Hey guys, I'm back with another new chapter for this story! I apologize for the longer wait for this update, but I started classes again recently and that has been taking up a lot of my free tine. Well, this chapter will pick up where the previous chapter left off and will have the aftermath of Tatsumi's rescue from the capital. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that. After this chapter, I'll be working on my Spider-Man story, so this story won't be updated for a while. But please just be patient and new chapters will be out eventually. I'll also be starting college again, so I'll have to devote extra time to that and it will affect my ability to update my stories. I'll still make time to do some writing, but I'll have less time than usual.

**P.S. Also, if you haven't already, please remember to vote in the poll on my profile!

Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!

"Speech"

"Thoughts"

"Incursio"

Teigu

Disclaimer: I don't own Akame ga Kill or any of its characters.

(Two Days After Tatsumi's Rescue: Night Raid's Hidden Base)

"Ugh, I'm having trouble sleeping..." Tatsumi thought pinching the bridge of his nose as he stared up at the ceiling. Releasing a light sigh, Tatsumi placed a hand over his recently transformed eye. "Things have been so hectic every since I was rescued...we've been working non-stop to get ready for our attack on the capital. We've eliminated a lot of the empire's military power, but who knows what secrets the minister might be hiding."

Glancing to his left, Tatsumi smiled softly when he saw Akame's angelic sleeping face. The red-eyed assassin was currently hugging his arm and using his shoulder as a pillow. Brushing a few stray locks of hair behind her ear, Tatsumi placed a gentle kiss on Akame's forehead. Feeling something shift on the bed to his right, Tatsumi turned his head and saw that Chelsea was moving closer to him, before wrapping an arm over his chest and holding him tightly. The auburn-haired assassin had returned to base the previous day, and upon seeing Tatsumi, refused to leave his side for even a moment. Reaching up, Tatsumi lovingly patted Chelsea's head, causing a smile to spread across her face as she snuggled up against him. Hearing a soft purr, Tatsumi looked down and saw that Leone was curled up in between his legs. The busty blonde assassin was currently resting her head on Tatsumi's thigh, snoring softly as she rubbed her exposed stomach.

"I'm so lucky these girls love me." Tatsumi thought with a smile, running his hand through Leone's hair and petting her head. After nuzzling against Tatsumi's hand, the blonde assassin mewled in delight and stretched out on the bed. Chuckling to himself, Tatsumi laid back and stared at the ceiling once again. However, it was then that Tatsumi finally noticed a familiar weight was missing from his chest. Lifting up the covers, Tatsumi was surprised to see that Mine was missing. "When did she sneak out?"

Feeling a pang of worry, Tatsumi carefully extracted himself from the bed and quietly exited his bedroom. After closing his door, Tatsumi began to wander the base's halls in search of Mine. He checked all the usual spots first, kitchen, bathroom, meeting room, and Mine's own bedroom, but he couldn't find the pink-haired sniper anywhere. As Tatsumi walked into the training yard, he shivered as a cool night breeze sent a chill down his spine. Tatsumi quickly scanned the area, groaning in disappointment when he didn't find Mine there either. However, Tatsumi's ears perked up when he suddenly heard several muffled pops coming from the firing range. Deciding to check the sounds out, Tatsumi could hear a familiar voice cursing in frustration as he approached the range's door.

"GOD DAMN IT!"

Tatsumi winced as he opened the door to the firing range, immediately being bombarded by Mine screaming at the top of her lungs. Before making his presence known, Tatsumi looked around and tried to find what was upsetting Mine. It didn't take him long to see what the problem was. Gazing down the range, Tatsumi spotted a paper target without a single hole in. Looking past the target, Tatsumi frowned when he saw several impact holes in the wall behind the target.

"Mine missed?" Tatsumi thought as he quirked an eyebrow in confusion, gazing at his pink-haired lover in shock. "Something has to be wrong, she never misses her shots...especially on such an easy target."

"WHY!?" Mine yelled on the verge of tears, slamming down the pistol she was using and staring at her hands. "WHY WON'T THEY STOP SHAKING!?" The pink-haired sniper balled her fists in anger, watching as her hands continued to tremble uncontrollably. Unable to fight back any longer, a few tears escaped Mine's eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Sniffling a few times, Mine desperately tried to stop herself from sobbing. "How...how am I supposed to help Night Raid now? I don't have Pumpkin anymore...I can't hit the broad side of fucking barn...I'm completely worthless." As Mine tried to wipe the tears from her eyes, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt something grip her shoulder. Whipping around, Mine lashed out at whatever, or whoever, had touched her, but she was stopped when someone caught her wrist. Mine's eyes widened in surprise when she saw Tatsumi gazing at her, worry evident in his eyes. "T-Tatsumi? What are you doing here?"

"You weren't in bed so I went looking for you..." Tatsumi replied as he ran his thumb across the back of Mine's hand, feeling it shaking in his grasp. "I heard some gunshots and found you here...and...I overheard some of the things you said." Mine's bottom lip quivered a bit as she struggled to stop herself from crying. The last thing she wanted to do was worry Tatsumi or anyone else in Night Raid. "Mine...you're not worthless. Please, don't ever say something like that."

