Disclaimer: All characters from Akame ga Kill that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Takahiro. I do not own anything; I have Takahiro to thank for that.
Author's Notes: The next couple of scenes in the story took longer than expected but I managed to keep up with the arranged schedule. Once again, thank you to Ultimatrix bearer and SeihoTheNeko who took the time to supply a review. Your feedbacks are very much appreciated as they allow me to gauge what I am doing right and wrong with this story.
Ultimatrix bearer: after leaving you dangling around the cliff for about a month, I'm back with a freshly made chapter. I hope that you'll enjoy it.
SeihoTheNeko: Well, Yukio's case is somewhat… complicated. The point with his predicament is that he's extremely confused about what's going on and I wanted the readers to share his sense of perplexity. Seeing that it made you confused meant that I did manage to accomplish what I intend, which is good. :D
As for the fight between Tatsumi and Ieyasu, the only thing I'll say for now is that this chapter will indeed conclude the fight so you can see if your prediction is correct. ;)
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(Beta read by Revan's Wraith)
Chapter 25—Kill the Confrontation
"Can't hold back (Resolution and desolation).
My lingering doubts (I wander alone).
A clash of conflicting views on justice."
- Date a Live (Date a Live OP)
Location: In the Capital (A Hallway of the Fighting Arena). Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 106).
Leone paced the lower levels of the arena with caution. Stealth was one of the many things that Lionelle enhanced, but the way that Senpu shifted on her back awkwardly with every movement made it difficult for the woman. Briefly, she wondered how Ieyasu coped with the heavy weapon during his missions. The teen seemed to be able to move around relatively unhindered by the Teigu so she figured she probably wasn't doing something right. It was just too bad that she couldn't ask the wielder for advice.
Having abandoned her spot as a spectator halfway through the tournament, Leone was trying to pursue the figure that greatly resembled Yukio. Although wary that it was a ploy or hallucination, she didn't forsake the slim possibility that she had found her lost comrade. Such idea was reinforced when she followed him to the area underneath the staged arena, which was strictly off-limits to commoners. It would certainly make sense for the young man to be snooping around for information, similar to what she had planned to do once Ieyasu reached the finals.
'If the guy I saw a glimpse of is actually Yukio-kun, then I don't why the hell he's here instead of back at the base… Making us worry like that. Jeez, Akame did say I can't go around hitting people. But if that really is Yukio-kun, then I'm definitely saving a punch for him. He better have a damn good excuse for this!'
A soft sound of someone's footfall sounded in the hallway, telling her that she was not alone. The triangular ears on top of her blonde mane jerked, keying into the source as she tried to distinguish it. There were no more footsteps so she assumed that the person was trying to conceal their presence and that the sound prior was a blunder. Alerted, she quickly ducked behind a corner, her tail twirling around as she waited expectantly for her prey.
As she lingered in her crouched posture, a familiar smell hit her nostrils. It was a scent ingrained in her memory. Fearing that it was all part of a trick, she took another whiff and nearly shouted in elation when the reality of the fragrance came to her.
She pounced forward as soon as the opportunity presented itself. There was a gasp, followed by a circular object that whizzed towards her. Instinctively, she tilted her head and the object that she recognized as Baransu missed her by a whisker.
"Eh… Eh?! Nee-san!" Startled by the silhouette that flew at him, Yukio responded without a second thought. Only when his Baransu retracted from its strings did he realize the mistake he nearly made, for the one who he believed was an attacker was none other than Leone. The woman stared at him with widened eyes as he returned a sheepish look. "Nee-san, are you alright? I'm so sorry!"
"Jeez, that was too close for comfort." In retaliation, Leone tackled the unexpected young man to the ground, who immediately winced in pain. The woman's golden orbs roamed his figure, taking in the unruly hair and the tearful expression he wore. A frown began to crease her eyebrows when she caught a metallic stench. Regretting her deed but was unable to undo it, she could only hastily climb back onto her feet. "Yukio-kun, you're hurt. How bad is it?"
"Ah, it's not as bad as it seems… I think," Yukio grunted, letting Leone take his hand as she helped him get back up.
"Not bad… you say." Leone pursed her lips, skeptical after laying sight on his bandaged fingers. She was no stranger to injuries, though there was something abnormal about the way that the young man's fingers were completely covered in dressings, with no patches of skin showing whatsoever. The immediate possibility was that the young man was clawing both hands at concrete but even that was doubtful. That, or something worse happened. Speculations flew into her mind, yet she had no real conclusion until she could acquire the truth from Yukio. "Leaving your other wounds aside, how on earth did your fingers end up like that?"
Biting the bottom of his lip, Yukio placed Baransu back into his pocket, fumbling a little as he aggravated his injured fingers. He gave a shaky laugh, deliberating whether or not he should tell her the truth. "… I'm not sure. I fell from the Ryuusen and I think I hit my head somewhere because my memories are kind of fuzzy. I don't really remember how I got wounded but I think they may have been from my fight with The Three Beasts."
Leone placed a hand gently on the blonde's head and ruffled his hair. "It must have been hard. I'm just glad you're back. I did hear about your fall from Bulat-chii. But honestly, that was a crazy stunt you pulled… and that's saying something from my standards."
"Aniki made it back? He did, right?" Fervent zeal radiated from his emerald orbs as he questioned Leone, having ignored most of her sentence in favor of his inquiry.
"Of course he did. Bulat-chii's too resilient and strong to die that easily. If you ask me, I think he was more upset that you went for a crazy dive than the wounds he had to carry around." For once, Leone didn't let Yukio steer the conversation into another direction.
