Tatsumi
Tatsumi stepped off the carriage into the frozen snow crunching under his boots. The wind making his coat whip around him the camp of this General Esdeath was rather big. He walked into the camp following the gruff looking sergeant's instructions that had led the convoy. The camp had multiple tents and with the symbol, that now adorned above Tatsumi's heart on his coat. As well he noticed shabby tents from camp followers. These where bands of common folk looking to make some coin from soldiers, from servants to whores making rounds to warm the beds of the tired men who where at war. Tatsumi was not shocked to see that however. His father taught him everything he knew about war from battle and its bloody business to the cruelty men are capable when fighting and the basic instincts ruling out common decency. So Tatsumi was not the least bit put off from the whores that saw their marching fresh meat and flashing them what skin they dared to flash in the frozen land. Tatsumi himself blushed and kept his head forward his mother would kill him if he ever even thought about whores.
He was assigned a unit once they marched to gather before the Sergeant near the middle of the camp a wooden stage of sorts that had a chopping block on it was placed to Tatsumi's general right direction. No doubt the blood of deserters and prisoners alike was dried on the wood. Tatsumi was assigned a unit and he was told to go the west side of the camp. He reported for duty to his assigned commander who put him on watch. The war camp had been set up with a trench and wooden stakes made of timber around the perimeter. The stakes where to prevent enemy Calvary from charging on the camp. Tatsumi was by the only entrance a bottleneck that Calvary would be stopped at if the enemy attacked. Granted that left them open to arrow fire, something Tatsumi hoped wouldn't happen on his first day at the front.
"Shit what got you sent here kid?" the soldier next to him asked. Tatsumi looked to the soldier and sighed thinking of the whole scenario was just painful.
"Got pinched for some noble's death" Tatsumi said.
"Shit, that is bad luck I got stealing potatoes from the mess hall and here I am" he shrugged. "Walter" he introduced himself.
"Tatsumi" he extended his hand and they both shook gloved hands. Their only source of warmth in the snow happened to be small fires by both sides of the entrance. The guys in the trenches next to Tatsumi where huddled together for warmth even with their thick coats the north was unforgiving. That's why I need to make money for home he thought idly.
"Well if we survive this the loot of the capital of this ice cunt will be huge" Walter said with a greedy glint to his eyes.
"I heard General Esdeath lets the men have what they can carry, pocket and, sling over their shoulders." Tatsumi scowled. Saving his village with blood money wasn't what he wanted. Granted he knew pillaging was an old age war crime that hardly ever went punished. A slap on the wrist was the biggest punishment one could get and even then they didn't have to return he loot they would steal.
"Well I guess we better live then" Tatsumi said with a wry grin. Walter nodded he was significantly older than him. The night was uneventful and by the morning Tatsumi was marching with the army on the capital against the Northen Prince Numa Seika, the Undefeated of the North they called him. Tatsumi wondered if the General herself would end up fighting him. The march ended as they reached the Northern capital city. The walls stood at least a thirty meters, banners carrying the prince's coat of arms flapped from the strong winds over the walls. Not to mention the walls where filled with men with arrows and warriors. They yelled and roared and banged their spears on the ground, as well as swords banging on shields. Tatsumi was set to be in the third wave of attacks. Walter next to him was looking a bit scared and praying. Looking around Tatsumi noticed something no siege engines, no trebuchets, battering rams or, anything? Tatsumi swallowed. Looking up to his right he saw all the men around him stare there. Riding on a horse she showed up. Tatsumi opened his mouth a little he wasn't sure what to expect about the General. He figured she would be like the Captain, rather she would be less pleasing to the eye. He imagined she was old for that matter. She was at most a good four to five years older than him. Tatsumi watched her in a white Generals uniform long boots up to her thighs blue hair flowing with the wind. He could not see her eyes from the cap tilted downward, the General had a long rapier strapped to her lower back.
