...

...

...

Growing cold

"What do you think is going on in there?" Wave asked and moved his binoculars away from his face.

"Have you ever heard a kettle whistle?" Makeias said. "Something akin to that, I would expect. Just with the kettle being the leadership of a nation."

They were standing alone on a rooftop. Far away from the palace. Being able to see the colossal building even from where they were standing. The sky was gray and the air smelled of rain. Even if none was falling at the moment.

At first glance, nothing seemed out of order with the palace. But both Makeias and Wave had spent many hours staring at the building. They both noticed that an unusual number of rooms and halls in the higher levels of the palace had been dark for days now. No light coming from their windows and balconies.

They both also noticed that there was an unusual amount of commotion behind the large walls that encircled the palace. They couldn't really hear the notice from where they were standing but they could see an unusual amount of smoke rising from the inner yards of the palace. And they had gotten reports that Esdese's own forces were now the only military that held the posts around all the entrances to the palace. Not even the imperial guard were anywhere to be seen. Only Esdese's soldiers and warriors.

"So we can deem this a success then?" Wave said.

"Hard to say. What we can decipher is that it is a change. And definitely an escalation. According to Jack's reports. What it will lead to remains to be seen."

"It feels like this was kind of risky move on our part, general. You have clearly stated that we are probably lost without the info we get from Spectator."

"It might seem like it. But as long as Jack has his ally in the palace, he should be fine."

"And you don't think Jack will be betrayed?"

"No. They find him too valuable for that. He is giving them a lot of important information. They just don't know that he is actually one of ours." Makeias said. "That is not to say that Jack's protector isn't scheming against us. But it doesn't matter. As long as Jack reports everything to us, we will always be a couple of steps ahead."

"So this all comes down to the loyalty of Jack then? Don't you think he might switch sides? I mean, he should be able to tell that there are people in the palace that can offer him bigger rewards than us."

"From that we are safe. Jack would never betray Liza." Makeias said.

"So he isn't aware that Liza died when we destroyed the remnants of the revolutionary army then?"

"I have chosen to leave that information out of the picture. It is not something that he needs to know right now."

Wave sighed lightly. "Agreed. But what if he finds out? He can read folk's mind after all."

"There aren't many left that are aware who Liza was or that she died. The only ones left in the capital that know the full story are basically just you and me. The few others that are aware of it still remain out in the countryside."

Wave just nodded in response. All of this was a bitter business. Yet he was surprised that he didn't feel worse about it. He had to guess that he had become more jaded ever since the death of Kurome.

"I don't think so, Wave. The chaos will erupt from the palace."

Wave looked over at the pillager. "What?"

"I said, the chaos will erupt from the palace."

Wave just looked at Makeias for some moments. The man seemed more distant by the day. "Sir, I didn't ask anything about that?"

Makeias head slowly turned to Wave. "What?"

"I didn't say anything to prompt that answer, sir."

Makeias just looked at him for a long time before he turned his head back towards the palace. But during that time, Wave was able to see some fear in the other man's eyes. Strengthening a suspicion he had had for a while now.

"General, have you started to hear voices?" Wave asked.

"What makes you believe that?"

"You have been saying strange things during our meetings. Things that don't seem to pertain to the discussion in question." Wave said. Trying to sound as humble as possible.

"It is nothing, Wave. Don't worry about it." Makeias answered quickly.

Wave just looked at Makeias for a long time. But Makeias didn't meet his gaze. He just kept looking at the palace in the distance. "We are close now, Wave. Really close. This will soon be over. I will be able to hold out until then."

"Are you sure, general?" Wave asked slowly.

"No. To be perfectly honest. But we can't really do anything else."

"We could attempt to remove Morbu-"

"Don't bother yourself with this." Makeias interrupted with a slightly louder voice. Not allowing Wave to finish the sentence. They still didn't know what had prompted Morbus to activate in Kurome. But they knew that she had been very adamant about removing and destroying the teigu. Feeling uncomfortable in its presence.

And Makeias knew that Morbus had infected Wave on their first meeting after they had left the empire. And it had done so on its own.

