(It is my ambition to have the next chapter out on the 3rd of September. Do what you wish with this knowledge.)

Ok, let's continue this. Finally.

Fleeting insight.

Esdese closed the cell door after her and walked away briskly. Leaving Tatsumi alone in the dungeon cell.

Even though she hadn't been able to further her relationship with him, her steps still had a spring in them. It had only been a couple of hours since she had been able to negotiate him away from the imperial guard and the emperor. But now she finally had him. He was finally in a place where she could keep him. Now it was just a matter of winning him over. And she was confident that she could. She just needed some more time. She walked down the hallway with an air of giddiness about her.

But she had not locked the cell door after her as she left him. Somehow, she had forgotten that detail.

Tatsumi himself was left in the cell. Chained up to the wall by his hands and feet. Not able to move at all. If he had had Incursio he would have been able to tear it apart with ease. But the teigu had, of course, been taken from him. Prior to his imprisonment. He had been knocked out completely by the great general's teigu. He had no idea of where Incursio was. So now he was completely bereft of any chance to move. Having no choice but to wait there until his next visitor arrived.

But his next visitor was not Esdese, as he had expected.

He had started to doze off a little when he was brought back by the voice of an older man. A couple of hours after Esdese had left.

"Ohh, this one is open too." the deep voice said as the door opened up and a large and old man walked into the room.

The man was huge. Having to bend forward a bit in order to get in through the door. He was very overweight with little hair on his head. wearing a lab coat that was a little bit too small for him. Strapped across his wide gut. When he walked, he waddled slightly. Attesting that this was not a nimble man. After he had entered the room, he was followed by some assistants. Carrying tools and bags for him. About eight of them.

"Are we sure that this one is free for the taking, sir. This is where they keep the more important prisoners." the assistant closest to the big man said. A short and thin man by contrast. Carrying a clipboard and a pencil.

"Ohh, of course. The cell was unlocked. That is all the sign needed." the big man said and walked up towards Tatsumi. "But look as this one. He is the best one I have seen in months. Look at his muscle definition. Look at his legs. And those eyes. This one has some proper training behind him. Probably by military standards."

Tatsumi just stared at his visitors in response. Unsure of what to make of the situation. But he did notice that some of the bags that the people in the back of the group were carrying seemed to be dripping. Red liquid falling down in drops on the bricks of the dungeon floor.

"Will you be needing all of your tools for this one, sir?" the same assistant asked.

"Yeah, absolutely. This is going to be delicious." the big man said as he got close to Tatsumi. Towering over him. As he got closer Tatsumi couldn't help but notice that the fat man was breathing rather heavily. And for some reason, he had started to sweat a bit. Pearls appearing on his hairless head.

"Just look at his body." he grunted as he took the final step up to Tatsumi. "Start by giving him some injections, So that he won't have too much strength in him when I start touching him."

It took almost six hours before Esdese finally returned to the prison cell. By then Tatsumi's visitors were long gone. She had the same spring in her steps. Excited for a chance to meet him again. Yet she froze when she opened the door to the cell. Stopping herself just before she was going to ask if he had missed her.

They had done a lot of things to him.

He was lying naked in the middle of the cell on his back. He seemed unconscious. The first thing that caught the eye was that he no longer had any legs. They had been amputated. His thighs ended just a bit under his waist and had then been sewn together. So that he wouldn't die from bloodlust.

"Oh." Esdese said in an empty voice. Bereft of emotions. "I forgot to lock the door." she said silently.

The second thing that she noticed was that they had taken his sword arm as well. But only half of it. The arm ending just a bit below the elbow. Sewn up in the same messy way. The rest of his naked body was covered in lacerations and cuts. His body smirched with blood and sweat. They had gagged him with a piece of wood with some cloth attached to it. Wrapped around his head.

To prevent him from screaming, Esdese thought. His lost limbs were nowhere to be seen. Whoever had taken them from him had decided to keep them.

Esdese just stood in the doorway and stared at him. Her expression empty and still. Then after a long while, she sighed deeply. "That's a shame."

The sound of her voice made Tatsumi open his eyes. Slowly turning them to her. Looking traumatized and shocked. He looked like he had aged ten years since she last saw him. He raised a shaking hand up in her direction. The only one he had left. Calling for her through his gag. No words emerging but the messages still clear. Pleading for her help.

Yet Esdese just remained in the doorway. Looking at his eyes. "You could have been so much, Tatsumi. But it seems like you couldn't handle the hurdles of your life in the end." she said and sighed again. "Well, not much more for it now."

