Chapter 4:
Disclaimer: I don't own AGK or anything related to it.
A/N: Thanks for your wonderful reviews and favs and follows and I am deeply sorry for the delay.
Next day Esdeath was led in the taigu store room by prime minister and two soldiers who stayed out of the room and Prime minister and Esdeath entered inside.
They stood in the middle of the large room. Esdeath looked around her; the taigus were all placed in the shelves and in the corners of the room. There were several kinds of taigus, smaller and larger but after inspecting them all she shrunk her nose, ''They are all useless'' she groaned loudly uninterestedly.
A wide grin appeared on Prime Minister Honest's face, ''alright, I have something more interesting that would surely entice you'' he said like a seller who wanted his customer to buy his product.
''Well show me then'' Esdeath said shrugging.
Honest walked towards a wall and pulled down a lever and a door opened in the same wall.
He looked at the Esdeath and ushered her inside.
It was empty small room and in the middle of the room on a table was a vase and as Esdeath's eyes fell on it she felt an eerie feeling from it.
She looked at Honest for explanation. He nodded, ''This vase contains the blood of a demon. No one knows what power it gives to the one who drinks it because everyone who has tasted it till now couldn't stay alive or sane to tell. This blood makes them go insane or worse they die'' he explained and hearing it Esdeath's eyes sparkled in excitement and a smirk formed on her lips.
''I will taste it'' Esdeath said looking at the vase like she was thirsty for a long time.
''Are you sure'' he asked a little apprehensive.
Esdeath didn't answer; she just moved towards the vase and lifted it. She looked at the purple blood in it and took a long sniff and when its smell reached her nose she felt like intoxicated. She slowly lifted the vase and touched it to her lips and drank it.
She gulped four times and then her hand started to tremble and the case slipped from her hands and fell down on the ground shattering.
Esdeath felt dizzy. She stumbled forward but caught the table to support. She closed her eyes and then the screams of pain and agony of thousands of peoples sounded in her head. It continued for several minutes and with every minute she felt like her eyes closing, she felt like her body burning in fire. She howled in pain and gripped her head tightly and she felt like slipping into unconsciousness.
She fell on the floor and closed her eyes. She felt several black shadows dragging her soul in darkness and she tried to open her eyes but couldn't. Then suddenly she realized that she still had to find Tatsumi, the very goal of her life which was slipping for her mind recently.
She focused on Tatsumi, his features which she had saved in her mind before all those years ago, on his smile, ignoring all the voices in her head and soon after five minutes which felt like hours she opened her eyes with a loud gasp and sat up immediately with a jolt.
Honest ran towards her immediately, ''Are you Okay'' he asked, a little hesitate.
She nodded, panting and then a smirk formed on her face, ''I am still alive and it tastes awful but I feel like one hell of a stronger than before.
She curled her fingers in a fist and punched the concrete ground shattering it and forming a crater in it. Honest lost his balance and fell down on the ground on his butt.
''Wow...'' Honest started, ''That's some strength but now it's time to use this strength'' he said with a serious tone.
''Yeah, why not, I am eager to go and test this power'' she said more to herself than him.
He stood up, ''Alright then I have an assignment for you follow me'' he said and started to walk and Esdeath, standing up followed him.
Honest sauntered in emperor's royal court. It was empty except the guards guarding the kid emperor. He took his position beside the throne and stood there with a smug expression looking down on Esdeath.
Esdeath kneeled on one of her knee and looked up at the emperor, ''your majesty, I am here in your service'' she said but the words seemed like a bad taste on her tongue and in a way, which, for her was unacceptable but for now she decided to yield to the situation and to not show her annoyance to minister or emperor, closed her eyes but the agitation didn't diminish. It only increased as seconds passed as her kneeling. May be it was the demon blood in her veins resisting to her kneeling in front of anyone.
Her attention was brought back to the real world by the Honest, ''General Esdeath, I and emperor Makoto, after debating for a long time, now, have decided that the assignment and the action concerning to it are necessary to accomplish and to reduce the threat against the empire'' Honest said with glee and a smug smirk on his lips which unnerved Esdeath and which sent signals that it was something which she wouldn't be happy to do.
Honest continued, ''The assignment concerns to a recent event that took place earlier. We were reported that two days ago one certain person fled the empire with imperial secrets and such other crucial information. The person also murdered our twenty soldiers'' he said with a small smirk but it was like he was about to drop the bomb on her.
She readied herself.
''We have deduced that the person is headed towards the north. So we want to get this stolen secrets and information back and we want you to give this person a befitting punishment and that is...Death'' Honest finished with a wide smirk.
Esdeath smiled, ''I accept the assignment and since it's my first job as a general I will see to it that I finish it with everything'' she said and a smirk of her own adorned her face but unlike Honest it was full of blood lust which was eager to have its fill on this assignment. She was relieved that there was nothing of importance that she needed to be wary of.
Minister walked forward and handed her an envelope, ''Inside is all the information you need and-'' he said and continued and Esdeath put the envelope in her pocket on her hip.
''And these two will accompany you on your job'' Honest said and two person walked in and stood behind Esdeath. Esdeath turned back and looked at the two.
One of them was taller and has blond hair, heavy built, wearing a black jacket with white lines on collar and sleeves. Honest introduced him as Daidara and second one was shorter and young with small built, slitted eyes, showing one teeth, and wearing same dress as Daidara but in place of pants he wore man, Honest introduced as Nyau.
After giving a brief on their taigus Honest looked at Esdeath, ''These two will be your subordinates on this job'' Honest said and Esdeath looked at Honest, ''Well, I will see if they are worthy to be my subordinates or not'' she said with her usual cold expression.
Daidara looked at Esdeath, ''General, we will not give you any reason to doubt us and we will prove our worthiness on this assignment but...'' he stopped and a challenging look appeared in his eyes and same in Nyau's eyes, ''We hope you won't disappoint us'' Nyau said coldly with a blank expression, almost rebelling against Esdeath's own cold one.
Esdeath narrowed her eyes and they turned from cold to chilling which forced authority, clearly forcing it on Nyau. A chilling aura started to surround Esdeath and she moved towards Nayu who had started breathing heavily and now he understood that all the rumors he had heard about her were all true.
Esdeath stood one foot away from Nyau looking down at him with a piercing cold gaze, piercing his soul.
Esdeath lifted her right hand and stretched it outward, ''Give me your flute, which you call scream'' Esdeath growled, she remembered how that flute helped killing her mother.
''Wh...What'' Nayu croaked and gulped.
Esdeath moved her hand towards the handle of her sword and Nyau immediately pulled out his flute and stretched it towards Esdeath who grabbed it in her fingers and looked at it. All the memories of that tragedy rushed in her head.
''General...'' Daidara said but was immediately hit by Esdeath's backhand and went flying and crash into a pillar.
''Esdeath, don't forget that you are in imperial court and In front of the emperor Makoto'' Honest said loudly but Esdeath's gaze made him jerk backwards.
Esdeath was breathing heavily almost growling while exhaling.
The emotions were getting better of her. The ice vapors started to appear in the court making the temperature go down. She was looking at the flute with an intense and angry glare. She closed her finger around the flute in a fist and squeezed it. Cracks started to appear on the surface of flute and with cracks a scream originated from the flute and Everyone's eyes widened seeing what Esdeath was doing.
The floor had covered in an ice layer.
Honest had a worried expression on his face. He called the guards immediately and sent the kid emperor to his chambers.
He then moved carefully on the ice coated floor towards Esdeath and as he reached closer to Esdeath he put his hands on his ears.
