The Assassin and the Alchemist

by Inattentive_Anya

Summary:

Years after the victory over the homunculi, Alphonse returns to Resembool for Edward and Winry's wedding accompanied by a strange red-eyed girl with a sword. When news of this reaches the army, Mustang's group returns to investigate a new conspiracy that, in some way, is related to Alphonse's new friend.

Notes:

• Inspired by A Assassina e o Alquimista by Kurome-sama

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my multi-chapter fic.

I wrote this story a long time ago, but I finally decided to translate it into English. English isn’t my first language. Nor my second. So, please forgive any mistakes. Spelling corrections are very welcome.
By the way, when I wrote this story, the manga of Akame Ga Kill! was still being released, so I based it solely on the anime version. As for the FMA, I based myself on both the anime FullMetal Alchemist:Brotherhood and the manga.

Please, enjoy!!

Chapter 1: Reunion

Summary:

Alphonse returns to Resembool for Edward and Winry’s wedding in the company of Akame of the Demon Sword Murasame, the silent assassin of Akame Ga Kill!, but Alphonse forgets to tell the little detail that Akame was an assassin.

Notes:

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my multi-chapter fic.

I wrote this story a long time ago, but I finally decided to translate it into English. English isn’t my first language. Nor my second. So, please forgive any mistakes. Spelling corrections are very welcome.
By the way, when I wrote this story, the manga of Akame Ga Kill! was still being released, so I based it solely on the anime version. As for the FMA, I based myself on both the anime FullMetal Alchemist:Brotherhood and the manga.

Please, enjoy!!

“Granny, will this stew be ready or not?”

The person asking this question was none other than the great State Alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric. Well, not that great, and certainly not a State Alchemist. Edward resigned from the Amestris Army shortly after the events in the Central City, resulting in the death of former Führer King Bradley and the defeat of the homunculi. To save his brother Alphonse, Edward sacrificed his alchemist power and could no longer hold his former position in the army. But he didn't complain. After all, being removed from the army was a blessing for him.

"If you're in such a hurry, do it yourself!" replied a small woman with a pipe balanced in her mouth, with a slight hint of irritation.

"What's up, Granny?" Edward addressed Pinako Rockbell with a clear sense of humor. She wasn't actually his grandmother, but he considered her that way. "Aren't you going to take it easy, even knowing Al's coming?"

"Speaking of which," Winry Rockbell appeared at the door, "when's he coming?"

"I don't know. With Al, we ask one thing and he answers another." Edward assumed a thoughtful posture as he blew on the hot liquid in his mug. "He said he was bringing a surprise. What could it be?"

"It must be gifts for everyone," Winry said excitedly. "Al-kun was always so kind!"

"Really?" Edward gave a cynical expression. "So, why don't you marry Al-kun?"

"Ed, don't start..." Winry rolled her eyes.

"Calm down. It was just an innocent question..."

Despite everything, Edward couldn't hide his longing for his brother. Since they were children, they had never spent so much time apart. After Alphonse regained his body and everything settled down in Amestris, Alphonse set off on a research trip to Xing. Edward followed the opposite path, westward, and met many people and new ways of using alchemy. Even though he could no longer perform transmutations, Edward had acquired vast alchemical knowledge during his time in the army, and his achievements reached the most unimaginable places. Before he knew it, three years had passed. Edward decided to return to Resembool and marry Winry. He sent a letter to his brother, who said he would come running for the engagement.

"Aren't you going to get ready for your brother's reunion?" Winry asked, pulling Edward out of his thoughts.

"Calm down. Al won't be home anytime soon..."

He hadn't even finished his sentence when the front door slammed, followed by a few excited barks.

"Good morning, everyone!" Alphonse shouted theatrically. He appeared at the front door carrying a small suitcase and a big smile on his face. He was taller and stronger. Winry immediately jumped on his neck and hugged him tightly. "Hello, Winry," he said simply, with a wide smile.

"Al!" Edward shouted, surprised and delighted, as Alphonse hugged Grandma Pinako, who had just come out of the kitchen to see what was happening. "You're early!"
"It's nothing." Winry put her hands on her hips and scolded Edward. "You guessed what time Al-kun would arrive and you were wrong... as usual." "Okay," Edward rolled his eyes in defeat, and thought of something to avoid the subject. "Hey, Al! What's this surprise?"

"Oh, yeah." Alphonse jumped up with the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning and ran to the front door. "I want you to meet a friend…" He extended his arms toward the door like a true ringmaster about to introduce the greatest show on Earth. "Akame-chan!"

A girl appeared timidly in the doorway. What caught his most attention was her long black hair, almost touching her ankles, and her striking red eyes. No, the girl's eyes weren't angry. The iris of her eye had a strange coloration, unlike anything they'd ever seen, and in the light, Edward could have sworn those eyes were red. How strange! Who would have red eyes?

Edward thought for a moment and remembered the Ishvalians. However, except for the reddish eyes, this girl didn't look at all like an Ishvalian. She didn't have tanned skin or white hair; quite the opposite. Her white skin and slanted eyes made her look more like... a native of Xing. No, not necessarily Xing, because her skin was even paler. Or perhaps she belonged to a very similar ethnic group.

Winry and Grandma Pinako didn't notice anything unusual about the girl and kindly invited her to lunch. Edward noticed that Akame was a woman of few words and always maintained a serious and thoughtful expression. Even so, she ate an absurd amount of meat. Where did she hide all that food?
"Your friend is beautiful, Al," Pinako said, staring at them both. Akame's expression remained indifferent despite the compliment, while Alphonse grinned from ear to ear. "Would you like anything else to eat, sweetie?"

"And what else?" Edward frowned, his bad mood returning. "She just ate everything in this house."
"Don't bother with Edward." Grandma Pinako put her hand in front of her face as if whispering secretly to Akame, but everyone at the table could hear her. "He's not usually polite to guests."

"GRANDMA!!!" the former alchemist shouted.

Edward didn't like being talked down to in front of strangers. Especially this stranger. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he'd had a bad feeling since the girl arrived. He couldn't quite explain it. And what was that thing she carried on her back? A katana? Edward had read in old books about weapons from other countries during his training, and what the girl carried was very similar to a kind of sword, known in faraway places as a katana. He didn't like this one bit.

"I'd like to thank you for your hospitality," Akame said, surprising Edward. Until now, that had been her longest sentence. "You're wonderful, just like Alphonse-san said."
"How sweet." Grandma Pinako turned to Edward as if scolding a small child. "See, Edward? That's how polite people act."

A vein popped on Edward's forehead, and Winry stifled a giggle.

"I'm so happy to see everyone together," Alphonse smiled, "and to see how well you're getting along. I knew you'd love Akame-chan."

"Akame, isn't it?" Edward softened his expression and smiled falsely at his visitor. "You don't seem to be from around here..."

"No," Akame replied, her eyes closed, and took a sip from her mug. "I'm from the East."

"And what did you do there?" Edward tried to hide his sudden interest. "Do you have a family?"

"I almost forgot." Alphonse slapped his forehead exaggeratedly, drawing everyone's attention. "Winry, I brought gifts for you and Grandma!"
"Thank you, Al-kun." Winry smiled.

Alphonse pulled everyone into the living room and began unpacking his travel belongings. In addition to his suitcase, he had brought travel bags, and soon the room was filled with various strange and unusual objects. Winry and Grandma Pinako smiled wider as Alphonse, with Akame's help, displayed all these artifacts. Alphonse chattered endlessly about how he had obtained all these things, always with some joke or obvious exaggerated lie in his stories. Only Edward didn't join in the fun, watching from afar.

Why had Alphonse abruptly changed the subject? Edward knew his brother. He knew there was something strange about this story. Who was this girl, and why had Alphonse brought her home? He really didn't like this at all.

A long time later, Alphonse, Edward, and Winry sat beneath a tree at the back of the house to discuss Alphonse's alchemical discoveries and adventures in Xing.

"I need to take my research results to the university," Alphonse said excitedly. He was the only one standing. "Ed, you'll like to see my discoveries about Xing's alchemical science."

"Yes, Al." Edward frowned, unable to pay attention to his brother's words. "And what about this friend of yours..." He waved his fingers in front of his face, imitating a person walking. "Did you travel alone from Xing to here?"

"Aww! How romantic." Winry clasped her hands over her chest, misinterpreting Edward's question. "I think you two make a very cute couple, Al-kun."

"What are you talking about?" Alphonse put his hands on his hips and, for the first time that day, looked serious. "We didn't travel alone. Mr. Jelso and Mr. Zampano were with us."

"Those chimera friends of yours?" Winry asked.

"And where are they?" Edward lifted his chin defiantly.

"They each went to their own homes, of course," Alphonse said, as if it were obvious. "Besides, Akame-chan is too pretty for a guy like me," he smiled awkwardly.
"How did you find her?" Edward asked.

"Actually, she was the one who found us," Alphonse replied, staring into space. However, he quickly recovered and continued, "Akame-chan has no one in the world. Everyone she loved is dead."

"Poor thing," Winry was visibly feeling sorry for her.

"While she's here, please be nice to her." Alphonse glanced at his brother out of the corner of his eye. "Okay, Ed?"

"Okay, but," Edward rested his chin on one hand, thoughtfully, "that sword she carries... I don't know... I sensed something. Alchemy, maybe."

"Well," Alphonse shook his head, "it's more or less..."

Alphonse didn't have time to finish his sentence. when a voice alerted them.

"OH MY!!!" they heard Grandma Pinako scream from the front of the house, causing the two brothers to run toward her.

"Calm down, Granny!" Edward yelled heroically. "We're coming!"

They reached the front of the house and looked around, searching for the source of all the noise.

"Huh?" Edward scratched his head. "Where's the old lady?"

"Here," Pinako called simply.

Looking in the direction of the voice, the two brothers' jaws dropped in astonishment. Behind Grandma Pinako, a huge pile of logs was lined up and perfectly organized.

"Akame-chan already chopped all the firewood for the day by herself," Pinako waved back. Only then did the two notice the young woman standing nonchalantly beside the pile, her long black hair blowing in the wind. "By the way, there's enough firewood for a month."

"It was nothing." Akame shook her head, expressionless.

"HOW... HOW DID SHE CUT ALL THAT BY HERSELF IN HALF AN HOUR?!!?" Edward's eyes were so wide they were almost popping out of their sockets. "And where did she get all that wood to cut firewood?"

"Are you implying the firewood cut itself, Edward?" Grandma Pinako glared at him. "Because you, I'm sure you didn't."

"See, Ed?" Alphonse melted beside his brother. "Akame-chan is amazing!"

"You're crazy!" Edward whirled around in a fit of rage. "She's not human!"

"Where are you going, Ed?" Alphonse asked.

"To prove me right," he stomped off.

"Your brother's still the same hothead." Grandma Pinako watched Edward leave, and Alphonse just nodded. "In a few days, he'll forget."

"I don't know," Alphonse followed Pinako toward the front door. "Ed can be very stubborn sometimes."

A few days passed without anything unusual happening at the Rockbell house. Edward couldn't find out anything about the mysterious girl. Akame spoke only when necessary, and Alphonse always found a way to divert the subject when the conversation turned to Akame's past. Edward only knew that Alphonse, Jelso, and Zampano had bumped into Akame in the desert on the border between Amestris and Xing. But what was a girl doing alone in the middle of the desert? And why had she joined a group of strangers? Where had she come from?