"Sorry," Yukio mumbled, with no proper excuse to justify what he did. Now that he was actually given the time to reflect on his own action, he realized just how uncharacteristically reckless he was simply because adrenaline had been coursing through his veins. No wonder Leone felt the need to pursue the topic; just where did his sudden audacity come from?
'Eh? Wait a second… why did I get so close to the railing in the first place? I fell because I got too close to the edge…? Yet why did I do something so thoughtless? What was it that I was trying to do? Ack, my head hurts when I think about it…' When he tried to remember, he discovered that his thoughts were like rising mist. It felt like standing in a fog before a precipice. His survival instincts kicked in and warned him to retrace his steps.
The message was apparent; don't take a step deeper into that scattered fragment of memory.
But why not? Because it was dangerous? It hurt to delve deeper but Yukio couldn't deny that he was curious as well as apprehensive.
Seeing that Yukio was scrunching his eyebrows, Leone assumed that he was lamenting the fact that he had failed to retrieve Incursio from the waters. Shaking her head once, she decided to spare the poor blonde from a scolding. He was probably feeling self-reproachful and an earful at the moment felt cruel. After all, the woman herself was a common recipient of Najenda's admonishments so she could relate.
"How about you tell me the full story then? What have you been up to, starting from why you're here of all places? I rummaged through the entire Capital for you but I didn't think you would be this close to the palace. You know, you're practically walking into the lion's den!"
"Can I keep it concise?" Disinclined to go into a detailed recount of what had transpired since he couldn't exactly recall, Yukio hoped that he could provide Leone with a brief summary. Luckily, the woman seemed to understand his reluctance and granted his request with a nod. "After ending up in the water, I was rescued by Wave-san. Oh, he's the blue-haired man who is commentating. We parted ways once we reached the Capital. I heard about this tournament and that Esdeath was gathering a team of Imperial Arms users so I came with the intent of studying their relics."
"I see. And how's that going?"
"They only went against Danger Beasts in the beginning and none of them revealed their trump card… But I suppose I saw enough to get everything I need," Yukio grinned, with delight illuminating his features. If there was one thing he could be proud of, then it was his knowledge on the ancient relics. To anyone else, just catching glimpses of an Imperial Arms in action could only offer limited information. But for Yukio, seeing them told him everything.
"Ah, the Yukio-kun I know and love is growing up. Nee-san is so proud!" A smile materialized on Leone's countenance as she resisted the urge to wrap an arm around Yukio. Much to her amusement, the young man twitched awkwardly as his face was spotted with red. It would appear that despite everything, he was still awfully easy to tease and Leone found herself enjoying the moment.
"Thanks. But um… can I stay here just a little longer? I want to scout this area before I return." Embarrassed but not completely distracted, Yukio announced his intention to the woman who he adored as an older sister. Nonetheless, he was reluctant to elaborate, fearing that the blonde would question his motivation.
"Hmm? You seem eager."
And there it was, as predicted. There were times that Leone would not question his objective but now was apparently not one of them. Yukio pursed his lips, uncertain about the depth of details he should include. He didn't want to specifically state that he felt as though he was under constant surveillance, lest Leone believed that he was being paranoid. In any case, he had already searched for a possible stalker but found no one.
"I want to make up for the time I spent on a bed while you guys were worrying about my safety. Don't worry… Once I've scouted this place, I'll head back to your side."
Despite everything, the gravity of his words failed to impact Leone, for the blonde was wearing a coy smile as he eyed Yukio knowingly. "Well, it's great that you're eager. And I guess it can't hurt leaving the task to you. But let's be honest here. What you wanted to say is this…"
Yukio frowned, suddenly under the impression that Leone was up to mischief.
The woman faked a cough and spoke in a voice that imitated Yukio's. "…Ahem. Once I've scouted this place, I'll head back to Akame's side right away."
"W-whaaat?"
The reaction was far better than what Leone anticipated. Yukio's face went red, all the way up to the earlobes. After having to interpret Akame's master poker face, Leone found it relatively easy to understand the changes on another person. More so, her transformation enabled her finely tuned eyes to practically absorb all of Yukio's instinctive reactions. The young man's feet shuffled and his fingers fumbled clumsily.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. Come on, ask away," Leone grinned, lightly tapping Yukio's nose with her fingertip. "I know you have questions."
"So… um, how is s-she doing?" asked Yukio quietly. It was something that was weighing on his mind the moment he woke up and met Wave. There was no way he could forget the deal he made with Akame. While they never did establish a time limit, the mere idea of making Akame fret brought guilt and shame to his stomach. 'I told her that I'll do my best to make it back safely. What kind of man am I if I can't do just that?'
"You're worried, aren't you?" Leone whistled in a way that resembled Lubbock, to which Yukio simple ignored and nodded in response. Seeing that the young man was bothered, the woman's face lost its playful nature as she provided a serious answer. "She is in good health... but I can tell that she misses you a lot."
"Really?" Yukio's head perked up instantly.
"Serious. But your reaction is surprising. You seem to care a lot, more than usual. Are you falling for Akame?"
"Um, I-I… I don't really know," Yukio confessed earnestly, his eyebrows knitting together in reflection. Undeniably, the notion first crossed his mind back when Ieyasu had joined and the topic of Tatsumi was brought up. Being the laidback and naïve individual he was, he couldn't immediately fathom the strange sensation he experienced when Akame spoke about Tatsumi. His eventual conclusion was that he was lonely and that Akame was the same. Such factor made them relatable to each other, seeing as she was also trapped in a world that was not hers. Now that he was being pressed for an answer, he began to rethink his relationship with the raven-haired assassin and realized that perhaps there was something more.
