Part 3. The beginning of the end. Chapter 1: Old friends

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Give me the stones.

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4 July 1026 in the Imperial calendar. Capital City.

I smiled slightly, looking at the bustle around me. Standing in the shade of one of the alleyways, the heat doesn't affect you as much and lets you enjoy the agony of working.

- It's nice not to have to work..." I stretched out, stretching.

- Do you know the saying, "He who doesn't work doesn't eat?" - came Laura's voice above me.

- Well, it's for people. - I shrugged, not looking up. - What are you doing here? The working day is in full swing, and you're meeting your lover. You're slacking off, Comrade Colonel.

The girl dashingly landed in front of me and immediately rushed to my lips. Yes, and everything started so badly... She tried to kill me, then, having learnt about my motives, she hated the doctor, having safely forgotten that she herself was the fruit of his experiments, and then we had an affair.

I was often out of her sight when I was with Felicia, since she'd given up the service and could go anywhere with me. But Laura... To be honest, she also wanted to leave the post, but I dissuaded her on the grounds that they could "use our feelings to destroy us". She didn't demand examples, she just bought into this love heresy. But what can I take from her... After all, in essence, in terms of psychological development, she is the same sixteen-year-old girl, always going on about her feelings.

- Did you find out anything? - I asked, when Laura and I finally got away from each other.

- Mm-hmm. There's a network of tunnels under the castle that come out about a kilometre from the Capital. The catch is that it's a veritable labyrinth that can only be traversed by a specially memorised route or map. If you try to tear down the passages by force, the ceiling will collapse on you.

- Hmm..." I said, "So, if attacked, the Emperor can escape through the underground passage...

- Right, unless they're waiting for him at the exit. - Laura shrugged.

- Do you know where that exit is? - I got excited.

- Ahaaa... - a devilish smile blossomed on Laura's face. - But what do I get for the answer?

- Laura-" I frowned menacingly, activating my kakugans. - don't mess with me. This is not a subject I can forgive you for.

The girl involuntarily shivered, then asked unhappily:

- What did he do to you?

- I have a personal reason. No one knows about it and no one will know about it. - I wrinkled my nose.

- Well, fuck you. In fact, I only know someone who knows the location of this exit. Kyle Thrush, the headman of a remote village in the north, and a top-secret agent of the new Emperor. He provided his village with a lot of money, and in return he demanded constant reports in the form of intelligence reports.

- I see. - I nodded. I'll be gone for a couple of days. Maybe a little longer.

I put my hand out to meet Laura's, and she put hers on it with a sigh. I concentrated, trying to see the information I needed.

It wasn't that long ago that I'd discovered this skill. Before, I could manipulate RC-cells to create animals, but now I had learnt to send them into someone else's body, where they could heal the damage and change the memory itself! But, to be honest, if I dig into someone's brain hard enough, my own brain hurts, but from small processes like copying or erasing information from someone else's head, there's almost no harm. 

I guess that's the ultimate power. When you can regenerate literally from a molecule, are completely unencumbered by human needs, and yet are not insane. Is that what I've been striving for? Or have I not yet achieved it, but I am very close?

I nodded slightly to Laura, turning to go out into the street itself.

- Can't you stay a little longer? - I heard the girl's pitiful question.

- I have a feeling that if I don't go now, I will miss something very important... - I said thoughtfully. - It's a rare feeling, but it never fails me. You can wait a few more days, okay?

- Okay..." Laura nodded reluctantly. - But swear you won't run away for a few weeks!

- I swear. - I smiled, changing my hair colour to black.

A blue cloak with red trim on the inside was placed on my shoulders, and underneath it formed a white shirt, a blue waistcoat and black trousers with shoes. After a bit of thought, I also formed my dangling Ghoul mask around my neck, the original of which had burned under the First Teigu's attack. I didn't think much about its secrecy, as the people who had seen it and were still alive could be counted on a few fingers, and in its hanging state it seemed completely different from the one I wore.

Well, let's get to the village for the old man's head!

***

Well, I'm proud to say that I'm a wimp. The moment I saw Akame, my thoughts were gone, replaced by the urge to walk the few kilometres and hug her.

I shook my head irritably, cutting off my hormones. However, the desire to talk to the girl didn't disappear. Heh... and that never happened with Esdes, did it?

A pleasant bonus was the presence of Wade, Kurome, and... Tatsumi. To be honest, I stared at the guy for about a dozen minutes, hoping to be convinced that I had just heard him and it wasn't him. However, the kid turned out to be really alive, which gave me some hope. Akame kind of fell in love with the kid in canon, if I'm not confused... and I can be, it's been a long time and my mind has been clouded by insanity. So when this is over, she won't cry when she finds out about me, well if she does, Tatsumi will comfort her.

