(This town reminds me of something), Wave thought while walking. (Am I mistaking?...)
He and Kurome were on the road, tracking the dragons. Though it was not a hard task, because all they had to do was questioning the people they met on the way.
(Wait…) Wave realized. (It's like a date, isn't it? Alone, with Kurome, walking at a peaceful pace…)
He felt his heart beat faster.
(Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe Kurome doesn't see it that way…)
"Say, Wave…it looks like a date, right?" suddenly asked Kurome.
"W-w-wait, it's not what I meant, I…"
It took him several seconds to realize that Kurome didn't read his mind. He sighed in relief when he understood that.
"I guess we can say so…"
"Oh…"
Kurome blushed, making her looking cuter. She tried to hide her embarrassment by eating another sweet.
(Shit, she looks awkward!) panicked Wave. (I was right, saying that this is a date is driving her uneasy!)
"You know, we're on our way to kill Danger Beasts, so it's not that romantic…and if it's not romantic, I don't think it can be called a date, right?!"
Kurome looks disappointed.
"…I thought it was…"
(So she wanted it to be a date after all?!) realized Wave. (Man, I don't understand anything…I better shut up…)
And so he did. But when Kurome's hand timidly reached his, he smiled and held it firmly.
"It wasn't difficult to find it… and it's not like it's hidden or anything…
Kurome and Wave were lying in a bush, observing their goal.
They finally sighted a large lonely grotto on a plain with around twenty dragons flying in circles above it. They were indeed pretty big specimens, with iron-like scales, long crests and claws.
The smallest they saw was large enough to crunch a horse with his jaw.
"So, are we going in?" asked Kurome, already getting up.
Wave forced her to crouch back.
"Wait. Something's weird."
"What?"
"I have the feeling that these dragons are patrolling. Look… It's like they're guarding this cave…"
Kurome shrugged.
"Of course they are, this is their nest".
"Huh…yes."
Kurome gave him a strange look and get up.
As soon as she did, the dragons roared. Even from where they were, they spotted her. They rushed onto them as one.
This terrifying sight didn't scare the duo.
"You sure to fight without a weapon?" asked Wave, as the monsters came closer and closer.
"I'm starting to regret it", admitted Kurome. "But I should be ok. Plus, if I'm in danger, I know you'll come to save me", she added with a warm smile.
Kurome stretched her arms.
"I shall go first", she said.
She dashed forward without any hesitation.
The dragons, which were still flying high, came down, probably to pick Kurome. The one leading the charge opened his jaw large.
Suddenly, Wave felt worried. Kurome had rested a lot, but her health was still fragile. Was that a good idea to put her against such opponents after all this time without fighting?
His concerns didn't last long, though. One second before being eaten, Kurome simply disappeared, as the dragon bit nothing but air.
It itself looked aghast, searching his prey. It finally found it, but at the last place it would've expected.
Kurome was on the base of its neck, riding it. The Danger Beast tried to get off her, but she suddenly landed a violent blow, making it to scream and shake.
The girl held still, and, before the surprised eyes of Wave, managed to conduct the dragon where she wanted to.
In fact, each time it tried to disobey, she hit it on its neck, obligating it to follow her 'orders'.
The congeners of the Beast, however, did not stand still, and tried to help their comrade, but Kurome drove her mount into another dragon, making both of them crash and fall to the ground.
She swiftly jumped on another one which was passing by, and repeated the same maneuver.
"Yosh! I won't twiddle my thumbs forever!" exclaimed Wave.
He drew his sword, concentrated and…
"GRAND CHARIOT!"
With a flood power, the Carnage Incarnate Teigu appeared behind Wave and engulfed him. The shockwave and the light produced by Grand Chariot's apparition even drew the attention of the dragons.
Wave re-appeared in a cloud of dust. The black full-body armor was now covering his whole body. It was emitting a powerful aura, and one could've sworn that the deep black of the armor was absorbing even the sunlight.
Half of the dragons were already on him. They felt the danger and wanted to erase it, but Wave was ready.
With his strength greatly powered-up, he had no difficulty to push back the Beasts with a rain of powerful strikes.
(They're big, but that's all. They still are Beasts, and their attacks are disorganized. Piece of cake!) he thought as two dragons were stupidly clashing each other while trying to catch him.
