After the commotion involving Akiko and Kurohime a few rooms down, Akame and Suzuran reconnected, eager to catch up on everything that transpired since their last encounter.

 

"Akame, who's your traveling companion? She seems incredibly powerful, but her aura feels different from yours," Suzuran inquired, intrigued. "You haven't traveled with anyone since Kurami years ago, so this is quite a surprise."

 

Akame responded, "Her name is Kurohime. While I haven't delved deep into her past yet, respecting her privacy, I sense she endured a similar hardship to ours."

 

"And the horns? Is she a demon?" Suzuran continued, her curiosity piqued.

 

"She's a dragon, actually," Akame explained, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "She's been a good companion, though her flirtatiousness can be a bit overwhelming. Maybe there's even a hint of succubus in her bloodline."

 

"At least I'm not alone in dealing with that," Suzuran sighed in relief. "So, what brings you here?"

 

"Hana," Akame said, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. "It's been thirteen years since we last communicated, and I felt it was time to find her."

 

"Do you have any leads on her whereabouts within the Iron Legions?" Suzuran pondered.

 

"Not exactly," Akame admitted with a smile. "But Kurohime has a knack for investigation. Once we arrive, I might have her assist in the search. After all, how difficult could it be to find a Demonic Fox?" A chuckle escaped her lips.

 

Suzuran giggled in agreement. "Knowing Hana's love for a good fight, I'm sure you'll find her brawling somewhere."

 

Akame joined in the laughter. A brief silence fell before Akame spoke again. "Suzu, I started a guild."

 

Suzuran's eyes widened with excitement. "You managed to afford one?!"

 

"Yep!" Akame exclaimed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I was hoping you'd join, if you're interested."

 

Suzuran calmed down slightly. "Let me finish my current commissions first. I also want to visit home before making any decisions. Maybe I can even ask Kurami to join if she's there."

 

Akame simply nodded. "Once you're done, you and Kurami are both welcome to visit the guild once it's completed. I envision it as a permanent home for our remaining family and any new friends we make along the way."

 

The next morning, down in the main entrance of the inn, Akiko and Kurohime were locked in conversation. Kurohime delivered her recruitment pitch, but Akiko's ears drooped in disappointment.

 

"As much as I'd love to join, I can't," she said, her voice heavy with regret. "I'm the sole protector of this village right now. If we can find someone to take my place, I'd definitely consider it. My family needs to be involved in this decision as well."

 

"The entire village could relocate to ours," Kurohime blurted out, a suggestion so outlandish that even Akiko questioned her sincerity.

 

Just then, Akame joined them, descending the stairs. "Akiko," she interjected, "once the guild recruitment is underway, we can post members here to guard the village if you still wish to join."

 

Akiko's eyes sparkled with gratitude and accepted. With a plan in place, they said their goodbyes to Akiko and Suzuran before resuming their journey towards the Iron Legions.

 

A week into their travels, Akame and Kurohime decided to rest near a cave they spotted. As they entered, Kurohime stopped Akame abruptly.

 

"Something feels off about this cave," she warned, her voice laced with concern. "I sense a dark presence here. Akame, check the perimeter while I investigate."

 

Akame nodded in agreement. Kurohime ventured deeper into the cave, while Akame scouted the exterior for any signs of trouble. Amidst the dead foliage, a patch of vibrant green vines caught her eye. She cut them away, revealing a hidden door disguised as a rock.

 

Akame called for Kurohime, who rushed to her side. They both agreed to open the door, which led to a dark stairwell descending below the cave. Kurohime cast a fire spell to illuminate their path as they reached the bottom.

 

There, another door stood before them, this one adorned with macabre skulls. Kurohime stopped Akame again. "The dark energy is much stronger here," she cautioned. "It feels like a torrent of curses. This place could belong to a necromancer. Even the door seems cursed shut. It might take some time to break it."

 

Before Kurohime could finish, Akame swiftly grabbed her and pulled her back. With a determined glint in her eyes, Akame unsheathed her katana and slashed the door in two.