"But I am!" Mine exclaimed, lunging forward and burying her head into Tatsumi's chest. Feeling his shirt dampen slightly, Tatsumi wrapped his arms around Mine and hugged her close, doing everything he could to comfort her. "I lost Pumpkin! My fucking hands won't stop shaking, so I can't shoot straight! I suck at cooking, chores, and medical aid! I'm no help to Night Raid anymore! You guys would be better off without me now!"

"That isn't true! You're a member of Night Raid, Mine! We all stick together, no matter what!" Tatsumi proclaimed as he lifted Mine's chin so that they could lock eyes, both their Incursio eyes staring into one another. "Even if you can't shoot right now, that doesn't matter! You'll overcome this, Mine!" A small smile spread across Tatsumi's face as he brushed his thumb across Mine's cheek, wiping away some of the tears that had formed in her eye. "Because, you're a genius sniper, right?"

"Heh heh...you bastard...you always know what to say to cheer me up." Mine muttered with a light chuckle, reaching up and cupping Tatsumi's cheek. Leaning in, Mine shared a brief kiss with her lover. When both assassins eventually broke their liplock, a devious grin had spread across Mine's face. "And you're damn right! I am a genius sniper! I can't be moping and complaining!"

"Now, that's the girl I fell in love with." Tatsumi thought as he watched Mine turn around and rush back over to pick up her pistol. "You'll overcome this Mine, I know you will."

"Tatsumi..." Mine said, loading a fresh magazine back into the pistol and turning her head to look back at the green-eyed assassin. "Thanks for coming to find me...I feel a lot better now."

"I'll always come to find you if you're feeling down." Tatsumi said with a smile as he walked toward the firing range's door. "Don't stay up too late, the bed feels empty without you."

"I won't be much longer." Mine said with a faint blush, watching as Tatsumi nodded and stepped out of the firing range. Once the door closed, Mine took a deep breath and tried to lower her heart rate, all in an attempt to stop her hands from shaking. Though her hands didn't stop trembling entirely, the shaking did subside slightly. Raising her pistol, Mine aimed at the paper target and fired. A triumphant smile spread across her face when her shot clipped the edge of the target. "I didn't miss entirely this time..." Inhaling another deep breath, Mine took aim once again. "I can do this...I just need to-"

Mine's thoughts were cutoff when she was suddenly struck by a violent headache. Dropping the pistol in her hand, Mine hissed in pain as she steadied herself against a nearby wall. Without warning, Mine's mind was filled with flashing visions of her own death. She saw herself dying in Tatsumi's arms, her last words confessing how much she loved him. Her heart ached as she watched Tatsumi weep, clutching her lifeless body. Almost as quickly as they had arrived, the visions stopped and Mine was left panting. With her heart racing and head still pounding, Mine brought a hand underneath her nose. She gasped when she spotted a line of blood trailing down her fingers.

"It's just like what happened with Sayo...I just saw my own death...how I was supposed to die..." Mine muttered as she clutched both hands against her chest. "I would have died without ever expressing my love for Tatsumi..." A few tears escaped Mine's eyes as she began to sniffle. "If it weren't for Tatsumi...I wouldn't be here right now...and I wouldn't have had the happiest moments of my life." Slowly picking up the pistol she had dropped, Mine turned on the safety and set the weapon down a nearby counter. "After that...I'm done for tonight. Right now, I just want to hold Tatsumi and be close to the people I love."

(The Following Morning: Night Raid's Meeting Room)

"Tatsumi, Mine...I have an assignment for you two." Najenda said as she sunk into her chair, pausing for a moment to take a puff of her cigarette. "We're preparing for our final assault on the capital and I want you both at 100 percent. So, I'm sending you two to see the physician at the rebel army camp to the south. It shouldn't take you more than a few hours to get there on foot. And make sure the physician gets a get look at those eyes, I trust Incursio won't hurt either of you...but I just want to be sure."

"Of course boss, we'll leave right away." Tatsumi said, resting his hand on Incursio's hilt and glancing over at Mine. He knew that he'd be able to protect her, but there was still an inkling of worry in the back of his mind. "Are the roads to the camp safe? If I remember correctly, that specific camp is close to the frontlines."

"It should be. We've cleared all imperial forces out of that area, but there's always the possibility of thieves and bandits. But there are rebel troops who patrol that road quite frequently though, so I doubt you'll run into any trouble." Najenda replied as she tapped some of the ashes off the end of her cigarette, her one good eye noticing that Mine was trying to hide her hands. "And Mine, please get your hands checked out as well, I know they've been bothering you."

"Yes, boss." Mine said, nodding her head and balling her trembling fists. "I know that I don't have Pumpkin anymore, but I will be able to help take back the capital when we launch our attack."

"Good, that's what I like to hear..." Najenda said as she glanced at the entrance to the meeting room, noticing a tuft of lavender hair poking out. Releasing a light sigh, Najenda put out her cigarette. "You can come out now, Cosmina. I know you've been listening in the whole time."

"Heh, being stealthy was never my thing." Cosmina said with a devious smile, chuckling to herself as she entered the meeting room. Both Tatsumi and Mine were surprised to learn that the lavender-haired girl had been spying on them. "I was just going to the bath-"

"Cut the crap." Najenda said in a frustrated tone as she grabbed another cigarette and lit it. After taking a long puff, Najenda exhaled a cloud of smoke, locking eyes with Cosmina. "You heard me call Tatsumi and Mine in here and decided to eavesdrop...if you want to go with them, just say so."