"Jeez, and here I was looking for a simple yes," Leone groaned and placed a hand on her forehead in exasperation. This was possibly her best chance to figure out whether or not some kind of chemistry would develop between Akame and Yukio. However, the latter was too perplexed by his feelings to supply her with a straightforward answer. Regardless, she doubted that she could get as far again if she gave up now, considering that Yukio would be wary the next time she bombarded him with a similar question. "Okay, let's rewind and start from the beginning. Yukio-kun, summarize how you feel about Akame. What do you think of her?"
"Huh!? Say what?" At that, Yukio couldn't help but let his surprise show in the form of a resounding cry.
Location: In the Capital (Fighting Arena). Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 106).
The air around Tatsumi exploded with a fiery swirl. He dived sideways as Ieyasu's fist flew at where his chest was a second ago. Not missing a beat, Tatsumi slammed a palm onto the ground. His arm muscles tensed as he pivoted his entire body, drawing a crescent moon with his leg. His boot scraped across the ground like lightning. Ieyasu leaped back, scarcely escaping the fate of losing his balance, only to charge in an instant later. He seized Tatsumi's leg.
"Haahh! Take this! It's a ring out for you!" With a firm grip, Ieyasu spun on his heels, bringing Tatsumi into the air with increasing momentum. Startled, it took Tatsumi two circles before realization sank in, along with a wave of dizziness.
Out of desperation, Tatsumi's free leg snapped straight up, sending the blade of his foot into Ieyasu's chin. His childhood friend instinctively flinched. The temporary loss of impetus allowed Tatsumi to regain his freedom. Maneuvering his body while in midair, the lieutenant managed to catch himself with his two arms.
"You're wide opened!" Tatsumi straightened out his body and clasped both legs together, distributing a brutal kick to Ieyasu's abdomen.
"Argh! Not too shabby of a hit…" Ieyasu groaned and slid backward. Contrary to what Tatsumi predicted, he didn't attack. He leaped back, wisely creating some distance as he recovered from the damage inflicted on him. Never did he consider that Tatsumi would've been able to counter him with such efficiency. 'Ugh! And to think that I was avoiding my old moves to make myself more unpredictable… This is so not cool. Haha, No… on a second thought, this is exactly what I want.'
'Ieyasu has improved a lot. What did he do in the amount of time we weren't together? Not only did his strength increased but so did his speed and endurance. And I can tell those aren't all.' Tatsumi pushed against the ground with his hands, returning himself to an upright position. His eyes darted to count the tiles. There were five that were positioned between them. Deeming it a safe distance, the teen swiped the part of his bang that obstructed his view and grinned. "Come on, Ieyasu. Show me what you got. This can't be everything you have. I want to see how I compare to you now."
Ieyasu presented a self-assured grin as he straightened his back. "My thought exactly. It's no fun unless we both go all out and bare our moves. So no more Mr. Nice Guy, got it?"
"Deal! And no hard feelings, okay?" Tatsumi moved, viper-fast, and reduced the space within seconds. He was a flurry of movement as he lunged, coming in hard with a punch.
Ieyasu's heart was ramming against his ribs. His arm rose to block it. Not one to allow such deed go without consequences, he whipped his other hand back before thrusting the balled fist forward.
Tatsumi was prepared and he counteracted with great precision. "I see that you've been leveling up behind my back, Ieyasu."
"I can say the same thing to you," Ieyasu grunted, "Since when did it become this hard for me to land a clean punch?"
They traded a barrage of fists and kicks. Every blow, followed by an appropriate counter, was rewarded with gasps and shouts from the crowd. The people cheered, enthralled by the exceptional performance.
At first, Tatsumi shared their exhilaration. But that was soon replaced by a touch of nervousness. His hands cried out in protest. Ieyasu's punches packed vigorous might and they were becoming exceedingly difficult to counter. Had Tatsumi not been exposed to Hidou's vicious rain of fists beforehand, then he was certain that his limbs would've been turned to jelly under the impact.
Little by little, Tatsumi found himself edging backward. His eyes spared a fleeting glimpse behind his shoulder. He inwardly grimaced, realizing that he was approaching the ring's rim, to the side where the parts of the ground were uneven due to the aftermath of the fight between Ieyasu and Kalbi.
That was another reason why Tatsumi had no plans on continuing the volley of attacks. It would only benefit Ieyasu in the long run. With that in mind, he altered the path of his hand. His palm shoved into Ieyasu's wrist, halting his punch while simultaneously latching his fingers around his friend's coat.
Quick as a flash, Tatsumi slipped behind Ieyasu and locked his elbow around his friend's immobile arm. With a rapid movement from his foot, he disturbed Ieyasu's balance and flipped the teen's body upside down. But just before he could ram him onto the ground back first, Ieyasu jabbed an elbow to the side of his head.
Tatsumi's body reacted on its own, without conscious thought. He staggered and let go. A hand shot to his throbbing head as he tried to blink away his concussion. Wincing, he opened one eye and was just in time to see Ieyasu back-flipped back onto the ground.
Undiscouraged, Tatsumi allowed a gallant and provocative smile to appear on his visage. "That was some killer move. You could've knocked me out."
"Your moves are just as dangerous. What's with that throw? It's like you're a cop apprehending a goon or something," Ieyasu pointed out, quick with his rejoinder.
"Says the troublemaker in our village."
"Don't say it like I'm the only—" There was no time to finish his sentence as Ieyasu was forced to duck. A burred foot swung overhead, rustling the strands of hair that were unrestrained by his headband.