Furthermore, every day she and Alphonse trained in front of the house. Alphonse always began his training by transmuting a weapon. That day, he pulled a thick twig from the ground and pointed one end at the large oak tree. Near the tree, Akame held a twig identical to Alphonse's. He had transmuted her weapon too.

"I've always wondered how you do that thing with your hands," Akame commented, her expression ever so apathetic.

"That 'thing' is alchemy." Alphonse laughed at the way Akame said it, abandoning his attacking pose. "Like I told you. If you want, I'll teach you. Ed was even better than me," he said, his eyes shining. "He was once the youngest State Alchemist, but…" Alphonse's mood suddenly changed, and he took on a darker expression. "He had to sacrifice his power to save me when we fought… Well, never mind…"

"Anyway," Akame remained serious, but she was genuinely impressed, though she didn't show it. "It's impressive."

"T-thanks, Akame-chan." Alphonse gave a sheepish smile and scratched the back of his neck.

"So," Winry called from the balcony, "are you two going to continue with this date or are you going to start training now?"

Akame's expression remained unchanged, but Alphonse blushed immediately.

"WINRY!" his friend scolded before turning to Akame, still disconcerted by Winry's comment. "Yeah... Don't mind her. She's just playing around. Shall we begin?"

"Okay." Akame gripped her weapon more firmly, in a combat stance. "Show me what you can do, Alphonse-sama."

The two began performing acrobatics as their staffs collided repeatedly in the air with quick, precise movements.

“What are you doing, Winry?” Edward reached the balcony and saw her leaning over the railing.

"I'm watching Al-kun and Akame-chan in their daily training." She had a mischievous smile on her lips. "Al blushes every time I mention they're dating. I think he likes her."
"Al likes anything that breathes." Edward didn't seem impressed. "He's incapable of seeing evil in others." He glanced over to where they were training.

At that moment, Akame delivered a powerful blow to Alphonse's staff, knocking him off balance. To avoid falling, Alphonse placed his hand on the ground and slid back a few feet.

"You’re faster, Alphonse-sama," Akame commented. "I barely managed to dodge."

"I guess I just got lucky." Alphonse stood up, smiling.

"No way, Al!" Edward shouted from the balcony. "Stop acting like such a gentleman! When we trained, you hit much harder!"

"Hey, Ed," Alphonse seemed to have just noticed his brother's presence. "Don't you want to train with us?"

"Me? Hmph." Edward turned away, irritated. "You want only train with 'Akame-chan' now," he made air quotes with his fingers.

"If you'd trained with Akame-chan even once," Alphonse approached the balcony, smiling, "you wouldn't want to train with anyone else either." He held out the bat to his brother. "Why don't you try sparring with her?"

"Don't get me wrong, Al," Edward's mouth twisted in disdain. "It's just that I don't know if she can keep up with me. She might get hurt..."

"You're scared of a girl?" Winry smirked.

"Me? Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, scared of a girl?" Edward raised an eyebrow. "That joke was so funny I forgot to laugh."

"Well, I know a better joke." Winry crossed her arms and continued her taunt. "The Fullmetal Alchemist runs away from training with a girl because he's SURE he'll get his ass kicked. His automails must be rusty."

"But you're my mechanic, you crazy woman," Edward snapped. Akame just appeared behind Alphonse, and Edward suddenly turned to her. "You! Get ready because you just got a new challenger!"

Edward jumps off the balcony railing and lands on the ground next to Alphonse. His brother hands over the gun with a smile.

"We could do it like this," Winry was the most excited. "The first one to get knocked down three times will have to wash the dishes for the whole week."

"I dirty a lot of dishes," Edward said teasingly to Akame. She continued to stare at him with her typical unreadable expression.

"Are you ready?" Alphonse asks as the two challengers distance themselves from each other. "Then you can begin."

With a roar, Edward immediately rushed at Akame and swung the staff downward. She easily parried his attack, but the former alchemist continued his rapid attacks. After a few blows, Edward realized Akame wasn't attacking him. She dodged gracefully, twisting her body and parrying his most aggressive attacks with the staff, but she didn't advance on her opponent.

"If you don't attack me," Edward growled amidst the rain of blows, "you won't be able to take me down."

Edward wouldn't be any softer on her just because she was a woman. He wouldn't go easy on her. No, he wasn't Alphonse. At one point, Edward managed to knock the staff out of Akame's hand, and she defended herself with one arm. Edward only had time to feel a strong blow to the pit of his stomach. Akame had punched him with her other hand. Edward took two steps back, half-dazed. Akame took the opportunity to retrieve her weapon, kicking the rod upwards and grabbing it in mid-air.

"You've got a heavy hand, huh?" Edward remarked, grimacing.

After catching his breath, Edward attacked again with rapid blows. It was almost impossible to see the movements of their hands, and the muffled sound of the batons clashing repeatedly was the only sound heard. Edward decided to try something unexpected. He waited for an opening to approach her and shoved her with his shoulders. She lost her balance for a few seconds, but didn't fall. However, it was enough for Edward. He bought himself time to duck and use his own body as leverage, pulling Akame by one arm and throwing her over him. Edward stood up, with a victorious smile, as Akame somersaulted through the air toward the ground.

But he claimed victory too soon. Akame used one arm to cushion the collision with the ground. She braced her hand on the ground while holding the bat with the other.
"Almost, Ed," Winry mocked from the balcony with Alphonse smirking beside her, "You almost managed to knock her over."

Edward was panting and even more enraged. Akame maintained her serene expression and rose from the ground with the utmost calm.

Without thinking, Edward pointed his staff at Akame and attacked. Akame stepped out of the line of attack, grabbed Edward's staff with one hand, and spun to kick him in the stomach. Edward flew away and landed sprawled on his back after bouncing a couple of times.

"One to zero for Akame-chan," Winry jumped up and down, laughing excitedly.

"Is this how you love me?!" he growled at his girlfriend on the balcony as he stood up, searching for his staff.

He groped around and found nothing. Where was his weapon? He glanced around before spotting Akame on the other side, twirling two batons in her hands. Before he could do anything, Akame tossed one of the batons to Edward.

"You didn't have to give it back," he twisted his mouth. "I'd get it back anyway."

Akame said nothing. She simply watched him prepare a new attack. The two exchanged blows with their staffs again, but there was something different about Edward's movements. He seemed to be striking with much more anger and determination. Anger considerably increased his attacking power, but it also opened gaps in his defenses. Akame knew this well and tried to warn him in her own way. That is, every time she saw an opening in Edward's defense, she would mercilessly strike a different part of the former alchemist's body with her staff.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Edward groaned after, in less than seven seconds, Akame had managed to hit him in both arms, his torso, and, painfully, his non-mechanical leg. "Enough with this stupid game!!"

In response, Akame smacked Edward's stick, sending it spinning out of his hand. Edward was distracted for a split second as he watched his stick whirl in the air above them, and Akame smacked him in the nose with the tip of her stick, knocking him backward. With a quick spin, she tripped him, slamming the stick into his legs, and Edward fell heavily to the ground.

"Two to zero for Akame-chan," Winry waved from the balcony.

Edward found it hard to breathe. This time, the blow was quite strong. It took him a few minutes to get up. He couldn't remember seeing Akame hit Alphonse like that in any of their training sessions.

"You got me this time," Edward said, gasping for breath.

Edward seemed a little dizzy, and his movements were slower. Even in these conditions, he wouldn't give in. Akame easily dodged his attacks and landed a single kick to Edward's chest. This kick was weaker than the others, but it was enough to knock him down.

"Maybe I'm just rusty," Edward groaned softly.

"The dishes are all yours." Winry ran over to them and threw a flowered cloth at Edward's face, who was still lying on the floor.

"I told you, Ed." Alphonse also ran over to them. "Isn't Akame-chan amazing? If you were actually fighting, you would have died a million times over by now."
Akame remained silent and left with Alphonse.

"Don't act too tired." Winry nudged him with her toe before following Alphonse and Akame. "A deal's a deal."

Chapter 2: The Demon Sword

Summary:

Edward decides to investigate on his own and ends up finding more than he expected.

Notes:

Good morning, good afternoon or good evening!

I forgot to mention that this story takes place three years after the final events of the Fullmetal Alchemist and two years after the end of the Akame Ga Kill! anime series.

Thank you so much for reading the first chapter and now the second chapter.

"Are you sure you don't want some, Ed?" Jelso pointed to the pile of food that he and Zampano were devouring without ceremony.

The restaurant where they were sitting was still empty at that hour of the morning. Edward had stopped by Jelso's house but was informed he and Zampano had gone to lunch there. Zampano always said they served the best apple pie in town at that restaurant.

"No, thanks," Edward wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I'm just passing through. Picking up a few items Winry ordered, and also..." he showed a small list with a frown, "I'm taking the opportunity to buy more food. Ever since that strange girl arrived, food expenses have gone up. Seriously, where did you get this hungry girl?

"Akame-chan?" Zampano asked. "A good girl. She always left the chicken thighs for us to eat, didn't she, Jelso?"

"Yeah," Jelso let out a long sigh. "And that special sauce she made for meat? Mmm... It made my mouth water..."

"Didn't you notice anything strange about her?" Edward ignored the culinary comments. "I mean, she has red eyes like an Ishvalian, but she looks more like a person from Xing. And at the same time, she doesn't look like either of them."

"It's because she's neither one nor the other." Jelso took a big forkful of his plate.

"But Al said you found her on the border of Xing..."

"Yes." Zampano helped himself to more noodles. "But her country is further east of Xing. What's its name again?" He rested his chin on one hand. "I think it was called Kingdom..."

"No. I'm sure it was called Empire." Jelso took a big swallow, and Zampano agreed with him.

"And didn't you find anything strange?" Edward insisted. "A girl alone in the middle of the desert... Her family must be looking for her."

"She has no family." Zampano ate his noodles noisily. "She only had one sister, and she died a while ago."

"She had a sister?" Edward leaned forward on the table. The conversation was getting interesting.

"A younger sister. But she's already dead." Jelso let out a burp. "Sorry."

“Now, I think she has a lot of skill in martial arts”, Edward made a thoughtful face “Do you think she received some kind of military training?”

Jelso and Zampano exchanged a nervous look that Edward didn't miss.

"Well," Jelso began slowly, "the Xing people who came here were also good fighters, remember?"

"And besides," Zampano hid a cough, "she grew up alone. She had to learn to fend for herself from a young age."

"No," Edward frowned. "It's more than that. She's hiding something. And something tells me it has to do with that sword she always carries."

"Edward," Zampano addressed him softly. "Akame is nothing more than a lonely girl, homeless and familyless, with a tragic past. Sometimes, it's not good to dwell on the past. Alphonse brought her here because he felt sorry for her. You know how he is."

"Yes. I know Al well," Edward sighed. "He always wants to save everyone. The problem is, he's completely blind to everything. He trusts people too much. And other people aren't like him. I don't know about you, but I don't trust her at all."

"And did she do anything suspicious?" Zampano asked.

"Besides her and Al going back and forth, sharing secrets?" Edward grimaced. "Al's always like, 'Akame-chan this, Akame-chan that.' Oh, that irritates me."

"I didn't know you were so jealous, Edward," Jelso commented.

"I'M NOT JEALOUS!!”

"Well, if Alphonse trusts her," Zampano says, "I trust her too. And you should trust your brother too, Edward."

