Welcome back ;)
After nearly 3 weeks I´m back in business.
Thanks for your patience :)
Time to answer some questions:
1) orca3553: For some of the readers the quotation-marks may seem strange, since I´m writing American style. I´ll remember that for future stories, but I´ll finish this story the way I started it (looks better :))
2) Materick: Right now I can only confirm the pairing Tatsumi X Esdeath; I´m not sure if there will be lemons; write your opinions about that in the review section :)
3) MaiBilaro: Naturally, I DON´T support any form of (sexual) violence in Real-life; I had a hard time writing the rape scene, but considered it necessary for the story-plot; just to be clear: Rape shouldn´t be taken lightly and I hope I didn´t offend anybody with that scene; if that should be the case, I hereby sincerely apologize!
4) I´ll try to shorten unnecessary scenes and emotional stuff a bit more; I definitely won´t use that much sweet talk in my story (no Tatsu-bunny, Tatsu-babe, my love, etc. at the end of each of Esdeath´s sentences) ;)
5) anotherboarduser: I won´t tell who will die and who will survive; that would cease the tension. But feel free to make assumptions per review; eventually I´ll pick up an idea or two ;)
That concludes todays question and answer segment.
Now enjoy the story ;)
DISCLAIMER:
I DON´T OWN ANY RIGHTS TO THE "AKAME GA KILL"-FRANCHISE.
THE MANGA WAS WRITTEN BY TAKAHIRO AND ILLUSTRATED BY TETSUYA TASHIRO.
THIS FANFIC HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN FOR PROFIT!IT MAY CONTAINS SPOILER!
I forgot to mention it last time, but it should be clear since the basic story is `Akame ga Kill´and this is rated `M´:
This work may contain gory scenes and sexual or insulting language!
Chapter 2: Kill the Inequity (Part 2)
Tatsumi felt more nervous than ever. Finally, the time to head North had come.
Following the directions of the recruitment-officer he found the quartermaster and got his equipment. It consisted of grey military pants, a black shirt, a grey tie slightly brighter than the pants, a grey coat reaching his knees, black military riding-boots as well as a grey helmet made of a very light steel and a mask made of a thin layer of metal covering his face. Since he had his own sword, he didn´t need one from the military stocks. Instead he got a small multifunction knife he could use in most possible circumstances. A black belt around Tatsumi´s waist held the coat in form and made it easier to move in; especially during a fight.
He put his clothes and other belongings into his bag and went towards the Northern gate. The carriages already stood at the place right behind the gate. There were about thirty covered wagons. Ten of them were loaded either with food or with military equipment. The rest stood there, waiting for the last soldiers to get in.
But something felt odd for Tatsumi. The nearer he got the more despair polluted the air around him.
`What´s this feeling? I can´t sense anyhing but sorrow and fear. Something´s off!´
Tatsumi couldn´t help but shiver. He never felt something like this before.
When he had reached the wagons, he let his eyes wander. All the soldiers sitting inside, as well as those still entering, made depressed faces. Slowly he went from wagon to wagon, searching for an empty place. His mood darkened with every step, sensing the despair more and more. But he knew there was no turning back for him. He had come this far to help his village; he would do anything necessary. Finally, he found an empty seat. He was just about to climb onto the wagon, when he noticed a small commotion a few meters behind him. He couldn´t help but turn around to see what was happening.
``No! Don´t leave us! There are other ways!´´
A woman dressed in dirty and torn clothes screamed with a desperate expression at a soldier in front of her. She had grabbed the man´s hand with her left, holding a baby in her right arm. The baby was wrapped up in old sheets.
``There is no other way! I tried to find one. Don´t make this harder than it already is and let me go!´´ the man pleaded, looking sadly at her.
``But what about us?! Who will care for us if something happens to you?! Stay with us! See your child growing up. It has the right to get to know its father.´´
The woman started crying. Her whole body shivered.
``If I stay here, our child won´t get old enough to get to know me. I have to go! If I want you and our child to live a better life, there is no other option.´´
The man took his wife´s arm with his free hand and loosened her grip on his hand and finally pulled it out.
``I promise I´ll try to come back as soon as possible.´´
With those words he turned around and walked towards the wagons.
