Three days have passed since the arriving at Night Raid's base, Tatsumi sits by the tombstones of his childhood friends Sayo and Ieyasu, mourning them outside the hideout. He is sitting beside their graves, his expression sad as he remembers his last moments with the two friends before they died.
(Flashback)
"Thanks a lot!" Sayo said, raising her hand.
"We'll make it in the capital and make money!" Ieyasu said, raising his hand.
"We'll rely on our skills to save our poverty-stricken village," Tatsumi said, also raising his hand.
(End of Flashback)
We used to say those things... Tatsumi thought, remembering his friends' words. But now, I'm left alone...
Goku and Vegeta stand behind him. Vegeta has his arms folded, his expression serious as he stands to the left. Goku has a sad look on his face, standing to the right.
With a sad expression, Goku said, "Man, I feel bad for him. If only there were Dragon Balls in this world, he could wish his friends back to life." He felt sympathy for Tatsumi's situation, his tail wiggling slightly in the air.
Vegeta kept his expression unchanged as he spoke. "Hmph. Unfortunately, that won't happen until we get back to our world. Dragon Balls don't exist here, so there's nothing he can do right now." His tail was wrapped around his waist.
Goku glanced at Vegeta with an angry expression. "That doesn't mean he has to suffer like this, Vegeta. Those two were his childhood friends – like Krillin and I are to each other. I say when we go back, we should head to New Namek and use the Namekian Dragon Balls to wish Tatsumi's friends back to life."
Vegeta closed his eyes, his expression still unchanged. "You'll need the Elder Namekian to do that, and those Namekians haven't forgotten my actions back on old Namek. You'll have to do it by yourself."
"Come on, Vegeta – don't be like that. You've changed, remember?" Goku said.
Vegeta kept his eyes closed, his arms still folded. "Even so... I committed atrocities against their race. They won't easily forgive me."
Goku replied, "Don't be like that. If the Namekians see how you are now, they'd forgive you. It's not like they'd hold grudges forever."
"And what exactly do you think is going to work, Kakarot?" Vegeta said, his expression still unchanged. "What makes you think the Dragon Balls will grant a wish for someone who belongs to another world?"
Goku's expression softened, though a hint of determination still shone in his eyes. "Come on, Vegeta – the Dragon Balls have granted way more impossible wishes than that! Remember when we brought everyone back to life after Frieza destroyed Namek? Or when we wished all the people on Earth back who were turned to stone by Majin Buu?" He scratched the back of his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "If Shenron or Porunga can bring back entire planets' worth of people, I bet they can make an exception for two kids from another world."
Vegeta clicked his tongue, finally opening his eyes to look at Goku. "That's different, fool. Those people were all from our universe. We have no idea if the Dragon Balls can even sense life from a world that's not connected to ours – let alone bring them back." He paused, his gaze drifting over to Tatsumi, who still sat motionless by the graves. "Besides… do you really think bringing them back would be what's best for him? This world is dangerous enough as it is. They'd just be thrown right back into the middle of this empire's corruption."
Goku fell quiet for a moment, watching Tatsumi run his fingers over the rough stone of the tombstones. "Maybe," he said at last. "But at least he'd have the choice. They deserved to live their lives, not be killed by those monsters."
Vegeta didn't respond, and the two remained silent for a moment. Then Goku walked towards Tatsumi, sat down beside him on his left, and placed his left hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him.
Vegeta was still standing behind them, his arms crossed. Just then, he felt something on his head as Leone teasingly pressed her massive chest against him.
"Hehe, hi there, Mr. Shorty…" Leone said, teasing him.
Vegeta's eyes widened as he pushed Leone away, his face red. "W-what the hell do you think you're doing, woman?! Where did you come from?!"
Leone giggled and said, "Hehehe, oh come on – don't tell me you didn't enjoy my babies touching you?" She asked mischievously, cupping her breasts.
Vegeta frowned and said, "I'm married, you fool!" He said with an annoyed look.
Leone laughed loudly, not the least bit fazed by Vegeta's outburst. "Oh? Married, huh? That's good..." She said, walking toward Vegeta and looking down at him. "I like a man that has experience…" she said, her voice seductive.
Vegeta took a step back, crossing his arms tighter across his chest as he glared up at her. "Experience has nothing to do with this – show some respect!"
Leone grinned, leaning forward slightly so she could look him directly in the eyes. "Respect works both ways, you know. And I think you owe me at least a little – I've been watching you two since you arrived. Those moves you pulled yesterday against those bandits… not exactly something you see every day around here."
Goku looked over his shoulder, a small smile on his face despite the serious moment earlier. "Oh hi there, Leone!" He said, waving his hand. Tatsumi also looked over his shoulder, wiping his tears.
Leone glanced at Goku and said, "Hi there, Goku!" She smiled. "Hehe, so what are you two doing right now?"
Goku, sitting next to Tatsumi, said, "Well, me and Vegeta were discussing things that we will tell you and the others later on."
Leone tilted her head with curiosity. "Oh? What kind of discussion?" It caught her attention.
Vegeta glanced at Leone with a serious expression, his arms crossed. "Mind your own business, woman. Why don't you go bother someone else? Kakarot and I are in the middle of something important!"
