Summary: With the serial killer's defeat at the hands of Night Raid, a bloodthirsty hunter arrives to claim her hunting ground. The aftermath of the battle draws her attention to a young assassin. Only he warrants for attention, and she would do anything to get closer to him. At the crossroad of an internal struggle about sacrifice and loyalty, will a lost feeling be rekindled?

Author's Notes: The plot for this story has been going crazy in my head for the past couple of weeks and I just can't seem to get it off my mind. It's completely distracting me from writing my other, more prioritizing stories so I thought of getting it down on paper. And apparently, this short story is the final product. Regardless, I present you with Temptation, a spin-off to a possible story, Blood Assassins, in the future.

Warning: This story takes place in an alternative universe where certain character backgrounds have been changed and played around with.

Disclaimer: All characters from Akame ga Kill that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Takahiro and Tashiro Tetsuya. I do not own anything in regards to their creation; I have Takahiro and Tashiro Tetsuya to thank for that.

Anyways, please bear with me if I make any mistakes or errors, especially in terms of the language (spelling, grammar, etc.).

Part 1: Blood

"The secret side of me, I never let you see.

I keep it caged, but I can't control it.

So stay away from me.

The beast is ugly.

I feel the rage, and I just can't hold it."

- (Skillet-Monster)

Once again, nightfall arrived in hopes of obliterating the relinquishing light of the sun, its encompassing darkness blotting out all but the faintest light. Ill-omened moments like such had children cowering under their blankets, sheltered by their homes. From their bedroom windows, a canopy of stars could be seen materializing among the ocean of blackness, serving as dull waning lights against the moon. The ubiquitous moon was a spherical lump of bleeding crimson that hovered in the firmament as it cast eerie shadows upon the earth. The moonlight bounced off houses as silhouettes of mutated figures, expanding and spiraling on their own accord, spreading ominous shades of red.

The unnerving scenery was filled with inconsistencies; the temperature was always fluctuating. The breeze howled in discord as it scraped the land with its invisible bony fingers, like skeletons roaming the empty streets aimlessly.

Indeed, this was the time for wild fantasies about underworld creatures and their resurrections. Many tales about baleful spirits, ghosts, werewolves, and even vampires were told by the parents in the Capital, who wanted their children tucked into bed prior to curfew. Naturally, none of the adults fell for their own make-believe stories, though that was only because they knew nothing about the true darkness that stalked them.

Along with the backdrop of stars, a lone figure stood passively on the roof of a guard's tower that was deserted by neglectful watchmen. Her black clothing, consisting of a sleeveless dress, long gloves, and a pair of knee-length socks with matching boots, helped camouflage her slender form in the darkness. Her flowing luxuriant black hair offered another layer of secrecy, adding to the list of the many things that kept her hidden.

The moonlight's route altered slightly due to a drifting cloud, and the light shifted towards the figure, its rays being instantly absorbed by her red armguards and red tie around her neck. The garment and the black and red color theme were selected from her wardrobe with great care; they served as the perfect identification should someone spot her.

The night was her domain, as it was prior to the incident, but even more so after… when no one was out to restrain her.

Akame, the renowned assassin of the Empire and the former member of the Elite Seven, frowned. Below the sharply furrowed eyebrows resting under uneven bangs, were eyes that glistened coldly in the dark, as red as the moon above her. Her pair of ruby-like orbs caught the sight of houses, shops, and inns that lined the streets, which separated into alleyways and branched off in different directions further than what she could perceive. From up here, it was impossible to see where each path ended, though from prior knowledge, Akame knew that they forked and ended near the gates that marked the Capital's boundaries. What lay beyond were terrible beasts in the form of hideous creatures, though they were hardly worthy of her attention; any Danger Beast with enough intelligence would steer off her radar without a second thought.

