A wild update appeared! Thanks for all the amazing feedback and support I got for chapter 4, it really blew my mind! Within just a few hours, I recieved two new chapter ideas! Both of them were excellent! My whole idea with Esdeaths persona is related to whole nosebleeds thing (dw she's not dying or anything). Its just that, how I see it, esdeath's yandere persona seems to crack and show the in love girl she really is. In the anime she acts really bipolar, and that's what I was trying to show.
Yes tatsumi warmed to her fast, and maybe that was a slip up on my part (I've written a couple of unpublished stories prior to this one and I never manage to get the right pace on the transaction. But he seems to be that kind of guy, to me anyway.
He's astonished by the way he acts and feels bad about it. That's how the anime portrays him, I think. Esdeath and him won't start making out randomly even though he hated her two chapters ago. He's just tolerating her for now, nothing more. Giving a chance but being cautious, you know? Like when he first met her.
*Gasps for breath*
Jeez, that was a long explanation of what's happening. Get on with the story already, right?
Disclaimer: I don't own Akame Ga Kill, it's characters, or any of its respective content.
Esdeath looked up at the sky, partially blotted out by the thick flakes of snow falling steadily on the ground. They had been travelling for several days now, and she immensely regretted the decision to do so. Tatsumi was far from ready, he moved at barely half her pace, and was exhausted with pain after about two hours. However she knew that there was no point in turning back. It would be good for him, not only in the sense that it helped reteach him hardship, but also she felt that the further from the capital Tatsumi went, the better it would be for him.
Tatsumi stumbled along, panting as he went. Every step was painful on his still wounded body. Esdeath was determined to make him her equal still, but she knew better than to overdo it. Turning, she rested her hands gently on his shoulders. "Stop, Tatsumi. We can rest here for a moment."
Fire blazed in his eyes. "This is nothing. I've faced far worse cold than this in my village." Esdeath frowned and dropped her bearskin onto the ground, before resting herself down on it. Much to her delight, when she had killed the bears Tatsumi had actually skinned both of them rather efficiently, claiming that it was a skill he had learned in his village.
"Yes, but did you face that cold when you had such serious injuries?" She swept his legs out and Tatsumi fell on her with a yelp. She giggled as he squirmed, but cradled him to her nonetheless. Pulling the other bearskin over the both of them, she smiled happily. "There, this should help warm you up." Her fingers ran up his chest and her face pressed into his neck. Tatsumi deadpanned and tried to squirm away.
"You just wanted a chance to molest me!" He exclaimed, unable to free himself from her suddenly vice-like grip.
"Whatever would I do that for?" Esdeath's voice was brimming with false sincerity, and Tatsumi actually shuddered as she blew on his ear. "My, are you still cold? You know, the closer we are, the faster you'll warm up. Maybe we should get rid of this?" Her fingers slipped under his shirt. Tatsumi went beet red and Esdeath could practically see the steam shooting out of his ears as he caught her wrist and stopped her.
"No, I think we'll be fine as it is." He tried to keep his voice measured, but miserably failed.
A lewd smile found its way onto her lips. "Hnnn, but it will get colder than this you know... We might need to eventually." Tatsumi already had a plan for this.
"Actually, as soon as I'm strong enough to put on Incursio, it'll be fine. I'll be able to adjust to any cold." His voice was a little smug. Esdeath growled in his ear.
"All the more reason to do it now!" Her grip was like a vice as she ran a hand across his chest. Tatsumi writhed away in a panic, and Esdeath laughed. "I couldn't resist that. You're so adorable when you panic." Her voice was light, teasing, but there was a slight undertone of seriousness. Like she was putting on a show. Tatsumi sighed and stopped fighting. Esdeath's eyes widened. Was he letting her...?
"You know, I really don't like it when people pretend to be something they aren't. It's just frustrating, you know? How can you be friends with someone if they don't trust you enough to show who they really are?" He spoke casually, but meaningfully. His voice was cold. Esdeath stiffened.
Before she could reply, they heard the crunch of snow underfoot and Esdeath whipped herself and Tatsumi to their feet. Both crouched into a fighting stance, although Tatsumi had a hard time remaining motionless like her. The crunching footsteps got closer and Esdeath heard Tatsumi draw out Incursio, as quietly as he could. An old man appeared from around a tree.
"Well hello there youngsters! Its pretty cold out, what would you two be doing out in the wild all alone?" His face was wrinkled but he looked fairly strong and fit. "What say you come back to my hut and warm up some, eh? It'll be getting dark soon, why don't you stay the... woah boy, I don't mean no harm." He noticed Tatsumi's blade. Tatsumi looked apologetic as he sheathed Incursio.
"As I was saying, why don't you stay the night? It's not healthy to spend so much time out in the cold." Both Tatsumi and Esdeath laughed at this. The man looked disgruntled.
As Esdeath opened her mouth to decline the offer, Tatsumi beat her to the punch. "If you wouldn't mind, we'd love to." He shot his companion a 'be nice' glance as the man beckoned for them to follow.
The 'Hut' really was something to behold. It was more of a small mansion in truth. Esdeath was wary. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you build this? It's really rather large."
