I think I will have to find a new way to set up deadlines. (Next chapter will be released 30/11)
As red turns to gray.
"And you have dealt with all those that we knew had been in contact with that network?" The prime minister asked as he shifted through the folder he was holding.
"I have seen to most of it personally. That entire circle has been thoroughly rooted out." Esdese answered calmly. Holding a single paper in her hand. Glancing through all the names written on it. All the people that had been taken to the torture chambers for "questioning" about the new information network that had been revealed along with Tatsumi's betrayal. It was a long list.
They were sitting alone in one of the big inner gardens that the palace had. They sat on two chairs with a small table between them. The chairs both turned towards the garden on their side. Overlooking the beautiful fauna and vegetation. Not that the two of them had time to admire it. They were both deep into their respective workloads. Both of them reading through papers and folders.
"And those surrounding it?" the prime minister said as he took a couple of papers out of his folder and put them on the table. Discarding them for later.
"Everyone with the slightest connection to this have been taken down to the torture chambers. All relatives and friends." Esdese said. Her eyes not leaving her paper.
"Did any of them leave?"
"One or two." Esdese answered indiffrently.
"Well.. then that should be the last of them." The prime minister said as he leaned back into his chair. "We should have rooted out this entire annoyance with this."
Esdese nodded as she kept reading through the names. After a little silence she spoke.
"Yet we are not closer to finding the one who killed the emperor."
Ironically enough, Esdese seemed to be more bothered by this than the prime minister. His main focus had always been to stay in control. Losing his most convenient puppet was bothersome but he had managed to find other ways. Even if the situation still was far from optimal for him. But to him it was just a momentary setback. Nothing to be bothered by now that the situation was stable again.
It was Esdese who had taken the death of the emperor more personal. Not that she had really cared that much about the kid when he lived but she had promised him her protection. Along with the rest of the empire. She knew that she probably couldn't have done anything better but she still felt like she had failed her duties in some ways. She didn't mourn him but it was an annoyance. So she had been a bit more adamant about finding the assassin than the prime minister.
"Who knows, he might actually be dead already." The prime minister said and put some other papers down on the table. "He might have been one of those that didn't leave the torture chambers."
"I doubt it." Esdese said emptily.
The prime minister looked up from his papers for the first time in a long while. He looked at her. She had not been in the best of moods ever since Tatsumi's true colors had been exposed. But she had done her duties. As he had thought she would. So now everything was back to how it had been before for the minister. The threat of Tatsumi eradicated and Esdese's loyalty ensured.
"Does his death bother you that much?" he asked in a friendly tone. "How noble."
"A lot of things bother me right now." Esdese answered coldly. "As I think you know."
"Well, I think we both know who the main suspect should have been all along." the prime minister said gently. His mild demeanor in stark contrast to Esdese's coldness.
"I still absolve him of that." she stated blankly.
"Even after all that has happened?"
Esdese nodded without looking up from the paper. "It is not a matter of trusting him. I held Tatsumi throughout that entire night. He is not the culprit."
"Well, at least not of that." the minister said slowly. "You know, I would have prefered it if you killed him. That would probably be the best alternative for all of us."
Esdese remained silent. The prime minister studied her for some moments. "You know, I can help you with that if it is giving you problems. He doesn't have Incursio anymore. I can send someone. All you have to do is leave the keys in one of your rooms."
He immediately realized that he had stepped over the line. Suddenly the atmosphere in the small garden turned tense and menacing. Esdese's eyes slowly moved up from the paper and met his own. For the first time during that meeting.
"I would advice you to never say that to me again." she said. Her calm voice brimming with the underlying threat.
The prime minister met her powerful gaze. He knew that he had to take this seriously. He needed her on his side in everything. He couldn't afford there to be a rift between them. That could mean his end. He put down the folder he had been reading on the table and leaned forward slightly. A concerned look on his face.
"I am only trying to help you, Esdese."
Her eyes pierced him in silence. Esdese's expression calm and unfriendly. The minister could feel the hostility she was emanating towards him. He could feel how her instincts were sizing him up. Trying to determine his true motive.
"Esdese, you are the great general and we have now declared martial law. You are in complete control of the empire. We both know that I am still the one who rules this nation through the political level. However, even if our working relation haven't changed, I am righ now, for all intents and purposes, your subordinate."
"You sure don't act like one." Esdese said. Her eyes not leaving his. Not letting him get away.
"All I want, is for this to work out for us. The current empire needs the both of us." the big man went on in his friendly and fatherly voice.
Esdese slowly nodded. Recognizing the truth in his words. "Tatsumi is written off the records. But he still belongs to me. He himself even admits to that."
"That didn't stop him from stabbing you in the back though."
"That simply means that I have failed to control him properly. A mistake that I will not repeat. But he still agrees that he belongs to me and I keep my promises to my own. Tatsumi will have my protection."
The prime minister sighed and closed his eyes. Surrendering the duel of wills. "Well, I won't say it to you again but you know my thoughts on it. Please keep them in your head."
Esdese glared at him for a coulpe more moments but then returned her eyes down to the paper in her hand. What she left out from the conversation was that Tatsumi still denied her in so many matters at the moment. While he had never outright stated that he wasn't her partner anymore, their relationship was a lot more uncertain than it had been for years. He still belonged to her though. Mainly because she wouldn't allow him not to.