"Wow, you're the boss for a reason. You caught me red-handed." Cosmina said, raising her hands defensively and shrugging her shoulders. "Well, can I go with them? I'm getting bored just sitting around the base all day and training. I need to get out and some fresh air."

"I suppose it couldn't hurt...and some extra protection would be nice." Najenda muttered as she stroked her chin, leaning back in her seat. "Alright Cosmina, you can go with them. But you have to behave yourself while you're in the revolutionary army camp. If you act out, the higher-ups won't hesitate to reprimand you."

"Aye aye, ma'am!" Cosmina said with a grin, giving Najenda an exaggerated salute. The lavender-haired girl skipped in front of Tatsumi and Mine, leaning forward and clasping her hands behind her back. "Looks like I'll be tagging along with you guys!"

"This was supposed to be a simple trip..." Mine groaned as she released a heavy sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay...please, for the love of god Cosmina, don't cause too much trouble."

"Oh, I thought you'd be more opposed to me coming along..." Cosmina said with a smile, leaning a bit closer to Mine and locking eyes with the pink-haired assassin. "Have you finally warmed up to me, perhaps?"

"Tch, as if..." Mine scoffed as she turned her head away from Cosmina's gaze. "You're a lot like Chelsea and I learned that it's too exhausting to fight with you two all damn day. So, if you want to come along I won't stop you..." With a faint blush, Mine glanced back over at Cosmina. "And...I know that you want to come with us because you want to spend some more time with Tatsumi...in a romantic way...and I won't stop you either."

"How thoughtful of you, Mine. I think I'll take you up on that offer." Cosmina said, licking her lips as she stepped forward and hugged Tatsumi's arm in between her modest bust. "I'm glad that I get to finally spend some time with you, Tatsumi."

"Y-Yeah, we haven't had much time to talk since you joined Night Raid..." Tatsumi said with a faint blush as he tried not to stare at the way Cosmina's breasts wrapped around his forearm. "We should probably get going."

"Have a good trip you three and stay safe..." Najenda said with a small smile, watching as her subordinates filed out of the meeting room. Once the three assassins were out of sight, Najenda released a heavy sigh and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. After giving the paper a quick once over, Najenda crumpled it up. "Thank god, now she can stop writing me to check up on Tatsumi."

(Several Hours Later: Rebel Army Forward Camp)

After traveling on the road for a good chunk of the day, Tatsumi, Mine, and Cosmina finally reached the revolutionary army basecamp. The trip was largely uneventful, minus a single bandit attack that was thwarted by Cosmina. The three assassins had stopped for lunch and as they were eating, a group of four thieves snuck up on them and tried to rob them. Unfortunately for the amateur criminals, Cosmina had her teigu close by and blasted them with soundwaves when they sprang out to attack. Normally, Cosmina's teigu would decimate her targets, but this time she dialed back her attack and only incapacitated the bandits, shattering all of their legs. After tieing up the crying thieves, and leaving them for the revolutionary army to pick up, the three assassins continued on their trip.

"Wow, so this is a rebel army base..." Cosmina wondered aloud as she watched dozens of soldiers, doctors, and civilians just looking to help out rushing around and trying to get various tasks done. "They really are gearing up to attack the capital, it didn't seem real until now."

"It won't be long until the minister and all his cronies are killed and this corrupt government will collapse." Mine said, balling her fists as she watched a pair of soldiers carrying a stretcher with their bloodied and injured comrade on it. "And I'll be there to help tear it all down."

"We'll do it together..." Tatsumi said with a small smile as he grabbed Mine's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Then, once this is all over, we can hopefully live a peaceful life."

"Oh my, now isn't that a lovely sentiment..." The three assassins turned around when they heard an unfamiliar voice speak up from behind them. The person who had spoken up was a middle-aged man with short, slicked-back black hair. He had glasses and was dressed in fairly formal clothes, with a white lab coat worn over them. A lit cigarette hung loosely between his lips as he stared at the assassins. "I assume you're the ones Najenda sent over to be examined."

"Yes, that's us...I'm Tatsumi and these two are Mine and Cosmina." Tatsumi said as gestured toward his fellow assassins before he glanced down and noticed a familiar teigu on the man's hands. "Huh, so you're the one who received Perfector."

"The name's Tetsuya, I'm the head doctor in this camp..." Tetsuya introduced himself, stepping closer and leaning in a bit. Stroking his chin, Tetsuya closely examined Tatsumi and Mine's Incursio eyes. "So you're Tatsumi...you and the rest of Night Raid are quite famous around here, you're practically celebrities...and this eye you and your pink-haired friend have, it's quite interesting." Stepping back, Tetsuya pointed toward a nearby tent. "Well, why don't you two follow me into the examination area and I'll give you two a full checkup. Your friend can come along as well."

The three Night Raid assassins followed Tetsuya into the tent and allowed him to begin his examination on Tatsumi and Mine. With his teigu glowing faintly, Tetsuya traced his hands over Mine and Tatsumi's bodies, his brow furrowing occasionally. As the examination went on, Cosmina sat in a nearby chair, intently watching Tetsuya's every movement. After almost ten minutes, Tetsuya released a heavy sigh and walked over to a nearby table. Tetsuya quickly jotted down a few notes before lighting a new cigarette. Grabbing a chair, Tetsuya walked back over and sat down in front of Tatsumi and Mine.