The man chuckled. "I had It built for me. You see, I was, up until a few years ago, just before the reign of the new emperor, a politician in the capital. But I came here to pursue my... hobbies." Esdeath didn't miss the after tone when he said hobbies. "You see, I enjoy hunting. Today hasn't been so bad, you were my biggest catch!" He and Tatsumi chuckled. Esdeath was silent. "I left just as the minister came into power." Both of the teigu users stiffened up. The man carried on, regardless. "In fact, I recognise you from somewhere, missy. Blue eyes and hair... wait... you wouldn't happen to be general Esdeath would you?" He sounded somewhat fearful. But Esdeath was a good actor. She smiled kindly.
"No, I get that reaction a lot. I look similar to her. The only reason I wear this kind of uniform is so people leave me alone. They think that I'm her." The man paused for a second, then, reassured, boomed with laughter.
"You pulled yourself a clever one, son!" He eyed Tatsumi as he said it.
The assassin was more than frantic to clarify as his face went tomato red. It somewhat hurt Esdeath. "Oh no no!" We're not together! I'm just travelling with her." At this the man seemed unexpectedly delighted. He practically glued himself to the brown haired boy. Esdeath only watched with disgust. Tatsumi was oblivious as always.
When the man opened the door, Tatsumi gasped. The place was practically a palace. Esdeath was unimpressed. "I know, for someone living the quite life its rather extravagant, but I guess old habits die hard." Once again, a sick after tone.
For the rest of the night Tatsumi and the old man made small talk over food, while Esdeath remained silent. She glared at the maid who was eyeing up Tatsumi almost constantly. The poor girl practically fled the room as soon as she could. That's right, the old man even had a maid. Somehow. After a few hours, Esdeath rose. "I would like to head to bed now, if you don't mind." Her voice was sour.
"Of course my dear! You can have the master spare room!" The old man was cheery as he stood. Wordlessly, Esdeath followed him from the room, but not before giving Tatsumi a final glare. She would much rather be snuggling to him for warmth under the stars right now. The man tried to make small talk as they went up the stairs.
"So where are you from then?" Esdeath looked at him coldly.
"The eastern mountains."
"Oh, I've heard they're pretty nice! A wealthy area! So how did you come across the young man? Where is he from? How old is he?" A hint of eagerness crept into the guys voice.
"We met at the capital. The rest isn't for me to disclose."
The old man laughed. "Well, I guess I'll have to ask him myself. Here we are!" The room was large, with a king sized bed and an personal bathroom. "If you need anything, just ring that bell! Goodnight!" He turned and let her pass, before shutting the door. His footsteps were rather hurried as they faded down the hallway. Esdeath sat down on the bed. After sleeping on the floor for so long, the bed was far too soft. Besides, she was worried. That man was far too interested in Tatsumi for his own good.
After half an hour of just sitting there, she decided to lie back. Restless, her eyes unreadable. Tatsumi... how could she get him to love her? Would he ever accept her? What if he decided to leave? No. If he decided to leave, she would stop him. He wouldn't soften her heart so much that she was willing to let him go. Never again.
Maybe... maybe if she was just herself with him. Was that the way forward in their relationship? Her mind fell to the north. What would Tatsumi think of her work there? A cruel smile played onto her lips. Would he be stunned into submission? Would he kneel to her and lick her boots like that wretched prince of the north? She couldn't deny that that would be something to enjoy.
But... there was still that voice in her head, the one that had taken over in the cave. What if he hated her for it? What if he spent every waking moment from there onwards trying to escape her? Yes she could make him submit, that wasn't the hard bit. The problem was she would lose part of him. The smile she adored, his cute reactions when she touched him. The little things that made her love him all the more.
Esdeath was pulled from her thoughts by the door opening. She quickly closed her eyes and steadied her breathing pattern. The man gave a grunt of satisfaction, then closed the door again.
Click.
The door locked.
Esdeath sat bolt upright in alarm. Why had he done that? Was Tatsumi okay? That was the final straw. She leapt up and strode over to the door, ready to kick it down. Before she could, there was a quiet knock on the door. A key and a note slid under, and a voice whispered "I'd hurry if I were you." Before fading away. Esdeath tore open the letter. It read 'the master of the house takes children and young adults from the village and tortures them to death after drugging them to sleep. He has plans for the boy you travel with."
Esdeath's eyes widened in horror. Immediately she snatched up the key and unlocked the door, creeping downstairs. The room the two had been sat in was empty, but Incursio lay on the sofa. The maid appeared and wordlessly pulled on a lamp.
A secret doorway slid upwards and revealed a flight of stairs. A voice could be heard at the bottom. Esdeath shoved away the urge to gag at the stench that hit her. It was the smell of urine and Shit, mixed with old sweat.
The only scent she was used to was the blood, and that didn't make her any more comfortable. She descended the cold stone stairwell as silently as her shadow that flickered in the light of a lamp. Her lip curled in disgust as she took in the sight before her. Bloodied, crude weapons lay discarded around the place carelessly. From the second room she could here the voice much clearer. It was the old man.
"Its been a while since I've had any fun... I'm going to enjoy cutting you open boy. Don't worry, you won't feel a thing. Ever. Again."
