Well, we are about a month late.

But that is still a huge improvement.

Instinctual adjustment

Tatsumi slowly woke by what felt like poking on the side of his face. Slowly coming to as he opened his eyes.

He was lying flat on his back in the bed. A position that he usually didn't sleep in. Signaling that he must have been completely exhausted when sleep finally took him.

He kept looking up at the stone roof for some moments as the poking on his cheek continued. Already knowing the source of it.

Esdese was lying on her stomach beside him. Her head resting in one of her hands. Its elbow in the mattress. Her other hand poking and nudging his face. Her expression calm and content. A warm and peaceful smile on her face.

"Good morning." she said silently as his eyes landed on her. Not really meeting his gaze. More looking at his face than his eyes.

Tatsumi studied her for some small moments as all of his memories of the day prior returned to him. "How you doing?" he said in the tone of a pickup line. Meaning it as a joke.

"Fine." Esdese said and sighed lightly. Still poking and nudging his chin with one of her hands. "Quite excellent, actually."

"Huh. Well, I can imagine." Tatsumi said and looked back up at the ceiling. Letting silence rule for some moments as he thought about the night prior. About what he had promised her. In complete sincerity. He found it strange. He felt no remorse or regret about any of it. Fully aware that the idea seemed inconceivable to him just twenty-four hours ago. He felt like something had changed but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Been up for long?" he asked after a while.

"A while, yeah." she said in the same calm and happy voice. Her fingers moving down and starting to scratch his jaw a bit. "Decided that it was about time that you woke up, as well."

"Scratching someone under the chin is usually not the way you wake someone up. Or did I look a lot like a dog this morning?"

Esdese let out a single chuckle. "I am trying to get some of the blood away from your face, idiot."

Only then did Tatsumi remember that part of it all. Slowly rising up a bit in the bed as he looked around. Noticing how all the sheets had spots of varying degrees of pink on them. Suddenly well aware that his face felt very dirty. When he looked over at Esdese, her smile widened a bit. She had a lot of red color on her otherwise pale skin. Mostly around her mouth but some on her arms and body as well. Both her breasts were a bit darker in the red tone than her arms and shoulders.

Usually, that would have made him feel a little bit self-conscious. Since he knew that it was him that had gotten it on her there. But he felt no such shame any longer. Another change that he noticed.

"Well, for once it isn't actually my blood." he said and wiped his jaw with the back of his hand. Making Esdese withdraw her hand.

"I think a little bit of it is yours." she said and placed her fingers on his chest. Four strong red marks crossing his chest where she had torn through his shirt the day before.

He gently grabbed her hand with his own. Bringing it up to his face. Looking at the bite marks on her fingers and the side of her hand. It had already started to heal. "Does it hurt?" he said and looked up at her.

"A little bit." she said but just continued to smile. "It is a sweet thing though. It reminds me of yesterday."

"Sorry..." he said lowly.

"Don't be." the hand in his grip came up and cupped the side of his face. "You made this girl happier than she has been in a long time yesterday."

He just grinned at her, for some moments. "Well, if you look like that, then I myself must look ten times worse. So I think I will head for the shower."

"Yeah. You kind of need one." she said and looked at him as he started to crawl out of the bed. "Tatsumi."

"What?"

"We are not living in this cell another day."

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. I have had it with living down in the dungeons. We will move up to my old quarters today."

Tatsumi just looked at her for some moments. Not really sure of how he should react. Usually, he would object to her defying a royal order. Just to create stability. But right now, he didn't feel motivated to do that.

When he didn't answer, Esdese went on. "You don't need to bother yourself. I will see to it that everything is handled. Just know that you should come back to my old quarters when the day draws to a close."

He looked at her for some moments. Her head in her hands while she laid on her stomach on the bed. Smiling at him. Looking inhumanely beautiful. Even with her body being colored by dried blood. Her naked and perky butt very visible to him. Her long hair spread out around her.

"Fine. Your wish is my command." he said jokingly and bowed his head to her. The motion meant as a joke. Esdese picked up on that aspect of it.

"Well then, my brave little knight. Go and make yourself presentable again."

He smiled at her and walked into the bathroom. Half an hour later, both of them had showered. Tatsumi still drying his hair with a towel as Esdese was getting dressed. He himself lying on the bed while she walked around in the room.

He was somewhat surprised at how at ease he felt around her. It had been a long time since he felt like he didn't need to hide things or be watchful around her. He felt like they really were at the same level now. And the fact that he had a strong suspicion that she felt the same made him very comfortable in her company. Comfortable enough to actually bring up something that he knew was a silly pet peeve, all thing considered.

"Hey, another thing, Esdese."

"Mmh?"

"Could you act a bit more as if we were equals from now on?"

"But we aren't equal, Tatsumi. I don't think I could ever accept that either." Esdese said with a calm smile. Lifting up a shirt in front of her. "As you have admitted yourself. I dominate you."