She turned around and walked out of the room. Leaving Tatsumi behind in the cell and behind her in life. Not really interested in him anymore. Now that he had been reduced like this.

"In the end, you couldn't satisfy me either, Tatsumi." she said as the sound of Tatsumi's muffled calls for help faded behind her. "So now my search goes on."

She took a deep breath and then increased her pace slightly. Moving on with her life. Not really caring about what happened to what remained of Tatsumi.

...

Esdese woke from her dream with a sharp breath and a sting in her lower chest. Before she was even aware that she was awake, her arms tightened around Tatsumi. Her loose grip around him suddenly becoming forceful enough to start waking him up. Him being the smaller spoon as they slept in the bed. Just as usual.

Yet Esdese didn't care if she woke him up. She had realized that it had all been a dream the same moment that it ended, but the feelings from it remained. A mix of raging emotions. Some that she was quite unused to. Thus not really experienced at handling.

The strongest one was a simple heartache. Biting and strong. Filling her with an unlogical longing that was not based on lust or desire. She had not felt this kind of pain since Tatsumi's initial refusal of her down in the prison cell, so long ago. Not even when she had learned about his betrayal and locked him up in her own quarters, had she felt like this. Then and there, under the covers of the bed in the dark room, down in the basement of the palace, the ice queen was genuinely flustered and upset. Drawing deep breaths of his smell in as she strongly and slowly stroked her chin against the top of his head. Holding him way too hard for comfort.

But it was helping. The pain in her chest slowly started to ebb out as her feelings and instincts recovered from the trick that her own mind had played on them with the dream. Coming around to what was actual reality.

But when the pain subsided, it was quickly replaced with anger and irritation. Esdese furious at herself. Partly because she let such a silly thing as a dream disturb her so. Angry at how her otherwise godlike instincts were so easily wrapped up and confused by such a trivial thing.

But mostly, she was angry at that other Esdese in her dream.

That disgusting creature that dared to wear her face and skin. That infuriating imposter, that would just leave Tatsumi the moment he wasn't exactly the way she wanted. That sham that taunted her with its disloyalty. She would never have abandoned Tatsumi like that.

Would she?

Esdese couldn't stop the small voice in the back of her head. Reminding her that at that moment, he wasn't hers. At that time, he had been nothing more than her enemy. Her sweet, sweet enemy. Everything that had been between them at that time, was one-sided from her part. There had not been a deep relationship between them at that time. Just her own desperate longing.

But the thought of it just made her angrier. Just that mere shadow of doubt in her own commitment made her furious at herself. That was not who she was. It might have been like that before but not anymore. Not when it came to Tatsumi.

Tatsumi himself had started to stir in her arms. Not really awake yet but her hard grip was making him squirm around a bit.

"You're being too rough. I can't sleep like this." he complained in a drowsy voice.

"I will never let you go." she hissed into his hair. Sounding threatening without intending to. "No matter what happens."

"Esdese." he groaned silently. Still more asleep than awake.

But Esdese didn't lighten her hold. The moment felt important to her. Though mostly in an internal way. Needing to demonstrate to herself that she wasn't the same as the creature in her dream. Yet as she thought about her dream, one of her hands moved down and stroked one of his legs. Moving back and forth across his thigh.

She did so without thinking about it. So when she realized what she was doing, that she was unconsciously checking that his legs were okay, she just became more angry at herself.

Tatsumi himself was unaware of Esdese's internal struggle. But he did feel how her hand was stroking his thigh back and forth as her head snuggled against him.

"Not right now, Esdese. I need to rest."

Esdese understood how he had misinterpreted her caresses but couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at him. "Shut up." she said silently.

She did consider it for some moments, though. Stirring him up and going for a round or two might help her feelings go down a bit. But she didn't like that idea either. It felt weak to have to go to physical means just to control the lingering emotions of a dream. So she decided against it.

So she just laid there for a while. Seething internally but refusing to let any of it show through properly. After a while, she even eased her hold around Tatsumi a little. But it took a long while before she fell asleep. Continuing to process the moment for well over an hour after that. Slowly stroking him. Finally closing her eyes when the morning was not too far off.

As Tatsumi walked up the stairs, he could hear the booming sound of the crowd inside the arena above him. A large mass of people speaking in one voice. Expressing excitement, disappointment, and joy in waves of deafening roars. Made out of thousands of voices. He could also hear the loud drums that were beating in unison to the match the crowd was watching. Their deep beating sound so strong that he could almost feel it in his chest.

He took the last steps up the stair and entered the room it led to. Opening the doors to it.

