Author's Note: Sorry everyone for the delay! Work, personal issues and a busted laptop all collided and made working on the fic impossible, but now I'm back to get things on track…just as the story starts getting more thrilling; hope the wait wasn't hard, and here's hoping what is coming will make it worth it!

Chapter 36: Kill the Living Dream

Several days later, near the Empire's northern border…

The two air mantas glided through the sky effortlessly, as if the weight of their passengers and cargo wasn't even noticed by the large, flying creatures.

"So our mission is to investigate the loss of communication with the main fort on the northern border? Why send us and not a military squadron?"-Leone asked as she lay on her back, staring at the sky. Next to her, Akame, Kurome, Mine, Seryu and Run sat in a circle, playing cards to pass of the time.

"Well, first because ever since the loss of communications with the northern kingdom, the Empire's council and military has been in high alert, so they can't risk or afford to move military personnel from one border fort to another just for a scouting mission"-Run replied.-"Plus, the military fort in question housed most of General Esdeath's army, so sending Teigu users to investigate in case the worst has happened is a reasonable response".

"I get that. But why did Kaskade choose us of all people? And why not bring everyone if odds are things are as bad as they suspect?"-Leone replied.

"I think Kaskade wants to play it safe, so that's why she picked up the most mobile, agile and experienced members of both squads, while leaving Najenda in charge of the rest to keep guard at the Capital."-Akame replied as she took a card from Kurome's hand and winced, while her sister smiled slyly.

"I'm more interested in what is going on up there, to be honest."-Mine said as she looked upwards at the other air manta that flew above their own.

"Generals Kaskade and Esdeath are probably discussing strategy, while Tatsumi sleeps and Susanoo just sits there doing nothing. What else could they be talking about?"-Seryu said in a mocking voice.

Meanwhile, a few meters above…

"I'm glad he's finally asleep. He has been extremely exhausted lately"-Esdeath said with a smile as she caressed Tatsumi's head, since he was snoring lightly while his head rested on Esdeath's lap.

"Really? Maybe you should give him a break, for a few nights, I mean"-Kaskade said. She was wearing her usual lab jacket over a more armored version of her imperial uniform, while a long, large metal case hanged across her back sideways, its length almost the same as Kaskade's height; on the back of the air manta, Susanoo just stared at the south's horizon.

"I know, but ever since that night, we've been…overly affectionate. It almost seems like a dream to me, to be honest"-Esdeath said as she smiled over the sight of her lover sleeping.

"Why is that?"-Kaskade asked, her interest rising.

"It's just that…the experience and feeling of it…it's unlike anything I've ever endured or felt before; it's not just the pleasure and warmth, but rather…you feel so weak yet so powerful at the same time, between every breath; not even in the heat of battle or…other activities I have felt so much at peace yet in so much joy"-Esdeath said, as she blushed slightly.

Kaskade stared at her in disbelief, and then let out a small laugh…

"What is it? Did I say something funny?"-Esdeath asked, with a puzzled expression.

"It's nothing; I'm just glad you feel that way, that is all. And obviously, let's be honest here, seeing you all lovey-dovey is really something I´ve never thought I'd see at all"-Kaskade said.

"I can see what you mean…after all, I didn't expect myself to ever feel this way either"-Esdeath said with a smile as she gently placed a kiss on Tatsumi's forehead, which led to him to moan and open his eyes.

"Esdeath? Is something wrong?"-Tatsumi asked as he got up, staring at Esdeath's blushing face.

"No, everything's okay! It's just…the cold air!"-Esdeath said as she nervously tried to cover for letting her guard down.

"I've never seen you complain about the cold, ever. Here, use my jacket!"-Tatsumi said as he took out his usual green jacket, and wrapped it around Esdeath's shoulders, which made her grew redder in embarrassment, while Kaskade chuckled at the unusual sight in front of her.

"Don't worry, Esdeath, the cold air is over…we´re at our landing point!"-Kaskade said as the air manta started its descent.

Later…

The group stopped their march right before the edge of the forest, as they stared at the snow covered road that led into the fort's open main gates.

"Something is wrong"-Esdeath stated.

"You are right…the main gate's wide open, and the road into the fort is snow covered, as if nobody has used it or cleared it in days"-Kaskade said.

"It gets worse…I can see the soldiers standing around inside, but they…smell all sorts of wrong; I can't tell why, but they just do"-Leone said from a tree branch.

"There is also the silence. Any military fort should be bubbling with activity and soldiers coming and going, unlike this."-Akame added.

"So, it's either a trap or an invitation"-Run pondered.

"Or both"-Tatsumi added.

"Well, we are not going to find out hiding here; We are moving in, as if we don't suspect anything; whatever is going on here, we have no other way to find out. Everyone act as if everything is normal"-Kaskade ordered as she moved out, the others following her.

As they made their way into the fort, everyone became instantly hit with an overwhelming feeling of dread and a growing anxiety; the Imperial soldiers moved and performed their usual tasks around them, completely ignoring the group as they moved to the center of the fortress, where a man in an officer' uniform was standing, his back towards the group.

Kaskade gave her a nod, and Esdeath moved forward towards the officer, her hand on the handle of her sword as she did so.

"Colonel Grey. It's General Esdeath. I'm here for an inspection"-Esdeath said in her commanding voice.

