The Ice Prince, Son of Esdeath

by SingleYandereMale

Tatsumi finally belongs to Esdeath, Night Raid and the Revolutionary Army are defeated and scattered. All is supposedly well for the Empire until Tatsumi is greeted by a mysterious boy from the distant dark future claiming to be his own son, with the means to avert the oncoming crisis. (Rated M for Mature Content.) (Written with First Person Perspective, until Chapter Nine.)

28. Chapter 28 - Fallhaven: Queen Vs Killer

Disclaimer: I don't own Akame Ga Kill, certainty not. Aside from that, I believe we can all agree that Tatsumi belongs exclusively to Esdeath. (Yes, I was ordered to write that.)

It begins! The battle that you've all been waiting for! Akame vs. Esdeath! Enjoy, and I hope it's been worth the wait!

Tatsumi woke up to the unusual sight of Esdeath and Makoto sitting with their legs crossed facing each other on the luxurious bed. By the looks of it, Esdeath was currently checking if Makoto was feeling better since she had her hand firmly placed against his forehead.

It was early in the morning and Esdeath had just woken up herself. She stayed in bed, cuddled up with the two people she loved most in the world and then sprung into action when Makoto awoke himself with an adorable yawn.

She was still in her usual nightly get-up with Makoto wearing the blue criminally cute pyjamas from yesterday.

When Esdeath was done examining Makoto closely, she had come to the justified conclusion that he was well. In fact, Makoto had completely recovered from his previous state of unwellness and was fit enough to fight for hours on end.

Like herself, whenever illness struck, it wasn't there for long at all. Here one day, and gone the next. Makoto's immune system may not be as impressive as his Mother's own, but he'd still be leaps and bounds more resistant to infection than that of the common human being were.

To Esdeath, she felt an elated sense of bliss at this revelation. Like the countless prior. She felt an exquisite sense of pride as a Mother and joy at the confirmation that she had once again been correct all along in her selfish belief that children bore through the union with herself and Tatsumi were destined to lead the next generation into a Golden Age.

A Golden Age of Mankind, where strength would decide everything with the feelings of the weak being dismissively ignored and cast away.

The Ice Queen herself had come to realize she was gradually beginning to distance herself from the rest of humanity, and instead were becoming obsessively motivated towards ensuring the world belonged only to the worthy, her babies.

She didn't mind this, in fact, Esdeath loved this. She had longed for the chance to disconnect herself from the network of weakness that she had been forced to associate herself with. The Empire was war made manifest, but weakness continued to hide in the cracks that built the Empire up.

Politicians, nobles and the like. They did not understand the glory of war and battle, not like she and Tatsumi did.

Soon, they would do. Somewhere down the line, they'd be forced to understand. The future ahead that she had been told about, confirmed to Esdeath that with the right guidance, Tatsumi could be shaped into a Military Leader. Like a serpent shedding its skin, Tatsumi would throw away feelings of sentiment towards the weak and become an entity like herself. It'd take likely take years, but even then.

Esdeath could hardly control her excitement at the thought of having a Tatsumi who not only believed, but advocated for the very things she herself desired on his own accord.

"There we go, you're back to perfect health. And now, I don't know who to praise." Esdeath laughed slightly to herself, smiling joyously. "...Uh? What do you mean, Mom?"

Lifting him from his place sat away from her with a wide reach of her arms, Esdeath spun him over and cushioned him down on her crossed legs.

Arms wrapped tightly around his small waist, Esdeath leaned back against the bed's headboard and placed her chin at the top of Makoto's head. "Myself and your father for gifting you with such amazing abilities, or you, my darling, for braving through illness and coming through stronger than before."

"Mom, it was just a fever..." Makoto tried to pressure the relative unimportance of his prior unwell condition, but Esdeath would have none of it. "Don't neglect your own accomplishments, Makoto. You're far more advanced than any boy your age in this entire Capital, of that, I have no doubt."

A silence passed, but then a tired voice rang out to break that same silence.

"...Could you please avoid nurturing an unhealthy Ego in my son, thank you. Yours is bad enough to deal with." Tatsumi murmured sleepily, Esdeath had shifted most of the bedsheets over to his side, so he was currently buried in them.

His head and hair only managed to be seen from it, Tatsumi had been listening in on their conversation for a while and figured that Esdeath was trying to bolster her baby's confidence up so that he wouldn't refrain himself from asking for anything that he wanted.

Like Tatsumi, Esdeath wanted Makoto to be transparent with her, one hundred per cent of the time. Spoiling him was just second nature now.

"My ego is perfectly fine and healthy, Tatsumi. I am confident in my ways because, without it, I would not be able to rightfully enforce my policies unto the ones that serve me with such commendable devotion." Esdeath squeezed Makoto tightly and sighed in bliss when she felt him lean back against her without trying to escape.

Yet again, Esdeath's confident justification for her clear signs of mental instability continued to baffle Tatsumi. The mask of sanity she wore was bolted shut.

"...I want a divorce." Tatsumi sighed, jokingly. Pretending to fall back asleep afterwards.

But not jokingly enough for Esdeath's liking and to punish Tatsumi for the thought of breaking their much-adored monogamous union, she threw the covers that were over him away and immediately struck him on the face.

With a fluffy soft pillowcase.

This woke Tatsumi's body straight up, she had hit him quite hard. Lifting himself up, Esdeath stared confidently at him with bared teeth and gently allowed Makoto to crawl away from his place on her thighs. Tatsumi's defiant stare flipped a switch in Esdeath's body, and she responded by taking another pillowcase from the bed. Tatsumi doing the same, but they waited in silence.

Eye-contact locked, it was then that Esdeath spoke.

An irresistible urge to suppress and dominate her mate grew.

"Sweetie, Mommy and Daddy are going to have a little civil disagreement on the bed. Just head into your room, get dressed for the day and don't come out until ten minutes have passed." Sweet like butter.

Esdeath's tone was the opposite of the stern cold one she used when addressing subordinates, civil servants or Honest. Regardless, Makoto knew that his Dad had unwittingly challenged his Mother's right to claim him as her own and would now suffer the thankfully admittedly mundane consequences of that challenge.

"You're being very considerate today, aren't you?" Tatsumi wore a crooked smile, to which Esdeath just confidently grinned back. "I try, Tatsumi. Now, fight back with everything you have and are."

"Alright, I won't go easy on you." It didn't take much for Tatsumi to realize that Esdeath's current course of action was driven by the joy she felt in her heart. "That's my Tatsumi, I'd expect nothing less from you."

Whenever Tatsumi voiced his displeasure at being tied to Esdeath in harmonious union, she'd usually respond with legitimate violence instead of an assault by pillowcases. A hard slap across the face, usually. He couldn't put his finger on it, Esdeath's current action, was she just pleased by the fact they were able to have sex when it'd seem unlikely due to Makoto's illness?

He knew why she had been so eager yesterday since she knew they would have to be celibate during the night hours.

So it could be. Or probably something else entirely. Yet, what Tatsumi didn't know were that Esdeath had scheduled the attack on Fallhaven for today and were fully prepared to reduce Night Raid to dust, leaving him none the wiser until days afterwards.

That was why Esdeath was currently feeling very loving and playful, intending to save every last ounce of malice for the ones she considered most deserving of it.

The first blow of the day was struck, by Esdeath. Tatsumi had managed to parry it clumsily with his own pillowcase, and then return the hit. "Eyes front, Tatsumi. Don't get lost in thought when you're opponent is right in front of you!"

"...What do you mean?! I countered that, Esdeath!"

It was ironic that the only blow Tatsumi was able to land on Esdeath were that of a pillowcase, instead of a solid punch or hard kick. When the soft pillowcase bounced off from Esdeath's softer bouncing chest, she'd return fire by dropping hers and clinging unto the one Tatsumi held, pulling him closer with each tug of it.

The smart action would be to simply let go, but Tatsumi oddly didn't, letting his competitive side take over and control him for now.

"Counter this, then. You disobedient naughty boy."

Using Tatsumi's playfulness, Esdeath used her Teigu to make the pillowcase icy cold. At this instant, she let go, but Tatsumi didn't. Causing him to shriek out in shock at the sudden drop in temperature, without missing a beat, Esdeath's hand took ahold of Tatsumi's throat and pulled him back down onto the bed on his back. Slamming him down with an elated expression woven on her face.

"Ack! Why'd you...! That wasn't fair!"

Recoiling from this, groaning without pause to highlight his displeasure. Tatsumi tried to lift himself up, only to observe Esdeath aggressively slamming herself down on him. Landing on his clothed waist, kneeling down and using her hands to keep his chest down by the palm. The victorious grin she wore, bore into him like mad. Tatsumi tried to escape, but Esdeath would not allow it.

"Hey, could you move off me, Esdeath?" Tatsumi commented midst struggle, facing away from her in embarrassment at being caught so easily. "I will not, you need to learn your place eventually, Tatsumi. I beat you, caught you and you still try to resist me? That won't slide with me."

