Chapter 15...

As Tatsumi was going about the rest of the day, he was running into all his comrades, one at a time. He just got done talking with Najenda, and decided to head back inside to prepare a meal for himself. When he came inside, he headed over to the kitchen area. Right as he turned the corner and was about to step foot into the kitchen, he just spotted Akame looking into the pantry. He quickly cringed, and took a step back and hugged the wall. "Okay, NOW this is ridicules, didn't she just have breakfast!?" Tatsumi snarled to himself. If he began making something, SHE was gonna ask for food as well. And that would mean he would have to go kill something. But then he thought, "...wait. What does it even matter? I'm just making a meal real quick. And if I just stay away from the rabbit and boar, she shouldn't be inclined to ask. Yeah...today is the day I can actually eat my own food!" Tatsumi mentally declared. He took a deep breath, and now filled with determination, he proudly entered the kitchen.

"Oh, hi Tatsumi. Are you making food? Can you also make me something while you're at it." Akame turned her head, and immediately asked. Tatsumi fell over in disbelief.

"I DIDN"T EVEN SAY ANYTHING YET, DAMMIT!" Tatsumi had tears of anguish fill his eyes."Yes I am. NO, you cannot have any." Tatsumi swiftly answered.

"But I want to eat something that you made, and I can't find anymore."

"Have you no shame you gluttonous assassin!?" Tatsumi frustratingly raised his voice. "How many times am I going to have to make something for myself later, if you keep munching on it, the second I put it away!?"

"But it tastes very good." Akame tilted her head.

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Tatsumi's head inflated momentarily as he yelled down at her blank look. "I would like to actually eat something made by my own hands sometime in the near future!"

"But everything is fair game in the kitchen. The perfect time to strike, is when your target is vulnerable."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...okay that does it. Come with me." Tatsumi grabbed her by the arm and dragged her along.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked, not particularly caring.

"We're going hunting! If I have to put up with this shit, then I'd rather nip it in the bud for good! You're going to make your own food, your going to store your own food, AND THEN YOU CAN EAT IT!" He yelled in annoyance.

"You're going to make more?!~*" Akame drooled at the thought of have multiple dishes of his cooking lined up along the shelves.

"Shut up! grab your coat, we're going deep in the forest!" Tatsumi declared as he let go and went to his room. As he got in there, he grumbled. "This is bullshit. I just cannot use logic on this girl! 'Vulnerable target', what the hell did these guys even do with leftovers?! Oh, wait! THERE ARE NO FUCKING LEFTOVERS, BECAUSE THAT BOTTOMLESS PIT STALKS THE KITCHEN LIKE A DAMN PREDATOR! NO, A PEST!" Tatsumi just felt more and more annoyed as he looked everywhere for his jacket. He looked under his bed and grabbed the little cylinder, and he unknowingly turned it's knob slightly, and it suddenly clicked a different tone. He froze when he heard it, and slowly pulled it out. he stood up and looked at it with a confused expression. The knob that was on it, fell of and he could see inside it. It was hollowed out inside, and a small roll of paper plopped into his fake hand. Curiosity overtook him, and he slowly unrolled it. As he did, it's contents were, what he could describe, as a map. At least, it looked that way. It had a topography look to it.

"Tatsumi, I'm rea-?" Akame had her black trench coat, but stopped talking when she saw him focusing on the map. "What's that?" Akame asked curiously.

"I don't know...I found this cylinder in the forest a little while ago, and just held on to it. It just opened." Tatsumi explained as she came over and took a look.

"This is old." Akame noted while noticing the detail.

"Yeah. It is. The writing is faded, but I think these are coordinates. I don't recognize the location though." Tatsumi narrowed his eyes. "Huh...I think I'll look into this later." Tatsumi decided to just focus on the task at hand. "Ah, here it is." Tatsumi found his coat finally.

Later...

"What is the target?" Akame asked as they were sitting in a tree. They had over-watch of the entire forest floor, waiting for the moment something passed by.

"The Digger Boar, or what everyone calls, ground pig." Tatsumi said as he kept his bow in hand. "It's related to tunnel rats, and will often pop up above ground to eat the shrubs in this area. They're about 5 feet long, and weigh about 150 pounds. That should stuff you like like a pillow when we cook it up." Tatsumi shook his head at the last bit.

"Sounds tasty." Akame nodded in approval.