Tatsumi seemed to have been rekindled with vigorous zeal. He tried introducing three consecutive punches to Ieyasu's face. The first was blocked. A gust of wind whistled close to his ear as Ieyasu timely tilted his head to avoid the second blow. The third one came at him hard and fast. The teen stepped back, only for his foot to find the piece of a tile that jutted upwards.
Ieyasu stumbled. Regaining his balance became the first priority so he blindly reached out with a hand. Much to his astonishment, Tatsumi caught it and pulled him forward. No sooner had he expected to crash into Tatsumi's chest in the most humiliating manner possible, did he find his stomach caving in from being introduced to a fist.
Saliva flew as pained hiss escaped Ieyasu's quivering lips. 'Tatsumi… he got me! He deliberately hit me there twice! And that throw he did was to switch position with me so that I'll end up closer to the broken tiles and the edge of the ring!''
"Sorry Ieyasu, but it's my win," uttered Tatsumi quietly, his eyes hardening to reflect determination. Continuing with the strong momentum, he spun and delivered a roundhouse kick to Ieyasu's side. The impact sent Ieyasu across the arena and into the ground outside of the stadium.
The crowd went wild as applause filled the entire area. Even Ieyasu clapped in a genuine display after picking himself up from the floor. Seeing that, Tatsumi wiped the sweat from his brows and beamed at Ieyasu before directing it to the roaring audience.
But what Tatsumi was unaware of was the devastating impact his carefree smile had on Esdeath. The general's hand instinctively reached for her heart, which prompted a curious raise of the eyebrow from Ran.
Wave walked over to his vice-commander and hoisted his hand into the air. Because of the clamor, Wave had to strain his voice in order to make his announcement. "And our crowned champion who came out on top of all these formidable warriors is… Tatsumi!"
If Tatsumi thought that the crowd couldn't get any louder, then he was mistaken. The audience erupted with cheers and chants that were so deafening that it was as though everyone was screaming their lungs out. To reciprocate their enthusiasm, the new lieutenant and vice-captain of the Jaegers pumped both hands into the air and waved.
The rhythmic taps generated by a pair of high-heeled boots rang in Tatsumi's ears. To anyone else, the sound would've been obscured by the thunderous noises that surrounded the arena. However, the teen had become so familiar with it that he could decipher it in an instant. No sooner had he directed his attention to the direction of the source did the crowd begin to quiet down. For everyone who had seen Tatsumi swiveling his body around was also able to witness the sight of Esdeath descending the flight of stairs that led from the platform to the edge of the arena.
With the two boas on her indigo scarf swaying like a pendulum, the general's confident stride brought her to the center of the fighting arena, where Tatsumi and Wave stood. Offering the former with little time to improvise or to prepare himself, the general grabbed onto her lover's free hand and entwined their fingers together in an opened display of affection.
"This man, who is crowned the champion of all champions, has proven his worth to each and every one of you. He is the one destined to stand beside me, the one who I will take as my lover," Esdeath announced, her clear voice ringing across the entire area and stunning all to silence. "Therefore, I've decided to host our marriage ceremony a fortnight from this eventful day!"
The declaration took a minute to sink in, before a variety of different reactions were stimulated. Nevertheless, Tatsumi's mind was unable to comprehend anything other than the sheer absurdness of his situation. 'W-wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait! Wait just a second! WHAT DID SHE JUST TELL EVERYONE?'
Location: In the Capital (A Hallway of the Fighting Arena). Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 106).
'What do I think of Akame?' Although Yukio didn't know why Leone was delving deeper into a topic that was irrelevant to the task on hand, he heeded his senior's suggestion and began to assemble all his recollections of the raven-haired girl. Similar to before, he didn't rely on Baransu's ability. As quick as it was to reach an answer, he didn't want to view his memories objectively, as his personal feelings were the primary focus. With that, he allowed his emotions to guide him into the past.
In his search to find a suitable answer, Yukio was taken back to when he first met Akame in the cave. From another's perspective, it seemed very gallant and selfless of him to use Taimugyaku for the sake of a girl he just met. However, nothing could be further away from the truth; Yukio didn't do for Akame. Rather, it was his need to demonstrate his sense of worth that instigated the whole time traveling incident. 'My own desire was the priority here. This is not what I'm looking for.'
He ventured deeper into his reminiscences, knowing that his feelings did not develop at first sight. From initial impressions to his thoughts at present, he searched until the answer was within an arm's length.
As someone who loved and valued peace, he abhorred how apt Akame was at killing. It was a talent she possessed and he loathed every aspect of it, especially when she would revert to a killing machine who would slaughter without any hesitation. He had seen her in action numerous times and there was nothing praiseworthy about the way she took lives, no matter how despicably evil her targets were. He supposed it was the same with himself; that was why he could never truly feel comfortable when it came to shedding blood for the sake of what Night Raid deemed as the greater good.
On the other hand, there were times when he felt something stir upon seeing Akame. If he looked past the remorseless façade she kept plastered on, then he could catch glimpses of a girl who had seen her far too much anguish in her life. He remembered how she reacted when she found him wounded after the battle with Zank the Executioner. Deep inside, the red-eyed assassin was a girl who cared deeply for her comrades and would risk her own life to protect what she deemed important.
The polarity of the feelings he had for Akame was confusing, more so now that he had the time to ponder on them. In all honesty, he wasn't sure what to think, considering that his morals and friendship kept him divided between opinions. "Nee-san, to be honest ... I don't know what to think. I really do like Akame. I mean, she's composed, decisive, diligent, and intelligent. She has all the qualities that I don't have… But at the same time, I can't let go of the fact that these qualities of hers are being used in the assassin trade. Maybe I'm being hypocritical but I can't stand knowing this. So what I'm trying to say is that… I-I guess I l-like her as a girl but not as the red-eyed killer she is known for."
