Hey everyone! I'm back with the first quick update chapter. This chapter took me a little longer for me to finish than I originally intended, but work got in the way so I had little time to write. But now I have a decent amount of free time and was finally able to finish this chapter. In this chapter we'll be introduced to the Jaegers and we'll see Tatsumi's first meeting with Esdeath. I also have a little extra scene planned for Tatsumi and Sayo before he leaves for the capital, and I hope you all enjoy it. Well that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Teigu
"Incursio"
Disclaimer: I don't own Akame ga Kill, or any of its characters.
(Three Hours Later; Capital's Main Street)
"So this is the capital, eh?" Wave said, gazing in awe at the sprawling buildings spread out in front of him. "I can't believe I was lucky enough to get promoted to the empire's security squad. I thought I would be in the navy my whole life." Wave grinned as he glanced down at his choice of clothing. "I'm glad I wore my best clothes so I won't stick out as some country boy. Mom even packed me a bunch of the best seafood we had as gifts." However, Wave frowned when he overheard several people whispering behind his back.
"What a hick..."
"Yeah he's totally a country bumpkin..."
"He even tried to hide it, how lame..."
"Ah what the hell..." Wave muttered, as he perked back up, once again filled with with enthusiasm. "I've battled countless pirates and the sea's most fearsome danger beasts. Some people talking behind my back definitely won't bother me."
"What a freak, talking to himself like that..."
"Yeah, he'll never get a girlfriend if he keeps that up..."
"Alright that one actually hurt a little..." Wave said in a dejected tone, hanging his head in defeat. "Hopefully I'll get to the palace soon." After twenty more minutes of walking, Wave was standing in front of a room in the capital's palace. "Well I managed to find this place easily enough...this is where I'm supposed to meet the guys I'll be working with." Taking a calming breath, Wave reached for the doorknob. "First impressions are very important. I have to make sure they respect me and don't underestimate my power!" With a large smile on his face, Wave energetically threw the door open. "Hello! I'm Wave! I came from the Imperial Na...vy..." Wave stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed that the room was completely deserted...except for a single man sitting at the large room's only table. The mysterious man was massive in size and wore a frightening gas mask. "Pardon me!" A chill ran down Wave's spine as he slammed the door shut behind him. Wave sunk to the ground in the hallway, his body covered in a cold sweat. "T-That had to be the torture master's room, right?" Wave reached into his pack and pulled out a piece of paper. "Let's see...I'm supposed to go to the room for the security squad's meeting...it's in room 208..." Glancing up at the door behind him, Wave's eyes widened when he saw that it was indeed room 208. "Okay this is the right room...but we're supposed to meet at 2:30, maybe I'm a little early and that guy is in there for another reason." But Wave paled and his hung open when he spotted the clock on the wall across from him. "It's 2:30 right now! Wait...that means...that guy's one of my partners! What the hell!? Even pirates dress more normal than that!" Wave groaned and ran his hand down his face. "Damn it, he's probably gonna think I'm some kind of insensitive asshole when I walk back in there." Releasing a heavy sigh, Wave got back onto his feet. "I guess I'll just do my best not to irritate him." Walking back in the room, Wave took a seat on the other end of the table...far away from the strange man. "H-Hello." However, the mystery man said absolutely nothing, he simply stared at Wave...as if looking right into his soul."
"What the fuck is going on?!" Wave thought, as he began to nervously sweat. The dark-haired man's hands tightly gripped his pant legs. He could still feel the weird man staring at him, his gaze burning a hole in the side of his head. "Why won't this guy stop staring at me!? It's no good momma, I wanna go home already! I'm not strong enough for the capital's raging waters!" However, Wave seemed to be saved when the door opened once again. Turning around, Wave was overcome with relief when he spotted a younger looking dark-haired girl walk into the room. "Thank you God! It's a normal girl!" The girl eyed both men for a moment before she took a seat at the table across from Wave, dropping a sack of what appeared to be candy on top of it. Wave noted that the side of the bag was labeled 'Kurome's Candies.' He blushed lightly as he watched the girl nibble on the sweets. "So her name is Kurome...Wow...she's pretty cute..."
Mustering up some courage, Wave stood up from his seat and walked over to the newcomer. "Y-Yo..." Wave was extremely nervous as he awkwardly waved at the girl. "You're here because you're a teigu wielder, right? My name is Wave-"
"I'm not letting you lay a finger on my candy." The dark-haired girl said, as she clutched the bag of sweets to her chest. The girl's fierce glare caused Wave to recoil in fear.
