Chapter 9: Kill the Rival
Bullets struck about the embankment, kicking up dirt angrily.
Tatsumi and Esdeath hid behind it. Akame rushed to them, and with a few flashes of her sword, sparks showered as she deflected two last bullets from the air before diving beside them.
"These gunners are skilled," Akame muttered, still calm. Even now.
Esdeath pretended to pant. "We… should withdraw," she said, throwing a slight tremor into her voice.
Tatsumi looked… strange. His eyes were wide. "Where's Mein?"
Akame narrowed her eyes. "She was hit, Tatsumi… in the first volley. She fell."
"We need to go get her."
Serra blinked. Tatsumi… you were able to shield yourself with a flash-manifestation of Incursio, Akame was able to slash a bullet from midair with her sword… I *knew it was coming* and was able to dodge, a sly smile appeared on her face for just an instant, Mein is just slow. She lacks defensive skills.
Akame nodded her head. "Tatsumi, go in with Incursio. I'll flank the gunners-"
All of this… for dead weight. Esdeath's teeth pressed together in her mouth. The mask of her false expression hid her rage.
She spoke up as Serra. "If those bullets are armor piercing, you'll die out there."
Tatsumi called forth Incursio, and the first bullet glanced off his armor as he stood tall. "We aren't leaving anyone else behind, Serra."
Esdeath grit her teeth. Pulling her bow from her back. "I'll cover you."
Esdeath had already melted into the brush. Tatsumi jumped headlong into the gunfire, springing towards the enemies as bullets flashed off of his armor.
Esdeath took aim at the soldiers who'd just saluted her cheerfully the day before. You've done well enough… comrades.
She drew an arrow back before sending it whistling to the firing position of the heavy gunner. One.
She continued to count as she lazily drew arrows from her quiver, lining them up against her dull eyes. Two. Three. Four…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(Later, in safety)
Mein lay motionless. A bandage, already pink with blood pressed tight against her pale face. Her pink hair lay disheveled upon the bed.
Tatsumi reached out to the strands, straightening them out into the long, straight, beautiful bands of hair that she always wore. It looks like she was just thrown here with her hair like this…
As he turned to get a damp cloth from the bowl at Mein's bedside, he saw Serra's silhouette in the doorway.
"Oh Hi Serra," he said, smiling as warmly as he could manage.
"Why don't you rest?" Serra asked soothingly. "I could watch her for a while…"
Tatsumi smiled weakly at the offer. "Thanks, Serra, but I should be here when she wakes."
"I'll get you some fresh bandages, Tatsumi…"
Esdeath left Mein's room, and giving one more functionary smile, Tatsumi was back to straightening her hair.
Esdeath made her way to the washing room, with trembling hands, she gathered fresh towels and set a new bowl under the faucet.
"Roleplay?" asked a familiar voice.
Esdeath glanced up. Leaning up against the wall, emanating a dark shadow, was a likeness of herself, only her figure was void black, with glowing purple eyes.
The visions of this shadowy apparition had begun all those years ago… after that fateful night when she'd gained her Teigu.
"This is what we're working on right now. This is an ambition of mine," Esdeath replied in a soft hiss. She did not want any passers-by to hear her side of the conversation with her hallucination.
"Normally I'm quite happy to let you take the wheel," Demon answered, crossing her arms over her ample chest. "But this is rather… weak for you. I'm disappointed."
Esdeath shut off the water. The bowl had been overflowing.
"It's a new challenge."
"Oh?"
"Love." Esdeath said fiercely, glaring Demon's way. "I will not allow you to interfere."
"There's that will of yours, Esdeath," Demon answered, amused. "I do love to feel that fire of yours…"
Suddenly, Demon was gone. Then, she was speaking from over Esdeath's shoulder, her void breasts pressed against Esdeath's back. "I couldn't hope to break you like this," she whispered sweetly. "Oh… but if you were to weaken further…"
Esdeath closed her eyes, folding and stacking the bandages into a woven basket.
But Demon continued to talk. "You've noticed by now, right? The way death is a cousin to orgasm?"
Esdeath remained quiet.
"We could give him one. We could take that virginity from him. I mean… especially since you've got no chance at taking the other one. I think that little purple haired one beat you to it… Maybe that's more Tatsumi's type?"
Esdeath's teeth had clenched a long time before. But at this, her mouth opened like a teeth baring its fangs. She spun and slammed her fist into the shadow's head. Immediately, the image vanished, and Esdeath's fist slammed into a mirror.
The glass crunched from the impact, the reflection spiderwebbing as the mirror broke. Esdeath checked her hand. No blood. Good.
She went back to folding the bandages.
I need to get him off of that bedside, she thought to herself, he needs to be looking at me.
AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME AT ME.
She smiled confidently, walking to Mein's room with the fresh bandages and water, one in each hand.
KILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILLKILL
A plan… a plan… I need a plan… she turned the corner with a smart pivot of her step, feeling the fabric of her clothes swish behind her as she walked… almost dancing with the lightness of her steps.
Ah yes! This is the exhilaration I've been looking for…
