Tatsumi stood silently, next to a room full of people. Leaning against the chipped wooden wall, he had the all familiar Incursio strapped to his back. He had nothing but a black coat equipped. Looking all too familiar to his original white one. He had to get rid of that. It was reminding him of Night Raid every single time he donned it...and he couldn't take it. All of his friends, Akame, Lubbock, Mine, Najenda, Bulat, Chelsea, Leone, they are all dead. Esdese and himself, they were on good terms. He couldn't believe that she was still standing after the whole ordeal. After the fateful day, she revealed to him that he killed the Prime Minister and Emperor. She told him that she watched the entire event unfold. He hit the Prime Minister with all of his might and power, killing him instantly. That left one question that even after five months, Tatsumi didn't have any answer to it. Why did he survive?

Esdese had been close with him. Tatsumi's killing made her the new Empress. Esdese didn't particularly care about any of the corrupt posts or people, she wanted absolute dominance in power, and she got what she wanted. Tatsumi still had a part of him that hated her, a part of him still wanted to kill her in her sleep, but with how much Esdese had done to him, and with him, he started to fall for her. After so many months of coddling, forcing herself onto him, not taking no for any answers, over all throwing his pride and self-esteem out the door, he started to love her. Esdese was changing him. Changing him very quickly.

The conversation in the other room subsided, allowing lots of inhabitants to pour out of the room, revealing the inside carpet after all of the bodies were out. Tatsumi walked into this room, and walked to the upper counter in the corner of the room. The room was small, but it was efficient, as it was the most popular library in the Capital. He had somewhat of a break from training, so he decided to use it to his advantage, and take a scour through old books. Esdese was in some sort of meeting, to adjourn the placement and election of generals for the now less corrupt empire. She had the constant group of ideas cycling through her mind. They have fought on different sides so long, constantly at each others throats in battle, and she loved every minute of it. She wanted to tear him down, make him hers to own, and she was on the landslide of doing exactly that.

Among the wooden floor, Tatsumi walked along the bookshelves, his Teigu hitting the back of his lightly armored coat, making a shifting noise along with his boots. He glanced at the labels of the books, taking into account as to how dirty they seemed. They were obviously prehistoric. He paced back and forth, looking at the same dusty and grimy group of books while doing so. One particular title caught his eye:

61205 Teigu Caricature

He hesitated a bit before he reached his arm towards the book and grabbed it off the shelf, leaving a dust cloud to coat his hand and face during the transaction. Tatsumi looked at his hands, forgetting that he still had fingerless gloves on. He had these one when he was training with Wave earlier this morning, He guessed he forget to take them off. Finding a nearby seat, he sat down and opened up the book, dust spraying everywhere. He couldn't believe that something so old was sitting in a library like this.

He read the book aloud in his head:

Carlian - a Teigu created from the old right hand of the first emperor, Bermun. This Teigu, comes in the form of a flute. The flute is metallic in appearance, and is said to be able to control time, sending the use back in time to a setback of their choosing. The location of this Teigu is unknown. However, its been said that whenever a vengeful spirit awakens to tell another of a tragedy, this flute will appear in the chosen one's hands in one way or another.

Falorin - This Teigu is the most sought after piece of armor in the land. At least it was. This Teigu, comes in the form of chest armor. This chest armor, bearing striking resemblance to a swordsman coat. It is said in legend, that the one user to don this armor, would be able to use up to five Teigu without having the normal consequences.

Trakunikiss - This Teigu, in legend, is said to have the ability to bring the dead back to life. The third emperor,fearing such catastrophe, sealed away the Teigu to prevent it's miss-use. It is said that when the time is right, the door will open and this Teigu will be found by a suited wielder.

Tatsumi's eyes widened fiercely when he read this. Not only was this in plain sight, but anybody could have gotten a hold of this. He wondered why it was so easy to find, but a bigger part of him was focusing on his deceased comrades. He felt his stomach churn as he got the warmest feeling in his soul. There was a Teigu that could bring his friends back. He found something to ease his suffering, he found a shrivel of hope; he found the sign. He knew what he had to do now. He needed to hunt for this Teigu, he needed to find it, bring back his friends, and live a happy life. He knew that this world couldn't be so cruel, he knew that everybody deserved to be happy.

With a smile creeping along his face, Tatsumi gripped his shining black coat with joy, and he wrinkled it and jumped out of the chair. He started to form tears in his eyes, tears of joy, as he ran through familiar conclusions in his head as to what would happen when he found it. He would find out how to use it, then immediately bring everybody back to life. The sorrow would be over. He could feel himself start to dance, but halted immediately when he felt the all too familiar presence of a certain person. As he felt the air get colder, he hunched over and grabbed the book;stuffing it into his right pocked as he turned around to face Esdese. He didn't expect her to find him here, let alone get out of the meeting so early. She was leaning up against the entrance, purposefully slanted;trying to make Tatsumi put on the expression she never got tired of. His embarrassment was beauty to her, it was cute.

