Hope that first chapter left you guys with the idea of how much I've improved. You always have to take a step back and view what it is you have done. Onward to Plot!
Yeah. Tatsumi realized very rapidly that Leone (The name of the Blonde-haired woman) was probably worse than Mine. Not personality wise, in fact, she was rather pleasant. But after a short talk, she managed to rope him into taking her to the bar. Leone ordered what was likely the most powerful stuff there, grade 190, and did not stop drinking. For hours.
So, after running up a several hundred dollar bill, she intended to push it on Tatsumi. Oh hell no.
"Well, thish hash been fun, but..." Leone said, flopping onto the table, a drunken smile plastered on her face. "I really don't have money..."
Tatsumi feigned shock.
"I don't have money either! What to do! I didn't order anything either!" He whispered, stifling a laugh. "What to do, what to do..."
"Well, I might have money..." She admitted. Tatsumi rolled his eyes.
Hopefully she actually does, because I'm still not sure if the money I actually have could pay this off... Heh heh...
And so, Tatsumi gave up all of his savings because Leone continued to rack up the bill to ridiculous proportions. Leone continued to laugh drunkenly until Tatsumi snapped.
"Dear lord woman, do you ever stop drinking? You're done with that!" Tatsumi grabbed the bottle from her, causing her to pout.
"Hey! You can't has it unlesh you're going to drink it!" She attempted to reach for it, but missed by a long shot and fell on the floor. "Sheriously, you have to drink it..."
Tatsumi looked at Leone, then at the bottle, then at Leone.
"If I drink this, will you stop pestering me?" Tatsumi looked at her with eyebrows raised.
"Yesh, sho do it!" She stood back up.
It can't be that bad.
Tatsumi took a swig, and instantly realized he made a mistake. While Tatsumi was definitely a heavy-weight, he had never drank before. It instantly felt like fire consumed him, which felt oddly familiar.
DO NOT START COUGHING OR ELSE SHE WINS.
"Yep, it's great," he said. He was glad the mask obscured his upper face, otherwise she would have seen the panic in his eyes.
"Fine, I'm all done..." Leone said, heaving herself back into her chair. "So, what's your story?"
"Well," Tatsumi said, intending to play around. "I couldn't tell you, it would be too unbelievable..." he grinned.
"No, tell me!" She shouted.
"Well, I'm a wandering nomad, and I finally saw the capital, and decided that I should see the sights. So, I made my way up to the capital, and wondered how I could make my name known, and then-" Tatsumi was cut off when he saw two people enter the town.
Sayo and Ieyasu.
"Would you excuse me for a minute?" Tatsumi stood up.
Tatsumi was about to go and greet them, but they were already walking into the bar. They began to ask around where the army recruitment area was.
"Hey," Tatsumi said, disguising his voice. "I know where it is."
"Really? Mind showing us to it?" Sayo asked while Ieyasu gawked at Tatsumi.
"What are you doing?" Tatsumi asked.
"YOU LOOK AWESOME!" Ieyasu yelled, getting a laugh out of Tatsumi.
"Alright, let's go." Tatsumi said, walking along.
In Truth, Tatsumi had no idea where it was, but decided to get away from Leone. When they were far enough away, Tatsumi spoke normal, not disguising his voice.
"Hey."
Sayo and Ieyasu whirled around, thinking they heard Tatsumi.
"Was that Tatsumi?" Sayo was no on alert, as was Ieyasu.
"Wow, I'm suprised my disguise is that convincing," Tatsumi chuckled.
"Wait..."
"TATS-" The two yelled.
"Jeez, I have the disguise for a reason, so quiet!"
"So, what is your name if it's not Tatsumi?" Ieyasu joked. Tatsumi put his hand to his chin.
"Hmm... Takeshi?" Tatsumi mused.
"It works," Sayo grinned.
"Hey! Mr. whatever your name was!" Leone came chasing along.
"Oh no..." Tatsumi's head went into his hands.
"Who is that?" Sayo asked.
"Drunken Trouble," Tatsumi answered evenly. Leone eventually caught up.
"What was your name anyways?"
"It's Takeshi, Leone," He said.
"Oh. Well, you should find a place to stay, it's going to be late soon. You should go to the hotel over there..." She pointed to a beaten down motel.
"Uh... nah, I'm good," Tatsumi said, waving his two friends away. They shouldn't have to deal with her.
"Nah... I'll even go with you..." She approached him strangely. "We can even share a room," She whispered into his ear.
"No, I'll pass," He pushed her away.