"No. I'm the older brother." Edward gets up from his chair and waves goodbye to them. "My job is to protect my brother, even from himself."

"Ah, brotherly jealousy..." Jelso says after Edward leaves the table.

"I HEARD THAT, OK?!!" Edward's voice echoes through the restaurant, and soon after, the door slams shut.

The conversation with Jelso and Zampano was fruitful. Edward learned more about the mysterious girl. But one thing intrigued him. Why were they nervous when he asked if Akame had received any military training? Did they know something Alphonse didn't? No, Alphonse must know too, because he's also evasive when it comes to Akame's past.

And that sword she carries? Edward is sure he sensed traces of alchemy coming from it. And it was a strong sensation. However, he knew Akame wasn't an alchemist. So, what could it be?

Edward considered visiting Dr. Marcoh. If anyone could provide information about objects created using alchemy, it was he. Perhaps he had some useful information..

After the end of the revolution in Central City, Dr. Marcoh had retired from the army and began to occasionally treat the sick in his own home. Sometimes he spent long periods in Ishval, and this time he returned only for Edward's wedding in a few days. Usually, Dr. Marcoh wasn't home when he came to Amestris. However, Edward was lucky. Dr. Marcoh was outside his house, talking to a local resident.

"And don't forget to take your medicine every night before bed," Dr. Marcoh said goodbye to the man and noticed Edward approaching. "Edward Elric! It's been a while!"

"A long time indeed, Dr. Marcoh." Edward shook the doctor's hand.

"I don't have much to offer." Marcoh turned to unlock the front door. "But wouldn't you like to come in for some tea? And you can tell me about your alchemical adventures in the far west. They say the people of Creta have a special technique for treating respiratory diseases."

"I'd love to tell you everything you want to know, doctor." Edward entered the humble room and settled into an armchair. "But I'm here for another reason. I need your help to solve a mystery. Do you know anything about alchemy from lands further east of Xing?"

"What specifically?" Marcoh grabbed a teapot, filled it with water, and placed it over the fire.

"I don't know. Maybe something about creating swords using alchemy." Edward stared at him.

"Well, there are always alchemy experiments in warfare." Marcoh shrugged. "Even right here in Amestris. We had a rough time because of that, remember?"

"Yeah. But I'm thinking of a country east of Xing," Edward said. "The country's name is the Empire or something like that."

"Any particular interest?" Marcoh sat down across from him.

"Six days ago," Edward leaned toward the scientist. "Alphonse showed up at our house accompanied by a girl I discovered was from that country."

"If she's from there, I feel sorry for her." Marcoh leaned back in his chair. "It was in the newspapers, about two years ago, that a civil war broke out there. Many people died." Marcoh closed his eyes bitterly. "And the Emperor was deposed by the rebels. The Emperor was nothing more than a boy who was executed soon after. Many people fled from there to the desert or to neighboring lands."

"I didn't know." Edward rested his elbows on his knees. "I was traveling at the time."

"Your brother's friend must have fled from there." Marcoh looked up thoughtfully. "But what does that have to do with swords and alchemy?"

"Because she always carries a sword on her back," Edward said. "And I sense alchemy coming from her. But I also know the girl isn't an alchemist."

"And can you describe what the sword looks like?"

"I think so." Edward thought for a moment. "I'll do better. Do you have paper and a pencil?"

Edward began sketching the sword. He spent so much time observing it that he could remember every detail, every design, from the scabbard to the end of the blade. He could even reproduce the inscription in a strange language carved into the scabbard. Marcoh got up to remove the boiling water from the stove and pour the tea. When he returned to the living room carrying two cups of tea, Edward had already finished the drawing.

Marcoh took the drawing and held it close to his face. He stared at the paper for a long time without saying anything. Edward was anxious with the silence.

"I haven't seen one of these since..." Marcoh began to speak and stopped for no reason. The doctor jumped to his feet and ran to the overflowing bookshelf in the corner of the room.

"Doctor?!" Edward gasped. "What...?"

"It's here." Doctor Marcoh brought Edward a thick, ancient book open to a certain page.

Edward looked at the page and was startled to see an identical reproduction of Akame's sword.

"That's the one," he pointed. "Exactly the same."

Edward looked around at the other illustrations and saw several drawings of armor and weapons with strange names like Yatsufusa, Incursio, Pumpkin, and even a suspicious liquid called "Demon’s Extract." He glanced at the top of the page and saw the words "IMPERIAL ARMS" in bold letters.

"What's this?" he asked, adjusting the book on his lap to get a better look.

"Imperial Arms, or Teigus," Marcoh sipped his tea, "were weapons created a thousand years ago from the parts of mythological beasts using alchemy. They are weapons with special powers, created by the first Emperor of the Empire to ensure the country's security. There are 48 in total. Your friend's sword"—Marcoh points to the illustration—"is called Murasame, or "The Demon Sword." They say the sword is laced with a poison that instantly kills anyone cut by it. Even if it's just a minor cut."

"Why haven't I ever seen anything about this in the army reports?"

"Because it's nothing more than a legend, Edward." Marcoh closes the book and points to the cover. It read "Myths and Legends of the Ancient East."

"They also said the philosopher's stone was a legend," Edward counters.

"Yeah, but the existence of Teigus has never been proven," Marcoh paused to drink some more tea. "And even if they did exist, most were lost to time or destroyed. It's even said that imitations of Teigus were used in the Empire's civil war, both by Imperial forces and rebels. I can assume your friend is probably carrying a copy of Murasame. Perhaps to scare criminals because the people there firmly believe in its existence."

"What about the fact that I sense alchemy coming from the sword?" Edward flipped through the book again.

"There might be another explanation," Marcoh shrugged.

"Why do you think the hypothesis that it's the real Murasame is so unlikely?" Edward studied him over the top of the book.

"Because the Murasame chooses its wielder," Marcoh said calmly. "Only the best swordsmen have the right to wield it. And I heard rumors that the last wielder of the supposed Murasame died in the civil war, and no one knows what happened to the sword."

"Maybe the rumors are wrong," Edward decided to take a sip of tea. "Maybe the wielder of the Murasame survived. Or maybe a female wielder."

"Maybe," Marcoh gives a small smile. "I see you're quite convinced of that statement. Why are you so determined to find out anything about this young woman?"

"Well, Alphonse brought a strange person into our home." Edward set the cup down on the table between them. "Alphonse is a real softie, and she might have told some story as engaging as it is untrue and be deceiving my brother. It's my duty to protect him from any opportunists."

"I didn't know you were so jealous of your brother." Marcoh smiles at him.

"I'm not jealous, dammit." Edward slides a hand from his forehead to his chin. "Why does everyone say that?"

Edward and Dr. Marcoh chatted for a while about Edward's travels and the methods of Far Western medicine. After saying goodbye to Marcoh later, Edward decided to change his original route and head toward the center. He entered an imposing building supported by columns on its facade. Edward entered a vast, classically decorated lobby with few furnishings. In the middle of the entrance, a woman was reading a sheaf of papers, hunched over a high table.

"Good afternoon," Edward greeted formally. "The newspaper section, please."

The woman indicated a hallway, and Edward headed there without delay. The National Library's newspaper collection was enormous, but Edward first checked the year of publication and restricted his search to all newspapers published up to three years ago.

There was no way around it. He had to pick up copy after copy and quickly scan the sections devoted to international news. Many reports of Führer Grumman's travels and agreements with other countries, accidents, earthquakes, and major international events filled the newspapers' pages, but Edward found snippets of information about the civil war in the Empire. There was even a message of support from the Führer for the aforementioned country. However, there was nothing about Teigus or any family searching for a missing girl with red eyes.

Edward was almost giving up on searching for more information in those old newspapers when, as he leafed through a paper with growing disinterest, a photo caught his eye and made his blood freeze in his veins.

"It can't be." His voice was weak because he'd forgotten to breathe for a moment.

But there was no doubt. Those eyes were unmistakable, and despite the black and white illustration, Edward would have bet his life that those eyes were red.

Notes:

Thank you for reading and see ya!

Chapter 3: Engagement Dinner

Summary:

Edward returns home to tell his family of his discovery, but is surprised by his brother.

Notes:

Hello, everyone.

As I said before, I wrote this story a long time ago, so I think I'll change a few things instead of making an extremely accurate translation.

Please, comment with your theories about what might happen, and enjoy!

Edward rushed into the house as if he were fleeing death itself. Frantic, he scanned the rooms, searching for its inhabitants.

"Alphonse!" he shouted desperately. "ALPHONSE!! WINRY!! GRANDMA!!

"What's all that screaming?" Edward heard, with some relief, Winry's voice coming from the kitchen and ran to meet her.

"Winry! Where's Alphonse? I need to talk to him about something urgent..."

He choked on his own words as he entered the kitchen and came face to face with a scene straight out of his nightmares. Akame was wearing an apron tied around her waist and holding a HUGE steak knife near the kitchen sink.

"Ed," Winry stood beside her, also wearing an apron tied around her waist, and approached the boy. "Why are you yelling like that? What happened? You're pale."

Ed didn't hear a single word Winry said. His attention was completely focused on Akame. And that knife. He could even see her movements in slow motion.

"Did you decide to show up to help prepare dinner?" Winry continued. "Akame-chan is teaching me some cooking tricks," she added excitedly. "Can you believe she was responsible for cooking for everyone at the place she worked?"

Edward remained silent. He was still watching Akame, who decided to resume slicing a tomato with quick, sure strokes. It was as if he were the tomato. Edward could even feel each slice.

"Hey! Don't just stare like that." Winry flicked his forehead, waking him up. "If you're not going to help here, go help Al with the wood for the oven." She pushed him out the door.

He tried to resist and somehow warn Winry of the danger, but his voice wouldn't come out. Winry pushed him out of the house, and he stared at the door, unsure of what to do next. He couldn't lose his cool. It was best not to make a fuss because he didn't know Akame's reaction. He decided to go to Alphonse and found him carrying some pieces of wood near the pile Akame had cut.

"Ed! I'm glad you're here," Alphonse smiled. "You can help me with these..."

"We need to talk, Al." Edward tugged Alphonse so hard that his brother knocked all the twigs from his hands. "But not here. Come with me."

Alphonse found his brother's attitude strange and tried to stop him and force him to explain. However, Edward had a strange glint in his eye, and Alphonse decided to follow him. Edward led his brother to a more secluded spot, almost at the edge of the forest.

"Al," he began slowly, "I have strong reason to believe your friend is a fugitive murderer."

Alphonse's reaction wasn't what Edward expected. Alphonse didn't seem surprised or terrified. He just let out a long sigh and stared at his shoes.

"Look, Ed," he said sadly. "Maybe you didn't get a good impression of Akame-chan because of her manner..."

"No. No. No." Edward grabbed his brother by the shoulders and shook him. "It's nothing like that." He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "Look what I found at the National Library."

"Are you tearing up the newspapers from the periodicals section?" Alphonse frowned.

"That's beside the point," Edward pointed to Akame's black-and-white photograph. "I did some research on where Akame came from, and guess what, the country went through a civil war about two years ago. The rebels took power and killed the Emperor. Among the rebels were many professional assassins. Your friend was a member of a rebel faction called Night Raid and one of the most wanted assassins in the country. She killed thousands of people, Al!"

Alphonse sighed again and hid his face in his hands.

"Wait a minute," Edward said slowly. "You... Did you know that?"

