"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A shriek of horror, despair and pain resounded in the meadow. But it was not Akame's, though it attracted her attention.
Her mind blank, Akame turned back, only to see Esdeath fall on her knees.
Akame get what happened.
(He saw her and he protected me…the icicles were destined to me…)
But for now, that was not important. Maybe…maybe there was still a way to save Tatsumi.
Akame crawled to him only and grabbed his hand.
"Tatsumi…I'm here…I'm right here…"
She looked at him in the eyes, gathered her courage and examined his wounds.
The sight crushed her hopes.
Finding its way through the wounds, Tatsumi's blood was flowing, painting both the dirt and grass with red.
Tatsumi was desperately trying to breathe but only managed to cough blood. His green eyes were staring at Akame, filled with fear and pain.
Nothing could be done to save him. He was already dying. Still, Akame desesperately searched for a solution.
(Would it be possible to repeat the same process again? Freeze him and heal him later? No…his injuries are too…too…)
Her other hand reached Tatsumi's cheek. Even from this simple contact, she could feel his heartbeat. Each pulsation drew him closer to death.
(I can't…I don't find a way to…I…I…)
Akame found herself crying, sobbing. Her right hand was holding her beloved's one as her left one was pressed against Tatsumi's cheek.
"Tatsumi…You can't… You'll be alright…Tatsumi…No…not again… "
All of sudden, Akame recalled unexpected memories of moments shared with Tatsumi.
At that time, when they were in the Night Raid's hideout kitchen. The night was lit by the full moon.
"I vow never to make you grieve!" Tatsumi promised.
In the Capital, ravaged by the fights. Tatsumi was dying, but he confessed his love to her.
" …I love you."
And, not one minute ago, when he recovered his memories and told her how much he loved her.
"Akame…I love you. I truly do."
Akame remembered every kind word he told her, every moment she spent with him. She was living some kind of near death experience.
But now, it was over. All these memories, which could have lead to a happy end would remain memories forever.
Life faded from Tatsumi's eyes as his heartbeats stopped.
"Tatsumi?...Tatsumi…answer…you promised me…"
Akame vainly called him.
Minutes ago, Tatsumi had tenderly smiled to her, kissed her.
And now, he was a lying dead, bathed with his own blood, killed wanting to protect Akame.
"TATSUMI!" she cried.
When she heard Akame's scream, Esdeath knew it was over. Tatsumi was dead.
And it was all her doing.
The sight of Akame and Tatsumi kissing each other had plunged her into a deep, uncontrollable wrath. Listening to her anger and emotions, she had tried to kill her rival on the spot.
But she did not expect Tatsumi to protect Akame.
(I killed Tatsumi. After everything I did to save him, I killed him. I… I…)
Sceneries flashed in front of her eyes, in a glimpse of light.
Tatsumi fighting against his opponent in this tournament.
Tatsumi's smile which made her heart go faster.
Tatsumi pouting, when she announced him he would become hers.
Tatsumi's smell, when she embraced him this night.
Tatsumi's warm hand.
Tatsumi's reaction on their first date.
Tatsumi's taste when she kissed him.
Tatsumi. Tatsumi. Tatsumi. Tatsumi.
(What…have I done?)
Esdeath, still dazed by her feelings, heard footsteps. And then…
"Akame! Don't!"
"Big sis!"
Out of instinct, Esdeath dodged Murasame's edge.
In front of her, Akame, a light of pure hatred in the eyes was pointing her deadly katana towards Esdeath.
"Big sis!" repeated Kurome. "Stop that!"
A few weeks ago, Esdeath would've loved to fight against Akame with such a gaze. But not anymore.
Mechanically, she defended herself.
Akame's pain, sadness, sorrow and despair had now turned into anger and hatred directed towards Esdeath : the one who killed Tatsumi.
She was responsible of his death. She destroyed their future, the only future she ever wished for.
Her hatred gave her strength.
Esdeath directly or indirectly killed many of her friends. Akame needed every reason possible to hate her more, to fuel her inner fire.
