Chapter 13...

"I will ask you again, Bulat. Join me, and I will see to it that you will be properly recognized." Liver offered once more after putting on an odd ring.

"I'll have to refuse." Bulat swiftly answered back. He raised his spear up and was about to engage.

"Very well." Liver raised his hand up, and suddenly pillars of water erupted out of the sea, around the ship. The stock barrels of drinking water also seemed to burst out of their kegs. "My Imperial Arms Black Marlin allows me to control water at will. It was made from taking the organ of a danger beast that controls liquid. The odds were in my favor, the moment that you stepped foot on the ship. "

"Water, huh? Fitting for the subordinate of the ice user Esdeath." Bulat said while eyeing the water carefully.

"Lady Esdeath can create ice out of thin air! I pale in comparison to her power! Water Barrage!" He then pointed at Bulat and suddenly the towers of water jetted downward toward Bulat. Bulat then began spinning his spear above him. As the water collided, Bulat held it back by the force of Incursio's spear, shouting defiantly as the jets of water kept coming.

"Looks like he's gonna be busy." Tatsumi said while watching the two combatants in conflict. "Out of thin air too, huh? That will be good to know when I kill that bitch Esdeath." He said to himself. He then raised his Teigu to block a strike from a flute. The attacker was a young boy wearing a similar attire like the other two beasts.

"Think you have time to look away, Night Raid dog?!" He had a confident look on his face.

"Out of my face, meatbag." Tatsumi said while brushing him off. The boy slid back while holding his flute defensively.

"Your cocky friend ain't gonna win against Liver! The moment we got out to sea, your fates were sealed!"

"Don't just go killing me off in your head when you haven't even done it." Tatsumi said while staring him down.

He shot forth and him and Tatsumi were in another clash. Tatsumi was in deep focus as he kept up with the boy's attacks. They fought so quick, they couldn't even be seen as human movements. Tatsumi saw an opening and slashed at him, barely nicking his opponent's jacket. Nyau back flipped away and was panting while staring at Tatsumi with a baffled look. "This kid's better than he looks! I'm also a little sluggish from that hit earlier!"

"...That flute is strange. Looks like he whittles down his opponents, before going for a fatal attack. That kind of tactic..." Tatsumi's sword was then engulfed in a green, wind that kept spinning around it, covering the blade. He then shot towards the war beast and he suddenly slashed at him. He tried to block with his flute, but suddenly the sword vanished and went right through it! "..won't work on me." He finished thinking as he slashed his torso. Nyau was wide eyed at what happened. "It..passed through!?" He thought as he grunted and jumped away from Tatsumi. Tatsumi looked at the blood on his blade and noted with his cold green eyes. "Not deep enough.." He said while looking up at Nyau. Nyau gritted his teeth from the pain and clenched his fist in anger.

"Damn! That Teigu is unpredictable! I guess lady Esdeath wasn't kidding about this guy being strong!" Nyau thought while a cold drop sweat drizzled down his neck.

Tatsumi whipped his sword to the side as the blood splattered on the floor. "C'mon, war beast. If you got anything to show for yourself, do it before I kill you." Tatsumi stopped and held his blade at the ready.

"Don't get cocky!" Nyau shot towards Tatsumi and was about to clash again.

"Air Smash." Tatsumi raised his sword up and then suddenly swiped downward, a ball of condensed air slammed Nyau down into the ship, with a loud crash.

"From above!?" His eyes went white as he smashed down to the lower level.

"That should slow him down." Tatsumi said while awaiting his opponent to get back up. He knew that his battle was far from over. That guy did not use any of his Teigu's abilities to win. Tatsumi then felt the ship shaking and he looked up and he was surprised to see Bulat getting hammered by torrents of water that were shaped like dragons.

"GAAAAAHHHH!" Bulat shouted in pain as he hit the floor.

"Hold on!" Tatsumi shouted and raised his sword. A torrent of wind spiraled around him, and he directed the end of his sword at the water that was attacking Bulat. A tornado engulfed Bulat, and blew away the water that headed straight for him.

"Thanks, Tatsumi." He nodded, but he had taken a beating.

"Wind?..." Liver was surprised that Tatsumi fended off his strongest attack. He landed back on the ship and kept his composure. He walked slowly toward Bulat."Face it. We've fought numerous battles along side each other, I know you better than anyone." Liver said while composed. Incursio's armor cracked, and suddenly vanished, leaving Bulat in his green battle armor. He breathed heavily from the strain on his body that his imperial arms put on him. But mostly he was tired from getting hit non-stop by Liver's powerful water attacks. He tried to defend the people on the ship, while fighting off his former comrade-in-arms. "You can't hope to continue fighting me in a injured state. Especially when you are no longer capable of using your Imperial Arms." He noted.