"Since it will make it's escape after being struck once, I have a special arrow made for these guys." He said as he held up a strange contraption built onto the end of the arrow. "It's like a harpoon, it'll snag it, and we can hold it down until we kill it." Tatsumi explained. "But be quick about it, the tension might snap the arrow." He forewarned.

"Mm." Akame nodded. Tatsumi averted his gaze toward the ground. As the time passed, the two maintained a calm atmosphere.

"...say Akame?" Tatsumi suddenly asked.

"What is it?" She asked curiously.

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

"...coordination. Teamwork. Your options are expanded when you work with other people. Working with others makes you stronger because you fight harder for your team, and they'll fight just as much. Going it alone shows what you could not do without other people. You learn more from others, than you do on your own. Fighting for what you believe in...for the people you believe in, that's what makes us strong." She said as she eyed him.

"...I wouldn't know." Tatsumi shrugged.

"Why not try it?" Akame asked.

"I don't fight for a cause, and I don't fight for anyone."

"Then you must fight for what you believe in." She placed her hand on his. "Don't become a person without purpose, live by what you think is right. If anyone tells you otherwise, then they have nothing." She gripped his hand slightly tighter.

"..." Tatsumi blinked and slowly pulled his hand away from her. He clenched it, but then laid it on his lap. "So what you're saying is, live by what I think is right."

"You're strong Tatsumi. Don't let anyone tell you you aren't. You have something special about you that others wish they had."

"And that is?" Tatsumi raised an eyebrow.

"Your heart." She pointed to his chest.

"..." Tatsumi's eyes widened slightly. Never in a billion years, would he have thought those words would have entered his ears. "A...heart?" He slowly said with a confused expression.

"Mm." Akame nodded.

"...me? Have a heart?" Tatsumi repeated, still confused.

"A heart!" Akame said louder which startled him.

"I heard you the first time!" He snapped back.

"Oh, sorry." Akame quickly apologized.

"(Sigh)." Tatsumi sat back against the tree. "Isn't that just weakness?"

"Having feelings doesn't make you weak. It makes you who you are." Akame pointed out.

"...so I'm weak after all?" Tatsumi frowned.

"Who told you that?" Akame asked.

"..."

"...was it, your friend?" She hesitantly asked.

"..." Tatsumi just stared down.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to ask." She said.

"...if.." Tatsumi began to say. "..if...I work together with you...will I get stronger?" He asked with a firm look, as their eyes locked. Akame smiled.

"Mm. You already have." She warmly said.

"...thanks." He said as he stared back down at the forest. He felt a slight lifting of the depression he had carried for months. It was small, but it was a good step forward. Tatsumi struggled to find an answer from someone, but the conflict he felt from both sides couldn't make him decide what was right, or what was wrong. He only had these assassins and Sayo to look to for an answer. Sayo was his roll model for efficiency, skill, and a fighter. But after talking with Akame, he felt like he might have just been putting her on a pedestal. Don't get him wrong, he respected her enough to the point that he acknowledged that she was superior to him, even if he didn't openly admit it most of the time. But...Akame was different. She was just the same, except a blaring difference in their ideals and beliefs. Maybe she could...give him a hint as to what he wanted to do.

"Hey, do you hear that?" Akame suddenly said.

"..." Tatsumi scanned the ground and just faintly, they could see a few holes opening up from the ground. A flat nose that resembled a pig, popped out first, and suddenly long claws that were pulling it up from the ground. It squealed as it pulled itself out and headed straight toward the brush. It was a large brown boar.

"..." Tatsumi slowly loaded the arrow and pulled the string back. He watched it carefully, taking aim at it's back. One of the pigs perked up and thought it sensed something. "Sayonara, bacon bits." Tatsumi thought in his head as the arrow was let loose. It struck the pig, and let out pained squeal. The other pig retreated back to it's hole, but Akame landed in it's way. She then stabbed it with her sword into it's head after she dashed toward it, killing it instantly. Tatsumi held onto the wire with his fake hand, and then threw a knife at the base of it's neck. The distance was about 45 feet, and he hit it dead on target. His knife sunk deeply into it, and fell over and was slowly dying. He hopped down and quickly stabbed it again with another arrow. It squealed one last time before being put out of it's misery. Tatsumi looked over to Akame who was trying to pull her sword out of it's skull.

"Nice kill." Tatsumi nodded.

"Mm, you as well." Akame ackowledged. "Now what?"