"What do you want, an apology? Get real." He scoffed.

"I want far more than that, I wish you'd stop trying to refuse me... You want me so badly, and yet, you continue to deny yourself." Esdeath exemplified this by rubbing her soft squishy butt against Tatsumi's groin, causing a physical reaction to arise in him to her great delight.

At this, Tatsumi tried to physically shove Esdeath away to no avail, she merely applied a harder compression at his chest to force him back down. "Ooh, fighting back, are we?"

"What else does it look like, Esdeath? Of course, I'm fighting back...!" Grinding his teeth together in annoyance. Tatsumi acted on instinct and took ahold of Esdeath's worn shirt, pulling it open with a strong yank of his arms. Buttons flying everywhere across the bed, contrary to Tatsumi's intent, Esdeath wasn't bothered by this.

She owned many shirts, and she had no favourites. "Fighting back, is that what this is? A sad pathetic struggle, more like. Don't fool yourself, you're just playing into my hands."

To show this, Esdeath undid the last of the buttons on her shirt and removed it completely.

Tossing it away slowly.

Staring into him, the Ice Queen folded her arms below the breasts to show them off. She had no intention of taking things any further than this, especially considering the events that were lined up for today, this merely served as a way for Esdeath to demonstrate to Tatsumi that she would not accept refusal anymore by highlighting just how much he wanted her.

When she momentarily allowed her eyes to leave Tatsumi's painfully cute face, to ogle and swoon at his abs and pectoral muscles. Metaphorically, Esdeath devoured and savoured the eye candy on display, loving Tatsumi intently with her eyes.

Taking his chance, Tatsumi shifted every last ounce of his body's weight upward to forcefully throw Esdeath off him. A futile effort, like the countless he had made prior in similar situations to this, but the day that Tatsumi just opted to let Esdeath have her way with him without some struggling beforehand were the day that he wore the Imperial uniform with a smile on his face.

He hoped that'd be later rather than sooner.

Compared to the softness of his lover's thighs that Tatsumi felt when he tried to escape, Esdeath felt just the opposite of that. An unfamiliar level of hardness that she hadn't experienced before, realizing that something wasn't right, she immediately released Tatsumi and threw him hard against the headboard of the bed by his shoulders. He just wore briefs, but she had sworn that she felt a weapon of some kind when sitting on him.

Eyes glued to his own, Esdeath wasn't able to see what the real issue was.

"...I thought I told you, Tatsumi. Weapons are forbidden in our bed, you needn't fear harm from anyone with me."

Keeping him stuck to the bed's headboard by the hands, via slight usage of her Teigu. Tatsumi yelled in pain, and to avoid Makoto checking on them during this, Esdeath would proceed to freeze the door to his room with a thick sheet of ice. "I don't have a weapon on me, Esdeath! Let me go, already!"

"I gave that up, believe me!" By that, Tatsumi meant he had stopped trying to sneak weapons in, due to always being caught. He intended to use them to free himself from binds, preferring knives capable of cutting through leather straps.

"I'll be the judge of that, Tatsumi." Esdeath hissed and began searching the bed for a concealed dagger or knife on and beneath the mattress but she didn't find anything on the area around where she had sat on Tatsumi, nor below. Assuming the poking was just what she originally figured it was, yet even then, she had never felt it at that animalistic intensity before.

A firm hand stripped Tatsumi of his briefs, tearing them apart into shredded pieces. Tatsumi gasped then seethed in rage and frustration, losing his patience with each violation of his bodily rights accompanied by the searing pain of being trapped by the hurting frozen shackles. "Satisfied, now? See, I don't have weapons on me...! You crazy B-Don't make me say it, damn you!"

Tatsumi would have continued berating Esdeath for her paranoia and antics but he stopped when she eerily paused in her motions herself. In fact, she wasn't even looking at him in the eyes anymore, instead focusing at his embarrassingly study erection. Eyes kept to the ceiling above, Tatsumi finally brought them down to look at what the heck she was doing currently.

"So, this is the fearsome "Weapon" I felt, wasn't it?" Esdeath joked, voice thick with lustful desire. "Weapon? What do you mean, "Weapon"? That's just my..."

Then Tatsumi saw it, too.

"What the fuck, how'd that happen?!" Tatsumi screamed internally, completely floored.

He had grown surprisingly, not just grown in that region, but really grown.

Tatsumi knew the stretched elastic in his briefs had been getting too tight on him for comfort, but he'd originally thought nothing of it. He was aware that Esdeath would simply buy new pairs when she noticed it herself.

She often discovered new things about himself way before he did, scary as it was. Just yesterday in the study, Tatsumi had been perfectly normal in regards to this but just less than twenty-four hours later, he had been changed spontaneously.

Without reason, too. Seemingly.

But.

The truth of the matter lied in Incursio, more correctly, Tyrant. The high-class Danger Beast was a creature that prided itself on its ability to survive and endure against hostility from every avenue of life.

Even now, existing as Incursio, it'd survive. Tatsumi just assumed that meant combat, and the like exclusively. He wasn't aware creatures like the savage dragon-beast considered that producing children was considered another way to "escape" death via creating a legacy.

To breed, to mate. To copulate.

Aspects that the Ice Queen had begun to slowly instil into her own mate in hopes that he'd open himself to his feral bestial desires, and his bodily urges.

His base instincts.

To somebody like Esdeath, she'd would have been able to easily point the link out but Tatsumi, who consistently tried to ignore the primal instincts that were growing inside him steadily like previously stated, he, however, was blind to the true meaningfulness of this particular strange development.

So blind, he hadn't been able to spot the begins of this change earlier. The hints were that sex was gradually becoming easier to manage with Esdeath, seeing how he could last longer and go not wear himself out as easily.

In layman terms, Esdeath's extreme appetite for the rough aggressive mating they usually partook had forced Tatsumi's lower region to adjust to the pace she had put it through daily, or collapse under the pressure.

Like a muscle, if you kept working it hard, then it'd eventually become strong.

If he had been lucky enough to stay in his relationship with Mine, this would have not occurred, for it wouldn't have been needed.

"This... Wonderous... Sudden change of yours isn't natural, Tatsumi." Esdeath breathed out with heat in her words, quickly releasing Tatsumi from his icy binds, else she'd forget to do so.

They had sapped most of his strength, the icy binds, causing him to go limp against the board. "Incursio is the cause of this, I know it. It's transformed your body into an engine of destruction, into perfection."

"You're adapting to my lifestyle, and it's really showing... You're perfect."

"You're becoming quite a stud, Tatsumi." Esdeath chuckled at that last part, she meant stud as in an animal used in selective breeding.

Ironically, what Tatsumi was in some ways, considering Esdeath had definitely selected him for the children that he'd produce, now that she had proof of his greatness in that forte.

"So utterly Perfect, is this what you call me, call this? It's turning me... Into something I'm not, a monster for all I know. A beast. Can't you see that, Esdeath?" Tatsumi said back, he wasn't confident that Incursio's changes were to be wished for.

"You're still human, Tatsumi. And the, you in the future, stayed human, too." Esdeath tried to assure Tatsumi, but she was currently way too obsessed and giddy over what had become of Tatsumi's member to put legitimate effort in her reassurances.

He was big before, more than just average, but now Tatsumi was terrifying to behold. It'd be thick like a man's arm, and wild like a rearing steed. Veiny, too.

Esdeath, for once, wasn't so sure if it'd be something she could tame and dominate, or if it'd tame her instead but she just saw it as another exciting challenge to partake in. "I can't wait to have this inside me, it's going to feel so very good. I'll probably split into two, by the looks of this thing but we'll have to see, won't we?"

"Tch... Just give me another set of briefs, please."

"You could never have hoped to take this beast, you little girl," Esdeath whispered below her breath. "He's become a danger to women everywhere, only I can contain him now. He's all mine."

She continued, panting lustfully at every pause in her words.

"You're so strange, Tatsumi. You look cute and handsome, but down here... You're quite scary, aren't you~?"

"I never intended to be scary, you know! But if you don't stop, I can always castrate myself first, at the base, Esdeath. Your delusions of grandeur can stop right now, I don't particularly want to experience any more abnormal changes in my body that I can't control. In a body, I can't control." Tatsumi said, half-jokingly.

"If you do that, my darling. I'll make you so wish, you hadn't, one thousand-fold. If you try to deprive me of my rights, of my future children, you will come to know pain like no other has before, that I promise you." Esdeath said, completely seriously without missing a single beat.

A chilling glare froze Tatsumi's confidence solid, but it wouldn't show on his firm expression.

"Come on, Esdeath... Can't you see that this isn't normal, that I'm changing? Into, hell, I don't know what." Tatsumi tried to convince Esdeath of the scary reality, but she just moved back unto Tatsumi's waist with a swift movement then shushed him with her breasts to comfort him, trying to place a nipple in alignment with his mouth to silence him with it.