Esdeath had her eyes closed and her teeth clenched and a growling sound was coming from her clenching teeth.
Suddenly the sound of scream increased and then it all became silent just as the flute broke with a snapping sound and everyone could see a white and black smoke intervening with each other came from the two points of flute where it was broken from.
Esdeath's features slowly returned to normal. The cold fog dissipated and the floor ice also disappeared after some seconds.
Esdeath slowly opened her eyes and looked at the person in front of her, Nyau, with the eyes as cold as earlier.
She threw the two broken pieces of the flute at Nyau, who flinched but was still horror struck with wide eyes.
Esdeath came closer to Nyau, towering over him and leaned down getting her face closer to Nyau's sweaty face.
Nyau stepped back in fear and Esdeath strengthen up, the look on his face made her excited. Her animal instinct started to surface. It wanted to rip him, to gut him alive, to torture him until the last drop of blood. It made her thrilled and she started to move towards Nyau who started to step back but before she could take second step, Honest spoke, ''General Esdeath, you are overstepping the laws and boundaries and I will not tolerate this'' he said with a loud and harsh tone.
Esdeath stopped and then came out of her lust for blood and turned towards Honest who continued, ''Today you have already put Emperer's life in danger. You lost your control there. You need to be more controlling of your powers'' he almost barked ignoring the dangerous look in Esdeath's eyes.
Esdeath, this time controlled herself from tearing Honest's body apart and turned towards the two soon to be subordinates, ''You two, go out and get ready and make the army ready and you Nyau, I will have a talk with you later...'' she stopped and narrowed her eyes again, ''And don't forget who you are talking to otherwise your neck would be in place of the flute's earlier place'' she said and they walked out and Esdeath turned towards the Minister and looked at his narrowed eyes mixed with anger, ''What… I just did what you want to do now to me'' she said with a snort and without saying anything turned to leave but stopped and looked over her shoulder, back towards the minister who has a unhappy expression on his face, ''You forgot what I said long ago, I had said that if I would work with you then I don't want anybody to come in my way and tell me what to do'' she said with a blank expression on her face and turned it forward, ''Let's work with peace together otherwise...'' she left it hanging in the air, ''See you later'' she said and walked out.
Honest kept standing there with an unreadable expression on his face not because it doesn't have any expression because it had a expression of mixed expressions.
Then he relaxed and smiled as if he remembered something which dissipated his anger towards Esdeath. It was his fault. He had thought she would forget everything and be devoted to him for releasing her from prison but it was too late. He wanted her to be his own pet that would do anything he asked for but it seemed to him that his military academy acquaintances failed to make her a loyal solider and they didn't even tell him.
He lifted his hand to his beard and rubbed it a little in a thinking pose, ''well I again have a chance and now I have to choose a general for filling up Najenda's post. I will have to choose a person capable of showing Esdeath her place and strong enough to hold the title of general and of course one that will do as I says'' he talked to himself and an smirk formed on his face, ''And I know the right person'' he said to himself and turned to leave.
Esdeath walked towards her personal chambers. In the mid way she pulled out the envelope and pulling out the letter she started to read it.
Esdeath stopped in her tracks. She gripped the paper enough to tear it on edges. She gritted her teeth in anger and sadness. When did it happen and how. No one talked about it or Honest was trying to suppress the news that one of the general has turned traitor.
''Why it has to be you... Najenda. Why the hell damn it'' she thought with different kind of mixed emotions towards Najenda.
From outside she seemed calm, so the soldiers saluted her when they passed by but she ignored them.
After some minutes she closed her eyes. She will think about what she was going to do with Najenda when she will face her. For now, she had a mission to complete.
She continued her stride towards her chambers and just as she reached she saw her two new subordinates standing outside of her room.
They saluted her, ''General, everything's ready and we are ready to depart'' Daidara said in a little subdued tone.
Esdeath nodded, ''Go and wait for me and we will only need a few men only...around hundred. We won't need the whole army'' she said opening the door and entering in inside without waiting for Daidara's reply.
She closed the door behind her and removing her cloths went in the shower room.
Half hour later she was leading her army to the mission, ''We will move to the north. They must not have reached far. If we continue with our current speed it won't take more than a few hours to catch them before we lost them'' she said and moved faster.
Najenda was sipping a hot cup of coffee which was handed to her by Lubbock, who was sitting beside her inside the tent. They had met the group of fifty men of revolutionary army which was going to led them to their leader. It had been three hour since Najenda had grouped with the men. It was night time so they decided that they would spent the night resting since they were far away from the Empire. Some people were setting up the tents for the people to rest.
Najenda, with Lubbock and the leader of the group were discussing their upcoming plans. She had every information about the empire with her and she intended to use it for their benefit and bring the empire down or in other words kill prime minister. They were discussing their plans for one hour now.
Najenda and the leader were conversing intensely when Lubbock yawned and both of them looked at him and he rubbed his cheek in embarrassment.
Najenda sighed, ''Well it seems we should rest a little because there's no telling when Empire's soldiers will find us. We should rest and should stay on guard at the same time'' she said and the leader nodded, ''Alright miss Najenda, we will rest and if something happens our guards on look out will inform us. We will leave before the sun rises'' he said and Najenda and Lubbock nodded.
He turned and left but stopped at the gate and turned back, ''Mr. Lubbock, aren't you coming. We should let Ms. Najenda sleep'' the blue haired leader said to Lubbock who looked at Najenda.
Najenda looked at Lubbock and then the leader and blinked. She cleared her throat, ''Um...You go. I have something to discuss with Lubbock. When I am done with him I will send him'' she said looking towards Lubbock then to the leader.
The young leader looked at both of them and nodded, ''Alright but don't trouble her too much Mr. Lubbock. She must be tired from all the running from empire'' he said and walked out of the tent.
Just as he walked out Lubbock laid on the bed, ''That damn asshole was hitting on you. He is hitting on you since we have met him and his group'' Lubbock scoffed and looked at the ceiling of the tent.
Najenda smiled, ''Lubbock, I know what is he doing'' she said laying down beside him and continued, ''You need to leave. We will have to be cautious about our relationship around other people'' she said with closed eyes exhaling loudly.
''Why, I know I am not-'' he was cut off by a punch to the stomach. Najenda grabbed his collar and pulled him towards her with angry eyes, ''If you ever said this status shit again I will fucking blow your mind with pumpkin. Do you understand'' she whispered loudly. Lubbock shivered in fear. He had forgotten that this woman could be scary as hell.
Najenda let go of his collar and he gulped. She looked in his eyes and put a sensual short kiss on his lips, ''It's not like I am ashamed to let everyone know us but the thing is, it will make things difficult for us and everyone will look at us with different eyes ….and I can't handle that and …..You too….. So until we are alone you can't sleep with me. And another thing is that I have heard that the leader doesn't approve of these relationships between man and woman in the army. I mean no love but you are allowed to relieve frustration with a willing partner'' she explained and Lubbock closed his eyes dejectedly.
''Alright, I can understand'' he said and opening his eyes looked at her and grinned, ''and you better make it up to me'' he said and kissed her hard invading her mouth with his tongue. They made out for five minutes then separated, ''I think...That's enough for tonight'' Najenda said giving his cock a squeeze and Lubbock squeezed her soft and large breasts in return, ''You better go now before the leader comes back looking for you'' Najenda said chuckling and Lubbock stood up hesitatingly and nodding to Najenda turned to leave and walked out.