"Don't be so sure." Bulat smiled while looking back at him. "Your ears are bleeding. I'm guessing that unleashing all those moves has exhausted you, as well." Liver was surprised that blood had began dripping out of his ears.

"Hmph, guess it can't be helped if it's revealed. I will ask one last time then, seeing as we are at a level where we can negotiate. Do you have any desire to join Esdeath's army?" He extended his hand in offer.

"I don't have any desire to serve the empire." He answered while grabbing a folding comb out of his pocket. "I fight for the people now. And against that broken justice system that oppresses them." He combed his hair back to the pompadour that he always had.

"Not the empire. Lady Esdeath. A second in command position would be-!?" He was about to finish talking his offer, but a ray of wind shot forth, and cut off his hand. "Geeeghh..!" He gritted his teeth from the pain. He glared daggers at Tatsumi who just lowered his blade after swiping it.

"Oh my gosh, would you shut up and die already?" Tatsumi said with an annoyed sigh.

"Tatsumi.." Bulat was surprised by his sudden attack.

"Bastard child!...Lady Esdeath was right about you after all." He said while reaching into his coat, while cradling his other. "You are dangerous."

"Don't worry Tatsumi, I can handle him." Bulat said back.

"Tch." Tatsumi scoffed while sticking the end of his sword on the ground.

"I guess I'll have to make my last stand here...then I'll just increase my strength." He then grabbed a syringe from his coat, and then stuck it in his neck.

"Is he doping?" Tatsumi wondered.

As the strange liquid entered his system, his body stiffened, and was being bulked up. His strength had returned threefold. He drew his sword and held it at the ready. "COME BULAT! LET US FINISH THIS!" He couldn't feel the pain anymore, and his adrenaline skyrocketed. His eyes were filled with determination, just as if he was ready to take down his opponent no matter what.

"I couldn't agree more!" Bulat touched a button on his shoulder pad, and a sword with a chain and eye-like jewel, ejected from the back of his armor. He grabbed it and then the two charged each other. As they collided their swords, wind whipped around them, sparks flew, clanging metal echoed, blood was spilled. Tatsumi was watching the two go at it. He was rather fascinated by the tenacity of both sides. A thought then suddenly occurred to him. He looked at the general's severed hand that was in a small pool of blood. The ring wasn't on it. He then flashed back to what he said earlier.

"It was made from the organ of a danger beast that controlled liquid."

"Liquid...?!" Tatsumi's eyes widened. He saw blood flying everywhere from Liver. Bulat then brought down his blade, and broke the general's sword, while cutting deeply into his torso with a decisive slash. Liver was knocked back as the blood sprayed everywhere. Bulat had finally beaten him...or so he thought...

"BULAT! HIS BLOOD-!" Tatsumi tried to warn him. Realizing that blood was also another form of liquid.

"Hidden Technique: Hidden Blade of Blood!" Liver's blood came out of the cuts in his body and shot towards him in a mere second.

"You had something like this!? HAAAAAAAAHH!" Bulat was shocked, but he swiftly knocked away the hardened blood bullets. A few, however, had gotten past his blade, and pierced his armor.

"No way...he deflected an attack that uses one's life force!? Incon...ceivable..." Liver was surprised that Bulat lasted through that. His corpse hit the ground and all was now quiet, apart from the sea breeze.

"(Pant)...(pant)..." Bulat was spent. He put all his spirit into this fight, and now, it was over.

"Not bad Bulat." Tatsumi came up to him with the same stern look. "Quick reaction. To think he'd use his own blood to attack..." Tatsumi shook his head.

"Hehehe..my passion burns hotter than any other...looks like you had a better match up than I did." He noted, noticing his lack of injury.

"He was a little quick, but other than that-?" Tatsumi began to say, but he heard the playing of a flute and Bulat turned his head to the hole that Tatsumi sent Nyau down. There was a mist as his silhouette approached them.

"Advent of the Raging God." Nyau suddenly said. His body immediately grew in size, muscle, and appearance. "Looks like I'll have to resort to my trump card." Nyau said as his eyes were now beet red and threatening. "Let's do this, Night Raid. It's time to meet your maker." He declared with a confident smirk.

"...Stay down Bulat." Tatsumi said while standing in front to face him. "He's my kill." His eyes darkened.