Alphonse didn't answer. And he didn't need to. His look at Edward said it all.

"You..." he stammered. "DID YOU INTENTIONALLY BRING A MURDERER INTO OUR HOUSE?!!

"She feels sorry," Alphonse began.

"AND YOU BELIEVED IT?!" Edward was beside himself. "WHAT IF SHE DID SOMETHING TO WINRY AND GRANDMA?! WHAT IF SHE SLICED YOUR THROAT WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING?!"

"She won't do any of that." Alphonse made a placating gesture with his hands. "Ed, can you stop yelling...?"

"AND HOW CAN YOU BE SURE?!" Edward yelled.

"Because she promised me," Alphonse said firmly. "Don't you think that we'd all be dead by now if she really wanted to?"

"You've got to be crazy." Edward covered his face with his hands and threw his head back.

"She's not going to attack us. She has no reason to," Alphonse called. "Ed! Akame-chan is a person like any other. She's just like you and me!"

"I'm not like her, Al." Edward pointed an accusing finger at his brother. "I've never killed anyone!!"

"But you'd do anything for me, your little brother!" Alphonse countered. "Just like Akame-chan would do anything for her little sister. Did you know she had a sister too?"

"I've never killed anyone!!" he yelled in his brother's face.

"Because you always had people who taught you what was right," Alphonse replied. "Ed, we had a loving mother, and even after her death, we still had Grandma, our teacher, and several other people who, for better or worse, taught us what was right. Akame-chan never had that. She wasn't as lucky as we were. She and her sister were sold to the government as young children to be trained as assassins. They were dumped in a forest full of dangerous animals, where they had to fight to survive. They underwent inhumane training to become assassins in the service of the State. Akame-chan didn't even have time to mourn her own misfortune because she had to take care of her sister. Think about it. Under these circumstances, wouldn't you also kill to save me?"

"I would have found another way," he said, calming down. "We always did. And we were also thrown into a forest, or have you forgotten?"

"You don't understand. There was no other way." Alphonse shook his head. "It was training to create assassins. Surviving wasn't enough. They had to kill. Those who didn't kill were discarded. So, I repeat, would you kill to save me?"

Edward didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth to retort, but met Alphonse's hard gaze. Edward sighed heavily and made an impatient gesture with his hands.

"We also have friends in the army," Alphonse continued, "who killed many people, and yet we still like them. Major Armstrong, General Mustang, and even Captain Riza—they all killed thousands. Does that mean that, depending on which side you're on, a murderer can be called a hero?"

"Don’t mix things up." Edward held up a hand. "We know Captain Riza and all the others. They're all good people and regret all the lives they took. But we know nothing about this girl. She doesn't even have an expression. She has the cold, unfeeling look of a murderer!"

"No, Ed," Alphonse pointed at his brother. "You don't know her. I know her. She's not unfeeling. On the contrary, she still suffers from the death of her sister and all the people she lost. She wears that mask to protect herself and not grieve. I've seen her cry."

"And you always let yourself be carried away by women who cry," Edward said sarcastically.

"But that's not all," Alphonse shook his head nervously. "I also brought her with me for something else." He looked up from the floor. "There's something you need to know, Ed. You were right. Akame-chan's katana was made using alchemy."

"What?!" Edward was startled. "D-don't tell me that's..." he seemed to be talking to himself. "The legendary Murasame!! The Demon Sword!!"

"Exactly, bro." Edward was surprised that Alphonse had confirmed his statement. How did he know about Murasame? "The sword that kills with just one cut. The legendary Murasame."

"I thought it was just a legend." Edward looked shocked.

"No, brother." Alphonse adopted a serious expression. "I saw Murasame in action. It's definitely the one. Did you also feel the power emanating from that sword? No alchemist could ignore it."

"But, Al, this is the greatest discovery in alchemy." Edward grabbed his brother by the shoulders and shook him. "Dr. Marcoh said the existence of the Imperial Arms has never been confirmed. But if Murasame exists, so do the others. The scientific community needs to know that it is possible to create tools that retain alchemical properties!"

"I look at that sword," Alphonse didn't seem very excited, "and all I can think is that it's the sword that killed thousands. The lives Akame-chan was forced to take."

"Al, please..." Edward called softly.

"And, ironically, it's also the sword that saved my life," Alphonse sighed sadly. "At the cost of others... Including Akame-chan's life. In a way, the sword took hers too."

"You like her, don't you?" Edward asked, but he wasn't saying it to mock his brother. He had a worried look on his face.

Alphonse grimaced and shivered like a frightened cat.

"WHAT?!" Alphonse jumped unnecessarily. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!"

"Don't yell," Edward scolded. "Admit it, Al."

"I can't deny that I have a great affection for Akame-chan." Alphonse nervously adjusted his tie and smiled weakly. "And she's a trustworthy person. I assure you. She won't hurt anyone. I'll take responsibility."

"If she does anything to Winry or Grandma..."

"She hasn't done anything and she won't," Alphonse interrupted. "Grandma and Winry loves Akame-chan, and she likes them too. Give her a vote of confidence, Ed," he pleaded. "For me."

Edward was silent for a few minutes, breathing heavily.

"You're not going to say anything to Grandma or Winry," Alphonse ventured. "Are you, Ed?"

"Okay. Okay," he confirmed impatiently. "No need to make that face."

"I knew I could count on you, Ed." Alphonse smiled broadly. "Now, I need to get back to work to help the girls with your engagement dinner. Akame-chan said she'd make a special dish for tonight." He left, humming happily.

Edward couldn't believe he'd just agreed to shelter a murderer. What wasn't Alphonse making him go through? But there was one thing that still puzzled him.
"When was it," Edward yelled at Alphonse, who was already walking away, "that you saw her cry?"

"When she talked about her sister," Alphonse yelled back and continued on his way home.

********************************

- EDWARD ELRIC!!! – Major Alex Louis Armstrong already attracted the attention of the entire train station with just his large muscles and his blue military uniform. Even worse, he was screaming and with rivers of tears streaming down his face – YOU'VE GROWN UP!! WHAT A THRILL TO SEE YOU AGAIN!!!

"Move over, Major." Edward dodged his bear hug as best he could.

"But where's your brother Alphonse Elric?" he asked, picking up a suitcase from the floor. "I need to hug him too after all this time!!"

"I'm sure he'll love it." Edward rolled his eyes. "You were the first guest to arrive, so nothing's ready yet. But you can say hello to everyone. Come on. Let's go home soon."

The major rented a car, and he and Edward chatted about the past three years the entire way. The major shared news about the government and Central City, while Edward recounted the sights he'd seen. The day was still bright, and the major gazed in awe at the Resembool countryside.

"Not much has changed here," the major commented as he parked the car near the gate.

"Resembool is always very peaceful..." Edward began.

"Ed?" Alphonse appeared on the porch, probably attracted by the sound of the car engine. "Major Armstrong?!"

"ALPHONSE ELRIC!!!" the major whimpered, and Alphonse jumped back in fright. "I MISS YOU SO MUCH!! I'M GOING TO HUG YOU WITH MY MUSCLE ARMS!!"

"WAIT A MOMENT, MAJOR." Alphonse waved his hands in front of him, trying to stop the major. "WAIT!!!"

Overcome with emotion, the major ignored him and advanced toward Alphonse with his arms raised. Alphonse was startled by the major's behavior—despite already knowing he always acted this way—and squeezed his eyes shut, expecting to be crushed. However, he didn't feel the major's arms strangle him, for in the next second, Major Armstrong flew off and landed a few feet away with a crash.

"What...?" Edward looked around, searching for an explanation.

A black and red figure appeared out of nowhere and leaped onto Major Armstrong's chest, who was still lying on the ground, somewhat disoriented. The figure quickly drew a sword, and the blade's reflection shone overhead.

"AKAME!!!" Alphonse shouted. "NO!!!"

The blade stopped inches from the major's neck. Akame looked like a doll that had stopped moving because its string had run out. The major looked from the girl to the sword, unresponsive. The two remained in this standoff for a few brief seconds until Akame sheathed her sword again.

"Major!" Edward ran over to them. Alphonse was right behind him. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine." The major stood up with the help of the Elric brothers. "What hit me?"

"Ah, Major." Alphonse gave a weak smile. "This is Akame. A friend from afar who's staying with us for a few days. I'm sorry. She thought you were going to hurt me."

"It's okay." The major scratched the back of his neck. "Akame, right?" He took Akame's hand and bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, miss. Not just anyone can take down Alex Louis Armstrong, the Strong Arm Alchemist” and he showed off his muscles.

"The pleasure is mine," Akame returned the major's gesture, but his face remained serious.

"Let's go in, Major," Alphonse gestured, still a little embarrassed. "Winry and Grandma are inside. It's best to rest until the others arrive."

"Yes. And I'm eager to show Miss Winry Rockbell my gift," the major gestured grandly. "A beautiful sculpture I made using transmutation techniques passed down the Armstrong line for generations! If I may, Miss," he turned to Akame, "I would be delighted to show you my artwork as well."

"Yes. Let's all go." Alphonse smiled and waved the major through.

"If you weren't here," Edward tugs at his brother's sleeve, slowing his steps, and whispers in his ear, "she would have killed the major!"

"If I weren't here," Alphonse whispers back, "she wouldn't even have attacked him. She only did it because she thought he would hurt me."

"Which isn't entirely a lie," Edward shivers as he remembers the major's crushing embrace. "But you can't watch her all the time, Al." Edward quickens his pace to keep up with the two who were walking ahead, leaving Alphonse behind.

It didn't usually rain this time of year, and Winry decided to arrange the backyard decorations to make the most of the fresh air. Major Armstrong helped bring a huge table outside while the Elric brothers brought in chairs and helped carry the platters of food. More guests began arriving. Kain Fuery, Heymans Breda, and Jean Havoc arrived early, probably to have more time than everyone else to enjoy the party treats. Izumi Curtis and her butcher husband showed up carrying several wrapped boxes and accompanied by doctor Tim Marcoh. Driven by Riza Hawkeye, Roy Mustang's car parked in front of the house as Grandma Pinako welcomed some of her closest friends and neighbors. Within two hours, there were about twenty people happily chatting and drinking in front of the Rockbell house.

Bride Winry Rockbell was smiling and well-groomed in a simple but beautiful floral dress. The Elric brothers looked elegant in their sober suits and ties, and polished shoes. Even Akame ditched her classic short black dress and agreed to borrow one of Winry's dresses. She looked stunning in a long dress with a fitted waist.

"I toast the bride and groom"—Mustang raised a glass of liquor—"to Miss Winry Rockbell for her courage. Because it takes a lot of courage to agree to marry 'Fullmetal'—veins bulged across Edward's forehead—"and as for Edward... Well, I've known Edward since he was little, I mean, he's never stopped being little, has he? Anyway, what matters is to cheer. So", he raises his glass higher, and the others follow suit "Cheers!!"

"Cheers!!!" they all echoed, smiling. Edward gritted his teeth in Mustang's direction.

The atmosphere was lively, and the dinner was very pleasant, despite the animosity between the now-General Mustang and the retired alchemist and current fiancé Edward Elric. However, many people were left with the same question hanging in the air throughout the evening: who was that beautiful red-eyed girl beside Alphonse Elric? And, as the girl was a girl of few words, most left without being able to resolve their doubts.

