Chapter 14...

"..."

(click...click, click, click...)

It was the middle of the night and the light was still lit in Tatsumi's room. He felt like he was just wandering in the dark. So many things had happened to him, ever since joining these Night Raid assassins. Learning about various targets that are a plague in the capitol. Having to work with all these misfits. Constantly being tasked to prepare meals that included extra meat. Meeting a battle-hungry general, who's hobbies are to torture people within an inch of their life. A dead childhood friend that constantly taunted him, given the chance. And now...being at odds with his ideals, and goals. Ever since getting back after engaging the three war beasts, he just wanted some peace and quiet, just to sort the jumbled information in his head. He sported a depressed frown while fixating his emerald eyes on the cylinder he found in the forest. His wolf pup was resting soundly by his side, to insure that no un-welcomed visitors would surprise its master. It's eyes partially closed, maintaining a constant view of his door, and window.

Tatsumi just kept twisting the one knob on the cylinder, while just halfheartedly paying attention to it. He didn't want to sleep just yet. The thought of being taken by surprise always haunted him. He couldn't sleep for longer than 4 to 6 hours at a time. He knew they were most likely secure this time, but for certain reasons, he just didn't feel safe, no matter where he went.

"..Grrr." The wolf could sense someone approaching the door, and gave a low growl to discourage.

"..." Tatsumi's eyes shifted to the door and he put the cylinder under his bed. "Come in." He said toward the partially closed door. "Corner, furball. Go." Tatsumi sternly ordered to the pup. It then hopped off and then laid down while resting its head on the ground while keeping a watchful eye on Tatsumi, as if awaiting his next command. The door creaked open and it was Sheele, in a pink, frilled, nightgown. She had slowly shut the door as she entered. She placed her hands over one another while trying to make a friendly smile.

"G-good evening." She greeted softly.

"What do you want, Sheele?" Tatsumi asked while swinging his legs over the bed and getting into a sitting position.

"I...well...was just wondering if you were doing alright." She asked while still standing at the door.

"...I'm just tired." He said plainly as he sighed. "A lot happened today...and the past month." He fell back and just laid with his arms spread out. He stared at the wooden ceiling, observing the flickering light that illuminated it from the two candles.

"I guess you have been through a lot, especially after what happened with your best friend." Sheele slowly walked up to his bed and sat next to him while adjusting her glasses.

"..." Tatsumi stayed silent.

"I can only imagine what that must feel like. You must have felt really sad after seeing her working with the empire." Sheele could only speculate.

"That's the thing." Tatsumi said while not looking away from the ceiling. "Why would I be? Why should I be? She betrayed me. If anything, I should be mad."

"Do you?" Sheele asked while turning to him.

"...I don't." Tatsumi admitted. "I don't think I felt this way before. I don't really concern myself with that sort of thing, so I don't know how to react." He looked at his prosthetic hand, turning his head in it's direction.

"...okay." Sheele nodded slowly.

"...y'know Sheele? You're different than the others." Tatsumi raised a curious eyebrow.

"Hmmm?" Sheele tilted her head as a question mark popped up above her head.

"Whenever something goes wrong, you don't seem to take it as bad." Tatsumi noted, prompting Sheele to blink a few times. "How do you do it?" He asked curiously.

"It's because I feel that, together, we'll get through anything, no matter how complicated it is." She smiled.

"Bulat's dead." Tatsumi bluntly said. "Just because we act as a team, doesn't mean that we'll make it through in the end." He argued.

"It's better than acting alone...I think." Sheele turned to her lap and put her hands together. "Bulat...loved standing up for the weak. He also loved spending time with all of us. He would do anything to make sure that keeping the dream of a free country, was kept alive in the hearts of the innocent." Sheele stated.

"...that sounds a bit too deep...even for you." Tatsu narrowed his eye at her.

"It's what boss said." Sheele softly chuckled. "But, even if he's gone, everyone will still remember him for who he was. It's the only thing we can do." She shrugged.

"I don't suppose if I said, I didn't feel quite as sad about losing him, that you would think I'm a heartless wretch?" Tatsumi suggested.