"Mm..I leave...it to you." Bulat wasn't going to argue. He also felt like his body was slowly shutting down.

"It won't go the same as last time. No opponent I faced, lived when I brought out my trump card." He mentioned.

"This is your trump card?" He smirked a little at his overconfidence. "Are you an idiot? Now I can't possibly miss." He said while sheathing his sword.

"I've just had it with you. It's time to DIE!" He shot forth towards Tatsumi. Tatsumi waited until the right moment. He was closing in, as Tatsumi reached into his dress coat.

"Just a little closer...Now." He then quickly threw two knifes at his face at blinding speed. Unable to dodge, Nyau had both his eyes gouged in. "GYAAA!" He roared in pain, as he yanked out the two small knifes. Along with his eyeballs.

"CURSE YOU, NIGHT RAID TRASH! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU, FUCKING KILL YOU ALLLLL!" He proclaimed as he swiped violently around him.

"There is something that I learned about a Teigu user.." Tatsumi said as Nyau tried to grab him, by the sound of his voice. "No matter who I'm facing, they rely on it to get them through a fight.." He said as he threw another knife into his chest, making him stumble back. "...to me...that's a fatal weakness." He threw another, and another, with one hand at a time. Nyau dropped the flute and threw up blood. His body began weakening.

"The..fuck!? I can't...MOVE!" He felt his muscles spasm, and tightening.

"Those knives in your chest, are laced with a venom I extracted from a snake danger beast. Ironically though, it was never intended to kill, but to buy the snake enough time to escape from predators many times it's size." Tatsumi explained.

"YOU DIRTY BASTARD! FIGHT ME FAIR AND SQUARE! I'll WRING YOU-GAHG!" Tatsumi threw his fifth knife into his shoulder.

"You don't have much to show for yourself, other than that piece of garbage Teigu. Using it has made you reliant on it. Instead of perfecting your own skills, you perfected the Teigu instead..." Tatsumi threw one more, making him back up against the railing. He then spun up his last throwing knife in the air and then suddenly caught it. He had a glint in his eye as he threw the last one harder than the others. It went into Nyau's open mouth, then stuck out the back of his head. Nyau then slowly fell back and off the ship. He splashed into the sea and sank to the bottom. "...and that's why you're dead." Tatsumi scoffed and looked away from the railing. Bulat was watching with saddened look.

"...such a shame..Tatsumi...what this cruel world has forced...upon you...to act the way you do." Bulat thought as he felt darkness nearing. Tatsumi knelt down next to him and examined the entry points of the blood projectiles.

"..he missed your vitals...but why are you dying?" Tatsumi told Bulat as he tried to cover up the holes with handkerchief he had on his person.

"I'm...pretty sure that was also...a poison he injected into his body." Bulat deduced.

"...Hmm...maybe I can-" Tatsumi was trying to think of something. But, Bulat, shook his head with a smile, weakly.

"Mm'mm...by the time I get help...the empire will be upon us."

"...you sure?" Tatsumi asked with a blank look. But he already knew the answer. He could tell by the look in his eyes.

The mission comes first.

"Hehehe...(cough)...I knew what it would mean if I joined Night Raid. I was ready to give my life for what I believed in. I may be dead now...but, thanks to the both of us, we beat three of the strongest enemies in the empire. I'd say that we won..." He said with grin.

"At what price?" Tatsumi said as he looked around them. "What's the point of fighting for these people..?" He never particularly cared about anyone. He just wanted revenge. And he didn't care how he went about it. Giving his life to a cause was the last thing he would do.

"Say, Tatsumi?" He asked.

"Hm?" Tatsumi asked. Bulat felt like he just had to get the last words he could utter out.

"I don't...know what happened to you...or why you hate getting along with others...but, I just wanted to say..." He held up his fist while facing the grey clouds. He felt at peace, and could see a light. "At least just...give it a chance. Maybe then, you'll be able to not see it...as a weakness...but a strength. give it..a...chan..." His eyes stopped flickering with life, his hand was loosening, until it hit the floor. Rain was now pouring around them as the ship kept to it's course.

"..."Tatsumi placed his fingers on his face and shut his eyelids. "A strength..?" He uttered one last time. He sighed and stood up. He wasn't sure if he could call this a mission accomplished. Casualties on both sides were inflicted. Night Raid had lost one of their best members, and the empire lost three of it's mightiest generals. The only silver lining that he could make out, was that he could take the Imperial relics from the corpses of the damned war beasts. He decided to go gather up the four Teigus that laid out throughout the deck. After a few moments, he wrapped them in his coat, and proceeded to find the helm to get this ship back to port.

