Chapter 8: Sparks Near a Fuse

Lil Ms. Malachite has many titles.

Crime boss.

Single mother.

Information broker.

Business Entrepreneur.

A Conniving individual.

'Lawful' civilian.

Boss of bosses.

Head Councilwoman of the Kingdom of Mistral.

In short, She's untouchable. If I'm not careful, I could be thrown deeper into the abyss even if my mother is supposedly gone.

We remain silent until the moment the military base and its airships are beyond the horizon as our small fleet of escorts gives an all-clear.

Malachite did a dry cough to gain my attention. We stared at each other wordlessly and she smirked. She motioned to one of her guards and he handed her a pair of photographs.

I narrowed my eyes at the white back of the photo trying to understand what she's about to show me. Then without any fanfare or build-up, She slid it toward me.

I flipped over the photo to see a girl my age with blonde hair and blue eyes. Another picture is a man teaching a classroom full of students. I couldn't see the faces of the other students since I could only see the back of their heads with one exception being one with a red hood. I kept my reaction muted. I didn't want to be lied to and manipulated again. Yet, I can't help but feel the overwhelming joy of seeing Yang and my father. It's an unexplainable feeling deep within my heart that lets me know that's them. Even if it's just images on pieces of plastic.

"Akame," She broke the silence," Do you know how far Ironwood is willing to go to recruit you?"

I nodded.

Ironwood believed that I'm a scared, confused child and a prodigal recruit. He was playing with my emotion believing that I shouldn't have any recollection of a father I haven't seen since I was a baby. If I see that man again, I will break his jaw.

"Good," She clutched her hands together," Luckily for you, His little stunt allowed me to hold him by his ball."

It took me a moment to process what she just said.

"What?" I give her a deadpan expression. The vulgar sentence caught me off guard.

"I know a lot of things," she praised herself," He lost half of his body in an explosion so it's safe to assume he's half a man."

"Which side is still flesh?" I quickly got over her remark.

"Left."

"I'll keep that in mind," I archived the information into my memory.

"And I'll pay for the lawyers and the inevitable bail," She offers," Now back to business, I'll be completely honest with you if you're honest with me. I doubt you would listen to another liar."

"I'm not getting involved in any criminal activities," I answered," Ms. Malachite."

"That's fine," She clapped her hands together," What about killing your mother?"

"Killing my mother? What are you talking about?" I felt as if she had a mind-reading semblance. How effective is she at information gathering?

"Honesty Akame," she shook her head in disapproval," We're under an agreement for our little banter."

Of course, I need to be completely honest with a politician that lies about her side businesses and an information broker that always misdirect people if they pay too little or if someone else is looking for them. Revealing my desire to kill Raven is going to work against me.

"What Ironwood knows is also what I know," She revealed but I felt as if it's partially the truth," I got the dossier on everything you revealed as well as what happened onboard the airship. You were rather happy to turn against your mother. I'm just glad you left out my involvement. Why?"

"Because I know what will happen afterward," I answer with vagueness yet we both understood each other.

Ms. Malachite could create a kill contract. Even if I could fight off every assassins and thugs that come at me, I would rather not deal with it.

A part of my mind thinks it wouldn't even matter at this point. At least if I killed career criminals, It would be justified. The problem starts when she sends in Militias, Huntsmen, and law enforcement. I don't want to wage a war against a whole continent.

"Akame, I used to be good friends with your mother and her brother when we were little. People change with time and I detest the kind of hypocrite your mother has become," She sighed heavily," And cynical ass your uncle is."

"Are you going to help me kill her?"

"No," She responded quickly," You're her daughter. You shouldn't be talking like that."

"I have to kill her," I answered coldly.

"Are you aware of what you just said?"

"Yes, I'm being honest," I folded my arms," I want to kill her. There's no room for negotiation."

"Your mother!" She raised her voice," Are you insane? Your father still has feelings for her."

I paused.

"If you kill your mother and somehow get back home," Malachite explains," What are you going to tell him?"

I kept my mouth shut.

"Exactly, You can't tell him," the Councilwoman pointed out," Your mother is on the other side of the spectrum from how I operate. I prefer to make money in a society where money still has value. I don't conspire to start a violent uprising because it would require rebuilding a new system from the ground up. That if the Grimm doesn't eat us all first!"

