SORRYYYYYY!
The next chapter will be released on the 8th of July. I bet my cat on it!
(I don't have a cat.)
The stone starts rolling
Esdese's fingers slowly tapped the armrest of the royal family's throne. Her head resting in her other hand. Her legs crossed over each other as she sat on the huge chair at the top of the large podium. She wore a bored expression on her face. Looking down at the leading of the scout forces as he nervously stammered out his report. They were almost alone in the large room. The only other people in it, besides the two of them, was the guards that were stationed by the giant doors that led out of the room and some men from the new imperial guard that lurked some meters behind her.
"The final division did not manage to find any traces of where Makeias' renegade army might be stationed." the man said. Kneeling down in front of the stairs that led up to the podium. "We have been able to find the scattered remains of the revolutionary army. But all those groups were so small that our scout teams could deal with them on their own."
"It was not your task to engage with any enemy at all." Esdese stated plainly.
"My apologies, great general." the man almost shouted and stared down at his knee. "It was such an insignificant act that I didn't deem it necessary to ask for permission first. And in many cases, we ran into them so suddenly that combat became inevitable."
Esdese looked at him in silence for some moments. Letting him feel the fear that was so apparent on him. Then she closed her eyes and waved a hand. "I will overlook it. Go on with your report."
"We have scoured the west and the south. With this our entire mission is complete." the man said. Taking a deep breath before continuing. "We haven't managed to find Makeias' forces. I have failed the mission you entrusted me with. I accept full consequences for my actions. My men are not to blame."
Esdese just stared down at him for a while. The room quiet. "Another failure, huh.."
The leader of the scouts looked up at her from where he was kneeling. Awaiting her judgment.
"I gave you almost fifty thousand men and six weeks. And yet you don't have a single thing to show me for it?" Esdese said slowly.
"No I do not, great general." the man said in his loud voice again. "We have not been able to find any traces of an organized military movement. Guerilla or otherwise. The huge migrations of refugees towards the capital are the only thing we have found that has been out of place. They have, admittedly, made this search harder. We interrogated some of them here and there but they had nothing to give us."
"Makeias' forces should be around two hundred thousand strong. How is it possible for you to miss a force of that size?" Esdese asked and looked up at the ceiling. Thinking about it. She didn't really mean it in an accusing manner. More just thinking out loud. Not that does around her could make that distinction. "As a matter of fact, how does a force of that size avoid us for so long?"
"I am sorry, great general." the man exclaimed. "It is a great shame for me to give you this report. I will with resolve accept whatever punishment you deem fit."
Esdese didn't answer. Leaving the man thinking that he was close to his end as she thought about the situation.
She had not been giving much thought to the pillager and his forces since the death of the prime minister. All her attention had been focused on internal problems within the government and the capital. Seeing to it that everything remained stable. However, she had not forgotten about the rogue general. And now she had started to put some focus on it again. But once more, to no result.
She could only draw one conclusion from this. Makeias spy was still in the palace. Somehow.
Somehow his spy had avoided all the reforms and cleansing that the imperial governmental system had undergone during her rule. Somehow he had slinked through all their nets and traps. Somehow he had remained, when almost all other parts of the imperial government had been destroyed or disbanded. To be replaced with her own people.
She needed to talk with Tatsumi about this. She figured that if they caught this informer, then they would soon find Makeias.
"Ok, that's all I need from you, officer, you can return to your duties." Esdese said and looked down at the man again.
".. what?" he answered and looked up at her. His voice small and silent, for the first time during this meeting.
"You will be assigned a new mission in some days. I have no specific tasks for you at the moment."
"I... I am free to go?" he asked meekly.
Esdese rose an eyebrow at him. "Why wouldn't you be?"
"I.. I failed." the man stuttered. "And the last man that failed a reconnaissance mission like this was killed for it. His head is mounted on the wall into the city."
"He was not executed for his failure. He was executed for lying to me about the results in order to save face. Knowingly giving the military incorrect intel in a very important matter." Esdese explained casually.
It had been Tatsumi that had told her that. He had, in secret, placed some of the men from the new imperial guard in that man's closest circle. He had told her about the man's lies. Tatsumi had complained a lot when she had ordered the man executed. Arguing that a simple demotion or expulsion from the military would be enough. But she would not tolerate that kind of behavior. Not that she had executed him herself. She didn't have time for such entertainment at the moment.
"Have you lied to me today?" Esdese said and looked down at the man.
"I have never lied to you, great general Esdese!" the man exclaimed.
"Then you don't have anything to worry about. And yeah, I don't understand why anything you have told me would be a lie. You yourself stated that you failed completely."
The man looked down at his knee again. "I am sorry, great general."
"Normally this would warrant a demotion or some kind of punishment. But I have a rather strong suspicion that you couldn't have succeeded with this task no matter how well you performed. Since I might have sent you on an impossible mission. So you will not receive any form of punishment." Esdese said and moved some of her hair away. "Now go back to your post."
The man looked slightly shocked. His eyes wide and mouth open. Then he quickly stood up and saluted Esdese. "Yes.. Of course!" he said and bowed down towards Esdese. "Thank you so much, great general." he shouted and turned around. Marching out of the room in quick steps. Esdese's eyes followed him with a disinterested look on her face.
Esdese sat still in her seat for a little while after the man had left. Then she slowly rose up.
"Send some of your men down to the torture chambers later today." she said without turning around to the officers of the new imperial guard that were standing behind the throne. "Some of your better men. They will take Absordex to the teigu armory."
"Yes, great general!" one of them exclaimed. "Have Dorothea passed away?"
