I keep rereading up until this point and think 'wow what a great storyline. Too bad my crappy writing is making people lose out on the wonders.' But seriously, you can tell a writer is proud of their self if they reread their own stories. *cough* which is what I often do *cough*
Plus a round of applause because I reached 2,100+ views! I'm pretty dang happy if you can't tell. I've been so busy and losing out on my social life to get work done and these chapters up for ya guys. I never thought I would come this far in such a short amount of time.^^
Enjoy!
"It's okay... he's one of us."
"This sword, shall we give it to the Weapon Recovery?"
"No it's his, I have it filed under his name."
"Excuse me, miss, I found two more people associated with your unit."
"Status?"
"One injured. One deceased."
His eyes fluttered open in a wince at the sharp lighting and loud voices. Nurses and doctors bustled around Tatsumi, who was lying paralytically on a white bed with a loose sheet over his body.
Najenda was at the door talking to several people at once. It seemed she was injured as well judging by the bandages over her bloodied torso. Tatsumi's dull eyes then ventured to the open window. Somehow, he was far away from the destroyed site. The smoke from the city is still apparent.
He rubbed his right eye when it began to burn uncomfortably once again. Then after a few seconds of silence, he jolted up.
"Where's Lubba!?" He yelled and the professionals gasped as Najenda whipped her head at him.
"Tatsumi! Here take this document, Shirley. Tatsumi, thank goodness-"
"Lubba. Where is here?" Tatsumi demanded at once as he pulled the cover off. Najenda blocked the side of the bed while placing the sheet back on him.
"He's fine. He was brought into another room. We thought you were the one who brought him in. That was until that person checked you in as well."
Tatsumi furrowed his brows.
"Me? Are you saying someone looks like me?" Najenda shook her head.
"It's more like your armors were similar. It was very similar to your Incursio. That was until he showed who he was."
Impossible. Since when could someone have the exact same teigu? Or even have them remotely close-?
"Wave."
It has been several hours and Tatsumi started to grow restless in his bed. Every minute, an injured person was found and tended to. So far, Mine, Akame and Najenda would check on him and every time they walked in he would ask if Lubbock was okay. Tatsumi still did not understand why he could not see Lubbock.
"He's still resting. What's the point in seeing him if he's asleep?" Najenda had said and Tatsumi crossed his arms.
"I just want to be there for him when he wakes up." They still did not let him see Lubbock. Which irritated him. Not as much as one particular young nurse annoyed him with her obvious crush.
"U-Um hi mister Tatsumi." The nurse greeted with food one hour.
"... Don't give me extra bread. I told you before I don't appreciate unwanted favors." Tatsumi said simply.
"S-Sorry. Its just..." She was blushing now. He always wondered how his scolding made her even more heart-eyed. "Do you think... maybe in the future we could..." She hinted as she set down the plate.
Tatsumi merely glanced at her with narrowed eyes.
"I'm gay." He stated clearly. This effectively caused her to stop favoring him, much to his relief.
Eventually at a point, Tatsumi grew impatient and got out of bed with a wince. His head swirled and his bandaged abdomen pulsed. Ignoring this, he stood up and opened the door. The halls were nearly crowded with caretakers and wounded fighters.
Tatsumi walked past them while looking around. He remembered Najenda telling a doctor Lubbock's room number and realized how close they were. He just needed to see Lubbock after so many hours of being separated.
"Mister Tatsumi?" A doctor grabbed his shoulder with a shocked look. "What are you doing out of bed young man? You should be recovering-"
"I need to see him." Tatsumi simply said and continued to walk ahead. To his dismay, the doctor followed him.
"General Najenda would be displeasured to see you out and about. Please consider your position."
"I'm fine, okay?"
Tatsumi ignored the man's reasoning and stopped at the targeted door. He opened it and shrugged the man's hand off his shoulder, his breath hitching after seeing Lubbock in bed sleeping peacefully.
"Mister Tatsumi-!"
He glared at the doctor to shut him up before going up to the bed and sitting on the edge of it. Tatsumi then gently stroked his lover's green hair in silence. Eventually, the doctor had muttered an apology and shut the door.
"... I swear on my life I won't fail you again." Tatsumi whispered to Lubbock and leaned down to peck his forehead. "Even if it kills me."
"Leone!" Tatsumi yelled in surprise when he was sitting outside. Leone left the hands of the doctors checking her in and gave Tatsumi her infamous suffocating hug.
"I'm so glad... I'm so glad to be able to see you guys again." Leone said with tears running down her cheeks. Tatsumi leaned back.
"I should be saying the same! They kept saying you weren't gonna make it and Akame even tried looking for you, I was going to go as well, but Najenda kept holding me back-" Leone had shushed him.