"YOU KILLED HIM! YOU KILLED HIM!" she shrieked, while swinging Murasame. "YOU KILLED HIM!"
Esdeath did the same thing as Akame. In order to overcome her feeling, she told herself that it was Akame's fault. If only she hadn't kissed him, she wouldn't have shot him.
So, she was not at fault. It was entirely Akame's fault if Tatsumi was dead. Not hers.
"EVERYTHING ISYOUR FAULT!" she screamed back to Akame, unleashing her power and riposting.
None of them was allowed to make a single mistake.
Akame, thanks to her Teigu, only needed one cut to kill her opponent, and she knew Esdeath's trump card, Mahapadma.
Esdeath didn't want to use Mahapadma to attack ; she thought Akame had built countermeasures especially for this case.
On the other hand, she didn't want to have fun fighting like always. It was the first time enjoyment was not what she was seeking for.
Esdeath wanted to kill Akame. She wanted to erase her existence. It was also the first time she had such bloodlust and felt such hatred towards someone.
Before that, murder was natural to her, not tainted with feelings as it was right now.
Wave, still wearing Grand Chariot, was puzzled. The General had left him to go ahead.
When he found his way to the school, what he saw astonished him.
Akame and Esdeath fighting ferociously.
The school, half destroyed.
(What the fuck happened here?!)
The villagers in Joyou were still looking for survivors and gathering dead corpses of bandits. There was nothing left to fear on this matter, but…
"Wave!"
Kurome called him. Ran and her were watching the fight at respectable distance.
Wave rejoined them and noticed the body lying in the grass tainted with blood.
Tatsumi, with several holes in the chest, the eyes closed. His injuries showed that even if he had a quick death, he suffered a lot.
"Tatsumi…no…what happened?" Wave choked.
Even without Incursio, Tatsumi was a skilled fighter, on the same level as Wave to say the least. Who could've killed him?
He saw the red soiled icicles Ran had extracted before and assembled the pieces of the puzzle.
(Tatsumi's body pierced…icicles…the General and Akame fighting…)
"Could it be…did the General?..."
Wave shook his head. How did it come to that?
"What happened?!"
"It looked like Tatsumi was under some influence", Ran explained. "We don't know how, but he managed to regain control…and when it happened, Akame and him kissed…but the General saw them. Apparently, she wasn't aiming for Tatsumi, but he protected Akame and took the hits instead of her. And now…"
Wave understood.
"I see, more or less. Tatsumi…pal…why did it end like that?..."
He sadly looked at the body.
(Tatsumi…he didn't deserve that. After everything he has done and went through…)
"Is he really?..." he asked, desperately. "Is there nothing we can…"
Ran nodded.
"Yes. I had to be sure, so when they were fighting, I dragged his body here with the help of Kurome and checked on him... It's over."
"Fuck…Tatsumi…"
Wave was sad, but something else was on. He pointed at Esdeath and Akame, fighting.
"I know it may look sudden but…we should stop them, right? Tatsumi wouldn't want them to fight to death…"
"No, he wouldn't", Kurome answered. "But…we're no match for them. They're both overwhelmed by their feelings, they won't listen. And if we try to interpose…"
Wave already knew the answer. Of course, they were no match for them. But…
"…so, we're gonna sit here and do nothing?" he muttered.
Ran grabbed him by the wrist.
"Wave. Don't even think about it. Face the truth ; if you go there, you'll just be killed. Nothing will changed, excepted the fact that you'll be dead. You don't want that, I don't want that, Kurome doesn't want that...and even Tatsumi wouldn't want that. Please, don't."
Wave gritted his teeth, and pulled back Grand Chariot.
"…it pains me like hell, but…ya right."
(But what will happen? Even if one of them wins, what will become of the winner, if we can call that a winner?)
A frightening thought crossed his mind.
(What would I do, if Kurome were to die? How would I feel?...)
Pressed by Akame, Esdeath built up an ice wall to buy some time.
(Murasame's threat is too important. I need to stay away from it.)
It only took Akame a few seconds to break the wall, but it was enough for Esdeath to prepare her ice bullets.
"DIE!"