"No." Esdese said in an empty voice. But she can neither speak or eat on her own anymore." Esdese said and started to walk forward. "That in itself would not have ended her time with me but now she has stopped reacting to anything that happens. Her soul and mind are dead. Her body will follow soon. I will go and remove Absordex from her now."
The men behind her saluted towards her back as she started to leave them. "So the traitor has finally gotten her just dessert." the man who had responded to her said.
"Not really." Esdese said and started walking down the stairs. "I have just grown bored of her."
Wave said his final goodbye to his closest officer early in the morning. Giving him his last orders and some encouraging words as the sun was still rising up on the horizon.
He shook hands with him and then with the other of his subordinates that had gathered to see him off. He waved to them a last time as he walked off into the camp. Heading for the area where Tom-Tom and his men resided.
He felt a slight bit emotional to say goodbye to all the people that had become his new friends since his betrayal of the empire. But he had high hopes that they would meet again. After this was all done. Though by that time, it would probably be time to lay of the cape that marked him as their admiral. The cape that Esdese had put on his shoulder.
He felt a slight bit of conflict at the thought of Esdese as he walked through the camp. She had made him into what he was. In many regards, she had turned him from a boy into a man. Through harsh lessons, though trials and some quite extreme punishments for his failures. But she had made him strong. And she had made him understand the cruelties of the empire. Made him understand the differences between himself and her. And how their ideals clashed. But even if she had always been hard on him, he knew that she cherished him in her own way. Or at least she had cherished him.
Not that he felt any hesitation about which road he should take. He was filled with determination. For the good of the people of the empire. For all those that had helped and served him.
For Kurome.
Most of his men were going to travel along with him and the rest of Makeias' forces. He was only leaving a handful of them behind to look over the small fleet that he was now leaving behind. It felt strange to leave such a large military asset behind but ships would be of no use to them in this mission. If this succeeded, then they would hopefully never need to use them for combat again.
He took a deep breath of the cool morning air and increased his pace. Striding through the hectic camp. Everyone in the camp was moving around. Pulling down tents and putting out fires. Usually, they would be hard at work with covering up their tracks but not so this time. Now they were only foraging everything that was worth carrying with them. They did not need to hide that they had been there anymore.
The rather large camp had grown smaller and smaller over the course of the last weeks. During the many war councils that had been held, Wave had learned that the same was true for all of their spread out camps. Most of the troops moving out into position. Now there was almost none of them left in the camps. This was the last big one. And now it was finally time for them to move out as well.
Wave found Tom-Tom quick enough. He was standing in the middle of the ring of large tents that acted as the headquarters of the camp. Leaning on his staff. His tribesmen busy with the preparations to move out. Commotion all around him. Yet when Wave walked up to him, he smiled calmly.
"Good morning, little Wave of the sea."
"Morning, Tom-Tom. How are you?"
"Fine. Just fine." Tom-Tom said in his usual calm and slow demeanor. "Or at least as fine as one can be in this situation. And you?"
"Yeah. Likewise. I must say that I am quite nervous. I feel like they will catch on to us just because of how tense I am."
Tom-Tom chuckled. "Don't worry, little Wave. I have an eye for these kinds of things. And you seem far more composed than many of those that have already gotten into position."
"Seem like a perfect time for me to fuck everything up then." Wave said with a smile.
"Ohh don't worry. That is why we who are a bit more distinguished are moving out last. If we should fail, the bulk of our forces will already be in position."
Wave appreciated the calming words but he held no doubt that if they would fail to join up with the rest of the army, their entire cause would be doomed. "Where is Makeias?"
"The general is over there, behind those tents." Tom-Tom said and pointed.
"Thanks. I wanted to talk to him about a couple of things." Wave said and started to turn around.
"Wave." Tom-Tom said. Causing Wave to stop before he could walk away. Tom-Tom reached in behind coat and brought forth an enclosed bottle. "Give this to Makeias. He needs to drink it."
Wave took the bottle from Tom-Tom. Its content looked like milk tea. "What is it?"
"A precaution." Tom-Tom said. "Makeias drinks one of these every morning."
"What do you mean?" Wave said and looked up at Tom-Tom.
"The contents of that bottle would kill you and me. But Morbus keeps Makeias alive. It is our hope that it will only react to the bacteria in this mixture. And that the basic chemicals will be distributed all through Morbus."
"Why?" Wave asked. Looking at Tom-Tom with worry.
"A precaution." Tom-Tom repeated. "Don't worry. This was Makeias idea in the first place. Though don't talk to him about it." he said.
Wave nodded. Even if he was not sure that he understood what was going on but he decided to not dwell on it at the moment. "I am going to miss you, Tom-Tom." Wave said and looked up at him. "Your calm composure is always so reassuring."
Tom-Tom chuckled. "I have enjoyed your presence as well, little Wave. Your enthusiasm has given me hope for the coming generations."
Wave smiled at the man. Then he took a step forward and hugged the much taller man. His arms reaching around his ribcage. It took a moment but then Tom-Tom's arm that wasn't holding his staff came up and stroked the young man's back. It remained on his shoulder as Wave took a step back.
"Good luck, Tom-Tom. Don't you dare die on us."
Tom-Tom slowly nodded. "Farewell, little Wave of the sea."
Wave looked at Tom-Tom for some moments and then walked away. Not looking back at the old giant as he left.
He passed the tents and walked on in the direction that Tom-Tom had pointed to. When he was out of reach of Tom-Tom's perception, he stopped. He slowly opened the bottle and lightly smelled the contents of it.
At first, it just smelled like warm milk. But when he dared to take a deeper sniff of it, he could feel something behind that pleasant aroma. Something that stung in his nose and immediately made him turn his head away from it. He corked the bottle up. Staring at it for some moments. But then he just decided to move on.