Leone looked at Vegeta with a mischievous look and said, "Geez, you really are grumpy, Vegetable."
Vegeta glared with a cold expression. "It's Vegeta, you imbecile!" he said to her.
Leone grinned mischievously and said, "Whatever, darling…" She said teasingly, then looked at Tatsumi and said, "So, Tatsumi – have you decided if you're joining us?" She asked him.
Tatsumi spoke with a slightly comical tone. "Have I not said it already?" He began, but Leone cut him off as she walked towards him and Goku. She patted Tatsumi's head, making him blush a little. "I think you have the talent to be an assassin…" She said, pinching his chin.
Tatsumi was still blushing, but then he turned his head and spoke with a thoughtful expression. "It's not that I'm troubled about that. It's the killing…" He said to Leone.
Leone's playful expression softened as she let go of Tatsumi's chin, her golden eyes growing serious. "I get it," she said quietly. "Killing isn't easy – even when you know the people you're going after are monsters who've hurt countless others. Every one of us here has struggled with that same question."
She glanced over at Goku and Vegeta before turning back to Tatsumi. "That's why we don't just go around attacking anyone. We target the corrupt nobles, the brutal generals – the ones who make life a living hell for people like your village. For Sayo and Ieyasu."
Tatsumi's hands clenched into fists as he looked down at the tombstones. "I know… I saw what those people did to them. And I've seen how the Empire treats people who can't fight back." He took a deep breath, his eyes hardening with resolve. "But what if I'm not strong enough? What if I end up getting someone else killed?"
Goku stood up next to Tatsumi and Leone, looking down at Tatsumi with a warm smile. "She's right, Tatsumi. We've had to fight too – to protect the people we care about. Sometimes there's no other way."
Vegeta let out a sharp huff but didn't argue. Instead, he crossed his arms again and added, "Not that I care about this world's politics, but even I can see the corruption runs deep. Those bandits we took down yesterday? They were working for some noble who's supposed to 'protect' the area. That's not how things should be."
Tatsumi looked down at his hands, still stained with dirt from the graves. "I know… I saw what they did to my friends. And I've seen what the Empire's soldiers do to people who can't pay their taxes. But how do I know I'm not just becoming another killer?"
"Because you're asking that question," Leone said firmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "The real monsters don't think twice about who they hurt. We weigh every life we take – and we make sure it's worth saving ten more." She smiled.
Goku looked at Leone with a curious expression and said, "So why did you come here, Leone?"
Leone smiled at Goku. "Well, I was going to have Tatsumi meet the others in the base and see if he'd made up his mind about joining us."
Goku tilted his head and said, "Oh! That reminds me – we haven't actually gotten to know each and every one of you yet."
Vegeta turned his head, his expression serious as he folded his arms. "Hmph… I couldn't care less about meeting any of your teammates…"
Goku looked at Vegeta and said, "Come on, Vegeta – it'll be fine meeting all of them. They're all good people, and you really need to get to know them."
Vegeta turned around with a serious expression, his arms folded. "Tch! Whatever! As long as they don't annoy me too much…"
Leone clapped her hands happily and said, "It's settled then! If you'll excuse me, I need to take care of Tatsumi here." She said, wrapping her arm around Tatsumi's neck. "Anyways, I'll introduce you three to the rest of Night Raid!" She said, dragging Tatsumi along as he tried to pull away.
"My neck!" Tatsumi gasped, choking slightly as he tried to free himself.
Goku and Vegeta glanced at each other for a moment, then followed the two. Up in the building, Akame looked down at them from a window, her expression stoic and calm.
Inside the hideout, the warm glow of lanterns lit up the spacious main room, and someone was sitting at a large wooden table that was covered with various items. As Leone dragged a still-gasping Tatsumi through the doorway, Goku and Vegeta followed close behind – Vegeta keeping his arms crossed and his eyes sharp as he scanned the room.
"Everyone, meet our newest recruit – and our two mysterious powerhouses from out of town!" Leone announced, finally releasing Tatsumi, who immediately straightened his collar and rubbed his neck. At the table sat a young woman with long purple hair named Sheele.
*(Sheele was a member of the Revolutionary Army's assassin group, Night Raid, and the user of the Teigu Extase.
Sheele was a beautiful and slender-yet-curvaceous young woman with long, purple hair and eyes. She usually wore a revealing, sleeveless lilac cheongsam with detached lilac arm sleeves and a cleavage cutout, along with white thigh-highs and boots. Underneath, she wore purple lace-trimmed underwear. She usually had her Teigu with her. She wore glasses and had a scar on her right cheek. During her earlier appearances, she wore a hat.
Sheele was an airhead, often losing her glasses or failing at any chores she tried to do due to her clumsiness; however, she was very kind and caring to her friends, willing to sacrifice her life for them, as seen with Mine. However, her attitude changed completely when she killed, becoming cold and impassive; she described it as having "a screw loose" in her mind, which made her a talented killer. She believed that getting rid of "society's trash" was the only thing she could do well, and therefore couldn't be considered useless.