"Damn it, she's another weirdo too! Shit and I thought she was cute too..." Releasing a defeated sigh, Wave walked back to his seat and slumped into it. "I'm sorry for bothering you." Wave hung his head again and grit his teeth in irritation. "Damn it...what the hell gives?! That girl there is silently shoveling candy in her mouth like a glutton. It's not gonna be my fault when her teeth eventually fall out!" Wave suddenly gulped and glanced at the masked man out of the corner of his eye. "And this freak is still fucking staring at me! What the fuck is going on!?"
"Excuse us!" Wave was shaken for his thoughts when the doors on the opposite side of the room were suddenly thrown open. Turning in his chair, Wave was surprised to see yet another girl enter the room. This girl had shoulder-length auburn hair and metallic arms. Wave also took notice of the small dog standing at the girl's side.
"She's kinda cute too and she seems to be pretty serious." Wave thought, his gaze lowering to the girl's small dog. "And that little guy is kinda cute as well...but I can't shake the feeling that it's evil somehow...ah I must just be overthinking things."
"I'm from the capital garrison!" The girl said, as she saluted. "I'm Seryu Ubiquitous!" Seryu then gestured to her dog. "And this is Coro!" Wave was surprised when the girl suddenly dropped down onto one knee...and started showering the room in...rose petals? "Dr. Stylish...the preparations are now complete!"
"Taking care of one's first impressions...is the most stylish of etiquette...a man can have." Dr. Stylish said dramatically, walking into the room along the path of rose petals.
"Oh God now it's some pretty boy...kill me now." Wave thought, as his head slammed onto the table. "I'm sorry for judging you masked man, this guy is now officially the biggest freak in the room."
"Oh my." Stylish said, looking at Wave as he adjusted his glasses. "Looks like we have ourselves a little country boy, and a mighty handsome one at that." Wave's skin crawled when Stylish suddenly licked his lips. "Don't worry, I'll fix you right up. I oh so look forward to it."
"Come near me looking like that and I'll castrate you." Wave thought, as he glared at Stylish. Taking an extra precaution, Wave moved his chair as far away from Stylish as physically possible. "Why does the nancy boy have to have a thing for me?!"
"Hello." Yet another new voice said. Barely lifting his head off the table, Wave spotted a blonde haired man smiling at everyone. "Looks as if I'm the last one to arrive."
"Hello." Wave said warily, mentally preparing himself for anything this new freak could possibly do. "Nice to meet you. My name is Wave."
"I'm Run." The man said sincerely, which completely shocked Wave. So far this newcomer appeared to be the most normal person here. "I look forward to working with you and everyone else."
"Thank you God for giving me at least one normal person." Wave thought, releasing a heavy sigh of relief.
"Um...everyone...I've made us all some tea." Wave's jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw the masked man placing down several cups of tea. His eyes widened when the masked man handed him his tea. "Im quite sorry about what happened before. I was the first one here, but I didn't say anything to you." What the masked man said next completely shocked Wave. "You see I'm actually very shy...I got so nervous when you came in that I couldn't think of anything to say. But I'm more than likely the oldest one here, so I shouldn't be acting like a child." Wave nodded numbly as the masked man shook his hand. "I look forward to working with you Wave. My name is Bols, and I'm from the Incineration Squad."
"To think he was just being shy..." Wave thought with a nervous chuckle. "The Incineration Squad, eh? I guess that explains that freaky mask."
As Bols and Wave continued to speak, Dr. Stylish curiously eyed the Incineration Squad member. "So he's from the Incineration Squad? A unit that torches people, buildings, and anything that stands against them. Hmmm, he's not really my type."
Just then the door to the room opened once again. Everyone was surprised to see General Esdeath walk into the room. "Ah good you're all here." Esdeath said, as she walked up to the table. Releasing a light sigh, Esdeath tossed a mask onto the table. "I was planning on surprising you all and testing out your skills, you know really spice this meeting up. But we're running behind schedule right now. So everyone head into the next room and get changed. I'll explain everything as we go."
No one fully understood what was happening, but they didn't wish to upset someone as fearsome and deadly as Esdeath was rumored to be. So without a word everyone got out of their seats and went into the adjacent room. Ten Minutes later they all emerged from the room dressed in black suits and ties.
"Good, I must say you all clean up rather well." Esdeath said, now dressed in a suit and tie as well. "Now, we'll have a proper meet-and-greet after we've had our audience with the emperor."
"We're meeting the emperor so soon!?" Wave exclaimed in shock. "I haven't even been in the capital a single day!"
"I like to take care of all the boring and troublesome things first." Esdeath said, leading the group through the palace. "Don't fret too much, it won't be very long."
"General Esdeath..." Stylish said, as he rested his head on his hand. "Does our little team have a special name? Because simply being called the 'security squad' is quite boring."
