The power to create is what separates the man from the filth; to start a fire from wood and energy, to form a spear from a branch, to make bow from birch. That was the power to create.
The doctor knew how to create.
"Did you enjoy your escapade, Sokolov?"
His General's voice soothed his ears; the girl held charisma in her entire body, from her veins to the vocal chords.
"Pardon me...did you enjoy your mission, Stylish?"
His glasses lifted from his face.
"I did, my General Esdeath" he replied, rubbing his lenses on a white collar. "...again, I must apologize; asking of such a long leave of you-"
Esdeath's pale hand raised to silence him.
"Your contribution to the Jaegers is invaluable. So when you deem it best to travel for your research, then travel is what you must do."
"Generous as always, my Captain."
"Where is Run? He is rarely tardy, he must have good reason to be late."
"That excellent specimen of a young man will arrive shortly, he was bogged down by...another mob, if you know what I mean."
Duplicated lanterns lined both sides of the hall. The dim yellow light glowered onto Stylish, his travel-weary stubble and shadowed face reminding Esdeath of a tired ghost.
"There needs to be some electricity in this hall." groaned Stylish. "I'll have my team work on that."
"There have been some changes while you were away, Stylish."
"Oh? Like what?"
"A new recruit. A young man."
"Interesting. Is he young? I would like to meet him."
Esdeath led him down the hallway, the dark windows revealing a quiet night.
"Stylish."
"Mmm?"
"He's off the table."
"My my, I don't understand..."
Her sudden change in tone wiped the smirk off his face.
"He's mine. All. Mine."
Her eyes were widened in an expressionless visage that made his throat quake. The pair had both stopped moving, Stylish realizing his absence left him forgetting how to act in front of his General.
The doctor cleared his throat.
"Apologies. I understand."
Their feet moved again, but Stylish's were more careful, as if any creak made on the floorboards would trigger that variant of Esdeath he had just witnessed.
"His name..." he mumbled.
"Pardon?"
"So...what's his name?"
"My lover's name is...Tatsumi."
She did not say his name, she breathed it.
"Tat...sumi, huh. An oriental."
"Yes...and, his green eyes compliment his tan complexion so well...he is one of a kind."
"Perhaps he is a product of two races. Quite rare in these parts, to see someone like that."
They tread further into the hall, before coming upon a dark set of wooden double doors.
"Before I let you rest in the quarters, I have an interesting bit of news for you" the general proclaimed.
"...and that is...?"
"Tatsumi survived a cut from Murasame." Stylish's eyebrows rose, prompting Esdeath to continue; "I believe his teigu had something to do with it. Regardless, I think he will make an interesting specimen for you."
"You may be right. It is safe to assume I can't be too thorough, correct?"
"You are very correct, Doctor."
"Than I shall take my leave of you, General."
"Good night, Stylish."
Esdeath watched the dark oak doors open then close, Stylish's white coat trailing behind. The man had momentarily forgotten his place, but she realized that was partly her own fault. After all, there was no way he could have known Tatsumi was her lover, and Stylish was by no means unruly with his desires when they conflicted with a superior's.
"Nothing to worry about" she assured herself.
For the first time that day, she sighed. A great, genuine sigh. Her day was done, the night was still young.
Now to see the only man she had ever looked forward to seeing.
Swing
Punch
Swing
Punch
His arms had been pounding the bag for two hours now, his rate of impact slowed to one, clumsy hit with every sway of the bag.
Tatsumi was finally satisfied.
He could now let himself rest, but his mind wouldn't. He had faced danger many times before meeting Esdeath, but the feeling of a blade-a blade held by a human at that, on his throat was dreadfully new. The thought of him being so close to death scared him.
And that one girl…
That girl with the rifle.
I wonder where she is now.
He had tried asking Esdeath about their battle four nights ago, but couldn't seem to get any substantial answer. Often she would begin to explain like he asked any other question, only to trail off her words. Sometimes she would grab him and kiss him with sudden urgency.
His exhausted tanned arms gently peeled away velcro straps, they're ripping echoing through the training hall as if a swarm of wasps briefly entered the room and disappeared as suddenly as they arrived. Black, musty boxing gloves fell to the stone brick below as heavy wood doors cracked open, the cocking of their steel handles shooting to his ears.
His woman's voice sounded into his mind, imprinting itself onto his skin, her intent shaking through his frame. But a part of him was still afraid of change; unsure of anything drastic, he needed to hear her again.