She fired rows and rows of bullets to her opponent.
Akame, unable to parry everything, was forced to continuously run and strike at the same time to escape the hail of projectiles.
"HURRY UP AND DIE!" Esdeath screamed, half mad.
Esdeath deployed all her willpower, creating bullets and changing the trajectory of the already existing ones at a fearsome speed.
Her brutal strategy forced Akame to constantly change her course and did not let her any opening.
An observer could have said that the two of them were weeding and plowing the meadow, as the ice bullets created hundred, thousands of holes in the ground.
Akame was well aware that she didn't stand a chance in ranged combat with Esdeath. Moreover, she was for now running at full speed to avoid the attacks and knew she could not maintain that pace forever.
(I need to come closer. I only need to cut her once.)
Despite her state of pure fury, she coldly analyzed her options and the situation.
Suddenly, she turned back, and instead of circling around Esdeath, she faced her and attacked her head on.
It looked like a foolish decision, given the fact that Esdeath's whole firepower would be directed to her.
But it was not.
If the bullets were fired directly towards her, their trajectory would become easy to read.
And as Akame predicted, the projectiles were linear. Every row had the same pattern. Thanks to that and her incredibly sharp reflexes, Akame was able to deflect every bullet that threatened her.
Powerless, Esdeath could only see her enemy slowly braving the hail of projectiles to finally arrive at her contact, forcing her to close combat quarter.
Without losing an instant, she drew her rapier and materialized an ice sword. Wielding her two blades, she started to dance with Akame, each step more dangerous than the precedent.
When it came to strength, stamina and speed, Akame was clearly under Esdeath. In a conventional fight, she would not have been able to defeat her alone.
But Akame's burning feelings were making her stronger, giving her the power to fight on equal foot with the Strongest of the –former– Empire.
Esdeath's feelings, however, were disturbing her. She was not used to. For the first time of her life, she felt remorse for killing someone. Remorse, sadness, pain, and above everything else, guilt.
Because of that, she was troubled and did not fight at her max capacity.
With these factors, their strengths were approximately equal.
Akame unleashed her swordsmanship, everything she had learnt since she used to carry a blade.
She constantly changed her style, aiming to destabilize Esdeath.
From successive rapid thrusts to violent hammering, from feints to furious assaults, from slashes to spin attacks.
None of them hit Esdeath who deflected everything, but that was reciprocal. Esdeath did not make any bold movement, wary of Murasame, and limited her offensive.
However, if their strengths were even, their staminas were not.
Akame was giving her all, but it was not enough. Her movements were slowly but surely slowing, her breathe becoming harder, her katana heavier.
And so, she began to step back under Esdeath's pressure.
It was at this moment that Akame, cornered, decided to reveal her trump card. She never used it before but was planning to do so against Esdeath if she had to finish her once and for all.
But in order to activate it, she had to discard her humanity.
That action was not to be taken lightly, nor easily doable.
One's humanity was the sum of one's being, existence, memories and feelings. Something so complex you couldn't really define it with words, because it was changing from one person to another.
For Akame, her "humanity" was her empathy, her love towards the others. She had thrown away most of it by becoming an assassin and by killing so much people.
At a time, she had even been ready to kill her own sister, her only family. In the end, she didn't, and lost that determination.
What became her last remnant of humanity was Tatsumi. Since Akame had reached her goal which was to build a new kingdom, the only reason she had left to live as a human was Tatsumi.
With Tatsumi by her side, she could've lived a happy and long life. She could've cast the killings and her sword aside and learn how to live as a human.
This dream, this hope was why she was hanging on to her "humanity".
However…Tatsumi was gone.
It was impossible, after all.
To live as a human in this world.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A sudden burst of energy occurred, causing Esdeath to promptly retreat, intrigued.
(Ennoodzuno.)
Akame activated her trump card. She was bathed with black and red energy. Her eyes wore the curse Murasame displayed on its victims, and several red marking appeared on her body.
She spoke with a totally emotionless voice. A no longer human voice.
"I'll bury you."
Esdeath immediately felt the difference. It was obvious Akame was now way much stronger than before.
