Chapter 3: The Interrogation Commences
"Seems she's not here yet. That buys us some time to go over a few things," Seryu says as we walk into the interrogation room.
"Just a plain windowless room with three chairs and a table? I expected to see dried blood all over the place or something equally horrific," I say.
"Be grateful that it isn't the case. Besides, Esdeath tends to torture elsewhere most of the time," she explains.
"M-Most of the time?! So there's a chance she'll just torture me in here then?!" I shout.
"You won't have to worry about that if you plan on telling the truth. You're not gonna lie, are you?" She goes from a cheery attitude to being close to my face with dead eyes staring into mine.
"O-Of course not. I wouldn't dare," I say.
"Good to hear. Now please take a seat," she smiles, reverting back to normal.
"Will do," I say, going around the table and sitting down.
What's the point of this other chair beside me anyway?
Some kinda intimidation tactic or something?
Walking over to the chair by my side, she runs her left hand across the edge of the table and sits down.
"Soooo…," she says, leaning against me.
"So what?" I question.
"Aren't you gonna ask some questions?" She inquires.
"Didn't you say there were a few things to go over?" I say.
"Yeah, I did. I was referring to answering anything you were still wondering about so go ahead and shoot before Esdeath walks in," she replies.
"If that's the case, then what happened to my weapons and rations?" I ask.
"Those were confiscated. You're probably not getting the rations back if Kurome found anything delicious though," she answers.
That sounds about right based on how Akame is about food.
"That's just wonderful," I say sarcastically.
"Keep it coming," she says.
"Are you certain she won't kill me after the interrogation?" I ask.
"I told you I got it. If things are heading towards an execution, I'll step in and try to convince her for a different punishment. That said, I extremely doubt Esdeath would kill you," she reassures.
"You seem pretty confident of that," I say.
"Well, I wasn't gonna mention it but you really look a lot like this particular guy she's absolutely crazy about," she explains.
Guy that looks like me?
There's only one person that fits the description.
"Sounds like you're referring to Tatsumi," I say.
Maybe I should've kept his name outta my mouth.
"Oh, you actually know him?! Are you his brother or something?" She questions, surprised.
Oh God no!
"Not in the slightest," I answer quickly.
"Then how do you explain the similarities?" She asks.
"Doppelgänger I guess," I sigh, scratching my head.
I don't really know myself. It's always just been weird to the both of us.
She grabs my left wrist and gives me a menacing stare.
"Are you actually Tatsumi, Tetsuo? Because if you are, I'll kick your ass for playing along with me and being a scumbag by cheating on Esdeath with me as well! Once I'm done with that, I'll let her have the satisfaction of killing you!" She threatens, starting to crush my wrist.
S-Say what now?!
Tatsumi and Esdeath are a thing?!
No way in hell that he told her that he was in Night Raid if true!
Personally, I always thought that he and Mine or maybe Leone were together.
Najenda and the others wouldn't be having any of that if she found out.
I gotta hand it to him though because how does one get the affection of a much feared general?
It doesn't sound like an easy feat.
"I didn't even know he was hitting it off with her! I always assumed he was some rando that happens to look like me. That alone should tell you that I'm not actually him in some disguise or some junk!" I shout, struggling through the pain.
As much as I don't like that guy, I won't expose his ass as being Night Raid especially when it might play to my advantage.
"Oh yeah?! Prove it to me then!" She yells.
It might just be a hunch of mine but maybe she's just trying to taunt me to get something.
"Alright! I know exactly what to do," I say.
"Go ahead and sho-," I interject with a kiss to her lips.
She frees my wrist from her iron grip and grabs onto my shoulders, her lips pushing back with an intensity greater than mine.
After a few more seconds, I pull my lips away.
"That's what you wanted, right?" I ask.
"Yeah… but that's not good enough," she mutters.
Oh c'mon! Even when I guess correctly, I still lose!
"What else do you want then?" I inquire.
"You're gonna bathe and sleep with me tonight of course," she answers, resting her head on my chest.
"Well, I assumed you already planned on us doing that," I say, embracing her.
"You're not gonna weasel out on me when the moment comes, are you?" She questions.
"Didn't we make a promise not too long ago? I swear I won't," I reply.
"I dare you to say it, Tetsuo," she says.
"You gotta earn that, Seryu," I chuckle.
"Is that so? I bet I can get it out of you before tomorrow comes around," she giggles.
"You're welcome to try but if you don't succeed, then you have to whip up some more of those cookies for me," I say.
"That delicious, huh? What do I get if I do succeed?" She inquires.
"Hmmm. You get to treat me like a dog, collar and all plus I'll spoil you to your heart's content. Both of those for a week straight. Deal?" I offer.
"Oooh. That's a risky wager. A deal it is then. I look forward to having a second dog," she says excitedly.
Oh yeah, that's right. She possesses the Imperial Arms, Hekatonkheires.
Now that I think about it, where was it yesterday?
"Where is your Imperial Arms by the way? I noticed it wasn't with you last night and even as of now," I say.
"That's because he was busy… feeding last night when I came to capture you. I allow him to wander about the hideout which is why he's not with me at this very moment. I'll be sure to get you two acquainted with each other later," she explains.
"Sounds like an interesting time," I say.
Hearing some footsteps from outside the room, Seryu and I quickly separate from each other.
Swiftly, she pulls out a knife and puts it to my throat to my surprise.
Wait a second.
"Isn't that my knife?" I whisper.
"Yes it is. Please shush now," she whispers back.
The door flies open, revealing that Esdeath has arrived.
My first actual good look at Esdeath in person.
For such a person feared by many, she's quite a beautiful woman that's also… particularly well endowed to say the least.
If Tatsumi really has something going on with her, he definitely hit a jackpot which I guess isn't hard to do with how many women that surround us in our lives.
That being said, why not just get with someone from Night Raid to avoid the problems that come with opposing factions?
Esdeath and I lock eyes for a moment and she visibly seems surprised.
Did… she just blush too?!
She immediately fakes a cough and clears her throat, returning to a more serious look.
She must've mistaken me for Tatsumi for a second.
"Ah, getting started without me, Seryu?" Esdeath says.
"Just making sure he knows his place, General Esdeath," Seryu responds.
"Excellent. I'll take it from here," Esdeath says.
Removing the knife from my neck, Seryu stands up and goes back to the other side of the table.
"So are we gonna do things the easy way or the hard way?" Esdeath asks, pulling a rack of torture devices into the room.
G-Good lord! That's utterly nightmarish!
"I-I'll tell you everything," I reply nervously.
"A smart choice. Doesn't hurt to keep these on standby just in case you decide to clam up though. Now let's get started," She says, slowly approaching the table.
Well, here goes nothing.
I'm counting on you in the worst case scenario, Seryu!