In what felt like hours, Tatsumi was finally able to open his eyes. He could barely move his body as he stared at the destruction of the city. No building could be made out nearby and the skies were clouded with dust and smoke.

"Sh-Shit..." He failed them. If only he had not been so trusting toward the overflow of power, but it felt so natural. Almost as though he would have gladly gave up his soul to the spirit by all means to save everyone.

His eyes widened and looked around. Regretfully, there were deceased bodies everywhere. There were some distant cries of pain and pleas for help from the people very far ahead who most likely got caught in the shockwave. To his right, the massive teigu containing the dead Emperor laid in a destoryed heap no doubt crushing a number of people. Why did his body give out just as he was making a difference?

His heart stopped. Where are Lubbock and Mine?

With great difficulty, Tatsumi tremulously leaned up on an elbow and shut an eye when blood trickled down from his hair. He did not care if his body was broken, he needed reassurance that either one of them are okay. The thought of Lubbock dead because of him... it wasn't acceptable.

"Haah... Haah..." It took immense effort as he very slowly pushed himself forward. With every forced push, his body began to shut down. His lower half had stopped working, but he paid no mind to the need to rest. He fought off the constant dizzy spells as he continued to drag himself across the rubble.

Where is everyone else? Where is Leone? Akame and Esdeath? Najenda and the army? How long was he out and just how much people did he murder after being unsuccessful?

When his right arm gave up on him, his name was called out.

"T-Tatsumi..." Perking up at the familiar voice, he desperately searched around with his eyes.

"Lubba?" He responded and a relieved sense of warmth washed through his body when he saw Lubbock lying not far ahead. "Are you okay?" He asked immediately, forcing himself up more with just his left arm.

"Don't... worry a-about me..." Lubbock said with harsh breaths. Tatsumi wanted to hop into his feet and cradle the hurting male. Sadly, all he could do is curse his paralytic body.

"Can you move?" Tatsumi asked and Lubbock shook his head.

"Barely. Got c-caught in the the blast. I was able to cover Mine... and she went to alert M-Miss Najenda."

"Could have gotten yourself killed..." Tatsumi muttered, however greatly relieved that neither Lubbock or Mine were deceased. "I'll get us out of here eventually."

"Don't... make shallow promises... idiot..." Lubbock answered while turning onto his stomach. Tatsumi could no longer move and swore. Just one more push... he just needed to touch him at the very least.

His hand shakily reached out and Lubbock effortfully did the same. Just the slightest touch...

"Well look at what we have here." Tatsumi froze and stared up. Lauren was standing behind them with a victorious grin.

"Y-You..." Tatsumi growled, now truly regretting not being able to move. Flashbacks of the visit with the Heartfields played and his anger rose.

"Now, now what's with the scary look? I just wanted to give you two a helpful hand." Lauren said as he stepped up and placed a foot on Lubbock's arm. "And of course, reunite with my dear younger brother." He added while adding pressure. Lubbock yelped from the pain and Tatsumi shakily leaned up.

"Get away from him!"

"And who are you to tell me that? You don't even have the guts to stand up." Lauren taunted. Tatsumi tried to move once again and failed.

Lauren gave a knowing smirk and crouched over Lubbock, grabbing him by the hair while staring straight at Tatsumi.

"Aaw would you look at that, little brother. Your precious friend doesn't even have the courage to defend you. In fact he looks content with watching you suffer-"

"That's not true!" Tatsumi yelled over him, scowling deeply at the irritating man.

"Doesn't matter anyway. You two should've perished along with everyone else that day. Yet you very stupidly walk right into your graves today. Fortunately, I have the privilege of finishing the satisfying job myself." Lauren said as he brought out a knife. "And I think I'll start out with the traitor in my family."

Tatsumi's red eye burned once more when Lauren brought the blade up to Lubbock's neck.