She was shown to apologize to those she kills, often as a force of habit. In the future, she will take a liking to Goku due to his kind nature, and as she gets close to him, she starts to fall in love.)*
Sheele turned to them, saying, "Whoa… you're the guys who were at the noble family's mansion during yesterday's assassination, right? I'm Sheele..." She said calmly to the three, referring to Aria and her parents.
Goku gave her a big smile and said, "Hi Sheele, I'm Son Goku, but you can call me Goku." He introduced himself, then pointed at Vegeta and said, "And this grumpy guy is Vegeta."
Vegeta just let out a low huff and said, "Watch your mouth, clown – or I'll rip it off your head." He said to Goku, folding his arms, his eyes closed, his expression serious.
Leone chuckled, clapping Sheele on the back. "Don't let him scare you, Sheele – he's all bark and no bite." She glanced at Vegeta, then winked. "Though I wouldn't mind seeing him bite a little."
Vegeta's brow furrowed further, his tail twitching irritably. "What did I just say about respect, woman? I'm surrounded by imbeciles…" he muttered to himself.
Sheele adjusted her glasses, a gentle smile on her face as she looked between Goku and Vegeta. "It's nice to meet you both properly. I've heard a lot about what you did yesterday – helping Tatsumi… that took real courage."
Goku scratched the back of his head, grinning widely. "Aw, it wasn't anything special! We just did what felt right."
Sheele looked at the three and said, "Haven't you three decided if you're joining us?" She said calmly.
Leone, standing next to the three, said, "Yes…" She spoke directly as she reached her hand toward Tatsumi's head, making him flinch back. "Sheele, say something warm to enlighten them." Tatsumi looked comically annoyed.
Sheele held her chin, her glasses flashing in the light. "Since you've known the location of our base, you'll be dead if you three don't join us…" She said calmly.
Tatsumi had a comical expression and said, "This is really warm enough to move me to tears…"
Goku let out a hearty laugh, not the least bit fazed by Sheele's words. "Hehe, that's one way to invite people to join your team! But you know what – we were already thinking about it anyway."
Vegeta clicked his tongue, crossing his arms tightly. "Don't speak for me, Kakarot. I'm only considering it because I don't want you to screw everything up, not because of some 'join or die' threat."
Sheele's gentle smile never wavered as she adjusted her glasses again. "I apologize if it sounds harsh. But in our line of work, trust is everything. We can't afford to let anyone leave who knows where we operate – not because we're cruel, but because the Empire would stop at nothing to destroy us and everyone we're trying to protect."
Leone nodded in agreement, finally dropping her hand from Tatsumi's head. "She's right. Every single one of us here has lost someone to the Empire's corruption. If word got out about this place, it wouldn't just be us in danger – innocent people nearby would suffer too."
Sheele adjusted her glasses and spoke calmly. "I suggest you three give it some deep thought…" She said, looking at her book titled Hundred Ways to Cure a Natural Airhead.
Tatsumi noticed the book Sheele was reading and read the title: "Hundred Ways to Cure a Natural Airhead." "This is indeed an assembly of wackos…" He thought awkwardly. Like Tatsumi, Goku and Vegeta also noticed the book she was reading – Goku scratching his nose as he tried to understand what the book meant, while Vegeta only folded his arms, not caring.
Just then, a voice could be heard behind them. The four turned around to see Mine with an angry expression. "Hey, Leone! Why did you bring these three into our base? Especially that guy who called my Teigu a toy gun three days ago..." She said, glaring at Vegeta.
Leone smiled and said, "That's because they're our new members..." She said to Mine.
Mine marched forward, her pink hair bristling with irritation as she pointed an accusatory finger at Vegeta. "New members?! You can't be serious – this guy insulted my Pumpkin like it was nothing!"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed as he locked gazes with Mine. "I stand by what I said – compared to the weapons we're used to, that thing is little more than a toy."
Mine's face flushed bright red with fury as she pointed her index finger at Vegeta and lashed out. "How dare you! Pumpkin is one of the Emperor's finest Teigu – it can destroy entire buildings with a single shot!"
"Buildings?" Vegeta scoffed, crossing his arms. "I could level a mountain with my bare hands if I wanted to. Your 'finest weapon' is barely worth my attention."
"Stop it!" Goku stepped between them with his hands up. He looked at Mine and said, "I'm really sorry about my friend over here, little girl." He said in an apologetic tone. Then he turned to Vegeta and said, "Vegeta, why do you like antagonizing people so much?" He said with an angry expression.
Vegeta clicked his tongue and looked away, his arms still crossed tightly over his chest. "Antagonizing? I'm just stating facts. She's the one getting worked up over the truth."
Mine clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white as she stared daggers at the Saiyan prince. "Facts?! You don't know anything about Pumpkin – or what it takes to wield a Teigu properly!" She raised her weapon, the barrel beginning to glow with faint pink energy. "I'll show you just how much of a 'toy' it is!"
"Mine, wait!" Sheele called out, standing up from her chair. "We don't fight our own teammates!"