"How touching." A voice suddenly said. Tatsumi dropped the imperial arms and drew his own in quick reaction, pointing it threateningly at the person that revealed themselves. He saw Sayo in a black party dress, holding an umbrella. "You seem to be hitting it off rather well with these guys." She chuckled as she looked up and smiled.

"What are you doing here?" Tatsumi asked, not losing his focus.

"I heard that ice bitch was sending some of her men to take out some Night Raid members. I figured you'd be somewhere near the action." She explained as she smiled normally.

"Sounds just like me, doesn't it?" Tatsumi scoffed, but maintained a stern look.

"I did grow up with you after all." She giggled.

"If you're here to fight, I will happily exact my revenge for taking my fucking arm." He threatened.

"That was just to teach you a lesson. But look at yourself now. You just picked off two of the deadliest fighters that the capitol can muster at this time. I'd say that you learned to stop being so dim-witted." She applauded.

"Dim-witted?" Tatsumi narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"Yep. You got some new moves. Perhaps staying with those Night Raid rebels is helping your growth." She said as she eyed Bulat's body.

"They make good sparring partners." Tatsumi acknowledged.

"Akame is also pretty good. She'd make a helluva rival. But you do know, right? I would make a better trainer than her, any day of the week. Want some pointers on how to actually not get your ass kicked?" She mocked with a dark smile. "Or do you just want to be another meatbag?"

"..." Tatsumi was motionless, but kept a lock on her position and demeanor. He'd lost to her twice, he wouldn't stand for a third. Her words however, were clearly intended to provoke a response. He gritted his teeth behind his lips, enduring the urge to lash out foolishly. That was what she wanted. But the thought of simply proving her right outweighed the other, prompting him to not give in to the anger. He kept his killing intent in check, focusing solely on defense, and observation.

"...hmhmhmhm." She giggled after a moment of silence. "Wow, normally you'd fly off the handle after that level of taunting. Maybe you are learning?" She nodded her head with praise. "So, you're probably thinking I was gonna pick you off when you got done fighting these guys, and make off with all these imperial arms...right?" She shrugged.

"No." Tatsumi replied. "I'm thinking of putting you back in the ground for good." He said as he tightened his grip.

"Oh don't spout nonsense like that. That hurts my feelings." She joked as she walked over to Liver and nudged him with her foot, to see if he was actually dead. "I really...think we'd get along a lot better now..." She looked back to him with a warm smile. "The two of us, taking on the world? Doesn't it just sound romantic?" She spun around while her dress fluttered slightly. "...but you don't want to settle down..do ya'?" She looked back and sighed.

"Honest is going to die for what he did to the village. And I will kill anyone, be it rebel, imperial, or a fucking danger beast, I don't care, to get to him, if I have to." He declared.

"...what then?" Sayo tilted her head with a blank look.

"One thing at a time." Tatsumi scoffed.

"Since when did you care about fighting for the village? If anything, you'd be fighting to avenge Ieyasu and me." She raised an eyebrow. "You never were particularly close to the old man. He treated you like shit half the time." She recalled.

"What the hell does it matter to you?" He groaned in annoyance.

"...nothing. I just wanted to talk longer." She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Why are you here, Sayo?" Tatsumi felt like the conversation was derailed.

"I'm a spy Tatsumi. It's my job to handle intelligence. I just came to watch." She told him. "And to see if you were actually improving-" She began finished saying, but Tatsumi was getting annoyed by the vagueness in her words.

"Why does my growth matter?" Tatsumi demanded. "Give me a straight answer or I'll beat it out of you."

"You'd love that wouldn't you?" She made an amused look.

"...sonuvabitch, Sayo." Tatsumi lowered his sword and scowled.

"Don't worry about it too much. Just focus on getting better. You'll have your..'vengeance', in the near future." She advised him.

"You think I'll let you just walk?" Tatsumi suddenly tensed up.

"You think you can catch me?" She mused. "Think about the situation. It's logical to take all these Teigu back to the army." She told him as she walked toward the railing. "Think of it as a gift, for all your hard work."

"Enough with this mind game nonsense, what are you planning?" Tatsumi demanded once more.

"Tell you what, Tatsumi.." She then turned around and eyed him with a smile. "..if you want to know why I'm with the Empire, ask the rebels."

"Eh?" Tatsumi made a confused look.

"I mean...they're the reason, we got attacked at our village." She said as her hair foreshadowed her serious eyes .

