Author's note:

I hope you all liked the last two chapters. Now here is this chapter about Tatsumi's time in captivity.

Next chapter coming soon. (Possibly tonight.)

M for gore and language.

April 7, 1963

Tatsumi is standing on a grass field. In front of him were the people that he knew in his life that have died. Sayo, Ieyasu, Sheele, Bulat, Chelsea, Lubbock, Mine, Leone, and Kurome. They tell him parting words. This worried him a lot because these people were his friends. They tell him to keep moving forward and to keep on fighting. Because though he saved their world, he died protecting the people he devoted himself to protecting. Now he is alive again in this new world is now the new home that he should save. One of them moves forward and approaches, it was Mine.

"Tatsumi, I hope that we can reunite once again. Probably be together again." Mine said.

Mine joined with the rest of the group and walked away. He calls out to them to not leave him alone again. He too wants to join them but was unable to.

"No, wait. Come back!" Tatsumi runs to his friends desperately calling out to them. In front of Tatsumi, a wall of solid ice appeared separating the two parties.

It was Esdeath, she preceded to berate Tatsumi down. Manage to get a few beatings in him. All in an attempt to keep him under her conditioning. After being beaten down and slicing him a few times with her ice hand, he was unable to get up and saw her approach him. With each step of her boots, Tatsumi can feel the weight of his eyes close. Until she approached, Tatsumi finally closed his eyes. All Tatsumi can see is darkness.

Tatsumi opened his yes again. He is in a run-down prison cell. It was moldy and the stench was putrid with blood. Screams can be heard across the rooms. Tatsumi looks to his right and sees a man. The man appeared to be in his mid-forties he has a mustache. He turned to look at Tatsumi.

In German, the man spoke. "Junge. Hör mir gut zu. Verliere nicht das Vertrauen in deine Sache, Junge. Denn wenn du den Glauben an das verlierst, woran du glaubst. Lohnt es sich dann wirklich, dafür zu kämpfen?" (Boy. Listen to me well. Don't lose faith in your cause, boy. For if you lose faith in what you believe in. Then is it really worth fighting for? )

Tatsumi looks at the man. "Huh?" He asks. The words are lost to him. Because he didn't know the man's tongue he was confused about what he said but could only believe that it was only something motivational.

The door opens. Standing in front of the door was Esdeath.
"So, I see that you're making a friend." Esdeath looks down at the German man.

In German, she calls out for a guard. "Drag this one out and follow me." Esdeath commanded.

"What is happening? Where are we going?" Tatsumi cries out.
"Oh. It's a surprise." Esdeath responds.

Black bags were placed over their heads. Few minutes pass by. But it should be hours. The black bags are removed from their heads. Both men were sat down facing each other, both are tied down to a chair. They look around and see it's a dining hall. Lavished with arts and fancy items.

"Now then Tatsumi. I bet you may know what happens but let's not get into specifics." Esdeath announces. "Now then. I assume you two know each other?" Esdeath asks.

"Not exactly." Tatsumi says. The German man remained silent.

"Well, then. Since you don't understand much of the German language Tatsumi. Then I will give you a few pointers." Esdeath says.
"Firstly this weak man over here, er ist ein Kommunist. Und in der Nazi Reich, wir hassen die Kommunisten und alle Ihre Idielogie." (He is a Communiist. And in the Thrid Reich we hate the Communist and all of their ideology.)Esdeath kicks the man upward. Causing him to spit out blood. Esdeath continues

"I follow much but not all of the Nazi ideology. But their are ideas that I don't follow, such as the racial caste system. Seriously undermines the human race to gain strength when you separate them into caste system. You already know their are two groups of people in my philosophy, the strong and the weak. The strong shall thrive while the weak die out. To me I don't see much in ethnicity or "race" as a factor. If you are able to prove that you are strong then you are strong." Esdeath talks a bit about her ideology to Tatsumi. "But their are ideologies that I will never ever accept. Ones that allow the weak to be on equal footing with the strong, like Communism."

"Communism?" Tatsumi asks.
"It's simple. Class warfare. The weak think that with numbers they can change society. But in reality, they're only weak, even in great numbers." Esdeath answers his question. "Though I do love war. Sometimes a social hierarchy must be established. So that the weak know where their place." Esdeath speaks. "In communism everything is shared for the collective welfare for all. I don't see that as an ideal for a society because then the weak can be a parasite to the rest who are strong in producing. So the strong make and keep what they make and drive out the weak who are parasites. Which is why communists like him are not human." Esdeath responds to Tatsumi.