Still, even if they were easy opponents, Wave was careful. He paid a particular attention to Kurome, who was half-playing and half-fighting.
He knew better than anyone that being careless on the battlefield could mean death.
One of the dragons, braver –or perhaps more stupid? – than the others dragons, charged him head on despite the fact that it was its comrades crushed under Wave's force.
"No you don't!"
With a powerful kick, Wave sent the Beast bite the dust.
"Now let's clean the rest of 'em."
They had killed half of the dragons when Wave heard loud steps.
BOM. BOM. BOM. BOM.
He searched for the source and found it. It came from the grotto. But there was something else. A thinner noise, yet he could hear it.
Bom...bom…bom…bom…bom…bom…
It was some kind of rhythm. Strange fact, it accorded to the steps of the massive creature that was undoubtedly emerging from the cave.
Wave was able to see it, now. An enormous dragon, twice the size of the biggest they fought. Accompanied by smaller minions, a dozen of them ; probably the babies.
(So if they are the babies, it should be the mother…or the father?)
The stepped stopped, and so did the rhythm.
And Wave saw him.
On the Danger Beast's back. A man, seated. Shirtless, the skin crackled, a beard of several days…and a small drum between his legs.
It looked like a small djembe, which the Southern Tribes still used.
Wave didn't lose his time.
"Hey, you! Yes, you, the dragon rider!" he called out.
The man gave him a lifeless glare.
"Are you the one attacking the town?"
"…What if?"
"Stop it now, and no harm will come to you! Otherwise, we'll have to–"
His interlocutor did not let him finish his sentence, and began to hit his drum. This time, it was not a slow march but a swift rhythm.
Bom-bom-bom-bom-bom-bom-bom.
The other dragons reacted, as Wave thought they would, but not the way he expected.
Instead of launching an all-out attack, they regrouped and made four groups.
Bom-bom. Bom-bom. Bom-bom.
Suddenly, the two first groups flew to attack Kurome and Wave face to face, while the two others went past them for a pincer movement.
(Shit…if they begin to organize their attacks… ) Wave thought, while blocking a fierce dragon with his arms.
He did not fear their claws nor their teeth thanks to his armor, but he was concerned about Kurome. She proved herself to be capable of fighting, but he knew that stamina wasn't her forte.
Facing planned strikes like the ones they were now delivering was more tiring than kicking their asses one by one.
Moreover, now leaded by the drum man, the dragons were careful, more intelligent. They retreated when they were too exposed, pushed their advantage when they felt loosestrife…
"Wave!"
Kurome was now at his side, as they fought back to back.
"I'm sure this is a Teigu and this guy is controlling them, but how can we reach him?" she asked.
The man was still on the back of the big dragon, on the rear. It was clear he didn't intend to join the fight.
"I'm pretty sure my Grand Fall can beat his Beast, but I need a diversion. Can you?..."
"How much time do you need?"
"Five seconds."
"Lemme do it!"
Kurome took a step, then dashed right into the drummer. But she didn't fight the dragons on her way ; she simply avoided them with an incredible agility.
She passed through them, jumping, crouching, even sliding when needed. No one could even scratch her.
The man, worried to see her slip through his minions, ordered to the majority of them to pursue her.
Wave quickly knocked the ones remaining, concentrated his strength in his legs, jumped and flew in the sky.
When he estimated that he was high enough, he amerced his descent, aiming for the big dragon.
During that time, Kurome, who had judged too risky to come closer, had stepped back. When she saw him, she gave him a smile.
"GRAND FALL!"
The drummer lifted his eyes and noticed his opponent charging him from the sky…too late.
Or so Wave thought.
Bom-bom.
Two hits on the drum, and the enormous dragon took a defensive posture in an instant.
It absorbed most of the impact, but sent him bite the dust along with his rider.
But somehow, he managed to keep his drum, and even while lying on the ground, he began to play.
Bombombombombombombombom.
Wave turned back in time to see the horde coming in his direction. A heartbeat later, he was fighting the minions again, while the drummer had prudently backed off.
Wave saw fear in his eyes. He was now wary of him, without a doubt.
(I know!)