He found Makeias sitting on a large pole. High above the tents. One of many poles that had been raised in that place. Poles were many of the ropes that held up nearby tents were attached to.
Makeias was sitting on top of one of them. Hunched forward. His elbows on his knees. Looking out over the moving camp.
Wave looked up at him. When Makeias didn't react to him, he bent down slightly and jumped up on one of the poles beside the one Makeias was sitting on in a single leap. Landing on his feet on top of it. Standing on it.
"Good morning, general." he said loudly and waved at Makeias.
"Well," Makeias said slowly and looked over at Wave. "it certainly is a morning."
"Somethings got you down?" Wave said in the same cheerful voice.
"I am just not too fond of this sight." Makeias said and turned his eyes out over the camp. "Military forces preparing to move out. Weapons being prepared. Men on their way to die. I have just grown so tired of this song."
"This will hopefully be the last time we will have to hear it." Wave said encouragingly.
"Yeah. Hopefully."
"By the way, Tom-Tom wanted me to give this to you." Wave said and tossed the bottle over to Makeias who caught it with a hand. "He said that you should drink it."
Makeias simply nodded at Wave and opened the bottle. Taking a swig of it. Wave watched the other man's face for a reaction but Makeias' expression was blank.
"The taste doesn't get any better over time." Makeias said lowly when he removed the bottle from his face. He then looked at Wave. "Did you have anything on your mind?"
"Yeah." Wave said. Hesitating for a few moments before he continued to speak. "General, I am still wondering how we will deal with Esdese? This plan covers most of our issues but not her. To me, it seems like we have ignored our biggest problem."
Makeias took some more gulps from the bottle before he answered. "We haven't ignored it, Wave. It's just that we don't have a definitive answer to it yet."
Wave had feared that he would get an answer like that. "General, I think you already understand this but we will never succeed if we cannot bring her down. This will never end until she is gone."
"Ohh it is not that we don't have ideas of how to deal with her. It is just very hard to tell which option that has the highest chance of success. Though admittedly, none of them look particularly convincing at the moment. I don't think there is any warrior that is strong enough to ensure her defeat in combat. And she is too strong and fast for us to be able to outmaneuver her or force her into a corner."
"So we are just going to improvise it?" Wave said in slight disbelief.
"Yeah. Something like that." Makeias said and took yet another swig of the bottle.
"General, it sounds like you are betting the entire nation on chance. Are we really that desperate?"
"Well, it is hard to not be a bit desperate when you are fighting such an uphill battle." Makeias said and smiled at Wave. When the younger man didn't return his grin, he continued. "Look Wave, it's not like we are completely without plans to choose from. Esdese has a very glaring weakness. The only question is, how do we exploit it? Especially since he has grown so strong himself."
"Tatsumi." Wave said slowly as the realization dawned on him.
"Mhhm" Makeias said. "It was only when I first saw Esdese's infatuation with Tatsumi that I realized my chance. Before the first time I saw that boy, I thought that I could never win over her. His presence changed that. Though, annoyingly enough, Tatsumi has grown rather powerful. So the weakness that he presents in Esdese's defense is a bit harder to use."
"Any plans?" Wave said tentatively. He held no ill will against Tatsumi and was more than a little afraid that this would require killing the boy he had come to regard as his friend.
"We have some options." Makeias said and looked out over the camp again. "I don't know if Esdese would give her life for his but I am certain that she would risk it for him. So that gives us some alternatives. She might be willing to go against her own judgment in order to save him. Morbus have infected his arm quite deeply. So if we can just separate him from that goddam teigu of his, then he will be powerless against me. Provided that I am close enough to him."
"Does that mean that it would kill him?" Wave asked. Careful to keep the fear out of his voice.
"Not necessarily." Makeias said slowly. "But it is worth the risk. I'm sure you would agree, Wave. It is a risk worth taking to give Kurome's fate a purpose."
That stopped Wave for some seconds before he spoke. "Tatsumi is a good guy, general. I know that the world only regards him as a traitor and I know that he is a part of the government now. But he is a good man. He is probably just being pushed around by Esdese."
Makeias smiled kindly at Wave. "Don't worry, Wave. We will try to avoid unnecessary deaths. Besides, I know more about Tatsumi's resilience than most people do."
"You do?" Wave said and looked at the older man. Sounding slightly surprised.
"I do. I understood it back during the battle of Garu. And I have since then had it confirmed by Jack. That is why I agreed to meet with Nigth raid before. Despite the fact that it had a high risk of just being a trap. I had hoped that we could either have Night raid on our side, one of their members as a prisoner, or at least some hostages from the revolutionary army to use against him. That, and I also wanted Murasame as a safety against the corruption inside me."
"I understand Murasame, but why would any of the rest help against Tatsumi?" Wave asked in confusion.
"I had hoped to make him change sides yet again. If he did it at the right time, it would end Esdese. But then again, I don't think he ever changed side in the first place. At least not in his own mind." Makeias said and slowly started to stand up on the pole he had been sitting on. A horn blew not too far away from them. Signaling that it was time for them to leave.
"Don't worry, Wave. I will tell you all about Tatsumi and how strong his determination actually is as we travel towards the capital. You will understand all about him before we enact this beautiful con." Makeias said and jumped down from the pole.
Wave jumped down after him. Landing beside the general. Smiling as he rose up. "Looking forward to it, general. Both that and the culmination of your years of deception."
Makeias nodded. "This will be the most glorious of scams. And then, when Esdese is gone, we will finally have a chance to reach peace again."