And that was why she would keep her promises to him. She would keep protecting him. Because not doing so would be the same as admitting that she had completely lost him.
She sighed. Sounding partly irritated and partly tired. "Anyway, how much longer will we keep martial law in effect? I am growing tired of all these charades and all the administrative work I now have to do. I am so bored of all these meetings that I need to attend but not participate in. Just because I am the head of state." she said. Returning to business.
"Patience, my friend. If you weren't the head of state then there would not really be anyone to take your place. And the search for someone to replace you in that position as the next ruler of the empire is taking it's time." the minister assured.
"Don't grow complacent, minister. I know that this is convenient for you. Now that you have complete control without having to bother with all the political charades. But I will not be doing this forever. This is not my element." Esdese said matter-of-factly. Sounding neither friendly or unfriendly.
"I know, Esdese. I know. But believe me, this search to find someone "fitting" to be the next ruler has not been easy." he said truthfully. The problem was that he himself had eradicated all the distant relatives emperor Makoto had had. Now it was hard to find anyone with the blood of that family. And among the few that remained it was even harder to find one that would work completely under his control.
"Besides, we have not been able to focus much on that issue since we have been occupied with rooting out the problem that Tatsumi created." He looked over at her with an apologetic smile. "I know that you dislike it but please keep this up for a little while longer. I am working as fast as I can."
Esdese did not raise her gaze to meet his. Even if she did register it. "I will keep doing this until you find your next puppet. That was our deal. But that deal also included that you would find your replacement as soon as possible. As long as you keep searching to the best of your abilities, I will keep doing my part."
"I am doing my best, great general. You can count on that."
Esdese did not answer. Simply reading on. The silence went on for a little while before she spoke again. "Have you been able to locate Makeias' spy yet?"
"No, not yet. I am actually starting to doubt that this mole even exists." he admitted.
"Do you have any other explanation for the superb evasiveness of Makeias' forces?"
"No. I do not." the prime minister admitted. "But we have thoroughly checked all of our information pipelines. There is no leak. No message missing and no seals opened outside of the intended circle."
"Then the spy is one of those inside said circle." Esdese stated plainly.
"A troubling thought." the prime minister commented. "That would mean that someone in a position almost as high as ours is secretly working for Makeias. I find that hard to believe. They have nothing to gain from the fall of our empire. If it falls, so do they."
"Do you have any other explanation? I would be happy to hear it. The military is just running around in circles right now. Trying and failing to find Makeias' forces."
"I wished I did." he admitted yet again. "I am going to try laying out the bait we talked about before with the false message. Hopefully that will reveal them to us."
Esdese simply nodded.
"But until then, it is important that we keep this between the two of us." the minister went on."If this alleged spy finds out that we are searching for him, then he might go into hiding."
"Of course." Esdese said and rose up from the table. "Now I have to go and supervise another meeting concerning the economical plans and budgeting of the army." she sighed.
The prime minister looked up at her and nodded. "Keep up the good work. I will see to it that you are relieved soon enough."
Esdese nodded to him once again and left the garden. Giving her paper to an attendant that was waiting in the hall leading to the isolated garden. The paper was mainly just a list and statistics. No valuable information. The attendant was a gray eyed little boy carrying a berret over his head. He took the paper and walked away. He himself not allowed anywhere near the room while the meeting was taking place.
Liza followed Makieas closely as he walked through the camp. Keeping her instincts open for any threats in their environment. Makeias himself was reading through a small book he was holding in one of his hands. His other hand in his pocket. His destroyed coat flapping in the wind. Liza was wearing her usual rugged and torn clothes but was currently not wearing the big military helmet she usually had on.
The entire camp around them was moving. Everything was being taken down and disassembled. Everyone packing their things and getting ready to move. Horses were already pulling fully packed carts out of the camp. To the east of the them, the long masts of the ships that lay at anchor by the camp could be seen. People climbing up on them as the fleet got ready to move. Liza could feel the smell of wet wood and fish even from where they were, even if she could barely see the masts over the top of the tents and structures around them. On account of her still being rather short.
Everywhere around them there was commotion. People shouting orders and rushing to get everything done in time. Extinguishing the fires and removing as much evidence of their presence as possible. The entire force moving around with haste.
The pillager had finally given the order.
Liza was well aware of the reason for it. Makeias had recieved the letter just some hours ago. She hadn't read it herself but it seemed like night raid had given him the coordinates for their meeting. And it seemed like they were going to move out towards it immediately.
Liza walked behind him through the camp for some minutes before he reached his destination. A mid-sized tent. Placed near the beach. He walked in through the open flap that acted as a door.
"Ahh general. Didn't expect you to come by." Wave greeted. Throwing his cloak over his shoulder as they walked into the tent. It was a rather large living tent. Designed for one person. Wave was clearly getting ready to move out as well. There were a couple of attendants and soldiers in the tent. Packing things and carrying them out as Wave was putting on his own equipment.
"Good morning, admiral." Makeias said and looked up at Wave from his book. "I hope you have slept well. Is everything going according to schedule?"