"I'm so glad you asked." Esdeath said, a sadistic smirk spreading across her face. "All of us possess a rather 'unique' skill set. We'll work together and hunt down bands of wicked terrorists...and so...we are the capital's security squad...the Jaegers."
(Three Hours Later)
"I knew all of the wonderful seafood my mom packed would come in handy." Wave said, as he helped Bols prepare the large meal for everyone. "This is going to be the perfect welcome meal for us all."
"Wave..." Bols said, pointing to the vegetables in Wave's hand. "Please put the spinach in last. If you put it in now it'll wilt."
"Heh, sorry bout that." Wave said, as he set the spinach down and rubbed the back of his head in embarassment. "I gotta say...I'm so relieved you're such a nice guy Bols."
"I'm..." Bols muttered, roughly cutting the head off one of the fish Wave had brought. "Not nice at all...If you knew all the things I've seen and done...you wouldn't say that about me."
In the next room the rest of the Jaegers were patiently waiting for Bols and Wave to finish cooking. Run and Stylish were talking in one corner of the room, while Kurome was playing with Coro.
"Captain..." Seryu said, as she smiled brightly at Esdeath. "I'm quite curious, what do you like to do in your free time?"
"Hunting and torture." Esdeath replied nonchalantly, taking a small sip of her wine. "Or studying up on either one." Esdeath smiled as she set the glass back down. "But at the moment...I'd like to find love." Both Seryu and Kurome appeared to quite surprised by Esdeath's answer. Neither of them expected a woman with Esdeath's reputation to be worried about something as trivial as love. "Oh by the way Seryu, I understand that we have an extra teigu left after your battle with Night Raid."
"Y-Yes...that would be correct." Seryu said, still slightly surprised by what Esdeath had previously said. "We collected a scissor-shaped teigu that a Night Raid assassin was using. But we haven't been able to find anyone who can use it. If we can't find anyone soon the minister will confiscate it."
"That would be quite the waste." Esdeath said with a smirk, as she clasped her hands on top of the table. "Well while we search for some who could use it, why don't we have some fun?"
(The Next Morning; Night Raid's Hidden Base)
"Thanks for doing some target practice and sparring with me Tatsumi." Mine said, slinging Pumpkin over her shoulder. "I'm still a little off, but that definitely helped."
"No problem Mine, you've been out of action for a while so I know you needed to get some training in." Tatsumi said, as he put away his practice sword. "You're swordplay and hand-to-hand fighting skills might have dipped a little, but you're still an amazing shot. I still got a long way to go before I can catch up to you."
"Ha! You might as well give up on that!" Mine laughed, playfully slapping Tatsumi's arm. "Because there's no way you'll ever be as good of a shot as me. I'm a genius sniper remember."
"You sure are Mine." Tatsumi said, as he chuckled lightly.
"So..." Mine said, her voice suddenly becoming quiet and anxious. "You're heading to the capital to meet with Leone and Lubbock?"
"Yeah, I'm actually about to go pack right now." Tatsumi replied, as he rubbed the back of his head. "I should be back by the end of the day. I'm just doing some quick scouting with Leone and setting up a few surveillance devices with Lubbock. Nothing too difficult."
"Alright..." Mine muttered, avoiding Tatsumi's gaze. "Tatsumi..." A fierce blush spread across Mine's face as she began fidget slightly.
"What's up Mine?" Tatsumi asked, as he quirked an eyebrow. "You okay, Mine? You're face is all red."
"I-I'm fine!" Mine exclaimed, her heart pounding in her chest. "J-Just...Just be careful! And make sure you come back safe!" With a near neon blush, Mine spun around and raced towards her room.
"What the hell was that all about?" Tatsumi muttered, as he rubbed the back of his head in confusion. "It seemed like Mine was really worried about me for a second. And why the hell was her face all red like that? It's almost as if she like's me or something...Wait...could Mine really love...Nah, I'm just overthinking things. There's no way she has feelings for me. Even if she did in one of my visions it's still way too early for anything like that to happen...right? Ah, I'll worry about it later. I have to finish getting ready and say goodbye to Akame."
As soon as Mine reached her room she slammed the door behind her. Releasing a shaky breath, Mine pressed her back against the door and sunk to the floor. "What the hell did I say something like that for?" Mine muttered, resting her between her knees. No matter how hard she tried, Mine couldn't fight off her raging blush. "It's not like I really care about him or anything. He's stupid, immature, noisy, and a huge crybaby...but he's also strong, sweet, funny, and thoughtful...plus he's...I guess he's kinda cute...GAH!" Mine screamed as she furiously tugged on her pink hair. "What the hell is going on with me!?"