``But-´´
His wife couldn´t finish her sentence, when two guards pushed her slightly away from the wagons, while the soldier took a seat in the wagon next to Tatsumi´s. The soldier looked back with a sad expression one last time. Afterwards he closed the cover. Tatsumi stood there in shock. He couldn´t move an inch. He didn´t know what he should think about the farewell he witnessed just now.
``We´re about to leave. Get in or stay here!´´
Another guard appeared next to Tatsumi, speaking to him with a commanding tone. Hearing this, Tatsumi snapped out of his shock and climbed onto the wagon, closing the cover behind him. The wagons started moving right after he took his seat.
`That farewell just now was normal. Every family would try to persuade their beloved ones not to go to war.´
Tatsumi tried to convince himself. He wouldn´t accept that the soldiers traveling with him could be that depressed and desperate.
`I´m sure-´
He couldn´t finish his thoughts, when an elderly man sitting across from him, not taller than himself, started talking.
``Poor boy. What for god´s sake led to you head to the Northern front?´´
The man´s voice sounded full of compassion.
``What crime did you commit to be sent there?´´
``Crime? I didn´t commit a crime. I enlisted voluntarily!´´
Tatsumi didn´t understand the elderly´s concern. In which way could it be bad to head North?
The old man´s expression turned from one of pity to one of anger.
``Voluntarily?! Who in the world would enlist to such a job voluntarily? And much worse: Who would at your age?! Are you that eager to die a horrible death? Didn´t your parents try to stop you back at the Capital?´´
The man couldn´t help but shout at Tatsumi. Tatsumi was stunned. The man´s reaction as well as the similar expressions on the faces of the other recruits made him feel uneasy.
``P-Parents? I-I´m an o-orphan f-from the N-Northern border. I c-came to the C-Capital to enlist in the a-army to help my p-poor village,´´ Tatsumi stuttered nervously.
``Oh! So you aren´t from the Capital, but from the countryside.´´
The elder´s expression changed back to pity, so did the expressions of the other men.
``Poor boy. That means some recruitment-officer tricked you into this job when he noticed that you were clueless.´´
A black-haired man sitting to Tatsumi´s left spoke up. He was about a head taller than Tatsumi, but seemed to be slightly thinner.
``Tricked me into this job? I don´t get it. I´m doing this because the payment is good. Even if I´m killed, my village will get enough silver to provide better life-conditions.´´
Tatsumi didn´t like the attitude of those men. It made him feel more uneasy than ever before in his life.
``That´s not completely right kid,´´ the old man said while stroking through his grey beard with his right hand.
``What do you mean?´´
That statement got Tatsumi´s full attention.
``You only get the silver if you´re killed by the enemy during combat or after capture. If you´re killed by soldiers of the Empire you won´t get anything.´´
The elder couldn´t hold back a contemptuous snort.
``Killed by our own men? Are you insane?! No soldier would do something like this!´´
Tatsumi couldn´t believe that the man would try to tell him such tales.
``Oh, it´s true. I heard it from former soldiers! HER troops are capable of doing things like that. They say SHE does those things herself, if she´s bored. SHE isn´t called the `Ice-Queen´ for nothing.´´
The man had to shiver only by mentioning her name.
``The `Ice-Queen´? Who´s that?´´
Tatsumi looked rather confused. This was the first time hearing that nickname.
``Since you´re from the countryside you probably haven´t heard of her. She´s also called `The Empire´s Strongest´. The strongest general and warrior of the entire Empire! Her name is Esdeath!´´
Mentioning her name the old man felt his blood freeze in his veins. The entire wagon went silent the instant he had mentioned the name. Nobody dared to make a noise. Tatsumi looked around. Everybody shivered.
`Maybe those aren´t tales. Can someone like that possibly exist?´
The panic spread from the men to Tatsumi
`That damn officer! If I ever get the chance, I´ll repay him!´
``But if that´s true, why would all of you sign up for this mission?´´
If the things Tatsumi just heard were true, he had to know the reasons for their assignment. It was impossible they were all tricked into enlisting like he himself.
``Most of us enlisted because our families are starving.´´
The man next to Tatsumi started to speak again with a depressed voice.