A short, manic bout of laughter echoed through the rooms. Esdeath lmmediately flew into action. She leapt across the room, frantic, and knocked down the door with a sharp, resonating crack. Her eyes practically glowed with rage at the sight before her.
The man was paused with a hammer raised in the air directly above Tatsumi's unconscious face. "You. DARE!" The room began to thicken with killing intent and the man went pale with fear, as ice began to climb the walls erratically. He backed away, but esdeath was upon him already, full in her primal rage and fury. With a raise of the hand, ice encased his hand that held the hammer, and, grabbing the hammer for leverage, Esdeath twisted it.
With a sickening crunch and the tear of muscle she pulled the hand clean off, eliciting a shriek of agony from the man. " You dare even touch a hair on his head!" Esdeath grabbed his hand with both of hers and crushed it into shards slowly. The man was desperately trying to stop the blood flow, while howling in agony.
Esdeath grabbed the stump, and concentrated. His muscles began to contract rapidly, and within seconds the whole limb had lost its ability to move. Then the demonic warrior picked up the man by the neck, teeth bared and shaking the helpless man around, before throwing him into a wall. One of his lungs burst from the impact. Gently, esdeath turned to her love interest, ignoring the blood running down her face. She checked him over for wounds, before removing his bonds and shifting him to a more comfortable position, sitting on the floor.
Then, grabbing the wheezing man and ignoring his feeble struggles, she placed him where her tatsumi had been. "Did you know, that the human body can last up to 6 hours with one lung? Don't worry, we have plenty of things to do for 6 hours." Her grin was sadistically malicious. Only tatsumi slept through the screams that filled the house that night.
A/N: As much as I wanted to go into loads of detail, I really don't want to have to make this story rated M, so I'm going to leave it at that for now.
When Tatsumi awoke, his head was throbbing wildly. Someone whispered his name and stroked his cheek. Oh, it was that person. No, he was going back to sleep. He really didn't want to see her right now. Yawning, he shifted and turned away from the voice, shudder as a dot of searing cold touched upon his neck. With a yelp he sat bolt upright, much to Esdeath's amusement.
"As much as I love watching you sleep, its time we left. Come on." Tatsumi just glared at her and slumped back down onto the sofa. "Fine. I'll carry you." Esdeath grabbed him and pulled him up into her arms. He immediately struggled and fought his way out of her grip. With a sleepy glare, he shrugged on his jacket and slung Incursio Diagonally across his shoulder.
"Where's the old man? I want to thank him. I meant too last night but then he broke out some drink... Ugh, remind me never to drink any alcohol again." Esdeath tried to look nonchalant. There were some things downstairs Tatsumi wasn't quite ready to see.
"He left to go hunting already. A drunken Tatsumi who doesn't remember in the morning? Now that does sound fun." A genuine lewd grin stretched across her face.
Tatsumi turned his mouth down into a frown and spun round to leave the room.
"Dad!? I'm back from the capital! Its all gone to shit and Esdeath is missing!"
Esdeath crouched into a fighting stance. Tatsumi gave her a curious glance, and went to see who it was.
The ice controller was dumbfounded by the turn of events. How could that pig of a man even have a lover, let alone a child?
"Who the hell are you?" The voice rang out. Esdeath, without hesitation, skidded down the corridor towards them.
Tatsumi replied friendlily. "Hi. I'm... ahem, I'm Tatsumi. Your Dad's gone hunting."
"Don't fuck with me! He never lets anybody live! What did you do!?" Esdeath rounded the corner to see a fat clown stood there, looking enraged, lunging at Tatsumi.
The boy was still faster than him, despite his injuries, and ducked underneath his chubby fist easily. The clown caught sight of Esdeath and went pale. "Sh-shit... You're... General Esdeath!" He turned to flee, but before Esdeath could even move, A spatter of blood sprayed across the walls and the clown gasped in pain.
Tatsumi had sliced into his back and nearly severed his spine with a single horizontal sweep of his sword. His head was bowed, eyes invisible under his brown locks.
"I remember Run mentioning a clown, a fat one who lived out in the north. He was the one who raped children and killed them for fun... Right, Champ?" A snarl curled onto his lips and Tatsumi grabbed the clown, tossing him outside, his fury increasing his strength two-fold.
The fat clown snarled in a beastly fashion, before pulling from a pouch around his waist his 6 elemental orbs, the teigu Ace solution: Die leaguer.
Esdeath grinned. Finally, a decent fight. It had been far too long.
Quick as lightning, she leapt forward and summoned several, inch thick shards of ice around her, before launching them at her foe. Champ, with surprising agility, quickly hurled forward his Explosion orb and Esdeath had to abandon her shards in favour of a thick wall. The orb hit the wall with a resonating thump, before a massive explosion nearly blew the whole thing apart.
"Ha! Is this really the mighty Esdeath? How on earth did a filthy pig of a woman like you become a general?!" But when the smoke cleared, Esdeath was already gone. He whirled and saw her in the air, ice shard in hand, a vicious smile distorting her pale features. Champ tossed his storm orb, and immediately Esdeath was blown back several hundred yards.
