The sight of her lover hanged petrified Akame for an instant.
During these milliseconds, she was unable to move at all because of fear.
The fear of losing Tatsumi after all she went through to save him.
The fear of losing him as he didn't know her at all. His last memory of her being a stranger, not the one he confessed his love to.
She regained her mind quickly, but for her, this instant of immobility lasted like minutes.
"TATSUMI!" she shrieked.
She drew Murasame, and within a second, cut the rope then put back the deadly katana back in its sheet.
With a loud sound, he fell on the floor.
Akame knelt at his side and shook him, as to awake him.
"Tatsumi! Look at me, Tatsumi!"
But Tatsumi didn't.
He was convulsing, drooling, and his eyes were blank. Akame felt that he was somehow dying.
(No…not again…not again!)
The same despair that hit her after the battle of the Capital, when Tatsumi was also dying, came back at the speed of light to oppress her.
Her memories of this moment played back in her mind.
Tatsumi, lying on the ground.
Tatsumi, calling for her.
And before she knew it, she was crying.
Suddenly, someone pushed her away gently but firmly. Through her tears, she saw a white blouse and understood it was the Doctor. Behind him, Esdeath, Wave and Kurome.
He was sweating, but he calmly inspected Tatsumi. Then he inserted two fingers into Tatsumi's throat, making him vomit, spill, heavily cough…and breathe again.
Akame lately understood that he had gulped his own tongue from the shock.
They figured that it was the fall of the chair on the floor that alerted them.
Esdeath stayed at Tatsumi's bedside until the next morning, to make sure he was out of danger. When she finally accepted to leave him, she entrusted his watch to Kurome, and gathered with the others in the living room, as they usually did to talk.
"We have been very lucky", said the Doctor. "Tatsumi's fall wasn't high enough to break his neck, and thanks to Akame, he didn't stay hanged long enough to cause brain damages."
"Tatsumi hanged himself", Esdeath reminded him. "Is it lucky to you?!"
"Of course not", replied the Doctor, brought up short. "I'm just saying it could've been worse…physically speaking."
Akame, who had regained composure, frowned.
"What do you mean, physically speaking?"
The Doctor cleared his throat.
"His mental state is…deplorable, at least. You do not make a suicide attempt if you feel good. Besides…the most surprising fact is that in his current state, Tatsumi would not even be able to get up."
Esdeath regarded him in disbelief.
"But he did…"
"Exactly. Tatsumi managed to get up, climb on a chair, make a knot, and hang himself. I'm not exaggerating when I say he would not be able to stand up, which means…"
Akame saw through.
"His will of dying was so strong it allowed him to overcome the pain and the physical limits of his body."
The Doctor nodded.
"I have never seen this before. Said like that, it looks like sci-fi, but I assure you there is no other explanation."
"This is not a surprise", Akame said. "It is one of Tatsumi's fortes. His will makes him much stronger…at a point he could even hold Esdeath in single combat."
"Anyway, this is bad. It means that Tatsumi thinks he has no more reason to live, or his interior pain is so high he can't bear it anymore. In any case, he will surely try again to kill himself. It is also possible that he attempted this only in the heat of a moment, when he was troubled by fever and sorrow."
"What can we do to help him?" asked Wave. "I know this is a question that often comes back but…shit, we can't let him die!"
"In my opinion, Tatsumi needs a better environment to rebuild himself", the Doctor went on. "A peaceful place, where he could slowly move forward. I don't think a cabin lost in the mountains is a good spot for that."
"With the Revolutionary Army on the move, we have no choice but to move anyway", interjected Wave, while Kurome nodded. "Finding a bigger place would be a good idea too. We're a little bit cramped here…"
The problem was no one in the room had a proper home, which meant no one knew what a peaceful place was like.
Esdeath and Wave spent their time on battlefields ; Akame and Kurome were assassins, and the Doctor had literally lived all his life in Army camps, always on the move.
"What about Tatsumi's village?" suggested Kurome. "I heard it's far in the north. There's no way the Army will search big sis' and the General there."
"Right, but bringing an amnesic Tatsumi in his hometown would be…tough, to say the least", Akame gently replied.
"You're right…"
As they were all reflecting on the matter, Esdeath spoke up :
"I might have an idea. A town that one of my subordinates talked about...very peaceful, afar from everything."