The room he walked into was a security checkpoint. Only two doors in it. The one that he had entered through and then one on the opposite side of the room. The one that led into the gallery of the huge arena. The middle of the room was occupied by a rather big group of soldiers. About twenty of them. Acting as security. There were no other people in the room. The walls of it filled with racks of weapons and equipment that visitors to the arena had been forced to momentarily hand over to the security before entering.

The group immediately tensed up the moment that he entered the room. All of them turning towards him. He could see why on the emblems of their uniforms. They were from one of general Faye's legions. He sighed lightly as he looked at the other group. They knew perfectly well who he was. And the problem his presence posed for them.

"Okay, gentlemen." he said as he walked up towards them. "What do I need to do to enter the arena?"

One of the men stepped forward. His uniform marking him as a captain. "Head Administrator." he said slowly. That title had almost become an insult in the later days, Tatsumi reflected. Since it was linked to all the corruption he was accused of. He had a feeling that these warriors had little love for him.

"I guess you're the one in charge of this checkpoint?"

"That is correct. I have been given this charge from the imperial guard. Since they are currently watching over the emperor and his direct surroundings."

No "sir" from this one, huh, Tatsumi thought. He could almost feel the man's disdain under his professional tone. "Well, I will just be passing by, captain."

"No, you will not. Not in that state at least." the captain said in slightly louder voice. Nodding at him. "What is your business in this arena?"

"Maybe I just feel like watching the gladiators fight it out?" Tatsumi said with a joking smile.

"I think not. You are here because the emperor is visiting this arena to see these games and bless the champions." the captain said. Sounding like he was unveiling a complicated secret.

"Can't say that you're wrong." Tatsumi said. Keeping his smile.

"Why did you come here?" the captain repeated.

"I have come here to talk to the emperor. I need to have a few words with him and I am currently not allowed to even go near any of the higher levels of the palace. As you have probably heard. So I have to seek him out when he visits events like this."

"Is the emperor aware that you are coming to have an audience with him?"

"He is not." Tatsumi said. He had actually tried to contact the emperor ever since Esdese had made Faye into his bitter enemy by killing her dearest subordinate. But he never got any answers from Kotaro. No matter which channels he used. He had a feeling that a certain female general was either destroying all his messages or telling the emperor not to answer them. Either scenario meant that she had an uncomfortable strong control over the emperor. One of the reasons why he was actually trying to get to the emperor on this specific day was because he knew that general Faye would not be accompanying the emperor this day.

The captain seemed skeptical. If he knew of the difference in power between his unit and Tatsumi, he certainly did not show it.

Tatsumi had considered either just moving past them before they could stop him or just knocking them out of the way. But neither of the scenarios were preferable. He needed to have a calm and long talk with the emperor. He couldn't have that discussion if he had a band of soldiers chasing him. And knocking them all out might start something that he wouldn't be able to stop without things turning real bad. Which he absolutely couldn't afford in this moment.

Invisibility wouldn't aid him much here either. He couldn't just appear in front of the emperor out of nowhere. Every warrior present would assume that it was an assassination attempt. And from this point, there would only be more soldiers the closer he got. So he knew that he needed to be announced through a somewhat regular procedure.

He needed to get past this checkpoint peacefully.

He looked at the captain and sighed. "Fine. What do you need from me, Captain?"

"Well, your teigu, for a start." the captain said and grabbed his chin with his hand in a thinking pose. Looking at the blade that was strapped across Tatsumi's back. "And you will need to be chained up. I will not bring you before the imperial guard without some proper restraints."

Tatsumi raised an eyebrow at him. "This is silly, captain. You must be aware that if I wanted to get to the emperor through force, we would not be having this discussion."

"I have been warned about the powers that teigu of yours give you. Doesn't mean that I can just step aside and let you pass."

I wouldn't need my teigu for you and your squad, Tatsumi thought but kept silent. "Fine, fine. But the teigu will stay within my sight, ok? This is a very valuable tool. It will not leave my vicinity."

The captain did not seem pleased by that. "It seems to me that taking your weapon from you will be meaningless if it is kept within an arms reach of you. But fine, we will have to restrain you more severely if that is the case though."

"Lovely." Tatsumi said with bitter sarcasm.

When he fifteen minutes later was escorted into the arena, Tatsumi was wearing a straight jacket that folded his arms across his chest. And a mask that covered the lower part of his face. Making him unable to open his mouth. What little expression he could give with just his eyes signaled an exhausted look.