"I'm tired, I can't-"
"You heard me" came her response, her voice like stone.
In a moment the cool skin of her arms was upon his wet torso, snaking under damp cotton to caress his middle. He jerked, but submitted to her in an instant.
"I smell" he told her weakly.
"I don't care" she responded, her tone hinting of scolding. "...sweaty or not, you're still you, correct?"
His heart rose to his throat as he watched her sinful hands dance beneath his shirt. He gasped in surprise when they disappeared, her touch surfacing to his back and ripping the rear of his shirt open. His back arched as something wet briefly slid up his shoulder, before he stepped away to face her.
"What did you just-"
With beautifully lurid eyes she dominated his view.
"I love your taste, Tatsumi."
Blood rushed to his cheeks as she chuckled.
"...and don't think I forgot what I'm here for. Don't pretend you didn't hear me the first time."
Tatsumi, as tired as he was, became flustered. He needed more time to get used to her games, whenever she spoke with such intent it seemed she was reeling him closer and closer like a fish. He was unsure if he disliked that feeling, as it was with many other things Esdeath did to him.
"I want to wash up together, Tatsumi. I want to caress each other's bodies, I want to wash your back. Understand?"
With a grip that could shatter glass, she grabbed his arm and dragged him from the room, into the dim outer halls of the palace, giggling at his squeals in pain.
"Ow,ow,ow! I can walk myself, it's not like I'll run awa-"
Esdeath suddenly stopped, the pressure of her grip lightened. Tatsumi curiously watched her face, he found that most of the time he had no idea what she was thinking.
"Hmmm...that may not be so bad..." she muttered.
"What?"
An ominous chuckle sounded throughout the wooden hall.
"Running away" she replied; hand on his cheek, the other letting go of his hand. "...I want you to run from me. I'll give you twenty seconds, then I'll come for you. If you hide from me till...say, ten o' clock, you win."
"And if I lose?"
She laughed again.
"I haven't decided yet... so many things I want from you... that only you can give, Tatsu-bunny..."
He found his heart swell at her words, but pressed it back down. Though losing didn't seem so bad, he still wanted to at least say he won their little game. To claim at least one victory, however small, against the tormenting woman of his midnight dreams suddenly rose among his immediate priorities.
"Alright, I'm hiding now" he warned with a smile.
"Good; I've been counting since I challenged you. Run quickly, you have ten seconds now."
He opened his mouth to argue, but realized it was no use. His feet moved for him, finding their way to Esdeath's bedroom. Hiding in the one place he should be avoiding may throw her off long enough to win, he hoped.
Stylish loved the smell.
The smell of sanitation.
The scent of smoke, the slow, methodical ambience of discovery and progress that pulsed like blood throughout the laboratory.
The scent and sound of the lab poured through his senses as he scrutinized a small, crystalline form through a microscope. He thanked whatever god was our there, dead or non-existent, for the fact that Esdeath's ice was somehow heat-resistant.
He rotated the slide to a different sample. This was ice freshly chipped from a block in the freezer, and yet already the orange and purple prisms of the crystalline structure were dissipating to liquid. He quickly placed a small rag around the slide and focused back onto the first one. Esdeath's creation held different structure to it; instead of the unruly rhombus-like pattern of the former, her ice held order- small triangles filled the lens like a jigsaw, unmoving in the lukewarm temperature of the lab. The ice was not only different in shape, but in color too. Unlike in the first sample, light played a different game with her ice. The candle light of the lab did not separate into different waves upon reaching the ice, but stayed together. This allowed the ice to keep it's glass texture, even under the heavy lenses of the microscope.
"Amazing" the doctor muttered.
He regretted that he may have spoken too loudly as he heard Seryu sigh, forewarning of an unwanted conversation.
"Did something happen doctor?" Asked her unassuming voice.
Stylish forced a chuckle.
"No...just speaking to myself."
"Well, if you need anything, ask me doctor."
"I'm fine, really."
Stylish found that Seryu was not an easy person to cease speaking to; not because she was friendly, but because she was too friendly. He had already checked up on her body and weapons, why was she still here? Luckily, a heavy knock on the rustic oak door eliminated any dread Stylish had for speaking with Seryu.
"That banging can only be from one person" he muttered to himself, taking care to be much quieter before calling to the door. "Come in, Daidara."