"Yes. I said "as if"" Tatsumi said. "We both know what we are together. But from here on out, could you act a bit more like I am your partner and not your pet?"

"I have always treated you like my partner. You know how I treat my pets. There is a world of difference there."

"Don't play stupid. You know what I mean."

Esdese smiled a partly sinister smile at him. "I'm not sure that I do."

"Try to be a bit more respectful towards me in public. I am quite strong, as you know. You don't have to be so protective and defensive with everything when it comes to me."

"I don't feel any need to act like that." Esdese said as she pulled her skirt on. Fastening it around the top of her waist. "I act protective and obsessive because I like it. That is one of the ways I express my love, Tatsumi. And even if a big part of it is instinctual, I quite enjoy doing it. In a way, it is more about me than it is about you."

"I see." Tatsumi said and rolled over. Lying on his back. Staring up at the roof. "But can you try to tone it down a little bit in public? Just a little? Try to think of it as my own selfish pride."

Esdese chuckled lightly. Smiling at him as she pulled one of her arm long gloves up over her arm. Attaching it to her uniform. "I will try. Since you are being so lovely right now. But I can't make any promises. As I said, a lot of this is instinctual to me, my sweet little Tatsumi."

"You're such an animal." Tatsumi said.

"I am very true to my instincts. As you well know. I don't find that as insulting as you think. " Esdese said and put her hat on.

"Of course you don't." Tatsumi said. He bent his head upwards and looked at her. Seeing the world up-side-down since he was lying on his back.

Esdese smiled back at him. "I am off. Meet me in our new quarters when it is time for dinner. I will make sure that everyone who is a part of the palace security knows that you are allowed to go anywhere you desire"

"Yeah. I think I will go and ensure some loyalty today."

"Anything that I should know about?"

"I will just go and scare Gallus a bit. So that he knows which side to take when things go south."

"I think he is aware of that already, though."

"Probably. But I want to go and mess with him a bit. Now that all the breaks are off."

Esdese looked at him for a little while. "He is still my subordinate thou-

"Yeah yeah, I will make sure that you don't hear anything about it." he said and waved a hand in the air. "That is how we have done this earlier."

She hesitated for some moments. Not fond of Gallus in any sense but still feeling some responsibility. "Just make sure that he isn't unable to perform his orders."

"Whose orders?"

"Stupid question." she said with a smile without warmth. Not disliking Tatsumi's newfound will to cause damage. She looked at him over the shoulder as she grabbed the door that led out of their room.

"Don't be late, tonight."

"I won't."

"And while I know that this might not need to be said, I still want to thank you. Deeply."

"For what?"

"For finally setting me free." she said and walked out of the small room.

Esdese was in her quarters when the emperor came to her.

Her original quarters. Not the dungeon cell that Tatsumi had been banished to. While Tatsumi hadn't been part of it, she had had all their things moved back to the higher levels of the palace during the day. Having her own personal retinue handle the move. Just like she had before. And while they had moved everything up and unpacked most things, they hadn't unloaded any of Tatsumi's things. His small cardboard box that apparently contained everything that he owned had been left alone.

It had been put in the entry hall when they were done. Esdese had been eyeing it ever since she came to inspect that everything was installed correctly. Really curious about what parts of his life he still had that didn't come from her. She thought she had all his possessions pretty well mapped out but she wasn't completely sure. And she really wanted to check if he had something hidden from her. Something that he didn't want her to know about.

Just like all other aspects of her existence, her passion for Tatsumi was insanely strong. And while it hadn't faded over time, they had found a routine to their relationship. But their latest interactions had sent Esdese back to the days when she first discovered him. Igniting a hunger to just have more of him. She wanted to invade him and his privacy. She wanted to get deeper into what he was. The concept of personal space and privacy being something that she had come to respect at a much later stage in their relation.

So after some time, she couldn't stop herself from tearing open the box and starting to explore his possession.

She had gotten rather deep into his box when the emperor came to her. Some of Tatsumi's clothes spread around her on the floor. Holding a strange bag of small bones which she didn't recognize in one hand while her other kept digging. Her full focus on all the things that smelled and felt like him.

She had heard that someone was approaching long before the knock on the door came. Looking up from the box when she first detected the group that was approaching. Staring out at nothing as she listened to the steps. But she quickly realized that Tatsumi wasn't part of it. Becoming disinterested and continuing with her search.

She only fully stopped when the two strong knocks on the door came. She sighed with exaggeration at the sound of it. Quickly stuffing all of his things into the box before standing up. She took a couple of steps towards the door. "Enter." she called out in an empty voice. Already having a good guess of who it was.

Yet she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when the emperor opened both of the doors with his hands and walked into the room at a steady pace. A group of warriors from the imperial guard following him. Acting as his bodyguards. All of them visibly tense.

Though to her surprise, the emperor seemed to be calmer than all of them. Dressed in long robes but without any crown or ceremonial hat. Meeting her gaze steadily as he walked up to her. Stopping when he was three meters in front of her.

