Tatsumi stood up from his knees and dashed forwards.

Esdeath ducked under his slash and slashed at him with her frozen sword but he jumped right over it.

In mid-air, he sent a blade at her and it was dodged by a backflip. Esdeath waved her can and multiple ice stakes flew towards Tatsumi.

Tatsumi landed on the ground and swiped his hand as if batting away something. The ice stakes were blown away like snow.

Tatsumi stared at her and looked behind him. Najenda was still sitting on the ground with a shocked look.

Tatsumi wordlessly turned back to Esdeath, who stood as if waiting for him. He spun his sword a few times and sheathed it smoothly.

He placed his land on the handle strapped to his left waist.

Esdeath's eyes widened and quickly put up multiple ice walls while jumping back, but it was too late.

Tatsumi drew and a bolt of lightning, shot out and right through the ice walls. She twisted her body and it managed to only get a scratch, but it was more than enough to be effective. She fell down hard and laid on the ground, her entire body numb.

Her eyes widened as she tried to move her body but ultimately failed to do so.

Tatsumi quickly sheathed his katana and turned around. He flung Najenda onto his shoulder and flew out from the crater, landing and dropping her near the edge of the arena.

"Boss, I will gather everyone, be ready to leave." He said.

"Tatsumi…" Najenda was still having trouble comprehending that he was still alive, but shook her head and decided to save the questions for later. "Got it."

Tatsumi nodded. He brought his hand to his mouth and whistled. He placed left hand on the handle of Fenrir and dashed towards Leone and Wave's battle.

Wave and Leone had started trading fists and blows. They dashed towards each other, both bringing up their fists to punch when Tatsumi, appeared next to them. Their eyes traveled to Tatsumi whose fist was already traveling towards Wave.

Wave flew back, bounced off the ground twice creating indents before crashing into the arena wall, blowing a hole in it. Leone looked at Tatsumi in shock.

"T-Tatsumi?!" She yelled in shock. Tatsumi smirked.

"Yeah, I'm back." He said. Leone smiled widely. His eyes became serious.

"Mein is in the stands, her arm was cut off and Bulat can't stop it without risking their lives, if you go and slow the blood we might be able to save her." Leone nodded seriously.

"How are we going to get back? The beast we came on is dead." He smirked.

"The ride is here." Just as he said it, a large shadow swooped down, kicking up dust and landed between Leone and Najenda.

Leone and Najenda were beyond shocked.

"The hell is that?!" Leone yelled. He smiled.

"My partner and pet."

"Who the hell are you calling a pet you little brat?!" Kaiser roared.

"IT CAN TALK?!" Leone yelled with her jaw on the ground.

"Pick up your jaw and go help Mein!" He ordered.

Run realized that Kaiser was their way out and threw barrages of feathers at Kaiser.

The feathers reached Kaiser in a blink of an eye, but they were blown away with a flap of a wing.

"This is really sad, to think this is the level of Teigu wielders today." He said.

Tatsumi looked around and saw Bulat was already with Leone, carrying Mein down. Bulat was looking at him with a smile and he nodded.

Tatsumi turned towards the last person.

To normal people, the only time they were visible was when they clashed, and it was only a blink of an eye. To experienced fighters, they were blurs that fought at an incredible pace. To Tatsumi, they were clear and he could see every move.

He dashed forward again, appearing next to Kurome. Unlike Wave and Leone, they didn't falter, their entire vision focused on their opponent.

He spun on his heels and dug his led into Kurome's stomach, her eyes widened and blood came out of her mouth as she flew back at incredible speeds.

"Kurome!" Wave yelled as he jumped behind her and caught her, but the momentum was enough to send them flying into the wall again.

Akame turned to me angrily.

"What do yo-" She stopped.

Tatsumi smiled at her.

"Hey…" He said. Her eyes widened.

"Tatsumi?" He nodded.

"One and only." He whispered.

The world around them fell silent for a second. They stared into each other's eyes, shutting everything else out.

That is, until Tatsumi swiped his hands and a tornado enveloped them, blocking multiple feathers.

"Time to go." He said. She frowned.

"But Kurome-" He frowned back.

"There will be other chances, we have to leave, Mein's life is in danger." She hesitated but nodded.

Tatsumi smiled and pointed at Kaiser.