"Do you?" Sheele asked with an innocent expression.

"Okay, see? It's that expression that keeps throwing me off." Tatsumi shook his head in frustration.

"What is it?" She was confused.

"Why do you say that every time?"

"Why do you want to doubt?" Sheele asked while locking stares.

"Because I have to. I'm weak and vulnerable when I start to care. I tried it once and well..." Tatsumi answered in a bit more forced fashion. "No one cared about about me before. Why should anyone...?" He stared emptily.

"Everyone cares about you." Sheele said while placing a gentle hand on his. "I care about you."

"...you say a lot of funny things." Tatsumi shook his head.

"I am an airhead." Sheele smiled happily and looked away.

"Yes...yes, you are." Tatsumi sighed in defeat.

"..." Sheele just sat there happily, as a silence filled the air.

"...can I ask you a question?" Tatsumi suddenly said.

"..?...Of course." Sheele nodded. Although, she was very surprised to hear Tatsumi want to ask her something. She figured Akame, Leone or just really, any of the others would be more qualified. The way the conversation was going, it almost seemed like he was wanting to ask something very important.

"How does working with everyone make you stronger?" He questioned. It had been bugging him since Bulat worded it in such a way, he decided to get a second opinion.

"...Hmmmmmm..." Sheele seemed to be thinking long and hard on her answer.

"Uh, I'm not expecting a deep answer or anything." Tatsumi sweat dropped after slowly seeing the smoke come out of her head.

"...Ehehehe, I'm not sure I could answer that in a way that makes sense." She sheepishly chuckled while scratching her head.

"Yeah, I figured it doesn't really warrant an immediate answer." Tatsumi didn't really understand why he asked the question himself. He figured that maybe one of the Night Raid members could give him a clue, as to what Bulat's dying words meant.

"I suppose..." Sheele began to say while Tatsumi listened intently. "It would give you something to fight for." She shrugged.

"...like a purpose?" Tatsumi said while also thinking on it.

"Y-yeah! Like that." Sheele snapped her fingers.

"..." Tatsumi blinked, and just stared at the ceiling. "...I see. Thanks, Sheele." He suddenly said.

"Mm." Sheele nodded. Happy she was able to be of help.

"...so a purpose...is what I need?" Tatsumi thought to himself.

"Tatsumi is very nice...maybe he just wants a friend." Sheele was to, thinking on their conversation. A thought then suddenly entered her head. "Are you going to bed Tatsumi?" She asked first.

"Not quite." He answered.

"Ah, I'll be right back." She scurried out of the room, and came back with two cups, and dice. "I don't feel so tired either, so how about we play a game?"

"High Die?" Tatsumi raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, so you know how to play then?"

"Well yeah. I played it before back in my village. It was popular with kids and adults. I played with Sayo and Ieyasu when our teacher was busy getting smashed." He said as he stood up and walked over.

"Mm. If you get a higher even number, you take one of your opponents dice, until you get all of them, right?" She asked.

"Yeah...exactly." Tatsumi said while reminiscing.

"I don't really win this game, but I find it fun." She said while they both sat down on the floor.

"What a coincidence, I suck at this too." Tatsumi admitted.

"Really? I figured you were really good with these types of things." Sheele tilted her head in surprise, her lens covering her eyes, as a clueless expression showed on her face.

"I'm pretty sure Ieyasu cheated. He always made sure to keep a die that would land on three every time it landed." He hummed while remembering Sayo catching Ieyasu cheating. "What's the wager?" Tatsumi asked her.

"Wager?" Sheele sounded confused.

"Oh...no, it's nothing. Just a force of habit." He shook his head.

"Lets wager then." Sheele smiled.

"What are we wagering?" He asked with a narrowed look.

"If I win, you have to make dinner tomorrow." She proposed.

"I always make dinner." He deadpanned.

"Mm...wash the clothes?"

"Okay, deal." He nodded.

"What do you wager?" She asked.

"Uh...let see.." Tatsumi thought hard about this. "... . . ...She's terrible at pretty much everything now that I think about it. Something that's within her capability..." He closed his eyes and wondered what she could do. "Well, I guess I'll think on it." He said.

