This one turned out way longer than I expected it would.
Cornered.
Tatsumi breathed quickly. Sweating slightly. He stood on all four on the bed. Hunched down lowly against the mattress. Looking like a cat that was being backed into a corner. His shirt was unbuttoned and he was still wearing his socks. But those were the only clothes left on him. He had red and fresh claw marks on his chest and red marks on his butt.
Esdese stood in front of him. Standing on top of the bed with her hands on her hips. Looking both satisfied and foreboding at the same time. She was still wearing her own military shirt even if it was also unbuttoned. She also had her military cap on her but was otherwise naked as well.
They were alone in the big tent. The bed was suprisingly large for being something that was transported with the army. Otherwise, the tent contained a table, some chairs, a big drawer, some chests and a weapon rack. It was dimly lit by several floor chandeliers. But most of those were burning rather weakly now.
Esdese had arrived just fifteen minutes earlier. Immediately pouncing on Tatsumi when she entered. Having been looking forward to taking him for most of the day.
But he had not been caught unaware. He had heard how the guards outside of the tent had saluted her as she approached. Even if she herself hadn't made a sound. He had pretended to be unaware when she came flying at him until the last moment and had then ducked to the side. Grabbing on of her arms that was meant to grab him as it flew by. Putting himself in the position of a throwing motion. Managing to get into that position only because of how relaxed and confident Esdese was.
But that was all he had managed to do. When he had started to pull at her arm, he couldn't get her to move in the slightest. He had looked up at her and she had smiled condescendingly at his attempts as he tried to pull at her again. They had stood like that for some seconds. Then Tatsumi had started to shrink away. And the moment he did, Esdese jumped on him again.
That time she caught him in her arms. Biting down at his shoulder with a vicious smile as she tackled him into the bed. After that there had been no use to struggle. Since she had him in her grasp. She had torn of his clothes as she pushed him down. Tearing through the clothing that was too bothersome to open up. After that she had hastily taken off her own clothes.
Their first round had been a hasty business. Esdese's lust urgently searching for a release. Her insatiable hunger peaking. All her playful and lustful attention focusing on him. It had ended almost as quickly as it begun. Tatsumi's endurance completly overwhelmed by her unending yearning for him.
But the more pent-up she was, the more violent the dicharges usually were. And with the exception of the tackling and tearing of his clothes, it had been a tender affair. So as soon as Tatsumi started to settle down, he had noticed how she had started to claw at his chest. Slowly and softly at first. But quickly growing more painful.
Usually, Esdese had patience with Tatsumi in these scenarios. When he spent himself before she was satisfied enough. She usually just waited until he had regained his strength and then resumed. But this was not one of those times. So when Tatsumi reached his peak and ran out of energi before she had gotten her satisfaction, she had started to search for gratification through other means. Slowly starting to hurt him.
Tatsumi had quickly realized that it was only gonna get worse. So he had waited until her grip had gotten softer as one of her hands reached down and violently grabbed his butt, then he had untangled himself with lightning speed. Jumping backwards, away from her. And that was where they were now.
Tatsumi crawled a little bit further back. His heel touching the end of the bedframe. Esdese eyes smiled at how completly alert he was. His own eyes following every little move she made. She bent forward and grinned. Holding a hand on the brim of her cap and reaching out to Tatsumi with the other.
"Come here." she said. Calling upon him as if he were a dog. Sounding sweet but her expression threatening. "Come to mama."
Tatsumi knew that he could not escape her in the long run. That was not the plan. He just wanted to divert her attention and give her more playful side an outlet that did not involve hurting him. At least not too much.
When he didn't come to her after some seconds, Esdese straightened up. Her smile growing as she closed the hand that had reached out to him. "Disobedience will be punished."
She put her hands on her hips and took a slow step towards him. When the foot touched the mattress again, Tatsumi jumped to the side. But before he could get off the bed, one of Esdese's legs stomped down in front of him. Obstructing his path. Tatsumi immediately changed his direction to the opposite side of the bed. But once again, Esdese's leg came down in front of him. Just as he was about to leap off.
This time he opted for the air instead. He jumped up from the bed as soon as he had come to a halt. But before he could get anywhere, Esdese grabbed his arm. Tatsumi's body was jerked back by his own arm as his momentum was stopped by his now stationary limb. Esdese's grip unyielding.
She slowly sat down her knees as Tatsumi pulled and tugged at the arm in her grasp. Trying to get free. Esdese was suddenly in no hurry at all. Now that she knew that she had him she enjoyed seeing him struggle to get away. His futile attempts and flustered expression looked so cute to her.
"I wonder, Tatsumi, what did you intend to do if you managed to escape me?" she asked when she was sitting down. Calmly watching how he grunted and pulled at her arm. "Did you intend to run out naked into the camp?"
Tatsumi put both his feet down into the mattress, clenched his teeth and started to pull with everything he got.
Esdese watched him with an amused expression for a little while. "You can stop that now, Tatsumi. Your fate is already sealed."
"Ohh yeah?" Tatsumi said and pulled again.
"It's just you and me now. No one will come to your rescue. No one will take you away from me."
"Ohh yeah?" Tatsumi repeated. As quickly as he could, he changed his direction. He threw himself against Esdese. Jumping right into her. Grabbing hold around her stomach as his shoulder hit her right under her breasts. Tackling her.
The fact that she had been pulling backwards at him along with the force of Tatsumi's body actually made her lose her balance. Esdese giggled as she fell backwards down on the bed. Her free hand grabbing Tatsumi as they started to wrestle.