Closing the door behind him before nodding to Seyru, the man with the build of a berserker pulled a stool from a desk and sat next to her. He laid one arm on the desk and used the other to pat Koro.
"Get to it big brains" he growled.
Stylish paced to Daidara, a white syringe in his gloved hand.
"One step ahead of you, Daidara."
He plucked a cap from the top of the syringe, revealing a blue metal plunger. The needle was slowly injected into Daidara's branch-like arm, than Stylish's thumb pushed clear liquid into the limb. The berserker shivered as the needle left his skin.
"I like it" he praised.
"Good" responded the doctor, waving toward the door. "...now off you go."
The halls seemed to be the color of sand in the candlelight as Daidara left the lab. Glancing to the left, he noticed an unwelcome presence.
"Butt out, River."
River breathed in from his pipe and exhaled, his face seeming to study the ceiling in the dim light.
"How many times, soldier" sighed River. "How many goddamn times?"
River only heard silence, and the heavy rain falling outside. It was many moments before he spoke again.
"I don't trust that man, Daidara. The Three Beasts already hold enough issues, we don't need one of us to be a guinea pig for some-"
"He said it'll-"
"...crack with a few screws loose-"
"...he said-"
"...and you don't know why he's-"
"Shut up!"
River faced his subordinate, his head tilted and eyes hidden by the intense shadow play of the torchlight, inviting Daidara to speak.
"I get a funny feeling about him too, sir. But he's th' least of my worries. All I want to do is fight, you know that! And if I see somethin' to help me win, I take't!" Daidara took a moment to lick his lips. "He said it'll give me strength, and more time to train, so t'hell with what th' risks may be!"
River pinched his forehead before running his hand through long, tired gray hair.
"You want to win" he observed. "I see."
He reached for Daidara's boulder shoulders, his sternness never leaving his face.
"A deal. We will make a deal."
"A deal?"
"A deal. We're following the general on a...campaign of sorts. Let's take this as an opportunity to test how useful Mr. Stylish's magic is-"
"Sounds alright."
"Let me finish. If his product flops, Lady Esdeath will know about it...and you."
Daidara flinched.
"...if't doesn't work...alright, got it."
River patted one shoulder.
"Good. So we're in agreement?"
"Mhmm."
"Are we-"
"Yes! It's a deal!" Daidara, exasperated, yelled. "Done deal! A done fuckin' deal!"
River grunted in faint appreciation, patting the soldier's shoulder with one hand. Avoiding further eye contact, he turned and headed for the stairway to his quarters, Daidara watching him before doing the same.
The room he shared with her was completely empty, only moonlight and the chain in the wall emitted any presence.
Where should I hide thought Tatsumi.
Esdeath had obviously been bluffing about the time she gave for him to run, as more than ten seconds passed as he scampered through the white halls of the upper palace. If she had really given him ten seconds, her hands would be around his neck by now, tongue tracing down his cheek.
Though the moon shone brightly through the grandiose windows, he stood at the doorway, waiting for his eyesight to adjust.
Moments later a lamp on the far side next to the bed faded into view; he could see now. After shimmying underneath the bed he ran a hand through his hair and lay in wait.
A few minutes must have passed before he finally began to hear human noises. Two male voices fluctuated through the hall outside, muffled by the closed door. He realized one of the voices belonged to River, and the other was interestingly familiar. He felt the second belonged to someone he should recognize, but couldn't figure out who he was.
Their mumblings quickly dissipated among their footsteps before one of them cackled, followed by River's disapproving grunt.
That laugh could only have been one person's—Ieyasu.
After so much traveling, Ieyasu had finally arrived at the Capitol. Judging from River's explanatory tone, Ieyasu must have only just got back from The Hog. One of his best friends was strolling only a few meters from the door, Tatsumi could easily just run outside and say hello.
But Ieyasu kept walking, to his own surprise, Tatsumi made no sound.
While he wanted to show his friend how well he was doing, he did not move an inch.
"I should be excited, why don't I want to see him?"
The excitement wasn't there. His visualization of him greeting Ieyasu almost seemed... awkward. As if they had been away from each other too long.
He watched the breeze blow a small bed feather across the white tile when a thought realized in him.
"What if I changed too much?"