(Ten Minutes Later)
"That should be everything." Tatsumi said, as he slipped on a hooded jacket. The young assassin grabbed his pack and Incursio and turned to leave the room. However, he was pleasantly surprised to see Akame standing in his doorway. "Oh hey Akame, I was actually just coming to see you."
"Well I wanted to say goodbye before you left." Akame said with a small smile, walking towards Tatsumi. A faint blush dusted across Akame's cheeks as she gripped the front Tatsumi's jacket. "I also wanted to give you a good luck charm." Without warning, Akame captured Tatsumi's lips in passionate kiss. The red-eyed assassin poured all of her love into the kiss and Tatsumi did the same. When both assassins broke their liplock, Akame's smile grew even wider. "Stay safe. I know Leone and Lubbock will be with you, but I can't help but worry just a little."
"Don't worry Akame." Tatsumi said, as he placed a loving kiss on Akame's cheek. "I'll be fine and if I do get into any trouble I'll find a way out. Remember, I promised that I'd always come back alive." Giving Akame one last quick peck on the lips, Tatsumi walked out of the room.
"You will..." Akame said with a warm smile, clutching a hand over her heart. "I know you'll always come back to me."
"Okay, let's hit the road..." Tatsumi said, as he began to make his way towards the capital. But Tatsumi hadn't walked a hundred yards from the base before he spotted someone walking towards the base. Once Tatsumi got a good look at the person, he was surprised to see that it was Sayo. The normally beautiful girl looked like a mess, covered in mud and grim, but also appearing to be uninjured. Her bow was slung over her shoulder as she dragged an arrow-riddled danger beast behind her. "Sayo? Shit...you look like you've been through hell."
"Tatsumi?" Sayo said, surprised to see her childhood friend. "Yeah, I guess I do kinda look bad." Sayo suddenly growled and kicked the dead danger beast she was dragging. "But I'm only like this because I've been tracking this bastard for the past few days. The little shit was a crafty one and I had some trouble tracking him. But I eventually got the fucker! Took fifteen fucking arrows to bring his tough ass down! I figured Akame and I could have some fun cooking him up."
"You okay Sayo?" Tatsumi asked, as he placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "You seem a little worked up right now, and this sudden hunting trip you just went on came out of nowhere. And I can tell all this energy and enthusiasm is forced." Tatsumi knew that he had hit the nail on the head, because Sayo instantly deflated and lowered her head. "Sayo please, you can talk to me. Is something bothering you?"
"How do you do it?" Sayo muttered, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. "How can you be so strong even though two of your comrades have died? I still haven't gotten over Sheele, then Bulat dies as well! Every time I close my eyes I swear I can still see Sheele's face right before I fired that arrow!" Sayo suddenly collapsed to her knees and Tatsumi pulled her into a tight hug. Tears were now freely flowing from Sayo's eyes as she cried into Tatsumi's shoulder. "I don't know what happened on that mission! Everything should have went smoothly! I thought I was finally ready for a real mission! I trained so hard and I mentally prepared myself! It was an ideal situation for me and I was set up perfectly! But...But when the actual fighting started my mind started to race and I couldn't think straight! My aim was off and I was making one bad decision after another! Then...Then when I saw Sheele get shot my mind just went blank and I couldn't think! I could have killed that Seryu girl a dozen times during that fight, but my adrenaline was pumping so hard that my hands were shaking and I couldn't aim correctly! Sheele's...Sheele's death is my fault! Her blood is on my hands!"
"So that's what the problem is..." Tatsumi thought, as he continued to hold Sayo close. When Tatsumi next spoke his voice was soft and comforting. "Sayo...you can't blame yourself for what happened to Sheele, nothing good will come of it. Like you said, it was your very first mission. You simply weren't prepared for the stress of actual combat. I had the same problem during my first mission, but I didn't have to go through what you did. I won't say I understand the pain your feeling, because I don't. I can't imagine how difficult it was for you to kill a friend to save them from suffering, and I don't think I would be strong enough to do what you did."
"B-But..." Sayo whimpered, chocking back a sob. However, Tatsumi silenced her and held her even tighter. His warm embrace somehow easing her quivering heart.
"You're strong Sayo...so incredibly strong, don't ever doubt that. I bet Sheele is watching over us all right now, doing her best to protect us. And I can guarantee that she's happy that she died at your hands, instead of being eaten by some monster." Tatsumi said barely above a whisper, as a few tears fell from his eyes as well. "When Ieyasu died all I could think about were the 'what ifs.' But you and the others helped me realize that way of thinking will only drag you down. You need to do that now to Sayo. Sheele wouldn't want you blaming yourself for what happened. Sayo...what happened is in the past now and you can't change what happened. But our past is what defines us and we have to learn from it so we won't make the same mistakes again." Tatsumi gently pushed Sayo away so that he could look her in the eyes. "All you can do now is look towards the future and work harder in the present so you won't have to experience that pain again...Are you up to that Sayo? Are you willing to give everything you have to brighten the future? Not just for everyone in Night Raid, but for all those oppressed by the minister and his lackeys?"