They often wrestled like this. It was another one of the many games that Esdese liked to play with him. The rules unspoken but understood. Tatsumi struggled with everything he had in order to make this a little bit more interesting. But he never hit or kicked her. Neither did she strike at him. They just wrestled. Esdese sometimes biting or clawing at Tatsumi but rarely anything worse than that.
But just like most of their little games, the outcome was almost always the same.
"There we go." Esdese said as she rolled around a final time. Landing on top of him. Locking Tatsumi's legs under her own. Pushing his arms down with her hands. "Pinned." she announced triumphantly.
Tatsumi panted and looked at her. He was a little bit sweaty from the ordeal. Unlike Esdese who seemed practically unfazed. He tried to push up a bit but then settled down.
"Fine. You win. Again." he admitted and looked up at her.
"Well then." she said and adjusted her hat that had been pushed a little bit to the side. "As the winner, I have a prize to claim." she said.
When Esdese moved her hand down from her cap, Tatsumi pushed his hands down into the matress and started to lift himself up. Starting to do a bridge-like movement. Lifting Esdese up slightly.
"Hah!" she shouted excitedly as he lifted her up a bit. She took hold of his shoulders and jumped up with her lower body. For a moment it looked like she was on her way to do handstand from his shoulders. But before she had gotten too far up, she brought her lower body down on top of him with force. Landing on top of his chest. Straddling him.
The hit of her body and weight made Tatsumi fall down on the bed again. A exhausted grunt escaping his lips.
Esdese straightened up on top of him. Sitting on his chest. "I really like how you're still so tenacious. But I think you would be better off if you accepted the futility of your resistance sometimes."
"I have never been good at giving up." Tatsumi said and looked at her. Looking as defiant as he could when her thighs were on his shoulders.
She reached down and stroked the side of his face. "That is just a testament of your strength. But I am stronger than you." her hand suddenly rose up and grabbed his hair in a hard hold.
She licked her lips. "Disobedicence will be punished." she said again as her other hand started to move down towards him.
Tatsumi realized that the pain was coming. He did one last attempt to divert her attention away.
He looked up at her and then bent his head to the side. He started to lick one of her inner thighs which were lying on his shoulder. He moved his tongue in long, strong and slow strokes.
The hand that was moving down towards him stopped. After hovering over his head for some moments, her hand moved over and layed down on her other thigh.
Tatsumi momentarily halted his movements when she did. His tongue still on the smooth skin of her thigh. The hand that was holding his hair tightened it's grip. "It is in your interest to not stop now, Tatsumi." Esdese said from above him. Her smile full of teeth.
Tatsumi continued as she advised. Licking and kissing her white skin.
Esdese took a heavy breath. "This isn't bad." she said and scooted a bit closer to his face. Her knees already way past his head.
Tatsumi continued with enthusiasm. Driven partly by the fear of the pain. Esdese was actually well aware that he was trying to distract her. She could see the fear hiding in his eyes. She knew that he was trying to please her to avoid a harsher form of playing. And she enjoyed it. With every lick he stated his submission to her.
But she wanted more.
"That won't suffice, my sweet little Tatsumi." she said and smiled down at him in a dangerous. way. Scooting herself even further towards him.
Tatsumi didn't know why but he suddenly felt a little bit playful and rebellious. Thinking that he was in the clear, regarding the pain at least. So he just kept licking her thigh enthusiastically. Even though he could almost feel the heat from her sex on his chin.
Esdese looked down at him with annoyance. "Get to it." she ordered.
"I am, aren't I?" he said and continued to stroke her with his tongue. Looking up at her.
That made Esdese understand that he was trying to tease her. She had half a mind to draw some of his cute little squeals out of him for that. But this position just felt too right for her to leave it at the moment. Instead her hand tightened around his hair again and she shoved his face in between her legs. Slowly grinding her most sensitive area against his mouth and nose. Slowly rocking her hips.
After a little while she stopped on top of his lips. Her hand closed so hard around his hair that he drew a sharp breath. Esdese feeling the air blow against her. She bent a little bit forward so that she could look down at him. Her cheeks were slightly red and her smile was hungry. Yet her voice was hard and authoritative when she spoke.
"Get to it." she ordered once again. Pressing herself down against his lips.
After a second or two, Tatsumi complied. His tongue came out and he started to service her in the way she wanted. Licking her along the length of her womanhood. Sometimes digging a bit deeper into it with his tongue. While his lips sucked on her.
"There you go." Esdese said with a blissful sigh. Straigthening up a bit as her hands grip on his hair loosened a bit. Her other hand still resting on her thigh. A somewhat satisfied smile formed on her face as she slowly started to grind against his mouth and lips. While he continued his licking and sucking. "That's it. Taste it properly, Tatsumi. Let it saturate you."
After a little while her grinding had become much harder against his face and both her hands were grabbing his hair in a hardening grip. "Don't you dare stop now."she warned as her breathing got faster and more rough. Biting down on her lip. Tatsumi continued as he was bid. Driving her excitment into absolution.
Soon enough she reached her peak. She pressed down on him so hard that he had a hard time getting any air. Her thighs clenched around his head as she reached her first orgasm for the night. She bent forward as her toes curled up. Her hands pulling so hard at his hair the he thought that she would tear off his neck.
"Yeeesss" she slowly moaned in a strong and throaty voice. Her body quivering.
After some moments she moved back with a complacent smile. Sitting down on his collarbones. Her hands letting go of his head, placing them behind her on his stomach as she leaned a bit backwards. "That was good." she said. "That was really good."