"Yup." Wave said with a smile and strapped his sword over his back. "I mean, we have been waiting to move out for so long now that it would almost seem comical if we couldn't keep up once the signal came."
"Agreed."
"Hey, by the way, general. Did they write anything about Kurome in the letter you recieved?" Wave said. He tried to act nonchalant but both Liza and Makeias saw through his facade.
"No. They did not." Makeias answered calmly. "But don't let that bother you. It is not like we have reported anything about Leone to them during this time. That they didn't mention her in the letter doesn't really mean anything."
Wave nodded. Allowing his senior to reassure him. "I will move to the ships in five minutes and give them their orders and coordinates. After that I will be ready to move out towards the meeting together with you and the others."
"Good. Most of the camp will move closer to the capital. We will seperate with a smaller force and move towards night raid's position. Bringing a larger forces would only cause more tension."
"Understood." Wave said with a nod. "Just like last time."
"One more thing, Wave." Makeias said. "When we travel and during the meeting itself, I want you to keep an close eye on Leone. Stay in her vicinity, if possible."
Wave raised his eyebrows slightly. "Huh... Well, of course, general. But why? Do you think that she will try anything? She has been mostly cooperative during her weeks with us."
"I have no specific suspicions that she will. But if there is going to be a time when she will act, it will be when we are moving or during the meeting itself. She is far too strong to be left to my normal soldiers. My personal guards would probably be a problem for her but I doubt that they would manage to take her down. Tom-Tom will be occupied in adminstrative duty, along with myself. And I certainly don't trust this one with it." he said and pointed a thumb over at Liza.
The little girl ignored his remark. Looking at the attendants.
Wave nodded again. "Okay then. I will stay close to her during what little time she will remain with us."
"Excellent. We don't want anything to happen that could put Kurome's life in danger." Makeias said and turned around. "I will meet you later, admiral." Wave saluted him as he left the tent. Liza following just behind him.
They walked through the camp for a little while longer.
"That boy is stupid." Liza said after some time had passed.
"I think it would be more correct to say that he is a little bit too trusting." Makeias said without looking back at her.
"And that is stupid." Liza said.
"That is one way to see it. He could also be well aware of the risks but still prefer to make his life a bit harder instead of changing his outlook on it."
"Doesn't he have things he loves?"
"I am pretty sure that he does." Makeias said with a canny smile.
"Then he is being stupid. He is only inviting death." Liza concluded. With all the certainty of youth.
"Maybe." Makeias said. "He is a bit special, I will admit that. But I do think his heart is in the right place. You do too, don't you?" Makeias said and cast her a glance over his shoulder. A friendly smile on his face.
Liza pouted and looked to the side. "Doesn't make it less stupid."
They walked on for two minutes before Tom-Tom met them.
"Hail, mighty plaguelord." he greeted as he came walking up to them. Some of his tribesmen following him. Towering over everyone else in the camp.
"Good day, Tom-Tom." Makeias said with a smile. Not stopping his walk. Tom-Tom falling in beside him. "How are we doing?"
"We have found the meeting spot, it is just as our informant told us. They have disguised it to look like an old abandoned fortress. But we are certain that it is one of their bases. Disguised to look like something else."
"So the informant was telling the truth all along." Makeias sighed. "Then it is just as we expected."
Tom-Tom nodded. A sour look on his face. "Should we still go along with the plan."
Makeias was silent for some time before he answered. "Yeah. It will be up to us to finish the revolutionary army. I had hoped that we could leave that to the empire but we cannot leave Kurome behind. If we do we will lose Wave."
"Then we will have to turn this trap upon themselves. Should we assume that all the other information the informant gave us is true?"
"We have to at this point. Organize our forces to home in on all the hideouts and bases of the revolutionary army. All the positions the informant gave us. I want their attack to be coordinated with ours."
Tom-Tom nodded. "Should we try to bring more warriors with us to the meeting then?"
"No. This will be a hard fight either way, but we cannot give them any clues of what is going on."
"So just the same people as before?"
"Yeah. You can add a few extra warriors but not any amount that would draw attention."
"Well, then." Tom-Tom said. "I will go and send the orders. I will meet you at the caravan."
Makeias nodded and Tom-Tom started to walk away. Followed by his men. As he passed by Liza, one of his giant hands moved down and ruffled up the girl's blonde hair. And for once, Liza's response was not aggressive. Actually pressing back a bit with her head. Tom-Tom being one of the few persons in the world that she had a hard time remaining angry at.
Makeias noted their interaction without looking at them. It was a good sign.
Liza's behaviour had gotten a lot calmer after she became his bodyguard. A large part of that could probably be attributed to the fact that she had not had an active combat role ever since then. Since Makeias had managed to stay out of trouble. He had also gotten a chance to talk to her every day. At first she hadn't responded at all. But after a while she had started giving him short and angry answers. And now they were able to have somewhat normal conversations. Sometimes even initiated by her.
Makeias had started to feel a small hope that maybe, just maybe, this could be salvaged.
"Let's get something to eat." he said and Liza nodded to him behind his back.
Twenty minutes later, they were both sitting at the end of a long table in a abandoned food tent. No one in it except the two of them and a few people that were carrying things out of it. The tent itself in the process of being deconstructed.