Tatsumi held a hand in front his face. He turned it to see his palm facing him, running his thumb underneath the fingers. Thick, rough calluses touched his nail, they hadn't been there before. Punching the hands together, he noticed his knuckles had hardened. Martial arts training from Esdeath had improved his ability and stretched the muscle. His hand reached under his shirt, sliding up his developed body until it reached the chest. He rubbed his fingers on the breast and looked at them, as if expecting them to be smudged with ink.
"I also killed someone."
He pushed the sinking feeling in his shoulders down, he refused to think he was guilty; this issue had been resolved as far as he cared, or allowed himself to care.
He sighed as the breeze blew through his hair. The feather fluttered across the floor some more, before taking more air and floating disorderly behind the right bedpost. Tatsumi realized there were no open windows when he first entered the chambers.
Gasping, he snapped to his left and found an amused face winking at him, her hair spread across the floor, shining silver in the moonlight.
"How the hell did-"
Esdeath held two fingers.
"Two minutes Tatsu-bunny. You lasted ten minutes, and I was next to you, blowing for two of those ten."
He scrambled from under the bed, slightly relieved the game was over. Stretching out his back, he groaned.
"How'd you find me?" he asked.
"I didn't" she chuckled, rising from her stomach. "I was just here to take a nap when I found you."
"Liar."
"Of course, that was a lie. In reality, the spirits of the danger beasts you killed pointed the direction, growling 'please, kill this man.'"
Esdeath strode to him, shoving him to the white sheets. He struggled half-heartedly, and chuckled deeply as she slowly licked his face.
"You sweat so much back there I could smell you baby" she explained. "Opening the door would have made noise, so I entered through the window."
She licked him again.
"Salt-face" she added.
Forcing a gasp of surprise from her, he placed a knee under her crotch and flipped her over so he was atop of her. Before she could retaliate, he left the bed and staggered backwards toward the bathroom.
"I thought you said something about washing up" Tatsumi thought aloud. "What're you on the bed for?"
He found himself both aroused and afraid when she grinned.
"You bitch." she remarked, rolling off the bed and moving quickly to him.
Her hand pushed him into the bathroom before grabbing his falling body by the collar.
"I should punish you right now" she continued, her smile never leaving her face as she ripped the shirt open. "Get in th-"
"Hey, wait I liked that sh-"
"I'll buy another! Get in the tub!"
She was completely serious now, her urgency vibrated through the room.
Tatsumi hurriedly took off his pants and footwear, shocked by the decrease in his usual shame. The cold material of the shower cooled his rough toes as he turned to see Esdeath was already bare, and moving upon him.
He could barely gasp before her lips violently planted themselves to his, her tongue snaking through his opened jaw. His hand reached to the knob behind to start the water, squeezing it when her hand gripped his crotch.
"What the hell is this, slave" her voice scolded, her eyes looking down on him as water ran through her long blue hair.
"I-I..."
The pressure of her hand was immediately replaced by the sharp snap of his damp underwear tearing from his waist.
"Don't ever do that again." She growled before her mouth invaded his again.
His knees briefly moved to cross his exposed area, but her hand prevented them from doing so. Her hand was stroking him as he quickly stiffened, his moaning muffled by her mouth from her savage touch.
Unsure of what to do, his hands strayed down her body, brushing the thighs. He stopped as she shivered and groaned sharply. Taking this as a sort of rejection, he let his hands hang limply at his sides.
Her mouth left his, a cold look in her eyes.
"Don't stop that. Continue."
He moved his hands again, deciding to rub her inner thighs. Suddenly she rotated him to face the wall, his shoulders sinking in shame. He couldn't help but feel he had disappointed her with his failure.
"S-sorry..." he muttered before cold shot down his back. He twitched from the sudden chill, than relaxed as her hands rubbed the soap into his body. Moments later he found she started using only one hand to wash him; he could picture what the other hand was doing.
To her satisfaction, Tatsumi knew what to do when she was done washing him without having to say anything. Her back faced him and she moaned as she pleasured herself, the soap and Tatsumi's rough hands adding a contrast of feeling to her body.
"Mmmph...yes, baby" she praised, her mood lightening. She hoped that touching her body and the sight of her masturbating would arouse him even more than he already was, and when she looked back, she found this to have payed off. He seemed dazed, the same look he had the first time he admitted he was hers, and sucked her finger.
"My chest Tatsu-bunny. Wash it."
He only grunted in response, his hands groping and rubbing her large breasts.
"Mmm...Tatsumi-"
Tatsumi couldn't take it anymore; he wanted to feel something too. When all the soap ran down to the drain, he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her from the shower. His pleading look pleased her as she held on to the faucet, refusing to budge.