"He's my partner, don't ask questions and get on." She nodded and they blurred back to Kaiser.

Everyone was already on including the bleeding Mein.

"We managed to slow the blood but that last move nearly tore her arms off, we need to get back fast." Leone said. Tatsumi nodded.

"Kaiser, take them back, Esdeath has recovered and is coming." He said after Akame hopped on.

Just as he said it, stairs of ice shot up from the crater.

Akame narrowed her eyes.

"What about you?" She said almost threateningly. He smiled confidently.

"Someone's got to hold them off." She frowned before jumping off.

It was his turn to narrow his eyes.

"What are you doing?" He asked. She looked right into his eyes.

"I left you once, I won't leave you again." They stared at each other as Esdeath's footsteps ringed through the arena.

He sighed.

"Alright." He turned to the others.

"Don't worry, I will keep Akame safe and we will be back." He said with confidence filling his voice leaving no room for argument. Najenda hesitated but nodded.

"Alright, I entrust this to your hands, come back safely." Tatsumi nodded and Kaiser flapped his mighty wings and took off into the sky.

"Oh ho? That's a danger beast I've never seen before." Tatsumi heard.

Esdeath stepped up onto the floor from her stairs. Wave and Kurome appeared next to her while Run flew above them.

"Akame." He said to get her attention, she turned to him.

"Leave this to me." He said. She was about to protest when he put up his hands. He tapped his left hand on the handle of Fenrir before smiling. Her eyes widened.

She understood, memories of Hayami flashed through her mind. She nodded in consent.

If Tatsumi had gained those powers, she would only be in the way.

Tatsumi narrowed his eyes at the Jaegers.

"Run, chase after those who escaped." Esdeath ordered. Run nodded and took off at high speeds.

Just as he flew past Tatsumi and Akame, his eyes widened.

"You have a lot of nerve, looking away in a fight." He couldn't even react before a force to his gut caused his ribs to break and blood fly out of his mouth. He flew back down towards the Jaegers faster than he could fly, a green blade of wind chasing right after him, ready to split him in half upon him impacting the ground.

He was saved by a ramp of ice created by Esdeath that diverted his position and softened his impact, the wind blade flew past him and created a huge scar in the ground.

Tatsumi narrowed his eyes. He shouldn't have spoken, that instant it took to speak allowed Esdeath to react fast enough to create that ramp.

He landed back onto the ground.

Akame was shocked. She barely saw Tatsumi move, and only realized he was gone when she saw her appear next to Run.

She smiled a bit, memories of Tatsumi flashed through her mind.

'He's grown so strong.' She thought with a warm smile. But her eyes widened when Kurome appeared in front of her with her sword ready to swing.

Kurome had taken that moment she spaced out to appear right in front of her.

"See you, Onee-chan." Kurome said with her eyes half closed and full of bloodlust.

But she didn't get the chance to swing.

Her legs were swept from under her and an elbow flied towards her gut, she managed to bring up her arms this time but still flew back, flipping in the air and skidding to a stop on her feet. She clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Tatsumi immediately ducked a punch from Wave, and then swiped his hands, diverting the ice stakes that was aimed at him towards Wave. Wave was hit by a wave of ice casing his armor to crack in multiple spots back still kept his posture and kicked Tatsumi's legs from under him.

Esdeath appeared next to him and swung down on Tatsumi's horizontal body. But Tatsumi stopped in midair, laying there as if it there was a floor beneath him and brought up Shinatsuhiko to block the strike.

He forced Esdeath blade up and then flew horizontally outside of their range and started spiraling like a drill. He came to a stop, and flew towards Esdeath and Wave like a drill, Esdeath managed to dodge but Wave was barely able to get out.

A chunk of his armor around the stomach area was gone and his stomach was bleeding.

They jumped back and so did Tatsumi.

Tatsumi patiently waited for them to recover. To him, this was not a battle to the death, more like a test of his abilities. He was by no means underestimating them, but it was obvious that he was stronger than them.

Why?

He still hasn't drawn Fenrir.

He had fought the 3 of them to a standstill, it can be said he even won, by only relying on his boosted physical abilities and Shinatsuhiko.

But…

"Time to get serious." He whispered to himself.

Run had rejoined them and they were already in battle stance, waiting for him to engage them.