"Now, we get these porks back home, and I show you how it's done."

Later...

"...is it done yet?" Akame asked as they slowly were turning the pig on a spit.

"Probably halfway." Tatsumi said as he was disposing of the unneeded parts. They were outside the hideout, cooking their prey in a slow fashion.

"We've been at this for hours."

"Hey, you don't get to complain. You wanted to know how I do it? This is why I am so pissed off every time you gobble up everything I make." Tatsumi lectured.

"How do you find the time to do this?" Akame wondered.

"Well, this slow-cooking method is just for today, other times when I'm cooking, it's normally right out of the kitchen." Tatsumi explained. "I experiment a lot. Whether it be poisoned weapons, antidotes, cooking. I learned a lot. Don't let anyone say that the little things are useless. When you're stuck in the middle of nowhere, knowing how to keep yourself healthy, is the line between life and death." Tatsumi said as he set the innards on fire in a barrel. "Okay, done with that nastiness. Keep turning those pigs. When they start sizzling, let me know."

"Yeeeep..." Akame said in a bored fashion.

"Just one more hour, then we can move on." Tatsumi sighed in frustration.

Later...

"Okay, I think you're done..." Tatsumi said as the two stared at her dish. After getting the meat chunks off the boar, they set it neatly on a wooden platter. Akame approved immensly at the smokey aroma that filled the air from their creations.

"...ahhhhhh~..." Akame drooled as her eyes lit up with stars.

"Now, if you can do this, you won't need to eat my food anymore." Tatsumi felt a bit relief from this venture. Hopefully with her hunting more down, he wouldn't have to worry about hiding everything he made.

"Mm. Thank you very much." Akame nodded.

"...wait a minute, where's my pig?" Tatsumi looked away and noticed that the meat he cut up had vanished. He looked back at the large tray that held the roast, and it was almost picked clean. "WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUCKK!?" Tatsumi yelled in annoyance. "Did you eat my-WHA-?!" Tatsumi was flabbergasted when he looked back at Akame who was almost through with hers.

"Oh, I was just picking off a few pieces because I was hungry." She said as her mouth was full.

"BY PIECES, YOU MEAN A QUARTER AT A TIME!? I WAS GONNA SAVE THAT!" Tatsumi yelled back.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought these were for me."

"Who the flying fuck is going to eat an entire two pigs!?"

"...it tasted very good~*" She gave him a thumbs up.

"I-you-WHAT-ITS-YOU-ARRRRRRGH! YOU FUCKING PIRANHA!" Tatsumi wanted to dig his hair out. "I hate you...I just hate you. All that work...gone, in the blink of an eye..." Tatsumi wore an emotionless expression. He could not win. He just could not win.

The next day...

Tatsumi was in his usual spot on the grassy plain, just looking at pig shaped clouds while recalling the event yesterday. Although he did discover that Akame was full after eating his, and half of hers. So at least he knew her limit. But he wasn't satisfied after that. Why did she always touch everything he put out? It was like these people were stuck with the same crap over and over again. It was like discovering flavor on meat for the first time.

"...three. Next time I'm getting three.." He dead panned.

"Tatsumi?" Tatsumi looked back and saw Akame standing over him.

"Oh, hi there, carnivore." Tatsumi replied in an equal tone.

"I...felt bad, and wanted you to have some of my...dish I made yesterday."

"...who are you and what have you done with Akame?" Tatsumi was a bit surprised.

"I'm serious. You worked hard...to teach. So, I wanted you to try it." She sat down with her plate.

"...why not?" Tatsumi shrugged and sat up. He grabbed a chunk and put it in his mouth. He chewed on it.

"How is it?" She asked as she watched him eat it.

"Mm. Very good. You took your time with it." Tatsumi nodded in approval.

"Mm, thank you." Akme smiled.

"I think I'll have another-" Tatsumi was about to say, but noticed that Akame was eyeing the last large chunk with expectation. "...never mind, I'm good." Tatsumi said and her face lit up and she began enjoying the food she had.

"Hey Tatsumi?"

"Hm?" Tatsumi asked as he watched the clouds.

"...can we go hunting again?" She asked.

"..." Tatsumi shifted his blank gaze to her, and then back at the blue sky. "I don't see why not." He said which made her smile, unknown to him.

"Mm, lets bring back even more."

"Funny I actually thought the same thing." Tatsumi cracked a slight smile.

