It's been a couple days since auron and akame's visit to the graveyard. I still can't believe that a bit of his blood managed to do what many thought impossible. But honestly. It's a good safety net. They say you can't save everyone. It won't stop us from trying. But it's good to have a backup plan. Najenda said we have another member joining us today. Man night raid just keeps growing huh? As we stand in the main hall. Our new member walked up to introduce themselves. And i nearly spat up my water when i saw that familiar long blonde hair and hat.
"Hello everyone. My name is spear. Daughter of the former prime minister chouri…we were attacked by imperial assassins. We would have died if not for a brave soul." spear said. Looking directly at me. I couldn't help but blush. Rubbing the back of my neck.
"...najenda. Permission to personally train the new recruit." i said.
"For what purpose?" najenda asked.
"I didn't save her from the three dogs just so she can get chopped by another imperial lunatic. Which is why i'm going to train her until she can ends lives with a shoe." i said. Some of night raid chuckled. Thinking the image was pretty funny.
"Spear?" sheele asked as she entered the room. She was still asleep by the time i left the room. She was shocked to see her old best friend. Spear tried to back away but I pushed her towards sheele.
"Sheele…i'm sorry about what happened. I was scared. And I know that's no excuse for what i did. But." spear said. Only to get a hug from sheele.
"It's alright. I understand. I just want us to be friends again. Alright?" sheele asked. Spear hugged her back.
"Yes. thank you sheele." spear said with tears in her eyes. I smiled at such a beautiful reconciliation. The day went on. And training began again. It consisted this time of doing push ups with the girls sitting on our backs. Leone on lubbock. Akame on auron. Sheele on me. Sayo on bulat. And mine on tatsumi.
"Surprised that you're doing this lubbock." auron said.
"Yeah. well can't let you guys get all the glory. So i decided it's time to kick it up a notch!" lubbock proudly pronounced.
"It's cute that your acting all big. When everyone else is way ahead of you. Hell even tatsumi is ahead of you." leone said.
"That's to be expected. After all. Leonie is heavier than me. And mine's chest size takes some weight from tatsumi compared to mine." akame said. Everyone except me. I was too busy laughing. All dropped their jaws. Akame got slugged by leone. While i got slugged by mine.
"I regret nothing." I said with the bump on my head.
"Remember akame. A woman's weight is a topic that is a mine field." auron said.
"Seems like your all having fun." najenda said.
"Where are you going?" auron asked.
"To the HQ to hand over the teigu's falix collected…and to ask for more talented personnel." najenda said.
"Seriously? Cornelia gin tsukushi and spear aren't enough backup?" iasked. And then sighed. "Fine. i swear going to become an army by the time the final chapter of the war comes." i said. Then shrugged. "That would actually be cool." i said.
"Until then. Akame you're in charge. Keep everyone training." najenda said. Akame then saluted. Najenda then left. We all got back to training. I was training with a bokken.
"Hey you!" i heard someone yell. I turn around to see gin.
"What's up?" i asked.
"I heard that your the toughest in night raid. Took out the three beasts on your own." gin said. As she pointed a wooden replica of her sword at me. "I'm going to take that title from you." she said with a smirk. I sighed.
"You're gonna regret this." i said. After five minutes of sparring. Gin was down.
"Dammit…how could I lose." gin said.
"Because i'm a badass…though. I'm not gonna lie. That was too easy…I expected you to last an half an hour." i said.
"Yeah. i've noticed…i'm not moving like i used too…guess that's to be expected when you've spent some time as bones." gin said with a look of shame. I sighed.
"Auron! Your in charge of training cornelia! Gin. you and Tsukushi are joining spear. By the time i'm done with you two. Your past selves will be weaklings in comparison." i said.
"Very well." tsukushi said.
"Bring it. Falix." gin said. I stomped my foot.
"It's sensei! Got it!?" i yelled. Causing gin and tsukushi to stiffen.
"Yes sensei!" tsukushi and gin yelled.
"...am I going to have to call you sensei?" cornelia asked auron.