"Greetings, great general." he said in a formal tone. "I see that you have decided to move back to the upper levels of the palace."

"Very observant, emperor." she said calmly. A nonchalant smile forming on her face. "I must say that you came here rather quickly. I myself only arrived here thirty minutes ago."

"Well, I never wanted you to live down in the dungeons." he said. His face a mask. "It doesn't suit a person of your caliber to spend her days in such a dark and damp place."

"Agreed." she said. "So what owes me this pleasure, emperor?"

"Maybe I just wanted to see you?"

"Maybe. But then you probably would have summoned me. That is usually how you orchestrate our encounters."

The emperor sighed slightly. His eyes not leaving hers. "I know you might not think much of me, great general. But I have grown since the time when we were on better terms. The change might be too small for you to notice but it is there. My instincts and intuition have grown. And I have a really bad feeling about you and Tatsumi moving back up here."

"Aawww." Esdese said in a slightly sad tone. Her smile staying. "I thought you liked me."

Kotaro opened his mouth but then closed it again. Stopping himself. Esdese raised her eyebrows and bent forward a little. Her hands behind her back. Her smile turning a bit more mischievous.

"That is beside the point." the emperor finally said.

"Is it?" Esdese said. Her playful smile staying. "It seems to color all of our interactions."

"Listen, Esdese." Kotaro said in a slightly louder voice. Trying to get his more proper and authoritative aura back."You have always been a loyal warrior. So what is going on here? You must be well aware that you are going against your superiors command by bringing Tatsumi back up here."

"My superior, huh." Esdese said slowly. "You seem to be missing some lines of reasoning in your argument, little emperor. I have never acknowledged you as my leader. Even if I have gone along with what you have said, I have still made that very clear."

Kotaro refused to let her raise the tension. "And I have never said that I wanted your submission. Only your cooperation. But I am still the emperor. That is the position I have been forced into. By Tatsu... By the head administrator. I am the one entrusted with the leadership of the empire. I need to ensure my subjects that I am in control of the situation."

Esdese put a knuckle against her chin. She looked him up and down for some moments. Still smiling. "Well, you have grown a bit in length since you came to the capital. I will give you that. But you still seem to be mistaken about a couple of things."

She looked past him. At the group of soldiers behind the emperor. "Leave us." she calmly ordered.

The men turned around and walked out of the room without a word. All of them belonged to Esdese. As did all of the military personnel in the palace. Ever since the ball, her own forces had taken control of the palace. Arresting and detaining all those already stationed there. Just for the sake of Esdese's hunt for Makeias' mole. The emperor was already well aware of this.

"Your facade of control is rather see-through." she said and smiled at him.

Kotaro just stared at her. Then he started to walk over towards her. To her surprise, she could see no change in his resolution. "Esdese, I have come here to try and make this work. To avoid that all of this turns into violence and chaos. Will you please aid me in this? Or have bloodlust consumed you?"

"I assure you that I have always been in full control of all my actions, little emperor. I am not consumed by anything. Even if I must say that chaos seems like a charmingly sweet option at this point."

"You are better than that, Esdese." he said and stopped a meter in front of her. "You can become much more than a bloodthirsty warlord."

"So you say..." Esdese said. "But you seem quite fond of what I already am. Not only of what I might become."

"You are the empire's strongest warrior. I want you to be a beacon of hope, as well. That is all there is to it."

"Heh. I was sure that there was something else to it all." she said and bent forward a bit further. Giving him a very good view of her cleavage. Waiting until his eyes inevitably moved down to her breasts before she spoke again. "Something a bit more basic."

Kotaro realized the trap and his eyes immediately moved up to hers again. "Stop playing games, great general."

"You're the one who wants it, aren't you?" she said and tilted her head a little bit to the side.

"I don't kno-"

"Answer truthfully, emperor. If you want to get on my good side."

He was silent for some moments. Then his weaker side got the better of him. He simply nodded. "You must have realized my feelings for you by now."

Esdese's smile widened slightly. She wanted to try something.

She turned around and walked over to the only table in the entrance hall. Leaning back against it. Looking at the emperor. When he didn't do anything, she waved two fingers at him. Signaling him to come closer.

He looked at her for some moments before complying. Not really sure of what was going on but the hope was apparent on his face. It amused her.

"I always say that it is pathetic to not act on your dreams and instincts. Tatsumi usually argues with me that a person's dreams will crush them if they don't put some limits on them." she said as he walked up to her. "What do you think, emperor?"

"There is reason behind both arguments." he said as he came up to her.

"So which side do you lean towards? Will you act on your dreams or will you just try to dampen the fire in you."

"I don't intend to be known as the emperor who backed away."

"Do you have the courage to prevent that?"

"I do."

She just raised an eyebrow at that. Moving her shoulders back ever so slightly. Puffing up her chest. Kotaro took a step forward. Moving in rather close to her. Esdese just kept smiling at him. "You are far from the first one to be smitten by me."

"You have never been courted by an emperor before, have you?"