Makeias was sitting heavily hunched over the table. The long wooden bench and table not designed for his very tall form. While Liza's feet were dangling in the air when she sat on the bench on the opposite side of him. They were both eating two identical sandwiches. Provided by the military kitchen. Makeias' sandwich looked very small in his long and slender hands while Liza's looked way too big for her.
Makeias tired eyes were focused on Liza. Studying the little child as she ate.
She had gotten her mother's beautiful brown eyes. Her cheekbones as well. But her nose and wild blonde her was from her father. He sighed. God, how he missed those two.
Liza were focused on looking at the soldiers and attendants that entered and left the tent. Always at edge when it came to new people. Her unfriendly gaze following them as she chewed on her sandwich. They sat like that for a little while.
"Liza." Makeias finally said. Making the small girl's eyes turn to him. "It might be unavoidable that this comes down to violence pretty soon."
"So?" Liza said.
"This will be some dangerous fellows that we're up against. Really dangerous."
"You better not be going where I think you're going with this." Liza threatened. The way she said it once again showing that she was mature beyond her years.
Yet Makeias trudged on. "Liza, maybe you should sit this one out."
"Fuck off." Liza said tiredly. Closing her eyes as she took another bite of her sandwich.
"I am serious about this. This time the enemy is a capable one. If you come with me to this meeting, your life will be in jeopardy. For real this time. You not surviving this is not an unlikely possibility."
"Just like any other day at the job." she said. Unpertubed.
"This is not like evey other.."
"Ohh come on." Liza interrupted him. "Do you honestly believe that you can talk me out of abandoning my post? If you don't want me with you then order me not to go. Don't try to make me back out on my own, so that you don't have to take any responsibility."
"No, Liza. I am genuinely concerned here. Is it your wish to follow me?"
"If you die, I won't have any way to get Jack back."
Makeias gave her a sad smile. "Well, I am happy that you don't see me as a threat anymore."
Liza looked at him for some moments before she spoke. "You can put me through whatever hell you have planned. I am strong. I will manage. But Jack is weak. I will never forgive you for making him a part of this."
"I didn't involve him in this. He did so himself."
"And you let him. You could easily have stopped him but you didn't. Despite that you promised me that you would help me protect him if I worked for you. So long ago."
Makeias looked at her for some moments, then he bowed down a little bit over the table. Closer to her.
"Ok, here is the truth then, Liza."
Liza stopped herself in the middle of a bite. Her teeth in her sandwich.
"I need that teigu to work and he is the only one we could find that can use it." he explained in a low voice. "If we don't have that teigu working, our entire survival becomes so much more unlikely. And if I am dead then I can't keep any promises that I have made."
Liza moved her mouth away from the bread. The marks of her teeth left in the bread. Understanding that they were having a truthful moment right now. "Did you brainwash him, Makeias?"
Makeias could hear the fear hidden in her tone. He slowly nodded but he still smiled. "He made it through, Liza. He was scarred and I would be lying if I said that he wasn't changed by it. But he made it through. He is still the same person."
Even though she tried to hide it, Makeias could see how her eyes shone up at that. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because I didn't think that I could trust you. I wanted evey hook on you that I could get. But since you seem to be determined to go beside me into battle, I will give you this courtesy."
It was easy to see that this news had shaken Liza quite a bit. Her normal frown was gone. Replaced by a dumbfounded and questioning expression. She had been pretty sure that her brother was alive but she had been convinced that there wouldn't be much of his personality left after the treatment. "Is he well? Where is he?"
"I got a message from him yesterday. He is safe and well. Everything is going as planned." Makeias reassured her.
"You have to let me see him again." she exclaimed. Pushing herself up with her hands on the table. Standing on the bench.
Makeias leaned back with a smile. He reached out with one of his large and slender hands. "Stay with me Liza. Trust me in the coming battle. Then all of us will get through this together. And you will meet your brother again."
Liza didn't even hesitate. She had given up on anything like this. She was so desperate for a little bit of hope. She reached out and grabbed Makeias' hand. She was a bit suprised by how cold it was but she determinately took a grip around it with her small hand. The large hand gently closing around both her hand and her wrist. Due to the diffrence in size.
She stared at Makeias without anger or resentment. "Please let me meet him again, Makeias." she said. Her expression filled with pain. "I miss him so much."
Makeias other hand came up and placed itself over their hands. He smiled sadly at her. "I promise you, Liza. I will make this work."
It was only half a lie.
Tatsumi only woke up when Esdese actually entered his room. He had not heard when she got up and started walking around in her quarters. Not because she had been sneaking around but simply because of the fact that he had been sleeping rather deeply. However, he woke up when he heard the door to his room open.
It had to be in the middle of the night, Tatsumi reasoned. Not that he had any windows in his room. It was weeks since he last saw any sunlight. But he still kept a rather regular circadian rythm. Going to sleep at almost the same time every day.
He was lying with his back turned towards the door when he heard it open and her footsteps entered. He knew that it was her immediately. Esdese's precense was strong and imposing by default and she rarely tried to hide it. He could tell that it is was her just by her walking through the door. He could tell that she was barefoot from the sound of her steps.
He heard how she stopped in front of the bars. Probably looking at him.