"But he's still human. It doesn't matter if he's a Nazi, Communist, or Liberal or whatever. We're still human." Tatsumi cries out.

"Human. Fu, fu, fu. Communists aren't even human. Once they get the idea of Communism in their brain, then its impossible to convince them out of it. It is just better to put them out of life. Like shooting a dog if he has rabies." Esdeath looks at Tatsumi.
"Now then let me show you how we deal with them." Esdeath stands behind Tatsumi She used her right hand to force Tatsumi's head to face straight. She raised her left hand and an ice spear came out. It reached towards the man's eyes and began to enter both eye sockets. The man began to scream in pain.

"You will fail. And a new world will rise!" The man cries out and soon ice began to come out of his ears. Then ice coming out of his ears expanded inwards, destroying his brain. Esdeath pulled out her ice spear. The man slumped over dead, blood and brain matter begins to drain out of his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

Tatsumi was horrified by this experience.

"I'm only doing this to protect you, my love. From the evils of the world that threaten to destroy us." Esdeath kisses Tatsumi. She pulls herself away from his lips. "Now then. Time for dinner." Esdeath's face became more grin, twisted, and sinister.

Tatsumi. After witnessing such a horrifying death slump over looking down at the table. His eyes begin to close. All he could see now is darkness.

A powerful voice broke through the darkness.

"Wake up Tatsumi. Wake up. Breakthrough your conditioning and complete your purpose. For I gave you new life and a new purpose. Now please, complete it, and do the will of my Father. For I know that you and your friends are the ones that can complete this task." The powerful voice told him. He felt the voice's power, it was not only powerful but also the power was unlimited almost as if it were infinite, but it was also calming too.

Tatsumi got upright gasping for air and reaching his arm out as if he were reaching out for something. He got up and looked the cell was small, about a foot longer than a king-size bed and about seven feet tall. The only light source came is from the light fixture that is embedded in the ceiling.

"What happened?" Tatsumi asks himself. "Am I starting to fall for her? No. I shouldn't fall for someone like her. If anyone knows her then all she prefers is to dominate." He asks himself even more. "But what have I done that deserves to be with her?" Tatsumi asks himself even more questions. But the more answers he wants, the more questions come up. But all he knows is that this room looked similar to the one Esdeath placed him in if he doesn't follow her commands. Another thing he asks himself, is why is he shirtless?

The sound of the heavy door that is his only entrance and escape opens up. Tatsumi saw a tall male figure blocking the door. He gestured to his guards to grab a hold of Tatsumi. One of the soldiers places a black bag over his head to obscure his vision. After walking for a couple of minutes in what must have been hours. Tatsumi was sat down in front of a table and the black bag was removed from his head. He saw the same man again, wearing a formal Army uniform. He looked around and saw the US soldiers standing guard and at attention. The boy looked raggedy but muscular for his stature. He has scars that covered parts of his body, probably a torture method by Esdeath herself. The colonel thought to himself. He calls for the guard to give him a shirt or a jacket.

"Corporal, run to the barracks and get a shirt." The figure commands. The guard follows the command and runs off to get a shirt for Tatsumi.

The figure passes Tatsumi a menu. "Here. Any item. My treat." Tatsumi received the menu and thanked him but is on edge. As he must have been asleep for about a year, possibly in a state of unconsciousness.

"I'll have anything that you order." Tatsumi told the figure. "You sure? Alright. Guard. Bring me a NY strip steak, medium rare with a baked potato. And the boy a bowl of oatmeal with fruits on top and slices of buttered toast." The colonel told a US Private.

"Sir. You know this is not a restaurant." The private asks.

"I know but a way to get a person talking is with food. This poor guy looks like he didn't get a decent meal in a week. So, hurry up and get them." The figure told the private. "Yes, sir." The private saluted the colonel before leaving. The colonel orders the rest of the guards to leave the room and to only allow in the two that he sent out.

A few minutes pass by. The two soldiers returned one carrying their meals the other carrying a white dress shirt. The guard placed down their meals in front of them with their utensils. The other helped Tatsumi up, allowed him to put on the white sleeveless dress shirt, and sat him back down. Tatsumi grabbed the spoon and began to eat his porridge, wondering why he can't get the steak.