(Her speed is equal to mine…no, slightly above mine?!) she thought.
A tenth of second later, they crossed swords, and Esdeath felt her arms shaking.
(And her strength…the same goes for it.)
It was bad. It only took one cut for her to die, and if Akame was quicker and stronger than her, surely this cut would come sooner or later.
Esdeath tried to slash away her opponent, but Akame, her reflexes tenfold, literally disappeared as she dodged.
(Such a power-up must strain her body like hell and won't last forever. The only question is : how long?)
The normal course of action for Esdeath would have been to focus on her defense ; an easy task with her ice.
She could dress up strong walls or even create. an armor for herself ; in other words, earn time, temporize and wait for her opponent to weaken.
But –there was always a 'but'–, what if Akame had read through her? What if Akame was waiting for Esdeath to strengthen her defense to come up with a counter?
They both knew they were the strongest opponents in the country, maybe in the world, and they were destined to fight each other. In the light of that, it was safe to assume Akame had thought about their confrontation all this time.
That was why Esdeath could not take the risk to follow the logic. People were not moved by logic, after all.
Instead, she decided to minimize her guard and attack, attack and attack again, not letting Akame took the higher ground nor build a strategy.
Still wielding her dual blades, she concentrated to launch one of the new techniques she had thought of.
"Hundert Schwerter!"*
A hundred swords materialized around her, and on her mental command, moved alongside her to fight Akame as well, hitting with the tip and the edge, cutting and thrusting all at the same time. However, none crossed or hit another, showing a new proof of Esdeath's mastering.
A swarm of swords was raging upon Akame, and still, she managed to remain unharmed, dodging sometimes from an inch all the blows.
What she could not dodge, she parried with Murasame or her sheet. She was dancing, moving so quickly she looked like an illusion.
Swords tried to cut her image, only to meet nothing but air.
Esdeath, even as her opponent, was impressed.
Akame was a machine. She had no reason left to live.
She had no more comrades, no more cause to fight for, and Tatsumi was dead.
All she could do now was avenge his death, along with all her friends' ones. Revenge was why she was still fighting.
(I don't care anymore. It doesn't matter if I die now.)
She extended her arm to piece Esdeath, but ten swords formed a shield and blocked the strike.
(I just want to bury her. No matter what happens afterwards.)
Akame let herself fall down to dodge a multi front attack.
(I don't care. I don't care.)
She saw an opening and went for it only to confront a blender-like assault from Esdeath.
(I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!)
She brandished Murasame, ready to strike with all her strength and put an end to the fight, but her eyes captured something on her right side.
The vision lasted less than one second, but it made her stop and move back.
(Tatsu…mi?...)
She doubted her own vision. It couldn't be…and…still…
Tatsumi was there, standing in the grass. He was still tainted with blood, but for some reason, his wounds were now cured. There was not even a trace left excepted the holes in the clothes. Not a scar.
It was a miracle.
(Is it…true? Is this the reality, or just another dream?)
Tatsumi slowly turned towards her.
Akame knew he was real. She dashed, running to meet him, embrace him, kiss him.
"TATSUMI!" she yelled.
However, as Akamewas running, she noticed something. At Tatsumi's feet, two bodies.
Kurome and Ran, beaten black and blue, unconscious but alive. And, barely standing, Wave, in a bad shape too.
"Akame!" Wave warned. "This…is not Tatsumi!"
Tatsumi's fist knocked him out right after he said that, and his head met the ground with a loud noise.
Akame took a quick look at Esdeath behind her, who was also staring at Tatsumi, aghast.
But in her head, feelings were mixed up.
If Tatsumi was still alive somehow…then she still had a reason to live.
If Tatsumi was alive, she used her trump card and inflicted herself a curse without reason.
But why was Tatsumi alive? He died right in front of her and did not possess the ability to heal by himself. So why?...
Wave told her that it was not Tatsumi. What did he mean?
Too much questions and too much emotions were buzzing inside her.
"Tatsumi?..." she softly called.
When he glared at her, she understood what Wave meant. There was no hidden sense behind his words.
