Hi everybody, I'm back with another chapter, longer again this time. Thanks for the amazing feedback since the last chapter, including all reviews and all the place suggestions that you gave me! I will be releasing them next chapter, since there aren't enough yet.
Im not going to tell you exactly what's going to happen in these chapters, but be sure that there will be some tough times both physically and emotionally for our protagonists.
As to regards to a certain raven haired assassin, don't be surprised if she doesn't feature here much for a few chapters after this. I have a master plan regarding her timely appearance. But that's enough from me, lets get on with the story already!
Disclaimer: I do not own Akame Ga Kill, its characters, nor any respective content.
Tatsumi stirred, for the first time since he had collapsed and fallen unconscious with Esdeath. His head was resting on something soft and warm, and he felt quite hot. A delicious smell filled his nose, meat cooking. Tatsumi realised where he was with a small smile. He must be back at base, smelling Akame cooking some meat as a victory celebration. Then he heard the flicker of a fire. A hand running through his hair. The assassin frowned. Who was that? Maybe Leone?
"Good evening, Tat~su~mi." That was not the voice of his friends. He sat bolt upright, and immediately collapsed. His aching, raw muscles were stiff from his fight and he cramped up almost immediately. Esdeath stared at him with a knowing smile, as Tatsumi blinked around at his surroundings.
He was lying uncomfortable on the cold hard stone of a cave. It was dank and dark, the only source of light he found was the fire a little ways in front of him. He couldn't see the exit to the cave, making him wonder how deep in they were, but the echoing wind off of the walls told him where it was, or at least the direction it was in. His eyes fell to the person he was alone with. Esdeath. His eyes were wide with dismay, despite his best intention.
She completely misread the dismay in his eyes. "Oh this? This is nothing. But thank you for worrying, my little Tatsumi." She teased him with a light blush on his face. It was an appealing thought to have him worrying about her. It was true though, the normally spotlessly clean uniform was dirty and torn up. She was missing her usual hat too. His eyes lingered over her for slightly too long, before he realised his error and snapped his gaze to the fire, his cheeks flushing with heat.
"Aww, you don't have to get embarrassed looking at me... we're lovers, remember? We hide nothing from each other... After all, I already stripped you down so I could clean you of all that blood." Tatsumi tried to sit up, but contorted in pain then slumped back down.
"You did what!?" his face was heating up even more as he tried to glare at Esdeaths smug look. Her eyes trailed his body, as if imagining it much more bare.
"Oh its not the first time. I've spied on you in the shower, so you don't have to be embarrassed!" she said cheerfully. Tatsumi was alarmed by her lewd grin as he frowned in dismay. Just then a large gust of wind blew into the cave. It made Tatsumi shiver, for he had fallen away from the fire into a wind beaten spot. Esdeath frowned. "Tatsumi, come here and warm up. You'll get cold."
He shrugged. "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't." he was screaming inside. The first woman to ever see him naked had been Esdeath. He shuddered violently as he imagined her stripping his unconscious body with that lewd grin on her face.
"Then i'll move you over here!" She got up and bent down to shift him, only to be snapped at.
"Don't do that!" His face was red, embarrassed. "If I need to move, I will do it myself!" he lied. He was immobile.
She tried again. "I wont spy on you any more! I promise! Just let me move you!" Tatsumi sweatdropped. As usual, she couldn't take a hint. "Tatsumi..." her voice grew annoyed. "You are mine and will do as I say! Now let me move you Tatsumi!"
If there was one thing Tatsumi knew, an annoyed Esdeath was not a good thing to have on his plate. He had forgotten who he was talking to, the woman who could go from loving to sadistic so quickly that they often merged into one.
He quickly tried to soften her up a little. "No." He pouted, trying his best to act innocent and cute. At once a light blush fell over her face with a wide grin. Tatsumi held back a sigh of relief.