"Don't bother yourself with this anymore, Wave. That is an order. I encourage you to point these things out. If it looks like I am getting worse. But don't spend any more thoughts on it beyond that. I will handle it."

"As you say, general." Wave sighed and looked back up at the palace. "How much more time do you estimate? When will the battle come?"

"Tatsumi's trial is now only two weeks away. That will be the breaking point. That is when it will come down to violence. Since Tatsumi has lost control of the situation. Though the situation might explode before that as well. Esdese seems to be tightening the snare around the leadership at an accelerated rate."

"Two weeks..." Wave said. He couldn't help but feel that just two weeks was too much time. He couldn't help but worry that Makeias would grow sicker. Or Jack would lose his conviction.

"It is actually big enough to make his stomach bulge out a bit." Esdese said in a partly interested tone. "Can you see it, Tom-Tom?"

Esdese was sitting in a chair in the cold and damp room. Resting her head in her hand as she watched her torturers work. The screams of the child had now turned into a low gurgling.

She was watching two of her torturers having their way with a small blonde child. The small figure at odds with their giant, muscular bodies. The child had been screaming until some moments ago but one of the big men had now shut him up.

Esdese was only partly interested in the brutal scene. Normally she would have handled the torturing herself but there was a certain level of decadence to be had from having two big men do this kind of thing to the small child. She didn't have much interest in that kind of act at the moment. And she had already tortured plenty of children in front of Tom-Tom by now.

So she was just sitting in her chair and calmly observing the old man. Trying to detect any reaction. That being the reason why she was only partly interested in what was going on in front of her.

Tom-Tom was locked up on a torture bench that had now been raised up so that he almost was in a vertical position. His naked body bruised and damaged. His neck and face were locked into position so he could not turn his head away from what was going on. He could have shut his eyes but Esdese had reasoned that the sounds would be enough in that case.

But the old man had not averted his gaze. His empty eyes just staring out in front of him. Not focusing on anything.

He had been like that for some time now. Esdese had decided to take a break from torturing him physically. Moving to try and break his psyche instead. And she had learned early on that he had a strong love for children. She had tried to exploit that by destroying some in front of the old man.

At first, it had yielded great responses from Tom-Tom, Esdese reflected, but that was only in the beginning. It had now been almost a week since she got any response from him.

Yet she knew that she hadn't broken him yet. He was still resisting in his own way. He had just fled into his own mind until the right time came. and so far she had not been able to shock him out of this defense. It seemed like this was not going to do it either.

She sighed silently and rose from her seat. Starting to walk out of the room. She had already opened the door to it when one of the big men realized that she was leaving, looking up from what he was doing.

"You're leaving us, great general?" he said in surprise. Having so much into what they were doing that Esdese's growing disinterest had been completely lost on him.

"Yeah... I think I will take my leave now." Esdese said and looked at him over her shoulders. Her eyes mostly just bored. "This will not do it either. I will have to get more creative." she said and walked out of the room. The door starting to close behind her. "You can keep going until you're satisfied. Then leave the old man with what remains of the boy."

The guards outside the torture chamber saluted her as she walked up towards the higher parts of the palace. It was already growing late and she still had a lot of things to get done before she could call it a day. And she had yet another annoyance gnawing at the back of her mind.

Most activities and undertakings of the palace had been sent into shock after the ball. Due to how Esdese's forces had seized almost all of the imperial leadership. It was clear that many wondered if they were in the middle of a very slow coup. Most were afraid that the entire palace might turn into a war zone at any minute. That just the tiniest thing might ignite something that may escalate into the start of a civil war.

However, Esdese felt no qualms or stress about what was going on. Confident in her control of the situation and not really afraid of what would happen if she would lose it. The most annoying part of it all was that she had to spend a lot of time to placate the few imperial leaders she hadn't thrown into prison. Having to assure them over and over that she would return control to them as soon as she had found Makeias' spy.

But none of this bothered her on a deeper level. Her annoyance and irritation stemmed from something completely different.

Almost three hours later, she was striding through the long, dark and damp corridor that led to their current living quarters. Down in the dungeons. Her strides long and quick as she moved through the dimly lit tunnel. Carrying a paper bag with one of her arms. Pressing it against the side of her body.