"Heh.. courted.. " she said and rolled her eyes.

He raised a hand up towards her. "Let me show you my dreams."

Esdese looked at the hand moving towards her and then up at the emperor. Slowly blinking. "What was that you were saying about courage?"

His hand first touched her hair. Passing by her shoulder as she did. After running his fingers through it, he slowly moved down and grabbed her shoulder. Stroking it for some moments before starting to move down her arm.

"Wow, you actually dared to touch me." she said and looked down at his hand. Genuinely surprised. "There are few who does."

"I know that you are not crazy, Esdese." he said.

"Even I know that is a matter of perspective." she answered.

His hand moved down a bit further and moved from her arm to the side of her body. Starting to caress her slowly. Moving his hand up and down the side of her stomach.

Esdese closed her eyes and turned her head upwards. Towards the ceiling. Just focusing on Kotaro's touch. How he slowly applied a little bit more pressure. His other hand starting to stroke the side of her hips.

He had a certain precision to his movements that made her think that maybe general Faye had gone beyond her line of duty with the young man. She took a deep breath as Kotaro's hands slowly dared to move towards the little more risque areas of her body. His hands starting to slowly move up towards her chest. Though constantly moving a bit back and forth.

She had to admit to herself that it felt pretty good. It was extremely rare for someone to touch her body in this way if it wasn't Tatsumi. So it was a pleasant experience. As if someone was giving her a good massage. Though she got no further reaction than that. No spark inside of her. No wakening hunger. No sleeping need that stirred. It was enjoyable but her body and instincts felt no need to have more of it, as Kotaro's hands started to stroke and squeeze her breasts through her uniform.

That's a good girl, Esdese thought to herself. Proud that her body was on the same level as her mind. Not interested in the boy in any way. Not that it mattered in the long run. Even if Kotaro was able to give her orgasms by just touching her stomach, it would give the same results. Her mind ruled over her body and she was a loyal creature. She had made a promise to Tatsumi. That she would keep and protect until one of them died.

She opened her eyes. Looking up at the ceiling. Still smiling.

If this had happened just twenty-four hours earlier, she might have considered using this in some way, she mused to herself. Then she might have tried to fool Kotaro with promises of things he would never get. In order to cancel the trial and score some high points with Tatsumi. But now it didn't matter. Tatsumi had now pledged himself to her will in earnest. She would use the trial as the starting line to destroying the parts of the empire that she didn't agree with. Which happened to be most of it.

One of Kotaro's hands moved inside of her cleavage. Moving its finger down under one of her naked breasts before grabbing it. His boldness surprised her. Thinking that he would ask permission before he tried to touch her skin directly. Esdese decided that their little game had run its course.

"I will praise your empty bravado, useless little emperor. You are probably one of the braver nobodies I have met."

Kotaro looked up with her. Surprised by her words. Esdese slowly turned her face down towards him. Her smile had changed character as her eyes turned to his.

"Because that is what you are to me, Kotaro. You're the little boy that Tatsumi dug up from some worthless little village far out in the country that no one of any meaning cares about. He plucked you up from there and put you in the midst of all of this. A place where you clearly do not belong."

Kotaro didn't have time to say anything before Esdese hit him. Moving too fast for him to see it coming.

It was just a simple open-handed slap to the side of his face. But the force of it launched the emperor to the side. He landed two meters from her. Gliding yet another meter on the marble floor before he stopped. A bit tangled up in his long robes.

"The fact that you have grown doesn't really mean much about your place in the world." she said. Adjusting her collar back in place with her hands as she walked up to him. "You don't even deserve to stand among my pets."

When the emperor had untangled himself from his robes, he froze. Since Esdese had already walked up to him again. He slowly turned over, towards her. Propping himself up with his arms behind his body as he sat on the floor. Looking up at her.

Esdese calmly moved her leg up and put her foot on his chest. The heel of her booth pressing down into him.

"I have always found you a bit cute though. In your own pathetic way." She said as she grinded her heel down a bit.

"I have been nothing but kind and friendly towards you, Esdese."

"While executing my men when I am away from the capital." she answered matter-of-factly.

"You yourself have done much more horrible things in the past. I have only been trying to serve the empire. Just as you."

"Heh. I guess it comes down to different opinions about what the empire we proclaim to serve is supposed to be." Esdese said.

Kotaro pressed back a bit. His arms keeping him in a sitting position as his chest rose slightly. But he didn't fight back or move away. He looked up at her eyes. There was something in his expression that gave Esdese a thought.

"Are you enjoying this, little emperor?" she asked with an intrigued smile.

"What?"

"Do you like it when I step on you?" she said and bent forward. Putting one of her arms over the knee of the leg that was on him.

"I certainly do not." Kotaro said a bit louder.

"I know how to tell these things, emperor. Almost by instinct. And some parts of you are most certainly enjoying this." she said. Her eyes starting to move down his body.

