"You cannot ignore me forever."

What is it talking about? How could he avoid something that he does not know about?

"You... I need you..."

For what?

"If you want my power, you must offer a part of your mind. Somewhere easy to seep in. Somewhere vulnerable."

Power..?

"Is it not Inursio's true power you seek to eleminite a powerful enemy?"

"He's starting to wake, quick grab me another cold towel." Tatsumi stared up at the lit cieling dazedly, not particularly feeling his limbs, or even remembering that he has any. He could only hazedly watch the worried faces of his friends with half-open eyes, and a cold, wet material rested gently on his forehead.

"Whazza going'on...?" He mumbled illiterately and they only continued to talk over him. Tatsumi was finally able to see more clearly and saw Najenda pacing the room. Akame and Mine were seated on the bed beside him with Leone and Lubbock on the other side.

"This can't be right..." He heard Najenda claim. She seemed to be going through the book of notes on teigus Lubbock was known for writing in. Why would she do that?

"Boss, he's conscious." Leone said. Najenda walked over and examined him.

"He still looks out of it."

"No... I'm fine..." Tatsumi said with great effort as he tried to sit up. Lubbock only forced him to lay back down and with one look from him, Tatsumi gave up.

"I don't think he knows." Mine said. Tatsumi began to grow self-concious as the group continued to stare at him with worried looks. "Akame."

"Got it." Akame went through a dresser and held up a hand mirror. "This may be weird, but..."

When she held the mirror up to his face, his heart stopped.

"What... What the hell is this!?" Tatsumi had left the room and was staring at a full mirror in his room. The group had followed him, but he paid them no mind as he rubbed his right eye several times. However, each time he blinked it open, instead of the normal dark green orb was a shaking, blood red pupil.

"Was my eye bleeding!? There's no way it would just switch colors-!"

"That's what we're trying to figure out!" Najenda said over his panicking. "However in the section of 'Incursio' in the teigu handbook, it did not mention any sort of transformation under a rebound. We're not sure if you are experiencing a rejection since it is most likely in another person's use. However, we aren't sure of that either because usually the previous owner must be dead in order to be used."

Tatsumi scowled at her explanation. There is no way Incursio, which is miles away, would affect him like this. What else would happen as the week comes to an end? Is he slowly becoming dangerous? That can't be...

"For now, all we know is that your physicial features are acting up. Like a red eye and fangs-"

"What!?" Tatsumi looked back at the mirror and bared his teeth. Indeed, there were two pairs of fangs slowly outgrowing his teeth. How could his body quickly adjust to these changes? How did he not notice this before?

"This isn't normal at all. I may have to send a message to a few colleagues." Najenda finally said as she closed the book. "We need to record any signs of disruptions to your physical or mental well-being in order to figure something out. Or at least have a grasp at what's going on with you."

"What the hell am I, a walking experiment!?" Tatsumi outbursts.

"We never said that. We're just worried for you." Akame said. "I've seen teigus reject owners before. Your case is different and new to us as well."

"I'm sorry Tatsumi, but everyone must keep an eye on you for the time being. Anything could happen and we have to be the best prepared." Najenda finalized.

Tatsumi took one last long look at himself.

Just what is he becoming?

Tatsumi was seated at the dining table by himself in thought. He had personally asked for everyone to at least mind his personal space. Although he was being watched, he closed his mis-matched colored eyes with a heavy breath.

Almost immediately, a pulsing headache hit the temple of his forehead. However, he forced himself to get past the pain and into the much deeper parts of his mind. Incursio.

The dragon's spirit that lie in the powerful sword was deep within him. There is no question about it. He could remember the times he would beg the sword to lend even more power than he would normally recieve. In fact, every time he asked for more and more power. It was only so he could save his friends. It had nothing to do with him only craving the nearly infinite power Incuriso has.

With all this taking, he never expected the spirit to ask for him to give. A piece of his mind is what it had asked. How would he do that? If anything, it sounded like a terrible idea to give away part of his concious to a raging dragon. What else could he do? What if he could no longer recieve power because he was being reasonably selfish? What if the spirit began to forcibly possess his mind? No, that could only happen if he was using more than what is needed. How else can he fight though?

With a great sigh from his inconclusive thoughts, Tatsumi entered back into reality and stood from his seat. Akame's and Leone's head snapped his away, but he stepped from the room in irritation.

"Relax, I'm just going to bed. It's pretty late." He said. It was well into midnight in fact.

"In that case I'll-"

"No. I'm just going to bed." He repeated more clearly before Akame could suggest to stalk him while he's sleeping, the girl reluctantly nodded and he left.

He was about to enter his room, but through the cracked door, he could see Mine snooping around. No doubt she was in on watching his every move too and he would be damned if he could get the headstrong girl to leave.

Tatsumi walked further down the hall and saw that the study room was also pre-occupied with Najenda. She must be sending the letters. He looked to the side and saw Lubbock's closed door. With weight slightly leaving his shoulders, he opened the door and walked in, not seeing Lubbock around. Tatsumi shut the door behind him and sat on the bed. Why couldn't he just live normally? Why did the damn spirit have to curse him and slowly change him into something that will undoubtfully cause trouble one day?