"Too bad," She sighed. "Well, see you later Takeshi..." She walked away, and Tatsumi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, Sayo, Ieyasu, let's go get disguises, all right?" He turned only to find they were both gone, most likely lost in the sea of humanity.
It definitely rated high on the suck scale.
Strangely enough, it was if he could feel where they were. In fact, he could sense where most people were. Interested by this, Tatsumi wondered what caused this.
The way that he saw things was less like a psychic connection, or some nonsense. The closest thing to it would be different weights on a cloth. Some weighed heavier than others, and some were lighter. What he felt was an extremely heavy weight passing by, going directly towards him. It got closer, and closer, and closer, and-
"MOVE!"
Tatsumi was shocked at the appearance of a horse drawn carriage. The carriage itself was elegantly designed, with a hand carved wooden frame. The one who yelled at him was a guard, clad in iron armor. He was at the front, guiding the horses.
"Uhh, sorry!" Tatsumi shouted up at him. The man huffed, and then spurred the horses on. From inside the carriage, a blonde haired girl sat, looking quizzically at Tatsumi.
"Lady Aria, please sit back down," Someone called from inside the carriage.
As the carriage moved along, Tatsumi was perplexed. He was perplexed because, among the 6 people in the caravan, the girl named Aria had a weight that, to stick with the metaphor, broke the fabric.
Tatsumi decided to tail the Carriage.
Tatsumi followed the Carriage, hiding in the shadows. The Carriage looked regal, as if a princess was there. The Carriage led back to a mansion that dwarfed Tatsumi's village.
The Mansion was not only big, excessively so, but elegant. The Mansion was tall, at least three stories, and it had a yard larger than all the land the village owned.
Tatsumi sneaked through the many tall plants, making his way to Aria. He was inches away, and no one noticed.
From the Carriage came Sayo and Ieyasu, wearing looks of concern. From a guess, Tatsumi deduced they were worried for him.
"This way, c'mon!" Aria said, inviting them inside. Sayo and Ieyasu's weights were almost non-existent, making Aria seem all the more puzzling.
Why is she different?
After Aria led them inside, Tatsumi jumped through an open window. He was able to hear parts of the conversations. He heard bits about them being fed, and how Sayo and Ieyasu lost their friend, who they named Takeshi, which Tatsumi momentarily forgot was his fake name.
"Well, we'll send guards out to find him!" A loud, grand voice said.
"Really?" The two yelled in unison.
"Sure! Have you eaten you food yet?" The man asked. Tatsumi could only hear yawns or some deceleration of sleep. Tatsumi hadn't encountered this before, but it instantly stuck through in his mind.
Were they drugged?
He didn't know why that was his main idea, but perhaps because the three people there were the heaviest weights.
"Alright, take them to the back. Now, Aria, we haven't received the Lubora syringes from the Emperor, but they'll be arriving tomorrow-"
"What! NO! I want them infected before I touch them! You know the side effects! More sensitive nerves! More sensitive to what I intend to do!"
Tatsumi had heard enough. He had to escape and get help. He was not prepared to handle every guard there, and rescue a sleeping Sayo and Ieyasu. He needed the Military Police.
"Beat it, kid. As if anyone believes you," The Captain snickered.
Tatsumi's jaw left hung open. The Police not only were uncooperative, they flat out refused to help.
"We have bigger fish to fry, like that Night Raid thing. So scram," another member said, pushing Tatsumi out of the building.
Tatsumi stumbled outside, and looked back at the door, which swiftly shut. On it were pictures of 4 people he didn't recognize, and a short note.
Cutthroat thieves who kill if the money is right. If spotted, alert the Military Police immediately.
Tatsumi began to think.
Kill anyone for money? Hmm...
Tatsumi instantly ran off to the nearest bar, and saw Leone sitting there, drinking something that wasn't actually alcohol.
"Leone!" Tatsumi shouted. She whirled around, and grinned.
"Oh, wanting to take me up on my offer?" She chuckled. Tatsumi grabbed her arm and started to leave. "Hey, hang on!"
Tatsumi led her to a back alley, where he was sure no one could hear.
"Alright, Leone, I need you to tell no one about this, you hear?" Tatsumi was not in the mood for jokes, and Leone noticed.
"Alright, what's up?"
"Tell me everything you know about Night Raid."
Leone let in a sharp intake of breath.
"Wow, you're serious, aren't you?" Leone studied his face, then her eyes went wide with realization. "You have a job for them, don't you?"
"My friends are about to be tortured to death. I would rather get help from the Military Police, but they're useless. I wish I didn't have to ask help from a criminal organization, but I need their help. Please tell me what you know," Tatsumi begged. "My friends are my everything."