While some of the guests only left after the last snacks disappeared from the trays, others had drunk too much and started talking nonsense. One of them was Major Armstrong. Lieutenant Breda and the newly promoted Lieutenant Fuery struggled to drag the major to his car while he repeated incoherent words.

"Thank you very much, Dr. Marcoh," Fuery said as the doctor opened the door of Armstrong's rental car and he and Breda slid the major into the back seat.

"Thank you for the ride," the doctor smiled and sat in the passenger seat next to Breda, who took the wheel. "It's the least I can do."

"Where's Havoc?" Breda asked before starting the engine.

"He was talking to a girl when he mysteriously disappeared. Don't expect him to be early for work tomorrow." Fuery sat down next to the major. "Have General Mustang and Captain Hawkeye left yet?"

“By now, they should already be in Central City”, Breda starts the car “I'm not going to wait for Havoc.”

"I left my..." the major began, half-conscious, "my... wrapped gift... passed down the Armstrong line… for generations... take it for me... take it for me, please... sword girl..."

"Sword girl?" Dr. Marcoh asked.

"It's that red-eyed girl who was at Alphonse Elric's side," Fuery explained. "The major spent the whole party saying the girl pulled a sword on him. Good heavens, he already arrived at dinner completely drunk."

"So, that was the girl with the Demon Sword," Dr. Marcoh muttered to himself.

"The Demon Sword?" Breda repeated. "You're not talking about...?"

"Murasame," Dr. Marcoh added. "Edward got it into his head that the girl is the wielder of Murasame."

"Murasame?" Fuery asked, confused. "What is that?"

"It's a legend from the ancient East," Marcoh explained. "About a legendary sword made with alchemy that contained a powerful, antidote-resistant poison capable of killing with one cut."

"It's just a legend, Fuery." Breda drove, the car bumping on the dusty road. "And does Edward believe in children's stories?"

"Well," Dr. Marcoh shook his head. "They also said the philosopher's stone was a legend. And do you remember the civil war in that Far Eastern country called the Empire?"

"I heard about it," Breda said, keeping her eyes on the road. "It was horrible. Many people died, and the rebels took power."

"They say both the rebels and the imperial forces used weapons made with alchemy," Marcoh said. "Like the Murasame. That's why there were so many deaths."

"No kidding." Breda stared at the doctor for a few brief seconds before returning his eyes to the road. "Are you talking about the Imperial Arms?"

"Yes. That's what they say," Dr. Marcoh confirmed.

"These people make up all sorts of things." Breda shook his head. "I heard stories about Night Raid carrying out terrorist attacks against the government. They had a leader... what was her name?" He searched his memory a bit. "I think her name was Najenda. She had a mechanical arm. And her subordinates were the most terrifying. The ones with the highest bounties on their heads. They even said one of her subordinates carried the Murasame. Did you hear that too, doctor?" Breda smiled at him.

"I wasn't interested in many of those stories." Dr. Marcoh shrugged.

"For me," Breda continued, "it was a lie to scare the enemy. They even invented the idea that Murasame was given to a girl. A girl, doctor!" He pounded the steering wheel. "A child! They recruit children for war! These guys really have no limits anymore. I think she carried a replica of Murasame just to cause terror. And she became famous for being one of the most terrifying assassins. A child." Breda shook his head, unconvinced. "What was her name again?" He struggled to remember. "Kimi, no... Akemi... No, Akame. That's it!" He added with a sad smile. "Akame of the Demon Sword."

"Akame?" Fuery's eyes widened. "But that's the name of... OH NO, MAJOR!!!"

The rocking of the car made Major Armstrong nauseous, and he ended up pouring everything he'd drunk that night back onto the floor. Fuery cursed and whined beside the major, while Breda frowned.

"There's no point in complaining," Breda scolded Fuery. "We'll have to put up with this nasty situation all the way to East City."

Notes:

Thank you so much for reading and commenting on what you think.

Chapter 4: One-Cut Killer

Summary:

The rumor about the red-eyed girl begins to spread through the corridors of the army, while Akame and Alphonse face some problems.

Notes:

Hello, everyone!

I hope you are enjoying this story.

And please, don’t forget to leave a comment with your thoughts.

"Second Lieutenant Kain Fuery reporting, sir!" Fuery saluted. He had been summoned to the office of Colonel Bashir Panzer, recently returned from Western Headquarters and an old friend of Führer Grumman.

"Rest, Lieutenant." A tall man with a thick blond mustache and a hard gaze sat at his desk. "You may sit." It didn't seem like a request, but rather an order.

"How can I help you, sir?" Fuery sat down, a little startled.

"I heard an interesting story, Lieutenant Fuery. And I think you can explain it better." Panzer leans over the table with his arms crossed. "There's a rumor going around the barracks corridors that the Elric brothers are harboring a young woman who, as if being an illegal immigrant weren't enough, carries a sword and even attacked an army officer. Is that true?"

Two days had passed since Edward and Winry's engagement dinner. Fuery was impressed by the story Breda and Dr. Marcoh told in the car on the way back from dinner and mentioned it to Havoc, who arrived late the next day looking like he'd slept in a drawer. Havoc spoke to Rebecca Catalina, who told Maria Ross, who informed Denny Brosh, who gossiped with Vato Falman... By lunchtime on the second day, the news had reached the Führer's office with a few additional additions to the story. A corporal from Western Headquarters said the major would need to spend three days in the infirmary after encountering the girl with the red eyes, while a soldier from Central City swore on his own mother's name that he had seen the major in a fight until the death with the young woman.

"Hasn't Major Armstrong already clarified what happened?" Fuery asked.

"He said he didn't remember much." Panzer pressed his fingertips together. "He just said he remembered the sword. A rather... peculiar sword."

"Do you mean the Demon Sword?" Fuery asked simply.

"Did you see the sword?" Panzer widened his eyes.

"No." Fuery shrugged. "But Edward Elric believes it's the Murasame, the sword that kills with one cut."

"You mean the Murasame," Panzer seemed quite startled. "One of the Imperial Arms?"

"That's right," Fuery replied innocently. "Alphonse Elric's friend who came from the East brought the sword with her."

"I see." Panzer began to jot something down on a thick pad. "Can you name Mr. Elric's friend?"

"I heard Alphonse Elric clearly when he called her," Fuery nodded. "Akame. And Lieutenant Breda said she's Akame of the Demon Sword."

Panzer's eyes narrowed, and he stared at the young second lieutenant as if trying to read his soul. That name wasn't unfamiliar to him...

"Thank you for your information, Second Lieutenant." Panzer rose from his chair to formally shake Fuery's hand. "You may return to your post."

"Excuse me, sir." Fuery bowed slightly before leaving.

Panzer walked calmly to a large glass window and gazed through it at the courtyard below.

"Akame of the Demon Sword..." he thought aloud, his hands clasped behind his back. "That would be too much of a coincidence."

"Confirm the rumors," another voice was heard in the room, coming from behind a curtain. "I believe the Murasame would be an excellent addition to the army..." and Führer Grumman smiled as he watched the birds singing outside the window.

************************************

Alphonse and Akame strolled through the city streets. Alphonse wanted to take Akame around the city and show her what life was like for an ordinary person. After strolling through Resembool's verdant landscapes, he decided to take her to explore the city center.

Alphonse had already visited several American cities, from Baschool to Dublith, passing through Rush Valley, Liore, and Fort Briggs in the north, and planned to take her to see the main tourist attractions in each city in the country.

He pointed out places and shared interesting facts or talked about a famous local, like a true tour guide. Akame listened attentively and occasionally nodded. She didn't need to say that she was enjoying walking around the city. In a way, Alphonse already knew that.

In the middle of the city, there was a big park like a green "island" surrounded by urban buildings on all sides. On weekends, families often gathered there to have picnics, play with their children, or take their pets for a walk.

Alphonse led Akame to the middle of the park, and they sat on a park bench. It was a truly beautiful day, and the trees rustled gracefully in the wind.

"I like coming here every now and then," Alphonse said, looking up. "It feels like a little piece of home right in the middle of the city."

Akame also looked up, and they watched the birds singing in the tree branches. All was peaceful until they heard barking. A shaggy dog ​​emerged from the bushes and ran under the bench, settling between Akame's legs.

"Look," Alphonse bent down and stroked the dog's ears. "A new little friend."

Akame was initially startled by the dog's reaction, but with Alphonse's encouragement, she decided to pet the animal, too, and the dog licked her hands in gratitude.
"It liked you," Alphonse smiled at her. "You have very good taste, smart boy!"

Alphonse noticed a small, almost nonexistent smile on Akame's face. It was so rare to see her smile that it was considered progress.

A little girl ran up and went to the dog. It was the dog's owner, and she said they could play with it too.

The three of them started a game of throwing a disc back and forth to see if the dog could catch it. Akame was very reluctant to join in, but Alphonse insisted. The dog jumped wildly between them, trying to grab the toy. They laughed heartily as they ran and tried to get the toy out of the dog's mouth.

After a while, Alphonse stopped to rest and looked around. Across the street, he saw a candy stand and imagined how much happier Akame would be if she got some. He knew Akame loved food, especially meat and sweets.

"I'll be right back," he said to Akame, who was a few meters away, running with the girl and the dog. "Don't leave, okay?"

Alphonse crossed the street and rummaged in his pockets, searching for money.

"Good afternoon," he said to the vendor. "How much for one of these..."

He didn't finish his sentence because he heard a scream coming from a nearby street. On a quiet street, a woman was being dragged by her hair by a man who was cursing her. The woman cried and called for help, trying to free herself, but the man was very tall and seemed very strong.

"Those two again," the vendor muttered to himself. "This guy's going to kill that woman."

Alphonse walked away from the stall and over to where the two men were fighting, yelling.

"HEY, YOU!!" Alphonse walked to the street corner. "Leave her alone."

"Don't get involved in anything that's none of your business!" The man shook the woman's hair even harder. His voice was thick, as if he were drunk. "The problem is between me and her."

"Let her go right now." Alphonse walked calmly toward the two.

"Why?" He glared at Alphonse. "What are you going to do?"

Alphonse punched the man hard in the face. The man fell to the side onto some boxes, making a loud noise and apparently unconscious.

"Are you okay?" Alphonse approached the woman to help her up.

"T-thank you," she sobbed.

However, before Alphonse could even respond, he felt the air knocked from his lungs. The man had gotten up and attacked him, tying his neck in a chokehold. Alphonse struggled and tried to hit the man's eyes or nose, but he was tall, and Alphonse decided to change his strategy. He really didn't want to use alchemy against the wretch, but there was no other way. Alphonse clasped his hands together and then touched the man's face with one hand. With an agonizing scream of pain, the man loosened his grip on Alphonse's neck, freeing him to stand.

Alphonse turned to face the staggering man in front of him. The only reason the man didn't faint from the burn Alphonse inflicted on his face was because he was so strong. Blinded by pain and rage, he lunged at Alphonse with his fists raised. Alphonse took advantage of his shorter size and punched him in the stomach. The man doubled over, screaming in pain, and Alphonse elbowed him in the back.

"Get up!" he addressed the woman, who seemed paralyzed with fear. "Call the police!"

Because of his distraction with the woman, Alphonse takes a hard punch and falls straight to the ground. The woman screams and runs down the street. The blow was so strong that it left Alphonse stunned. The man doesn't even wait for Alphonse to recover and grabs him again in a chokehold.