She wore a determined scowl on her face. The farce had gone on long enough and she was going to end it tonight. She had a limit to how much of his gloom she could tolerate. At least when she deemed that he was overreacting.

She swung the door to their spars living quarter open so fast that she almost slammed it against the wall.

"I'm back!" she announced in a loud and emotionless voice. "Hope you didn't wait too long."

Tatsumi was sitting in the room's only sofa. A small thing only meant for two people at most. Standing on the opposite side of their bed. He was reading through a book when she entered. He momentarily looked up at her over the edge of it as she walked in. But then his eyes returned down to the book again.

Esdese looked at him for some short moments as she closed the door behind her with her foot. Then she strode over towards their small table. "Have you eaten anything yet? I brought some food with me."

Silence answered her question. It had been like this ever since the ball.

She put the bag down on the small table. Already slowing down a bit. She had to remind herself that she could not let herself be pulled into his pace. She had to press on. Being tender had not worked so far.

She turned around towards him. Resting her behind against the table as she leaned back a bit. Her hands on its edge.

She focused her glare at him. Taking a deep and threatening breath. Wishing him to feel pressured by her attention. "Tatsumi?"

She waited for a good five seconds as she glared at him. When he still didn't answer, she started to march over towards him.

They had argued many times in the past. She was always careful and delicate when she felt that he was justified to be upset or angry. When he had lost a friend. When he felt that he couldn't allow himself to be with her. When he felt like he had betrayed everything he held dear. When he thought he was worthless. When he thought that they should be enemies.

When things of that magnitude were the base of their arguments, then she was careful. Knowing that handling it wrong could lead to serious damage in their relationship. But this was not like that to her. This was just him making a scene over something that should be indisputable.

This was just a simple squabble. At least to her.

She walked right up to him. Stopping when she was standing in front of him. Their feet almost touching. Looking down at him with the same intensity. "Did you not hear me?" she said in a low and calm voice.

He wasn't letting it show. He was good at that, she reflected. Good at putting up a facade. But she knew that he felt really uncomfortable. Her instincts told her so. Like so many preys that she had forced into a corner. Even if he acted as if she wasn't even there.

Despite her oppressive and somewhat hostile aura, she very slowly and gently reached down and grabbed the book he was holding. Just as slowly pulling it out of his hands. He didn't offer any resistance. Letting go of the bok when she pulled at it. Knowing that it was futile to try and hold on to it.

He looked up at her as she did. Not left with any choice.

Yet he looked her straight in the eyes when he did. His face just as determined. Causing Esdese to ease up on her harsh atmosphere for some moments, just by instinct, before she caught herself and hardened her resolve again. "I asked if you are hungry."

Yet he still didn't answer. He just stared up at her with a frown.

They stood like that for some very long seconds. Esdese uncertain of how to proceed. Hesitant to get physical with him at the moment. Not sure if that would be stepping over some sort of boundary.

"We are eating together if I so have to shove the food into your mouth." she finally declared. Throwing the book down on the seat beside him.

Though to her chagrin, Tatsumi chose to try her bluff.

"I am not hungry." He said and started to stand up. Breaking their eye contact. Having to move a bit to the side as he did. Since she was standing so close that some sort of contact would be impossible if he just stood up.

Esdese just looked at him at first. Her expression a mask. Uncertain if she should enforce her threat. If he simply wasn't hungry then this didn't have to be a rebellious gesture. If that was the case then it might be unreasonable to force him.

She debated it in her head as he took a step away from her. Esdese annoyingly well aware that she wouldn't have this kind of hesitation if it had been anyone else.

Yet when Tatsumi took his second step away from her, his body betrayed him. His stomach giving off a low growl of discontent. It wasn't loud by any definition, but more than enough for Esdese to hear and understand its meaning. Anger flaring up in her.

Tatsumi started to turn around but her hand grabbed the back of his neck before he could fully do so. Pushing him forward. Making his body bend forward a bit. Since he wasn't really putting up any resistance to it. Already well aware that escalating a physical struggle was one of the worst ways to resist her.