"So I heard that you have been training with general Gallus." Tatsumi said in a slightly irritated voice. Kotaro walking beside him towards his destination. Tatsumi was walking with his hands behind his back. Slightly hunched forward.
"A little bit, yeah." the boy said. Sounding slightly guilty but hiding it fairly well.
"Despite the fact that I told you that you would get some combat training as soon as you were proficient in all the more important areas of your education." Tatsumi said without looking at the boy. Keeping his eyes at the long hallway that they were walking through.
"I have been doing everything that I have been told so far. I am just training a little with the general on my free time." Kotaro said.
"Yeah, cause I sure as hell didn't tell you to do it." Tatsumi said. Not able to prevent a bit of his bitterness from seeping into his voice.
"I don't see what the problem is, Tatsumi. Isn't it better if I can at least fend for myself a little bit." Kotaro complained.
"That is not what the problem here is, Kotaro." Tatsumi said and looked behind them. They were followed by the group of warriors that usually followed the little emperor-to-be wherever he went. Members of the new imperial guard.
He considered the situation for some moments. Then he nodded to them. Signaling that they could leave. They stopped following them. Standing still for some moments as the distance between them increased. Then after a while, they started to slowly move away from them.
Tatsumi was a bit unsure of why he wanted this privacy. He guessed that he didn't want Kotaro to try and act though since he was having an audience. He would have to ensure the boy's safety himself now but he didn't feel threatened here in the palace.
"The problem is not that you are training. It is that you are training with general Gallus." Tatsumi said after a little while.
"Why? Don't let his looks deceive you, he knows a lot about fighting. Even if he might not seem as fit as you or Esdese."
"He is an imperial general. Just that title is more than enough of a reassurance that he is a competent fighter. At least now under Esdese's rule."
"Then what is the problem?" Kotaro asked in slightly demanding voice.
"Gallus is..." Tatsumi said and hesitated for some moments. "Let's just say that he is not the best of influences."
"What do you mean? The man is a renowned hero. Don't you know how many lives he has saved?"
"He has done many heroic things during his career. That does not wash away all the bad ones that he has done."
Kotaro looked at Tatsumi for a long while. "Just like all the good things you have done for the empire doesn't wash away what you did as an assassin of the cruel night raid." he said. Watching Tatsumi attentively. Afraid if he had gone too far with that comment.
But Tatsumi only chuckled. Finding the irony in the statement amusing. Since he often held on to what he had done before he joined Esdese as his last truly good deeds. "Yeah, something like that. But unlike me, Gallus has not repented. He is still practicing his more horrible acts every now and then."
"What are you talking about, Tatsumi? What is it that this general has done that could besmirch saving thousands of lives."
Tatsumi looked at the teenager. He wondered if he was in danger of Gallus lustful interest. He didn't think so. He was too old. And even if he was, Gallus was no fool. He knew that he would seal his own doom if he put his hands on Kotaro. He knew that the boy was an important chess piece for him and Esdese.
"Gallus is a big proponent of a very special form of torture, Kotaro." he said silently.
"Isn't your... Isn't the great general also a very big proponent of all kinds of torture."
"There is a huge difference. Esdese doesn't torture simple law-abiding citizens. Only criminals."
"Didn't look like that was what was going on back with Dorothea." Kotaro said.
Tatsumi had to bite his tongue at that. It was very hard for him to not seem hypocritical right now. Both Gallus and Esdese had good sides to them. But they both had horrible parts to them as well. And Tatsumi wasn't sure that Gallus was actually the biggest monster between them if truth be told.
"One step at the time, Kotaro."
"It seems like you are starting in the wrong corner then, Tatsumi. Don't misunderstand me, I find all the torture that this government condones very appalling. But if you truly find it appalling as well. Why haven't you made her stop first of all? Unless you are unable to keep any reins on your woman at all."
Tatsumi sighed. "How little you understand about her, Kotaro."
"What do you mean by that? I think I understand her perfectly." the boy said defensively. A bit of aggravation finding its way into his voice.
"Look, just be careful when you're around Gallus, okay?" Tatsumi said as they walked into the huge hall that was their destination. "He has an unhealthy interest in children. And that is all that I will say about this."
Kotaro was about to ask him what he meant by that but interrupted himself as they walked into the rather large training hall. Since there now were several other people within earshot.
The room was large and mainly intended for sparring matches. Containing several rings. Encircled by fences made out of rubbery ropes and padded poles. There were several people in the room but far from all the rings were occupied. Not even half of them being used at the moment.
They turned a few heads in their direction when they entered the hall. But only a few of them kept looking at them for more than a second or two. The few of them that kept looking at them were only staring at Tatsumi. No one paid any attention to Kotaro.
Just as it should be, Tatsumi thought.
No one but a few in the city knew who Kotaro was and why he was valuable. The top of the military and the political scene knew that he was important but not much more than that. The few ones that kept staring were the ones that were aware of who Tatsumi was. Once that might have been a troubling thing for him. When it made it more likely that people would come and try to pick on him. But it had been a long while since the last time that happened.
He started to walk over to one of the free rings. In the middle of the room. Kotaro following him. "Wait, why are we here, Tatsumi?"
"To train, obviously."
The younger boys face shone up at that. "You serious?" he said in a hopeful tone.
"Well, I need to train, at least. I need to keep myself in absolute top shape in order to fight and survive the damage Incursio causes me whenever I activate it fully." Tatsumi said as they reached one of the rings. "You don't have to join me if you don't want to. But you cannot leave my sight so then you will have to wait here until the new imperial guard comes to fetch you."