"Mm. That's fine." Sheele nodded.

"Alright, ready?" He said while readying his cup of dice.

"Mm..." Sheele nodded.

"1, 2, 3, and go!" They both placed their cups on the ground.

Morning...

"Errgh." Tatsumi scowled while whipping the sheets out to dry on the line. He suffered defeat at the hands of Sheele, 15 to 28. Even if she was an airhead, her dice skills were not to be underestimated. Just another hard lesson he learned. "'Oh Tatsumi, would you want to play a game? Sure, absolutely! I'm not that great, but I have fun playing anyway. Oh, what coincidence! I suck as well! Lets enjoy this together', damn it! " Tatsumi re-enacted in a mocking, sarcastic expression. At the same time, he folded the sheets and made them land gracefully on one another. "I'd rather take a fucking brick to the skull, than suffer defeat from that 'innocent' creature." He referred to Sheele. "Maybe I should have called even, than odd...that woman." He shook his head in defeat. "(Sigh), when was the last time I was riled up like this?" He looked up in the sky. "Mm! Next time, I will wipe the floor with her." Tatsumi decided to have another match with her the next time they could.

"Yo, Tatsumi!" Lubbock called down to him, from the top of the hill.

"What do you want, Lubbock?" Tatsumi asked, while not even glancing towards him.

"Um, could you come get your pet?! It keeps trying to attack us!" He explained.

"Furball wouldn't attack you for no reason. Did you try to move him again?" Tatsumi asked while stirring the barrel of clothes in soap.

"No! We were just eating breakfast, than he just jumped on the table, and started barking at everyone.."

"..." Tatsumi stopped, and stood straight. "...It better not be what I think it is."

Dining area...

"Grrrr, RAWF! RAWF!" The wolf pup growled and barked as Sheele, Najenda, Mine, Leone and Akame surrounded it.

"Geez! This little devil ruined my plate!" Mine complained. "This thing is rabid!"

"Calm down! Geez~! Why didn't Tatsumi give you a name!" Leone whined.

"Stay back, we don't want to challenge it." Akame suggested as they all complied. The door swung open and Tatsumi and Lubbock quickly walked in on the scene.

"About time! What's with this mutt!? It's acting like I'm trying to kill it!" Mine turned to Tatsumi in an angered tone.

"FURBALL, PRONE!" Tatsumi shouted suddenly which prompted some of them to flinch at his sudden tone. The pup complied instantly, and laid flat on the ground. "Ease up." Tatsumi made motion with his hand, downward. The pup instantly lost all tension in it's body, and calmed down. "Corner, now!" Tatsumi snapped his fingers angrily at him. "GET!" He then kicked it from behind, and it ran back to his room in fear. It's whimpers could be heard from his room.

"Wow, looks like he knows whose boss." Mine blatantly put it. Tatsumi turned around to face them all.

"Okay, who gave him something to eat?" Tatsumi demanded, while crossing his arms.

"I didn't." Mine shrugged.

"Wasn't me." Lubbock also shook his head.

"I didn't give him anything." Najenda also said.

"It was Leone." Akame pointed.

"Gya-! You snitch~!" Leone was baffled that Akame betrayed her. "It was just a piece of bread with ham! I didn't think he'd lose his head over a few table scraps!" She defended herself.

"...I see." Tatsumi responded in a calm fashion. "Leone? Please look at that." Tatsumi said as they all looked where he pointed.

"Eh? What are you pointing at-"

(SMACK)

"EEEENNNYYYAAA~!" Leone cried out in pain as Tatsumi slapped her butt so hard it left a glowing, red hand print. "What the hell was that for!?" Leone growled angrily.

"IDIOT! I TOLD YOU FOR THE FIFTH TIME, TO NOT FEED HIM NORMAL FOOD!" Tatsumi yelled back in annoyance. "SPLINTER WOLVES ONLY EAT DANGER BEAST MEAT! If you feed it anything other than that, it makes them sick! He probably thought you were trying to poison him!" Tatsumi had this conversation with everyone when the wolf pup stayed with them. He had to constantly remind Leone, because she thought of it as any another dog.