"Tatsumi..." Sayo breathed out, fresh tear forming in her eyes as she tightly balled her fists. Suddenly a fiery determination blazed through Sayo's once sad eyes. "Yes! You're right Tatsumi! I can't be moping around like this! It will still take some time before I fully get over what happened with Sheele, but I can't let that memory drag me down! I have to use it to give me strength! I'll use that horrible memory as motivation, so that I'll never have to bury another comrade!" Sayo stood back onto her feet and quickly wiped away her tears. "Thank you Tatsumi, I really needed to hear that."
"Sometimes the best thing to do is talk with a friend." Tatsumi said, as he used his thumb to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes. "I'm glad to see that you're back to your old self, Sayo."
"Well I wouldn't say I'm fully back to normal, but I do feel a lot better thanks to you." Sayo said with a small smile, nervously rubbing her arm. "But promise me one thing Tatsumi...please let Bulat be the last comrade we have to bury. I don't think I can take another funeral."
"I promise you Sayo, that I will do everything in my power to make sure no more of our friends die. But you have to the same for me. We both have to get stronger, so that we can survive this coming war." Tatsumi said, placing both his hands on Sayo's shoulders. "But I will promise you this Sayo, just like I promised Akame. You'll never have to bury me. I'll survive at all costs and I'll always come back home."
"Okay...I'm holding you to that promise, so you better not break it." Sayo muttered, a slight blush spreading across her face. Suddenly, without warning, Sayo lunged forward and placed a gentle kiss on Tatsumi's cheek. "Thanks again, Tatsumi. I'll see you when you get back to base later." Without another word, Sayo grabbed her dead danger beast and continued her trip back to the base.
All Tatsumi could do was stare dumbfounded, as Sayo walked away. He placed a hand where Sayo's lips had been and a light blush appeared on his face. "D-Did Sayo really just k-kiss me?"
"You seem to be quite the charmer, partner."
"S-Shut up! There's no way Sayo likes me like that! We've been friends forever!" Tatsumi exclaimed, his blush darkening several shades.
"Whatever you say. Anyways, you better get moving, partner. You're supposed to meet Leone and Lubbock, remember?"
"Shit! You're right!" Tatsumi yelled, as he swung his pack over his shoulder. "If I don't hurry I'm gonna be late!"
(Three Hours Later; Imperial Capital)
"This place seems to be real lively for some reason." Tatsumi thought, discreetly glancing at the bustling people around him from under his hood. "There must be some type of event or something happening today." As Tatsumi continued walking through the capital's streets, he eventually spotted the bookstore Lubbock used as a front for their hidden base within the capital. "Book Night?" Tatsumi couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at the shop's strange name. "I get that we're supposed to be hiding in plain sight, but that just seems a little but too obvious."
"Oh hello sir." Lubbock said, as he leaned on the wall outside his shop.
"Hey." Tatsumi said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Interesting little shop you got here, I especially like the name."
"Why thank you." Lubbock said with a cocky smile, as he gestured into the shop with his thumb. "If you'd like, you can browse our 'special' selection in the back of the store."
"Lead the way." Tatsumi said, following Lubbock through the small bookstore. Once at the back of the shop, Lubbock pulled on one of the books, revealing a hidden door and a set of stairs leading into a hidden basement. "The secret door is a nice touch."
"Right?" Lubbock said with a wide grin, as he followed behind Tatsumi. "This place is my pride and joy."
"Tch, don't bullshit me Lubbock." Tatsumi said with a knowing look, turning his head to smirk at Lubbock. "I know for a fact you didn't build this place." As Tatsumi descended further down the stairs, he eventually found himself in Night Raid's capital hideout.
"YAHOO!" Leone cheered with a ruddy blush on her face, as she slammed down her glass of sake. "Welcome to our little hideout, Tatsumi!"
"Looks like you're making yourself at home, Leone..." Tatsumi said, snatching the bottle of alcohol away from his blonde lover. Leone cutely pouted as she watched Tatsumi take a quick swig directly from the bottle. Tatsumi winked at Leone, before setting the bottle down on the table next to him. "Can't have you too buzzed when we're out scouting later."