"What should we get next?"

"Hmm, there is always.." The two trailed off into conversation as the two planned their next hunting trip.

1 week later...

"...here I am, once again." Tatsumi groaned as he walked through the capitol. After arriving, he was heading to meet up with Lubbock. Not much had changed since he was last there. However he was in a much better maintained district this time around. It reminded him the first time he showed up when he was hunting Honest. He didn't seem to be drawing any attention, but then again, there was a real lack of people around. From what he had heard, there was a fighting tournament being held with a hefty sum of money as the prize. It sounded interesting, but he was debating whether to get in on the fun. The whole nonsense with Esdeath kept him on guard at all times, when he was even thinking of going to the capitol. He could spy posters littered throughout the city. Another thing he discovered, was that there were rumors going around, about a new special enforcer unit call 'Jaegers'. Apparently, Esdeath herself, had been recruiting people with top notch skills and Imperial Arms, to go after Night Raid.

Tatsumi learned all this within the last week, he was supposed to meet up with Lubbock and Leone to ascertain the situation. He was approaching a simple smith shop, and could spy Lubbock inside through the glass window. He knocked on the door, and Lubbock came up to him to let him inside.

"Howdy! Welcome to my humble smith! We make things to last, and aim to give you an edge that will give you an edge!" He quoted as Tatsumi just blinked.

"...don't ever say that around me." Tatsumi proceeded past him, ignoring him.

"Aw c'mon man! I thought it was clever." Lubbock pouted at how much a killjoy Tatsumi acted towards him.

"That's the problem." Tatsumi replied while looking around.

"Whatever. Lets head down stairs. We'll talk some more." Lubbock told him as he flipped the open sign to close. After getting downstairs, they were met by Leone who was shamelessly lying on the couch with a drunk expression.

"Heyy thereee~!" She greeted happily.

"Hey." Tatsumi greeted while walked over and sat on the arm rest of the couch. "So? What's going going on?" He crossed his arms and asked Lubbock.

"The city, or the most of it, has decided to attend the big tournament that I told you about last week. So most of the upper districts have closed their stores for the day. That gives some of us, who have wanted posters, the luxury to look around." Lubbock explained as he picked up a poster he had of the tournament. "Miss Najenda wanted us to observe the tournament, to see if there was any potential fighters we could recruit."

"Why the hell would these lugs want to fight for the rebels? They're just in for the money." Tatsumi asked.

"Not everyone is entirely happy with living under the rule of the king. Half of these fighters are planning on breaking away, and moving away from the capitol." Leone explained as she hiccuped. She reeked of alcohol.

"You really think it will go that smoothly?" Tatsumi looked at Lubbock with his usual narrowed expression.

"They have to understand that we're fighting for them, not for control of the country. Giving them the option is what we will do, but not force them to fight. That's how the recruitment works." Lubbock said with a serious tone.

"...whatever." Tatsumi looked away. He didn't really care either way. "So, when does the tournament begin?"

"In the next hour. We'll blend in with the crowd, and just watch. I got some bets placed throughout the place, and should take away quite a bit." He grimly put.

"Awright~! Lets go!" Leone proclaimed loudly.

Stadium...

"AWWW C'MON! YOU CALL THAT A PUNCH!? I COULD THROW THREE MORE BY THE TIME YOU EVEN DID ONE!" Lubbock shouted in dismay as another fighter dropped in the arena.

"And that's it for contestant number 34, Kolby the Butcher is victorious!" A young announcer in a sailor like attire proclaimed as the tall, bulky, bull-like man roared after decimating his opponent.

"Shut up Lubbock. It's annoying enough without having to listen to you get into it." Tatsumi scowled.

"He's really into it. Nobody even would think to look this way, seeing as how half this crowd is doing the same.." Leone giggled.

"These fighters are just brutes with muscle. This meatbag actually thinks he's untouchable." Tatsumi was thinking. They were there for the majority of the day, watching the fights take place. A lot of spirit and tenacity, but no one that was worth scouting. It was boring for him, he could literally beat these guys in his head. He just re-imagined what it would be like to take them out, one at a time. However, after seeing the majority, he probably would take them all at once.

"MOOOOOOOOOOoo~! I am the STRONGEST!" Kolby loudly stated as the arena roared.