But Mine was already firing – a bright pink blast streaking toward Vegeta, who barely moved. He didn't bother dodging, letting the shot hit him in the head. The impact left smoke lingering around his head, but caused no damage. The attack didn't hurt him, though it irritated him – yet Vegeta didn't even flinch. Goku, seeing this, only sweatdropped, as he could tell that Vegeta was pissed off. He hoped Vegeta wouldn't lash out.
Vegeta brushed the lingering smoke from his hair with one hand, his eyes narrowing into slits as he turned his gaze back to Mine. The air around him began to crackle with faint golden energy, his power level rising steadily. "You dare attack me with that pathetic peashooter?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I've held back out of respect for your so-called 'teammates' – but you've just proven you don't deserve even that much consideration."
Goku moved quickly towards Vegeta, trying to calm him down and make sure he wouldn't blow up the entire hideout. "Okay, okay – let's calm down, you two! We don't need to start a fight. We're teammates now, hehehe…" He said, trying to soothe both Vegeta and Mine.
The golden energy around Vegeta intensified, his hair beginning to stand on end as his power continued to climb. Mine took a small step back – not out of fear, but from the sheer pressure of his aura pressing down on her. Even so, she kept her weapon raised, her jaw set firmly. "You… you're not even hurt?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Tch. Did you really think that weak blast could do anything to me?" Vegeta snarled, the golden energy around him flaring brighter. But before he could move another inch, Goku placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Vegeta, that's enough," Goku said, his voice gentle but firm. "She already knows she can't hurt you. Let's just talk this out like teammates should." His expression was serious.
Just as Vegeta tensed to strike back, a sharp crack echoed through the room – Sheele had slammed her book shut on the table. Everyone fell silent as she stood up, her gentle expression replaced by something firm and serious.
"That's enough, both of you," she said, her voice carrying an unexpected weight. "Mine, attacking a teammate is unacceptable – even if you're angry. Vegeta, responding with force will only make things worse. We're supposed to protect each other, not fight among ourselves."
Leone stepped forward too, placing a hand on Mine's shoulder. "She's right, Mine. I know you care about Pumpkin – we all care about our Teigu. But you've got to trust that I wouldn't bring anyone here who isn't worth having on our side."
Mine's grip on her weapon loosened slightly, though her eyes were still fixed on Vegeta. "But he called it a toy…"
Vegeta's power began to fade as he listened, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "I stand by my words about its strength compared to what we face," he said, his voice less harsh than before. "But… I acknowledge that it means something to you. That's not nothing."
Goku let out a relieved laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "There we go! See? We can all get along!"
Tatsumi, who had been watching everything, only thought to himself: "Where did I get myself into…"
Mine scoffed and said, "Still, I don't intend to call them our members now…" She turned and walked towards Tatsumi and Goku, which made Tatsumi take a step back and Goku tilt his head.
Tatsumi raised his hands and said, "What… what are you doing?" He asked her as she stared at the two with a serious expression.
Mine turned around, eyes closed. "You're both not qualified," she said, her arms crossed – which surprised Tatsumi. "I can't imagine these three working with professionals like us." Then she turned her head towards Tatsumi and Goku and said, "You can tell from their dumb faces," she said in a mocking tone.
Tatsumi's jaw dropped and he spoke angrily. "What did you say, scoundrel?!" He said with an angry look on his face.
Goku blinked, looking between Tatsumi and Mine with a confused smile. "Huh? Dumb faces? But we were just trying to help settle things down!"
Vegeta, with his back turned and arms folded, said, "Watch your mouth, brat! At least we don't throw tantrums like children when someone doesn't praise our toys."
Mine spun around to face him again, her cheeks flushing pink with annoyance. "I'm not throwing a tantrum! I'm just saying we need people who can actually contribute – not just strong brutes who don't understand how things work here!"
Sheele stepped forward, opening her book again but keeping her eyes on the group. "Mine has a point, even if she's not saying it well. Our work requires more than just raw power – we need to be strategic, to work as a unit, and to understand the people we're fighting for."
Leone grinned and slung an arm around Mine's shoulders, pulling her close despite the younger girl's slight resistance. "But she's also forgetting that these guys just joined us – they don't know our ways yet. And let's be honest, we were all pretty rough around the edges when we started out too!"
Tatsumi took a deep breath to calm himself, though his jaw was still tight. "I… I know I still have a lot to learn. But I'm not dumb, and I'm not going to let anyone look down on me just because I'm new here. I joined to fight the Empire and protect people – same as all of you."
Goku perked up at that, his eyes lighting up. "That's right! We're here to help however we can. Even if we don't know much about your Teigu or how you operate, we'll do our best to learn!"
Mine glanced away, her expression softening just a little. She mumbled something under her breath that sounded like "…Fine… but I'm still keeping an eye on all of you."
Leone looked at the three – especially Vegeta – and said, "Don't take it to heart, guys… Mine treats everyone like that, just like you, Vegeta…" She winked at Vegeta as she spoke. Mine only turned her head and said, "Hmph…" as she folded her arms.
A comfortable silence settled over the room for a moment, broken only by the soft rustle of Sheele turning pages in her book.
"Well then," Leone said, clapping her hands together to get everyone's attention. "Now that we've got that out of the way, how about we continue to introduce you three to the rest?"