"Men! Look at these cowards hiding behind their walls! They do not have courage to face us in battle! So when you climb over the walls kill them all! Show them we do not tolerate weaklings!" the General announced. Swords and fist raised all the men roared their approval, armor clanking boots stomping and savage roars. Tatsumi seemed to snap out of this trance staring at his commanding officer to notice he had Incursio out and thrusting it up. She had actually inspired his will to fight, shaking his head Tatsumi regained control of himself as Walter beside him roared along with their fellow soldiers. Unsheathing her long rapier the General swung it down and the first wave charged the wall with ladders as their only means of overcoming the wall. Tatsumi watched men fall from arrow fire and a few stone throwers crushing skulls. The first ladders where up and the men began climbing while the ones below pressed themselves against the wall and ground rifle squads fired on the defenders. The defenders began dropping over the battlements some crushing the fighters below. The screams of death reached Tatsumi and he felt his training kick in. his father always told him Sieges where bloody a business but with no siege engines to speak off this one was going to be worst. The General raised her rapier again and with a swish the second wave was sent. Tatsumi drew his sword and the men ran for the wall. Tatsumi was the only one who didn't move initially.
Esdeath
Beautiful simply beautiful, kill and be kill, war! The most beautiful thing that she could possibly witness. Focusing her keen hunter's eyes she saw her men on the ground one of them was being held multiple arrows on his body that got pass his breast plate. He was being held by his comrade and she could practically hear him begging for sweet release. Weak she thought shifting her gaze from her mount she saw another one leg dislocated fallen from the ladder perhaps. She lifted a brow as she watched him rip his coat and use his sword as a straighter and punched the bone in as he bit down on the rags of his coat. Potential, there is much to have there He got up and roared the men near him found their vigor and climbed the ladder twice as fast. She shifted her gaze to the second wave and saw him, a young man brown hair and green eyes who hadn't charged. Coward, he will be punished when-oh? Focusing on him she could feel the killing intent she almost dismissed him but perhaps he was going to do something interesting. He raised the rather elaborate sword and swung it down. Esdeath instantly frowned she hadn't been informed of this.
Tatsumi
"INCURSIO!" Tatsumi roared and the Danger beast incased in armor appeared behind him. The face plate of the helmet broken where the Danger Beast roared two set of eyes on each side. Sharp teeth on its opened mouth. The Danger Beast brought its claws enclosing its wielder, the armor manifested itself the cape flapping from the wind. The armor was his best hope of being arrow free and helping his comrades overcome the bloody wall. Crouching armored knee touch snow Tatsumi leapt up to the battlements.
"IMPERIAL ARM!" Yelled a defender.
Tatsumi brought his leg up knee bent up to about his chest and then snapped out using the momentum to deliver a powerful kick on his first target. His boot caved in the breast plate of the first defender he caught. The cement cracked and kicked up dust. Tatsumi stood from his crouch and started to the left side his hands shot out with enhanced speed grabbing the throats of two defenders. Pulling the one on his right side back he span to the side throwing him like a rag doll on the defenders behind him. Spinning to the right his attackers backed off so as not to be knocked off the battlements by the body Tatsumi was using as a weapon. The neck of the man he held snapped and he stopped struggling. Casually Tatsumi threw him off the battlements. I need to end this battle before it cost us more men Tatsumi punched and kicked with bone shattering strength against the defenders.
"SHIT kill this bastard already!" an apparent leader declared. Tatsumi stepped back arms raised in a martial artist stance. The man swung his sword and Tatsumi used his gauntlets to parry the strikes. Going for an overhead swing with lighting speed Tatsumi countered with two quick jabs to the heart and neck of his attacker. The breast plate bent under the punch breaking the rib cage and stopping the heart from the blunt trauma. Tatsumi watched as he gurgled his neck caved in, sword clashing reached behind him and Tatsumi gave a brief glance to see his comrades starting to pour over the wall thanks to Tatsumi.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me you had a Tiegu!?" the familiar voice asked. Walter grinned he had made it up the wall, he noticed a broken arrow shaft on his shoulder.