He knew that there could be two reasons as to why she was there. She might have come by just to look at him. Driven by some strange paranoia. Just wanting to check on him. She often did this when she returned to her home after her longer days. When he himself was often already lying bed. Sometimes she stayed for a rather long time.
Just the other day she had come by just as he was trying to go to sleep. Walking into the barely lit room and then remaining on the other side of the bars. Looking at him. He had been awake that time and turned around in the bed. Meeting her intense gaze. Yet he had a hard time to read anything from it except her obsessiveness with him. They had stayed silent like that. Just looking at each other until Tatsumi finally fell asleep. Then Esdese had turned around and left.
The other reason why she might have come by was because she wanted to have him beside her when she slept. This was not all that rare either. Tatsumi had no idea what it was that made her come over some nights and not some others. He could not discern any patterns in it. Usually those nights just resulted in her holding him against her while she slept. Applying too much pressure for him to be able to escape. Tatsumi suspected that neither one of them got any good rest during those nights. He himself having a hard time to get comfortable when she was so rough with him and he guessed that she never really relaxed fully either since she was constantly holding him back.
Yet it was she who had to go and work all day long while he just remained in his cell. But she still came over and repeated the process every now and then. So he guessed that she still found it worth it on some level.
Though he had no way to tell what kind of situation this particular night was. So he remained still. Pretending to still be asleep.
Esdese was not really sure about what she wanted herself. She always knew her intentions when she planned her meetings with him. But somehow his presence made her feelings move in diffrent ways than she had planned. Making her act in ways she had not forseen.
She was standing on the other side of the bars. Naked with the exception of an unbuttoned shirt. Holding a glass of water in one hand. Drinking from it as she watched him. A slightly irritated expression on her face.
She had intended to just get up for some water. Then as she walked about, she had decided to go in and have a look at him. She had been hard at work the entire day and had not been able to meet him at all. Returning to her apartments long after he had gone to sleep.
She had just intended to watch him for a little while but now she didn't want to leave. Everything outside of the room felt so empty and lonely.
A part of her hated this. The fact that he managed to sway her so without even doing anything. That he managed to make her decisions so much harder for her. A part of her felt that her heart made her weak. Wishing that she could just cut it out and be done with it. But that side of her was completely overwhelmed by her feelings and instincts. She had always let her instincts guide her through life. And they were very clear about what they wanted here. Even if she herself had to combat them in this scenario.
She stood there and watched for some minutes before she decided that she would spend the night with him.
Tatsumi heard how she walked up to the door in the bars and stopped in front of it.
She let out an irritated "Tchh."
She didn't have the keys on her. She felt an urge to just smash the bars in. She was so tired of this whole situation. She emptied her glass of water and then walked out of the room.
She returned some moments later. Without the glass but with the key. She unlocked the door and left the key in it as she walked into Tatsumi's cell.
She walked over to his bed, lifted the covers and crawled into it behind him.
It was not a particularly large bed. And Esdese was rather tall. At least in comparison to Tatsumi. So there was little room left in the bed when she had entered it. Yet she didn't touch him. She kept moving until she was just an inch or two behind him. He could almost feel the heat from her body on his back.
"Awake?" she asked in a whisper. Her breath tickling his neck.
"I am now." he answered coldly.
Immediately her hand touched his back and started to slither around his body. As soon as she got a grip around him, she started to pull his body backwards. Into her own. Pleased to feel that he was wearing nothing but briefs.
Tatsumi felt how her breasts pressed against his back and how her lips landed just where his neck and shoulder connected. Making his head press down against hers by reflex.
"Get off." he complained and started to move away from her.
"Nope." she said and put some strength in her grip.
Yet Tatsumi continued to struggle against her. Refusing her touch whenever he could. After some moments Esdese grew annoyed.
"Stop that." she ordered. "I haven't had my session yet today, remember?"
Tatsumi stopped at that. He had actually forgotten that she hadn't had todays part of their deal yet. He slowly stopped his struggling and relaxed back into her. Nestling into her embrace and then remaining still.
"There you go." Esdese said and rubbed her entire body against him. "Good boy."
Tatsumi stayed still as she snuggled against him from behind.
He hated how much he enjoyed her touch. His later days had reminded him of just how horrible of a creature she was. How much she enjoyed what most people loathed and how much pleasure she drew from inflicting pain and despair on her fellow humans.
She had no right to feel so nice. He hated how sweet and warm her embrace was. He hated how smooth and nice her skin was against his back. How soft her caresses was. He hated how he loved the feeling of her lips on his neck and how much he enjoyed how her fingers played with his hair. She was handling him so lovingly and gently. Giving only the slightest of signals that she wanted more from him.
All of it made him detest himself. Because he loved it. He never wanted her to stop. His instincts and body was drawn to her and what she was giving him so strongly. He hated himself for loving it. For loving her.
The thought hit him hard once again. He was well aware of it but the reminder always hurt a lot. Especially now.
He loved her. He loved her a lot. She was the propagator of all the suffering in the nation. She was one of the greatest bringer of destruction and sorrow known to man. And he loved her.
She had destroyed so many of his friends and the things he loved. And he loved her.
She was one of the biggest reason for all his suffering. And he loved her.