"I'll join you!" the boy immediately exclaimed as Tatsumi jumped into the ring. Following him into it a bit more clumsily. Eager to finally get to train in something that he regarded as cool. A testament to his inexperience in what real combat actually was.
Tatsumi watched him as he slowly got into the ring. He nodded to the younger man and started top take off his long brown coat. Keeping Incursio strapped over his back.
"Are you going to show me some powerful moves or something?" Kotaro said in an excited voice and took off his jacket as well.
"Any technique or "powerful move" that I could teach you would be meaningless if you don't have the basic body strength to pull it off." Tatsumi said and stretched his arms. "So let's start easy and see what you got. We will go from there." he continued.
"Yes sir!" Kotaro said with gusto.
They spent the next forty minutes testing out Kotaro's abilities. Tatsumi trying what he could do. How strong he was and how quick he could move. Tatsumi feinting attacks and giving Kotaro some chances to attack him. After a little more than half an hour, Kotaro was sweating profusely and had to steady himself against one of the poles that encircled the ring.
"What do you think?" he said between gasp. "Am I a lost cause?"
"No, not at all." Tatsumi said truthfully. Not really flustered at all. Talking calmly as he looked at Kotaro. A hand on his chin. "I actually thought that you would be worse than this."
"Huff.. thanks... I guess." Kotaro wheezed.
Tatsumi smiled a little bit at him. He started to understand how Esdese felt whenever the two of them were being physical with each other. "You still have a long way to go, though."
"At least the means that I have a potential to reach."
"Ohh certainly." Tatsumi said with a smile. "But you should rest a bit now while I exercise a bit more."
Kotaro nodded and sat down against one of the poles as Tatsumi jumped up in a handstand. After that slowly removing one of his hands from the ground. And then raised his remaining hand from the ground so that only his five fingers were touching the ground. His other hand on his back. He slowly started to do push-ups in this position. He had been doing so for almost a minute when an unfamiliar voice addressed him from behind.
"Wow. It is rare to see someone capable of five fingers for so long." the voice of a woman said to him. "I myself can only manage four at best."
Tatsumi looked around and saw that two rather strange figures had walked up to their ring. Standing by the ropes.
The first one was a girl that Tatsumi didn't recognize. Assumingly the one who had talked to him. She was somewhat shorter than himself but not by much. She was a brunette through and through. With straight hair that reached down past her shoulders. She was wearing some sort of shrine outfit. Mostly consisting of red and white. With a hakama and really long arm sleeves.
She was leaning on the ropes around the ring with her hands holding each other. A warm expression on her face.
Behind her stood one of the largest men Tatsumi had seen in a while. He was very well trained and wore military pants and a sleeveless shirt. His skin was very light brown and his hair was white. He was looking at Tatsumi with a far more unfriendly expression on his face. His arms crossed over his chest.
Tatsumi gave them a curious look. "Well, a finger stand is mostly just about proportions. My lover is not able to do this any better than me and she is a far better fighter than I will ever be. I just have some more strength in my hand in proportion to the rest of me." he said and then pushed away with his arm. Jumping up on his feet again. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah..." the girl said slowly. "Could we train some with you? You seem to be the strongest one around."
Tatsumi gave the girl a slightly skeptical look. He could see where this was going but he found it strange.
"You're already two so I don't see how I could help you if you are just here for some basic training and not to study moves. Unless you specifically want a match with me."
"Bingo!" the girl said in a voice that was a bit too sugary sweet for Tatsumi's liking. "It would be lovely to see you fight a sparring match and see what you could do. You seem to be very strong."
Tatsumi was almost about to ask them if they knew who he was. Not out of arrogance but simply because the situation was so baffling for him. This was the first time since the death of the prime minister that someone dared to even approach him without any good reason to do so. And now he was being challenged to a fight by someone he had never seen before.
Either these two had no idea of his actual role in the empire. Or they knew exactly and had some ulterior motive to this. Either way, he felt a little bit doubtful. He didn't really stand to gain anything from a fight. And he had a feeling that the two of them wanted a little bit more than a sparring match with him.
"Don't really see a reason to." he said plainly.
"Ohh, don't be afraid." the girl said in an encouraging voice. "You look strong enough."
"That in itself isn't really a reason to fight." Tatsumi said dismissively.
"Told you." the big man behind her said. "Traitors usually lack a backbone."
"Tcchh. You are just not worthy." Kotaro spoke up from his corner. Having watched the discussion in silence up until this point. "Tatsumi could beat you both with one hand behind his back."
"Yet he doesn't seem too keen to show it." the girl said in the same sweet voice. Giving Kotaro a glance. "Is he shy?"
Tatsumi let out a long sigh. "Fine." he said and turned towards her. "So? Is the two of us that will be fighting?"
"No." the big man behind her said and walked past her. Climbing into the ring. "I will be your opponent."
"Okay then." Tatsumi said and nodded to Kotaro to climb out. "Got a name, big guy?"
"Ivan." he said in a short and hard tone.
"And I am Faye!" the girl that was leaning against the ropes said with enthusiasm.
Tatsumi wondered if he should know who they were. Their names didn't mean anything to him. He looked at Ivan as the large man walked up to him. The man was almost twice as tall as him and he had to weigh at least thrice as much as him. He stopped when he was a little bit too close to Tatsumi. Staring down at his face.
"It's always the big ones." Tatsumi said silently.
"What?" Ivan said.
"Nothing, never mind." Tatsumi said. "Ok, so just a friendly close combat show off, okay? Nothing too serious."
The big man nodded.
"I will act as your referee." Faye shouted happily and waved at them.