"It's just as I suspected..." Tetsuya explained as he blew out a puff of smoke and looked between both assassins. "Incursio has started to bond with you two." Raising his finger, Tetsuya pointed directly at Tatsumi. "But it's much more advanced with you Tatsumi...with Mine, it appears to have stopped with just her left eye." Tetsuya paused for a moment as a frown spread across his face. "Whether you were consumed by the armor...or it fused with you...you are becoming Incursio's dragon body."

"Incursio would never intentionally hurt me..." Tatsumi said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glared at Tetsuya. "I knew the risk I was taking when Incursio offered me more of his power."

"I don't have all the details, but it seems like you have a special relationship with their teigu...most soldiers don't get so attached to their weapons." Tetsuya said as he leaned back in his seat and took another dragon from his cigarette. "But do not-"

"Incursio isn't just a weapon!" Tatsumi snapped, shooting off the examination table and roughly grabbing Tetsuya's shirt. "He's my friend and my invaluable partner!" After a few moments of awkward silence, Tatsumi realized he had acted out irrationally. With his cheeks flushed in embarrassment, Tatsumi released Tetsuya and sat back down. "Sorry about that, I shouldn't have gotten so upset."

"It's fine, I didn't realize you had such a close connection with your teigu." Tetsuya said as he adjusted his glasses and straightened his shirt. "But as I was trying to say...please don't think of what happened to you like a simple power-up...as a mere human being, if you're not careful, this new bond you've formed with Incursio will break you. Unlike a poison, it will gradually make you stronger before it ends up killing you...and it's what saved your life in the fight against Budo."

"I don't care about that...I'll endure any pain I need to." Tatsumi said, tightly balling his fists and staring down at his lap. "I just need the strength to protect my loved ones and take down the empire for good."

"I understand your feelings Tatsumi but know that great power comes at a cost." Tetsuya said as he released a light sigh and got out of his seat. Walking toward a nearby coffee machine, Tetsuya prepared himself a cup. "You will get the strength you desire, but as Incursio's user, it'll drive you toward destruction." Grabbing some cream and sugar, Tetsuya poured them into his coffee. "It could take a few years...but if you continue to train your body and building your strength...you might be able to use Incursio without putting unnecessary stress on your body, like Bulat."

"So..." Tatsumi muttered, raising his and staring at Tetsuya's back. "What will happen if I continue transforming as I am now?"

"Look, I know you share a strong bond with Incursio and that you trust it...but with the dangerous way that your armor evolved, you could end up being completely devoured by the beast." Tetsuya explained as he walked back over to his seat, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. "Your body might not be able to endure it and then you'll be consumed. In simpler terms, it's certain death." Tatsumi believed that Incursio wouldn't hurt him, but the young assassin couldn't stop his body from tensing. "That eye of yours is an obvious symptom. If you're lucky, I'd say you can transform three to four more times."

"Are you sure?" Mine asked hesitantly, reaching over and giving Tatsumi's hand a squeeze. "Is Tatsumi really in serious danger?"

"I can't say with full certainty because I don't completely understand this unique 'bond' that Tatsumi has with Incursio...but after my initial examination I believe he is in trouble." Tetsuya explained before he paused to take a sip of his coffee. After releasing a light sigh, Tetsuya got out of his seat and made his way toward the tent's exit. "I know this is a lot for you to digest, so I'll give you some time, for now, I have other matters to attend to."

"Well...that could have gone better..." Cosmina said, trying to lighten the mood a bit as she watched Tetsuya exit the tent. Seeing that Tatsumi still seemed a little upset over the worrying test results, Cosmina walked over and sat down on the examination table next to him. "I know you're probably freaking out right now but you'll get through this..." After hesitating for a moment, Cosmina gently grabbed Tatsumi's free hand. "I know we haven't known each other for very long but I'm here for you...everyone in Night Raid is here for you."

"Mine...Cosmina...thanks for everything, I really mean it. I don't know what I'd do without you all by my side." Tatsumi said as he glanced at both girls, seeing them giving him comforting smiles. Squeezing Mine and Cosmina's hands, Tatsumi gazed over at Incursio's blade. "I'll have to talk with-" Tatsumi stopped mid-sentence when a sudden chill filled the tent, causing a shiver to run down his spine. Having felt this sensation many times before, Tatsumi turned his head toward the tent's entrance, seeing a silhouetted figure approaching from outside. "Oh man, this will be fun."

A split second later, the tent's flap burst open, and in stormed Esdeath, the blue-haired general quickly scanning around. Cosmina's eyes shot open in utter shock as the imperial general entered the tent. However, Cosmina's jaw literally fell open as she watched Esdeath strut over and grab Tatsumi's shirt, pulling the young assassin in for a fiery kiss. The lavender-haired girl's face flushed slightly as she stared slack-jawed at Esdeath and Tatsumi's intense liplock. Releasing Tatsumi's shirt, Esdeath cupped the young assassin's face, sliding her tongue into his mouth. A moan rumbled in Esdeath's throat as her tongue danced with Tatsumi's. After a few more moments, Esdeath broke their liplock, both lovers staring into each other's eyes and panting slightly.

"Wow, that was an interesting way to say hello..." Tatsumi said with a smirk, gazing into Esdeath's stunning, icy blue eyes. "You must have really missed me."

"I had heard you were captured...and they wouldn't let me go help rescue you..." Esdeath said as she gently caressed Tatsumi's cheek, smiling gently at her lover. "I would have destroyed that entire city if I had to."