Alphonse struggles and fights as best he can. But the man is very strong and seems determined to strangle him. His attempts to free himself from the grip become less and less as he gasps for air, and just as he's about to pass out, he hears the sound of a blade ripping through the air. Blood sprays across the ground, soaking the clothes of both Alphonse and his attacker.

Alphonse slowly turned his head back and watched the man fall to the side, contorting grotesquely. Blood was still seeping from the cut in his neck, but the man wasn't suffering from the effects of the hemorrhage. He was struggling like this because of the poison.

He leaned over the man's body and watched the glow slowly fade from his eyes. He was dead. Alphonse looked up and saw Akame brandishing her sword to cleanse it of fresh blood. Alphonse knelt over the man's blood and stared at Akame, unable to speak or react.

"Freeze," a police officer arrived, his gun poised. "What's going on here?"

Now, Alphonse could sense more people arriving at the scene. Neighbors peered in and whispered at their windows. Passersby gathered in small, curious groups. More police officers joined the first, and they looked from Akame to Alphonse, kneeling and completely speechless, to the dead man, their eyes scanning the blood.

"You two," the second police officer to arrive pointed to Akame and Alphonse, still kneeling beside the body. "Follow us."

Notes:

I'm not sure I spelled some words or expressions correctly. If you spot anything wrong, please point it out.

Chapter 5: The Great Army of Amestris

Summary:

Edward went to the Eastern headquarters to try to understand what happened to his brother and Akame.

Notes:

Hello!

I brought another chapter, and I hope it’s good. Enjoy!

Alphonse stood inside a closed room with three figures dressed in blue military uniforms. The younger Elric still had dried blood on his clothes and looked quite haggard.

"So," Mustang said, sitting at a table across from Alphonse, "when I heard you were here, I came running. What exactly happened?"

"I already told you," Alphonse gestured, looking at the ground, "a man was beating a woman. The vendor at the candy stand said he was going to kill her, so I decided to intervene."

"Yes," Mustang picked up a piece of paper from the table and began reading. "One of the officers said that man was often in trouble. A long police record with charges of assault, bodily harm, and destruction of public property.

"I knocked him down once and thought he was unconscious," Alphonse continued. "I got distracted by the victim, and he grabbed me in a chokehold. Just as he was about to strangle me, Akame appeared and saved me."

"Is that girl your girlfriend, Alphonse?" Havoc was leaning against the door, arms crossed and one foot propped up against the wall. "Good boy! You're just like me. Do you like big boobs too, huh?" He gave a knowing wink.

Havoc's comment nearly made Alphonse fall out of his chair.

"G-girlfriend," he stammered, his face completely red. A tomato would lose to him. "She's not my girlfriend!"

"Lieutenant Havoc," Mustang called with a hint of irritation in his voice. "What the hell are you still doing here?"

"I know Alphonse too, and I came to help." Havoc pulled out a chair and sat down backward, with the backrest between his legs. "If she's not your girlfriend yet, I can give you some tips. Buy her flowers. Flowers always work with women."

"Except with Captain Hawkeye," Mustang added. "One time, I drank too much and bought a lot of flowers. I offered them to her, and she didn't want any."

"But Captain Hawkeye is a special case," Havoc added.

"You two are embarrassing the witness." Riza Hawkeye was standing by the door and had been silent until now.

"You're right, Captain." Mustang straightened his uniform. "A man was killed. And we need to take care of that first."

"But from what Alphonse said," Havoc says, "it was self-defense."

"Even so," Mustang interrupts him, "it needs to be investigated." Mustang turns to Alphonse. "Don't worry. It probably won't lead to anything."

"Can I see Akame-chan?" Alphonse asks. "She must be scared by all this."

"Bring some flowers," Havoc says. "Don't forget the flowers."

There's a knock on the door, and a soldier's head appears behind it.

"Excuse me, General." He bows to Mustang. "A short, irritated guy here says he knows you and needs to speak with you."

"It must be Fullmetal," Mustang says cheerfully. "Let him in."

Edward enters the room with a serious expression and is shocked to see Alphonse sitting in a chair, covered in blood.

"They asked to call me urgently," Edward began. "I thought something had happened to you, Al." He approaches his brother and observes him closely. "Why are you covered in blood? Did SHE do something to you?"

"She didn't do anything to me," Alphonse replied, knowing full well who Edward was referring to. "Quite the opposite. She saved me, Ed."

"What do you mean, she saved you?" Edward exclaimed.

"Fullmetal," Mustang called after him. "Relax and sit down to listen to your brother's story." He slapped Havoc's arm and motioned for him to vacate his chair. "You're not going to grow any bigger anyway," and took the opportunity to make fun of Edward.

Edward ignored the teasing this time because he was too interested in knowing what had happened to his brother. Alphonse told him about the walk he took with Akame, the encounter with the man who had been assaulting the woman on the street until he decided to intervene, the fight, and Akame's fatal slash on the man's neck.

"She only did it to defend me, Ed," Alphonse finished his story. "It wasn't her fault."

"You have to admit it, Al." Edward shook his head. "That girl is a threat. She even attacked Major Armstrong. A tragedy could have happened that day."

"Don't tell me," Havoc pointed at the two of them, "that's the girl who took down Major Armstrong?! Wow! She became famous here in the army!"

"Lieutenant Havoc, please," Mustang said with a hint of irritation.

"But it's true," Havoc continued. "They say her sword is cursed and was forged by the devil himself in the furnaces of hellfire."

"Havoc," Mustang raised his voice a little higher. "You're not helping!"

"I want to know if I can check on her," Alphonse asked Mustang.

"She's being questioned." Mustang crossed his arms. "I asked them to let me know when they're done taking her statement. After that, you can come with me to see her."

"In the meantime," Havoc rested his hands on the table. "We can continue with the tips for picking up women, okay?" He winked at Alphonse again.

"Havoc," Mustang said, bored. "You're crossing the line."

"General," Havoc addressed Mustang, "I've known this boy since he was an innocent suit of armor with the soul of a child. I've been there every moment his parts were replaced until they managed to regain their bodies. I'm practically like an uncle to these two. And you should consider yourself that way too. It's our duty to help him in those moments when boys begin to become men."

"Looking at it that way," Mustang cupped his chin thoughtfully, "you're right, actually."

"Will you two stop this?!" Riza said, slightly irritated.

"That's right. And you can stop with the insinuations." Edward seemed the most offended in this whole thing. "My brother would never get involved with a murderer."

"But the girl is actually pretty, Edward," Havoc interjected. "Why don't you let your brother have some fun too?"

"SHUT UP!!!" Several veins popped out on Edward's forehead.

Alphonse couldn't hide his embarrassment. Fortunately, the awkward moment was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Excuse me, sir," the soldier who had announced Edward's arrival knocked again. "You asked me to notify you when the interrogation was over..."

"Yes. That's right." Mustang stood up from his chair and gestured for the Elric brothers to follow him. "Follow me."

Mustang led the Elric brothers to another room in the barracks, closely followed by Captain Hawkeye and Lieutenant Havoc. In a room lined with antique wooden furniture, Akame sat in a chair strategically positioned in the center. Opposite her was a large oak table on which Colonel Panzer rested his elbows, and right next to him was someone Mustang hadn't expected to find there.

"Fü... Führer Grumman?!" Mustang exclaims, startled. "What are you doing here? Sir?" he adds quickly.

"Well, well, Mustang." Grumman rises from his chair to greet him. "Why the surprise? The highest leader of a country also needs to visit all the most important military posts during his working hours, doesn't he?"

"Pardon me, sir. I expressed myself poorly," Mustang corrects himself. "What I meant to say is that the Elric brothers and I are here to clarify a minor mishap that occurred with this young woman. A matter of no importance to you."

"Wrong, Mustang," Grumman says. "All matters involving the Amestris army are of the utmost importance to the Führer." He turns to Akame. "Take the case of this young woman. She was brought here because she is accused of murdering a man who tried to kill Alphonse Elric. I already know all the details."

"Sir," Mustang puffed out his chest, "I've already hired a lawyer for the accused. She'll likely remain free while the case against her works its way through the courts."

"Wrong again, Mustang." Grumman wagged his finger. "We've already made a decision on this young woman's case. She'll be chained..."

"But, sir," Alphonse sighed, "please listen..."

"...chained by Amestris's military obligations, Alphonse Elric." Grumman gave a mischievous smile. "Let me finish."

"What do you mean, sir?" Edward couldn't quite grasp Führer Grumman's point. "What are you talking about?"

"Excuse my rudeness." Grumman turned to Akame. "Miss, wouldn't you like to share the news? Please tell them."

With her usual indifference, Akame stared at the newcomers and sighed softly before speaking.

"I've enlisted in the army."

"WHAT?!" the Elric brothers yelled at the same time.

"That's right," Colonel Panzer speaks for the first time. "Congratulate our newest infantry officer, Warrant Officer Akame!"

"But that's not possible," Mustang says, astonished. "She can't be accepted into the army! She doesn't have Amestrian nationality. She doesn't even have a document!"

"No, according to this document, General." Panzer waves a yellowed piece of paper in Mustang's face. "I believe that Warrant Officer Akame does exist. I can see her right in front of me. Therefore, this official document, signed by the Führer and two reputable witnesses, confirms Akame Elric's Amestrian nationality." He turns to his brothers. "We needed a surname for her, and since she lives with you... I hope you don't mind."

Mustang takes the document from Panzer's hands to get a better look, and the Elric brothers come over to look too. The document was in order, complete with stamp, signatures, and watermark. No one could say Akame wasn't a true Amestrian.

"This copy is yours," Grumman points to Elric brothers as Edward takes the paper from Mustang's hands. "And don't forget the copy of Warrant Officer Akame's acceptance letter into the armed forces." He pulls another piece of paper from the table. "She can start the day after tomorrow, at seven sharp. I'll give her one day off, but she'll have to report to the duty officer very early."

"I see you've thought of everything," Mustang comments.

"Certainly, General." Grumman smiles. "The Führer can't waste any time. Now, you may go. You're dismissed."

Mustang formally greets the Führer and leaves, accompanied by Riza and Havoc. Akame leaves shortly after the three, and the Elric brothers have no choice but to follow her.

"Is that really possible, General?" Riza is the first to speak once they're in the hallway.

"According to that paper, as absurd as it may seem, yes," Mustang replies. "If the Führer himself signed it, there's nothing we can do."

"And what about us?" Edward asks.

"I don't know about you," Mustang stops and stares at him with a disinterested expression. "But I'm going to my office to rest... I mean, I still have a lot of paperwork to review."

"Cut it out, General," Edward snaps. "It's like you're actually going to work."

"Show me some respect, shorty!" Mustang yells at him. "I'm a superior officer!"

"Who are you calling shorty?!" Edward brings his face closer to Mustang's, and the two stare at each other, growling.

"You two better stop," Riza steps between the two brawlers.

"That's right," Havoc laughs. "Remember, neither of you is good at fighting."

Edward and Mustang unleash their anger on Havoc, and Riza tries to calm them down while she still has patience. Seeing that her pleas won't be heeded, she pulls out her gun, and the three immediately stop fighting and apologize profusely to the captain.

The only ones who didn't say anything or participate in the commotion in the barracks corridor were Alphonse and Akame. Alphonse was trying to understand Akame's reasons for agreeing to join the army and how it all came to this. He watched her, and this time, he couldn't interpret her thoughts. Akame just wanted to get out of there and return to Resembool, where she could finally escape Alphonse's gaze.