"Okay then." Tatsumi said and looked over to see that Kotaro had left the ring. "If we are going to-OHFF"
Tatsumi was interrupted mid-sentence as the big man hit him straight in the stomach without warning. Sending him stumbling backward. The big man followed him as he was regaining his balance. Punching him two more times before Tatsumi could fully get back in control of his body. One hit to face and another to his chest. The man moving in as if he was a boxer. Hitting and withdrawing his fists quickly.
But when he was throwing his fourth punch against Tatsumi, he had managed to regain his balance.
The punch was aimed at his throat and Tatsumi could see it coming a mile away. He moved almost by instinct.
He bowed his upper body in order to avoid the fist. As he did, he put one of his legs into the floor and pushed himself forward. He moved past the side of the big man before he had fully straightened up. Before Ivan had a chance to react. Still pulling back his fist towards his body after the missed punch.
When Tatsumi had passed him but before he could turn around, he kicked him on the back of his knee without turning around himself. Forcing his heel into the back of the man's leg, causing him to fall down on one knee.
As he got up from his kneeling position, Tatsumi took the time to walk a couple of steps away while he regained his composure. Steadying his breath a little. The punch to his chest had knocked the breath out of him and the hit to his head had made him momentarily dizzy. He shook his head lightly and took a deep breath.
"What the fuck was that?" Tatsumi said and glared angrily at Faye. "I thought we said that we would at least be a little bit friendly here."
"A warrior need to be able to sense an attack. You can't blame your opponent for taking the initiative." she said in the same cheerful tone.
"Ohh, so that is how it is going to be, huh?" Tatsumi said and turned around to Ivan who was on his feet and facing him again. "I guess you wanted to avoid a longer fight by knocking me out before I realized that we had started." he said and smiled at the big man.
Ivan didn't answer. Just edging closer Tatsumi in his boxing stance. Tatsumi himself standing in a much more relaxed pose.
"You hit like a fucking tank, though." Tatsumi said and smiled at the man. "But you will need more than cowardly tricks here."
"Don't talk to me about cowardice, traitor. You don't-" he started but didn't have time to react before Tatsumi returned the favor of a surprise attack.
He jumped forward towards his opponent but the moment he was about to come within arms-reach, he pushed his leg into the floor and jumped up into the air. He had reasoned that the weight difference between them wold force him to rely on his speed and his kicks. His punches would probably be a bit too weak to be worth the effort it would take to get them to land probably.
Tatsumi's sudden elevation surprised Ivan and he had no time to react before he had to defend against the kicks.
Tatsumi landed four attacks in quick succession. The big man bringing his arms up to block the attacks. Putting them up at the sides of his head.
He managed to block four kicks to his head before Tatsumi changed things up. The fifth kick hit him in the forehead. Tatsumi using the force of it to push himself away from his opponent as well. Finishing his jump with a backflip. Landing on his feet as Ivan reeled from the strong hit to his head. The entire exchange had happened in three seconds.
"When will we stop?" he asked as his opponent held his hurting head. "Will we just keep going until you can't stand anymore?"
"This will end when you give up." Ivan said and jumped towards him.
Tatsumi was still a bit unsure of exactly how strong his opponent was but he knew that he wasn't that fast. So he decided to wait and observe for a moment.
He simply put his hands in his pockets and started dodging the bigger man's punches. Every now and then taking a step backward or to the side. Slowly moving away from his attacker. It quickly became apparent to Tatsumi that the difference between them was rather big when it came to simple close combat proficiency. And not in his opponents favor.
When the big man had worked up some sweat, Tatsumi stopped being passive and once again moved past him in a single quick leap. Kicking him in the leg when he had passed. Repeating his earlier attack. Forcing Ivan down on a knee once more.
"Have you seen enough to realize the futility of this?" he said in a tired tone and looked at his opponent. "You can give up now or in twenty minutes. The results will be the same."
Ivan looked up at Faye who was watching them. None of them said anything or made any gestures but Tatsumi noticed the look. He assumed that the two of them had an agenda here. They were not just here to try and beat him up as he had first assumed. They wanted something else as well.
Ivan rose up and faced him again. "Don't patronize me, you traitorous scum."
Tatsumi was pretty used to being called a traitor. The sting it had on him was still quite strong. On some days more than others but he had grown used to it. However, he didn't really want Kotaro to hear all of this. He had kept the boy fairly in the dark when it came to his own history. As well as Esdese's. Not that Kotaro didn't know the broad strokes of it but much of the details had been left out.
"Where does all of this aggression come from?" Tatsumi said and scratched his chin. "Have I hurt you in the past?"
"One who betrays his own don't deserve better."
"Yeah..." Tatsumi said absentmindedly and looked up at the ceiling. Still scratching his chin. "I guess you're right."
He hit Ivan so fast that the other man didn't have time to react properly. Striking right into the man's solar plexus. Causing him to bend forward. When he did, Tatsumi jammed his own elbow up into the man's jaw. The strike enough to make him fall backward. Landing on his back. Quickly rolling around to get away from Tatsumi.
Tatsumi slowly walked after him. He knew that while his hits were enough to cause some shock, he had not caused any serious damage.
"I am a rather busy fellow these days. So I would prefer to end this rather quickly." he said as Ivan came to a halt. His back turned against him. "So let's get this over with."
He reached out with a hand towards the big man. Intending to grab his shoulder. But when he did, Ivan spun around. Swinging at him. Wielding some kind of tool. Tatsumi did not have time to see what it was. Blocking it with his hand. Grabbing it by reflex.
When he held it, he saw that it was some kind of baton. He opened his mouth but before he could speak, the electric shock hit him.