"Now. Time for introductions. I'm an Army Colonel, Col. Reeds. You don't have to introduce yourself to me. As I already know who you are." Col. Reeds told Tatsumi. Col. Reeds grabs the folder next to him, he opens it up, and reads from it.

"Your Tatsumi, no last name, no date of birth or location. First appeared in Europe about a year back. Your practically a ghost, kid." Reeds proceed to lay down the folder to the side and grab his fork and knife and cut into his steak, he took a piece of hit and proceed to eat it. He grabbed Tatsumi's bowl and dragged it away from him.

"Before you continue eating. I'd like for you to answer some, questions." Tatsumi placed down his spoon gently.

"You and your "lover" Esdeath have caused several problems for us in the past few months. Esdeath and Hitler's regime has killed tens of millions and some of that blood is on your hands" He places another piece in his mouth.

"After months of investigation, planning, and losses. We finally got you and mind if I say, you are a unique man. Which is why I want you." Col. Reeds places another piece of steak in his mouth.

"All of your crimes you committed against the world, the US, and crimes against Humanity. I can make it disappear. If you're willing to cooperate of course." He passes the bowl of porridge back to Tatsumi.

"Think about it. Eat it, before it gets cold." Tatsumi grabbed his spoon and began to eat his porridge. After minutes of eating and chewing.

Tatsumi finally spoke up after minutes of silence. "Why?" Col. Reeds raise an eyebrow.

"It's honestly simple. A yes or no question. No strings attached." Tatsumi slams his hand down on the table. This causes the soldiers standing outside to peer inside, but Col. Reeds waved them off.

"Bullshit, it's not! There is something you want. Something that you want that I don't have. Everything that I had back then is gone now. Now, what is it that you want." Tatsumi was angered, he was on the verge of tears. Col. Reeds places his utensils down and replied.

"As I said, it's you." Tatsumi looked at the colonel in a confused face. "Don't take this the wrong way kid. A person with your talents would have the whole world hunting down on them. This brings us here. I'm willing to give you an opportunity of a lifetime. Once everything is over, you'll be a free man once again legally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. You'll be granted a pardon from the US government, the Monroe Alliance, and the rest of the world. Not only that to sweeten the deal you'll gain US citizenship and at least twenty acres of land in the states just for you." Tatsumi looked at the colonel in more confusion. This deal sounds way too good to be true.

"Or perhaps, if you refuse. You get to spend the rest of your life in a solitary cell just like this for the rest of your life, stand trial for your crimes and more or less be hung or shot for your crimes, or spend several lifetimes in a solitary cell. With food that is horrendous in quality if you ask me. Just the bare minimum to survive. Now, which sounds better?" Col. Reeds offered Tatsumi a choice. Tatsumi thought about the offer that was presented to him. He knows that this offer is too good to be true. But is there any other choice that doesn't involve being with Esdeath? Perhaps not, maybe this offer is an opportunity to free himself from her grasps.

"Alright. I'll tell you everything you want and I accept your offer." Tatsumi responded accepting the deal.

"Hm, you've chosen wisely. I want you to join a task force with me. Details will be given later, as almost all of them are classified. You join me and I can guarantee a quiet peaceful life away from this after the war is done." Col. Reeds is pleased by his response.

"If I were to refuse?" Col. Reeds looks at him with a neutral expression.

"Well, I'm sure that you fear her more than Satan himself. Now then until your cleared for service. It is protocol that you will be remaining in your cell for the time being. I'm sorry, I hope you understand this." Col. Reeds told Tatsumi. Tatsumi reassured Col. Reeds.

"It's alright, I guess all will be fine until then. Aside from that what else do I have to lose." Tatsumi replied.

"Great then we got ourselves a deal." Colonel Reeds extends his hand out to shake Tatsumi's hand. Tatsumi extends out his hand and both proceed to shake the others hand. Col. Reeds pulled his hand away and snapped his fingers. US Army soldiers enter the room, Tatsumi had the black bag placed over his head again and is escorted out back to his cell.

Endnote
That was an interesting chapter. The next chapter will continue on with Tatsumi and Colonel Reeds.

This has been updated since 6/21/2021.
(P.s. I'm not a supremist of any kind. I did have to look up both Nazism and Communism to see how the character, Esdeath, would react to such ideologies. Safe to say, she wouldn't agree with communism or many of its branching ideologies.)

See you next time.