Stroking him by the head, speaking clearly. "Whatever you do turn into, I'll always love you. That was my promise, Tatsumi. My vow, you're mine forever and always."

"Death is no escape for you from me. I am your life, and your afterlife."

Esdeath's devoted possessively-charged words did indeed comfort him somewhat, along with the softness of her chest. But with the warm comfort, came cold self-loathing that he could feel comfort from words that originated from a renown sadistic monster.

An evil woman with seemingly no morals, who held love and care for only him and the one child that came from him. That combined with the fact that Tatsumi himself needed to constantly remind himself of the true awful reality that was Esdeath, The Ice Queen.

To avoid becoming blinded by the love that she had forced into him and his soul.

Apart of him sought the emotional strength to abandon Night Raid and the Revolutionary, to put his village first.

For the people of Matsura Village, his home, he'd do anything but betraying his friends wasn't one of them. They had to go first, for that to occur.

For Tatsumi to place the lives of his homeland, he needed to lose Akame, Leone and his cause.

Which perfectly aligned with the Ice Queen's goals, goals which would be realized today, they'd be no tomorrow for the Revolutionaries and those that supported them.

Everyone would die, regardless of the degree of their support.

Ten minutes passed, and they had gotten dressed for the day. Esdeath removed the sheet of ice that prevented access or entrance to Makoto's room and saw that he was already dressed.

A white Imperial coat embroidered with her crest, grey tie and black boots in his size. Dressed in her uniform, as per usual, Esdeath informed Tatsumi of the role that she expected him to take for the rest of the day.

Unlike, Makoto. Tatsumi was simply expected to stay within' the Capital's safe walls, in the bedroom particularly, until she returned in the evening's dusk. Naturally, Tatsumi refused this. Refusing to stay idle, while they suited up for something big by the looks of it. His pleads to accompany them on whatever they were heading off to do, were met by firm hostility and dismissal by Esdeath.

Tatsumi's objective in joining Esdeath this time would be to hopefully limit whatever damage she would be out to do, he couldn't do that if were to remain locked away under house arrest.

The fact that she refused him, meant it'd likely be something to do with the Revolutionary Army, or worse yet, Night Raid. Either that, or she wasn't comfortable with putting him in harm's way when she wasn't sure what they'd face.

She had borderline aggressively raped him in the bathroom to make up for the long month she had lost with him, very much thanks to his coma and not even Tatsumi wanted to risk or repeat that by falling into another.

Tatsumi continued to reflect on the fact, he had been unwillingly rendered comatose when they walked into the trap Budo had made for the Jaegers. If Tatsumi hadn't killed the Death Tagool, it'd be likely that Wave or Kurome would've fallen for Budo's trap instead, in ways more permanent than Tatsumi's own falling.

The foolishly planned trap itself had caused Esdeath to quickly dethrone Budo from his seat of luxurious well-regarded seat as Great General and throw the Capital into a worse tyrannical state than before, within' the time span of one whole day.

Let it be known that if Tatsumi had instead died by Budo's ill-fated ploy, then Esdeath wouldn't have just stopped at leaving him a quadruple amputee for life, losing Tatsumi would have meant losing Makoto, too.

So everyone in the Imperial Capital would have likely died as a result of the former Great General's power play.

An ironic twist of fate, in killing the two people she had loved deeply, the Empire that Budo loved would perish, too.

A fair trade, to the Ice Queen's twisted sense of what fairness was.

If she could not live in happiness, then nobody would.

Twenty-five minutes had passed into the day since Great General Esdeath had departed with her brood from her bedroom, leaving behind Tatsumi, guarded by one of her subordinates who arrived some time ago.

Fate, who despite being apart of the Jaegers, had been ordered to stay behind in the Capital to assist General Morgana in keeping the peace and most importantly, ensuring Tatsumi stayed put.

No room for failure was to be had, a delicate matter without question.

The other Jaegers of the Ice Queen had already been employed to accompany her on the journey to the base directly outside of Fallhaven. What remained of her legion that weren't already stationed at the base were to travel there, too.

She had waited long enough for this, and the more time that she didn't strike swiftly. Meant that Night Raid simply got more time to continue breathing and that wasn't to be tolerated further.

The Great General wasn't stupid to leave the Capital without a standing army either to defend it from a surprise attack, she ensured the Capital was sufficiently bolstered by the forces serving General Morgana and the Imperial Politicians, Morgana herself owned a legion, too.

They had successfully filled their ranks back up, having taken a small part in Budo's insurrection.

So casualties weren't high, nor were the survivors absorbed into the Ice Queen's army upon their surrender in the staged coup.

When Esdeath and Makoto made it to the Palace's closed gates that were leading into the Capital's roads that led to their destination, Esdeath could sense the presence of a plentiful amount of individuals waiting directly outside of them.

Apparently to bolster support, Honest had leaked information of the Great General's current mission to the public masses to garner support for the Empire's ruling councils, Esdeath didn't mind much in particular.

If the news had been leaked any earlier then she would've, but everything was in place. Timed correctly, and without any chance, for Tatsumi to act.

Helping Makoto on his steed, a smaller horse than the one she had chosen to ride. When he was placed on securely, she'd adjust her son's saddle properly and helped his feet into position.

The focused yet calm expression on his face was outright adorable, forcing Esdeath to momentarily pull Makoto's head down by the crown to plant a kiss on the side of it. "I know that determined scowl, Makoto. It's just like your Father's."

"...Really?" He'd ask, clearly bemused but not upset clearly by the look on his face.

"Would I lie to you, sweetheart? Of course." Esdeath nodded earnestly, a joyous smile radiant.

Wasting no time, Esdeath strode over to the waiting loyal steed she had picked out from her stables. A powerful yet young male horse, white in colouration like Makoto's own. Esdeath had enjoyed slowly eroding the proud creature's independence down through reinforcement and punishment practices, teaching him that disobedience would only resolve in firm punishment and deprivement of food.

Whereas obedience would be met with praise and well-filling nourishment.

The horse that Tatsumi and Makoto used to make it all the way over to Mt. Fake had been a work in progress for Esdeath, not entirely broken down but she didn't mind losing that one in particular.

Like people, she often picked favourites out from the options provided and she had already decided this one was a special case. The Jaegers's horses, minus Stylish and Seryu as they were travelling by carriage, were already in position directly behind them to lead on below their commander in Military formation. Adjusting herself on her saddle, one of her standing Captain's shuffled over and saluted. "Great General, we've hit some unexpected delays but we're working as quickly as we can to be ready to depart within' the hour."

"Delays? Do explain, Captain Zarish." Esdeath coldly replied, eyeing him. "Dr. Stylish hasn't finished with his Modi-Modifications on his "Prototype." and Jaeger Ubiquitous is currently assisting him. If you don't mind me saying, she's very concerned over the well-fare of the "Machine." whatever it is."

By his tone, it'd be clear that he'd be currently going off knowledge attained from Stylish himself and his own thoughts. "Inform Stylish that he's got twenty minutes, at maximum. I won't tolerate any more delays, are we clear?"

"Perfectly, Gr-Great General...!" Captain Zarish spluttered, then saluted quickly enough from his nerves to hit himself directly square on the head.

Slightly amused by this, Esdeath dismissed the Captain with a motion of the hand before removing herself from the saddle of her waiting mount, she did not want to get sore by staying fixed to the leather seat when she wasn't sure that they'd be leaving anytime soon. She could still suffer from annoyance's like saddle sore, and the like.

Internally seething at the mention of his foe's name, Makoto observed Kurome and Wave walking together in the background whilst they prepared for the journey ahead. They'd be passing by groups of Esdeath's men currently loading military carriages up with supplies, standard-issue army rations and firewood to burn bodies amongst other essential items.

Makoto's intense staring was interrupted when the hands of his mother came at his waist and forcefully lifted him from his saddle and strongly into her grasp.

"Uhu, what're you?" Makoto asked, shocked and confused. The man said twenty minutes, didn't he? So why was he currently being carried when were bound to set off any moment soon. "Don't act so surprised, Makoto. I need to kill my boredom so how, hmm?"

Holding him by the sides of his waist, Esdeath lifted Makoto upward and stared at him. A mixture of obsession and maternal love sown deeply in her eyes, staring into her son's own pair of beautiful green ones. Oh, she loved him so much. To think, that she had made him, piece by piece. Every hair on his head, formed by the intimate process between herself and her life partner Tatsumi.

Just the wonderful thought she had carried him and nurtured him inside herself was somewhat unthinkable, she almost couldn't believe it herself.

To create a boy so perfect, in such a little modest amount of time, too.

"Tell me, my special boy. My, oh so, special Prince of my heart. What do you want, what do you desire? Whatever you want, I'll make it yours. Today is a special day, so it should be for you too." Esdeath, like with Tatsumi, sought for a way to show the immense love that she felt. It'd be physically painful for her to keep so much uncontrolled pure love locked away without being able to release it.