"I will take that as a compliment." Tatsumi said with a smile. His face a bit sticky.
Esdese giggled slightly and moved her hips back and layed down on top of him. A satisfied expression forming on her face as she studied his messy face. "Your face looks a little bit... dirty." she said. Gloating at him with a smile.
"And whose faul is that?"
"Don't pretend that you didn't like that." she said. Calmly looking him in the eyes.
Tatsumi gave her a mocking grin in response.
"Ohh, don't think that I can't notice it, Tatsumi." Esdese purred. She moved her face a bit closer to him. "You deny so many parts of your own nature, Tatsumi, but I can feel them."
Tatsumi looked away. Slighty uncomfortable about where this was going. The act only egging Esdese on.
"You try to deny it but I can feel how your body wants me. And not only in a sexual way, Tatsumi. I can sense how it wants to be near me. How it is drawn to my presence. You don't like to talk about your love for me, yet I can feel how you find peace in my arms." she said. Sounding triumphant. "You try to avoid it but to me it is obvious. You know that you belong with me. You enjoy being my partner."
Tatsumi slowly turned his eyes towards hers again. She had hit the nail on the head in a way that worried him deeply. She had seen through the hesitation his conscience gave him about his position. She had noticed that he had started to enjoy parts of it.
And it made him deeply afraid. Afraid that she really would managed to change him, as she had promised. That she would make him so jaded to suffering that he would stop caring. That she would actually manage to turn him into that which he was fighting. That which she to a large degree embodied.
"Am I wrong?" Esdese asked rhetorically. Almost sounding boastful.
"No." Tatsumi sighed. "At least not completly."
Her smile got a little bit warmer and she bent down to kiss him. Wanting to reward him. Yet once again, Tatsumi's rebellious side got the better of him. He didn't know why. Maybe he needed to resist her for some moments. Maybe he just needed to do something small and stupid to divert his attention away from the matter at hand.
As soon as her lips got close, he reached up and bit down on her lower one. Not enough to damage her but enough for it to hurt. Esdese's eyes widened at his move. Genuinely suprised by the sudden pain. Tatsumi was regretting it the moment he did it. He didn't even think about the the idea before he put it into action. In hindsight, it seemed pretty idiotic. Since he had tried to avoid pain for a while.
Esdese growled at him and pushed his head down with her forehead. Staring him into the eyes. As soon as he let go of her lip, a dangerously thrilled smile formed on her face. She had started to get into a gentler mood but that small and sharp pain had kick-started her more aggressive side again.
"So you want to play a bit rough, ehh?" she said without moving her head away. Her arms quickly moving down his body.
"Not really." Tatsumi said with a hesitant smile.
Esdese rose up and moved down a bit. She didn't care anymore about what methods she would have to use to get him ready for her again. She wanted to claim her rights. Now. But when she moved down she saw that he was already erect. To her delight.
She took hold of his legs and bent them up until Tatsumi's knees were hitting his chest. His feet in the air. Then she placed her legs at the sides of him and sat down on top of him. Putting him inside of her once again, with the help of a hand.
Tatsumi couldn't help but whimper a bit and Esdese grunted slightly in satisfaction. Her arms left his legs. Her own legs and hips now pressing them down towards the sides of his chest. Her hands grabbed hold of the sides of his mid-section. When they touched his skin they were as cold as ice.
"Let's take our time tonight, Tatsumi." she said as he gasped at the cold sensation. "I will be slow and firm with you. I hope that you will give me some gratifying screams along the road." She was alrady starting to slowly grind against him.
"The guards outside will hear us." Tatsumi complained.
"Why would I care? They can probably guess why they aren't allowed to enter at night either way." she said as her nails dug into his flesh.
Tatsumi clenched his teeth. "What if I care?"
"Then keep your mouth shut."
"That is a bit hard tiiiiiiIIH" Tatsumi couldn't help himself as the end of his sentence turned into a shrill whimper as Esdese spread some of the coldness over his bare chest.
"I will not allow you to get any release until I am satisfied enough." she said as she squeezed him inside of her. Her eyes gleaming with sadistic joy. "That usually gets some wonderful reactions from you."
"You're evil." Tatsumi said through clenched teeth.
"And you're mine." Esdese said as she started to play with him. Making Tatsumi unable to respond as he fought to keep his voice down.
Before the sun had started to rise, most of the guards had realized what was going on inside of the tent. Both by Esdese's and Tatsumi's sounds and noises. And before the night was over, Esdese had made Tatsumi pledged his love and life to her many times over. As so many nights before.
The sun hadn't risen yet but the sky was starting to lighten up as the boats finally approached the port of Garu. The sky was slowly turning from black to blue, revealing some small clouds strewn over it as the morning approached.
Kurome looked at the city. It was big but not anywhere near as big as the capital. From where she was standing she could see where the port that covered the city's side to the water began and ended. Small lights could be seen in the houses and facilities along the port. The faint sound of activities could be heard from it. The sound traveling far over the water.
The city itself was encircled by a big wall that ended on both sides of the port. The wall itself towering tall over the biggest houses. Smoke could be seen from a few of the chimneys in the city. It's people slowly waking up and beginning the day. Kurome could smell some of the smoke as the wind blew against her.
She was standing in the front part of the small fleet's flagship. Placing herself a meter behind Wave, who was standing with his hands on the railing of the ship. Also looking at the city. The fleet he was now commanding was moving in to stop all the boat traffic in the city. Beginning it's soon to be quarantine.