He had three soldiers walking on each side of him. The captain in front of him and a soldier carrying Incursio a couple of steps behind him.

When they entered the gallery of the arena, they were in one of the lower parts. Walking out into a walkway between the long rows of seats. The captain immediately led the way to the side. Walking towards some stairs on their right side. Stairs that led all the way up to the rows in the back of the arena. Furthest up.

At the highest point of the stairs, a podium had been raised with a tent roof over it. Flags hanging down on all sides of it along with royal banners. Making it quite easy to guess who said podium was meant for. Not that you could see much of who was in it from where they were walking. The gallery was a bit too steep to allow them to see further into the tent.

As they walked up the stair, they attracted quite a lot of attention from those they passed. Thankfully only those sitting close to the stairs. The rest of the arena was still occupied with the fighting that was going on behind them. Down on the arena floor. The audience every now and then erupting into roars.

When they finally started to get close to the emperor's podium, they encountered their first problem. The imperial guard were stationed to guard the emperor, as per usual. So before they even got to the podium, they were stopped by a group of soldiers that came down to meet them. And their leading lieutenant was not thrilled over Tatsumi's presence there.

"Do you seriously think that I can let an known assassin close to the emperor?" He asked the captain rhetorically in an angry and hushed voice. Less than ten seconds into their conversation. "This man is known as one of the deadliest people in the empire. I can not let him pass."

"He is also an old acquaintance of the imperial leadership." the captain said. Clearly having a hard time defending his case.

"Yeah, which might have meant something before the recent developments. I can literally lose my head for letting this man pass." the lieutenant countered.

Tatsumi spent some time listening as their argument went on but then his attention was grabbed by something else. A low buzz that was rising behind them. From the lower levels of the arena. When he turned around, he noticed that they seemed to have caught the attention of the audience. And not in a good way.

The match down on the arena floor had concluded. And during the time when the personnel was getting the next match ready, the audience's attention had turned to their little group. And the crowd did not seem too friendly.

It started off as a slight booing in the back. Too low for the arguing military officials to hear it. But it quickly turned louder. And more hostile.

Soon enough, it was impossible to ignore. And just some moments later, it was deafening. Hundreds of voices rising up. People booing and screaming at them.

It took Tatsumi some moments to realize that it wasn't the group or the soldiers the crowd was angry with. It was him the arena was booing at. It was him they were pointing at. His name was the only one that could be understood through all the shouts. Amid the insults and curses. The understanding hit him like a brick.

I have become the prime minister, he thought. To these people, I am the symbol of corruption. The accusations and Faye's evidence have made me into what I set out to destroy.

When he thought about it, he couldn't help but see how logical their hate for him was. He had been an enemy of them and their nation and then he had switched sides. Completely avoiding any form of retribution for his misconducts by getting the favor of one of their leaders. And then, after the death of the prime minister, he had suddenly been turned into a big actor in the new government when Esdese made him into the Head Administrator. And then it had been revealed to the public that he had tried to control the political scene from the shadows.

To them, he must really seem like the kind of power-hungry opportunist that the old prime minister had been. Rising in ranks without deserving it and then trying to mercilessly manipulate his way to more power. And in a way, they weren't wrong.

The last part of the escalation in the arena seemed to happen much faster than the beginning of the ruckus.

It began with a single stone that came flying through the air. The thrower unseen in the crowd. It hit one of the soldiers in the arm. Not really hurting him. But after that, it seemed like the situation had passed some unseen boiling point.

Suddenly people started to stand up in their seats. Those closest to them left their positions and started moving towards the group of soldiers around Tatsumi. Those in the huge crowd that were within reach started to throw bottles and food towards them. The aggressive mood of the crowd turning openly hostile as soon as the first stone had been thrown.

The soldiers around Tatsumi backed in close to each other as the crowd closed in on them. All of them understanding that they couldn't challenge this crowd by trying to arrest some or lashing out at them. They were way too outnumbered to be able to afford further escalation. It could mean the death of all of them.

The imperial guard above Tatsumi's little group was already getting into position to ward of the crowd.

Tatsumi himself was quite unfazed by the development around him. Still caught up in his realization. Confident in his abilities to get out whenever he so decided. His legs were still free. He could get away easily. Though he was a bit worried about losing Incursio. He had no hand free to grab it with. And his mouth was covered with the gag. So he couldn't bite down on the handle. But in the end, the situation worked itself out for him.

The imperial guard's presence was quite strong in the arena and they immediately started to gather up around the tent that covered the podium of the emperor. Quickly starting to form lines just behind the lieutenant and his soldiers that stood in the way for the group guarding Tatsumi.