"It didn't come up" Tatsumi's morphed voice said as he punched through a raised shield caving in the skull of the man before him. Grabbing the shield with his other hand he pulled it off his hand. With Walter taking out the ones Tatsumi missed Tatsumi began moving onto the right side of the wall. More men began joining and more started pouring into the city. By the latter half of the afternoon the fighting had moved into the city. Tatsumi with Incursio coated in blood ran up to a fighting group. The Northern men turned to him with fear in their eyes. Tatsumi was quick and precise the first one took a jab to the neck the next Tatsumi slammed his fist to his heart. An elbow to the last one caved in his chest before Tatsumi grabbed his head and broke his neck. High on alert he looked around to find more of his comrades go into the homes and the yell of people reached his ears. Men will do terrible things in war, especially in a siege try not to judge them too harshly son, you will find a lot of them do it with a dead look in their eyes. His father's words had been sad and heavy on Tatsumi. He turned to see a man grab a woman by her hair out of her home throw her on the ground started ripping her clothes off. Tatsumi was about to intervene when he notice dead look on the man's eyes. He wasn't there but miles away somewhere else. As he raped her he cursed and told her of his dead friends and how she would pay for their deaths. Useless it's all useless Tatsumi walked up to the man pulling him off her.
"The fuck is wrong with you! She's the enemy that bitch!" tears stung his eyes as he thrashed fruitlessly against Incursio's greater strength. After a few seconds he broke and he began crying he was a mess blubbering about his friend who was dead brains splattered on the snowy ground outside the walls falling from the battlements. Tatsumi let the man go and took the woman out of her misery breaking her neck. War is ugly business son seal your heart so you can still fight for what you believe under the armor his green eyes had lost their luster and only a warrior remained. Pushing off the ground he hopped onto one of the buildings that wasn't burning. Looking out he saw the palace was under siege, no engines but he did see huge clusters of Ice sticking out everywhere. Pushing off Tatsumi traveled roof top to roof top and jumped onto the walls of the Battlements.
"Where is Prince Numa Seika?!" Tatsumi's modified voice sent shivers of fear to the defenders.
"Kill the imperial dog!" The bravest one got the defenders into action.
"Wrong answer fools!" Tatsumi said couldn't they see? He needed to defeat the prince otherwise more of their own would die. More of their women would be raped their sons forced to watch and be killed! More death more sin and sadness would spread if they didn't give up!
"God Damn Rebels!" Tatsumi crushed bones and skulls with his fist and kicks. Each strike weighing him down both emotionally and physically. Keeping Incursio on for so long was starting to take its toll he had kept at it for hours now. Tatsumi cursed spinning and delivered an armored fist to the face of the man attacking him from behind caving his face in.
"Fight me Daemon!" turning and cursing the prince himself ran to Tatsumi and managed to tackle him off the battlements sending them down below. Tatsumi crashed on a small wooden armory while the prince managed to avoid it rolling to lessen the impact. Breaking the door down Tatsumi sprang from the armory. Panting Tatsumi cursed and called off Incursio the armor left him and Tatsumi lifted the sword in his hands. Spinning his spear the Prince began to circle Tatsumi followed walking the opposite direction to Seika.
"A Teigu user, you must be arrogant to think you can defeat me without your Teigu" the prince said. Then he smirked. "Or my comrades ended up draining your energy, so I will avenge them DIE!" Seika charged Tatsumi crused parrying the point of the spear. Backing off he began to fight back with all his might their weapons clashing with sparks of steel. As they fought Tatsumi was being pushed back men from both sides soon poured into the court yard Tatsumi and the prince where fighting. The two locked swords and Tatsumi rammed his head on the Prince's nose he yelled in pain stepping back and Tatsumi turned in time to block a sword swipe. Turning with the man who stumbled forward and Tatsumi slashed at his neck cutting off his vertebrate. Seika recovered span his spear and jabbed at Tatsumi, who stepped back parrying.
"You bastard, I will show you the strength of the North behold my technique A THOUSAND STABS!" Seika span his spear once and jabbed, jabbed, jabbed and, jabbed Tatsumi cursed as the speed picked up but his tired body was starting to turn sluggish.