Leone stared off into space, wondering what to do.
"Takeshi, I like you. A friend of your is a friend of mine. But don't you realize that Night Raid probably can't mobilize within a single night? They're would have to be planning, or something like that. If I knew how to contact them, I would, but I can't."
Tatsumi whirled around and started to walk off.
"Hey, where are you going?" Leone asked.
"To do what Night Raid can't," Tatsumi began to walk off, as the sun was beginning to set.
Curious to note, but for a moment, Leone thought she saw Tatsumi... glowing. As if his flesh contained fire.
The giant fire spire that happened today, his strange appearance, his confidence... could there be a connection?
Leone darted off in search of Mine.
It was Midnight. The moon was obscured by the clouds, casting a shadow on the Mansion. What had once looked elegant and joyous was now dark and grim.
Tatsumi observed the guard's routines, their paths. They followed the same routine, making sure there were no blind spots. For Tatsumi to get in, he had to fight.
He saw guards emerge from the home carrying Sayo and Ieyasu on their shoulders, followed by Aria and someone he assumed was her mother. They were heading for the shed behind the home.
That's my chance! When they get there, I'll knock them out and escape with Sayo and Ieyasu!
Tatsumi began to move through the shadows. He had been trained to stay hidden, as Alpha class Danger Beasts were commonplace in his hometown. He trained to blend in. He moved behind the Foliage, getting closer and closer with each step. He was a few feet away when he made his move.
He threw a knife at the one lantern they were using, causing it to break. There were only four people there, so he had to move fast.
With one hit, he struck the Guard holding Ieyasu at the back of the neck, causing the guard to pass out. The second guard suffered a swift kick to the chest, causing him to drop Sayo. The two women there couldn't see the culprit, but nonetheless called the guards.
"Guards! Night Raid has appeared!" They shouted. They believed he was Night Raid?
He saw dozens of guards move forward, shining the light on him.
"FIRE!" They shouted.
Tatsumi was struck by no less than ten bullets. He fell to the ground, unable to even speak. He was in so much pain he could not even yell.
Then all hell broke loose.
Tatsumi, in his last moments, saw a man clad in silver armor drop from the sky, accompanied by a girl wearing black. The two effortlessly scythed their way through dozens of guards. Any who attempted to flee were shot by- oddly enough, Mine, who appeared to be standing on air. From the house burst Leone and a purple haired girl, who did not participate in the Carnage beforehand. The only two left alive were the Mother and Aria.
The Black clothed girl approached the two.
"Eliminate," She said, effortlessly cleaving the two in half with a single swing.
"So, again, why are we here early?" Mine yelled, hopping from her perch above.
"For a friend," Leone said. "Lucky he's not here, otherwise-"
Leone saw Tatsumi, dead, his body riddled with bullets.
She approached him cautiously, as if he would get up at any moment.
"Leone, are you alright?" The black clothed girl said. Her name was Akame. She was on the wanted poster.
"No. This was him," She muttered. "But he was stupid and got himself killed."
Leone saw the two people who lied near him, asleep.
"These were his friends, the ones he tried to save by himself," Leone lamented. "And I could have stopped him, or helped. But I didn't."
A green-haired boy jumped down.
"Flat-chest! You missed one! Now the whole God-damn army is at the front door!" He yelled.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Mine shouted. The entire ground shook as the army advanced forward. Some of the most important people- and most corrupt- were part of the group.
"Well, Covert Ops my ass. We need to get inside, now!" Leone yelled. With one look at Tatsumi, she hid Sayo and Ieyasu in the brush.
"I may not have been able to save you, but I'll save your friends!" Leone growled, running off.
Do you intend on going back?
Of course, just not yet. I can relax.
So, cards on the table, I don't want to die. You don't either. So let me give you a bit of power, in exchange for some companionship, alright?
Alright.
Good.
"Was that a member of Night Raid?" One soldier said.
"Probably. We should take off his mask, see who he was," another said. "We'll probably die inside the house, so let's have some fun here, right?"
The two reached for his mask, seeing his body riddled with bullets. He was certainly dead.
"Who said you could play with the mask?" Tatsumi asked, leaning up. His wounds had closed, and repaired automatically.
A wave of fire swept across the field, decimating most of the soldiers there.
"Sayo, Ieyasu." Tatsumi said. He grabbed the two and ran for the house. The Guards had regrouped away from the back, leaving Tatsumi free to enter the building.
Next Chapter: The Battle of the Mansion, Part I