"But Akame is who she is today because of her experience as an assassin. She may not be the same person otherwise," Leone pointed out. She wasn't disappointed with the reply. In fact, she admired the way that the young man was honest with himself in a way that someone like Mine would never be able to do.
"I know. That's why it's conflicting."
"You want her to change?"
"I don't know…" The young man heaved a sigh and shook his head without any zeal. "I don't know what I want. I told myself that I would do anything to fight the corrupted Empire alongside Night Raid. I forced myself to change in order to belong. But ultimately, can I say I've changed for the better?"
"…That's something only you can decide yourself, Yukio-kun. Happiness is not something that someone else can give you. It is something you must pursue yourself." Unable to provide Yukio with an answer, Leone could only hope that the young man would one day discover it for himself. Whatever conclusion he reached, the blonde decided to be supportive. She believed that there were no correct answers lying around, as there were as just as many varying outlooks as there were people in the world. "Well, dwelling on the issue too long will only give you a headache. All I can say is that you should live your life the way you see fit. For now, I'll have you know that Akame is still single. The spot in her heart is still up for grabs. So give it some consideration once you've made peace with your heart, okay?"
"Yeah, though I wonder about that," Yukio muttered, sounding uncharacteristically mordant.
"About Akame, you mean? Trust me when I say you should try satisfying her stomach first. That little glutton's heart will come running to ya eventually after you conquered her appetite."
"I can't cook," Yukio bluntly replied, recalling the catastrophe he caused in the kitchen on his first day as a Night Raider. Even if he was willing to try again, he seriously doubted that Akame would let him within 50 meters of the kitchen.
"No worries, I'll teach you how to cook up some real chemistry. I'm great at these things. You can even call me an expert on love… in every way that you can think of." Leone rubbed her hands together in anticipation and winked at the young man.
"Uh-huh…" Not knowing how to respond to her impish comment, Yukio was timely saved by sounds of applause coming from above. Snapping out of his thoughts, his brain registered the noise and he realized that the finals must have finished. He frowned slightly, having comprehended the situation.
"Man, it's over already. We better hurry nee-san. The guards went up for the finals, but they'll be back soon," said Yukio and absconded with a sprint, but not before passing a small wave to Leone. "I'm going to check the waiting rooms for anything related to General Esdeath's new team. I'll be seeing you soon, nee-san."
After watching him disappear around the corner, Leone placed her hands on her hips in an assured manner and spun on her heels. 'Venturing deeper is pointless if he's covering the grounds. Besides, I really need to get back to Ieyasu-kun. Well, I'll leave the rest to Yukio-kun. He'll need this time to get his newfound feelings sorted out. But I should tell everyone this great news. It's about time I get that grim look off Akame's face.'
Location: In the Capital (Street near the Fighting Arena). Time: Morning. Year: 1024 (Day 106).
"Okay, Tats. So you've been telling me to chill so I that I won't go all berserk on you. But…" Ieyasu paused and took another deep breath, not forgetting to pass one of the cans of drinks he had to the childhood friend sitting on the bench. As much as he would love to have a warmhearted conversation, there was something he had to get out of the way first. "What the HELL was that? Why are you, of all people, getting married?! And to that crazy battle maniac! What's wrong with your taste in women? So not cool!"
Having expected the piercing shout, Tatsumi shielded the ear closest to Ieyasu with his hand. Exasperation stretched across his features. Only when he was certain that the dark-haired teen had finished with his outburst did he hook a finger on the tab, opening his drink. He took a careful sip, allowing the cool liquid to ease his mind. "Calm down, Ieyasu. First thing first, I'm not the one who wanted this marriage thing to happen. I'm just as surprised as you are. It's Esdeath who's eager. I don't know why but she's obsessed with me."
"How are you totally cool with the whole thing?"
"Trust me, I'm freaking out too. But I will dissuade her somehow. I keep telling her that I'm not ready to have a wife but she can be clingy despite her looks," Tatsumi sighed and ran frustrated fingers down his messy hair. The fight had messed up his hairstyle, though it didn't have any effect on his fortified appearance. "Now that she's gone and planned the 'big day', I'm gonna have to take more prominent act. Tonight. Yes, that's right. I need to be a fierce man and just go for it!"
"You keep telling yourself that. Just don't chicken out at the end." Although Ieyasu wanted to be supportive, he knew how docile his childhood friend could get when it came to women. At least, that was how things seemed occasionally when Tatsumi interacted with Sayo as they got older.
"Thanks for the encouragement," Tatsumi muttered sadistically before gulping down another mouthful of refreshment. He was getting thirsty after the heated battle.
Ieyasu was only listening half-heartedly. Thinking about Sayo only served to be a painful reminder for him. Things would never be the same for the trio now that she was gone. Averse to appear depressed given their reunion, he locked away the recollections to a corner of his mind before ushering his friend to the left with an elbow. "Hey, move a bit. I need room too."
"Ouch! Watch it. You're hitting the bruise on my arm!" hissed Tatsumi, though the chuckle that accompanied the comment made it less threatening. Desiring revenge, he jabbed a finger in Ieyasu's side and was rewarded with a grunt of pain.
"Tats! What the hell was that for? You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Ieyasu accused, pointing a finger at the one who was wearing an impish grin.