With a slow but intended motion, Akame pulled her scarf up and decided to commence her nightly routine. Her neckwear, which flailed about weakly in the wind, was peach-colored in design. It was nothing special save for the three black flowers that formed a triangular crest on the side, the gifted representation of a strong bond that she held dearly to. The scarf itself was just enough to cover the lower half of her face without obstructing her from sniffing out her targets.

A sudden chilling breeze visited the earth and would've made many shivered, though Akame merely welcomed its touch on her equally cold skin, not the least affected by the surrounding draftiness whatsoever. In fact, the breeze stirred up different scents that assaulted her nose at once. The familiar stench of alcohol, cigar, and manure was as distinguishable as the flickering lampposts on the sides of the streets. Doing her best to ignore the irksome distractions, Akame allowed hunger to be her escort, guiding her nose in the direction of a possible food source.

Hunger, such was the name of the terrible monster that buried itself deep within the roots of her entire being. It was her constant companion, the one that she tried so desperately to get rid of but to no avail. In spite of everything, the hunger was a horrible addiction that not even she, with all her willpower, could resist. Even so, her resilience fought back with passion, unwilling to allow the killing urge to dictate her life.

Currently, Akame let the craving stimulus incite the senses that were dulled from being incarcerated. She was always eager, almost overwrought, to find any oblivious targets. It had been days since she was properly fed. The question of who did not bother her by any means, be it a drunken man or a homeless person. Regardless, she did have a secret preference for someone young, perhaps a teenager. The blood of an adolescent tasted exceptionally delectable, something that Akame could put on par with meat. The mere thought was mouth-watering and her fangs skimmed the surface of her tongue, restless and full of anticipation.

'My, isn't someone famished? What are you waiting for? Let me assist you. Simply embrace who you are and claim what is yours. Don't hold back now. Hunt, feast, and kill to your desires. Wreak havoc on this miserable world that rejected your existence.'

'Go away!' Akame inwardly growled out a warning that was regrettably losing its impact at this stage. Her desires had a strange way of manifesting itself in the form of an inner voice that took every opportunity to deride her when her resolve was waning. It would always be so alluring and tempting that Akame would nearly succumb to its suggestions. Nonetheless, as tantalizing as it was, she forbid her inhuman side from running loose. Instead, she opted to keep it shackled and locked up in the deep chasm of her mind. It was a no-brainer for her to guess the consequences otherwise. Once she gave in to the hunger, it would be the end for the people in this wretched place. In spite of everything, Akame didn't wish for a massacre. After all, it was not because of leisure that she hunted humans; but rather, she did it out of necessity.

Besides, Akame knew that the Empire would suspect her for any inexplicable deaths. It usually worked like that, even when there was a piece of evidence that contradicted the supposition. She would be accounted and punished for anything that seemed phenomenal. The authorities were all abusive no matter how much she tried to prove her innocence, as she did so when she was little. The punishment always included deprivation and Akame learned to stop pleading after a while, understanding how deplorable her behavior was. It was futile. She supposed it was just simply because she was a feared outcast. The authorities gave off auras of condescension and superiority, but she knew that it was just an act to conceal their fear. Everything they did was with the intention of restraining her, to keep her under their control.

Before seeing everything with her own eyes, Akame thought of using the serial killer to take the blame. Who was going to notice one or two more shrunken bodies when a psychopath was on the loose? Nevertheless, she realized how stupid and flawed her plan was. The serial killer, Zank the Executioner, had returned from hiding to decapitate people at random. Rumor had it that he murdered countless innocence whilst on his rampage. Coming here, Akame realized just how dangerous Zank was; the scent of blood was unnaturally thick and strong in the area. It was just as well that her body didn't react to blood that wasn't fresh. Still, the arrival of the serial killer was more of a threat than a blessing. Her food source was becoming scarce since nobody in the right frame of their mind would want to risk their lives by leaving the sanctuary of their homes.

