I still could if I really wanted to. First thing I'll do is chase that bitch down. I'll find everyone she knows, bring em up on charges, and take my time torturing them to death while she watches. But not until I kill you first!"

In a split second the boy had shot upward and cut off Ogre's arms. Then the boy sliced Ogre across the chest on his descent. Ogre then collapsed to the ground, dead. Seeing his work was done, the boy sheathed his weapon and began to walk away.

"I won't lie, scum like Ogre makes me sick," the girl thought, "People who think they can throw their weight around, kill anyone they please, just because they can. While that boy's cause seemed to be a just one, I can't get distracted. I have to follow him to their hideout, I will find Najenda and make her pay!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She had followed the boy far from the Capital and into the forest, until they came across a mountain side, and in the side of the mountain looked like some kind of fortress. As the girl was about to follow further, she noticed a faintly visible string laced across the trees and ground.

"Clever, they must have set these up to warn them of intruders," thought the girl, "Too bad that they won't work on me."

The worked her way around the traps and quietly followed the boy into the fortress. She followed the boy until he reached, what appeared to be a throne room. Hiding in an upper balcony, she observed as the boy was greeted by three women.

One was a young woman with short blonde hair with two long bangs that frame the sides of her head and golden eyes. She wears a revealing outfit with a black tube top, pants, boots and a scarf around her neck.

The other was a young girl with long black hair that reaches down to her knees and red eyes. She wears a dark sleeveless mini dress with a white collar and a red tie; she wears a red belt that has a red side skirt cover. She wears it with long black socks and black shoes. She also wears red gauntlets and black gloves.

Finally the woman sitting on the throne had short silver hair and purple eyes. She wears an eyepatch where her right eye used to be. She wears a black suit that shows her cleavage. She has a mechanical right arm.

"I'd remember that silver hair anywhere," thought the girl scowling, "Najenda."

"You defeated a powerful adversary on your own," said Najenda, "I'm impressed."

"Hear that Akame?" said the boy looking towards the black haired girl, "I did exactly what you wanted me to and I came out without a scratch on me! Now tell me how wonderful I am." Suddenly Akame took off the boy's shirt, startling the boy, "What the hell are you doing to me?!"

"Leone, Boss, grab him," said Akame in a monotone voice. The Leone and Najenda held him in place as Akame then pulled down his pants.

The boy panicked as Akame began to examine him from all sides until Akame smiled, "Thank goodness. I've seen people die from infection, because they were too proud to report their wounds. It's good you didn't get hurt. It's hard for people to survive past their first mission. I'm glad you survived."

Akame then held her hand out, which the boy responded by shaking her hand.

"The only reason Akame was so hard on you before, was because she was worried about your safety," explained the yellow haired girl, Leone.

"Learning to cook, helped with your communication," explained Najenda, "And hunting taught you basic killing techniques. Did you not realize that everything we made you do was for a very specific reason?"

"Oh, I guess not," admitted the boy, "I'm sorry Akame..I got the wrong idea.."

"It's ok, just try to keep coming back alive, Tatsumi," said Akame.

"Sure," said Tatsumi, "As long as you keep looking after me, Akame."

Leone then began to laugh, "Oh my god, this is so adorable and cheesy. And the fact the you're almost naked makes you look ridiculous."

"Hey your the one's who took my shirt off!" snapped Tatsumi.

"Well, you're working with Mine on your next assignment," said Najenda, "So I expect your best."

The boy grimaced at the mention of Mine's name, Leone just smirk, "Yeowch, out of the frying pan and into the fire."

"She's even worse!" yelled Tatsumi.

"I can't sit here anymore! She's right there!" thought the girl grabbing a dagger from her belt, "That woman is responsible and she won't get away with it!"