By the way, Akame has changed her image. She's changed from black to white. I'd like to say I like the change. Still, white suits her better, just like me, my scarlet kakugan eyes under my grey hair. It hasn't been grey for a while now, though. It's... dyed. Seriously, back in Tokyo, I went to Uta, who had various dyes, both for my hair and for his masks. So there he was, dyeing my hair white.

Anyway, need to take a closer look.....

***

To be honest, I'm disappointed on one hand, but on the other hand I'm overwhelmed with joy. Akame hasn't forgotten about me. On the other hand, I'm happy about it and wish I could return her feelings.

Oh... I was so steamed up that I spent three days observing Akame and Kurome with Wade. Cooks, fishermen, lumberjacks, and simple men in taverns... But my sense of beauty was more than satisfied. Still, there's something about Akama that none of my other girls have. Esdes, Felicia, Laura... None of that.

I ended up sitting on the roof of one of the high-rise buildings, thinking about what was happening. The hunters were gradually surrounding the village, as I had absolutely no interest in going after the old man. I decided to spend my time having a normal conversation with my old allies.

Well... here we go.

- KHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - came from the forest. It was echoed by many other warriors, alerting their fellow warriors to begin. Still, giving the command to start to all the hunters at once is pretty stressful.

I took on the appearance of Alex Mercer, deciding to look like him, and then easily jumped off the roof. There was a woman's scream, and I checked to see what was going on. Yeah, it's just hunters looking for the old man. Let them look for him, it's better for me.

By the time I got to Akame and her group and Tatsumi, they had already met the hunter and were thinking about what to do.

- If it's Ghouls, or at least something that looks like them, then people might get hurt. Follow them. - Akame said firmly.

I think I'm beginning to understand why all supernatural entities like to go behind my back. It's really exciting.

- We shouldn't let them get in the way. They're here on special business, and they won't hurt innocent people. - I said, smiling slightly.

The four turned around, and I involuntarily flinched when I met Akame's gaze. Suddenly, I realised all the pain that was stored in those eyes. It must be strange to hear that, but it was true. Hidden beneath a thick crust of caked blood, a pain that slowly rips you from the inside out. 

- Who are you?" Kurome said.

- Me? My name is Alex Mercer. And you can relax, they won't hurt you, and neither will the rest of the humans. - I waved my hand, now looking at Kurome. She hadn't changed at all, and neither had Wade. Pfft, no sense of changeability.

Meanwhile, Akame and I continued to drill each other with glances, and I involuntarily realised that I still had my kakugan activated. I didn't bother cutting it off, it was too late anyway. 

- You talk like you can control them," Wade grumbled.

- Yes," I nodded, not taking my eyes off Akame. - And I promise they'll only kill one man. He's a friend of a very important enemy of mine, and I need his head. And I mean that in the truest sense of the word.

- Who the hell are you? - Tatsumi bellowed.

My smile faded when this kid decided to attack me. Except that a simple sword, even if it wasn't sharpened, is quite... ineffective against a solid formation of RC-cells, which was my body.

- I'm the one who'll kill you if you try anything like that again. - I said coldly, intercepting the blade of my sword, crumpling the iron slightly.

Oh, here comes Akame. I easily dodge Muramasa's strike, noticing that Akame's movements are a little faster than Kurome's. They're both very slow to me, though. I don't know what came over me, but I felt the urge to chat during the fight, something I'd never allowed myself before.

- Akame..." I moved behind her back and immediately blocked her elbow with one hand. - I've been wanting to see you for a long time..." I dodge another vertical bottom-up punch from Murasame. - just like that. - Akame tries to reach for my leg, but I easily intercept it, then gently let go. - you who finally doesn't live in the past. - Here's Murasame already flying to my chest- -And who forgot Kaneki Ken. - Muramase, following her mistress' movement trembled, but continued his flight. I form a blade on my right hand and easily reflect the blade.

- You..." Akame hovered, looking at me.

Hmm... Here comes Kurome. I tilt my head slightly, letting Yutsufusa's blade pass by. I disembody the lezie and Murasame rushes forward while I step aside. At this point, Wade comes at me with his sword, but his toothpick is also taken away, and I send it flying towards Akame and Korome's crossed blades. Next, I grab the guy by the collar and launch him at the girls' backs, knocking them down.