She wore an outfit similar to her original attire, however this version was white and gold, rather then white and black. Tatsumi guessed she wanted to spice it up a bit more, considering she ruled the Capital. It wasn't only the outfits, however.

"You look happy. What are you doing in here, my love?" she asked, flirtatiously.

"Well, its a library. I was sort of reading, to pass the time, you know?"

"I knew that. What I didn't understand, was why you weren't in my room, awaiting my return." she mellowly asked.

"Esdese...I need some space, you know? You can't always have me by your side like-"

"You have no authority to tell me what to do with what is mine." she explained, walking up to Tatsumi with her arms now crossed.

"I just wish you would look at me more then just a possession."

"Oh...my Tatsumi. You know I look at you more then that. Its just a perk that you have. You are my possession, one I want to hold close, forever." she wrapped her arms around him and held him close, pushing his head into her chest.

Tatsumi tried to hide a blush that spread across his face. He liked it when she spoke of him like this, but he felt himself still trying to stand up for himself, even if it had no avail. He loved it when she held him close. Now that she was the leader, and the Prime Minister had been defeated, he didn't feel any resentment towards her. There were always two halves to his feelings, his loving side usually dominating over the other, giving in to whatever she said.

"I am sorry for not being in your quarters when you got back, Esdese." he apologized.

"You didn't even leave me a note. I was really looking forward to crawling into bed with you and-"

"O-Okay, you don't have to speak so loudly about it, I'm sorry."

Her grip tightened around Tatsumi as she quickly and forcefully kissed him. Tatsumi could feel her tongue eagerly tasting him. After pulling away, a trail of saliva quickly faded as she started to speak again.

"I want you to head to my chambers, right now." she enforced.

"I will, once I am done in here."

He tried to lightly shove her away, but she gripped him harder and moved her hand closer to his forehead, pushing his head up so his eyes were forced to meet hers.

"Now, Tatsumi."

"Esdese, you are being unreasonable, all I want to do-"

"Tatsumi, you will not deny me. You tried to stop me from our relations last night, do you remember how that turned out?" she spoke aloud. The library clerk seemed to hear her, chuckling a little bit, making Tatsumi even more embarrassed. She knew what she was doing, and she loved it. Teasing him is the funnest thing she got to do during the day. Tatsumi hesitated for a bit before letting go of the tenseness he had in his body, drooping into her arms, obviously tired of the situation.

"Yes...I do remember Esdese. Lets go then."

Esdese let go of him, turning around towards the entrance of the room. The creaking sound of the wood below them both echoed throughout the room until they both made it out into the hall, the book inside Tatsumi's pocket shifting and sliding around. Esdese had a triumphant grin on her face;Tatsumi knowing full well what was ahead of them. She was more then likely going to chain him up and have her way with him again. She did this most nights, still ripe with the intention of making Tatsumi hers, making him apologize for ever opposing her.

With this newly found book, Tatsumi was in a happier mood. He knew that there was a Teigu that could bring life back. He knew that there was a way he could see his friends, standing alive and before him once again. He didn't care what Esdese did to him, or what happened, he was happy. He finally has a goal he wants to reach.

When they both reached the entrance to Esdese' quarters, Tatsumi wore the embarrassed expression much longer then he expected. With the ideas of how Tatsumi was going to start looking for the Teigu going through his head, Esdese opened the door and swiftly pulled him inside the room;shutting the door. She had a hungry look in her eyes. As she walked over to the nearby dresser, she started to ask an all too familiar question Tatsumi opposing beckoned to ever hear again.

"Do you remember our last battle, my love?"

Tatsumi's mind, becoming a canal full of horrible leaks and setbacks, made him hesitate for a minute before answering.

"Y-Yes I do. I remember us being in quite a tie..."

She gritted her teeth when she heard this. She hated that he had a sense of self righteousness. She wanted to take this out of him. She wanted to dominate his rebelliousness. She wanted to tear him down and build him back up. He was hers. Hers to own, and hers to keep. Every strand of hair and every thought he had against her, was hers to hold. He still had her own personal debts to repay to her.

"Far from a tie, love."

Tatsumi was about to respond with a remark that would cause a heated response but when he gazed over at Esdese his face nearly turned blood red. Esdese was half naked, causing him to get extremely embarrassed. Esdese was staring at him, wearing a self absorbed grin on her face, fully knowing that he didn't have a choice as to how the day would go from here on out. She bathed in it;she knew that she decided what went for him now. He was a rebellious enemy and lover, but now, she owned him. He was hers.

I need to let you know that this story will not only be exclusive to Tatsumi and Esdese' love. This chapter was originally very long, but I chopped it up due to time. Stay Tuned, and stay happy! - Jambles