It was midnight when Najenda bolted up when she heard the loud alarming voices of the lookout soldiers. She got up and grabbed her taigu and moved to walk out and just as she took the first step Lubbock barged in her tent room.
''What happened'' Najenda asked Lubbock in an urgent tone which demanded the answer.
Lubbock sighed, ''Esdeath caught up to us. She is just twenty minutes away from attacking'' Lubbock said and from the look on Najenda's face it was evident that she too didn't expect Esdeath to be sent for their chase.
Najenda snorted. So it was time to face the strongest student of academy and the general. She had already cut every connection from the empire and it would be the last one. She looked at Lubbock, ''Get ready to fight. We can't run this time but if we can… we won't leave the opportunity" she said and Lubbock nodded. Suddenly they heard the cries and hollers of the soldiers and which meant that the fight has already started. They nodded to each other and rushed out.
Soldiers were engaging in the fights and she could tell the Esdeath had a large number of soldiers than her fifty men.
She saw that the blue haired leader was fighting a blond who have an axe. She also noticed that the leader has a sword only, 'is he a swordsman...can he fight against taigu with the sword' she thought and looked around and saw Esdeath standing far away from the camp observing the battlefield. Najenda wondered why she hadn't come down to finish the job.
She looked at Lubbock who was fighting with a skinny boy who was struggling with Lubbock.
Then her eyes turned to the leader and she was surprised to see that the yellow haired man had several cuts and the leader was standing there without even panting.
She deduced from their fight that the leader was faster, much faster than Daidara.
She then looked at Esdeath who was just standing there calmly.
Najenda then pointed her pumpkin towards Esdeath and took aim and fired.
A two inch wide beam of light jetted from the nuzzle of the gun and rushed towards Esdeath. Esdeath waited and just as it was about to reach there, an ice wall ejected from nowhere stopping the attack.
Esdeath looked around and find a cliff. She looked at Najenda and rushed towards the cliff while shooting ice spears at Najenda who dodged and also fired at Esdeath who was creating walls of Ice.
In one minute Esdeath reached the cliff and at the same time Najenda too reached there and immediately pointed her gun at Esdeath and Esdeath had a spear of ice on Najenda's neck. They both glared at each other. Najenda knew Esdeath was holding back otherwise she would be dead by now but why, she was wondering.
Esdeath kept glaring and smirking at Najenda, ''You know I would have killed you till now'' Esdeath said in a cold tone which Najenda knew all too well.
Najenda snorted, ''And why had you not killed me yet'' she shot back.
Esdeath sighed and she lowered her spear, ''Seriously, Najenda, you hurt me'' Esdeath said in a normal tone without any malice in it.
This caught Najenda off guard, ''Wh...What'' she stammered.
''You know what I didn't expect this from you…. especially from you'' Esdeath said and Najenda was not sure if she caught a little sadness in her tone.
Najenda lowered her pumpkin and she also sighed, ''I didn't have any choice. I just couldn't stay in that place and obey the orders which I despise most and-'' she stopped when she saw Esdeath shaking her head left and right in a no.
''What'' Najenda was confused?
Esdeath closed her eyes, ''I know what you felt there but ….I thought we were friends'' she said and opened her eyes. Esdeath's statement made Najenda's eyes widen.
''Heh, I know you stopped having anything to do with me a long time ago but I never stopped considering you my friend. I know there were many different things between us that increased the distance between us and some of them was my own acts, But whatever I did and whatever you did, I know you hated what I did, but I didn't know you hated 'me' too. I never thought you wouldn't even consider it to tell me that you are going to leave and join revolutionary army. A big step like this'' Esdeath said in a little soft but neutral tone.
Najenda couldn't believe her ears. Was she dreaming, no, but she had stopped considering Esdeath a friend a long time ago. Esdeath was right, she hated what she did but why did she started to hate Esdeath. She never changed her behavior towards her and Lubbock, may be a little or sometimes.
Esdeath continued, ''You were my first friend here. You were the one who convinced me to do what Honest wanted. You helped me to get acquainted with everyone in the academy. You were with me whole period of time till we got out of the academy. I thought you were busy but I didn't know you had already cut your ties with me'' Esdeath said and a flicker of sad smile crossed her lips.
Najenda was looking down this whole time. Her bangs were foreshadowing her eyes. She didn't know what to do. Hearing Esdeath made her feel like shit. She didn't even confirm it with Esdeath and Esdeath always considered her a friend. Then what now, why was she here if she considered her a friend. Wouldn't she have stopped her from fleeing the empire if she had told her? How could Esdeath have disobeyed Minister?
She lifted her head and looked at Esdeath, ''If you consider me your friend then why are you here. Aren't you here to catch or kill me'' Najenda exclaimed still glaring at Esdeath.
Esdeath sighed again, she wasn't used to these sappy things, ''I came here to give you my farewell. I never came here to kill or apprehend you'' Esdeath said making Najenda's eyes go wide again.
''Esdeath...'' Najenda muttered under her breath in shock.
''When Honest told me that someone has turned traitor and stolen the secrets and told me to kill the person, I was so excited, so thrilled to kill the person ….but when I opened the papers and saw that the person was you, I just didn't know what to do. Can you imagine it how hard it must have been for me to suddenly know that you have to kill your first friend'' Esdeath said making it more regrettable for Najenda.
''Fire towards the river, in the water, we have stopped fighting a long time ago. I don't want them to get suspicious of me'' Esdeath said and Najenda understood and did what she said, fired and soon a torrent of ice also could be seen from the battlefield.
Suddenly Esdeath ducked under a spear. She looked back and saw that Lubbock was standing there, ''Where's Nyau'' she asked.
''Your subordinate wasn't enough to kill me'' he exclaimed in hatred and looked passed Esdeath and saw Najenda standing there just as he has last seen her.
''Najenda, what's going on here'' he asked in confusion.
''I will tell you later'' she said in a low voice.
Najenda dropped her pumpkin and slowly moved towards Esdeath. It wasn't Esdeath's fault, It was she who abandoned Esdeath and cut herself off of her. She reached closer to Esdeath and hugged her tightly and a sob escaped from Najenda's lips, ''I am sorry'' she said in Esdeath's shoulder.
''Was it because I never told you the name of the person I was searching for'' Esdeath asked lifting her arms and putting them around Najenda's back.
Najenda shook her head in a no and broke the hug, ''I am sorry, I left you'' Najenda said with a smile and Esdeath nodded.
Then Najenda looked at Esdeath again, ''But if you don't want to kill me then why the people with me'' she asked and Esdeath put a hand on her shoulder and looked in her eyes, ''You are my friend not they'' she said making Najenda frown and shook her head in disappointment.
''Look around you'' Esdeath said and Najenda looked around and second later her eyes widened in amazement when she noticed that the ice walls Esdeath had created was standing in a way that it blocked the cliff completely. Najenda smiled.
''Well then what are you going to do now if you aren't going to kill me. What will you tell the Minister'' Najenda asked realizing they didn't have enough time.
Esdeath looked around, her ice walls were still standing, ''First give me back the scrolls or papers you have already read'' she said and Najenda smirked and pulled the papers from her coat and after shuffling them she handed Esdeath half of the papers.
''Now what'' Najenda asked smiling. Esdeath smiled and hugged Najenda and whispered in her ear, ''thanks for being my friend and ….I will always be your friend'' Esdeath said and before Najenda or Lubbock could understand what was happening, Najenda cried out in pain.
Esdeath cut Najenda's right hand and a long cut on her right eye.