"Settle down Ieyasu, or those bruises won't get their chance to heal, you know," Tatsumi said as he took yet another sip from the can. The refreshment poured down his throat and rejuvenated his arching body. Tilting the can experimentally and listening to the sound of the sloshing liquid, the new lieutenant summoned up the memories of the fight earlier.
"And whose fault is it that I've to deal with them?" Grudgingly, Ieyasu spoke and settled into a sitting position. He had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that Tatsumi was the better fighter and had improved in leaping bounds. "Now tell me, how on earth did you get this much better? The last time we fought, you couldn't take a punch from me directly."
"Actually, I didn't take any of your attacks head-on," Tatsumi confessed. There was a startling touch of vigor in Ieyasu's fists, possibly strong enough to shatter bricks. Therefore, never once did Tatsumi believe that he could parry Ieyasu's blows using any normal means. "I learned some judo moves a while back and one of the soft techniques that Mamoru-sensei taught me allows me to deflect the force of your attacks. So basically, I manipulated your own power against you so that you'll be thrown off balance."
"Ah, so that's your secret against me," the dark-haired teen remarked and blew a puff of hot air. "Would've been great had you told me about it during the brawl."
"And risk getting smashed in the face?" Tatsumi scoffed, "You may be bold enough to announce your ace before a fight but I'm keeping mine hidden in my sleeves."
"Go figures. But hell, you never change, do you Tatsumi?" Ieyasu laughed and leaned back against the bench. He gazed at the dark cloudy sky, finding his childhood memories catching up to him in spite of everything. It seemed that no matter how old they get, Tatsumi and he were the unpredictable ones out of the three. The older villagers would always comment about how troublesome the two of them were, with only Sayo being the rational one. 'Good old times, huh? But now, there's only the two of us...'
"You know me." Pure happiness spread across Tatsumi's face. How he wouldn't give to prolong this good-humored exchange. The constant anxiety caused by their separation and the atrocious battles with Night Raid seemed like a bad dream as he sat next to Ieyasu.
"I think I know you like the back of my own house." The Night Raider couldn't stop the large grin that threatened to divide his face. Opening his can, he tipped it in his friend's direction, which Tatsumi responded by tapping them together.
"Exactly!" Tatsumi quaffed the rest of his drink as Ieyasu swallowed his mouthful. "That's exactly why we make the perfect trio. You, me and Sayo."
"Sayo… Listen, Tats. Sayo… she's—" Ieyasu's attempt to speak went unnoticed as Tatsumi continued to speak.
"You know, I've been moving up the ranks. With my status, I could probably get you and Sayo to join me in the military. You won't need to waste your time in the infantry. You can even test your compatibility with Extase. That's one of the ancient weapons known as the Imperial Arms—"
"Tats… Sayo, she's—" Grief softened Ieyasu's voice so his childhood friend continued on without noticing.
"—and we can also see if we can get Sayo to have one too. Think about it, it'll be the three of us—"
Something snapped inside of Ieyasu.
"The three of us? Together again? You idiot, Tatsumi! You don't know anything! You can't say that!" Any lingering joy and hesitation vanished on his features and were replaced by a negative sentiment. His orbs flashed with a swirl of fury and the teen gritted his teeth, desperately trying to suppress the urge to shout at Tatsumi again. His body trembled and his fists clutched. He unknowingly applied force, squashing the can and spraying juice onto the ground. 'You don't know... but how can you know… that you're just babbling on about something from a dream! It's not happening Tats… and the reason is obvious.'
"Ieyasu, what's gotten into you?" Confused and stunned by Ieyasu's outburst, Tatsumi still allowed concern for his friend to take over as his first priority. Dumping his empty can to the side, he reached a hand towards Ieyasu.
Ieyasu whacked Tatsumi's hand away without a second thought and leaped to his feet. Mustering the most intimidating glare he could, he growled, "Bastard Tatsumi, of course I'm not alright! I haven't been alright ever since I lost her!"
"Lost her? Wait, you're not—" The lieutenant stood up, his eyes widening.
"Tatsumi, Sayo is gone! She's dead!"
"D-dead? Hey… th-this is Sayo we're talking about. Cut it out. This isn't funny." A hoarse stutter left Tatsumi's throat. The pain-ridden eyes that glared at him bore out the truth. Even so, a part of him did not want to believe it and waited for Ieyasu to laugh and declare it was all a sick joke.
Ieyasu found his childhood friend's feigned ignorance repulsive and he snarled, "I SAID SHE IS DEAD! GONE! DEAD! D.E.A.D! YOU HEAR ME?"
That struck Tatsumi even harder than what one of Esdeath's blows could achieve. Taking a step back, he attempted to recollect his scattered thoughts. All of the sudden, Ieyasu's rage seemed as inferior as the ants that were crawling towards the spilled juice.
Tatsumi's brain digested Ieyasu's words. The entire world was collapsing around him; everything else he had on his mind was left forgotten as he registered one thing. 'Sayo is dead… I couldn't protect her. She's dead. She's dead. She's dead. She's dead. She's dead…!'
"She's gone, Tats. I couldn't protect her. I… I failed her. But that's why I'm angry… because you're trying to get me enlisted in the group of people who are just like those monsters. Those monsters that tortured us… I can never get that out of my head!" Feeling the pang in his heart becoming unbearable once again, Ieyasu's hand inched towards Sayo's brooch and seized it. By some miracle, the mere contact brought him a sense of relief that it felt as though Sayo had her arms wrapped around him. He knew that he was being delusional but he treasured the moment nonetheless.
"…Tortured? How? What happened?" asked Tatsumi. He barely managed to process what Ieyasu was saying, with most of his words sounding off, like he was underwater. So stressed out, it never occurred to him that he was biting the edge of his tongue with enough force to draw out blood.