"Fine. Stay there. But don't expect me to let you come back over without a little compensation for being so stubborn." He didn't exactly like the sound of that, but was determined to hold his ground. She sat back down at the fire, staring at him, a small, knowing smile on her face. Tatsumi stared back. Neither spoke. Half an hour passed, and Tatsumi began to almost constantly shiver. He was getting seriously cold, thanks to his inability to move. After another ten minutes of him getting colder, the sound of chattering teeth echoed through the cave. Another ten minutes followed and Tatsumi lost all feeling in his feet. Esdeath stared impassively. The fire crackled with its hospitable warmth. Its lure began to tempt the young assassin, his eyes and heart full of longing, but his brain saying no. The warm meat of cooking evil bird made his mouth water as he watched fat drip into the flame.
He closed his eyes. After a moment of hanging longing, the boy finally tipped over the edge and submitted. "Esdeath... Can you move me?" His voice was quiet.
She tried not to laugh happily. "What was that, dear Tatsumi?" Her eyes were full of false innocence. He gritted his teeth.
"Could you please move me back to the fire?" Esdeath let a little chuckle slip out.
"Where by the fire?" He cocked his head, eyes closed.
Tatsumi sighed with defeat. "Next to you..."
"Not quite what I wanted to hear." Her voice was much closer. His eyes snapped open to peer into Esdeath's pale blue orbs. She was crouching over him, and leaned in closer. "Try... on my lap." She teased, her lips grazing his ear, making the boy squeak slightly. She loved eliciting this kind of reaction from him. It was better than the scream of any prisoner, better than the ring of steel and the crunch of bone beneath her.
"Can I please be..." He gulped as she pressed her face into his hair. Every fibre of his being screamed against it, be he finally choked out "On your - lap" He felt her grin into his hair.
"Well, why didn't you say so? Of course." She eagerly, but ever so gently, picked him up, and sat down by the fire. She adjusted him back to his original position, head in her lap. He refused to admit to himself that it felt nice. Of course, it would have felt nice if he had his head in any woman's lap. Definitely. The young assassin felt his cheeks heat up as he looked up at her. Her blue orbs were full of love and her hands gently wove through his hair.
After a moment, Tatsumi finally plucked up the courage to ask the question he was dying to know. "Esdeath... why am I here? Why are we here? And where exactly is here?" He couldn't help but dread the answer.
"Tatsumi... its not what you think. Nobody died, I didn't kill anyone to have you. That would have hurt your feelings." She refrained from adding that she would have done so if necessary. "No, I was simply given you in exchange for leaving the capital peacefully. Najenda didn't seem to care much." The blue haired woman prayed that he would not ask about Akame. "As for where we are? Currently we are in a cave on the far side of Fake Mountain."
Tatsumi felt his heart sink. The Boss had just... given him up? Was he just a tool to her all along? The young assassin felt moisture in his eyes. He had known, in his heart that truly he had never been a part of Night Raid. It was just a lie. Esdeath stared at his face. Watching small tears bead up in his eyes. Gently, ever so gently, she brought him up to her height, and smudged away his tears.
"Shhh... It's okay. I'm here... I will never give you up..." Another small bead of anguish rolled down his cheek as Tatsumi choked back sobs. His whole life for the past 6 months, all a lie. He felt weak, and fragile. No matter how hard the young assassin tried to believe that what Esdeath had said was a lie, he couldn't. If it wasn't true, then he wouldn't be here. For once, he allowed himself to sink into the comfort Esdeath was trying to provide. For once, he didn't fight as she eagerly pressed her lips onto his face.
After all, as far as he knew she was the only person who truly cared about him left in this world.
The capital
A Metallic fist cracked a table as it slammed onto it. "What do you mean there is nobody willing to try and dig under this freaking wall!?" Najenda was furious.
In the old throne room of the palace, Najenda sat at a large, round stone table with all of the current teigu users, all the rebel leaders and all of the previous politicians who had sided with the rebellion. Also present was the path of peace leader. They all looked sheepish.
"We're stuck here like caged animals, while that monster who's killed tens of thousands of people runs off with the man who ended this war with his own fist! And here we are sitting and leaving her to it!" Najenda swore, making all the politicians jump. Akame stood up. Her eyes had not lost their spark since the wall had first been conjured up.