'My feeding ground is being trampled on. And I'm hungry.' With a palm resting on the red hilt of the katana tied to her belt, Akame's fingers fleetingly brushed against the black markings inscribed on the weapon's side. The blade, eternally cursed, was fitting for someone like her. It was supposedly one of the 48 relics that once protected the Empire from invaders, though more than half were scattered across the continent after some ancient civil war. Since she was no archeologist, Akame usually had no interest in such things. Regardless, she was still somehow chosen to be the wielder of the infamous one-cut killer, Murasame. Perhaps it was a feeble form of consolation, but it felt better knowing that she was still wanted, even if such foolish lingering human desire was satisfied by a cursed blade.

'Just how low do you plan to sink? Your so-called reassurance means nothing. Why not seek for something far more fulfilling? You do know what you crave for don't you?'

'What I want is none of your business,' Akame scoffed inwardly, letting her irritation pour into her mind. Her hand instinctively grasped around Murasame, even when she had no intention of drawing the blade.

'It is in my nature to pry, just as it is in yours to kill. No one knows you better than I do. I've been living as a part of you for four years now. Pretending to be enigmatic is utterly pointless when I can read your heart.' There was little doubt of the mockery that was laced onto the haughty tone.

'I have nothing to hide from a prehistoric spirit who has nothing better to do than to bother me. Just leave me be.'

'Ah, there's the waspish tongue that's so like your sister's. But tell me sweet Akame, when was I ever a lowly spirit? I am immortal… a being that far surpasses the capacity of what any humans could dream o—'

'And yet, you were hunted down by humans and made into the Imperial Arms known as Blood Collection: Absordex,' Akame cut off sourly, hoping that the retort would be adequate to discontinue the conversation.

'A mistake that I will surely take vengeance on. I am still nowhere near my full strength though… but your existence shall compensate for that.' The way that the inner voice spoke of the word 'mistake' struck terror into the pit of Akame's stomach, something that was normally impossible for anyone else to do. At once, the Imperial assassin comprehended its intention and once again confirmed her suspicions. So long as she kept her hunger at bay, the beast inside of her would remain unheard of to the rest of the world.

'I refuse to help you. It's true that I loathe the people who experimented on me and merged my existence with yours. But I made a promise to someone that I will help the people in this country. For his sake, I will abide by my words as law.'

'Stubborn fool… hmph, but I expected an answer like that from you. Still, we both know that it's pointless to resist. It's bound to happen… you'll come to me sooner or later when the hunger finally consumes you. But until that day, I will continue to wait.'

'It won't happen… because I won't allow it.' Akame's conscience emerged as the victor of her internal conflict as she managed to fend off the verbal temptation once more. Despite the confidence that accompanied her words, Akame knew that she was truly breaching her limits. Already, she could feel the hunger invading every cell of her body, compelling her to begin her hunt. Unable to ignore it any longer, Akame heeded her needs reluctantly.

The dexterous assassin leaped from one rooftop to another, her boots just lightly touching the tiles. She pressed down hard enough for graceful leaps, but not enough to make a sound. Out of habit, she hid in the shadows of the taller buildings that obstructed the moonlight, thus allowing her form to merge with the still setting. Her dark hair only made concealing herself simpler and it wasn't long until she detected someone's approach from behind.

About a dozen or so footsteps echoed from the contact with the paved path as Akame, crouched low on her two legs, scrutinized the street beneath her warily. A few seconds later, a file of Imperial guards marched past. Having suffered casualties during the past few nights, the guards seemed to be on the lookout for anything that moved, their eyes darting from right to left. However, none of them felt the need to look up, which was providential for the assassin.

The Capital was getting tight with its night patrol, no doubt because of the cases involving the serial killer. From Akame's viewpoint, security was only a trivial hindrance that she, as a trained assassin, was taught to bypass.

'They are wary, but not skilled enough to detect my presence.'

It was too bad that the people below her were Imperial guards because they would've satisfied her hunger thoroughly. Morals and loyalty aside, she was also held back by subservient. It would do her and her master no good if she was witnessed feasting madly on the Imperial soldiers.