"I thought I told you I don't get drunk easily!" Leone whined, as she half-heartedly reached for the bottle. "Just one more drink! Please!" Leone suddenly got a brilliant idea. The busty blonde knew that there was one sure fire way to get a man to do what you want. With a lustful glint in her eyes, Leone leaned forward so that Tatsumi could easily look down her shirt. When she spoke her voice was sweet and husky. "If you let me have another drink, I'll give you a special 'treat' when we get home later."
"As tempting at that offer is I'll have to decline. We need to be focused when we're scouting." Tatsumi said, causing Leone to instantly deflate in her seat. I guess Tatsumi had a stronger will than most men. "But I promise to have a drink with you tonight when he get back."
"Alright, but you better not stand me up." Leone said, as she crossed her arms underneath her chest, slightly pushing up her large breasts.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Tatsumi said, smiling at Leone. "This time we'll be able to have a drink under much more cheerful circumstances."
"Yeah..." Leone said, as she gave Tatsumi me a lustful smile. "Maybe if you get me drunk enough I'll let cop a f-"
"I-If you two are done flirting, I'd like to get things started." Lubbock interjected, a bright blush spreading across his face and a thin stream of blood dripping from his nose. The green-haired assassin took a calming breath to quell his raging hormones...and to wipe the blood off his face "Now then, wanted posters of Mine have started to pop up all over the capital recently...so we three, along with Sayo, are the only ones who can freely walk around the capital right now."
"It's strange, quite a few people on the ship saw my face." Tatsumi mused, as he rubbed his chin. "So I figured it would be dangerous for me to walk around, but I guess that's not the case...anyways, on the way here it seemed like the whole capital was buzzing about this new security squad called the 'Jaegers."
"That's because Esdeath is the one leading them." Lubbock explained, leaning against a nearby wall. "Anything she does is a big deal around here. That witch is extremely dangerous."
"Esdeath..." Tatsumi muttered, as he looked down at his feet. "That name, again it seems so familiar. It must have something to do with Incursio." Tatsumi shoved his hands into his pockets and locked eyes with Lubbock. "So...how dangerous is Esdeath exactly?"
"There's too many stories to tell, but one in particular comes to mind." Lubbock said, releasing a heavy sigh. "Several years ago a savage tribe in the southwest rose up against the empire. The minister sent an army of over 120,000 men to eliminate a little over 10,000 tribals. It should have been an easy victory for the army, a clear way to display their power. But the harsh terrain and abundant danger beasts attacked the soldiers relentlessly. At night the savages would launch surprise attacks, and within no time it was clear that the army could not carry out their mission. The minster got desperate, so he sent in two young generals to help them, Najenda and Esdeath." Tatsumi's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the boss' name. "To make a long story short, Esdeath and her men absolutely slaughtered those savages. Her powers were so fearsome that they even worried Najenda. Once Esdeath and her men had decimated the enemy, they turned their sights on the savage's village. There Esdeath turned her men loose, allowing them to do whatever they pleased. Esdeath thought of it as them reaping their rewards for defeating their enemies. Her men murdered and raped their way through the entire village, stealing anything valuable and burning the rest. Once her men were finished, Esdeath spared three savages, so that they could live the rest of their lives never being able to unsee what they had seen, and so that they could spread word of what had happened. That sick brutality and utter cruelty is what drove Najenda to leave the empire and join the revolutionary army."
"That's pretty fucked up of her." Tatsumi muttered, as he took a seat on the couch next to Leone. "To make those three watch as she took everything from them."
"That's what Esdeath aims to do. She just wants to create more conflict." Lubbock said, rubbing the back of his head. "So that she can continue to enjoy the rush of battle."
"I'm so glad I didn't try to fight her." Leone said, as she stared down into her empty sake glass. "That woman is seriously bad news. The scent of blood was so strong on her that it even made me sick. I can't imagine the millions of people she and her men have killed."
"She must be as quite the monster for both of you to talk about her like that." Tatsumi said, silently wrapping an arm around Leone's waist. "Anyway, I'm happy you took my advice and left her alone. I don't know what I'd do if you had been hurt."
"Aww, you're so sweet for worrying about me." Leone cooed, as she gave Tatsumi a passionate kiss.
"God, first I walk in on them the morning after they bump uglies, now I have to watch them suck face." Lubbock groaned, running a hand down his face. "Oi, lover boy!" Hearing the annoying nickname caused Tatsumi to break his liplock with Leone. Tatsumi glared at Lubbock, as the green-haired assassin dug through his pack. "If you're so curious about Esdeath..." Tatsumi quirked an eyebrow when Lubbock handed him a flyer. "You can check her out in person. Apparently Esdeath is holding a civilian combat tournament. The winner gets a large cash prize. That would help you with your plan to send money to your village, right?"