Kurome looked to the side. On the hills to the left of the city, the encampment of the forces that Esdese commanded could be seen. It stretched over several hills, almost taking up as much space at the city itself. A lot more lights could be seen from the encampment than from the city. Pillars of smoke rising from it's many campfires. The city was mostly surrounded by forests but these hills had been leveled by the army.
She, Wave and a couple of officers had seperated from the army in the middle of the night. Moving to the coast to be picked up by boat that then transported them to the huge ship that acted as the flagship of this small fleet.
Kurome looked at Wave's back. He now had a long cloak over his shoulder. Reaching down to his ankles. A copy of the coats that acted as the generals insignia. The only exception being that it was black and red. Signifying that Wave was from the navy and not the army. She thought it suited him. It made him look a bit more authoritative. When he walked around with that and his sword over it's back, he actually looked like an admiral to her.
Not that he was looking very authoritative right now. His shoulders were slumped and he was leaning forward on the railing. He looked tired but Kurome knew that it was not because of the time. He had been down ever since Esdese gave him his first mission as an admiral.
Kurome could guess why but didn't quite relate to it.
She had always found it a bit strange how weak-willed Wave could be in some respects when he was so strong in others. He had overcome great challanges and difficult situations through will and guts. Yet this task semed to be difficult for him. Even if he literally had to do nothing but stand and watch as his subordinates followed his orders.
"This is going to be brutal." Wave said silently as he watched the city.
Kurome took a step closer to him. They were the only ones standing in the front of the ship at the moment. So Wave noticed that he had her attention.
"When the citizens realize that all the roads out have been blocked, then they will flee to the port." he continued. "They will grab any excuse for a boat that they can get their hands on when things start to go really nasty. Everything from a fishing boat to a set of planks. And then we are supposed to sink and kill them all. As they try to escape the fire and slaughter. With our well developed equipment and organized military fleet."
His voice was silent and grim. "Kurome."
She took another step towards him. "Yes ,admiral?"
Wave sighed shakily. Still looking at the city. When he spoke again his voice was much more unsteady. "I don't think I can do this."
A hint of fear crept into Kurome. She had heard the same sentiments from a person she had held very dear a long time ago. A person she was now trying to kill.
"We have handled public punishments before." she said calmly.
"Yeah when we knew they were somehow connected to criminal activities. And even then were talking about twenty people at most." Wave said. A bit of his repressed desperation showing through. "Here we are talking about ten thousands of people that will be fleeing through the water. Do you even understand those numbers, Kurome?" Wave said and turned around towards her. His expression filled with anger born from panick.
"That is so many people that if I ordered all the ships we have brought with us to save as many as they could from the water, all our ships would be dragged down and sink." he almost shouted. He gestured fiercly with a hand to the port behind him. "That port will be so filled with bodies that the coastline will be pushed tens of meters back into the sea because of the corpses."
Kurome was getting scared. This was really starting to remind her of an earlier moment in her life. A really painful one. "Calm down, Wave. It's just-"
"There is no possible rationalization for this!" Wave interrupted her. "Two hundred thousand people are about to die because a few criminals are hiding in their city." He was basically shouting right now. "Makeias was right! Budo might have been breaking the law but he would never have tolerated this kind of operation. I should take these ships and-"
This time it was Wave who was interrupted. Kurome moved close to him in a heartbeat and hugged him tightly. Pressing her forehead into his chest. "Stop it, Wave." she pleaded. Sounding terrified. She didn't want to lose him as well.
Wave stopped himself at those words. Many times had he wished that she would hug him tightly like this but now it only filled him with sadness over the situation. "I'm sorry." He said silently.
He raised his arms and answered to her embrace. They stood like that for some seconds before he spoke again. "I can't do this, Kurome."
"You must." she answered. "You will be charged with treason otherwise."
"I know that, Kurome."
"The great general will not protect you if you defy her. You will be executed."
Wave looked up at the sky, as he held her. Some of the stars could still be seen in the brightening sky. "There are some things that are worse than death."
Kurome's nails digged into his back. "I know. Don't make me face them again."
That hit Wave hard. It hit him deep. He had been trying to get this girls affection for so long. And now he was told that he had it. Just as he was about to walk down the one road that he didn't want her to follow him on. The one that was probably gonna lead to his end.
"I'm sorry." he said again. "But I can't do this, Kurome."
"Why not? You don't have to do anything. You can just stand up here." she asked. Desperation now sneaking it's way into her voice as well.
"I'm sorry." he repeated. "I can't shut these things out like you can. I can't be as cold as you can."
"I can be cold for you." she argued. The fear apparent in her voice. "I can overwatch this on your behalf. I can act as your representative while you stay below deck."
Wave smiled and held her close. He had always thought that she was dense in regards to perceiving other peoples feelings. Afraid that she had felt nothing special towards him at all. Now he wondered if he had been the dense one.
"This rresponsibility was given to me, Kurome. Allowing this to happen will still be unacceptable. Even if I close my eyes and look away." he said. His voice silent and sad.
"No." Kurome said and buried her face into his chest. Not arguing his point but reacting to the situation in and off itself. Panick starting to spread through her. "Please don't do it."
Wave could hear the sadness in her voice. It sounded timid and scared. It hurt him so much. "I have to."
"No you don't." she argued.
"I do, Kurome."
And just like that, Kurome began to cry. The movement was small and silent but Wave could feel her sobbing. He clenched his teeth to stop himself from doing the same thing. The misery of the situation staring them both in the face.