"No. i'll train you to be stronger than you were…but i'm not going to be a drill instructor about it." auron said. By the time training was over. Tsukushi gin and spear were all sore. But we made some good progress today. As the night rolls around. And sheele is in my arms. I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to see spear.
"What are you doing here?" i asked.
"Can i come in?" she asked. I let her inside.
"What do you want to talk about?" sheele asked.
"...are you okay with…sharing falix?" spear asked. I blushed.
"So you fell for him too?" sheele asked.
"Yes…he saved my father and me from death. Because of him. I was able to patch up a friendship i thought was gone…his training maybe brutal. But i know. He may try to hide it. But he's doing it because he cares. He doesn't want us to die. So he's making sure we don't." spear said. My face was red…cause she was right. That whole thing about wasting our efforts to save them just so they could die to someone else. It was to hide how i do care and worry for them. I don't want them to die. So I trained them to be ready for anything. I won't admit that. But spear clearly sees right through me.
"Your last relationship…didn't end well. Are you sure you're okay with this?" I asked.
"More than anything." spear said with an all too radiant smile…one like sheele's
"Okay…how about you sheele. Are you okay with sharing me?" i asked. Sheele got up. And kissed spear on the lips. Causing her face to go red.
"That answer your question?" sheele said with a wink and her tongue out.
"In the most arousing way possible." i said. That night i held two beautiful girls in my arms. I will protect you both…my lights.
Three days later./ lubbocks book shop.
"There she is. My pride and joy." lubbock said as he pointed towards his bookshop. After entering. I got a good look around.
"For a revolutionary army front. There's actually a lot of good reading material. I was expecting a lot more lewd books. Considering this is your book shop." i said. Lubbock looked at me annoyed.
"You're just as much of a pervert as i am falix. So shut it!" lubbock said. He moved a book. Revealing a secret passageway.
"That's not true lubbock. Unlike you. I value my life more than i value seeing leonie's tits. While they are nice and bouncy. There not worth my bones being broken. And plus. That pair of knockers now belongs to my brother now." i said as we reached said pair of tits now downing the sake. Thankfully she's the fun kind of drunk.
"What were you boys talking about?" leonie asked.
"Nothing..so what's the plan for today?" i asked.
"Well…there's a tournament going on to find another teigu user for the imperial army. But there is a big cash prize. Which we will send to the revolutionary army." leone explained.
"Alright. But who's gonna go be a gladiator? I have a wanted poster. Lubbock is not good in a brawl. While i'm pretty sure the good general remembers your scent." i said. Leone a couple days back went to spy on esdeath…if leonie isn't willing to fight. Then you know we're up against someone nasty.
"Yeah…which is why tatsumi is going to be our gladiator." leonie said.
"Ready for this tats?" i asked. He nodded.
"Yeah." tatsumi said with determination. I grinned…time to see how you've come since that day.
Colosseum.
I was up in the bleachers alongside leonie and lubbock. I wore a black robe to hide who I was. Tatsumi's opponent was kalbi the butcher. A big bastard with the head of a cow.
"Seriously. Was his mother raped by a cow? Or did his father get drunk and fuck a cow?" i asked.
"Somethings we're not meant to know falix." lubbock said.
"You're so small…guess that prize money is good as mine! I may have been ex communicated. But i'm still a ninth level master at koukenji." kalbi said with arrogance. I alway hated arrogant pricks like him. Which makes it all the more satisfying when their forced to eat their own cocky words. And i know. Tatsumi is going to make burgers out of this cow headed circus freak.
"Begin!" wave the announcer yelled. I wanted to laugh at how one sided this was. Kalbi was all bark and no bite. With a quick fist to the stomach. A trip and a kick to the face. Tatsumi utterly laid him out. The crowd was amazed.
"You've come far kid. You're gonna go even farther." i said with a smile.
"The winner is tatsumi!" wave yelled.
"I did it!" tatsumi yelled with a charming smile. Esdeath came down from the stands. And came face to face with tatsumi.
"Tatsumi…that's your name right? It's a nice name." esdeath said.