He forced his way through the Beasts to reach Kurome.
"I have a plan!" he told her.
"Better than the last, I hope!" she answered with a hint of irony, while dodging a claw.
They repeated the same schema. Kurome tried to attack the drummer while Wave prepared his fatal blow, Grand Fall.
But this time, the man did not take the bait. Instead of sending half his forces to Kurome and the other half to Wave, he called back all his minions to counter Grand Fall.
Wave confronted a wall of scales, bones and flesh, and as he was coming closer, he felt the power of his kick decreasing.
His attack annihilated all the smaller dragons, leaving only the one who protected the drummer.
He saw the man smiling, seated on the big dragon which was already in a defensive posture, and read what he told him on his lips : not twice.
Wave pushed aside the last creature that separated him from the drummer and his huge guardian, and smiled under his armor.
"Checkmate!"
A shadow passed behind the man, and hit him on the neck, instantly knocking him off.
Kurome, left alone by the dragons, had managed to take their enemy from behind, since all his attention was focused on Wave and his deadly move.
However, the dragon noticed that something was wrong. Wave was about to attack it when Kurome performed a somersault and slammed the Beast's head with her heel.
The skull of the dragon literally exploded, as brains and various fluids flowed off.
(And I was nervous about her conditionn), Wave thought, impressed. Though, he was happy; Kurome did not kill the man and acted as he asked her.
"Good job!" he congratulated her.
"You too!" she cheerfully said.
They spent the next minutes to gather all the corpses, piling them alongside the big one's.
Once he was sure that the drummer was tied up, Wave removed Grand Chariot from his body and sighed.
"We're finally done…I hope we'll get a good shelter for that work. Well, I shall get the governor to show her the corpses. We'll bring this man to justice too."
"What do we do about the drum? We're pretty sure it's a Teigu, but is it a good idea to give it to the governor?" asked Kurome, licking a lollipop.
Wave pondered the question.
"You're right, we're not gonna give it. We'll keep it to show it to the General and Akame, then decide what to do with. If it can control Danger Beasts, it can cause a lot of damages..."
"Like this one", Kurome said, designing the tied man.
"Indeed. Well, wait here, watch him. See you later!"
Wave was about to go when he noticed that Kurome was drooling while looking at the dragons.
"And don't eat them!" he added. "We have to show the bodies to the governor!"
Kurome gave him a sullen pout.
Wave came back with the governor, who was accompanied by the captain of the city watch and two guards.
They found a pile of carcasses, a campfire on which was roasting a piece of dragon, and Kurome eating meat as if her life was on the line.
When she saw Wave, facepalming, and his guests aghast, she shrugged and smiled timidly.
"Showwy", she said, her mouth full.
"Idiot! I told you not to–" began Wave.
He was interrupted by the governor's laughter, who was giggling to tears.
"I thought you were bluffing back then", she said when she calmed down. "But seeing your friend here eating dragons like this made me realize that you must be very strong!"
Surprised by these compliments, both Kurome and Wave felt uneasy.
"It's not like it was a big deal…"
"For you, maybe not, but I assure you these dragons were a real threat for us. Have you more information about them, by the way?"
Wave brought out the man they captured.
"He is the responsible. One way or another, he managed to tame the Danger Beasts, and used them to loot your town."
"Tame a Danger Beast? Is that possible?" exclaimed the governor.
"Sure thing. I heard that the Gener–…I mean, the strongest of the Empire, Esdeath, was able to do it. Maybe this guy is special?" he lied.
He didn't mention the Teigu on purpose.
"Well, special or not, we'll make sure he does not meet other Beasts!" snapped the captain of the city watch. "Take him away!" he ordered to the guards.
As her men left to escort the man to the town, the governor turned to Wave.
"I believe a deal's a deal. You honored your part, now it's my turn. I shall lend you the house of one of our strongest officers, who left for the Capital months ago."
For some reason, she looked sad.
"It's spacious, unoccupied, and away from the center. Small detail, it is near the school, so…"
This time, she seemed embarrassed, and it did not evade Wave's eye.
"So what?"
"Hum, nothing. It's just that…due to some circumstances, the school only restarted some weeks ago, so the children are still lousy…nothing to worry about."