And engage he will.

With his left hand on Fenrir's handle, he slowly drew it out as bolts of lightning flew from the blade to the ground and he held it in a reverse grip.

"Here I come." He said before disappearing in a flash of yellow, immediately appearing behind Wave.

Wave was completely caught off guard, but Esdeath's quick reactions saved him, a block of ice pushed wave out of the way as he sliced down with Shinatsuhiko, cutting through it like it wasn't even there.

Kurome appeared to his right swinging diagonally up at him, but he blocked with Fenrir and immediately swung at her with Shinatsuhiko. She ducked but a few strands of hair were cut off.

His swing didn't end there, it continued and he used that motion to send a blade of wind at Esdeath who appeared blurred into existence right in its path. Her eyes widened but managed to minimalize the damage to a cut on her arm.

As the wind slash left his sword, he pushed hard of Kurome who tried to push back but Tatsumi jumped back and she lost her footing, falling forward and was forced to block a drop kick from Wave, which was initially aimed at Tatsumi. Wave was then bombarded by feathers that barely stabbed through his armor, leaving light punctures in his body. Wave yelled in pain and fell to his knees but grit his teeth and endured it.

Run looked at what had happened in shock.

Kurome skid back a few feet and fell on her knees while Wave stood back up. Tatsumi appeared next to Wave and pierced his leg with Fenrir.

1000 volts of electricity flowed through Wave as he screamed in pain. He fell the ground numb.

"That idiot!" Kurome yelled.

Tatsumi appeared in front of Kurome as her eyes widened. She was distracted for a second by Wave.

Tatsumi brought up his sword and a tornado engulfed Tatsumi, blowing away a rain of feathers.

Run dropped down right beside Tatsumi, his wing extended in a blink of an eye and flew towards Tatsumi's head.

Run smiled. There was no way a human can dodge th-

"Too bad."

Tatsumi's head was already tilted back as if he knew where it was going.

Run's smile turned into a horrified look.

That horrified look was etched onto his face as his head flew off of his neck.

The world turned black and white for Kurome as her head began to throb at the sight of her comrade's blood spewing from the stub that his head was once placed on.

She fell down to both knees and held her head, trying to stop the throbbing and pain but it would not subside.

She slowly lost consciousness, the effects of her drugs wearing off.

Wave was lying face down on the ground but still conscious.

"R-Run…" He tried to yell but his voice would not go above a whisper. He desperately struggled to stand up and avenge his comrade's death but his body would not respond. The sadness was the final toll that his mind could not take. He slowly fell into darkness.

Tatsumi noticed Esdeath had not moved in a while and felt it was off. Energy started building up within Tatsumi.

"Bring it." Tatsumi provoked. Esdeath smiled.

"You have grown Tatsumi, it was entertaining but this is where it ends." Her mouths moved and Tatsumi released the energy within him.

"Makahadoma!"

Everything was enveloped in gray. Every object and essence was frozen in time.

Everything except Esdeath.

She walked up to Tatsumi, producing an ice sword on the way.

"Originally, this trump card of mine was developed to keep you from leaving me again." She said to him.

"But to think it would be used so that we will never meet again, it is quite sad isn't it? But there's nothing I can do about it. If you want to blame it on anyone, blame it on yourself and this cruel world where the law is that the strong live and the weak die. You were weaker, Tatsumi." She said as she stabbed Tatsumi right in the heart.

It went straight through without resistance. Her eyes widened.

Why? She didn't understand why Tatsumi couldn't be killed.

She frowned trying to figure it out, but then smiled.

"Looks like you're not weaker, I guess I have to retreat, but one day Tatsumi." She brought her head close to Tatsumi's ears.

"You will belong to me."

One moment they were there, scattered on the ground, dead or unconscious.

The next moment, they were gone, nowhere in sight.

Akame was confused, she had no idea what had happened.

Tatsumi began walking back and stopped in front of her.

"What happened?" Akame asked.

"I'm assuming due to the nature of Esdeath, she froze time with her teigu." Tatsumi responded nonchalantly.

She tilted her head and her eyes widened.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" She started asking but Tatsumi stopped her by placing a finger on her lips.

"Of course, nothing happened to me." He responded with a smile.

"How? Why would Esdeath let us off alive?" His smile changed to a smirk.