I carefully choose every single word I say. This isn't a conversation. I'm negotiating my future.

The half dozen guards in the cabin stood like statues ready to attack. I looked out of the window and saw how high we were. I could try to break out and search for a parachute. But running now would make the situation worse and throw away the reason why I turn myself in.

I'm starting to doubt if this was the right decision.

I'm placed in a position where my skill with the blade is useless. Even within both lives, I never needed to deal with the nuances of negotiations or talking to people in general.

"Why would my dad still love a woman like her?"

"The same way he still loves his daughter even after everything she has done," Ms. Malachite revealed," Do you want to return to your father? I can arrange that."

She has to die for abandoning Yang and him. She has killed countless innocent civilians all while following a flawed logic. My skin heats up and colds. I watch as my markings on my arms shift and move. My father must understand it's a necessary evil to stop a monster like her.

"There are always strings attached," Raven for all her hypocrisy doesn't trust Ms. Malachite the first time I was introduced to her.

The woman frowned.

"There's something I need your help with," She sighed," I want you to help me rescue your uncle and mother."

"Rescue? Grimm doesn't take prisoners."

"Trust me, My insider in the academy confirms that our witch has sent out a little ransom," She explains," One of her Lieutenant is in charge of the Grimm. I want you to kill them too."

"Ransom?"

"She's after you."

"No," I clenched my fists," Nothing is worth saving her."

"And you don't want to save your uncle because you, at least partially, blame him for your late nana death," Malachite told me.

She's right yet again. How does she know I call Martha nana?

"Why? I thought it would be better for me to stay out of the way."

"Yes, I would rather not play 4D chess with an immortal wizard and Grimm witch," she closed her eyes," But with what is going on in the world. People have more value alive than dead."

"Are you asking me to go into Grimm infested territory to recuse them?" I could feel my semblance flare-up. The atmosphere felt suffocating. Yet, Malachite is as calm as the springtime morning.

"I'm asking you to help official government forces and huntsmans to retake the town," she offered," In exchange for your help, I'll reduce your sentencing without too much uproar from the public. It could also improve your image."

"Why is that town so important?"

Lil Ms. Malachite snapped her fingers and one of her guards produced a map from behind him.

"Do you see how this town is dead center of Anima? We have gotten reports that our witch is gathering more Grimm in the very heartland of my kingdom," She explained," I'm working on a ceasefire with the 'rebels' in exchange for saving their leader. While doing Ozpin and his little cult a service by saving your uncle. Ironwood's main forces are far south and wouldn't make it on time. They were busy dealing with your mother's little occupation zone."

"What about the one at the base or near the surrounding region?"

"Atlas military advisors agree it wouldn't be enough and they are busy dealing with a smaller cluster. The swarm you dealt with," She explained.

I recall how endless the horde of Grimm was. I doubt I could even win with my semblance active. If what I fought was a smaller cluster, I couldn't imagine the nightmarish situation Raven and my uncle went through.

"And you took it upon yourself to mobilize Mistral's forces to deal with it?"

"Yes, Ironwood only has his security airships. If we wait any longer, the cluster of Grimm could start attacking nearby population centers as well as have a straight route to Mistral itself."

"I find it strange that given what we know about Salem, A unify front is the last thing she wants," I analyzed," Unless, She plans to fracture Mistral into warring factions and city-states by destroying the seat of power."

I look out the window to see the entourage of bullheads and various other Mistranese aircraft growing larger.

"It was one of my theories. All my hard work will be wasted while making Atlas look like an inefficient military. There may even be a call for rearmament," She agrees," I need all the help I can get. I suspect the rise in Alpha Grimm sightings over the last four years is Salem's plan to discreetly create a large horde and generate unrest. Normally, Atlas and the Huntsman would exterminate it before it got out of hand. But they have their hands full oppressing hardworking civilians."

Hardworking civilians? Do you mean criminals and outlaws with actual civilians used as body shields?

"What will be my role?"

"Assassinate any alpha and Chimera Grimm before we launch a preemptive strike. It will weaken the Grimm 's combat effectiveness," she said calmly," You pulled it off against eight of them in the Atlesian airship. I have confidence you could do the same. I also need you to get into the town and locate any survivors including your own family."

"What comes after?"

