CHAPTER 2:
Another day came to the Capital. The cold morning breeze started to fade as the sun started to shine at its brightest. Tatsumi raised his blade as his foe started to make haste towards him. Rising it in front of him Tatsumi stood in pace, moving one for behind it, taking a defense-like position pose. His foe suddenly leapt into the air with their sword in their hands clasped well. Waiting for the right time to strike, Tatsumi raised his blade as his foe's blade collided with his. The screeching of the metal lingered before the foe in front of Tatsumi backed away, his blade in his hand and still intact.
While his foe's blade was down Tatsumi broke into haste, moving his feet as fast as they could go. With his blade ready to strike his foe was caught off guard, causing his foe to defend last minute. The position of the blade wasn't right and slipped from his grasp and letting Tatsumi's attack still go through. Tatsumi held his blade as soon the metal touched the man's clothing.
"Checkmate." Tatsumi teased.
With a sigh, "Alright you got me." He held his hands in the air. "If you're this good Tatsumi why don't you help us getting rid of Night Raid? Your sure are great using a sword."
"I prefer a lance more Wave." Tatsumi nervously laughed, trying to hide his concern for his old team with a nervous smile.
Both boys walked over to a nearby bench that was placed nicely under a shady tree. With their weapons placed down on one side both boys took a minute to relax and get their breath back.
"So Tatsumi, what do you think of the boss now?" Wave asked, suddenly out of the blue.
Getting caught off guard, Tatsumi quickly tried to form an answer. "I mean I admit she isn't that bad but she still freaks me out." Tatsumi shuddered afterwards.
Wave laughed, "Don't worry. That is who she is. Give it time and you'll understand why she is like that."
"I don't know if I'll live long enough to understand the works of a psychopath mind at work" Tatsumi muttered to himself.
Before their conversation could continue on both men felt the winds suddenly turning cold. Like an alarm clock it was a signal that Esdeath was nearby. Tatsumi worried that the crazy woman may have overheard their conversation but as soon she appeared in the distance looking at them both to join her, he knew that wasn't the case. Taking a huge sigh of relief both boys picked up their weapons and followed their leader in what seemed to be another team meeting.
Mine's feet tapped on the wooden floor multiple times as she sat with arms crossed. Sitting on her bed the woman rose up, irritation evident on her face. It was another morning where her beloved Tatsumi was not by her side. Even now, a month had passed them all by the sensation of Tatsumi not being with them lingered heavily. Entering the kitchen wasn't the same without Leone or Lubbock teasing him.
There was just silence and it didn't feel right. Seeing Pumpkin in her case, shining bright from the morning sun's ray, Mine walked over, knelt down and ran her fingers across its surface. Reaching forward she closed the case up and locked it tightly. She couldn't wait any longer. She needed to find a way to bring her man back, sooner rather than later. If she could somehow make him come home a few days earlier than later then Mine knew she could rest a little easier at night. It just seemed better to do something than do nothing at all.
She could play the waiting game as a sniper, but as a lover? They were completely two different things.
With her gun in case in one hand Mine reached for the door to only be greeted by faces of her friends. The closest to her door was no other but Akame. Her arms crossed and face not pleased.
"Where are you going?"
Holding the handle of her case tightly, "I'm going to find a way to bring Tatsumi home."
"No." The assassin spoke firmly.
"Don't make me hurt any of you!" Mine yelled. "I can't sit here and wait for him anymore. I need to do something and if you guys won't help that's fine! I've been doing things on my own way before I found you guys!"
Akame lips formed a smile, "What I meant is that you're not going alone Mine. We all are going to get Tatsumi away from Esdeath."
The anger soon melted away from the woman's face and was replaced with gladness. Trying hard not to cry, "Oh, right, of course."
Crowds of people flocked the markets streets of the capital as Tatsumi alongside Esdeath and Run were out to see what new weapons were out on offer. Tatsumi never liked shopping with Mine back in his early days with Night Raid and Tatsumi could only imagine the fear Esdeath would show him if he said no to her shopping trip this morning.
Esdeath walked ahead of the boys as she raced off to a local hat stall which caught them off guard. Both Tatsumi and Run didn't increase their pace but in fact slowed down before coming to a stop. Esdeath looked at all the hats to be offered as she tried any that appealed to her or at least matched her uniform.
Tatsumi watched on silently before being caught off guard by hearing Run softly laughing. The brunette turned to the blond man.