Tatsumi comes at me again, but goes after Wade. Along the way, I put a small supply of RC cells on him. I'll have to ask Akame about me through him. Even though this kind of control will give me a headache later, it'll be worth it. Suddenly, a flood of knowledge flooded my head, announcing the successful completion of the mission.

- UUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!! - came a howl from the centre of the village.

- Mission accomplished. - I said sadly. - I'd like to talk to you more, but... there's a bit of no time right now. We'll talk later, then. - I shrugged my shoulders, and then, at full speed, headed away.

***

So... Well, in all seriousness, I can say that the meeting gave me some mixed feelings. But that was clear from the start. Well, that's not what's important right now.

The old man about the exit from the labyrinth really knew about it, being... the one who designed it. I really fell out of reality when I found out that this little old man in a godforsaken village would turn out to be the one who built this tunnel.

The headman also knew of a certain bandit ploughman with close ties to Khalizard. He sort of collected taxes from certain lands, and also created a sort of blockade around his territory... Only, it was very strange. Letting everyone in and letting no one out. News of such an attack could not get to the capital, which was to Khalizard's advantage.

It remains only to find out where this fortress is, but at least I know the approximate area. By the way, we should get Felicia.

***

Hmmm... I've been wandering around these territories for two days now and I haven't been able to locate the bandits' lair. Okay, I was having fun in the village yesterday, but I've been searching all last day! Only, it wasn't the smell of bandits that attracted me. That familiar, lavender and woody smell. Actually, I'd say paper.

- Fel, jump in. - I said, and when I felt the girl jump on my back, I took off at full speed toward the smell.

We stopped near a small clearing... in the centre of which Shelly lay. Wow, what an entertaining encounter.

- Yeah! Yeah, and she was pretty tight, but I think this one's gonna be looser. - and then nine others burst into laughter. Well, these are the gangsters I want!

- Ai-yi-yi-yi... - Felicia spoke loudly enough. - I think you should let this girl go.

- Hey, guys, look who's here, look who's here! - came the voice of one of the thugs.

I hummed, forming claws on my hands.

- No killing. - I gave a short order.

- Felicia grinned, and streams of fire danced around her.

Having easily dealt with the bandits, I ate a couple of them and, having received the necessary information, let the bodies to create a hunter.

So the base, located near the mine, almost ten kilometres from here. Also, one of them had a memory... of raping Mein. That information sent me into a wild rage, but Felicia was there to calm me down with a touch.

- You go ahead. I'll catch up. - I said briefly, giving her the memory of the road to the base.

The girl nodded silently and headed into the forest. Meanwhile, I felt Shelly's breathing hitch, and the girl began to rise. 

- It's good to see you, Shelly. - I said without turning, watching the metamorphosis of the bandits' bodies.

- Do I know you? - The girl's voice sounded unsteady.

- Oh yeah... in this guise, you wouldn't recognise me. - I smirked and turned to her, changing my appearance back to my usual one. The blue cloak once again rested on my shoulders, as did the rest of my clothes.

- Ka... neki? - Shelly's eyes widened in a daze.

- Yes, yes, I'm sorry I made you nervous. And for not showing up for a long time afterwards. You see, this year has been very painful for me, too... after losing my body shape completely, and switching to a completely different body structure..." I grumbled. - But that's for later. Right now we have to go after Mein before she's killed.

When I stopped talking, the thought of "Why the fuck did I reveal myself?" formed in my head, but was dismissed. Shelly and Mein were probably the ones who hadn't had the most contact with me, so it wouldn't be a big deal.

- You..." Shelly said, still dumbfounded.

- New powers. - I shrugged. - It was mostly because of them that I couldn't make myself known. Come on, that way is the base of those bandits. - I pointed in that direction.

As I passed Shelly, however, I was subjected to a powerful squeeze in a hug from the girl, which made me smile a little.

- Y-you're... alive. - The girl sobbed, poking my shoulder with her finger.

- I didn't realise I was so important to you.....

- You were important to everyone. - Shelly replied, wiping away small tears. - And when you... died....

- That's for later. Right now, we have to go after Myne. From what I've learnt, a lot of terrible things have already been done to her. And I can heal the effects, but death... Well, you're on me. - I waved my hand, but suddenly I remembered that Shelly's speed was an order of magnitude behind even Felicia's. It wouldn't be comfortable to carry her on my shoulders, and it would be slower. - I have transport. It's ugly, but it's fast.

I snapped my fingers, and a new hunter rose from the pile of corpses. Shelly greeted him with obvious horror.