``I´ve three kids and a wife. I worked as a jewelry-salesman for a long time. But since my products weren´t good enough for the nobility, and the normal people became unable to buy unnecessary items due to rising taxes, I had to close my store. Since no one would employ an inexperienced guard, I had to enlist in the army. This job is the only one with enough payment to help my family.´´
After finishing he took a deep breath.
``I, for my part, was a former soldier. I retired due to my age five years ago,´´ the old man stated calmly.
``But my daughter became pregnant and her husband died fighting in the North. I´m the only person able to earn a good salary now. So I had to enlist again.´´
He let out a sigh.
``The rest of the men in this convoy have similar circumstances or are thieves that got the option to choose between imprisonment, torture, even the death-sentence, or an enlistment to the Northern front. Probably this is the worst option, but if they get to survive, they´ll at least be paid.´´
Tatsumi looked around. The men nodded. It was the last chance for each of them.
``I´m very sorry to hear that.´´
Tatsumi couldn´t help but pity all of them. Even if he was tricked into this job, he knew he was strong enough to stand a chance to survive. But looking at those men, who seemed in a bad condition due to starving, he knew that most of them wouldn´t stand the slightest chance.
``That´s life these days. Nobody can change it anymore. Now it means going all the way.´´
The old man looked at Tatsumi with a little smile.
``Since we´ll stick together for a while, we should at least introduce ourselves. I´m Shin.´´
``I´m Steve, nice to meet you.´´
The man to Tatsumi´s right turned his head towards him and reached out for a short shake-hands.
``And I´m Tatsumi!´´ he answered with a bright smile. And like that, all men in the wagon introduced themselves one after another.
Half a month later
They had continued their journey at a steady pace and only stopped when the horses needed to rest or when a wagon got stuck to pull him out again. The further they got into the North, the slower they could move due to the amount of snow and ice. But during this amount of time a bond had formed between the men. They did not only become friends, but understood themselves as part of a family. They forgot their fear and smiled and laughed together and enjoyed their way, until the day they came near the camp. Since the officers told them they would reach it by the afternoon, they were silent. Tatsumi could feel the fear of his comrades; he saw them shiver again.
The time passed on, until the wagon stopped abruptly. Shortly after that the cover was lifted.
``We´ve arrived! Get out and help us unload the wagons!´´
One of the officers stood in front of Tatsumi and looked at the men in the wagon.
They did as commanded and got off of the wagon to help the soldiers unloading the supplies. After they were finished they had to line up and were checked by another officer, seemingly a captain.
They were told to set up their three-men tents next to the camp.
``You grunts will have to prove yourselves in battle in order to be accepted!´´
The captain paced up and down the line of recruits.
``The enemy´s main-forces are gathering in their capital at the moment. The general has planned to attack it by tomorrow morning. Until then you should rest. Your food has been prepared already. Each of you´ll get one ration. You´ll get it after your tents are set up.´´
With those words the captain turned around and walked back towards the main-camp, leaving the recruits with a few soldiers.
``You´ve heard the captain! So start working, bastards!´´ one of the soldiers shouted, causing the others to laugh.
Like the captain, he wore a white jacket over the common uniform. But different from the captain´s uniform, he only had one stripe embroidered on his shoulder instead of two.
Tatsumi knew instantly he didn´t like this lieutenant. But even so, he started working, following the given orders as well as the other recruits. He didn´t want to get a chance to find out, if the rumors he heard earlier were actually true.
The general´s tent
`So the new recruits have arrived. A bunch of weaklings again! I saw each of their files I got sent before their departure from the Capital. None of them seems worth of fighting in my army. But I´ll give them a chance to prove me wrong tomorrow, when they´ll have to fight in the first line!´
The General grinned. She liked the thought of testing her new toys. But much more than that she liked the idea of punishing them for failing. She took her notebook from the table in front of her and opened it, only to look at some disturbing drawings of brutal torture.
`Those who die were to weak and the rest will be used to my likeness. I´m sure I´ll find a way to have some fun with them. I could test some new ideas on those who won´t fight hard enough tomorrow!´
Her grin widened. She was just about to look over her notes again, when a soldier burst into her tent out of breath.