"And we have our winner! Thank you for coming out today folks! Remember the name of our champion-huh?" The young announcer was about to wrap things up, but suddenly a guard came up to whisper something in his ear. "...eh? We can do that?" The young man was puzzled. He decided to just roll with it. "..uh, well I've just been informed that we will be holding one last fight!" He announced as everyone just cheered in anticipation. "We're doubling the prize money! So if anyone here wants to take on our champion, they have a chance to have fame and riches!" He shouted.

"DOUBLE!?"

"I don't know if I can beat that huge guy..."

"I love money, but I love my life even more." A lot of the crowd, were looking to each other, unsure of who could take on the mighty fighter that emerged victorious.

"Tatsumi! Get down there!" Lubbock demanded.

"Huh?" Tatsumi was surprised.

"You heard em'! We're going to be richer than kings if you go down there!"

"I thought we were just observing." Tatsumi narrowed his eyes.

"No one knows your identity! We didn't have to register you in, so they won't have your information! You'll just be this random guy that showed up everyone! So go on, get down there! Do the thing we're you piss off people and kill them!" He urged.

"..." Tatsumi looked back, and didn't see anyone raising up to take to the field. He sighed and shook his head.

"Will no one dare to take on our champion!?" The announcer asked once more. "I don't blame them though, not just any random person could stand up after seeing this guy's strength."

"Hmmmm~?" Kolby saw someone coming down the stairs. "Hey announcer guy! Over there, someone is challenging me~!" Kolby pointed toward Tatsumi who had an annoyed look. Kolby didn't know if they were really a challenger, but it was a kid, so, easy pickings, right?

"Well, lookee here! We have a brave challenger coming to step into the arena!" The announcer said as everyone cheered.

"Heheheheh~. This kid is my opponent?! That money is mine for sure~!" Kolby was excited to be give an 'easy' opponent.

"Alright! So who's the brave soul that dares to go against our champion?" The announcer asked as Tatsumi got into his position. He had the microphone.

"..." Tatsumi thought for a second. Giving out his name was not a good idea, so he decided to go with an alias. "...Phantom."

"Phantom! Give a big round of applause for our challenger!" The announcer yelled out.

"Heheheh, hey kid? You know what this place is, right? It's where I pound little punks like you into a meatsack of blood~!" He tried to intimidate.

"...hey, am I allowed to kill him?" Tatsumi ignored him, and asked the announcer.

"...uh..well, if he is rendered unable to fight, than the match is yours. Every fighter signed a contract, knowing there life is at risk-"

"Fine with me." Tatsumi cut him off and stared back at Kolby.

"Hehe, this guy is cold as ever." Lubbock shook his head.

"A-alright! Let's begin the final match of the tournament! Lets have a good fight!" He shouted, and a gong sounded, signaling the fight to get started.

"Kukukuku~! Alright! Draw your weapon young one~! I would hate to have to end this too quick." Kolby taunted.

"..." Tatsumi took his two weapons that were slung across his back and dropped them on the floor. Everyone was puzzled.

"Is that child insane!?"

"He'll be a red stain when that big guy smashes him!"

"Pick up your sword, you fool!"

"So you think you can take me without a weapon to defend yourself~? Allow me to bring back to reality with a helping of my FISTS!" Kolby charged Tatsumi, and Tatsumi just stood there.

"...just like I predicted. This guy is full of openings when he charges." Tatsumi blinked as time slowed. When Kolby was throwing himself forward with his punch, Tatsumi ducked and made a fist. He extended his thumb out slightly, and gouged Kolby's throat with a powerful jab. Kolby then suddenly stopped and backed up, and couldn't breathe. He fell to his knees and the harder he tried to breathe, the harder it was, he passed out from lack of air, and hit the ground. Tatsumi just stared boringly at Kolby as he lied there from the strike to his throat. Spectators gasped at what they saw. They were all quiet as they stared wide eyed. Even the announcer was wide eyed. The match ended faster than it started! Away from the arena, was a view platform, that was led up to by a long row of stairs. Sitting there was none other than the ice general herself, she had a wicked smile, and a look of accomplishment.

"That young man...is excepinatly skilled." A young man with blonde hair and white clothing exclaimed.

"There you are...Tatsumi." Esdeath was now standing up to make her way down. Tatsumi scoffed and picked up his Teigu and short sword. He slung them back under his coat. He turne dback to Kolby, and just had a cold glare.

"I don't need a weapon...I am the weapon."

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