She pushed him forward by her side as she briskly walked back to the table. Causing him to slightly stumble the few steps forward as she pushed him ahead beside her. He himself thinking about how he should handle this. Not really wanting to make this into anything to big.

She let go of him when they reached the table. Pushing him a bit ahead of her. Walking up to his side as he straightened up.

"Stop being silly." she said in a tone too nonchalant for the moment as she reached down into the paper bag. Lifting out a loaf of bread and a piece of beef. Wrapped up in paper. "Now what do you want? I brought a lot of different things."

Tatsumi stood silent by her side for some moments. Then he started to turn around. But he had not taken an entire step away before she grabbed him again. This time by the collar of his shirt.

She yanked him back strongly. Making him stumble back into the table. Falling down with his back on it. Pushing the bag over with his arm as he did. Causing apples, small bottles, strange looking eggs and grapes to roll out of it. Spreading across the table around him.

Esdese grabbed the front of his shirt and pushed him down into the table before he could rise up again. Keeping her anger calm and controlled. "Okay then. If you want to play this the hard way then I can do that as well." she said.

One of the bottles rolled off the edge and broke against the floor with a loud shattering sound. Causing Esdese to calmly look up to the side. Reaching out with her other hand and raising the bag up once again. Her other hand holding down Tatsumi. While her irritation was apparent, she was not flustered at all. Handling the situation in a calm and almost cold manner. Even if she was getting physical.

As soon as she had straightened the bag up. She reached down and grabbed the loaf of bread. Closing her grip around it Tearing off a big chunk of it.

Her eyes returned to Tatsumi's. "This will stop when you want it to, Tatsumi. If you just submit to eating with me normally, this will stop." she calmly stated. She didn't intend to force feed him the entire meal, even if he didn't submit. She just intended to break his resistance. "Until then, this is how it will be."

The hand holding his shirt pushed him a bit harder down and her other hand moved up towards his face. Still holding the chunk of bread.

She was full openings and opportunities to strike or retaliate. Yet Tatsumi only felt like that was a power display in and of itself. Showing off her confidence that he would not dare to raise a hand against her. Knowing that he was aware of what that would lead to. Yet he felt that he could not just take this. She was handling this a bit too arrogantly. As if he was a simple problem that she had to solve. Like her pets.

When Esdese started to bring the bread near his mouth, he lashed out. Quickly yanking his head forward. Biting down on the bread with unsuspected speed. And his spontaneity caught Esdese by surprise. Letting him close his jaw around three of her fingers as well. Just as he intended. Snapping down violently on her extended hand.

Immediately as he did, Esdese quickly yanked her hand out from between his teeth. Dropping the bread. Her entire body moving back a little bit from him. Even if her grip on his shirt remained.

She looked down at her own hand in disbelief. While he had not bit her strongly enough to cause any real damage, it had been strong enough to draw a little blood. His teeth leaving deep red marks in three of her fingers. Only being able to draw a slight bit of blood from one of them. She turned her hand around and looked at the bite marks on the other side of her fingers.

"You bit me…." she said in a silent and astounded voice. Seemingly more surprised than anything. Her eyes slowly moving to his.

Yet she was met by a determined and rebellious glare. Unashamed of what he had done to her. Full of will, resistance, and boldness. Making her heart flutter. There was a slight hint of her blood on his lower lip.

Just as it had before, Esdese felt how the situation changed for her. Her breath very slowly growing heavier. Suddenly, the fact that she hadn't had him for almost a week was making itself known. The fact that they hadn't been deeply intimate ever since the ball.

She met his gaze directly. Her own eyes growing sharp and dangerous. Slowly moving closer to him again. Her hand reached down and grabbed one of the grapes that was lying on the table. Holding it between thumb and finger. Then she ever so slowly started to move it up towards his mouth.

Moving her entire body closer to him as she did. Challenging him to bite her again. Trying to get him to lash out. She wasn't even sure why she was doing it. Purely acting on her feral instincts. Her breath ragged as she bent over him.

"Come on." she breathed through her teeth as she brought the grape up to his face. Not even realizing her own depraved grin. Yet Tatsumi held his ground. Meeting her threatening eyes with the same determination as before.