His entire body jerked involuntarily at the unseen attack. The electricity making him seize up. After what seemed like an agonizing eternity, he finally managed to let go of the baton. The moment he did, all the anguish disappeared. Even if the damage he had taken did not.
In one swift motion, he kicked Ivan in the side of the head. He spun his entire body around in order to get his heel to smash into the side of the other man's head. Causing the man to fall over as Tatsumi backed a couple of steps off. Massaging his hand.
"What the hell?" he exclaimed as Ivan slowly started to get up again. He looked at Faye, who was still resting against the ropes. Still just smiling at him. "What is the meaning of this?"
She just tilted her head to the side slightly. "You have a weapon too, don't you?"
Her answer made Tatsumi realize what was going on. That was the reason why they were here. They wanted to see Incursio. They had probably come here just to gauge his strength. To see what he could do. And he guessed that it was Faye that wanted to see it.
He didn't know why they wanted this but he didn't feel inclined to give them what they wanted.
Ivan had gotten up again and started to walk towards Tatsumi. Baton still in his right hand. Tatsumi guessed that he had hidden it in his pants. Since he hadn't seen it in his belt.
He looked him straight in the eyes. "If you attack me with that thing again, I will end you."
That made the big man stop. He looked down at the baton in his hand for some moments. Then he dropped it.
Tatsumi nodded. "Even you should be capable of some damn courtesy."
Ivan didn't give him any answer. Simply raising his fists again. Moving in to resume the fight. Tatsumi's eyes following him. Looking unimpressed. He slowly put his hands in his pockets. As soon as Ivan attacked, Tatsumi started avoiding again. Repeating the earlier scenario once again. Not because he couldn't end this much faster but he still had no really wish to cause his opponent any heavy damage. So he once again chose to let the big man tire himself out.
Quite a lot of the people in the room had started to look at the fight. Stopping with what they were doing. Tatsumi was not sure that he liked that.
They kept on with that dance back and forth for almost two minutes before Tatsumi once again decided to demonstrate the difference between them.
With one quick spin, he turned a dodging motion into a transporting movement. Once again maneuvering around his opponent. Past his side.
Ivan was a bit more prepared this time around. Moving to protect his legs. Not really getting in position to do so before Tatsumi elbowed him in the neck. Doing a small jump in order to reach the other man's height properly.
The hit caused Ivan to stumble forward. His head disoriented from the impact. It clouded his reasoning momentarily. Making him do something that he knew that he shouldn't.
Tatsumi noticed that the other man was swaying back and forth rather strongly. He took a step towards him but as he did the other man spun around and threw himself at him. His big arms stretched out. Obviously trying to grab Tatsumi. In order to use how much bigger he was to gain the advantage. But Tatsumi was too quick.
As the man jumped towards him, Tatsumi simply took a small skip backward. Making Ivan fall down on the ground in front of him.
He crossed his arms over his chest. Slowly shaking his head when he felt two small stings in his left leg. He looked down to see that he had been shot by two small needles with wires attached to them. Wires leading to a small device that Ivan was holding in his hand.
Tatsumi immediately realized what was happening and moved his arm down to severe the contact. But he was not faster than the electricity.
Once again his body was wracked with spasms and pain from the electric weapon. Reducing his mobility tremendously. But he did not stop. Forcing his arm down and grabbing the wires.
Ivan seized his opportunity. Sprinting up from his position on the ground. Leaving the primitive stun gun on the floor. Intending to hit Tatsumi before he could recover from the shock.
His fist hit Tatsumi on the side of the head. Causing his body to move to the side. But the jerking of the smaller boy's body also caused the cables to dislodge themselves from his leg. Stopping the electric attack.
And Tatsumi's patience had ended.
Faye was carefully watching Tatsumi's reaction when a large cloud of dust and energy suddenly exploded from the boy's figure. She had to move one of her hands up to cover her face as the strong wind blew against her. Her own instincts momentarily deafened by the wave of power that slammed into her. Some people in the room shouting in surprise.
The next moment, all the ropes that she was leaning on were torn away. Flying to the side. She stumbled forward a step and then took a quick leap backward in order to avoid one of the poles that held the ropes as it came flying past her. The entire ring torn from the floor.
It took a little while before the dust cleared. When Faye was finally able to see Tatsumi again, he was standing a bit away from where the ring had been. The remains of the ropes and poles that had been the ring were lying against one of the walls in a tattered pile. Kotaro had backed far away off from the entire ring as soon as Tatsumi activated Incursio. Now standing with arm up in front of his face. His eyes wide.
However, Tatsumi was not wearing Incursio anymore. The sword was still strapped across his back.
He was holding up Ivan by the throat. The bigger man's legs seemed to have given out on him. It seemed like he had taken a rather heavy hit in the stomach. He was coughing through Tatsumi's grip on him.
It took some moments for Faye to understand that Tatsumi had somehow deactivated Incursio before she had even been able to see it. But she was certain that he had used it. That wave of power she had felt had been enormous.
Tatsumi was breathing heavily. Both because of the strain of fully activating his teigu but also because of the rage he had inside. It had been long since he had lost his temper like this but the adrenaline from the pain had made him go over the edge. He was slowly getting back in control over himself.
But as he was calming down, Ivan made the mistake of trying to attack him again. He raised his fist. Trying to take a jab at Tatsumi's side. But the fist never even got close to hitting its target.
Tatsumi activated Incursio again. Causing the same effect once more. The room filling up with smoke once again. He hit Ivan in the jaw before he could even react. The mailed fist sending the man flying backward. Spinning through the air from the impact. But the moment Tatsumi's fist left his face, he deactivated Incursio once more. He had never been aware that he was capable of this kind of quick changing back and forth. He had just done it by instinct for the first time.