"Combat tournament, huh?" Tatsumi muttered, as he rubbed his chin. "I'm confident that I can win, but there still could be hidden dangers...But this is my chance to see this Esdeath woman in person...that's a chance I can't pass up." Making up his mind, Tatsumi rose from the couch. "Alright, I'll do it. If I do this I can kill two birds with one stone."
"Things are going to get interesting quite soon."
(Two Hours Later; Capital's Colosseum)
"*Yaaawn* How utterly uninteresting..." Esdeath muttered in a bored tone, resting her head on her fist. The capital's most feared general looked bored beyond belief as she watched the two men fight down below.
"What do you think of those two general?" Run asked, as he set down a fresh glass of wine for Esdeath.
"Boring men make for an equally boring battle..." Esdeath drawled, stifling yet another yawn. "As I thought, there isn't a single teigu user among them...will I see anything remotely exciting from these fights?"
"I see..." Run said, as he watched the fight below reach its end. "Ah, looks like the battle has been decided. The next fight will be the last one."
"Hmm, I won't hold my breath..." Esdeath said, swirling the wine in her glass.
Down on the fighting ring, Wave was tasked with announcing the fighters in the tournament. "In the east corner! We have Kalbi the Butcher!" The crowd erupted in cheers as a massive bullheaded man walked into the ring. "And in the west corner! We have Tatsumi the Blacksmith!"
"That one is just a mere boy..." Run said, as Esdeath perked up a bit in her seat. Something about the fiery determination in the boy's eyes caught her attention. For some reason she couldn't seem to take her eyes off him.
"Maybe I will see something interesting after all." Esdeath thought with a hidden smirk on her face. "Show me what you have to offer Tatsumi."
"That's quite the interesting alias." Leone said, as she leaned back in her seat. "Can Tatsumi actually forge anything?"
"He's not quite as good as me, but he's got some serious skills. If he wanted to, he could probably open his own shop." Lubbock said with a confident smile, crossing his arms over his chest. "I taught him how to forge metals when I was training him last."
"I know Tatsumi will win this fight...but I can't help but feel a little on edge...as if something bad is about to happen..." Leone thought, as she scanned the arena around her. Her golden eyes narrowed when they landed on Esdeath. "I'm especially keeping my eyes on her."
"Well aren't you a little shit." Kalbi snorted, staring down at Tatsumi. "You should probably back out now while you have the chance kid. That prize money is as good as mine."
"This guy..." Wave thought, as he gazed at Kalbi with a hint of disgust. "He may be an arrogant prick, but he does look really strong...well whatever." Raising his arm, Wave made sure both fighters were ready. "Begin!"
"Before I got to the capital I would have been a sniveling mess right now...but right now, thanks to everyone's training, I'm as calm as ever..." Tatsumi thought, sliding into his fighting stance. "Compared to the Three Beasts...this guy is a complete weakling."
"I gave you a chance kid! Now here I come!" Kalbi exclaimed, as he charged forward with his fist cocked back. "Blasting Fist Full Course!"
"Sorry Incursio but I won't be using you during this fight." Tatsumi thought, preparing for Kalbi's attack.
"No need to apologize, partner. I know you're more than capable to defeat this enemy. Just try not to hurt him too bad."
Taking one last calming breath, Tatsumi leaped over Kalbi's fist, Akame's speed training coming into full effect. Kalbi immidiately lost track of Tatsumi as the young assassin raced around him. The bullheaded man was so distracted trying to locate Tatsumi that he didn't noticed that the young assassin was directly underneath him. Cocking his fist back, Tatsumi struck Kalbi in the stomach. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Kalbi doubled-over clutching his stomach. Tatsumi didn't give his enemy anytime to react or recover. Crouching down, Tatsumi swept out Kalbi's legs. Tatsumi raced around behind Kalbi, and shattered his arm. Kalbi roared in pain as he cradled his now broken arm. Still Tatsumi continued his onslaught. After circling back around, Tatsumi hit Kalbi with a barrage of punches to the head and chest, using all the knowledge that Leone had taught him. Once Tatsumi was finished, Kalbi was a bruised and bloody mess. But the stubborn bastard refused to give up and tried to stand back onto his feet. Tatsumi decided to finally finish the fight and hit Kalbi with a powerful roundhouse kick to the head. Kalbi's head snapped back as he collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.
"Now that was something interesting..." Esdeath thought, as she gazed at Tatsumi with growing curiosity.
"That boy has amazing talent general..." Run said, staring at Tatsumi in awe. "He defeated such a powerful enemy with ease."
"That's it!" Wave exclaimed, as he raised his hand into the air. "The winner is Tatsumi!" Instantly the crowd erupted into roaring cheers, everyone excited to see the clear underdog win the fight.