Suddenly the girl dashed down from the balcony aiming for Najenda, as she pulled out her dagger, "Najenda, your time has come!" The girl had light purple, blueish hair, with light purple eyes. Part of her hair covered the left side of her face while the rest was braided into a ponytail. Her outfit consisted of a sleeveless, turtleneck shirt that showed her stomach, which also had a dark blue shoulder covers and belt under her breasts. Her arms had two brown leather straps on both sides, with brown gloves. She also had dark blue pants with a brown belt and knife pouch slanted around her waist. Finally she had long brown leather tie up boots.

"What the hell!" shouted Leone as Akame, Tatsumi and herself attempt to defend their Boss. However Najenda launches her mechanical arm towards the girl, grabbing her arm.

"Crap! I didn't know she could do that!" the girl thought as Najenda slammed her to the ground.

Leone then sat on top of her holding her arms behind the girl's back, "I wouldn't move if I were you."

"Or what?" hissed the girl who then squeaked in pain as Leone pulled her arm back to the breaking point, "Get off of me!"

"Who are you? You don't look like a solider from the Capital?" asked Najenda.

"Don't expect a murderous bitch like you to remember me," the girl growled, "After all you're the reason my brother's dead!" Silence fell across the room, Tatsumi, Akame, and Leone looked to their boss hoping for an explanation, "My brother faithfully served under you in the Capital, was my brother not worthy enough for you? Is that why you killed him?!"

"Shut up!" snapped Leone.

"Your brother, his name wouldn't happen to be Mamoru Yori, would it?" asked Najenda.

"Yeah, but what do you care?" snapped the girl.

"Your Mayu, his younger sister," realized Najenda as she crouched down to her, "There seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding. I was not the one who killed him."

"What?" Mayu asked, "But he.."

"I will explain, but I don't want to keep you restrained the whole time," explained Najenda, "If we release you, can you swear not to attack until I've explained."

"And if I refuse?" Mayu asked.

"Then I will still explain, but it won't be comfortable," said Najenda.

"Fine, I'll hear what you have to say," Mayu agreed, "But if I feel like you're lying just so I won't kill you, you'll be in for it!"

Najenda just smiled then looked toward Leone and nodded. Leone released Mayu and whispered, "I've got my eye on you."

"First off, I'm sorry I couldn't be the one who brought the news about your brother," began Najenda, "Unfortunately I wasn't able to move around as freely as I wished at the time. But I'm sure you don't want apologies', you want answers. I assume the Capital sent you a notice, saying your brother had died, but they probably didn't tell you the entirety of it."

"It told me he had died in the line of duty, trying to stop you from betraying the Empire," growled Mayu.

"Just about as much as I suspect," sighed Najenda, "Yes, your brother was apart of the group intended on stopping me, however he didn't. He wanted to help me escape and join the Revolutionary Army. We almost escaped, but he was killed in the battle against another General."

Mayu clenched her hands, she knew in her heart that what Najenda was right. Mayu always knew if someone was lying, but what Mayu hated the most was that she almost killed someone, without finding out all the facts. Mayu knelt to the floor, then slammed her fist into the ground, "Damn it! I'm such an idiot! I knew the Capital was a bunch of liars and selfish people and yet I was about to kill someone who was innocent because of what they said! Damn it all! Forgive me Mamoru..."

"You wanted to avenge your brother's death, I can understand," said Najenda, "I don't blame you for coming after me. That said I have an offer for you. How would you like to join us?"

"Wait, Boss didn't this girl try to kill you a few seconds ago?" argued Tatsumi, "What if she gets tricked again into killing us?"

"If Mayu wants to take revenge on her brother's killer, I'm not going to stop her," silenced Najenda, "However I owe it to Mamoru, to at least help her do it. The best way to help her is for her to join us. So Mayu, do you wish to join Night Raid?"

Mayu thought for a moment then said, "I will, if it means that justice will be done for my brother. I will kill every bastard in the Capital to see it done."

"Then it's settled," said Najenda extending her hand, "Mayu Yori, welcome to Night Raid."

____________________________________________________________________________

Mayu's Outfit