- I call men like him hunters. Fear not, he is... shall we say, 'part of me'. I have complete control over him as if he were part of my body. So he can't hurt you. Now jump in, it's been too long.

***

I watched the carnage my hunters were causing. The bandits squealed, the bandits screamed, the bandits wept. But my "doggies", killed them without delay, occasionally devouring a memory.

- You and I are going down the mine. - I said calmly, even cheerfully, looking at Shell's ghastly appearance. There's a prison of sorts there, where Main is. And also, I'll have to stop by somewhere. I want to have a chat with the ringleader....

Silence was my answer.

- Let's go. - I nodded.

After making sure Shelly got into the mine, I gave her the directions.

- Go forward until you reach the stop, then turn right and there will be Mein's cell. I'm going to the leader. I'll meet you in the centre of the camp.

After I finished speaking, I turned around and headed away.

- Kane..." Shelly started to say, but I interrupted her:

- Don't worry. I'll leave a hunter at the exit and he'll escort you to the rendezvous point.

Now it's time to visit the 'boss' of the location. Waving my hand, I waited until Felicia stood next to me, then spoke:

- The way lies to the leader. I need some papers from him, which will help me in one case.

***

Well, it's pretty thin. Yes, the information from the ringleader's head is very useful, there's a lot of stuff about Khalizard, but... the problem is that the bandit didn't have the paper from the Emperor himself, because he burned it after reading it. Fucking conspirators, how I hate them... On the other hand, the bandit knew about the secret passage to the castle, so as not to attract attention when he came for private conversations with the Emperor.

And Mein's condition was depressing. Multiple injuries to her internal organs, torn genitals, and I understand her anus was torn as well. And it's all my fault. After all, if I hadn't fooled around yesterday, it's quite possible that Main wouldn't have been caught, because there would have been no one to catch....

- Tz..." I gritted my teeth. - I'm sorry, Mein. - Rage overwhelmed my mind, and I thumped my fist on the building next to me. My fist stabbed with pain, but it regenerated instantly. But the building collapsed... - Bastards....

- Ka...neki! - Shelly exclaimed worriedly. - What about Mein? Can you fix her?

I nodded, approaching the lying girl. Well, where's my hunter and his prey? The right specimen landed next to me, holding Myne's rifle in his teeth.

- Calandor! - Shelly exclaimed in surprise.

The hunter gently placed the rifle on the ground, then abruptly jumped behind a rock.

- Shell. - I said. The RC treatment is complete. - When she wakes up, you must not say a word to her about the rape. I've erased her memory of it, so she won't know what happened to her in captivity. You'll say that Mayne wasn't touched or something. I've left a few bruises, but I'll heal the rest. 

- Where will you be? - Shelly asked in surprise.

- I have some work to do... It'll take a few days, so head to the Capital and I'll find you there. And... Shell. - I stammered, not knowing whether to speak or not. The thought of whether or not I should reveal myself to Akame was racing through my mind.

- Yes?

- Akame. She's wandering around the country right now with Wade and Kurome and this other guy they met a couple of days ago.

- She... knows? - Shelly asked in a daze.

- No." I shook my head. - I talked to them a little less than a week ago. But... then I was under the disguise you saw in the first few moments of our meeting. So...if you meet them, promise me you won't tell on me.

- Why? - Shelly wondered.

- I've seen how she lives. From what I've seen, Akame has finally forgotten me and can start a new life. To put that in perspective, there's about a 65% chance that she'll fall in love with this new guy. Even though she'll continue to walk around the country for the first while, she'll still settle down in some town sooner or later. Have a couple of larvae and then live a normal life. And if she finds out I'm alive... she'll be like Esdes.

- Ahh..." Shelly stretched out incomprehensibly.

- Esdes has been on my trail all year. Except... Somehow she knew I was alive from the beginning. I don't know how. But Akame's another matter. If she finds me, she'll be in danger again.

- How do you know that? - Shelly asked quietly. - You can't know that for sure.

- No, Shelly. - I smiled sadly. - When I was in my bloody slime form, I was able to think about a lot of things. After all...it was all me. Akame's suffering is my fault and mine alone. Besides... if I suddenly disappear completely, she won't have to suffer again. Ahh... Anyway, I'm getting a little soft, which is unusual for me... Anyway, in the Capital, you... remember Lubbock's manga shop?" he nodded. - Well, he and Leone live there. You can stay there. I'll pick you up.

- Wait... so you're going to tell them too?

- I don't think so. Why burden them? There's a mask named Alex Mercer. So.