"Rest? There are more of you?" Goku asked, his face lighting up with excitement. "I can't wait to meet everyone else!"
"Not even close," Leone laughed, heading for the hidden door in the wall. "There's one more person you guys haven't met – I'm sure she'll be happy to meet you three," she said to the newcomers. "Now let's go and introduce you…" She said as she started walking.
Goku and Tatsumi followed her. Vegeta clicked his tongue but followed along as Leone led the group out of the main room and down a narrow stone corridor.
"These training grounds are for stress relief…" Leone said, introducing the area as the three walked beside her. They saw a man training – it was Bulat. "The one over there who looks like he reeks of sweat is Bulat…" As Bulat trained with a staff, Goku's eyes widened; someone else was practicing with a staff just like his Power Pole. Vegeta only raised an eyebrow, uninterested.
Tatsumi was watching too, his eyes widening in astonishment. Amazing… Good shot! He thought as Bulat unleashed a barrage of strikes so fast – though slow for Goku and Vegeta. Then, in a final attack, Bulat swung the staff sideways, creating a shock wave.
Goku's eyes widened with excitement. Wow, this guy is awesome! If only he were as strong as me and Vegeta, he could be a good sparring partner…
Bulat turned around with a smile and saw Goku, Vegeta, and Tatsumi standing next to Leone. "Aren't you three the ones we met in the mansion three days ago?"
Tatsumi's eyes widened and he said, "How did you know us?" He asked Bulat.
Bulat walked towards them and said, "Oh, it's the first time you three have seen me like this, isn't it?" He smiled. "I was the one in full armour… I'm Bulat. Nice meeting you three." He raised his hand towards Tatsumi for a handshake, which Tatsumi took. "Nice… nice to meet you."
This surprised Goku, Vegeta, and Tatsumi – none of them had seen Bulat without his armour on.
Then Goku introduced himself. "I'm Son Goku!" He said with a big grin, pointing to Vegeta, who had his back turned and arms folded. "And that's Vegeta. Nice to meet you too, Bulat!" He said with a wide smile.
Bulat laughed warmly as he clasped Tatsumi's hand firmly. "Good to have you three on board – though I have to say, I was surprised when Leone told me you'd be joining us. Not every day we get newcomers with… well, your kind of presence."
Goku nodded and said, "So you're that guy in armour who was standing on the wires with the green-haired boy (Lubbock) and the pink-haired girl (Mine) three days ago, outside the mansion. And the one who carried Tatsumi here… No wonder your energy felt familiar!"
Bulat glanced over at Vegeta, who still hadn't turned around, then back to Goku with a curious look. "Energy you say? I'm not sure what you mean by that, but I can tell you three aren't like anyone we've met before. That staff work you noticed – it's part of my training for my Teigu, Incursio."
At the mention of a Teigu, Vegeta finally turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing. "Another one of those weapons? Tch. Let's hope this one's more impressive than the last."
Bulat raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eye. "Impressive enough to turn me into a suit of living armor that can match even the strongest enemies the Empire throws at us. Want to see what it can do?"
Vegeta still had his arms folded and turned away. "Hmph… Not interested…" He said dismissively.
As Tatsumi was still holding Bulat's hand, Leone spoke bluntly to the three: "He's gay." This surprised both Vegeta and Tatsumi, making Vegeta frown. Goku tilted his head – he was too innocent to understand what "gay" meant.
"Hey, you'll make people misunderstand! Alright? Alright?" Bulat said to the three in a playful, romantic tone.
Tatsumi's expression turned awkward and he thought: Please deny it…
"Gay? What is gay? Is that some kind of food, or one of your abilities?" Goku asked, tilting his head with his arms folded.
An awkward silence settled over them as they tried to process what Goku said. Vegeta already knew Goku was a bit innocent and naive, and facepalmed at his stupidity.
Leone was the first to break the silence, letting out a loud snort of laughter. "Hahaha! Goku, you really are something else! 'Is it food or an ability?'"
Bulat chuckled too, his playful demeanor returning as he finally released Tatsumi's hand.
Bulat looked at Goku, nodded, and said, "It's not like that, Goku… Let's just say… I prefer the company of men, is all."
Tatsumi still had an awkward look on his face. "So he's not denying it either…" He thought to himself.
Goku clapped his hand to his head in understanding – or so he thought. "Oh! Like how Vegeta and I are always together when we train? That's nice!"
Vegeta clicked his tongue in exasperation, turning fully around now. "That's not what he means, you fool! And we're not 'together' – we're rivals!"
"Rivals who spend more time fighting with each other than against each other," Leone teased, winking at Vegeta.
Vegeta glared at Leone with an angry expression and said, "Quiet, woman!" He spoke coldly to her, looking pissed off. Then he glanced at Bulat and said sharply, "I don't care if you're gay or not, but if you even try flirting with me, I'll make sure you regret it…"
Bulat laughed heartily, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey now, no need to get so fired up! I can tell you're not my type – way too grumpy for me," he said with a playful grin, which only made Vegeta's scowl deepen.
"Tch. Good," Vegeta muttered, crossing his arms again and turning around.
Goku scratched the back of his head, still looking a little confused but smiling anyway. "Oh, okay! So it's not like training partners… Got it!"