This time, the smoke cleared much faster. Faye using her arms to wave it away in incredible quick motions. But when she regained her sight once more, Tatsumi had since long returned to normal. Ivan on the other hand, was way worse off.
Tatsumi had not held back with that last hit to the other man's face. Using his full strength. Ivan had clearly passed out. He was sprawled out on his back. Fifteen meters away from Tatsumi. The punch had dislocated his jaw and turned some of his teeth into splinters. He was bleeding heavily from both mouth and nose.
Tatsumi calmly walked towards Ivan. Speaking to Faye without looking away from his unconscious opponent. "Were you looking for something?"
Faye straightened up. Her expression serious.
"I don't think you just wanted to see me beat the shit out of your friend." he said in a relaxed voice as he walked. Smiling. "By the way, you might want to call for some medical assistance. Your friend is pretty badly hurt."
Faye didn't answer. She was looking at Tatsumi. Trying to see if he was going to attack Ivan again. Ready to interfere if he did.
"Weren't you suppose to be our referee? Cause this seems to be pretty much over." he said and smiled over at her.
She didn't answer. A lot of the color had started to drain from her face.
"Cat got your tongue?" Tatsumi asked tauntingly.
Then he felt two hands gently slid up over his shoulders and an all too familiar voice whispered into his ear.
"Hit him again, Tatsumi." Esdese encouraged. Her voice filled with that sadistic hunger that he knew so well.
He had not noticed when Esdese had arrived. He had been too focused on activating and deactivating Incursio fast enough. But now that he thought about it, he realized that he should have expected it. She would be able to feel him fully activating Incursio if she was anywhere near the palace. And she would come running pretty quickly. Since she knew that he rarely activated it if it wasn't necessary.
Now she leaned into his back more strongly. Her breasts pressing against his shoulders. Her mouth at his ear.
"Go on. You have beaten him. Claim your prize." she egged him on. "Make him suffer."
All of Tatsumi's bloodlust had drained out of him the moment he heard her voice. All his instincts overwhelmed by her far more potent hunger for violence. Making all his more compassionate sides wake up in fear. He looked at Ivan.
The man was still lying where he had landed. His entire body twitching. His face a mess since his jaw was dislocated. Blood starting to form a puddle around his head. He seemed to be barely conscious.
"I have done way too much already." Tatsumi said bitterly as he looked at the man.
"Nonsense." Esdese said. "You are just getting to the best parts, Tatsumi."
"No." Tatsumi said and took a deep and calming breath. "I am done here."
Esdese looked at his face from the side for a little while before she spoke. "Suit yourself. I guess I will take care of the rest."
She let go of his shoulders and walked around him. Walking up to Ivan. Tatsumi had a feeling that something bad might be coming but before he could speak up, Faye suddenly appeared right in front of Esdese. Moving with a speed that surprised Tatsumi enough to make him hold his breath. Faye putting herself between Esdese and Ivan.
Esdese seemed less impressed.
"Faye." she said and stopped. Resting one of her hands on the hilt of her sword. She nodded to the bloody man behind her. "Is this one of yours?"
"Yeah. He is." Faye said and met Esdese's gaze. Forced to turn her head upwards because of their height difference. "They were just having a friendly sparring match. Your involvement is unnecessary."
"Is it now?" Esdese said. She looked over her shoulder at Tatsumi. "Is that really what this was, Tatsumi?"
"Well, it certainly wasn't friendly." Tatsumi said and wiped the blood away from his chin. "But that is over with now. Let's just leave."
Esdese looked at him for some moments. Then she slowly turned her eyes to Faye. The entire room was silent as the two of them stared at each other. Every single person in it looking at them.
Then suddenly, Faye went down on a knee in front of Esdese. "I deeply apologize, great general." she shouted as she faced Esdese's boots. "I should have intervened sooner. Please forgive my negligence."
Esdese looked at her for a little while longer and then sighed. "You are such a false creature, Faye." she said and turned around. "You will be inaugurated tomorrow. I will expect you to keep better control over your soldiers after I make you into a general again. If you fail, there will be repercussions."
"Yes. Of course, great general!" Faye said with vigor.
Tatsumi's eyebrows rose slightly at that. Realizing that this was the person he and Esdese had talked about a couple of days ago. The one he had urged Esdese to make into a general.
Esdese gave Faye a last look over her shoulder and then started to walk out of the room. Waving two fingers at Tatsumi as she passed him. Signaling him to come with her. He picked up his coat that now was lying on the floor and walked after her. Kotaro following in his tracks.
Author's note:
I don't know. Not satisfied with where I had to end this but I didn't have the time to attach another "scene" to it. Feels a bit abrupt. Oh, well, have to get things rolling and this chapter grew larger than expected.
A couple of people have now asked me to write a fic about Sekirei. Saying that it has a character similar to Esdese. Don't know about the truth of that. Haven't read it.
But I enjoy writing about Tatsumi and Esdese's relationship. That is the main focus of this story. I need that slight insinuation of a relationship or pursuit of love as well. I like to write about darker relationships. If that wasn't obvious already. Especially when a darker/evil girl has problems with love. Maybe it is just a power fantasy that I like to live out through writing.
Once again, I appreciate all the feedback you have given me. It is always encouraging to see that people are still interested and engaged in this story. It has grown so long and large and you people are still keeping up and still have an interest in putting together the pieces. Even after all this time. Makes me really happy.
But your patience will be rewarded. I have no more distractions for a while now. So I am bringing up the pace again. I will now try to release one chapter every 10-14 day for the coming months.
Until next time, take care of each other.