"Eat it." she hissed lowly at him. Bringing the grape up to his closed lips. Yet when she slowly pushed it against his lips, Tatsumi lashed out at her in the same way again.

Yet this time, Esdese was prepared. Moving her finger to the side in order to avoid Tatsumi's bite. But she didn't move her hand away. So Tatsumi caught the side of her hand in her jaw. Biting down hard. Much harder than before.

Yet Esdese didn't flinch or back off. Her smile only widening as he bit into her.

She tensed her hand up and pushed his head backward with the arm in his jaw. Pressing his head and entire body down on the table below him. Putting on of her knees up on the table beside him as she leaned up over him. Pushing all the things on the small table to the side. Some of them clattering as they hit the ground. The table barely big enough for the both of them.

Tatsumi answered to her assault by biting down harder on her hand. Yet the pain only acted as adrenaline to Esdese. The fact that he was fighting back in his own way only spurring her on. Awakening more and more of her competitive and devilish side.

"How is it, Tatsumi?" she asked loudly. Her voice almost a growl. "How do I taste?"

Yet Tatsumi didn't let up on his bite. Feeling her warm blood seep into his mouth as she bent down over him. Pressing the side of her hand further into his mouth. Further into his teeth.

"Yeesss" she hissed as she heard him swallow for the first time. She didn't know why but the scenario felt extremely exhilarating to her. There was some feral part of her that drew deep satisfaction from this. From invading his body with herself. With her blood. Almost to the point where the pain only further excited her. It would later perplex her a bit but at that moment she didn't question it.

"Am I quenching your hunger?" she said and straightened up a bit. Still smiling at him as she lightened up on the pressure of her hand.

When she did, Tatsumi eased up on his bite slowly. So that she could calmly puller her hand out of his mouth. When she did. He breathed out heavily.

He had no idea of how much of her blood he had swallowed. He reasoned that it felt like more than it was. Cause to him it felt like he had at least swallowed a gallon. He still felt like his entire mouth was drenched in it, since that was the only thing he could taste. Though he knew that wasn't the case.

Esdese looked down at him with dark joy. He no longer looked as rebellious. She could even see hints of fear in his expression. She closed her hand strongly while she kept looking him in the eyes. Meeting his gaze as some blood dripped down on his face from her hand.

"Enough of this pathetic resistance, Tatsumi."

Tatsumi took a couple of deep breaths. Feeling a bit weird. Then his scowl returned. Meeting her gaze steadily. Raising his head up a bit. Towards her. As if he was about to stand up.

Esdese could see how the resolve had returned to his defiance and few things would have made her happier in that moment. His eyes intense and his mouth bloody. She slowly put her hand around his throat. Then without warning, she rose up and lifted him with her grip. Hurling him away through the room before he could react.

He landed on the mattress of their bed. When he started to rise up Esdese tackled him down. Her shoulder smashing into his chest. Both of them moving a bit further into on the bed by the momentum.

As soon as they had stopped, he opened his mouth to say something. But before he could, she slapped him hard across the face. Making his head recoil to the side. The surprise and pain halting all his movement. Esdese's hands slowly moving down and started to tear at his shirt. Slowly unbuttoning it through force.

She was standing over him with one knee on each side of his waist. She had lost her hat somewhere along the way. "Accept your fate. It will make everything easier." she said. Though her expression seemed to hope for quite the opposite.

Tatsumi clenched his teeth. A bit of anger waking up in him again. "How could I possibly accept my fate when all you do is destroy any happy endings I can create?!" he shouted. His hand moved by themselves. Grabbing the cleavage of her uniform and tearing at it strongly. Making the entire front of it rip open. Her breasts spilling out.

Esdese answered by being more forceful herself. Simply digging her nails into him through the shirt. Then simply clawing downwards with her hand. Scratching down his entire body. Destroying his shirt and leaving dark red marks on his body. "You just need to do as I say and stay close to me. That is all you should do!" she shouted back. Not sharing his anger anymore but being quite loud nonetheless.

"You only want to purge the few good traits I have left from me." he said. He grabbed one of her breasts and squeezed it hard. Making Esdese hiss as his other hand moved down and grabbed her skirt. Starting to tear at it as well.