"What's so funny?" Tatsumi asked.
Looking down at the young boy, "It's just you don't get to see the boss like this very often. In fact I might dare to say that ever since you've been with the boss she's been able to relax a little and act more of a woman in love than a cold hearted military leader, not that I mind that at all."
Tatsumi turned back to Esdeath at the stall as she reached over and browsed over some winter apparel in the stall right beside the hats.
"I'm sure Esdeath told you of her life as a child. The things we grew up with were never available for her. So whenever markets like these come around Esdeath makes the excuse saying she just wants to patrol the market to keep an eye on bandits but I believe there's more to that."
Gathering his words together, "I guess. I never really tried to see Esdeath like that."
"I can't blame you. I found it hard to believe it myself until I started to accompany the boss here to these markets trips. I mean it's only once a month and I'm doing my job and having a peaceful walk. It's something nice to do to take your mind off things." Run gave a light push on Tatsumi's back. "Why don't you join her?"
Tatsumi shuddered at the idea but it wasn't like he was going to escape any time soon. "S-Sure,"
Walking over nervously at first he gave into his thoughts. He began to wonder that without the minster or war there might be a chance that Esdeath could live a peaceful life without violence or war. She could be a peaceful person that more people could relate and understand with. She didn't have to put on this rude cold demeanor that he still fears even knowing that there are times where that isn't true.
But the thoughts from his conversation with Esdeath in the garden reminded him that she said that fighting and surviving had been in her blood for so long that not fighting felt foreign otherwise. This suddenly gave a sudden idea to the young man.
"Esdeath?" Tatsumi finally asked as he approached the woman. "I'm just wondering but how long do you plan to fight for the Capital?"
Caught off guard, Esdeath placed the coat back onto the coat hanger as she turned to face Tatsumi, "As long it seems fit Tatsumi. Why are you asking me all of a sudden?"
Fearing that Esdeath might break loose from asking a question that he knew was personal to the woman, Tatsumi turned to a table where they sold winter caps and beanies for men. "It does just…let's face it, you won't be fighting forever. I mean there will be days or even years with no war." Turning to face his kidnapper, "What do you plan to do in between those years?"
The woman pondered and placed a finger on her chin, "I would perhaps keep travelling under the Capital's orders and fight there until that conflict is over."
Tatsumi felt disheartened at the answer Esdeath gave to him wasn't exactly what he planned it to be.
Nervous, "W-What if I teach you the ways that I live. I mean a to live without war. Like how to cook and clean."
Esdeath walked closer and leaned forward, irritated. "Are you trying to degrade me to you local housewife Tatsumi?!"
Shaking badly, Run quickly step aside to aid the two. "I think what Tatsumi is saying that while you're out fighting you'll need the skills to cook and clean if you want to fight and survive outside the capital in rural areas to such where Tatsumi grew up. We don't want to fight with empty stomachs or armor covered in dirt."
Once calm, Esdeath embraced Tatsumi that was still shocked and scared, her personality suddenly doing a 180 degree switch. "Oh, is that where you were meaning? Oh I never knew you cared about my wellbeing this way Tatsumi!" Esdeath's voice went high pitch for a moment as she was filled with glee on the idea that Tatsumi cared for her, even in the slightest.
Letting go of Tatsumi, Run caught the man in his arms as Tatsumi fell backwards out of Esdeath's grip. "Well then, I accept your idea Tatsumi. You do have a point." She leaned over and lightly kissed the man lightly on his forehead. "Now I'm going off to the weapons stalls. I'll be waiting for you both over there."
Run watched as he still held the fragile and still shocked Tatsumi in his arms.
Finally speaking up, "You are literally an angel Run."
Smiling, Run replied "I know."
"So, this is the food section of the market." Esdeath looked down to Tatsumi. "How do we know the food is safe to eat from here?"
Looking up to his captor, "Trust me the food can be sometimes fresher here than imports."
"And can you remind me why we are doing this?"
"Because, you might never know when you might need to cook for ourselves when we are outside the Capital."
Tatsumi heard Esdeath's words as he walked to an apple stand and looked for an apple. His eyes drifting left and right until he found the right apple. Picking it up he threw it to Esdeath and the young lady caught it with ease. Her face was still covered in confusion.
"Taste it." Tatsumi spoke confidently.