"L-Lauren please... I never did this to hurt anyone, I swear-"

"Bullshit!" Lauren outburst over Lubbock's plead. "You wanna know how I knew you intentionally meant to fuck with people's lives? Simple. You joined a rebel group and began killing innocent people for shits and giggles!"

"That's not it! You're the one who was living a lie under the government!" Tatsumi yelled. "He was trying to protect dumbasses like you!"

"Men, women, and children were slaughtered by you heartless assholes!" Lauren screamed even louder. "My own wife was murdered and hung..." He trailed off, sliding one hand to Lubbock's CrossTail holder, "... by these same threads."

Tatsumi's heart dropped. Surely the wife had done something wrong. It isn't like Night Raid at all to kill random people.

"Sh-She was an underground slave auctioneer..." Lubbock said. "She kidnapped little girls and sold them to all sorts of men... it wasn't a mistake- ah!"

"You think I want to hear your fake excuse after seeing your posse mass murder a whole city?" Lauren asked with a grin as he applied more force to Lubbock's arm.

"Wh-Whatever you do, don't take it out on him!" Tatsumi begged. "He's not a shitty person like you!"

Lauren paused. He seemed to be thinking and Tatsumi thought he had finally convinced him.

"Killing you two... would be too easy... wouldn't it? After suffering for years, I could just kill you and that would be the end of it." Lauren said hazily. "That's what you want, isn't it?"

Tatsumi furrowed his brows when Lauren moved the blade away from Lubbock's neck.

"I have a better idea. Tatsumi, was it? Yes... you two are very close. Hard not to notice what a bunch saps you are to each other."

"Whatever you want, just take it. I don't care if you have to kill me, just leave Lubba alone." Tatsumi said as he felt his strength beginning to weaken. He hated it but the most he could only do is plead for the safety of Lubbock.

"I will. For taking something precious from me, how about I take something precious from you?" Lauren said to Tatsumi with direct eye contact. Tatsumi stared back in confusion until his eyes widened when Lauren's hand slid down Lubbock's body.

"Wh-What are you...?" He questioned as his heart raced.

"Lauren...!?" Lubbock immediately turned onto his side and weakly pushed at Lauren's chest. "Th-This is wrong! We're brothers-!"

"I no longer consider the enemy my brother. To me, you're just a murderer who's going to experience a slow and painful death. Just like you deserve." Lauren said, grabbing Lubbock's wrists and slamming them down onto the ground.

"A-ah! No, stop!"

"Get off of him!" Tatsumi yelled as the scales formed. "I'll fucking kill you!"

"Go right ahead! No one is stopping you!" Lauren taunted gleefully as he tore off Lubbock's jacket with his knife. "Or would you rather watch me humiliate him?"

"Stop! Noo!" Lubbock tried to use his threads and Lauren made sure to block them. "Please! We can talk it out-!"

"Dammit, you're moving too much." Lauren forced Lubbock onto his back and placed his knife right at the edge of his collar.

Tatsumi shook with livid as his blood boiled from helplessly watching Lauren tear Lubbock's shirt. It absolutely killed him as the reminder of him sitting back while watching the ones he cared for hurt appeared again. Hearing Lubbock's cries and pleads only damanged him even more.

"T-Tatsumi..." Lubbock begged, and Tatsumi looked back at the sobbing male. "Stop... looking..."

He wished he could stop. He wished could jump up and castrate Lauren. He wished he could do this. He wished he could do that. Instead, all he could do was slowly lose his conscience from over-exerting himself.

"How pathetic." Lauren mocked, stopping at the belt buckle. "Maybe I'll keep you both alive just a little longer and carve holes into your miserable, blood-stained he-"

Tatsumi stared paralyzed when a spear had suddenly split into Lauren's throat. The man choked with bulging eyes and fell to the side, desperately clutching at the blade. Lubbock had shakily moved away while clutching his torn shirt, but was too weak to stand. Just as Tatsumi's vision blurred, a figure stepped over Lauren's body and lifted Lubbock from his sight before he blacked out.