"Gah!" Tatsum moved his head the spear leaving a cut on his cheek. He parried upwards and Seika moved his spear in a circular motion and slashed tearing Tatsumi's coat cutting just above his hip leaving a bleeding wound on his left. A stab to his hart and Tatsumi turned his body and the blade left a cut along his right peck. Should have kept the armor Tatsumi lamented parrying the sword up ducking a stab. Tatsumi was paying for choosing mobility over protection as his right sword arm was cut at the bicep. Damn it he's fast and fresh for a fight I'm tired and can't keep up this gah! The prince pierced Tatsumi's left shoulder he felt the actual spear tip graze his collar bone. Almost dropping Incursio Tatsumi tossed it up. The prince was distracted momentarily and Tatsumi kicked him off he brought the spear with him, and Tatsumi caught Incursio with his right hand his left arm hanging limp by his side.
Numa Seika
The prince smirked if he killed this boy next would the empires strongest, soon the north would be independent from the empire and its corrupt system that was bleeding their economy dry. He would admit even if tired the boy was good, good enough to fight him off and land a blow on him. But too bad he was a dog of the empire now he was going to finish this.
Tatsumi
Damn, thought the young soldier he was wounded bleeding out and the prince had at most a crooked nose. Le't stake stock… stab on the left shoulder, but my collar bone is still intact lower cut over my hip to my left. I can still put preassure on that side though. Tatsumi leaned to his left slightly and though the wound stung it did not impeded his movement. I have to end it in one blow I can't take much more of this…damn can't lift my left arm. Tatsumi flinched his left arm was throbbing at the shoulder. Lifting it brought a lot of pain. One attack bu-shit! The prince recovered and Tatsumi was on the defensive again parrying left and right as the stabs did more damage. His left was exposed now with his arm down so a cut to his right hip happened going low the prince cut his left inner thigh with Tatsumi barely evading it being a stab.
Damn it….wait! Tatsumi thought the prince was well armored shoulder pauldrons breast plate and legs all well armored. But there was a gap on his neck though the breast plate had raised collar for a slash Tatsumi knew there was soft flesh by the neck. Straight to the heart and no bone to interfere, this is going to hurt! Tatsumi thought he backed up and exposed his left flank the prince smirked but Tatsumi had him now. With great pain Tatsumi brought his arm up and caught the spear the blade stabbing through his hand. Adrenaline pumping through his body he pulled and brought Incusrio down on the shaft breaking the spear. Throwing his left arm back palm open the blade slid out Tatsumi ran to the stunned Prince's right side.
"It's over!" yelled Tatsumi and jumped grabbing Incursio under handed he stabbed onto the gap between the shoulder pauldron and Breast plate and the blade slid clean in about a foot. The prince's eyes widen blood spurt from his mouth. As quickly as it happened Tatsumi pulled the sword out stumbling as he landed. Back to back there was a defnin silence over the battlefield.
"N-not…bad" the prince said sadly, life left him his heart pierced and he fell face down blood pooling on the snow. Tatsumi was breathing heavily.
"The Prince is dead! Kill these cunts!" yelled one of Tatsumi's comrades and soon the battle was theirs. Like the General ordered no survivors were spared.
Esdeath
She walked calmly into the court yard before the palace she found her men finishing off the enemy's wounded. She found what they were cheering for quickly her prey was dead on the floor and she found that boy with the Teigu standing over him. His right arm was bleeding and limp and he looked confused at everyone, before Esdeath could say anything she watched the boy blush embarrassed at the attention and smile.
"I did it!" he yelled pleased. That smile she thought as if an arrow pierced her heart she felt it speed up and heat rise to her cheeks. What is this feeling? Esdeath thought putting a hand to her breast as she watched the young lad back off and have one of her men put his arm around his shoulder to help him steady himself. Before long he passed out, not from blood loss for there wasn't much from his wounds but more about exhaustion she thought.
"Medic!" she called out all the men quickly stood at attention.
"General!" The medic came up to her.
"Care for his wounds and take him to my tent" she ordered. She was…intrigued now. This boy and that cute smile she found very alluring. So innocent even when bloodied and his enemy dead before him. Esdeath ordered her men to sweep the palace.
"Do as you will with the defeated they are weak and will submit to you, remember those who are weak have no right to deny us the strong!" Esdeath yelled and her men roared in approval and in a frenzy began plundering the northern palace. She would find nothing of interest so she followed the medic to her tent out of the city.