"And that's exactly why they didn't let you go." Tatsumi said with a chuckle, causing Esdeath to frown in disapproval. "I'm glad you were concerned about me Esdeath, but we need the empire to believe you're dead until we're ready to attack the capital. We can't give them an opportunity to prepare defenses against you."

"Oh. My. God." Cosmina breathed out as she looked between Tatsumi and Esdeath several times, frantically pointing at both of them. "You're the fifth girl in Tatsumi's harem!? THE Esdeath is one of Tatsumi's lovers!?"

"I like to think that I'm Tatsumi's true love and the other girls are mere concubines." Esdeath said confidently as she clutched a hand over her heart, a smirk spreading across her face. Cosmina discreetly glanced over at Tatsumi, the young assassin simply rolled his eyes and shook his head. Esdeath gave Cosmina a quick once over and quirked an eyebrow. "And who might be? A new member of Night Raid?"

"Yep! I'm Night Raid's newest assassin! They stole me away from the empire and recruited me...well, more specifically, Tatsumi convinced me to join Night Raid." Cosmina explained with a smile, hugging Tatsumi's arm in between her breasts. "And soon enough, I'll be joining Tatsumi's harem as well!"

"Oho, another woman stands to oppose me in the battle for Tatsumi's heart?" Esdeath asked with a smirk as she crossed her arms underneath her chest. "Fine, I welcome the challenge."

"You two...now really isn't the time for this." Tatsumi groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Cosmina and Esdeath entered a brief staredown, before nodding their heads. Seeing that both girls would hopefully behave themselves, Tatsumi released a light sigh and decided to quickly change the subject. "So...how have things been for you, Esdeath? I know you've been cooped up by the higher-ups for a while now."

"I've been ever so lonely without you, Tatsumi...but I've been managing. Those prudes who lead the revolutionary army keep me on a tight leash, but they give me some slack every now and then." Esdeath replied as she grabbed the chair Tetsuya had been using and sat down in front of the examination table. Leaning back in her seat, a low chuckle rumbled in Esdeath's throat. "But, I've had some fun forcefully prying any useful information out of the imperial soldiers we've captured. And as long as I'm escorted by a few guards, I'm allowed to go out and hunt danger beasts. I think the rebel soldiers here are starting to like me because I always share my kills with the whole camp and we've had some great feasts."

"Even when she's not their leader, Esdeath still takes care of the normal soldiers around her." Tatsumi thought with a small smile, staring down at his lap and clasping his hands. "Slowly but surely, Esdeath's good side is coming out more and more. Getting her out of the evil and corruption of the empire is definitely having a positive effect."

"Oh! Speaking of feasts!" Esdeath beamed with a smile as she clapped her hands together, getting everyone's attention. "There's someone here you should see, Tatsumi!"

"Really?" Tatsumi asked, quirking an eyebrow as he raised his head to stare at Esdeath. "Who is it?"

"Someone you've met before..." Esdeath replied as she got out of her seat and offered Tatsumi her hand. "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you." A smirk spread suddenly across Esdeath's face. "We did save their life after all."

(Five Minute's Later: Rebel Camp's Mess Hall)

"What is that smell..." Mine asked, following Tatsumi and Esdeath into the mess hall, with Cosmina following closely behind her. The pink-haired sniper sniffed the air several times, her mouth starting to salivate slightly. "God, I'm so hungry."

"It has been a while since we ate lunch..." Cosmina muttered as she rubbed her stomach, taking a deep whiff of the pleasant aroma wafting out of the kitchen. "I'm feeling quite famished too."

"Since when did the revolutionary get people that could actually cook?" Tatsumi asked, following Esdeath into the kitchen area as he began to hear the clack of pans and sizzling food. "Every time I've been to one of our camps, the food there is barely better than slop."

"We snagged him up pretty recently." Esdeath explained as she walked past a counter filled with various cooking ingredients. "He was more than happy to help out around the camp."

"Oh, do I have visitors?" Tatsumi immediately perked up when he heard a familiar voice speak up over the sounds of cooking food. When Tatsumi caught up with Esdeath, he spotted a familiar masked man standing in front of a large stove. His large muscular body and creepy mask clashed with the frilly, pink apron he wore. Whisking a bowl full of some type of batter, Bols turned to face his guests. "General Esdeath! It's so good to see you! And is that Tatsumi I see as well?!"

"Bols!? So, you did make it out of the capital!" Tatsumi exclaimed with a beaming smile, approaching the sweet, yet menacing man. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"I have you and the general to thank for that..." Bols said before he set down his bowl and pulled Tatsumi in for a bone-crushing hug. The young assassin yelped in pain as Bols lifted him off his feet. "My family and I owe you our lives."

"Alright Bols, that's enough." Esdeath said, releasing a light sigh as she walked patted Bols' shoulder. "I can't have you killing Tatsumi."

"Oops! Sorry about that!" Bols said with a nervous chuckle as he released Tatsumi and rubbed the back of his head. "I forget how strong I am sometimes."

"So, it looks like you're taking advantage of the second chance we gave you." Mine said, rubbing Tatsumi's back and staring at Bols. "Where's the rest of your family?"