The man standing in front of her was simply not Tatsumi.
Tatsumi would never wear this malevolent expression of his face…and Tatsumi did not have red eyes. Tatsumi's eyes were green, like two emeralds.
These ones were red with cross slit pupils. It remembered her something, but in the storm of her thoughts, she did not manage to recall what…
Suddenly, Tatsumi spoke, but not with his cheerful voice. This one was rasped, bestial.
"Finally. I warned him I would take over, but I did not think that time would come so quickly! Finally, I have my own body!"
(Is it…Incursio?!)
"I know you."
During a second, Akame hoped he recognized her.
"You are the one who allowed him to push me back."
Tatsumi smiled. His smile was cruel and cold.
"It will be my great pleasure to kill you."
Akame saw the attack coming and blocked Tatsumi's fist.
She was still strengthened by Ennoodzuno and yet, she felt his explosive power. Tatsumi was indeed strong, but not that much!
Though, she didn't fight back. Not with Murasame, which could have killed him.
The only option left was to retreat, and so she did. A weird fact was that Tatsumi's movements were clumsy, disordered, like a newborn learning how to walk and move.
He directed his gaze to Akame again, but when he saw Murasame, he frowned.
"That weapon…is dangerous. If what I saw is correct, it can kill in one cut…"
Was it really Incursio? It would make sense, but to Akame, this possibility was…hardly believable.
One thing sure, he wanted to kill her and was wary of Murasame.
What happened in reality was simple. Even if, thanks to the force of his memories and his love for Akame, Tatsumi managed to push away Incursio aka Tyrant, the latter was still inside of him, a part of himself.
When Tatsumi's conscious faded away because of the injuries he suffered, Tyrant took his place. By using his own vital force, he healed his body, and, having the upper hand, exchanged places with Tatsumi.
Tyrant was now inhabiting Tatsumi's own body.
"TATSUMIIIIII!"
Akame looked at Esdeath in disbelief, who ran towards Tatsumi, her arms wide open to hug him.
Esdeath was in joy. She could not believe it. Tatsumi was alive, and it was not an illusion.
It was real, and she wanted to taste that reality, every bit of it.
"You're alive! You're ali–"
At the moment she reached him, without any warning, Tatsumi threw a violent punch in her right side, powerful enough to make her gasp under the shock.
"Gah–"
This time, she saw him preparing the next blow, but hurt as she was, there was nothing to be done, excepted…
"Mahapadma!"
With time and space frozen, Esdeath managed to retreat at reasonable distance.
She quickly examined her condition.
(Even if I wanted to keep it in my sleeve for as long as possible, I was right to use it now. His blows are incredibly tough. I have at least three ribs broken and maybe internal damages…)
She coughed, spat some blood, and time resumed.
Tatsumi grunted when his second only met air. He looked for Esdeath, and eventually found her.
"What is that? Can you teleport?..."
"It is not Tatsumi!" Akame warned, a little bit too late.
At the same time, Esdeath noticed his eyes.
(I…know these eyes. No, not these ones, but…)
As she was reflecting on what happened to Tatsumi, Esdeath suddenly connected pieces.
(These eyes. Wave had one like these when he summoned Grand Chariot, but it was blue. And Incursio, Tatsumi's Teigu, was the prototype of Grand Chariot.)
She came up with a hypothesis.
(If Tatsumi has the eyes…is it possible ,in a way or another, that Incursio took control of his body? That would explain his behavior, voice and eyes…)
However, this hypothesis had weak points and did not solve the matter.
In the first place, why was Tatsumi possessed by Incursio? And if it was meant to happen, why now and not before? Was it even possible?
(Too many questions and not enough data to determine what is true… Esdeath darkly thought. But the most important is : how can I save him?)
As she was still thinking, Akame came near her. Esdeath immediately raised her guard, but Akame shook her head lightly.
"I know this is rather sudden, but...can we put aside our fight for now?"
It was the last thing Esdeath expected from her, given the fact that minutes ago, she was trying to kill her like crazy, even releasing the trump card she had hidden for years.
"Say again?"