"Please no." she sobbed silently into his chest. He couldn't get himself to answer. He felt his defenses breaking down.
"Please stay with me." Kurome said. "Don't leave me. Not you as well."
"But Kurome.."
"Stay with me." she interrupted sobbing. "Can't you at least try."
Wave looked down at her. She felt his gaze and raised her tear ridden face up to face his. "Please. Can't you just try."
Wave sighed. His breath shaky. He closed his eyes. "Fine."
Kurome inhaled sharply at those words.
"I don't promise anything." he quickly said. "I still don't think I can do this. But I will try. For you."
Kurome pressed her face into his chest once more. Her expression strained as even more tears kept coming. "Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for not leaving me behind." she sobbed. She had been sure that history was going to repeat itself. She was sure that she was going to lose the one person closest to her again. But now there was hope.
Maybe he will be diffrent, she allowed herself to think as she cried into his chest.
They stood there and hugged for a long time. Steadying each other as the sun rose up behind them.
When Tatsumi woke up, Esdese was already getting dressed over at the drawer in the tent. He rose up to sitting position and stretched his arms over his head. Esdese noticed that he was awake and walked over to the bed as she fastened one of the long glove-like arms on her uniform.
There were a lot of noise coming from outside of the tent. The army already getting ready to move. Tatsumi noticed how sun was already streaming in through the holes in the tent. He looked at Esdese. "Have I overslept?"
"This army only moves when I tell it to move." Esdese said and put one of her boots against the bed. Tying it's laces on her thigh. "So I decide if you have overslept or not."
Tatsumi moved his legs out of the bed beside her. "You didn't really answer my question."
She smiled at him. "It was a fun night. I think you deserved some sleep."
"Thanks for that." he said and yawned.
"But go and get dressed now." Esdese said. "We should get moving, now that you are awake."
He rose from the bed and walked over to the drawer. He opened it and started to shuffle through it, searching for some clothes of his choosing. Esdese walked up to him from behind as he did.
She reached out and trailed her fingers over the red marks on his shoulders and lower neck.
"Your own handiwork." Tatsumi said as he took up a shirt.
"It suits you." Esdese said with content smile.
"I am happy that people won't see them when I put my clothes on."
"My markings belong on you, Tatsumi. They are the proof that I have claimed you as my own." she said and closely studied her own claw and bite marks.
"I swear to the gods, Esdese. Sometimes you can seem so insecure." Tatsumi said with a smile.
"There is nothing wrong with being proud of what you have conquered." Esdese said. She trailed her fingers down his spine. Her touch so light that it made a shiver run up Tatsumi's back. Then she turned around and walked over to the weapon rack.
"So what will we be doing here in the city?" Tatsumi asked as he pulled a shirt over his head.
Esdese turned around and looked at him while she fastened her sword to her belt. She thought about the situation for some moments. "I have changed my mind, Tatsumi. You will not come with me into the city."
"Why not?"
"Because I am pretty sure that you won't enjoy it."
Tatsumi fastened the belt on his own pants and turned around to her. His expression serious. "Why have you come to this city, Esdese?"
Esdese guessed that he was gonna find out sooner or later. But he didn't need to know exactly why she was there. "I have come to extract a punishment upon the populace of this city for helping the revolutionary army.
"What kind of punishment?"
"Steel and fire." Esdese said and walked over to the table in the tent. Picking up the white cloak that marked her as great general, which was lying on it.
"Care to be more specific."
Esdese just looked at him as she fastened her cloak. Considering the situation.
Tatsumi himself had started to realize what was going on. She hadn't brought more than three hundred thousand men just for a public execution. "Esdese... you have come here to sack this city, haven't you?"
She nodded to him. Looking relatively serious. "You will remain outside of the city. You are prone to doing stupid things in these kind of scenarios."
The mood had tensed in the tent and they could both feel it. Esdese looking at Tatsumi as she straightened out her cloak. Her gaze challenging him to voice his opinion. He spoke up either way.
"Why did you first tell me of this now? I would find out sooner or later."
"I simply didn't want you to be complaining during the whole journey here."
"Well then you will have to hear it now instead." Tatsumi said with irritation.
"Tatsumi..." Esdese sighed as she walked over to the bed were her military cap was lying.
"I can promise you that not everyone in the city has been helping the rebellion, Esdese. How can this not seem like overkill to you?"
"It's about statuating an example, Tatsumi. Once again. We do not tolerate disloyalty in the empire." she answered as she picked up her cap. Not willing to tell Tatsumi about the real reason for this extermination; night raid's demise.
"I think you have made that clear to the world already." Tatsumi argued.
"This is the first major operation that I have commanded as great general. It is necessary to show the world that my actions won't be weaker than Budo's were." she said. For once their positions were reversed. Now she tried to hide something from Tatsumi.
"Esdese, there is not a single human within the empire that dosen't know about your strength. It is so well known that people use the prefix "the empire's strongest" before your name. Your powers are so vast that some people can't even comprehend what you are capable of. This is completly unecessary."
"It is not." Esdese said and put her cap on.
"Why is it not?" Tatsumi demanded. "What does destroying the entire city accomplish that can not be done by just executing half of it's citizens instead, or a third of them? Aside from just giving you a chance to indulge in your more horrible interests."
Esdese looked at him for a second and then started to walk over to him. Staring him in the eyes. Her gaze hard and authorative. Normally Tatsumi would have backed away but this was too important. He stood his ground as she walked up to him. She stopped when she was less then decimeter from him.
