Hey guys! I just want to say that I'm alive and stuff... I honestly don't have a reason for my rare posts so... yeah. To make up for it, I'll try to post another chapter tomorrow ^^ In the mean time, enjoy a little shopping in the Capital :P
Soul in the Dream
CHAPTER 10
(Normal POV)
"Finally in the Capital.", Tatsumi said, eyeing around. The brown-haired boy, along with Hitomi, was walking in the big city with Mine as their supervisor. "But now that I get a good look, there are a lot of people with sour looks on their faces, huh?", the brunette added.
"No wonder if they are under a reign of terror, and there's a recession.", Mine replied. Hitomi nodded in agreement. Even though he didn't live like these people, he could see the same face on his parents' every day, even though they did their best to hide it from his view...
"Is it okay for us to walk around in broad daylight so openly?", Tatsumi asked, changing the subject.
"Huh, well... the only ones with wanted posters are those four." Mine pointed to a nearby wall with said posters attached on it. They depicted Akame, Sheele, the Boss and some strong-looking guy in the center.
"Eh? Who is that in the middle?", Tatsumi asked.
"Bulat.", Mine replied, surprising the boys.
"Wait, what...?", Hitomi mumbled, dumbfounded by the change. On the poster, Bulat's hair wasn't in its usual pompadour like the boys were used to. The man's black hair was kept down, looking like... normal hair.
"He's changed his image since joining Night Raid.", Mine added.
"Isn't that too much of a change!?", Tatsumi exclaimed, while the image of Bulat's newer style came into his head.
"Now that that's cleared,", Mine said. "we have a mission to complete."
"... We do?", Hitomi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That's the reason you brought us along, isn't it?", Tatsumi said, clenching his fist in anticipation.
"Alright!", Mine beamed, raising a fist in the air. "Let's start with the inspection of the city's condition!"
"I don't know what this is about but yeah!", Tatsumi shouted in his turn, copying Mine and raising a fist above his head. Hitomi sighed then smiled, having a good idea on what Mine meant as 'inspecting the city'.
As Hitomi had thought, the rest of the day was spent going in various shops for the sole purpose of satisfying Mine's huge obsession for shopping. One of the most notable trip was when the pinkette dragged the boys into a lingerie shop. While she was checking a bra set, Hitomi recklessly said that her breasts were too small to be able to fit in it, earning him a big 'bonk!' on the head by an angry Mine. On the next stop, the blonde comically tried to redeem himself by showering the pinkette with compliments each time she tried a different dress.
After their trip was over, the group of three finally settled down on a terrace. The boys were sipping on a glass of water each while Mine enjoyed a huge parfait. "Phew, we bought a lot.", Mine concluded. "As expected, pink clothing is the trend in spring."
"I guess.", Tatsumi said without emotion. The shopping day completely devoided him of life. He even looked skinnier...
"It's good to let your hair down on your days off, huh?", Mine added, ignoring Tatsumi's current state.
"I guess."
"Okay, mission complete!", the pinkette exclaimed cheerfully after a bite from her parfait.
"This isn't a mission, this is just shopping!" Hitomi chuckled after Tatsumi finished his tantrum.
"Hehe, buddy, what we have in front of us is a girl.", the blonde said matter-of-factly, raising a finger in the air. "A dominant trait shared by these mysterious creatures are their love for shopping. While in school, I did some research and still haven't-"
*THWACK*
"Don't get ahead of yourself.", Mine said, wiping a small trace of blood from her knuckles. "Another comment and your balls will be next, am I clear?"
"... Crystal...", Hitomi weakly said while raising a thumb in acknowledgement. Tatsumi sighed at his friend's absurd forwardness. Suddenly, what seemed like people talking grabbed his attention.
"What's all the commotion...?", he asked as he got up from his seat.
"Probably the public execution of someone who defied the Empire.", Mine explained with disgust as she watched the scene before them. Five people, with some missing body parts, were crucified on wooden crosses with big iron nails. The worst was that they were still alive. "That's a usual thing in the Capital.", the pinkette added.
"H-How... cruel...", Tatsumi let out, dumbfounded that the Emperor would allow such a thing to happen. He felt a hand gently press against his shoulder.
"We can't do anything for now.", Hitomi calmly said, the change in demeanor surprising Tatsumi even more. "But once we get rid of the Prime Minister, I'm telling you, it WILL get better.", the blonde finished with a smirk.
"I won't be like them.", Hitomi heard Mine say.
"Hmm? What'cha said, Pinks?"
"I'll definitely live... and see this fight to the end!"
"Heh, of course you will! I'm here-"
*THWACK*
"No one asked you, newbie!"
"Owww ... I'll need a blood transfusion after this..."
Far from the trio, inside the Emperor's palace, more specifically, the throne room, a man bowed down in front of the Emperor. The monarch was a young boy, probably around 12 years old. He had green shoulder-lenght hair braided on the sides and green eyes. His garment consisted of a purple outfit with white boots and a blue mantle, as well as a large headdress. In his hand rested a golden scepter with a blue orb attached to it.
"Internal affairs officer Shoui.", the Emperor addressed the man on his knees. "Thou objected our political measures.", he said in an imperial tone. "For the sin of delaying our political affairs, we sentence thee to death by dismemberment by bulls." The man, Shoui, was visibly shocked of receiving the death penalty for a small mistake. "Is this good, Minister?", the young monarch asked someone beside the throne. He was a large, tall man with amber eyes and long grey hair and beard, as well as a mustache. He wore a grey jacket with a brown belt, green pants and brown boots, with a white coat on top. He had several rings on his fingers and wore a crown with three horn-like decorations.
"Nuhuhu, well done.", he said, chewing on a piece of meat. "Emperor Makoto is such a wise ruler."
"Meat again?", the Emperor asked with a sweatdrop. "Thou eatest a lot of that."
"Fufufu, one got to enjoy life while it's good."
"ENOUGH!", the man, Shoui, roared in anger. "The Emperor is being fooled by the Prime Minister! Please listen to the voices of your people!"
"He is accusing you.", the young monarch stated.
"Have his rumblings confused you, my Lord?", the Minister asked with a laugh.
"Of course not, for the words thou hast spoken have always been right since long ago!"
"Shoui-dono.", the Minister addressed the man. "Seems this will be our final partings." With these words, the guards positioned beside him crossed their spears in front of his chest, as they slowly dragged the man towards the palace's exit.
"Your Majesty!", Shoui implored. "If this continues, the thousand year history of the Empire will end!"
"Shoui-dono.", the Minister interrupted, crouching to be face to face with Shoui. "Please don't worry about that lovely wife you're leaving behind. You just leave her to me. I'll make sure to take care of her. Every single part of her... nuhuhuhu."
'How...', Shoui yelled in his mind. 'How is it... possible for something like this to be allowed! Sins must be punished... Someone, anyone... please! Deliver justice upon this demon!'
Well, until next time everyone ^^ Oh, and please review if you have the time! :O If nobody's reviewing, I have no idea if people actually like what I'm writing, y'know? :P