"That's it! Time for you to die!" Esdeath had grown bored of the clown and his antics, and just wanted to move on to the north. "Grauhorn!" She yelled, and several long pillars shot from her outstretched palms and headed towards champ. Surprisingly nimble, he dodged all but one and managed to counter an attack from Tatsumi, who was in considerable pain from his ever recurring wounds.
"Try avoiding this!" With a snap of her fingers a gigantic ball appeared at her fingertip, before coming crashing down towards Champ. "Hagel Sprung!" She snarled, but champ merely tossed his flame orb and incinerated the giant ball quickly. Then he turned to the unsteady Tatsumi, and prepared his ice orb. Like a pro baseball pitcher, he fastballed it right at the assassin. Esdeath sighed and quickly deflected it with her own ice. When it hit another layer of frozen water climbed up her shield.
"Please, if your going to steal my thing, do it well. Try another Hagel Sprung and Grauhorn!" The two respective moves took place almost simultaneously, and Champ had no option but to take an attack. He disappeared in a mass of cold, before there was finally silence. Esdeath felt dizzy all of a sudden. A droplet of blood fell from her nose. Tatsumi cautiously picked his way over to her.
"Alright, what gives. You should have killed him already by now. And why are you bleeding?" Before she could reply, there was a shift in the ice, and the fat clown burst out, looking enraged, battered, and still very much alive. Storm ball in hand, he pitched.
Tatsumi rolled out of the way and Esdeath made a wall, but the effort brought her to her knees. Tatsumi looked alarmed as the storm ball returned to Champ's hand.
"Its over, die!" Champ screamed, tossing his explosive ball. It headed straight for Esdeath, who was struggling to form any more ice. Tatsumi, with horror, realised that his only guide was about to die. Ignoring his screaming muscles, he dived forward, slashing out with his Incursio...
Two perfect halves fell to the ground. Then exploded. Esdeath managed to get out of the way, but the force of it knocked Incursio from Tatsumi's hand. Champ looked stunned as he fingered his flame orb. Then, in a fit of rage, he hurled the flame orb. "BURN FOR THAT, YOU SCUM!" Tatsumi was already prepared. He had a length of ice in hand, and swung.
Champ didn't have time to scream as his own teigu was hit back at him and incinerated him. Tatsumi dropped his makeshift bat. "Batter up..." He weakly mumbled. Esdeath was on her feet, somewhat shakily. Tatsumi momentarily forgot his pain, and marched over to her. "Come on, what was that. He should have died before even tossing one of those balls. What's wrong with you?"
Esdeath tried her best to play it off. "Nothing. I just wanted to see how well you could do."
Tatsumi sighed. She was in denial. "Fine, but I don't see how I'm supposed to trust you if you don't trust me." He looked around for Incursio. She just stared at him as he turned away. Tatsumi was thinking hard. Maybe he could use her infatuation of him to get it out of her? At this rate they would both end up dead. He had to get to the bottom of this. "Alright, I will tell the truth. The old man drugged us both and tied you up. I had to kill him to get you free, alright? I'm still feeling the affects of the drug."
She hoped that partially telling the truth would be good enough. Slowly, Tatsumi turned, horror filling his green orbs. "You killed him? After he took us in?" For a moment he pushed aside the Esdeath's condition.
"He drugged us and planned on torturing you to death!" Esdeath spat. Why wasn't Tatsumi being reasonable about this?
"Prove it." He stared her straight in the eye. It hurt Esdeath that he didn't trust her about this.
"Fine, don't blame me for what you see!" She grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him into the house, to the living room, and down the hidden stairs. There sat the bloodied tools, but she wasn't done. Dragging him through the room, she presented him with the torture table, a look of triumph on her face. Only to realise her mistake.
Tatsumi stared at the bloodied corpse on the table. He could barely recognise the old man, for there was far too much blood for it to have been a clean death. A look of agony and terror were still etched onto his face and his pale, glassy eyes. "Did he really deserve this...?"
"Tatsumi, he-"
The assassin whirled on her. "He drugged us, so you tortured him to death? Even if he did try to torture me, nobody deserves this!"
He waited, demanding an answer. Esdeath stared right on back, believing herself perfectly justified. "Answer me this, Tatsumi. When someone tried to kill a person you love, do you get rid of them painlessly? Or are you so full of anger that you want to hurt them, hurt them enough to show them the pain of what they were trying to do? Tell me, have you never experienced this desire?"
Tatsumi faltered for a moment, but then replied stubbornly. "Nobody deserves thi-" He ducked a large blast of ice. It shattered a door behind him. As he turned back to Esdeath, he found her upon him. Her hands wrapped around him and twisted him around, locking him to her body and propelling them both forward, towards the door. Tatsumi froze in shock.
"Look at this my love." Her cold voice hissed in his ear. The assassin stared, shaking. The room must have been twice as big as the rest of the house. The rotten, putrid smell burned at his nose and Tatsumi felt sick. Row upon row upon row of mutilated bodies, strung up like trophies. Their corpses were smashed up brutally, some of them missing limbs and even portions of their heads.
"Now tell me that man didn't deserve this. Did you really want to join these souls?" Esdeath was caught up in her own anger. "Because I will never let that happen. You will never have to worry again, nobody can touch you!" She reared up, eyes burning with passion. "You are mine."