''You bitch'' Najenda cried in agony and Lubbock ran towards Esdeath for fight but before he could reach her Esdeath spin on her heal and kicked Najenda in the stomach, ''It's the punishment for not telling me'' Esdeath said and sent Najenda flying off the cliff.
Lubbock stopped and looked towards Najenda.
''Go save her, she will not die and tell her thanks for being a good friend'' Esdeath said and turned to leave and just as she felt that Lubbock jumped to save Najenda, a sad smile formed on her lips, 'I can't leave until I take my revenge' she thought and walked towards her soldiers.
The ice walls disappeared.
Daidara and Nyau were wounded badly. Daidara reported Esdeath that his opponent ran away.
They saw the appendage in Esdeath's hands, ''General what is that'' one of them asked and Esdeath threw the arm towards Daidara, ''Keep it, it's a souvenir for the minister. That's all I could fetch from the dead opponent'' she said and they all believed that Esdeath crushed their opponents and only the arm was salvageable.
They all returned to Empire.
When Esdeath handed the scrolls and other papers to Honest, he couldn't help but get suspicious of her. But there was no proof that Esdeath involved with Najenda in anyway so he let the matter drop.
Returning to the Empire Esdeath found that Honest had instated a new general in place of Najenda but that was none of her concerns. She had a job to do. She collected all the documents which were proofs against General Kruce and walked towards the chambers of great general Budo.
She handed the documents to Budo and explained everything to him.
''Alright, I will see what I can do about Kruce. But don't expect much because the last judgment will be cast by Prime minister and emperor'' Budo said and Esdeath nodded, ''Well If Honest doesn't give orders to execute him then I will do it myself'' she said and without another world walked out of his chambers.
Budo had just told her that Kruce was sent on a long mission thus rendering her revenge more late.
She sighed in frustration and walked towards her chambers.
As time passed by Esdeath became more cruel and sadistic towards the enemies and now that Najenda had left she didn't have anyone who gave a shit about what she did so she immersed in her work and the missions given by Honest thus she became crueler and more sadist not caring about anyone.
She started to feel bliss in the torture chamber. Peeling the skin from alive peoples made her energized and making holes and pouring chemicals in them and reveling in the cries of pain made it all more thrilled. All these things started to take half of her days and she was completely immersed in her job as a general. She fought battles and completely dominated them. Annihilating the armies, like they were ants under her foot and as time passed the disputes between Honest and Esdeath also reduced since there was nothing that could make her hostile towards Honest and vice-versa. She knew she had to kill him some day, she hadn't forgotten about the massacre of her clansmen all those years ago but before killing him there was several things she needed to take care of.
Another problem was that she was still searching for Kruce and still was unable to find him. It was like he just vanished from the face of the earth. But Esdeath continued to search with every lead she got on the Former general. She was driven to find the general but as time passed by it started to diminish which made her more frustrated and irritated.
And like this two more years passed.
Currently Esdeath was returning from her battle from north. Northern army would have showed some fighting spirit if they hadn't known that they were against the empires strongest. Some of the people even thought to just surrender but their emperor was a prideful man so the surrender was out of question and they all went with their king's orders.
It didn't take for Esdeath even a day to destroy the thousands of soldiers and bringing down the King to her feet.
She humiliated him in front his people by making him nude in the chilling weather and lick her boot. After some minutes when she got bored she crushed his groin brutally and then roped his body behind horses to drag on the ground along the way to the empire.
His cries of agony stopped after one hour and his body got limp after one and half hour. She continued to drag him behind her.
When they reached the empire she turned her head to look at the king of north. A satisfied smirk graced her pink lips.
What left of his body were just bones, with some flesh here and there sticking to the bones. All the blood and flesh were ripped and peeled from his body by the friction of the ground since they had come through every kind of road.
His head was better than his body so Esdeath decided to make a show of her victory. She cut his head off and hung it on a pole in the middle of the country.
After that she went to meet Honest to give the report.
''How did it go'' he asked already knowing the answer.
''Like always, smoothly'' she said folding her hands under her breasts but without any emotions on her face.
''Well when you were away our informers informed us about two new groups, one of them is called night raid. Other has been already dealt by the general Serina. The only one left is Night raid and they also informed that Night Raid is planning to attack a noble in the capital'' he said cutting a large chunk of meat and stuffing his mouth with it.
General Serina was the new General who took Najenda's place and after some time she was famous in the capital. She wasn't a sadist but when it came to her enemies she was just as brutal as Esdeath. But the different was that she didn't take pleasure in torturing her enemies.
''Hmm...but there are several nobles in the country and if what you have told me about Night Raid then if I am right they are assassins who works in groups and the main factor is they work at night. If we don't have complete and right information about their target locations then How will we catch them'' she asked lifting the papers and reading the again if she could found something in them.
After reading again something caught her eyes, ''Hmm...What is this? It says that the target is someone from the oldest nobles and it is the one that is deeply involved with the empire on different levels and matters'' she said and Honest nodded, ''Yes''.
''according to what I have read in the history of empire, there are three oldest nobles from which only one is deeply involved with you'' Esdeath said and forced the word 'you'.
Honest gave a disgusting grin which annoyed Esdeath.
Esdeath checked the time, ''I hope we aren't late already'' she said and stood up and started to move to go out, then she heard Honest, ''They are valuable for us so there shouldn't be any compromise with their lives'' he said in a serious tone narrowing his eyes at Esdeath who just turned and left.
Esdeath was going towards the location she had just confirmed with the Prime minister and her two subordinates, Daidara and Nyau were behind her and other officers were behind them.
Esdeath was moving slowly than her normal speed which made her followers wonder why. If someone looked at her they could tell that she was thinking something.
Daidara when couldn't contain his frustration with the pace they were moving, he asked, ''General, it's been fifteen minutes since we left the palace and we still are far from the location. Don't you think we should increase our pace to reach the place before it's too late'' he said looking at Esdeath and waited for her response.
A smirk formed on her face, ''I think you are right. We should increase our pace ….now'' she said and they increased their pace and after five minutes later they reached to a collapsed building or a mansion.
Esdeath saw that there were a group of people holding weapons. It didn't take more time for her to recognize the members of night raid as Akame, leone, bullat, sheele and well her interest was picked by the one holding the taigu pumpkin and targeting the blond haired kid. Esdeath snorted but a smile formed on her face when she realized that Najenda was still alive.
She looked at the pink haired girl who just fired and just as she fired a wall of ice appeared in front of the blond haired kid girl blocking the path of the beam blasting from the pumpkin.
Just as the ice wall appeared, the night raid member looked towards her and they had to retreat.
''General'' Daidara said and Esdeath nodded and Daidara and Nyau with some soldiers went after the night raid.
Esdeath went to the girl and asked her to come with her. A man came beside her, ''Report'' Esdeath said and the man started, ''General, everyone is dead except this girl. They were killed around half hour ago. We have found several dead bodies with missing body parts and an extremely dangerous poison which kills the senses of a person and over a night it dissolves the body from inside. It's very rare and can only be found with official authorization'' Esdeath interrupted, ''You mean someone from the system is involved with them and using this poison they pry their body parts and smuggle them'' Esdeath said looking at the girl who had a calm expression on her face.
''Exactly general and there are some other things too'' he said and Esdeath motioned him to continue, ''When we arrived, we were actually very late. The number of night raid members we saw, weren't complete. One was missing'' he said and Esdeath raised an eyebrow, ''What do you mean''.