He often struggled to keep this fact the furthest back in his mind. Always trying to avoid meeting it.
But now it was impossible to not face the simple fact. It was one of the reasons why he had been trying to avoid physical contact with her during his time in captivity. Not only because he knew that it was one of the few things that he could use to barter with her. But also because, when they were close like this it was so much harder for him to deny her. He so easily lost all perspective when they were like this.
So after some time had passed, he started to struggle again. Trying to get away from her grasp.
Esdese's grip immediately tightened. Disappointed that it was already over. Everytime she did this she hoped that it wouldn't end. That he would give in and surrender to her.
It had always been her plan to get some kind of deal like this. That had been the sole reason as to why she brought some people that she knew that he was acquainted with and tortured them before him. Because she knew that he would try and negotiate for their salvation. And he had. That was how she had gotten these daily sessions. But that had also been her plan from the beginning. She knew that parts of him still loved her. She was certain that not every aspect of his being wanted to avoid her. Her instincts told her so. She had assumed that if she could only get him to agree to some skinship then his body would betray him. Sooner or later he would give in to her.
And it was working. Somewhat.
At first he had been stale as a stick when she touched him. Clearly trying his best to not participate in any way. But that had started to fade over time. Now he eased into her embraces. Clearly finding some rest in her arms. Things were proceeding just as she had hoped. But it was going excruciatingly slow. She had hoped that she would have him back already by now. But he still resisted her.
She pulled him back against her. "Don't struggle. I know that you want this." she said. Her tone partly irritated.
"I don't." he protested and continued to fight against her grip.
"You do. I can tell." she said. He was fighting against her a bit more strongly than normal.
"You're wrong." he said a bit more loudly. The fact that he, to some extent, actually had enjoyed it made him fight against her more.
But his resistance was making Esdese react diffently than he had hoped.
Normally he would have just have stopped all his movements by now. Becoming a rag doll in her grip. It was the smarter form of resistance and he knew it. But right now he couldn't just remain like that. His reminder that he actually loved her forced him to resist more violently. Against his better judgement. Because he knew that Esdese enjoyed it much more when his resistance took on a more physical form.
She looked at his back for some moments. Then a smile slowly spread across her face.
She prefered this infintely to the limp absence of his participation. Now he was playing ball with her. Now he was putting up a fight. And there were few things that she enjoyed more than a good fight.
Their cuddling very quickly turned into wrestling. Esdese forcing him closer while he tried to get away. She herself not really putting too much of her strength into her actions. Letting him have his fight. Even if they both knew who would win in a physical competition. To her the moment was playful and a little bit gratifying. She knew that he didn't find it as enjoyable but she still went on. It had been so long since she had this kind of intimacy with him.
"Stop it." Tatsumi complained a bit louder. Raising his voice.
"Stop me." she challenged back. Egging him on. Making him forget himself and struggle more.
He had managed to roll around so that he was facing her. She was holding her arms around his ribcage. Tatsumi pushing against her with both his arms. Trying to move away. But Esdese's hold was unbreakable for him at this point.
He already knew that this form of resistance was futile. But he didn't care. The resistance in itself was so important to him right now. It was the only thing he could to escape from the fact that he loved her. The only thing he could do to not have to face that.
But as much as he was pushing against her, he was still moving closer to her. Esdese applying just a little bit more pressure than he could match. Making him slowly move against her. Her embrace slowly closing. Her smile, while inviting, not entirely gentle.
As she was about to press their bodies together, Tatsumi slithered down. Escaping her embrace as it closed above him. He started to move backwards in his small bed but one of her hands grabbed his shoulder. Causing him to lash out in panic.
As quickly and strongly as he could, he kneed her in the stomach. Just under her belly button. Esdese's body moving slightly backwards by the impact. Her eyes widened slightly and she exhaled a little bit stronger as his kick connected but that was the only reaction she gave him.
Tatsumi knew that he hadn't caused any damage. She had simply tensed up her abdominal muscles as he was about to hit her. He had felt that iron hard resistance under her smooth and warm skin. He could keep kneeing her when she tightend her muscles like that and in the end it would be his knee that took damage from the impact. Not her.
But the kick had an effect. He could tell that much. Not that it was the one that he had wished for.
As she was pushed back by the kick a bit, Esdese raised herself slightly from the bed. Starting to move closer to him again. And now her smile had teeth. Her eyes sharp and amused.
"That was a bit over the line, Tatsumi." she said. Her voice more excited than anything. "What do you think would happen if one of my pets raised their hand towards me?"
Tatsumi backed off as she advanced. Edging backwards while still remaining lying down on his side. Not having enough room to sit up or change his position. But his bed was small. Only meant for one person. After two decimeters, his back hit the wall behind him, which his bed was lined up against.
"I am not you pet." he protested.
"No. You are not." Esdese agreed but her advance did not stop. Slowly moving closer to him. Also lying on her side. "Doesn't mean that you don't need some punishment every now and then."
She raised her arm up towards him as she got closer. Her hand moving towards his face.
When she did, Tatsumi raised his hands up in front of him in a defensive gesture. His hands closed in fists. The move only made Esdese's smile widened. For her, this felt so much closer to what they had had. She found the situation mischievous and fun. He was resisting. Putting up a fight. Playing with her again. Making it possible for her to bully him in her own affectionate way.