(Something's up, but what?) Wave thought. (Well, it's not of my concern, after all.)
"Thank you very much", he said instead.
"No, I'm the one thanking you", the governor replied. "If you need anything, feel free to ask me."
"Will do, my lady!"
Wave had to wait for Kurome to finish her meal, which, thanks to her voracity, didn't take long.
They met the others where they left them and explained what happened.
"So this is it", Wave concluded. "We now have a house and another Teigu!"
"Well done", praised Akame.
"See, Wave. You can be useful when you want", smirked Esdeath.
(Is this a compliment or a reproach?...)he questioned himself.
"Let me see the Teigu", Esdeath ordered.
He obeyed and handed it.
Esdeath inspected it carefully, and blinked of surprise.
"I don't know the name, but I'm certain that it was one of the Teigus Honest kept in his vault. We used it during the siege of the Capital to counter the Danger Beasts the Revolutionary Army brought, but I thought it has been lost or destroyed during the fights…"
"More likely, some random found it and used it. With this, he could've taken a castle but all he did was feeding himself and his Beasts…"
"What do with do with it?" interrupted Akame. "We can't let it fall between bad hands, but it would be a waste to destroy it."
"Hm. We should wait until we find a solution", decided Esdeath. "Wave, bury it, or hide it somewhere in the meantime. We can't decently afford to carry it everywhere we go."
"Aye!"
"Let's see our new home".
The house they had been lent was surely the property of a former high ranked officer. It was more a villa than a house, to say the truth.
It had an interior court, a small wall with an iron forged gate, and at least ten rooms.
When they entered in, they noticed that almost every room was filled with books of all types : adventure novels, education books, poetry, economics, and even some mangas.
Despite the dust covering the furniture, the house was perfectly tidy.
"All we have to do is clean it up, and it'll be ok for us to live in", Akame announced.
"I have to confess, after the travel and the fight, I have no desire to begin a cleansing", Wave said.
"The sun is already going down, sis", Kurome added. "Let's just camp in the court tonight. We can do the work tomorrow, don't you think?"
Akame interrogated Esdeath with a glance, and she shrugged.
"Very well. I'll go get some meat, just dress the camp and light a fire, please."
She was about to leave, but remembered one thing.
"Oh, and when we'll have cleaned the bedrooms… Tatsumi and Kurome will sleep in the same one".
"Why?!" exclaimed both Esdeath and Wave.
Akame gave them a cold glare.
"Because this way, I'm sure this icy bitch won't do anything dirty to Tatsumi, and Wave won't touch Kurome in her sleep."
"But…Kurome and I are a couple!" he protested, blushing.
"Perhaps, but she's still a girl, and a minor."
"…"
"Also, Kurome will watch over Tatsumi…we don't know if he's completely stable."
"You didn't ask me my opinion", intervened Esdeath. "I could take Tatsumi without asking you."
"Yes. But you won't."
Esdeath smiled and chuckled.
"As you wish… It's not like we're at this step for now. I prefer let him go to me when the time comes. I can't wait to see what you'll have to say when Tatsumi will get in my bed by himself…"
Akame went fast and good, and brought back a couple of Terror Birds. During the time of her hunt, the others had built a giant campfire and pulled out some duvets to sleep outdoors.
Esdeath ate silently, and once done, announced that she was going in the wild to train with her ice and make experiments.
Kurome watched Akame for tens of minutes, and finally went to her side.
It has been years since they ate together, under the night sky, and it brought back warm memories to her.
"Sis, what's going on? You don't feel good?" she asked her.
"What? What makes you think that?"
"You're eating slowly. That's not very much like you…"
Akame sadly smiled.
"You don't talk much, but you observe a lot, don't you…"
"As you usually do."
"True enough…"
Kurome waited for her sister to talk.
"You're right. I'm not…good… How to say…"
Akame tried to put words on her thoughts.
"I'm happy Tatsumi is alive…I'm so glad. But…yet, I feel like there is a distance between us since his memory loss. That's normal, he doesn't know me anymore, but…it hurts me. It hurts me to see that Esdeath is closer from him than I am. I'm pretty sure she did something to him, but what? And how can I…get close to him, like before?..."
Kurome listened carefully.