Tatsumi struggled away from her. "Alright, I get it. This is..." He swallowed back the bile in his throat. "Sickening. I thought after all of this time, I might be used to this sort of thing, but... it just shows how corrupt the capital really was." He looked down at the ground, his eyes hidden. "Esdeath... I take back what I said about not being able to kill people."
She looked joyous. "You can kill any sick pigs that do this-" He pointed to a corpse that had been there for so long that there was barely any flesh left on the skeleton, the rest had rotted. "- Any time you want to. I wont stop you." He barely had time to think before Esdeath grabbed him in a bone crushing hug.
"I knew you would understand!" She beamed, all anger dissipated. Esdeath once more returned to her clingy, playful self, and pulled Tatsumi's head between her breasts. If she was honest, this whole torture thing didn't affect her all that much. She had done far, far worse to people in her own dungeons. But that was something Tatsumi didn't need to know.
As she released him with a giggle, Tatsumi grumbled, blushing furiously. As he turned away and saw the corpses again, his face darkened, and he shuddered. "This is no place to be playing. I'm leaving." He tried to slip past her, but Esdeath gently grasped his hand, trying to offer a little comfort. His expression softened for a second, but not long enough for Esdeath to be sure she saw it. Then he looked down and went to the stairs. Esdeath refused to let go of his hand, following him all of the way out.
To her surprise, Tatsumi didn't immediately leave the house. The maid had, overnight, gathered their washed bearskins and left them folded neatly, along with two backpacks with supplies and sleeping bags. The brown haired boy sat down on the sofa, and looked at her expectantly.
"Well? Are you going to tell me the truth now? Why are you so weak?" Esdeath stared at him. "Well you obviously weren't drugged, because I'm managing just fine and I was drugged unconscious. And if you were drugged with the same thing as me, how did you manage to save me? Don't say it was a different drug because I looked at that shelf and there were only knockout drugs there."
He stared back at her. Esdeath grabbed the bags, and prepared to go. Tatsumi didn't budge. Internally, he sighed. Was he going to have to do... that?
"Please tell me." Esdeath looked at him.
"Nothing is wrong, alright? I was strong enough to resist the drugs."
"Esdeath that stuff is imperial made danger beast tranquiliser. It can knock out an S class for a week with about 70 millilitres."
She didn't look at him, just continued checking trough all the supplies and packing the bearskins. "You don't know that, don't lie." Her answer was short and sharp. Tatsumi sighed. It was time.
"Esdeath..." She finally looked back at him, and stopped moving. His eyes were wide and worried, and his expression was like an overdose of cuteness. Esdeath twitched. Then dived on him. Tatsumi panicked as she pinned him to the sofa, her eyes ablaze with hunger. She couldn't help herself. In that instant, she had to have him, consequences be damned. His cute face, noble intention... what would it be like to corrupt him with her own selfish needs? To mould him to her, claim him?
The ice wielder was lost in her own desires, sharply inhaling his woody, musky scent before moving down to capture his lips. When he turned away from her uncomfortably, she instead began to kiss his neck.
"No... don't!" Tatsumi whined, squirming as her hand trailed his chest. He was half acting to get her to talk, and half serious now.
But the teigu user ignored the request, instead opening her mouth to his neck. A small sting at the throat. Finally Tatsumi managed to get a decent hold of her, and shove her off, before darting away so she couldn't immediately grab him again. It was slightly too late though, her teeth had already made a mark, ringing a light purple mark that anybody could see.
Her eyes were wild, a lustful grin plastered to her face. Tatsumi slowly backed away as Esdeath clambered across the sofa towards him. Her fingers were bent into claws and she kept herself low, as if about to spring. Tatsumi was crouched, holding his arms in front of him as if trying to calm her.
"No. Stop it, we need to talk." Tatsumi miserably failed at keeping his voice steady.
"Why not talk later...?" Esdeath purred, beckoning him to her.
"Because we need to sort this out now."
"Hmmm... No." The woman sprang, knocking Tatsumi's arms out of the way and knocking him back onto the coffee table. He writhed, but despite Esdeath's earlier weakness, she was immovable. "Now, lets finish this off..." She went for his throat again.
"WAIT!" He hollered desperately. "Is this really the best place to do this?"
Luckily for the boy, his shout managed to kick Esdeath's more... well, logical wasn't the word for it. Her romantic side into gear. She drew back and thought, oblivious to Tatsumi's squirming.
She thought aloud. "Hmm... not the best place to do this. Not romantic at all. Not all that comfy either. Hmmm..." She thought mentally for a moment, before reluctantly drawing away from her object of desire.
"Thank... you..." Tatsumi gasped, relieved. "Can we just talk about why you seemed so weak earlier? Although that wasn't the case just now..."
He made the face again, praying that Esdeath would have more control over herself this time. A glimmer of lust flickered in her eyes, but mostly her look was just adoring. "You should always make that face. Its so... cute."
He said nothing, just blinking up at her. Esdeath felt her restraints beginning to slip away. He was so adorable, how could she not cave to his desires.
"No... stop it!" She shook her head, but she couldn't help herself from wanting to spill the truth. Leaping away from him, she backed up, unable to stop looking at him. His green gaze followed.