She was so starved for these kinds of interactions with him that she momentarily forgot what their relationship was at the moment. Her sadistic and loving side overjoyed to experience this with her mate again.
Her hand stopped close to his fists. Just in front of his face.
"Tatsumi." she said. Her voice a warning. She had gotten really close to him now. Lying just in front of him on the bed. Looking down on him slightly. Her head positioned a bit above his on the bed because of her length. "What do you think will happen if you don't submit to your punishment?"
Tatsumi looked at her hand for some moments and then his eyes moved up to her own. His expression went from defensive to still. Just looking her straight in the eyes with a blank expression. Then he very slowly lowered his hands. Giving her hand free passage.
Satisfaction crept into Esdese's smile. Enjoying his submission. "There you go. Take it like a man."
Tatsumi sighed silently. When Esdese's hand started to move towards him again, he closed his eyes. He wasn't sure what was coming but was suprised when Esdese's hand grabbed a hard hold on his hair. She dragged him up to her level on the bed. Tatsumi grimacing slightly at the pain.
As soon as their faces were on the same level, Esdese kissed him. And not just a light peck on his lips, as she had already done a couple of times during his time in this cell. This was a much more intense interaction. Esdese's lips closing over his own. Her tongue moving it's way through his lips. When she found that his teeth were half closed, her hand moved down from his hair to his jaw and forced it open. Giving herself free entry.
Her tongue moved into his mouth. Happily moving down against his own tongue. Pressing it down a bit in some sort of strange greeting before re-exploring the rest of his mouth as her lips pressed against his.
At first Tatsumi just remained still and took what he hoped was just another punishment. But he soon enough realized that it was turning into something else.
Esdese soon started pressing herself against him rather strongly. Grinding their bodies together. Leaning into him. Soon enough she started to pull him out a bit from the wall with the hand that wasn't holding his face. Trying to make him roll over on his back. It became pretty clear that she wanted to be on top of him and that was when he realized that this was starting to turn into something much more.
He once again started to resist her. Pushing against her rather strongly. Moving his legs violently. But he was too close to her to kick her and his hands could do nothing but push against her. It didn't matter that he knew that his resistance might be futile. He needed to resist. The resistance was the only thing that he had. The only thing that made it seem like he hadn't just abandoned everything he stood for. That he hadn't just betrayed everyone.
After some struggle he managed to get his mouth free. "Cut it out!" he almost yelled. "Esdese!"
He didn't manage to say anything more before Esdese closed his mouth up with her own again. Muffling his voice. Her hand holding his jaw.
His struggle was only driving up her excitment. It had been so long since she had him like this. Her sadistic side enjoyed his reluctance and her nature was happy for a chance to dominate him. She was so caught up in the moment that she had completely forgotten what their relationship was right now. That they were not really on good terms at the moment. She momentarily forgot that this might not just be him playing hard to get.
It didn't take long before he was on his back and she had straddled his stomach. Her body bent down over his face. Her long hair falling down around them as her breathing got rougher.
"Stop!" Tatsumi yelled at her as she straigthened up a bit on top of him. Her hands holding down his arms.
"You are being very loud today, Tatsumi." she exclaimed back. Her cheeks red and her smiled wide.
"Let me go!" he shouted and tried to pull his arms up. Breathing just as heavily as Esdese. Though not for the same reason. "I don't want this!"
"Do you think I wouldn't notice it if you struggled enough, Tatsumi?" Esdese answered with a triumphant gleam in her eyes. "I felt it immediately. You want this."
"You're wrong!" he exclaimed.
"Ohh am I?" she returned. She moved up and put her knee down into his stomach. Pinning him down as she turned around slightly on top of him. She reached down with her hand and grabbed the lining of his underwear. Then with one strong pull, she tore them of him. Making the cloth tear apart. Revealing his manhood.
"Heh." Esdese said victoriously. Putting a finger on his strong erection. "You can deny it all you want. But I can tell that you like it." she continued as she turned her head around towards his face again.
Her smile died immediately.
When she had let go off his hands and turned around, Tatsumi had not struggled. She had noticed that but not payed it any attention. Instead his arms had simply went up and wrapped themselves across his head. Covering up his eyes. His teeth were clenched in a pained expression and tears were flowing down his chins.
He had stopped resisting. Giving up. Admitting to the fact that he had no chance to stop her. Having no choice but to let things happen as Esdese dominated him. But now that his chances of resistance were gone, so was the only facade that he had to protect his own morality. Once again he was faced with the full extent of what he had done. Not able to justify it with ambitions of greater good and hidden resistance. Once again unable to hide from the fact that he loved her.
His body had reacted to her as it always did. His young libido not really affected by his suffering. Instinctual and strong. Reacting as eagerly as it always did to her touch. But that only increased Tatsumi's immense self-hatred.
If he had had anything even remotley sharp in his vicinity, he would have stabbed himself in the chest with it. Right in that moment. Trying to pierce the heart that had betrayed him so. Of course he was aware that Esdese would probably have stopped him. Even that she would take from him.