Still confused the woman slowly did what Tatsumi asked of her. Her blue lips touched the apple's skin before her teeth sunk into its flesh; juice flowed right out sending a sweet sensation into her mouth. Her face lit up a sudden surprise, as if she had never ate such a sweet or fresh apple.
"Is it good?" Tatsumi put up a smile and this caused Esdeath's face to fluster.
Lost for words, Run intervened. "The boss likes it." Run showed a thumbs up. Tatsumi responded with one of his own. Both boys smiled before Tatsumi walked around and saw more food stalls further ahead. He turned and signaled for both Esdeath and Run to join him.
Tatsumi then suddenly broke into a run causing Esdeath to panicky chase after him as Run followed. Due to the crowd it was hard to pick off where the young man could have run off too. As much as Esdeath wanted to create walls of ice all over the Capital to stop Tatsumi from escaping she knew she was going to have one long chat with the Minister and that boy that poses as their King if she did. But before she could come up with a plan Tatsumi was caught in the corner of her eye, at a food vendor.
Running after him Tatsumi was suddenly caught off guard as the military leader ran into his arms, pushing them both to the ground.
"Eh-Esdeath!" Tatsumi stuttered as his face flustered up quickly due to how close the woman was to him.
"Tatsumi I'm sorry I thought you ran off I was so worried I-I…"
"Please don't worry about me." Tatsumi tried to calm Esdeath down. Both soon sat up. "Sorry if I ran off all of a sudden I just saw some food that I haven't had for ages."
Helping Tatsumi up, "And what is that?"
"Ice cream," He grinned. "The last time I had this was with-" Tatsumi quickly stopped mid sentence before he could blow his cover. "A-Anyway come try some." Tatsumi then unintentionally grabbed hold of Esdeath's hand. The woman spoke no words as she heard Tatsumi go through the flavors with her.
Before Esdeath could recollect what was happening to her she was greeted with a chocolate flavor ice cream in front of her face.
"You've never had one before?" Tatsumi's voice broke Esdeath's train of thought.
Taking the ice cream Esdeath looked at Tatsumi, "No, it's just I didn't expect you to give anything to me."
Putting up a smile, "It's the least I can do for looking after me Esdeath."
Finally smiling, Esdeath lifted Tatsumi's chin until their eyes met before being greeted by an unexpected kiss. This caught the ice cream vendor and a few other people off guard. With a fluster face Tatsumi's ice cream slipped from his grasp as he tried hard to calm himself down.
Noticing the ice cream Tatsumi had slipped from his hand Esdeath looked at the vendor.
"Could you make us another?" She looked towards Tatsumi whose face was still red and confused. Run smiled and chuckled as he tried to calm the man back to his senses. Looking back at the ice cream vendor, "You might need to make that two."
"WHAT ON EARTH IS HAPPENING?" Seryu's voice could be heard down the halls from a mile away.
"I have no idea so don't look at me!" Wave defended himself as he chased after the ginger solider.
Both Wave and Seryu followed the trail of smoke and were lead to the kitchen. With Teigu by Seryu's side and Wave both prepare for the worse. Bols watched on from the door with Kurome calming eating her sweets beside him.
"Bols, Kurome?" Seryu asked. "What are you guys doing out here?"
The masked man sighed. "Don't worry Seryu. We aren't being hit by Night Raid or anything. In fact it's worse."
"What?!" Wave and Seryu jumped in shock. "Then we really have to get in there and save whoever is in there!"
Suddenly the doors burst open, causing everyone to get into position, ready to strike whoever was past those doors. Smoke flew in everywhere and as soon the smoke rose to the ceiling a strange creature covered in black stood in their way.
"How dare you attack us and-!" Before Seryu could start her proclamation of justice and man fell to the ground, choking.
"It's fine Seryu."The creature spoke.
"This devil even knows my name!" Wave held back the intense teammate of his. "It needs to die!" Teigu was growling at the thing.
Wiping the ash from his face, "Damn it Seryu it's me!" The creature spoke. It soon showed to be Tatsumi. Teigu stopped growling immediately and wagged his tail in the air, showing he was glad it wasn't an enemy of theirs. "You weren't honestly going to kill me here where you?!" Tatsumi rose to his feet, panic all over his face.
"I wouldn't mind." Kurome continued to eat her snacks, not giving a single care to whatever would happen to Tatsumi.
Glaring at Akame's younger sister, "Of course you would." Tatsumi continued to wipe the ash off of him.
"So Tatsumi, what is happening?"