She often asked Tatsumi such questions like the one she had just asked Makoto either when they were about to drift asleep in each other's arms, or when were engaging in casual pillow-talk.

She usually asked Tatsumi if he wanted anyone dead, or if there were anything that she could get him to make his life easier in the Empire. Esdeath was always met with the same expected answer from her mate, but she kept trying and trying.

She needed a way to show that she loved him, else Esdeath feared that otherwise, Tatsumi would remain the bitterly unaffectionate person he had always been forever.

That he'd doubt she truly loved him until the day he died.

"...Go on, what do you want more than anything in the world?" Intentionally trying to coax an answer out of him. Esdeath placed specific pressure on the word "Want" realizing it's importance in the docile child's mindset, Makoto never made his wants and desires known, always keeping them close to his chest.

The Ice Prince was presented with two options, the first option being to outright lie and proclaim that he didn't want anything whatsoever or instead to tell the truth as it was and open himself up. Weighing his options, Makoto realized that dismissively lying to his mother wouldn't provide him release from these questions, but just keep them coming in greater number.

They'd be two things Makoto desired, one wasn't within' Esdeath's power to grant, nor one that he wanted his mother to provide. Stylish's death was his to plan, perform and relish over. So, Makoto simply picked the one that she could realistically achieve, siblings.

Brothers, sisters and the like. In his ten years alive, Makoto had endured bitter isolation because of the things that made him special, his abilities and powers.

Even in the present, he only felt relatively comfortable around those that understood his situation, like Tatsumi, his dad and Kraygarr, his friend.

Siblings would change that, they'd be granted the same abilities and powers, so he wouldn't be so alone in the world. In the future, Makoto had to endure loneliness whilst his mother kept herself busy by endlessly destroying the feral roaming beasts that were responsible for his lack of sisters and brothers.

She had a personal vendetta against the malformed abominations that caused her so much pain, ruined her happy life and took a loving husband away from her and threw him into the jaws of death.

To add to this, not that Makoto knew.

His Mother's first tear-filled words, as she held him in her arms when he was successfully pulled from the womb by his Father's careful hands, were in fact.

"Tatsumi...I'd like another, please."

"You can't possibly imagine how complete I feel right now." She sighed, lovingly.

An equally sobbing General Tatsumi had little argument for that, having been instrumental in the delivery of his newborn child, even as blood and the like covering his hands thickly. In the short amount of time they had together in that moment, they were happy.

Truly happy.

"Siblings, Mom," Makoto answered truthfully, opting to not delay longer than his Mother could cope. Instead of expressing any kind of shock at this, Esdeath simply smiled warmly and steadied him comfortably in her grasp by letting him sit supported on her arm. "Clever boy, you know... Once we've gotten rid of the pesky Revolutionary Army, we can finally make that dream of yours, of ours... Finally, come true."

Esdeath had unintentionally given Makoto another important piece of information, too. Since as Esdeath intended for the children between herself and her Tatsumi to be legitimate ones, therefore born inside of marriage.

He knew that they'd be wed much sooner than originally, which was good news all around.

"Can we do it together?" Makoto asked, genuinely interested if he'd be allowed to partake in the battle ahead and not stuck on the sidelines. "Of course, this'll be your big chance... The one you've been waiting very, very patiently for."

"You've been a good boy for displaying such admirable patience, so Mommy is proud of you."

Makoto was confused, but even then, he gradually began to understand what she was saying in some form. Letting his mother speak to gain a full insight, without interruption from himself in turn. "Everyone here around us, everyone who wears our family's crest on their uniform's chest, one way or another... They loathe your Father intensely for his past deeds in Night Raid, they've tried to hurt him countless times for that forgivable error in judgement and in-kind, hurt you too. They don't feel your Daddy one is worthy to stand with me, Makoto."

"What does that mean for you, sweetheart?" Esdeath quietly asked him, speaking in the same hushed tone as before. Subtly manipulating him, and his emotions. Esdeath intended to keep the conversation strictly between the two of them, but even then, she didn't care for eavesdropping spies, especially when they could just as easily perish in the coming battles ahead. "...They don't believe I should exist."

"That's right, isn't it? You deserve to exist, you've earnt that right. You're eons stronger than anyone around us, but they don't believe that and they won't believe that."

"If you keep holding back, Makoto." At this, Makoto immediately tensed up and became much more alert. She had somehow seen straight through his facade of weakness.

True, Makoto wasn't as strong as either one of his parents, but Makoto wasn't pathetic at the same time at any rate. He'd be the result of a union between two of the strongest warriors in history, and the next history after that.

The truth was, as shown with Agotian's defeat at his hands. Makoto didn't feel as if he had to put everything in his battles, and opted to just put enough power in that was required to end the fight.

Conserving energy, and allowing him to avoid fatigue and exhaustion.

He had only gone violently overboard with Agotian, using one of his mother's own special moves, because of the man's foolish insistence in trying to persuade him away from his rightful place at her side. Agotian's survival had been pure luck on his part, Makoto had intentionally aimed to kill the man.

Sure, Makoto's small body meant that he wasn't able to properly unleash the power of the blood inside him, regularly without drawbacks.

He had a lot of growing to do before he could do that.

But, not using his power like before, was purely a conscious act on his part.

Practically. Esdeath was flat-out stating to Makoto, that if he demonstrated earnestly in full exactly, why, those that followed. Should keep to that mindset, and just follow instead of developing delusions of becoming more than what they were slated in life, an obedient footsoldier that jumped when commanded and died when ordered.

Esdeath hoped to capitalize on the highly truthful rumours that Makoto was the legitimate result of an intimate affair between Tatsumi and herself, assisted by Stylish to explain away certain aspects, like the age issue.

So, provided they saw exactly what Makoto could do and allowed perfectly rational fear to sink into their hearts, they're minds would be forced to view Tatsumi in a new light as well.

A terrifying unnerving light.

But most importantly, scary light.

Of course, if not for this goal, Esdeath wanted to ensure that Makoto didn't hold back during this battle, particularly as Akame would surely be present within' the walled city. While she wasn't largely bothered by this, for as soon as Akame made herself known on the battlefield, Esdeath would be there to welcome her into death's open arms.

Plus, Kurome would likely try and find Akame, too.

"So, what will you do when the battle begins, the battle for the happiness and future of our family?" Esdeath quietly asked him, swaying him gently in her arms. "I'll... Make you proud, Mom. I won't hold back, and everyone... Everyone will see why I'm my Father's son."

The Ice Queen couldn't have wished for a better response if she tried, perfectly executed in every way. The confident way that Makoto delivered the beautifully spoken line showed exactly how much he wanted this, they were now acting as one singular entity. Mother and Child. This was their fight, and they would fight for what they wanted until the last enemy was destroyed.

"Oh, my darling."

"Oh, my beautiful darling. You'll be a Big Brother before you know it, I promise you, by the end of next year." Esdeath cheerily swayed him about, drunk and intoxicated on every last ounce of the real love she felt for him and his father.

Esdeath's ego refused to accept the notion of defeat, everything was ascertained. If Makoto believed in their victory, then it was all but assured. She would not destroy the Revolution and its pitiful band of Assassins for hire for the accolades that she'd receive from the Empire, but for Tatsumi.

All and always for Tatsumi.

It'd be the greatest expression of love she could give him, second to becoming heavy with his child.

Roughly at the same time, in Esdeath's bedroom.

"You didn't need to do that, Rogers." Tatsumi commended offhandedly, using the provided key from his saviour to unlock his restraints. Observing the unconscious body of Fate strung across the carpeted floor below.

Knocked out by the man standing directly across from Tatsumi, Rogers had caught Fate midst the woman's idle interrogation of Tatsumi's current relationship standing with the Ice Queen and whilst Rogers was interested in that, too. He'd settle for saving it for another time, by striking the Jaeger sideways across the back of the head.

Fate had caught onto this, but way too late.

Only being able to sense him from behind, but no seeing his face.

Rogers was a honed spy, and assassin. Cut from the same cloth as Tatsumi, they'd be counterparts in a strange way. They were both strangers in the Empire, foreigners, working for the side they previously opposed and aiming to destabilize the Empire from the inside.

The difference was that Tatsumi had managed to unexpectedly acquire the unending affection of the thought-to-be unattainable General Esdeath.

"Of course I did, you idiot. She'd have screamed in a loud womanly tone, or something." Rogers verbally slapped Tatsumi and threw a set of Imperial Courier attire directly into the boy's unbound arms, without waiting a single second for him to reply. "We don't have much time, put these on and bend in."

"Wait, bend in... What do you mean?" Tatsumi asked loudly, trying to attain some answers to what currently was going on. Even if he had already suspected the true reason for Roger's freeing him from his chains. "Simple, I'm setting the loose cannon loose. Esdeath is planning to kill Akame, Leone and everyone else that you love."

"Today, that is. She's always wanted that, but today's going to actually do it."

"So, you better act fast. They're heading to Fallhaven, that's where everyone's set up shop." Rogers kept the details short and sweet, but easy to understand.