"Oh she tried to kill me alright, but I didn't let her."

"How?"

"It's a s-e-c-r-e-t." He said with a laugh.

Akame pouted and stared at him with deadpan eyes.

Tatsumi's heart skipped a beat.

'That was so cute.' He thought.

"I only caught a glimpse of what had happened. Esdeath tried to stab me, but it didn't work out for her, she then picked up the other two and the corpse before walking off. As for why she didn't kill you, she probably forgot or something." Akame looked back with a deadpan again.

"Do you think the Capitals number 1 would forget to kill someone like me?"

He shrugged.

"I kind of stole the spotlight, I mean, I doubt she paid any attention to you with me here."

For some reason, that didn't sit well with Akame.

"She's not getting you." She said. Tatsumi tilted his head.

"What?" She shook her head.

"Never mind, let's go home." Tatsumi nodded.

"Alright, I'll tell you everything that happened along the way."

They started walking when Akame realized something.

"How are we going to go back? We will have to fight our way out of the city." Tatsumi stopped.

"Good point…" He whispered to himself when a lightbulb went off in his head.

He smiled mischievously.

"Akame." She turned around.

He walked up to her, placed one hand under her knees, another behind her back and lifted her up.

She was surprised and but managed to stop herself from making a weird sound.

She couldn't stop blood from rushing to her head.

"T-Tatsumi, what are you doing?!" She half yelled.

"This is faster and more efficient." He said with a smile before he jumped and flew up to the edge of the arena, looking out onto the ocean of building.

"But doesn't this tire you out?"

"I found out a way to improve my flying." She tilted her head.

Tatsumi jumped forward and landed.

On air.

He used air as a step to jump again.

Akame was baffled.

"How?" She asked.

"Hmm, how do I explain this? I guess you could say it's another form of my 'riding the wind'. Before, I used it as a way to make me faster, but now that's unnecessary. In its place I developed this technique so that I could utilize my new found speed even in midair. As for how I do this, Kaiser told me about an Ultra Class Danger Beast in the past that had the ability to step on air. I used that as reference and visualized the air as a platform."

She nodded.

"…You've grown so powerful." She said shyly.

Tatsumi smiled.

"I have to if I want to protect you." He said back.

She blushed.

"C-can you show me how fast you can go?" She said in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.

"Sure, prepare yourself."

He stopped and stood in midair before bending his knee and he shot upwards.

He abruptly stopped, as if he landed on the ground, bending his knee's to absorb the impact and using that force to shoot downward diagonally.

Akame felt like she was traveling through time or something. She was getting a bit of tunnel vision.

The air that rushed past them was cold and because of that, they could feel the warmth radiating from each other.

Tatsumi shot down to earth like a meteor and landed on the ground, kicking up a large dust cloud and creating a crater.

"So? How'd you like the ride?" He said as he placed her on her feet again.

"That was intense." She replied. Tatsumi laughed.

"Glad you liked it. Let's start walking, we don't want the others to worry too much."

"… Do you think Mein will live?" Tatsumi nodded.

"She should be fine, though her arm was cut off, Leone should have slowed the blood. I've instructed Kaiser to take them back to the HQ for treatment and they should have gotten their by the time our battle ended."

Her eyes widened.

"Is it that fast?" I smirked.

"Kaiser, despite being rather small, is considered an Ultra Class Danger Beast. Plus it is intelligent and has years of experience. At his max speed, he might be able to fly around the world in under a day."

Akame nodded.

A wave of relief hit her and her knee's gave out, but she fell into Tatsumi's arms.

"You okay?" She nodded.

"Yeah, sorry, I feel so relieved." He smiled.

"Want me to carry you again?" She looked away but nodded. Tatsumi smiled and picked her up.

"Do you want me to tell you what happened after the battle with Hayami?" He asked softly as he began walking.

She nodded.

"Let's see, where should I begin?"

Authors Notes –

Ok, if you have a hard time imagining what I mean by jumping on air. There are a few examples.

Imaging Naruto's tree to tree jumping, just instead of tree's, it's air.

Or if you've seen Fate/Illya, Miyu's way of flying is basically what I was going for.

On a separate note, I realized something today about my writing habits.

I like to hit enter.

My enter key fell off from writing these 2 chapters.

XD