"You will be free to go home," She promised," This mission might be the moment that could shift people's view on you. I want us to go our separate ways. If you don't reveal any skeleton in my closet, I won't send boogeymen after you. Assuming you refuse my offer and Mistral isn't destroyed, You will serve your full Juvie sentencing for around 6-7 years with travel restriction for another year. All this is under our laws, Akame."

"I see."

Lil Ms. Malachite is forcing me to fight. The upside is that I'm not stealing from the military or killing people. I'm assigned to kill high-value Grimm for the right purpose. If I'm given a proper weapon and all the necessary intel, I could pull this off.

She tapped her finger waiting for a response. The downside is that I will have to turn a blind eye to Ms. Malachite and her companions afterward. If this criminal council turns Mistral into another Empire, I could only hope the rest of Remnant could put them down. That's not even getting into the possibility of dying or being captured by Salem forces.

The Empire of my world has a strong military compared to its neighbors even when fighting on multiple fronts. But in this world, Atlas has a stronger military, Vacuo population is combat-ready, and Vale has the better Huntsmen. I don't see the need for my involvement so long as the other Kingdoms exist to restore balance.

"Give me more time," I answer her," I'll have your answer soon."

"Time is a premium, child. I'll give you two hours," She dialed her scroll," Someone wants to talk to you."

"I still don't trust you."

"This isn't a trick," she handed the scroll to me.

I picked it up expecting another fake caller.

"Akame! I'm totally happy to hear you're alive! " The girl on the other line sounded like Vernal. There is only one way to be sure.

"Vernal? What are the inventions that derived from the Great War? What was your answer last week?"

"Akame? Why are you quizzing me at a time like this? Also, last week? It was like, barely 3 or 4 days ago," She spoke in a very 'Malachite twins like accent.'

"Answer it or I'll hang up."

"Jeez Akame, Radar?"

"Correct, I'll make you a bacon sandwich when I get the chance."

"I know I was totes correct!" She could barely hold back a snicker as I could faintly hear one of the twins yelling at her in the background, "But, Akame, I don't eat meat."

"Good, I don't like meat either."

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO AKAME!"

"Vernal!" I felt as if an oppressive weight had lifted off my body," It's me, Akame. I needed to make sure it's you."

"Well not-Akame," She spoke sarcastically," How do I know it you?"

I suddenly felt as if my skin was crawling. I look at my arms to see the marking receding. My semblance is deactivating? I didn't want to break my conversation with Vernal so I continued.

"Because I'll make you run 50 laps around the garden if you say otherwise," I threatened half-heartedly.

"O-oh, please don't," she begged.

"Is Umber okay?"

There was a long pause on the other line as my head started to throb.

"She was with your mom," She sadly admitted," I don't know."

"No," I clutched my heart as pain shot through it. It felt as if my entire body was being twisted.

I could hear the panic yell of Ms. Malachite and her guards. Their words and screams were an indistinguishable mess. I couldn't even comprehend what was going on around me as I saw purple shadows rush to my aid.

Before I blacked out, I saw my reflection in the bullhead window: My eyes kept changing color and my markings seemed to squirm and flicker on my skin.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. The next story Arc is going to end with a time skip. Now about the story lightening up, it will come eventually but not this Arc.

Akame experiences from her past life and current life are going to be filled with many hardships that she has to overcome. She will learn she needs the help of other allies to accomplish it. Which is going to be all the more satisfying when she finally catches a break. Even the three Gacha games I play at least have some break from the depressing themes...with side content.

I'm still mentally recovering from Arknight chapter 7, FGO Lostbelt 2, and the CG trailer from Houkai.

I work hard on my fanfic to avoid pitfalls like why everyone is so open to admitting who they are to Ozpin, going to Beacon, or becoming instant friends with the entirety of team RWBY. Since I've been focusing on writing from Akame perspective, many nuances of what is happening in the world need to be revealed through her. And certain places would welcome Akame like Vacuo and Mantle. Salem's plan isn't as straightforward as it seems.

Now about writing Houkai Impact fanfic, I have no plan for that one. Besides doing a Gate-style crossover with RWBY as my default idea. But I'm committed to getting this fanfic until the start of RWBY canon before switching to older fanfic that needs updating.

I'm going to take extra time to write the next part.