Leone shook her head with a smile, then clapped her hands to move things along. "Alright, alright – enough about Bulat's love life. We've still got some more people to introduce you three to!"
As they walked further down the corridor, they came to the girls' bathing area. In the far corner, Lubbock was lying on the ground with binoculars to his eyes, peeking inside. "Hehehe… It's almost Miss Leone's bath time," he said with a determined grin. "I'm willing to risk it all just to have a sight of those breasts…"
"Well…" Leone said, making Lubbock jump in surprise. "Should I break two of your fingers?" She stood behind him with a comical expression, while Lubbock's face twisted into an awkward grimace as he shouted in response to the threat.
Leone pinned Lubbock to the ground, pressing a knee into his back while holding both his arms. "Lubbock, you just never learn…"
Lubbock screamed in agony. "Darn it! I won't give in!"
Leone kept holding his arms firmly. "Next time, it'll be your arm," she said to him. Meanwhile, Goku, Vegeta, and Tatsumi each had different reactions on their faces, standing behind the two.
Leone then looked at the three, still holding Lubbock down. "As you can see, this perverted idiot is Lubbock…"
Tatsumi had an awkward expression on his face, Goku only scratched his chin not understanding what was going on, and Vegeta turned to the side with his arms crossed, eyes closed, and a serious look on his face.
Lubbock finally stopped struggling, his face buried in the floor as he let out a defeated groan. "Okay, okay! I give up! I'll never peek again… probably!"
Leone released him with a playful shove, making him tumble forward onto his hands and knees. "Probably isn't good enough, but I'll let it slide this time – since we've got company."
Lubbock rubbed his shoulders and looked up at the three newcomers, giving them a sheepish wave despite his disheveled appearance. "Uh... you were the guys from yesterday in the mansion! Sorry you had to see that. The name's Lubbock – I'm the group's information gatherer and gadget expert!"
Tatsumi nodded awkwardly in response. "Nice to meet you… I'm Tatsumi."
Goku gave Lubbock a warm, big smile and said, "Nice meeting you, Lubbock… I'm Son Goku, but you can just call me Goku." Then he pointed at Vegeta and said, "And that guy over there with a grumpy face is Vegeta…" He said in a joking tone.
Vegeta, who had turned around, spoke up: "I heard that clown…" He said to Goku with a pissed-off expression, which made Leone giggle at Vegeta's annoyed face.
Goku then leaned towards Lubbock and said, "Why were you looking through those things at the bathing area? Is there something special in there?" He tilted his head, still confused as his tail wiggled slightly.
Lubbock's eyes lit up for a moment before he caught Leone's glare and quickly composed himself. "N-no, nothing like that! I was just… uh… checking for security risks! Yeah, that's it! Making sure no one unauthorized gets in there!"
Vegeta opened one eye, giving Lubbock a sharp look. "Hmph... Who would fall for the idea that someone peeking at a women's bathing area with binoculars is doing it for security?" He said coldly. "Only a fool would believe that." He said, his tail twitching irritably.
Lubbock let out an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his neck as he avoided everyone's eyes. "Hey, a guy's gotta try to come up with something when he's caught, right? Though I guess 'security check' was a pretty bad one…"
Leone shook her head with a grin. "Alright, enough messing around. There's still one more member you haven't met yet – and she's probably the only one here who can keep up with you two in terms of focus."
A few minutes later, as the three continued walking to the riverside near the forest, the sun was almost setting. As they walked side by side, Leone spoke up: "Well, the next one is…"
Tatsumi sighed and said, "I think I've had enough…" He looked tired.
Leone chuckled and said, "The next one is a pretty girl – and you already know her, Goku…" But as she turned, Goku was gone. "Wait, where is your friend?"
Vegeta folded his arms and said, "He said he wanted to go with a friend that is nearby…" His eyes were closed, his expression serious.
Leone was surprised, then she remembered and her lips turned into a smirk. "Ah, I see – he might have headed towards Akame…" She said teasingly.
Tatsumi spotted Goku and Akame and said, "Guys, I think he's over there…" He pointed to where Akame and Goku were sitting close together next to each other.
Akame was sitting on a chair, while Goku was seated on the ground, his tail wiggling slowly. They were cooking a massive bird – a voracious eater the size of a truck that Goku and Akame had killed earlier. Both Goku and Akame turned their heads to look at the two as they took bites of their food. If you looked closely, they seemed almost romantic together.
"Wait, are they eating an evil bird?" Tatsumi said, noticing what the two were eating. "Did she hunt it, or did Sir Goku?"
Leone nodded and said, "Don't judge her by her looks. She's quite a wild girl…"
Goku waved enthusiastically when he saw them approaching, a wide grin spreading across his face as he took another big bite of his food. "Hey guys! You made it! Akame and I were just getting dinner ready – this bird's gonna be amazing!"
Akame gave a small nod of greeting, her expression calm as she also took a small bite of her food. "Good to see you both. The meat will be done soon if you'd like to join us."