``What´s the matter in disturbing me without permission?! It better be good or you´ll have to face the consequences!´´
She shot a death-glare at the soldier, causing him to shiver with his whole body.
Fearing for his life, the soldier stared informing her of the important circumstances.
``I-I´m sorry, M-ma´am! B-but the r-recruits are u-under attack b-by e-enemy forces!´´
He couldn´t help but stutter the whole time.
``Splendid!´´
The general´s expression turned from anger to pure joy.
``I can test my new toys earlier than expected!´´
With those words she stood up and stormed out of her tent towards the recruits´ camp, leaving the pale soldier behind without giving him another look.
Five minutes before
They had followed the caravan for two days at least. Now they had hit the jackpot.
`To think that we would find a supply transport of the Empire while trying to figure out the enemy´s strength!´
Hiding in some bushes behind the enemy´s camp, the Northern officer smiled at this turn of events.
`Numa Seika will be very pleased to get my report. We found the enemy camp´s location and were able to estimate their overall number and strength. Those recruits seem to be inexperienced. We should be able to beat them and destroy their supplies. Even if we die, it should throw them back in their plans for about two weeks. That could be enough to prepare our army in Winterberg.´
He trusted in his men. He knew that his thoughts weren´t off.
``You!´´
He pointed at one of his fellow soldiers.
``Go back to Winterberg and inform Numa of their number and strength. Tell him that the rest of us will have bought time for our army to prepare itself for combat. He´ll understand that this sacrifice will have been necessary.´´
The soldier nodded, turned around and went in the direction of Winterberg as fast as he could without being noticed by the enemy.
The captain turned to his remaining twenty-nine men and started to speak with a low voice, so that the enemy wouldn´t notice them:
``Finally, it´s time for us to fight back!´´
The men looked at him with determination.
``Even if I feel sorry for those newbies there, we´ll attack them from behind, while they´re setting up their tents. Our main-goal is to destroy all of their supplies and take out as many of them as possible before the other soldiers are able to react. I know that some of you or even myself can and probably will die, but with this sacrifice we should be able to buy some time for our main-forces at Winterberg. Don´t get yourselves killed unnecessary! Retreat as soon as their supplies are destroyed! Afterwards make them lose track of you, before you return to Winterberg!´´
Again the soldiers nodded.
``Good! Then-´´
The men readied themselves for combat while their officer turned towards the enemy´s camp.
``-ATTACK!´´
At the same time
They were still setting up their tents under the eyes of the Lieutenant and his men, when they saw a group of enemy-soldiers jump out of the bushes behind them and attack. The first of the recruits fell victim to this attack without the chance to draw his sword. Tatsumi and his friends had more luck than him. Though they were surprised by this turn of events, they stood too far from the bushes to be killed in shock. They drew their swords and ran towards their comrades, determined to defend themselves and their supplies against the enemy.
Esdeath
She could hear the sound of clashing steel as she came closer to the spot of the fight. None of her men had dared to interfere with the fight without her order.
``General, it seems that the recruits have problems with the attackers. Should we intervene and save our supplies?´´
One of her commanding officers named Luke ran towards her upon seeing the general. Until now he had managed to hold back his men from interfering. He didn´t want to give orders as long as she was present. The risk of angering her was just too high and that was something he tried to avoid at any circumstances.
``No! Order the men to stand back. The recruits shall fight on their own. I don´t wish anyone to intervene. Every soldier who attempts to do so will be punished by myself!´´
She looked at Luke with cold eyes and a devilish grin. He had to suppress a shiver.
``Understood, Ma´am!´´
Luke saluted to the general before turning around and heading back to his men to deliver her orders.
`Now let´s enjoy the show!´
Her grin widened at this thought. She took a good position next to her men to overlook the whole battle, ignoring the frightened glares of her subordinates.
Tatsumi
``Steve, Shin, are you alright?´´
Tatsumi had lost the overview. They had already pushed back the attackers and helped their other comrades to establish a defense-line around the supplies. Even though half of the enemy-forces were already killed, they wouldn´t pull back.
But the situation didn´t look better for Tatsumi and his friends. Many recruits were dead, most of the surviving ones wounded.