More importantly, just how will the future events play out?

Tatsumi rubbed his face from the thoughts. He then froze and pulled his hand away, staring at the shaking appendage apprehensively. The teen drew his hand back close and felt the left side of his face. Oh, he must have been imagining things. Just to make sure, he rubbed the right side and swallowed thickly.

It was though today, all the mirrors in the base were against him. Up ahead on the wall, Tatsumi stared petrified at himself through the reflexive glass. The right side of his face was covered in ash gray scales and his red eye stood out even more. His teeth beared itself even more on that side as well and he could not help but compare it to... a dragon.

"A-ah... what's happening t-to me...?" He muttered, completely terrified. He could feel the spirit itching away at the vulnerable parts of his mind, but he continued to construct a mental wall against it. Just what kind of rejection is he experiencing with Incursio?

The door slowly opening caused Tatsumi to quickly hide his face with a pillow. There were footsteps that paused just from entering the room.

"Tatsumi?" He heard Lubbock say curiously.

"U-Um hi..." Tatsumi responded muffled. He heard the steps become closer and he slowly grew panicked.

"Why are you covering yourself like that? We already know about your weird eye color and fangs." Lubbock said. Tatsumi only shook his head. "Tatsumi, what's going on?"

The pillow was removed from his fidgeting grip and he could feel the emerald eyes examine him. He however did not dare look back.

"You're..."

"I'm turning into some kind of freak." Tatsumi said while clawing the sheets. He did not even remember having sharp nails. "It's that damned Incursio and I don't know what else to do other than sit here and take it like a-"

"Hey, hey. Look at me." With much hesitance, Tatsumi finally looked back at Lubbock. This was only short-lived when his eyes trailed lower and realized that the older male was only wearing a robe. "Oh uh, I had bathed at the hot spring." Lubbock said, apparently seeing Tatsumi's eye direction.

Tatsumi would normally stop looking in embarrassment, but this time something else was forcing him to keep staring. His wide, green and red pupils took in the sight almost hungrily and his heart rate accelerated in such an inhumane speed. His mind was becoming clouded and Tatsumi tried his hardest to keep his mindset intact. What is this... desire running through his body? It seemed he was having a hard time trying to contain himself from doing something.

"I-I..." He tried to warn Lubbock, but the other teen had frowned and kneeled on the bed just over his lap.

"You need to relax, Tatsu. Everything is going to be fine." Tatsumi then felt lips gently cover his own and a fire had erupted in his body. His mind had finally reverted back to normal long enough when Lubbock broke the kiss.

"See? If you would just calm down for a bit and- mm!" Tatsumi felt himself pull Lubbock in for another kiss. He did not remember planning this, but he almost immediately forgave his reflex once their lips moved together once again. His hands trailed down Lubbock's sides and to his waist, feeling the male rack in shivers. The action once again set Tatsumi in a spiral of unknown emotions and a great need to search even deeper for satisfaction.

"Mmm..." The moan Lubbock produced erupted a foreign shock in the lower region of Tatsumi's body and his jolt caused them to fall back on the bed. This slip did not interrupt them from their locking of lips. Just like that, the cloud appeared again in his mind and Tatsumi was slowly losing his stable mindset. It isn't him... but at the same time it is him lightly brushing tongues with Lubbock while massaging his waist. Suddenly, the heat in his body became too unbearable just as they parted lips. Once again, Tatsumi uncontrollably reconnected them and his hands, as though with minds of their own, began to roam lower.

"W-Wait..." He began. It was all he could say before shuddering when his fangs were licked and hands creeped under his shirt. Another part of him had an undying need to let go of his willpower completely and let the spirit take over. That result would not end things well. He had to stop...

When he caught Lubbock beginning to undo his own robe, Tatsumi grabbed the older male's forearms while sitting upright with him in his lap.

"What's wrong?" Hearing Lubbock ask the question in such a breathy voice nearly made Tatsumi give up complete control of his mind. However he slowly fought over his conscious and coincidentally, the scales were starting to fade fortunately.

"We have to stop this." He demanded, breathing hard himself. It was very difficult trying to piece his head back together. "I-It's not you. It's my current state. I'm not exactly stable enough to..." He hinted. Lubbock had flushed, but he nodded in agreement and Tatsumi slumped once the foreign feelings exited his body.

"Ah, I should have been more careful." Lubbock said. "I forgot you're still... developing new traits."

"Yeah... I don't want to do anything regretful." Tatsumi said with a huff. He let go of Lubbock's arms and wrapped his arms around his torso, burrowing his head against Lubbock's chest. "I hate this..." He muttered. He felt Lubbock hug his head close and hummed when the blessed hands stroked his hair.

"You'll get through it. I know you will," Lubbock comforted, "Because I don't plan to spend the rest of my life getting used to this."