''General, one member had already returned or must have been hiding somewhere but I think it's the former since he had two people with him'' Esdeath interrupted again, ''Two person, you mean he came with night raid to save these two person and after retrieving he left'' she guessed.
The man nodded, ''Exactly, there were 52 person's record in a paper and when we count there were only 50 and after investigation and the clues we have found, all tells us that it's what I have just told you'' he said finishing his report.
The girl was standing calmly till now but she spoke now, ''Well, miss General Esdeath, if your investigation has finished then I would like to meet Prime minister and there are other things I have to attend to like the burial of my parents'' she almost spat.
Esdeath took all the evidences and papers and report from the soldiers and stuffed them in her pocket and stared at the girl, then one minute later, ''By all means. You will meet Honest. Let's go'' she said and they all started to move. On the way to the palace, Daidara and Nyau returned with a failed chase.
''Well...'' she said and Daidara and Nyau looked down but kept walking.
''We are sorry general. They escaped'' they both said.
''And you call yourself my subordinate. Well if you hope for your better future then you won't fail again. I would rather prefer you dead than return with a failed chase. Did you understand'' she Exclaimed making everyone stiffen, ''Yes'' both of them shouted.
As they reached the palace Esdeath dismissed everyone and asked the girl to follow her.
They were standing in front of the minister and emperor Makoto. Esdeath greeted the emperor by kneeling on one knee and bowing in front of the kid emperor. She stood up and ushered the girl forward, Esdeath looked at Honest, ''Mr. Prime Minister, I am deeply sorry to say that I couldn't save any other member of the household except this girl'' she said humbly making Honest surprise. Honest nodded, ''Well, it can't be helped then'' he said and looked at the girl who just smiled at minister. Minister came forward and stood in front of the girl, ''I am sorry for the loss of your family members. You are a great and valued person for the emperor and its nourishment so if you need anything in future, you just have to ask, Miss Aria'' Honest said and the girl thanked him and bowed.
Honest turned towards Esdeath, ''General Esdeath, I hope you wouldn't mind watching over her since Night Raid may come back to finish the job'' Honest said and Esdeath nodded smiling, ''Yeah, sure and I have a proposal'' she said and Honest raised his eyebrow and Esdeath continued, ''Why don't she live in one of the rooms in my chambers until it gets calm outside'' Esdeath suggested making Honest surprise again, ''Oh, what a great idea General'' Honest said and turned towards Aria, ''Well, I don't have any problem'' she said and then it was decided that she would live in Esdeath's chambers.
Esdeath and Aria were walking towards Esdeath's chamber when suddenly the girl asked a question, ''General Esdeath, I have heard about you and your ways of interrogation. So I was wondering if I will get to see how you do it'' the teenage girl said with gleam in her eyes.
Esdeath smiled, ''Sure why not'' she said and they both went towards the underground prison.
Bothe of them walked inside the prison. A man saluted her as she walked inside and just as they walked inside, the stench of blood hit their nose. Esdeath took a long sniff and smiled and moved forward.
After walking five minutes they stopped in front of a cell. It was dark inside so they entered inside to get a clear view.
Esdeath dismissed the two men in the cell and smirked when the lamp in the room flared and the light fell on the face of the man hanging on the wall and the look on the teenage girl's face just made it more exciting for her.
The girl Aria had a horrified look on her face because the man on the wall was her father, ''You know I think Night Raid is getting sloppy, I mean leaving their target alive like that'' Esdeath said, her body almost trembling from the excitement.
''WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING'' the girl screamed at Esdeath in anger who just smirked widely, ''I am just doing some interrogation'' Esdeath said bending down and looking directly in the girl's blue eyes.
''And soon you too will be interrogated'' she said making the girl eyes go wide in horror. Aria backed away in utmost fear.
Esdeath smirked, ''Well let's get started'' she said grabbing the girl and threw her on the nearby table and handcuffed her legs and arms and a gag in her mouth. The girl thrashed and writhed to get free but to no avail.
''Hmm...What a great sight'' she said and grabbed her cloths and ripped them not leaving any cloths at all.
Aria had wide eyes. She couldn't understand this woman. She was talking to her like nothing was wrong until five minutes ago and now she was going to torture her.
''You know you are like me to some extent but you are way behind me and it will take you hundreds more years to reach my level'' Esdeath said, excitement oozing from her tone of voice. She put her index finger on Aria's stomach and pressed it a little, ''But you know what the most excitement thing is, to ignite the ray of hope in someone's eyes then demolish it'' Esdeath said walking towards a small table near the wall, ''I wanted to see how does it feels to break someone like yourself so the moment I heard that Night Raid is going to attack your mansion I was quite happy to see where it will end but then Honest decided to send me and I gave Night Raid enough time to kill your family and then I saved you to have my hands on you'' Esdeath said holding a pincer and scalpel. Aria gurgled something, Esdeath giggled hearing her, ''Did you say something'' she asked in a mock tone, ''Ah sorry let me remove that gag'' Esdeath said and removed the gag and Aria immediately screamed, ''YOU BITCH, YOU FUCKING BITCH, YOU WILL REGRET THIS-'' she got interrupted when suddenly Esdeath slapped her, ''You foolish girl, I have every evidence against you that could earn you an immediate execution. You should be grateful of me for not doing that'' Esdeath said and got to her work and screams and cries of agony could be heard in the prison.
Later, Esdeath was called for a meeting in which all the general were present beside Esdeath. General Serina, who had dark blue neck length hair and dark blue eyes wearing a black skirt and a black top which has only right sleeve and she had two iron wrist bands in both of her wrist. The wrist band had small chains attached to it.
She wasn't tall like Esdeath but she had normal height around 5.10 ft. She had a slender build. A little thinner than Esdeath, Smaller breasts, long legs.
She always had a kind of sinister aura around her making everyone stay certain steps away from her. But she had a subordinate who she had just released from prison named Liver. Liver always stayed close to Serina. People wondered why didn't he felt that suffocating aura around her and he said that may be because he was utterly loyal to her for her grace on him.
He was an important and unbelievably loyal subordinate to Serina.
After former general Kruce went missing Honest appointed another one of his dogs as a general on his place. He had blond hair which came down to his ears then pointed outward in an arc and large blue eyes named Ginoz. He wore a black top and a white overcoat on it, a long sword hanging on his hip.
Esdeath entered in the meeting hall and took a look of everyone sitting there, Honest, Serina and his subordinate Liver standing by her side and Ginoz.
She walked to her chair nonchalantly not giving any attention to the others and sat down in the chair.
She looked at Honest, ''Let's start this meeting'' she said and lifted a paper lying on the table in front of her and started to read. After reading the paper she understood what this was all about.
A ship had been hired by several high class nobles of the capital, to travel through the sea and visit other country to spread their business. Esdeath understood that it was nothing but the start of the demise of other country. Since all these nobles were very close to Prime Minister Esdeath surmised that the source, the center point of it all was again Honest.
She put the paper back and looked at Honest, ''So what is this all about'' she said feigning uncertainty.
Honest looked around at everyone and then Esdeath, ''I have already discussed it with Serina and Ginoz and they have told me their decision and General Budo has left the decision on the Generals'' Honest said and Esdeath nodded, ''Alright, what's the problem'' she asked and Honest leaned back in his chair, ''The problem is that we have been informed that the information about this cruise has been leaked to Night Raid and they plan to attack this cruise and massacre all the nobles there'' Honest said and Esdeath nodded and he continued, ''The nobles have requested to me to provide them security and at least one General with them'' Honest said and Esdeath scoffed but she let him continue, ''I know this is not an Imperial case and that's why this meeting has been called to authorize this mission. Great general Budo is neutral since he knows that these noble are very important for the capital and the economy of the empire and if we spread our network then it will only benefit us and because it is not an imperial mission his decision is being neutral but the General have told me their decisions'' Honest explained to Esdeath. He had already talked to other three.