"He's just a wolf though! How would he know the difference?!" Mine voiced.

"Splinter wolves are extremely intelligent. They know what makes them sick, and what's alright to eat, from a special taste bud on the tips of their tongue. They ESPECIALLY, hate fruits and vegetables. They're strict carnivores, and will spit out anything that tastes like-"

"DON'T JUST SMACK MY ASS LIKE THAT!" Leone tackled him to the ground.

"OW! YOU BITCH-! I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU A LESSON!" Tatsumi said as they kept fight each other on the ground.

"...Um, I'm gonna head back to my room." Najenda slowly crept away.

"...Ugh, same thing." Mine didn't even care anymore.

"COME ON TATSUMI! PULL OFF THE TOP!" Lubbock cheered him on as they tussled. His breathing kept getting weirder and heavier, as he watched Leone's top nearly get yanked off as Tatsumi tried to push her away.

"We have to go collect our mail." Akame grabbed Lubbock by his hood.

"Waaaaiiit! Akame, wait! Just a few minutes longer! PLEASE! I MUST BURN THIS INTO MY MIND!"

"Have a safe trip." Sheele waved them off.

"NOoooooooooo...!" Lubbock cried as Akame dragged him off with her.

Later...

"MMMmmrgh~!" Leone had a angered huffy expression as she sat at the river with Tatsumi. Tatsumi had a bump on the back of his head while silently folding the laundry. Everyone else was busy, so she was bored and saw Tatsumi as the only one who was free. "That really hurt! Do you have any idea what that feels like!?" She finally broke the silence between them.

"I could care less." Tatsumi bluntly said while stacking his other outfit.

"Why are you so mean to me!? I never did anything to you!" She knew Tatsumi was a bit more rough than most people when angered, but she thought this was just uncalled for.

"I just find you naturally annoying is all." Tatsumi said while stretching. "You're the free-loading type. The moocher of the house." Tatsumi said as a verbal flick to her forehead rang out.

"I pull my weight around here! I do just as much work as you all!" Leona said as she walked down the hill.

"That's nice, Leone." Tatsumi said while not looking away.

"...you don't even care do you?"

"Nnnope." Tatsumi answered while picking up the basket.

"(SIGH), whatever. I can't even reason with you, in a way that doesn't put me in a more hated position." She gave up and just sat cross legged near him.

"Oh don't feel too bad. I see everyone that way." Tatsumi said mockingly.

"You really are an asshole, aren't you?" Leone sweat dropped. The two were silent, until the animosity cleared a little. "Hey Tatsumi?" Leone asked.

"Hm?" Tatsumi acknowledged after sitting down.

"Do you...not like being with us?" She suddenly said in a more gentle, serious tone.

"Yep." He answered with no hesitation.

"So quick!" Leone was taken aback. "So um, is there something in particular that you don't like about us?" Leone shrugged.

"Where's this coming from?" Tatsumi was now curious.

"I just wanted to know is all, if there's something that we could do to make it easier on you-"

"You don't have to change yourselves to suit me. Honestly, I prefer it that way." He began taking down the line.

"So, does that mean you're fine with how its been?" She asked while shifting her eyes at him.

"..." Tatsumi finished wrapping up, and sat down on the barrel. "Ever since the day you guys plucked me out of that tiny prison, I've been wondering what to do with my freedom." He began to explain as they made eye contact. "If I have another shot at Honest, I will take it. But until then, I don't really know how else to go on. I thought...maybe hanging around you guys would speed up that process. But I set myself back considerably, when I ran into Sayo." He faced the ground while thinking about her. "It was all so simple. Track him down, lure him out, kill him...and that was it. That was supposed to be a one way trip."

"..." Leone listened intently.

"...but now? The game's changed. Sayo's alive and kicking. Esdeath's back in the capitol. With that in the equation, I can't kill Honest until they both have been dealt with. That, is the only reason, I'm sticking with you guys." Tatsumi stated firmly. He stood back up and began packing up the laundry.