"Th-thanks." tatsumi said. He's clearly afraid…can't blame him. When the queen of psychos is right in front of him.
"Your win just now was magnificent…i'd like to give you a reward." esdeath said as she pulled out something from her shirt.
"Thank you very much." tatsumi said. But to my. Lubbock and leones shock. What she pulled out wasn't the prize money…it was a collar. Which she just put on tatsumi.
"From now on…you'll belong to me." esdeath said.
"W-what?" tatsumi asked. Esdeath began to drag him.
"There's too many distractions here…come to my palace." esdeath said.
"W-wait! Hold on!" tatsumi yelled.
"No. i will not." esdeath said as she chopped the back of tatsumi's neck. Knocking him out. "Let's talk in my room…just the two of us." esdeath said.
"W-what the hell is going on!?" lubbock asked.
"Tatsumi just got the poisonous love of the craziest chick in the empire…we better get out of here and explain it to the boss." I said. They wanted to argue. But none of us have the power to fight esdeath and not die…well. That's what leonie and lubbock think. I do have the power to face esdeath…but there are too many civilians here. They'll get caught in the crossfire. No doubt that crazy ice bitch doesn't give a shit about these people's lives. So sorry tatsumi. Your going to have to bite the bullet for now…we quickly headed back to base and explained what happened.
Five days later/tatsumi pov.
I found out a few things while staying with our enemy. For starters. Akame's sister. Kurome is within the jaegers. From what auron told me. Her sister is addicted to drugs that make her stronger and slowly killing her. Hopefully auron can do something for her. And also. Seryu ubiquitous is alive. I don't how. But when her i saw her. It was freaky. Her right eye was a black void. And her arm was giving off black smoke whenever she was angry…which only happened when the "black winged demon." was brought up. Knowing what happened. It was definitely falix she was talking about…when they meet again. It's gonna be ugly…while i was there. I tried to convince esdeath to change sides. Talking about the corruption…however all i got was a slap in the face…esdeath made it clear that she cannot understand the weak. I could never love someone like that…
She wanted me to change for her. But she wasn't willing to change for me. Auron said that love was a two way street. Lovers are supposed to care what the other thinks. Give encouragement to each other. Be there for each other when things go south. Call them out on doing something stupid…and the most important. Change yourself for the better. If not for yourself. But for the person you love. Esdeath isn't willing. So screw her. i'm not going to be in her one sided relationship.
"Hey tatsumi. You alright?" wave asked.
"I'm fine. What's the general doing?" i asked.
"She's heading towards waldorf village. Apparently they have a teigu that belonged to their hero and refused to give it up. As they see it as holy…i can only hope they hand it over. We both know what will happen if they don't." wave said with worry. I froze…waldorf…that was the village auron was guarding. I gotta warn him! We were soon attacked by tree beasts. As me and wave fought. I found my opportunity to slip away. Which i took while wave was still fighting. I had to get to waldorf and warn everyone…i can only hope i'm no too late.
Waldorf villiage/auron pov.
I looked through the forest trying to find a small pink haired girl named giselle. And i did. She was tied up by bandits. They didn't even have time to process what was happening as i cut them all down. I cut giselle's rope and offered her my hand.
"Let's go home. Your parents are worried." i said with a smile.
"Okay." giselle said. I walked her back to the village. Only to be greeted with a huge tower of ice…that had everyone in it. Some looked like they tried to run. Others looked like they were going to fight whatever caused this. "Mommy. Daddy…" gisselle said through tears. Her mom and dad were also frozen looks like they were trying to patch up the wounded elder. Who was stabbed.
"General esdeath! There's a few survivors!" an imperial soldier yelled. I turned around to see a woman with long light blue hair…this was no doubt this was the woman who's cruel actions drove najenda away. General esdeath.
"My time with tatsumi must have made me sloppy. Doesn't matter. These two will join them." esdeath said.
"I get that you wanted the teigu…but was this necessary?" i asked.
"The teigu? We didn't find it. Guess i should have asked first." esdeath said.