The captain of the soldiers and the lieutenant had stopped their arguing as soon as the different objects started to fall down around them. Both of them turning towards the crowd that was slowly closing in on them.

"Feel like letting us in now?" The captain shouted over all the noise. The lieutenant looked at him with irritation. The warriors of the imperial guard had already formed a shield wall behind him. Ready to stop the crowd even if it would come to violence. The imperial guard both well trained and well equipped for a situation such as this. The small guard patrol around Tatsumi did not share those benefits though. That was visible at first glance.

Yet the lieutenant had little choice now. He couldn't leave them outside of the protected circle. As far as the lieutenant understood, leaving Tatsumi to the crowd could mean the boy's end. And he was not ready to be the one to give that order. The great general would be able to find that out who was responsible way too easily. He would take his chances with Tatsumi.

"Fine. Get in." he said briskly and stepped aside. Waving them through the opening in the imperial guard's defense line. The small group of soldiers hurriedly walking past him and the soldiers of the imperial guard. Passing in under the cover of the large tent roof that covered the entire podium. Shoving Tatsumi with them. The line of the imperial guard closing behind them.

As soon as they had passed that line of shields and spears, the entire world seemed to grow calmer. Partly because the roaring of the crowd was slightly muffled by the lines of military but also because of the fact that the crowd seemed to immediately start to calm down as soon as they had passed the imperial guard. No one in the crowd willing to approach the wall of spears and shields. Most people just keeping their distance and shouting. Slowly starting to move back towards their seats for the most part.

As soon as they had passed that defensive line, Tatsumi noticed that the entire tent was basically just one big room. With some small tables and a couple of chairs spread out in it. A couple of seats set up on the border of the tent for those that wanted to watch the matches. The view now occupied by the line of soldiers. The middle of the tent was covered up in curtains. Creating another "room" in the middle of the room. Which the carpet they now were standing on led to. Clearly indicating whose room it was.

As they entered, Tatsumi tried to push down the realization he had just had. He was a bit surprised that it had affected him the way it had. He had committed to becoming a villain the moment he came to Esdese's side. Just to try and find a way to help solve the conflict from his unique position. But he had never thought that the world would come to see him as the villain.

He took a deep breath and shook his head. Pushing it all down. My best parts died long ago, he thought and walked on with the soldiers.

Because of the ruckus in the arena, the internal order of the military in the tent was a bit disoriented. There were no further checkpoints ahead of them. So the little group just kept walking along the carpet.

Tatsumi was baffled by how easy this was. He didn't understand how the imperial guard could be this loose with their safety. Things must have turned really lax after he was banished from the imperial leadership. If night raid had known about this then they might have killed the emperor in a couple of days.

However, as soon as his little group came close to the tent, he realized that the emperor was in no danger at all. And that the guard posts had been abandoned for a reason.

He immediately slowed down his steps as he heard her voice but the groups had already started to enter the tent and the man behind him showed him on as the entered the "room".

"I have told you that you have nothing to worry about, little emperor." Esdese said in a tired voice as Tatsumi stumbled into the room behind her. "The imperial guard will handle the crowd. And besides, I have other things that shoul-" she said but stopped herself mid-sentence as she recognized one of those that had entered behind her. Without seeing or hearing him.

She was standing a bit to the side of the throne. Facing the emperor. A hand on her hip and the other hanging by her side. Wearing her uniform but not her coat for the moment. Her back against the entering group.

Emperor Kotaro was sitting in a large seat. The only chair in the room. His eyes had been on Esdese but he shifted his gaze to the group when they entered. And his eyes widened when he saw the shackled and gagged Tatsumi.

Tatsumi himself had now abandoned any hope for a calm discussion with Kotaro. Looking at Esdese's back with ill-concealed worry in his eyes. The only visible half of his face.

Esdese herself had kept her eyes on Kotaro and noticed how his eyes widened slightly. She could already tell that Tatsumi was one of those that had entered but her instincts told her that something was up. Things were not entirely as they should be. Her instincts very acute when it came to Tatsumi, ever since the night prior. She could tell that he was a bit nervous and that his breathing was muffled.

She slowly turned her head around without moving her body. Looking at the group over her shoulder.

They had put a gag on him. To prevent him from screaming.

Tatsumi had never learned about Esdese's nightmare during the evening that had been. So he didn't quite understand why she reacted the way she did. He had expected her to be irritated at his current state as soon as he heard her voice. Maybe even angry.