When Kotaro saw how her eyes began to travel, he started to move. At first, he tried to push her boot away with a hand. When he was unable to do so, he pushed himself backward. Moving out of her reach. Crawling backward.

Esdese straightened up as she watched his retreat. Looking rather amused. "You know what, I have changed my mind. I think I will allow you to become one of my pets. If you ask me kindly."

"Your pet?"

"Yeah." Esdese said and moved some of her hair away. "You will be fed and given living quarters. Though you will share them with other playthings I have gathered through the years." Her smile grew as she started to walk up towards him again. "I hadn't thought about it but training the leader of the empire as my pet sounds rather fun."

"Train?" Kotaro asked.

"You probably have some ideas about what I mean." she answered. She bent down towards him. "And the fact that you are asking questions instead of refuting me, tells me that the idea of me training and playing with you isn't completely off-putting for you."

Kotaro looked at her for a couple of very long seconds before he spoke. "You are the only person that I have ever truly loved, Esdese. I have never craved anything more than having my feelings be answered."

"Just you wishing for it doesn't mean that you have any right to get it. Nor does you working hard to get it give you that right."

"Then what does?"

"Only strength. Do you have the strength to take what you want? Then that is all the right there is in this chaotic world. And no one in this world has the power to take me."

"Of course it all comes down to strength." Kotaro said bitterly. "It always does with you, doesn't it?"

"Ohh don't be sad, boy. If you offer yourself to me, we will spend a lot of time together. Your bloodline will earn you a lot of attention from me. If you manage to survive, you might even become one of my preferred toys." Esdese said in a sweet and seductive voice. Now she had started to really like the idea of making the emperor into her pet. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

The hesitation she saw in his eyes was almost provocative. She reached out to him. "Come on. Grab my hand. Become mine and we will have a lot of fun together."

Kotaro looked at her outstretched hand. She could see the temptation on his face. But then he took a deep breath and gathered himself. Looking into her eyes when he spoke. "And how will that relationship between us end, Esdese?"

"You will break." she said calmly. Her smile not fading. "And shortly after that, you will probably die."

Kotaro nodded. "I already knew that. I just needed to hear you say it." he said and sighed. Esdese closed her open hand and straightened up. She could tell that she had lost her grip on him. Even if her smile didn't vanish as Kotaro continued. "This is how I have changed as well, Esdese. If you had offered me that during the first month that Tatsumi trained me, I would have grabbed your hand without hesitation. Thinking that I would be able to handle your cruel treatment and sadistic games. That I would defeat all your other pets and then become your favorite man in the world. I guess it is that foolish hope that fooled and condemned half of those miserable pets you have. Thinking that they could keep up with you."

He stood up as he continued. "But I know better now. I know that I would not be able to survive as one of your pets for long. I now know that I have not been gifted with the powers and abilities that you or Tatsumi have. It is a harsh truth I now understand."

Esdese's smile changed character slightly. She let him speak on in silence.

"But that doesn't mean that I am meaningless. Nor that I can't serve a role in making this world a better place."

"And how do you presume to do that?"

"By stopping you, Esdese the Ice Queen." he said and stared her straight in the eyes.

"Ohhhh." Esdese said and raised her eyebrows. Her smiling widening.

"If not by force, then by coercion. If not by coercion, then by negotiation. If not by negotiation, then by deceit." he said. Looking at her for some moments. Then he turned around. Starting to walk out of the room.

"You do realize that your mission statement, while quite inspiring, might just have sealed your death." Esdese teased cruelly.

"At some point, one has to take a stance. Even one as weak as me. Even if it means death." Kotaro said and kept walking.

"You know that I have no reason to let you leave this room alive now." she said. Sounding more curious than anything.

He stopped a couple of steps from the open door. "I think you will though, Esdese. You like to keep things interesting. You dislike boring endings." he said and looked at her over his shoulder. "And as you yourself said, I am just a nobody in all this."

That actually made Esdese chuckle. Her chuckle even growing into a small laugh. "I was ridiculing you before, Kotaro, but now I can see that you actually have grown quite a bit." she waved her hand at him. "Go. Do something impressive, emperor. Though be careful. My military will be aware of your every move."

He looked at her for some moments as he stood in the doorway. "Goodbye, Esdese."

She just nodded at him. Smiling.

It was only after he had left that she realized that she had just done the same thing that she did with Wave. She chuckled again. "Stupid girl. As soon as they impress you a little, you want to get a good fight out of them."

She stared at the door for some moments. Then she shrugged and turned towards Tatsumi's box again.

Tatsumi walked up towards the large gate that surrounded the gathering of barracks that were stationed along the side of one of the capital's wall. There to act as a temporary home for all the soldiers and guards that guarded and maintained the wall and its military

The guards that were standing on each side of the gate stared at him as he passed them but none of them said anything so he chose to ignore it. Calmly walking straight into the camp. His hands in his pockets.

He walked around aimlessly for a small while before he found his target. One of the buildings in the camp that were marked for administrative work. Though it was the two extra guards that were placed at the door that gave his target it away.