"W-w-why? If the teigu had so little value. Then why do this!? Why kill them!? They did nothing to deserve this!" i yelled. I began to feel a new emotion. An utter disgust for the women in front of me. A woman I don't even see as human. But a bloodthirsty animal. A burning desire to rid the world of the plague that is her existence….hatred…this is hatred.
"These people were weak…i have no patience for the weak…people like this. Only exist to be a stepping stone for the strong." esdeath said with a vile grin…that's it? She killed these people just because she thinks she's strong? That gives her a right to commit atrocities like this? Since i arrived. I've seen my fair share of scum and villiany. And despite that i've always managed to remain calm…until now…this woman…this…creature….SHE'S AWAKENED MY RAGE!
"W-what the hell is happening?" a soldier asked. As power began to explode from my body.
"I hope you're pleased with yourself. You miserable piece of shit. I bet I could scour through the history of mankind and not find anyone a fraction as evil!" i yelled.
Tatsumi pov.
I finally arrived…only to see i'm too late…the people were all frozen by esdeath…auron was next to a little girl. Who was backing away….and auron…his eyes….they were black. I can feel the power emanating from him.
"You should be erased…trash like you can't be allowed to exist!" auron said. I couldn't believe what i was hearing. Auron was alway the calm one…he snapped…esdeath made him snap.
"What are you waiting for? Shoot him." esdeath said. The soldiers opened fire. Only for the bullets to be stopped and fall to the ground.
"What was going through your head? Do you enjoy committing atrocities? You're a prime example of everything wrong with this vile empire! You disgust me! Just looking at your vile grin makes my inside's churn…" auron said. As a blast of light came from his body. I could still see his silhouette.
"You make me wanna puke! You disgusting creature! You are nothing but a worthless rabid animal! AN ANIMAL! That's need to be put down and sent back to hell where your black soul was spawned!" auron yelled with all his fury. As the light died down. I saw him…transformed. His skin was pure black with purple glowing lines. All over his body. He had white wings on his back. And a halo over his head.
"What the hell is this!?" a soldier yelled.
"Is he…an angel?" another soldier asked.
"That doesn't matter...the empire is stronger than even the heavens. Today we're going to prove that! Kill him!" esdeath yelled. The soldiers charged and opened fire again. However the wings covered auron. And when the bullets hit him. The wings send the bullets back. Reducing the soldiers who shot at him to swiss cheese. And the soldiers who came at him were sliced in two. I didn't even see auron move. But he was behind the soldiers with angel's hymn covered in blood. Which now looked like a longsword with a pure white blade. I can feel great power coming from it.
"The empire is stronger than the heavens?...what arrogance…today…your sins will be judged…all of the innocent blood you spilled will be paid for in return. You have been judged by the heavens…the punishment is death! Return to the dark pits of hell that spawned you!" auron yelled.
"You will mock me no longer!" esdeath yelled as she charred with her rapier. Auron destroyed it with one swing of his sword. He then punched Esdeath in the face sending her flying through a few buildings.
"Tatsumi…what's going on? What is that thing?" wave asked. He was wearing a dark blue armor. His teigu is just like bro's. Esdeath got out of the rubble. And had a look of pure rage. She jumped up high. And ran about ten thousand icicles on auron. Auron swung his sword giving off a massive slash of light. Which melted all the icicles and gave esdeath a nasty burn. She summoned a massive yet thin wall of ice. Trying to slice auron in half. But he grabbed it. And shattered it easily.
"No matter what form of ice you throw at me. It won't save you from your punishment." auron said with cold rage. Esdeath gritted her teeth in anger. And jumped up high. And created a meteor of ice. It began to fall as esdeath rode on top of it.
"Auron! Move!" i yelled. But he just smirked and when it was close enough. Auron slashed it. Completely reducing it to icy particles. Auron jumped up and stabbed her through the stomach. And threw her to the ground. Leaving a crater where she landed. She got up. Albeit slowly.
"Still standing even after that?...i can see why your seen as the strongest of the empire…but that does not give you the right to kill innocent people. Weak or no…you may be powerful…but that doesn't make you strong." auron said.