Leone teased them and said, "Oh my, you two aren't even slowing down… don't tell me the next time you two hang out it'll be a romantic date…"
Goku tilted his head in confusion, chewing thoughtfully as he swallowed his bite. "Romantic? What's that got to do with eating together? Akame just said she knew where the best food was around here – and she was right, this bird is huge!"
Akame's expression remained unchanged, though a faint hint of pink touched her cheeks as she also swallowed her food. "We simply worked together to take it down. It was too large for one person to handle alone."
Leone winked at them, not buying the matter-of-fact explanation for a second. "Sure, sure – 'efficient.' That's what they all say before they start holding hands over the campfire!"
Vegeta let out a sharp huff, crossing his arms tighter across his chest. "Can we get this over with already? I didn't come all the way out here to watch Kakarot play house with some assassin."
Goku took another bite of his food and said, "Oh come on, Vegeta – you're gonna love it… Have some…" He ripped another piece of the bird and tossed it to Vegeta, who caught it with his right hand.
Akame did the same for Leone and said, "Leone, let's eat…" She tossed another piece of the massive bird, which Leone caught with both hands.
"Thanks…" Leone said to Akame.
Akame glanced at Tatsumi, and the two stared at each other. "Have you joined us?" She asked with a stoic expression.
Tatsumi was surprised, but his expression turned serious again as he said, "No…"
Akame still looked at Tatsumi with a stoic expression and said, "We can't share the meat with you just yet, then…" She turned her head forward as she spoke.
"I don't want it!" Tatsumi thought to himself, his face awkward as Leone and Vegeta stood next to him eating their portions. Leone stood to Tatsumi's left, glancing at him as she chewed. Vegeta stood to Tatsumi's right, his eyes closed and expression serious as he ate.
"She wanted to kill me twice. I can't take it…" Tatsumi thought, his face still awkward.
But Goku, being the nice guy he is, tossed a piece of meat to Tatsumi as well. "Here, take it, Tatsumi…" he said, and Tatsumi caught it with both hands.
Tatsumi looked at his food, then at Goku and said, "Oh, thank you, Mr. Goku!"
Goku didn't turn to face him as he continued munching his meat, but he waved his right hand and spoke with his mouth full: "Don't mention it, kiddo…"
Tatsumi held the warm piece of meat in his hands, unsure what to do for a moment. He glanced between Goku's cheerful, food-covered face and Akame's calm gaze before slowly taking a bite. To his surprise, it was incredibly tender and flavorful – nothing like any game he'd hunted back in his village.
"Wow… this is really good," he mumbled, almost to himself.
Leone grinned as she wiped juice from her chin. "Told ya! Akame knows her way around wild game better than anyone in the group. She could probably find a delicious meal in a barren wasteland."
Akame gave a small nod, her cheeks still faintly pink as she took another bite. "The forest here has plenty of prey if you know where to look. And working with Goku made tracking it easier – his senses are… unusual."
Goku perked up at that, finally turning to face them with a wide smile. "Oh right! I could smell this guy from miles away – he had such a strong scent! Akame said he'd been terrorizing the nearby villages, eating all their livestock."
Vegeta finished chewing and clicked his tongue, tossing the bone aside. "Hmph. At least it served some purpose before we killed it. Though I still say we could have found better food if we'd just flown up and looked around."
"Flown?" Tatsumi's eyes widened. "You mean you can actually fly?"
Before Vegeta could respond, Leone walked towards Akame and said, "You look great today – don't tell me you enjoyed your date with Goku!"
Akame's eyes widened just slightly, and the pink on her cheeks deepened a shade as she set down her food. "It wasn't a date. We were simply hunting."
"Sure, sure – 'hunting,'" Leone sing-songed, wiggling her eyebrows playfully. "That's exactly what people say when they're out on a romantic excursion."
Goku tilted his head again, taking another huge bite of meat. "A romantic excursion? Is that like a special hunting trip? Can we do that again? The food was really good!"
Vegeta let out an exasperated sigh, crossing his arms. "You're hopeless, Kakarot. Can we please focus on why we're actually here – joining this group or not?"
Then Akame continued, trying to recover from her blush. "The boss is back…" She said, composing herself. This surprised Vegeta, Tatsumi, and Leone – while Goku had already met her earlier.
Goku glanced at Tatsumi and Vegeta. "Oh yeah, she wanted to meet you two guys…" He said as he bit into another piece of meat, then added with his mouth full: "I already met her earlier, so it's your turn…"
Vegeta only folded his arms and said, "Hmph… So your boss is here…" He spoke with a serious expression.
Leone walked around to the other side of where they were cooking the massive bird and saw Najenda sitting on a wooden chair. This made Leone smile as she said, "Boss…" Najenda waved her hand in response.
(Najenda is the head of the assassin group Night Raid. She was a General of the Empire who defected, along with Lubbock, to the Revolutionary Army sometime after the end of an expedition led by her and Esdeath to eliminate the opposition of the Ban Tribe.
Najenda is a woman with short, silver hair and purple eyes. She wears an eyepatch over her right eye, which she lost, and a black suit that shows her cleavage. She has a green and black mechanical right arm.
When she was younger, her hair was longer and worn tied in a braid.