He walked up to the door. Stopping when he was a meter in front of both them. He gave them each a look. Smiling at them. Both of them just staring at him in response. When no one of them said anything he just nodded and went for the door. But when he reached its handle, the taller of the two guards, reached out with an arm. Placing a hand on his chest.

"Where do you think you're going?" he said in a challenging tone.

"Thought that was pretty obvious." Tatusmi said with a smile. Taking a step back. The man's hand moving away from him. Tatsumi gave him a look. He seemed rather young for his position. Probably in his early twenties. But then again, Tatsumi was painfully aware that Esdese had killed Gallus best attendes in a display of ruthlessness.

"General Gallus is visiting this office. We can't allow a criminal to enter without his permission." the same man said.

"Accusations does not equal guilt. You should be well aware of that, considering who you are working for." Tatsumi said in a slightly mocking tone. He cast a glance at the other guard but that one seemed hesitant to get involved. Watching them both from his side of the door.

"What do you mean?" the guard opposing him asked in the same unfriendly tone.

"Uggh." Tatsumi sighed. "You're either ignorant, bluffing or just stupid. Either way, I am meeting the general."

"Then you will have to go through us!" the guard answered with more volume and gusto.

Tatasumi looked the man in the eyes ffor some moments and then took a step forward. "Listen kid, You are obviously aware of who I am, aren't you?" he said in a lower tone. Still smiling. Taking yet another step closer to him. "Then I think you are aware of how stupid this stance of yours is."

The younger man reached down and grabbed the handle of the sword in his belt. "It is a matter of duty. We are not afraid of your teigu."

"Stupid." he said and took another step closer. Now very close to the taller man. He could see the fear in his expression. When Tatsumi looked closer, it seemed like he was really close to losing his stoic facade. "And untrue as well. Now do yourself a favor and remove yourself from my sight. Or I will do it for you."

"Is that a threat?" the man returned. His voice very loud and unsteady now.

With a loud smacking sound, Tatsumi hit the man straight in the side of his face.

Tatsumi's hand moving out from his pocket at his fastest speed. Moving backward and then swinging up before the guard could react.

The hit sent the man flying backwards to the side. Hitting his body into the door of the barrack itself. The force of it making him bounce back. Falling face first into the dirt. Unconcious before he hit the ground.

Tatsumi looked down at him for some moments. Returning his hand to his pocket. "I don't think he is getting up anytime soon." he said prodded the body lightly with his foot. He looked up at the other guard. "You didn't have any objections to me entering, right?"

The other guard just quickly shook his head. Waving a hand in front of him.

"Peachy" Tatsumi said with a wide smile. "Clean up this mess, will you?" he said. Gesturing to the man on the ground as he took a step over him. Opening the door and entering the barrack.

He found who he was searching for in the first room that he entered. It seemed to be a simple entry hall. Bereft of any furniture except for a large counter at the end of it. Gallus was standing a bit in front of it.

The big man was standing in the middle of the room. Wearing his usual white and black robes. The great hammer that was his teigu strapped across his back. He seemed to be listening to a couple of officers in front of him. Talking him through their daily routine. He had a small kid standing beside him. Barely into his teens yet.

Tatsumi walked straight up to him. "General! A moment, please." He said in a loud voice. Overpowering the other ones.

"Ahh, head administrator." Gallus said. Seeming a bit surprised. "Must admit that I did not expect to see you here."

"Well, it's good to change your pace every now and then. I have heard."

Gallus looked at him for some moments. "Let us continue this later, officers." he then said. His eyes not leaving the approaching Tatsumi. Sensing that something was strange about the atmosphere of the younger man.

The officers bowed and started to walk out of the room. Passing Tatsumi as they did. One of them glaring at him as they did. Tatsumi winked at him as they passed.

"I hope that I am not disturbing you, general Gallus."

"Don't worry. abou-"

"I also smashed one of you guards outside the door. The taller one. He might need some dental restructuring." Tatsumi said calmly. Looking down at the young child beside Gallus. "And this your new fuckboy, I assume?"

The boy's eyes widened considerably. A hint of fear showing in his expression. Indicating that he already had some hints about what was going on.

Gallus own surprise had some much more irritated notes in it. "Mikeal, it might be best if you walk outside. This might be some sensitive information."

The boy looked up at Gallus and then his eyes slowly turned to Tatsumi. He returned the child's scared gaze with a disinterested expression. Scratching his chin. "Don't walk. Run."

The boy clearly didn't understand that Tatsumi was referring to the situation in general. Thinking it was just a threat. Starting to slowly run out of the room. Following the officers.

Gallus took a deep breath after the boy had left. Returning to his usual humble act. "How can I help you, head administrator?"

"You are one of the few who still refer to me by that title." Tatsumi said with an empty smile. Hands in his pockets again. "Is it intend as a slight or as a courtesy?"

"A courtesy. But if you want me to refer to you by name, I will, of course, start doing so."