But he had not expected her to rage. So he was quite surprised when she smacked down all the soldiers around him in the blink of an eye. All of them flying a meter or two in the opposite direction to Tatsumi. All of them flying away from him as she herself suddenly appeared right behind him before anyone could react. Tatsumi being the only one even available to perceive her movements. When she had positioned herself behind him, she grabbed his restrictive jacket with both her hands.

She had failed him in her dreams. She would not fail him in real life.

She tore through the jacket until it was completely ruined. Its entire back torn apart. Setting Tatsumi free. But before he even got a chance to shake off the remains of it, she grabbed his hair in a hard grip. Turning his head to the side. Then her other hand grabbed his gag and tore it off in one strong and painful yank. Leaving reddening marks on his chins in its wake.

Tatsumi turned around and looked up at her as soon as he was freed. Stroking his hurting jaw with one of his hands. A slightly questioning look on his face. "Damn. You know I wasn't in any real danger, right? This was.." he began but Esdese turned away from him as he spoke. Facing the soldier that was trying to get back up behind her. Still holding Incursio in both his hands. A somewhat terrified expression on his face as he looked Esdese in the eyes.

Esdese simply held out an open hand to him. The obvious order not needing to be said. The soldier hesitated for a short moment but then crawled two steps forward and gave Incursio to her. Standing up on his knees. Obediently putting the sheathed sword in her hand. She immediately snatched the weapon from his as soon as it was in her hand. Causing the soldier to flinch away. His fellow soldiers and warriors slowly starting to recover from the attack on the ground around them.

Esdese turned towards Tatsumi and pushed Incursio into his chest. Forcing him to grab it. "This weapon is a part of you, Tatsumi. I don't ever want to see you robbed of it again, do you understand?" she said. Her voice hard.

"I think you are overreacting a bit here, Esdese." Tatsumi said but she paid him no mind. She grabbed his shoulder with a hand almost before he had finished his sentence. Pushing him to the side slightly as she took a step forward. Pulling him in behind her as she faced the emperor.

More guards had swarmed up around the seat of Kotaro during Tatsumi's and Esdese's exchange. Drawn to the commotion. Tatsumi easily recognized their uniforms as part of the imperial guard. But he didn't recognize a single one of their faces.

The emperor himself was slowly standing up in his seat. Determinately meeting Esdese's gaze. Not shying away from her as she spoke.

"What were you hoping to accomplish by bringing Tatsumi before me like this?" Esdese said in an angry yet controlled voice. "Are you trying to show off?"

"My lady, please don't misunderstand. I had nothing to do with this. I am as surprised by seeing the head administrator here as you are."

"He is right." Tatsumi said and grabbed Esdese's arm. "I came here on my own accord. I willingly let myself be restricted in order to get an audience with the emperor."

Esdese's gaze turned to him. At first, a bit surprised, but then the anger returned to her expression. "So you willingly made yourself defenseless. In the midst of these people that want you harm. Are you trying to make me angry?"

"Ohh I was never defenseless. None of these guards were that dangerous. I could probably have handled them with just my legs free." he said and shrugged his shoulders. Trying to downplay the entire situation. The guards Esdese had smacked down were slowly starting to get back up around them. And more soldiers were coming in from the sides of the throne. Tatsumi couldn't tell which of them were Esdese's or which of them were Faye's.

"Head administrator," the young emperor called out lightly. Trying to jump on his attempt to calm the situation down. "Did you just come here to talk to me? Why didn't you send me a letter or a messenger."

I have sent several, Tatsumi thought. Yet somehow they all disappear somewhere along the way.

"This seemed like the quickest way." he said and smiled at Kotaro. Not wanting to start their conversation by throwing blame. "We really need to talk, Kotaro. But I don't know if this is the best environment." he said and looked around. All the guards the Esdese had knocked down had now risen up again. And all the guards around the emperor were holding on to their sheathed weapons.

Not that he could fault them for that. They were soldiers of the imperial guard. All of them were caught in a dilemma. The great general was the one in direct command of the imperial guard. Yet at the same time, it was their sole duty to protect the emperor with their lives. Even when they knew that they were greatly outmatched. And Esdese wasn't giving anyone a reason to relax. Continuing to ooze hostility with every breath. Her eyes fixed on Kotaro.

"What did you want to talk about, head administrator Tatsumi." the emperor asked in a calm voice. Even if it was easy to see that the young man was nervous as well.