"...you've been thinking a lot on this, huh?" Leone frowned.

"Yeah." Tatsumi answered with a frown. "...Hey Leone? I got a question for you." He suddenly asked before he went back.

"What?" She asked.

"How does working with everyone make you stronger?" He asked the same question he asked Sheele.

"Because, it goes to show you can accomplish a lot more with everyone, than by yourself." She answered normally.

"...hm." Tatsumi hummed in interest. Sheele's answer was a bit different.

"My friends put their lives on the line for me, and so do I. We take risks for one another, and back up each other when we need it. It's the bond we all share. It' makes us stronger." She held her fist up towards the sky.

"...bonds...teh." Tatsumi shrugged.

"Why do you ask?" She wondered.

"...just something on my mind...thanks." He said while turning his back to her.

"...Mm." Leone smiled an nodded. "You know, you come off as cold and bitter, but you warm up every now and then. Maybe you're jut shy~?" An amused look made it to her lips.

"Shut up." Tatsumi smiled slightly.

Right after dropping off the laundry, Tatsumi decided to go to the training area. He looked at the target dummies, and flicked his throwing knives at them. He threw one, and it spun off into the air after nicking on of the knifes in the target. Tatsumi suddenly got real focused, and threw the last one a bit faster, with precision. It then stuck the knife that was spinning in mid-air, by the hole in the handle. He then walked up to the dummy, and retrieved his knives. After grabbing the last one, he just looked at it as a flashback played in his mind.

Flashback...

"Awright' ya' maggots! Today's the day, you're gonna pick a weapon, and stick with it! Just take your time, and find one that compliments yur' fightin' style." A gruff, middle aged man said, as he showed Sayo, Tatsumi, and Ieyasu a table, laid out with various weapons. He wore a battered leather chest piece, and gloves, and brown trousers over leather brown boots.

"Whoa! Holy cow, I don't think I've seen some of these!" His eyes lit up, as he examined a flail. "Hey, hey, hey! Tatsumi! Watch this! Hya! Waaya!" He said as he kept whipping the small chained mace all over.

"That's not how it's meant to be used. You're gonna hurt yourself if you're not caref-" Tatsumi tried to warn him as he kept almost hitting everything around them.

(WHAP!)

"...ow." Ieyasu coughed, after hitting his back. "..I don't like this one...

"Ya' fukin' moron! That's a flail, not a nunchuk!" Their master scolded.

"Hmm..." Sayo was looking at them all. "Don't you got any bows, or slings?"

"Ranged weapons are more prone to breaking. Plus, bows are only useful for hit and run tactics."

"Then, give me a bow that doesn't break." Sayo crossed her arms.

"That's a tall order missy. What use could a bow have in close combat? Why not try this new spear I had requisit-"

"Can you get me one or not?" Sayo groaned in annoyance.

"...well, I'll see what I can do. I heard them new crossbow's are pretty useful for sniper-"

"No crossbows. I want a regular one, except with a cross hair."

"...alright. But just because you know how to use hand to hand combat, ain't gonna be much help blocking a sword. You're hands will get too tired, and them fancy Devil Bullet hand techniques you got won't be much help." He gave in with a shake of his head. "But, you youngins 'won't have to worry about fighting people anytime soon. I mean, not much action happens out here anyway, gyahahah!" He laughed as he took another swig from a bottle that was on the table.

"Hey what's this-OW!" Ieyasu tried to pick up this bladed ring that was sharpened around, and cut his finger. "How the hell do you use any of this?!" He shouted in disapproval.

"Well at least he knows how to NOT use them." Their master shook his head. He turned to Tatsumi who was staring at a small knife on the table. He slowly picked it up and examined it.

"Ah, interesting choice their Tatsumi. Most of the idiots I trained always went for the big ass axes, or bastard swords I had laid out."

"It's just a little knife. I think you could gut a fish with that, but not much." Ieyasu didn't think much of it.