Tatsumi shrugged. "Don't really care. It was a phony title in the first place. Esdese just made it up on the fly. Since she wanted me to have a title in the government. Made the bureaucracy easier. apparently. It doesn't really mean anything."

"Very well then, Tatsumi. How can I help?"

"Let me ask you, hand on heart, general. Do you believe that general Faye and her underlings would stand a chance against Esdese if it came down to violence?"

Gallus looked at Tatsumi for some moments. The question not easing the already tense air in the room. "Talking completely hypothetically here..."

"Of course! Of course!" Tatsumi's smile was large but lacked warmth.

"Well, Esdese would be completely solo?"

"Do you know of any of Faye's supporters that are on general level? Because I sure haven't found anyone. And anyone below that would most likely just get in the way or be exploited by Esdese. Against Faye."

Gallus was clearly really uncomfortable. He brought forth a tissue from his pocket and dabbed his already dry forehead. "Head ad-Tatsumi, what do you want to gain from this discussion? If you don't mind me saying it, it sounds like your plotting something quite wicked."

"I plan to gain some insurance." Tatsumi said. His smile lessening slightly. His eyes sharpening a bit. "Let me rephrase the question then, Do you think that you and Faye, with all your collected might, could oppose Esdese and all hers."

"Are you included in her resources."

"Now I am. To the end."

"Well, a battle is an unpredictable thing by nature. Many factors are impossible to pre-"

"Hand on heart, Gallus." Tatsumi interrupted.

The bigger man looked at him for some moments before he sighed. "She is too fast for me to beat her. In raw strength, I can probably overpower her in close combat if it came to a mere clash of brute power. But in reality, she would run circles around me. And her teigu is far stronger than mine. I stand no chance against her."

"That is my take on it as well." Tatsumi said in a much more serious voice.

"I am not aware of the extent of Faye's powers, but it is safe to say that she herself doesn't think that she can win over the great general. Otherwise, she would have acted differently."

"Final answer?"

Gallus looked Tatsumi in the eyes for some moments before he gave his answer. "I don't think Faye and I would have any good chance to defeat the great general in combat. If worst came to worst. Our defeat would be close to guaranteed."

For a short moment, Gallus thought he could see a small streak of sadness in Tatsumi's expression. "To be honest, general, I had hoped that you wouldn't confirm my view of the situation."

Silence followed the statement for a while. Before Gallus broke it. "Why did you come here, Tatsumi?"

Tatsumi looked at him. His smile gone. "Esdese will always pick my side, Gallus. Because now I have consigned myself to her will. So you should know what is about to happen in about ten days. When the trial arrives."

Gallus just nodded.

"And I just came here to check that you know the smart thing to do when that time comes. Though as you yourself said, it probably doesn't make a difference if you don't. You and yours will just be added to the piles if you do the wrong thing."

Gallus now had a pretty clear understanding of why Tatsumi had come.

"I disagree with many of Esdese's choices. And her ways of ruling. But if it comes down to it, she always has my loyalty. You can tell her that, Tatsumi."

"Hypothetically, of course." Tatsumi said and started to smile his empty smile again.

Gallus just nodded again.

"You know, I am starting to think that we are more alike than I first assessed, Gallus. We both stay with Esdese despite disliking half of what she does. We both overlook monstrous things happening on our watch while trying to strive for some sort of greater good." Tatsumi said. His voice a bit more somber. "I mean, I still hate you to my core. You're a disgusting, bootlicking, child rapist. But at the same time, I hate myself, as well. I am the iconic backstabber who let so many people die because of my love."

Gallus expression was empty.

"So maybe we deserve each others company, Gallus." he said, smiling.

He did nothing for some moments, then, for the third time, Gallus nodded.

Tatsumi nodded back and spun around. "Bye for now, Gallus. I might advise you to run the ships ashore, so to speak. I think the worst storm is ahead of us." He started to walk out of the room.

"Tatsumi." the big man said in his deepest voice.

He stopped with his hand at the door handle. "Mmh?"

"You have lost hope, haven't you?" Gallus said. There was a finality to his question that almost made it feel like it echoed through the room.

Tatsumi looked at Gallus over his shoulder. The big man looked genuinely sad. "I would rather say that I have abandoned it. It was a foolish thing to hold on to."

"I will pray for you, my son."

Tatsumi flashed the man his wide grin. "Don't waste your breath." he said and walked out of the room.

He walked out of the big building calmly. His hands back in his pockets. A couple of soldiers, the officers, and a medic had gathered around the soldier he had knocked out. They had moved him to the side of the door. Where he was sitting with his back against the wall. He could hear that the man had come back to his senses. Sobbing silently. The pain and fear very apparent in his voice.

A little further away, the small child that he had told to run was standing. Clearly unsure of what to do.

Tatsumi just walked past them all. Not caring at all about the looks he was given as he headed towards the exit of the camp. He got almost fifty meters before the realization hit him. Causing him to stop.