''And what are their decisions'' she asked looking at both the general with squinted eyes.
''General Serina said that ...It's a waste of time but she can send her subordinate Liver and General Ginoz says that he will go if either General Serina or General Esdeath accompany him on this mission'' Honest finished and as he finished the sinister aura around Serina increased and the coldness also increased in the meeting hall. General Ginoz laughed nervously, ''Come one girlz, we have a chance to go on a cruise and have fun'' Ginoz said and chuckled nervously.
But before anyone could say anything Budo spoke, ''General Ginoz this is not a meeting about going to a picnic, keep this in mind'' he said in his thick and rough voice.
Honest looked at Esdeath, ''So what is your decision'' Honest asked.
Esdeath thought for a second, ''Well, General Ginoz has a mind of a lowly commoner'' Esdeath said and Ginoz groaned. Esdeath continued, ''I completely agree with Serina. It's a waste of time but I can send my two subordinates with Liver here'' Esdeath said her decision which made Honest frown.
The silence ensued on the table, and then spoke; ''If that's all I am leaving'' Esdeath said and left the meeting.
Later she send Daidara and Nyau with Liver to the cruise but one day later they were informed that all three were dead but what surprised everyone was the style of killing. They were turned into dead stone statues.
Esdeath herself examined these statues and every doctor and scientist observed them but couldn't tell what exactly happened. One genius doctor was able to guess something. He told everyone that it doesn't see the work of any regular Taigu and a taigu having such powers was unknown to anyone in the palace. Honest was also worried since a taigu like this was never mentioned in the book which hold the history of all taigus.
The one who analyzed and theorized this, Dr. Stylish, made one complete announcement that they all three were dead.
Hearing the news of his loyal subordinate's death Serina got angry, not only Serina but Honest, Ginoz and Budo also got angry with this failure. They decided to take extreme measures against Night Raid so they called a meeting.
Honest started, ''I and Budo have decided to take down Night raid and revolutionary army by any means necessary'' Honest said and looked at the Generals.
''What have you planned'' Ginoz asked. He was regretting for not going on the cruise.
Honest looked at Budo and nodded to him. Honest sat down and Budo started to speak, ''The plan is simple, the two of you will forms two teams and use any means to destroy Night Raid'' he said and looked at the generals, then continued, ''How you form the teams and how you organize them it's up to you. We will not interfere with any decisions you make regarding the matter'' Budo explained, ''That's all'' he finished.
After the meeting Serina and Esdeath decided to make teams of their own.
Esdeath called her team Jaegers and Serina called her team wild hunt.
And then Esdeath formed Jaegers which consisted of Wave, Run, Bols, Kurome, seryu and Dr. Stylish. Esdeath called a meeting of Jaegers to have an intro session and afterwards some talks about mission.
So on a fine morning the Jaegers were sitting around a table conversing to each other and waiting for their General to arrive.
Esdeath entered the room after five minutes and everyone stood up and greeted her.
Esdeath looked around to see if anyone was missing. She nodded and started, ''My guess is you guys have already introduced to each other'' she said and everyone said ''Yes''. She nodded, ''Alright then let me tell about myself. I am General Esdeath. People call me Empire's strongest and Ice queen but I don't really care. I don't tolerate any kind of weakness. So I hope no one is here weak who could hinder my work'' she stated and wave gulped looking around. Everyone has a serious look on their faces.
Esdeath continued, ''You have my authority to do anything if it concerns Night Raid but I must be told about it before or after.
There are rules but I don't care about them. But you all had better do because I don't want any nuisance calls from Honest or other generals and any paperwork regarding your irresponsible activities. Is that clear'' she said in a loud voice and everyone chorused, ''Yes General".
Esdeath then again started, ''There is another thing and that is, Bols is the only one who has a family, right Bols'' Esdeath asked and Bols stood up, ''Yes General, I live with my wife and daughter'' he said and Esdeath nodded, ''Alright, The thing is I don't want you to think about anything else while on a mission so Bols You can bring your family here and live with them in your room. They will be safe here and you will be free of worries and would be able to concentrate on your jobs'' Esdeath said and Bols couldn't believe in his ears and tears welled up in his eyes. He thanked General again and again.
Esdeath looked at everyone, ''you all are chosen by me so I don't want anyone lifting a finger towards me because of your lax attitude or naive acts'' she exclaimed and everyone exclaimed ''Yes general''.
''So now the formalities are out of the way let's talk some work and another thing I forgot, You all will report to me, no one else'' she said and everyone nodded.
''Alright, Then let's start'' she exclaimed.
After that Jaegers and wild hunt had several missions on Night raid hunt but only failures awaited them and because of this there was several mishaps between Jaegers and Wild hunt so they started to work separately but still they crossed paths several times.
The problem that troubled Esdeath and other generals was that their missions were failing one after another and Night raid and revolutionary army were getting strong and when they investigated about it and checked the reports carefully again and again they found out that it was a single man who caused this. No one could see him because he was in a black clock with red fire intricating all over it. He always stood in the rear of all the Night Raid members. But they saw his fingers patting on his sword's handle while all other members stood like statue. And after third pat, all the members of Jaegers and Wild hunt clutched their throat and fell unconscious. No one in higher ups could understand what caused this but after taking every victims statement, they reached on the conclusion that the air in that area was suddenly disappeared which caused all of them to become unconscious. They didn't know what kind of Taigu was that since it wasn't mentioned in the Imperial History book, just like the taigu that killed the three subordinates.
So it was a problem they had to find a solution about that and only solution they could think of were gas masks.
Esdeath decided to go herself this time when they would get another lead but they continued to wait and nothing happened. No activity from Night raid, it was like they never existed. It went on for a month and everyone was getting restless. None of their spies were providing any information.
Generals, Budo, Honest, even Esdeath was a feeling a little nervous. It was like the calm before the storm.
Christmas passed without any incident and Esdeath was getting bored. It was like her excitement was diminishing. She didn't feel like doing anything. She even felt bored in torturing someone, in which she used to spend her days.
Honest was suspicious that something was going on with Esdeath. He tried to ask her about it but she said that she was fine.
She didn't feel like doing anything. It was like she was sick. Even doctors checked her and gave her a clear report about her health.
Esdeath entered in her room. She just returned from a meeting which she left in middle. She kept sitting silently hearing everyone throwing their arguments around the table. Her body was present in the meeting but not her mind. After half hour she excused herself saying that she wasn't feeling well.
She threw her body on the bed and closed her eyes, 'Damn...why am I feeling like my body doesn't have any strength left in it' she thought. She decided to take a shower. She stood up and walked towards the shower and started to shed her cloths on the way, she threw her white military coat behind her then her pants, boots and then shirt then bra and then her panties and entered in the shower.
She sat in cold water in the tub and rested her head back on the tub and closed her eyes.
She didn't know what was happening to her. She thought in amazement. She knew her body was completely perfect. It was her mind.