"I agree with the boss. We cant let her get away with what she's done." Another teigu user sneered. He was fairly new to the teigu he owned, Military Music Dream: Scream. His voice was soft, but rang with a tone that left a bitter taste on the tongue. He was in his late 20's, but looked quite boyish with soft brown eyes and a thick mop of black hair that swept into his eyes.
"It figures that night raid would want to save one of their own, despite the cost." Najenda seethed at the boy.
"Whats your name boy?" He stood to face her.
"Garrison, ma'am. Garrison West." Eyes rolled at the irony of the western accent.
"Well, West, just because you've got the teigu, doesn't mean you're worthy to speak about my men in such ways. You've got scream, huh? Tatsumi splattered the last owner against a wall the second he got Incursio. If I recall, he was a pretty boy too. I guess that's scream's taste, huh?" The boy flushed with anger, but kept quiet.
"Najenda, just because you've been appointed great general, it doesn't mean that you can just insult whoever lies beneath you!" One of the revolutionaries spoke up angrily.
"Actually, it does. As military special division codename Omega Nine, they fall under direct supervision of ex-jaeger Run, and in turn me. I can punish him as and when I see fit." She nodded to the blond haired man sitting in a seat two from her. For the first time since the meeting began an hour ago, the path of peace leader spoke.
"Najenda, please calm down. Anger will get us nowhere. One day you will pay for the rage within your heart." At this Najenda seemed to calm down slightly. Her hand went into her pocket, and she squeezed a pair of red goggles tightly.
"I already have." Her voice was quiet, and movement in the room stopped. Then a large, burly man wielding bulky looking club stood.
"General Najenda." His voice was sharp, demanding attention. She looked to him, grateful for the distraction.
"Yes Captain Hokoro?" He suddenly flashed a cocky grin.
"I know something that will help you calm down, if you know what you mean..." he thrust his hips forward repeatedly. In an instant he was flying across the room, minus a teigu. Everybody watched as he went straight through the wall. Najenda calmly reeled in her fist, dragging a heavy, knobbly club along with it. once the fist had reconnected, she lifted the club and inspected it. Nobody spoke.
"Earth cracker: Bulldoze. Never seen this one up close. General Fianor, find yourself a new captain and a new teigu user." Akame only half listened as Najenda continued to berate and grill the men before her, despite some of them having more command than her. It was Najenda's way of getting them to be more efficient, if only so that they didn't have to listen to her yell anymore.
No, Akame was focused on something else. The boy with scream, West, he was called, ignored Najenda completely. He just sitting there with a small grin as he slowly ran his thumb up and down the flute. The grip on her Katana tightened. Something seemed off about him.
Then she heard something that made her snap her head towards it. There was a slight scratching at the window to the right of Najenda. The window opened a tiny amount. Akame reacted.
The group at the table could only gape as Akame moved from her seat at the table to Najenda's side in the blink of an eye. All movement stopped as a small knife clattered to the floor, bouncing off of her drawn Katana. It appeared to be attached to some kind of chain, and was instantly withdrawn. Nobody moved. Then the window shattered and a brown cloaked figure leapt inside. He was garbed all in shades of brown, wearing a tunic and trousers, with fairly long boots. His cloak was light brown. On his head sat Omnipotent five sights: Spectator.
"Ah, the famous Akame. Did you have to get in the way of my kill?" His eyes were a striking green, a massive contrast from the brown garb and black hair.
"Target acquired." She crouched low, then as the man leapt at her, throwing his knives, she sprang.
Old habits are hard to break. As the new tale unfolds, the remnants of a previous path continue to linger. It matters not where this tale leads, nor what we encounter along it. The only thing that truly matters is that we know: There was always another way.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Yes i'm a tease, but something came up and my internet will be down for god knows how long, so it was this or nothing. Trust me, I wanted a 10,000 word chapter too, but I don't have the time anymore. As always, read and review any good place ideas or constructive criticism you might have for me! Please guys, don't be afraid to make a suggestion! Even if you think its not great, im sure that together we can make it awesome! As for my OC teigu, don't worry its not a main teigu, we might see it once or twice more where its abilities will be revealed. As for the chain knives, they aren't a teigu. Thanks again for all the support and see you all in an unknown amount of time!