"Really? Well that 'fish gutter' is one of the best weapons used for close to mid-range combat." He took the knife from Tatsumi. "Lethal up to about 20 yards. Used by scouts and assassins. Silent, light, lethal, and concealable. This is a weapon for distracting enemies, immobilizin', and killing. And quite durable too." He said as he twirled it up and threw it at the wall, sticking it perfectly. "Plus, you can use it as a hidden blade for when you're in a crowd. And you can always retrieve them."

"...I'll take it." Tatsumi nodded.

"Mm. Practice with these. Their duller than a butter knife, but will stick your target when thrown the right way." He handed Tatsumi a bag of them.

"Now this is cool, a doubled headed spear." Ieyasu picked it up and began playing around with it.

"I'll help sir dumbass here pick something. I'll have yur' damn bow by the end of the week. I suggest you go makin your own, to get a better understandin' of how they work." Master suggested.

"Sure thing." Sayo nodded. "Come on Tatsumi, lets go try out your knives."

"Why you?" Tatsumi asked.

"Cause I'm bored. Unless you want to get your ass kicked again." She smiled confidently as she nudged him.

"You are the better fighter...for now." Tatsumi coughed.

"Keep up the attitude, it just makes your defeat much more enjoyable." She put her hand around his shoulder and chuckled.

Flashback end...

Tatsumi just looked at his throwing knife with an emotionless stare. He was lost in thought before hearing someone approach. He looked up and saw the familiar, black suited figured of Najenda.

"Yo." Najenda greeted in a normal fashion.

"Hey boss." Tatsumi nodded.

"Already practicing huh? Didn't think you'd be up for anything after that fiasco yesterday." She said as she sat down on a stump and grabbed one of her cigarettes.

"It helps take my mind off unnecessary things." He put his knives in his belt pouch. "Did you need something?" Tatsumi asked, knowing that she rarely came to him, unless it was mission related.

"Nah. I figured you'd need a few days off to recuperate. So, just try to get some rest in the mean time." She lit her cigarette.

"I see." Tatsumi nodded.

"...why don't you use this opportunity to get to know your teammates better?" She suggested all of a sudden.

"I know them well enough." Tatsumi groaned.

"You sure? Knowing how your teammates react, will help put your mind at ease when you're in the field." She explained while puffing out a cloud.

"I trust them enough to do their jobs." Tatsumi countered.

"That's my point though." Najenda leaned forward. "You know they can do their jobs, but what else beyond that?"

"Irrelevant." Tatsum answered.

"What makes you say that?" She breathed out smoke through her nose, while eyeing him.

"I mean, beyond that, I can't really see how useful information like that would be." He weighed the two subjects in his mind, and the latter always outweighed the other.

"Well, maybe it would be more assuring if it happened." She shrugged. "Y'know Tatsumi, I've seen guys like you before. They thought that their best friends were only themselves. And everyone around them had the same mind set. Because of this type of thinking, they were the most likely to die in the fighting."

"How so?" Tatsumi asked.

"They didn't rely on others to help them out, and they died alone, while no one batted an eye. Not so, the case with the rest of us." She suddenly narrowed her eye at him. "We don't forget our own. We back up each other. We protect each other, and LIVE, for each other."

"..."

"You're reluctance to have a relationship? I can understand. What you went through was the ultimate betrayal. So, I can't force you to open up to us..." She stood up and breathed out smoke while putting out her cigarette. "...but, as much as you look, you won't find something like what you went through here." She smiled and walked up to him. "Just know that we're here for ya, if you need anything." She fist bumped his shoulder.

"...damn boss. You say some pretty interesting things from time to time." Tatsumi deadpanned.

"Heh, I did sound cool, didn't I?" She snickered. "Either way, just acknowledge us a little bit, and I think you'll be surprised. Later Tatsumi." She began walking away.

"...I call you 'Boss', don't I?" Tatsumi suddenly said, which prompted her to stop dead in her tracks. She turned around with a surprised, yet subtle, expression. Tatsumi blinked and just walked off in another direction. Najenda smiled and just headed back, knowing that nothing more needed to be said.

"..'Boss'...heh. I don't think of myself as such." She thought happily after putting her hands in her pockets.

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