"Please tell me. I'm worried." Tatsumi felt ill. He didn't want to have to do this, but he really did want to survive, and Esdeath currently wasn't going to ensure that.
"Alright, I'll tell you... If we can pick up where we left off later on." Her expression was one of sly content. She had bounced it right back at him.
Tatsumi went to speak, but then hung his head in defeat. "Fine..." He didn't intend to stay to that. He had agreed, yes, but she hadn't left a specific time in the future. He could hold it off indefinitely. He hoped.
Esdeath had him now. She knew that he would submit to her requests to find out what was wrong. It was almost worth telling him.
Another thought made her grin. He was going to all these lengths to try and find the truth... That must mean he actually cared about her! And he had gotten in the way when the clown had tried to kill her!
She made her way to the sofa as Tatsumi pulled himself off of the coffee table, wincing.
"Come sit with me." It wasn't a request. Tatsumi went to sit on the other end of the sofa, but Esdeath wasn't having any of that. "No, here." She gestured to the spot next to her. The assassin sighed. Through gritted teeth, he went to sit next to her... Until her hands adjusted his course and pulled him onto her lap.
Esdeath chuckled as Tatsumi stiffened and gritted his teeth. She pulled him back onto her and rested her head on his shoulder, effectively spooning the smaller boy.
"Come on then. What's the problem with you?" It was Esdeath's turn to tense.
"I- I'm- I can't-"
The green haired boy interrupted. "Yes you can." He suddenly turned to face her, his emerald orbs burning into her blue ones. "Its only me. Nobody else has to know. I want to trust you, Esdeath. Trust me back. I promise nobody else will know."
It was at times like this that Esdeath knew Tatsumi was the only one for her. He was the only person that could make her feel like a teenaged girl again. Even if she wasn't far off it.
The empire's strongest took a deep breath. This would be the first time she had told anyone she had a problem since she became an orphan. Normally if she had a problem she killed it.
"I... My body... its... its physically exhausted." She admitted. Tatsumi looked curious. "I haven't slept since you ran away from me on that island. Not at all." Her voice was quiet. The boy looked stunned. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again.
Esdeath closed her eyes.
"Why?"
Her heart was full of dread. She had avoided this because she knew this question would be asked. It was something she really didn't want to answer.
"Why what?" She weakly joked.
"Why haven't you slept?" Tatsumi's voice was surprisingly gentle.
"I... I can't. When I close my eyes all I see is you. And I worry. I worry that you'll run away again and leave me alone. I worry that you'll never love me, I worry that you'll die and take my heart with you. I worry that I'll hurt you. I worry that you're afraid of me, I worry that you don't like me, I worry that, despite you saying that you would stay with me, you want to be with Akame more."
Silence.
"Do you understand now? It terrifies me. You terrify me. Before you, I was sure of everything, I never once doubted myself. And now I can't stop. It's your fault, and I should hate you. But I can't. You... you are everything I want and everything I fear all at the same time."
Tatsumi was looking at the ground. His eyes were hidden by a thick mess of hair and his hands were pressed to his temples. Esdeath swore she heard a small sniff.
In that moment she lost herself completely. Almost violently, she grabbed him close to her, choking him. The girl buried her face in his soft hair, vowing at that moment to never let him out of her sight again. Only when she held him with all her body was she sure of herself and what she was doing. Only now was she the proud, unwavering warrior she had once been.
But it couldn't last. She relaxed, and let his body slip away from her. With a pang she realised that she already missed his smell and warmth. Tatsumi was unresponsive, frozen completely as her words sunk into his head.
"Tatsumi..." He jumped up, eyes ablaze.
"This!" He pointed to her. "This is why I'm staying! This is why you don't need to worry any more!" He went down onto his knees and forcefully turned her head to him. "This girl that I see here is the reason I stay. So be yourself, act how you want, but don't worry about things. As long as you want me here, as long as you agree to my wishes too, I wont go anywhere!" He ended up roaring at her, and Esdeath let a small smile spread onto her face. He really was the only one she would ever love.
They remained staring at each other, Tatsumi confident and assuring, Esdeath becoming more and more happy as she thought about what he said. "Finally, Tatsumi stood up. "So do you want to sleep here or get going?" He didn't really want to stay here, but Esdeath's rest was obviously more crucial to his survival.
She shuddered. "Stay in the house of the man that tried to kill you? No thanks, lets go." Tatsumi nodded, and picked up his bag. Esdeath leaped up off of the sofa as if she had already slept, and slung her own backpack on. "Wait, we should see if the old man had any clothes. You are way too conspicuous like that." It was true. Esdeath was still in her general's attire.
She looked disgruntled, but nodded. Tatsumi sat back down. Less than 5 minutes later, she shouted from upstairs.
"Taaaatttttsssssuuummmiii!" He stood and bolted up the stairs. She wouldn't call for him unless it was urgent. He quickly scanned every room before bursting into hers. She stood there, looking smug.
"What is it?" He demanded, Incursio drawn, looking for the danger.