'Tatsumi' the name crossed her mind and she opened her eyes, ''Tatsumi...'' she muttered his name and she blinked several times but couldn't stop it, a tear trickled down to her cheeks, ''Tatsumi...Where are you'' a sob escaped her throat, then more tears, ''I...I miss y...you'' her lips quivered and more tears flowed down her cheek. She couldn't control her emotions anymore and cried. She wasn't embarrassed for crying. She felt desperate to see Tatsumi, to hug his body to hers, to touch her lips to his, to feel his body in her arms and never letting go. She wanted to do this for forever but she couldn't even get even a clue about Tatsumi. She hugged her knees to her chest. It was an uncommon sight to see a woman like Esdeath to just break down like that. But what could she do. It's been around ten years since she had seen her second half. Every search, every lead, every clue just ended as a fluke, a false lead.
After what seemed like hours Esdeath calm down and washed her eyes and finished her shower.
She dried her body by a towel and didn't feel like wearing anything and flopped down on the bad face first burying her face in the pillow, 'I can't even talk to anyone about it' she thought and hugged the pillow tighter to her body and tried to sleep hoping it would make her feel better.
And then someone knocked on the door, ''General, it's me run, we have information that Tonight Night raid's target is Captain Ogre'' Run said from outside of the door.
Esdeath sighed and opened her eyes. She wiped her almost dried tears and cleared her throat. She heard him again, ''General, can I come in'' he asked and Esdeath said a ''No'' in return.
Esdeath stood up and walked to the cupboard and opening it pulled out a clean pair of bra and panties. She wore panties and sat down on the bad and stared at the bra in her hands like she doesn't have any life in her.
''General, Is everything alright'' she heard him again.
Esdeath sighed umpteenth time and threw the bra in the opened cupboard irritatingly, ''Run'' she yelled, ''You go with the team the team and handle it. I appoint you to lead this'' Esdeath yelled and again lay down on the bed.
''G-General, I can't...without you...We wouldn't know what to do'' Run said frantically.
Esdeath clutched the pillow in her fists in frustration, ''RUN...'' Esdeath yelled loudly, ''I know why you have come to the capital in the first place so consider it a chance'' she shouted making him shut up. He wondered how she got to know his intentions and why she was letting him go against the empire when she would kill anyone for it. But whatever he couldn't lose this chance, ''Alright General'' he yelled in a thankful voice and started to walk away but Esdeath's voice stopped him, ''Run, tell everyone not to disturb me until I say otherwise. I am not feeling well so I am going to rest'' she yelled and Run yelled his yes and walked away.
Esdeath woke up next day when it was afternoon. She opened her eyes and sat up and looked around. She felt a little better after the night's sleep. She stood up and went to the bathroom and entered in shower. She turn the knob and cold water fall on her and she immediately cursed, ''Damn it'' and turned the hot water knob and hot water started to fall on her.
She sighed and cleaned her body. After ten minutes she was standing in front of the mirror gazing the reflection of her voluptuous and hot body. A smile crossed her lips and her face turned a little pink when the thought of Tatsumi playing with her body crossed her mind. She lifted her hand and put them under both of her breasts, ''Are they too big. Will Tatsumi like them? Damn I don't even know if he likes big breasts like mine or small breasts'' she said to her reflection and a worried look appeared on her face, ''What if he likes small breasts'' she muttered nervously.
Then her hands dropped down to her sacred place, ''Will Tatsumi like my pu-'' she got cut by a loud knock on the door and she gritted her teeth, 'I can't even have moments for myself' she thought angrily. She plopped down on her bed naked completely.
''Who is it'' she yelled looking at the ceiling.
''I...it's me...Run'' he said a little lower but Esdeath heard his name.
''Yeah Run what is it. How did the mission go'' she asked.
There was silence for almost a minute then he spoke, ''G...General...We were...l...late'' he said in fear.
''What happened'' she asked and stood up and walked towards her wardrob and pulled out her bra and panties and her uniform.
She heard him while she got dressed, ''G...General when we reached there, they had already killed Ogre'' he said and Esdeath could feel the fear in his voice.
''What did you do'' she asked in a monotone.
''We chased after them but they got away but Seryu were able to kill one of the two she fought'' he said and looked up when Esdeath opened the gate and walked out, ''Follow me'' she said and they walked to the hall where jaegers usually sat.
Every member was there except Seryu and Stylish.
''Stylish is operating on Seryu'' Wave said and Esdeath nodded, ''Okay so give me the reports'' she asked and they all handed her their report.
Nothing was unusual except Ogre was dead and one Night Raid member was eaten by Koro.
She sighed; it was first time a Night Raid member was killed. Though she didn't care but wondered what Najenda would say now. Would she hate her if not already but she didn't order her murder.
She looked at Run who looked down, ''Run, did you hear Seru's report'' she asked and he nodded, ''Tell me'' she asked.
He nodded, ''She said she engaged them near the church. She said that first they just stared at her and she towards them and then she ordered Koro to kill and it all started'' he briefed and Esdeath closed her eyes.
''G...General'' Run said.
''Yes'' she asked opening her eyes.
Run exhaled and started, ''Geneal, Seryu, I mean...she seems mentally unstable...sometimes...like...some crazy...psychotic'' he said every word with caution. After five second, ''I know'' Esdeath said and silence ensued.
Esdeath then had lunch and left saying she had something to do.
In another meeting, Honest was mad because of Ogre's death and another failure but then a smirk crossed his face, ''This time we will succeed. We failed this time but tell your subordinates who killed that Night Raid member that I have praised her'' he said to Esdeath.
''Anyway This time I have solid proof of one of the trades between Night Raid and some merchant, at five miles away from the outskirts in the west and this time...''He turned to Esdeath, ''I want the end of Night Raid'' he said and Esdeath could feel the frustration in his voice.
She looked at him, ''Honest, Night raid does not have naive and unskilled members and we still don't have any useful information about that man who caused all these failures. So don't expect complete success though we will do our best and I also want to meet this man who is causing so much trouble for us'' she said looking directly in his eyes. She knew she could kill the all Night Raid members but this man they were all talking about seemed powerful and what she read in reports were making her excited to have a good fight. She almost trembled in excitement. She smiled realizing the excitement which was absent for two days was returning.
She closed her eyes, ''Don't worry. I will handle it myself and will succeed'' she said and Honest nodded, ''You better'' he said and stood straight, ''Alright meeting is over'' he announced and walked away.
Next day, Esdeath, with her team, Jeagers minus Seryu and Stylish were hiding on their positions at the trading point and were waiting.
The merchant was already there with large wagons full of food, meat and weapons. The leader seemed a white haired man in his fifties and several other man with the wagons seemed in thirties. Esdeath wondered why the police and guards didn't stop them. Esdeath surmised that the merchant must be a member of revolutionary army to sell them so much. Whatever it was she waited for Night raid members to arrive.
After waiting for half an hour she saw the cloaked man walking towards the merchant from the front of the wagons. She examined him. He looked around for some seconds. His cloak was just as mentioned in the reports, black with red fire intricating on it. She couldn't see his face since she was on the tree at the highest height hiding in the leaves.
Then one by one all night Raid members came and took their position.
Najenda was standing in front of the merchant. Her right side stood Akame and her left side stood Leone, in second row stood the cloaked man and in third row stood bullat and Chelsea.
Esdeath saw Najenda talking to the merchant and then her eyes turned to the cloaked man. She smiled evilly and suddenly the temperature in the area fell down to several degrees.
''Shit'' Najenda cursed, ''It's an ambush'' she yelled but they were too late. Every Night Raid member had their feet frozen in blue Ice.
''Najenda'' Akame said looking at Najenda and tried to smash their sword into the Ice to shatter it but to her surprise she could only put a dent on it. Akame looked back and could see everyone was struggling with the Ice except the cloaked man. He had his arms folded on his chest without a care in the world.