"Sis…The General loves Tatsumi. This is a strange love, indeed, and you know how the General is, but…still, this is love."
"Yes, I know…"
"And you love Tatsumi too."
That was not a question.
"But you don't do anything to show him that love", Kurome said.
"What do you mean?"
"You love him, but you're talking to him like a stranger or a distant friend. He's not that. He is the only one you fell in love with. So why don't you tell him that?"
Akame flared up.
"This is not that easy! Do you think I didn't reflect about that?! Don't you think that I want to tell him everything?! But…"
"But what?"
Kurome knew she was pushing her sister, but she thought it was for her sake.
"But…he's amnesic. He must be totally confused…and sad from what happened, and what he doesn't remember. Plus, he doesn't know me anymore. What if…what if I scare him and he rejects me? What if I disgust him, being an assassin? I couldn't bear that…"
"One thing is certain. If you don't do anything, nothing will change. Don't wait for a miracle, sis. Make it happen instead."
Akame looked at her with tears in the eyes, and hugged her. Kurome embraced her too, smiling.
"I really hope you'll find happiness like I did, sis", she whispered.
Akame felt better once her belly full. She gathered her courage, made sure no one was watching, and sneaked to Tatsumi's ice cradle, lying on the ground.
He was already asleep. She hesitated, and gently awoke him.
"Mmhhh…what…what?! Miss?!" he exclaimed.
"Shhh!"
"Miss?" he repeated, this time with a lower voice. "What are you doing here?"
"Tatsumi, I…I have to talk to you."
She sounded dead serious, but was anxious. Like…the first time she confessed to him.
And so, she told him everything. The promises he made to her, their confessions…and her love for him.
"I…love you, Tatsumi. I didn't want to tell you before, because I thought it could disturb you…but this is the truth. I love you".
Tatsumi took time to answer.
"I…I'm flattered, miss, but…"
"Cut off the miss! My name's Akame!"
"Sorry mi…Akame. Like I said, I'm flattered, but…"
Akame felt her heart race…
"…but the fact is…I don't know you."
…and break into pieces. A violent pain pierces her chest, and before she knew it, she was on the verge of crying.
(…so I was right. He doesn't know me…He can't love me…)
Tatsumi, however, was still talking. It took Akame all her might to listen.
"I don't know you, but I'd like to."
(What?)
"I mean…You told me that I fell in love with you. I don't remember that, but I would like you to tell me everything. Our time together. What happened. I want to know…what I have forgotten."
Akame was stunned…yet happy. But…she had to warn him.
"Tatsumi…the past you want to know about…is not glorious nor happy. It's dark and bloody…and sad. Last time I told you something about your past, you tried to hang yourself…"
She bit her tongue. She was not supposed to tell him what he did.
Tatsumi did not look surprised.
"Did I? Since I don't remember anything after you told me that Sayo and Ieyasu were dead…but it makes sense, in a certain way. Today, I was buried in sadness and despair. After all, lots of things happened, and I have no idea what I've to do anymore…like a dark mist was clouding my mind."
He crossed his arms.
"But when the other miss, Esdeath, came to me…I felt like I couldn't stay like this anymore. I have to move onward, find why I'm still alive. Why I'm still here. But first, I have to know myself. And to do so, I need you to tell me the past I don't remember. I need to know what I was."
He looked at Akame with a confidant look.
"And I know you will tell me the truth. After all, when I questioned you about the fate of my friends, you didn't lie. Even if it was harsh, you spoke the truth. So…I trust you…Akame."
A warm wave embraced her whole body when he called her by her name.
Tatsumi smiled, from his signature grin.
"Also, you say that this past is dark, but I'm sure there are good parts and joyful memories. Right?!"
Akame remembered all the moments with her comrades, and her comrades themselves.
Sheele's kindness.
Bulat's laughter.
Chelsea's jokes.
Susanoo's cooking.
Mein's pouts.
Lubbock's attempts to spy on Leone.
Leone's hugs.
Najenda's stories about her youth.
And Tatsumi's smile.
She nodded.
"Yes. Yes, there are."
When she finally came back to her duvet, she mentally thanked Kurome.
As she was slowly falling asleep, one thought crossed her mind.
(Does something like eternal love even exist in this world?)