Realizing that, as told, he didn't have much time until Esdeath left the Capital with the Military convoy, Tatsumi immediately began dressing in uniform. He didn't have to remove much, just the trousers he wore. Surprisingly, everything would fit like a glove. Eerily so. "Everything fits, right?"

"Yeah, a bit too well. How'd you get my measurements, we're not the same size." Rogers was slightly taller than Tatsumi, but not by much. So it'd be obvious that this wasn't his uniform, but a newly acquired pair. "Well, Uhm, let's just say that Esdeath keeps a record of every measurement of yours in a handy little book."

"Every... Measurement?"

"Every single one, Tatsumi," Rogers replied, stone-faced, quick as a gunshot from the exploding barrel. "Now, avoid the guards and avoid being held up. Questioned, too."

"Find the Military Staging area near the Palace, and you know the rest. Sneak aboard, etc, etc. Don't reveal yourself until the shit starts hitting the fan, best of luck." Rogers jokingly saluted his partner in crime and began shooing Tatsumi away. Even with the, admittedly generous degree of assistance, Tatsumi wasn't convinced that Rogers was being genuine in his assistance.

A larger game was being played here, Tatsumi wasn't stupid.

"You're playing me, aren't you? How do I know you're really working with Akame, Rogers?" Tatsumi stepped forward, his face obscured by the Imperial Faceplate they'd wear as standard uniform. His entire head hidden away by it, the face-plate being apart of a larger design. "Ugh, if you must... Watch closely, but not too close."

In that instant, Roger's Imperial uniform shifted and morphed into a thick disgusting black ooze, goo, and slithered around him. Instantly reforming itself and appearing differently than before, now, hilariously so.

Roger's former attire now resembled Akame's usual wear. Skirt and everything included but snugly fitted around the spy's muscular form. This questionable sight filled Tatsumi with mixed feelings and eventually ended with him violently throwing up on the floor some seconds later.

"Ok, ok...! I don't like doing that, but people who see Akame that close usually don't live very long if you get what I mean, so we're square, right?" Rogers hastily morphed himself into a better suiting outfit, very glad to be free from that humiliation but he'd take it in good humour at the end of the day. If everything went well, Tatsumi wouldn't be alive for much longer anyhow. "Alright, we are. I won't even ask what... That was, that black goo, I can only guess it's a Teigu of some kind."

"...We have a winner! Right on the money, Tatsumi. Have you been doing your homework, you have, haven't you?" Rogers laughed, as Tatsumi took the keys away from Fate for the seal to Incursio in its place locked away in the holder.

Esdeath and Makoto's respective weapons had been removed from it, and only Tatsumi's Incursio remained. Esdeath hadn't taken Incursio along for the ride, in confidence that she would not need to bring it to avoid a scenario that required her to forcefully pull it away from Tatsumi, whilst it'd be attached to his body.

If she had been slated to be away for longer than a single day, then it'd be a different story, mind you.

"Now... What to do with you, good lookin'." Rogers bend his knees over Fate and began to ponder away. Quite hilariously, deciding Fate's own fate but Tatsumi immediately interjected and shot down any attempt at disposing of the witness. Usually, Tatsumi would have been open to that particular method of maintaining secrecy. He'd be a heartless assassin, after all yet apart of him couldn't stomach getting rid of Fate, when she herself was a victim too.

Like him.

Oh, if only Tatsumi were aware of Fate's role in Mine's capture, the girl that he could not remember anymore.

"Leave her be, we have bigger problems. The attendants will be here soon, and they'll sort her out." Tatsumi explained, and locked eyes with Rogers, who returned the sentiment. "Eh, fine by me. I didn't intend on sticking in the Empire anyway, least not that I've helped you now."

They'd leave the quarters of the Great General behind them, and slide into the empty corridors. Separating there and then, Rogers left Tatsumi to his destiny and Tatsumi did the same to his saviour. He didn't exactly understand, fully at least, why Rogers had helped him but he knew that if he hadn't then it'd be likely that everything building up to his moment would have been for nought.

"Leone, Akame... Hold on, I'm coming for you." Tatsumi internally chanted, for the third time in his head.

Meanwhile, the spy watched Tatsumi leave. Quietly murmuring to himself. "Eh, it's a shame that I'll have to tell that girl about his untimely demise... But, whatever."

By the time, Dr. Stylish had finished with Fortuna's modifications for the upcoming battle, it was noon. By the time they arrived at the camp, just east of Fallhaven's walls, it was in the afternoon. They had made it with moderate speed by travelling purely by horse-back, with the additional forces being sorted into carriages and wagons, Tatsumi amongst them in disguise.

Bending the crowd of soldiers from Esdeath's legion, Tatsumi had managed to avoid the gaze of Esdeath. His scent masked by the scent of others, his face hidden by the helmet worn by the disposable troops that she led.

When they were unloaded from the carriage, Tatsumi immediately made himself scarce, Incursio had been wrapped up tightly in bandages, and it's scabbard covered with the same set of bandages, too.

When questioned about it, Tatsumi merely stated that it'd be a family heirloom that he carried in every battle for luck.

Which wasn't exactly false, really.

He spotted Wave, Kurome and the rest of the Jaegers dismounting from their horses, too. Seryu was currently being shadowed by that monstrously tall iron giant, whom seemingly had a rifle mounted on its left arm. It's ammunition fed directly into the enormous barrel on it's back. Clearly meant for continuous fire, by the looks of it but Tatsumi didn't stay around to ask for answers, he vanished away from the crowds, so he could avoid being drafted into the war itself as a legitimate member of the madness that was to unfold.

They'd be simple plains stretching across the main path to Fallhaven, that could be seen in the far distance. So Tatsumi opted to move around it, and head into the forest and approach the city by the side.

When he was far enough away, Tatsumi activated Incursio at it's lowest level, to avoid being spotted by Esdeath's superior senses. And then, he rushed through the forest's thick dense trees at blindingly fast speeds.

Thanks to the training received by his other half, Tatsumi had managed to leap eons past his former level of power.

His trump card would surely aid him in sneaking into the city, unnoticed by the Revolutionary Army that saw him as just a pawn of the Ice Queen. As long as he could avoid detection, he'd be fine. He opted to wait for the final battle to unfold, perfectly aware that trying to talk Esdeath out of the attack was pointless and futile.

"My apologies, Great General. But we simply do not have enough men to launch a full-scale attack on Fallhaven." The strategical advisor proclaimed, very nervous and worried but not enough to lie to his leader about their odds.

They'd be currently sat around a circular table in the tallest tent of the camp, aside Esdeath's resting quarters. Makoto was placed on his mother's lap, and the rest of the advisory council and Military officers were positioned around the desk, too.

"And why is that, exactly? I spared no expense at arranging this, I don't settle for defeat." Esdeath countered back, indeed, she knew they were under-manned when dealing with a fortress of that size but she wouldn't reveal what she had intended just yet. "We only have enough forces to assault the enemy keep at one side, if they try to escape through the other outer gates, we will be powerless to stop their movement!"

Hushed voices were spoken between the other attendees, but Esdeath merely began stroking Makoto's hair whilst she waited for the voices to cease.

"I am perfectly aware, which is why we are to attack the front gate, that we are currently facing from our camp." Esdeath confidently stated it'd seem as if she were fine with the concept of their enemy escaping from them. Which, would be, in fact very false. Unlike before, she did not intend to leave survivors, everyone was to meet their end.

"But... My Great General. You stated that you didn't want us to leave survivors for you, that only the Revolutionary Army's leadership were to be taken captive." The advisor began to sweat profusely when he realized she had begun glaring at him. "I have not changed in my desires, I never do. Now... I will tell you what, if I do not make good on my promise of not leaving any of the Revolutionary Army's pathetic excuse for soldiers alive, then you may take a full year's salary for yourself."

"And for a bonus, I will forbid the Empire's Ministers of claiming any extra tax on it. So, you will own every last penny that you receive for you to do with, as you like." Naturally, Esdeath knew exactly how to play people for their vices. A skilled manipulator. And not to mention that she had every means of paying good on her promises, and would see them met, provided she was beaten fairly in the game of chance.

But Esdeath had no intention to lose this particular bet, she had never lost before either.

It'd be clear that she was in a good mood since the other party lost nothing in accepting to this bet.

"...I see, then let us hope that we're both right in some way, Commander." At that, he finally halted with his questions and everyone else made no attempt at getting answers to their personal queries, too.

"Indeed, you have no reason to not accept my generous little bet, do you? Now that's over with... Let's talk about our plan of warfare." Concealing a viciously evil grin behind the wavy blue hair of her son, Esdeath drew the attendee's attention immediately with the way and tone she delivered her words.

The blue sky above would soon be marred by thick black clouds of smoke. The battle was about to begin, an hour after the meeting between Esdeath's officers had concluded, they were ready to begin the carnage.