'What are you… a pet? You're quite pitiable. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!' Her inner voice had its ways of patronizing her and Akame found no appropriate rebuttals. Frankly, she couldn't disagree this time around; she was pathetically tied to a leash, the despicable result of her insubordination. Her fingers found the metallic restraint underneath her scarf as the strong and cold steel taunted her with its unrelenting hold. 'In retrospect, I should've known that this would've been the result.'

Deciding that musing over the matter would get her nowhere, Akame redirected her attention to the street below and was just in time to hear the exchange between two policemen.

"Uh, sir, where exactly are we going?" The speaker was a young man dressed in the traditional silver battle armor of the Imperial soldiers. Struggling to match the pace of his comrades, he fell to the back of the line, unaware that he and his teammates were being closely trailed. The young man was fidgeting with the lance in his hands, his fingers drumming against the shaft in apparent nervousness.

"Captain Ogre received intel that strange things are happening in District 34. We've been told to check for any irregular activities," the officer beside the youngster answered casually, all the while stroking his beard. Like all others, he too was oblivious to the eavesdropper lurking in the shadows.

"Unusual activities? Do you mean the vampire sightings?"

"Pah, rubbish! This is why kids like you shouldn't get recruited into the army until you're at least ten years older. You are too gullible for your own good. You actually believe in the things that the old geezers in the inns say? Vampires are just from fables, everybody knows that," the older officer huffed in disdain. "I'm telling ya right now, you need to get the load of garbage out of your head if you want to be successful in the military. And you better not let your mouth run wild around the Prime Minister. Everyone knows that he hates people who mention a word about vampires. Apparently, the only thing he finds more contemptible than folktales of vampires is Night Raid."

"Night Raid? You mean the assassin group on the wanted posters. I heard that the organization is closely linked to the Revolutionary Army and that two of its members managed to infiltrate the palace years ago, murdering the crowned prince in the process."

"So you're a wise one, huh kid? But you're wrong about one thing; Night Raid was actually formed after the terrible incident. Still, my hunch tells me that Night Raid is involved in this case too. They are always around when there's trouble. So I'll betcha that they are the ones stuffing around in District 34, along with Zank the Executioner."

Thanks to her sensitive hearing, Akame eavesdropped with little difficulties. Interest piqued, she decided to search the said area before the Imperial guards could. Not only was Zank beginning to get on her nerves, but the fact that Night Raid was involved prompted her to take action.

Bestowed with a new purpose, Akame set off at full throttle, leaving a swirl of dust for the guards to notice had they looked up. The red-eyed assassin's untiring legs carried her as fast as they could across the rooftops. At such velocity, her vision should've been blurry but her unusually red orbs captured and focused on the surroundings on a whim. Such feat would have been impossible for her years ago, but now, she wouldn't doubt her ability for a second; she was convinced that she could reach her destination, exploit the area, and leave before the Imperial officers arrived on the scene. Her inhuman velocity was just one of the advantages of being a test subject, though at the expense of everything precious to her.

It was on a fateful night so similar to this one, that she lost everything she cherished.

'Back then, I didn't have the strength to protect them. But now that I am stronger… where are the ones who I've sworn to protect with my life?'

Out of the corner of her eye, Akame noticed a bulletin on the wall opposite of her. She passed it without as much of a pause, only allowing the time to fleetingly scan for anything interesting. Nothing significant grabbed her attention, save for the two wanted posters that were pinned to the center of the board. There were four records altogether, but only two names struck a chord in Akame's memories.

Night Raid's Najenda, wanted dead or alive for countless murders, defection, and the assassination of Prince Masumi.

Night Raid's Kurome, wanted dead or alive for countless murders, defection, theft, and the assassination of Prince Masumi.

Akame pushed away the nostalgic sensation that coursed through her body and prioritized her needs. She quickly guided her train of thoughts before they could steer her towards the irrepressible scars of her childhood. As a means of distraction from the unwanted recollections, she concentrated on the path before her and pushed forward. After a while, the rooftops became more and more parted as she entered the urban areas of the Capital. Small jumps over the gaps eventually became bounding leaps, with Akame muttering a curse under her breath. This would've been so much easier if only she was fed. 'Then again, I wouldn't have come if I wasn't hungry.'