"What do you think?" She gestured to her outfit, and Tatsumi deadpanned. Her outfit was almost identical, except that her coat was entirely white and her skirt was shorter. Her Shirt was more prominent, covering her neck where the coat left off. He was pretty sure she hadn't really changed anything below her torso.
"Don't you want a thicker coat or something?" Esdeath just stared at him for a second. Then she burst into laughter.
Tatsumi realised his error. "Yeah yeah, alright. I guess you wouldn't, would you?" She stumbled over to him, and picked the boy up in a tight hug.
"Aww, you're so cute. Tatsumi, I love the cold almost as much as I love ice cream! But nowhere near as much as I love..." she put her lips to his ear. "You. Now I do believe you said we could continue later, and there is a rather comfy looking bed here..." In a flash, Tatsumi was hurriedly staggering away.
"You said you wanted to leave here soon! Lets goooooo!"
It was quite a few hours later before they stopped again. Night had fallen and it was beginning to get much colder. Tatsumi had been shivering for the past half hour or so, whereas Esdeath, true to her words, was perfectly in her element, not even having donned her bearskin. Tatsumi suspected the only reason she had wanted two was so she could snuggle closer to him.
The two exchanged few words along the road, although Esdeath clung to Tatsumi, happy that he didn't shove her away. As much as he wanted to, her words still weighed heavy in his mind.
"Here seems like a good enough place to stop for the night." Esdeath pointed to a wind sheltered rock with an overhang that would protect them from the snow.
Tatsumi grunted his agreement. Both of them were tired. They dropped their bags down by the rock, unfurled their sleeping bags and dug out their bearskins. Tatsumi made a fire while Esdeath prepared soup for the both of them. To his surprise, it looked and smelled delicious. Could Esdeath cook?
When it came to the taste, though, that was obviously not the case. Tatsumi ate a huge mouthful, then froze. "How is it?" Esdeath asked, obviously expecting praise. Instead Tatsumi spat out the entire mouthful. Esdeath looked hurt. "Was it not good?"
Tatsumi panicked at her hurtful expression. "Nonono! It's delicious! Just too hot!" He stammered, sweating bullets at her scrutiny. Then she took his bowl.
"Let me cool it down a bit." She took a spoonful and blew on it, before offering to him. "Open."
"Umm, I can do- ugh!" the spoon was forced into his mouth. The vile taste was even worse when it wasn't burning his tongue. How someone could get onions and tomato to taste so bad Tatsumi would never know. He decided the best way to deal with the problem would be to just down it as fast as possible. Taking the bowl back, he quickly chugged the contents, fighting his gag reflex the whole way. Esdeath watched, pleased.
Then she turned to her own bowl. Without caution, she put the rim to her lips, and drank. She nearly spat it out, the soup tasted so horrible. But if Tatsumi liked it, how bad could it be? She managed about half the bowl before stopping, feeling ill.
She turned to the pale looking assassin, deciding that his skins complexion was down to hunger. Not potential food poisoning. "Here, drink this too." She pushed her bowl into his hands.
Somehow, he paled even more just thinking about it. "Ah... You need to eat too..." He began to sweat even more, looking at the potent mixture. It was like the Capital in a soup, lovely and appealing in looks, but disgusting on the inside. He put the bowl beside her when she refused to take it.
"Nonsense. Tatsumi, you need this more than me, to warm you up at least. I don't feel the cold." He deadpanned at the lame excuse.
When he didn't pick it back up, Esdeath scowled. "Tatsumi, eat it. You liked the first bowl and I'm letting you have mine!"
He turned away, refusing to give in. Esdeath picked up the bowl, sighing. "Fine..."
Tatsumi turned back, sighing with relief... until the rim of the bowl was shoved into his open mouth. "Drink it...!" Esdeath warned, noticing the level of soup not depleting. He stubbornly did not swallow, trying his hardest not gag at the nauseating taste filling his mouth. Esdeath pressed herself closer to him, pushing him up against the tree he leaned on. Her hands pinned on of his arms down before he could resist.
This time, in a much more forceful tone, she uttered a single word. "Drink." Her lips stretched out into a sinister smile. The assassin took one look at her and began to gulp as if his life depended on it. It pretty much did.
After several long seconds of coughing and spluttering, Tatsumi managed to down the bowl, much to Esdeath's satisfaction. He wordlessly turned away from her, a sickly pale colour, trying to focus on keeping the contents of his stomach in place.
However, a munching sound drew his attention and he turned back to see Esdeath eating several sandwiches, packed to the brim with salad and meats. He stared in disbelief.
"Are you telling me... I had to drink that even though we had... those!" He growled, barely believing his eyes. Esdeath looked surprised, and her voice rang with innocence.
"Oh, but I thought you would prefer a warm meal... Here!" She offered him one, but Tatsumi didn't think eating anything currently would sit well. With a very audible "Hmmmh!" He turned away from her in annoyance. Esdeath looked on, smug. She made sure to eat the sandwiches slowly and loudly, trying to contain her laughter to a very low giggle. She couldn't help it, Tatsumi was overly cute when he was sulking.
By the time she was finished, he had still not turned back. The ice wielder got edgy. He shouldn't ignore her for this long. "Tat~suu~miii..." She sang out, trying to attract his attention. The boy didn't move. She tried again, a little louder and less sing-songy. "Tatsumi?"