The Ice Queen's soldiers stood in line and began marching to the gates of Fallhaven, closely followed by the Ice Queen and her Jaegers. Esdeath's soldiers numbered at ten thousand, exactly.

Behind them, at the camp, siege weapons had been set up to assist in the sacking of the Fortress City.

Cannons, and catapults to break the tall walls into dust.

Fallhaven hadn't attacked the marching lines of soldiers, yet...

A fatal mistake.

The soldiers halted, as ordered. Mother stood by her son, they exchanged glances and a nod was made by the other to the one beside.

Taken into his Mother's arms, Makoto breathed in and out. Seconds later upon the conclusion of that action, he was hurled quickly into the air at the height of the very tallest wall of Fallhaven and halfway to the walls themselves, a distance away from his original spot at the Ice Queen's side.

Incursio activated in a blinding array of smoke, and blue streaking lighting violently tore apart of the ground below.

At this moment, a thick square of Ice enclosed around the Ice Prince. The square soon formed two foundations at the bottom of it, and then what seemed to be arms at the left and right. The block that were the hands at the end of the arms, soon grew individual digits to create fingers. Same with the feet, as the featureless head spouted from the top. The Ice Prince serving as the core of the giant golem. In its previous silence, the heart began to beat and accelerate the transformation even quicker.

Then, a thought came to the young boy's mind, he wasn't just the Ice Prince.

In actuality, he was the Ice Dragon Prince.

He had learnt from his mother in the future, that Tatsumi's name meant "Sleeping Dragon" in his village and Incursio proved that notion.

Suddenly, and unexpectedly, the giant craned itself lower and soon let out a terrifying roar of rage. It's vocals, originating from Makoto's own. A tail burst from the end of it's back, hardened scales made from ice began lining the flesh of the Ice Dragon that stood at half the size of the Emperor's Teigu.

The Ice Dragon soon lost any features that could be seen as human, it's face had become completely dragonic with a snout that blew cold air.

Teeth, razor-sharp and claws on its hands and feet.

Without any delay, cannon fire soon came at the beast from the fort.

Meanwhile, Esdeath's men were rightly horrified at the transformation. They had deemed the boy as a non-threat, more concerned why Esdeath had brought a child to a battleground of men. Most of them had dropped swords and spears unto the ground in shock.

Their rifles clenched tightly, squeezed with enormous pressure. Either way, they were glad it was on their side and not currently against them.

"The first stone has been thrown, gentlemen... Now, attack! Let us march on their skulls, and break their wills...! The real fight begins now!" Esdeath roared, in a similar vein as that of her child. They were both acting as one, and this was shown when Makoto's Dragon form blew apart the outer-wall with a downward slam with its fist, allowing the lesser forces to charge through the crack made.

And for dessert, Esdeath immediately removed any chance for escape by summoning gigantic walls around Fallhaven that tore through the landscape, the walls were only open on the side they were charging from. Ensuring anyone that tried to escape, had to come into contact with the bulk of the enemy and their mortar fire. To further ensure they couldn't escape, Esdeath activated a specially created trump card of hers, for a situation like this.

Ice Calvary.

A three thousand strong deployment of Ice Golems lined the sides of the wall, equipped with spears and swords sworn unto their arms.

When most of her forces had passed her by, Esdeath decided to take part in the action herself. Leaping from the spot she stood, like a rocket taking off from it's landing pad. Esdeath flew through the air with speed, soon accompanied by the rest of her Jaegers.

Wave had received special orders to assist Makoto, whenever he could and soon could be seen leaping from the tops of the Ice Walls to assist him on the Ice Dragon's shoulder to knock away Cannon fire.

Seryu was carrying Fortuna, Blue was she nicknamed him, by his backpack over the walls herself. Using her foot-mounted rocket-propelled implants, along with enhanced strength to lift a titan at his size.

Kurome was nowhere to be seen, clearly having snuck into the city herself earlier undetected. Stylish, however, was back at the camp, he opted to wait until corpses had been piling up until he went off into the thick of it.

He needed flesh bodies, after all.

At the peak of her ascend, Esdeath lined the houses and battlements that she saw with ice spears. She knew none of her forces had made it into the fortress yet, thus let herself loose in her destructive power. Seeing the tower that surely held the Revolutionary's Leadership. She froze it solidly on the outside and encapsulated in, to preserve the lives of those inside, to save for later fun.

She couldn't sense Akame but wasn't overly bothered by that. She already knew that the girl would seek her out when she had mustered the courage for such.

Landing with perfect grace, Esdeath immediately unsheathed her loyal sword, clean of any blood. "Come, I am here to free you from the torment of life...!"

"Attack me, as if you do not fear death!" Esdeath yelled, clearly drunk on the thrill of battle. And in turn, found herself surrounded by Revolutionaries armed to the teeth.

"That's more like it, numbers do not matter to me... I will take on any number of your kind, show me your best and be defeated...!" At that, they charged and the first three of the bunch found themselves looking at their legs on the floor removed from their bodies, a distance away, as they bled out quickly. The others drew back in quick hesitation and were rewarded with decapitating strikes, too fast to be avoided or even seen.

Makoto's Dragonic form kept on the assault, destroying everything that stood in its path but clearly prioritizing the Revolutionary's Military forces.

"Oooh, look! There's another over there!" Seryu shouted, to which Blue, Fortuna, spun around to fire at the target she had pointed out.

"And there!"

Fortuna's feet were currently stuck to the floor by it's locking servos, with his waist coming equipped with the ability to change its direction without the need to move its legs. Fully mobile, and able to adjust his aim at will.

"A Bad Guy spotted at twelve o'clock, Blue!" Sitting on his shoulder, on a specially mounted chair. Seryu kept the violence going on, by using her own arm-mounted rifle to fire excessively into the Revolutionary's as they came from all sides. Soon, Fortuna's sole blue eye grew bright and activated it's Overkill protocols.

"Hold on..." He electronically uttered, as Seryu did just that, buckling herself up tight to his shoulder. "Oh, you're gonna do that! Great, I'm all strapped in... Go for it, let's really get them good...! Really, really gooooood...!"

By spinning 360 degrees rapidly, several times. Seryu and Blue were able to lay down assault fire to the hordes of hopeful "Bad Guys" by firing blindly in every conceivable direction. Explosive tipped bullets, used by each ensured they blew apart everything in their paths.

Bodies, houses and the like. Even retreating bystanders from the local population were hit by Seryu's bullets, with Fortuna using assisted targeting to avoid harming innocent civilians caught up in the madness.

When they stopped, Seryu unstrapped herself and leapt from the shoulder-mounted seat. "So, we've mopped up here, right?"

"Affirmative... No hostiles in a twenty-five-meter radius, I advise we move ahead." Fortuna replied, a rare show of affection with his head adjusting upwards and downwards in a nod to show agreement. Unaware to Fortuna, they were currently being watched by another who avoided his sensors, a blonde woman who had a vendetta against the Imperial Guard standing beside the seemingly soulless iron golem.

Back with Esdeath, she had gorged herself on violence, killing everything and everyone that came in her way that were not wearing her colours. Innocents included, in the insane woman's mind, they were guilty all the same. Guilty of the crime in assisting the Revolutionaries by housing them in the city, even if they were not the one who allowed such. Even so, that did not matter.

They would die horribly and rot in the ground all the same.

Standing surrounded by a tragic assortment of corpses, Esdeath decided to use another Trump Card she had only recently created. A trump card formed from not a need for violence, but for love. An urging and yearning for love and it showed in the way this particular Trump Card was.

"Figure of love, beauty and happiness... Embodiment of my eternal devotion to you, with this, you will always be at my side!"

"Where you belong...! Now, let us create a shining world for the two of us, my love!" Lifting a glowing orb of ice together in one hand, Esdeath lifted it skyward and blew cold air across the battlefield. With the air came massive shards of ice, five in total, separating from the orb and shooting out in a perfect circle around the Ice Queen.

From them, an Ice King arose, five each.

Moulded from the canvas of obsession, they'd grow from the seeds she had sown. Each and every one of them, humanoid and sculpted perfectly.

Sharing his height, and features at every turn. Unlike Esdeath's usual golems, these "Tatsumi's" weren't so crudely made, instead were filled with great detail. Clearly displaying Esdeath's true love for him with the amount of detail and effort she put into them.

Once they were fully formed and ready for action, facing away from their Queen, they spun around and immediately kneeled loyally. Waiting to receive orders, they were intelligent too, able to follow and obey complex orders.

"My Ice Kings, eliminate the Revolutionary Army's commanders and whittle away at their morale...! This war of attrition is at its end. Show me the love that I demand from you, serve me well...!" The Ice Queen commanded, and they immediately got to work.

Three leapt away from sight, heading in different directions with amazing speed. Creating these instruments of destruction was not an easy task by any means, but Esdeath's obsession with Tatsumi was enough for it to be achievable.

The two that stayed, had sensed a group of Revolutionaries laying in wait behind their Queen.