 

"Looks like we can just use your overwhelming power to bypass the door," Kurohime chuckled in a mix of awe and unease, witnessing a new facet of Akame's strength.

 

Akame kept her katana drawn, anticipating further threats. Kurohime followed cautiously behind, her senses on high alert. They cleared the first room, examining objects and scattered documents. Kurohime stumbled upon a document that piqued her interest.

 

"Akame, this document suggests the inhabitant plotted to overthrow the assassin's guild," Kurohime said, handing the paper over.

 

Akame scanned it, searching for a date. "The current guild disbanded months ago," she stated, surprised by the document's age. "This is dated over a century ago. Something's wrong here."

 

They ventured into the next room, their steps faltering at the sight before them. Skeletons littered the floor - humans, demi-humans, and to Kurohime's horror, a giant dragon skeleton encased within a cage. A wave of nausea washed over her.

 

"Akame," she choked out, her voice thick with emotion, "I need some air. Seeing... seeing my own kind like this..."

 

Akame offered comfort, urging Kurohime to return when she felt composed. Alone, Akame delved further, scrutinizing more documents. Most detailed experiments on the unfortunate souls found in the previous chamber. Chillingly, another ominous door stood before her.

 

Just as Akame reached for the handle, a pair of letters fluttered to the ground. She picked them up, her brow furrowing as she read the first. It was a detailed proposal from an assassin's guild member named Reynard. He offered a gruesome deal to the necromancer residing here: the curse and capture of their leader, Yukari, in exchange for a steady supply of live subjects for five years. The second letter confirmed the necromancer's acceptance of the deal, with the plan set for a specific night during a major guild mission - a perfect opportunity to isolate Yukari.

 

Akame braced herself, the weight of the discovery settling on her shoulders. Slowly, she pushed the door open, revealing a pitch-black room pierced only by faint slivers of light. She remained calm, inching forward despite the unsettling atmosphere. A flicker from the outside illuminated a horrifying sight - a shadowy figure, vaguely resembling a hunched woman. Akame froze, her hand tightening around her katana.

 

"Do you need help?" Akame called out cautiously, her concern laced with wariness. The figure remained motionless, hunched over in an unsettling posture.

 

Akame took a tentative step forward for a better look. As if triggered by the movement, the figure lunged. Akame instinctively raised her katana, deflecting the attack with ease. The figure wielded a dagger, but Akame sensed no malice behind the blow.

 

In that brief exchange, Akame glimpsed the figure clearly - a woman in her late thirties or early forties, with flowing red hair and a revealing black dress. Her skillfulness suggested a trained assassin. The woman pressed another attack, which Akame again effortlessly blocked. This time, Akame deflected the attack and followed with a powerful kick, sending her flying back.

 

"Kurohime! Get in here!" Akame yelled, her voice calm but laced with urgency.

 

The woman reappeared from below in a flash, attacking upwards. Akame once more blocked the blow, deflecting and countering with a powerful punch that repelled the attacker. By now, Kurohime had entered the room and witnessed the scene unfolding.

 

"What's wrong with her? Why isn't she responding?" Akame asked amidst the flurry of attacks, her movements defensive as she parried each blow flawlessly.

 

Kurohime closed her eyes, focusing on the room's energy. It didn't take long to detect the problem. "She's cursed! We need to find the necromancer and kill them!" she declared urgently.

 

Then, Kurohime's gaze shifted to the far corner of the room. Her voice lost its urgency as she spoke. "Well... I found them."

 

Akame, still dodging and countering, replied without missing a beat, "Good! Kill them then."

 

"They're already dead," Kurohime said, piecing together the situation. "The necromancer seemed to be dead for a long time. This woman's trapped in limbo. The curse lingers, but without a master, she's just a mindless thrall, acting on the last command embedded in the curse."

 

"Can we save her?" Akame pressed. "A skilled assassin like this could be valuable to us."