"Go on. We're listening" Akame sighed, expecting nothing but crap coming from her.
But to her surprise, Esdeath's idea was in fact really good.
"Well, Doc', thanks for everything you've done. Without your help..." Akame started.
All the occupants of the cabin had departed at the same time and traveled together, essentially to protect the Doctor from the Danger Beasts of the rocky mountains. But now, it was time to say goodbye since he was going to go back to the Revolutionary Army.
The place they parted away was an important crossroad leading to the outskirts of the Capital.
"I wouldn't say mine is the pleasure given what happened", he answered, half-serious. "Joke put aside, I only regret that I couldn't properly save Tatsumi…"
"Don't blame yourself. You did your best, we know that."
"Perhaps. In any case, be well. Our roads will maybe cross again one day."
"Farewell, Doctor," Akame said.
Esdeath was not as formal as Akame ; she still had grief about Tatsumi's memory loss.
"See you, Doc'."
The Doctor pursued his path to the Capital, while Akame and Esdeath came back to their friends who were waiting for them, ten feet from there.
Both Kurome and Wave were waving at the Doctor. They stood right next to a sign that indicated the nearby towns.
The road they would follow was leading to the central area of the Empire, their destination.
Esdeath had created an ice floating cradle to safely carry an asleepTatsumi and was very proud of it.
They progressed quite slowly, because they didn't want to turn their journey into a race, which could have caused damages to Tatsumi.
He was still unconscious, but the Doctor assured them he was fine at least physically.
Esdeath and Akame relayed to watch over him, and both of them hoped to be the one by his side when he'd open his eyes.
When he finally did, Esdeath was there, attentive to his very movements.
"Hi, honey", she tenderly greeted him.
Tatsumi's glance was uncertain.
"Miss? Where?..."
(At least, he remembers me…) Esdeath thought, happy. (I'm not a total stranger…let's say a familiar stranger.)
"We're moving to another location. This cabin was far too petty. You'll be fine, you'll see!"
"What happened to me, Miss?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" Esdeath worried.
"I remember that…this black haired girl told me my friends were dead…but then…I don't remember anything…everything was blurred, and I…I fell asleep, I think…"
(He doesn't remember he tried to kill himself?... Has he really forgotten because of the shock, or is his unconscious hiding this truth from him?) Esdeath questioned herself.
However, she doubted it was a good idea to tell him what he did.
(I have to make sure nobody tells him that. Otherwise…)
"What will become of me from now on?"
Tatsumi's voice was not louder than a whisper and fragile as glass.
"How could I come back empty handed to my village and tell them Sayo and Ieyasu died?"
Esdeath felt he was slowly fading into sorrows and sadness.
"You don't have to worry about your village. From what I heard, money has been sent to your village."
She couldn't tell him this money has been earned thanks to his assassinations, but she hoped knowing this fact would comfort him.
"Oh…that's great…"
He smiled, but it didn't look like he was really happy. His eyes were sad.
Esdeath was not used to comfort someone. She would usually let the weak ones weep in the corner and advance, but this time, she knew something was off.
"…what's wrong?" she asked. "You should rejoice…"
Tatsumi looked at her and she felt like his eyes were the mirror of his soul. Empty, almost non-existent.
"It…no, it's dumb…you would find this…dumb", he muttered.
"For now, I find that you're gloomy and depressed. You better talk before I make you talk", Esdeath softly threatened.
She wouldn't let him down, even if she had to get to extreme measures.
Tatsumi looked at her, and understood she wasn't kidding. He lowered his eyes and began to speak.
"I…had a dream. I don't remember very well, but…I was with people. Friends. I don't know how I know, but I'm sure they were friends of mine. The thing is…I can't recall their faces nor their names. But in my dream, I knew they were very important to me."
He stopped, hesitant.
"And then, still in my dream…they disappeared. One by one, one after another, and I was alone… When I woke up, my first thoughts were that it was just a dream, and I still had Sayo and Ieyasu…but they're gone too."
Tears came to his eyes.
"The thing is…now, I'm alone. All the people I loved…gone. I don't know if the ones in my dream existed, but…I feel like I miss them. It's so weird... I have nobody anymore, and…my life…my heart…what are they to do, now? I can't go back to my village like that… I feel like a part of myself is missing, a part of my life…"
Tatsumi finally broke and started to cry.