Armed with rifles, they immediately recognized who the Ice figures were resembled after and shot blindly. "Take this, you damn turncoat...!"

"To hell with your betrayal, you bastard...!"

They'd leap directly in the way of the shots, swiping the bullets away into the ground near them. A hail of bullets came quickly afterwards, to which they ensured none got through by creating a sword each in their left hand, gripping it tightly between them.

With speed unlike any other aside from their Queen, they cut down each and every shot and soon did the same to their attackers. A leap and a downward stab did away with two, and the rest were cut into pieces as blood-caked their ice forms thickly.

A sole survivor was all that had managed to endure the onslaught, although greatly wounded, laying on his front.

"Cur...Curse you, Ice-Bitch. If it... If it weren't for your damn powers..." He spat out in rage, as she drew close, walking past the loyally waiting Ice Tatsumi's.

Standing over him, Esdeath returned the sentiment of his words by applying a hard heel on his back, penetrating it and hitting his lungs directly with the heel alone. Using none of her Teigu in this, just pure unadulterated physical violence. "My power alone isn't what defines me, you weak little man. The Queen is the strongest piece of the board, and a good King will always do their best to protect them. For if the Queen is lost, the game might as well be lost, too. My King's have done just that, and you will suffer for trying to harm me in their presence, now..."

"Please, kindly perish."

Twisting a heel, to maximum his sweet delicious agony. The Ice Tatsumi's took the cue instantly and leapt at her side to finish the job. Ironically, by stomping him to death with boots lined with protruding sharp spikes. Drawing her sword once more, she'd heartily chuckle and walk away but not before applying a hard spank to the leftmost Ice Tatsumi's rear for it's good efforts.

A certain seductive sway of victory in her hips as she left to find Akame and reap the rewards of her labour.

For once, Esdeath met no opposition as she roamed the battlefields in search of her arch-nemesis and the only person on the opposition's side that could provide a challenge, it'd be fairly obvious that Esdeath considered Leone to be a non-threat and were even willing to leave her alone in peace to whatever fate she had in store when she had successfully dealt with Akame, provided she did not threaten her rightful claim to Tatsumi.

When the two Ice Tatsumi's had finished, literally, reducing the man to red crimson mush under their weaponized sculpted boots, they quickly leapt away from the area to proceed with their previously ordered task to destroy the shaky command structure of the Revolutionary Army and create more chaos amongst the survivors.

"So... That large "Thing" up there, that's Esdeath's child?" Akame asked, tightly holding unto Murasame.

"Yes, he is... He's more powerful than either of us, you know." Kurome replied a firm yet gentle tone in her voice.

"Makes no difference, once I'm done with the Ice Queen, he's next."

"I won't let that happen." Kurome launched another attack, locking blades with her sister firmly as they stared into each other's eyes. Explosions rang out in the distance, screams and loud cries that were similar to orders, too.

The air was warm but grew colder and colder.

They both knew what that meant, thus resolved to end the fight as quickly as possible. "I can't let you go, Kurome. Not as long as you serve the Empire, so give up."

"I want too, Akame... But I can't leave Wave behind." Kurome confessed, and hope grew inside Akame's heart. "Then come with us, Kurome! Both of you, I don't want to have to kill you both."

The young girl paused, then lifted Yatsufusa back up in a fighting stance. "No, it's too late for that. Fight me already."

Regardless of the girl's wants, the conversation had to end there. For if Esdeath caught wind of it, she would not allow Kurome to be with Wave whatsoever. They'd be separated away, and she could not live without him anymore.

Ironically, like Esdeath. She wasn't fighting for herself or the Empire, but the person she loved the most.

"...Tch, if that's what you wish!" Akame lunged ahead, slamming Murasame against the steel of Yatsufusa, hard enough to cause sparks. They'd repeatedly clash blades, toying with the other without aiming for decapitating strikes.

Neither truly desiring the death of the other whereas Akame didn't, because she knew that Kurome truly wanted to escape the Empire's hold inside her heart, Kurome did not as her newfound relationship with Wave and her healing from the dependency on the drug she had taken to keep up with Akame in the past, and the injury caused by Chelsea, she found herself without a lot of the instability she had suffered from before.

Effectively, she felt relieved and renewed, even if the lives she had taken still haunted her mind and dreams.

"I'll take things from here, Kurome. Excellent job in your task, top praise indeed. You did just as I asked." Esdeath's voice rang out, a cheerful tone heard, accompanied by the loud sound of her heels on the cracked cobblestone floor. A betrayed look appeared on Akame's face, that quickly died as an angry scowl showed itself instead. Akame wasn't sure if Kurome had willfully betrayed her to Esdeath by stalling intentionally, or if Esdeath merely wanted her to think that instead.

It didn't matter now.

For when Kurome begrudgingly drew away and vanished from sight, leaping to the nearest destroyed house's broken roof. Akame's eyes immediately locked with her arch-enemies' own, this was the chance she sought. A confrontation with the Ice Queen to end the struggle between good and evil in good's favour. The mockery that was Esdeath's winning streak wouldn't progress any further along in its path.

"Whatever evil twisted god has had a hand in letting you win, it ends today." Akame now properly steadied Murasame, she had no reason to hold back and no reason to go easy against Esdeath. Especially she had suffered so much at the evil woman's hands, she had to die. The sentiment was shared, quite heavily by the Ice Queen herself.

Neither intended to let the other walk away from this alive.

"I assure you, sweet Akame. There is no divine intervention in my battles, I win through my own power." Esdeath proudly stated, stretching her hands widely as if to taunt Akame into attacking her blindly. Exposing herself to harm. "And I will win this battle, all the same! Let us close the book on our little tale, for when you die... My new life will finally begin, with your decay on these beautiful wartorn streets, shall herald the birth of my children with my beloved Tatsumi."

"...So it's true, you really do intend to create more of you." Akame spat angrily, horrified at the thought of somebody as twisted and cruel as Esdeath being a Mother. The way she had said the line, implied Akame did not see Esdeath as human, but something else and that herself breeding with Tatsumi meant the creation of an entirely different species of monsters. "You could say that it's a new hobby of mine, you know. Tatsumi just does things to me that make my body shiver and swoon."

"You disgust me, let's get this over with already. I can't stand you." Akame made the first strike and launched herself over at Esdeath. It connected, hitting Esdeath's fingertip square at it.

They'd be no blood, as the blade's cut didn't hit flesh but ice instead. Esdeath had easily anticipated the attack and acted accordingly. Shielding herself from Murasame's poison by coating her fingers in ice to block it.

Angered, Akame tried to land a hit by unleashing a quick series of swipes, left and right. The Ice Queen effortlessly blocked each and every one of them with the finger alone, intentionally keeping one hand hidden behind her back. "...It's that honestly your opening attack, Akame?! I expected better! Far better from somebody of your finesse!"

"Try this, for an opening attack!" Esdeath roared powerfully and booted Akame away with an upward kick to the stomach that landed on its mark. Knocking the young girl away, and left Esdeath alone on the floor. She didn't even attempt to attack again, fully confident in herself even if she originally intended to just finish things off quickly.

Caught up in the bloodlust she felt. A powerful bloodlust, that could surely seal the Ice Queen's very doom to Murasame's blade.

It's deadly poison.

"Kuk...!" As Akame flew away, she'd quickly adjust herself in the air and realize that Esdeath made no effort to follow up on the kick, landing on the ground. Akame breathed out strongly and readied herself once more. "A twisted monster like you doesn't deserve to bare children...! Especially with somebody like Tatsumi, I won't let you corrupt his bloodline with your filth...!"

A growl was heard by the Ice Queen, it'd lack any notable human traits. It'd be now that Esdeath drew her sword and prepared to use it, Akame couldn't be allowed to get off easy with statements like that.

Nobody deserved Tatsumi more than herself and she knew it, soon he'd know the same. "You're really pissing me off, girl. Why don't you stop talking and focus on the matter of your inevitable defeat?!"

"Don't make me laugh, it's you, who's going down!" Akame met Esdeath with a leap, as she did the same. They'd clash blades, sparks everywhere, and meet eyes. Teeth bared on each side, they'd separate from their lock and swing at each other. Knocking the other's sword away with each strike and returning to counter the coming blow from their foe.

"Come on, come on!"

"That's it, Akame! Wear yourself out, become fragile! Fragile enough for me to break apart!" Esdeath taunted giddily and kept at the assault, Akame leapt away and breathed out in frustration at the current situation. They'd both be temporarily distracted by a sudden minor yet clearly devastating earthquake caused by the Ice Prince's carnage as the Ice Dragon stomped its feet into the surface of Fallhaven's foundations, shaking it and blowing apart everything in its path.

Meanwhile, Esdeath looked on at him and swooned in bliss. "That's my baby boy, make Mommy proud."