Looking back at Wave, "I'm teaching Esdeath to cook but I regret that so badly now. It's impossible." Tatsumi shuddered.
Everyone around him blink in shock. "Why."
Trying to gather up a believable lie in only a matter of seconds, Tatsumi swallowed his fears, "I just want to thank Esdeath for not killing me yet."
"You're so strange." Kurome ate another of her biscuits before hearing another explosion coming from another oven. "And so is the boss when she hangs with you."
"Tatsumi!" Esdeath was heard calling to the young boy. "I think I broke another oven."
Rolling his eyes and muttered to himself, "You think?" Sighing afterwards, "Maybe we should try and make something sweet instead." He turned to face Esdeath before seeing her face all covered in ash, making it impossible not to laugh. Tatsumi suddenly broke into laughter before realizing the possible idea that Esdeath might be giving him the stare of death and soon stopped.
"Tatsumi why are you-?"
Turning to face one of the windows in the kitchen Esdeath noticed her reflection and how black her face had went from the explosion and the ash that has stained her face. Everyone stood and worried of the rage Esdeath could punish them all with but instead the woman broke into laughter, causing a genuine smile to creep across her face.
As everyone sighed with relief Tatsumi stared at Esdeath a little longer than the rest of the group. He blinked a few times to make sure what he was seeing was real – and it was. A genuine laugh and a genuine smile, who knew Esdeath has such a thing? He felt his heart race a little before calming down once again as Tatsumi looked away and hoped no one would notice the small blush that had crept across his cheeks.
He never thought he would ever admit that Esdeath looked so beautiful whenever she would smile. And the admission made his heart race a little faster once again.
Shaking his thoughts away, "So Esdeath, what do you think?"Tatsumi asked, keeping his admission at bay.
Looking back at Tatsumi, "As long we avoid using an oven I think I can give it a shot, just for you."
As Tatsumi returned to Esdeath's side both Bols and Kurome watched from the sidelines as the others lefts and returned to their own rooms. Kurome continued to munch on her food as Bols worried that another stove or oven might blow up in the boss's care.
"She's acting strange."
Kurome suddenly breaking into conversation caught Bols off guard. Kurome was never the type to talk and if she ever did Wave would be the one she would talk to most of the time. Bols stayed silent for a moment as he gathered his words together.
"Well that's love for you." Bols referred to his wife and daughter. "It makes you do crazy things."
"Even if you lose your identity in the process?"
Both of the Jaegers watched as Tatsumi aided Esdeath in crushing ice cubes in the food processor as he held the lid down as Esdeath placed her hand above, causing Tatsumi to suddenly pull back and sending the lid off and scattering crushed ice all over the place. Esdeath quickly turned off the power and rushed to Tatsumi's aid as he fell towards the floor.
"Look, she's all over the place."
Bols crossed his arms and sighed, "I see no harm in seeing the boss relax a little with Tatsumi around. It's a nice change."
Kurome munched on her biscuits before noticing she was nearly out. She looked up at Bols. "You really think so?"
Bols looked at Kurome, "When you have someone you love, you have a reason to fight, to live and become stronger, and it's all because of them."
Kurome stayed silent as she placed her empty bag on the table and leaned back on the kitchen stool a little. The idea of fighting her sister and her dream to kill her in order to save her because she loved her dearly her mask ally spoke made some sense to her. But a love for a sibling was nothing to be compared to love for a man or woman you're not related too. To risk your identity and secrets to a stranger that may or may not love you the same way was a risk the woman couldn't understand.
"Sometimes all you need is to take a leap of faith Kurome. You don't need a reason."
Kurome embraced her knees as she watched her boss and her captive emptying the food processor that was filled with ice shaving into bowls. Tatsumi was decorating with different cuts of different fruits.
"You think the boss even knows she's falling in love with him?"
Bols smiled, "No, but given some time she'll know and maybe so will Tatsumi."
Kurome glanced over to Bols, "You honestly think that bundle of sticks will have the courage to even try to fall in love with the boss?"
Chuckling, "Oh Kurome, falling in love hits everyone in ways you don't expect. Think as falling in love as a blessing in disguise."
Watching back at the two they could see Tatsumi trying to tell Esdeath the proper way to pass over a knife as Esdeath tried to follow but the message was taking a little too long to get.
Kurome smiled, "I think I might enjoy this."
Bols smiled at the two, reminding himself of him and his wife at how long and persistent he was to win him over.
"This is going to be quite the story."