Notes:

A warrant officer is a person in the army of Amestris who is above the rank of master sergeant and below the rank of second lieutenant.

See ya!

Chapter 6: The Deal

Summary:

Akame remembers her deal with Grumman.

Notes:

Hello, everyone!

It took me longer this time due to some personal issues.

This chapter has some changes from the original. I added things to make what was happening clearer. I hope it's good. As always, spelling corrections are very welcome.

Winry was very busy with wedding preparations. She was still lost amidst the lists of things she needed to buy. She asked Akame for help choosing a wedding dress, but Akame proved to be better at cooking than at being a dress advisor. So, it was arranged that she would help with the catering while Winry and Grandma would take care of the decorations and costumes. Even though it was a simple ceremony, it would be a lot of work!

Winry and Grandma Pinako were shocked by the news of Akame's enlistment in the Amestrian Armed Forces. The girl was too calm to work in the military, they claimed. Edward lied that he had spoken to some army acquaintances and arranged the job to facilitate Akame's asylum process. She would only handle bureaucratic tasks, he promised them both. The Rockbell matriarch and her granddaughter seemed to have believed the lie and soon forgot about it. The next morning, Akame's day off from the army, as Führer Grumman liked to point out, Winry and Pinako chose to go downtown alone to choose some fabrics, leaving Akame to rest in Winry's room, which, since her arrival, had become their bedroom.

"Ed," Alphonse called as they sat at the breakfast table in the kitchen. "Have you seen Akame-chan?"

"Luckily, not today." Edward yawned widely, ignoring his younger brother's disapproving look.

"Winry and Grandma left really early today," Alphonse said thoughtfully. "I thought she'd go out with them."

"No. They said they'd let her rest." Edward seemed to have little interest in the matter. "Killing people is really tiring."

"Stop it." Alphonse frowned. "Didn't you say anything to Winry or Grandma?"

"I said I wouldn't." Edward took a sip from his mug, a little annoyed. "Even though I didn't agree."

The two of them ate in silence for a while. The sounds of chewing and the ticking of the kitchen clock were the only sounds in the room.

"I wonder if she's awake yet?" Alphonse looked toward the bedrooms. "She needs to eat..."

"And you want to find an excuse to go into that room, don't you?" Edward looked at his brother across the table.

"What are you talking about?" Alphonse replied, irritated. "I'm worried about her health."

"I hear..." Edward twisted his mouth to provoke his brother. "Okay. No need to make that face. The one who spoke isn't here anymore."

Alphonse sighed, annoyed. He wasn't handling this whole Akame-in-the-army thing well, and on top of that, he hadn't been able to speak to her once since yesterday.

"She's not in her room," Edward said suddenly.

"Hmm?" Alphonse hadn't heard what Edward had just said.

"She's not in her room," he repeated. "Right after Winry and Grandma left, she left too," Edward added, bored. "She said she was going for a walk near the bridge."

Alphonse got up from the table without asking permission and walked out the front door.

"You left like that just to avoid washing the dishes, didn't you?" Edward called to Alphonse, who was already walking away.

The bucolic landscape of Resembool was truly beautiful and relaxing. Akame thought she'd never seen such a beautiful place as she crossed a small bridge over the river and, for the first time in her life, felt at peace.

"Akame," she heard someone call behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was, but she turned and met Alphonse's eyes from across the bridge. "Remember what I told you," he approached slowly, "about the Law of Equivalent Exchange?"

Akame remained standing, looking at Alphonse over her shoulder.

"To obtain something"—Alphonse stopped in front of Akame and looked her in the eye—"you must offer something in exchange for equal value. This is the basic principle of Alchemy, the Law of Equivalent Exchange."

Akame said nothing. She just held his gaze.

"You said," he sighed, "that all you wanted was a little peace. And I said that to get a new life, you needed to sacrifice your old one."

"I still want it," she said in a whisper.

"Then why...?"

"Because there is no peace anywhere in the world for someone like me." Akame shook her head. "With this sword, I've killed thousands." She pointed to the Murasame strapped to her back. "It's by a sword that I must die."

"It doesn't have to be this way, Akame-chan."

"It does." She turned her back on Alphonse and walked away from him. "It's the fate of every assassin."

"Why are you avoiding me?" Alphonse shouted when she was some distance away. "Did I do or say something wrong?"

"No." Akame didn't look at Alphonse and continued walking. "You didn't do anything."

Akame didn't want to worry Alphonse with her problems. The deal was between her and Grumman. No one else. She remembered every word of that conversation.

*******************************

"So, miss," Grumman leaned over the table, "walking around Amestris without any documents and still killing an Amestrian." Grumman paused as if thinking deeply about something. "Without documents. It's as if you don't even exist. Do you know someone can make you disappear without a trace?"

Akame remained seated in the chair, her expression apathetic.

"And this sword," Panzer picked up the Murasame resting on the table. "Is that the Demon Sword?"

As soon as Panzer wielded the sword, the Murasame began to emit a black aura, and with a scream, Panzer dropped it back onto the table. He rubbed his hands together, looking at the Murasame with an expression of panic mixed with pain.

"The sword didn't like you," Akame said, her first words in that room.

"So, it's true that the sword chooses its wielder." Grumman scratched his chin.

“So, in order to benefit from Murasame's powers”, Panzer pointed at Akame, “we need to take this girl as a gift?”

"Have a little more respect, Colonel Panzer," Grumman smiles at the girl. "After all, you're standing before a living legend. This girl killed more people than many veteran soldiers of the Ishval War. A true killing machine." Grumman leans over the table. "Akame of the Demon Sword!" he says theatrically. "You know, I was recently in your country and heard many stories of your exploits. So many murders! I was wondering, if you were tried for all the murders attributed to you, how many years would you serve? Twenty? Thirty?" Grumman speaks more aggressively. "One hundred? Two hundred years? Life imprisonment? The death penalty?"

"You can't try me for alleged murders committed outside your jurisdiction," Akame says.

"And the murder from earlier today?" Panzer interjects.

"Self-defense," Akame countered. "And I also can't be charged because, as you said, I don't exist."

"Very clever, miss," Grumman chuckled. "Very clever. But I can deport you. After all, you're here in the country illegally. I imagine there would be many people eagerly awaiting your return," Grumman smiled sadistically. "People who would love to receive your head on a platter..."

Akame's face remained serious, with a serene indifference. Even with the rebels' victory, Akame wasn't entirely safe in her country. She had many enemies, people who swore revenge on her. It wasn't at all safe to return there.

"I need to know something," Grumman continued. "The Imperial Arms. If Murasame exists, the other arms exist. Do you know where to find them?"

"You're the one saying it," Akame replied.

"I like this girl," Grumman slammed his fist on the table, laughing. "Quick wit. Cold in the face of danger. Like a true soldier. Do you want to enlist in the Amestrian Armed Forces?"

The one who was impressed by Grumman's proposal was Colonel Panzer. Akame didn't seem surprised. At least, on the surface.

"Enlist this girl in the army?" Panzer asked, stunned. "She doesn't even have any documents.".

"We can arrange that," Grumman shook his head. "Her professional history is impeccable. She was trained by the elite division of the Imperial Army. A professional assassin in the service of the State. An expert in sword fighting. She deserted the Army to join the Revolutionary Army. Former member of a rebel faction. She served extensively in the country's civil war. With so many skills, I won't even give you a rank of private or sergeant. You'll be a warrant officer."

"Are you sure, sir?" Panzer widened his eyes.

"Thank you, but I'm not interested," Akame said coldly.

"Think about it, miss." Grumman observed her over his glasses. "I'm offering you a unique opportunity. You'll have a good salary, privileges, and an important position. You'll even be able to continue living with the Elric brothers and gain Amestrian citizenship. All you have to do is help us with our research on the Teigus. We want to know how the weapon's connection with its wielder works and how the Teigu enhances the wielder's powers.”

He waited for some reaction from Akame. When she remained motionless, Grumman concluded, "Or do you want to risk being deported?"

Akame remained indifferent and didn't respond. Grumman laughed.

"You're hard to negotiate with, huh?" Grumman said when he stopped laughing. "Then I think I'll have to be a little clearer." He flipped through some papers on the table. "I've read a lot about you, you know? I read here that most of your former companions weren't as lucky as you and unfortunately passed away." Grumman clasped his hands and let out a long sigh. "Of course, your escape and evasion skills also count, but it's curious how those close to you take so many risks. I hope the Elric brothers are aware of that too."

Akame narrowed her eyes slightly at Grumman, trying to understand his point.

"It would be devastating for Amestris if something serious happened to the national hero, the Fullmetal Alchemist…" Grumman said.

"Edward was in your army," Akame emphasized the "your."

Even Panzer shifted uncomfortably in his chair at the turn of the conversation, but it seemed neither Grumman nor Akame cared about him.

"But you have to admit, miss." Grumman remained calm. "Accidents can happen, can't they?"

*********************************

Akame knew it would be difficult for someone like her to find a peaceful place to live. She wandered aimlessly in her desert exile until she met Alphonse. He seemed like a mirage, some kind of alien, naive and very kind. It was fun to listen to the stories of Alphonse and Mr. Jelso and Mr. Zampano. It was good to have someone to share lunch with again. At first, she didn't want traveling companions, but he was so insistent, and his company was so pleasant, that she finally gave in. Alphonse said it was against his principles to leave a lady unaccompanied in the middle of nowhere. Akame laughed inwardly at this. When they first met, he was the one who needed help. No, she.

She kept postponing the moment they would part ways, and at the same time, she considered leaving before they discovered her past. Inevitably, Jelso and Zampano eventually found out and told Alphonse. Akame didn't expect Alphonse's reaction. He sat her down and asked her to tell her entire story. To gain her trust, he also told her everything that had happened to him and his brother, including his greatest regrets. He was the first person, other than his fellow assassins, who didn't judge her.

Before she knew it, they were already in Resembool. For Akame, that place was paradise, and she couldn't refuse Alphonse's invitation to stay at his family's house. And he had a lovely family. It would be nice to have one too.

Thinking about these things was very depressing. The image of her younger sister came to her mind. It hurt too much to think about her. She preferred to sit under a tree and stare into space. Without thinking about anything...

Alphonse decided it best to leave her alone for now and returned home. He found Edward waiting for him at the entrance.

"So, what happened, Savior of Humanity?" Edward asked teasingly.

Alphonse grimaced and went into the house without saying anything.

"Did you manage to find her?" Edward followed him.

"Yes," Alphonse sighed. "But she didn't tell me anything about yesterday."

"Why did she do that, huh?" Edward stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"This time," Alphonse went to the kitchen. "I can't say."

Someone else was also intrigued by this mystery. Looking out his office window, General Mustang recalled the events of the previous day, searching for some logical explanation.

"Are you still thinking about yesterday?" Riza Hawkeye spoke behind him.

"Yes," he replied, without taking his eyes off the window. "Keep your weapon cocked, Captain Hawkeye." Mustang sighed heavily before concluding. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Chapter 7: The Newcomer

Summary:

It's Akame's first day in the army. Meanwhile, Alphonse tells his brother how he met her.

Notes:

Hello everyone!

The previous chapter featured a tense conversation between Akame and Grumman. But sometimes I wonder if the Akame in the series would accept this kind of blackmail—I mean, deal.

As always, thanks for reading, and let me know what you think in the comments.