Ieyasu
This was nothing! Tatsumi's father or bro as he preferred to be called by him trained them like this constantly. Ieyasu was in swimming trunks standing against a fast rushing current in a river. His body was pretty wells sculpted from strength training and now only faded scars where left from his imprisonment. Next to him was Akame standing calmly in a red bathing two piece. Leone or big sis as she prefer to be called was sun bathing in a yellow two piece. Surrounded by beautiful girls and training. Man Tatsumi was missing out. His grin fell a little they told him Tatsumi had declined the offer to join Night Raid. His dream was to be a soldier like bro, so he supposed he couldn't blame him but what could he do now?
"Okay let's move" Akame said and they both took a step forward in the heavy current. His muscles strained as Ieyasu pushed forward with visible strain while Akame gave no indication of struggle. Ieyasu stepped up forward and his foot found a smooth rock and he went under.
"Sh-gulp!" he swallowed water as he went under but Akame with her quick reflexes grabbed his wrist and pulled him up. Ieyasu coughed up water leaning against Akame for support.
"Whoa you alright Yas?" Leone said from her spot lifting her sun glasses up using her pet name for him.
"Yeah! Just" he coughed "drank water" Ieyasu coughed. Akame waited with patience until Ieyasu recovered and helped him out of the rushing river. Laying down on a towel Ieyasu breathed his lungs on fire.
"Man, stupid rock" he said. Akame was next to him over a roaring fire slowly roasting some fish. Ieyasu had learned from earlier on if one wanted to be Akame's favorite person in the world you just had to feed her meat. Even now he could practically see her drooling over the fish. Leone joined sitting down by him.
"I have to say you're getting stronger you might be able to keep up with big sis tonight" winked Leone. They both had a mission to take down a crime lord in the south East red light district of the capital. The man was dealing some narcotic that was getting out of control his main costumers appeared to be whores trying to escape their grim reality. Ieysu briefly wondered if it wasn't for his friends at Night Raid if he would have turned out the same. Using drugs to escape the sadness. Leone used her fingers to make him smile hurting Ieyasu's lips.
"Hey come on don't frown and mess up that passable face of yours" Ieyasu swatted her hands away.
"Hey, I will have you know I was the most handsome of the village" smirked Ieyasu playing along.
"Must have been filled with some bad looking people" Leone said.
"Hey! Not everyone can have big boobs to get all they want" Ieyasu countered, Leone grinned grabbing her assets and pushing them up teasingly.
"Ah you were looking at big sis boobs? Man what a perve" Ieyasu blushed looking away despite not even looking at her.
"Whatever!" he said closing his eyes.
"You're too easy" laughed Leone patting his shoulder.
"Hah not like Tatsumi, giving out all his cash to a stranger" laughed Ieyasu.
"Well guess you country boys can't help it when a beautiful gal asks for your cash" Ieyasu was sure Sayou would have slapped him for answering that. Heck then Tatsumi for good measure. His smile turned a bit bitter.
"Man I hope he's okay" said Ieyasu.
"He was able to hold off Akame for a bit even when drugged, I think he's doing fine"
"I brought you some drinks" Sheele came from the woods with a tray filled with lemonade. Ieyasu quickly stood and went for her.
"Here I got them" he offered he knew the rather clumsy nature of Sheele and Ieyasu preferred to not have to have her cut herself on broken glass. As he reached her Sheele smiled.
"Thank you-ah!" she tripped on a rock. Ieyasu quickly grabbed the tray and Sheele threw her hands out trying to grab onto something. What she grabbed had been Ieyasu's trunks and she went down with them. The four assassins looked wide eyed. Sheele leveled her sight with Ieyasu's waist pushing her glasses up. The young man in question was frozen his face half smiling half terrified.
"AAHHHHHH!" Sheela and Ieyasu yelled. While Leone was kicking her legs as she fell on her back laughing so hard she held her stomach.
"Huh so that's what a boy's look like" mumbled Akame as she was nibbling on a fish her red eyes looking on uninterested.