"Well, a lot of things really." Tatsumi said. He had come to try and dissuade the emperor from the trail but he couldn't really do so openly here. There were too many eyes and ears around that would all give their own spin on things. He needed to get at least some of the guards to leave. But he didn't know if that was even possible anymore. Not now when he had Incursio and especially not with Esdese seething beside him. "I wanted to talk to you about the future in general. I wanted to offer you a different take on the current situation. Just so that you know all sides."

"You will get a good chance to present your side of the empires current state in the coming trial, Tatsumi. And I won't be the one who deems right from wrong then. A court and a jury will do that. Speaking to me won't affect the trial."

No, but you might prevent the trial from happening in the first place, Tatsumi thought. "It is not only about the trial, though I admittedly want to talk about that as well." he said.

The emperor looked at Tatsumi and then at the guards around them. Seemingly well aware that the situation was quite delicate right now."Ok, what other things did you wish to discuss, Tatsumi?"

"I know fully well that you are unable to affect the trial in any way." Tatsumi lied. "And I know that I can't be advising you on political issues right now. But I was still the one who set you free after the old prime minister brought you here. All I want to know is that you are doing well. That you aren't being corrupted by any malicious forces. Gods know that there are a lot of them out there right now."

It was clear that Kotaro was a bit unsure of how to act. He seemed like he didn't want to deal with the entire situation at all. Though Tatsumi was not certain if it was because he didn't want to talk to him at all or just that he was uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere of the moment.

"Either way, great general, could you please calm down a bit. I think you can understand that I had little to do with Tatsumi being here."

"I am perfectly calm." Esdese answered in a cold voice. Not easing up on her oppressive and hostile aura. Her eyes drilling into the young emperor.

"Maybe you could give us some moments, Esdese?" Tatsumi tried as well. Looking up at her. But Esdese's eyes did not leave Kotaro.

"I will leave when you do, Tatsumi. Not before that." Esdese stated. Tatsumi could tell that she would not be dissuaded just from the tone of her voice.

"Well..." Tatsumi said slowly. Trying to think of a way to dismantle the situation a little. He was afraid to postpone his discussion with Kotaro. He didn't know when he would get a chance to met him again. If he would even get another chance before the trial. But to his relief, it was actually Kotaro who came with a solution for him.

"Ok, I will have an audience with you, Tatsumi. But it will be in a public place. There will be a ball for the imperial elite in the end of this week. I will extend an invitation to you for this event so that we can meet there. It will be calmer. The great general has of course already received her own invitation."

"That sounds great. I have not been in those circles for quite some time now." Tatsumi said. Quick to grab the offered solution. He didn't know if he would be able to affect Kotaro during a crowded party where the boy, as the emperor, would obviously be the most popular guest. But he was at least certain that he had better chance to accomplish something in that environment than their current situation.

"Then it is settled then." The emperor announced. Eager to ease the situation further. "We can have this talk then, head administrator. And the great general will also be present. Cause I assume that you will join us, my lady?"

Esdese just looked at him for some moments before she spoke."I would be obligated to attend the ceremony because of my position either way. With or without your invitation. All the general's of the capital will attend the party."

Tatsumi paid close attention to not let his friendly expression fade when he heard that. Not at all thrilled at the prospect that general Faye would be there as well.

"And that is the reason why there should be no problem with Tatsumi joining us, right?" the emperor said with a friendly smile. "All the most powerful warriors of the empire will be present. There will be no safer place in the capital."

Tatsumi nodded. "You seem to have grown quite a bit during this time, Kotaro."

The younger boy gave Tatsumi a faint smile.

"But ok then." Tatsumi said and looked around at all the tense soldiers around them. "I think it is for the best if we leave now." he said and tugged at Esdese's arm. "Preferably through some sort of backdoor."

Kotaro returned the nod and slowly sat down in his seat. "You are free to leave whenever you wish to do so. I will see you at the ball, Tatsumi"

Tatsumi gave him a last smile and then turned around. Hoping desperately that Esdese would give way when he pulled at her arm.

Esdese just kept staring at the emperor for some moments. Then she slowly turned around. Allowing Tatsumi to drag her along for some steps before she started walking along with him.

The soldiers standing behind them immediately stepped aside. Bowing down to their commander, now that it seemed like they wouldn't have to choose sides. Everyone seemed relieved as they left the emperor's room. Everyone but Esdese.

Tatsumi lead them to the back of the podium. Quickly locating a backdoor. Something he knew would have been prepared for the emperor. Should something happen. Esdese remained silent. Just looking at him as he walked on. Her expression empty. For a little while, she considered if her feelings about the situation they had just been in were disproportionate. Trying to determine if she was overreacting because of her experience the night prior.