"General Armstrong speaking," General Mustang heard a woman's harsh voice on the other end of the line.

"Who would have thought?" Mustang gave a mocking laugh and leaned back in his chair. "I'm talking to the devil himself without having performed any ritual."

"Spare me your lame jokes, Mustang," General Armstrong retorted. "I'm only calling because it's necessary. I was temporarily transferred earlier today to the eastern border of Amestris to check the desert crossing to Xing. It seems the new Emperor of Xing is having trouble with some troublemakers."

"Yes," Mustang agreed, more seriously. "We're helping with the reunification of the country. I was overseeing the reconstruction of Ishval, but I returned to my old post for a few days because of Edward Elric's wedding." He gave a small smile. "I'll be one of the best men."

"Even that brat is getting married, and a useless guy like you can't find a bride." And before Mustang could retort, she added, "I left Miles to take care of everything for me in Briggs and brought some of my men. I brought Falman too, and I'm sending him. I hope he'll be helpful to you."

"Falman is a great subordinate," Mustang said. "He's always helpful."

"Great. Then we're settled." She hung up the phone without even saying goodbye.

Mustang wasn't bothered by General Olivier Armstrong's rudeness. In fact, he was already accustomed to her manner. He was happy with the news of Falman's return. It was always good to have as many trustworthy people around as possible. Minutes after the phone call, Falman introduced himself in his office.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Captain Falman," Mustang smiled, after Falman saluted.

"How can I help you, General?" Falman returned the smile.

"Well," Mustang put his hand to his chin and added with a mischievous grin, "how about you doing some babysitting?"

"BABYSITTING?!!," Falman's eyes widened.

********************************

Havoc, Breda, and Fuery were at a loss for how to proceed with her training. After explaining the barracks routine and Riza Hawkeye giving a brief lesson on the type of weaponry used in the army, General Mustang's team took the newly appointed Warrant Officer Akame Elric to the army training area. The newcomer was practically unrecognizable in her blue army uniform and her long black hair tied back in a tight bun.

Fuery suggested Akame demonstrate her sword skills first, and Havoc volunteered to face her. The problem was that the new subordinate was, in Havoc's own words, "the devil with a sword," and inflicted a humiliating defeat on her superior. At least Havoc could use the excuse that he was still recovering. After all, a few years ago, he had been paralyzed in a fight with a homunculus.

At the shooting range, Riza and Breda instructed the recruit on the proper use of pistols and handed her an M14 rifle to aim at the sights positioned across the field.

"CAPTAIN HAWKEYE," Mustang shouted over the sound of gunfire, and his subordinates immediately interrupted the training. "Captain Falman has come to join the group." He indicated the man behind him and addressed Akame. "Warrant Officer Akame, we have been assigned to oversee your training, and besides, we are friends of the Elric brothers. You can trust each and every one of us completely. Everyone here is my trusted men," he added with a nod. "Except Captain Hawkeye, who, in this case, is a woman."

"Yes, sir." Akame learned to salute.

"Falman," Mustang called. "You can start and... Captain Hawkeye, do you have a minute?"

The two moved away from the group, to a distance where they could still be seen but not heard.

"So," Mustang began, "did you manage to find out anything?"

"Well," Riza observed Akame next to the boys. "She's good with swords and hand-to-hand combat. She handles weapons very well, and I suspect she's already undergone some sort of military training, despite her young age."

"What about the rumor that she's the bearer of Murasame?" Mustang looks around.

"Witnesses said that man died after being cut by it," Riza nods. "But it's still unknown whether it was due to bleeding or some kind of poison."

"It must be true. It can only be because of that. The only explanation for the Führer accepting this girl into the army is because he's going to profit from it somehow." Mustang sighs. "Sorry to talk about your grandfather like that, but I know him. He doesn’t miss a trick. There’s always a reason behind what he does."

"I see," Riza nods. "We just need to know how Warrant Officer Akame might benefit the army."

"Good work, Captain," Mustang whispers. "And keep watching."

Across the field, Falman was preparing to face Akame in a sword duel. His teammates had convinced him to demonstrate his fencing skills to the newcomer.

"Falman is the best of all of us at fencing," Havoc introduced his friend to Akame.

"I'm not that good," Falman replied modestly.

"Don't be modest, Falman," Breda insisted. "Why don't you have a little spar with the newcomer? As a demonstration?"

"That's right," Fuery handed a sword to his friend. "You can begin."

The two stepped aside and took their positions. Akame remained expressionless, and Falman, oblivious to the young recruit's reputation, fell into his comrades' trap.

"Who's betting he'll get his ass kicked in less than five minutes?" Havoc whispered to Breda and Fuery.

"I don't think he'll last three minutes," Breda replied.

"I'll bet you twenty marks he'll go down in the first two minutes." Fuery extended his hand to Havoc.

"You bet," Havoc shook Fuery's hand.

*************************************

Winry watched Alphonse from the porch, worried. The young alchemist had been sitting under that tree for hours, stroking the ears of a sleepy Den. The dog slept peacefully beside him, and Alphonse stared into space. The pat on the dog's head seemed more automatic than a show of affection.

"Ed," she called, distressed. "I'm worried about Al."

Edward didn't answer. In fact, he wasn't even paying attention. He was engrossed in a book of alchemy from Xing that Alphonse had brought.

"DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?" Winry crept up to Edward and shouted in his ear. Edward was startled and almost dropped the book.

"Do you want to make me deaf, woman?" Edward composed himself.

"That's the only way you'll hear me, right?" Winry crossed her arms. "I was saying I'm worried about Al."

"What's wrong with him?"

"Look at him over there," she nodded. "I think he needs to talk."

"Okay," Edward got up from his chair. "I'll talk to him."

Edward approached the tree cautiously. Alphonse was so distracted that he only noticed his presence when his brother sat down beside him.

"Quiet little day, huh?" Alphonse greeted with a nod.

Alphonse nodded, and the two of them sat silent for a while.

"I know you must be upset," Edward began slowly. "But, admit it, it's not a big surprise. Well," he gave a humorless laugh, "I was in the army too, and I didn't even have to kill anyone. After all, we're in a period of peace."

"I know," Alphonse sighed. "The problem isn't her. It's me. It's hard to accept, but I can't decide her life." He exhaled more slowly. "It's just that, for a moment, I thought I could regenerate her. But I can't save everyone. Even if I wanted to, I can't. I couldn't even save a little girl who turned into a chimera..."

"We couldn't save her, you mean," Edward corrected him. "I could have saved Nina too, but I was completely useless. Don't blame yourself for that. The only one to blame was that damn Tucker."

"But I could have realized it sooner," Alphonse insisted. "I could have sensed his intentions from the start. I sense other people's feelings better than you, Ed. I should have known what he was up to."

"It wasn't your fault, Al." Edward shook his head. "Stop thinking about it. And don't worry about that red-eyed girl. She doesn't deserve it."

"I was just testing our new theory," Alphonse looked at his brother. "Of giving back more than we receive. She saved my life in the desert, and I would save hers. I would give her a reason to believe in life and in people."

"It seems you owe her a debt," Edward said to the wind.

"Yes," Alphonse turned to his brother with a smile. "Do you want to know how we met?"

"Of course," Edward turned to his brother. "I've always wanted to know how this accident happened."

Alphonse responded to his brother's comment with a big smile.

"After Mr. Zampano, Mr. Jelso and I crossed the desert on camels," Alphonse began. "we traveled for many days before arriving in King's City. We were warmly welcomed there by our friends, and Ling allowed me access to the ancient manuscripts on Rentanjutsu. I also spoke with many wise men of the kingdom and learned many new things. Everything was a new surprise every day. The food, the clothes, the buildings, the celebrations... I won't deny that we lived like kings there."

"I can only imagine how much fun it must have been for you." Edward leaned against the tree and rested his head in his hands.

"When I received your letter, I immediately prepared everything because we had many months of travel to Resembool," Alphonse continued. "We were escorted by royal army guards to the vicinity of the Xing border. In addition to the natural dangers of the desert, we had to worry about the rebellious nomadic groups that often attacked unsuspecting travelers. Many of them did not accept Ling's authority."

"We were lucky on the way there, passing through those inhospitable landscapes, because we didn't encounter any of those bandits. We faced sandstorms, water shortages, and deep mountains, but we were rewarded in the end when we reached our destination. On the way back, I didn't want to face that kind of problem anymore, but we ended up taking the wrong path and running very close to the hordes of Kalin, one of the most ruthless rebel leaders. We were outnumbered, so we tried to go unnoticed. We snuck a shortcut, and when we thought we were out of danger, we looked back and saw Kalin's gang running like mad after us."

“The camels ran as fast as they could, but there was no escape. Just as we were giving up hope, Zampano spotted a gorge between the rocks. In fact, it was just a small passage. Since they outnumbered us, we could delay their advance by going that way, or even lose them. It could have been a trap; after all, they knew the environment better than we did. But there was no other choice.”

“And indeed, the narrow gorge slowed their advance. The rebels had to reorganize, and most had to abandon their horses. This gave us some distance and almost escaped if a handful of them hadn't taken another path that skirted the area where we were and attacked us from the other side. Left with no other choice, we decided we wouldn't go down without a fight. Mr. Jelso and Mr. Zampano assumed their chimera forms and began cutting down our attackers. I transmuted a spear and felled enemy after enemy. But each time I felled one, three more took its place. More and more people kept appearing. And I was getting very tired.”

“That's when I saw her. At first, I just saw a figure wrapped in a white cloak jump from some rocks. She used the momentum of the fall and came down, cutting a guy in half! After that, she spun her body as if she were dancing a macabre ballet, and with each movement, more blood gushed out, staining the ground red. I watched it all, speechless. I couldn't understand what was happening.”

"I was just worrying about knocking our enemies out of action, unconscious and unable to fight or something, but that figure was leaving a trail of dead. Men were falling like flies. Body parts were flying over my head. I'd never seen anything like it. And that cloaked figure continued relentlessly in that choreographed, deadly dance. The sword moved so fast I could only see its glint against the sun before it struck the neck, the stomach, or severed an arm of one of those men."

"At one point, the hood of her cloak fell off, revealing her black hair. I was startled because she was a very young girl, and our few surviving enemies were frightened by something in her eyes and fled. Besides the fact that most of their companions were slaughtered on the ground, of course."

"I was paralyzed on the ground. In the same place where I had fallen after being knocked down by one of the massacred bandits. I saw her just a few meters away from me. She saw me too, and I thought she was going to kill me. Unexpectedly, she sheathed her sword, turned her back on me, and calmly walked away. But the moment she sheathed it, I noticed something curious. A strange energy emanated from the sword. I could sense its power from a distance because I had spent months tirelessly training the transmutation techniques of Rentanjutsu. Without thinking, I got up from the ground and ran after her."

"Hey, you!" I shouted. "Who are you?" I asked.

"She ignored me and kept walking. I ran faster and stopped in front of her, blocking her path. Then I realized how foolish I'd been. She could have cut me right there."

"Why did you help us?" I insisted.

"She tilted her head to the side as if I were a vaguely interesting distraction. I was distracted by a groan of pain from Mr. Jelso and ran to help them. They were both lying on the ground with a few bruises. But fortunately, they were okay, and we hadn't lost our things. After checking to make sure everything was in order, I turned my eyes back to the mysterious girl, and she was gone."

Notes:

I'm not sure if there's a misspelling. Let me know if there is.