"I want you…no, us to forget what just happened. Tatsumi is alive, and we can save him. Together."
As Esdeath was still dumbfounded, Akame flared up.
"Do you think it's easy for me to ask you that?! So for heaven's sake, give me an answer!"
Esdeath looked at Akame, and remembered the two of them kissing. It was still a painful memory, but…
"You love him", she stated, while watching Tatsumi, who was examining his own body and trying to clumsily move.
"Yes."
"And so do I. But only one can have him."
"…"
"It looks like he loves you", she sighed. "But…if he dies here, I won't have a chance to seduce him and have him back. That is why I'll help you. Right?"
"I only ask for your help. Your reasons don't matter."
Esdeath laughed, and grimaced in pain.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked.
In response, Akame showed her Murasame.
"…what do you intend to do with that?"
"Save him."
Esdeath glared at her, eyes in the eyes.
"Answer honestly. Do you plan to save him, or to release him? "
"I'll save him. That is the plan. I'll bring him back." Akame answered.
"What are the chances for your plan to actually work?"
"Fifty fifty, I'd say."
"I guess asking for more would be unreasonable", Esdeath sighed. "By the way, why do you need me that much? If you have a plan, you could have saved him by yourself."
"Truth to be told, my trump card's effects are about to end. And…I feel that the aftereffect will be really painful."
"Haha. As I suspected. I guess we're even in that case. Tatsumi…or whoever it is who controls him, caught off guard. Since I used Mahapadma to escape him and have fought all the night, I'd say I'm at the third of my optimal condition."
Akame chuckled.
"Let's hope this will be enough. Well, it looks like our guest is becoming rather impatient. We should take care of him."
"What do you want me to do?...hell, I don't like taking orders from you."
"I only need one cut. One opening. But he's wary of Murasame, so I need you to buy me time and give me that opening."
"Roger that. I won't ask why you want to cut Tatsumi with your Teigu, but I promise you that if he dies, you're next."
Suddenly, Tatsumi grunted.
"This body…is too weak. Not strong enough. I have to correct that."
At Esdeath's and Akame's horror, Tatsumi began to transform.
It was a dreadful scene. Noises of broken bones and torn flesh resounded, as the man they knew was growing into a gigantic dragon.
The creature deployed its great wings, and its powerful, armored body appeared in a frightening splendor.
"What is that…is it a Danger Beast?" Esdeath asked.
The dragon was all but human. His cruel red eyes shined with malevolent and ruse as his long claws and fangs promised a painful death.
"Tatsumi! Get a grip on yourself!" Akame cried, vainly.
"I am not Tatsumi. This weakling is dead. I am Tyrant."
At a surprising speed for a being of that height, he went for Akame, but Esdeath blocked him with her ice, which didn't stand the impact.
Tyrant tried to pursue his assault, as Akame was stepping back, but once again, Esdeath intervened and tried to cuff him by wrapping ice around his feet and wrists.
"Do you really think that will stop me?!" Tyrant rasped.
"No, but it slowed you!" Esdeath claimed. "Weissschnabel!"
She didn't mean to kill him, and perfectly knew he would find a way to counter her attack.
With a roar, Tyrant freed himself from the ice and sliced the icicles with his large claws.
(At first, his movements were totally disordered, but not anymore. It's his original body, now, and he knows how to use it), Esdeath realized.
However, this was part of her plan. The next instant, she came to contact, and laying her hand on his leg, completely froze him.
(It reminds me this time, when I saved him the same way…)
"NOW!" she shouted.
The sentence she intended to say was 'Akame, do it now'.
A shadow moved in the back of the dragon ; even if he was immobilized, Akame aimed for his blind spot.
She lifted Murasame high, gaining momentum to make sure to pierce through the ice and the reinforced skin, but during this short time lap, Tyrant managed to get free in an explosion of ice shards, forcing Akame to cancel her attack.
"You are weak! I am the strong, here!"
(Wait, that's my line),Esdeath thought.
Taking Esdeath aback, Tyrant spat a large fire stream on her, forcing her to hastily create an ice wall for her protection.