"What do you know!?" esdeath yelled.
"Those who are truly strong don't kill the weak…they seek to fight those who are on equal terms…you know who uses their power to kill people that don't stand a chance…cowards…cowards who are too scared to face someone who can actually fight back...cowards like that bastard honest….and you." auron said with utter disdain. Esdeath had a look of pure hatred on her face…
"Words cannot express how much i despise you." esdeath said.
"Feeling's mutual. Danger beasts have more humanity than you. You vile creature." auron said. Venom leaking from his voice. Esdeath then grinned.
"Everything in sight will be incased in ice. Mahapdama!" esdeath yelled and snapped her finger. I couldn't tell what just happened. But i see auron extending his arm like he just smacked an attack away. And esdeath had a look of utter shock. "I-i-impossible!" esdeath yelled.
"The ability to freeze time…quite the powerful ability. But I'm pretty sure like all teigu's. There's a drawback….but even if that was not the case. Not even that will stop me…no teigu. No shingu. No weapon of the empire can stop my wrath…a lesson all of them will learn once your head is on a spear in the middle of the capital." auron said with a grin.
Esdeath charged at auron with a ice long sword. Only to be deflected by a barrier around. The knockback allowed auron a clean strike on esdeaths hands. Which he took. As he cut off both her hands. And with a knee to the stomach and a kick to the face. Esdeath was on the ground.
She looked up at auron. But not with anger. But something everyone in the empire never thought esdeath could feel….fear. She had tears in her eyes. She was…afraid.
"How many people were in your position….looking up at you in fear…now you know that fear…the fear that your going to die…and can't do anything to stop it…how does their fear feel?" auron asked as he raised his sword. "How do their pain feel?" auron asked.
"Grand fall!" wave yelled. As he dove kicked at auron. Auron just grabbed his foot. And slammed him into the ground. He then pushed his head into the snow. Magic came from his hand. Decorating grand chariot. He than took the key from wave. And threw it across the village.
"I sense no evil in your heart…don't interfere…your life is not worth this animal's" auron said.
"Why is that? I'm just an soldier from the navy. So why does my life have more value than the general of the empire?" wave asked.
"Do you not see that?" auron asked. As he pointed towards the ice that was now the coffin of everyone in the village. "Those were innocent people…and you can't use the "they refused to give up the teigu" excuse. Esdeath just came in here and did that. Just because she could. Because she believes that she's strong. That she can do that however she pleases. I can tell you're a good man. So don't throw away your life protecting this plague." auron said. Esdeath tried to stab auron with an arm made of ice. Only for auron to dodge. Cut off her ice arm. And smash her face into the ground. "You don't learn do you?...returned to the black pit of hell that spawned your wretched soul…rest in peace." auron said. He was about to stab her. But he reverted back to his normal form. "Damn it…not…now." auron said as he lost consciousness.
"Seems like that power drained him…let's take them both back to the capital." wave said. I put auron on my back. And began to walk away. "Tatsumi. You're going the wrong way. The capital is that way." wave said.
"Wave…i'm not taking auron back to the capital…he saved my two best friends…and i will not betray him…besides…i will never side with the empire…i'm with night raid." i confessed.
"W-what!?" wave yelled.
"The empire is corrupt…the prime minister has manipulated the emperor…to satiate his own greed. Wave. you have a choice. You can either be a good soldier. Or a good man. I don't want you to die. So please pick the latter." i said.
"Tatsumi…" wave said.
"Take esdeath back to the capital. She won't last much longer." i said. As i walked away. As i walked through the dead village the girl that auron protected showed up and handed me a katana.
"This is the holy relic of our village. please. Have auron use it. I heard it calling to auron." the girl said. I nodded and took the sword. "What's your name?" i asked.
"G-giselle." she said.
"Would you like to come with me? There's nothing left for you here." i said. The girl looked back and nodded. Giselle followed me back to the hideout. That power auron showed was insane…now i understood why wise men fear the anger of a gentleman.