She reached up and grabbed his chin between her thumb and index finger and lifted his head up so that he was looking at her. "I have duties Tatsumi. The destruction of Garu is not about me satisfying my desires."
"But you will still enjoy this." Tatsumi said bitterly.
"Are you implying that I can't seperate my desires and my duties?" she asked coldly. Her expression hard.
Tatsumi met her gaze for a long while before he finally shut his eyes. "Promise me that this is not just about you enjoying yourself." he said and looked at her again. His expression not so much stern as it was sad.
Esdese smiled at his subtle submission. And she had found a way to get him to submit without him finding out that night raid was in the city. "I promise you, Tatsumi. This serves a bigger purpose."
Tatsumi sighed. "I really hate the empire."
"I know, Tatsumi." Esdese said. Her hand letting go of his chin. Moving up to caress the side of it. "I know."
Thirty minutes later, Esdese's giant steed landed violently in Makeias's camp. The camp was stationed on top of a small hill that overlooked the city in front of them. From up there you could see over the high walls and all the way to the other side of the city. You could see that about fifteen military ships lay at anchor around the city's port. You could also see how Esdese's forces had started to slowly march into the city.
The camp was crowded and busy with people running around in it. But the entire camp froze when the big creature landed. All eyes looking at Esdese.
Makeias and Tom-Tom walked up to the beast. Their robes flying in the wind. Makeias had his two spears hanging over each other on his back. The long and thin black staffs tunrning into blades after two thirds of their lenghts. Esdese jumped of her steed with Tatsumi pressed close to her body. Only letting him go when she they had landed on the ground. Still keeping a hand on his shoulder.
"Aren't you supposed to be meeting with the mayor of Garu right now?" Makeias asked as he walked up to Esdese.
"Yeah but I have a small task to give you before that."" Esdese said and stroked Tatsumi's neck.
"I thought we went through everything at the meeting yesterday?" Makeias aksed. Sounding more curious than anything.
"Well, I had a change of heart." she said. The hand on Tatsumi's neck went down to his back and pushed him forward a couple of steps. "Pillager, I am leaving Tatsumi in your care for the rest of the operation."
"Ohhh?" Makeias said and looked at Tatsumi with an empty expression.
"He is not to enter the city, pillager. So he will stay with you. Since you are supposed to remain outside of Garu." she ordered.
"I didn't know that babysitting was a part of my job." Makeias said with a smile.
"Your job is whatever I say that it is." Esdese stated and looked at Makeias. "Do you have any objections to this task?"
"Not really, no." Makeias said and scratched his chin. "Anything else?"
"Tatsumi has already been told all he need to know about this mission. Don't let him enter the city, no matter what."
Makeias nodded. Tatsumi understood the insinuation in that sentence. There was still something about this mission that they were hiding from him.
"He can often act a bit reckless in these kind of situations, so keep an eye on him. He can be quite resourceful when he wants to be." Esdese continued. Holding a hand on her weapon in a relaxed pose.
"I am well aware." Makeias said with a smile.
Esdese eyes narrowed slightly at him. She didn't like how he implied that he knew more about Tatsumi than she did. "General Makeias, you are probably the most capable subordinate I have. But make no mistake here, Tatsumi is now your responsibility. If you let him escape you or put him in danger, then I will kill you."
Makeias's eyes slowly rose up to meet her hard gaze. He knew that she wasn't lying. "Fully understood."
She nodded to him. She then turned around to Tatsumi. "And you."
She reached out with an arm and grabbed his shirt. Pulling him close. "Try to use that adorable little head of yours before you do anything today, okay?"
"I will do my best." Tatsumi said and gave her a crooked smile.
Esdese' expression was hard and reprimanding. Tatsumi was the only one of her subordinates who often dared to still stand against her when faced with her harder gaze. At times, Esdese wished that he wasn't so special to her. Not that she could do anything about that.
"I am serious, Tatsumi. You don't want to disobey me today."
"Then I won't." he said and kissed her. And just like that, all her irritation with him melted. All the small things that annoyed her disappeared. She slowly raised her arms up and embraced him tenderly. After some seconds they moved their lips away from each others. Esdese looked down at him and sighed happily. She then let go of him and jumped back up on her steed.
"Good hunting, pillager." she said and looked down at Makeias.
"You too, great general." Makeias returned.
Esdese gave Tatsumi a last long look before she snapped with the chains. Making the giant creature take off into the air.
Makeias walked up to Tatsumi as they both watched how Esdese's flew towards the city.
"Her affection for you is so strong that it is almost scary. It borders on obsession." Makeias said as he walked up on Tatsumi's side.
"Are you really that suprised, general." Tatsumi said without looking at the man beside him. "Evey aspect of her is strong to the point of insanity. Why would her love be any diffrent?"
"I guess you do have a point." Makeias said and scratched the back of his head. "And I guess you know the basics of why we are here."
"Yeah. The basics." Tatsumi answered.
"What about Jack?" Makeias asked a little bit lower.
"Your little agent is on his way back to the capital already." Tatsumi answered absentmindedly.
"Good."
They remained silent for a while after that. Both of them looking down at the forces that were slowly moving into the city. After half a minute, Tatsumi spoke again. "And I guess she has placed you out here to make sure that no one escapes?"
"Something like that." Makeias answered.
Tatsumi sighed. "You were correct earlier, general. Peace will never be achieved for as long as Esdese is allowed to reign free."
Makeias looked at Tatsumi for a while. His expression a mix between mocking and pitying. He could symphatize with the younger man. Makeias had also been in love once. A long time ago. After some moments he tried to comfort him.