He looked around. The soldiers didn´t seem like they would help them. The lieutenant and his men had pulled back and didn´t take part in the fight. Tatsumi knew they had to win this fight on their own.
`We´ve to take out their commanding officer. If they lose their leader, they may lose their formation, too.´
While he thought that, Tatsumi observed something interesting. One of the enemy-soldiers seemed to give signs to his comrades. He instantly knew that he had found their leader.
``Yeah, Tatsumi! We´re all right. Sorry. It took us a while to find you after hearing your voice.´´
Steve and Shin had made their way through their comrades and stood right behind Tatsumi now. Both were glad that the youth was alright, too.
``That´s good news!´´
Tatsumi turned his head and gave them a slight smile.
``I could use your help. Seems like I found their leader; I´d like to take him out as fast as possible, but you need to create an opening for me. Are you with me?´´ Both of his friends nodded.
``Great! I already have an idea. We´ll do the following-´´
Esdeath
`It´s getting boring!´
The general had lost her interest in this `fight´. The recruits were still holding their line of defense, while the enemy-forces were gathering to try to strike again. But for her it wasn´t entertaining at all.
`Seems like I should end this. That way I´ll have at least a bit of fun. Those recruits don´t seem promising at all. Maybe I´ll test some new ideas for torture with them. It wouldn´t be fun to simply kill them after all.´
The general was just about to end this poor display as something picked her interest again.
The recruits parted in two nearly equally big groups and attacked the surprised enemy from both sides, leaving only a single young soldier behind.
`Hmm. Did they finally decide to go all out on the enemy? I should wait and see what they´re capable of. I underestimated them. But it seems that this one isn´t even worth being considered a recruit. He´s too frightened to fight with the others. How pathetic; how weak! I think that I´ll use him as my first test-subject, no matter what happens. I can´t stand-´
Her thoughts were disrupted, when she saw the young soldier suddenly pushing forward as fast as he could. He launched right through the now split enemy-forces, attacking a group of five men in the background.
`How interesting! It seems that he recognized their leader. It seems that this young soldier isn´t that incapable. Let´s see what he can pull off alone against five!´
She couldn´t help but smile at this change of the recruits´ attitude.
Tatsumi
It seemed to work as planned. Steve and Shin had talked to the other recruits and convinced them to take part in Tatsumi´s plan. The men had split into two equally big groups and attacked the enemies from both sides, creating an opening for him.
He had waited patiently until he saw his chance to attack the enemies´ commander and the remaining soldiers around him. He leapt at them as fast as he could, using his momentum to slice through the first soldier in a matter of seconds. Surprised by the sudden attack, the remaining soldiers couldn´t react before Tatsumi had impaled the second one with his sword.
The commander was the first one to realise the situation, ordering his men to fight the youth, giving him the opportunity to coordinate their defense. Regaining their composure, the soldiers started striking at Tatsumi from both sides simultaneously. He was barely able to avoid all those strikes, but somehow he managed to lose only his helmet and his mask. He stayed in movement all the time, blocking the swords with his own, luring the soldiers out of their defensive position by pulling back.
``NOW!´´
Without hesitation Tatsumi leapt forward again, surprising both of the soldiers, distracting them from Shin and Steve who charged at them from both sides.
Thinking of the youth as an inexperienced enemy led the soldiers right into Tatsumi´s trap. While focused on fighting him, they didn´t notice Tatsumi´s friends preparing themselves for a charge at the right moment. Surprised by Tatsumi´s sudden attack, they focused only on his movement. When they saw his comrades, it was too late. While one of the soldiers was beheaded, the other cried out in pain. Somehow, he had managed to distract the strike of his enemy at his head. Nonetheless, he had achieved a mortal wound.
That was the opening, Tatsumi did want to achieve. He launched forward again, attacking the surprised commander and beheading him in a matter of seconds. Upon seeing that, the enemy-forces lost their formation and were defeated in a short time.
The fight was over as Tatsumi went back to his friends, standing next to a heavily injured enemy.
``I-I beg y-you! P-Please!´´
The soldier looked at them with pleading eyes. He had enough of this pain. He only wanted to die a quick death instead of a painful one.
The friends looked at each other, agreeing in the man´s last wish. Just as Shin was about to stab through the soldiers heart, they heard a commanding voice from behind.