But no matter how much she thought about it, there was one thing that she knew that she couldn't tolerate. No matter the situation.

After walking with him through the empty corridor that the backdoor lead to for a little while longer, she yanked her arm out of his hand. Tatsumi halted and started to turn towards her but before he could, the same hand grabbed the hair on the back of his head in a hard hold. Pulling it back a bit. Forcing Tatsumi to take a step back in order to not fall over as his back bent backward.

"Hey!" Tatsumi shouted out as he tried to regain balance. Looking at Esdese. Finding her cold eyes staring at him. Facing him from the side.

"Listen carefully, Tatsumi." she said in a voice so cold and unfriendly that it immediately stopped his struggling. Just looking up at her. "I don't mind that you play these little games. Nor do I really care that you try and forge new allies with those that earlier were our enemies. You might try as you wish. Since I will always be the arbiter in the end."

Tatsumi simply looked at her in response. Having a hard time nodding because of her grip.

"However," she said and the grip on his hair tightened a bit. "I will not tolerate you weakening yourself like this in front of potentially hostile forces. I don't want to see you without Incursio in a situation such as this ever again. Do you understand?"

Tatsumi was hesitant to agree to this. When it came to negotiating and conniving, the immense power of his presence was often more of a hinder than anything else. He would never have been able to meet with many of those who feared him without promising to dismantle himself. Even if most of those people weren't aware of his considerable abilities even without Incursio. But today had been a good example of a situation when he simply would have been unable to accomplish anything if he hadn't been able to seem humble by shedding some of his power.

If he didn't have that option, the only path forward would often be threats and violence. And then he would truly be the new prime minister.

"You are exaggerating, Esdese. I was never in risk of any real danger today. I could have easily handled those guys myself. Even without-" he said but Esdese stopped him by simply pulling a bit harder at his head. Forcing him to take another step in order to not fall backward.

"Let me make this absolutely clear, Tatsumi. Should I walk into this type of situation tomorrow, finding you disarmed and tied up by Faye's soldiers and brought before the emperor, the outcome will be much grimmer. I will kill the soldiers and probably disfigure Kotaro in ways that will never leave him. Before neither he or you can start a discussion. I have had enough of you limiting your ability to fight in the face of danger. Understood?"

She finished the last of her words with more force. Making it into a simple yes or no question. Yet Tatsumi couldn't fully oblige in this matter.

"Ok ok. But with one condition." he said. Earning him another painful but expected pull on his hair. Tatsumi well aware that Esdese had never been that much of a diplomat. "This can not be an absolute rule. I must be able to make these kinds of gestures every now and then. Otherwise, I might be rendered completely ineffective both in front and behind the political scene."

Esdese just looked at him for some moments. Then she let go off his head. Allowing Tatsumi to straighten up once more. "You will have to get my permission for every single situation." she stated. Not even asking if he had understood his role.

Tatsumi just looked at her for some moments as he rubbed the back of his head with a hand. Esdese smiled gently at him. Though he could still feel the warning in her expression. Her sweet smile somehow still carrying a dangerous feeling.

"I don't know of a single warrior in the empire's forces that can match you except myself right now, Tatsumi. It does not befit you to bow and grovel as much as you do."

"You are a hard woman to understand, Esdese." Tatsumi said with a smile. Trying to ease the mood. "Sometimes it seems like the only thing you want to hear is me begging. Other times it makes you angry when I do it."

Esdese giggled slightly. Taking him up on his try to be a bit more playful. "Well, I did say "except myself". It is nothing unusual about begging to those stronger than you. It only irks me when you bend to those that are clearly weaker to you."

Tatsumi smiled a tired smile at her. Met by her more beaming expression. The dangerous hints gone from it.

And while the mood returned to normal between them, Tatsumi could feel that his fear that he could not prevent utter catastrophe started to outweigh the hope that he could.

Author's note:

Whoa! Whoa... whoa...

Something of a transition chapter. Starting to build up to larger events. Might seem like a small reward after such a long wait but the story's requirements go first.

Now when everything is starting to roll back into place in my life once more, I find myself returning to Bent but not broken yet again. The last 4 months have been a rollercoaster for myself but I think I have now managed to find some stability. At last

I don't know how many of you are still out there. But I remember giving a promise about this story in some chapters prior to this. Hehe.

I will now meet that promise. And finish Bent but not Broken properly. I won't give you any deadlines at this point. But the next chapter should not be far off. I will, as usual, write a release date at the top of this chapter as soon as I have a date that I think I can meet.

I will see you soon enough!

Take care of each other until then!