"My wife is helping in the medical tent and my son is helping with various minor tasks, like delivering notes and supplies." Bols replied as he picked up his bowl once again and resumed whisking. "We're eternally grateful to the revolutionary army for allowing us to stay here. My family and I will never be safe until the minister of his corrupt empire is overthrown." Once the batter was fully mixed, Bols set the bowl down next to the stove and put some butter on a heated pan to help reduce sticking. "I'm glad I managed to find a way to help that doesn't involve killing...but if the revolutionary army asks me, I will fight on the front lines if it means my family will continue to be safe."

"You won't have to do that." Cosmina said with a smile, walking up next to Bols and clasping her hands behind her back. "We'll defeat the empire and make sure all those evil men in power are taken care of."

"I have to believe we'll win...I have to keep hope, especially for my son." Bols said as he set down his utensils and glanced over at Cosmina. "I apologize, I don't believe we've met." Using his apron to wipe off his hands, Bols offered Cosmina a handshake. "Hello, my name is Bols. Is it safe for me to assume you're a member of Night Raid?"

"Yes! I just joined Night Raid recently!" Cosmina replied with a beaming smile, energetically shaking Bols' hand. "The name's Cosmina by the way! Nice to meet you, Bols!"

"Hey, Bols!" A new voice suddenly called out from the mess tent's entrance. After a few moments, a young girl walked into the kitchen, carrying a box full of various cooking supplies. "I brought those ingredients you wanted!" When Tatsumi got a good look at the girl's face, his brow furrowed slightly. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the girl looked oddly familiar. Stopping in front of the Night Raid assassins, the girl smiled at all of them. "Oh! You have some-"

The girl stopped mid-sentence when she spotted Tatsumi, her eyes widening in shock. Suddenly, the box the girl was holding crashed to the ground as she dropped it and cupped her hands over her mouth. Tears quickly formed in the girl's eyes as she began to sniffle several times. Without warning, the girl rushed forward and embraced Tatsumi in a tight hug, burying her head into his chest. Tatsumi was caught off guard by the sudden embrace and began to awkwardly pat the girl's back. However, as Tatsumi got a better look at the crying girl, he started to recognize her. There was one distinctly different feature that had changed about her which initially threw him off.

"Mary...is that you?" Tatsumi asked with a smile as he reached up and brushed his thumb over the girl's normal-sized ears. "I almost didn't recognize you."

"Isn't it amazing?!" Mary exclaimed, staring up at Tatsumi with tear-filled eyes as she touched her smaller ears. "Dr. Tetsuya managed to reverse the experiments that bastard Stylish did on me! I was so grateful to him and the revolutionary army, that I decided to stick around for a bit and help out!" Tightening her hug, Mary nuzzled her cheek against Tatsumi's chest. "But I'm most grateful to you, Tatsumi. You saved me from that monster and gave me another chance at life. I'll never be able to repay you."

"You don't have to repay me, I was just helping someone in trouble." Tatsumi said as he gently patted the top of Mary's head. "Remember what I told you before...if you want to thank me, just treat me to a nice meal when we finally win this war."

"I haven't forgotten." Mary said with a chuckle, letting go of Tatsumi and wiping away her tears. "I've actually been learning how to cook from Bols."

"And I must say, she is an excellent pupil." Bols chimed in as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. "She'll cook you a meal to die for."

"Well, that's all the more reason for us to defeat the empire as quickly as possible." Tatsumi said before flashing Mary a bright smile, causing a faint blush to spread across her face. "I'll be looking forward to it."

"My god, does he even notice when he does things like that?" Cosmina thought as she watched Mary begin to fidget slightly and clasp her hands together. "Tatsumi has to be the biggest unintentional flirt I've ever seen, it has to be some type of superpower. No wonder he has so many girls pining after him."

"Well, aren't you just full of surprises..." Esdeath said with a smirk, stepping closer and pinching Tatsumi's cheek. "That's one of the reasons I love you, Tatsumi. You never cease to amaze me."

"Wait! Tatsumi is your secret lover!?" Bols gasped in surprise as he looked between Tatsumi and Esdeath several times, noticing a faint blush on the young assassin's face. "People around camp have been wondering for months, but I would have never guessed it was Tatsumi!"

"Yes, Tatsumi and I are wildly in love!" Esdeath proclaimed, cutting the young assassin off before he could say anything. With a mischievous smile, Esdeath hugged Tatsumi's head against her breasts. "I left the empire so I could be with him."

"Don't act like your the only woman in Tatsumi's heart!" Mine spat as she shot Esdeath an annoyed glared, hugging Tatsumi's arm and resting her head against his shoulder. "He loves me and the other girls equally, he doesn't pick favorites!"

"Oh my, this just got a whole lot more interesting..." Bols muttered, watching Esdeath and Mine continue to bicker back and forth. "I would have never guessed Tatsumi was such a lady's man. Well, I suppose you can't judge people off their appearance."

"Um...excuse me..." Mary said somewhat nervously as she walked up next to Cosmina, tapping the lavendar-haired girl on the shoulder. Leaning in a bit closer, Mary gestured toward Mine and Esdeath, who were still snapping at each other, with Tatsumi stuck between them. "Are they always like that?"

"Well, I haven't been with Night Raid very long...but from what I've seen so far...yes." Cosmina replied with a smile as she rest her head on her palm. "When it comes to spending time with Tatsumi...the girls who love him can get very competitive."

"I see..." Mary muttered, watching Esdeath and Mine continue to bicker with each other. "I don't think I could ever keep up in a relationship like that."