Nothing. The fire flickered and the light patterns seem to dance on the back of his thick coat. Despite the lack of wind, his hair waved slightly.
Esdeath gave the assassin a prod, before giving him a harder poke in the back. Only then did he respond, by moving away slightly. And if anything was going to piss her off, it was that.
Roughly she grabbed him by the arms, and scooted herself to him, her arms winding around his chest. Tatsumi stiffened, blushing slightly, however he continued to ignore her. Chin resting on his shoulder, she whispered his name, voice dangerously low. "Tatsumi..." It felt as if a cold wind was blowing right into his ear, eliciting a shudder from the boy.
Impatient, she grabbed his cheek and turned his head towards her. A little too rough to be considered compassionate, she nuzzled his hair, trying to get a response. Tatsumi only closed his eyes. He knew it would be good to teach her that she cant always have what she wants.
Frustrated, Esdeath turned him all the way around, before pushing him down onto the floor. His eyes flew open in alarm as she pressed her face to his neck, trying to gain his attention. "Stop it." Her free hand began to roam his chest, and a cold breath shivered down his neck, followed by a sinister chuckle. She would teach him not to ignore her.
He tried to shove her off, only to find her lock around his arm, immovable. "You shouldn't ignore me then..." He squirmed uncomfortably as her tongue trailed his throat, before shoving again, harder. Esdeath lost her balance this time, and Tatsumi managed to worm free before she righted herself.
"I said stop! I'm not a play thing of yours, alright! Don't annoy me then expect me to leap into your arms!"
Esdeath knew that her forceful strategy wasn't going to work. Maybe it was time for a different tactic.
"I'm sorry, I was only trying to play around." She hoped the remorse in her voice didn't sound fake. Tatsumi only turned away, making her brow furrow. "I guess I should have expected this. Sorry." She did her best to sound dejected. The brown haired assassin winced, his mind returning to the conversation from earlier. He turned back, rubbing the back of his head guiltily.
"Alright, alright. I'll let it slide. Lets just go to sleep." He unfurled his sleeping bag from his backpack, and set it down next to the fire. Esdeath blinked, before grabbing hers and laying it close by. Tatsumi looked surprised.
"oh, did you want this side?" He moved round to the other side of the fire, feigning indifference as to what she was trying to do.
"Tatsumi..." She whined, making him sweatdrop. With a sigh, the assassin patted the ground next to him, slightly unwillingly. With a supressed grin, Esdeath moved next to him, before slipping into the thick, fur lined bag. Her sapphire orbs followed the boy as he did the same. Without another word, he rolled away from her.
Esdeath looked annoyed.
*rustle*
She wiggled closer.
*rustle rustle*
And again.
"Esdeath what are you doing?"
Tatsumi's voice rang out in the cold quiet.
"...Huddling for warmth?"
It was getting very dark outside the ring of light that the fire produced, and shadows danced over the rocks, lit up by the flames.
"But you don't get cold." She winced, caught out.
"I wanted to be closer to you, because... You know..." She tried to make herself sound weak.
Tatsumi felt a very familiar, reccurent guilt. "-Fine."
She immediately rolled closer until they were touching, spooning even.
Despite being rather uncomfortable at the close proximity, tatsumi quickly faded into sleep, leaving esdeath alone with her thoughts.
The cold, hideous voice in her head made itself known, like it did every night nowadays.
'he'll never love you...'
'you'll never have him...'
'he'll leave as soon as he can...'
Esdeath began to tremble. It couldn't be true, he promised!
'you think an assassin will keep his word? Fool...'
Not even thinking of his face eased her turmoil. Not when he was so close, so touchable.
'but you won't ever be able to touch him...'
The ice wielded lost it, grabbing the boy to her tightly, nearly crushing him in her grip. Amazingly he stayed in slumber.
The voice cheered.
'Yesssss... Take him, trick him, keep him... Whether he likes it not, take him!'
Its urges were so delisciously tempting...
The fire flickered over her face, and for a second it revealed wild eyes, bared teeth, a demonic grin. Then it was gone, the dying flames shifting.
When Tatsumi awoke in the morning, he was both scared and perplexed as to how he ended up on top of esdesth, completely out of his sleeping bag, instead in hers, with his face resting on he chest. The mangled corpse of a bear didn't explain much either, as Tatsumi stared in suspicion at a blue haired sleeping figure.
A beast thought dead, biding its time. The shadows of a lingering pollution still ebb from a rotted nation.
We thought the story was over, yet we know... There was always another way.
wow I'm glad that's done. Sorry. Its been too long since I last updated, but ive been too darn busy to write! That being said, I'm still trying to find timez this story aint going on haiatus if I can help it. As always, tell me what you think, and let me know if you think you've got what I'm hinting at is wrong with esdeath! (pm me of course. No spoilers please) I've got another story planned for akame ga kill, where esdeath is literally the opposite of this, just to see what I'm best at, but that won't be comeing out until this is finished, however I will write a preview chapter at some stage so I can gouge reactions, so please do keep an eye out for that. I hope everyone enjoyed this, and thanks for taking the time to read my latest chapter!