``Stop! Let this scum die in agony!´´
It was the lieutenant in company of his men. They stopped right in front of Tatsumi and his friends.
``Sir! I think this man-´´
Tatsumi couldn´t finish his sentence, as the Lieutenant barked at him.
``That´s an order!´´
The lieutenant looked at Tatsumi with cold eyes, causing the young male to shiver. Even if they didn´t like it; an order was an order. They nodded. Satisfied, the officer turned around and started to walk away, when he heard the sound of metal cutting through flesh and a death sigh. Instantly he turned around, seeing Shin over the now impaled body of the enemy.
``This man had suffered enough. It´s just right to redeem him.´´
Shin looked at the officer with a determined expression.
``I´m sorry that I had to-´´
He was stopped mid-sentence, when the officer drove his fist into Shin´s stomach, forcing the old soldier to his knees. Hearing the commotion, the remaining recruits had formed a circle around the display.
``I´ll kill you! I can´t stand people ignoring my orders. I´ll take your head!´´
The lieutenant pulled his sword, aiming to behead the old man. But to his surprise his strike towards the man´s head was stopped by another sword. When he turned his head to the side, he looked right into Tatsumi´s eyes who had forced the lieutenant´s sword to stop just a moment ago.
``I won´t let that happen!´´
Tatsumi stared at the officer with determination and anger. None of his friends would die as long as he could prevent it.
``Then there is no choice but to kill you, too!´´ the officer said with an evil grin.
Esdeath
She was slightly impressed. The boy had managed to overwhelm his enemies with brains and strength. For the first time since long she didn´t feel bored at all. Something about him had piqued her interest during the fight. But she couldn´t say exactly what.
``General, shall we arrest the recruits for ignoring the orders of a superior and rising a sword against him?´´
Even if she didn´t show it, she was surprised that Luke suddenly stood next to her. Was she that deep in thought?
She noticed the situation that had evolved between the boy and one of her higher ranked soldiers only now.
``No!´´
She was surprised by that answer herself. Normally she´d have arrested and played with them. But this time she had other interests.
``Let them continue! It might be fun to watch them.´´
After a quick salute, Luke turned around and went back to his place.
`It seems that those soldiers were too weak for him as enemies. Let´s see how he´ll do against one of my men.´
While thinking that she paid all her attention to the boy again. Something told her that he would play a big role in the near future. She didn´t notice that she smiled genuinely and without further intentions for the first time in so many years.
Tatsumi
He´d never had an opponent that strong. The lieutenant slashed at him with all his strength. He could evade most of the strikes but got a few little scratches and cuts. He let his eyes wander around. Nobody seemed like they were going to help him. The general herself stood amongst the soldiers, watching the fight with a slight smile. Tatsumi was pushed back step by step. He couldn´t help but feel the fear of death, even if he knew that he couldn´t die here yet. The lieutenant saw through Tatsumi´s exterior without a problem, causing him to snicker.
``It´s your own fault for interfering, boy! You should have stayed out of this. Now I´m forced to kill you!´´
The officer tried faking a compassionate face, but he couldn´t hide the enjoyment and satisfaction he felt.
``And after I´m finished with you, I´ll move on to that grandpa! God, he´ll wish he never was born!´´
The laughing officer ignored the anger and murderous intent building up in Tatsumi.
``And who knows; if I´m finished with him, I might move on to some of the others.´´
Hearing that sentence, something snapped in Tatsumi. He let his anger control his body and soul. His eyes went dull. Suddenly his speed and strength increased. His strikes were more accurate than before. He managed to push the lieutenant back.
The officer was surprised, but even more thrilled than before. He turned his head, looking at his men, who had already drawn their swords to help him.
``Stand back! This is my fight!´´
The thrill for him was just too big to recognize the acute danger he was in.
The battle had reached its peak; the sound of clashing steel filled their environment. Orders were barked by Tatsumi´s enemy and screams of agony and pain mixed with the sounds of war. The bodies littered the ground were each covered with a thick layer of ice and snow.
Tatsumi pushed forward, sword in hand, and hacked at the lieutenant with murderous intent. He knew the general would sit back and watch, as she had done before. She enjoyed their fight way too much.