"Did you forget who's in charge? I pay your paycheck, after all."
It was her turn to make the other wait.
She slowly stepped out, rubbing her hair with a white towel. When she had dried herself, she wrapped the towel around him.
"Has anyone ever told you how sexy your body is?"
Tatsumi answered with his lustful breathing.
"We both are just so beautiful, Tatsumi. Aren't we so perfect together?"
Tatsumi felt the pain of his hair being pulled across the room, before soft duvet greeted his back. He was being tortured, he needed pleasure now, and Esdeath was taking her time, climbing onto him slowly.
"Esdeath...hurry..."
Her tongue traveled down his body, his heart thumping heavier than before at the promise of his wishes being fulfilled.
"...please..."
He let out a low groan as her lips finally enclosed around his member for the second time. Briefly he wondered if he could ever get used to this feeling, before her tongue slid over and he ceased to think clearly. All his mind held was the feeling of intense, organic pleasure. Her moans vibrated through his manhood, giving his ecstasy more depth that he wondered if he could ever put into words. She felt amazing, it was all that mattered to him.
She slid from him just as she tasted salty bitterness, he was close. She opened her mouth to tease him, but decided against it. Words might dampen the ordeal for him, she thought.
She reached to her own self, creating a game for her to see if she can climax at the same time he did. She let her hot breath warm his tip as she did her best to come short of reaching her limit.
He reached to stroke himself, only for the sharp pain of her pinch to keep him from doing so. Instead, he reached for her left breast, flicking the thumb over her supple nipple as he traced around the center. Her moans turned him on even more, but not to the point where it became unbearable.
She kissed his member repeatedly as she felt herself coming to a close. He removed his hand to give her room as she moved her head up and down again, tongue flicking around his head.
"Oh god..."
His neck arched as he stared into the blank ceiling, struggling to keep from bucking.
Willing to experiment, she attempted to push her lips to his base, but found herself unable. Regardless, the feeling of his tip against the soft of her throat was unbearable.
"I'm close Esdeath...ughhh..."
She rose from him and coughed, needing some more air before going down again. She softly stroked before quickly taking him in, but not as deep. Her movements quickened her hand on his orbs and the other in herself, her moaning intensified.
"Ugh...ahh..."
Realizing she was going to lose her game, she decided it was of no real importance and continued in Tatsumi. He let our broken, throaty groan as he finished her moaning reverberating through his head. The slight suction told him she had swallowed again, to his sinful pleasure.
"Oh my god" he praised. "That was amazing."
He found it strange that Esdeath didn't respond, and found it was because she was busily indulging herself. Her tightened expression, arched back, and crossed legs looked so wonderful to him, he had to help her.
He pulled her hand away and enclosed his mouth around her breast, but putting more effort into his fingers then his tongue. Replicating her movements from before, he hoped to please her the same way she pleased him. Esdeath seemed much taken aback, as she didn't say anything or move, except to jerk in response to his hand. Not feeling anything but the motion of his fingers at first, her sensitivity slowly began to grow.
"Ugggh...Tatsumi...so full of sur-uh-prises, aren't you-agghhh...uhhhhhh..."
Than Tatsumi triggered her femininity with a few words.
"I just wanted to make you come" he whispered, before licking her ear.
She opened her mouth in a soundless groan, before shutting her eyes tight and moaning intensely. Tatsumi's fingers began to tire, but he refused to stop. His continued action forced out of her three more orgasms, her noises music to his ears.
"Guhh...ahhh...Tatsu-mi...I luhh...ahh...I love you-ahhhh!"
With no hesitation, he reciprocated.
"I love you too, Esdeath."
He sucked on her breast again, flicking her clit this time to give a fourth and final orgasm.
"Ohhh goooodd...!"
She clutched him tightly, biting her lip and groaning again. He smiled at her legs quaking around him with each orgasm, immediate feedback for his movements. He slowed for a moment before pulling his fingers out, more than satisfied with tonight.
Suddenly Esdeath's hand pushed him to the mattress; dread filled his heart.
Is she seriously not done yet?
But to his relief, she entered the covers and wrapped her arms around him, giggling in content.
"I've heard some of my female soldiers talk about being "dick-drunk.' I believe this is somewhat what it feels like, but you never put it in."
Tatsumi was too tired to blush.