Esdese herself froze the moment she saw his face. All the joy and excitment draining out of her in a second. The sight of him and his tears made her suddenly pay attention to what her instincts had been whispering about, behind all the excitment and sexual frustration.
Her mate was hurting. He was hurting greatly. And not in a way that she enjoyed.
When all the excitment and giddiness disappeared, she immediately realized just how much she had stepped over the line. Her passion for him had made her momentarily forget that things were not the same as they had once been between them at the moment. Her happiness at getting some contact with him, even if it was just his resistance, had made her forget that they were not just playing around.
And that she had been less than a minute away from outright raping him.
Uncertainty and dread welled up in her. So strong that it made her draw a sharp breath. She immediately pulled her knee back from him. Moving slightly away from his body. Severing all physical contact they had.
Had she just destroyed what little they had left together? Had she just killed her last chances at getting him back?
Esdese enjoyed being rough and forceful. She enjoyed cruelty. But what she desired the most from Tatsumi was his love. And even if they had used to play rough earlier, the situation was diffrent now. She could no longer feel that underlying joy in him. She no longer felt secure that she had him. She was no longer sure if she could get his love.
Esdese had been to hundreds of battles and overwatched most of their aftermaths. If there was one thing she knew about rape, it was that it did not create love but rather the opposite. She had never had the intention of raping him. Not even once during their long relationship. Even on all the occasions when she had just overpowered his complaints and refusals in bed before, she had still been able to sense that he enjoyed it. That he enjoyed being hers.
Now she felt no such thing and it made her realize that she might just have burned a bridge that was very important to her.
"Hey." she said gently. Moving up towards his face. A worried expression on her own. She reached up with an arm towards his face. But the moment her fingers touched the skin of his chin, Tatsumi froze up.
"Stop..." he said silently. Keeping the upper part of his face hidden under his elbows. "Please... just stop..."
Esdese's hand stopped it's very light touching of his face and moved a little bit back from it.
"Tatsumi, I..."
"Please... just stop.." Tatsumi said again before she had a chance to say anything else. His voice almost a whisper.
Her hand hovered in front of his face for some moments. It's fingers trembling slightly. Then it slowly closed into a fist. Clenched together so hard that you could hear the straining of her skin.
Tatsumi felt how she got up from the bed in a quick motion. He heard her brisk steps out of the room. Only slowing down slightly to look the door in the bars. When she left the room he turned to his side. Slowly crawling together into a ball. Grabbing his knees as the rooms outside of his filled with loud noises. The sound of loud bangs, the breaking of wood, the smashing of glass and porcelain along with tearing of cloth boomed through the walls at a deafening level. Probably audible to most parts of their level in the palace.
He remained in that position throughout the night.
Fifteen minutes after Esdese had left Tatsumi's bed, she walked into her own large and extravagant bedroom. Closing the door behind her with a bang. Leaving the completely decimated room behind her. The furniture, drapes, chandliers and floor were completely destroyed. Ruined by her hands in a level of fury that was extremly rare for her to express. Her panic, pain and irritation with herself and the entire situation needing an outlet.
She walked over and sat down on the edge of her large bed. Hunched forward. Her elbows on her knees. She sighed deeply.
The destruction of the other room didn't faze her in the slightest. It would probably be fixed in a day or two. But it was rare for her to lose her cool to that level. This had been the first time in years.
She looked at her hand. It was slightly bruised and she was bleeding a little bit from one of her knuckles. She moved her fingers up to her nose and smelled them. They still had a little bit his smell on them.
Her mate.
She couldn't do what her strategical mind thought was the smartest alternative and just remove him from her life. Even if she knew that it was what was normally expected of her. Her love and affection didn't allow her to do so. Yet now that she had been with him, it was her dominating and sadistic side that got the upper hand over her love. Damaging, if not destroying, her chances at getting what her heart desired.
She sighed again and put her hand over half her face. Resting her head down into it. "What the hell am I doing?"
Author's note:
We once again leave the TatsumixEsdese camp in quite a dark place. I was slightly worried that people would start complaining over Tatsumi being too much of a wuss since this is the third chapter in a row that ends with him crying. I was afraid that it would make people forget that if there is one thing that Esdese's love story signifies in the manga, it is that you might be as strong and powerful as possible in some areas and it still might not help you with other problems or emotions.
But it seems like my worry was unwarranted since a lot of people actually found the torture scene in the last chapter genuinly disturbing. I am happy that it had it's intended effect but I have to wonder. Esdese is supposed to be the best torturer of her time. That level of horrifying insanity should be expected. The best torturer in the world would just not beat someone with a whip. She would find other ways to hurt people. Worse ways. Especially since the manga emphasizes that she is very creative.
Anyway, I have realized that setting a deadline in a number of days might not be the best way of going about things. Since I generally don't get much done on weekends and holidays. From now on I will instead set the deadline in dates instead. And I will write the date for the release of the next chapter at the top of each chapter. Changing them if they are delayed so that everyone will know when it comes. Hopefully that will help.
Thanks a lot for reading. I hope that you have enjoyed the ride so far. Things are about to accelerate as we now move towards the final part of this arc. Things are going to turn rather intense in the coming chapters.
As always, thanks for all your comments and reviews. They make this journey so much more fun for me.
Until next time, take care of each other.