"You complain and whine." Esdese said. Her hand grabbing the lining of his pants. Starting to rip them open as well. Pulling them down along with his underwear. "Yet you still stay at my side. You still want it."

"You're destroying everything I am and stand for." He exclaimed as he finally managed to get her skirt off her. Tearing through the final part. Destroying them as well. Leaving her naked waist down.

She grabbed a hard grip around his erection and pressed her forehead into his. Staring him in the eyes. "And you love it."

Before she could move down on him fully, Tatsumi grabbed the initiative.

As she lowered herself down on him, He grabbed her butt with both his hands. And as soon as his manhood started to touch her, he thrusted upwards with all the force he could muster. Burying his heels in the mattress as he lifted his midsection from the bed.

His thrust caused Esdese to involuntarily yelp out a loud and shrill tone. Her head yanking up by instinct. Not prepared for things going into highest gear immediately. Even if she had been quite forceful with him.

She looked down at him but before she could do anything more than that, Tatsumi thrust into her again. Esdese clenched her teeth. Refusing to let out another sign of how much his strong stabbing affected her.

"I am more" he grunted as he kept pounding up into her. Esdese still standing on her knees over him. ".. more than your plaything."

Esdese didn't answer. Afraid that she would not be able to keep her voice steady if she spoke. She was not used to enduring physical attacks. She needed to stop the freedom of his movement.

After some moments, when Tatsumi penetrated her again, she acted. Following him down as he did. Keeping him inside her by moving her hips down with him. Landing down on him with her entire body. Planning to hinder his movements a bit by placing her weight on him.

But it only worked partially. Tatsumi immediately let go off her behind and grabbed her thighs instead. Not intending to allow her to slow his pace. Knowing that if he started to let up and let her recover from the intense stimulation, then she would probably stop her with her teigu or some other part of her arsenal of powers. He needed to have her kept up in the moment. He couldn't allow her to think about the situation.

But the moment was taking its toll on him as well. And he could tell that he would be sexually spent before she was. Simply because of their different genders.

He moving his hips up and down with the same fervor. Moving Esdese's hips up with him. But he wasn't moving in and out of her at the same rate. Only getting a bit of that when he stopped his push and moved his hips down. Her hips moving a slight bit away from him when he changed direction. Since she was only resting on top of him.

Though even just that was enough to push Tatsumi towards the end.

"I am your everything." Esdese wheezed at him. For once not feeling fully in control of the situation.

"You are." he hissed and increased his rhythm for the final spurt. "And I am not." he said and moved his hands up and grabbed her ass again. "not your SLAVE!" he exclaimed through gritted teeth as he came. Pushing himself as deep inside of her as he could as he did.

"Nnnnnnnnngh! Esdese moaned through closed lips. The force of it winning over her endurance.

Tatsumi pushed his hips into her a couple more times. Barely moving them apart between each time. A couple long moments passed and then he finally collapsed down on the bed. Esdese in her turn collapsing on him. Her head landing beside his own. Both of them just recovering for a bit.

She breathed some heavy breaths into his ear. Her mouth only a little bit away from his right ear. Her head lying on his side while he looked up at the ceiling. They laid there for a long while. Just breathing. After a little while, he tentatively put her arms around her lower back. Attempting to show some compassion after the savage moment.

He was about to say something when she felt how she stirred on top of him. Her legs pushing into the mattress as she lifted herself up. Her hands came up and placed themselves around his upper arms. Just gently grabbing them. But then when she had straightened up a bit, she pushed his arms down into the mattress with her grip. Breaking his embrace.

She looked him in the eyes for some long moments. Then, without warning, she thrust her hips down on him strongly. Making a jolt go through Tatsumi's entire being. Since they had never separated. He being rather sensitive after their violent intercourse. Since he had been giving that first round his all.

She looked at him for some moments after the initial reaction. Her stare intense even if her expression was empty. Then she began grinding against him. Slowly and strongly moving back and forth. After some moments her eyes left him and she looked up at the wall in front of her instead. Her hands still holding him down as she rode him.