 

"I might be able to reverse the curse!" Kurohime shouted over the clash of steel. 

 

"It’s worth a shot," Akame replied, deflecting another flurry of attacks.

 

"I need you to pierce her heart the moment I give the word. Can you do that?"

 

"Yep!" Akame confirmed, her movements a whirlwind of defense.

 

Kurohime raised her scythe, its point aimed at the woman. She began chanting in a guttural, demonic tongue. The room grew tense as Kurohime focused her energy.

 

Suddenly, the air hung heavy, silencing the clash of blades. "Now, Akame!" Kurohime roared.

 

With a flawlessly timed counter, Akame disarmed the woman and plunged her katana through her heart. The woman's vacant white eyes flickered back to life, their natural purple and red hues returning. Warmth flooded back into her body, replacing the chilling aura of the cursed thrall. Now, instead of a terrifying attacker, a beautiful, mature woman stood before her.

 

The woman looked down at the impaling wound, then back at Akame with a surprisingly peaceful expression. Akame swiftly withdrew her katana as the woman crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

 

"How long will this reversal take?" Akame pressed urgently.

 

"A while," Kurohime replied, remaining rooted to her spot. "Though she's dead, mend her wound. We don't want her panicking upon revival."

 

Akame rummaged through the room, gathering materials to patch the woman's wound. As she finished, Kurohime concluded her ritual. Walking over to the woman, Kurohime couldn't resist a playful jab: "Oh dear, her body rivals even mine. Should I even revive her?" A moment of their usual banter cut through the tense atmosphere.

 

Akame shot Kurohime a displeased look. "She'd be an asset to the guild, Kurohime. Did you see her skills? Imagine her potential when she's in control of herself."
 

Kurohime chuckled nervously, her scythe tip brushing the woman's forehead. An incantation escaped her lips, the final word resonating with dark power. The air crackled with unseen energy that surged towards the woman, making the hairs on Akame's arms stand on end. The room plunged into an even deeper darkness, the only light filtering through a crack in the ceiling, illuminating the woman's breathtaking form. Her crimson hair, usually vibrant, seemed to absorb the darkness, taking on an almost spectral quality with its red hues bleeding into an inky purple at the ends.

 

Kurohime sighed, resting at a nearby table in the corner. Akame remained vigilant beside the woman.

 

"A few minutes until she wakes," Kurohime murmured, crossing her legs. "Bringing a beauty with breasts that big back to life... what was I thinking? She'll give me a run for my money." She pouted playfully at Akame.

 

"Kurohime..." Akame chided, her gaze flickering back to the woman.

 

A moan escaped the woman's lips as consciousness flickered back. Both Akame and Kurohime gathered around and leaned in as she jolted awake, her eyes wide with the remnants of a nightmare. She scanned her surroundings cautiously before locking eyes with Akame and Kurohime, confusion clouding her features.

 

"Take it easy," Akame soothed.

 

The woman's gaze darted to Akame, a flicker of worry flitting across her face. "Where am I?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

 

"You’re in someone's lair. Kurohime here used her magic to set you free," Akame explained with a reassuring smile. "We saw potential in you and hoped to save you. It seems we succeeded."

 

The woman remained silent, absorbing the information. She ran a hand over her body, a flicker of panic crossing her face as her arm momentarily turned translucent before solidifying again.

 

"Interesting," Kurohime mused, her curiosity piqued. "It seems you've acquired spectral abilities. Perhaps your brief brush with the afterlife, combined with the curse I removed, triggered this change."

 

The woman's eyes met Kurohime's, a well of sadness swirling within them. "I... was dead?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. The sight tugged at Kurohime's heartstrings, momentarily stealing her breath. Regaining her composure, Kurohime spoke.

 

"Indeed. You were dead, but we brought you back. I also managed to overwrite the curse you were under, likely placed by that necromancer over there." Kurohime gestured towards the skeleton in the corner.