"Everyone...is cheering for me..." Tatsumi thought, a sudden feeling of elation flowing through his body as he basked in the crowd's cheers. Suddenly a light blush spread across Tatsumi's face and he smiled brightly. "I did it!"
That single smile would end up changing Tatsumi's life. Up in her spectator box, Esdeath's heart pounded rapidly in her chest as a bright blush formed on her face. The empire's feared general clutched a hand over her thundering heart and slowly rose from her seat. She couldn't believe it. After all this time searching, she had finally found him. She had finally found her true love. "I've found him."
"Hm?" Run muttered, as he watched Esdeath rise from her seat. "Is he a candidate for wielding a teigu?"
"That too...but I'm talking about something else." Esdeath said, beginning to make her way down the steps toward the ring.
As Esdeath made her way down the steps a hush fell over the crowd. Tatsumi hadn't noticed that Esdeath was approaching him until she was halfway down the steps. But when he finally took notice of her, he began to have a mini panic attack. "What the hell!? She's coming to the ring herself!? SHIT! SHIT! What do I do!?"
"Looks like you're still a sniveling mess, partner. 'Calm as ever,' you look like you're about to pass out."
"You're name is Tatsumi...correct?" Esdeath asked, as she stopped a few feet away from the young assassin. "That's a good name."
"T-Thank you." Tatsumi said, his voice sounding much more scared pathetic than he wanted. "Damn it...why am I so nervous? So...this is really Esdeath? She doesn't seem so bad so far...in fact she's quite beautiful. But I can't let my guard down...she was the leader of the Three Beasts...and because of her Big Bro..."
"Partner, you need to reel in your emotions. You're in the middle of the capital and there's no way you could possibly take her on. Just remain calm and this will all be over soon."
"I know..." Tatsumi thought, as he looked Esdeath up and down. The young assassin blushed lightly as he drank in the general's beauty. "Man, she really is pretty. I don't get it...this woman is supposed to be some type of sadistic mass murderer? I know she works for the empire, but she seems like an alright person from what I can tell."
"Your match just now...it was flawless." Esdeath complimented, resting her hands on her hips. "I would like to personally give you, your reward."
"Thank you very much." Tatsumi said, as he nodded his head. "I know it's coming from my enemy, but money is money. And I need to send whatever I can back to my village." Tatsumi's blush darkened another shade when he saw Esdeath reach into her cleavage to retrieve his prize. However, Tatsumi was completely unprepared for when he heard something click around his neck.
"From now on..." Esdeath said in a hushed and husky tone. "You belong to me Tatsumi."
"Huh?" Tatsumi said, his eyes shooting down to the collar and chain around his neck. "HUH!?"
"Come now, there are far too many distractions here." Esdeath said, as she began to drag Tatsumi out of the arena, the young assassin immediately fighting against her. "You're coming back to the palace with me."
"WAIT! HOLD THE FUCK UP!" Tatsumi roared, frantically prying at the collar around his neck. "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN I BELONG TO YOU NOW?! I ALREADY HAVE A-"
"I can't wait any longer..." Esdeath said, as she delivered a swift chop to Tatsumi's neck. Within seconds the world around Tatsumi started to go black.
"What..." Tatsumi thought, his vision starting to fade. "Did she do to me..."
"Don't worry my dear, we'll talk in my room..." Esdeath said sweetly, as she hugged Tatsumi's unconscious form against her breasts. "In private...just the two of us." With a victorious smile, Esdeath carried Tatsumi out of the arena.
"W-What the fuck just happened?" Lubbock muttered, his eyes open in shock.
"That bitch..." Leone growled, as she gripped the railing in front of her so hard that it began to warp and bend. "DID THAT BITCH JUST STEAL MY MAN!?"
"This is where you'll make have to make your decision, partner. And this decision will help shape your future. Will you try to win Esdeath over and bring her into the light, or will you give up on her and treat her as an enemy, dragging her further into darkness? Only time will tell what your ultimate decision is.
And done! Tatsumi has officially been captured by Esdeath and Leone isn't very happy about it. Next chapter will pick up right where this one left off, and I hope to cover a lot of ground next chapter. If we're lucky I'll have the next chapter out sometime next week. So what do you think Tatsumi will do? Will he abandon any idea of saving Esdeath, or will he risk everything to drag out the sliver of good that's in her? Like Incursio said, only time will tell what Tatsumi's decision is. So what did you guys think? Let me know. Remember to follow/favorite if your enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK, and PM me any ideas you have for any of my fics. And if you haven't already vote for the poll on my profile and check out my other fics. So until next time, I'm outta here!