Tatsumi
Tatsumi could not describe the softness off what his laying on. A hand brushed his bangs from his face and he smiled contently. Lifting his right arm up as he felt his other arm dull, he tried to grab the hand but instead he found his hand on something soft and covered in fabric. His green eyes opened as he gave the soft round, whatever it was a gentle squeeze liking the feel of it. A long pair of legs were the first things to see their skin looked smooth and almost inviting to touch his eyes traveled up to a white skirt and finally a white Generals uniform. He saw his good hand groping…a breast. Looking up he found a not mad but amused beautiful face of his commanding officer. Her smile was almost predatory in nature and her blue eyes held mirth in them.
"My how bold, I do like boldness in my partner" she said. Tatsumi gasped and quickly pulled back nearly falling off the cot he was on.
"General! I'm so sorry! I" the General put a long finger that was rather soft to his lips.
"Oh no it's quite alright you are still feeling the effects of the anesthetic" she said.
"Anesthetic…guh" a dull pain shot up his left arm and Tatsumi took stock to see his body was bandaged up. His torso bare and he found the General stare at his physic with admiration.
"You certainly look better than most of my men without shirts" she complimented. Tatsumi blushed and the General herself blushed and held her face with her hands saying.
"Ah what a cute face" she said.
"S-sorry but where am I? Right now General" asked Tatsumi. The General held him carefully and put him under the covers as Tatsumi started to shiver a little.
"In my command tent you had suffered some wounds when you encountered Numa Seika, which I believe I told the men to leave to me" she said so matter of factly.
"Sorry General I didn't know, I was part of the reinforcements from yesterday…wait how long was I out?"
"About two days, your injuries weren't too serious but the medics wanted you to rest" the General stood and he noticed her cap was off as she walked to the other side of the tent and picked up a fresh shirt and coat for Tatsumi.
"Thank you General" Tatsumi muttered still embarrassed by the whole situation as he took the clothes. He tried to put on the shirt but his left arm stung dully. The pain made him hiss, and the general smiled with certain mirth to it. However it was not like the first smile she offered him but more indulgent.
"Here you will need my help" taking the shirt she helped him fit his bandaged right arm into the sleeve before helping him slide the shirt down. Doing so he felt her hands glide over his body making Tatsumi feel self-conscious. "Can you walk?" she asked.
"Let's see" Tatsumi swung his legs over the cot and found his feet bare only in his socks. Again the General seemed to take great pleasure into helping him into his boots by the side of the cot. Slowly Tatsumi stood and found his legs strong enough to support his weight.
"Good let me help you with the coat" carefully she glided her hands over his wounded shoulder until he got it on. Taking his rougher hands into her softer ones she helped him put on his black gloves her hands gliding over his warm ones.
"Good now then come with me I must introduce you to my subordinates, you shall be working with them from now on" the General said plainly. While Tatsumi wanted to ask why he was being reassigned but he figured he would ask when she was done with him. They walked out of her command tent which Tatsumi noticed wasn't all that fancy like he figured a high officer's tent would be. They walked across the camp and Tatsumi found plenty of the soldiers grin and congratulate him and saying they were glad he was okay. Tatsumi was embarrassed at first but soon took it in stride. They walked into another tent this one was much more fancy compared to the general's well-furnished a table with food in the middle and wine. In the room wearing different uniforms than that of the army were three men, or two and a child. The child was in a lounging couch playing a flute an older man who was reading a book and a feral looking guy with a battle axe strapped to his back eating a big chunky turkey leg.
"My three Beast allow me to introduce you to your new member, and my new lover" that last part the General said with a dreamy voice. Tatsumi was about to wave until the last part caught up to him.
"EEHHHHHHHH!?" was the only response Tatsumi could come up with at the time.
Woot wrote this chapter in honor of me finishing this semester WOOT. Ima start on my next Game of thrones chapter right now cuz I am so EXCITED!
BTW jut to tell you guys try to remember this Tatsumi was trained by Bulat since he was a child. Bulat taught him everything down to the horrors of war which is why this Tatsumi is a bit more accepting of his new comrades. He fought side by side with Esdeath's men and he aleady knew what men where capable from Bulat's taching. It's different seeing than just telling mind you but he still has an idea of the death and carnage of war so killing here wasn't as new to him as it was when he first killed for Night Raid in the series. This Tatsumi is a bit wiser in the ways of the world, but he still holds the hope of humans not being such cruel beings.