Despite her movements having a huge force behind them, they almost felt lazy. And Tatsumi had a feeling that was on purpose. A certain arrogance and nonchalance to her rocking hips. Looking away from him as if to demonstrate that this act was not about affection on her side. Only pleasure.

The stimulation was a bit too strong for Tatsumi but he mostly kept it inside him. Although he couldn't conceal an increasingly labored breathing.

Although he could tell how much carnal joy she drew from this interaction, he knew that that was not the main purpose for her behavior. This was mainly about dominance through very basic means. Being expressed in the most simple and animalistic way. Just pushing him around physically. Taking pleasure in the act while disregarding how he felt entirely. Making a point out of it.

Yet after some time had passed, he started to enjoy it. He couldn't help it. He loved how she dominated him like this. He didn't know if this was something that she had managed to train into him or if it was something that had always been inside of him. Yet he couldn't deny it. His mind, thoughts and will were so easily overruled by the stimulations she was giving him when they were like this.

Determinedly and strongly moving her hips on top of him. Looking out at nothing while she just focused on enjoying the feeling of him grinding inside her and pushing him down with her movements. The act of demonstrating how she dominated him through endurance giving her a slow and deep thrill.

But soon enough, the more sensual part of her took hold. Her movements becoming intenser. Showing that she was getting into it yet again. After a little while, her face turned down towards him again. Staring him in the eyes without a single word. Something deep expressed just by how she wanted to look him in the eyes. Tatsumi didn't avert his gaze.

She slowly lowered herself down on him as her movements became quicker and shorter. Her hands still holding him down. He didn't know if she realized that she had started to groan a bit with every rocking movement she made. He assumed she didn't care.

Her face hovered a bit over his but not moving close enough for Tatsumi to go in for a kiss or something of that sort. Leaving her back slightly bent because of their height difference. Just keeping her stare at him.

Even though she was mainly just using him as a prop for her own pleasure, Esdese found that when her moment came, her hands had left his arms and moved down under his body. Pressing his chest into her own as the reward of her work hit her. Biting down at his shoulder as it did. Just as she had done so many times before.

Her orgasm lasted much longer than Tatsumi's. It took quite some time before she released him from her grip. Letting him fall down on the mattress. She kept their hips together for some more moments before she rose up. Disconnecting them as she stood on all fours over him. Her face close to his.

She looked at him for a while. Not moving any closer. Staying still. It took Tatsumi some time to realize that she was waiting for him. She wouldn't move down to him. She wouldn't bend. She was waiting for him to do it. She still wanted it.

He moved up to kiss her. And as soon as he started to move up towards her, Esdese moved down and met him. Their lips connecting in a slow but strong kiss. Filled with more feeling than lust. It lasted for what felt like a long time for the both of them. Tatsumi's head moving back down to the mattress after a little while. Her head following him down.

When they finally moved their heads away from each other, Esdese was smiling faintly at him. Tatsumi just returned her elegant expression with a big grin of his own. Causing Esdese to chuckle slightly.

She straightened up a bit and lifted him from under his arms. Pushing up a bit in the bed until his head was on the pillows.

"There we go." she said and laid down beside him. One of her hands moved down and grabbed one of his. "This dynamic is what our relationship is, Tatsumi." she said in a kind tone. "I can admit that I might be clumsy sometime when handling you. But the fundamentals of what we are does not change because of that."

Tatsumi sighed lightly before he spoke. The physical act had helped them both get rid of their irritation and anger. And a lot of other things as well. But the core issue still remained. Even if he felt like it was much easier to talk about now. When they both were sated and their needs somewhat satisfied.

"You destroyed almost all of the little hope I had left during the ball." he said silently.

Esdese moved a little bit closer to him. "You need to let these ideas go, Tatsumi. There was never going to be a peaceful solution to this in the first place. The fact that I crushed the government's control will not harm you personally. It is these delusions that you hold on to so dearly that hurt you. These ideas that you have created yourself."

"It is just not the ball.." he almost whispered. "You crush me all the time, Esdese. In every way imaginable. You must understand that bitterness will be born from that."

Esdese looked up at the ceiling in silence. When she didn't answer. Tatsumi continued.