"It is bigger than just that, Tatsumi."
Tatsumi looked at the general who kept his eyes on the city as he went on."Esdese might be one of the strongest and nastiest around, but she is far from the only one of her kind in this world. And as long as one of those people can get the power to destroy entire cities just by happenstance, peace will never come."
Tatsumi studied Makeias's expression as he continued.
"As long as madmen, or in this case, madwomen can get this level of power just because the were genetically compatible with ancient weapons, stability will never be reached."
Makeias smile was gone. Looking deadly serious for once. "If we are to gain a strong and steady peace, all forty eight teigus must first be destroyed."
Tatsumi waited for the general to continue but Makeias stayed silent as he watched the forces moving beneath them. Thinking of his plans.
"Great general Esdese. It is an honor to meet you." the mayor of Garu said and bowed deeply as Esdese walked into the room. The mayor had a big dog sitting down beside him but other than that, there were just the two of them in the room.
The room was somewhat empty. It lacked any furniture and the only thing that was hanging on the walls were the drapes around the windows. When Esdese had arrived to the mayor's building, she had been greeted by a big welcoming party but not by the mayor himself. He had been waiting for her a couple of floors up.
"Mayor." Esdese greeted. "Why didn't you meet me downstairs?"
"I apologize, great general." the man said. "I had a lot of things to get done."
Esdese nodded at him. His demeanor told her that he had been trained by the military. But she didn't mind his harsh tone. At least he was brisk. "Have you brought me the information?"
"Yes, great general." the man said and gave her a piece of paper. It contained all the information about the city's planned boat traffic for the coming days.
"I have been told that you have come here to inaugurate the new admiral." the mayor said. "Is he downstairs? I want to give him my congratulations."
"The admiral is already on a boat, outside of the city." Esdese said as she opened the folded paper.
The mayor looked at her for some moments. His expression uncertain. "Ohh. I though that he would be celebrated in the city."
"No. I will give him a proper celebration back in the capital when this operation is done." Esdese said and started to read through the letter.
"Then why are you here, great general?"
"Because night raid is in this city." Esdese said plainly. Her eyes moving across the paper.
The mayor didn't have to fake his distress over the situation. "Are you sure, great general? My own city watch hasn't seen or heard anything that would indicate that they are hiding here."
"I am sure." Esdese said. Not really interested in giving the man a longer explanation.
"How do you intend to deal with them?"
"You don't have to bother yourself with that." Esdese said. Sounding slightly uninterested.
"Why is that?"
Esdese reached out and gently put her hand against his big chest. Her eyes still reading from the paper. "A mayor serves no purpose without a city."
She then shoved him back. Almost nonchalantly. But the force of her push lifted the man up in the air and sent him flying backwards through one of the windows. The man screamed as he fell down several stories towards the ground. Esdese kept reading as the scream adruptly ended as he was crushed against the stone street outside of the building.
The mayor's big dog ran against Esdese. It jumped up to attack her but some moments before it could reach her, a chunk of ice flew into it's side. Crushing it's ribs and making it fall over. Gliding away some meters on the marble floor. Esdese's eyes hadn't moved away from the paper during the entire time.
One of her soldiers walked into the room after some moments. Saluting her as he entered. "Everything is prepared, great general."
"Good." Esdese said and looked up from the paper."Go tell them that I will be there in a minute."
"Yes, great general." the man said and saluted her. He turned around and walked away. Esdese was about to follow him when the whimpering of the dog caught her attention. It was limping away, backwards into a corner. It's scared eyes not leaving Esdese. She looked at it for some seconds and then walked over to it. It started to growl at her when she got close but before it could lash out, her boot came down on it's throat and pressed it to the floor.
"You knew that I was stronger than you." Esdese said and looked down at the dog as she slowly increased the pressure of her boot. The dog's growling turning to whimpering.
"I had no buisness with you, yet you tried to attack me anyway." she said as the whimpering turned into wheezing and hissing.
She smiled and shook her head as she pressed down further. The wheezing turning into gurgling as the dog's throat caved in. "Loyalty is such a strange thing." she said and looked out through the broken window. Pushing her foot down the last bit. Snapping the creature's neck like a twig. Ending all the sounds that came from the dog.
She dropped the paper down on the broken form and walked out of the room without giving the dead dog a single glance.
Akame was standing in the back of the huge crowd that had gathered. Dressed in her usual disguise. Wrapped in clothes from head to toe. Only revealing her eyes. The sun had started to settle on the city of Garu. Slowly creeping down into the sea in the horizon. The crowd that had gathred was rather large. Almost eight thousand people, Akame would wager.
This was the main plaza of Garu, where the city held it's gatherings and public announcements. A stage had been raised in front of the crowd. As usual on these gatherings. Behind the stage the sea spread out into the horizon. Reflecting the sunlight of the dusk. Normally the sea in the background of the stage would have a couple of trading ships visible but now the entire outline of the view was occupied by imperial frigates. Encircling the bay area.
The crowd that had gathered was restless. The imperial army had marched into the city just this morning and now imperial troops could be seen on every street. The entire city now filled with them. The trust for the imperial military was not too bad in Garu but most of the city's citizens had come to find this very unnerving. Since no reason for the troop deployment had been given. It had been announced that what was going on was going to be declared on this meeting.
The people were jeering and shouting. Akame looked around. It would not be hard for this the evolve into a riot. But Akame was not sure if that was the best course the situation could take right now. The city was swarming with troops and unlike most of the Garu's inhabitants, Akame and her colleagues knew that an even larger host surrounded the city, outside of the walls. Hidden in the forests.