Najenda is taciturn, sharp-minded, and level-headed, leading the group with a surprisingly gentle-but-firm air. Her years of experience serving in the Empire as a General have made her a highly capable leader. She is sometimes mistaken for a man due to her boyish appearance, even earning the nickname "The Hunk of the Rebellion" from her cohorts. She tends to tell "cold jokes" and make bad puns.
When she first meets Vegeta, she is surprised by his tough personality and finds him attractive, slowly developing a small crush as she has a liking for rugged personalities.)
Vegeta raised his eyebrows as he looked at Najenda, his expression serious with arms folded. Having finally seen their leader – he had expected someone male. "So this is the leader of Night Raid…" He said with his eyes open, then closed them again. "Hmph… I didn't expect him to be a woman…"
Goku, still eating next to Akame, glanced at Vegeta and said, "Oh? You thought she's a guy, huh?" He took another bite of his food. "I thought the same thing when Akame told me…" He smirked and chuckled at Vegeta, who scowled in return, his tail twitching.
Vegeta folded his arms again, his expression serious and eyes closed. "Hmph… They made it sound like she was some big deal in this group when we were heading to the base. But let's cut to the chase – what's her name?" He said, his tail slowly unwrapping from around his waist.
Akame tossed the bone from her meat aside and took another piece, saying in a stoic expression: "Her name is Najenda, and she was once a General for the Empire before becoming one of the leaders of the Revolutionary Army and later founding Night Raid."
Vegeta opened his eyes and glanced at Akame, asking, "A former General – what caused her to defect from the Empire?"
Goku nodded as he grabbed another piece of the massive bird, saying, "Well, she found out the capital was corrupt and left."
Vegeta returned to his serious expression with eyes closed. "Hmph. I suppose that cost her eye and arm. Someone at her level or higher must have taken them from her." He said, looking at her eyepatch and metal arm.
Leone walked towards Najenda with a happy expression and waved her hand. "Welcome back! Did you bring any gifts?"
Najenda ignored Leone's question and got straight to the point. "Leone, I heard the mission three days ago exceeded its time limit." She said with a smile, though her robotic arm twitched with irritation.
Leone sweatdropped, her expression comical. "Crap!" She tried to run away, but Najenda launched her mechanical hand to grab Leone and pull her back – surprising Tatsumi, while Vegeta didn't seem to care and simply turned away.
"Taking excessive pleasure in fighting enemies isn't good. You need to fix that habit of yours…" Najenda said as she slowly pulled Leone closer.
Leone struggled to free herself, saying, "I know! Stop with that creaking noise!" She begged.
The mechanical whirring of Najenda's arm only grew louder as she reeled Leone in, her smile never wavering but her eyes sharp as steel. "Creaking or not, you know the rules – our missions are about precision, not personal amusement. The longer you stay in enemy territory, the more risk you put the entire group in."
Leone slumped her shoulders in defeat as she was pulled to stand before their leader. "Alright, alright… I get it. I just got carried away – those nobles had it coming, flaunting their wealth while people starve in the streets."
Najenda released her grip and patted Leone's shoulder gently. "I know their crimes are infuriating. That's why we do what we do. But we can't let anger cloud our judgment." She turned her gaze to the others – Vegeta, Tatsumi, and Goku – who had all turned their attention to the exchange.
"Now then," she said, her voice carrying clearly across the riverside, "let's address the matter at hand. You three – Tatsumi, Goku, Vegeta. I've heard about what happened at Aria's mansion, and how you helped take down those bandits yesterday."
She stood up from her chair, her mechanical arm gleaming in the fading sunlight. "I also know you've been told about our 'join or die' policy for anyone who learns our base's location. But I want you to understand – it's not out of cruelty. The Empire will stop at nothing to destroy us, and anyone connected to us becomes a target."
Tatsumi stepped forward, holding the half-eaten piece of meat in his hand. "I already told Leone and the others – I want to join. To fight the Empire that destroyed my village and killed my friends."
Najenda gave him a small smile. "That hesitation shows you have the right heart for this work. Killing isn't something to take lightly – we only do what's necessary to bring about change."
Her eyes then turned to Vegeta, who hadn't moved to shake her hand. Instead, he simply crossed his arms again and turned away.
"Hmph. So you're the one in charge here. Akame mentioned you were a former General – I'll admit, that's more impressive than I expected from a group like this." Vegeta said, his voice carrying just a hint of respect beneath his usual gruffness as he slightly turned back to look at Najenda.
Najenda blushed a little as she met Vegeta's gaze; she could tell from the way he carried himself that he was tough – the kind of rugged personality she found compelling – but she composed herself and said, "I've heard a bit about you too – that you and Goku aren't from this world. Your power is unlike anything I've seen before."
Tatsumi and Leone tilted their heads in surprise at her words. "What do you mean by 'Goku and Vegeta aren't from this world'?" Leone asked Najenda.
Najenda glanced at Leone and said, "I will explain later." She picked up her coat, which bore the Night Raid emblem. "Akame, gather everyone in the meeting room…" She said as she walked forward. "I want to hear the results of the previous operation, and everything about this young man. Also, Mr. Son Goku told me about himself and his companion Vegeta – I want them to share their story with the whole group."
To be continued.