Then suddenly they were surrounded by Jaegers holding their weapons to Night raid member's neck.
Esdeath made sure that handle of the cloaked man's sword was frozen so that he couldn't use his powers.
Esdeath warned to the merchant to stay quiet and not to run.
She appeared in front of Najenda and smiled. Najenda looked at her face then closed her eyes and then opened.
*Thwack* Najenda punched Esdeath with her metallic arm but it only turned Esdeath's face to the side.
Jaegers immediately ran to her but Esdeath stopped then by a hand.
Esdeath sighed and rubbed her cheek, ''I think I deserved that but-'' she was cut off by Najenda.
''You bitch you cut my arm and took my eye and now you are standing in front of me smiling like nothing happened'' Najenda snarled but Esdeath just sighed. She looked around and could see the hateful look on other member's face. She didn't care. They were not her friends. Najenda and Lubbock were. She looked at Najenda, ''Where's Lover Boy'' Esdeath asked with a knowing smirk, ''Are you giving him enough pu-'' she was cut off by another punch but Esdeath blocked it, ''Come on, Is this how you greet a old friend'' Esdeath asked with a smirk and met with Najenda's furious eyes, ''You are no friend. You killed my subordinate whom we all loved. You are an Enemy, Esdeath and I will never forgive you'' Najenda spat and brought her metallic arm again to hit Esdeath in the face but Esdeath dodged it effortlessly.
Esdeath looked at Najenda seriously, ''Is this how it's going to be...Najenda'' Esdeath asked and Najenda didn't back down, ''Yes, this is how it's going to be'' she said in a voice full of contempt.
A look of pure sadness flashed on Esdeath's face and Esdeath backed away two steps. Her bangs were foreshadowing her eyes.
Then a smirk formed on her face, sinister. Next second Esdeath had her hand around Najenda's neck and squeezing it, ''Well then so be it...Kill everyone'' she said and ordered the Jaegers.
With her right hand Esdeath pulled her long sword from its sheath. Esdeath could hear the clashes of swords. But Night Raid was on a disadvantage since their feet were frozen.
Esdeath looked deep in Najenda's eyes without any emotion. She just lost her only friend.
Esdeath lifted her sword in the air.
Now no strings could hold her from going insane and kill everyone and then drown in the sadistic pleasure of torture and blood.
She brought her sword down.
Now the only know thing would be 'The weak dies and strong survives'.
The sword was only one inch away when she heard it and froze. The name which she hadn't heard from the time she separated from Tatsumi. She blinked, did she hear right? Her eyes couldn't help but started to get wet. Was she dreaming, no, she was on a mission? Tears trickled down on her cheeks when she heard the name again, ''Esdy...'' and it came from… she turned towards the owner of the sound and there was he, standing in a cloak. He called again, ''Esdy'' with full of so much emotions and love that only Esdeath could feel and see.
Esdeath was frozen, her hands were trembling. The sword slipped from her hand and fell down. Her grip loosened on Najenda's neck and she was free from Esdeath's grip.
Everyone looked at cloaked figure in wonder and then looked at Esdeath in shock and surprise at her state. Jaegers just couldn't believe their eyes. Their cruel general was crying and tears were streaming from her eyes.
Esdeath kept looking at the cloaked figure through tear filled eyes as he slowly lifted the cloak from his head and freed his brown hair and exposed his face to Jaegers. Night Raid had already seen his face.
Esdeath's eyes widened more if they could. She felt like her body went numb. She tried to form words in her mouth and say something to the handsome man in front of her but couldn't but still she tried, ''T...Tsu...mi'' she said and the man had tears flowing out of his eyes like a waterfall, the man just smiled and nodded and immediately the tears started to pour from Esdeath's eyes like waterfalls. Though last they had seen her was a very long time ago and now when they were in front of each other, Esdeath at the peak of beauty and allure and Tatsumi at his peak of a roughed man and an Adonis, like a man who had fought thousands of fights and war. Their appearance might have changed but their heart still beat for the other and when your heart beats for your second half then there's no way you wouldn't identify the person even if you met thousands of years later.
Jeagers and Night Raid had shocked looks and mouth agape. They pinched themselves to confirm if they were dreaming. Najenda had her single eyes wide and her mouth open at Esdeath's trembling state.
Esdeath's eyes kept streaming tears and her lips trembled, ''Tsumi'' Esdeath muttered and Tatsumi nodded again. The ice disappeared and Tatsumi started to walk towards Esdeath, slowly and she cried harder. He walked to her and with the receding distance Tatsumi's sobs could be heard just like Esdeath. He reached to her and stood in front of her. He was shorter than her, coming to her eyes level.
They looked in each other's eyes while tears continued to pour from their eyes. The pain, frustration, sadness, love, the longing for each other was more than evident on their faces.
The sun was on the horizon to go his home, giving the sky a red and orange hue with some clouds.
Esdeath lifted her trembling hand slowly and at the same time Tatsumi lifted his right hand and touched put their hands on each other's cheek and just as they made contact they felt like their emotions exploded through their bodies and Esdeath and Tatsumi grabbed each other's shoulders and hugged each other tightly and continued to cry.
Najenda analyzed the situation despite the fact she was shocked as hell. She understood what was happening. A smile formed on her face for her friend. She regretted saying those things to Esdeath earlier. She was angry like hell but now the situation changed since the strongest man in their group was the lover of the strongest of the empire. She understood that Tatsumi was the man Esdeath was searching for all these years, ''Idiots, both of them" she muttered with a smile. Then she looked at others who were gawking at the hugging couple, ''Alright everyone, let's leave these two alone'' she yelled and everyone reluctantly nodded and left, even merchants too left with Najenda.
Esdeath hugged Tatsumi tighter; her hands were all over his back she could have merged two bodies into one. Tatsumi wasn't fairing any better. He had his hands all over her back even his hands roamed her ass for some seconds. He could feel her soft body against his hard one, melting in his arms and in his body. She tightened his hold on him and him too burying faces in each other's necks.
After fifteen minutes they looked at each other with smile and wiped each other's tears and stared in each other's eyes. The sun had already set and the moon was already in the sky glowing as white as on the day when they were separated and bathing the ground in the white cool light. Like it was the witness again the reunion of the Empire's strongest and her second half, just as it was on the day they separated, ''I...I missed you'' Esdeath sobbed and Tatsumi smiled nodding furiously and immediately their lips met for a fierce kiss. They didn't kiss, they devoured each other's mouths and lips pouring all their ten years accumulated emotions in the kiss which made it terrifically intense and passionate. Tongues clashed and the flood of saliva was being transported between two hot and warm tongues. They intertwined like snakes were mating. They continued to devour each other's mouth for around fifteen minutes, not even caring for the air. Their bodies didn't even have an mm of gap.
After fifteen minutes they broke for the air and looked at each other, ''I…I missed you too'' Tatsumi said panting and again their lips crashed to each other. The ten years worth of hunger just couldn't be sated in just some minutes and this time their hands wasn't only limited to their backs.
A/N: Hope it doesn't feel rushed and things got sentimental in the end I know but they have met after what ten years or so, you might not think like that but I think anyone would be like that.
Well here ends the story of Esdeath, now it's time for Tatsumi's tale.
Sorry for the delay, you know life's not easy. Again, I will not abandon this fic, not any of my fic. Updates would be late so I can't promise you when I will update next so you guys will have to be patience.
Review and suggestions are always appreciated.