Taking advantage of the flames blinding her, Tyrant slammed down Esdeath's defense and tried to catch her.
He would have succeeded if Esdeath didn't summon an ice pillar, which, coming from the ground, hit Tyrant's chin.
This powerful uppercut destabilized the dragon who did not expect it. Esdeath seized the opportunity and sectioned the tendons of his knees with her dual blades.
"GAAAAAAAAAAH!"
His spiked tail, more like a morning star, swept the entire area. Both Akame and Esdeath jumped to avoid it, and found themselves chatting in the air.
"Akame, do you plan to do something?! I have the feeling I'm managing the entire fight!"
"I need an opening, and I need to find its blind spots."
"I will not be able to maintain this pace forever… Get ready, I have an idea that will buy you some time to analyze this bastard!"
As soon as she landed, Esdeath resumed her offensive.
"Toter Wald!"**
Tens of tall ice spiked spears appeared all around Tyrant and converged to pierce him or obstruct his vision.
As he was fighting to get rid of the nuisances, Esdeath summoned more and more spears, making it impossible for him to overcome the flow.
(I burnt too much energy. If Akame doesn't make it in the next minutes, it'll be over...)
Akame was patiently analyzing Tyrant's moves and possible openings.
Even if he didn't look at her, she had the feeling that he was on full alert. Yes, even if he was fighting Esdeath, he was wary of Murasame and therefore waiting for her to make a mistake.
She noticed that Esdeath's spears disposition was always the same.
(She repeats the same attack over and over to allow me to see Tyrant's breaches.)
However, Tyrant was not easy to understand. He was acting out of instinct, like he always had done in his previous life, but this instinct was one of the bests.
To destroy the ice spears, he used every part of his body : his claws, fangs, horns, tail, legs and arms. After all, a simple bump of his gigantic armored body was enough to break the ice, and he used this at his advantage.
(This is a fight of endurance. The first who will falter will lose, and surely, it will be Esdeath. I have to cut him before it comes to that.)
Akame's body was in pain. The power up procured by her trump card was long gone, and now, the marks all over her body were burning her.
But…
(Found it.)
Akame was sure that this opening was the best she could obtain and aim for.
In truth, she had spotted four openings where she could cut. But one was highly above the others.
His right knee.
The issue was not to pierce through his reinforced skin. Murasame was tough enough to do so. No, what Akame feared and took in consideration was the trap Tyrant could have set up.
She could have hit many points, but it was certain that Tyrant was watching them and prepared to crush her.
(It reeks of something fishy, but I have to attack now), she thought, still running around the fight between Esdeath and Tyrant. It was a question of seconds before her ally would run out of stamina.
Akame waited for the same pattern of ice spears to occur again, and without a single hesitation, moved forward.
It was do or die.
As soon as she took her step, she, again, felt the time altering.
One says that this feeling occurs when you're in a great stress…or about to die.
She aimed for the safest area she could spot : the base of his back, with a thrust coming from behind.
Doing so, there were likely little chances that he could retaliate immediately, and Murasame's curse would reach his heart quickly enough to prevent any move.
Despite the ambient chaos –as ice spears were still flying and emerging from the ground–, Akame remained focused on her sole objective.
Every step she took lasted an eternity, as she was slowly coming closer from Tyrant.
Eventually, she jumped to give him the cut.
Everything was going smoothly.
That is why at this moment, Akame knew this choice was certainly bad.
Esdeath saw Akame jump and grinned. It was the perfect spot, the perfect moment to cut. She would have done the same.
But her smile died on her lips when Tyrant's eyes shined. Instead of destroying the ice spear which was going to pierce his lower body, he dodged, spinning on himself.
(Damn it.)
The lance was now diving into Akame, who, still in the air, could not avoid it.
She could break it, of course, but Tyrant was already lifting his claws to tear her apart, and Esdeath could've sworn that he was smiling.
(This bastard read us. No wonder why he survived all this time even when hunted. His adaptability is impressive.)
There was no mistake in their strategy nor their performances given the time they had and their states. They did everything they could.
But it was coming to an end.