"If you all aren't too busy, why don't stay for dinner?" Bols asked as he attempted to stop Esdeath and Mine from arguing. "I figured I'd make a big batch of pancakes for the troops, help boost morale a bit around here."

"I am really hungry..." Mine said quietly, her stomach suddenly growling caused a faint blush to spread across her face. Releasing a light sigh, Mine locked eyes with Esdeath. "Truce?"

"Truce." Esdeath replied with a smirk as she nodded her head. "Bols' cooking is truly excellent and further argument would only spoil the food."

"Thanks for that..." Tatsumi said, managing to free himself from Mine and Esdeath's hold and walking over to Bols. "They would have been at it all day if nobody stopped them."

"It's the least I could do..." Bols said as he reached under the counter and pulled out another apron. After Bols handed the piece of cloth to Tatsumi, he began to pour the batter he had been mixing onto a pan. "Now, why don't you help me out? From what general Esdeath has told me, you're quiet the cook yourself."

"I'm alright...now Susanoo..." Tatsumi trailed off a bit after mentioning the biological teigu, a sad look flashing in his emeral eyes. After a few moments, a small smile spread across Tatsumi's face. "Hopefully you'll get to meet him one day, he's an amazing cook."

(Several Hours Later)

"Haaaa...I haven't eaten that well in a while..." Tatsumi said to himself as he let out a content sigh, patting his full stomach. The young assassin managed to sneak away from the bustling and rowdy mess tent, deciding to go through a quick stroll through the camp and enjoy the cool evening air. Walking past several different medical tents, Tatsumi stopped in front of one for critical patients. After pondering for a few moments, Tatsumi quietly slipped inside. "One of the reasons I'm fighting with Night Raid is to make this war end quicker...and make sure no more soldiers have to end up in places like this."

Stepping into the tent, Tatsumi spotted dozens of medical cots, all of them filled with previously injured rebel soldiers. There were a few nurses tending to the injured, but other than that the tent was mostly quiet. As Tatsumi walked amongst the beds, he saw soldiers missing limbs, completely blinded, covered head-to-toe in bandages, and on the verge of death. Seeing fellow rebel soldiers in such pain caused a mixture of anger and sadness to well up inside Tatsumi. Not wanting to disturb the resting soldiers, Tatsumi pushed his emotions back down to prevent an outburst. However, as Tatsumi prepared to leave the tent, he spotted a tuft of green hair in the last bed. Rushing over, a bright smile spread across Tatsumi's face when he noticed a familiar Night Raid member.

"Lubbock!?" Tatsumi exclaimed in a low tone, stopping at the foot of the green-haired assassin's bed. "I didn't know you were at this camp!"

"Heh, didn't think I'd see you here either..." Lubbock said with a chuckle, weakly waving to Tatsumi. Most of Lubbock's torso and arms were covered in bandages and he looked extremely tired. "I asked to be moved to a different camp...don't want Najenda to see me when I look like this."

"If that's how you feel...I won't say anything to the boss." Tatsumi said as he grabbed a nearby chair and sat down next to Lubbock's bed. "So, how are you feeling?"

"Like utter shit...but all the docs say that I'll make a full recovery...so I'm better off than some of the poor bastards in here." Lubbock groaned, leaning his head back and staring at the tent's roof. "I'll see Najenda and the others when I'm better...and can walk more than ten steps without running out of breath."

"When you see the boss again..." Tatsumi paused for a moment before he leaned in a bit closer, wanting to keep this part of the conversation private. "Are you gonna tell her how you feel?"

"After surviving a brush with death, I think I have too." Lubbock replied with a grin, sitting back up and locking eyes with Tatsumi. "Next time I see Najenda, I'm going to kiss her and tell her how much I love her."

"Good for you man. I know you two will be happy together." Tatsumi said as he gently patted Lubbock's leg, trying not to hurt him. "So...I've gotta ask...I read your injury report...and I saw that one of your...boys...was crushed..." Tatsumi knew that discussing Lubbock's injury would likely be a touchy subject, so he wanted to approach it as delicately as possible. "Does that mean...you can't have kids now? If you ever want any in the future."

"Hell yeah, I want kids! Najenda and I will have ten beautiful children!" Lubbock exclaimed in a surprisingly passionate and upbeat tone, pumping his fist into the air. "And I should be fine in that department...the doctors explained everything in very colorful detail." Chuckling to himself, Lubbock nudged Tatsumi with his elbow. "If Najenda and I do end up having trouble with kids, I still get to enjoy trying!" This little perverted joke earned a laugh from both assassins. "And if things don't work out...adoption is always on option."

"You're more chipper than I thought you'd be..." Tatsumi said with a smile as he rested his hand on Lubbock's shoulder. "I'm glad you're managing to stay so optimistic."

"Well, I've got no reason to be upset. This damn war should be ending soon...we're winning...I'm still alive..." Lubbock said before locking eyes with Tatsumi, a single tear falling down his cheek as he choked back a sob. "And most of my friends are still alive. I have you and Incursio to thank for that. I..." Lubbock stopped mid-sentence when he was suddenly struck by a powerful headache. The entire world seemed to be spinning as Lubbock clutched his throbbing head. "ARGH!"

"Lubbock!?" Tatsumi exclaimed as he shot out of his seat, his eyes filled with worry. "What's-" Tatsumi stopped when he noticed a thin trail of blood trailing from Lubbock's nose. "You...you're seeing your own death..."