Akame was somewhat glad when the buildings began to part away to allow room for a clearing. Leaping down from the rooftops, the first thing she noticed was how battered down the place was. Crumbled walls could be seen, no doubt being the lingering ruins of formerly grand mansions. It was no surprise though; the district was previously owned by the wealthy proportion of the Capital before they evacuated and moved closer to the palace.

The place being deserted certainly posted no problem for Akame; what she was intrigued about was how the grounds looked.

The battle scars were fresh, just like the overwhelming scent of blood that had her senses reeling. Serrated cracks decorated the plain concrete floor that was dyed red. Tracing the blood trail, Akame's eyes locked onto a bulky figure that lay motionlessly in a supine position. Her hand flew to Murasame on pure instinct and she immediately gave a cautious whiff. The stench of death was heavy on the man, so strong that she was left in no doubt that he had died recently, perhaps no more than an hour ago. Regardless, being the vigilant person she was, Akame strained her ears for a particular sound. Only when she was certain that there were no heartbeats in the vicinity did she release her grip on Murasame. Nothing alive was near… including herself.

'Ah, so you unwittingly admitted that you're no longer a human? Good girl.'

Wisely choosing to ignore the nagging taunt, Akame crouched down beside the corpse and began her inspection. Pulling the man's long-sleeved top up, she took in the gruesome wounds on his upper torso and a hint of surprise flashed across her features.

Akame wouldn't call it butchering, but the victor of the battle was clearly someone with ample skills. The gashes ran deep and split the victim's flesh, with the fatal blow being a diagonal slash that started from the collarbone and ended at the bottom of the left lung, undeniably damaging the heart in the process. Akame's eyes then traveled to the right and she noticed that some exterior force had brutally crushed the man's arm, leaving parts of the shattered bone to stick out of his disfigured limb. 'This isn't something a normal human's grip could do… Is it another vampire? No, that's impossible.'

Mildly intrigued, Akame began to take note of the clues that she couldn't see. She picked up on two distinct types of blood from the corpse. One undoubtedly belonged to the man while the other brought her a peculiar sense of familiarity. When and where had she encountered it? Granted, it wasn't the blood of an old victim, something that Akame could recognize after tasting it once. More importantly, it smelled of someone who was alive and young.

'It smells so good.' Without as much as a conscious thought, her tongue danced around her lips in one full rotation. Something about the aroma had every cell within her body tremble in desperation, yearning for the heavenly taste that would bring her body to the pinnacle of satisfaction. Gulping, the red-eyed assassin could not stop her body from what she deemed was a display of weakness; her face was flushed, her breathing was erratic, and her very soul trembled with uncontrolled stimulations.

'It's scrumptious, isn't it? It's like nothing you've tasted before. What are you waiting for? Hunt it down! Savor the taste!'

'Argh, but it's outside of my usual range.' Akame's hand grabbed the side of her temple. Her predicament was becoming quite the dilemma. Two choices were presented to her… to pursue or not? Doing so could possibly endanger herself. While familiar with the layout of the Capital, what rest beyond the borderline was unknown territory. Being a territorial being, she was somewhat tentative. However, retiring now would yield no results, considering how the smell was becoming fainter and fainter by the minute. Come tomorrow, and she was certain that she would be back to square one with her investigation. It was now or never. Wrestling with the idea, it was intuition that triumphed over her reasoning.

Since her mind gave permission, her body was more than willing to oblige and take off, guided more by smell than sight. Relying on her unfailing senses to escort her, Akame permitted her mind to drift off, to when things were a lot different. Back then, paradise was non-existent for an assassin like her, though the welcoming presence of her only childhood friend and her young sister made any ordeal bearable. At a young age, the three of them were inseparable and did many things together. They had no qualms about the differences in their status. Naturally, the adults revolted the idea of the three of them spending time together, but none of them dared to meddle. It was just him, her sister, and her. Nonetheless, the memories were of a distant time, a mere fantasy left for reminiscences.