(Did you read that, bastard?!)Esdeath thought with a smirk, lifting her hand.
(It's over), Akame thought. (Even if I break the ice spear, Tyrant will crush me. And even if I land intact, by some miracle, Esdeath doesn't have the strength to keep on.)
But still, she didn't give up. She readied her arms, ready to strike and face death with dignity, until her last breath.
Suddenly, she felt something cold on her hips. A simple glance sufficed.
(Ice?!)
Instantly, she found herself flying, pushed to the right by some force. Thanks to that trajectory, she avoided the spear and Tyrant's blow coming from above.
She looked at Esdeath and understood.
Esdeath had created ice on Akame and was making it fly to move and allow her to escape the attacks.
(She reacted so quickly…what a monster), Akame thought, impressed.
Esdeath lead her on Tyrant's left side, wide open.
Akame did not hesitate. It was a bet, but there was no other solution.
Still, she had to flip the switch to cut through what had been her lover.
"BURY!"
Murasame fended off the steel-looking skin like it was paper, reached the flesh and propagated its curse inside the dragon's body.
"NO!" growled Tyrant.
Right after the decisive blow, Esdeath manipulated the ice on Akame to eject her afar from Tyrant's range.
She could have let her die at Tyrant's hands, but if her plan did not work, she wanted to kill her by herself.
Tyrant was shaking, convulsing, as if he was fighting a disease or a poison, which was actually the case.
"GWWW–OOOOOOHHHHHH–"
His claws reached for the wound inflicted by Akame, where Murasame's marks were already spreading to its entire body.
With a roar, he shred his own side, but under the skin, on the red flesh, the deadly marks were spreading too.
Still, the dragon didn't stop and kept digging in, desperately trying to prevent the curse from spreading.
It was useless, and somehow, Tyrant was aware of that fact. The energy he deployed was only born from despair.
"OOOHHHHH–"
Tyrant stopped his gestures, frozen in a weird posture.
"…"
Under the dumbfounded gazes of Akame and Esdeath, the dragon began to literally evaporate. His scales, skin, flesh and bones turned into dust.
The silver mist gently disappeared in the night, and Tatsumi, the real Tatsumi, as naked as a worm, his eyes closed, was lying in the ravaged field.
(It…worked? But…what did she do?...)
Esdeath gave Akame a puzzled look.
"I simply…killed Incursio."
"…'simply', you say? But how…why…"
She shook her head as she couldn't express all her questions.
"My reasoning was 'if Incursio is controlling Tatsumi, all I have to do is kill it.' The remaining question was 'would Murasame's curse affect both of them, or only the dominant one?' I didn't know that. But…I think that Murasame granted my wish."
"So that's why you said 'fifty fifty'"...
Akame nodded in silence.
None of them came out intact of the battle.
They checked on Kurome, Ran and Wave conditions. Fortunately, the three of them 'only' suffered from contusions and broken bones.
Esdeath was exhausted and injured, something that nearly never happened to her. Akame was in a bad shape because of Ennoodzuno's backlash.
As sun was beginning to rise, Wave and Ran went to meet the soldiers of the latter, who were already helping the villagers to bury the dead and rebuilt the houses.
Kurome gathered the few children alive. Sadly, all the mothers inside the school had been killed by Champ, trying to protect their kids.
And during all this time, refusing to even receive first aids, Akame and Esdeath were watching Tatsumi, covered with a blanket.
He was alive and breathing, but didn't wake up.
They were beginning to fear the worst. Was it possible that Murasame killed his soul, in a way or another?
Such a thing was unbelievable, impossible, but they had seen so many things…
None of them evocated the fight they had before the transformation of Tatsumi.
None of them wanted to resume this fight…nor could.
They waited in silence for the one they loved to awake, sat near him.
Because they wanted him to awake and show them his shining smile, this smile they both cherished.
And yet, Akame and Esdeath were also aware that Tatsumi would only choose one of them.
Author's note
*Hundert Schwerter : A Hundred Swords (litteraly ; if there are german readers, tell me if I'm wrong please).
** Toter Wald : Dead Forest