"I…am nobody. I don't even know what I've done to get here, and everyone I cared about is dead. What am I supposed to do when I'm less than a human shell?..."
Esdeath heard and understood him. He looked like a child. A lost child, thrown into a cruel world. Before, she would have despised such a behavior.
But now that Tatsumi told her that…she would not, could not despise him. One thing in particular hurt her : when he said he had nobody.
(So he has never considered me as someone close…) she mourned. Immediately, she chased this thought.
(No. No. I am wrong. Now…now that we don't have to fight anymore, now that there is nothing between us, I can show him my love. I can make him fall for me. He is not a rebel anymore and I'm not a General anymore. In fact…this situation is perfect.)
As he was looking down, she suddenly rushed into him, took his cheeks with her hands and gave him a French kiss.
Surprised, he kept his lips closed at first, but quickly opened them before Esdeath's assault.
She tasted his tongue and tried to explore his entire mouth, gulping his saliva, enjoying every bit of him.
When she finally released her grip and separated their mouths, they were both blushing : Tatsumi because he didn't expect that, and Esdeath because it was so exciting and pleasant.
She smiled to him.
"I will be your reason to live, Tatsumi. You belong to me, now and always. I will always love you, and so will you. What your heart and you are to do? You are to love me."
He did not answer, but what she saw in his eyes was enough to delight her.
She left him, still smiling.
(Bols was right), she thought. (It's about never giving up!)
Akame was angry and jealous. Tatsumi had awaked, but she wasn't at his side when he did. Plus, he was now looking less sad than before… but what bothered her was the fact that it was Esdeath's doing.
This woman succeeded where she, Akame, failed : raise Tatsumi's moral.
She forced herself to calm down. Her feelings had caused her to commit many mistakes these past few days.
The landscape changed at a certain point of their march. There were no more desolated villages or ravaged farms, but large golden wheat fields, fruiting trees and immaculate roads.
It was clear that this region had been spared by the war, or did not try to fight the Revolutionary Army.
(This is what the whole country should look), Akame thought.
Farmers and peasants were harvesting around them, or simply discussing. Most of them friendly waved at Akame's group.
(They're not suspicious at all. This is a beautiful thing, yet risky. Not all the strangers are trustworthy…)
The road leaded them to the surroundings of a wooden town, so well built that it looked like a drawing. The habitations were perfectly lined to create clear passages and streets for the habitants.
There was no wall to protect the city ; obviously, the residents thought they didn't need one…and survived.
It was hard to imagine that Esdeath would know this kind of peaceful place…
"What's the name, again?" Akame asked, as the little group was admiring the scenery.
"Joyou", Esdeath answered. "It is reputed to be wealthy, calm and beautiful…and indeed, it is."
"Indeed", Akame repeated.
Wave was walking in the street, wearing his blue jacket and carrying his sword at his side as always.
(It had to be me, eh? But it's not a bad thing though. Somehow, when Akame and the General are close, I feel some tension… Geez, it gives me shivers.)
He had been given the task to find a place where they could rest. Something away from the center, told him Akame.
Since they didn't know how fast the news travelled in the country, Akame and Esdeath judged that it was better not to show themselves here.
They both know Najenda had already taken countermeasures against them. It surely included the diffusion of a bounty on their heads as well as their portraits.
Wave was happy to have a walk, but he would have preferred to be with Kurome too.
(I could have bought her an ice cream or something, since she loves sweets…wait, don't think about that now! Focus on your task!)
He shook his head vigorously to chase away his lovey dovey thoughts.
(An inn won't do… I have to ask for a vacate house we can rent, I guess. Maybe the governor of this town will help me?)
He politely asked for the governor's house to the first habitant he met and was nicely oriented to a small wooden building.
Two guards were watching the entrance, but when he explained them why he came for, they introduced him inside.
(They didn't even ask me to give them my weapon…)
Wave expected a room filled with riches, girls and alcohol, like the standards in the Capital, but…
What he was brought to was a cramped chamber full of papers, notes and factures with a table, a chair and a beautiful woman sat on.
She was older than him, but her golden hair, her thin body would have seduced any commoner. She wore a simple dress and ear muffs.
"Hello, traveler, and welcome to Joyou", she said. "What brings you here? Would you like something to drink?"