He knew only one could walk away from this fight; he feared it wouldn't be him. The outcome looked grim. He felt the fear of failing his friends and village. But more than that he felt the fear of failing his dead comrades and his own oath!
A final strike; blood poured in a crimson fountain, dyeing both enemies in its colour.
When Tatsumi fell to his knees, all he heard was silence.
Nobody dared to make a sound. They couldn´t believe what just has happened. The boy somehow managed to win the fight. He struck at his enemy with all his might, forcing him to block the youth´s sword over and over again. But this last slash of the boy was just inhuman. The force behind the strike was big enough to shatter the lieutenant´s sword in pieces, decapitating the surprised officer swiftly. His detached head still showed the last expression of the lieutenant´s eyes, widened in shock and realization. Everyone looked at the youth still kneeling in the snow.
Tatsumi´s eyes had returned back to their normal colour. Still kneeling in the snow, he looked around. He couldn´t remember how he won the fight, but it didn´t matter. The decapitated body of the officer laid next to him in the snow, the head a few steps away. The body as well as Tatsumi himself were covered in the crimson colour of blood. The snow started to be dyed red, too.
Normally, Tatsumi would have panicked at such a shocking sight, but right now everything was different. He was just happy he won the fight. He had survived and protected his friends. This time he wasn´t useless at all. He had kept his promise towards Sayo and Ieyasu.
There was only one way to react for Tatsumi. He slowly turned his head towards Shin, who still looked at the boy with widened eyes.
``Thank you!´´
Shin wasn´t able to say those words as properly as he should have, but he knew he had to show at least some kind of his gratitude.
``No problem!´´ Tatsumi answered putting on the brightest smile possible. If Shin or the others wouldn´t have had seen the fight, none of them would have believed that this innocent smiling boy was capable of such fighting.
Esdeath
She still stared at the boy in disbelief. Her smile had vanished, her blue eyes widened. She felt something inside her, something she had never felt before. Her heart seemed to beat ten times faster than usual. She panted heavily, feeling more excited than before a good fight or even one of her torture sessions.
`What is this feeling? I´ve never had it before. I can´t avert my eyes from that boy´s face!´
Looking at his bright and innocent smile made her heart beat even faster.
The boy had just proved his potential towards her. She instantly knew he was able to match her one day. Thinking this, she forgot about everything around her. The only thing she had been aware of the whole time was him. For her, there was only one possible explanation for this.
`This must be the feeling they call `love´!´
Thinking that, her heart seemed to stop for a moment; a slight blush appeared on her cheeks, confirming her assumption.
`He´ll be mine! I´ll make him mine and mine alone!´
She still watched the boy, ignoring everyone around her.
Luke had watched the general for the last minutes. Everyone else was looking at the boy. He was the only one, noticing the general´s strange change in behaviour.
`I don´t know what it is, but it seems that it´ll become quite interesting from now on.´
Tatsumi
He was still looking towards Shin, when he suddenly felt the impact of his exhaustion. The fight had cost him every last ounce of his strength. He tried not to close his eyes, but he didn´t even have enough remaining strength for that. When he fell over into the snow with his eyes closed, the last thing he heard was Shin screaming his name in panic. Then he passed out.
And here we go again; finally Chapter 2 is finished.
Thanks to my loyal Betas for helping me to improve my writing.
Special thanks to those of you who took some of their time and wrote reviews and questions; I hope you were satisfied with my answers ;)
I´m nearly finished with writing Chapter 3. But I think I´ll need about 3 weeks to publish it, since I want to give my Betas enough time :)
Since the Double-chapter is now finished, Chapter 3 (and most likely Chapter 4) will focus on introducing some more main-characters as well as some necessary minor ones.
Therefore, it won´t contain that many fighting scenes but more dialogue. I promise it will get better during Chapter 4 or 5 ;)
Like I said before: Feel free to write reviews or ask questions; I´ll try to react to them ASAP.
If you´ve got any ideas or requests for the story, feel free to write me. Even if I can´t promise to use them in my story, I´ll at least consider them or try to find a way to get them into my story.
With those words I´m out for this time.
Enjoy reading, writing and imagine ;)
See you next time,
Marcel M