"After we got separated, me and Sayo arrived at the Capital. It was nighttime and we had nowhere to stay. A rich family came along and offered us a place to crash in. We didn't know at that time, that they were baiting us with their false kindness. We fell hook, line, and sinker for their trap. We were locked up. I was beaten and drugged. Sayo… Sayo… she…" Ieyasu choked on his own word. It was not the first time he told someone of Sayo's demise, but that didn't mean it made things any easier. "She… she had it the worst. She was brutally flogged and dismembered. Because she was drawing most of the attention onto herself, I was able to live on. But… she died. She couldn't handle it. No one could've. I screamed for her name. I begged for mercy. I cursed those horrible monsters. I even prayed... No God or angel came to our rescue. The reapers came though. Night Raid. They're the ones who took my soul away from hell and saved me."
"N…Night Raid?" Tatsumi echoed like a broken recorder, his eyes widened and his mouth opened. The brain worked in an inexplicable way when in shock, for the first thing that came to mind was how Akame had acted when he questioned his childhood friends' whereabouts. 'She did hesitate back then. Now I know why. Ieyasu has been with Night Raid all this time. He is with the group of murderers that nearly killed me!?'
"Don't you see, Tats?" Ieyasu sounded beseeching as he shook his friend's shoulders. He hadn't wanted Tatsumi to break down mentally. However, there was not a trace of regret as he tried to snap his friend out of his daze. It was time he corrected Tatsumi's misconceptions. "What we were—what you are—trying to fight for is a complete hoax! The Capital isn't the paradise we dreamt of when we were kids. It's hell, I'm telling you!"
"Hell…" Despite the aggressive treatment he was receiving from Ieyasu, Tatsumi stood motionless, aghast.
"Yeah, it's hell. That's why you should just ditch the Empire. Join me! Join Night Raid! We need to fix this corrupted Capital. We can get rid of all the scumbags dirtying this place. We can help Sayo rest in peace knowing that there won't be another who has to suffer like she did. Tatsumi, I need your help!"
That caught Tatsumi's attention. His listless eyes recouped with life as he fixed his pair of hardened green orbs at Ieyasu. His hand fleetingly touched Ieyasu's before he lashed out and hit it away, prompting the receiver to flinch.
"Tats?" Ieyasu mumbled, looking more hurt than confused.
Tatsumi ignored his pained expression as images of the bloody Ogre, the armless Seryu, his deceased colleagues, and his narrow escape from Akame's Murasame prompted him to press his lips together in repugnance. "You can't be serious, Ieyasu. I know that there's more to the Capital than the paradise we thought of. But there's no way a group of assassins is what this place needs. Those murderers in Night Raid carry assassinations left and right. How are they any different from the monsters in human skin who murdered Sayo? If they truly want to change the Capital, then tell them to find a way that's less bloody."
"Less bloody?" Ieyasu scoffed, "Do you really think we can solve this peacefully? We've long passed the stage of no return. I don't know the details but I know the Revolutionary Army is building up strength, and it will take down the Empire."
"Ieyasu, think for a minute. I've seen Night Raid in action. If they're functioning based on the Revolutionary Army's will, then can you imagine what it'll be like if the rebels succeed in taking over the Empire? Do you really think it could bring harmony to the Capital, ending all conflicts that have torn the place ragged?"
"How can you judge the entire army based on what we do? Night Raid does things in the shadows, things that ordinary people can't resolve. What the hell do you have against us?" Realizing that their volume was getting louder, Ieyasu quickly scanned the surrounding and was grateful that most people were still inside the arena. The district around them was empty and the assassin could only hope that their voices weren't loud enough to reach the ears of those inside nearby shops.
"Us? Don't use that! I won't tolerate the killing Night Raid has done. Captain Ogre died because of those assassins! Seryu lost her arms because of them! Brave warriors in my division died because of them! General Hidou got terrible frostbites because of them. I nearly die because of them! Tell me, what have we done to deserve all those suffering? We were just patrolling the area like we're supposed to!" snapped Tatsumi, swiping an arm to the side to emphasize his frustration.
The Night Raider felt the accusation pierced straight into his heart. While he had justified reasons for why he targeted and killed Ogre, he had to admit that Tatsumi and numerous Imperial policemen were simply unfortunate to be in the crossfire during Night Raid's hunt for Zank. Nevertheless, it was a kill-or-be-killed situation and he believed that both sides simply did what they were told while fighting for their survival. The thought reined in his temper as the teen inhaled a deep breath. 'Don't get mad. Talk calmly. Keep my cool and I know I'll make him understand.'
"We were out looking for Zank the Executioner that night. We were trying to get rid of that scum who went around killing people but the Imperial police trapped us. We had to fight, Tatsumi."
"But did they have to kill? Or is committing murder the only thing Night Raid can do?" Tatsumi asked coolly, his green eyes burning with apparent disapproval. "And here you are, telling me their screwed up beliefs and trying to justify their evil deeds."
"Yes. We do commit murders. But I'm… no, we, Night Raid, are not evil! Get it through that thick skull of yours!" A vein popped and Ieyasu lost all traces of patience.
"So you're fine with it then? Because you believe they aren't evil. Do you know that one of them, this Akame girl, nearly killed me with her one-cut kill sword?"
Ieyasu growled, "Don't be stupid, Tatsumi. If Akame really wanted to kill you, she would've done so already. You think she's the incarnation of Satan but you don't even know half of what she's really like. You won't know about the hard work she and all of us are doing to help rebuild the Capital!"