 

The woman glanced at the skeleton, its detailed black and gold robe and the tome beside it sparking a surge of recognition. A torrent of memories flooded back, twisting her face into a mask of fury.

 

Akame knelt down, offering her a hand with a calm and caring expression. Meeting Akame's gaze, the woman's own softened slightly. She accepted Akame's hand and was pulled to her feet.

 

"Apologies for my earlier lack of response," She stammered. "I'm simply... readjusting to being alive again. It's difficult to grasp how much time has passed. I felt like a mere observer for what seemed like..."

 

Akame interrupted gently, "One hundred years, to be exact. Take your time, Yukari."

 

"You know who I am?" Yukari's surprise was evident.

 

"After examining the necromancer's letters, I was able to piece together your identity and the events leading up to your curse. Welcome back to the world of the living," Akame said warmly.

 

Overwhelmed, Yukari sighed, "One hundred years... cursed for over a century. My god." She processed the information slowly. "I don't even know where to begin."

 

"Well, for starters," Akame began, "the assassin's guild in the republic is disbanded. It happened recently, within the last few months. I can't say whether that's good or bad news for you."

 

Yukari sighed deeply. "Honestly, I'm not sure either. Betrayal by one of my own... perhaps it was meant to benefit everyone, but at what cost? Many good people might have perished."

 

Clearly lost in thought, Yukari drifted towards a mirror. She noticed the changes in her hair but not a single wrinkle or mark of age on her face.

 

"How is it that I haven't aged a day?" Yukari voiced her confusion.

 

"The previous curse appeared to include immortality," Kurohime explained. "Our necromancer over here probably envisioned keeping you around as long as he lived."

 

A shiver ran down Yukari's spine at the thought of being his prisoner for centuries.

 

"I had to maintain that attribute for the new curse to work," Kurohime continued. "Otherwise, you would have crumbled to dust upon revivification."

 

"What curse did you replace it with?" Yukari inquired, a tremor in her voice.

 

"The new curse I implemented grants you immortality again," Kurohime explained. "You can still be killed, but you'll revive, though it will be a painful experience. Additionally, you won't age."

 

"Honestly, that doesn't sound so bad, what's the catch?" Yukari replied with a hint of skepticism.

 

Kurohime chuckled, a predatory glint in her eyes. "Perhaps you thought I'd keep you as a pet? We could still make that work, if you'd prefer." She licked her lips suggestively.

 

Yukari countered with a sly chuckle of her own. "Flirt with me in a month, after I've adjusted, and the warmth of your body might be tempting." Her gaze swept down Kurohime's figure, mirroring the suggestive lick of her lips.

 

Kurohime's smile widened, taking on a devilish edge. "Oh?" she purred.

 

Akame, clearly uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation, intervened. "Perhaps we could step outside? Some fresh air might help you adjust after a century, Yukari."

 

The trio emerged from the lair, and Yukari basked in the sunlight. It warmed her skin like a forgotten caress, revitalizing her as if she'd never experienced the world before.

 

"Words can't express my gratitude for what you've done," Yukari said, her voice thick with emotion. "However, I hope you won't mind a selfish request."

 

Akame and Kurohime exchanged glances before turning back to Yukari. "What is it?" they asked in unison.

 

"I want to visit the ruins of my guild. I think It's a two-day journey northeast from here, judging by the landmarks I see." Yukari pointed in a direction. Akame retrieved a map and handed it to her.

 

After examining the location, Akame shrugged. "We were heading that way anyway. Let's go."

 

Over the next two days, Akame and Kurohime respected Yukari's need for space. She remained mostly silent, only offering words of thanks when they provided food and shelter.

 

Their journey finally led them to the location Yukari had marked - a tiny village consisting of no more than five small houses, all reduced to smoldering ruins. Yukari approached one of the houses and entered, her expression hardening with resolve. She sifted through the debris, muttering to herself before finally exclaiming, "Found it!"