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Tatsumi was...well, he wasn't sure what the hell she was going on about. Was it another mind game she was playing?

"See ya, Tatsumi." She then jumped over the rail, and onto a flying danger beast that looked like a floating sting ray. "If you want to talk again, find me through this contact." She tossed a small scroll no bigger than his finger, down to him. He caught it and Looked at it in his hand. "Till next time." She lastly said.

"..." Tatsumi was now left alone on the deck. He saw the ship getting closer to land, not too far from the port. Sayo must have already set the ship to head straight back to the port, Tatsumi thought. He lowered his head and was now wondering what he should do next. He picked up the coat full of relics and and then turned to Bulat's body. He remembered what he said about giving the things he thought were weakness a chance to become a strength. But Sayo's words about the rebel army being responsible for the destruction of his village...

...he had enough for one day. He couldn't think straight with everything that just happened. He decided to just get the hell outta there before something more fucked up showed.

Later...

"They're late." Najenda said as her and everyone else sat in the meeting room, awaiting Tatsumi and Bulat's return. Akame and Lubbock had returned from their mission and didn't spot the imposters.

"Maybe something happened." Lubbock suggested. "Maybe they ran into the impostors."

"Should we go check on them?" Sheele wondered.

"If they haven't reported back by now.." Mine frowned.

"...I'll give it one more day. Perhaps they're just laying low." Najenda puffed a cloud and sighed. "You guys are okay...right?" She thought as she reached for a cigarette.

(Knock, Knock...knock)

The door to the hideout echoed.

"That's them!" Leone gleefully said and went to go greet them.

"About time, making me worry like that." She Mine smiled.

"Heeeey~! Tatsumi! You're late...where's Bulat?" She suddenly asked in the other room. "Hey are you okay?" She asked again in a concerned tone. Tatsumi showed up in the meeting room with a tired frown.

"Welcome back. Where's Bulat?" Najenda asked, noticing him not with him.

"...He didn't make it." Tatsumi replied dully. Everyone gasped in disbelief. He just avoided eye contact. "The three war beasts showed up and ambushed us on the ship. Bulat was fighting the leader, and I took out the subordinates. The guy he was fighting was his former commander. He beat him, but he used the trump card in his Teigu to take him down, last minute. I brought back the other Arms." He put his jacket on the ground that had the three beasts, and Bulat's Imperial Arms.

"...so he's gone." Leone frowned.

"...you did a good job Tatsumi. Bulat knew the risks and did his best. With his sacrifice, and the procurement of the Teigu, we've taken a massive step toward regaining the kingdom." Najenda said as she sighed depressingly. "Bulat was a good man. And comrade. His service in protecting the weak...won't be forgotten. Go get some rest Tatsumi. We'll discuss more about this when you're feeling up to it." She ordered.

"Boss." Tatsumi nodded slightly and left the room. All of them were now hit with a wave of depression as they bowed their heads.

"..." Akame made a sad frown. She went up to the coat full of weapons and picked Bulat's sword up. "..Bulat." She said his name once more while looking at the key to Incursio.

"I can't believe he didn't make it out." Lubbock said while putting his hands in his pockets.

"..." Sheele was saddened. But she was also concerned about the state of Tatsumi. He looked to be preoccupied by by something.

"All of you can take it easy for now. Like I said. It's been a long day." Najenda ordered. They all slowly left the room to go back to what they were doing, with less enthusiasm. Najenda waited till they were out of sight before gritting her teeth.

"Damn you...Esdeath.."

Tatsumi was sitting at his bed while kicking his boots off, removing his dress shirt and slipping on his dark green shirt. It was a lot more comfortable than that stupid former party outfit he wore. He sat there while trying to decided what happened, and in what order. His thoughts were going in circles. He placed his metal hand on his head while trying to focus...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

"...(sigh)." Tatsumi sighed. He just didn't know what to think anymore. "What the fuck is going on with me? I can't think...too much.."

I..leave it..to you..

Oh, don't spout nonsense like that, it hurts my feelings.

Not see it as a weakness...

I did grow up with you after all.

A strength..

The two of us taking on the world...doesn't it sound romantic?

I fight for the people now.

Or do you just want to be another meatbag?

Give it...a chance..

They're the reason we got attacked at our village..

Give it a chance...

You'd love that, wouldn't you?...

Tatsumi's head hurt from the voices that constantly clashed with his ideals. What was right? What was wrong? But the thing that weighed heavily on his conscience...

"...What am I fighting for...?"

Hope this was good!

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