Despite that, Akame indulged herself in her childhood memories. With the recollection, recognition also came. The blood that could stimulate her urges effortlessly was that of Masumi's, her childhood friend. It was an indescribable flavor that she tasted only once, back when she was still a human. Loitering images flashed in Akame's head—a poisonous snake suddenly striking, her sister extracting her weapon, a younger version of herself sucking the venom from Masumi's leg, and the three of them pumping fists as they sealed their pact.

"Akame, you're so hopeless sometimes! It's not an order; I'm just telling you that I hate this master-servant relationship we have. I want us to be friends. Forget about my lineage… We're on equal ground and I want you to call me by my name like a friend would."

"Why am I so adamant? You really want to know why I want to change the Capital, huh? It's obvious that this place is corrupted. Those who are poor don't get a say in anything and are dictated by the wealthy. I don't like it one bit. Your family background can't determine the person you become. Just because you are born in the slums doesn't mean that you are anything less human. Well, at the very least… I want to create a world where orphans like you and Kurome can live freely as humans… and not as killing machines for the Empire."

"I can't get cold feet, but this isn't something I can do alone. I need both you and Kurome. We'll make a deal. The three of us swear to never withhold secrets from each other. We will always be together and help each other. And together… we will change the country for the better. It's a promise!"

'How could I nearly forget something as important as this? He is ready now… to change this world. But why did I doubt it for even a second?' Akame clicked her tongue, mentally scolding herself for being neglectful. Although a traumatic incident had separated the trio a year after their vow, she should've known that Masumi would be too obstinate to give up. His uprising was just beginning and Akame could only pray for his success. Before, she would've jumped at the chance to defect and join him, but it was impossible now.

Whether or not Masumi would regard her as a threat didn't bother her as she propelled through the darkness. Strengthened by anticipation, Akame paced herself further, not caring if she surpassed any human limits. As long as the sun was down, such exertion meant little to the body that was modified to endure harsh conditions. Naturally, the enhancement was only possible given that she wasn't deprived of blood. She might have fought against numerous of skilled Teigu users, but deprivation was the one enemy that she could never overcome.

It was only when she was assaulted with the forest's pleasant aroma did she slowed her sprint to a jog. Her eyes straight away became valiantly alert for any movement. The rustling leaves and the fallen branches were the first things prominent to her, though she also perceived thin wires that stretched along the forest floors. The silver threads were meant to be invisible to the naked eye, but Akame's crimson orbs could still faintly discern them. 'I must be getting close for the assassins to be setting up traps.'

With the grace of a lynx, Akame dexterously avoided the wires, which proved to be of little challenge when she could see them. Tracing the origin of the strings, it wasn't long before she stumbled upon a large mansion-like building embedded in the side of a cliff, successfully shielding the man-made structure from prying eyes. From a distance, it would look nothing more than a part of the rocky cliff. Akame assumed that such design was probably done by architects with unrivaled skill.

'I am on course.' Thinking back to the wanted posters, Akame's lips curled into a miniature smile, a fang just protruding out of the corner of her mouth.

This was it… the notorious Night Raid's hideout.

Author's Notes: This officially concludes part 1, though it was more of an introductory chapter than anything else. Still, I'm left somewhat disappointed because I didn't get the chance to expand many of the concepts that I intended to get done in this chapter. I guess this is what happens when you try to compress an expanded storyline into something less than 5K. Therefore, kudos if someone actually read everything and made some sense out of it.

Oh well. This short story will be finished within 3 chapters regardless and I hope that the next installment allows me to introduce another main character… ahem, Tatsumi.

Reviews, feedback, questions, suggestions, and critics are always welcomed as they will motivate me.

Until next time...