There was no response from the man.

"Colonel Grey!"-Esdeath said in a higher voice as she extended her hand to touch the man's shoulder...but she never got to do so, as all of a sudden, the back of the man's head burst open, revealing a gaping maw of serrated teeth, as at the same time his body contorted and exploded into several appendages, all of them red as blood and with sharp talons at their ends.

Esdeath jumped backwards immediately, avoiding the creatures lunging strike, which was it's last, as Tatsumi had already jumped forward to come at her aid, adopting his Incursio form mid jump, and then slashing the creature in half as he reached it.

The creature's death seemed to trigger an effect, as all of a sudden, every imperial soldier, officer and even the beasts of burden inside the camp underwent a similar transformation, while the teigu users activated their weapons (aside from Akame and Kurome, who wielded their new swords, their teigu one still chained on each sister's back)

"WAIT!"-Kaskade yelled before anyone could react, making the teigu users stop dead in their tracks.

"What? We are surrounded by these freaks, if you can't tell!"-Mine yelled.

"I know! But watch! They aren't attacking!"-Kaskade replied, which made everyone realize she was right. Aside from the creature that Tatsumi had downed, the other creatures just stood in their place, their tendrils and maws waving anxiously, as if they were waiting for something.

The silence was broken by the sounds of applause, which also made the remains of the creature Tatsumi had killed to dissolve into a pool of blood, which to everyone's horror and disgust, flowed on its own towards the direction of the applause.

The whole group turned their gazes in said direction, and found themselves staring at a clapping, grinning Syura, who stood on top of a small watchtower, his pose radiating his own amusement at his reveal.

"You never disappoint, Kaskade. I told my comrade this trap would be useless, but the look on the ice bitch's face was too priceless not to pull this…just as you said, eh?"-Syura said as he looked at his side, where, to everyone's horror, the stream of blood had made its way, only to suddenly burst upwards and change into the shape of another man, one the group also recognized immediately.

"As you said, it was a simple ruse, but it was worth it, wasn't it?"-Numa Seika said as he stood next to Syura.-"I guess we won't need the rest of my puppets either"-He added, as he snapped his fingers, causing all the creatures to implode and turn into puddles of blood as well; as they did so, it could now be seen that all of them had a thin trail of blood that connected them to Numa Seika's feet, as if those were the strings he was using on the creatures.

"What is the meaning of this? How can you be alive? And what did you do with my men?"-Esdeath yelled in anger, as she pointed her sword at the duo.

"I don't see why I even have to answer to you; after all, I'm not your dog anymore, am I?"-Numa Seika mocked.-"Besides, all I did was take from you the same you did from me, an army…perhaps I should take that new dog of yours as well?"-he added, as he pointed at Tatsumi's collar.

Esdeath grated her teeth in anger, but she was stopped from reacting as Kaskade placed her arm in front of her, and nodded her head sideways. Esdeath stared at her, and then nodded in agreement.

"You seem to have us at a disadvantage, Syura. Either you have other plans for us…or perhaps you are not the one calling the shots here after all."-Kaskade asked, her eyes narrowing.

"What did I tell you and the others? Isn't she something? No wonder my dearly departed Pops tried to get us engaged, just so he could get both her and her father under control"-Syura grinned.

"I thought the fact that I threw a teapot at your face let it clear what I thought of your proposal"-Kaskade replied.

"It sure did so! I'm always reminded of you when I see this scar every morning"-Syura said as he pointed at the scar in his face.

"I just lament that said teapot wasn't boiling hot enough. So, who are you working for, now that your father is gone?"-Kaskade asked.

"Typical of you, Kaskade…trying to make me lose composure so I let the cat out of the bag early! But I'm sorry to say I'm just here to kick start the main events so to say…after all, both Numa Seika and I have other matters to attend to."-Syura grinned as his eyes suddenly glowed with purple light, and he waved his hands.

"What the…"-Tatsumi exclaimed as a purple portal opened in midair behind him, his words cut short as a blurring shape tackled him inside the portal along with it, the portal disappearing as they were gone through it.

"TATSUMI!"-Esdeath yelled, only to be seemingly swallowed by the ground as another portal opened below her feet, making her vanish; Mine and Seryuu also let out a gasp as they were swallowed together by a single portal.

"Everyone get to higher ground!"-Run yelled as he flew upwards along with a jumping Leone, both of them realizing the flaw on their reaction too late, as a portal appeared over them, and with both of them unable to stop their momentum, sucked them inside it before vanishing.

"Sister!"-Kurome's yell for help was cut short as she was sucked inside a portal, dragging Akame, who was holding her sister's hand, along.

"Susanoo!"-Kaskade managed to yell as she too was swallowed by another portal, as the living Teigu jumped to her aid, only to fall to the ground as the portal vanished.

"Well, I guess this just leaves the puppet…have fun with your reunion. We have other business to attend to"-Syura grinned as he looked down at Susanoo, then summoned a portal behind him and Numa Seika, through which both men vanished, only for another figure to emerge before the portal closed.

Susanoo stood up, staring in disbelief at the figure above him.

"I've been looking forward to this moment for a thousand years…dear brother"-Relam said as she took out her spear, lightning crackling around her as she stared down at the shocked Susanoo.

Coming up Next: Chapter 37: "Kill the Chain that Binds You"