- Why? - Shelly asked timidly.

- Huh?" Kaneki interjected, stopping half-stepping.

- Why did you tell me about yourself but don't want to reveal yourself to the others?

I smiled faintly, then looked at the slowly reddening sky, as there wasn't much time left before dawn. Heh, it's like I've been switched right now....

- I just felt like it. Because I'm selfish. - shrugged. - Does that answer sound good to you?

- You're not. - Shelly shook her head seriously.

- What makes you think that? - hummed the guy. - I've been in the form of liquid in a fishbowl for two months. You know, it takes a toll on the character. And Dorothea was always trying to experiment. - I couldn't keep from wincing. - There was a silence, which I broke after a minute. - I don't want to repeat my story from last year. So when we meet in the Capital, I'll tell it then.

- Ah... Who was that girl with you?

- Ahh... - I smiled cheerfully. - That's Felka. Felicia, my... ahem... friend.

Mein stirred, drawing Shelly's attention to herself. The girl immediately jumped up to her friend, looking happily into Maine's slightly ajar eyes. I, on the other hand, hurriedly retreated.

***

- Kaneki, are you all right? - Felicia asked worriedly.

We were sitting on a small mountain in the middle of a forest three kilometres from the capital. I, on the other hand, was genuinely, almost madly laughing.

- Yes... She said yes... - through the laughter, I squeezed out, having calmed down only after five minutes. - Fel... tell me, why are all women like that?

- Like what? - The cat asked in surprise.

- A year... I was "dead" for a year... And then she declares that she still loves me... - the smile did not want to leave her face.

- Who? - Felicia asked dumbfounded.

- Akame, Fil... Akame. - I shook my head. - Why does she like me, a madman who's never seen the light of day?

- That's a bit of a stretch. - The girl waved away, clearly calmed down, having learnt that the possible "new" rival is only the "old" one.

- Hmm... I doubt anyone else has ever gone crazy three times..." I whispered.

***

I walked merrily through the streets of Capital City, humming a cheerful tune. Felicia had gone to rest in her newfound home, which I could easily afford when I got my hands on that bandit leader's supplies. But for me, I had a bigger mission. I had acquired the ability to eat anything, so it was time to raid Heise's supplies.

That's funny... My beacons with Tatsumi and Main were already close to the Capital... Did Akame and her group decide to visit Leone and Lubbock? Hmm, it'll be a good meeting. Hmm, maybe I should come to this meeting too. I can't even imagine their faces. 

Well, here's Leone. There's Leone in the café. My raid is over, I want to talk to her more. Taking on the guise of Mercer, I made my way into the cafe, facing the metamorph's gaze as I entered.

I walked over to Heise and had a few words with him, then looked at Leone, meeting her gaze. After dueling with her for a few seconds, I smiled slightly, heading towards the girl. She didn't seem particularly bothered by it, continuing to watch me with a slightly amused look.

- May I sit down? - I asked politely, disguising my smile as mere politeness.

- Yes, of course. - Leone nodded, folding her arms on the table in advance and resting her breasts on them. Ahem... Hasn't changed at all. - And what did such a beautiful guy need from a modest girl? - Leone asked with flirtatious eyes. Completely...

- And may I know the name of this girl? - smiling, I asked, ignoring the lioness's reception.

- Leone.

- Alex Mercer. - I nodded. - I... would like to know how you live in the Capital?

- М? - Leone raised an eyebrow.

- I'm gathering statistics for the newspaper. - I quickly orientated myself, pulling out from the inner pocket of my jacket a piece of paper with a pen, which had appeared there a couple of seconds ago.

- Ahh..." Leone stretched out. Her disappointment could be seen with the naked eye. - And you live here?

- Hmmm... - I smirked. - No, I don't go to the Capital and other big cities very often.

My answer clearly gave the girl confidence in the opportunity to earn money, and she immediately began to take advantage of it.

- Well..." the metamorph languidly stretched out, her breasts jutting out even more. Ahem... You're still a little short of Esdes. - I can write your statistics myself, I know a lot of people. For a small fee, of course.

- Heh..." I grinned, tucking the papers back into my jacket. - You haven't changed a bit, Leone. - Then I got up from the table, and headed out of the cafe.

- Asya? - The girl asked in surprise, but I already had a much more important thing to do. I can talk to Leone later. 

I leisurely walked to the nearest alley, where I jumped up to the roof, changing my appearance to my real one.

- It's funny... So many people I know all of a sudden," I said, smiling loudly as I turned to the man who stood five metres away from me. - Yes, Esdes?