"No thanks, my lady", Wave politely answered.
He came up with the lie he had prepared along with the others.
"My friends and I are refugees from the war. We heard yer town was a peaceful place, far away from the fights. We'd like to stay here for a while, if ya allow us to."
The governor's face didn't betray what she thought, but she replied with assurance and calm.
"As long as you don't bring any troubles, you're welcome here. Where do you plan to live?"
"To be honest, we don't know yet. Since we're five and one of us is wounded, we can't decently go to the inn… We're looking for a vacate habitation, away from the center so we'd avoid to scare the people."
"A wounded, you say? How?"
(Shit! I spoke too much!) Wave thought.
He decided to tell the truth…at least part of it.
"He fell down from a cliff…we managed to save him, but he's still badly injured, and the damages to his head made him an amnesic…"
"Oh…I'm truly sorry. Pardon me my curiosity…"
She reflected and lifted her eyes to the ceiling.
"Hmm… We have a vacate house that fits perfectly what you seek for. Away from the center, near the school. She's empty since the one who habited here left for the Capital."
For some reason, she looked sad, but regained composure.
"Of course, you'll have to pay a rent, and buy food by yourselves."
"I'm sorry my lady, but we don't have enough money to do so. Can we find a compromise or something like that?"
"Hmmm…I guess you and some of your friends can help in the fields…we need people to harvest before winter comes…"
Wave suddenly had a vision of Akame, Esdeath, Kurome and him together in the fields and almost laughed.
Suddenly, a guard entered the room without knocking.
"M'lady! The dragons!"
The governor get up.
"Again?! Where?!"
"The eastern stalls! They took half the horses!"
"Damn them!" she cursed. "Any casualty?"
"No death, m'lady, but several wounded. We already sent help there."
"For heaven's sake…"
Wave loudly cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, but what is going on?"
The two others blenched, as if they didn't notice his presence before.
"… Joyou is attacked by dragons-like Danger Beasts since a week", finally said the governor. "They target our food supplies and our livestock. The town's watch is unable to stop them…"
She sighed.
"If only he hadn't left… With his Teigu, it would've been an easy task…"
Wave immediately saw the opportunity.
"My friends and I fought many Danger Beasts during our travels. If ya allow us to habit the house ya talked about without paying a rent, we will erase these monsters for you!"
The governor and the guard didn't look convinced.
"We're talking about dragons", the guard said. "Not tigers or bears, but flying dragons. You sure about that?"
"Sure. Just tell me where they fly to, and we'll wipe them. We'll even call ya after so ya can see. Alright?"
Wave seemed so confident that they trusted him.
"So be it", said the mayor. "We have a deal. Call the witnesses of the attack, so they can show him where the dragons flee. I wish you good luck, traveller."
It didn't take long to Wave to learn where the dragons fled. The villagers told him a dozen of them flew to the north of the town.
Wave pretended to go after them, but once out of sight, he turned back to return to his friends.
He explained the situation to them, without omitting a single detail.
"You did good", Esdeath said, to his relief.
"I think too", approved Akame. "Now, we just have to clean the area and–"
Wave interrupted her.
"No. I know how strong you are, but if someone sees you… I'll do it."
"It'll be faster if I come", insisted Akame.
She looked at Esdeath.
"What about you? I was sure you'd jump on the occasion to slaughter something."
Esdeath grinned.
"Wave is right. What's the point of hiding until now if we suddenly show ourselves? Besides, I trust Wave's strength…and prefer to stay with Tatsumi", she said.
"I wanna come."
Kurome had stepped forward, chewing a sweet.
"No one knows me, and I'm tired of being inactive."
"Kurome, you must not fight!" Akame warned. "You're still not used to the shortage of drugs, and without them…"
"It's okay, sis'. Even without my doping, I'm a capable fighter, you know? We're talking about Danger Beasts, not high skilled assassins", she smiled.
Akame gave up.
"Fine. Do as you wish, but be careful."
Wave was happy to go with Kurome. It had been times since they had an intimate moment together.
"You don't have Yatsufusa anymore", Wave said. "Do you have another weapon to fight with?"
"I have my fists and my feet", Kurome answered.
Wave laughed.
"Alright. Shall we go?"
The two former Jaegers smiled and left together.