Chapter 7: Kill the Reaction

(As they approach Night Raid's HQ. . .)

Esdese was never afraid of battle.

It was a simple calculus, either she was strong enough, or she wasn't. If she was weak, she would die. . . and this would not bother her so much. If she was strong, she would prevail, and her enemies would lay dead around her, or exist for a small amount of time as she tortured them to death.

Najenda hadn't like the torture part. Once someone has raised their hand against you and you've seen that they have nothing left to offer you in terms of combat practice, why would you ever let them live?

You are lucky Najenda, she thought to herself as they approached the compound. I always feel that you have something more to teach. . . every time we do battle, I emerge stronger. . . That is why you still live. Maiming you to make sure that you never forget your purpose in life: to entertain and sharpen my skill, was a true pleasure.

Esdese took a deep breath as they approached the compound. Najenda will be in there. She will recognize me instantly.

Tatsumi glanced back to Serra and saw a serious expression on her face. He smiled comfortingly, "Don't worry, they might be a silly bunch, but they're good people."

Esdese glanced up at him with irritation. He thinks I'm afraid. She analyzed her own bodily activity. Well my pulse is running a bit faster.

Could this be fear?

It wasn't the preparation for combat, Esdese had mastered that long ago.

Good people. . . Esdese thought to herself as Tatsumi parted the heavy doors to the temple, maybe that's what I'm afraid of. . .

The members of Night Raid tensed up as the doors parted, some reaching for weapons, many eying the figure who entered with sharp gazes.

"Hello," Tatsumi said softly, "it's good to be home."

He wanted to smile and laugh, but it had been a long journey.

Leona was the first to break the silence. "TATSUMI!" she cried out. . . and with all of the speed and reflexes of an assassin, she had leaped upon him.

Mein followed close behind, and smacked Tatsumi in the face with a surprisingly painful slap. "You idiot!"

"Mein. . Really . . ." A kiss caught him mid-statement as Mein pulled him close with surprising force.

Lost in all of the commotion, Esdese stood back and watched, her eyes sharp upon Mein, killer impulses screaming in her mind. What am I waiting for? Esdese wondered to herself, as she watched her love being rough-handed by a weak excuse for a woman. I can kill her easily. I can rip those hands off that dared to touch him.

Her teeth clenched so hard that they would have sheared anything that was between them. She was not acting decisively. She was just standing there, frozen.

You are alone. You don't need them.

Kill them all.

But Tatsumi was soon smiling, on top of blushing uncontrollably. And he looked terribly, horribly happy.

If I take Tatsumi's happiness away, the thought crept in, all those things he used to justify hating me, about me not caring, about being a monster, I will prove them all to him. . . I've already seen the extent of his stubbornness. . . his fighting spirit. Before he breaks, he will die.

And then I truly will be alone.

It was enough to make Esdese want to scream. Already, she could feel the air beginning to chill around her, as her Teigu began to react to the powerful emotions that rolled within her. The air shimmered slightly, but no one noticed.

Esdese tallied three. Mein, Leona, Akame, Her glare intensified the longer Night Raid's focus on Tatsumi continued, the longer Mein doted, blushed, and laughed.

I hate what you have done to me, Tatsumi. And yet. . . until I can convince you of the folly of your beliefs and your emotions, I suffer this for us.

Mein drew away from Tatsumi, finally noticing the one who stood behind him. "Who is this woman you brought with you Tatsumi!" Mein demanded, advancing upon Esdese with a glare.

Do it you little bitch, Esdese thought, her fist gripping into a tight ball as she kept her face blank. Start a fight.

"Oh. . ." Tatsumi said, scratching his head nervously, "This is Serra, an ally. She saved me, actually."

Mein's eyes narrowed on Tatsumi with suspicion, and then thoroughly glanced over Esdese. She opened her mouth as if to speak angrily, then closed it and took a deep breath.

"I. . ." she looked away, as if the words themselves pained her to say, "I can't thank you enough," she muttered from the side of her mouth. "If there's anything I can do for you. . . please just tell me."

Akame and Leona shared a shocked glance.

"Wait. . ." Leona began.

Akame tilted her head to the side inquisitive. "Mein was just polite to a stranger," she said, as if noting some great event.

"Welcome to Night Raid!" Leona said approaching Esdese with a grin.

Esdese faked her own icy smile, and bore the hug that Leona gave her. I need. . . a new plan.

"Where's Najenda?" Tatsumi asked with concern.

"Resting," Akame said sadly.

"Nevermind that. . . what happened?" Mein asked Tatsumi, "And where's Lubo?"

Tatsumi's expression grew serious, and he began to relate the tale.

I get a message out to the Jaegers. I order them to join with all of the Empire's strongest assets and converge on this place and annihilate everyone. . . And when Tatsumi's friends are dying in the confusion, "Serra" keeps him safe.

My army then destroys the revolutionary army in the south. . .

And when he has no options left, and when he has become completely reliant upon me both for survival and for emotional reasons, I reveal to him my identity, I confess my love.

As she thought of a way to dominate Tatsumi entirely, Esdese was navigating a heretofore unknown battlefield.

But even within shifting circumstances, she was still a capable tactician.

"Do you wish to join us," Akame asked.

Esdese smiled as sweetly as she could. "Only if you all think I'm qualified. . ."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

(A few hours later. . .)

Esdese chewed slowly on the food, forcing herself not to glare as Mein doted on Tatsumi to a sickening degree.

Is that. . . what he likes.

She looked down and saw her fork bent near in half. She quietly moved the fork below the table and attempted to straighten it. I need to control my emotions. . . I need this fork to blend in. . .

The night went on, Esdese fielded most of the questions, most coming from a somewhat-drunk Leona, perfectly. She knew enough of the other northern tribes, to chose a perfect back-story. . .

Akame showed her to a room that overlooked the moon-lit landscape and soon, darkness fell and the assassins retired to their quarters.

Esdese sat in bed and gazed from the window, an unpleasant and yet strangely intoxicating feeling floating through her as she looked upon the landscape lit up by all of that silver light.

Is Tatsumi in Mein's room now? Esdese wondered.

She drew a pillow to her chest, and felt a heavy emptiness begin to settle in and with deep breaths, she gazed into that solemnly beautiful night. . . That lonely night. She gazed out at a distant bluff and wondered if a solitary danger-beast peered from his perch. Wondered if that danger beast ever felt loneliness.

Is this my fate? Is this the cost of being strong? To always be alone and stare pathetically into the night. . .? To have all the power. . . to feel powerless.

The nightscape began to wobble and distort.

Esdese felt tickles as wetness trailed down her cheeks. She wiped the tears quietly aside, determination holding her steady as the pain she felt caused her body to react in embarrassing ways.

This pain will pass. For now, I will suffer. So that someday, we can be as we were meant to be.