"Yeah, by killing off people who they don't want in their ideal Empire. Stop associating yourself with Night Raid, Ieyasu. I don't care what they say to justify the act but murder is a sin. Don't forget that!" What started as a little chitchat resulted in a clamorous wrangle that left Tatsumi breathless. He took a moment to recover his breathing, letting the heated air out of his system.
'I don't believe him. Why is he so fixated on the way Night Raid does things? ' Disbelief was evident in Ieyasu's mahogany eyes as they dug straight into his friend's green ones. A snort then came from his nose, one that was so scathing it would have impressed even Mine. "Just because you don't want to get your hands dirty doesn't mean you can have the role of a saint, Tatsumi. You can't tell me what's right and wrong in this depraved world. You can't tell me what to do! I've made up my mind back then that I'll rather face the grim reaper than see another person suffer and die like Sayo. I can kill for that reason!"
"Dimwitted fool, you don't know what you're talking about." The newly appointed vice-captain of the Jaeger's tone dripped with disdain and it was becoming obvious that he needed to vent out some anger. Violence seemed like the best solution in his impetuous state and Tatsumi welcomed the hankering for a punch. He smashed his knuckles straight into Ieyasu's face, effectively sending the boy onto the ground rear first. "Open your eyes and wake up already! For Sayo's sake? Do you really think she would've wanted that? Do you think Sayo would be happy that you've become a killer, huh?! Ieyasu, this isn't just some fanfiction and you are no protagonist. You can't always have things your way and not expect the consequences. Killing is a serious crime. Back out now, Ieyasu. Join me before you're too far gone. We can find another method. We can still change the Capital."
"Hah, join you and abandon my resolve? I see how it is." Once again subjected to an unexpected blow, Ieyasu's short-temper exploded like a volcano. He could overlook being hit once but twice was once too many. Irked, he regained his upright position and threw a fist at Tatsumi, only to be stopped inches from the intended target. Another judo move was demonstrated to him, though he could do nothing as the force of his attack was nullified. He found himself with a balled hand in midair as Tatsumi released him and took a step back. Safety was granted with the distance and Ieyasu scowled at that thought. Was Tatsumi running away after having claimed the first hit?
'Coward!' The Night Raider made his rage publically known with a glower, his mahogany eyes glistening like a cold knife. Just the sight of Tatsumi flinching from his stare might've given him a sufficient reason to calm down but the lack of response goaded him more. He instinctively wanted to clobber his childhood friend. The last time when he had such limitless rage provoking him was on the night he had killed Aria.
The temptation was so great that he would've lashed out like a madman if not for Bulat's words of caution ringing in his ears. "Being fired-up won't keep you alive!"
His senior's advice taking precedence inside his head, Ieyasu grounded his teeth together as he tried to retrieve what lingering judgment he had before his emotions devoured it.
Taking several deep breaths hadn't managed to calm his temper so Ieyasu resorted to seizing his right hand and restraining it with his left. He shot Tatsumi a defiant look. "Like it or not, I belong with Night Raid now, carrying Sayo's will with me. The assassins who you hate are the ones who rescued me from the pits of hell. I'm not going to force you but if you continue to side with the Empire then I'll take you down. Just remember Tatsumi, I don't show mercy to any of the Empire's blind dogs… and that includes you."
Knowing that he had said everything he needed to and possibly more, Ieyasu rotated on his feet and ran off before there was a chance for Tatsumi to refute.
Instinctively, Tatsumi's hand shot forth to stop him but he couldn't gather any words from his vocal tract. All the possible rejoinders withdrew at the sight of Ieyasu turning his back on him. He was left flabbergasted, paralyzed on the spot. As reality sank deeper into him, he fell to his knees, clutching his head in despair. The teen arched his head back and bawled his eyes out, begging the sky to hear his plea.
Just how did things come to this?
The heavens, which looked like would promise rain, rumbled and responded to Tatsumi's anguish cry. Rain rushed down and soaked his clothing. The drops of water adhered to his skin, evoking a sense of wretchedness to the gloomy atmosphere.
Tatsumi and Ieyasu fighting was one of the usual things back in the village. As if having trouble seeing eye to eye, the two, as little kids, would get into an argument sooner or later, whether it was from minor things like squabbling over a toy to significant things like fighting for Sayo's attention. Nonetheless, the two would always set aside their differences and learn to forgive one and another.
Only this time, Tatsumi felt certain that restricted pride and compromises would hardly be enough to amend the rift between them. The two friends were separated by opposing views, each left standard on one side. When did their path branch off and who took the wrong one? Sadly, no answer was given. But Tatsumi's beliefs held, embedded in his dreams.
With the devotion towards keeping their village alive, he could recall the promises he made with Ieyasu and Sayo.
"We three swear that when we die, we'll die together!"
"We'll succeed in the Capital and earn money! We're gonna save our village!"
'We said that stuff… but now, I'm all alone. Sayo is dead and Ieyasu has abandoned our dream…'
"Damn it all!" Tatsumi's wail carried off, along with the sound of pelting rain.
Unbeknownst to the two teens, the sheer irony amongst everything was that their intents were actually the same; they just wanted to help the innocent people.
Night Raid Members Remaining: 8
Mission: Win Esdeath's tournament
Participating Members: Ieyasu and Leone
Result: Failed
Rewards: none
The Four Present in the Capital: 4
The Jaegers Members Remaining: 7
Preview - Kill the Dispute
Esdeath: "Tatsumi, tell me what happened after you left with your friend."
Tatsumi: "Th-there's no way I could possibly love someone who thinks that way!"
Kurome: "It's you who I have problems with."
Akame: "That's not the issue."