"Crush everything that stands in your path, let the weak suffer for their faults." A hand on her curvaceous hip, Esdeath effortlessly blocked Akame's surprise attack without even looking her way or at the strike, sword locked with hers, Akame was forced away with the sword she held when Esdeath decided to put more effort into herself. "My apologies, Akame. It's just like me to get so caught up in seeing my darling son's accomplishments, now... Where were we? Oh, yes, you're defeat."

"That thing over there, is just another target on my list, once you're done... He's next." Akame didn't realize it, she had just shaken the hornet's nest. Esdeath had originally decided to give Akame a fitting warrior's death. A simple decapitating strike and that was it. If she was feeling generous, she would even dispose of her body through usage of the Demon's Extract to ensure that it was not tampered with, post mortem.

But now.

All bets were off.

Akame's death wouldn't be less than humiliatingly slow and painful, followed by a parade to the Empire's adoring masses with the naked bloody corpse impaled on a pike for all to see in its horrific glory. Even a heartless cruel creature like Esdeath could love and treasure someone, not that Akame believed that for a second.

The Assassin's inability and refusal to see that had guaranteed her slow death for certain.

"...It's funny, you know. I originally thought we had something special between us, Akame. I even originally wanted to spare you, and have you serve me!"

"As if I'd ever serve you, Esdeath...! Quit with the jokes, already!" She retorted, at speed.

"Ah-Ah-Aaah~! ...I wasn't finished, because you see, I know that as long as you live and breathe... My family will never be safe from you, or that Teigu of yours."

Akame stood in silence, she couldn't risk attacking however as she knew that Esdeath would expect it. She had to pick her strikes wisely to ensure success, after all, she only had to get a successful hit once to succeed in her mission. "All I need is you dead, and by the time you've finished rotting away in the ground... I will be heavy and wide with Tatsumi's child, Akame."

"So, let's quicken the pace of this battle a bit...!" Using her Teigu for the first time in the fight, Esdeath threw a hand upward from the side of her body and blew a thick torrent of razor-sharp ice across the ground directly at Akame, in an effort to keep the Assassin on her toes.

Having avoided this, like expected, Esdeath continued by closing her hands together from the sides, her sword sheathed away for now and bringing two walls of ice into each other to crush their target together with them.

"Stay alert, Akame! An attack could come from every direction, our fun together is only just beginning...!" Esdeath proved her point by finishing the onslaught of ice by clicking her fingers, erasing the walls at the last second and instead, calling forth one hundred individual daggers of ice at every possible angle imaginable, directly pointed at her foe.

To properly relish Akame's hopelessness in this situation, Esdeath intentionally waited for Akame to realize just how many of them they were.

Scoffing at the fact Akame had dared to try and prepare a stance in preparation for the oncoming barrage. Esdeath decided to reward Akame's misplaced bravery by saying no words and just seeing the action through, another confident click of her fingers released the meta-physical invisible string holding the daggers back away from their target and sent them hurling at the girl.

Despite holding the speed advantage over Esdeath, Akame wasn't able to avoid every dagger that came in her way. Using Murasame, she knocked away the ones she could not avoid and got hit, gashed but thankfully not impaled by the third set. The daggers that were dodged, stuck into the ground below. Blood dripped to the floor as well.

"Just the sight of your blood is a real turn on, you know. So, let us end things quickly... Tatsumi is waiting in my bed for me." Esdeath taunted once more, fully acknowledging the agony that her words caused Akame, even if she did not show a facial reaction to them aside from a scowl.

Redrawing her blade, Esdeath halted for Akame to gather herself so they could fight as equals, explosions and death-cries from Imperial and Revolutionary alike in the distance to properly set the scene of their battle.

"The only thing waiting for you, is an open dug grave, Esdeath." Akame powered herself on, refusing to be beaten as she was being currently. A diagonal swipe ensured their blades locked once more, as Esdeath leaned forwards to stare Akame in her eyes. Blue met red, and the hungry grin of the Ice Queen was seen in full by the Assassin. "Do you wish to know why you're being beaten, do you?"

"It's because you're out of practice, even an amateur can see that! You've been so busy trying to survive, that you haven't had any time to train..." To show her point, Esdeath slowly managed to take dominance in their blade lock, and soon forced Akame to step back to avoid the Ice Queen literally falling on top of her body due to the sheer force of the push she had to withstand.

"That sloppiness is your fatal flaw, and I could've killed you so much sooner!" True to words, Esdeath had only been playing with Akame, desiring to relish the defeat of the foe that stood in the way of her dream. "...I just... I just need one hit on you, one cut, and your history!"

"I will never die to such a cheap tactic like that, it'll take so much more to destroy me! I am eternal, I am warfare incarnate! I am forever...!" Esdeath, completely driven by bloodlust and desire to see Akame spilt into two, yelled and roared with bestial fury.

The undeniable madness woven in Esdeath's insane eyes invoked true legitimate fear in Akame for the first time in years, she was truly beyond help and the only help that she could receive was a sword through the rack, without a doubt. "If that's what it takes... Then I will destroy you until you cannot harm anyone else! Not Tatsumi, not my friends, not nobody else...!"

Tripping Akame up with a swipe of her left boot, Esdeath finished by delivering a hard kick to Akame micro-seconds later whilst she had been suspended in the air from the initial attack. Being flung over at high speeds, Akame's back harshly collided with a cracked wall that made up a ruined house.

Now, literally with her back to the wall, Akame lifted herself to her feet with determination and tried to shake herself off.

Dizzy and suffering from a minor concussion, balance being hindered as a result.

Seeing no reason to rush herself now that she had Akame exactly where she wanted, Esdeath walked ominously over to Akame's location. Generating sparks by dragging the tip of her sword against the floor below.

Licking her lips, just thinking about the future ahead and directly at her cornered prey. "Don't be sad, Akame. It was always meant to end this way, ask anyone. I was always meant to win, it's what I do best."

"You're only mistake is getting in my way, that's all." Esdeath stood two meters away from Akame, a lowered blade at her side in her right hand and a left hand on her hip. "That, and threatening my son... I will parade you throughout the capital as I did to your boss, you will share her fate too."

Najenda's horrible fate, served as a primary source of motivation for Akame not to be defeated by the Ice Queen, she knew what awaited her if she failed in her mission

"Once that is over with, I will feed your body to hungry staving dogs and watch them as they tear you apart, piece by piece and strip the flesh from your bone." A true sadist, without equal. Esdeath took immense joy in trying to break Akame prior to the end. "Your brittle bones will serve as toys they will have petty fights over, for months on end. A simple form of amusement, to simple creatures."

Now leaning against the unstable wall, Akame breathed out and in, deep and slow. Closing the ruby eyes she was known and feared for and prepared herself for the worst, but she just couldn't accept that. She wouldn't, she had to survive and live on. For Najenda's memory. A defiance of the fate that had been chosen for her, burned deeply and then unleashed itself.

As the Ice Queen prepared to finish Akame off, a properly aimed slash was all it would take. "Now... Let's make that a reality, shall we?!"

Akame leapt upwards, and when Esdeath's finishing blow connected to end it's target's life.

Akame vanished from sight, completely unexpectedly.

"Your bloodlust created an illusion...! Die!"

Appearing directly behind the taller uniformed woman, Akame screamed out in victory as she moved to cut across Esdeath's exposed back with the very last of her strength and completely win the bloody war of attrition for the future's direction by killing the chief Commander of the opposition.

The Ice Queen, the unbeatable General Esdeath, had absolutely no time to turn around to avoid it.

She had lost. Akame had won.

Oh man, in contrast to the previous chapter. Loads to say about this one, eh?

Trust me, I hate cliffhangers, but I couldn't resist this one. Now I won't say much about that, because of tension but I wanted a slight "History repeats." in my works, to keep them consistent with some of the media. Other than that, I'll say this, so that it's cleared out. The first part of the piece, where Tatsumi's "evolution" is shown, is supposed to be more scary than it is wish fulfilment for Esdeath.

Especially considering it is not natural, which Tatsumi knows. He wouldn't have experienced such with Mine, but because of the stark differences that having a relationship with Esdeath is, his body is beginning to change itself to avoid being broken by them. Noting to the fact, you'd have to be superhuman like Tatsumi to withstand simply being in a relationship with Esdeath, not to mention fighting her.

Which is why, anyone else, trying to get what Tatsumi has, is practically pointless as they'd be snapped like a twig.

But besides the point, anyway, another thing that I decided to add is a unique Trump Card of Esdeath's "Ice King" is what I call it.

I took inspiration from Cia, from Hyrule Warriors that came out a few years ago. (Just watch her outro in the game, you'll see what I mean.)

Like Esdeath, she's mainly in love with an idealistic hero and seeks to claim him for herself. She uses "Dark Links." in her gameplay, and uses them to make short work of foes, which is where I got the idea from. Imagine if somebody knew you so well that they could replicate you, and have it down perfectly?

It'd be horrifying, right? To make a clone from sheer THOUGHT and Obsession. Yikes.

Anyway, rate and review! I know you'll do so especially considering the chapter! Thanks!