Why don't I have any reaction to all of this anymore?

He hadn't thought much of it but now that he reflected on it, this seemed very different from how he usually felt about these situations. He rarely acted on his more brutal notions. Nor had he ever been indifferent to suffering. He had grown masterful at ignoring it. Just for his own sanity. But this was different. This was indifference.

He started to walk again. Faster this time. A fear suddenly starting to live inside him. Quickly growing.

He now realized that something had changed within him. Something besides his mere attitude to the situation. Something fundamental inside of him had changed. He just didn't know what. Some balance had been weighed in a specific direction. The one direction which he had always feared the most.

His eyes grew wider and one of his hands grabbed his mouth as he quickly walked out through the gates to military area. Moving out into the city.

Now that he thought about it, he had not cared in the slightest about the fact that Gallus was going to rape the small child that had been with him. He had not ignored it. He had looked the kid in his big and scared eyes and he had felt nothing. That type of situation would usually turn his stomach. Always forcing him to excuse himself in order to get away. So that he didn't lose control and did something reckless.

There was one thing to give up. Another thing to decide that nothing could be saved. But even with that mindset, he should still have felt something about it all. Just deciding to walk down a different path didn't change your entire personality. Not just overnight at least.

Yet now he just didn't care. He had no emotional response.

"Why..." he breathed into his hand as he walked through the lower slums of the city. Not noticing how the streets he walked through became less and less populated. Completely wrapped up in his own thoughts.

He would have to be very careful about his own actions from now on, Tatsumi reasoned. If his instincts didn't react as much to cruelty as they had before, then he would have to be more on guard and self-aware than ever before. They were quickly approaching the critical point in the battle of the palace and the government. He couldn't allow himself to change his core values. To grow crueler now. To grow colder.

He had walked while frantically thinking about this for almost a twenty minutes before he noticed it. Lifting his head up from his hand. Not showing his realization in any other way.

He was being followed.

And not by some street urchin or common thief. He was being tailed by a professional. Only able to detect the constant presence due to the fact that the streets were growing less occupied in the area he was currently walking through.

He kept walking. Keeping the same speed. Hiding his awareness of the situation. Trying to detect where his pursuer was. Cause he could already tell that there was only one of them.

He thought about his options. He could just try to escape the situation. Moving towards the palace and matching his speed to keep his follower at a safe distance. Activating Incursio if the need would come. Its invisibility always giving him a good escape route.

His other option was to lure out the pursuer. Either by locating them in secret and then attacking them. Or simply by walking into a situation where his follower would either have to reveal itself or retreat.

After a little while, he decided to try and locate his opponent before doing anything else. He thought that it wouldn't prove too hard of a task. There were almost no people on the streets around him anymore. Mostly just beggars sitting in the street corners. Their tired eyes following him.

He navigated himself into an even more deserted part of the neighborhood. Still moving in the general direction of the palace. Just taking small detours in the direction that seemed less crowded. So that his pursuer wouldn't realize something was up. He didn't know these parts of the slums too well but he could manage. After a little while, he realized that his follower was up on the rooftops. Tailing him from up high.

Though that was the only things he managed to figure out through that method. He started to feel that there might be more to this. Suspecting some sort of trap. When he paid attention to it, he noticed that there was not a single soul to be seen anywhere nearby. Except for the occasional beggar. The area seemed unnaturally empty for the capital.

Not that he felt particularly threatened. Confident in his ability to get away if things would go south. Yet just some moments after that, he walked into a dead end. Without intending to. Walking into a small street between two large buildings. The street ending with another wall with a window on it. The small alley only twenty meters long at most.

He kept walking into it though. Deciding that this might be as good of a spot as any to end the cat and mouse game. But before he had reached the end of the small valley, he heard his pursuer jump down. Landing ten meters behind him.

He felt his heart drop in his chest. He didn't know what it was that made him understand. Maybe it was the silent landing that he recognized or maybe it was the fact that his opponent had chosen to land and wait for him to turn around. He didn't know how he hadn't thought of this possibility during the last twenty minutes.

But now it was too late. Now he had to face it. That one encounter that he had dreaded the most. Ever since he came into Esdese's service. And not necessarily because of the danger it posed to him.

He slowly turned around. Smiling sadly as he looked into her crimson eyes.

"Long time no see, Akame."

Author note:

I am a bit surprised that no one reacted to one of the bigger happenings in the last chapter. Or maybe most did and just didn't comment about it. Either way, I guess it might become pretty obvious in this chapter.

One thing I hope that you didn't notice is that parts of this chapter were written months apart and then put together. Hope nothing seemed too repetitive.

We will try to keep up this tempo. Which means one new chapter before April is over. Hopefully.

Still so much to do and so little time.

Your comment/reviews/pms are really helping me keep going with this. While I rarely have time to respond to anything right now, I read every word you guys write. Don't believe anything else. So I do listen to you. I just rarely have time to react to it on this site.

Thanks a lot for reading. Take care of each other.