 

Akame and Kurohime rushed to her side. Yukari stood above a metal door concealed beneath the rubble. It was locked, but she produced a key from her dress that fit perfectly.

 

Yukari pushed open the heavy metal door. "This was a secret entrance for guild leaders," she explained. "Only we knew about it, a means of escape or discreet entry."

 

The pungent stench of decay intensified as they descended deeper. The lower levels were littered with the corpses of fallen guild members.

 

"These appear to be former assassins," Kurohime observed grimly. Yukari offered a silent nod in confirmation.

 

They reached a room Yukari seemingly recognized. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "My poor haven, look how they've defiled you." The room, once a magnificent library overflowing with knowledge, was now a shadow of its former glory. Stacks of books and tomes were relegated to a cramped corner, while the rest of the space had been transformed into a crude recreation area.

 

Yukari navigated towards a cluttered desk, sifting through scattered papers. A document caught her eye, and as she read it, shock contorted her features. "Reynard..." she whispered, disbelief lacing her voice. The document revealed Reynard's treachery. In her absence, he had seized leadership and steered the guild in a new direction. After his death, the reins of power had passed down to his descendants.

 

"Cassian, Reynard's grandson, appears to have been the last leader," Yukari murmured, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. "My children, what has become of you? What drove you to betray everything we built?"

 

Her gaze swept across the carnage, the devastation a stark contrast to the vibrant guild she once knew. "Perhaps the answers remain buried forever," she concluded with a tinge of resignation.

 

Akame offered a possible explanation. "We were led to believe the guild was disbanded, not destroyed. Perhaps we were misled, or some unknown force brought about this destruction."

 

Yukari remained silent, her focus consumed by the documents. Akame recognized the need for solitude and spoke softly, "We'll wait outside, Yukari. Please join us when you're ready." Yukari didn't respond verbally, but a subtle shift in her aura conveyed a sense of acceptance.

 

Emerging from the hidden entrance an hour later, Yukari seemed to have pieced together the events of her guild's demise. "Miss Akame," she began, "I believe I owe you an answer."

 

Akame raised an eyebrow. "An answer to what?"

 

A faint smile played on Yukari's lips. "When I awoke, I couldn't help but notice…something familiar in your eyes. A glint I used to see in my own eyes. You were offering me a place amongst you, weren't you?"

 

Akame chuckled softly. "You're a keen observer, Yukari. It seems one leader recognizes another. Have you considered my proposition?"

 

"I'll join you on one condition," Yukari stated. "I require a dedicated library, with exclusive access for me to curate and manage its collection."

 

Akame considered the request for a moment. "As long as it serves the guild, I have no objections. Even better, I have a map here." She unfolded a map, pointing to a location. "This marks the site of our new guild village and mansion under construction. There's a young woman named Fae overseeing the project. Tell her you've been recruited and have the authority to design your library – you can even provide input on the overall construction."

 

Yukari's eyes brightened. "Thank you so much."

 

Bidding farewell, Yukari turned back towards Kurohime. "Miss Kurohime," she purred, "perhaps we could become better acquainted one night when you return? My body has endured a century of coldness, and I could use some warmth." With a playful wink and a blown kiss, Yukari disappeared over the horizon.

 

Kurohime bit her lip, a sly smile dancing on her lips. "Oh, most definitely," she murmured seductively.

 

Akame rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated by the exchange. As Yukari faded into the distance, Akame turned to Kurohime with playful annoyance. "How do you manage to turn a somber situation like that into… sex?"

 

Kurohime returned the playful jab, her voice laced with mock seriousness. "Perhaps if you shared my bed every night, I wouldn't have to resort to such tactics," she said, biting her finger suggestively.

 

Akame remained unfazed, her expression unwavering. "Absolutely not," she declared firmly. "Enough talk. Time to move out. Our next destination awaits." With that, Akame started walking towards the looming silhouette of the Iron Legion's formidable iron walls.

 

Kurohime pouted playfully but followed close behind Akame.

​

End