"It's fine now. It was all thanks to that Armon guy. His medical teigu works a miracle. Without him I wouldn't have gotten to see you guys one last time." Leone said. This is twice Armon saved someone he cared about and Tatsumi looked around eagerly.
"I have to thank him! First Lubba and now you! Where is he?" When Leone had not answered him, Tatsumi looked at her with a confused expression.
"Leone?" The look on her face slowly killed the joy inside him. "Wh-where is he...?"
The woman stepped back with a sorrowful look.
"I had let the prime minister escaped. Armon found me and just when he patched me up the minister showed up again. He told me to go and he would handle it. I swear I wanted to help, but at the time I wasn't able to do much so... all I could do was hide like he asked." She explained. Tatsumi still let the false hope get the better of him.
"S-So... is he taking his time coming back? Obviously he wouldn't... leave like that..." Tatsumi said and Leone shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Tatsumi."
A day of recovery had gone by and it seemed like things were getting back on track. Najenda had ordered for the reconstruction of the Capitol to commence. Well soldiers took on the duties as ill soldiers continued to rest. Not far from the medical area, a burial site was dug nearby.
Although the prime minister was on the loose yet again, Tatsumi felt he should still pay his respects for Armon's bravery. Without Armon, Lubbock and Leone would have been long deceased. He was thankful for just that as the man's body was placed in a well-dug hole.
The doctors had kept Lubbock in his room ever since he woke so Tatsumi was having a hard time trying to occupy himself instead of bursting through the door to see Lubbock. He wanted to be to the one to take care of Lubbock, not some strangers who would constantly shove a thermometer down your throat.
He was not able to see Wave after Najenda mentioned him as well. He wondered why a member of the Jeagers helped him and Lubbock. Especially since they are supposed to be rivals. Perhaps there are still some good in people who defended the corrupt government after all. That still does not explain Wave's motives.
"Tatsumi. Someone requested for you." A nurse said with a small bow. Tatsumi stood from watching the burial workers and followed the nurse back into the medical site. To his surprise, it was Lubbock seated on the grass ahead. Walking ahead of the nurse, Tatsumi called out to Lubbock.
"Lubba!" He shouted. Lubbock turned his head and stood up with a large grin.
"Tatsumi- woah!" Tatsumi had knocked Lubbock back down in a close embrace. Lubbock hugged back as best as he could and Tatsmi realized he was wearing an arm brace.
"Ah sorry!" Tatsumi apologized while loosening his grip. Lubbock just shook his head and rested his head on Tatsumi's shoulder.
"It's okay. It's good to be held by you again." Lubbock admitted with a warm smile. Tatsumi blushed and happily retightened his grip in which Lubbock tensed. "Wh-Which doesn't mean you have to kill me..."
"Um sorry again."
In what seemed like forever, Tatsumi finally leaned back from the hug to examine Lubbock.
"Your arm." Tatsumi mentioned. Lubbock waved the injured limb with a reassuring grin.
"It's no big deal. Doctor said it'll recover in about a month. I just have to lay off on it a bit. Lauren did press on it pretty hard-"
"Don't." Tatsumi leaned in beside Lubbock's ear. Lubbock made a questioning sound.
"Huh?"
"Don't mention him. Just saying his name... makes me want to break something..." Tatsumi growled deeply as he felt his blood begin to boil. What Lauren had attempted to do to Lubbock was extremely unforgivable.
"Tatsumi." Cool hands held his face and Lubbock pressed their foreheads together. "Its okay. We're okay. He's gone. For good." This made Tatsumi smile and lose most of the fiery attitude. It is a good thing Wave was around the area to prevent any further tragedies.
"Oh yeah. Um, did you hear about Armon?" Tatsumi mentioned while resting his hand on Lubbock's.
"I did." Lubbock answered with a heavy sigh, "He's in a better place now. Doesn't have to deal with this bullshit anymore."
"And he helped save yours and Leone's lives. No matter what I do, I'm completely in his debt." Tatsumi said, holding Lubbock's hands. "I've always owed him since I found you in the cabin that night. He's just a miracle worker-"
"Alright we get it, Tatsumi. You'd go gay for the old bat." Lubbock joked, laughing at Tatsumi's cringe.
"Hey, you two." Najenda called out. The two boys looked over. "Get inside, we're about to welcome our new addition to Night Raid."
Also check out the side-story Possessive. No worries, it's only 1,200+ words worth of romance, a little humor, and a little more insight on Tatsumi's transformation. He's got a red eye, fangs, and claws. However we never really ventured further into his new side personality thanks to Incursio.