"I don't mind it in many scenarios. In some sense, that is our relationship. Just as you have said. But there is a line that can be crossed. Maybe you don't perceive it. Or maybe you just don't think there should be one. But there is one for me."

Now it was Esdese's turn to sigh. Though she did with a bit more irritation to it. "Of course I can perceive it, Tatsumi."

She turned towards him. Lying on her side. She reached out with her free hand and grabbed his head. Turning his face closer to her with a gentle but determined push. "Can't you see that? Have you been unable to notice how I have held back ever since the imperial leadership stabbed me in the back during the western incursion."

She scuffled further closer to him as she spoke. "My general's concurred that I was not a fit leader. They decided who I should be loyal to without me. Then that same leader's first act was to order me to hand over the only possession that I truly love. For such a phony reason as you breaking the law. Something that every member of the imperial leadership has a history of doing."

"I think you are exaggerating this betrayal." Tatsumi tried but it gave no effect.

"In the past, I would have killed them for such a slight. Don't you understand that? Yet I stayed my hand. I suffered their slights. Making threats that I then didn't go through with. Giving everyone the impression that my underlings and these other up-starters were able to control me. Letting them make a fool out of me."

"No one in the capital would dare to even try to make you look foolish."

"Yet you have managed to do it, Tatsumi. I have changed my entire way of living since the death of the prime minister. Just for you. Haven't you even noticed it?"

It was not that strong, but it was easy for Tatsumi to detect a note of sadness to her voice and expression when she said that. It was a rare thing to see in her, but every time he saw it he felt a sting in his chest. Against his better judgment. Even if it seemed like an overreaction to him. He simply moved closer to her. Embracing her as he moved his head up to hers. Snuggling his chin against hers.

She answered to his movements. Holding him close she cuddled her head against him. "I will not tolerate it anymore, Tatsumi." she whispered. "My patience has ended. And if this trial finds you guilty, then the palace will burn."

Tatsumi stayed silent.

"I will show all the foolish schemer the difference between our powers." she continued to whisper. Anger starting to creep into her voice. "I will destroy the military leadership. I will end the royal bloodline in such a degrading and gruesome way that th-"

"Fine." he whispered back. Causing Esdese to stop mid-sentence.

She was silent for some more moments. "What?"

"Its fine, Esdese." he whispered back. "Destroy them all."

"Tatsumi?" she said in slight confusion.

"If you take that decision, I will be with you all the way." he said. "I am sorry for always getting in your way or trying to turn you to paths you don't want to walk." he whispered. For once being fully sincere. "You are the most important thing to me by now. I will never leave your side. Even if I might be nagging you every now and then."

Esdese was staring at the side of his head with wide eyes. He had never supported her in this sense before. Never endorsed her when she wanted to start an open conflict. Always trying to stop her through different means.

Not that Tatsumi could see her expression. His head resting against the side of her own.

"I will help you in whatever way I can. Not that you have ever really needed it." he whispered. He didn't know why, but for some reason, the fate of following her on her horrible campaign of war and terror didn't seem like such a bad fate anymore.

Esdese just stared at him for a while. Waiting for him to say something. To make a joke out of his statement or add some huge conditions to his pledge. But it never came. and when she finally realized that it wasn't coming, she simply just squeezed him harder.

"Thank you." she whispered back. Feeling overwhelmed in a way uncharacteristic for her.

Tatsumi just smiled calmly. Squeezing her back. In a way, it felt relieving to dedicate himself to one path. Even if it was one that he had tried so hard to avoid. For once being completely sincere with her.

To his surprise, he felt a slight bit calmer about everything. And a bit colder as well.

Author's note:

Dammit!

Why doesn't time work as intended. Perception goddamituWoOOOOOOOOconcept becoming vague.

TimeisrelativeaconceptmadeforhumansocietybutinrealitytheonlythingthatexistsischangeandthefactorscontrollingchangeareclosetoinfintethereforethismonstruosdelyisnotmyresponsibilityIonlypercievetimeabitdiffrentlyfromyoufolks.

Thanks a lot for reading. Will try to get another one out before this year is over.

Take care of each other.