Akame had some of her trainees behind her. Some younglings that the revolutionary army had sent them. Hoping that they could train them to a level where they would be teigu candidates. Akame had been sent to the gathering with them to see what reason the imperial army would give for the quarantine the city had been put under. No one had been allowed to enter or leave the city since the army arrived. Something that most of the city's merchants and traders had objected to rather strongly.
The noise of the crowd was starting to grow rather loud when someone finally started to climb up on the stage from behind it. Suddenly the sound from the people gathered lowered drastically in volume. A cold and ruthless presence started to press down on the large assembly as Esdese walked up on the stage. Smiling calmly with her hands on her hips. Her hair and big cloak flowing in the air behind her. Her gaze wandered over the now almost silent crowd as she walked towards the middle of the stage.
"Damn it." Akame whispered to herself and lowered her head a little bit without thinking about it. They had not been certain that Esdese herself was in the city. They had suspected it but had hoped that they were wrong. But now they knew. And the fact that Esdese was there carried a dangerous meaning. Something big was about to go down.
Akame sent a gaze to one of her trainees who nodded and then started to move away. Heading towards the hideout to warn the others about the situation.
Up on the platform, Esdese was enjoying the situation. She now stood in the middle of the stage. In front of the entire crowd. Her hands on her hips. Her posture confident as her eyes traveled over her audience. She enjoyed the gazes the crowd was giving her. Half were hostile and the other half scared. It reminded her of hunting. It reminded her of that last gratifying part of the hunt. Which she had enjoyed so many times before. When the hunted was finally backed into a corner. The prey showing scared hostility in desperation. Still clinging to some small hope of surviving while still realizing how bad the situation was.
The feeling she got from the crowd in front of her reminded her of the feeling those preys emitted. Her instincts as a hunter reacted strongly to the situation. Urging her to go in for the kill.
She gestured with her arm in the air before her. "Citizens of Garu. I am great general Esdese. Leader of the imperial military." she shouted out loudly. Her tone official and authoritative. The crowd growing silent as most of them understood who she were.
"I have brought an army of almost four hundred thousand soldiers with me. Most of them are right now encircling this city. The imperial fleet has also cut of all possibilities to get out through the port. All the mayor gates and roads out of Garu are now blocked by my forces. The reason for this is simple."
She waved out over the large crowd with her arm. "Some of you are harbouring the criminal organization known as night raid."
The crowd grew almost completly silent at those words. Esdese's expression grew slightly more entertained at the reaction. She could almost taste their fear. "As most of you must know," she continued on. "aiding the revolutionary army is punished with death. And now we know that some of you have been doing just that."
She took a step forward, towards the crowd. Amused by their complete silence. "The former great general was met with this situation before but he didn't have the will necessary to meet it. But fear not, I am not my predecessor. I will end night raid right here. In this city."
People in the crowd had started to whisper to each other now. Akame listened very carefully as Esdese went on. Not liking where this was going at all.
"You see, my predecessor made the mistake of bringing the knife to these infected areas. Trying to act with precison to cut out the disease that this rebellious movement is. But precision takes time and work. And by giving this disease time, he allowed it to spread and escape him. Infecting new areas and cities. I will not do that mistake."
Esdese smile widened as she continued. "The chance to stop this infection with the knife is long gone. I am bringing the torch."
Akame's eyes widened as she understood what was gonna happen. She immediately turned around to the two trainees that were standing behind her. "Go!Go!" she whispered frantically as she shoved them away. "Tell the others." When the two younglings had disappeared into the crowd, Akame returned her eyes to Esdese.
How did we not consider that this was an possibility?, she thought. Did we forget that this woman is completly insane.
"People of Garu." Esdese called out. Noticing how people in the back were starting to leave in a hurry. "If any of you will give us information or members of this criminal organization, then you shall be spared. Otherwise you will get a chance to show just how much you can withstand and just how far you can go tonight. I sincerely hope that you won't disappoint me. Though I doubt that any of you will be alive when the sun rises again."
At those words, the entire crowd descended into chaos. Everyone screaming and struggling to get away from Esdese and the military around the stage. Esdese's smile widened even further. Her predatory instincts were loving this sight. Some of them should at least be strong enough to provide some entertainment, she thought. The thrill of the hunt already starting to fill her.
"As great general and leader of all imperial military power."she called out loudly. Her voice audible even over all the shouts and screams.
"I hereby sentence this city."
She raised her arms up on her sides.
"Along with all it's citizens."
All Esdese's teeth were bared in a grin and her eyes were narrowed and sharp.
"To death!"
Author's note:
Wow, that was a big one. But I wanted to finish it right on this spot and there was some things that needed to happen before that. It literally grew in the telling.
We now stand at the edge of the biggest event in this story so far, as most of you have probably gathered. I have been looking forward to writing the coming chapters for quite some time now. A lot of things are about to go down.
It will also be a challenge to write for me since there are a lot of things that need to happen and a lot of diffrent viewpoints that need to see diffrent things. So I have to align them after a timeline. I have actually been forced to write a mind map in order to just get everything in order.
It will be a bit too long for just one chapter. I would suspect that it will be closer to 1.8 chapters long. So I will release the "event" in three smaller chapters instead. Each one of these will be released with shorter intervals than the usual chapters because of their reduced lengths. Hopefully.
Anyway, thanks for reading. It has been a joy to write this story so far and a large part of it is because of the respons it has gotten.
Until next time, take care of each other.