"It's terrible!" Lubbock screamed, clutching both hands against his throbbing head. The green-haired assassin's mind was assaulted by horrific images of his gruesome death, being butchered by Kousetsu. Once the visions stopped, Lubbock was overcome by an overwhelming feeling of nausea. Reacting quickly, Tatsumi grabbed a nearby trash can and handed it to Lubbock. Ducking his head into the wastebasket, Lubbock couldn't resist the need to vomit any longer. Wiping his mouth, Lubbock set the trash bin down next to his bed. "H-Holy shit...that was awful..."

"You okay, man?" Tatsumi asked in a concerned tone as he gently squeezed Lubbock's shoulder. "That looked pretty rough."

"Yeah...yeah...I'm fine now." Lubbock replied, groaning in pain as he was hit by another minor headache. "Fuck...I never want to experience something like that ever again."

"Hey...how about I go get you something to eat? Bols made pancakes and they turned out great." Tatsumi suggested as he stepped away from Lubbock's bed. "I bet you're starving...especially after you just threw up whatever was left in your stomach."

"That sounds amazing." Lubbock said with a smile, perking up a bit in his bed. "Make sure to put extra syrup on them!" Tatsumi smiled and nodded his head, before walking out of the tent. Once Tatsumi was gone, Lubbock released a heavy sigh and hung his head. "I guess that's another thing I have to thank you for, Tatsumi. Because of the changes you've made, I'm still alive right now...that vision proves I was supposed to die in the capital. You may piss me off sometimes, but you've always had my back and I couldn't ask for a better friend."

(Midnight: Back at Night Raid's Hidden Base)

"So...that's how things went..." Najenda said as Tatsumi finished recalling everything that had happened during their trip, minus his run-in with Lubbock. "I'm glad Mine is going to be okay...and that Cosmina didn't cause an uproar...but your condition worries me Tatsumi. I know you trust Incursio but are you sure you'll be okay?"

"I don't know, I was going to try and talk with Incursio tomorrow...he's been oddly quiet this entire trip." Tatsumi replied, clasping his hands behind his back. "But even if I'll be in danger, I'll continue to use Incursio. We'll need his strength to help take down the empire."

"I must apologize Tatsumi...I wish I could tell you that you don't need to fight anymore." Najenda said as she released a light sigh, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag. "We don't know what trump cards Honest and the empire have up their sleeves. We'll need all the firepower we can get."

"Boss...I have to ask..." Tatsumi said in a somewhat uncomfortable tone, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Are we really going to win this war?"

"Well, if we look at the situation logically...no matter how you look at it, we should win." Najenda said as she tapped the ashes off the end of her cigarette. "We've eliminated a large portion of the empire's military strength and even lured their most powerful soldier to our side. But those sneaky bastards have to have an ace hidden up their sleeve. If we give them any type of opening...they'll seize the opportunity and turn the tables on us.

"So, we still need to be careful." Tatsumi muttered, stroking his chin and furrowing his brow. "We can't leave any margin for error in this fight."

"Yes, that's why we need to gather our forces and prepare properly." Najenda added as she stomped out her cigarette butt. "Once the rebelling forces from across the country unite...we'll launch a simultaneous attack on the capital. Once the capital has been taken, we'll find and eliminate any imperial leaders who managed to escape."

"I'll work my hardest, boss..." Tatsumi said in a determined tone, tightly balling his fists and locking eyes with Najenda. "I'll make sure we win...for Ieyasu, Sheele, and Bulat's sake."

"That's what I like to hear...but don't stress yourself too much. Night Raid is one for all and all for one." Najenda said with a small smile as she sank into her usual chair. "Now...why don't you go get some rest, you had a long trip and I'm sure you're tired."

"That's an understatement." Tatsumi said with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. Bowing slightly, Tatsumi made his way toward the exit. "Good night, boss."

"G'night Tatsumi..." Najenda said with a wave as she watched her subordinate leave the meeting room. Once Tatsumi was out of sight, Najenda released a heavy sigh and lit a fresh cigarette. After taking a long drag, Najenda exhaled a large puff of smoke. "Damn it Lubbock...I'm glad you're alive...but I'm still filled with this overwhelming sense of loneliness. We were...always together after all. When I see you again...I can finally tell you these feelings I've kept inside."

(Ten Minutes Later: Tatsumi's Bedroom)

"Alright, it's about time..." Cosmina whispered, quietly opening the door to Tatsumi's room. Poking her head inside, Cosmina smirked when she spotted the young assassin alone and asleep in his bed. "I'm glad the other girls let me have some time alone with Tatsumi." Stepping into the bedroom, Cosmina gazed down at the thin lavender negligee she was wearing. Feeling a rush of confidence, Cosmina climbed onto Tatsumi's bed. Straddling the young assassin, Cosmina licked her lips. "I've waited long enough, Tatsumi."

And done! I know you all hate cliffhangers, but I felt like this was a good stopping point. The next chapter will start with a juicy lemon between Cosmina and Tatsumi, then will continue the story. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that! I'll be working on my Spider-Man story next, so it will be a little while before I update this story again. But please just be patient and a new chapter will be out eventually. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!), vote in the poll on my profile, check out my other stories and profile if you haven't already, and PM me ideas you might have for any of my stories. So, until next time, I'm outta here!